Liberation

I am still being struck by my devotion from a couple of days ago...

The crucified Christ reminds us that despair and disillusionment are not terminal but signs of impending resurrection. What lives beyond the cross is the liberation power of love, freeing us from the ego centeredness that says, "All I am is what I think I am and nothing more." One Good Friday morning...as I (Brennan Manning, from 'Reflections for Ragamuffins') prayed in faith I heard him say, "Little brother, I witnessed a Peter who claimed that he did not know me, a James who wanted power in return for service, a Philip who failed to see the Father in me, and scores of disciples who were convinced I was finished on Calvary. The New Testament has many examples of men and women who started out well and then faltered along the way.

"Yet on Easter Day I appeared to Peter; James is not remembered for his ambition but for the sacrifice of his life for the kingdom; Philip did see the Father in me when I pointed the way; and the disciples who despaired had enough courage to recognize me as the stranger who walked the road to Emmaus. My point, little brother, is this: I expect more failure from you that you expect form yourself."

"May the LORD answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God
of Jacob protect you." Psalm 20:1

The Amazing Race

Yes, even we have succumbed to watching this show when we get the chance. We only saw the last half this week, but finally, there was a race. Les often says that it isn't truly a 'race' because when a team gets wayyyy ahead, that lead is often equalized by the doors not opening at their destination until 8 the next morning, or there being only 2 flights to wherever they are going. Still, I think that's a lot like life...it's not always the fastest that win the race!

This time around Les & I haven't really picked a favourite team to win....we're actually ok with most of them winning, except for Rob & Amber (so underhanded and mean sometimes), and Ray & Deana (we didn't like how he treated her or the other teams). Ray & Deana were eliminated this week...and finally there was an actual race to the finish, with the brothers who had a huge set back by rolling their vehicle, making up time in their completion of the detour and catching up to Ray & Deana in a foot race to the matt. Now that was a race!

Dear friends of ours have recently gotten back from a mission trip to Haiti, and their experiences have gotten me to thinking of how they would be on The Amazing Race. In truth Elizabeth & Neil are an ideal couple and I'm sure they would do well in the race, not only because they are smart, but they travel well together, they respect each other to the max, and they are kind to others....traits that I think mean the most in the race.

Who do you think would do well in the race?

"Every happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message."
-- Malcolm Muggeridge

The Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross (or Way of the Cross; in Latin, Via Crucis or Via Dolorosa) refers to the depiction of the final days (or Passion) of Jesus Christ, and the Church's devotion commemorating the Passion.

The Stations themselves are usually a series of 14 pictures or sculptures depicting the following scenes:

1. Christ is condemned to death
2. The cross is laid upon him
3. His first fall
4. He meets His Blessed Mother
5. Simon of Cyrene is made to bear the cross
6. Christ's face is wiped by Veronica
7. His second fall
8. He meets the women of Jerusalem
9. His third fall
10. He is stripped of His garments
11. His crucifixion
12. His death on the cross
13. His body is taken down from the cross
14. His body is laid in the tomb

Lucille Castro explains the stations this way:
"Stations are places where people wait while they are going from one place to another. A school-bus stop is like a station. People wait at train stations or bus stations or airports... Stations are also places where people take time to think about Jesus as he went to die on a cross. They are "Stations of the Cross." They show us how much Jesus loved us.
You do not have to think of all of the Stations of the Cross on one day. You may want to stay at one Station with Jesus for a few days before you move to another Station. Whatever you decide, Jesus is with you and he loves you."

http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/stations.html
http://frpat.com/stations.htm (drawings of stations done by grade 5 children)
http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/stations/ (good site for families & children)
http://www.xpeastbourne.org/arch/stations/contents.htm

Today I thought I would share my Brennan Manning devotion. It really hit my heart. It ties in with what we learned at Encounter this week and yesterday's "Last Supper" and today's "Good Friday"...

The One Jesus Loves

I believe that the night in the Upper Room was the defining moment of John's life. Some sixty years after Christ's resurrection, the apostle - like an old gold miner panning the stream of his memories - recalled all that had transpired during his three-year association with Jesus. He made pointed reference to that holy night when it all came together, and he affirmed his identity with these words: "Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them - the one who had leaned on his breast at the supper" (John 21:20).

If John were to be asked, "What is your primary identity, your most coherent sense of yourself?" he would not reply, "I am a disciple, an apostle, an evanelist," but "I am the one Jesus loves"...

To read John 13:23-25 without faith is to read it without profit. To risk the passionate life, we must be "affected by" Jesus as John was; we must engage his experience with our lives rather than with our memories. Until I lay my head on Jesus' breast, listen to His heartbeat, and personally appropriate the Christ-experience of John's eyewitness, I have only a derivative spirituality. My cunning imposter will borrow John's moment of intimacy and attempt to convey it as if it were my own.

"Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble." 1 John 2:10

Your Love Makes Me Sing...

This song keeps running through my head today (and yesterday)...

Hallelujah (Your love is amazing)
Brenton Brown & Brian Doerksen

Your love is amazing, steady and unchanging
Your love is a mountain, firm beneath my feet
Your love is a mystery, how you gently lift me
When I am surrounded, your love carries me

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Your love makes me sing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Your love makes me sing

Your love is surprising, I can feel it rising
All the joy that’s growing deep inside of me
Every time I see You
All Your goodness shines through
And I can feel this God song, rising up in me

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah,
Your love makes me sing
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah,
Your love makes me sing

 2000 Vineyard Songs [UK & Eire]

Palm Sunday

One of the most precious things I have ever witnessed is seeing (or feeling or hearing) those that I love worship. I still remember Amanda's first experience of communion two years ago on Good Friday, I remember her singing along with the soloist as we walked down the aisle to receive the elements... I remember her reading those words for the first time... 'Be thou my vision'.... She read them so intently, and then when it was her turn to take the bread, she ripped off the biggest chunk. As a parent, I was about to whisper, not so much, but then it occurred to me that maybe we should all be more like her. Once she got near to Jesus, she wanted as much as she could get...my precious girl:)

Yesterday was Palm Sunday...a day of worship like no other, and in celebration, Amanda's dance class was performing during our worship. Oh how precious to see my dolly worshipping God that way...and to worship with her...lots of tears..

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
For our Lord God Almighty Reigns
Hallelujah, Hallelujah,
For our Lord God Almighty Reigns
Hallelujah, Holy, Holy
Are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
You are Holy, Holy,
Are you Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Amen

Amanda did a wonderful job of her dance (all three times). I was also struck by one part of the message in particular...about how we come to Jesus always asking...asking Him to be who/what we want Him to be... And while we wants us to ask for our needs and our deepest desires, sometimes we need to come and just receive who He is. Peter didn't want Jesus to die. When Jesus told him of what was coming, Peter said no and that he would fight to prevent it, but if he had gotten what he had wanted, Jesus wouldn't have been who He was.... I need to think about that some more and praise Him more for who He is! I don't want to think of what happened to my Lord this week, but I must, I NEED to worship Him for it.

