1 week till Christmas break!

  This past week has been very good.  We had practice all week.  We were supposed to have this showcase tournament in Fitchburg, Ma this weekend.  We were to play games thursday night, Saturday and Sunday morning.  Thursday i was supposed to be going to a  "Selah" Concert with Nancy but with the game i wasnt able to go.  But thursday afternoon i got a call from my coach that the game was cancelled thursday night.  We were getting a bunch of rain thursday but i guess an hour north in Fitchburg they were getting icy rain.  So there was power outage all in the area. 

 So i was able to go.  I had a blast at the concert.  They were very enjoyable to watch.  I really enjoyed watching the piano player play.  His name is Allan Hall.  He was so in joy when he played and he was just having fun.  It was great for me to watch him, he was a good example of what i want to be doing when i am playing hockey.  But we had a great time at the concert.  

Friday i had practice like regular.  We were supposed to know if the game Saturday would be cancelled friday night.  Because the game saturday was at 8:30 in the morning ( i know crazy).  So i didnt hear from my coach or anyone so i assumed that the game was on.  So i got up at 5:15 and went to the game.  I got there at 7:30 and the rink doors were locked.  So i called the coach and he said that the game was cancelled.  2 of my teammates were supposed to call everyone to tell them.  I guess they forgot. haha.  So i drove right back home and stopped by L.L. Bean on the way and went shopping for a while.  Got some presents for people.  I had a good time just shopping by myself.  I went to Borders and read some hockey books then went to Bestbuy and looked at expensive tv's and played video games.  It was fun.  

Saturday morning i found out that Sundays game was cancelled as well.  So in a weekend where we were supposed to play 3 games we played none.  We didn't end up skating at all Saturday or Sunday either.  The coach just gave us those days off after the games were cancelled instead of trying to get a practice together.  

The Lord has been great to be this week as always!  Practices went really well.  I was working really hard and saw improvement.  Im glad for another week of practices until next weeks games.  I have really been feeding on the messages from the series  "Possessing the Land".  I listened to the first one "God has a plan for your life" and took notes on it and i have been reading over them and feeding on them.  Its been excellent.  This week i have been more aware, grabbed by, held by the fact that God has a plan for my life.  I just dont want to experience the things He has promised.  I want to possess them.  To follow the Lord fully like Joshua and Caleb.  Its so good.  I have been going deeper into trusting the Lord this week.  I have a peace that is about me,  a trust in Him that He has it ALL under control.  In spite of what it looks like.  Like last weekend they brought in another defenseman (bringing the total to 8)  and on top of that he is a 20 yr old defenseman.  So now we have 6 20 yr old defenseman (that wont be back next year) and 2 18 yr old defenseman.

It almost excites me though.  Circumstances in the natural seem to be getting more difficult, i mean i desire to get to that number 1 defenseman spot and now with 8 defenseman instead of 7 it  "looks" more difficult.  But i see it as a situation where the Lord wants to just prove Himself even more.  Where to the natural eyes it looks more difficult, but we know that NOTHING is impossible with the Lord.  So the Lord is letting the odds stack up against Him and then He will just do what He is famous for!

This is what i received from the Lord today  "Be excited daily in hockey and in everyday life to show the Lord off.  He lives through me and i need to be excited to show Him off each day.  His ability in me, His life, peace, comfort......."    I was excited by that.  So everyday this week i am going to be excited to Show the Lord off in my life.  

That was my week.  Im excited for another week and to hopefully play some games next weekend.  Games next weekend are Saturday night in Boston and Sunday afternoon in Springfield, Ma.  The game on Sunday is at 1.  So i will be heading home directly from there.  So i should get home around 1 am or so.  

Please continue praying for me this week, im thankful that you all do.  I have asked the Lord at the beginning of these 3 weeks back here that during this time i would start to rise in the depth chart for the defenseman.  Moving from the bottom to the top.  So with this last week upon us i would like to see that this week in practice.  

Thanks everyone!  Love you all,  see you soon!!!!!

First week back from Thanksgiving

So i had an interesting first week back here in Boston.  On my way back up here i heard the Lord say to me  "Dont go by your feelings".  In addition to a couple other things.  So this week i had a good time "not going by my feelings".  At the beginning of the week (monday)  i felt weak.  Physically and spiritually.  Physically because i got in very late sunday night.  I was supposed to get back here at 8p.m.  But with all the traffic i didn't end up getting back until 11 o clock at night.  It was not very much fun to spend all that extra time in the car, but the Lord very much helped me through it.  But with getting in so late i still had to get up the next morning for practice at 7 a.m.  But also i felt weak spiritually.  But the Lord gave me a great scripture,  "when i am weak, then i am strong".  I found physical strength from the Lord and the Lord gave much too that day in my private times.  Also i got an email from my dear brother Elijah Hughes and he gave me a great scripture that really encouraged me.  "for i am watching over my word to perform it."  I was greatly encouraged by that!

We had practice, monday, tuesday and thursday.  Wednesday we played an inter-squad scrimmage game.  The coach said that the inter-squad game would determine who would play in fridays game.  I played really well in the game and i had fun.  I had a good week of practices too.  

Friday i went to the game and i found out that i wasn't playing.  I was a bit surprised because i thought that i played really well in the inter-squad game.  But the Lord really helped me to be fine.  I had an opportunity before the game on friday to talk with one of my teammates about the Lord.  It was the 3rd goalie on the team.  He doesn't ever get to play, but he does always dress.  But the trainer forgot his jersey this game so he didn't get to dress.  So before the game we got to talking about the future and stuff and he asked me what i was looking to do next year.  I said i wanted to go to school.  I told him i was looking to have a strong second half of the season so i could be picked up by a good Div 1 school.  But in the midst of that conversation i saw an opportunity to talk with him about the Lord.  So i said that i was not worried about next year because i am trusting in the Lord.  He is catholic (we have talked a little bit before about the Lord, so i know he is catholic already).  But when i said that he was like "oh yeah man, thats so good.  Sometimes i find it hard to just let that control go but id like to"  I got to talk about the Word and how there is life and power in the word.  But it was a good short little conversation with him and effective to.  So i was pleased to be given that opportunity to be used.  

