hello tuesday

Hello Tuesday
so far you are a good friend to me
with your beautiful morning sunrise
the sky filled with reds that are too beautiful to describe
white frost on the car
but no snow on the ground
I am loving you so far Tuesday!

Good Morning Lord
thank you for this new day
a new chance at life
I love YOU Lord ~ please use me today
for your honor and glory!
may my words, my actions, my thoughts
be pure
be wholesome
be truthful
be loving
may I be a reflection of You dear Jesus!

Hello Tuesday
I look ahead to this day
past this great cup of coffe
to my exercise time
my work day
and I do not know what all it holds
but I do know WHO holds it.
Thank you Lord.

Hello Tuesday
hello stillness of early morning
hello smell of fresh coffee
hello Jake who is here doing some electrical work
hello inspector who will come later and do the final electrical inspection

Hello Tuesday
good-bye to Monday, you made my daughter stress about her exam at university
it is a new day
and I want to live it to the full

Hello Tuesday
May you be full of wonderful surprise
Lord, may I see YOU throughout my day
Lord, please bless my sweet family
bless my friends
bless my co-workers

Hello Tuesday
Thank you Lord for reminding me of your Scripture which falls sweetly upon my soul
for your reminder to me!
I love you Lord.
Thank you for this TUESDAY!!

Hebrews 13:5

The Message (MSG)

 ^5-6Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote,

   God is there, ready to help;
   I'm fearless no matter what.
   Who or what can get to me?

Turn Your Eyes

This morning as I worked through my devotional time with the Lord, I have been struck by the fact that I am often like a "kid in a candy store" (figuratively but also literally) as I go through life!  I am often star struck by the things that appeal outwardly to me, or inwardly to my sugar cravings.  I often go through life when things are going well (which does happen) and it seems at those times, I do not turn my eyes fully on my Jesus who is the author and creator of my life!!  I continue to struggle with being self sufficient!

This morning I read through Scripture, and did my Bible Study that I am doing (Stepping Up: A Journey through the Psalms of Ascent by Beth Moore) and TODAY I was really profoundly struck by a few things that she said.  One of them was that:

WHERE I LOOK impacts WHAT I HEAR which impacts 

                                  WHAT I FEEL which impacts WHAT I EXPECT

In his book, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Eugene Peterson says it like this (page 63)

"We are not presented with a functional god who will help us out of jams or an entertainment god who will lighten our tedious hours.  We are presented with the God of exodus and Easter, the God of Sinai and Calvary.  If we want to understand God, we must do it on his terms.  If we want to see God the way he really is, we must look to the place of authority - to Scripture and to Jesus Christ.


And do we really want it any other way?  I don't think so.  We would very soon become contemptuous of a god whom we could figure out like a puzzle or learn to use like a tool.  No, if God is worth our attention at all, he must be a God we can look up to - a God we must look up to ... The moment we look  up to God (and not over at him, or down on him) we are in the posture of servitude."



I have realized that I look to things often.  I struggle with my weight and continually give in to "the candy in the candy shop" because I look at it and want it and if my defences are down - I will buy it and eat it!!  Why don't I look to Him to help me with all of it?  I continually want to, but often don't.  Isn't it Paul that said he does what he does not want to do?

This morning, as I read through my devotions, as I began the time with face-down prayer with the Lord, there is one song that has continued to run through my heart and mind.  I used to sing this alot in the little chapel and camp I grew up in.  I am including the rendition sung by Michael W. Smith who blesses me with his music.

It is my prayer today and in the days to come, that I will TURN MY EYES UPON JESUS and look FULL in his wonderful face!!  O Lord, have mercy!!

my sweet man (a fun post/video for today)

My sweet man.  I have known this guy for 37 years and dated him for a couple months short of 37 years! We fell in love at 16, married at 20, had our son, built our house, had our daughter ....
We farmed "on the side" getting up to over 80 cattle/calves at one time in a cow/calving operation.
We farmed pigs and cattle in a farming partnership for a couple years (until the disintegration of the other couple's marriage made us decide to get out of the farming partnership since it would get complicated)
We had dogs ...
We had cats... and cats, and cats, and cats
We entertained family and friends in our home and loved it!  If our dining room table could talk - we would hear many many hours of laughter and conversation and prayers coming from that wooden table.

