Maritime Madness.

This last week I've had the amazing opportunity of traveling the Maritime Provinces of Canada. I've always heard that these provinces have a culture of their own, but nevertheless I was blown away when the team and I arrived here. By the hospitality, the Maritime Pride, the history, and of course, the beauty. So here's a quick overview of some of the things we've had the privilege of seeing over the past week.

Moncton NB: A beautiful city with some of the most hospitable people I've ever met. A Tim Hortons on every corner (almost...), the James family, hard core American Idol fans, the cheapest second hand store I've ever set foot in, and Uplanders Baptist Church, one of the most welcoming church communities we've visited yet!

Halifax NS: A city of history, BEAUTIFUL universities, and a wonder board walk. We accidentally walked in on a free clothing give away at King's university in the girls dorm, and weren't apologetic about taking what we like. (Don't worry we were very much allowed to) We found there the most amazing second hand bookstore, visited Theodore the Tugboat, and had an amazing Thai supper!

The Bay of Fundy: I'll let the pictures speak for themselves on this one.

Cavendish PEI: The site of Anne of Green Gables, the birth place and resting place of LM Montgomery, and a beautiful walking path through 'The Haunted Forest.'

Charlottetown PEI: Canada's birthplace. We were able to visit the parliament buildings, and the PEI government happened to be in session. We witnessed a hot debate about price fixing in the Lobster Industry, and also got to see the Womens Olympic Gold Medal Bobsled team be acknowledged by their provincial government and given a standing ovation. We enjoyed some fresh lobster close to the beach, and then took a drive down to the North Shore!

Needless to say. A stellar couple days off.

Jessica

A Letter to the Undecided

You need to start living for God. I am unapologetic about being straight forward about this. You need to let him in. He’ll fill the holes. You’ll sleep. Actually sleep; feel rested like you never have before. You need to stop running. You need to stop minimizing and attempting to discredit him. You are hurting him. He created you, and the way you are living breaks his heart. Not because of the decisions you make, but because of the hurt and the emptiness YOU are experiencing as a result of those choices. When you hurt, he hurts more. When you feel alone and thrown aside and not appreciated or cared for, he feels all that too and is devastated because that is not the kind of life he created you for.

The things you are looking for; companionship, (True, constant, loyal, and unchanging companionship) passion, (Unwavering drive and excitement, a goal that fulfills you and moves you forward) purpose, (A knowing that YOU are the solution and contributor to a certain and specific SOMETHING, that you are not here to simply take up space and then disappear) and acceptance. (The knowing, and never doubting, that you are valued, cared for, loved, in spite of anything you might do intentionally or unintentionally to sabotage it) These are things you will never truly experience in full unless you acknowledge the one who created them as YOUR creator.

And the SECOND you acknowledge that he is who he says he is, you give him permission to come into your life and begin to work. To fill that which was once empty. To heal that which was once damaged. To reclaim that which was once abandoned. To restore what was destroyed. To comfort what was hurt. To breathe life into the parts of you that feel lifeless.

I ache for you to experience this life. I was so badly for you to know this fullness. An existence free of doubt, torment, fatigue, loneliness, and helplessness. That is the kind of life I long for you to experience. But my longing pales in comparison to God’s.

He would do ANYTHING for you to be able to live this way. In fact; he already has. And now the only thing standing in between the awe inspiring God and the life he desperately wants you to have, is you.