The eve of a new year.

2012

New Year - New beginnings - New life

RE-newed in love, life and strength.

Being forever reminded of the love of Christ.

Goodbye is never forever when you have the same Savior.

November 13th 2011



Goodbye to another american friend. November has arrived, two and a half months into school. Failing math but rocking it out in french. Its funny because Trinity Baptist previous youth leader Jamie; was a total mathmatics person. It sucks to say goodbye to yet another person we have all come to love, but we also know that it has to happen. I am so very thankful for the time Jamie got to spend here in Canada. She seriously made a huge difference in all of the Trinity youth members lives. Before she came we never really had a lot, if any, youth events, small groups or learning time together. It was basically five or six youth on any given day, a few boys and a few girls. We never really talked or hanged out with eachother. Jamie came (fall 2009) and through her God brought our youth group together. She seriously is one of the kindest, sweetest, most loving and caring people you will ever have the priviledge of meeting. She came and right away jumped into planning youth events, vbs and other such things. For the youth Jamie (with the help of the youth council) planned numerous youth events ranging from hang out times and the 30 hour famine to crazy things like fear factor. November 2010 and November 2011 was Disciple now, a youth weekend retreat. It was used as time to better get to know the people in our youth group but even more important our God, I got to see the strength of the youth girls, Jamie and Kinsey. It amazed me, I could never imagine being away from my family,for more then a week. Not in another city or province let alone another country. God's strength and love seriously shined through her in overwhelming ways. It really was not fun saying goodbye to her, but I would so much rather say goodbye and see her follow the Lord where ever He wants her, then to see her disobey. I wish she could have stayed in Calgary longer but ...  "No eye has seen, No ear has heard, No mind has concieved what God has planned for those who love Him. - 1st Corinthians 2:9" Maybe Jamie doesn't know what she is doing back in the states, but at least she knows as well as other fellow believers that no matter what; as long as you are following the Lord and doing what He is asking there is always something bigger and better coming around the corner. Although it sucks to say goodbye and it may seem like it will be an eternity before we see eachother again. Goodbye is never forever when you have the same Lord and Savior. Though there is always a chance you may never see the ones you love here on earth again, if you share the same God, you'll for sure see them in heaven. Now I could go on forever about how God changed my life through Jamie and how amazing she is but for now I leave you with this.....

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11.

My prayer today is that you will see God work in overwhelming ways, that you will realize that no matter what, God has a plan. That you will always know and never forget, how loved and cherished you are. Your delighted in and the Lord is calling your name. I thank God for you and for your willingness to read and take the time to understand what I have written.

Forever blessed and living in and through the God of the universe.

-Miranda Marie. ,<3

April 25 2011. Miranda and Jocelyn's birthday celebration. Piling into a
small ikea bathroom. (: - My favorite picture.

Fear Factor 2011 -  Leaders.

Bethany and Jamie - June 7th 2011. -Beautiful girls.

August 21st 2010. Rock the river.
Jamie being a "mean" youth leader.

Disciple now 2011. - Live love. ,<3

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

If I love then I will trust. If I trust then I will obey. So if I live then I will obey. If I don't obey then I don't trust. If I don't trust then I don't love. So if I don't obey then I don't love.

True Love is...
Hearing
Believing
Protection
Trust*
Obedience*
joy
Peace
Understanding
Self sacrificing**
forgiving*
giving
Never ending
Big enough to cover everyone
Taking a step out in faith*
sharing*
expressive
Firm enough to stand upon
Healing
Full and complete*
alive*
Grace and Mercy**
freely giving
Patient*
kind*
accepts all things*
hopeful
Enduring*
planned
Humble*
gentle*
Strength*
being held in the arms of God*
beautiful*
delightful
Saving**
crowning
Praying
Talking to the Lord**
honest**
innocent
Work
Nothing apart from God**

For God so loved the world he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Sweet summer sun....

No promise will be broken
No friendship will ever end.

We will stay friends forever and
Hopefully come to the end together

When I feel weak but you feel strong
We'll hold are hands and carry on

High school is a big big place And
When you get lost just call my name

I'll hear the echo and run to your side
Together through the halls we can glide

But if we don't see each other
Your loving kindness I'll always remember

So hold head high, always looking to the sky
Never forget your free to fly.

- Miranda Marie Lacombe - June 29 2011

The Lord is never changing yesterday, today and forever....

