Just Breathe.

Good morning y'all! It's pretty hard for me to believe that I haven't post for over a month...that doesn't mean that I didn't do anything, but rather the total opposite! I really can't complain about it though. Over the last few months, I've been very busy with my job, as well as blessed beyond measure. It's especially not because I've done anything to deserve it, but rather because of God's awesomeness  & gracefulness.I had in mind to write about something for some time now, but I'll save it for next time because I realize that what I'm about to jot down might me more applicable to what most of you might need..as well as myself.

Just Breathe.

I'm writing this post right now at Starbucks, and it's pretty impressive as I look through the window facing the Main St. how many people are going somewhere, whether completing one thing on their daily agenda, heading to work, school or university...all of it has its own challenges, ups & downs.

Wherever you might have headed to this morning, remember that God has a reason for you to be there. There are hard things to deal with on a daily basis, but remember to just breathe and look where you are at and thank the Lord for it. Make sure not to rush into things because it seems worthless to do it. Just Breathe and realize that God is in control of all the situations, challenges, and the things to come. I believe that there's wonderful things ahead for y'all, so don't give up!

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As most of you know, we are planning a trip to Haiti for two weeks at the end of this year. It's such a wonderful thing for me to look forward too, especially because it's been over a year since I last travelled there. To see all the kids again that I love so much, will definitely make it even more awesome. We have so much to plan and pack, but it's all worth it. A whole week will be dedicated for Children's work, primarily at a school and in the mountain. For the activities and crafts, we need to plan for approximately 150 children. It's obviously more than we're used too, so your prayers would be greatly appreciated in order for everything to go smoothly:-)

Ill do my best to post more details about it soon. While being there, most pictures are going to be posted at my other blog that is primarily for my trips to Haiti: http://smileandmilesaway.blogspot.ca/.

Take care y'all!

Enjoy the simple things in life.

"The most simple things in life can bring the most happiness."  

Don't  miss the little things that God brings your way. From the beautiful sunrise to the snowflakes that gently fall-it's all there to make you smile:-) Enjoy the simple things in life, including spring that just arrived:-) I can't wait to be able to see our garden growing again, and the birds in our birdhouses. God's creation is so amazing.

Here's my new video:

To follow Christ

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 15:19

Decided to follow Him (Mark 34,36)

Imitating Christ (Luke 6:40)
Serving Him (Mark 10:43)
Courageous (John 16:33)
Investing (Mat 6:19-21)
Persevering (Acts 2:42)
Live by His word (2 Tim 3:16-17)
Endurance (Mat 5:11)

We need to make choices everyday. Big ones. Small ones. All kinds. If we are truly serving the Lord that means that we'll need to make some sacrifices and commitments daily. It can be hard, but at the end, it will all be worth it. What will we choose?

• To ignore the cross or to take it up?
• To live for ourselves or to deny ourselves?
• To gain the world or to forsake the world?
• To lose our soul or to keep it?     
• To seek to save our life and ultimately lose it, or to lose our life and ultimately find it.                                                                                                      

  "Let us be a light in the world in order for those around us to know who we are living for."

God's Word is powerful.

  These are a few things that I had on my heart to share with all of you today-a few thoughts that stayed with me from the all-day meeting in PEI last weekend. The main topic was basically about how to read and study the Bible. It might seem simple, but in reality do we really take time to make it a priority in our life on a daily basis? It's basically the nourishment for our soul, and without it our relationship with Christ will be faltered. Through the Bible, the Lord can reveal many beautiful truths to us. 

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, 

for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

that the man of God may be complete,

throughly furnished unto all good works."

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We might not always realize it, but just think of how blessed we are to have the Bible in our own language, accessible to us everywhere we go? It's such a privilege.We should be very thankful for it.Here's a video that I find so inspiring that was shared with all of us during the past weekend: 

Everyday, God has a message for each of us. We should be willing to know what is the lesson that the Lord wants to teach us. The purpose to study God's Word shouldn't be primarily to debate about it and to get all the answers right, but rather it is to know more about Him, and to see how we should walk through our life  following His example  in the way that He interacted, talked and dealt with the people around Him."It takes time to read & study God's Word, but it's worth it." 

PS: Next post will primarily be about the helpful study tips that were given, as well as what worship really is. 

Have a great weekend guys!

