Hey There,

Here in NC we are on day three of a “State of Emergency”. Snow really does turn life upside down here in the south and yet being a Canuk I felt compelled by the ominous stories of storms gone by to buy flashlights and batteries. So for the past three day the flashlights sit, ready to be used if the power goes out.

This past month brought with it an unexpected storm in our life, and just as we bought those flashlights in case we needed an alternative light source it reminded me today that the past four weeks have been so critically powered by Jesus. You see our power went out so to speak. We lost control of plans, expectations and were left with disappointment and shock.

Without a shadow of a doubt I can say without Jesus, our permanent, fixed, never changing, unfailing power source we would have been aimlessly going through the motions of the past thirty days in the dark. It has been because we are privy to God’s truths through the Bible that we walk certain of the hope that our darkened path will be lit, and in the mean time we need not fear the dark because we are loved and known by the Light of the World.

Power sources come in all shapes and sizes. Our little yellow flashlights pale in comparison to the power source we have access to through our Jesus.

Psalm 27:1 (Amplified Bible)

Have you tapped into your power source today?

Journey On,

Hey Friends!

I hope your month of December was filled with family and friends and that you take special memories of your times together into this new year. We had an awesome time at home. It always feels as if no time has passed when we see those we know and love. The history we share is an amazing gift. We look forward to making more “history” in 2010.

I was reading in Proverbs 3 today. My mom for many years has encouraged us to read a Proverb a day as there are 31 Chapters in the book. Today I had a couple moments and was feeling the need for some divine encouragement. I opened to Proverbs and these familiar verses popped out at me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (Amplified Bible)

Good Afternoon,

Today a friend reminded me that God is interested in the details of our life. The little ones, you know like the fact that grilled cheese needs cheese on it, or that my son does not have lunch bunch on Tuesday and needs to be picked up at noon, or that the gas element is still lit on the stove…….:) Multitasking is something I do on a regular basis..I know girlfriends you can relate to that one, but right now at this time of the year when chaos seems to be abounding due to busy schedules the fact that my God is interested in the little stuff of my day acts as very clear, tangible demonstrations of his love for me.

It is in the those personal moments that I share with my Jesus that I can say thank you, acknowledge his love for me and accept the reality that today my “big prayers” may not have an answer, but in the details of my life he is intimately involved with and has not forgotten me.

God is so good friends. I hope in the craziness of this month you too will see just how much your God loves you and is interested in the smallest details of your life.

Psalm 33:18

I am so thankful God’s eyes are always on me……..

Journey On

Good Morning,

You know when you are in “relationship” with someone, and there comes a time where distance seems to sneak its way into your connection.  Well that’s exactly how I’ve felt with the Lord this week.  I know its me who’s attitude needed some readjustment, it was never the Lord who left a conversation in a huff. My whining about a situation that I am not okay with took a turn this week when I realized I was choosing the strain, the disconnect I was feeling with my Jesus. The lesson I learned came to a head last night as I was disciplining my daughter.  God is so good to use a parenting situation to show me exactly where my heart attitude had been for the past few days. Let me back up.

Our Boo is a firecracker, joyous, full of energy is exuberant and head strong. I admire those qualities about her but as a six year old she also needs to learn that obedience is part of her responsibility as my child and ultimately as a child of God. So as we sit at the dinner table last night my child decided to completely disobey after I gave her grace…a few times…off to bed she was sent at 5:30pm. For the next two hours my child screamed in her room until her voice was gone. As I went in to remind her that I love her always, no matter what but her choices to disobey make me sad, and as her mommy my job is for her to understand that obedience is something she needs to chose even when she is unhappy about it. As she calmed down from her hyper ventilating screams and her chest began to relax from the deep heavy sobs that consumed her body, I walked downstairs plopped myself on the couch as I felt I had just fought a war. I was tired, worn out and unhappy. As I sat in silence the still familiar voice of the Holy Spirit reminded me my attitude this past week was not that different then Boo’s. I may not have kicked and screamed, but I did a whole lot of whining and complaining to the Lord. My attitude my choice to remain unhappy about a situation had caused the strain I was feeling with my sweet Jesus. My disobedient will had caused the rift I felt all week, the consequence to my behaviour. I realized in that moment just as I was discipling my girl out of love, so was my Father in Heaven.

Gulp…..honestly it was hard to swallow but just as I told my girl, it is for her benefit, it is out of love, it is necessary.

John 18:37 (Amplified Bible)

Journey On Friends,

Good Morning,

It’s a sweet treat day..have you thought about what “sweet treat” you will enjoy today?  My kiddo’s gave our youngest their order this morning. Papa started a wonderful tradition that my guys look forward to every week! Sweetness is necessary in life….and it’s Friday, yahoo!

I’ve been thinking this week about how as women we come to decide that we believe and have enough faith to acknowledge that Jesus died for us, but then get stuck with the idea that the God who died for us wants to have a relationship with us. A few ideas have come to mind and I would love to know what you think. 