50 Things About Me!

Inspired by Christy's blog, here are 50 things about me...

1. I'm a girl, a girly-girl to be more precise.
2. And I'm married to the most wonderful boy, well, actually he's such a man!
3. And we have a living dolly for a daughter.
4. We live in a cozy bi-level in a newer neighbourhood in the north west (yes, the dreaded west-side?!! ...queu the forboding music!)
5. I'm a chartered accountant.
6. But what I do for a living actually tells you very little about me.
7. I probably should have been a teacher.
8. But that's a longgggg story.
9. I love being a wife and mommy!
10. I love God even more than any of that!!
11. One of my greatest desires is to hear God.
12. "He holds me by my right hand, and afterward He will take me home...God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Ps.73)
13. I love music!
14. I love to sing!
15. When I was a little girl, my favourite band was 'The Bay City Rollers'.
16. I had the plaid cuffed pants and striped socks even.
17. My brother used to tease me mercilessly about liking that band.
18. My husband doesn't mind them.
19. We've even gone Bay City Roller cruizin' to their greatest hits
20. Our daughter even likes their music.
21. She often sings their song 'Saturday Night' when we're driving home from Church on s-s-s-Saturday ni-ght.
22. I'm missing seeing my Canucks play on Saturday nights this year:(
23. I like to cuddle up with my husband and watch hockey:)
24. I like to cuddle up with my husband and watch anything:))
25. My latest favourite guilty pleasure is the Carmel Macchiato at Starbucks.
26. Actually it's really not bad for me at all (it's made with skim milk).
27. I like skim milk (have drank it since I was a kid).
28. I picked up the saying "good grief!" from a dear friend of mine.
29. My husband thinks it's cute when I say it.
30. I think he's cute all the time!
31. He has the best sense of humor!
32. My friends are really important to me.
33. Nowadays, I don't seem to get as much one on one time with them as I used to (or as I'd like).
34. Yet they are always there for me.
35. And I for them.
36. I got my hair cut today.
37. My hairdresser has an adorable 11 month old, and I got to hold him and dote over him:)
38. I'm an affectionate person.
39. Words mean a lot to me.
40. I would never name a child without looking at the meaning of the name.
41. My full first name is actually Sherri-Lynn not just Sherri because my maternal grandmother didn't want me named after liquor!
42. That is also the reason my name isn't spelled with a 'y'
43. Sherri means sweetheart in French (cheri), and beloved in the baby books, so I don't mind
44. My favourite Disney character is Winnie THE Pooh
45. When I was 4, I met the REAL Winnie THE Pooh (blue sweater and all)
46. Coincidentally when we did The Hundred Acre Wood personality test, my husband's personality came out as Pooh.
47. Mine was Kanga.
48. Did I mention that I love tea?!
49. I always notice people's hands and feet.
50. But what I'm most interested in is the heart:)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here are a few Irish Blessings from me to you!

"May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain,

tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you,

those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire."

"May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

"May you have:
A world of wishes at your command.
God and his angels close to hand.
Friends and family their love impart,
and Irish blessings in your heart!"

"May God grant you always...
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing
can harm you."

"May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you"

You can go to this (http://www.st-patricks-day.com/index.asp) site to read more about St. Patrick's day.

Since I married Irish, we treat St. Patrick's day with a little bit of patriotism around our house. But I won't be making Irish stew this year as Amanda has another one of her big dance practices over the supper hour, so we'll be having something quick afterward, but I will be making the traditional green parfaits for a treat afterward in keeping with our family's tradition!

One Thumb Down; One Thumb Up

On the weekend, for the first time, Les and I rented a couple of DVD's. We were given a DVD player before Christmas, but somehow had never found the time to rent one until now. We rented the movies 'Ray' and 'Terminal'. I would have to say that 'Ray' was pretty much a disappointment for me, but more on that later on... 'Terminal', on the other hand, was a pleasant surprise! I don't think I even knew this movie existed until I saw it on the New Release shelf. It's a Tom Hanks movie about a Crococian (spelling?) man who ends up in limbo in JFK. There has been an overthrow of the government in his country and so it is no longer being recognized by the United States, so they will not allow him into the US nor out of there, and he is stuck in the terminal. I thought Hanks was surperb in this role. I don't think he gets very much attention now that he's a bit older, but he was wonderful in this role. Another thing that I liked about this movie is that it was a fresh story, not one that you could figure out in the first 10 minutes. I also liked that for the most part it was a pretty 'clean' film with some very good messages about the character of a man. Les and I both really enjoyed it!

Getting back to 'Ray' though, we were both so disappointed in it. I think all the hype and build up I've heard about it really made me expect a better film, a rounder story, but I guess I was expecting too much. At first I felt the film was fairly biographical without getting into may of the intricacies of Ray's life that would have been interesting to follow and would have developed a better understanding of the person. Most of the story focused on his heroine addiction, but once he addresses the addiction, the story ends, decades before his life, before many of his musical accomplishments, etc. I really thought this film could have been more... Then yesterday as I was checking Carolyn's blog, I read something that interested me more than most of what I saw in the film. You can check it out here (http://www.carolynarends.com/cgi-bin/cablog/blogger.cgi) ...check out the entry entitled 'Ray Charles on Praise'....here is an excerpt of some of Ray's own words to his biographer as quoted in a recent issue of Rolling Stone:

"When we were writing my book, I remember telling you that I'm not really looking at Jesus, I'm looking at God. Well, I'm looking at it differently now. .... I think about stories. Songs are stories. And if you're going to write a good song, you're going to have to praise a woman. That's the key. And if you're writing a book about God, you're going to have to praise God. That's what Jesus did. Praised the Father. Taught us about praise. I used to think all that church praise, all that hooting and hollering, was overdone. Stop shouting. Be Cool. Besides, if God is God, why does he need all this praise? Now I'm thinking it ain't God who needs the praise -- it's us who need to do the praising. The praise makes us stronger. That's why I'm getting stronger."

Now that's a part of Ray's story worth telling!

A Down Day

Have you ever had one of those days where you just didn't feel like going to work...and so you didn't go? ...no great illness, a bit of a headache in your forehead, a bit of a feeling in your stomach...you could work through it, you have many times before. I battled these feelings this morning from the moment I awoke. I hadn't slept well again (hard time getting back to sleep after awaking in the night for some reason), but I fought through it and got myself up and into the shower. 'There's nothing wrong with me,' I reasoned, 'I need to get ready for work'. I kept battling these thoughts as I dried my hair and so on, and then the thought came over me again, 'I could just stay home for a day...take a banked day...sure I'm not sick sick, but I just don't feel well...the tylenol hasn't worked yet...I should stay home...' Then the thought went through my mind of whether that would disappoint God, so I asked Him what He thought, and I didn't seem to get a direct answer. I decided, 'I better go to work,' and I continued to get ready, but to no avail, the thoughts came back again, and this time I let them win. 'I need a down day,' I reasoned, 'I'm always running.' So I called in, told my boss I just wasn't feeling great today and that I'd take a bank day. It went fine, but there still is this small pit of guilt I feel. Did I disappoint God by doing that? Did I disappoint those I care about, by just needing today? I hope not. Today I just need to take care of me a bit, so I'm off to camp out on the couch with my Bible, my journal and maybe a devotional, trusting that God will fill me up with whatever it is I need.

