Out with the old, in with the new!

Big News!!! We have a conditional offer on the house that looks like will go through! (Please pray!!!!)

So we wanted to show some pixs of our new home. We will be living in St. Andrews Hall (see map) which is a family residence on the UBC campus. The map also shows where I will be going to school (Regent College) and Lydia will be working (UBC pavillions hospital). Our new home is a two storey townhouse with 2 bedrooms and a den, 850sq. feet... so although there won't be a tonne of room.... we are hoping to have lots of visitors (hint hint)... so start planning!!!

The next big hurdle is finding childcare for Noah. We have new lead, as the ubc childcare option recently fell through. Seems hard to figure out this stuff from 4000 km away!!!

We love you guys and thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement to us!

I've seen the Light

After a few days of questioning, and testing... and even maybe asking God to change his mind a little, regarding us making the move... I am once again encouraged. The past few days we have been worried about our house selling, worried about childcare for noah, and sad because after hearing news of our close friends being pregnant, we realize that life will still go on here when we leave.
But God lead me to a quiet place this morning, and i saw the beautiful story he is creating in us. I was reminded that the only life to live is one following Him. That Jesus said, lay down your nets and follow me. That i am thrilled he choose us to have a role in this great adventure. I read in Romans about Paul, and was reminded that this may just be the beginning... and God may ask us to do bigger, harder things than this one day, and i so badly want to be faithful and obedient with the little things first.
I am so thankful of God's faithfulness, that after days of doubt, he shows me His Light.

defining moment vs. ongoing process

last night at our small group one of our friends asked the question, "Did all of you have a defining moment in your life where you can pinpoint the day/time/location you became a Christian?" an interesting discussion ensued. we all went around and shared our individual stories-- each as unique as our differing backgrounds-- about how we ultimately became Christ followers.

i found this discussion intriguing because a couple people (including the person who raised the question) never had a specific moment where they crossed over from being a total pagan to a radically-saved Christian. now i know of many people who, had they been in the room, would've said something like, "well you can repeat this prayer after me and have that defining moment in your life!" but i think this totally misses the point. those in our group who don't have a "defining moment of conversion" are clearly Christians... Christ followers. By (my)definition, a Christian is someone who is seeking to follow Christ in their daily life, understands that they are a sinner unable to redeem themselves (by good works or any other means), believes in Christ, the cross, the resurrection, and the redemption that has come as a result of all this. In following Christ, they have turned from a life of living for themselves (repentance) and are seeking to grow in and follow Jesus in their everyday life. by this definition everyone in our small group is 100% undoubtedly a Christian. the only difference between the two groups of people in our group is that some had a time where they said a prayer and others, over time, have acknowledged and made the exact same decision without a specific time to contain it.

i've been thinking about this a lot over the past couple years-- i'm not belittling the idea of having someone "repeat a prayer after you" for them to "get saved", but i'm not sure i feel comfortable with the idea that everyone has (or should have) a specific moment in time that they can pinpoint to when they became heaven-bound...

i have many more thoughts, but i'll leave it at this for now.
what do you think? i'd love to hear your thoughts...

Anyone wanna house?

okay, so who knows why 3 pictures showed up... no this isn't a fancy guessing game... they are all the same picture!

today is the day the house goes on the market. not as sad as i anticipated... we are just hoping it sells really quick b/c it's so hard to keep the house clean with noah (and aaron) ha ha... just kidding... i think i am the messiest actually!

we've had so many amazing memories here, and will always love remembering our first little house on spartan street.
any takers?

Oh, to become...

Romans 12:9 (taken from the message)

• Love from the center of who you are, don't fake it.
• Run from evil, hold on to good.
• Be friends with those who love deeply, putting them above yourself.
• Be alert servants to the Master, cheerfully expectant - (and to serve others as on to the Lord).
• Don't quit in hard times, pray all the harder!!!!
• Bless your enemies, no cursing under your breath.
• Laugh with your happy friends, share tears when they're down.
• Get along with each other, don't be stuck up.
• Make friends with nobodies.
• Don't be the great somebody.
• Discover the beauty in everyone.
• If you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch.

As i reflected on this verse this morning, i saw myself short in each one. How i long to be this person... will i become her here on this earth? or is this a dream to be realized in heaven?

I am reminded of a small wooden plaque hung on the wall of my brothers bedroom 20 years ago. "Be patient, God isn't finished with me yet."

to be led...

this is our theme song of late... (lydia came across this a couple months ago and put the first verse up on our fridge as a constant reminder for us...)

Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home-- Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene--one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou Shouldst lead me on. I loved to choose and see my path; but now, Lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blessed me, sure it still Will lead me on, O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

(by the way, i would've rather used this picture, but didn't have the guts to steal it from Bryan. very nice shot.)