So blogging during this trip hasn't really happened. I have made a video everyday but I haven't uploaded them so I will do that once I go to an Internet cafe at some point.
So the trip so far summed up has been amazing! I have seen so many incredible places and sights and feel so beyond blessed. The best part of the trip so far was definitely Naples and seeing the whole city from the top of a mountain. It was absolutely stunning, definitely in the top 10 coolest things I have ever seen.
The videos will have all the details of every city but I want to share about the number one most phenomenal part of this trip. In one word, God. When I am alone especially for longer periods of time I begin to think a lot and with no distractions the attention that God deserves from me is put on the top of my to do list. Basically I have had a week and a half of no one to talk to except Him and it has been amazing! My God is becoming my best friend all over again, someone I can talk to all the time and never want to stop.
I can get so consumed with the seriousness of issues people face in life. The hurt the pain all the crud, that the good stuff seems to come second place. So easily forgetting the fact that God said in John 10:10 he wants us to live life to the full. Not just strive to be ok but to go above an beyond. Yes if there is hurt or things that truly hold you back bring them to God but he wants us to enjoy life. He wants us to have fun, experience new places, meet new people. I guess realising that he created fun in itself shook me enough to just let loose and enjoy every little detail. I mean there are some funky looking things on this planet God has to have a pretty good sense of humour.
Well I am off to explore Tuscany tomorrow do farewell! enjoy some tidbits of my adventure in picture form.
Life is art, your mouth the paint, your words the brush, together they create a masterpiece
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Once upon a time
Fairy tales always start with once upon a time and with how I am feeling it fits perfect! Ahead of me are 4 weeks of excitement and adventure and I am stoked! There are so many things I want to do and see that I don't know what I am most excited for.
After a crazy day of trains, planes and automobiles I am in Istanbul!
Customs was crazy people pushing and shoving. When you are waiting in line people literally just stand in front of you. The poor old lady behind me couldn't cope and was nearly in tears. I had to put my Canadian politeness aside and throw a couple elbows to get through. After that chaos I got my bag and headed through the city.
Turkey is the only country in the world that is on two continents which is pretty rad. I took the metro across the bosphorus river where the border is meaning today I have been in Europe and Asia which is pretty cool.
My hostel is awesome it has a roof top balcony that looks over the whole city. Pictures to come tomorrow when it is light out but I will give one sneak peek.
As a final exciting tid bit about me I was inspired a few years ago by a close friend and I started collecting maps. Old, new, any map really so any city I visit I get a map to remember where I have been. Tomorrow the hunt begins so fingers crossed for a sweet new addition for my collection
I am absolutely shattered so I am calling it an early night so I can be ready for an early 8am start to explore this beautiful city.
After a crazy day of trains, planes and automobiles I am in Istanbul!
Customs was crazy people pushing and shoving. When you are waiting in line people literally just stand in front of you. The poor old lady behind me couldn't cope and was nearly in tears. I had to put my Canadian politeness aside and throw a couple elbows to get through. After that chaos I got my bag and headed through the city.
Turkey is the only country in the world that is on two continents which is pretty rad. I took the metro across the bosphorus river where the border is meaning today I have been in Europe and Asia which is pretty cool.
My hostel is awesome it has a roof top balcony that looks over the whole city. Pictures to come tomorrow when it is light out but I will give one sneak peek.
As a final exciting tid bit about me I was inspired a few years ago by a close friend and I started collecting maps. Old, new, any map really so any city I visit I get a map to remember where I have been. Tomorrow the hunt begins so fingers crossed for a sweet new addition for my collection
I am absolutely shattered so I am calling it an early night so I can be ready for an early 8am start to explore this beautiful city.
Monday, March 19, 2012
604
Today marks 604 days in the UK. I could write a cheesy heartwarming message to everyone and talk about all my favourite memories from England. Now while those memories are all absolutely incredible that is not all I am leaving England with. I have learned time and time again no matter what situation I face whether good or bad, to keep pushing forward. Take what you have learned and go for it with all you got.
The things that I learned about myself, relationships, and God are things that have literally changed my life forever! I thought I had a lot of things sorted and my life was all together. However I was constantly reminded that I am never finished and I absolutely love it! My God is so not boring and wants nothing but the best and anyone who things Christianity is boring needs to seriously take a second to think because that is the last word I would use to describe him. He is always teaching me new things giving me mind blowing opportunities and experiences that leave me in awe.
Since I was a little girl I have wanted to see the world and in 5 1/2 hours from now I embark on an adventure I never
thought would or could happen. The dream I have had in my heart is coming true! Not when I am retired or decided to settle down but when I am 21 and flipping loving life! I get to see some of the most beautiful places in the world and not on tv or in a book but in real life.
When people would tell me God cares about the little things I didn't really get what they meant. But I have come to realise it means he cares about absolutely everything about me and everything about you. Not so he can point a finger but so that he can bless you and help you have a life that is so much better than I could have ever imagined for myself.