We won that game on friday 3-2.  Then saturday we played the same team again.  I wasn't sure what to expect for that game on saturday.  When i got to the game i found out that i wasn't dressing again.  The coach kept the lineup the same as the night before.  The Lord helped me again, as i was very fine.  But throughout that game i had to keep watch over my thoughts.  My mind was starting to wonder and think about things and it was not benefitting me at all! haha.  So when i got back home i needed to spend some time with the Lord.  I read about Joseph.  I got a couple things from Chapter 39 of Genesis.

2 "The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man" 

3 "Now his master saw that the Lord was with him and how the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand" 

23 "whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper"

So as i was reading these i said, my situation wouldn't SEEM to say that i am a successful man.  But i am taking these as mine!  Saying that my teammates, my coach will see that the Lord is with me and how the Lord causes all that i do to prosper.  Something else that Pastor Stanley said in a meeting a couple weeks ago really helped me.  In the message "Press on to Glory"  he said  "Do you practice settling for less?".  Less than Gods best for you?  The Lord reminded me of that and it helped me so much.  God has so much more for me and He helps me grow in expectation of His best.  I was reminded by carol that growth is the Answer.  Growth comes in my private times with the Lord. 

But then today i was able to go to church with Mike and Nancy.  It was nice since i hadn't been there for a long time.  Then this afternoon at 2 we went over to a couple's house in the church for a worship/fellowship time.  It was a lot of fun really.  At first we just hung around and talked.  Then we sat around and had a time where people shared what they are thankful for and what the Lord is doing.  Then we had a short time of worship and people talking again.  After it was all over and we were about to wrap things up i felt from the Lord that i should speak.  The Lord put the words in my mouth and " The spirit of the Lord spoke by me" (2 Sam 23).  It was excellent to be used.  I talked with them about the blessing of Abraham that is on our lives in Genesis 12.  That this salvation is much greater than our present experience of it.  They seemed to be talking like we were in lack and that just getting by was alright.  So i was talking about how the Lord has the best in store for us and i was able to ask them the question that Pastor Stan had given to us  "Do you practice settling for less?"  But it was a good opportunity and i was very thankful.  

So that was my week.  Thank you all for praying continually for me.  What i have asked the Lord is that these 3 weeks (now 2) would be 3 weeks where i am moving from the 6th, 7th defenseman up to the top.  To the number 1 spot.  Not that i would be the number 1 defenseman before christmas break, but that i would be moving up in that direction.  So that is my expectation and if you all would want to join me in that that would be great!

Love you all!  See again very soon!

Games this upcoming weekend, friday, saturday and sunday.  Bye for now!

The Lord is Merciful!!

So we had 2 games this past weekend.  One saturday night and one sunday morning.  I thought that i played okay saturday.  Not great.  We tied that game.  I was not too happy about it, but my mom gave me some wisdom after the game.  She said to just be extra thankful to the Lord.  So thats what i did.  I just used my time in the car with Lord to be thankful for the game and with how i played.  It was a good time and very very helpful.  

So then sunday i went into the game washed from the night before.  A whole new day and a new game.  But i didn't think i played well that game either.  I thought i played good, but not as good as i really wanted to.  But we did win that game and it felt good.  To start winning again.  But after the game i put into practice being thankful again.  

So monday we had practice, tuesday we had the day off, but i went and practiced with the Junior B team.  A good amount of the guys from my team went to that practice too.  It was fun.  Wednesday we had practice and i didn't think i had a good practice at all.  

But wednesday when i got home the Lord so graciously showed me that i was doing what i was doing at the beginning of the year.  I was worrying and trying to do it on my own again.  At practices i was thinking so much and my mind was not at rest.  But i was so thankful to the Lord that He showed me this so soon.  I mean i knew to say Lord i permit your peace to reign and all that, but i was not walking in it.  I wasn't truly believing in the Lord.  With all the talk about colleges and schools i started to worry and panic and then i tried to start to do it on my own again instead of trusting in the Lord.  Oh but He was so kind to me to show me where i went wrong.  So i was spending time with the Lord and i asked Him to forgive me for trying to do it on my own again and the Lord gave me some good scriptures.  One was Romans 8:6  "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace,"     It was excellent and perfect for me!  I need to set my mind.  I need to trust in the Lord that He has my future in control.  I desire to play Division 1 next year and He knows that.  I trust Him to get me there.  It will be completely the Lord that gets me to the next level and the next level......

It was pretty funny because wednesday the Lord used my brother to encourage me.  Jaison wrote me a letter and it got to me wednesday and when i started to read it he said he had a scripture for me and it was Jeremiah 29:11.  It was excellent and great to get that encouragement from the Lord THROUGH MY BROTHER!!!  

So thursday we had practice and my mind was SET on the Spirit.  My mind was set on the truth and His life was just flowing through me.  I was completely at peace and i had fun!  It was excellent.  My desire is that i would be so at peace and at rest that while i am playing the Lord can speak to me and minister to me as i am at rest and my mind is still.  I was listening to a message from a couple of years ago and Pastor Stanley was saying that when it says that Abraham believed the Lord, it can mean Abraham had Confidence in the Lord.  My confidence and trust is in Him for my life.  Its soooo excellent!! 

I am very thankful to the Lord for showing me this and teaching me this past week.  

Im excited for our games this weekend.  We have one friday and one saturday.  Saturday evening after the game i will be leaving for home.  Im going to stop off in Ny for a little while and watch Joe and Phil at a jazz club.  Should be a really good time!  

See ya soon!!

Weekend in New Jersey!

Last wednesday night we played the same team that we played the week before  (The South Shore Kings).  We lost to them the previous week and going into this game we really really wanted to beat them.  I played in this game as well.   What i have asked the Lord is that i would play from here on out.  I believe that that time of being in and out of the line up is done with.  So i played in that and i played great again.  I dont really remember details from the game now, but we did end up loosing that game.  

