Jay and I watched The Guardian this weekend with our friends Aaron and Tabitha.  It is about rescue swimmers with the Coast Guard who jump in to the Bering Sea out of helicopters to save people from sinking boats and huge waves.  Insane. I never knew a profession like that existed.

The movie reminded me of a story I heard when I was younger of a Christian man who used to be a Buddhist. He was on a quest for truth when he had a dream that rocked him to the core. In the dream he was in a stormy ocean, close to drowning and calling out for help.  Way in the distance he saw Buddha running along the shore, yelling out instructions on how to stay afloat and swim back to safety.

But his energy was failing him.  No matter how hard he tried to follow the instructions he could not. Wave after wave pushed him under.  His body started to cramp.  He finally lost all hope as his body submerged and he felt himself sinking into the depths.

All of a sudden, someone grabbed him and pulled him to the surface.  He gasped for air and felt his body being pulled toward the shore.

It was Jesus.

In this guy’s dream, Buddha had merely yelled out instructions while Jesus had jumped in and rescued him.  He finally understood that while other ‘truths’ had offered instructions on how to live perfectly, Jesus recognized that it was impossible and came to die on the Cross Himself.

What a testimony.

Do you feel like you are drowning in a storm? Place your trust in the one who rescues. He will not let you drown.

Michelle

I read a great quote from Coach Dick Tomey this week:

“It is not the will to win that’s important.  It’s the will to prepare to win that really separates those who wish and dream from those who make it happen.”

If God has placed a dream in you to do something, it will remain a mere dream until you start your preparation.  Don’t expect God to carry out his calling on your life if you are lazy.  Preparation includes developing your character in Christ, which must be coupled with action.  Fervent prayer. Putting your gifts to use in small ways. Writing down an idea. Writing down an action plan.  Getting a mentor or life coach. Networking. Reading the word. Budgeting/giving towards what you are passionate about.

What talents, qualities, and resources have you been given?  What is your passion? How can you be preparing to do great things for God with what you have right now?  Something to think about this weekend.

Michelle

I am extremely joy-filled and excited today! As you know from reading Jay’s main post yesterday, we have received a grant from the Millenium Scholarship Foundation to do a documentary on sex trafficking in Canada this September. I can’t even express how pumped I am!  

And do you know why this excites me so much? Because bringing hope to the hopeless victims of sex trafficking is what God has called me to do.  The fight for justice is exhausting and sometimes terrifying, but it resonates so deep within me that I can’t live a comfortable life knowing what I know.  

This begs the question: what is it for you? What resonates deeply within your spirit?  What or who does God keep placing on your heart?  

I had a conversation with a cousin of mine this weekend about this. She is in her thirties and refuses to keep living how she is living, because she is comfortable and knows God has more for her. This is a wife and mother of three kids who has a great career, but she is willing to acknowledge that a new chapter is opening up before her and she is excited and nervous to grab a hold of it. I LOVE hearing people talk like that! 

There is more to life that comfort.  As cheesy as it is, the line from Spiderman is so true: “with great power comes great responsibility.” 

We who have been blessed with so much must live out the calling God has placed on our lives.  If you don’t know what that is, I’d encourage you to fast and pray until you figure it out!

Be blessed ladies,

Michelle

Happy Friday!  Today’s post will be short, but it’s something I’ve been wanting to write about for a while.  And…if you are a tea or coffee lover this is for you.

God wants us to be people of justice and mercy right?  Though slavery is not as obvious today as it was years ago, our global economic system runs on the backs of the poor and oppressed.  In North America we drink tons (literally tonnes!) of tea and coffee every year and rarely do we think about where it comes from.

If you love the stuff, I’d encourage you to look for the logo above.  It means that the coffee or tea is fairly traded, which ensures that the farmers and harvesters are not exploited and are allowed to set fair prices for their product.

It is hard sometimes to be people of justice when exploitation is so hidden from us.  The companies want to keep it that way.  Let’s start demanding more fair trade products and leave a legacy of compassion.

Have a great weekend!

Michelle

Jay and I had the opportunity last week to see Coldplay in concert on their Viva la Vida tour.  The show was unbelievable.  It was done with such excellence that both of us were blown away.  From the lights to the sound to the gorgeous instruments and crazy energy on stage…the whole thing was just brilliant.  But as the crowd sang along with one of the most popular songs, I felt something was missing.  I couldn’t put a finger on it right away, but as the night went on it became clear:  we were singing our lungs out but not worshiping God.

Let me explain -  I’m not saying that every concert needs to be full of worship songs.  I am not saying that we should not go to concerts that aren’t put on by a “Christian” band. What I am saying is that the experience lacked something that I have experienced before when worshiping with thousands of people.  When Hillsong came to Toronto, for example, the decibel level in the place was insane. There’s a different kind of power that invades a place when it’s not about the band, or the words themselves, but about God at the centre of it all.  When the Holy Spirit takes over a concert, it just feels different.  Have any of you felt this before?

Going to see Coldplay was an incredible experience.  But intentionally worshiping God through music is a whole other ballgame.  When it’s not about Chris Martin. Or the words to Viva la Vida. Or the melody of Yellow.  Whatever concert we’re at, let’s stop worshiping the music, the band, and the lightshow, but turn our eyes to the creator of sound, light, talent, and people. 

Have a great week ladies,

Michelle