Our High Calling

Finale

2011-08-21T09:00:00.005-04:00

To every musical piece there is a finale. To every book there is a end. To every thing there is a season. Numerous times I have written a finale, only to tear it up and pitch it away. Somehow I’ve put it off, but as I reach the fifth anniversary of this blog, I know without a doubt that it is time to write the ending. Time for the final finale. I’m intensely grateful for the years of writing, but I feel that in the last couple years time for writing has seriously diminished. When I started to write it was my only used method of communication. I wrote because I had too, I wrote because I needed the outlet for my thoughts. And in these years of writing, I’ve learned a lot. As time goes on I don’t feel the need of writing as I used too, I’ve learned to live and laugh and love and share in the midst the day to day charms of real life. I’ve met dear friends that I didn’t used to have that have helped me to grow in confidence and strength.

I can’t believe that it’s been five years since the day that I wrote my first piece, hit publish for the first time. In five years life drastically changes, but I can honestly say that it has changed greatly for the better, for the happier. For a richer and fuller life. It’s been a learning of gratitude, of counting the millions of things for which I have to be thankful for. Of seeing how great is our God, and how undeserving I am of His mercy. Of seeing how any good that I can ever attain in my life is solely by an extension His grace alone.

In a changing world, in changing times, in changing seasons, there is one comfort in knowing that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the One and Only Constant.

It is a comfort to know that, in the midst of a crazy life, where no two days are ever alike, where you never know what will happen next. Knowing that no matter where I go in life, no matter where I am. HE is there. Is what keeps me sane. That there is no where in this earth, above or below the earth that I can ever flee from His presence. That no man is able to separate me from Him. That is strength. That is grace.

In the day to day work and challenges of work and customers, and orders and rush and hustle, bustle. He is there. In the early morning and then in the evening twilight hours of milking and mucking and feeding. He is there. He is I AM.

When I forget Him and get wrapped up in my own agenda and thoughts, He is still there. Always was, and always will be. It this knowledge that makes me able to dance in the rain, smile up at the stars and bubble over with joy.

By writing this I only want to say, He is, and was, and always will be. I’m safe. I don’t know the future. I still don’t know what life holds. But I rest in the quiet confidence that He knows. So I work and seek to honour Him in the day to day hours of business. To reverence Him as I work in the great outdoors. To show love to those around me. I know I fail, but He never fails. And that is my strength.

I’m grateful for the friendships made and built. I’m grateful for words. Lived and shared. And so as I move on in life, praying that He will always be my joy. For the whole duty of man is to love God, do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)

And so with all my love, best wishes, fond thoughts and cherished memories, I bid each one of you …adieu.

Friends

2011-08-09T21:22:00.000-04:00

I've been reading in Proverbs the last while, and there are a number of verses repeated over and over throughout the book. The few I will quote here is about honesty and trustworthiness in friendship.

A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Prov. 11:13

A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer seperateth chief friends. Prov. 16:28

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love, but he that repeateth a matter seperateth very friends. Prov. 17:9

Poor Solomon, he really must have known what it was like to be betrayed by friends. It's sad. Gossip is such a sad thing, and yet so many people sometimes unknowingly spread it around.

Shall Be

2011-07-24T17:32:00.000-04:00

There shall be performance of those things

That loving heart hath waited long to see;

Those words shall be fulfilled to which she clings,

Because her God has promised faithfully;

And, know Him, she ne'er can doubt His Word;

"He speaks and it is done." The mighty Lord!

There shall be a performance of those things,

O burdened heart, rest ever in His care;

In quietness beneath His shadowing wings

Await the answer to thy longing prayer.

When thou hast "cast thy care," the heart then sings,

There shall be a performance of those things.

There shall be a performance of those things,

O tired heart, believe and wait and pray;

At eventide the peaceful vesper rings,

Though cloud and rain and storm have filled the day.

Faith piereces through the mist of doubt that bars

The coming night sometimes, and finds the stars.

There shall be a performance of those things,

O trusting heart, the Lord to thee hath told;

Let Faith and Hope arise, and plume their wings,

And soar towards the sunrise clouds of gold;

The portals of the rosy dawn swing wide,

Revealing joys the darkening night did hide.

-Bessie Porter

Loyalty and Royalty

2011-07-04T21:56:00.000-04:00

As a loyal Canadian lover of my country and Queen, I shared in the joy of the recent wedding of our heir to the throne HRH Prince William to Kate. Watching the wedding live was special. So it's with pride that we welcomed them on their first united tour of Canada. We love you Will and Kate. Thank you for coming!

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-01T13:54:00.000-04:00

Happy Canada Day!!

To all my wonderful Canadian friends! Love you all!

( I love you Americans friends also, just so you don't feel left out. ;)

Hear Me

2011-06-28T17:47:00.000-04:00

Look at the World

2011-06-20T16:24:00.000-04:00

The One

2011-06-16T21:05:00.000-04:00

Man's Chief Purpose

2011-06-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

What is the chief end of man?

Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

- Westminster Catechism

I love, love, that answer. To glorify Him, and enjoy Him forever!

He's Been Faithful

2011-06-13T10:00:00.001-04:00

In my moments of fear / Through every pain and every tear /
There's a God whose been faithful to me /
When my strength was all gone /
And when my heart had no song still /
He was faithful to me /
Every word He promised, is true (Oh, yes it is) /
And what I thought was impossible / I see my God do.

Chorus 1: He's been faithful, faithful to me (He's been faithful) /
Looking back, Your love and mercy I see (mercy I see) /
In my heart, I questioned your will /
And I failed to believe /
BUT You've been faithful, faithful to me.

When my heart looked away /
The many times I could not pray /
Still in love my God, He proved faithful to me /
The days I spent so selfishly, reaching out for what pleased me /
Still in love You proved faithful to me /
Every time I go back to Him /
Don't you know, He's waiting with open arms and I see once again

Chorus 2: He's been faithful, faithful to me (He's been faithful) /
Looking back, Your love and mercy, Your love and mercy I see (mercy I see)
Your love and mercy I see /
Many times in my life, Lord, I questioned your will /
And I failed to believe /
But You've been faithful, faithful (faithful) to me.

Light in Darkness

2011-06-12T11:25:00.000-04:00

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

Exodus 20:18-21

The people witnessed the presence of God and they trembled and stood afar off. God came down upon the mountain and the people crowded away. God was in their midst and they turned away. They told Moses to speak for them for we will die if we go near. I can see it in my minds eyes. The people crowding away in fright, begging Moses to speak for them, to put in a good word. And Moses told them not to fear for the Lord has come to test you. That His fear may be before you, that you may not sin. But the people stood afar off and Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. God was in the darkness.

We have the choice to flee away or draw near and embrace the test. Walk straight into the thick darkness for in so doing we walk into the arms of God and feel His presence as never before. He comes to test us so that His fear (reverence) will be in us, so that we may not sin. I never saw the rich meaning there before as just now. Oh that we would not flee the darkness for in it walks my Lord and my God. By embracing His call, I see His face. By walking in the dark I feel His hand. Learn His love and drink of His grace Though the darkness looks forboding and fearsome, in it you will come face to face with God. Oh, what the children of Israel missed when they chose to “stand afar off.” They missed learning of the sweetness of His presence that made Moses’ face shine with brightness as the sun when He came out of that cloud. How can one enter into thick darkness and yet come out shining as the sun? Though it looks dark, the test is to enter in, and in the center of the deepest darkness is the brightest light and there we truly learn of Him. The darkness truly is needful for it holds the presence of God Almighty and meeting Him you can never be the same again. For thousands will look on you and see a shining face, and know how great is our God.

