This Fallen World

God's intention for His creation was perfection. When He made Adam and Eve, they were perfect. The Garden of Eden was perfect. Creation had a perfect relationship with the Creator. And then came sin.
Since then, the world has fallen deeper and deeper into that sin. I've been looking through dramatic monologues to perform for a school project, and at least half of the ones I saw talked about sex, homosexuality, had horrible swear words in them, or were just very rude and hurtful. There is a separation between church and state, so now Biblical teachings are taken out of public schools. We used to live in a stated "Christian" country... and now, Christians are mocked or rejected because our beliefs don't accept any other religion. It's all about "accepting everything", and "what's right for you is right for you, and I will accept that". But that's not the way God created us. He is the One and Only God, the I Am, the Saviour of the world. And so many people don't recognize that. Or else they purposely choose to ignore it.

Last night I was at my friend's birthday party and some of the guys built a fire for us to roast marshmallows. There were some issues because the wood was wet, and at one point, my one friend said jokingly to the fire, "I created you! Why are you trying to burn me?" A thought instantly flashed into my head: Imagine how God must feel.

I'm not saying that we should be all depressed and give up on this world because of what it has become. But I wanted to voice some of my thoughts on what's wrong with this picture. We as Christians are called to share Jesus with others. We were created for the glory of God, and I can say personally that I have not been doing my job very well. I think a lot of us might feel that way. So please, take a look at the world around you. It's messed up, I know. But the more we bring God into every moment of every day, the more of a difference God can make through us to the fallen world we live in.

An Exercise for You

A couple of weeks ago, Dianne shared A Personal Psalm and I shared Words in My Heart.  We had been at a retreat where we were given an interesting exercise to invite God to inspire us to write a psalm or song of praise to Him. After this exercise we got back together as a group and shared our songs or psalms with each other. 

As each person shared, their words were accompanied with surprisingly deep emotion. These weren't just pretty poems, but were heart-felt expressions born out of a profound encounter with God during this exercise. As we looked at what we had written, a good number of us felt that what we had written went beyond our own thoughts or writing skills. God had met us personally and was speaking to our hearts as we wrote. Beautiful experience in the end, but a bit intimidating when we heard that this was to be our assignment!

What do you think? Do you want to give this a try this week? God has inspired many a human pen throughout history. He can inspire you to write a song/poem/psalm too. 

I'm often encouraged by the story of Balaam and his donkey and how God opened the mouth of the donkey to speak to his master.  I figure if God can get a donkey to speak, He certainly can move me to do what He wants me to do! The question is, "Am I willing to let Him move me?"

Father, I pray that you would make an opportunity possible for those who read this post to write a song or poem or personal psalm expressing their hearts. May it be a sweet time with You. May this exercise be something that draws them deeper in love with You. I ask this for Your Glory.

(If you're willing, it would be cool if you'd share what you wrote as a comment below. You can do it "anonymous" if you prefer.)

The Joy of Getting

Jesus said, we read in Acts 20:35, that is is more blessed to give than to receive.

This is a well used quote, and is of course, true. Our God is generous and loves to give, so he should know how indeed more blessed it is to give than to receive. And hopefully, we have learned that giving to others can be really, really fun. Our fleshly tendencies toward selfishness have been overcome by experiencing the truth that it really is more blessed to give than to receive.

But Jesus also said something else - about the joy of receiving. Without the fun of receiving, the blessing of giving is diminished. Think about how much more fun it is to give a gift that is received with delight!

Jesus said,
“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

There is great joy in asking something from God and then getting it. We’re supposed to love getting from him. This may tweak your Christian sensibilities, because we have been trained to believe that wanting to get is selfish, but that giving comes from a pure heart. But God says himself that our joy will be full when we ask him for something and get what we asked for. The reason we’re supposed to ask is so that we can get. And our getting is supposed to give us joy!

It is good to love receiving as much as it is good to love giving.

And when you really think about it, if it’s more blessed to give than to receive, then our giving means for us blessing, which is something we get. So when we give, we get. And when we get, we get - joy, full joy.

Who is like our God? No one. No one at all.

What’s on your heart to ask him for today?

For I know the plans...

I'm sure this is one of those verses that almost everyone has heard at least once... It's one that's used for encouragement, a promise that brings hope:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
Sound familiar? Well, I've been reading through Jeremiah recently, and to be honest, a lot of it I found quite depressing. God uses Jeremiah to warn Israel and Judah that if they don't turn from their sins of idolatry and adultery, they will be severely punished. God sends destruction and captivity to teach His people that what they are doing is wrong. And then, I stumble across Jeremiah 29:11. God has disciplined and corrected His people quite harshly, but He still shows that He loves them and He gives them hope. He tells them that even though they have been punished and sent into captivity, He will renew them and give them fresh start.

God doesn't punish us because He hates us or because He wants to see us suffer. He wants to teach us that His way is best, and sometimes the only way to grab our attention is to discipline us and move us away from the wide, easy path. But He promises to give us a hope and a future in the end, to prosper us and not harm us. I just thought it was cool to find that verse in its context and get the full meaning behind it. I'm not saying that my interpretation of the verse is the final say on what it means... but I just wanted to share what I see in it and use it to encourage you.

Walk with Me

For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, 

but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever. 

Micah 4:5

I saw this verse last night and liked it. What I mean by liking it is that it just settled in my mind and made me ask questions. 

What does it mean to walk in the name of the LORD? I know I want this -  for ever and always - but what does this mean? 

The Message puts it this way:

Meanwhile, all the other people live however they wish, 

   picking and choosing their gods. 

But we live honoring God, 

   and we're loyal to our God forever and ever. 

In this verse we see there are two distinguishable groups of people. There are all the other people and there are we - His people. It's all about belonging.