Colossians 3:17

Here are some things that could be done today that could brighten someone's day:

•  Let's be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud 
•  Let's listen twice as much as we speak 
• Let's practice compassion

"Be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, tolerant of the weak,because someday in your life you will be all of these." 

~George Washington Carver~

"Compassion is language the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

~Mark Twain~ 

Living intentionally.

"To live everyday without a goal is like missing the rainbow after it rains."

We were not created to only do a regular journey through this life, but rather everyone of us were placed on the earth to serve the Lord with the gift that He has given us. We all have different talents and abilities. No one can do everything, but we can do something to build up the kingdom of God. It's so awesome that the Lord gave us another day to live because that means that there's still something for us to do before His coming. 

Whatever you do, do it for the Lord. Colossians 3:17

Lets stay positive in 2016!

(The pictures are from Pinterest)

 

If you FAIL, never give up because F-A-I-L means "First Attempt In Learning".

END is not the end. In fact, E-N-D means "Effort Never Dies".

If you get NO as an answer, remember NO means "Next Opportunity".

 

Be positive in 2016!

two thousand sixteen

Happy New Year-2016! 

   2016- It's the beginning of another year, and I don't know if it's like this for you, but... I feel like if the year 2015 went by so fast! It came, and now it's gone. At the same time though, I'm so thankful for it because I've learned so many things through my experiences, that I wouldn't have learned otherwise. They've been some difficult times and good times, but I thank God for them all. I realized that, it's only through the "fire" that our weaknesses are made stronger. The Lord allows things in our life that we don't always understand. Some things are small, and other ones are big-sometimes it's like if there is a huge cloud in front of us, and we just can't see the end. I challenge you this year to look beyond what troubles you, your doubts, and fears. Think of all the wonderful things that the Lord has done all throughout your life, and what He's yet to do. He's still there right beside, and He will always be there for you. The Lord never forsake nor leave them that are His.

I pray that this year will be wonderful for all of you guys. Don't forget that the Lord could come at any moment-which is a pretty exciting thing! God has something for all of us to do while we are still on the earth though. We are all here for a reason, a purpose. If you don't know your purpose in life, let it be this year, in 2016, that you will find the will of the Lord for your life. We only have one life to live for Christ. Only what's done for Christ will last.

Some personal goals for the year 2016:

• Live more intentionally. 
• Get closer to God. 
• Improve my prayer life.
• Pray more for preservation. 
•  Enjoy more the simple things in life. 
• Make a difference every day in others' lives.
• Remember everyday that God will always accomplish what He promised. 
• Remember everyday that God has a plan for my life.

PS: If you want to share a goal for this year in the comment section below, that would be awesome. Go for it:-)

God bless you all!

Keila

There’s always a rainbow after it rains.

It’s amazing to think that the Lord never allows something in our life that isn’t in His plans. It’s all for a purpose. It’s a true statement that everything happens for a reason, but it’s even more than that. We should strive to learn the lesson that the Lord wants us to learn from the circumstance we’re in. It might seem sometimes like if there’s going to be no end, like if you’re in a valley and all you see are mountains around you that you need to climb...but remember that the Lord will never leave you nor forsake you.

Through it all

I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong:
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation
That my trials come to only make me strong.

Chorus: Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.

I thank God for the mountains,
And I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms
He brought me through;
For if I'd never had a problem
I wouldn't know that He could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do.

We still can

Everyday is another opportunity to show love, respect, and patience to those around us. Life is short. Our goal should be to encourage others, and make them feel loved. The Lord gives us the air that we breathe, so shouldn't it be our duty to serve Him, by being an encouragment to others, each and every day? Lets strive to make a difference in other people's life a little bit at a time-while we still can.

2 Corinthians 8:9 -For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Let your light shine

  Hey folks, it's already the last month of the year 2015, and I just can't believe it! Where did the time go? I realize much more now how it's important to enjoy the little things in life because the days, months, and years goes by so quickly. I'm so thankful for this year though, I can't complain about that!

 

This is a question that we could all ask ourselves today: "How will we end this month, the last month of the year 2015?" Are we satisfied with what we've done this year? How could the year 2016 be better than the one that will soon end? It's our choice to choose. What's written below can be well aplicable to all of us I think.
 

 

In every situation, wether good or bad, God has something that He wants to teach us, a lesson that  He wants us to learn in those times. It prepares us for future situations that we might encounter in our life at one point or another. The Lord is making us ready for what He has in store for us. 