The Lord controls the flood. The Lord will be King forever. Psalm 29:10



Homeroom-9B class of 2011.




Jocelyn & Miranda - middle school graduates.
Picture with the family. -Minus Jesse.




Assistant Principal - Mr.Baustad



Math Teacher Mr.Newman wanted a picture
with the Lacombe Girls.

Ira, Coral, Alexis And Miranda.

David Thompson Middle School - Home of the Tigers.



Pastor Wilson And His Wife Mary Winn, Oh but so much

more. These people have been like grandparents to me.

Teaching me so much about what it means to be like Christ,

And being amazing examples of True Followers; Lavishing

His people in His Love, Following Him wherever He leads. - Always.







Youth Girls Picture. So Glad to have these ladies to hang

out with. I was blessed enough to be able to invite and have Jamie

& Bethany at my Graduation ceremony.

  



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June has arrived and so has many many changes. Since the beginning of Grade Nine I knew just as well as everyone else in my grade that eventually we would finish our years together in the well known halls of David Thompson, surrounded by our friends and move on to High school; Starting a whole new chapter. I think that for a while I may have been in a little bit of denial, maybe wishing that high school wouldn't come as fast as it has. Yet I knew it would and the reality that it was just around the corner was always there but, After grade nine grad on Tuesday June 7th it became so much more real. Next year I won't be waking up on the first of day to go walk through the halls of the school I've been going to for the past five years, I won't be running and hugging all my middle school friends and I won't be saying hello to my past teachers. I'll have to walk down the new halls of Lord Beaverbrook High School, meeting new people and making new friends. Learning in a different way from different teachers. We will be going from being oldest in the school to being youngest all over again, we will change, becoming more mature and learning to be more independant. Even just the learning differences between middle school and high school is dramatic. Most people I know who are going to Beaverbrook are thinking we will see eachother all the time; But the truth is, Lord Beaverbrook is the biggest high school in all of Calgary with over 1500 grade tens alone. That one simple fact is enough to scare most people who are going there, but the fact that teachers don't care nearly as much and the students do whatever they please also scares most people. Now people look at me and ask me if i'm afraid to go to high in the biggest school in Calgary but my answer is always No! Im excited, it's a new adventure and who knows what we will all learn. Not only that but the biggest difference between me and the people I go to school with is....The fact that I know the Lord. I have for the past almost three years, and Just knowing that is He is behind, beside, before and For me, Knowing that He loves me enough to die for me and knowing that He is working everything out for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) is enough to give me assurance. I have prayed many times since the start of the year about where I am going to high school, And many times over God has shown me that this is where He wants me to be. I am completely at peace, that is also one of the many things the people around me lack, True peace from the Lord.

One big change after another

....Not only am I going to be done middle school in just a short 17 days, but the Pastor and his wonderful wife of our small church are being taken on a new big adventure back home to South Carolina. These are the people that came only couple months after I accepted Christ and have been here since February 2009. Now I'll be the first to admit, when they were chosen to come and Pastor our church, I didn't want them to. You see I never really was the kind of person who accepted change very well, and having a new pastor was just something I didn't want. Yet as they came and began getting to know everyone in our church, as I began to get to know them a little better they became a part of the Family and I soon came to love them. After all, Wilson did marry my mom and step-dad. They became a part of the family, and will never be able to leave it. Wilson and Mary Winn have become like grandparents to me, they came on a call from the Lord to be our transitional pastor but have been and always will be so much more. The second the walked into the church, They embraced us all as a church family. They loved me just as Christ would, they showed me what it meant to sacrifice everything to follow the Lord. They have been and still are such amazing examples of Christ's love. As I write this they are on their way back to South Carolina. This past Sunday was the last time Wilson would get up in front of Trinity and preach and baptize. It is hard to say goodbye to the people who have become like my grandparents, the ones who were there for a lot, (ie. Baptism,grade nine grad.Birthdays etc.) But I know that God is in control of it all. He has a plan and purpose (The Lord controls the flood. The Lord will be King forever. Psalm 29:10) and we choose to place all of our trust in Him. I often thank the Lord for the people in my life, especially for Wilson and Mary Winn and everything they have done. I can not wait to see and hear about all the things God does through them; And I Can not wait until the day I am dining with all my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

I pray that the Lord continues to bless You and guide you. Teach you and use you. I pray that He always reminds you of His never ending love for, and the gift of grace you have through Jesus' sacrifice. I pray He Overwhelms you in His presence and shows you He's holding your hand - Always.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and care about what I have to say, I'm so glad I have the chance to share what's on my heart. Again thank you to those of you who have helped me grow physically, mentally, emotionally and most of all Spiritually. Thank you to those of you who may be reading this and have been praying for me. I thank God for you every chance I get.

