Hi Everyone,
It has been so long since I've written that it feels as though I have to actually resuscitate this blog.
Bringing the dead back to life is not very easy.
Anyway, I am not promising continual breathing. Only a gasp of air now and then. lol
I was just feeling blessed enough to sit down to actually write something down this morning.
Life here in the Northern Zone can be rather hum-drum, daily grind kind of stuff.
My life right now consists of homeschooling, fighting along side other homeschooling parents with the government, who are not cooperating and are controlling, and continuing our missionary work here.
I have always loved to be a missionary. It has always been important to me. Slowly, I'm finding out the fruits of living a Godly life, by itself is being a missionary.
In the last while, God has taken one of my least favorite things to do, cooking, and changed my heart and made it into a ministry of love. For example. There is a lady in our community who loves the Lord and is a SDA but has lived all her life in the shadow of her controlling husband. She only went to church when she could sneak away. She would only show up to Bible studies when she could convince him that she was going to visit a friend. Now, he is dying of cancer, and having lived under such tight circumstances for years on end, she is beside herself with having to face life alone and making decisions for herself. She is so overwhelmed by it and the fact that she doesn't know how to live without him, that she spends a lot of time in tears. Of course there is a lot of grief involved in this whole situation as well and she can't think beyond it.
I have been blessed lately with the opportunity to cook healthy food for her and her husband at least once a week and he has been overwhelmed with the kindness being shown. We have also been praying earnestly for him to find Jesus before he dies.
Along with that, Every Thursday night we have Bible studies in our living room. All are welcome and our little group is growing. We started studying the Sanctuary and people are enjoying it. But the thing that happens before every Bible study is we all sit down for supper together. I always make a special meal and people contribute a little here and there. We sit down and hold hands and pray together and then enjoy. The people love the fellowship.
Last night some of the folks came an hour early just so they could visit more. It always amazes me that people love to come to our house. My house is never quite in order, sometimes down right messy. It is a humble, unattractive little house that is not well decorated or arranged, and we live far from town. Still people love to come! It makes me happy!
However, yesterday Art and I were talking. How can we continue feeding all these people week after week, making big meals. Our own pocket books have been very meager as of late. We discussed that maybe, we need to talk to everyone and just tell them we can't keep doing supper together.
Well, I think the Lord had other plans because last night, I made a nice supper while the guys chatted in the living room and the ladies took seats in the kitchen where I worked and chatted with me there about anything and everything. Then we all gathered round the table and the compliments and the "Mmmm's" and the "How did you make this?" began. I just had to smile. I was still convinced that we just couldn't afford to keep doing this. Then we had the Bible study and before people left, one friend called me aside and pulled out $100 dollar bill. He said, "We enjoy coming here for meals so much! I am sure it must cost you quite a bit. I want to contribute!" Wow, we had not said a word to anyone yet. Then as people left I discovered more money on the table.
I took this as a sign of God's providence in providing our needs to carry on the friendship evangelism. I think Art realized the same thing because, he immediately had a purpose for the money. It would go toward buying hymnals for our Sabbath home church. What a blessing! God says, never be weary in well doing.
Now, I must stop writing because tomorrow is Sabbath and that means another meal with our friends. It means for fellowship, praying together, eating together, studying the Bible together and pretty much loving every minute of Sabbath.
People crave friendship and friendliness! Our mission is to provide it! As a result our Bible study group is growing and the time together is very bonding.
That's the happenings as of Late! --- Come on over for Lunch! :)
Every opportunity is a seed sewn. God makes those seeds grow when he sees the conditions are just right! Praise the Lord! Can't wait to visit my friends in Calgary for some serious Bible study!!!
Friday, October 11, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
We are still here
Ok, Ok, I'll write a blog. I find it hard to write blogs!
But anyway, Yup, yup, we're still alive!
The high-light of this week is that Pepere has been here with us all week. We haven't been terribly exciting I'm sure. Work still has to keep going. I still had sewing to do every morning and they boys helped.
We did go swimming at the Canada games center twice and wanted to go to the hotsprings last night but it was outrageously expensive. It seems to go up every year.
Yesterday, I had a bunch of sewing to deliver so Dad, Isaac, and I made a trip to town and we stopped at the 50's diner for ice-cream. It was a nice cold treat that happens probably once a year. Dad recognized all the 1950's celebrities painted all over the walls. The serving girls all wear their 50's style circle skirts. And the ice-cream is good!
Pepere preached a sermon for our little homechurch prayer meeting. It was very good! He'll preach again tonight and then again tomorrow.
The unfortunate part is that the bigger church is soooo afraid of us. There must be some serious vibes or talking going on there or something because the distance and aloofness is palpable. It's too bad and makes me sad! What can I do?
Today, we will cook, clean, mow, mow, mow and more mow the lawns. So much to do before we go down to Angie's place and only 5 days to do it all in.
I am counting the blessings of God this summer. He has provided the money for travel and more. With my new sewing contract, provided by God, I believe, We were able to pay for two weeks of Young Dis*ciple Camp $700 for each of the two older boys and pay for our trip down and save enough money for getting 7 years of American taxes done. That is truly a blessing!
My garden is dong good, although it seems a little stunted to me but I may just be very impatient. My little tiny greenhouse has beautiful plants, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, spaghetti squash, peppers, and butter nut squash. They are beautiful and I believe I might have a pretty good harvest from there this year.
Caleb has been working at the horse farm next door as a part time job. The pay is nothing to brag about but he is gaining experience and the people there love him. He is pretty proud of the fact that he can say like a man, "I'm going to work now! See you after work!" He has managed to save several hundred dollars now for himself for the trip South. I hope it doesn't burn a hole in his pocket!
Would love to see Jason and his gang this summer if there is any possible way at all. I'm sure all your happenings are on the East end of the country but if there is a way, we'd love to see you!
Alrighty, I'm off to mow some lawn and dodge mosquitoes! Wish me joy! lol
Have a great day everyone!
But anyway, Yup, yup, we're still alive!
The high-light of this week is that Pepere has been here with us all week. We haven't been terribly exciting I'm sure. Work still has to keep going. I still had sewing to do every morning and they boys helped.
We did go swimming at the Canada games center twice and wanted to go to the hotsprings last night but it was outrageously expensive. It seems to go up every year.
Yesterday, I had a bunch of sewing to deliver so Dad, Isaac, and I made a trip to town and we stopped at the 50's diner for ice-cream. It was a nice cold treat that happens probably once a year. Dad recognized all the 1950's celebrities painted all over the walls. The serving girls all wear their 50's style circle skirts. And the ice-cream is good!
Pepere preached a sermon for our little homechurch prayer meeting. It was very good! He'll preach again tonight and then again tomorrow.
The unfortunate part is that the bigger church is soooo afraid of us. There must be some serious vibes or talking going on there or something because the distance and aloofness is palpable. It's too bad and makes me sad! What can I do?
Today, we will cook, clean, mow, mow, mow and more mow the lawns. So much to do before we go down to Angie's place and only 5 days to do it all in.
I am counting the blessings of God this summer. He has provided the money for travel and more. With my new sewing contract, provided by God, I believe, We were able to pay for two weeks of Young Dis*ciple Camp $700 for each of the two older boys and pay for our trip down and save enough money for getting 7 years of American taxes done. That is truly a blessing!
My garden is dong good, although it seems a little stunted to me but I may just be very impatient. My little tiny greenhouse has beautiful plants, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, spaghetti squash, peppers, and butter nut squash. They are beautiful and I believe I might have a pretty good harvest from there this year.
Caleb has been working at the horse farm next door as a part time job. The pay is nothing to brag about but he is gaining experience and the people there love him. He is pretty proud of the fact that he can say like a man, "I'm going to work now! See you after work!" He has managed to save several hundred dollars now for himself for the trip South. I hope it doesn't burn a hole in his pocket!
Would love to see Jason and his gang this summer if there is any possible way at all. I'm sure all your happenings are on the East end of the country but if there is a way, we'd love to see you!
Alrighty, I'm off to mow some lawn and dodge mosquitoes! Wish me joy! lol
Have a great day everyone!
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Caught Off Guard
The Sabbaths have been clicking by, one by one! Each one is a special blessing at the end of every week. I tell you, we soooo look forward to the Sabbath days. They have changed so much for us in the last several months.
Sabbaths for us, used to be to get up in the morning and prepare for church. Go to church, participate in Sabbath school, listen to a sermon, listen to some songs sung from up front and sing along if we knew them, and then go home if there was to potluck. If there was a potluck, we stayed for that and then went home to rest by taking a nap or a walk and watching some nature documentary or something like that.
Now, Sabbaths are for real! I mean, I think we spend them, now, how they were meant to be spent, and we gain such a rich blessing every week.
You see, we are prepared on Friday with lots of good and nutritious food, the best and the tastiest! Our lessons have been studied faithfully, using Youn*g Disciple lessons, throughout the week. We get up Sabbath morning and are excited to meet our friends. We meet at someone's house and sit comfortably in a homey atmosphere. We Sing songs together, Study the Sabbath school lesson for about 11/2 hours and then spend about 20 -30 minutes in earnest prayer. About that time, it is time for lunch and the feast is spread and enjoyed by all. After lunch, we visit or go for a walk, only to return again and open our Bibles in afternoon study of the word again, this time, on the reasons why we believe what we do as an SDA. Everything is Bible based and full to the brim with Bible verses. It is interesting when we come to some disagreement amongst us, because then the pages of the Bible beginning turning, with every head bowed in concentration, looking for instruction from the word. It is a blessing to see people diving deep in the word.
This last week took an interesting turn, however! You remember that we've been challenged in our belief on the Trinity by a lady come up for about 6 months. She doesn't believe in the Trinity Godhead nor does she believe that Jesus was/is/will be from eternity to eternity. This, of course, caused quite a bit of discussion a few weeks ago. When my husband and I left for home afterwards, DVD's were brought out with very convincing sermons on the subject using Bible texts and quotes from some of the prominent founders of our church during a time when they had not yet fully explored the idea of a trinity Godhead (Later, the Biblical foundation of a Heavenly Trio/Godhead was established).
Well, we decided that the best thing to do after some angry feelings were brought up by some, that we should leave well enough alone until people studied it out for themselves or their feelings were spent. In any case, that subject was dropped from Bible study for now, in the hopes of maintaining peace, friendship, and in the hopes for time to pray about it all.