 

 We've all been in uneasy, challenging, and heartbreaking situations. It might even be sometimes because of our own mistakes. How should we deal with those things? By being frustrated? discouraged? dishearten? By giving up? Not really.It will not solve the problem.

 

We must realize that failure is never the last word, but rather it's an opportunity to start again with more discernment. As Christians, we should never come to the point that we think that there's nothing for us to do. We are the light of the world. Our flame should never stop burning. We were meant for more than sitting around and waiting for something great to happen. Our goal should be to make the most of the time that we have left.We need to let our light shine everyday and everywhere.

 

My thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

so are my ways higher than your ways.

Isaiah 55:8–9

10 Amazing Reasons to be Grateful Today.

1. This morning you woke up-which means that God has a plan and a purpose for you today. Every day is a new gift! This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

2. No matter what you are dealing with, God has the power to sustain you through it all. (Psalm 55: 22)

3. God is 100% in control. He knows the bigger picture. He knows what's ahead. (Isaiah 41:10)


4. Heaven is going to be awesome! We will spend all eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.
         
 5. God always does what He promises to us at the right time.

6. The Lord forgives us. (Psalm 103:12)

7. We have the opportunity to serve and praise Him for what He did, and still does for us today.

8. All the creation around us is one of many ways that God demonstrates His love towards us.

9. The provision of life: food, clothes, a home etc.

10. Our family and friends that encourages us.

Trust Him with His plan.

Pinterest

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.

"There's a spot on the map that God has plan for you to be, and leave a mark there."

The will of the Lord will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

 

Pinterest

 

Let's make a difference

It's real, there's people living every day with only the bare minimum to servive. I've seen it.

Living with less than a dollar a day for some is normal. For many children, around the world, to walk miles and miles to get water for their family is their daily job. To get education it's only for the "rich" people, for many. How will they get food and water for their day and go at school at the same time...it isn't possible really. Education is not even an option for some, oftentimes because it's not even available for them. Let's face it,we are blessed. We don't leave our home hungry, education is accessible to us, we have water that runs down a tap, and so on.

When I was in Haiti the last time I did the walk, a 2 hours walk that many people travel each day carying up to a twelve gallon bucket filled with water on their head. I can tell you, the walk wasn't easy. There was this little boy of approximately seven years of age, and he was carriying two big jugs of water and I offered to carry one along the way, and for the short while I carried it, up and down the path in the mountain, I was actually quite exausted! Just by seing them doing it, it gave me courage to continue on. We should, once in a while, try to "be in someone else's shoes for a day" and do what a normal day for them would be. It's real worldwide, but it isn't impossible to make difference. Let's make changes with one step at a time. I have this short video that I would like to share called:

Life between the poor and rich: Phenomena of life

The lessons we learn

 Sometimes, to write  what I really have on  my heart, it seems like if I need to be in the situation to do so, and today is actually a good time for it J Maybe you had one of those days today when life feels so purposeless, without anything exciting to do, it’s just seems so repetitive and monotone...  On the opposite side, you might have had a purposeful and meaningful day, everything on your To Do list has been checked, and many opportunities showed up for you to brighten someone’s day at work, at school, on the street, at home-wherever else you’ve been. If I would always, every single day, live on the bright side of life it would be more than wonderful, but like all of us now it isn’t the case. My daily goals, personally, are to at least encourage a person, pray for someone I can see that’s struggling, shine God’s love and patient to others, and even if I don’t verbally share with them the Gospel, at least live out the way He would in order for others to know who you live for.  They are my personal goals that I would want to achieve every day, but unfortunately, it’s not always easy. I fail sometimes. On the contrary, I might choose to ignore the opportunity that God clearly put before me, think it’s too hard, it demands too much, it means that I’ll need to get out of my comfort zone…

Today I’ve been amazed to see how many opportunities God gives us each day to serve Him. Even if most of us are still students it doesn’t restrains us from doing what we are called to do, and to be a light in this world that’s in great need of a Savior. It also struck me when I came across all of those people today on the city bus, that you can’t ignore by seeing and hearing them that some are struggling greatly, and faced with hard challenges.