From Russia with Love!


The 2005 World Figure Skating Championships are in Moscow this year and TV coverage starts today (...it came up so fast, I almost missed it?!) CBC will have coverage each night this week from 8-10 p.m. and then on Saturday from 3-6 p.m. and Sunday from 8-10 p.m. I guess I better get my VCR set! I love skating!!

Links to what's all happening...
http://www.worlds2005.com/
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/FigureSkating/home.html
http://www.tsn.ca/figure_skating/

My picks of who to watch for...

Men:
Emmanuel Sandu, Cdn (capable of winning it all on the right day)
Jeff Buttle, Cdn (style)
Stefan Lindeman, German (the whole package)

Ladies:
Cynthia Phaneuf, Cdn (may be a year or two away from the podium, but my favourite to watch)
Joannie Rochette, Cdn (may be on the podium this year!)
Irina Slutskaya, Russian (what a comeback year!)
Fumie Suguri, Japanese (grace on ice)

Pairs:
Shen & Zhao, Chinese (still in a class by themselves)
Wakamak and Fecteau, Cdn (new team, 2nd in Canada, but such potential...give them time...)

Dance:
Belbin & Agosto, American (Belbin is from Canada and as such they won't quality for next year's Olympics, but I think they should be on the podium here!)

88 Keys!

...something I've always wanted...and weighted too! My amazing husband wouldn't take 'no' for an answer when he upgraded my keyboard this weekend. My original keyboard was a Yamaha I had bought with my UFE bonus back when I was first on my own. Les and I have been looking at them for a long time, just for fun, and then last Friday, Les just couldn't pass up what he found...he's SO good to me! :)

WATER!

We all know that we should be drinking more water (well, except for this one fella I work with who likes to debate everything!) So for a very long time, I've been working at trying to drink at least 8 glasses (64 ounces of water a day). Recently though, I learned that I actually need even more than that! Regardless of what study I've read, they all seem to agree, that you need more if you exercise and that the number of ounces you need should co-relate to your body weight (in some way)...

I could go into the benefits of drinking water; I could talk about how important it is that your kidneys not become dehydrated; and I could point out that, generally, by the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated...but I won't, instead I'll just talk about the amazing apparatus I've found to help me drink more water... It's called, (big breathe of anticipation!), 'the straw'! I've tried all sorts of water bottles (Amanda will tell you that there are three on my desk as I speak), but they don't help me to drink more (and many of them actually make me not want to drink at all). I've tried bottled waters. I've tried adding a wedge of lemon, lime or orange to my water, but the bottom line is, I still wasn't drinking enough water. Then one day I read an article that said that we generally drink more of beverages when we use a straw. Simple? ...so I tried it...instead of drinking out of a strange water bottle, I pour my water into a glass (novel idea?!) and I drink it through a straw...and I'm finally beginning to drink the amount of water I should each day (ta-da!)

Here's an article from Balance TV today about the benefits of water, sleep, and less stress...

The 3 Basics for Optimal Health

Thursday, March 10, 2005
By Balancetv.ca

Water, sleep and relaxation. Most of us don?t realize how important these elements are to achieving optimal health.

Brad King, author of Fat Wars: The Un-Diet Plan, joined Balance Television host Dr. Marla Shapiro to convince everyone to get back to basics.

Water

"If you look at the average North American out there today you would think that their bodies are comprised of...75 per cent coffee, juice or pop," King said. "We have to understand that the human body is comprised of water, nothing takes the place of water."

The average person out there is always complaining of a lack of energy,
King noted. Water is the primary substance that gives the body its energy
potential.

"It does this by breaking apart a very high-energy compound we call ATP," King explained. "Without water we can't break that energy compound apart and we can't produce that optimal energy we're all designed to produce."

Despite being made with water, coffee won't do the job because it actually causes the body to dehydrate, King said. Even juice won?t cut it unless it has all of the natural pulp and natural seeds. If it's your typical juice that's very high in sugar, it will just be sugar to the body.

"Water is water to the body," he said. "Nothing will replace that.?"

King's formula daily water intake is as follows: Take your body weight in
pounds and half of that is how many ounces the average person should be taking in in a day.

Sleep

"The average person nowadays does not get the recommended amount of sleep," King said. "We're getting less than six hours of sleep on average and we know sleep researchers have been arguing about this for a long time - we need on average about eight hours and 15 minutes of restorative sleep every single night.?"

Many people are deficient in an important compound called tryptophan that comes from some protein containing foods, King said. When we're highly stressed, we deplete this amino acid and then by evening time we don't have enough of it to produce the sleep hormone called melatonin.

King suggests eating protein throughout the day and not just eating it in
the evening. Also, he believes people shouldn?t eat anywhere up to three
hours before going to bed so not to overstimulate the hormone called
insulin and put your body into fat-storage mode.

Stress

"We're a very stressed out society and what we perceive actually becomes reality in the body in the face of danger," King said. "We have to understand that we produce the exact same fight or flight response - whether it is actual or whether it is perceived."

In the evenings Kind explained, when we have very low levels of a
neuro-chemical called serotonin, people crave junk foods such as chocolate, cookies and potato chips.

"If we eat these foods, we stimulate insulin which brings our seratonin
levels up for a only very short period of time until we have low blood
sugar and we crave them once again," he said. "It's a roller coaster ride.
So we have to get our stress response in check especially if we want to
eliminate the nasty cravings at night."

Dancing Queen

Amanda is very busy with dance these days...which means that Les and I are very busy taking her to extra practices as her next big performance is coming up soon. She'll be dancing at all 3 services (9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.) at Emmanuel Baptist Church on Palm Sunday.

Amanda takes a worship dance class every Monday night, and I have to say, I couldn't be more pleased with the class. As a child, I always dreamed of taking ballet. I finally did that just a few years ago:) Amanda likes ballet, but seemed a bit shy of the discipline, so we looked for something that she'd enjoy more. Thanks to her extraodinary auntie, we were introduced to Tanya Wiebe, and Amanda began in the intermediate group in worship dance. Worship dance is a bit of everything...they learn some ballet, some jazz...even some hip hop... The class and performances are all done using Christian music. Each class, after their cool-down, Tanya gathers all the girls around her and they link hands and pray, then with a hug they are sent off with confidence, poise...and a little bit more awareness of God's love! I love it!!