And now - after 33 years of married life, and almost 37 years of dating (smile) we are in a new adventure, madly and wildly following the call of God on our lives.  I stand amazed at how Alvin believes in what God has called me/us to.  He works far too hard.  But he is one of the wisest, most knowledgeable, craziest (in a good way) man that I know - loving God, me, his kids and grandkids with a passion like I have known in no other!  Is marriage always easy?  Of course not (I am not going to lie about that!)  However - it is amazing and I would marry this guy again in a second. (which is what we did on our 25th.)

ANYHOW ... this isn't our anniversary (it passed in Sept) but I was just sitting here thinking about my sweet farmer/builder man Alvin after I watched (again) a very cute little video our kids sent us in an email.  Somehow whenever I see this - I think of Alvin.  So, I thought I would share it with you - and perhaps those of you who know him - will understand why it makes me think of him.

Kind of a fun post for today!

No Doubt

This morning, as I drove into the city (at about 6:50) I was moved by a song that I heard on CHVN 95.1

I just looked up the schedule because I could not remember a title - and I found it!  It is No Doubt by the band Petra. Not sure when they wrote it - but it spoke to me this morning!

compassion beyond measure

The title of the post today - was the title of Dave's sermon this morning at Eastview.  The sermon was about showing compassion.  Dave said that we often feel uncomfortable when we talk about showing compassion, and that there "is more at stake, for us living compassionate lives, than we know"

The Scripture passage was from Acts 3 where Peter and John are on their way to the temple and encounter a beggar who is lame.  They didn't have silver or gold, and told him such but what they gave him was way better.  They look at the lame man, and in the name of Jesus - tell him to get up and walk!  And - he does!!  And goes away walking, leaping and praising God!!

Dave said "the church gathers and shows compassion in ways that change people's lives.  Compassion is at the heart"

BUT that being said - why don't we show compassion more?  Well - because it is hard.  Because it is risky.  Sometimes we may find ourselves "judging" who needs compassion and who doesn't!! When we look into the Word of God, we see that Jesus himself, went to the fringes of society... he ate with tax collectors, and prostitutes!  (he lived a risky life - he was also ridicules for sitting with "sinners")
There was so much more to the sermon, but at the end, Dave encouraged us - that we would grow compassionate hearts! That we would walk around every day, looking with Jesus eyes!

I have often prayed exactly this before - that God would help me see through the eyes of Jesus.  I have experienced this profoundly a couple times, and it left me a weepy mess.  Two times that stand out in my memory are once when we were with a team in the inner city of Toronto (also known as the "tenderloin" area, as it was where prostitution was rampant, along with streets full of drag queens, and young male prostitutes.  We were there late at night - and were there with a mission oriented purpose.  All of a sudden, I felt this intensity in my being, and felt like the lens had come off my eyes, and I wept.  I believe God helped me feel the compassion that Jesus felt for the broken among us.

The other time that stands in my memory, focuses on my street friend Barry.  Barry, who often would come in so dirty, and so smelly from street life.  Barry who would ask the ushers if they could get "Joy" and they would come and get me - sometimes out of the service - to help him out.  Barry who would croon Amazing Grace to me, and recite scripture to me.  (Create in me a clean heart O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.  This was one scripture he recited one day.  However one of the coldest days of the year, I sat with Barry as he sipped a hot coffee and tried to warm up.  He was high again.  Not sure if it was the Listerine he had drank, or sniff ... but he was high.  The holy spirit kept nudging me - prompting me to ask Barry "Barry, do you want me to pray with you?" To which he replied "Yes" and immediately bowed his head.  It was like he immediately sobered up.  I prayed.  Again there was this stirring in my heart, and my eyes were opened again, and I felt this compassion ... only Jesus could do that.  After we were done, he got up and said good-bye and went into the cold... and I wept.