Well, not this Sabbath! lol
The "No Trinity" lady was not able to attend our Bible study this time. We started on the afternoon study of the Great Controversy. We studied about the fall of Lucifer in Heaven and the fall of man in the Garden, when one of my friends subtly said, "This verse in Genesis says, ""Let us make man..."" Does that "us" mean more then one?
My eyes got big and I looked at her. I knew where she was going with this. I saw the mischief in her eyes and she winked at me. Her daughter swung her head around and looked straight at her in surprise. Again, a little smile and a wink. Ok, my husband tried to gently brush past her question with a quick and obvious answer, but the drop off was swift and we were in, again, up to our eyeballs.
My other friend, who has just recently decided that she is convinced there is no trinity and that Jesus was born/begotten/or created from the Father quickly turned to Proverbs 8 and said, "This chapter answers that question!"
Well, I had just finished thoroughly studying that chapter and while I didn't think it would answer the question posed at all, I felt put on the spot to explain what I had learned about Prov 8. I was afraid of making enemies. I was afraid of an argument instead of discussion. My heart rate suddenly went up and I felt completely out of breath. I became hot and nervous.
Still, I began to explain, that what is found in Proverbs 8 does not in anyway indicate that Jesus was born from God the Father. Instead, the one talking in this chapter are Wisdom and Understand personified. They are character traits of God! He had these traits from everlasting past, He brought them forth to be used at his bidding, He delighted in Wisdom and Understanding and they were with him always. The interesting thing is that all of the book of Proverbs talks a lot about wisdom and understanding in the same sort of way that it does about Character, law, and the commandments of God. You see, The character of God in written form is his law/commandments and it existed in the form of Wisdom and Understanding from Everlasting! It was brought forth from the Heart of God and raised up to pre-eminence with God as his delight forever.
I finished my dissertation completely out of breath and totally embarrassed because of how nervous I was. I could still see the mischief in my friends eyes though. She asked, "Does that answer my question?"
"No, not at all!" I said
"Then what is the answer?"
My husband believed her to be innocently asking because she didn't know. I knew better.
Art said, "Well, The Trinity is actually inferred in the old testament but not outright pointed out like it is in the New."
I asked everyone to turn to Isaiah 48:12,16. Maybe I'm wrong but it seemed pretty clear to me here, even in the Old Testament that three separate entities were being referred to.
All was quiet. It was obvious the pot had been sufficiently stirred to get everyone thinking and studying for themselves once again. That's good, I guess, at my expense! lol
On the way home, 7:30 that evening, my husband said, "I think she had some genuine questions she wanted to know."
I rolled my eyes and laughed, "No, she just couldn't help herself, you should have seen that twinkle in her eye!"
Later my friend called and giggled at me. "You got so nervous, you were completely out of breath!"
lol, "yes, thanks to you!"
Art, told me later, that I did a great job of explaining anyway! Well, next time I'll know to be prepared for anything. How do I do that?
Sabbaths for us, used to be to get up in the morning and prepare for church. Go to church, participate in Sabbath school, listen to a sermon, listen to some songs sung from up front and sing along if we knew them, and then go home if there was to potluck. If there was a potluck, we stayed for that and then went home to rest by taking a nap or a walk and watching some nature documentary or something like that.
Now, Sabbaths are for real! I mean, I think we spend them, now, how they were meant to be spent, and we gain such a rich blessing every week.
You see, we are prepared on Friday with lots of good and nutritious food, the best and the tastiest! Our lessons have been studied faithfully, using Youn*g Disciple lessons, throughout the week. We get up Sabbath morning and are excited to meet our friends. We meet at someone's house and sit comfortably in a homey atmosphere. We Sing songs together, Study the Sabbath school lesson for about 11/2 hours and then spend about 20 -30 minutes in earnest prayer. About that time, it is time for lunch and the feast is spread and enjoyed by all. After lunch, we visit or go for a walk, only to return again and open our Bibles in afternoon study of the word again, this time, on the reasons why we believe what we do as an SDA. Everything is Bible based and full to the brim with Bible verses. It is interesting when we come to some disagreement amongst us, because then the pages of the Bible beginning turning, with every head bowed in concentration, looking for instruction from the word. It is a blessing to see people diving deep in the word.
This last week took an interesting turn, however! You remember that we've been challenged in our belief on the Trinity by a lady come up for about 6 months. She doesn't believe in the Trinity Godhead nor does she believe that Jesus was/is/will be from eternity to eternity. This, of course, caused quite a bit of discussion a few weeks ago. When my husband and I left for home afterwards, DVD's were brought out with very convincing sermons on the subject using Bible texts and quotes from some of the prominent founders of our church during a time when they had not yet fully explored the idea of a trinity Godhead (Later, the Biblical foundation of a Heavenly Trio/Godhead was established).
Well, we decided that the best thing to do after some angry feelings were brought up by some, that we should leave well enough alone until people studied it out for themselves or their feelings were spent. In any case, that subject was dropped from Bible study for now, in the hopes of maintaining peace, friendship, and in the hopes for time to pray about it all.
Well, not this Sabbath! lol
The "No Trinity" lady was not able to attend our Bible study this time. We started on the afternoon study of the Great Controversy. We studied about the fall of Lucifer in Heaven and the fall of man in the Garden, when one of my friends subtly said, "This verse in Genesis says, ""Let us make man..."" Does that "us" mean more then one?
My eyes got big and I looked at her. I knew where she was going with this. I saw the mischief in her eyes and she winked at me. Her daughter swung her head around and looked straight at her in surprise. Again, a little smile and a wink. Ok, my husband tried to gently brush past her question with a quick and obvious answer, but the drop off was swift and we were in, again, up to our eyeballs.
My other friend, who has just recently decided that she is convinced there is no trinity and that Jesus was born/begotten/or created from the Father quickly turned to Proverbs 8 and said, "This chapter answers that question!"
Well, I had just finished thoroughly studying that chapter and while I didn't think it would answer the question posed at all, I felt put on the spot to explain what I had learned about Prov 8. I was afraid of making enemies. I was afraid of an argument instead of discussion. My heart rate suddenly went up and I felt completely out of breath. I became hot and nervous.
Still, I began to explain, that what is found in Proverbs 8 does not in anyway indicate that Jesus was born from God the Father. Instead, the one talking in this chapter are Wisdom and Understand personified. They are character traits of God! He had these traits from everlasting past, He brought them forth to be used at his bidding, He delighted in Wisdom and Understanding and they were with him always. The interesting thing is that all of the book of Proverbs talks a lot about wisdom and understanding in the same sort of way that it does about Character, law, and the commandments of God. You see, The character of God in written form is his law/commandments and it existed in the form of Wisdom and Understanding from Everlasting! It was brought forth from the Heart of God and raised up to pre-eminence with God as his delight forever.
I finished my dissertation completely out of breath and totally embarrassed because of how nervous I was. I could still see the mischief in my friends eyes though. She asked, "Does that answer my question?"
"No, not at all!" I said
"Then what is the answer?"
My husband believed her to be innocently asking because she didn't know. I knew better.
Art said, "Well, The Trinity is actually inferred in the old testament but not outright pointed out like it is in the New."
I asked everyone to turn to Isaiah 48:12,16. Maybe I'm wrong but it seemed pretty clear to me here, even in the Old Testament that three separate entities were being referred to.
All was quiet. It was obvious the pot had been sufficiently stirred to get everyone thinking and studying for themselves once again. That's good, I guess, at my expense! lol
On the way home, 7:30 that evening, my husband said, "I think she had some genuine questions she wanted to know."
I rolled my eyes and laughed, "No, she just couldn't help herself, you should have seen that twinkle in her eye!"
Later my friend called and giggled at me. "You got so nervous, you were completely out of breath!"
lol, "yes, thanks to you!"
Art, told me later, that I did a great job of explaining anyway! Well, next time I'll know to be prepared for anything. How do I do that?
Monday, April 8, 2013
Trust Him!
As I mentioned a few days ago, Things got a little rough for me and our little church family. But, I want to tell you today, that because of the prayers of my friends and family, myself, my children and my husband. God worked an incredible miracle --- mostly in me!
You see last year I had stood up for something I believed and there was a fireworks show of anger and false accusations from some of my friends. I didn't expect that from them and I reacted in hurt, anger, and despair. For a year, I suffered on account of that whole thing but I learned from my own downfall, and that of the others around me. It was oh so hard though! My selfish heart did not handle it well at all!
When I was again faced with a similar situation the other day, I decided in my heart to bring it all before the throne of Grace. With tears of hurt still fresh on my face, I laid it all in Jesus lap without having said one angry word.
I prayed with deep, heartfelt sympathy for my friend and began to realize that, that did not originate from me! My heart soared! I began praising the Lord for his mercy to me. I was seeing his work of Grace in my own heart first.
As I wept, a song popped into my head, "I will serve thee because I love thee...Heart aches, broken people, ruined lives are why you died on Calvary...". I began to sing.
Through out that day, every time an unanswered question about why this was happening entered my mind, a song would also pop into my head, "The love of God is Greater far..." Some of the songs, I hadn't even heard in years. I couldn't believe it. I don't deal with hurt this way, normally. I usually crumble. I knew this peace wasn't from me but it flooded my heart and I sang songs of Praise all day long. I had never felt so at peace in a rough situation, ever. I knew that God had everything in His capable care and keeping and that I need not fret or fear over one iota of the whole situation.
The next day I continued to pray and sing and to feel a calm in the midst of the storm. And then, I received a phone call. It was my friend. She wanted to make everything right. I was so grateful to God for his goodness to us. Friendship is restored, the empty seat in our little home church is full again and I am so happy.
The Love of God is so rich and pure, measureless and strong! He worked a miracle and the biggest half was in me, to just let Him have it all! Thank you God!!
I am learning to trust in God like never before. Jesus has become my example and he will give me the strength to follow. You see, in Gethsemane, His "soul was overwhelmed by deep darkness. To trust meant experiencing anguish to the point of blood, and darkness to the very depths of hell -- Nevertheless! Nevertheless... Not my will but yours be done!" He chose to trust!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in a desperate situation too. They face a trial so blazing hot that it literally killed others instantly! They spoke, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it! But if he does not..." They chose to stand for him regardless! I love that part, "But even if he does not..." We will serve God anyway!