Delight

2011-06-03T10:37:00.000-04:00

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Psalm 37:4

Cherish the Moment

2011-05-08T13:04:00.002-04:00

Ephesians 4:1-7

2011-04-25T15:00:00.000-04:00

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

I've been thinking about these verses. Have you ever stopped to think about the depth of meaning to them? Read it through slowly and think about the meaning of each of those words and how it plays out in our lives day to day in fellowship with the believers. I also noted that Paul calls himself here, not a prisoner of the Romans, but of the Lord. Paul saw everything as coming from the hand of God. Have you ever thought about the meaning of the word "beseech". There is a passion and pathos in that word. He is not just asking, he is pleading/begging with his whole heart that we live worthy.

Psalm 119:165

2011-04-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

Psalm 119:165

What do you think this verse means? How shall nothing offend them? Great peace have they....and nothing shall offend... The thing is when we love the Lord and keep our eyes focused on Him and meditate on His word there is no room for hatred, or dwelling on another's faults, because we realize how we are no better and God's grace is entirely what keeps each of us. Think about it.

Cast Thy Bread

2011-04-15T09:21:00.016-04:00

"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days."

Ecclesiastes 11:1

What does it mean to cast thy bread upon the waters? Have you ever thought about it? Let me know your thoughts. How do you practice this in your every day life?

Seeds of Kindness

2011-04-14T21:16:00.003-04:00

Let us gather up the sunbeams
Lying all around our path
Let us keep the wheat and roses
Casting out the thorns and chaff;
Let us find our sweetest comfort
In the blessings of today
With a patient hand removing
All the briers from the way.

Refrain:
Then scatter seeds of kindness
Then scatter seeds of kindness
Then scatter seeds of kindness
For our reaping by and by.

Strange we never prize the music
Till the sweet-voiced bird is flown
Strange that we should slight the violets
Till the lovely flowers are gone
Strange that summer skies and sunshine
Never seem one half so fair
As when winter's snowy pinions
Shake the white down in the air.

If we knew the baby fingers
Pressed against the window pane
Would be cold and stiff tomorrow
Never trouble us again
Would the bright eyes of our darling
Catch the frown upon our brow?
Would the prints of rosy fingers
Vex us then as they do now?

Ah! those little ice-cold fingers
How they point our memories back
To the hasty words and actions
Strewn along our backward track
How those little hands remind us
As in snowy grace they lie
Not to scatter thorns - but roses
For our reaping by and by.

-May R.Smith

Blessings

2011-04-13T21:27:00.000-04:00

Love One Another

2011-03-31T22:01:00.003-04:00

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. John 15:12 These things I command you, that ye love one another. John 15:17 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.Rom. 13:8 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 1Thess. 4:9 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 1 Peter 1:22 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 1 John 3:11 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. 1 John 3:23 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 1 John 4:11 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. 2 John 1:5

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. Rom. 12:10 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Gal. 5:13 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Eph 4:2 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 1 Thes. 3:12 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 Peter 3:8

Oh that we would pour out our lives in love one to another. Seeing Christ's arms of love spread out before us, and realizing how His death on the cross was one of love poured out for us, that we would in turn pour out His love to the world. How on the cross gasping for breath, He pleaded forgiveness for us. What love, what untold love. Can we not offer even a part in return?

Psalm 27:4

2011-03-23T17:33:00.000-04:00

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple."

Trust His Heart

2011-02-09T21:55:00.000-05:00

I'm Hungry

2011-02-01T12:03:00.001-05:00

I’m hungry. Hungry for more. Hungry for change. Hungry for a more productive, fruitful life. Hungry for more grace. Hungry for direction. Hungry for more….a longing to be filled. Filled with His grace. Filled with stamina and strength. Filled with joy. Filled with hope. This hunger is all consuming. Driving me to find food. It’s a nagging ache in the pit of my stomach. A throbbing in my heart. "Lord, I’m hungry, fill me." “Open your hands… open your hands that I may fill them,” came the reply. How do I open my hands? How do I open my heart? How do I open myself to You?

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:16

Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him.

Open our ears Lord
And help us to listen,
Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus.

Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him.

Open our ears Lord
And help us to listen,
Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus.

Always Be A Child

2011-01-19T15:50:00.000-05:00

He Is Sufficient

2011-01-13T16:07:00.000-05:00

When you are the neediest,
He is the most sufficient.

When you are completely helpless,
He is the most helpful.

When you feel totally dependent,
He is absolutely dependable.

When you are the most alone,
His is intimately present.

When you feel you are the least,
He is the greatest.

When you feel the most useless,
He is preparing you for use.

When it is the darkest,
He is the only light you need.

When you feel the least secure,
He is your Rock and Fortress.

When you are the most humble,
He is most gracious.

When you can't,
He can.

If knowing answers to life's questions is absolutely necessary to you, then forget the journey. You will never make it, for this is a journey of unknowables, - of unanswered questions, enigmas, incomprehensibles, and most of all, things unfair. --Madame Jeanne Guyon

It Will Not Be Unredeemed

2011-01-13T15:37:00.000-05:00

How Beautiful

2011-01-11T16:47:00.000-05:00

Year End

2010-12-23T17:16:00.005-05:00

Wow, I apologize for my silence, folks. Though somehow I don't really think I was missed. :) A month and a half of peace and quiet. ;) Ah well. I hope everyone has been busy getting ready for the holidays and loving the last moments of the year twenty-ten.

This year has been an amazing year, filled with blessings and challenges, but these challenges I've faced have made me stronger. Have touched me deeper with God's grace and the knowledge of His promise to me that I will not be ashamed of my hope.

Sometimes I've felt like I'm in a maze and every route I take is a dead end road. I've wondered, asked, and cried as to the right path to take. I still don't know. Still don't have the answer, but I know that my Redeemer lives and that He waits in love to make known the way, that the day will come when I will hear the voice behind me saying, "This is the way, walk ye in it." (Is. 30:21) But in the meantime, He's promised His loving presence to uphold me and that in quietness and confidence will be my strength. (Is. 30:15)

In the meantime I've had the special blessing of being able to travel with my brother and sister-in-law and niece. That adorable baby that melts my heart and holds such a special place. Been able to spend time with amazing friends, rejoice in the love uniting two lives as one, and run in the icy Pacific waters.

I'm embarking on a new year. An unknown year. This past year sure held some surprises I never imagined, but that God in His wisdom blessed me with, and I'm thankful for. And knowing the love of my Father I rest in His tender care as I enter the new year.

All my love and best wishes,
to you my dear readers...

Merry Christmas
&
A Happy New Year!

Unto Us a Child is Born

2010-12-23T11:48:00.003-05:00

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Hark! the Voice of Jesus Calling

2010-11-15T20:44:00.007-05:00

Hark, the voice of Jesus calling,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are ripe and harvests waiting,
Who will bear the sheaves away?”
Long and loud the Master calls us,
Rich reward He offers free;
Who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me”?

If you cannot cross the ocean,
And the distant lands explore,
You can find the lost around you,
You can help them at your door;
If you cannot give your thousands,
You can give the widow’s mite;
What you truly give for Jesus,
Will be precious in His sight.

If you cannot speak like angels,
If you cannot preach like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
You can say He died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked,
With the judgment’s dread alarms,
You can lead the little children
To the Savior’s waiting arms.

If you cannot be the watchman,
Standing high on Zion’s wall,
Pointing out the path to heaven,
Offering life and peace to all,
With your prayers and with your bounties
You can do what heaven demands;
You can be like faithful Aaron,
Holding up the prophet’s hands.

If among the older people,
You may not be apt to teach,
“Feed My lambs,” said Christ, our Shepherd,
“Place the food within their reach.”
And it may be that the children
You have led with trembling hand,
Will be found among your jewels,
When you reach the better land.

Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do.”
While the lost of earth are dying,
And the Master calls for you;
Take the task He gives you gladly;
Let His work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when He calls you,
“Here am I, send me, send me.”

by Daniel March

Remember

2010-11-11T14:17:00.002-05:00

Do it Anyway

2010-11-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

"People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people my accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do to day may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have; it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it’s between you and Him. It was never between you and them anyway." –Unknown

# 33 Wisdom of the Week

2010-11-08T16:34:00.001-05:00

"Man may whitewash himself, but only God can wash him white."

# 32 Wisdom of the Week

2010-11-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

"When you dig another out of their troubles, you find a place to bury your own."

- Anonymous

All Yours

2010-11-02T15:38:00.003-04:00

"I no longer have any desire to settle. I no longer want to retain what I once considered so precious. You changed my desires. I am proud and I am stubborn, but You made it beautiful to surrender. Whether I am humiliated or not I lay down my arms. Whether others mock me or not I am Yours. I am nothing…You are everything. I must decrease, You must increase. So show Yourself glorious through me. Because here I am, Lord. All Yours."

-Unknown Source

# 31 Wisdom of the Week

2010-10-27T15:39:00.002-04:00

"Even a penny can hide the biggest star in the universe if you hold it close enough to your eye."

# 30 Wisdom of the Week

2010-10-19T18:46:00.003-04:00

"You can always tell a good friend, when you've made a fool of yourself, he doesn't think you've done a permanent job."

# 29 Wisdom of the Week

2010-10-03T15:15:00.002-04:00

Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.

-Winston Churchill

# 28 Wisdom of the Week

2010-09-20T16:36:00.001-04:00

"A person all wrapped up with himself generally makes a pretty small package."

Jeremiah 12:5

2010-09-14T16:34:00.002-04:00

"If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?"

Psalm 121

2010-09-05T16:04:00.002-04:00

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

# 27 Wisdom of the Week

2010-09-05T16:01:00.001-04:00

"Nothing can cook your goose quicker than boiling anger."

Four Years...

2010-08-26T17:56:00.004-04:00

Happy 4^th blogversary to… me!! Wow, has it really been four years since I first opened this blog in hopes of being an encouragement and blessing to someone? Little did I realize how much of a blessing and encouragement this blog would be to me! It’s been an outlet for my thoughts over the years, and now this blog holds a record of a portion of my heart and life. These years have been the most crucial and pivotal of my life, it’s in these years that God brought me to the end of myself and the beginning of HIM.

It’s been years of wrenching heartache, healing, restoring, and finding joy in HIM. I stand amazed at the awesomeness of my Sovereign GOD. Who in His incredible mercy reached down and took me from the waters that threatened to overwhelm me and led me to the Rock that was higher than I. [Ps. 18:16; Ps. 61:2]

It’s only the beginning really, because it’s only at the foot of the cross that we truly begin to see ourselves and the world in a true light. In the last couple years the Lord has brought me on a journey of joy, and today my heart just overflows with joy. I’m intensely grateful for what He has done and I can only say that I am not worthy, but YOU Lord are worthy to be praised. I’ve learned a bit of the meaning of beauty for ashes, and the oil of joy for mourning. It overwhelms me how awesome my Creator is, that He Who created the universe would reach down to touch one like me. I’m thankful.

The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. Ps. 118:14, 17

Thank you friends for the blessing you’ve been in my life, for how the Lord has used you unknowingly to answer my prayers. May you ever be blessed.

God is by no means finished with me yet, it seems that over and over again I wonder how long it will take me to learn, to finally grasp it. I long to reach greater heights and learn more of my Saviour.

These four years have taken me through many different seasons of joy and sorrow, life and death. I’m so thankful for each and every experience that God has given me. And I have such anticipation on my heart and am looking forward with joy to whatever lies ahead. I’m still in the thick of the battle. But one verse the Lord keeps bring to me is that I will not need to fight in this battle, but that I am to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. (2 Chron. 20:15) It’s hard in the middle of a battle while arrows fly all around you to just stand still, you want to run, to do something, to grab an arrow, to fight, push and make head way, not realizing that the greatest thing towards winning the battle is just standing still and letting the Lord finish the fight. When you try to fight, instead of the arrows dodging you as the Lord had planned, you end up getting hit and wounded and it takes longer to reach the victory. I only get in the way with my feeble efforts. When He can see the big picture and knows exactly how to handle each and every situation.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Psalm 119:71

The Lord has given me grace to love the little things, to be able to laugh a lot harder, love a lot deeper, and treasure each and every moment, to stop and smell the flowers and to be constantly on the lookout for special things to treasure. He’s taught me more of unconditional love, the best medicine for loneliness is reaching out to others and being a friend to them.

This is the last four years looking back, I never dreamed of where I would be today, when I stood then, and I cannot know where I’ll stand in four years from now. I never dreamed that I would continue blogging for so long. But God knows each and every step and it’s my job to follow Him as He leads and do as He commands. I look forward with eager anticipation to what lies ahead, thankful that the Lord walks with me each step of the way. It’s a living, burning hope that I hold in my heart, hoping, praying, living, loving. Thanks be to God. I stand in awe.

# 26 Wisdom of the Week

2010-08-26T15:17:00.002-04:00

"If your knees are knocking, kneel on them."

#25 Wisdom of the Week

2010-08-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

"Faith is like a bird that feels the light and sings while the dawn is still dark."

Let Me Be a Friend

2010-08-15T16:23:00.003-04:00

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by -
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban -
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint from the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears,
Both parts of an infinite plan -
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,
And weep with the strangers that mourn,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by -
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish - so am I;
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

- Sam Walter Foss

Psalm 112

2010-08-04T10:00:00.001-04:00

Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

His heart is established, he shall not be afraid.

#24 Wisdom of the Week

2010-08-02T15:00:00.001-04:00

"Gossip is like a balloon, it grows bigger with every puff."

As the Deer

2010-07-29T16:51:00.005-04:00

As the deer pants for the water;
So my soul longeth after You.
You alone are my heart's desire,
And I long to worship You.

This song has been among my favourites since childhood. The words expressed the longing in my heart. The longing to worship Him. The longing to be with Him. That He would delight in me. It's my deepest heart longing to above and beyond all else to be in the House of my Lord.

But every time I look at myself I see the mistakes I make and I wonder when I'll ever learn. When will I learn to be patient, to have the law of kindness in my tongue. The Lord has drawn very near to me and my ears ring with the words "I will guide thee with mine eye." The verses in James also spoke to me "The fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much." And that Elijah was a man with a like nature as us and he prayed and the Lord withheld rain for 3 1/2 years and he prayed and the Lord sent rain. God can do the impossible, if we pray according to His will, He guides us with His eye.

"For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD?"

He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. (2 Samuel 22) He delighted in me? Why me? God wants to write a beautiful story of my life. I want others to see His power, His amazing grace and His eternal love. I pleaded with the Lord about how much I want to honour Him.

Lord, I cried I don't want anything against Your will. I don't want anything unless You have placed it in my heart. He tenderly assured me that those who honour Him, He will honour, and that He knew how much I longed to love Him. He assured me that the battle was not mine to fight but His and that I should stand still and see His salvation. (2 Chron. 20:15, 17) He can do much. He flooded my heart with peace. I know He's guiding and teaching me. Yes, I have much, much more to learn, and sometimes I wonder what I have learned. But He's oh so patient.

Though people tell me I need to get on with my life, don't just work, doesn't matter that I've got a perfectly good job; find something else to do too. Decide on university and figure on a career. As I've pondered what I should study, I have no interest. If it's God's will for me now, He must give me the vision for it. If I'm to go into overseas missions, He must give me the specific vision for it. For where there is no vision the people perish. If I don't have a vision for something in my heart, how can I devote myself to it and carry it through to the end. I'm no half hearted person. If I start something I want to carry it through all the way. No giving up half way.