Je Ne Pourrait Pas Demande Plus

Yesterday, I came home from work to my wonderfully handsome and romantic husband. Now that would have been more than enough to make my heart beat faster, but there was more... He gave me red roses (my favourite!) and a card too romantic to be true. Although Les does not profess to speak French (except for the word 'fromage'), he had written the card completely en francais (as he says, "in the language of love"). His words were full of beauty and meaning:) Later, as I was gushing to a dear friend-sister of mine, he commented 'if you don't use your French you'll lose it!' Ha! :) (particularly in light of the fact that he had worked so hard that day to learn these phrases just for me!:) J'apprecie et adore vous, Les, mes beau amour! Vorte l-amour de mon vie! Je ne pourrait pas demande plus!!

The Call...

Here is link (http://www.robinmark.com/9to5_Story.htm) to a story from Robin Mark that my husband recommended to me a while ago. It speaks about the call on our lives. It speaks about work and ministry. It speaks about worship. I thought I'd share it with you because it's pretty timely given the dreaming and calling messages at Lakeview these last few weeks. I also thought it might encourage a few who are currently going through the effects of restructuring there.

Lopsided on Purpose

I've always known I'm a bit of a lopsided person...some would say much too much of a feeler. And I've spent my whole life working on my weaknesses to try to make them into strengths...trying to balance myself (and that takes a lot of work). So when my Pastor spoke a couple of weeks ago, he really caught my attention when he said that maybe I'm lopsided on purpose...that maybe God means for me to have the weaknesses I have (and the strengths), and maybe He doesn't mean for me to strive to turn those weaknesses into strengths. (See quotes from his sermon below).

I'm still working through what I think and feel about this. Part of me is comforted by the thought; part of me is affirmed; and part of me wants to rest in it...("Cease striving and know that [He is] God" Psalm 46:10) But there is also a part of me, if I'm honest, that despairs about that...what if this is it, the best I can be? These past few weeks on Wednesday nights at Encounter, we've been studying the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, and I would be lying if I didn't admit that I see some of the things God admonishes them for in my life. I've not lived a single day perfectly and am aware that I am so human that I can't even confess my sins perfectly. So on the one side I want to be able to accept my weakness and rest in that God knew what He was doing when He made me (weaknesses and all), but on the other hand I feel this need to do whatever I can to turn my weaknesses around because God deserves that. I am such a ragamuffin...in need of His grace each day! Only His Spirit can comfort me, conform me and make me what He wants for me to be!

“Before I formed you in the womb – I knew you . . . and before you were born I set you apart.” Jeremiah 1:5

"These folks are amazing words . . . what is God saying? He’s saying – I knew you before you were (not before you were born – before you were . . . I knew you . . . .) . . . and that knowledge determined what and who you would become . . . . . . God said. . . . . . I thought about what kind of person I needed next and then I created you in my mind (first) . . . see (God said) . . . I always think before I do . . . and I liked what I thought . . . so I made you to be that thought – I made what I knew and I always know best.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart” And so the question becomes, God . . . what were you thinking about when you knew me before you made me?

Did you catch that? It’s an important question – God . . . what were you thinking about when you knew me before you made me?

See folks, I believe the answer to that question is the meaning of life . . . . . and then God goes on to say . . . . when I formed you . . . I gave you strengths and weaknesses . . . He said, . . . I don’t want these things to be strengths . . . – they’re weaknesses . . . and I don’t want you to be well-rounded – a little bit of this and a little bit of that – God says no . . . you will have some weaknesses and that’s ok.

And You now what – our society is so backwards . . . our society says – lets focus on our weaknesses . . . Let’s try to make our weaknesses our strengths . . . It
says don’t focus on your strengths you’re already good at those . . . . . .Instead focus on getting your weaknesses stronger . . . and God says – that’s
crazy – they’re weaknesses!! (and they always will be)."

Past Dean Angell, Lakeview Church

Carolyn Blogs!

Yes, I mean Carolyn Arends! Though I've only met her a couple of times, she is like a friend in my heart. I find myself in the words to her tunes. She's an awesome writer, an awesome singer, an awesome person... If you don't already have her latest cd, Under the Gaze, I highly recommend getting it. There are samples and lyrics on her website, which incidentally, has undergone a makeover as well!

...and she's coming to Saskatoon in concert again on April 3rd at 6:30 at Elim Tabernacle.

Can't!

If my success as a mother was to be measured by Amanda's confidence in herself when doing math, I'm sure I wouldn't get a passing grade...and this, despite the number of times I've encouraged her, praised her and told her she could do it. I don't know when it happened, but my girlie has decided that she is not good at math, despite the fact that she is doing very well in it.

Of late, the battles have been over finishing memorizing her multiplication tables. I would have thought this would be the easy part for Amanda...she has an phenomenal memory, but she just has that word 'can't' in her head when it comes to math. (Did I mention that I long ago banned the word 'can't' from her vocabulary?!)

This past week, Amanda had to study for a math test on four digit times two digit multiplication. She was dreading it, and in frustration and tears the night before the test proclaimed that God just hadn't gifted her in math! Yeah, right...it's God's fault...
Amanda brought home the test this weekend. She had gotten an A! I guess God hasn't gifted her in math much at all...it's His fault!

The BIG 1-0!

Our dahl-ing diva-girl turns 10 today! At 10 she is only 4 inches shorter than me, her mom! I'm sure she will be towering over me in no time!! She's kind of in that in-between stage...not really a little girl anymore and not quite a teenager, yet...I guess that's why they call it the "tweens". Here are some of my favourite things about my living dolly, my precious daughter:

- her sensitivity
- her hugs
- her giggle
- her dramatic flair (you should hear her read a page!)
- her imagination
- her heart for Jesus
- she loves pink!
- her precious notes she leaves for me and her dad
- she likes tea (a girlie after my own heart:)
- singing together in the kitchen
- the private concerts she gives singing into her hairbrush in her bedroom
- her smile:)

Amanda is a very bright girl, full of hopes and dreams and oodles of potential! She can do anything that she sets her mind and heart to. Right now she thinks she'd like to be a teacher when she grows up. She'd be a great teacher! She'll be great at whatever she chooses to do! Today I thank God again for the priviledge of being Amanda's mom!

I love you, Amanda! Happy Birthday, Dolly!!

Everything about God Shines...especially His Grace!

There are so many things I wish I had time to blog about today...like what I'm learning at Encounter in the letters to the Churches in Revelation, like my thoughts about the Dream Giver message this weekend and the thought that maybe I'm (we're) lopsided on purpose?!...like how wonderful the man I'm married to is...like the special bday coming up for our living dolly this Thursday, but this week seems to be going by in a blur. I continue to covet any and all prayers sent my way. I'm realizing more and more these days how much trouble I have asking for help, and how difficult it is for me to receive grace sometimes. Today I can think of two especially gracious things that God brought my way, and now even as I sit here pondering them and attempting to give thanks to God for them, I'm afraid...afraid that they'll be taken away or reversed because I don't really deserve them...yet isn't that the very definition of grace...unearned favour...