You see last year I had stood up for something I believed and there was a fireworks show of anger and false accusations from some of my friends. I didn't expect that from them and I reacted in hurt, anger, and despair. For a year, I suffered on account of that whole thing but I learned from my own downfall, and that of the others around me. It was oh so hard though! My selfish heart did not handle it well at all!
When I was again faced with a similar situation the other day, I decided in my heart to bring it all before the throne of Grace. With tears of hurt still fresh on my face, I laid it all in Jesus lap without having said one angry word.
I prayed with deep, heartfelt sympathy for my friend and began to realize that, that did not originate from me! My heart soared! I began praising the Lord for his mercy to me. I was seeing his work of Grace in my own heart first.
As I wept, a song popped into my head, "I will serve thee because I love thee...Heart aches, broken people, ruined lives are why you died on Calvary...". I began to sing.
Through out that day, every time an unanswered question about why this was happening entered my mind, a song would also pop into my head, "The love of God is Greater far..." Some of the songs, I hadn't even heard in years. I couldn't believe it. I don't deal with hurt this way, normally. I usually crumble. I knew this peace wasn't from me but it flooded my heart and I sang songs of Praise all day long. I had never felt so at peace in a rough situation, ever. I knew that God had everything in His capable care and keeping and that I need not fret or fear over one iota of the whole situation.
The next day I continued to pray and sing and to feel a calm in the midst of the storm. And then, I received a phone call. It was my friend. She wanted to make everything right. I was so grateful to God for his goodness to us. Friendship is restored, the empty seat in our little home church is full again and I am so happy.
The Love of God is so rich and pure, measureless and strong! He worked a miracle and the biggest half was in me, to just let Him have it all! Thank you God!!
I am learning to trust in God like never before. Jesus has become my example and he will give me the strength to follow. You see, in Gethsemane, His "soul was overwhelmed by deep darkness. To trust meant experiencing anguish to the point of blood, and darkness to the very depths of hell -- Nevertheless! Nevertheless... Not my will but yours be done!" He chose to trust!
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in a desperate situation too. They face a trial so blazing hot that it literally killed others instantly! They spoke, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it! But if he does not..." They chose to stand for him regardless! I love that part, "But even if he does not..." We will serve God anyway!
Friday, April 5, 2013
Spirits Bouyed!
Good Morning Everyone,
I came home late last night after spending the evening out giving Bible studies to a couple of First Nations ladies. We had a lot of fun! We had our Bible study at one of the lady's house and they enjoyed it so very, very much! We talked about how sinful we are and that we were born into sin. We are sinful by nature. I tried to show them from God's word that we are all in a hopeless condition EXCEPT by the grace of God. We talked about the love of God and how rich and pure it is. They seem to understand it somehow!
They had a thousand questions and stories to tell!
At the End of the Bible study, we prayed and one lady told me that this was exactly what she needed to hear tonight. Praise God!
The other lady, told me later, that she was "so pumped" about these Bible lessons! Praise God again!
I am using the "Lifting Jesus Up" Bible studies from Spire resources. They are factual but more based on building a relationship with Jesus. With some people, that's where they need to start. So far its been beautiful!
After Bible study we tootled off to town altogether, and headed for McDonalds. LOL
It is their favorite hangout. I think because it has coffee and an internet connection. I bought one lady her coffee and myself a water. The other didn't want anything, just to visit. We enjoyed just hanging out and chatting.
My Spirits were buoyed! God granted me a very blessed evening with two precious souls just beginning to learn about him. I'm Excited about that!
Oh, and they want to come to home church on Sabbath!
I came home late last night after spending the evening out giving Bible studies to a couple of First Nations ladies. We had a lot of fun! We had our Bible study at one of the lady's house and they enjoyed it so very, very much! We talked about how sinful we are and that we were born into sin. We are sinful by nature. I tried to show them from God's word that we are all in a hopeless condition EXCEPT by the grace of God. We talked about the love of God and how rich and pure it is. They seem to understand it somehow!
They had a thousand questions and stories to tell!
At the End of the Bible study, we prayed and one lady told me that this was exactly what she needed to hear tonight. Praise God!
The other lady, told me later, that she was "so pumped" about these Bible lessons! Praise God again!
I am using the "Lifting Jesus Up" Bible studies from Spire resources. They are factual but more based on building a relationship with Jesus. With some people, that's where they need to start. So far its been beautiful!
After Bible study we tootled off to town altogether, and headed for McDonalds. LOL
It is their favorite hangout. I think because it has coffee and an internet connection. I bought one lady her coffee and myself a water. The other didn't want anything, just to visit. We enjoyed just hanging out and chatting.
My Spirits were buoyed! God granted me a very blessed evening with two precious souls just beginning to learn about him. I'm Excited about that!
Oh, and they want to come to home church on Sabbath!
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Let Truth Prevail!
This morning I have been shaken again to the core. I solicit your prayers.
My sister wrote a blog today that shows the power of God unto Salvation. It was called, "When Truth Prevails" or something like that. Well, I hope she doesn't mind my using the same awesome title in this post as well because, I believe, even though, I'm shaking and crying! That God will Prevail, even if it takes the second coming of Jesus!
I truly believe that we are in a powerful war! The controversy between good and evil is coming to a climax. The Devil is angrier then he has ever been! He is seeing work being done to reach the souls of men and he is throwing darts of temptations sharp enough to discouraged even the elect. Be wary, we are in the middle of a live battle!
Still, if someone were to see the tears running down my face now, and asked me what happened, I would have to tell them that nothing happened to me. There is a Battle so fierce going on that Satan and his host of Angels are fighting in intense rage right over my head, right over our church, right over our small home church and that God and his host of Angels are fighting them back. I have faith that God will be victorious.
I know the battle must be fought. I know it!
I know that since the battle is also over me and my family, that the old Devil will aim his arrows at me, right in my heart, where it hurts most, with false accusations. He would love to see me fall. But as I wept by myself in the shower this morning, it came to me clear as day. This is not about me! This is between God and Satan and I just happen to have chosen to put my heart and soul into God's cause and have incurred the wrath of Satan. Should I mourn that I must suffer for Christ?
I have lost yet another friend, which breaks my heart. I pray to God that it is not forever, but I'm willing to believe that God will remove the arrow that hurt me and hold me up. We have lost a wonderful person from our small group church. I am sad!
Another thing that is still very strong and powerful and seemed to have been the trigger for angry sentiments toward us even though not an angry word was said, was this whole interesting belief that The Holy Spirit is not a Third person of the Godhead and that Jesus originated by birth or creation or something like that out of God the Father long before even the angels were created. It is a recipe for division. If anyone likes division, well there you go.
We have a decided position on that whole theology now but have not presented it or written it as it must be done in God's timing and when the hearts are ready. Art and I have spent hours in prayer and study and more prayer and study. God will lead us to truth, He has promised!
Let Truth Prevail!
Not to worry, God is a lot stronger then the adversary! He will help open a way to see His work forward. Praise God
My sister wrote a blog today that shows the power of God unto Salvation. It was called, "When Truth Prevails" or something like that. Well, I hope she doesn't mind my using the same awesome title in this post as well because, I believe, even though, I'm shaking and crying! That God will Prevail, even if it takes the second coming of Jesus!
I truly believe that we are in a powerful war! The controversy between good and evil is coming to a climax. The Devil is angrier then he has ever been! He is seeing work being done to reach the souls of men and he is throwing darts of temptations sharp enough to discouraged even the elect. Be wary, we are in the middle of a live battle!
Still, if someone were to see the tears running down my face now, and asked me what happened, I would have to tell them that nothing happened to me. There is a Battle so fierce going on that Satan and his host of Angels are fighting in intense rage right over my head, right over our church, right over our small home church and that God and his host of Angels are fighting them back. I have faith that God will be victorious.
I know the battle must be fought. I know it!
I know that since the battle is also over me and my family, that the old Devil will aim his arrows at me, right in my heart, where it hurts most, with false accusations. He would love to see me fall. But as I wept by myself in the shower this morning, it came to me clear as day. This is not about me! This is between God and Satan and I just happen to have chosen to put my heart and soul into God's cause and have incurred the wrath of Satan. Should I mourn that I must suffer for Christ?
I have lost yet another friend, which breaks my heart. I pray to God that it is not forever, but I'm willing to believe that God will remove the arrow that hurt me and hold me up. We have lost a wonderful person from our small group church. I am sad!
Another thing that is still very strong and powerful and seemed to have been the trigger for angry sentiments toward us even though not an angry word was said, was this whole interesting belief that The Holy Spirit is not a Third person of the Godhead and that Jesus originated by birth or creation or something like that out of God the Father long before even the angels were created. It is a recipe for division. If anyone likes division, well there you go.
We have a decided position on that whole theology now but have not presented it or written it as it must be done in God's timing and when the hearts are ready. Art and I have spent hours in prayer and study and more prayer and study. God will lead us to truth, He has promised!
Let Truth Prevail!
Not to worry, God is a lot stronger then the adversary! He will help open a way to see His work forward. Praise God
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Hubby at his Work Place
This is a bit of an interesting story that isn't finished happening yet (I hope).
My husband is an aircraft mechanic at a local charter company that flies Medical Evacuation planes and also supplies in and out of mining camps. He has put aside the twisting of wrenches for the time being though, and has taken on the position of Quality Assurance maneger. It is a desk job but it pays more and so for the time being he is doing what no one else wants to do. That's ok though. He has a chance to chat with the guys on a fairly regular basis and still exudes an influence around the shop for good.
It was just the other day that my husband was telling me that they had a new contractor from Alberta. A really nice older gentleman with long hair pulled back into a pony tail.
He had been working there for quite a while when he sidles up beside my husband and kind of in a half whisper said, "I finally got you figured out!"
"Oh?" My husband said with a laugh, "You are doing better then my wife and my mother! So what did you figure out?"
"You are a Sabbath keeper!" He replied!
My husband chuckled, "I could have told you that! It's no secret around here. You could have just asked."
And somehow from their the conversation got interupted as they went about their jobs.
My husband came home and while musing over his day, he shared this interesting tidbit of the days event with me. Of course, I ask a thousand questions but what's there to be said about a conversation that went no further then that.
Last night while sitting on the couch chatting, My husband related the next episode of the on-going story.
He said, "I asked this contractor guy today, ""You have my curiosity peaked! What made you decide I was a Sabbath keeper?"