If I marry I have to have the specific and special love for that one person above all others. Otherwise I couldn't decide cause I love them all. The Lord has to give me a special vision, a special love. I must have it in my heart, He has been my guide and I know that He will direct each step I take through life. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. The Lord shall enlighten my darkness.

#23 Wisdom of the Week

2010-07-29T16:49:00.002-04:00

"God's work, done in God's way, will never lack God's supply."

#22 Wisdom of the Week

2010-07-21T16:16:00.002-04:00

"The yoke of Christ will not fit on a stiff neck."

#21 Wisdom of the Week

2010-07-05T16:14:00.003-04:00

"He who does nothing because he can only do little makes the worst mistake of all."

Happy Canada Day!!

2010-07-01T11:53:00.003-04:00

Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends!
Hope you all have a great day! *smiles*

#20 Wisdom of the Week

2010-06-29T10:58:00.001-04:00

"Freedom is not the right to do as you please but to do as you ought."

Knights and Fair Maidens

2010-06-20T14:42:00.004-04:00

What is our destiny? Why is there the inherent desire in the heart of every man to fight, to conquer, to woo and win? Why is there the inherent desire in the heart of every woman to be fought for, conquered, wooed and won? It’s a God-created desire. It’s what He made us for. The man was commanded to subdue the earth, the woman was given the command to be his “life saver.” The one that would, being formed from his rib, protect his heart. She’d stick up for, stand up for, hold on for, hold up and hold out for, nurse his wounds after battle (she’s the reason he’s fighting). She’d encourage him, and be his life saver. It’s a teamwork, because he’s fighting for her, to keep her safe, to make her a home, which she than in turn keeps as a haven for him.

“Your house is your fortress in a warring world, where a woman’s hand buckles on your armor in the morning and soothes your fatigue and wounds at night.“ Frank Crane

But somewhere along the way when he came to the rescue, she took the rib she’d been formed with and stabbed him in the heart and informed him that she could fight for herself and she’d didn’t need his help. She could handle the enemies, she could do it all alone. He shrank back in dismay, he knew the heat of the battle, he knew the stress and strain and wished he could protect her from it. You’re too special to fight the battle, he cried. But somehow she thought that if she was special she could fight the battle, no thanks to him.

Slowly over time he withdrew and walked away. A deadly blow had been dealt. The man no longer fights for his princess, she draws her own sword and fights alone. And now everywhere you turn there are broken men and women. Broken men because they no longer have a reason to live, broken women because the fighting isn’t as grand as they thought. Women who have had it driven in to their souls that they must fight for themselves and you dare not accept help from another or else you will loose your importance in the world today. Men who no longer have the stamina or courage to fight cause no one appreciates it anyway. Why fight to help someone who is delivering the worst stab wounds? So everyone is hiding, broken, angry and hurt.

Women instead of being fought for and protected are now the objects of the fight. Instead of fighting for her, he’s fighting with her. Both are angry. Both are hurt.

It’s in the heart of every woman to be his beauty. To be adored and protected. And its in the heart of every man to have a beauty and to protect her. This fighting with and against each other goes against the very grain of our beings. It goes against what God has created us to be. When the man suppresses his desire to protect her, and the woman suppresses the desire to be his princess you end up with a lot of hurting, angry people who are desperately wishing and suppressing. Instead of fighting against it, why don’t we embrace our calling, embrace who God made us to be, accept it and live in joy?

We now have to go against the flow. Though many the harsh glances you get, underneath the façade they are secretly envious of you. Instead of thinking that a woman’s honour lies in fighting, realize that you are fought for because you are honoured. The man’s honour lies in fighting for and protecting the woman he honours. A whole different way of looking at it. A whole different way of life. But it’s part of our high calling. It’s what we were created for. Together we offer devotion to our Maker.

Psalm 95: 6-7

2010-06-14T19:56:00.003-04:00

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.

Psalm 95:6-7

#19 Wisdom of the Week

2010-06-14T19:52:00.003-04:00

"Money cannot buy a clear conscience; square dealing is the price tag."

#18 Wisdom of the Week

2010-06-08T17:19:00.002-04:00

"People don't always believe what you say, but they always believe what you do."

He Hath Not Failed Thee

2010-06-01T16:52:00.003-04:00

"Say not, my soul, "From whence
Can God relieve my care?"
Remember that Omnipotence
Hath servants everywhere.

His help is always sure,
His methods seldom guessed;
Delay will make our pleasure pure:
Surprise will give it zest.

His wisdom is sublime,
His heart profoundly kind;
God never is before His time,
And never is behind.

Hast thou assumed a load
Which none will bear with thee?
And are thou bearing it for God,
And shall He fail to see?

Be comforted at heart,
Thou art not left alone;
Now thou the Lord's companion art-
Soon thou shalt share His throne.
-J. J. Lynch

Jesus fed the multitude in a desert place!

#17 Wisdom of the Week

2010-06-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

"He who knows that he does not know much already knows more than most know."

#16 Wisdom of the Week

2010-05-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

"The kind of ancestors you have is not as important as the ones your children have."

God Will Answer

2010-05-10T16:04:00.003-04:00

God will answer when to thee,
Not a possibility
Of deliverance seems near;
It is then He will appear.

God will answer when you pray;
Yea, though mountains block thy way,
At His word, a way will be
E'en through mountains, made for thee.

God who still divides the sea,
Willingly will work for thee;
God, before whom mountains fall,
Promises to hear thy call.
-M.E.B.

#15 Wisdom of the Week

2010-05-10T15:13:00.001-04:00

"I'd rather be bent by work than crooked by dodging it."

#14 Wisdom of the Week

2010-05-03T20:24:00.001-04:00

"Hate always comes home to roost."

#13 Wisdom of the Week

2010-04-26T10:18:00.001-04:00

"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you've got the worst kind of heart trouble."

The Lawn

2010-04-21T17:53:00.003-04:00

Spring is here, and with it warm, sunny days, budding trees, croaking frogs, singing birds, and I've even seen a few bees making their rounds. With the warmth of course, how can I not get outside, and get all the raking, cleaning, rolling, of the yard done!? We have quite a lot of grassy lawn space so it equals a big job. But it's behind us now.

Today I grabbed my forked whatchyamcallit and headed out to hunt up all prickles, those nasty little things that quickly grow to nasty big things and are the horror of horrors to little or big, bare feet running around. The main reason why I rarely go barefoot!

And as I yanked prickle after prickle from the ground I got to thinking about how the lawn is like my life, from the distance it's all pretty and green, but when you get close and start running all over it there are nasty pokes that can hurt your tender feet.

And then the caretaker comes and starts removing them one by one. Each tiny one he finds gets ripped up, and no we won't leave that little one, even if it is tiny and it's right by the edge. It will grow big and spread little ones all around and then, oh, won't we wish we removed it sooner?

The prickles are like sin in our lives. The caretaker is our Lord and He is carefully combing your lawn for little prickles/sins to remove so that they do not mar the beauty of the lawn, do not bring pain to those who walk upon it. Now it's soft and beautiful, you can walk freely and feel the grass between your toes. So much better though it's hard to remove them all. It's worth it.

So the Master sees the beauty before and goes to all that labour to remove those little sins from our lives to make us beautiful for Him to walk upon. He knows if He leaves the little ones they will grow into big ones and then oh the pain, and oh how much harder to uproot.

I want my lawn to be a beautiful haven for tired feet. I want my Master to rejoice to walk upon it, that He would rejoice after His labour and find fruit borne and know that it was not all in vain.

Thank you Lord for tending my lawn, thank you for not skipping one prickle. I know it's best. And my life will be beautiful one day. In Your time.

#12 Wisdom of the Week

2010-04-20T18:09:00.001-04:00

"It is far better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed, than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail."