There’s this girl I came across a few months ago on the bus, and I have on my heart and in my prayers since then. I don’t know her name, neither where she lives specifically, all that I know is she has a tough time just by looking in her eyes. I talked with her a little bit, and I simply help her out with the stuff she was carrying and her little girl…I didn’t do much at all that day to say, but for her it’s like if I would have given her very much. She couldn’t understand that an unknown person to her would do that.   The lesson I got from it is, what she need is what we usually take for granted, such as a welcoming home,  parents who encourages, friends to trust, and so many other blessings that we, most of us have. I really didn’t do that much that day, that I thought, and I am not any more special than anyone else because I gave her a hand, but it’s just that- what she wanted that day was to be cared for and loved. This story came to me today, not by chance or because I couldn’t find something else to write about, but it’s really because I never saw her again since then…until today. What I can do is put her in God’s care, and He will work in her life. God can do miracles. I say this story not because I want to say that I’ve did something great, but it’s just a reminder that those things that you do that might seem insignificant-they can mean a whole lot to somebody else. Let’s be other people’s sunshine, and brighten up their day.

Have a great week folks! 

Keila

A purpose in life

At this moment I'm enjoying a great strawberry-banana smoothie at Starbucks.☺As I take a short glance around, it amazes me to think that everyone around was created by God for a specific goal. It's a simple thought, but I found it totally astonishing!      God created, all of us, for a definite purpose.

  This week, I would like to consider the importance to realize, as individuals, the purpose of our life, which God established in each of our hearts. In us, there’s the tendency to do whatever we want whenever, for our own pleasures and desires… but at the end what will it profit? One day, we will all be accountable to God for the deeds which we did while on earth. (2 Cor 5:10) Shouldn’t we be thrived that we have the strength in us, given by God, to do what He wants us to be and do, as well as the privilege to have a relationship with Him.

 All around us, in the world which we live in, it’s sad when we consider that there's individuals that rather “waste” their life doing practically nothing, or in other words nothing productive or worthwhile, in order to satisfy their flesh. It’s not my job to judge, because I was once at such a point in my life, but just imagine living an entire life, day by day, without knowing the reason you were placed in the world. What a desperate feeling must it be!  I wonder sometimes how the world would be if everyone would be living purposely, with a vision. But what if we, as Christians,would live our life different from what a large portion of the society says. To live with a purpose  might sound complicated and “just another option to live your life”, but it isn’t really…if the true meaning of it is made clear. It basically says it all-to live with a purpose, purposely.  In life there are many decisions. They could be small, insignificant or life-changing decisions. We have the responsibility in our hands how we’re going to deal with all of them. To live with a purpose, we need to constantly seek God’s plan for our life. The Lord knows exactly what's ahead. We shouldn't be worried, but rather trust Him that He will do what He promised us. 

 Let's live each day with a vision!

Keila

A purpose to live

A purpose to live

These are the topics that I had on my heart to write about in the next few months for The Challenge: 

-A purpose in life

-A life devoted, consecrated to Christ

-A life devoted to prayer

-A heart to give and serve

-A hope to live

-A joy to live

-A word to encourage

A consecrated Life for Him

A Challenge

I have an idea in mind... I pray that it will be a blessing to you, as it was for me when I began to understand more of God's beauty. For the next few months I'll be posting some reflections that I'll gather from day to day. My goal isn't simply to put down my thoughts in a post, but most of all, for it to be a word of encouragement for all of you. I don't know what you're all going through these days, but my prayer is that you'll be able to be refresh by God's greatness daily by digging in His Word. Our life is obviously busy, there's always unexpected responsibility and tasks we need to undertake, but what stops us from being near to the Lord and do what pleases Him, if we "say" that we live for Him? Shouldn't it be just a normal part of our life to feed ourselves daily with what God granted us with, His valuable Word? By experiencing it myself, I can say that, as human, we all tend to fail in one way or another.God is faithful, and He can forgive us when we are in need of forgiveness. (1Jn 1:9)

        

 If we realize that we have a purpose in life, we will see all the great opportunities that God grant us with, such as the choice to give it all to Him, to consecrate our life to Him, in order for him to take control of it and make it beautiful, according to His plan. To be consecrated to the Lord means that we no longer live for our own pleasures, but instead look for ways to please Him in any ways, such as serving   His people. By serving others around us will make us realize how Christ gave so much to us, and how big of a price He paid in order for us to have the assurance of salvation, and the true hope of being with Him in Heaven forever.

In the days ahead my goal will be to post a simple outline of the subjects that I have on my heart to write about. Check it back soon for more updates.

Have a w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l day folks!
Keila