The words in this song are my heart's words right now...

You Shine
By Brian Doerksen

Why should I fear man,
When You made the heavens?
Why should I be afraid,
When You put the stars in place?
Why should I lose heart,
When I know how great you are?
Why should I give up,
When Your plans are full of love?

In this world we will have trouble,
But You have overcome the world!
You Shine,
Brighter than the brightest star!
Your Love,
Purer than the purest heart!
You Shine,
Filling us with courage and strength
To follow You!

Why should I fear man,
When You made the heavens?
Why should I be afraid,
When You put the stars in place?
Why should I lose heart,
When I know how great You are?
Why should I give up,
When Your plans are full of love?

You Shine,
Brighter than the brightest star!
Your Love,
Purer than the purest heart!
You Shine,
Filling us with courage and strength
To follow You!

In this world we will have trouble,
But You have overcome the world!
You have overcome the world...!

You Shine,
Brighter than the brightest star!
Your Love,
Purer than the purest heart!
You Shine,
Filling us with courage and strength
To follow You!
You Shine,
Brighter than the brightest star!
Your Love,
Purer than the purest heart!
You Shine,
Filling us with courage and strength
To follow You!

You---- Shine----(oh Lord! oh Lord give us courage,
give us courage and strength, to follow you!)
You---- Shine----! (to the ends of the earth! oh Lord! oh Lord!
We're gonna follow, we're gonna follow You!)

The Past Week

I guess it's been over a week since I last posted. In that time, we've celebrated Valentine's, had a busy work-week, one of Amanda's friends has had surgery, and Les has been practicing to play at the weekend services at Church.

Our Valentine's was really nice this year. It seems that every other year something has come up to get in the way of our plans, but not this year. Amanda was off on a sleepover with Aurora on Sunday the 13th, so that is when Les took me out. We went for supper at The Granary. I had the special...champagne lobster fettucini...and, yes, it was as good as it sounds. Then we went to the movie Hitch which was funny and romantic all in one. Les and I both had Monday off together, so we did some shopping together downtown that day. We never seem to get downtown these days, so that was nice...and we got to eat out again?! (Elephant and Castle for lunch). For supper that night, we had Arilee and Aurora stay when they brought Amanda home. We had lasagna and giggles, and the girlies even brought some heart cookies they'd baked for us for dessert! It was a good Valentine's, topped off with a beautiful card that is still sitting on my bedside table from my dreamy husband:)

The rest of the week went by very quickly, especially workwise, and I have another really hectic one coming up this week. Any and all prayers are appreciated!

Yesterday, we went to visit Miss Aurora, Amanda's bestest bud who had her adenoids and tonsils removed on Wednesday. We're pleased to report that she is doing very well and was very brave through the whole ordeal. I think Arilee is still working through the emotion of having her baby go through such a thing. She's a wonderful mom, you know!

Sweetone


This (http://www.clarke-tin-whistle.com/sweetone.html) is what I'm learning to play (and the model I'm using is called a 'sweetone'...how sweet is that:) On our trip to Edmonton, Les and I spent a day going to the music stores and Old Strathcona. We usually look at the guitars and amps (and accessories) for him, and the keyboards...particularly the full-size weighted ones for me (dreaming of the day when I can trade my Yamaha up). Well this time we spent some time in the wind instrument section. We enjoy Celtic music and worship and are both fond of the tin whistle. On a whim, I decided that I would like to learn to play one. I'm in the very early stages, but am through most of the D scale. I can play Twinkle, Twinkle and the introduction to Revival (Robin Mark)...although not with the emotion and feel I hope to play once I learn more about breathing. It's fun to learn something new though!

Here are a list of tin whistle (penny whistle) resources that I'm putting together so I can refer back to them:

Clarke Tin Whiste (http://www.clarketinwhistle.com/)
Chiff and Fipple (http://www.chiffandfipple.com/table2.html )
Brother Steve's Tin Whistle Page (http://www.rogermillington.com/siamsa/brosteve/)
Tin Whistle Fingering (http://www.fullbodyburn.com/html/flutes/whistle_main.html)
The Irish Tin Whistle (http://www.princeton.edu/~egott/)

'Ta-Da!'

While we were in Edmonton last week, we heard Joyce Meyer speak. I had never heard her speak before, and I must admit I wasn't all that excited about the prospect. Yet her message was very good; her subject was 'going deeper' and some of the things she said struck a chord with me. She's quite a lively presenter and in good ways reminded me of Gloria Reimer in her delivery...to the point, spirited, seeds of wisdom and at least one 'suck it up' comment in her presentation.

The thing that has stuck with me from Joyce is her comment about our thoughts about ourselves. She said we need to replace our own critical thoughts with God's thoughts about us. When we look in the mirror, we need to see what God sees. I suppose that this isn't really a new thought for me, I know to do that, but sometimes God has to re-teach me things I've already (thought I) learned?!

I don't think that I have a critical spirit (at least most of the time), particularly not toward other people. But toward myself, especially in stressful times, well I can be pretty hard on me...and in the mirror (both literally and metaphorically) I can be especially hard even though I know better, even though my husband tells me differently, even though friends tell me differently and even though I know that God doesn't share my opinion.

Hard?...now that's not a word I would generally use to describe myself. Generally, I'm a soft-y, a soft touch, soft-hearted, soft-figured, so why am I so hard on myself?! I can dig up all kinds of history, but that doesn't totally help me to try and make sense of it, and it especially doesn't help me to turn my thoughts over when I need to.

I remember a year ago, while at the WJOF conference, the speaker, Liz Curtis Higgs, struck a chord with me on the same issue. She started out by teaching me the real meaning of the expression, 'ta-da'... It's child's talk for 'thank you daddy'...and 'daddy'/'abba' is, of course, the affectionate term Jesus taught us to use with the Father. Liz advised us to spread out our arms and proclaim 'ta-da' to God every morning as we look in the mirror to show our thanks to God because when He made us, He saw that it was 'very good'.

You know, I've thought about saying 'ta-da' occasionally since Liz mentioned it, but I've never actually done it. I don't always see that what God made (in me) is 'very good' and I need His forgiveness for that.

Here are a few quotes from one of Liz's 'ta-da' talks:

"Does it not thrill you that we (as women) are God’s crown of creation?" Higgs asked... "We are the last thing He made, and He said we are very good."

She told every woman to jump in front of a mirror after she’s ready for the day and say, "ta-da!"

Saying "tada" will change the way you think, she said. "You can’t say it grumpy. It takes 5 pounds and five years off your face right off the bat. It will change
how you think about you and how you think about God and trust that He knows what He was doing when He made you. I want you to see yourself as God sees you, and you are gorgeous."