#11 Wisdom of the Week

2010-04-12T09:00:00.001-04:00

"Even if you don't have all the answers, don't worry, you won't be asked all the questions."

If any of you tech savy or graphic designing people care too, I'd love if you would make a graphic for Wisdom of the Week. Thanks!

Psalm 61

2010-04-11T14:20:00.002-04:00

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.

Thou wilt prolong the king's life: and his years as many generations.

He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.

#10 Wisdom of the Week

2010-04-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

"A narrow mind and a big mouth usually go together."

I Will Be Here

2010-03-31T18:46:00.003-04:00

Tomorrow morning if you wake up
and the sun does not appear
I will be here
If in the dark, we lose sight of love
Hold my hand, and have no fear
'Cause I will be here

I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together
I will be here

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the future is unclear I will be here
Just as sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I will be here

I will be here And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I will be here
Oh, I will be here.

By Stephen Curtis Chapman

This song rings a chord in my heart. It's beautiful. Not [just] because it's a love song, but because this song spoke to my heart and every time I hear it I think of Christ and how He will be here. It's a promise. No ifs. He will. Not He might. But He will. He is. I'm precious in His sight. I can't fathom the depths of His love for me, for you. And I long to love Him more, that my life will be an outpouring of His love. Love that comes from the Source of all love. Lord, help me to love as You love, to see others as You see them. Because each of us is precious in Your sight. Fuel the flame of passion for You within me. Let it never, ever go out. For if we are connected to the Source of fuel we cannot run dry.

Keep that connection clear, don't let anything stand between. My dear friends, don't ever lose your passion for God! Life is so short. Don't waste it! Heaven will be beautiful!

#9 Wisdom of the Week

2010-03-29T14:43:00.014-04:00

"If a care is too small to be made into a prayer, it is too small to be made into a burden."

#8 Wisdom of the Week

2010-03-22T09:40:00.002-04:00

"Many people believe in law and order as long as they are the ones who lay down the law and give the orders."

Psalm 43:2-5

2010-03-19T10:00:00.001-04:00

Thou art the God of my strength...O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.

Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?

Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Love Through Me

2010-03-18T11:15:00.000-04:00

Love through me, Love of God,
There is no love in me,
O Fire of love, light thou the love,
That burns perpetually.

Flow through me, Peace of God,
Calm river, flow until
No wind can blow, no current stir
A ripple of self-will.

Shine through me, Joy of God.
Make me like Thy clear air
Which Thou dost pour
Thy colours thro' As though it were not there.

O blessed Love of God,
That all may taste and see
How good Thou art, once more I pray;
Love through me, even me.

-Amy W. Carmichael

#7 Wisdom of the Week

2010-03-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

"If you are dog-tired at night, maybe it is because you growled all day."

The Tuning

2010-03-14T17:23:00.002-04:00

Good Tuner, why
This ruthless, slow examination?
Why, on that one poor note,
Expend such careful concentration?
Just pass it by.
How I will let my soul respond to thee!
And see

But, no! Again, and yet again,
With skilled determination,
Rang out that meaningless reiteration.
While, ever and anon, through the great aisle's dim space,
Echoed the reverent chord; the loud harmonious phrase,

Till day began to wane.
And still, more patiently, the Tuner wrought
With that one faulty note; until, with zest,
All sweet and true, it answered like the rest.
Then, as the haloed glories of the sunset flamed
and gleamed,
Swift through the storied windows long shafts of crimson streamed:
And we poor whispering wayfarers heard, round about and o'er us,
The throbbing, thundering, triumphs of the Hallelujah Chorus!

-The Tower in the Cathedral
-By Fay Inchfawn

The mark of rank in nature is capacity for pain,
And the anguish of the singer makes the sweetness of the strain.

Do You Believe?

2010-03-10T15:00:00.002-05:00

Hello! I've been on the road for the last couple weeks and no I didn't blog while I was gone, you continued getting posts in your news feed thanks to pre-scheduled blogging! :) I think I'll be using it quite a bit this year with the long work list I see on the horizon. Anyhow my family decided to be snowbirds once again and we took off for the warmer climates. I'm the kind of snowbird, who, you know, stays in the snow! But my family had different ideas so off we went to attend a couple camps.

The first one was good but not near as good as the second. I was incredibly blessed by the second one. Yeah, that for the first time I actually said I was glad I went and that ya I would have missed something if I had stayed behind. Though I felt sorry for the folks back home holding the fort(s).

The Lord's protection was with us all the way evidencing on the miles of black ice on the roads, farther south, that made us wonder if we weren't going north instead of south! Watching vehicles behind us spin out, passing multiple already in the ditches. We passed safely by. Side note: I was just glad I wasn't driving. :)

And sitting at a red light one day we watched as a tractor trailer loaded in oranges came barreling down the hill opposite us. As he neared the lights and wasn't slowing down but was making the sound of when they are trying to stop using the engine (old truck), we realized the poor fellow had lost his brakes. Not a good deal coming up to an intersection with many stopped cars in both directions. He crossed over the median probably only a foot or so high, into our lane through the intersection, swerving through the left hand turn lane back over the median into his side of the road. It all happened so fast, that after he passed, we were like "Did that just happen?" We just gunned it out of there. We were so thankful that there was no cross traffic. The mercy of God.

At camp they talked about forgiveness. If you don't forgive you will not be forgiven. No exceptions. God's truth is black and white, there are not the large grey areas that Christians seem to think there are. But you have murdered if you have hated someone in your heart. You have committed adultery if you have lusted after someone in your heart. God's commands reach the heart of the matter.

The kingdom of God must be within you if you want to be in the kingdom of Heaven. The power of God must be present in your life if you want to be in Heaven. We must have faith. God is the King of the Universe (and the Universe goes beyond the farthest we can see, it stretches for eternity) and we have been so steeped in unbelief that we don't believe He really does have power to save, to heal. But He does! Believe! Only believe and you will be saved. And belief acts on it. If someone were to tell you that that the building you are in is burning down you wouldn't say "Oh really, ok, I believe you." And then go on with whatever you were doing thinking that because you believed what he said means that you're safe, you'll be saved! If you believe that the building is burning down, you act on it, you get out and get away! So many people who call themselves Christians because they "believe" are staying in the burning building. And what happens when you stay in a burning building?

Christians are steeped in unbelief and now think it is Christ-like to be so! It couldn't be farther from the truth and it is a lie that many are deceived by and it will be to their downfall. You are not a Christian if you will not believe God. If you will not obey His commands. And follow Him to the uttermost. If you have faith as a mustard seed you will say to this mountain be cast into the sea, and it will be so. [Matt 17:20]

The Apostles knew and had faith. The sole reason why miracles do not happen today is because we do not believe it to be possible. We don't believe that God could really do something like that anymore! What?!? "He did not many miracles there, for their unbelief." [Matt 13:58]

And they were helped against them, and the Hagarites were delivered into their hand, and all that were with them: for they cried to God in the battle, and He was intreated of them; because they put their trust in Him. 1 Chron. 5:20

We cannot and should not presume upon God. But if God has said so, and I believe it, than it will be so. If you will not believe God and have the faith of Christ. You will not be be able to stand. You will not be faithful. You will be tested. Never doubt it for a moment. The devil is angry. Very, very angry. He knows His time is short and He's raging. Don't think that at this very moment he isn't planning a subtle attack on you to try and bring you down! Always be on your guard. Rest in Christ. Don't ever step from His side. He will pick the places you least expect.

Doubt is His biggest tool. And he has made good use of it to his success. To our downfall. He's laughing. Is he laughing because of you? Or is he angry because of you? Which do you rather? I'd rather he be angry. Always remember no matter what happens that if God be for us, who can be against us? If we have the Creator of the whole, entire Universe on our side and ten thousand angels ready at any command of His to come to our aid, what can hurt us? Nothing. Fear nothing. Fear not them who can destroy the body. But fear Him who can cast both body and soul into hell!