"Well," Replied the contractor, "You never swear and you never drink!" He carried on, "My wife and I used to go to church at the Sal*vation Army chuch. We did ministry on the streets. One time we invited some street people to our church but when they came in all their disheveled, smelly clothes, they were told to leave and go back down town where they belonged. We never went to church again! We went home and began to study our Bible's for ourselves. We discovered that God has asked us to worship on the Seventh day and not Sunday. So we do, at home alone, every Sabbath! My wife is stricter about it then me but it is what we learned and what we do."
Again the conversation must have been interupted because while they had a good talk about God and religion, my husband did not get a chance to invite him to our little home church this Sabbath but hoped he would grab that chance when he went to work on Friday. Unfortunately, he forgot Friday is a holiday and nobody went to work.
Well, you say, next week! It would be nice but the man is leaving back for Alberta next Friday.
Still, the story is not over yet because in May, he is coming up again to do more contract work and he is hoping to bring his wife.
I'm already praying for God to open up the opportunity for us to witness and invite both to home church and to our house for supper some evening. Praying that God will lead in this.
My husband did mention that both himself and this contractor guy had discovered that they both had a similar background experience, having gone through the drugs and the alcohol scene and then finding Jesus.
My husband shared with the guy that he had determined in his heart that if he should ever join a church, he wanted to make sure that it followed the Bible to a T. The man was in complete agreement on that. Art went on to say, "I found the Seventh Day Adventist church and their doctrines hold true to the Bible. Not everyone in the church follows the doctrines taught from the Bible but the church as a Whole believes in the Bible and it's teachings."
This is another man to pray for! May God expand our Teritory! Jabez Prayer
My husband is an aircraft mechanic at a local charter company that flies Medical Evacuation planes and also supplies in and out of mining camps. He has put aside the twisting of wrenches for the time being though, and has taken on the position of Quality Assurance maneger. It is a desk job but it pays more and so for the time being he is doing what no one else wants to do. That's ok though. He has a chance to chat with the guys on a fairly regular basis and still exudes an influence around the shop for good.
It was just the other day that my husband was telling me that they had a new contractor from Alberta. A really nice older gentleman with long hair pulled back into a pony tail.
He had been working there for quite a while when he sidles up beside my husband and kind of in a half whisper said, "I finally got you figured out!"
"Oh?" My husband said with a laugh, "You are doing better then my wife and my mother! So what did you figure out?"
"You are a Sabbath keeper!" He replied!
My husband chuckled, "I could have told you that! It's no secret around here. You could have just asked."
And somehow from their the conversation got interupted as they went about their jobs.
My husband came home and while musing over his day, he shared this interesting tidbit of the days event with me. Of course, I ask a thousand questions but what's there to be said about a conversation that went no further then that.
Last night while sitting on the couch chatting, My husband related the next episode of the on-going story.
He said, "I asked this contractor guy today, ""You have my curiosity peaked! What made you decide I was a Sabbath keeper?"
"Well," Replied the contractor, "You never swear and you never drink!" He carried on, "My wife and I used to go to church at the Sal*vation Army chuch. We did ministry on the streets. One time we invited some street people to our church but when they came in all their disheveled, smelly clothes, they were told to leave and go back down town where they belonged. We never went to church again! We went home and began to study our Bible's for ourselves. We discovered that God has asked us to worship on the Seventh day and not Sunday. So we do, at home alone, every Sabbath! My wife is stricter about it then me but it is what we learned and what we do."
Again the conversation must have been interupted because while they had a good talk about God and religion, my husband did not get a chance to invite him to our little home church this Sabbath but hoped he would grab that chance when he went to work on Friday. Unfortunately, he forgot Friday is a holiday and nobody went to work.
Well, you say, next week! It would be nice but the man is leaving back for Alberta next Friday.
Still, the story is not over yet because in May, he is coming up again to do more contract work and he is hoping to bring his wife.
I'm already praying for God to open up the opportunity for us to witness and invite both to home church and to our house for supper some evening. Praying that God will lead in this.
My husband did mention that both himself and this contractor guy had discovered that they both had a similar background experience, having gone through the drugs and the alcohol scene and then finding Jesus.
My husband shared with the guy that he had determined in his heart that if he should ever join a church, he wanted to make sure that it followed the Bible to a T. The man was in complete agreement on that. Art went on to say, "I found the Seventh Day Adventist church and their doctrines hold true to the Bible. Not everyone in the church follows the doctrines taught from the Bible but the church as a Whole believes in the Bible and it's teachings."
This is another man to pray for! May God expand our Teritory! Jabez Prayer
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Outside My Bedrroom door is the threshold of my mission field
Lately I awake every morning and leave my room with a sense of responsibility to God.
I am beginning to realize that every act with every person is an act of influence. My purpose is no longer to just be friends with everyone like it used to be, but to rather be an influence of the Saving Grace of Jesus whatever form that takes.
I've been trying to make every moment count whenever I make a trip to town. Town is actually half an hour away from home and so I try to fit in as much as possible each time I go.
Yesterday, I had to deliver a pile of jackets that I had put Security badges on for the business that has recently hired me to do their sewing for them. I decided to leave early enough not to rush business and in plenty enough time to visit a friend that asked me to come and see her.
This friend and her daughter have recently joined our little homechurch. They are so in love with Jesus and wanting to follow him. It is such a blessing to be with them. They were recently blessed, when I petitioned the church board on the daughter's behalf to be sponcered to go to ASI's Y*outh for Jesus progrqm and they agreed! We were all extatic! They were so grateful for the love shown, and I'm so grateful Elisha will get to experience the joys of being in service for the master she loves.
But tell me now, how, pray tell, is it possible to lose weight at all when you have Phillippino friends? They fed us ice cream, sticky and sweet casava cake (I think that's what it was), pumpkin muffins, and the most delicious carrot, sweet potatoe curry with nan bread. I was surprised when I left that she gasped and said, "Oh no, I forgot to serve you desert!" Oh my, I thought it was all desert!
However, I had had enough desert because even God saw fit to put a cherry on the top for me. As I was about to leave, my friend said, "I have felt impressed and have a deep desire to do what I can for you. Come to my computer, lets download the application forms for YD camp for your two sons and I am going to pay for the application fee of $50 each." I had told her that the boys were going to go! I was saying that purely on faith. Now, God had provided money that I did not have. I had just told my sister the day before that by faith, we are coming down South so the kids can go to Y*oung Disciple Camp. We are going to work our hinies off towards that end and trust that God will fill in the blanks. Well, He filled in the first $100! Isn't he great!
From there I had a moment to spare when I dropped my boys off at the Canada Games Center for their speed skating, so I dropped by W*allMart to grab myself a loaf of Silver*Hills bread. While entering the store, I breathed a prayer. "Lord, I have a little time right now! Can you provide a witnessing moment for me this evening?" Then I was off to a visit with a native lady whom I will be giving her first Bible Study to this evening along with another Native lady.
When I came into her home, I chatted with her as she packed bones for my dog into a baggy for me to take home. Suddenly from behind me I heard a soft voice say, "Hello!" I swung around, I hadn't seen anyone else in the room. There on a foamy on the floor, under some blankets, was the lady's 19 year old daughter. She laughed at my fright and invited me to sit. I took a seat on the couch nearest me and beside her bed on the floor. I noticed an open Bible beside me and I picked it up in my hands.
Mar*izah is the girls name (such a beautiful name!). She began to question me about what is Lent (Hmmm, I was too versed on what lent is. lol I'll have to bone up on how lent came about.)? What was the purpose of Jesus fast in the desert? What was the trial of Jesus like? I had opportunity of expaining Jesus great love for her and for all mankind (She had never really heard the story). We talked about the weight of guilt and sin that Christ took upon himself so that we wouldn't have to bear it and die all eternity. We talked about the free gift of Salvation through Jesus death. We also talked about the resurection of Jesus. She asked me if when people wear the upside down cross, were they mocking God? I explained the story of Lucifer in Heaven, his fall, and his agenda here on Earth. She asked questions about the music she was listening to and why do they aways have ocultish symbols on their album covers? We talked about meditation and Eastern religions and about levitating. We talked about her scary dream where she felt surounded by fear and darkness and could not so much as even move her head and how she prayed and it all disapeared just like that.
Please continue to pray for this young girl. God is reaching out to her! This was the devine appointment I prayed for just an hour and a half before. Praise God for that answer to prayer!
Tonight, I hold Bible studies for the native Ladies. Tomorrow, Starting next week on Friday evenings I start Bible studies with some ladie's from Figi who are SDA but by upbringing and not so much by knowlege or relationship, it seems! They requested personal Bible studies when Dr. Tim presented the love of God in a sermon he preached here. It is truly God at work. I'm blessed to be the instrument in his hands.
We were blessed again the other day when the pastor asked us to please come before the board at our main SDA Church in town and present the church at home ministry. We prayed, we went, we presented and the Lord Blessed. Everyone looked on it with favor and even enthusiasm. They could see how this could be the answer to growth up here in the Yukon. Ethan, prayed a prayer of blessing on our behalf and we felt that God was hearing our prayers for the softening of the hearts of the people in our church! Charlie when home shouting the praises of God and that he had fairth in our little congregation for the very first time. ;o) We were all smiling!
I also presented our next plan, Cooking school! We need to follow up the Dr. Tim program sooner then later with a program that was most in demand after he left and that was, "Teach us to cook vegan food!" Well, I noticed that the response to someone proffesional and from out of town was huge! People appreciated new blood (so to speak! lol) So I thought to invite Ilene Bre*wer and Phil from Silver H*ills to come up. I called them and they said, "The best time would be this spring!" Wow, That is certainly what I wanted to hear! Praise God! Now, I'm just waiting to hear back from them. Hopefully soon! Yay!
And so now, I must get to work and help my kids through their anatomy and physiology science lesson and prepare them for their Spelling program that my friend Bev has so graciously offered to help them with once a week. I am so grateful for friends who see my weeknesses and needs and are willing to give a helping hand.
Well, that's my life as it stands right now! Counting my blessings and naming them one by one!
I am beginning to realize that every act with every person is an act of influence. My purpose is no longer to just be friends with everyone like it used to be, but to rather be an influence of the Saving Grace of Jesus whatever form that takes.
I've been trying to make every moment count whenever I make a trip to town. Town is actually half an hour away from home and so I try to fit in as much as possible each time I go.
Yesterday, I had to deliver a pile of jackets that I had put Security badges on for the business that has recently hired me to do their sewing for them. I decided to leave early enough not to rush business and in plenty enough time to visit a friend that asked me to come and see her.
