The Last 2 Weeks

How do you really summarize the last 2 weeks? Summed up it would be answers to prayer - from lives changed to room bookings last minute, solid people getting involved in new campus movements, strength to make it through a busy day - you name it, God's done it. He is awesome.

I'm tired but satisfied and not feeling out of control (last year I felt totally out of control).

I'm so glad to be living with 2 amazing roommates and no longer by myself. While at times challenging to my task-oriented self, living with people is just so much healthier.

I have a great staff team and I'm so thankful for them. And as always, I'm loving Toronto. Got to take in a great film at the film festival last week. Only in the city people, you should come.

The Waiter Who Made My Night

So apparently I look 18 years old! I was asked for ID last night when I ordered a drink at a restaurant! HA! So great!! That hasn't happened for like 6 years!! Actually laughed at the guy when he asked me and when he saw the date on my driver's license, he looked a little sheepish! And had a good time with good people at a great restaurant (props to Spring Rolls) - happy birthday Lydia! The fact that people came from London and Ottawa to celebrate your birthday says a lot about the kind of person you are.

Grace Fanning Desire Into Flame

The struggle lately has been, "why don't I desire God the way I want to?" My heart has felt dry and more than a little distant. Knowing of the need to change, I have been praying that God would increase my desire for Him. Tonight, at my church (praise God for Grace Toronto btw - I love it.), Dan (again another noteworthy "praise God") was talking about the fact that true Christianity is not measured by what we do but by what we desire. Actual, permanent, radical life-change only happens when change occurs at the level of desire, not merely the level of behaviour or thought. God should be our desire above all else. That is when we are truly obeying the command to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength".

So I asked him, "how do you fan into flame desire that you know has faded or is waning?" He said that first we must admit that our desire for God is not where we would want it to be. That's fairly self-evident to me at this point. Undeniable. And then we must continually seek to see His grace more clearly. That Almighty and Holy God would actually delight at my feeble, half-hearted attempt at obediance, submission, love, and delight in Him - that is beautiful grace. My desire for God will grow if every day I preach the gospel to myself. When I see the suffering of Christ and the love that kept him there, my desire will naturally grow.

I made the mistake of striving for an increased desire instead of earnestly praying that I would see God's grace more clearly. A bit of an "ah-ha" moment for me tonight. I am moved once again by how great our God is and how amazing it is that He would love me.

BTW - check out previous sermons (and this one soon to come) at www.gracetoronto.ca/resources