My greatest joy and fulfillment in life is knowing that I belong to God. He called me to Himself through Jesus Christ and I simply, but wholeheartedly, responded with "yes". As I work in the Women's Centre Drop-in at our church, each week I see how desperately people need to feel that they belong... somewhere. And how much greater it is to belong to the One who loves us with all His Being, and Who is able to keep us belonging to Him forever and ever!

If we belong to God - and know what that really means! - our walk is going to look a lot different from those who don't have that solid foundation of belonging. Oh how I pray that we would grow in knowing how incredibly precious we are to God! I pray that we would know beyond all doubt that God very specifically cares about what we are concerned about and wants to meet us in those places of fear and concern. He is all about being there for us! We are his very own, and He loves us. Let's walk in that awareness, together as sisters, and with Him.

My Prayer

Father I thank you for my job. I thank you for the provision that you have given my family and also for the fact that you placed me there to praise you and serve you.

I lift up to you the 12o students that walk into my room each day. Lord Jesus I pray that you will bless them, encourage them and speak to each one of them. Whisper your words of love to them all, Lord Jesus, especially to those who can not hear your voice.

Lord, I pray that my room will be one of peace, of safety, and of love. Lord use me to give them your peace, your safety and your love. I pray for the love of you to wash over me, so that I may in turn immerse them in it.

Lord, I pray for patience. Give me strength and patience when all of them are talking at once, when half of them didn't complete the homework that today's lessons depends on, and when one of them decides to talk back. Lord, in these times, give me an over abundance of love to see them all as you see them. May your love and joy and peace infiltrate even the smallest of activities we do in class. May they feel your presence as we practice quote integration and re-writing misplaced modifiers!!!

Lord Jesus, may they meet you this year, in my class, in the sanctuary of their houses, in the recesses of their hearts.

Lord, reign in my classroom.

Amenf

Words in my Heart

I've walked this path with You before

     many years ago

the stream retells the Words 

     You spoke to me

Those weren't my imaginings 

     no shades of doubt 

I stand remembering and see 

    Your faithfulness 

Words that are true

 touching my heart 

       so deep

Words that are sure

 freeing my heart 

     changed me

So I turn my face to Yours

 and listen again 

 for You speak

A Personal Psalm

How long, O Lord, how long?

Weariness makes my heart heavy,
even in the midst of laughter.
Your joy is my strength, hope is my song,
your love my sustenance.

Your right hand does valiantly.
Your purpose will stand.
Your goodness I know.
I rejoice that I am yours.
I belong to God.
In that my heart rests, embraced.

Even so,
I long for your return,
your second saving,
my last rescuing.

How long, O Lord, til justice reigns eternal,
til love and grace make the rules,
til hearts are turned,
the glory of Jesus known and desired in the earth?

This I know, that God is for me.
Through the steadfast love of the Most High
I will wait and not be moved.

As for me and my house...

What a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend this has been. I have thought of so many blessings the Lord has bestowed on our family over this past year.

Often in life, we do not realize the blessing until we actually see it in a different light later. And other times, it is so obvious that God has handed us a special gift... put it right in the palms of our hands and our hearts are filled with joy!

Within this year, God has given us two very special gifts. One being a new son-in-law and the other being a new grandson. Our family is growing and we are so delighted.

As we grow as a family, my desire is to see God weave his perfect will into our lives. I desire to grow stronger and deeper and more intimate in my relationship with the Lord and that is the desire I have for my family.

Thanksgiving blessings to each of you as you seek to follow the Lord, faithfully serve Him and seek to know His heart.

Confessions of a Grandmother

Last Friday, October 1st, was a big day in the life of our family. It marked six months since our grandson Jonnic was still-born. 

That day I held his precious body and loved him. 

And I knew that God is good.

Friday, October 1st, was also the day that our grandson Jack was born - a very much alive, healthy 9 lb. 7 oz. baby boy.

I held this precious one and loved him. 

And I knew that God is good. 

God was good April 1st, and God was good October 1st.  Both days God held us and loved us... as He always does and always will.  Thank you Father, for your faithfulness.  

I will praise the Lord all my life; 

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 146:2

Shout Out

Thank you Lord for your peace...for your grace and for your mercy.  Thank you Lord for having compassion on us, for loving us like no one else can and for sharing your own dear Spirit with us.

Thank you for never asking us to get our act together before we can come to you.  You come to us and meet us where we are at.  Your arms are always open...strong enough to carry any burden yet gentle enough to tend the wounds of my broken heart.

You are holy and righteous...more than my mind can even grasp...there is nothing I can do to be worthy of your love...and yet...you call me out as your precious daughter!

Oh is there no end to your goodness?  You provide everything I need and soooo much more.  My heart trusts in you and I am content in your arms.

Blessed be your name.

The House Echoes

For those of you who don't know, my family has had five foster kids living in our house for almost the past year. It's been a crazy ride with a lot of highs and lows. There's definitely been some challenges and times when I've seen my ugly side, but also some really fun moments. Just this Thursday, the kids left to live with their half-brother who moved from across the country. It's been an interesting change. I've gotten so used to noise, clutter, banging, loud singing, spills, and messes that now the house seems almost deserted. It's so quiet, and so much has already been cleaned up or organized. When I say something loud, it almost echoes. But I'm kind of enjoying it. It's nice to have some space and be able to be in my room past 8pm without waking sleeping children :)

(Empty bunks)

But something my parents said the other day made me think.
They said, "Just because we're getting our house back to ourselves, doesn't mean we can go back to living selfishly."

Bam. Oh boy. When I thought about them leaving, all I'd think about was how much I'd like having MY room, and MY space, and MY life back. But it's not about me. It's about God's glory.
And I forget that a lot of the time. I want to make an effort to live sacrificially, and not always think about myself.