This friend and her daughter have recently joined our little homechurch. They are so in love with Jesus and wanting to follow him. It is such a blessing to be with them. They were recently blessed, when I petitioned the church board on the daughter's behalf to be sponcered to go to ASI's Y*outh for Jesus progrqm and they agreed! We were all extatic! They were so grateful for the love shown, and I'm so grateful Elisha will get to experience the joys of being in service for the master she loves.
But tell me now, how, pray tell, is it possible to lose weight at all when you have Phillippino friends? They fed us ice cream, sticky and sweet casava cake (I think that's what it was), pumpkin muffins, and the most delicious carrot, sweet potatoe curry with nan bread. I was surprised when I left that she gasped and said, "Oh no, I forgot to serve you desert!" Oh my, I thought it was all desert!
However, I had had enough desert because even God saw fit to put a cherry on the top for me. As I was about to leave, my friend said, "I have felt impressed and have a deep desire to do what I can for you. Come to my computer, lets download the application forms for YD camp for your two sons and I am going to pay for the application fee of $50 each." I had told her that the boys were going to go! I was saying that purely on faith. Now, God had provided money that I did not have. I had just told my sister the day before that by faith, we are coming down South so the kids can go to Y*oung Disciple Camp. We are going to work our hinies off towards that end and trust that God will fill in the blanks. Well, He filled in the first $100! Isn't he great!
From there I had a moment to spare when I dropped my boys off at the Canada Games Center for their speed skating, so I dropped by W*allMart to grab myself a loaf of Silver*Hills bread. While entering the store, I breathed a prayer. "Lord, I have a little time right now! Can you provide a witnessing moment for me this evening?" Then I was off to a visit with a native lady whom I will be giving her first Bible Study to this evening along with another Native lady.
When I came into her home, I chatted with her as she packed bones for my dog into a baggy for me to take home. Suddenly from behind me I heard a soft voice say, "Hello!" I swung around, I hadn't seen anyone else in the room. There on a foamy on the floor, under some blankets, was the lady's 19 year old daughter. She laughed at my fright and invited me to sit. I took a seat on the couch nearest me and beside her bed on the floor. I noticed an open Bible beside me and I picked it up in my hands.
Mar*izah is the girls name (such a beautiful name!). She began to question me about what is Lent (Hmmm, I was too versed on what lent is. lol I'll have to bone up on how lent came about.)? What was the purpose of Jesus fast in the desert? What was the trial of Jesus like? I had opportunity of expaining Jesus great love for her and for all mankind (She had never really heard the story). We talked about the weight of guilt and sin that Christ took upon himself so that we wouldn't have to bear it and die all eternity. We talked about the free gift of Salvation through Jesus death. We also talked about the resurection of Jesus. She asked me if when people wear the upside down cross, were they mocking God? I explained the story of Lucifer in Heaven, his fall, and his agenda here on Earth. She asked questions about the music she was listening to and why do they aways have ocultish symbols on their album covers? We talked about meditation and Eastern religions and about levitating. We talked about her scary dream where she felt surounded by fear and darkness and could not so much as even move her head and how she prayed and it all disapeared just like that.
Please continue to pray for this young girl. God is reaching out to her! This was the devine appointment I prayed for just an hour and a half before. Praise God for that answer to prayer!
Tonight, I hold Bible studies for the native Ladies. Tomorrow, Starting next week on Friday evenings I start Bible studies with some ladie's from Figi who are SDA but by upbringing and not so much by knowlege or relationship, it seems! They requested personal Bible studies when Dr. Tim presented the love of God in a sermon he preached here. It is truly God at work. I'm blessed to be the instrument in his hands.
We were blessed again the other day when the pastor asked us to please come before the board at our main SDA Church in town and present the church at home ministry. We prayed, we went, we presented and the Lord Blessed. Everyone looked on it with favor and even enthusiasm. They could see how this could be the answer to growth up here in the Yukon. Ethan, prayed a prayer of blessing on our behalf and we felt that God was hearing our prayers for the softening of the hearts of the people in our church! Charlie when home shouting the praises of God and that he had fairth in our little congregation for the very first time. ;o) We were all smiling!
I also presented our next plan, Cooking school! We need to follow up the Dr. Tim program sooner then later with a program that was most in demand after he left and that was, "Teach us to cook vegan food!" Well, I noticed that the response to someone proffesional and from out of town was huge! People appreciated new blood (so to speak! lol) So I thought to invite Ilene Bre*wer and Phil from Silver H*ills to come up. I called them and they said, "The best time would be this spring!" Wow, That is certainly what I wanted to hear! Praise God! Now, I'm just waiting to hear back from them. Hopefully soon! Yay!
And so now, I must get to work and help my kids through their anatomy and physiology science lesson and prepare them for their Spelling program that my friend Bev has so graciously offered to help them with once a week. I am so grateful for friends who see my weeknesses and needs and are willing to give a helping hand.
Well, that's my life as it stands right now! Counting my blessings and naming them one by one!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Ups and Downs
This post is a little sad, not discouraging but a little heavy, I guess.
I have a huge burden on my heart to be in ministry. My husband and I have started a small home church and the people who attend are loving it. They feel inspired. They say, "We feel like this must be what it was like with the Disciples." There is a closeness to one another. We pray together sometime for as long as 30 minutes at a time. It hardly seems like it though, as the prayers are spontanious and heart felt (United Prayer). We praise God. We pray for each other. We confess our sins. We pray for the Holy Spirit and direction in our ministry to reach our community.
We have been using Young Disc*ple Quarterly every Sabbath for our study guide. We are all so richly blessed by it that a single lesson can go on in discussion for an hour and a half without breaking interest. This leaves no time for a sermon usually but we are so blessed by the Study that we sometimes just end right there with more prayer and singing.
We then fellowship and visit while we enjoy an awesome vegetarian meal together. There is love and laughter and lots of discussion about new outreach ideas.
My husband has not lost his ferver since coming back from GYC this winter. He is as much into this now as he was then. He has ideas which he would like to impliment and try.
We've also registered as an A-Unit with *ARME. They have a 6 week program for leading small groups into community outreach and church growth. We are excited about that but haven't recieved feed back from them yet to show us the first step.
I talked to the pastor today and I shared my desire for a quick follow-up on our last program done by Dr. Tim R*esenberger. The interest seemed to lie primarily in learning to cook vegetarian food just as the Dr. suggested in his program and so, it is my endeaver to get that started soon. I'm excited about that!
But, with all the responsibilities of leading out in a ministry of some sort comes a whole ton of critisizim, people issues, misunderstandings, and rumors.
I have alluded to the fact before that we were not comfortable, as a family, with the worship music at our main church and had voiced our concerns. There was some pretty upset folk, unfortunately, and we were told to not speak our opinions and concerns again. Needless to say, it was a bit uncomfortable for the next year, to actually feel convicted about something strong enough to get up and walk out the church we loved so much as the music continued to beat.
When we started our new little home church, we invited our pastor to our house to let him know that this would be a ministry to bring people to Jesus. It would help to build the church, not tear it down, It was a new (very old) idea to have home churches for people who were not comfortable with "Church" ideas. He seemed to understand and was happy for the idea. We did let him know that it would also allow us to be able to worship without the drums and electric guitars that we found rather distracting. He understood and thought it was a good idea.
The last little while has been interesting though. While my husband is busy at work, the phone rings and people call to talk. Some just need to talk and I'm just happy to be their friend and listen. Still, others rant about how they hate the chuch and they will never be Seve*th Day A*ventist because of blah blah blah. Others are afraid to be associated with our little home church for fear of hurting somebody's feelings in the main church but quietly come because they love the blessings they receive there. Still others phone because they have preconceived or mis-conceived ideas of what we are trying to do. Judgements are made, "Are you trying to split the church?" Accusations are also made but are heard mostly just through that ugly, horrible grape vine and others come with honest open hearts to ask honest open hearted questions. And so, It has fallen to me to explain time and time again that, "Yes, we love Jesus! Yes, we even love our church! and yes, we are S*venth Day A*ventists and believe the doctrins because we have bent our heads to the Bible to study them and they are indeed true! Yes, we are members of the Church and we don't plan on changing that. Yes, we pay a tithe to God through the conference and we believe that is right. And finally, No, we are not an offshoot! We believe in the church organization, the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, and the 28 fundam*ntal beliefs.
We do have some concerns with some practices that are slipping quietly and subtlely into our church and are somehow believed to be "Christian" practices but are not. Do we judge our brothers? No, but we pray for them!
And so the burden of this whole misunderstanding lays heavy on my heart. Art and I have been asked to make our presence known a little more often at the main church so people will know we are working with and not apart from them (Can we do this without attending a rock concert? Maybe they will accomodate once in a while.). We have been asked but not given a date yet, to speak to the people at the main church about the home church ministry. We've also been asked to come to the board meeting and explain. All this we have readily agreed to do happily.
I was thinking about all these things the other day and I prayed for help from God to accomplish only that which would be pleasing to him. I fear to make my own steps or to make any plans that are not led by Him. While Art and I have felt led to do this work, it has been far from easy!
I went into town to do some visitation with some ladies and to meet with a new lady that is Ad*ventist that has just moved up here for 6 months. She is working in the prison and was wondering if we could start some sort of prison ministry. I was very excited about that possibility of course! Then she went on to say that she would love to meet with the people from the home church as well as from the main church. She said she had something to teach us about the trinity that we got all wrong! My heart fell! Why must we be bombarded so? I'm not apposed to listening and learning but I can see in my minds eye, more rumors, whispers, accusations. I'm not quite prepared.
The Devil has certainly put on his army boots and the very foundation of our church is being shaken with each step he takes. I am more convinced then ever before that there is a great work and ministry to be done up here and that souls are ripe to learn about Jesus and his saving grace, but that is making the enemy scared and determined to botch up any work and anybody that will actually be instrumental in God's hands to reach them.
Please pray for us. This is challenging but we are not discouraged! We just need your prayers that God will lead us careful step by careful step so that we do not in any way damage His cause but rather strengthen it.
I have a huge burden on my heart to be in ministry. My husband and I have started a small home church and the people who attend are loving it. They feel inspired. They say, "We feel like this must be what it was like with the Disciples." There is a closeness to one another. We pray together sometime for as long as 30 minutes at a time. It hardly seems like it though, as the prayers are spontanious and heart felt (United Prayer). We praise God. We pray for each other. We confess our sins. We pray for the Holy Spirit and direction in our ministry to reach our community.
