CassieToday started slowly, steadily, and wonderfully.
Wednesdays are my only day this semester of no alarm-setting, so I woke up at around 10am naturally. I spent time talking to Jesus before responding to a ton of emails, tidying up my room, and doing some other “generic” things to get ready for the day.
I made a delicious breakfast of pumpkin spice pancakes topped with glorious peanut butter, bananas, and berries. It was so good and my appetite recently has been massive, which is great and makes eating lots– which I’m supposed to be focusing on right now– a lot easier!
After prepping for the Bible Study I get to lead Sunday and spending some time with my roommates, I got all ready to head out to meet my new and beautiful friend Semara, from church.
Semara is another university age youth leader at the high school youth group at Creekside, and we’ve recently been getting to know each other so much better. God has been speaking so much through her to me, and her vulnerable, honest, goofy spirit, and genuine, beautiful desire to be more like Jesus.
Semara and I had an awesome catch-up over coffee before I had three hours of class to attend.
Firstly my African Literature class, and then my Canadian Women Writer’s Class, in which I had my first presentation of the semester, which went well (I hope).
The day had flown by– already 5:30, and I had to run home, eat a quick dinner, and then head out with Semara and our friend Ani again to Youth.
Pastor Nat is in the middle of a message series for the kids about “the end of the world,” and tonight we talked about the Christian view of hell: basically a very honest, Scripture-filled, and beautiful talk about what it is and why, as far as we actually know from Scripture.
The “thesis” verse was this:
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 JOHN 4:8-12
Small group time comes after the message bit, and I talked with the Grade 11 girls tonight. We talked about the message and its parts that convicted, challenged, and strengthened us in our relationships with Jesus, and then prayed.
Many things Nat said convicted me, and I’m taking them to the Lord. Thank-you, Spirit, for moving in my heart in a way that is loving, soft, and intentional. I love you.
Tonight, we also made a group on Facebook with all the high school leaders at the youth group who are university age to plan hangouts outside of youth. Already joking around in the group and talking about plans, I am so excited to grow with these amazing Christian leaders.
Semara drove Ani and me home, and we jammed to throwbacks, country songs, and reggae music alike, and I had a thought:
I’m meant to enjoy and soak in each present moment and live in it. And be with people and put them first. Being with each and every individual I’m with and acknowledging their significance and loving them and entrusting them to Jesus; that is how He would have me live. So Lord Jesus, give me Your Spirit that I am not living for selfish motivations, but out of a selfless love that puts all others above myself. Lord, still my heart and make me like You.
Coming home to my amazing best friend and roommate Maddie was the cherry on top of this beautiful Word.
Rather than stressing about homework or “all the stuff on my to-do list,” I sat with Maddie, and just laughed with her, and loved her, and thought about all the ways she reflects Jesus and our relationship does, too. And what joy He’s brought me through her.
Lord, continue to remind me that every good and perfect and joyful thing comes from you. I love you so much.