I truly am a very blessed and loved girl.

xo - Miranda Marie.







No one knows the day or time....Only the Father knows.

      Many times people have " predicted " the end of the world or the coming of Christ .... And how many times has the world ended ? How many people were correct in their " predictions " ? None, The world has not ended and Christ has yet to return .... So why do people continue to " predict " the end of the world. Or the coming of Christ ?



      Mark 13: 32 & 35 - 36
*(32).No one knows when that day or time will be, Not the angels in heaven not even the Son.Only the Father knows.* (35).So always be ready because you don't know when the owner of the house will come back.It might be in the evening or at midnight or in the morning while it is still dark or when the sun rises.(36).Always be ready.Otherwise He might come back suddenly and find you sleeping.  

      Matthew 24: 36 - 41 & 44 

(36.) No one knows when that day or time will be, not the angels in heaven, Not even the Son. Only the father knows. (37) When the Son of Man comes, it will be like what happened during Noah's time. (38) In those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving their childern away to be married, until the day Noah entered the boat. (39) They knew nothing about what was happening until the flood came and destroyed them. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes. (40) Two men will be in the field. One will be taken and the other will be left. (41) Two women will be grinding grain with a mill, One will be taken the other will be left. (44) So you must always be ready because the Son of Man will come at a time you don't expect Him.  
     
      Just as the Bible says NO ONE but the Father knows when Christ will return. "If the Lord Jesus was to return today or even tomorrow, where would your soul be for eternity (Heaven or Hell)? How confident are you in your answer?" How are you living your life? Are you living walking with the Lord daily, sharing your faith in Him, obeying Him and showing His love in everything you do and say? Or are you living apart from God? Living in Sin, disobeying the Lord, showing people you dont care? If you know you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and you know your going to heaven: the end, Or death if it comes before will be nothing to fear because indeed you will be heaven. (. If you dont have a relationship with Christ then the end times, or death are something you fear greatly. People without Christ are in danger of spending all of eternity in Hell, seperated from God.  It is NEVER to late to start a relationship with the one who loved you enough to die for you so that you could be forgiven of your sins and live with Him forever in heaven, it is never to late to return to Him and Live for Him all the days of your life. 

The Act Of Obedience...

Saturday May 14th 2011 - Tomorrow  morning around 11.00am I will be getting baptised and I wanted to share the testimony I have written, But before I do let me paint a little picture for you of the past two and half years. As  will be stated in my testimony I accepted Christ at age 12. I followed Him all the days following. About a year later around the middle of grade seven I began to here God telling me I need to get baptised, it wasnt every sunday I went to church that I heard Him telling me this but some sundays it was almost as if it were a person sitting right next to me wispering in my ear, At the time I wasnt as strong in my relationship with Him as I was just after I accepted Him, or even as strong as I wanted to be, and because of the things going on around me satan had a hold on my life. So I kept telling myself "No, im not ready yet." And satan took that making it seem like the truth in my life. Satan made me think I knew better then God what I was to do....But I didnt. So I struggled with following the Lord through the act of declaring my faith through baptism. Satan continued to use my thoughts against for a while. But as I began to become stronger in my faith, as I began to pray more and spend more time with God, satan lost his hold on my life. On April 24th 2011 - easter sunday I made the decision to declare my faith and Follow  in obedience through Baptism. I cant even acuratley describe the feeling I had when I finally chose to obey Him. Its like when your carrying something around for a while and then you finally put it down, the relief it gives you is like something youve been waiting and waiting for it takes away the stress youve been carrying. So tomorrow morning is the day I will share my pre-written testimony and show my faith in my Lord! 


Here is the testimony of my years before and after accepting Christ....
____My testimony- Miranda Marie Lacombe____


Faith means being sure the things we hope and knowing something is real even if we do not see it. Hebrews 11:1 


I began my spiritual journey during grade six, at age 12. After everything around me started to change. In school all I ever wanted was to be friends the popular kids as it seemed they had perfect lives but as I started to talk to them more I realized they had trouble too, the hard things were just as hrad for them. All I wanted was a Father and friend. I wanted to feel love and accepted like never before. At church I alway heard things about how Christ can change your life and how much He wanted to be everything you are looking for.So on August 19th 2008  accepted Christ as my personal Savior and Lord. I finally had the father and friend I always wanted. I felt loved and accepted like never before.