We have been using Young Disc*ple Quarterly every Sabbath for our study guide. We are all so richly blessed by it that a single lesson can go on in discussion for an hour and a half without breaking interest. This leaves no time for a sermon usually but we are so blessed by the Study that we sometimes just end right there with more prayer and singing.
We then fellowship and visit while we enjoy an awesome vegetarian meal together. There is love and laughter and lots of discussion about new outreach ideas.
My husband has not lost his ferver since coming back from GYC this winter. He is as much into this now as he was then. He has ideas which he would like to impliment and try.
We've also registered as an A-Unit with *ARME. They have a 6 week program for leading small groups into community outreach and church growth. We are excited about that but haven't recieved feed back from them yet to show us the first step.
I talked to the pastor today and I shared my desire for a quick follow-up on our last program done by Dr. Tim R*esenberger. The interest seemed to lie primarily in learning to cook vegetarian food just as the Dr. suggested in his program and so, it is my endeaver to get that started soon. I'm excited about that!
But, with all the responsibilities of leading out in a ministry of some sort comes a whole ton of critisizim, people issues, misunderstandings, and rumors.
I have alluded to the fact before that we were not comfortable, as a family, with the worship music at our main church and had voiced our concerns. There was some pretty upset folk, unfortunately, and we were told to not speak our opinions and concerns again. Needless to say, it was a bit uncomfortable for the next year, to actually feel convicted about something strong enough to get up and walk out the church we loved so much as the music continued to beat.
When we started our new little home church, we invited our pastor to our house to let him know that this would be a ministry to bring people to Jesus. It would help to build the church, not tear it down, It was a new (very old) idea to have home churches for people who were not comfortable with "Church" ideas. He seemed to understand and was happy for the idea. We did let him know that it would also allow us to be able to worship without the drums and electric guitars that we found rather distracting. He understood and thought it was a good idea.
The last little while has been interesting though. While my husband is busy at work, the phone rings and people call to talk. Some just need to talk and I'm just happy to be their friend and listen. Still, others rant about how they hate the chuch and they will never be Seve*th Day A*ventist because of blah blah blah. Others are afraid to be associated with our little home church for fear of hurting somebody's feelings in the main church but quietly come because they love the blessings they receive there. Still others phone because they have preconceived or mis-conceived ideas of what we are trying to do. Judgements are made, "Are you trying to split the church?" Accusations are also made but are heard mostly just through that ugly, horrible grape vine and others come with honest open hearts to ask honest open hearted questions. And so, It has fallen to me to explain time and time again that, "Yes, we love Jesus! Yes, we even love our church! and yes, we are S*venth Day A*ventists and believe the doctrins because we have bent our heads to the Bible to study them and they are indeed true! Yes, we are members of the Church and we don't plan on changing that. Yes, we pay a tithe to God through the conference and we believe that is right. And finally, No, we are not an offshoot! We believe in the church organization, the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, and the 28 fundam*ntal beliefs.
We do have some concerns with some practices that are slipping quietly and subtlely into our church and are somehow believed to be "Christian" practices but are not. Do we judge our brothers? No, but we pray for them!
And so the burden of this whole misunderstanding lays heavy on my heart. Art and I have been asked to make our presence known a little more often at the main church so people will know we are working with and not apart from them (Can we do this without attending a rock concert? Maybe they will accomodate once in a while.). We have been asked but not given a date yet, to speak to the people at the main church about the home church ministry. We've also been asked to come to the board meeting and explain. All this we have readily agreed to do happily.
I was thinking about all these things the other day and I prayed for help from God to accomplish only that which would be pleasing to him. I fear to make my own steps or to make any plans that are not led by Him. While Art and I have felt led to do this work, it has been far from easy!
I went into town to do some visitation with some ladies and to meet with a new lady that is Ad*ventist that has just moved up here for 6 months. She is working in the prison and was wondering if we could start some sort of prison ministry. I was very excited about that possibility of course! Then she went on to say that she would love to meet with the people from the home church as well as from the main church. She said she had something to teach us about the trinity that we got all wrong! My heart fell! Why must we be bombarded so? I'm not apposed to listening and learning but I can see in my minds eye, more rumors, whispers, accusations. I'm not quite prepared.
The Devil has certainly put on his army boots and the very foundation of our church is being shaken with each step he takes. I am more convinced then ever before that there is a great work and ministry to be done up here and that souls are ripe to learn about Jesus and his saving grace, but that is making the enemy scared and determined to botch up any work and anybody that will actually be instrumental in God's hands to reach them.
Please pray for us. This is challenging but we are not discouraged! We just need your prayers that God will lead us careful step by careful step so that we do not in any way damage His cause but rather strengthen it.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Evangelism in the Yukon Today!
Just to let you all know. I live in one of the hardest communities to reach for Christ. So I've been told. We have had evangelism efforts with thousands of dollars spent. We've had all kinds of different health programs with a little success, at least people came in groups of between 12 to 35. But, did we reach their hearts for Jesus? Mmmm, not really.
But this time was different! This time was abbsolutely amazing! I invited Dr. Tim Riesen*berger. Actually no, I begged him. I pleaded with him and when he told me he was completely booked, I asked him again, if there was not a single weekend. He asked me when I wanted him to come and he would look at his schedule. I said, "I don't care, Doctor! You pick the date that is most available to you and we'll work with your schedule!" He did. March 8 and 9.
The pastor was right on the ball with the advertising! He did good. Becky J. from our church made posters that were posted all over town. Art, the boys and Bev (a friend), and I did a little door to door work and phoning people. I was very hopeful!
The Pastor was sure to inform Dr. Tim when he came of all the stories of not being terribly successful around here. He didn't want the good Doc. to be too disappointed. Still, by faith we had rented a meeting room at one of our biggest hotels in Whitehorse. The room held 80 seats which the hotel staff put out in beautiful rows, even though the pastor wished they would have put much less so that we could fill up the seats and at least look good if their were few but no, they put all 80 chairs out. But, even the Hotel staff informed the Pastor, Listen, "It's hard to get an audience at all anymore, these days for anything! Good luck!)
As the time approached. The first attendees showed up. Both schizophrenic and obviously so. Dr. Tim remained positive and said, "Well, at least we have two!" But by the time the meeting was about to start the flow of people began. Dr. Tim was sure they were all Adventist people from our church. But, sorry folks, there isn't that many SDAs in all of Yukon! The place packed out. Standing room only!
Dr. Tim spoke on Cancer prevention and the people listened in rapt attention. Dr. Tim was very scientific but did not hesitate even the slightest to bring out the need for God. He gently and carefully and appropriately introduced Bible verses. Two people walked out, but the rest were glued to their seats. Dr. Tim spoke with Conviction and Authority!
At the end of the first meeting. As we were talking. Dr. Tim asked how many people do you think came that were actually not from the church. I laughed. "Tim, Don't you realize that hardly any of our own people showed up? Maybe one dozen and that includes my kids!"
He was shocked. He didn't believe me. He called across the room to the Pastor, "How many people were not from the church?"
The pastor looked up, obviously tickled pink! "The vast majority, Doctor!"
We were all praising the Lord!
One thing that we did forget though was to have a little peice of paper to get the people's contact information. So the next morning I got busy and made out the slip of paper, asking for not only contact info but giving a list of other programs we provide such as other Health programs, Stress seminars, Depression recovery, vegetarian cooking classes, and so on. I also included, in the list " Weekly Home Bible study Group, with fellowship and vegetarian meal" That would be our home church. I included "An invitation to attend weekly services at the SDA church and do you need a ride?". These were to be handed out at the next meeting.
The Dr. and Pastor both made the announcement that the Dr. would be speaking for the service at the SDA church the next morning! He was going to speak on his own personaly testimony.
It was absolutely amazing, the people were so enthralled that the church was packed. They actually followed the guy to the church! PTL The Doctor presented the Gospel in such a way, from the emergency room perspective and he let the tears flow freely. The audience wept with him. I sat by a native lady who not only cried but turned to me and said with tears in her eyes, "How can I save my family now?"
We passed the papers out and people responded. I'm anxious to see the result after church.
At the meeting in the evening there was not a single seat available. The poor hotel staff were kept busy putting out more and sometimes we got our own. People were standing against the back wall.
By the time the second day of meetings was over, you could tell the pastor was on a high. Dr. Tim was on a high and so were we. But my special elation came when I looked at the little response papers and read, One after another, the desire for more. Not only did they want health programs but several requested to come to home Bible study group and fellowship! Some requested personal Bible studies! and I still haven't seen the papers from after the sermon at church. I can hardly wait!
What a blessing! God was so in charge this time! To God be the Glory! Our family, The Doctor and the Pastor all celebrated by going out to "The taste of India" for supper! We sat and talked for probably two hours and at delicious food too!
Dr. Tim will be leaving today, but I can't thank him enough for being an instrument in the hands of God! He was truly inspired and inspiring!
That's the story for evangelism in the Yukon today! Until next time.... Have a great day!
But this time was different! This time was abbsolutely amazing! I invited Dr. Tim Riesen*berger. Actually no, I begged him. I pleaded with him and when he told me he was completely booked, I asked him again, if there was not a single weekend. He asked me when I wanted him to come and he would look at his schedule. I said, "I don't care, Doctor! You pick the date that is most available to you and we'll work with your schedule!" He did. March 8 and 9.
The pastor was right on the ball with the advertising! He did good. Becky J. from our church made posters that were posted all over town. Art, the boys and Bev (a friend), and I did a little door to door work and phoning people. I was very hopeful!
The Pastor was sure to inform Dr. Tim when he came of all the stories of not being terribly successful around here. He didn't want the good Doc. to be too disappointed. Still, by faith we had rented a meeting room at one of our biggest hotels in Whitehorse. The room held 80 seats which the hotel staff put out in beautiful rows, even though the pastor wished they would have put much less so that we could fill up the seats and at least look good if their were few but no, they put all 80 chairs out. But, even the Hotel staff informed the Pastor, Listen, "It's hard to get an audience at all anymore, these days for anything! Good luck!)
As the time approached. The first attendees showed up. Both schizophrenic and obviously so. Dr. Tim remained positive and said, "Well, at least we have two!" But by the time the meeting was about to start the flow of people began. Dr. Tim was sure they were all Adventist people from our church. But, sorry folks, there isn't that many SDAs in all of Yukon! The place packed out. Standing room only!