The very essence to a relationship involves vulnerability, strengths and weaknesses are exposed? Human relationships can either be joy filled or means of destruction. Satan has had a hay day messing us up in this area, I realize this. However when you think that the God of the Universe knows the pasts of our lives, the reality of our present and the events of our futures, our strengths and weaknesses are not shocking Him. I’m speaking from the heart when I write this, dependence is a very hard thing for me. It has been a major hurdle I have had to learn to jump in my relationship with the Lord. He has proven himself faithful, loving and merciful but there are days when my fear of dependence rears its ugly head and I need to acknowledge (kicking and screaming some days, let me be very real about this) that really I have very little control over my circumstances, but I am loved by the One who does. My best interests are there somewhere in the messiness of life……my God allows life to happen and is there every step of the way. Now as an aside my reactions are my responsibility but the days where I blow it so sky high I am assured my God loves me, and I start again. 

The other thought I had was we get stuck in our human, judgemental way of viewing our lives. Could it be that if we began to believe that the God who knows the stars by name, knows the choices we have made in the past and still loves us. The social stigma of divorce, bankruptcy, single parent, bad parent, overweight.the list can go on..I’m sure a negative label has come to your mind……..the failure that is associated with those stigmas are not how God describe his daughters. Why is is so hard for us to start believing and harnessing that faith we used initially to acknowledge His sacrifice for our life and use that to see how the labels of the world are not “who” we are.  We can move forward in the power that all Gods girls have because they are known and loved by the Omnipotent God. Life altering transformation is God’s speciality, 

Here are some words of truth……..

2 Corinthians 5:16,17

Just my thoughts…what are yours?

Journey On

Good Morning,

I’m looking out into my backyard feeling rather exposed. The splendor of the beautiful autumnal landscape of golden yellow, vibrant red and cool oranges that have so perfectly adorned the leaves on the tress are slowly giving up the fight as the fall winds are tugging them off the branches.

My backyard is exposed. Honestly it leaves me feeling uneasy. The walking path behind our house was buffered by the tall, bold tress that surrounds us. Now, everyone can see our home.

As I was wishing the leaves back unto the branches the quiet, yet familiar check in my spirit becomes evident to me. The exposure I am feeling is not a result of the leaves ushering in winter, but of my fear of exposure. As I type these verses are coming ot mind. (Don’t you just love when Gods words become alive and active in out thoughts)

Psalm 139

⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there; 
       if I make my bed in the depths, ^[a] you are there.

 ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me, 
       your right hand will hold me fast.

 ¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me 
       and the light become night around me,”

 ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you; 
       the night will shine like the day, 
       for darkness is as light to you.

These verses remind me that my thoughts, actions, ungracious behaviour I would rather keep hidden are not shocking the Lord. He knows and loves me the same. My behaviour will not scare Him way. His love for me endures. The ugliness I try to keep hidden needs to come to light. It is a choice I need to make, to bring it before my Jesus. These verses encourage me and speak truth to me, that I  can not go anywhere, hide deep enough or bury anything that once brought into the presence of my God will not be forgiven. 

So friends I encourage you today, if you dreaded the raising of the sun, and would rather stay in the shadow of the dark, realize that when you come to Jesus, your exposure is never condemned but lovingly convicted. The love that the God of the Universe has for you is steadfast, unchanging and is waiting for you to experience. Your Creator wants to speak to you. He wants you to experience and know without a doubt you are His child, fiercely and completed loved…no matter what. 

Journey On

Good Morning,

It’s been a while since I have had the clarity of thought to sit down and pound something out on the keyboard. October has been a blur, the autumn winds have brought many changes. How’s October been for you?

As I drove my youngest to preschool this morning we were listening to one of his favorite songs..right now:) It is a Rascal Flat song called “The Broken Road”.  He loves this song, but after the tenth time repeated my mind just tuned the song out. After a while I realized my three year old was quietly singing along,  I thought I better listen with intentionality to the words to the song. The song is a love song, which speaks to the broken, unpredictableness of life and yet at the end of the broken road true love is found. Okay I think to myself the words are okay, the message mellow this is okay for my little man to be singing along to. 

Out of the blue he ask me “why is the road is broken, and why would you want to take a broken road”? “They need to be straight”, he says, “you won’t see where you are going”. At that moment my eyes stung with tears, you see this past weekend, my honey and I were able to get away for a couple days. When we arrived to our location the straightness and flatness of the terrain astonished me. I must have commented on it ten times over the course of four days. This past weekend felt a bit like a bubble, a bubble that insulated me from reality. The roads were straight, smooth, predicable, an absolute contrast to the roads we have travelled for the past three years.

As I tried to hold back the tears that were welling up in my eyes I answered my little dude saying that broken roads are not easy to “drive on” but with Jesus no matter how bumpy the roads are they can be travelled on. 

He then preceded to ask me if I’ve ever been on a broken road.

“Yes” I answered.

 He then queried if I was still on a broken road, and as tears fell I quietly answered yes…….to which he replied…”well we’ve got Jesus mommy, it will be okay”!

So friend can I encourage you today no matter what the terrain is looking like as you peer down your road,remember with Jesus you never travel alone.