Love Expressions
Love is all there is, and love is enough:
Justice is love holding the balance
Mercy is love being gracious
Faith is love believing
Charity is love giving
Patience is love waiting
Endurance is love abiding
Hope is love expecting
Prayer is love communing
Sympathy is love tenderly touching
Comfort is love soothing
Enthusiasm is love burning
Work is love laboring
Peace is love resting
Understanding is love accepting
Listening is love receiving
Forgiving is love cleansing
Teaching is love reaching
Giving is love circulating
Receiving is love blessing
Love is enough because
Love cannot fail.

McDougal Church

Last week, Les and I attended Breakforth 2005. It was something we had wanted to do for a couple of years. We spent the Saturday afternoon of the conference in McDougal Church. It is a beautiful old church in downtown Edmonton, near the river....wood pews, a balcony, stain glass windows... We were part of two worship cafe's (back to back). The accoustics in there were amazing! The sun was streaming through the stainglass. Songs and hearts were joined together. Old and young worshipped together. It was absolutely beautiful! ...an experience I don't ever want to forget:)

During a break, Les commented to me about why they don't make churches like that anymore. I thought that perhaps that that style didn't lend itself to all the offices and gyms most churches need these days, but later found that this church had all of that in the basement. I don't know why they don't make churches like that anymore, but I wish they did!

Love is:
(from a child's perspective)

1. "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
- Rebecca - age 8

2. "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth."
- Billy - age 4

3. "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."
- Karl - age 5

4. "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."
- Chrissy - age 6

5. "Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you try not to hurt their feelings."
- Samantha - age 6

6. "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."
- Terri - age 4

7. "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
- Danny - age 7

8. "Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss."
- Emily - age 8

9. "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop
opening presents and listen."
- Bobby - age 5

10. "If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a
friend who you hate."
- Nikka - age 6

11. "Love is hugging, Love is kissing, Love is saying no"
- Patty - age 8

12. "When you tell someone something bad about yourself and you're scared they won't love you anymore. But then you get surprised because not only do they still love you, they love you even more."
- Matthew - age 7

13. "There are two kinds of love. Our love. God's love. But God makes both kinds of them."
- Jenny - age 4

14. "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."
- Noelle - age 7

15. "Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are
still friends even after they know each other so well."
- Tommy - age 6

16. "During my piano recital, I was on a stage and scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."
- Cindy - age 8

17. "My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."
- Clare - Age 5

18. "Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of chicken." - Elaine - age 5

19. "Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."
- Chris - age 8

20. "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."
- Mary Ann - age 4

21. "I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."
- Lauren

22. "I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her."
- Bethany - age 4

23. "Love cards like Valentine's cards say stuff on them that we'd
like to say ourselves, but we wouldn't be caught dead saying."
- Mike - age 8

24. "When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you."
- Karen - age 7

25. "Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."
- Mark - age 6

26. "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."
- Jessica - age 8

27. "Love is that first feeling you feel before all the bad stuff gets in the way."
- Charlie - age 5

Creation Calls

There was the most beautiful sunrise as I drove to work this morning with colours of pink fading to purple and blue all along the horizon. I woke up this morning singing this song, and the sky gave me one more reason to keep singing it...

Creation Calls
Brian Doerksen

I have felt the wind blow
whispering Your name
I have seen Your tears fall
when I watch the rain

How could I say there is no God
When all around creation calls
A singing bird, a mighty tree
The vast expanse of open sea

Gazing at a bird in flight
soaring through the air
Lying down beneath the stars
I feel Your presence there

I love to stand at ocean’s shore
And feel the thundering breakers roar
To walk through golden fields of grain
‘Neath endless blue, horizon’s frame

Listening to a river run
watering the earth
Fragrance of a rose in bloom
a new-born’s cry at birth

I believe . . . I believe . . . . I believe . . .

1994 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing
CCLI Song No. 1346834

Brian Doerksen(http://www.briandoerksen.com)
began writing this song a few years ago while visiting relatives in Saskatchewan (you'll recognize the lines about the fields and sky). As Les and I were driving back from Edmonton last week, we were awed again by Saskatchewan's sky, and the majestic sunset that brought us home. Sometimes I feel like God paints the sky just for us:)

Worship

A week ago today, Robin Mark taught me alot about worship as we explored an important act of worship in Revelation 5. This chapter confirmed to me that singing (while not our only act of worship) is a big deal. What's sticking in my heart today though are some verses in Genesis 49:9-10 and the thought that every occasion of worship may be preordained...that God is waiting for our worship...that He has ordained it! Oh the thought of the God of the universe actually waiting our worship:)

Worship is our response to God's actions. You do it because He is worthy, not for Him to do something for you. You don't do it to please Him because He's already pleased with you anyway! Worship is more than just praise to God for what He has done though, it's a time of sitting at the table with him and enjoying that intimacy.

In Revelation there is evidence that when we worship the angels join us in our song, and not only them, all of creation worships with us...(imagine the spiders in the baseboards of the walls joining in:)

I was blessed with many opportunities to worship this past week, in a conference, in a church, in a car. In it I was revived and renewed and I learned so much:) I'm looking forward to tonight's occasion of worship, and I feel embraced by the thought that God is actually waiting for it too!

Undeniably pointing to God

Did you know that in the days before Phillip Yancy returned to the Church, when he was questioning whether there even was a God, three things convinced him there was:

- creation (nature, the things that God made),
- music (classical music), and
- romantic love

All I can say is, amen! ...these very same things woo me to Him as well:) I believe it was Chesterton who said one of the sad things about being an atheist is feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude without having anyone to thank.

When your world becomes discouraging, go be around the things that God made (not the things man has made) and it will make all the difference in your heart...Brian Doerksen and I both agree:)

Revival

I've learned and experienced so many things this past week... I will share more when there is more time, but the words to this song really sum up the way I'm feeling right now....

Revival

I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord.
And make His paths straight in the wilderness
And let your light shine in the darkness
And let your rain fall in the desert.

As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet,
So you love this city and you love these streets.
Every child out playing by their own front door
Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.

Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job
Every driver driving through the rush hour mob
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".

From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry
To the lost soul reaching for a higher high
From the young man working through his hopes and fears
To the widow walking through the veil of tears

Every man and woman, every old and young
Every fathers daughter, every mothers son.
I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones
You're going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance
Like a train on the edge of town
I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit
"Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down".

Revive us, Revive us,
Revive us with your fire!

Copyright © 1998 Daybreak Music Ltd.

100 Years of HEART!

2005 is Saskatchewan's centennial year (http://www.saskatchewancentennial.com/index.asp), and last night I saw an advertisement about it. I knew it was the centennial but must have been under a rock someplace because I didn't know the theme they had picked was....heart?! I've always told Les that we were a 'heart-y' people:)

I Love Figure Skating...

...well, watching it anyway...I'm still working on learning how to actually skate, with last winter being my first real foray into learning. My patient husband says I'm doing well...I'm less convinced. We haven't headed out to try again yet this year. Les says we need to get me some new skates with ankle support. I say, anything to help my ankles feel better when I'm on the ice can't be bad...but I digress...