Dr. Tim spoke on Cancer prevention and the people listened in rapt attention. Dr. Tim was very scientific but did not hesitate even the slightest to bring out the need for God. He gently and carefully and appropriately introduced Bible verses. Two people walked out, but the rest were glued to their seats. Dr. Tim spoke with Conviction and Authority!
At the end of the first meeting. As we were talking. Dr. Tim asked how many people do you think came that were actually not from the church. I laughed. "Tim, Don't you realize that hardly any of our own people showed up? Maybe one dozen and that includes my kids!"
He was shocked. He didn't believe me. He called across the room to the Pastor, "How many people were not from the church?"
The pastor looked up, obviously tickled pink! "The vast majority, Doctor!"
We were all praising the Lord!
One thing that we did forget though was to have a little peice of paper to get the people's contact information. So the next morning I got busy and made out the slip of paper, asking for not only contact info but giving a list of other programs we provide such as other Health programs, Stress seminars, Depression recovery, vegetarian cooking classes, and so on. I also included, in the list " Weekly Home Bible study Group, with fellowship and vegetarian meal" That would be our home church. I included "An invitation to attend weekly services at the SDA church and do you need a ride?". These were to be handed out at the next meeting.
The Dr. and Pastor both made the announcement that the Dr. would be speaking for the service at the SDA church the next morning! He was going to speak on his own personaly testimony.
It was absolutely amazing, the people were so enthralled that the church was packed. They actually followed the guy to the church! PTL The Doctor presented the Gospel in such a way, from the emergency room perspective and he let the tears flow freely. The audience wept with him. I sat by a native lady who not only cried but turned to me and said with tears in her eyes, "How can I save my family now?"
We passed the papers out and people responded. I'm anxious to see the result after church.
At the meeting in the evening there was not a single seat available. The poor hotel staff were kept busy putting out more and sometimes we got our own. People were standing against the back wall.
By the time the second day of meetings was over, you could tell the pastor was on a high. Dr. Tim was on a high and so were we. But my special elation came when I looked at the little response papers and read, One after another, the desire for more. Not only did they want health programs but several requested to come to home Bible study group and fellowship! Some requested personal Bible studies! and I still haven't seen the papers from after the sermon at church. I can hardly wait!
What a blessing! God was so in charge this time! To God be the Glory! Our family, The Doctor and the Pastor all celebrated by going out to "The taste of India" for supper! We sat and talked for probably two hours and at delicious food too!
Dr. Tim will be leaving today, but I can't thank him enough for being an instrument in the hands of God! He was truly inspired and inspiring!
That's the story for evangelism in the Yukon today! Until next time.... Have a great day!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Conductor never Stops Conducting.
I've been praying for the last entire week for God to please help me out of the miry pit and set my feet upon a rock, and establish my way. He has heard my plea and has put a new song in my heart, even praise to our God. (Ps 40:1-3) I must say that I wasn't very patient but in his grace and mercy he heard me anyway.
The Pastor of our church came to our house last night to visit with us. I was a bit afraid but my husband took on the conversation and I stayed quiet and pretty much just listened at first. Art was very diplomatic and seemed to know how to lead the conversation gently and non confrontationally. I was grateful. I could not have done half as well.
Here is a letter I wrote afterwards to let everyone know how it went
Hi All,
Well, I thought I would let you know that it all went well with the visit with the pastor this evening.
Art asked the pastor if he would be willing to mentor him in how to do Bible studies and personal evangelism. He was willing to do that and seemed grateful that someone was interested in helping out.
We talked a bit about the issues in the church and he was very gracious although, he's not quite sure what to do about it. As far as the music goes, he said he doesn't really know much about music and he really doesn't have a problem with the music here. But we were able to be very open and honest with him on our being uncomfortable with this and a few various other issues.
On another note, he brought up the fact that when studies are done, it always comes up statistically that Whitehorse is the most post modern city in North America. I used this opportunity to mention that *McNielus's had suggested a great idea for outreach in post modern style communities that want nothing to do with a church setting and that was to start home groups or small groups in public rented facilities.
The pastor was quite excited about that. He thought that was a fabulous idea. He's willing to work with us on that. He wants us to come to a church business meeting and let everyone know what our ministry is and that our absense from church is not because we are gone awal or something like that, but that we are spreading the Gospel message in a way that might actually work up here.
I did let him know that we have some other motives too, we truly wish to have a place to worship with our family that is in more accordance with our convictions on music and a few other things. He had no problem with that and thought that was a good solution for us as well.
He is excited to have Dr. Tim Riesenburger come up and he thinks he should be put on a list of people that we should bring up more then once.
I also mentioned that we would love to bring a group of young people who were missionaries in training and were on fire and excited, and how would he feel about that? He loved the possibilities and thought that would be awesome. He said that would be something we couldn't refuse.
We ended with prayer and everything went very smoothly and easy.
He asked me again to be the coordinator for health evangelism for the church. He said, when and if you have time between your other ministry ideas. The church has money to help you with whatever you endeavor in that area.
It was good and we are praising God for the way he worked this evening.
Thanks for your prayers.
Julie
Now, I felt pretty relieved after the meeting. I was ready to jump in both feet but as yet, we still did not have the means to even begin.
Tonight I recieved a letter in the mail from a friend named Joanna. I was moved to tears when I opened it and discovered a check for $100. She had asked God what she could do for him and she said, "His answer was oddly clear, ""Do what lies nearest you."" I guess she had just read my post last week about feeling called to work for God and having a miriad of ideas but confused because I hadn't the means to accomplish them. So, She felt that this was where God could use her best at the moment.
As I pulled the check from the envelope, Art stood beside me and we both simultaniously thought, "1000 Glow tracts!" We'll order them up tomorrow. Praise God we will have the message to spread through this town like the leaves of Autumn.
I guess it is time to jump in with both feet now and get to work! Hurray! Praise God!
In my devotion today, it talked about the fact that music is made up of notes and rests. The notes are sounded by the instrument and the rests are silent. However, the conductor never stops conducting. He doesn't miss a single beat whether there is sound or not. And so it is with our lives. We are the instruments doing his bidding. He writes the notes, he writes the rests, and he conducts the orchestra according to the music he has written.
Sometimes we balk when he directs a pause, a rest. We love to sound, to be active at all times. We feel the song is over when we're not singing or making sound, but it is not. He has a rythem. He is directing every beat and it is in synct with his heart, not ours.
When I was discouraged last week, I was balking at the pause in my part of his greater plan. Oh, it's hard! I'm a hard learner. Music was never my fortee' but I do know I must follow the conductor.
.
The Pastor of our church came to our house last night to visit with us. I was a bit afraid but my husband took on the conversation and I stayed quiet and pretty much just listened at first. Art was very diplomatic and seemed to know how to lead the conversation gently and non confrontationally. I was grateful. I could not have done half as well.
Here is a letter I wrote afterwards to let everyone know how it went
Hi All,
Well, I thought I would let you know that it all went well with the visit with the pastor this evening.
Art asked the pastor if he would be willing to mentor him in how to do Bible studies and personal evangelism. He was willing to do that and seemed grateful that someone was interested in helping out.
We talked a bit about the issues in the church and he was very gracious although, he's not quite sure what to do about it. As far as the music goes, he said he doesn't really know much about music and he really doesn't have a problem with the music here. But we were able to be very open and honest with him on our being uncomfortable with this and a few various other issues.
On another note, he brought up the fact that when studies are done, it always comes up statistically that Whitehorse is the most post modern city in North America. I used this opportunity to mention that *McNielus's had suggested a great idea for outreach in post modern style communities that want nothing to do with a church setting and that was to start home groups or small groups in public rented facilities.
The pastor was quite excited about that. He thought that was a fabulous idea. He's willing to work with us on that. He wants us to come to a church business meeting and let everyone know what our ministry is and that our absense from church is not because we are gone awal or something like that, but that we are spreading the Gospel message in a way that might actually work up here.
I did let him know that we have some other motives too, we truly wish to have a place to worship with our family that is in more accordance with our convictions on music and a few other things. He had no problem with that and thought that was a good solution for us as well.
He is excited to have Dr. Tim Riesenburger come up and he thinks he should be put on a list of people that we should bring up more then once.
I also mentioned that we would love to bring a group of young people who were missionaries in training and were on fire and excited, and how would he feel about that? He loved the possibilities and thought that would be awesome. He said that would be something we couldn't refuse.
We ended with prayer and everything went very smoothly and easy.
He asked me again to be the coordinator for health evangelism for the church. He said, when and if you have time between your other ministry ideas. The church has money to help you with whatever you endeavor in that area.
It was good and we are praising God for the way he worked this evening.
Thanks for your prayers.
Julie
Now, I felt pretty relieved after the meeting. I was ready to jump in both feet but as yet, we still did not have the means to even begin.
Tonight I recieved a letter in the mail from a friend named Joanna. I was moved to tears when I opened it and discovered a check for $100. She had asked God what she could do for him and she said, "His answer was oddly clear, ""Do what lies nearest you."" I guess she had just read my post last week about feeling called to work for God and having a miriad of ideas but confused because I hadn't the means to accomplish them. So, She felt that this was where God could use her best at the moment.
As I pulled the check from the envelope, Art stood beside me and we both simultaniously thought, "1000 Glow tracts!" We'll order them up tomorrow. Praise God we will have the message to spread through this town like the leaves of Autumn.
I guess it is time to jump in with both feet now and get to work! Hurray! Praise God!
In my devotion today, it talked about the fact that music is made up of notes and rests. The notes are sounded by the instrument and the rests are silent. However, the conductor never stops conducting. He doesn't miss a single beat whether there is sound or not. And so it is with our lives. We are the instruments doing his bidding. He writes the notes, he writes the rests, and he conducts the orchestra according to the music he has written.
Sometimes we balk when he directs a pause, a rest. We love to sound, to be active at all times. We feel the song is over when we're not singing or making sound, but it is not. He has a rythem. He is directing every beat and it is in synct with his heart, not ours.
When I was discouraged last week, I was balking at the pause in my part of his greater plan. Oh, it's hard! I'm a hard learner. Music was never my fortee' but I do know I must follow the conductor.
