Don't waste your Life...!

Connect group with the Gr. 6 Girls

 My Message to the girls has been inspired by John Piper's book and his sermons titled "Don't waste your life".  After taking some time to read his book and listen to some of his sermons based on the book, I was really intrigued to share this with my girls during our Connect group.
" What are you living for" Was the question I placed before them to ponder on. It was really interesting to hear their response. Little did they know that our answers to that question reveals the condition of our hearts ( What we treasure above anything else) and will determine the direction of our lives. If our purpose is wrong, our direction will be wrong and what a wasted life it would be.
 We went through the book of Philippians 1:21-22 and C.T. Studd's poem to get a fresh perspective about life and the importance of our every day choices.

Philippians 1:21-22
 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me...


Only one life, 'twill soon be past,. 
Only what's done for Christ will last.
 C.T. Studd.
 
 Paul and C.T. Studd  answered those fundamental questions, “What is the purpose of life? What about death and what lies beyond?” Will it be gain? or loose for me?
It's amazing how all of these truth grabbed my girls' attention. The class fell silent.
With the every day growth of technology, media, fashion etc, it's easy for us to be swept along by the currents of our age, buying into the lies of the enemy we might find our self with one self-centered purpose, doing only what seems to bring me happiness. It's easy to fall prey when our focus is not right and our hearts are divided. But such questions serves as a harsh but good reminder that our focus in life should be on that which is eternal.  We were not made to live the wasted life: " Enjoy yourself before you die."  or for the here and now. We are made to live through the lens of eternity. Running this race with our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ who is the Author and the finisher of all things.  Jesus says it this way, “Seek the kingdom of God above all else.”

The questions are:

How might this affect how you live today?  How can you live with more of an eternal perspective?  How might it change your priorities, what you spend your time and money on, or what relationships you invest in?...How can you avoid living a wasted life?

It was really amazing to listen to the the girls answers Before and much more interesting to hear what they had to say After.  Surely the truth can set us free. John 8:32, "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Our short lives compared to Eternity

The importance of Accountability partners.

Two or more is better than one: Team Work

Our lives and our choices: Hula-hoop, hula-hoop!

Creativity and fellowship time.

Birthdays

We  got to celebrate the most amazing people in our lives this week. They have all been and still are such an amazing blessing beyond words could ever express.

Sweet Chanteline and awesome Peter!!

The Cool Gabriel!!

The Birthday Boy and the photo-bombers!

The Birthday man (Mr. John Hunter) and  100 photo-bombers !!!

Art and the God of Wonders.

Happy Art Hours

                                                                                                

 The heavens declaring the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

The Glory of God in the sun set.

Freedom in Christ alone.

Chapel with the YWAM Sweden team

For the past few days we had the Sweden WYAM  team with us and they have been a blessing beyond words could ever express. All the way cross the oceans they came down to share the Good news about  Christ Jesus but not only in words but also by their love and service unto us and many more. It was truly amazing having to listen to their testimonies but also having to see them being a living testimony of what God has done and continues to do in their lives. Which was really inspiring. The children truly loved having them around as they helped around the school.
On our chapel days they did a dance and a skit which mainly points to Christ Jesus being the redeemer and the only one that can ever set us free from the bondage of sin. Indeed when it comes to our salvation, our hope is anchored in the promise of God and the work of Jesus Christ. Our hope is securely fastened in Jesus Christ who redeemed us once and for all when He died, rose again, and ascended to heaven. We truly thank Thank God for such a great reminder and the blessing he had been to us through this team. We all need people in our lives that can motivate us to acts of love and good works. Yet I am always amazed when God sometimes choose to use people that he brings all the way from the other side of the world just to be a blessing in your life or bring a word of encouragement. It is always refreshing and it clearly exclaims how Big and Sovereign God is. 

Yep...it's the First Day Of SCHOOL!!!!! :)

They define the word; Adorable!

                


 School officially started today!  :)  :)
  New faces ( adorably cute) and old faces (the best of the best)!
  It was really an exciting day for all of us as we welcomed both our new and old students back to school this morning. Some how the one month summer break suddenly felt like a whole year. Surely there is no pain quite like missing someone that you dearly love and long to see. But when you finally do get to see them again, some times you can't help it but the following will happen; scream, hug,...repeat! then bask in the glow of each others' faces and maybe you might even find yourself speaking a little bit faster than normally humans do.   :)   I admit that I am totally guilty of all of that...especially this morning. My students too. It is hard to explain. In fact it is complicated!
But it is the best feeling in the world when you see this faces after such a long time.

I am really happy and it is a great honor to let you know that (first of all, I have a new student in my class and his name is Peter) and I have moved on to the next grade with my previous grade 5s. It is honestly an answered prayer for both of us. I really felt the need to spend as much time as I can with them one more year because I felt like I haven't invested enough into their lives last year. Last year was the beginning of everything and there is so much to do before we can send them out in to different high schools around the city. I pray-fully hope to invest more into their lives this year as much as I can or as much as God allows me to because I know ( and I am trying not to worry) that there will come a time when they will have to move on to the next grades without me.