I have always loved watching figure skating and have taken much teasing from my brother and other 'guys' in my life for years because of it. My husband, however, does not share their opinion, and spent some time watching the 2005 Canadian Championships with me this weekend. Canadian skating is looking very promising this year! My favourite moments of this year's competition include:
- Joanne Rochette skating as in a dream...she could not put a blade wrong
- Jeff Buttle building on Joanne's momentum
- Cynthia Phaneuf's grace as she learned about fear
- Marcoux and Buntin's humility in repeating as pairs champions; they skated well but not as well as they wanted to
- Mira Leung...15 years old with huge jumps and a smile even bigger...she may have a ways to go in presentation, but look out!

As I reviewed the sporting news after the event to get other people's take on what happened, I came across this article... http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/FigureSkating/2005/01/25/909543.html Finally a guy who is not afraid to admit he likes skating (other than my husband, that is:)! Here are some excerpts from the article:

He likes it ... go figure
By MIKE ULMER -- Toronto Sun

I've decided to come out: I love figure skating. I know, the headshot infers a two-fisted, hard-drinking John Wayne type, not some sequin-loving, teddy-bear lutching sissy-boy. I know what you're thinking. "Come on, man. They'll settle this lockout thing and everything will be fine. Don't say something you can't take back."

It's too late. I can't take the lying anymore.
Figure skating isn't stupid. NASCAR is stupid. You can't see the drivers, you can't hear yourself think and they just go around in circles.
The NFL? Stupid.
The NHL? I don't know, I forget.
Baseball. Stuuuuuupid.
Call me unmanly, but I like sports with women, and figure skating has women.......

....Apparently, some figure skaters are gay. Whoa.
Better stay away from that.
While I'm at it, I won't watch a movie, take in a play, and, just to be on the safe side, read a book. Why is it okay to dismiss figure skating because you're comfortable with the sexual preferences of one group of athletes but not condemn the sometimes serial sexual practices of another?

Is skating a sport?
Well, can you do it?

Why is facing a
100 m.p.h. fastball courageous, but having your unprotected head whirled an inch above the ice just a trick?

Why is golf, in which a player has to navigate
his own psyche as much as the course, laudable, but the crucible that is the long program somehow less so?

Why is it that 400-pound guys pulling off
their shirts in sub-zero cold is kind of fun, but grandmothers knitting in the stands between skaters is a sure sign of the sport's illegitimacy?

Sure, no other sport has a kiss-and-cry zone, but is crying so bad? Maurice Richard cried when they closed the Montreal Forum. Lou Gehrig cried when he told the world he was the luckiest man on earth. Wendel Clark cried when he retired. Did that make them any less compelling and human?

Sports is sports.
There are no good or bad ones, no right ones or wrong ones, no legitimate ones and bona fide ones (aside from the Original Stars Hockey League, of course.)
And so I say to you, my name is Mike Ulmer and I love figure skating.
At least until hockey comes back.

Oh how this chorus speaks my heart...

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
All powerful, untameable,
Awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim
You are amazing God

Indescribable, uncontainable,
You placed the stars in the sky and You know them by name.
You are amazing God
Incomparable, unchangeable
You see the depths of my heart and You love me the same
You are amazing God
You are amazing God

This is a red porsche boxster. It is my husband's favourite car, and since this post was inspired by him, I thought I'd put it up there. My husband is an excellent driver, and coming from B.C. has driven in alot busier and congested situations than I probably have. And while winters are milder in B.C., there tend to be very slick road conditions when tempertures drop in the rain. Me, I'm a Saskatchewan girl, I drive in the snow most of the year, have since I was 16. I remember the first winter we were married, the amount of snow we got was alarming to Les' parents (who now live here) on their visit, yet I drove them around to all the places they wanted to go, safely. They dubbed my car (a silver cavalier) 'a little tank' as they were surprised at how well we got around.

Before I got married, I never really thought about getting around in the snow. In fact, when I lived in Regina for a few years after finishing University, I would drive to Saskatoon each weekend to see family and friends, and the snow never deterred me. It bothered my father though. He would pace from the moment I left the house until the moment I called him from Regina to say I had made it safely. I always thought that he was overly concerned about this, that he was just a nervous sort...

I have never considered myself to be a nervous sort, nor a backseat driver, but since getting married, I have found myself giving advice to Les when he is driving. I don't mean to. He is an excellent driver. I justify my comments in my mind with the fact that he hasn't driven in the snow all his life, but then we'll be coming up to an icy area, a little faster than I'd like, and I'll say something. I know this bothers him, so I try not to say anything, but he says he still knows...apparently, I squeeze his hand tighter if I want him to slow down, and if I want him to be braking I really squeeze it. And apparently, this doesn't help?! I'm sorry, I don't mean to do it. And as much as I respect his driving and try not to do anything that will bother him, there are still moments when I do them.

I have a far greater concern for safety these days, you see, people I love deeply are in the car... It's not just me any more.

The other day as I drove alone to work I was thinking about this. We had freezing rain the previous day and a big snowfall that morning. The roads were caked with snow ontop of ice, and as I carefully made my way around, I thought to myself, "I remember driving on highways that looked like this sometimes when I lived in Regina..." "What was I, crazy?!", I thought, and then I suddenly understood why my father would pace until he heard that I'd made it home. It was a sign of how much he loved me. He never liked me being on the highway alone even in good winter driving conditions. And this got me to thinking about Amanda. In a little over 6 years she'll be able to drive, and it freaks me out to think of her driving in what I was driving in that morning. No way, she can't have the car on those days!

Every day when I kiss Les good-bye before he heads off to work, I tell him to drive safely...and when I pray for him, I pray for his day and ask God to bring him home safely to me, and if I'm at home before him, I anticipate his arrival time and pray and watch for him. My heart flutters when I see him pull up into the drive-way and I race down the stairs to kiss him hello. I love him so deeply that I just can't help it:)

So drive safely folks, there are people who feel the same way about you!

Dear Lord, please keep us safe in our travels. Help us to never be in such a hurry that we take chances on the road that we don't need to take. Protect us as we drive. Protect those we love. Help the other drivers on the road to be safe too. Thank You for Your love, Your protection and Your grace. Thank You for our loved ones and our lives. We love You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Amanda's 10th birthday is coming up next month, so we have started planning. Amanda has decided that this year will be a DIVA party, and tonight she and I came up with our definition of what a DIVA is for the invitations...

What is a DIVA?
She's a girl with light in her eyes, love in her heart and a positive outlook on life. She is comfortable being herself. She is genuine. She believes in herself and is loyal to her friends. She is kind. She can be a girly-girl or a tomboy.

She is D-elightful I-ndividual V-ibrant and A-uthentic!
She's YOU!!