Compassion is risky.  Sometimes it costs us ... a few dollars to the person begging around the corner of the McDonald's drive through (where management could not see him). ... or a kind word to the woman who just told you about the journey since her son was murdered a couple years ago ... or the person who is just hungry, and you give your fresh coffee and donut to.  Perhaps it is more - like donating money to the food bank, or to places like Mennonite Central Committee for their response to the famine... or brand new coats donated to Koats for Kids campaign.

Imagine what would happen if the "church" responded with compassion ... with more compassion.  I am talking about the "church" as each of us who claim Jesus as Lord of our lives!  Imagine if we reached out - in his name.  If we gave a cup of water to "the least of these."
If our hearts great with compassion that looked the way Jesus told us.  Imagine!  Compassion beyond measure!

May that be my prayer daily!
To see others through the eyes of Jesus and to respond with love and compassion!

To what degree do you believe you want this in your life?

A couple years ago, I had the privilege of sitting under the tutelage of Dr. Larry Crabb, as one of 30 students in the Spiritual Direction Class 33, at beautiful Glen Eyrie Retreat and Conference Center in amazing Colorado Springs, Colorado.  This was an experience that I will never forget, and will cherish forever.  God's timing for this - I just can't begin to explain.


Since then, I have had a great desire to do more with it.  I have looked into becoming a "LIFE COACH" ... I have thought of a number of things, but I continue to be drawn to care giving and spiritual care of others.  Such it was, that I decided to proceed with doing the SOUL CARE courses via on-line, and proceeding toward a certificate in Spiritual Formation, as taught by Dr. Crabb.  I have to be honest - I love the fact that he is a christian counsellor, who believes that we all can speak into the lives of others who need "soul care" and that this is a huge thing in society - the fact that many do not have anyone to sit face to face with, and talk/listen with.  


Now that I have prefaced this post ~ I have been thinking of one of the discussion questions that I had to answer the other night.  Here it is:


Consider the radical nature of the proposed goal for SoulCare (“To arouse an appetite for God that is stronger than all other appetites”). Discuss whether you think this is a reasonable goal. Understand what is being said ... that you can actually long to know God more than you long for anything else (i.e. good health, a good marriage, godly kids, good feelings about yourself, etc.) To what degree do you believe you want this in your life?


So it is, since Saturday night, that this question has continued to resonate in my soul.  Really, I answered it Saturday night but ... the question stands today still, and I continue to ask myself, being that I can actually long to know God more than I long for anything else, to what degree DO I believe that I want this in my life?


Sometimes our life crowds in doesn't it.  I love my husband more than I can ever express.  The love that I have for him, I have known for no other man before.  He is a gift from God, given to me 37 years ago!! (yep, we were 16!)   I want to spend my life, my days with him.  Do I love God more?  Do I long for God more than I long for my husband?


I love my kids (Josh, Leah, Ash and Mike) more than any other kids in the world.  I have been greatly greatly blessed by these 4 gifts to me (and Alvin).  I don't know what I would do without my kids in my life!  Do I love God more?  Do I long for God more than I long for my children?


I love my Grandbabes:  our little Jay who is in heaven, our little Everett who blesses our lives here on earth, and our little Grandbabe in utero who we look forward to welcoming in January.  Being a Granny is something that no words can describe!  Do I love God more?  Do I long for God more than I long for my grandchildren?


These are my thoughts today.  My initial response is to say YES, I do long for God most.  But when I really really think of what I am saying, it is something that is very sobering.  Loving God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my might!  Saying it is one thing ... believing it with all my heart is another!  


How DO I measure the degree to which I believe this?  


Jesus gave his life for me.  HIS LIFE!!  All he wants for me - is that I would believe this, and walk daily in relationship with him.  O Lord Jesus ... grow my love for you.  I can hardly comprehend your love for me, the closest thing I can compare it to, is the love I have for my sweet husband, my kids and my grandbabes!  And yet, you love me even more!  Grow my love for you sweet Jesus and may I long for you more than anything else.  
Yes Lord, more.

