Happy Thanksgiving

November 27, 2014 A Labour of Love 6 Comments

Thanksgiving… a time of the year when the smell of the food tantalizes the memory bank of years gone by. From childhood memories of family Thanksgivings at a grandparents house, with cousins, aunts and uncles and laughter sprouting from every corner to the memories that we are making today. From the turkey that baked all day to the traditional recipes passed down for generations. The potato dumplings dance in the pot and the whipped cream salad chills out in the freezer just waiting for their hour to be presented to the mouth watering family patiently waiting for their once a year feast. Our days are quieter than they once were, yet the joy and laughter still roars though the house bouncing off of the walls, reminding us that what’s more important than anything is the things that we can be thankful for.

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

With times of uncertainty, we do ourselves great disservice if we cannot be grateful for the blessings that we have been given by the hand of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some of the things I am thankful for are: (in no particular order)

A husband who has always provided for our needs and who continues to do so with every morsel of his being. For a man who trusts the Lord in everything he does and who loves me and cares for me ’til death do us part’.
I am thankful for my children who are growing up making the Lord a first priority in their lives and whose laughter warms their mother heart.
For family and friends who stand by us when we need them the most.
For a loving God who saved me out of the ashes to call me one of His own. Praise God… For once I was lost, and now am found.
I am thankful for the years we have been able to enjoy a cottage, where we could hang our hats and relax while the world went on without us. (Even though the realtor is coming tomorrow… sigh)
For the roof over our heads and the food that we enjoy at the giving of the Lord. (Even though we had a day of cold showers due to the hot water heater having issues and the fact that the kitchen sink is broken.)
For the gift of safety when traveling. (And for the nice police officer that did NOT give me a ticket even though I was speeding to get here…)
For the snow that reminds me of the changing over of seasons. (Even though I got stuck in the ditch going down the driveway and then got stuck half way up the driveway due to the great amount of snow.)
For the healing in my body and movement. (Even though I’m tired and achy…)
For the many friends that I have met through this blog. You keep me smiling and keep me going. 🙂

The last few days have been spent working to get the cottage ready to sell. Cleaning out closets, cleaning up after mice that thought they would take up residency since we haven’t been here in a few months, cooking and preparing for today. Now that today is here, I find myself relaxing in front of a fire watching the snow fall gently from the sky and trees while also smelling the turkey that warms itself in the oven. How could one not be grateful. We are blessed and there is no question about it and no reason to complain…. about anything!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It is with great hope that your day is filled with thoughts of thankfulness, no matter where you are or what you are doing, that you will find something to be grateful for.

Following in Faith

A Little Perspective

November 19, 2014 A Labour of Love 2 Comments

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2Corinthians 1:3-4

In studying JOB, I have come to understand more clearly the value of trusting God, His Word, and His mercies that are offered to His flock. Calling out to him over the last year, whether my day was filled with pain or exhaustion, I admittedly had moments where I complained over my circumstances, yet I also knew and had faith that God had a plan. I was comforted in knowing that He would utilize my situation to His glory and that nothing I go through in this world is too great when I have Him by my side.

I have a picture with a beautiful poem about the Lord carrying us in our times of trouble and the picture has one set of footprints walking in the sand. Although I enjoy the concept of Him carrying us through this life, I think I would rather consider Him as a partner walking beside me like a seeing eye “friend”. Pointing out obstacles, directing my footsteps, guiding me down the path of life leading to His narrow gate. Nurturing me along the journey so that in the end He will be glorified.

One of our questions in our study asked whether we have ever encountered God in a way that transformed our understanding of or attitude toward Him? We were then asked to share the experience and tell how our view of God was changed.

My answer was yes and I went on to explain. Our move to our current location was not an easy transition. We moved to a state that we had never stepped into, knowing absolutely no one, and to top it off it was in the winter. We lived in a two bedroom apartment for two months while we sought out our current home. The kids had school and were making friends, my husband had work and new relationships to nurture while I had a realtor once a week. My days were very lonely.

I had left behind a volunteer position at the kids school that kept me working every day as the school librarian, room mom for one class, a bible study that I had been a part of for 10 years, childhood friends, college friends, family and ladies that I had befriended after our third move. My involvement with our church included VBS, women’s ministry, fundraisers and the meal delivery service for our brothers and sisters within the church that I was in charge of. I was running with kids to Karate classes two days a week, baseball three days a week, dance classes 3 days a week, boy scouts and brownies every other week and our weekends were spent at a cottage. To say that I was busy is an understatement. In fact, one of my friends gave me a mug for my birthday that said, “Note to self: Stop volunteering for stuff”.