When grade six ended and grade seven came; I spent time with Him every morning, talked to Him anywhere and shared my faith every chance I got. But when things around me started to change again, with some friends turning to drugs, others moving away school becoming harder and other things going on. I sacricficed everything that meant anything to me. I put aside my life and relationships to try and fix the problems around me. I was trying to to do everything at once. Attempting to follow the world and God. When all that became to much and I felt like nothing was working I gave up on my relationship with the Lord. Thinking I could so a better job then He was doing. Every morning I woke up hoping everything would change and my problems would go away. But every morning I walked without The Lord it was as if the walls around me were about to crumble. Nothing easier instead it became harder. But I didnt want to admit I was wrong so I continued down that path feeling just as I had before accepting Christ --> Lost confused overwhelmed and unloved.


Just after grade eight started I realized how miserable I really was, I no longer wanted to live without the Lord. I kneeled down and completely fell apart. I  decided I wanted deeply to live giving the Lord all the glory. He was the only one who was there no matter what. That night I ran back into the arms my Daddy, the only who could be in control of it all and do an mazing job. I felt like the most dazzling precious treasure. So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist and the protection of right living on your chest. On your feet wear the good news of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the sheild of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows of the evil one.Accept God's gift of salvation as your helmet and take the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the spirit at all times asking for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready and never giveup. Always pray for all Gods people. - Ephesians 6:14-18 


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I love being able to encourage people it brings me joy to bring joy to others. It encourages me when I am able to help those around me, even if its just by being kind to them when no one else is, saying a silent prayer for them, letting them borrow my only pencil in school or by sharing my testimony with my fellow believers.. It brings a smile to my face when I see others smile with true happiness. Im so glad I have the chance to show my faith through baptism on this sunday. - May 15th 2011 - I am glad I live in such a free country, as I am able to worship the Lord my God freely and openly.Its not always easy, but life is much more worth the living when your living for Jesus! Thank-you to all of the people who have lavished me in Love just as Christ would, Thank-you for helping me grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally and even physically. I am so blessed to have such amazing brothers and sisters in Christ. My prayer is that God will bless you all the days of your life. - Always. Thank-you for everything you do for everyone around you               - xo Miranda Marie ,<3

- None But Jesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B63VGWMuYY&feature=BFp&list=LLxf81b367EAc&index=15

The Best Photography....

Ever since i was nine years and I saw some "professional" pictures of nature; I wanted so badly to have a camera and be the person behind the lens, showing the world my point of veiw of the amazing world God created that we live in through photography. I begged and pleaded to my mom for a camera and on my 12th birthday I got my very first Baby pink Kodak point and shoot. I loved that camera and i took it every where i went, photography became my passion. Not even a year later...that following new years eve i had a friend come over for the night it was an exciting time; with my new camera and all. That same night I dropped my treasured item and it broke. So again i was the person looking up to the people behind the lens wanting so badly to be there again. I saved and saved until i had enough to buy a new camera; And again i had the chance to show everyone around me, my perspective of the world our amazing God has created. Between the time I got my very first camera and the time I got my second camera I had decided that I wanted to be a photographer when 'I grew up'. My second Camera went through a lot, I took it on camping trips, family outings, to school, to relatives houses and even just to go outside. I dropped it many many times and it still worked great! But the last time I dropped it was the end of its treasured life, it was to messed up to fix. So yet again I saved my money until I could get a new one... Now i have a Fugifilm ( not sure exactly which one ) Camera that is working amazingly. Yet between having my second camera and getting my third ... I discovered that even though i had a great passion for photography I didnt want to be a photographer when i grew up. I was more of a people person who enjoys being out there with people and chatting it up istead of being behind the lens all the time. I decided I wanted to be a Teacher when i grew up .... And today that is what i want to be, I still very much enojy photography but instead of a job choice its more of a hobby. But I will be whatever God leads me to be, And I will go where ever He needs me to...Because following God is my number one job and its for a lifetime not a season. The Career path i will one day be taken on is just the way I am to Lead people to Jesus Christ.

....And so I leave you with some of my best photography of Gods amazing designs in HIS world around me - I hope you enjoy them.

