i really am going to miss these guys. one of them has already left us. WAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! i never thought that it'll be soo hard to leave toronto.... but this summer, the Lord has really put amazing people in my life and has shown me amazing revelations of things to come.... hmmmm... so torn!!!

so. what to blog about? ........... G O D !!!!!

....i love God. These past few weeks has been rough!!! To sum up everything that has happened with one line, it would be....God is good!!! Yesterday at a prayer meeting, the Lord really spoke to me about an intimate relationship we MUST have with Him. Many times, we talk of things we want to do, such as expanding the kingdom of God for His glory and name. Not that its not good to make an action plan, but i feel like many times we don't reallly expand his kingdom because we don't know where to draw our strength from, or i dare say: without the former, it is impossible to please or to do anything for God. Therefore no action plan could ever work without our intimate relationship with our Lord. Its really easy to write a good sermon, or to plan a good program, but if they are not a mere manifestation of who we are or our intimate relationship with God himself during our quiet times, then i'm sorry to say, they are all for nothing.

....so don't fool ourselves.... its no good.

..... what got me thinking all of this? it was when a friend said to me yesterday: "Cora hears, we need her!" I think its cool and encouraging to hear that, but at the same time, i thought, " shouldn't we all hear? wouldn't it be great if we all do?" Intimate relationship. The Lord desires to speak to ALL of us!

....so i shall leave you all this verse:

...that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with al the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen -Ephesians 3:16-21

... that we may know the Love of Christ through an intimate relationship with Him.....DAILY!!!
...that we will be STRENGTHENED with POWER when we are rooted and grounded in LOVE
....and then what? that we may be able to COMPREHEND with ALL the saints........ His LOVE that surpasses ALL knowledge
....and what? we may be filled up to the FULLNESS of God. wow!
....and i don't think its a coincidence that the next verse comes in right after. because after being filled and grounded in His love, finally the Lord is able to in US, far MORE abundantly beyond all that we ask or think!!!! ...wow. indeed. to Him be the glory!!!

....so how do we expand the kingdom of God? Maybe the first question should be, how can the Lord expand our own hearts?

Its not that she wanted it in the first place, so why does the absence of it leaves her with this nostalgic tugging in her heart? In her mind, she repeats to herself: "you give and take away..." Yet, the questions still lingers on: "if i didn't ask for it in the first place, why did you place it in my life only to have it be taken away?"

..... then the bigger question remains: what about the things i'm praying for in faith...? are they given as well only to be taken away....?

...Lord, in this hour of confusion, may you provide comfort, peace, and the assurance of your love.

me and sonja! love that girl!

i love this picture of mel!

jazz festival in montreal!

our last day..:(

group pic!

we made those hats!

me, sonja, shags!

jazz festival at montreal!!!

nice view!! we bought those swords from the dollar store! greatest investment EVER!!!

girl power!

we were trying to do something here...

vicky, mel, me

weee....

trip to ottawa!! sorry it took me soo long to post them up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARYN!!!!! you are God's gift to me... thank you for just being YOU!! love you lots. keep me UPDATED!!!!! (oh yeah, you know what i'm talking about)

All she ever wanted was to serve Her God, to speak of His name in places where the gospel has not been preached. Throughout the last year, all that she can ever think about was China: deep in her heart she knew that the Lord has filled her mind with this nation for the purpose of prayer--so that she can devote all of herself to pray for those whom He loves.

As the summer was approaching, she started imagining herself being in that glorious land where her heart belongs: speaking a new language, meeting new people, and most importantly spreading the word to those who have never heard. Her heart pounded as she started to plan her summer, and then it happened-- with a gentle voice, her Father, who knows of all things, commanded this girl to stay in Toronto and wait. "Be obedient here, " He said, " then I shall send you back."

Her voice spoke with hesistant, "Here? in Toronto? Are you sure Lord? But..my heart belongs to China. Yet, your will be done..."

...and it was. Although being confused, even doubtful, of her God's victorious plan, she finally decided that her heart must obey and wait. Within only weeks of being in Toronto, this girl started to see Her Saviour's hand moving amongst her softball team and church. Even more so, little did she know that her God was preparing her for something much greater...

One ordinary night, this young girl came home from a weekly softball prayer meeting. Being all tired, she threw herself on the bed, thinking that she'll get a good night sleep, and maybe even a peaceful dream (bahamas, relaxing at a beach)... Yet instead of sleeping, she found herself tossing and turning. (Through past experiences, she knew that whenever this happens, her Daddy usually wants to tell her something...) so without hesistant, she started praying. It was at that moment that her God started revealing to her people who are hurting, people who need prayers. Being moved by the spirit, this young girl started to pray and cry out to her God for them. Each and everyone, some by name, some whom she doesn't know, even some whom she may never see again... one by one, she lifted them up to the One who hears. In the midst of cyring out to her God, she heard a gentle voice: one that is full of love, full of mercy, it said:

"A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Light shall shine out of darkness. The army in Canada is rising up. The army in Canada is rising up..."

Recognizing right away that it was He, she replied: "Oh Lord, I want to be part of this army.."

"You must draw in more people. Those who have ears will hear. Those who do not, they shall be left behind.. It is time."

Very shortly after, she heard another voice. This time, not so gentle, nor so loving. With a loud and angry shout, he said: "You cannot take my people from me and destroy the work that I've done." Then he started reminding this young girl of all that she has been doing: the prayers that were lifted up to her Father, the people she has been talking to, the dreams and visions she wanted to see in this nation... Finally, with a loud shout, again he said: "I'm not going to allow you...."

Having a clear mind of what was happening and the full assurance of the victory she has in Him who is greater, this young girl said to her enemy: "I shall do whatever to claim back what belongs to my God, no matter what it takes...it shall be done."

The very next day, her God provided people around her to pray. They gathered around, each crying out to the same God--their hearts yearning for the same desire: to see change in Canada--toronto. Together they cried out: "We want to see your kingdom come and your will be done in this nation."

Her heart was moved and in awe of what her God is doing in this land. She went home that day feeling excited of what is to come. She thought to herself, "more people will I gather, to fight, to press on, and to claim back our land."

"Where have she read this before?" she thought to herself, "It all seemed so familiar." It was then that she opened up the Book. It was not a mere coincidence that this young girl decided to randomly pick a chapter to read from the bible. Somehow, her hands rapidly turned to that specific page: this innocent page was the one the Lord has chosen to speak to this young girl with. She started reading chapter six in the book of Joshua. Within minutes of reading, the Lord started again to stir up her heart...

It dawned upon her: the trumpet has sounded. this is war and we shall win. Like the Israelites, the Lord shall give us the land which He has promised: the land flowing with milk and honey.
"I ask for the nation."
"The nation shall be given to you."
"At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, 'Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.'"
"Arise! Take all the people of war with you and arise..."
"the son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil...."

....and claim back his people, his city, and his land....

................are you ready to fight? As kat had said, "let's move..."

As she pondered of all the things that have happened this summer: the amazing people she met who have such a desire for toronto, the things that are going on in her church and on her team. Then she thought about all that the Lord has shown her, she felt, for the first time, so privileged to be part of the Master's plan, here in Toronto.

this is a picture of us trying to imitate CHOW'S famous hand thingy he does whenever he tries to explain something... HAHAHAHA.. those were the days...HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHOW!!! WE WILL SEE YOU REAL SOON!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I LOVE YOU SONJA!!! I MISS YOU. Sorry that I couldn't make it to London this weekend. Remember this time last year, we were all celebrating your birthday at Hebei university..:)