In my loneliness, I found that going to the Lord was giving me encouragement. In my times of human weakness, however, I sought out to find purpose for myself in our new town. I thought I needed to be a part of something, other than just looking for a house for the family. So after a month of spending one day a week cleaning the apartment, grocery shopping and doing laundry, another day going out with the realtor, and the rest of my week spent sitting alone reading the word of God, I went in to our new church and requested a list of activities and groups that our family could be a part of. I distinctly remember breaking down in tears in front of the secretaries. Not sure what else to do, they presented me with a list of people to call and activities that may interest us.

One by one we reached out, seeking out purpose, more for myself than the rest of the family. After all, they were meeting people and making friends. I was the one who was trying to find my niche. Each time we reached out, we hit a dead end. Either the groups were full or after receiving information we decided that the group was not what we were interested in. Once again, I remember finding myself in tears. As our second month approached, we had found our house and we were waiting for it to be completed as it had been a new construction. One more day would be added to my loneliness as I no longer had my day with the realtor. Another moment of tears. I remember asking God why and I also remember complaining.

One day, as I was reading His word, I was struck by the time I had to be with Him. I’m not sure exactly what took place, however, I felt this peace that I had not known since our move. I came to the realization that prior to our move, my time with Lord was when I could fit Him in, between projects and activities. I scheduled my time with Him based on what worked for me. In the two months of being in the apartment I realized that all I had was time to spend with Him. He had become my best friend, my caretaker, and my encourager. He was walking beside me and was giving me comfort in my times of loneliness. I was not alone, I just didn’t have perspective.

I remember thanking Him for all that He was doing for me and my family. For giving us all that we needed. Even though we were in a two bedroom apartment and ate dinners at a table in the living room by the couch. We all have said that they were the best two months we’ve ever had as a family. As a family, we grew closer, enjoying our time together since we didn’t have any extra curricular activities vying for our time.

I would say that during that time I encountered God as I had not known him before. The focus in my years prior to our move were spent trying to do all the good in the world, doing all that I could for my family and for others. I spent time with him when He fit into my schedule, praying while I was driving and in my quiet time upon waking and before bed. After our move, I had refocused my attention, turning my daily schedule into a time of continued worship of Him. To my pleasant surprise, my Heavenly Father was there waiting for me and He met with me giving me peace, understanding and perspective. He didn’t ask me to wait until He had time in His schedule, He was ready and willing to offer mercy, grace, and love when I needed it the most.

Rather than seeing Him as a Holy God who was too busy to notice whether or not I took time out for Him, I realized He was a Holy God who is a jealous God that needed me to take that next step in knowing Him. I was transformed! I don’t mean that I became a christian at that point, I knew I was a christian and had been for many years. I was however, growing in my knowledge of Him and who He truly was. Humbled by His time with me and my recognition of His Almighty character, I prayed that He would lead me and open doors when He was ready for me to once again serve outside of the home. I said that prayer in church one night and at the end of the service a woman approached me asking me to be a part of a prayer group. Timing was everything. Once again, I thanked Him, knowing that all He wanted me to trust in Him and His plan for my life. Each experience I have endured since the Lord called me by name has helped me to grow closer to Him and has given me new perspective.

In watching Bethany Hamilton in Soul Surfer recently with my daughter, I am reminded that sometimes we need to be in a different place, focusing on something other than ourselves to gain perspective. Not unlike what God did with JOB. JOB had his own thoughts and considerations in defending himself pridefully with his friends, yet it took God’s audience with JOB to show him a new perspective that included who he was in comparison to who God was. Isn’t that so like the life of a christian? When we stray from the herd, our shepherd uses His staff to to gently remind us of our place in the flock.

I challenge you reader to look at your current affliction and look for opportunities to give you a new perspective. Preferably, allowing God to be a part of that process.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2Corinthians 4:7-11

Following in Faith, Why?

Rejected or Rejoicing?