That we will be able to say "Lo, here is our God, we have waited for Him." Amen. Praise the Lord.

#6 Wisdom of the Week

2010-03-08T09:07:00.000-05:00

"If you can't love anymore, don't dispose of love - dispose of self."

Is Your Shield Down?

2010-03-07T15:30:00.003-05:00

Why does the battle thicken so-
The darts rain fast upon my breast,
While missiles hurled with cruel force
Ring loud against my burnished crest?
Above the din I seem to hear
My Captain's voice in accents clear,
"Because your shield is down!"

Why does the enemy advance
And hem us 'round on every hand
While we, the army of the Lord,
Can scarce his arrogance withstand?
Above the shouts I seem to hear
My Captain's voice in accents clear,
"Because your shields are down!"

Ah! Now it's brighter - now I see
The enemy is taking flight,
And lo, the banner of the Cross
Streams red against the morning light;
But as they flee I seem to hear
My Captain call in accents clear,
"Let not your shields go down!"

Failure in our faith is fatal. Faith is our spiritual shield protecting us from the darts of the devil. Lay this shield aside even for a moment , and disaster follows. Any departure from the living God is the result of unbelief.

#5 Wisdom of the Week

2010-03-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

"No wish bone ever took the place of a back bone."

#4 Wisdom of the Week

2010-02-22T09:00:00.001-05:00

"Don't drop anchor before you get to port."

Watch, Ye Saints!

2010-02-20T11:21:00.000-05:00

Watch, ye saints, with eyelids waking;
Lo! The powers of heaven are shaking;
Keep your lamps all trimmed an burning,
Ready for your Lord’s returning.

Refrain
Lo! He comes, lo! Jesus comes;
Lo! He come, He comes all glorious!
Jesus comes to reign victorious,
Lo! He comes, yes, Jesus comes.

Lo! the promise of your Savior,
Pardoned sin and purchased favor,
Blood-washed robes and crowns of glory;
Haste to tell redemption's story.

Kingdoms at their base are crumbling,
Hark! His chariot wheels are rumbling;
Tell, O tell of grace abounding,
While the seventh trump is sounding.

Nations wane, though proud and stately;
Christ His kingdom hasteneth greatly;
Earth her latest pangs is summing;
Shout, ye saints, your Lord is coming.

Sinners, come, while Christ is pleading;
Now for you He's interceding;
Haste, ere grace and time diminished
Shall proclaim the mystery finished.

Look For the Beautiful

2010-02-18T12:01:00.000-05:00

Look for the beautiful, look for the true;
Look for the beautiful, life’s journey thro’.
Seeking true loveliness, joy you will know,
As to the home above onward you go.

Look for the beautiful, seek to find the true,
God and the beautiful will dwell with you;
Look for the beautiful, seek to find the true,
You shall be beautiful, beautiful within.

Think of the beautiful, think of the pure;
Only the beautiful long can endure.
God to His lowly ones “giveth more grace”;
None but the pure in heart look on His face.

Speak of the beautiful, speak of the pure;
These to eternity fadeless endure.
Error shall vanish soon, evil decay;
God and the beautiful pass not away.

Look to the stars of light (not down to earth);
All that is beautiful there had its birth.
Upward and forward go, looking above;
There is the dwelling-place of perfect love.

By Thoro Harris

#3 Wisdom of the Week

2010-02-15T09:00:00.004-05:00

"We need to love and live as though it all depended on us, and then pray and trust as though it all depended on God."

#2 Wisdom of the Week

2010-02-09T10:48:00.004-05:00

"It's not only what happens to me, it's what happens to others through me."

Purity Challenge

2010-02-07T11:36:00.007-05:00

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Matt. 5:8

Purity. What is it? Lexi from Choosing to Wait told me about her purity challenge and asked me about joining, I didn't think I would be able to join officially though I will in heart, but I decided I'd make a post here about it! I starting thinking once again about purity and what it means and how we can stay pure in a impure world. How do we live purely for our God? Live purely before men in a world wracked with sin and shame?

Amy Carmichael was one woman that held her standard of purity high. Impossibly high according to today's standards. I'm sure if she were alive today people would be calling her an over spiritual fanatic. A lot of people in her day thought she was crazy.

There was nothing too big or too small that she didn't lay before the Lord. She kept the strictest height of purity in all things, from how she dressed, to what she read and wrote. Her greatest concern was that the Lord would be honoured in everything.

But purity isn't just in body or in dress. Purity begins with the heart and spills over into how we act, how we dress, how we talk, how we live, it spills into every single aspect of our lives. Don't think that part of your life is secular and part is spiritual. All tie together to make one single "gold cord" as Amy called it. If we are pure in heart, our lives will be pure. A pure devotion to God in all things holding nothing back.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8

Someone who is pure in heart lives justly, loves mercy, and "walks humbly with thy God." What does it mean to walk humbly with thy God? What does it mean to live justly and love mercy? I've been thinking about these verses. For the Bible says that "this is the whole of man."

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:13

The purity challenge challenges us to wait. To wait for our future spouse. To be pure for them. It's a wonderful challenge. As you prepare for marriage, be pure. Don't throw away the gift God has given you. He has blessed you with a sacred gift of intimacy to offer to your spouse. Don't throw it away. Toss it aside as if it is of no value. It will be crushed and broken and trampled upon and your heart will be filled with pain, grief, despair, regret, over what is lost and can never be regained. The world is screaming that it doesn't matter, that to be strong and cool is too have no safe guards, no rules, just live for the pleasure of the moment. I'll tell you the truth it's strength to wait. It may not be cool in the eyes of your peers. But you'll save yourself a mountain of pain and regret. You'll be strong. You'll be happy. And you'll be glad that you accepted the challenge and waited.

From prayer that asks that I may be
Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,
From fearing when I should aspire,
From faltering when I should climb higher,
From silken self, O Captain, free
Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,
From easy choices, weakenings,
(Not thus are spirits fortified,
Not this way went the Crucified)
From all that dims Thy Calvary
O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,
The faith that nothing can dismay,
The hope no disappointments tire,
The passion that would burn like fire;
Let me not sink to be a clod:
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.
-Amy Wilson Carmichael

The Lord does specialize in healing broken lives, mending bleeding hearts. Something that has been crushed can be healed but it will never be the same, you'll have a purity that comes from healing, but not the purity of innocence of having never tasted of sin. There will be scars. the Lord will lift you up and and love you with a tender love. Just as he loved that little lost sheep that went astray and went out into the dark night to find it. He cares about you. He aches in your pain. And He wishes you didn't have to go through it. Don't grieve His heart now by tossing aside the precious gift He has given you.

Remember the marriage supper of the Lamb and how we are preparing to be His bride! His spotless bride! What bride doesn't want to be beautiful for her husband??!! Nothing is too big or too small to be given to God. And when you are ridiculed for holding tight your precious and sacred gift, for seeking in everything to emulate Christ. Remember the joys which lie before and that whatever pain here will be worth it all one Day.

For the joys of Heaven far surpass our dreams. They are God's dreams for us. Will you seek to live a life of purity in heart? A life that the Lord will look upon and call blessed? That He would say enter thou into the joy of thy Lord thou faithful servant. You shall see Him. Only those covered in the purity of Christ can stand before Him.

Some of you may have had your physical purity stolen from you. You fight feelings of pain, inferiority, inadequacy, and feeling dirty and abused and used. You think you'll never be pure again. That no one will love you or want you. You can be. Christ will restore what was stolen if you'll give it all too Him. He'll cleanse and heal you and you will laugh again. It's okay to face it, in fact you need too, realize your pain. Don't run from it. It will never heal if you do. It will keep festering beneath the surface never really healing just covered up. Let yourself grieve, and give it over to Jesus. He'll give you a love and forgiveness for the one who has hurt you. The Lord will make you beautiful. you can be pure in heart, you can join the purity challenge. The Lord will give you a purity and a grace that will make your life beautiful.