-xo Miranda Marie



It was a hot summer day and we were waiting for
Chad to be done working when we saw some cows...





Stampede fireworks.

The cat got out and she was sitting on the ledge so I thought what better time to capture a cat in her natural enviroment.

I was trying to get her back inside, so she tried to hide.

Then she found some birds and was staring at them...I think she was a little hungry.

Just after a summer time rain fall, the flowers
soaked up some sun and water.

They were very thirsty...

We were at the orthodontist and I thought id capture the
flowers out front while we were waiting.

Summertime walk along the river and creeks.



The pelicans taking a swim on a warm summer day



One door closes but another opens.

The past five years of middle school has brought about a collection of trials but with victories trailing behind them. When grade four came and I knew i had to move on to middle school it was a scary thought that I might loose some friends and everything would change. When the time came that we started our middle school years things did indeed change, But it seemed for the better. We all became closer friends and helped each other through everything. Yet as grade five came to close and grade six went underway, we started to separate. People began forming groups and we all drifted apart. During and throughout grade six I began to hang out with different people and soon found myself wanting only to be with the "popular" group of people, as it seemed they had everything they would ever need and their lives were perfectly together...always.

Through the grade five school year we had an awesome time not only at school but hanging out at church on Sundays;In Sunday school we were learning about things in the Bible through watching roman candle fight videos and doing cool things with fire that no one but Justin Vanderham,would do with a group of kids as young as we were. It was then that I really began to read to my Bible and pray more. I really started to get into learning about the Creator of the universe. The following year we had another awesome Sunday school teacher Alison Adams. She didn't teach us using roman candle fight videos or fire but instead just hanging out and talking with us, as it was usually just Bethany, Jocelyn and Myself. The summer after grade six August 19 2008 to be exact, I accepted Christ and I experienced joy, happiness,love, peace, hope and so many other things like never before.

Grade seven brought new trials and new things to deal with yet nothing bugged me like it did before, I now had Christ to help me get through anything.
I can do anything through Him go gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Grade seven was the year everyone started to change, it was the year all the girls began to care more about boys then anything else and it led to fights between good friends. It was the year the boys started to experiment with drugs, school and friends soon became of less importance. Yet I stood firm and held on to Christ being careful to always look to Him for and through everything. I also began to realize that the people I wanted so badly to be 'friends' with indeed did not have their life perfectly together, they had only the materialistic things they needed and wanted such as food, water, shelter, clothes and the latest technology. But they didn't have peace like a river, Joy like a fountain and Love like an ocean, They didn't have Christ.

Grade eight was no different and it only got worse, It became even more about boys, drugs, materialistic things, money and lies. School, friends & family, things that actually meant something still became of less importance. It made me sad to see that all the things people didn't want to leave behind, the things that made people happy; Are all the things they are giving up to live a life style that will leave them even more lonely,unhappy and afraid then before.

The last year of middle school (Grade nine) is coming to an end very quickly. The reality that high school is only six months away, The realization of leaving a place I've come to know so well and moving to a place I've only seen once is coming to mind more and more day after day. Just this past week, we went on a 'tour' of Lord Beaverbrook High School. Sure people have told me how big it is and how confusing it can be But I didn't believe it until I was actually there. Its so big that at least three of my current school (David Thompson Middle School) can fit inside of it. All the halls look almost exactly the same which will make it quite easy to get lost my first few weeks there. There is over 2000 kids there and is said  to be the biggest high school in Calgary. Now at first I thought I would be terrified to move on to high school but as the topic came up more, as we got our grade nine grad. pictures, the guidance counsellors came to tell us about Beaverbrook and we went on the tour I found that I had a sense of peace about moving on and leaving everything so familiar behind.
At the beginning of all this transition i wasn't even sure if Beaverbrook was where i was supposed to go...but God has given peace about it and I feel as though this is where I am supposed to be.

As this year comes to an end and I prepare for the future. As i finish up the past amazing five years of middle school, As I begin to prepare for provincial exams starting in April, As I start to say good-bye to all the good friends I have made and thank all the teachers who have helped learn throughout the years; I am continuing to seek God and where He while have me go throughout high school, and the things He will have me do the rest of my life, Because He knows the plans He has for me.

Thanks to all of you who have helped grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally and even physically. I thank God for you often and I pray that he will continue to bless you, all the days of your life. You Rock! :) 

-xo Miranda Marie.