They come back once in a while, but it’s never the same. - See more at: http://simplehomeschool.net/foundation/#sthash.as21UwQa.dpuf

 Considering all those we have send out: They do come back once in a while, but it's never the same for everyone. And some hardly come back. Apparently "life happens" and so it does. This is our window of opportunity to build a strong foundation that will support them for the rest of their lives just as many people did when we were younger. So please do keep them in your prayers as you read this blog and not only them but also the rest of the school and the staff members.
   

2016: Gr. 6

CHS' Team Building!

Community Hope School's Staff members

 
We went down to the YWAM base for our staffs' team building. It was a great way to start off the year as a team. A great way to cast vision and learn more about each other. Team buildings are always fun and interesting. Fun in away that it challenges you to do things that are normally out of your comfort zones and interesting, because you get to learn knew things about your team-mates and also about yourself. I found it really fun and mind blowing having to answer some of the most important questions by doing an activity or by working out a solution to a challenge as a team. This process taught us how important a strong foundation is in every thing we will ever hope to build in life. Communication and team work are as essential . The bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 4:12  that:
Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
This was really a great reminder that we need each for strength, support, encouragement, and love if we ever hope to go any where in life. We are called to be apart of a body not to go through life as lone rangers. The beauty of the body is this; it is made up of many different parts that performs different functions but those parts are all equally important. Those parts makes up the body. I realize that if you ever want something to work you have to be intentional about everything especially in the moments that you don't feel like it. You have to chose to love, accept, and acknowledge with respect other people who are completely different from you. And the most amazing thing is when you chose to love through Christ as a team there is unity. You learn to work together by having one mind and one driven purpose. It creates the most wonderful picture when different people with different gifts and different characters work together towards the same goal in what ever areas they feel called to by encouraging and complementing each other as one. 
Concerning loving people that are different from you, Paul Washer raise this question:  

How can you learn unconditional love if you’re married to a woman who meets all your conditions?
Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/895946

How can you learn unconditional love if you’re married to a woman who meets all your conditions?
Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/895946

How can you learn unconditional love if you’re married to a woman who meets all your conditions?
Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/895946

How can you learn unconditional love if people met all the conditions?
How would you ever learn mercy, patience, long-suffering, heart-felt compassion if people never failed you? if they were never difficult with you?
If they never sinned against you? If they were never slow to acknowledge their sin or ask for forgiveness?
How would you ever learn grace, to pour out your favor on someone who did not deserve it, if you were with someone who was always deserving of all good things? Do you see that?
  The main purpose is that through this,  you become conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.
 
 Working as a team or as a body this truth is essential and that is the one thing that I have learned today. We are different but we are all part of the same body as a school.

How can you learn unconditional love if you’re married to a woman who meets all your conditions?
Read more at: http://www.azquotes.com/quote/895946

Kid’s Art and the Glory of God

I thought I should share this because this is one of the people I ever came across who truly understand what Art is all about. Someone who understands that Art is more than just a pencil forming lines and shapes! Art reveals the Artist's heart and mind to the world; it gives you more information about the "creator" behind the master piece and it tells you what that person is truly passionate about.
Art is not a waste of time and it is more than just coloring in pretty pictures. Art is meant to point us back to the creator. It reveals he's beauty and it shows us that he is good because all that he has ever made is good!
You get to perceive the world in new ways, find hidden patterns, and understand it's true purposes when you begin to look at all things through the eyes of the one who created it. The source of all things who is GOD!
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...boom!..The first Artist spoke everything in to existence.
I always say; the heavens are a canvas board. That is where all the breathe taking sunsets, sunrise, and starry nights takes place. Painted and brushed across the sky in the most indescribable way.

As a Father of a couple of kids 6 and under I am frequently given gifts. These gifts are precious and priceless works of art. My children will spend significant time to go and get their paper and crayons to make me a picture. Then they run to me with the picture in hand and simply say, “Here Daddy, I made this.” I hold it up and admire it. Often I will ask questions and they answer in surprising detail about their intentions with their marks. There is no question: they made this artwork with intentionality. They want to share it with me.
I have been studying the book of Genesis lately and was struck with the parallel in creation. The Bible repeatedly says in chapter 1 that what God made was good. God looks at what he made with approval. It is good. He also wants to share its goodness. Psalm 19 tells us that the creation declares God’s glory. It is pouring forth speech about him as the glorious Creator of everything.
Without reducing the infinite glory of what we see in God’s creation, I feel that the illustration of what children are doing helps to communicate what we see in God’s work. God is sharing what he made while he delights in it. Further, he is inviting others to come and behold it and enter into his joy in its stunning beauty. The child, as an image bearer, is unwittingly reflecting something of their Creator’s work. They are joyfully sharing what they have made and inviting us to enter into their joy by agreeing with them about its goodness.
We might look past what kids are doing as simply developmental but I believe there is something devotional to observe as well. All creation, including children, are declaring his glory. Speech is being poured out. Do you see the Creator’s handiwork in the creativity of the children? It will provoke your worship. It has mine.

by Erik Raymond