For all of us, sin has stolen our purity. But Christ came to redeem us from impurity and make us His pure bride. Until the day that the Lord claims His own and fills us with His purity. Live for that. Choose to wait. Hold high the banner of truth and trust in HIM. Live in purity.

And so I challenge you to be pure in heart, in life, and to walk humbly with thy God.

#1 Wisdom of the Week

2010-01-31T18:34:00.003-05:00

"You are only one, but you are one."

Rejoice!

2010-01-17T17:12:00.005-05:00

Rejoice!

This word is recorded 192 times in the Bible. Don’t you think that if the Lord made the effort to include that word so many times, that it must be important for us to take note of?

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. 1 Chron. 16:31

Number 1 reason to be glad and rejoice, the LORD God, He reigneth for ever and ever.

When can rest and rejoice knowing that our Sovereign God is in control, He holds the universe in His hands. He is faithful and true. The First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Ps. 2:11

Remember He’s the Sovereign God, don’t think you can fool Him. He knows all. Worship Him with reverence.

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Ps. 5:11

He is our defender. There is no where on earth that we can flee from His presence. When there is nothing that any human on earth can do. He is able above and beyond what we can ask or think to protect and defend us. We are never alone. He commands His angels to watch over His own.

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Joel 2:21

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. Phil 3:1

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Phil 4:4

Rejoice evermore. 1 Thess 5:16

And again he saith, Rejoice… Rom. 15:10

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 1 Peter 1:8

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Rev 12:12

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Prov 15:13

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Prov 15:15

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Prov 17:22

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. Ps 46:4

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. Ps 67:4

And so be glad and rejoice my friends, sing, and make melodies in your heart unto the Lord. For He is good, and His mercies are new every morning. He careth for you. He holds you in the palm of His hand. At any time or place and in any situation you can cry to Him to save you and He will hear your call. Know that our God who is rich in grace and mercy towards us Who while we were yet sinners died for us, commands His angels to in their hands bear us up lest we dash our foot against a stone. Rejoice and be glad! Sing for joy! You can smile when you can’t say a word, you can smile though it’s cloudy or fair, you can smile any time, any where. If God be for us, who can be against us? Knowing that all is in His hands, how can we not rejoice and laugh and find joy in everything? I pray for you, that you may rejoice.

True Beauty

2010-01-17T16:32:00.001-05:00

He gave everything for us, will we give everything in return?

His Best

2010-01-13T16:49:00.003-05:00

Give to the winds thy fears;
hope and be undismayed;
God hears thy sighs, and counts thy tears;
God shall lift up thy head.

Leave to His sovereign sway
to choose and to command;
With wonder filled, thou soon shall own how wise,
how strong His Hand!

Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently
clears thy way.
Wait thou His time, so shall thy night
soon end in joyous day.

He everywhere hath sway, and all things serve
His might.
His every act pure blessing is
His path unsullied light.
-Selected

According To Thy Faith

2010-01-13T16:16:00.005-05:00

"According to your faith be it unto you." Matt 9:29

Have you ever really thought about that? How much do we really think God can or will do? Do you ever find yourself consciously or subconsciously thinking that something is somehow too small or too great for God?

I know I've been guilty of this. And you know it is for that that the Lord rebuked people again and again. "Oh ye of little faith." "How is it that you have no faith?" Have I not been with you long enough, have I not shown you again and again? Don't you know that I can cause there to be bread where this none? I have caused five small loaves to feed a multitude, healed the blind, the lame, the demon-possessed, calmed the raging sea, caused there to be money in the mouth of a fish, for there to be so many fish caught in the disciples nets that their boats began to sink, walked upon water?

He has done many, many more miracles, signs and wonders. And still we don't believe? All these things are impossible with man. If we don't believe that God will do something, He won't because we don't believe. He cannot or will not do great miracles where there is unbelief. But when we expect great things from God, He rejoices to give us great things.

If we ask for the impossible and believe He will do it. He will according to our faith, to His Word and His will. And He gives us beyond what we can imagine or ask for. He blesses us with more, immeasurably more. But those who ask for small blessings. They are blessed. But they miss the greater blessing that comes with believing and expecting the humanly impossible from God. He delights to do it. Rejoice in His presence. He is able to do anything but fail. Just ask Him and believe that He will.

-------------------------------

We may not understand nor know
Just how the giant oak trees throw
Their spreading branches wide,
Nor how upon the mountainside
The dainty wildflowers grow.

We may not understand nor see
Into the depth and mystery
Of suffering and tears;
Yet, through the stress of patient years
The flowers of sympathy

Spring up and scatter everywhere
Their perfume on the fragrant air-
But lo! the seed must die,
If it would bloom and multiply
And ripened fruitage bear.

-Thomas Kimber

The End of the Old - Beginning of the New (and De-lurking Day)

2009-12-31T10:36:00.006-05:00

Dear Readers,

I thought I would sit down and write a personable letter to you, my readers. But maybe instead of starting off with the official "dear readers" I should say something more like "Hey people!" :D

I've decided to do something I haven't done before, but I've been wanting to do for a while! If you're reading this, say so! Just say your name, where you're from and how you found this blog, you don't have to give your full name or your exact location, (actually you're better to not give all that, it's not that safe to give out full names and locations on a public place) but generally! Such as:

Sarah H.

Alberta

Tell me how the Lord has blessed you this year! I'm looking forward to hearing from you!
-----------------------------------------------------
And so, how has your year been? My year, truthfully, has been amazing! I'm so grateful for this year and all the wonderful people that have been apart of it and made it what it was. So many special, special memories from this year. God has been so good. I'm mostly done scrapbooking pictures from the wedding in May. Yes, it took me that long to get around to printing them and doing something with them. I'm still yet to get my pictures printed from my trip to Barbados in January. I'm getting there though, I'm working on sorting them now! :) Looking back though, as I sort pictures I'm so thankful for each one of you who has been a part of my life this year, I thank God for you everytime I think of you.

So much has happened this year. My life is so different from what it was before, and yet so the same too. I know that is a strange way to say it, so different and yet so much the same. It's true though.

I'm loving the falling snow that has finally decided to bring us winter and bring us snow! It's beautiful out, white and fluffy. It makes for delightful evenings by the fire after skating escapades out on the pond. Making me feel really Canadian again! :) Though I doubt I ever stopped.

To recap this year, well, recaping has always been a difficult thing for me. How do I sit and tell about a year in one letter. Especially when thinking of things besides the most prominent or most recent aren't exactly in the foremost of my mind. I remember the faithfulness of God, and His amazing love and care for me. Reading back through my posts here, my journals, and notebooks, I see my struggles, triumphs, pain, joy, confusion, trust, tears, laughter. It's all been there, mixed together. Sometimes I wonder how the greatest pain and the greatest joy so closely intertwine. But they do. And God is faithful. This I know. I can say that my year has been amazing and my GOD faithful.

And as I stand on the Eve of a new year. I know whom I have believed and that HE will keep that which I have committed unto HIM against that Day. He has been faithful in every year past, He will be faithful in this year forward. He holds me and keeps me and guides me every step of the way. I don't know what this year holds, I'm so excited as I stand waiting to find out. As a child handed a gift, can hardly wait to see it unwrapped to see what is before them. So this new year is a gift, that my Heavenly Father is holding for me and bit by bit HE will unfold it before me.