I am so excited for what is next so stay tuned.
Next stop ISTANBUL!
The things that I learned about myself, relationships, and God are things that have literally changed my life forever! I thought I had a lot of things sorted and my life was all together. However I was constantly reminded that I am never finished and I absolutely love it! My God is so not boring and wants nothing but the best and anyone who things Christianity is boring needs to seriously take a second to think because that is the last word I would use to describe him. He is always teaching me new things giving me mind blowing opportunities and experiences that leave me in awe.
Since I was a little girl I have wanted to see the world and in 5 1/2 hours from now I embark on an adventure I never
thought would or could happen. The dream I have had in my heart is coming true! Not when I am retired or decided to settle down but when I am 21 and flipping loving life! I get to see some of the most beautiful places in the world and not on tv or in a book but in real life.
When people would tell me God cares about the little things I didn't really get what they meant. But I have come to realise it means he cares about absolutely everything about me and everything about you. Not so he can point a finger but so that he can bless you and help you have a life that is so much better than I could have ever imagined for myself.
I am so excited for what is next so stay tuned.
Next stop ISTANBUL!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Challenge Accepted
After a phenomenal day at my dads house (aka church) I had some time to sit and think about the insane wisdom that is concentrated in one place. It is not about a competition of which church is the best it is about the simple fact that God uses willing people who are devoted to him. Really there needs to be loads of different churches because people relate to God in loads of different ways. Plus it would be incredibly inconvenient to have one church on the planet, talk about a long commute.
Moving forward I was thinking about what was shared today about building relationships that are healthy by being selfless, amongst many other things. Selfless was the one that stuck out the most to me because it is something that seems to be so rare in this day and age. It was on my mind pretty much all day when coincidently this evening this was expanded on even more which was perfect! I went on my way thinking I had given it enough thought when I got into a conversation with a friend about hearing God's voice.
I didn't see the connection at first but like with many Christian principles they came together beautifully. When I heard God tell me to move to Bradford I ignored it and did everything I could to try and convince myself it wasn't God. With how intelligent I am I genuinely thought I could out smart myself and go against what I knew God was telling me. It was a
Jonah and Nineveh type situation. I was being completely self centred and focused on what I wanted when the very name of a Christian means to be Christ like. So I say I want to be like Christ yet I am ignoring him, incredibly stupid if I do say so myself. God knew that neon in Bradford would challenge me and help me to grow in so many ways but I was so focused on where I was in the moment I was distracted and couldn't see the big picture. Thankfully I gave in but sometimes i have to admit I have ignored his voice and went my own way and yeah sometimes it has worked out but it could have been so much better if I would have just listened to him in the first place.
Recently I made a massive decision to move back to Canada. I found it really difficult to go with my heart and say it was time to move on to the next adventure. In all honesty it just seemed to hard to go back and start all over when I knew full well it would be hard but I was hurting myself by not listening to what He was telling me to do.
I have learned that my brain can work in ways that I can't describe and will somehow create insane scenarios with what ifs and shoulda woulda couldas. So I made myself a challenge, not just any challenge but one that makes me nervous at just the look if the words I am typing. I am going to completely do what ever God says WHEN ever he says it.
Now whether you read that and think um duh you are a Christian you are supposed to that or look at me and think I am a religious freak that is completely ok with me. No matter what your opinion I am consciously making a decision to listen and act according to His plan.
I am talking everything, those times when you are walking in town and you see someone you know you should stop and talk to but keep walking. Your family or close friends you have fallen out with and apologising even if you are right. Choosing not to eat the entire bag of chips because you know your body is a temple of Christ not a storing ground for crud. Every small thing I am making myself a challenge to be like Jim Carey in yes man. Minus the freaky cult like speaker of course. I challenger myself to listen to his voice even when it seems totally and utterly impossible. Who knows what God has in store or how many more countries I will visit or live in. Whatever the case I say yes to the challenge and I will follow with everything I am.
Moving forward I was thinking about what was shared today about building relationships that are healthy by being selfless, amongst many other things. Selfless was the one that stuck out the most to me because it is something that seems to be so rare in this day and age. It was on my mind pretty much all day when coincidently this evening this was expanded on even more which was perfect! I went on my way thinking I had given it enough thought when I got into a conversation with a friend about hearing God's voice.
I didn't see the connection at first but like with many Christian principles they came together beautifully. When I heard God tell me to move to Bradford I ignored it and did everything I could to try and convince myself it wasn't God. With how intelligent I am I genuinely thought I could out smart myself and go against what I knew God was telling me. It was a
Jonah and Nineveh type situation. I was being completely self centred and focused on what I wanted when the very name of a Christian means to be Christ like. So I say I want to be like Christ yet I am ignoring him, incredibly stupid if I do say so myself. God knew that neon in Bradford would challenge me and help me to grow in so many ways but I was so focused on where I was in the moment I was distracted and couldn't see the big picture. Thankfully I gave in but sometimes i have to admit I have ignored his voice and went my own way and yeah sometimes it has worked out but it could have been so much better if I would have just listened to him in the first place.