So we had 2 games in Wayne New Jersey this past weekend.  Wayne is where Angelo and Ben went to school last year at William Paterson University.  It would of been cool if they were still there this year.  But anyhow my Mom, Dad, Whitney, Carol and Kelly were able to come to the game which was great!  These games this weekend were pretty important because this team was in 1st place so if we would beat them then we would be back in 1st place.  We left saturday morning for NJ and got there around 2 in the afternoon.  We had 2 hours to kill before we had to be at the game.  I was sure i was playing, even though i had not heard anything from the coach.  Later i was walking down the hall of the hotel and the coach mentioned to me that i was playing.  Since i had 2 hours before i had to go the crew that came to watch my games stopped by the hotel to say hi real quick.  They stopped by and we talked for 10 min and then they left so i could get ready.  

I played the game,  i didn't think that i played very well.  But overall as a team we didn't play well either.  We ended up loosing that game again and we sat in the locker room afterwards and talked for a while to figure out why we have not been playing well.  It was a good talk, everyone on the team got to say something of how we could improve.  During this game the devil was saying dumb things to me like "You didn't read the bible before the game, so thats why your not playing well"  And that dumb thought lingered while i was playing, that the reason i was not playing very well was because i hadn't ready my bible beforehand.  But im thankful for truth and my parents.  I was talking with my mom and she so quickly said that thought was from the devil and not true.  So i was thankful for that.  I was able to quickly let that game go and move on.  My family (Carol and Kelly included in family)  and I went out to dinner after the game and we had a very good time.  After dinner we had about a half hour till i had to be in my room.  So we hung out in my hotel lobby till then and they left and went to their hotel.  

Sunday morning we had another game and i was playing again of course!  After the team had our talk the night before everyone was ready to go.  We started the game off well and we were all playing well.  Then in the 2nd period the refs started calling a TON of penalties on us.  Basically we ended up being on the penalty kill for most of the 2nd period and the WHOLE 3rd period.  By the 3rd period the game just got out of control.  There were fights and the game turned into a Gong-show (hockey term for a "messy", uncontrolled game).  So i got to play a lot on the penalty kill that game, since the whole 3rd period we were on the penalty kill.  But we ended up loosing that game and they scored 11 Power Play goals.  So we lost bad.  I normally would never say this but i would put most of the blame on the Referees this weekend for our looses.  We played very well at times, but the refs just made A LOT of bad calls. 

But even though we lost both games this weekend i was glad that i got to see my family.  So it was good!

Also just some other news.  I went into talk with the coach today about schools.  Basically i want to play hockey at a good school next year and i want to get a scholarship too.  So with college hockey you can play Division 1 (the best) or Division 3 which is still good.  Going into the conversation with him i had a feeling that he would tell me that he thinks i would be a good Division 3 player and not a Division 1 player.  So i had to prepare my mind beforehand.  The Lord gave me this to speak to myself,  i said  "I cast aside all human reasoning right now".  Because human reasoning says that i cant play Division 1.  But God!  So i had my talk with him and he did say that he thinks i would be a good division 3 player.  I asked him to tell me what would separate me from being a division 1 player.  He gave me some things to work on.  Making quicker harder passes,  quicker shots and being better defensively (things you guys can be praying about).  So i was very thankful that he was honest with me, told me what he really thought.  And i was thankful that i was prepared beforehand.  He was telling me to look at some Division 3 schools and get back to him.  I told him i would, but i said that i want to play Division 1 and thats my plan.  So i am going to work hard and work on these things.  He said he liked my attitude.  But im thankful that NOTHING is impossible for the Lord.  And this is my hearts desire to play Division 1 hockey next year and i know the Lord will do it!  It will be His doing not my own.  So that was just some recent news of what happened today after practice.  

Thank you all for reading and checking up on me diligently.  I have 2 games this weekend and then 2 next weekend before i come home.  So i will let you know how this weekends games go next week.  Bye for now!!!

Slower week, just one game

Wednesday night we had a game in Foxboro.  Foxboro is actually only about 20 min away.  So this away game was closer than my home games.  Which was nice for me.  Instead of the 40 min drive to my home rink.  Well im getting ahead of myself here.  Tuesday the day before the game i went in to talk with the coach.  I just asked him how he thought i was playing.  He said i played really well in the weekend in NY and i said yes i thought so too.  He said i keep playing well i get to keep playing and he told me then that i was going to dress for wednesday nights game.  

So wednesday going into the game i knew i was going to play.  We started the game and my first couple of shifts were not great.  I wasn't playing comfortable and my mind was starting to wonder a little bit.  I was asking the Lord to help me and play through me and what i heard the Lord say to me then was  "Be still".  So instead of praying 5oo miles a minute and thinking about what the Lord needed to do on my behalf i was just still.  I let my mind rest and i just focused on the Lord.  It was perfect.  I started speaking in tongues again and just focusing my mind.  The rest of the game went great!!  I played soo well.  We that game and as a team we didn't play very well at all.  But i thought that i played great!  I even got to play on the Penalty Kill later on in the game.  It was great for me to get to play on the penalty kill.  I was very thankful to the Lord for helping.  

So i was pleased with how it went.  We had a very good hard practice thursday.  Everyone was skating hard and going 100%.  We wernt happy that we lost that game.  So we were working hard.  We had friday, saturday and sunday all off.  It was crazy.  That is such a long break in the middle of the season.  But it was nice.  Friday i went to some of the guys house and hung out with them.  It was a good time.  But overall it was a very nice break.  

I see the Lord taking me deeper and deeper into allowing the Holy Spirit to play through me more and more.  I dont want to limit allowing the Holy Spirit to move through me just during games.  I want Him to move through me every single day of my life.  In everything i do.  Everywhere i go.  LETTING His light shine through me.  Im so thankful for the Lord.  That we can turn to Him for absolutely everything we need.  He is so trustworthy.  Worthy of our 100% trust.  Im very thankful.  

We have a game this wednesday and then we go to New Jersey for 2 games this weekend.  My family and Carol and Kelly are going to be meeting me there and watching those 2 games it should be an exciting time!  ha.  Im thinking that i will be be home on the 22nd or the 23rd for thanksgiving break.  If i leave the 22nd i wont get home till very early the next morning.  But i will see what i will do.  But i will be seeing most of you very shortly!