Where Everyone Knows Your Name

It was great to be at church today.  With having many Sundays away at the lake - I was just really missing church.  I love the worship time (through music).  I love the passionate way both Delbert and Dave speak. (Delbert spoke this morning).  I love the way the church reaches past its doors into the community.
I realized today that this is the first fall that we are sitting in the pews at Eastview Community Church.  It has been a huge transition for us, to leave the place we called our home church (after 32 years) and move to another church.  (that move is a whole other blog post that likely will never be written, but know that the move was not something that we did without much prayer, much tears and grieving)

Anyhow ... today, as Delbert got up to give the welcome, he shared the sermon series that we are beginning right now, and the worship team broke into the song from Cheers

Now, okay, lest I offend some of you who think that singing a portion of the theme song of cheers  is sacreligious or something ... let me explain.

Something happened when I heard the theme song begin to play on the piano.  Actually I got goose bumps.  Now, I liked the series CHEERS and watched it often with my husband.  But I think the thing that I liked the most was the fact that people knew one another, and that when Norm came in - they all said "NORM" because they KNEW HIM!! (one of my friends was positive that when I walked into Mountain Bean, they all yelled JOY since I spent alot of time there while I was a Pastor.  He said that he always wanted to be in the coffee shop before I came in, to see if it happened!!)  I think I actually got goosebumps because I have heard people refer to the cheers community before.  (No you won't catch me sitting and hanging out in a pub, because that is not my idea of a good time HOWEVER I love the idea of community.  I love it when people KNOW me and allow me to get to KNOW them.  I know that I love to be "in" community!)

Today Delbert's sermon was titled "Risk IT!  Community in a Timmy's World and it was on Acts 2: 42 to the end.  Delbert made us laugh as he had Tim Horton's props (cups and Timbits) because they are a CANADIAN thing, but he admitted that he loves Starbucks more!

He talked about how the first "church" was a community of like minded people - of one heart and one mind.  That they were DEVOTED (totally committed to what they believed) but that beyond devotion, we have to have PASSION (which is a powerful and compelling emotional response to something we have experienced) .  Imagine - Peter preached with passion (Acts 2) and 3000 were added to the church that day!  WOW imagine if that happened today!  We have a lot to be passionate about!  I will never forget the night that I asked Jesus Christ to be Lord of my life!!

Delbert also said that besides PASSION we need to add LOYALTY.  At this point, Delbert said that he had read the book "The Gospel According to Starbucks" (which is a book that Alvin also read and enjoyed) and within the book the author talks about an EPIC LIFE.  There are 4 essential ingredients to establishing a Christ-like community (which we should all want to have right?) and they are

Experience:  mainly teaching.  If we are only here to entertain, then the church has missed the point!
Participation:  we were all encouraged to roll up our sleeves and get involved, and bring others to come and know Christ!
Images:  at this point we celebrated the Lord's Supper (aka communion) together.  The images of the bread and wine representing the Lord's body which hung on the cross, and his blood shed for our sin.  I love celebrating around the Lord's table together.
Connection:  in the Acts church it said that they devoted themselves to teaching, to fellowship, to sharing meals, to prayer.  They knew one another's NEEDS!!  You can only do this if you connect with people!  If you know others by name, and if you are known by your name!  It was this type of community that attracted others!

It was at this point that Delbert encouraged us, as he was closing, to do an impromptu lunch invitation with someone.  Go out of our way and go out with someone else.  Impromptu!
As we were leaving, we were asked to go out with our friend Judy and her new husband Dennis.  It was a wonderful time together, getting to know them and hearing how God had brought the two of them together.

I was blessed today through the service.  The service that included worship time through music, Scripture reading, a sermon, sharing communion together and yes... even hearing the Worship Band sing the first part of the Cheers Theme Songs.

You want to go where everybody knows your name!!

My prayer is that God will help me to be open to the needs of others and willing to step out of my box, to step out of my comfort zone and to be HIS hands and feet to others!  I want to be a community that reaches out and loves on others!  O Lord, this is my prayer!