November 7, 2014 A Labour of Love 6 Comments

Wearily pulling myself out of self loathing yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit with a friend whom is no longer able to walk and is finishing out her young life knowing that she is fading away into the arms of her savior. I was so blessed and refreshed by the visit, that I had to ask God’s forgiveness for the moments prior to our time together. After all, I had been questioning what good was going to come of such a visit when I was so tired from battling my pneumonia for the last 3 weeks. I did not feel like smiling, I just wanted to sleep and rest in the comfort of my living room. Venturing out into the cold was not appealing, even though I had an errand I had to run prior to the visit. I pondered forgoing the errand and the visit. It’s amazing how God uses times like those to touch our inner being, reminding us that there is so much to do and so little time for the joy of the Lord to be shared with others. I came home physically tired, yet spiritually uplifted. My original intention of visiting my friend was because I thought I was going to bless her, yet, God blessed me instead with a sustainable energy that kept me going for the rest of the night and He reminded me of the grace of humility.

There is no place for self loathing or a self serving attitude for Christians who know Him.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you , declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

For the last year, life has had it’s ups and downs with my diagnosis of Lyme Disease. The loneliness of having a physical disability is only known by those who are also afflicted with such circumstances. For this reason, I was determined that when I felt better, I was going to start weekly visits with my friend whom I had neglected prior to my own illness. I remember having the need to visit her, however, I am embarrassed to admit that time was filled with so many other things to do that I never made the time. I was just too busy, plain and simple. Isn’t that so like our society today? We spend so much time doing so many great things that have such little value. Yet the things that mean so much, we brush aside thinking they are not of great significance.

I challenge you reader to consider your own life and ask yourself this question, “What have I done today that was not for my own gratification?” If you ask yourself that question and find that you cannot come up with one thing, I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and give it a try. If you are only doing for others so that you will benefit, you have not challenged yourself enough. Try taking time out of your day to do something for someone that will not have anything to do with benefiting yourself. Let me explain. If you partake on a mercy mission for someone else, make sure you are not thinking that it’s for your own benefit or self glorification that you are doing it. True acts of kindness, love and humility do not come from knowledge, they come from the heart. Outpouring unconditionally!

Last year there were several wonderful friends who took time out of their days to sit with me or write to me. The fact that they thought of me and prayed for me was enough, but these women actually took the time out of their busy lives to let me know. Unconditionally! From guilt free quilting to those friday pizza nights where I would otherwise have sat here alone. From e-cards of inspiration to the hand written notes mailed through the post, I was blessed by the giving of their time. I can only hope that they too felt blessed by the love they shared with this lonely Christian in her time of need for fellowship.

My friend and I sat together yesterday and began reading a book. Although my friend can no longer read and I am actually doing the reading, our discussions during and afterward were wonderful. We began the first week with the first two chapters of the book and studying Psalm 13.

How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; light up my eyes, lest I sleep and the sleep of death, lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13

We both discussed how blessed we are knowing that we had the fellowship with one another, and the fellowship of the Lord Jesus Christ. David, in writing this psalm, felt alone and abandoned by God, yet he trusted in His love. He knew God was there or he would not have called out to him to begin with, but he cried out for the reassurance. He just longed for the fellowship and comfort of the Lord to help with the loneliness that was overtaking his physical being. Is this any different than how we feel when we are going through trials? As Christians we know God is ever present and we can trust in His love, yet we long for that physical fellowship. It’s in our human nature to have that need, and yet, so many are left in their lonely state.

In both of my studies this week, the same question came up, “Why is it so important to establish a right view of God before adversity hits?” (CBS JOB commentary) Both my friend and I agree that in our circumstances we could not get through all that humanity and disease throws at us if we did not have trust in the Lord and trust in salvation. In saying that, it does not mean we will not have tears and that we will not be discouraged at our current situation. Just as David was discouraged, he still trusted in “steadfast love” which in turn allowed him to “rejoice in salvation”. Rejoice…

Rejoicing in the everlasting love of a creator who has chosen us to be a part of his kingdom. Rejoicing in his blessings of family and fellowship with other like minded brothers and sisters who will share in an eternal life. Rejoicing in the blessing of vision to see that our sorrows are short lived in this world. Rejoicing that Jesus Christ took upon himself the sins of mankind to save. Rejoicing in the Hope and Faith of healing and God’s everlasting care in our lives on this earth. Rejoicing in knowing Him!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17