Love you all,  I will update again after the games in New Jersey.  Bye!

Another Great week!

So the last i talked with you all i had a game that night (Wednesday night).  I got to the game that night and found out that i wasn't going to dress.  I am so thankful to report that it didn't bother me at all.  I was completely fine.  I was very thankful.  The devil tried to make it seem wrong that i was so fine with not dressing.  But after talking to my parents my mom said i am fine only because the Lord has prepared me for this.  I mean i was so fine i was almost excited.  Not excited with the fact that i was not going to dress.  But excited because of an expectancy of what i know the Lord is doing.  So i watched that game and we won by the way.  After the game one of the assistant coaches told me to be ready this weekend.  

So after practices thursday and friday, saturday morning we left for Long Beach, NY.  We left at 7:30 from the rink for a game at 3:30 in the afternoon.  We had one game saturday and one game sunday morning.  On the way we stopped at a rest stop for some food.  As i was walking to my seat the coach said to me that i was playing today.  So i was glad to know beforehand and not have to wait until we got to the rink.  Also while we were on the bus i wanted to be more bold in reading the bible while i am around the guys on the team, to not be embarrassed to pull out my bible and read it when we are just sitting on the bus.  So after we had watched 2 movies we had about an hour until we arrived at the hotel.  So i hesitated a little bit to pull out my bible, but i did.  I read and i had a great time with the Lord.  I mean after 10 sec of reading i totally forgot about who was around me and i really enjoyed my time with the Lord.  So i was very thankful for that.  We got to the hotel and had about an hour until we had to leave for the rink.  

I played very very well that night.  I was so thankful to the Lord.  I spoke in tongues again throughout the whole game pretty much.  Doing what i knew to do from the Lord.  I was also a plus 1 that game (meaning,  i was out on the ice when my team scored a goal and the other team didnt score on me when i was out on the ice).  We won that game 3-0.  Winning that game moved us into 1st place in the whole league!  

So during that game i saw that the kid who had sat out had his parents there.  I was thinking that he would probably play sunday with his parents being there.  And in turn i might sit out.  He is the other defenseman.  Usually when i dont play this kid sits out and vice-versa.  

(Basically we usually sit out 3 players each game.  1 defenseman and 2 forwards.  But over the past couple of days we have lost some guys.  Earlier in the week another kid who is from pittsburgh got sick and went home to Pittsburgh for a little while.  Not really sure what is wrong with him, they just said he had health issues.  Then saturday morning we found out that another forward on the team left friday after practice.  He just up and quit the team.  Didn't tell any of us.  Kind of crazy.  So now this weekend we only had 1 player sitting out each game instead of 3.)

So saturday after the game we all went out to eat as a team for dinner.  It was a lot of fun.  I really liked getting to spend time with the guys on the team this weekend.  We were out for about 2 hours then afterwards we all went back to the hotel and just hung out in our rooms.  Me and my 2 roommates (2 other defenseman my age) watched a movie then went to bed.  

Sunday morning we had a game at 11:30.  I didn't know if i was going to dress that game beforehand.  As i was sitting there on the bus on the way to the game i was talking with the Lord and i asked the Lord  "How can i expect to play today?"  He said so simply back to me "Because you asked me to."  I had asked the Lord earlier that week to play in both games.  So i got to the rink and i was a little unsure if i would dress, a little nervous.  But they put up the list for that day and i was playing!  Also the defenseman that sat out the night before was playing too.  We dressed 7 defenseman that game and they sat one of the forwards.  Which was kind of surprising.  But i was very thankful that i got to play!  I played very well in that game as well.  I spoke in tongues again the whole time.  Keeping my mind on the Lord and then focusing on what i was doing.  But sadly we lost that game.  6-5, in overtime.  

But overall i was very thankful to get to play in both games this weekend and to play well!!  I already have the victory!!  Im not looking to my circumstances in order to tell me if i have the victory or not.  I want to keep going deeper though.  Deeper into allowing the Holy Spirit to play through me.  So that the coach NEEDS to have me out there.  He sees me as extremely valuable.  Thats what i desire.  

So that was my weekend.  We have 1 game this week, on wednesday.  Then we have the weekend off.  No practice or games saturday or sunday!  So that will be fun, im sure we will do something fun this weekend.  I'll let you know how the game goes wednesday and practices this week.  Bye for now!  Love you all.  

Start of a New Year!

  

(This is pretty long, it might take some time to read, just so you know,  it takes a while to update you on 2 months of my life. ha)

Hello Everyone!  Its the start of a new season and im excited!  Im excited to see what the Lord will do.  

    I am now in Boston Massachusetts.  Playing for a team called   The Bay State Breakers.  I am playing in the Eastern Junior Hockey League.  Our website is     www.jrbreakers.com  

  I am living with Mike and Nancy Souza.  Our brother and sister from the church who happen to live in the Boston area!  Im very thankful that i am able to stay with them.  It is provision from the Lord totally.  

  I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update my blog.  I have been wanting to it just seemed to keep getting pushed back.  But i have been here for about 8 weeks now and my time has been excellent!!!  The Lord has been teaching me some excellent things.   Im very thankful.  

Well i will start off with training camp.  I got here 2 days before training camp started.  When i got here i had just gotten new skates.  So i got here early enough that i could get all moved in and get on the ice a couple of times before camp started.  So the first day i got on the ice (just me by myself messing around)  i found out that the guy who had sharpened my skates when i got them did a HORRIBLE job.  I didnt have any edge (meaning that i was not able to really push off hard and make sharp turns because the edges were not sharp enough).  So wednesday before camp started i was able to get them sharpened by our trainer, but he did not do too great of a job either.  They were better, but definitely not good.  So i ended up going through camp with them like that.  I was not really happy about that because i noticed i was skating how i normally skated.  I would definitely say my skating is my strongest part of my game.  So these skates were throwing me off.  But the coach knew my skates were not perfect, but i didnt want to say anything to him and make excuses.  So at the end of camp i was talking to one of my teammates about my skates and he told me about a guy 5 min away that does an excellent job on skates.  My teammate is a local kid so he knows who is good around town.  He ended up leading me out to the rink where this guy was and i got them sharpened.  I was very very thankful to get them sharped.  The next day when i was skating i noticed a GREAT improvement!  I was able to skate like normal!  At the end of that day i was talking with the coach and he even mentioned an improvement in my footwork, and i said yeah i got my skates sharpened.  

