Today is my day off. So I slept in. Whenever I sleep in I feel a little guilty that I've wasted time but since I'm also getting over a bad cold I figured that justified things. I lay staring at the ceiling for a few minutes before convincing myself that I really did need to get up and get things done. After finding some juice I pulled open my Bible and read the next two chapters in my reading plan, then I put the Bible down and started to pray. My voice was praying out loud "Lord, please forgive me for my sins..." but my mind was thinking; wow, I have a lot of cleaning to do today. My place is a mess! I can't believe I let it get this way. I have to vacuum and dust and there's a pile of dishes to do... And right then and there it was as if God put a spotlight on my soul which made my mouth and mind stop. He put before my mind the example of Mary and Martha. The story goes something like this. Jesus goes to visit with Mary and Martha (who are sisters) ...
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Quietly I wonder thoughts twist inside my head memories and questions and tears I once did shed He laughed with us not long ago corny jokes he told his eyes alight and smiling mine would merely roll But that laughter now is quiet on earth we do not hear but up there in heaven the joy is very near On earth we ask the question "why'd he have to die?" but you see, up there in heaven he's praising God Most High His job was finished at least the earthly part so God took him away to the home of his heart Today would be his birthday I think of all he left behind but he and God don't feel that way so contentment I will find In God who's plans are always good and who never leaves my side He hears, He sees, He knows the hurt in His love I will abide
In a store front with a yellow canopy there sits a church. It's small. So small you would almost miss it as you drive past if it wasn't for the people floating in and out. Families loaded with small children and too many bags enter in a slow clump as a lady helps with their coats. A young couple with their Bibles under their arms and a Tupperware container of cookies follow. A few singles file in. The noise doesn't stop. It merely escalates as the family of Christ comes together. Two men carry a sign out onto the street with the words "JOIN US FOR CHURCH AT 10:00 & 3:00" The people inside put their things down and try to get their children settled as they share stories about their week; some stories for smiles and some for tears. Visitors arrive late and a regular attendee stands up to get them song books and a Bible and helps them find a seat. Finally the minster takes his place and announces the first song. A strong voice leads and the others quic...
Very thankful today remembering all the men and women who have served and suffered for our country. Thank you to the men who fought in the wars of the current and previous century and to the women and children who supported them and were willing to sacrifice the man they loved most for the sake of a cause--the cause to preserve life and justice. This makes me think of us today. Even though most of my friends aren't in the military we all are in some kind of battle. We too ought to be fighting for life and justice here at home. If you think Canada is a nation that loves life you should think again. A startling fact I recently heard was that Canada is one of the three countries in the world that doesn't have any kind of law in regard to abortion--right up there with China and North Korea. So life is not so important to Canadians. It turns out justice isn't either. Restitution is a foreign concept to most of us. Why should I pay you for the money I stole when I could do a ...
Children are a big part of life. In fact, they seem to radiate life. If you walk down the hall of nursing home with a child's hand in your own the faces of all those who see you, or rather the child, will light up. Children are believers, trusting, hopeful, creative, and always looking to something they have yet to obtain and yet are still content with what they have. Children have always been a big part of my life. And it is from these little people that I have learned many things. The five boys I used to babysit taught me how to climb hay bales, scrape feed, play with their farm animals, and also kindly inform me that they can do somethings better without my help (like build their Lego trucks and planes.) They taught me how to deal with conflict and laugh at their antics. The children at church teach me what love is when they share their toys and books and hug their mothers close. My music students teach me to explore and wonder and learn and overcome hard things. Proverbs 2...
In his book, The Five Love Languages , Gary Chapman speaks primarily to spouses about the different ways to love each other. He categorizes how we love each other into 5 different sections; touch, acts of service, time, words of affirmation, and gifts. The issue he deals with is that different people have different love languages. It can be frustrating to be married to (or friends with someone) whose primary love language is touch while yours is gifts. He encourages people to learn the love language of their spouse; and I would like to add to this by encouraging my readers to learn the love languages of their friends and family. I've always enjoyed the concept of love languages because it's interesting to see how God made us all differently. Over the past several weeks I've been thinking about them when it comes to single people, specifically who fills up a single person's love cup? Then I thought about who fills up my love cup and the answer was so beautiful that I ...
Last week a group of about 180 young people made a great migration up north to Bracebridge, ON. They gathered at a camp, Camp Tamarack, and there they were introduced to 6 chaperoning couples and 3 different speakers. The theme of the week was gratitude, taken from Col. 3&4. Upon arrival each person was given their own book with all the information they would need throughout the week including their cabin number, sport's team, discussion groups, workshops, map, schedule, and room to write notes. The campers threw their stuff into their cabins and went down to the theater to hear the rules of camp. Following rules and welcome Rev. Bouwers came forward to speak about the focus of our gratitude; namely Christ. After the seminary we went to our designated discussion groups and then back to our cabins to finish unpacking. Dinner followed shortly after and then we changed into our grubby clothes to get down and dirty in Opening Games. I never really knew what the purpose of openi...