Recently I made a massive decision to move back to Canada. I found it really difficult to go with my heart and say it was time to move on to the next adventure. In all honesty it just seemed to hard to go back and start all over when I knew full well it would be hard but I was hurting myself by not listening to what He was telling me to do.
I have learned that my brain can work in ways that I can't describe and will somehow create insane scenarios with what ifs and shoulda woulda couldas. So I made myself a challenge, not just any challenge but one that makes me nervous at just the look if the words I am typing. I am going to completely do what ever God says WHEN ever he says it.
Now whether you read that and think um duh you are a Christian you are supposed to that or look at me and think I am a religious freak that is completely ok with me. No matter what your opinion I am consciously making a decision to listen and act according to His plan.
I am talking everything, those times when you are walking in town and you see someone you know you should stop and talk to but keep walking. Your family or close friends you have fallen out with and apologising even if you are right. Choosing not to eat the entire bag of chips because you know your body is a temple of Christ not a storing ground for crud. Every small thing I am making myself a challenge to be like Jim Carey in yes man. Minus the freaky cult like speaker of course. I challenger myself to listen to his voice even when it seems totally and utterly impossible. Who knows what God has in store or how many more countries I will visit or live in. Whatever the case I say yes to the challenge and I will follow with everything I am.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Simplicity
with 10 days left in england a tsunami of thoughts, emotions and possibilities flood my mind.
I sit letting Bon Iver serenade me while I plan out my european adventure. Sometimes that can be a slight problem, I spend so much time being in control and planning that I miss what is in front of my face. I can be completely honest about that because there are thousands of people on the planet just like me. They want to do so many exciting things with their life. We want to travel, have new experiences, meet new people, fall in love but we are so busy trying t figure out how and when that is going to happen that we miss out on the simplicity that is life.
Yes I used life and simplicity in the same sentence. You are welcome to disagree but I believe life can be simple. The problem is we want to make it more complicated than it needs to be. One of my favorite things in the ENTIRE world is to star gaze. I can sit and watch the stars for hours on end and one of the best parts is it is entirely free. I don't need to have a big master plan for when or where I just know that the stars are there. It is simple, straight forward, it's just there.
Ultimately in life we can let go of the issues and this incredible thing can happen...you can have an unexplainable peace. Your stress goes away and all you have to do it one thing.
Make a choice.
The choice is giving up. I am not saying give up on dreams or passions or having the things you want in life but giving up on trying to be in control of every little thing that happens.
Sounds amazing right? not having to worry or stress. So if that is the end result how do you get there. Step one choose life in Christ and step two leave it with him. It is a daily battle, don't get me wrong, to give the control to him and leave it with him isn't always easy but it is so worth it.
Paul said he needed to die daily to himself, making a decision to do what ever God asked him to do and follow His lead. Was he perfect? no but we can learn from his example though. He had a wacked out life but he chose to make the right decision in the end. He was able to turn things around by giving up to the call of Christ. He didn't do it on his own he did with his best friend God.
...
that is thought of the day, today I choose to give up. I give up to follow His lead and enjoy a cup of tea. I chose to enjoy the simple things.
I sit letting Bon Iver serenade me while I plan out my european adventure. Sometimes that can be a slight problem, I spend so much time being in control and planning that I miss what is in front of my face. I can be completely honest about that because there are thousands of people on the planet just like me. They want to do so many exciting things with their life. We want to travel, have new experiences, meet new people, fall in love but we are so busy trying t figure out how and when that is going to happen that we miss out on the simplicity that is life.
Yes I used life and simplicity in the same sentence. You are welcome to disagree but I believe life can be simple. The problem is we want to make it more complicated than it needs to be. One of my favorite things in the ENTIRE world is to star gaze. I can sit and watch the stars for hours on end and one of the best parts is it is entirely free. I don't need to have a big master plan for when or where I just know that the stars are there. It is simple, straight forward, it's just there.
Ultimately in life we can let go of the issues and this incredible thing can happen...you can have an unexplainable peace. Your stress goes away and all you have to do it one thing.
Make a choice.
The choice is giving up. I am not saying give up on dreams or passions or having the things you want in life but giving up on trying to be in control of every little thing that happens.
Sounds amazing right? not having to worry or stress. So if that is the end result how do you get there. Step one choose life in Christ and step two leave it with him. It is a daily battle, don't get me wrong, to give the control to him and leave it with him isn't always easy but it is so worth it.
Paul said he needed to die daily to himself, making a decision to do what ever God asked him to do and follow His lead. Was he perfect? no but we can learn from his example though. He had a wacked out life but he chose to make the right decision in the end. He was able to turn things around by giving up to the call of Christ. He didn't do it on his own he did with his best friend God.
...
that is thought of the day, today I choose to give up. I give up to follow His lead and enjoy a cup of tea. I chose to enjoy the simple things.
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