  So training camp went well.  After training camp we played some preseason games.  We played a team called  the   Woodstock Slammers.  They are a team from the league i played in last year up in Nova Scotia.  I was excited to get to play them because it would give me a good gauge on how this league was compared to last year.  We tied them the first game and we beat them the second game.  So i was happy about that.  Later on that week the Hursh's and the Fridg's came up to Boston for the weekend.  Michelle and Jason had to go to a wedding up here.  Friday night i had an exhibition game and they all said they would come down to watch it.  It was really great to see some familiar faces in the stands.  It was really fun getting to see them.  After the game we went out and got a bit to eat and then we met up again on sunday up in Boston.  Mike, Nancy and I drove up to Boston after church and met them downtown to eat at a restaurant.  I really had a great time getting to hang out with them and i know Mike and Nancy enjoyed themselves also.  

   After training camp and preseason we were getting ready to start the season.  The week of our home opener i went in to talk with the coach to see how things were going.  To hear from him of how he thought things were going.  So basically he ended up telling me that he thought my skills and my skating were excellent.  The only problem he saw was he thought that when i was playing i was "over thinking" things.  Playing timid,  not wanting to make a mistake.  And when you play that way you usually end up making mistakes.  He ended up grouping that as the "mental part" of the game.  There wasn't really anything that he could do to help me with that.  I knew the Lord was going to have to do something to help me with that part of the game.  

  After all that i found in practices that my mind would just wander.  I would be thinking about,  is the coach watching me, is he noticing me, whats he thinking, what are my teammates thinking about me and i found myself just thinking about the game too much.  Not relaxing and having fun playing.  It was a little while ago so i am trying to remember most of the details.  

After that first meeting with my coach we had our season opener and i didnt dress for any of those games, it was a bit of a shock to me because our meeting had seemed pretty positive to me.  So during that time i had to watch over my heart (thoughts) with thoughts like,  oh this is the same as last year now.  Same old sitting out games.  I really had to watch over my heart during that time.  But after the weekend i talked with my coach again on that monday.  He said the same thing about the mental part of the game and that was what i needed to work on.  So i worked hard that week in practice and we had 3 games coming up that following weekend.  He said i was going to dress in the game so just be ready.  I played in the first game and i thought i played well.  My first couple of shifts were not the best, but it got better and better as the game went on.  After the first game we had a game later that day in the evening.  It was an exhibition game (the schedule is a bit weird up here, a little different from last year).  And i played in that game too, which i played very good in too.  So saturday we had a game and i came to the game expecting to dress for it and when i got there i found out that i wasn't going to play.  So i talked with the coach again that monday to see why i didn't play.  That meeting went a little different.  Basically he told me that if i wanted to go to another team i could.  He thinks i would have a better opportunity to play more.  But he said that he wasnt just going to trade me, but he wanted to talk with me about it first.  So after we talked i came to the conclusion that i wanted to stay with the team.  I told him i had gotten traded last year and i dont think that it solves all your problems all the time.  So he said okay.  

After that meeting i was driving home and i called my mom.  She told me to go back into my notes and to read the things that the Lord had promised to me last year.  Also that the devil will try to push me into a decision (whether i should go to another team or not), but the Lord will lead me into that decision.  So i got home and i had a private time with the Lord which was excellent!!!  He gave me the idea to get some note cards and He gave me scriptures to put on them.  I carry them around with me and meditate on them now.  I was so encouraged by the Lord in that private time and I know i took hold of the victory that is mine in christ in my situation.  I took hold of that victory by faith.  I knew i had the Victory!

So basically to sum up the following weeks my practices from then on were excellent!  I was playing so much better.  I was continually meditating on the scriptures that the Lord had given to me.  I wasn't getting to dress in many of the games but that didn't matter right then.  I knew i had the victory already.  I had it by faith.  But in the course of those weeks i had 2 meetings with the coach where he gave me another opportunity to go to another team.  It felt like at first since he kept telling me about going to another team that he wanted me to leave, but he said that that wasnt the case.  He thinks it would be a better move for me to go to another team, but he said he has to tell me about opportunities that come up from other teams.  So at our last meeting where he told me about a team that would take me, i told him that i would still rather stay with this team and work my butt off to play than to go to another team (a worse team) and get to play more.  I am so confident that the Lord will make a way for me here where there is no way.  "God rules over the kingdom of mankind"  Dan 4.  I have planned to stay here back when the coach first told me about going to another team.  I knew from the Lord that this is where He wanted me to be, after i was able to be willing to go where He wanted me to go, the Lord told me this is where He wanted me.  So even though opportunities have come up for me to go, i have planned to stay.  My mom told me she heard from the Lord that i have planned to stay and now He is planning my advantage.  I cant forget that i do have the advantage here.  

So now i have updated you to right around now.  Almost 2 weeks ago my family came up for the weekend (October 10-13).  We had an excellent time!!  I was very thankful that they were able to come up.  They came friday night, i had a game saturday, nothing on sunday and another game monday.  Saturdays game was a home game.  Mondays game was almost 2 hours away.  We went to the game saturday and i found out that i was not dressing.  I really wanted them to watch me play so it kind of stunk that i wasn't playing then.  But we watched the game together.  Sunday we had a full day with Mike and Nancy (saturday mike was running in a marathon so we only saw them for about 10 min that day when we were on the way out the door).  It was great, we went to church in the morning.  Then had lobster for lunch, took a walk in the afternoon and then had fondu later on that night.  But we had an excellent time.  Monday i called the coach in the morning and found out that i was going to dress for that game!  So my parents came to that game,  it was pretty much right on the way home.  I played in the game and i played very well.  I was very pleased.  Especially that they got to see me play!  So after the game we got some dinner and then i headed back to my Boston home and they headed home.  