Muffins

I don't make muffins as often as I'd like. It seems I seldom have enough time. Sometimes I pick up some at IGA when I haven't baked them in a long while. They have a couple of really good low fat varieties, an apple cinnamon and a bran blueberry. When I make muffins, they generally aren't low fat (well, except for my raisin bran ones which are low fat and tastey). I make a really good blueberry muffin complete with sugar crusting on top that I don't even want to know the nutritional information on...or I might not be able to eat one again. But this gotten me to thinking... Why is it that something that sounds like it is so good for you, a muffin, often really not? Once in a while, Les and I have gotten fruit explosion muffins from Tim Horton's with our coffee for a treat, but I read the other day that there are actually more calories in one of those muffins than in a donut! You mean I've been skipping the double chocolate in favour of a fruit muffin all this time for not?!

If any of you out there have any good low fat muffin recipes, leave me a note in the comments...

Such a Thoughtful Gift!

Alana is a very creative and caring woman. As I've said before she is more than a friend to me, she's my big sister (in my heart anyways:) Every year we exchange presents at Christmas. She's given me some of the most creative and thoughtful gifts I've received over the years. Every year there is an ornament. Usually there is something she's made, if time permits, and sometimes there's a parcel shaped or wrapped in such a way that I can't even begin to guess what's inside. This year, what was inside was a basket tray with a hot shot water heater/dispenser, tea and the fixings (including Simple Pleasures Almond cookies, my favourite:) Attached to the hot shot was a note explaining that she wasn't sure this was the answer, but she wanted me to be able to have a decent cup of tea at work... So, I've been trying it out this week at work, and it works great (minus the problem I'm having with the outlet in my office and the longgggg extension chord I'm running from across the room, minor gliche)! But more than a decent cup of tea at work, Alana gave me something more precious... You see work has not been my happy place lately, and she was trying to make that better (...tears...)! Such a thoughtful gift:) ...such a precious friend!!

Worship

This morning in Church, Pastor Dean asked us to think about what our answers would be to these 3 questions:

1. What makes you happy?
2. Make makes you content?
3. What makes you feel fulfilled?

My answer to all three questions was the same thing, I was holding his hand and his other arm was around me. How thankful I am to God for him! For a moment I worried though...should that be my answer...I mean, shouldn't my answer be God? Well it is God, in the biggest, fullest sense.... For how many years did I sit in Church each weekend and He was the One who's hand I held and who's arms were around me?! And now for over two years I have been married to the one He brought to me to put flesh on His love in many ways and teach me more and deeper things about His love. It is indescribable! Today, Church was about worship, and if you know me, you know I LOVE worship...especially singing my heart out to God. But I think I realized today in my answers to the 3 questions, that I worship God another way everyday by loving my husband. I wish I could do it perfectly, I wish I could do more... Dean said that when you live your life in a way that fulfills the purpose that God created you for, that's worship. We were made to worship God. Oh Lord, may you be glorified by all that I do and redeem anything in my life that does not glorify You. Thank You for my adoring, strong and handsome husband. Thank You for Your love through him. Please help me to be the wife You desire for me to be for him. Thank You for our precious daughter. May we raise her to grow in love for You. Help me to be the mommy You mean for me to be. I love You:)

Last night, two precious girlies headed out to their first big rock concert! ...for more details go to http://www.auntie.blogspot.com/

In our travels about today, Les and I were listening to Revival in Belfast II. It's one of our favourite worship cds! Robin Mark is probably Les' favourite worship leader, and he would certainly be near the top of my list too.... And just to think, in a few weeks we will blessed to not only worship with him, but to be taught by him:)

Don't you love this song of worship....

I Heard The Sound Of Voices

I heard the sound of voices, from every tribe and nation
As they were walking, singing songs of deliverance
For going on before them, a little Lamb was leading
And I could hear Him singing songs of deliverance.

For out of Egypt you have called Your sons, Your daughters
That they might be a witness to Your holy name
So Father I am walking, Lord can You see me walking
Oh my deliverer, I am following the Lamb.

Where are the chains that bound me, the cords of my oppression?
Jesus the Lamb has loosed them. He's my deliverance.
My heart cries "Abba Father". For He has led me to You
And I can hear You singing, songs of deliverance.

As for me and my house we will serve the Lord
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord
As for me and my house we will serve the Lord
Always.

Copyright © 2004 Integrity's Hosanna! Music.

I love Robin's phrasing in this song, and I LOVE the tin whistle...I may have to learn me how to play one:)

http://www.robinmark.com/RIB2.htm

Today is 10% Tuesday...which means that many of the grocery stores give you an extra 10% off your grocery total. I always try to plan a grocery run on 10% Tuesday each month (especially since my household has grown), and today was no different. Usually I try to go to whichever store advertises the majority of the things I need at the best price, but today we hit more than that.... IGA had an awesome price on lean ground beef ($3.29/kg), and with fresh pineapples for $2.99, we had to stop there. I always enjoy the IGA. They seem friendly, their fresh items (produce, meat and bakeshop) are all good, and they always try and help you out with your order. I don't get there often, but I definitely like it there. Then we headed to Safeway...all kinds of specials there this week, so needless to say, our cart was quite full. As always our cashier asked if we wanted parcel pickup, which we said yes to (something I often do ever since Les has made me see that it is silly not to). But this time I noticed something different... When I said 'yes' and the cashier coded it in, a penny was actually credited off our grocery bill?! That's right, they actually pay you to let them load your groceries for you! I have to say that I really like Safeway. They carry a lot of the brands I prefer, and the people there are always so friendly to me. Les often asks how I know a cashier who wishes me well, and I say, "I don't, they're just friendly." You do have to watch the prices, but if you watch the sales, you can do pretty well there AND they will pay you to let them pack and load your groceries....gotta like it!

Les put the new Amy Grant - Greatest Hits cd in my stocking this year, which was something I very much wanted:) Yesterday I listened to it over and over again as I cleaned and cooked in preparation for our company. I like most of the songs, of course, but the two new tracks are particularly good. There is one called The Water that tells a recent story of hers when she asked to be re-baptized in a river that ran through the yard of a pastor friend they were visiting. The words are amazing...

"The Water"

Quicksand, my heart is sinking
I try to run but I can't stop thinking
I'm climbin' walls, I'm on the ceilin'
Its gonna take a miracle to heal me

[Chorus:]
I'm starin' down into the quarry
I see a stone for every sorry
I'm on the edge, I'm goin under
And after I die I'm gonna rise from the water

I wanna blast off,
let gravity disappear
I'm tired of fallin, fallin, fallin
from the weight of fear
Come and lift me up
into the clean and clear
I'm waitin' on you Jesus in the water here
So come and wash me clean

The sky is red, there's blood on my hands
Cant deny, you're clear where I stand
The burn of sin, I hear them shoutin'
Send me a river to drown this mountain

[Chorus]

Wash me clean...
Let it wash me, let is wash me, let it wash me clean

[Chorus]

I wanna blast off,
let gravity disappear
Come and lift me up,
into the clean and clear

Let it wash me, let it wash me, let it wash me clean

Here's a link to a recent interview with AG (http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/interviews/2004/amygrant-1204.html)