GOD’s Message yet again: “Go stand at the crossroads and look around. Ask for directions to the old road, The tried and true road. Then take it. Discover the right route for your souls. But they said, ‘Nothing doing. We aren’t going that way.’ Jer. 6:16 Message

Journey On,

Hey There,

How ya doing today? My kidlets are all outside. Silence is a beautiful thing, except for the patter of feet running across the front porch and the wind whistling in the tree tops, I am enjoying a few moments of silence. AHHHHHHHH.

Our girl decided this weekend that she was ready to learn to ride her bike without training wheels. Now our girls is a firecracker, always has been. When she decides she wants to do something, she puts her mind to it and nothing will deter her from accomplishing her goal. Her tenacity makes me smile and other times makes we want to pull my hair out. I know all you mommies of firecrackers can relate!

Before she announced her plans to “ride alone” she came into the house fully padded down with her brothers hockey gloves, knee pads, elbow pads and her helmet. She had thought through her adventure and knew that in order to accomplish the task at hand she needed to be prepared. Now Boo is not one to be frightened but I thought is interesting how she knew that falls where probably in her immediate future and so she planned for that contingency. My girl rocks!

I thought of her yesterday as I realized I was headed into a situation that was going to require armour. I’m referring to heavenly armour. I needed wisdom, patience and truth on my side and so just as Boo put on her helmet, I sent up one of those “Help me Jesus” prayers.  As I pictured my Boo I quickly asked for the armour I knew I was in need of.  Prayer was my weapon in that moment. 

Ephesians 6:16-18 (New International Version)

Good Morning,

Well it’s a little late but I hope your weekend found you some time to enjoy a sweet treat…..or two:)

I’m loving the study I am currently involved with and as I was doing some reading this weekend thisline was never far from my thoughts all weekend.

“Faith is the primary means by which we place our hand in the outstretched hand of God and join Him” ( Believing God, pg 19)

Now being the visual learner that I am, I loved the picture this gave me as I thought about faith. It reminded me of the countless times my children have reached for my hand. Back in the days where learning to walk was the goal, often times I would feel a little finger slip in between my fingers, asking for reassurance, encouragement or help. Does that not paint such a vivid picture of our daily relationship with God?

Unlike when my children learned to walk they no longer needed the extra support to stand on their own two feet. However when we are choosing to live by faith, the Lord’s outstretched hand is never far from our grasp.

When an initial decision to accept the truth that Jesus died for us is made we are asking for forgiveness, our faith is met by our Heavenly Father’s outstretched hand.

Along our journey with Jesus when doubts enter our mind, is it not our hand that is grasping to be held onto tightly by the King of Kings. Is His hand not always available to you?

On the days where tears fall like rain, are we not meet by the hand of the God who holds our tears and promises to wipe them away. 

Whew, I love that line…..what a an amazing privilege to be loved by a God who is willing to meet us. We initiate the action, but we are not loved by a passive God, He moves to meet us. To me this is a demonstration of how important we are to Him. The picture of His hand moving towards me is thrilling…..do you not agree?

And God will wipe the tears from every face. 
   He’ll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are. 
   Yes! God says so!

Isaiah 25:8 (The Message)

Journey On

Good Morning,

Oh how the days fly by between sitting down at the computer to put words to the things that swirl around this brain of mine. Whew I’m glad to have a few moments this morning. 

I’ve started a new study, Beth Moore’s “Believing God”. As always in the midst of her discussion she says something that hits me smack in the middle of my forehead. The line I’ve been pondering is this.” Faith is the gap between our theology and reality”.  Immediately a picture of a bridge came to my mind. The bridge is  troubled, it has a whole in the centre, far too wide to jump, hop or run across. Then as I began thinking about all thing faith, I realized that the bridge could represent my everyday life. I know some theology, but this girl would never be recognized as a Biblical theologian, and I’m okay with that.

As you meander down the bridge with me that represents my day you come to a gap, across from the gap you would see my daily planner, the schedules, the meetings, the deadlines, homework, laundry…can you relate?  Some days as I am traveling over the bridge  ”I know” God is God because the Bible tells me so, my “faith” is merely head knowledge. My attitude, perspective, emotions are anywhere close to acting in a faith like response to the irritations that arise, the crisis that hit, the interruptions of a well laid plan. The gap between my theology of knowing God is God always, He is in control, always, He loves me no matter what is evident in my responses and the gap that divides my head knowledge with my reality widen.  My faith is merely a exercise of my mind. However the days where I choose to allow my emotions, my heart, my spirit, my experiences with God intersect with my head knowledge suddenly the gap between my theology and reality becomes an “act” of faith. In the choice to act in faith my relationship is deep end with my Heavenly Father, another marker in my journey with Jesus staked. A lesson learned. 

So friends I encourage you today to face your gap head on today. Armed with the knowledge of your God, but also with your personal experiences….your “Act” of faith may not shrink your gap but your Heavenly Father promises to meet you wherever you are. And that meeting is the beginning of filling in your gap.

I was reminded of this promise. You are not alone on your bridge!

Deuteronomy 31:8 (New International Version)