At our next practice i had a meeting with my coach and he thought that i played well, but i made 2 mistakes that he thought that i could of easily avoided.  So i kept working hard in practice and we had 2 more games coming up the next weekend (Oct 17, 18).  They were both home games.  One thing that i ask the Lord when i play is that the Holy Spirit would play through me,  so its not me playing out there but that the Lord is playing right through me.  So friday morning we had a pre game skate and after the skate the coach told me that i wasnt going to play that night.  I asked him why because he had said that he thought i played well monday.  He said he wanted to see this other kid (the kid who sat out when i played monday),  this kid is young he is only 18.  So the coach wants to develop him better for next year.  So i said okay.  I knew that the Lord rules down here,  if the coaches mind needs changed the Lord will easily do that in order for me to play more.  So i didn't play friday.  Saturday night we had a game to, i didnt know before hand if i was going to play or not.  But when i got there i finally found out that i was going to play!  Before the game i was asking the Lord that the Holy Spirit would play through me and then i asked the Lord how do i do that?  The Lord plainly told me to speak in tongues.  Before the game if i would start to pray the Lord again said, speak in tongues.  So thats what i did, throughout the whole game.  I spoke in tongues the WHOLE time.  Between every shift i would sit on the bench and speak in tongues.  I played sooooooooo well.  I was so pleased.  The Holy Spirit completely took over, my mind was at rest, my movements where His movements.  It was great!  

After the game Jason Rummel called me and said that he was able to get together with me if i had time.  So i drove up to Boston and picked him up.  He came back to the house here and we stayed up for a while talking (3 am!  haha).  But it was excellent!  He stayed overnight and sunday we got to spend some more time together.  Then sunday afternoon i drove him back up to Boston so he could get back to work.  But our time together was excellent.  It was great for the both of us.  

So you are now officially caught up.  Tonight i have a game.  I dont know if i am playing yet.  But my hope is in God.  Not in playing.  He is so good, His promises are Yes and Amen!  I am trusting Him.  

Now that i have the blog updated, the plan is to update it weekly.  I will try to keep to that plan.  Thank you all so much for praying for me continually.  I love you all sooooooooooo much!!!

Im coming home!

  Hey everyone,  sorry i didn't keep you updated throughout the second round of the playoffs, but we went down 3 games to Windsor right in a row and we had to win on wednesday to stay in the playoffs. So we ended up winning on wednesday to stay alive.  The next game was the next day on thursday and we had to win again to stay in the playoffs.  We ended up loosing that game.  I was disappointed because i wanted to win especially for the guys on the team that this was their last year of juniors and they really wanted to win a championship.  I felt bad for them.  

I dressed for the first 3 games of the series and got some playing time.  Then for the 4th game i didn't get to dress or the 5th game where we lost.  I really wanted to be out there with my teammates when we lost, i didn't like being in the stand while they were all out there.  I wanted to be with them.  

So we have a team dinner now on wednesday where we will all get together for the last time as a team and they also give out awards to ppl, like rookie of the year, mvp and all that stuff.  So that will be fun.  And then after that i can head home anytime i want.  Jeff said that i could stay here as long as i wanted to, which was nice.  So as of right now i am thinking that either thursday or friday im gonna head out and either head down to Yarmouth for a couple days to hang out there and see Bob and Greetha or start heading home.  I havnt decided on that one yet.  When i am heading home i plan on stopping in NY for a couple days and seeing all the guys there.  So im really looking forward to that.  Then after that i will finish off the trip back home.  So i will be seeing you guys probably in about 2 weeks at the most.  If not sooner!  

I will give you guys a full update of my entire time up here later on when i get home.  See ya soon!!!

Round 2 of playoffs this week!

  Hello!  Im writing to tell you guys that round 2 of the playoffs start this week.  We play game 1 monday night in East Hants.  Game 2 will be thursday in East Hants again and game 3 will be friday night in Windsor.  Thats all i know right now.  They dont know when game 4 will be yet, there's a problem with getting ice at Windsor.  Then game 5 will be the following thursday (13th).  I will update you guys sometime during the week on how the games have been going and how i have been doing.  Please be praying,  im expecting, believing the Lord to cause this to be a great series for me and a series where i am shinning sooooooo bright!!! Thanks.  Love ya all! 

Playoffs!

  Hello!  So we have officially finished the first round of the playoffs.  We played a team in the league called the Brookfield Elks.  We had all the games last week. Monday, tuesday, thursday and Sunday.  We won all 4 of the games so that means that we "swept" them.  Meaning we were playing a 7 game series so we won all 4 games in a row and they dont have a chance to come back in the series and win.  Most of you know from the previous post that i hadn't played Monday, Tuesday or Thursday.  But in Thursdays game things got a bit rough and one of our guys got a 2 game suspension and also one of the guys on the team hurt his ankle a little, nothing big but just tweaked it a little.  So Sunday i got to play!  I was very thankful for the opportunity to play.  I played forward that night,  i was hoping to get to play Defense but Jeff put me on the 3rd line instead.  I really liked the guys that i played with and i thought that we worked really well together.  Through the first period we were rolling through all 4 lines.  Then in the second period there were a lot of penalties so i didn't get to go out.  Then in the 3rd period we were back to regular shifts again until they scored 2 goals in the 3rd to tie the game up.  So jeff shortened the bench up a bit and i didn't get to go out for the last 6 min or so.  I thought that i played really well last night.  I did well, i can really only remember one mistake that i made the whole game and the coaches didn't say anything to me about me playing bad.  So i thought that i did well yesterday.  The temptation to be disappointed about not playing D started to creep in after the game, but the Lord was quick to remind me to be thankful for what i did get, and with that more can be given.  I just came to a point where i was thankful to dress for that game and get the opportunity to play.  