I'm treasuring every moment of my quiet life at home, fixing, mending, sorting, decluttering, doing little projects, finding projects from my childhood that I never completed because I ran into complications, and hoping that maybe I'll be able to finish them now. :) Preparing to dive into the busyiness and business of a new year, of the responsiblities before me, many the same and some different, for all I know may all be the same or may all change as my GOD sees fit.
I'm expecting things to get busier at work, as the company is working on gearing up for a move. That will make me quite a bit more busy there than I have been. That means more hours, which is nice news for me! So I walk on through life... thinking of the song from Fiddler on the Roof

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly flow the days,
Seeds turn overnight to sunflowers,
Blossoming even as we gaze.

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset,
Swiftly fly the years,
One season following another,
Laden with happiness and tears.

So it is, time flys swiftly on, tarrying not it's feet for us. Are you ready for what lies before, are you trusting in the God who created all? Are you ready should time cease to be? It is my new year's wish for you, that you will stand firm in the high calling of our Lord Jesus Christ, and follow hard after HIM, pressing for the mark of the prize!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!!

Welcome 2010

Just Drop it All and Rest

2009-12-27T14:36:00.003-05:00

The journey is too great for thee. 1 Kings 19:7

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? Ps. 56:8

I'm too tired to trust and too tired to pray,
Said one, as the over-taxed strength gave way.
The one conscious thought by my mind possessed,
Is, oh, could I just drop it all and rest.

Will God forgive me, do you suppose,
If I go right to sleep as a baby goes,
Without an asking if I may,
Without ever trying to trust and pray?

Will God forgive you? why think, dear heart,
When language to you was an unknown art,
Did a mother deny you needed rest,
Or refuse to pillow your head on her breast?

Did she let you want when you could not ask?
Did she set her child an unequal task?
Or did she cradle you in her arms,
And then guard your slumber against alarms?

Ah, how quick was her mother love to see,
The unconscious yearnings of infancy.
When you've grown too tired to trust and pray,
When over-wrought nature has quite given way:

Then just drop it all, and give up to rest,
As you used to do on a mother's breast,
He knows all about it - the dear Lord knows,
So just go to sleep as a baby goes.

Without even asking if you may,
God knows when His child is too tired to pray.
He judges not solely by uttered prayer,
He knows when the yearnings of love are there.

He knows you do pray, He knows you do trust,
And He knows, too, the limits of poor weak dust.
Oh, the wonderful sympathy of Christ,
For His chosen ones in that midnight tryst,

When He bade them sleep and take their rest,
While on Him the guilt of the whole world pressed-
You've given your life up to Him to keep,
Then don't be afraid to go right to sleep.

-Ella Conrad Cowherd

Prisoners of Hope

2009-12-21T19:33:00.002-05:00

Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare that I will restore double to you. Zechariah 9:12

Call Back

2009-12-20T12:59:00.005-05:00

If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back-
'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And if, perchance Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low,
Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn;
That, when the heavens thunder and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the very air was still.

Oh, friend, call back, and tell me for I cannot see your face;
They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race;
But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky-
If you have gone a little way ahead, oh friend, call back-
'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track.
-Selected

Is Christ only a Tack-On?

2009-12-13T15:54:00.005-05:00

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Rev. 3:16

"They have their success; diplomas, degrees, good jobs, nice houses, nice cars, now all they need is Jesus to be complete."

Do you see anything wrong with that statement? Is Jesus just "something" we tack on to our lives after we've "made it" just to finish off our success? Is Jesus just a tack-on extra, or is He our all in all? Do you think you need all these things first and Jesus as an extra? Or do you want Jesus first and foremost and then trust Him to supply you with the extras you need?

I must inform you that Christ is not an extra you can tack on to your life so that you can be saved. He must be your life. The reason for your existence. The strength of your life or else you are not saved. He must be everything to you. It must be that you would sacrifice all but refuse to give up Jesus. Because without Him you are lost eternally. Without Him, hell is your destiny. Without Him, you are alone eternally. Separated from God forever.

With Him you are saved eternally, with Him heaven is your destiny, with Him you are safe and secure in His care eternally. Which would you rather have? What is the most important thing to have? What matters the most to you?

In this country we've been blessed with freedoms that most people in most other countries don't have. In some countries they know that by accepting Christ they are placing their life on the line. But they rejoice because their names are written in heaven. If you were faced with that. What decision would you make? I know we cannot find strength for tomorrow. The Lord gives us strength for each moment. But that doesn't refute the fact that we need to know where we stand. In the little things today that you face in the regularness of your life. Will you lift Him up, or will you deny Him? Will you make Him your all in all. Or will He just be a tack-on extra?

In Matthew chapter 7 the Lord warned that there would be many who would say, "Lord, Lord," and yet would not be saved. Many who cast out demons in the name of the Lord and did miracles and yet their hearts were not right. Is Christ our all in all? Is there pride in our hearts that we say, "Look what we've done!" We have done nothing. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. The Lord has done it all. Has He replaced our garments with His? Let it not be that the Lord would say of us "Depart from me, I never knew you."

Be friends with God. Are you right with Him? Is He all that matters? Does it bother you that you don't love Him enough? Because with our finite minds and hearts we will never be able on our own to love God and worship Him as we should. But the Lord gives grace, He gives love. And one day we will fully understand it all and fully love Him as we should. If we are faithful now by His grace. If we give our lives to Him in complete devotion. He will keep that which we commit unto Him against that Day.

Oh that we would find in God our only safety, our only life, our only, love. Oh that we would hear from His lips, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Don't you want that said of you? I know I do.

Be Still and Know

2009-12-10T15:43:00.003-05:00

"Our unbelief is always wanting to some outward sign. The religion of many is largely sensational, and they are not satisfied of its genuineness without manifestations, etc.; but the greatest triumph of faith is to be still and know that He is God."

2 Thessalonians 1

2009-12-06T17:35:00.002-05:00

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,

In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Perspective

2009-11-24T18:02:00.003-05:00

Every thorn has its rose.
Every down has its up.
Every half-empty glass
Is a halfway filled cup.

Turn a frown upside down
And you have a happy smile.
Heavy burdens strangely lighten
When you go that extra mile.

Every dark and stormy cloud
Has a lining silver clear.
Every night at its blackest
Has a dawn shining near.

Every storm has a rainbow
When the sunlight shines through rain,
And the wise who know this secret
Look for beauty in their pain.
-J. Richard

We Remember....The Great Wars

2009-11-08T16:19:00.004-05:00

I was thinking today...of the wars of yesteryears. When my grandfather and great-grandfather before him and many others fought in the Great Wars. Fought for our freedom. Fought for the peace we have today. The ground was soaked with the blood of thousands of my countrymen. World War 1 would not have be won if our men had not fought. As it was said of the Canadians on Vimy Ridge. "The French could not take it, the British could not take it, but you Canadians were such fools that you didn't know when a place couldn't be taken." So the "fools" took it and paid the price. Over 3500 Canadians were slain in that battle. But they took the ridge and turned the tide of the war.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

by Major John McCrae

They were brave, they were men of courage. And back on the homeshore thousands of mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts endured the agony of not knowing if they would ever see their men again. They were women of courage. I know my country wasn't the only one fighting and we couldn't have done it without the help of the allies. But for now I'm talking about my country. :)

"Teach them it must be lived for as well as died for, else the price paid for it will have been given for nought." Teach it to your children what they fought and died for. Pass it on to the generations that follow of the price that was paid so that they could live today.

And yet another great War is being fought today. A greater war. A war fought within the breast of every person that walks this earth. A silent war. And yet one of greater consequence. The fight between good and evil. Who will be victor? Who will claim the prize? Who will be defeated? The battle cry is sounding. Will you hold the fort? Will the line hold? Will it be unbroken? Will you gain the victory on the side of right? If God be for us, who can be against us? Do not loose courage, hold your ground, do not give up. The fight is always hardest just before victory. Keep the faith my brother, my sister, keep faith.

And so we remember...