   I believe i mentioned something about asking the Lord to give me an opportunity to shine (something that my Mother received from the Lord to be asking for) in my last post.  And i do believe i shined last night in the game, but my hearts desire is to play D.  So i still would like an opportunity to shine on D, in the meantime i will certainly shine playing forward but i want to be playing Defense and i want to be the top defenseman.  So i am expecting the Lord to do that for me in the next week, couple weeks, sometime soon!  

   I was just talking to my mom yesterday and saying, its easy to be like "Yeah next year i am going to be a top defenseman on a  Junior A team, being on the Power play, penalty kill,  playing everywhere!"  And i do believe that will be the case for next year.  But it takes faith for me to say,  "I believe the Lord can do a miracle in these next couple of weeks and cause me to rise to the top and be the top defenseman on this team right now!"  I trust that He and He alone can turn things around for me here, when everyone seems to be against me,  HE IS FOR ME!   We see that a lot in the Psalms with David talking about all these enemies that are coming against him, but the Lord was always for him.  And now it seems that the coaches arn't necessarily for me, but thats okay,  i know that HE is for me and that is truly all that matters.  So i expect to see some things change here soon in my situation for my good! 

I am still standing on that scripture in Micah 7:7, its excellent! 

 But also James 4:10 in the Amplified    "Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].  

Significant - sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy. 

And also i like   2 Cor 12:9 in the message.  I love it in the NASB and the Amplified, but i just saw it in the Message today and i really liked it as well.  So you guys can look it up on there later on,  (you can check it out on  biblegateway.com if you dont have a message bible).  

I plan on writing again soon when i know more about the next series.  I dont know when it starts or who we are playing yet.  Love you all.  Bye for now

Quick update...

  Hello all,  Sorry it has been a while since my last update.  This blog will be fairly short, i want to write a quick update and let you all know how things are going.  And then also ask you guys to be continuing to pray for some specific things.  

   So a quick summary of things over the past 2 months.  At a practice about a month ago on a tuesday i was called into the coaches room to have a meeting with the coaches.  They were having meetings with all the players.  So we had our meeting and they told me that my skating, stick handling and all my skills were excellent.  But they said that there is this one thing missing from my game, they wernt really specific.  But they said something about my decision making out on the ice.  So they basically said without this key aspect to your game your are our 6th defenseman (meaning last out of all the defenseman).  Jeff who is the head coach (and who i also live with) said that i should start watching NHL games at the house to study them and watch how they play.  So i watched a game that night and wednesday night as well.  Then thursday came along and we had a game.  I was all ready for the game and felt that after watching those NHL games and studying them i was more prepared.  But when i got there they told me that i wasn't playing Defense tonight i was going to be playing forward instead.  So that was a pretty big shock to me.  But i played forward that night and i did well.  So to shorten things up a bit, i have been playing forward ever since and after talking to Jeff he didn't make it sound like i was going to be going back to playing Defense at all for the rest of the year.  

    So now we have just started the playoffs.  Our first game was yesterday.  With the team now we have 22 players and you can only dress 20 players, so each game 2 guys have to sit out.  About a week ago Jeff talked to me the night before a game and told me that he was thinking about not dressing me for the game the following day.  He said that guys were just taking their turns and it didn't have to do with how i played the game before.  So i was okay with that, i really wanted to dress and play, but i was fine for that one.  Then last week i didn't dress again for a game.  That was tough at first, but the Lord's grace was sufficient for me.  Then we had a game the following day (friday) and i dressed and played well.  So then this week the playoffs started and yesterday he told me that i wasn't dressing again.  So again i had to turn to the Lord for help, because it is very tough at first when he tells me that i am not going to play.  I usually have to sneak off and spend time with the Lord and get my mind renewed.  Because so many thoughts start flying around in there.  So then today we had a game, the second game of the series (in the playoffs we play a 7 game series with one team).  I expected to dress because he usually doesn't sit a guy for 2 games in a row.  But i didn't dress again.  He called me into his office before we left for the game today and said,  he and the other coaches have talked and they feel that i am the 22nd man on the team right now.  They dont really have a role for me right now.  They basically said to stick it out until they need me to play again.  This was very hard for me to hear and i needed sooo much help from the Lord to remain at peace.  We played the game and won and after it was all over Jeff called me out to the hallway to talk.  He said, i know this wont be a problem with you, but i just want to keep things that happen at the rink at the rink and not make things awkward around the house.  So i told him that i understood and it wont be a problem.  He asked me if i had any questions (i had been wanting to talk with him all night about what we talked about before, so i saw this as a good opportunity).  So i asked him, does this mean that i wont get to play this whole series?  He said with the team we are playing he wants to keep some guys that are tougher in the lineup, meaning guys that usually fight.  He said when he wants to put some speed in the lineup he will put me in.  Then i also said,  "A month ago you put me from defense, the position i have played my whole life to forward.  We had a talk and you told me that you would work on Defense with me, then you just out of the blue move me to forward.  I have played defense at the Junior A level, and did well.  So when i got here i expected to be a top defenseman."  He then said, "well yeah thats what i expected too, but it didn't seem to work out."  So he basically said that he didn't think that i was very good at defense.  He didn't say those words exactly, but thats about what he said, i just cant remember the exact words.   So shortly after that the conversation was over.  

  But i dont believe the Lord brought me up here just to not dress every game in the playoffs and just hang around.  I believe He brought me up here to shine, it doesn't seem like that has happened with any of the teams that i have been on so far, but i know that even though it doesn't look like it, he has been causing me to shine with my teams past and even this one.  But i want to play, i want to be one of the top defenseman, i want to contribute in our teams success.  And i believe the Lord can do all these things for me, THIS YEAR!!   So now i need favor with the Lord and with the coaches.  I need them to see the value in having me on the team, and my mom has been asking the Lord to give me a chance to shine.  So i wanted to update you all so you could be praying with me and for me.  Praying for a big opportunity for me to shine out on the ice and asking the Lord to show me favor with my coaches,  their names are,   Jeff (head coach), Jason (Defense coach), Harlan (Goalie coach).  So you guys can be praying for them.  

    My next game is Thursday and then Sunday.  I am continually reminded of the fact that things can change in an instant.  Just because Jeff doesn't think that i am a good defenseman, or that he doesn't see the value in having me play doesn't matter.  God is the one who has the final say.  He can cause me to play thursday night on defense, it is impossible,  BUT GOD!  So please be praying for me, any encouragement i will receive gladly.  Love you all, i will try not to wait so long to write again.  thanks!!!  

Staying in East Hants for now...

 Hello!  So January 10th was the trade deadline for all the junior teams (the league i play in now, and the one i was in before).  I very much wanted to go back to Yarmouth before the deadline.  I had been asking the Lord and expecting Him to take me back there.  I had a game on the 10th (which we won by the way) and after the game i was waiting here at my billets house for a call.  I was getting very disappointed as 11:15 came around (12 am  was the deadline), but whitney called me right then to see how i was and encouraged me.  Im very thankful for her.  She encouraged me just to spend my time with the Lord during the time when i was waiting for a call.  So i was just spending time with the Lord and not thinking about the time and 12 am came and went and i didn't receive a call.  But i can say i wasn't disappointed.  After spending time with the Lord i was very encouraged.  One song i was singing was   "God will make a way, where there seems to be no way..."     So i didn't get picked up and i was/am doing very fine.  Right now i am still playing with my team in East Hants.  

  I had not thought about continuing to keep asking the Lord to take me back to Yarmouth, since the deadline was over.  But my mom said to me that i should continue to keep asking the Lord.  Because He says to Ask, seek, and knock.  He doesn't say stop asking when it looks like its not going to work out.  The deadline is officially over, but we dont serve a God who is limited by early time.  He can, what the song says  "Make a way where there is NO way".  So I will continue to keep asking the Lord to take me back, and in that Persistent asking He will meet me there and direct me to what i need to be praying, if i need to continue with what i have been asking or be asking for something different.  Im very thankful to my mom for this, and also June was sharing with me stories of  Jonathan (her son) and of Bob Mencer when they had been believing for a situation and asking the Lord for something and a deadline had came and gone, but the Lord opened a door for them.  Both of them with their jobs.  So i was very encouraged by that.  

  But its great to just be at such a peace about being here.  Its just like He says in His word about giving us a peace that will surpass our understanding.  Its very very good!!  He will most certainly work this out for my good!  

  So i have found a church in the area.  I am now attending    Seaside Community Baptist Church.  Its a very cool story as to how i found the church.  Most of you all know Judah Thomas from our church in England.  I was talking to Judah before i had come home for break and he was telling me that one of his friends has come to halifax and started a church in the area.  He sent me the link to their church website and i checked it out on the web.  I wasn't able to go before i came home for break, but i was able to go last sunday and today as well.  I really really liked it there.  Kamal Sampara is the pastor of the church.  He is a very good teacher and i have loved the 2 messages i have heard from him so far.  I spoke to him last sunday and told him that i knew Judah and he was just blown away that we had a mutual friend in England with him being in canada and me living in Pa.  It was pretty funny how blown away he was.  But it was really cool too.  We could only talk for a bit last week, since he had to greet the members of his church.  But i gave him my number and i told him we would talk later.  Today after church i met some more people and today this lady invited me over for lunch.  She said the pastor and a couple other people were going to be there.  So i went over after church and i had soooooo much fun.  I cant remember the lady's name right now, but her husbands name was dave and they have 3 kids.  2 girls and a boy.  They also had 2 guys from the church over who were around my age,  Chris and Adam,  they were nice guys.  I ended up hanging around their house for a couple hours and we all just visited together.  They have a prayer meeting every sunday night at the house i was at and they told me if i ever wanted to stay around town for the afternoon i could stay and come to the prayer meeting that evening.  (The church is in  Upper Tantallon which is 40 to 45 min from East Hants where i am, so i am not able to go back and forth all the time).  So if i were to stay for the evening prayer meeting i would just hang around town for the whole afternoon.  I decided not to go today, but i told them i will plan to stay one afternoon and attend later on.  

   The church is very young, they just started about 6 months ago.  But the people are not young believers.  I can see that they do need more teaching, but they are definitely getting it from Pastor Kamal.  So you guys could be praying for their growth as a body as well.  I think my time here will be very very good.  Even if i go down to Yarmouth i can still make the trip up every now and then to attend when i have a sunday free.  Its not to to far.  

  Those of you that have been asking the Lord for a good friend for me, i do believe the Lord has answered that prayer.  I am getting along very well with Pastor Kamal and already he is a very dear friend to me.  We clicked right away and i love getting the chance to spend time with him.  He is a young pastor, so he is easy to get along with and we have a mutual friend in Judah which makes it easier because we already have that in common.  So thank you all that have been praying for a friend for me,  the Lord has answered that prayer!

  So that is what has been happening to date.  Thank you all for your continued prayers and encouragement through emails and etc...  thank you!     bye for now!!!!!!

Back in East Hants

  Hello all!   Im just writing a short blog to let you all know that i got back to East Hants all right.  I didn't have any trouble throughout the day, only my plane in Montreal was delayed just by a little bit, but nothing to bad.  So thank you all for praying for my trip and i just wanted to say that it went well.   

  Also i just wanted to say i had a great time at home over the past 2 weeks and i am soooo thankful that i was able to be home that long.  You all are a blessing to me and i am thankful for family like you.  Continue to be an encouragement to everyone you run into each day as you guys have been to me.  I will continue to update my blog every now and then so you guys know what is going on with me and what the Lord is doing.  

   January 10th is when the trade deadline is and i have been asking the Lord to put me back onto Yarmouth before then.  But after just talking to my mom she encouraged me and warned me not to be counting the days, but to just enjoy everyday here because today i am in the perfect will of God and on January 10th i will be in the perfect will of God.  I dont ever want to forget that.  To be thankful to be in the perfect will of God.  The Lord knows that it is my hearts desire to be back in Yarmouth (or even in Miramichi) and i can rest in that.  I have committed it to the Lord and placed it in His hands.  I will continue to Ask, Seek and knock as well and just trust Him to work this all out for my good.  Love you all.  I will write again soon!  bye!