.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Too Foggy to Take a Step
When I was a child, I grew up in what was called Self supporting Institutions. When people think of the word "Institution", they might think, I grew up in a group home or an orphanage or a mental institution or something of the sort. Well, that couldn't be farther from the truth. I grew up in what would be better described as, missionary outposts. There was always a group of like minded people who worked together to bring the Gospel of Jesus to the world around them through various means, Medical work, health food work, Evangelism, and all kinds of different ways. It was called self supporting because the workers were not paid by the church but rather we had industries such as agriculture, maple sugar shack, Health food stores, and the like to try and support the program. Today they are more appropriately called "Supporting Ministries" because they support the cause of the church but are run by lay people.
I actually loved living on these missions because there were always lots of people around. I must say, while I love my moments of peace and quiet, I thrive on people. And while I absolutely love living in the quiet country side (would have it no other way), I love interacting with people on a regular basis.
ARME Bible Camp, ASI, GYC, I love things like this too. Crowds of people, like minded people, with a mission and a common goal, bouy me up. It carries me forward. I love being in a crowd, surrounded by a thousand other people smarter then myself. I look around and see all their already established and thriving ministry ideas. It would be so easy for me to just plug in somewhere to someone elses idea and help them. That is what I'm pretty good at.
I am by nature a party girl. Being that I love to talk and laugh and tell stories, I naturally do well in helping with group situations. The problem comes with being an idea person.
When I went to college, I was involved in everything outreach, everything social, and everything crowded. I was never, ever the master mind behind any of these things though. To this day, I will help to decorate, I will help to facilitate, I will help with speeches and songs, I will tell stories, and do missionary work but never am I the organizer. Ask me to organize a party and I automatically shrink. I'm scared! --------- No, honestly, I feel completely inadequate and undone inside! It is out of my realm, my comfort zone!
Over five years ago, God graciously allowed us to move from the city to the country. I was so relieved. I had prayed for this and the Lord provided. He moved us to a small community in the Northern Canada called Yukon, parallel with and East of Alaska (for those who have no idea what I'm talking about).
We joined a small church here, (It is the only SDA church for at least 8 hours travel in any direction) and I plugged in with my ability to help out. I help with cooking classes until that dwindled and died. I helped with evangelistic programs until they dwindled. I helped with social programs at Christmas and Valentines and whatever until the masterminds behind them began to peter out with other responsibilities and I felt less and less capable and less and less satisfied with our mission results.
Then one day I attended an ARME Bible camp and ASI. I was inspired. It has something to do with being in a crowd of prayerful, enthusiastic, mission minded people (very few, if any of them, that I talked to ever heard of where I lived, though). I came home spiritually revived and fed and wanting to do something for God. Only problem was, I found myself alone in my enthusiasm. Very alone!
One day, in church, I spoke with excitement. I was sharing all about my experience at ASI and ARME. I didn't guage my audience well though. I mistakenly said, "I would LOVE to put Yukon on the map in the SDA world." It was like a zizzle went into the air. I was immedietly taken aback. The air could have been cut with a knife. I paused, confused. All was quiet for a few seconds and then I heard a low, "It already is!" coming from one person in the audience. I shrunk inside myself. I had no idea that they felt threatened by my joy to make our impact bigger, broader..... I felt bad!
Still, I had a desire to work for God. Maybe I could recruite some of my busy friends to join me. I felt a desire to have a Bible study and prayer group. I toyed with the idea. I prayed about the idea. I was scared. Could I possibly lead in something? I prayed and prayed and prayed and felt one day, after praying that I must not just stand in my fear, but walk forward in faith and do it. With heart pounding, I stood in church from my pew and announced that on Wednesday nights I would like to start a Bible study group. Again, the air was thick and uncomfortable. "What about Prayer Meeting then?" someone seemed a little put off. "It must carry on!" I replied. I had chosen a different day so as not to interfere with the prayer meeting that was held in someones home.
I began to realize that by doing something out of the ordinary, I was stepping on peoples toes. I shrunk back. I contacted our pastor and plead with him to understand. I was not trying to run my own show. I had an idea and just wanted to start one more avenue to reach the needs of everyone. He told me that prayer meeting only had 3 to 5 people anyway and that I could start a group and they would shut down prayer meeting and that in his experience groups like this didn't work anyway, but I could try. There was no encouragement there. I wanted to cry. This was proving to be so hard and discouraging! I cried to God and prayed and prayed. The Bible study group started and grew. Soon we had 12 to 15 people on a regular basis. It was working! Praise God!
I felt encouraged and later thought that some health programs should be going too. There are so many depressed people about, especially in the dark winters up here. I asked our pastor if he would consider starting an on-going support group for people with depression. We did depression seminars until there were not many attendees anymore but lots of the people who did come were re-attendees and I felt that perhaps a support group might be just the ticket to help them in their new way of living. Emphasis could be on the eight laws of health, new recipies, someone to talk to, and accountability for exercise, water, and abstenence of junk.
"In my experience, support groups don't work!" was the reply. No encouragement there! Rats!
I still felt I should do it. I prayed and prayed and with butterflies in my stomach, I made and posted advertisements up myself. I had found a little room free of charge down town. The first night filled up the room which could only fit 12 to the max. They all wanted to come back again. And for two months before summer vacation we enjoyed a not so well organized, but a well attended little program.
It was during this time though, that I had voiced a concern at our little church to a dear friend of mine. Unfortunatly it was not well recieved or appreciated and when all was said and done, I was very accused, and very alone in our little church. I went from loving being amongst a group of friends to finding refuge under the covers of my bed. I forced myself to attend church but I felt I was in a bubble with my family all alone. My joy was gone. I was so very very discouraged and now I felt angry about it too. I begged God for mercy! Being a missionary by myself was not my fortee'!!
When fall came again, harvest was over, days were lengthening and getting colder, and it was time to start up the Bible study group again after summer. I was reluctant to start again and found it easy to bow out when an argument ensued between the members as to what should and shouldn't be studied. I was not emotionally ready for the battle. I knew the battle was not mine. I knew I should carry on but I dropped the ball into someone elses lap.
This year at GYC in Seattle, Washington, my husband came along to the meetings. It was wonderful. They had the same effect on him as they have on me. It was a filling up spiritually. He was as enthusiastic as myself, probably more so. Although, he is not a crowd person, he thoroughly enjoyed the meetings and brought back many an idea. I was happy because I had someone now beside me who shared the same excitement.
But, homecoming hit me like a brick. It was easy to be all excited to do and dare while we were not here but when I arrived home, reality hit me. My babysitting job suddenly ended as they are moving to Australia meaning $1000 dollars less per month and less to do missionary work with. The fridge started making a horrible racket. My van is making a tremendous noise and is scary to drive. The truck broke down. My sewing business lost momentum while we were gone and I haven't been able to pick it up. We have mission ideas but have not mentioned them to our church or pastor. Not a peep! I'm afraid! The walls seem to be closing in and I found myself more discouraged then ever I have been in a very very very long time.
One day, just the other day, I was reading my sister's blog when I saw the pictures she had posted there of her girls and their friends getting ready to do an evangelistic series of meetings. I had toyed with the idea a lot of asking them to consider doing intense Bible work up here for a couple months or maybe finding a couple of young people who would be willing to come for a year. I have no money though, and so I just lingered over the idea but who have I found yet of all the people I've talked to who would want to come up here. Everyone just smiles and says "Brrr!" and that's the end of that.
Suddenly though, as I sat looking at the beautiful pictures of my nieces and their friends, I had this idea that for six weeks, that's all, just six weeks they could come and I could be the host. We could put our heads together, we could pray together, we could come up with ideas together. With a group, it could be fun, we could go beyond this community to the next and the next. Suddenly I realized hope! I felt happy! These were enthusiastic young people. They had high standards, they were very spiritual, and would be very willing, I was sure! I didn't know anyone better then this (I don't know anyone anymore at all anyway) so they were the only ones to ask. I messaged my sister my idea.
I don't know why I didn't think about this myself. Of course they would be booked all the way up to their eyeballs for the next year. I didn't think of that though. My sister didn't answer me back until later that evening and by that time I had had a wonderful day dreaming of all kinds of possibilities. When she told me I would have to book them a year in advance, it was like my little world fell apart. I have never felt that discouraged in all my life so instantly. I can't tell you how I cried and cried!
I felt angry, yes, but not at them. They could not have known. Not at my sister, how could she help it? Not at anyone. I realized that I had no idea how to proceed, and not the courage to do it. I am even now in a kind of fogginess. Feeling called but unequipped.
My devotions every morning have been warning me about trials to come and being ready to face them with courage and strength from God. And I was prepared, scared but prepared, to face negative people. I was prepared to face more false accusations. But, I guess I was unprepared to face discouragement from thin air. There was no one to point to, there was just me with such a sense of "low" and of "aloneness" and "fogginess" . I could not pick myself up. Why I felt so absolutely down, I have no idea. Only that I did and I cried my heart out.
I am feeling better now. I don't know of any steps to take in any direction. I'm just sitting up straight again. I was reminded in my devotions again this morning that there were many a great man who without exception faced discouragement, bitter discouragement. It talked about Martin Luther who when facing a particularly dangerous and fearful time in his life was seen in deep reflection, writing on his table top with his finger, over and over again, "He lives, He lives! As if to remind himself.
I guess I could somewhat relate to the prophet Elijah as well, In his utmost discouragement, when he wished nothing more then to just die, God sent an angel to feed him, talk to him and lift him up. Did Elijah have a reason to be discouraged? No, but he was and very much so.
I am praying for God to show me a plan of what he wants me to do even if it is alone and we don't know how. Maybe, he doesn't want me to be a missionary in the community. Maybe he does. Maybe he wants me to stay home and clean house. Maybe he has more. Maybe he's got me on hold, maybe I'm just in school right now and He'll use me later. I'm in a position right now of not knowing what the next step is.
I'm praying!!
I actually loved living on these missions because there were always lots of people around. I must say, while I love my moments of peace and quiet, I thrive on people. And while I absolutely love living in the quiet country side (would have it no other way), I love interacting with people on a regular basis.
ARME Bible Camp, ASI, GYC, I love things like this too. Crowds of people, like minded people, with a mission and a common goal, bouy me up. It carries me forward. I love being in a crowd, surrounded by a thousand other people smarter then myself. I look around and see all their already established and thriving ministry ideas. It would be so easy for me to just plug in somewhere to someone elses idea and help them. That is what I'm pretty good at.
I am by nature a party girl. Being that I love to talk and laugh and tell stories, I naturally do well in helping with group situations. The problem comes with being an idea person.
When I went to college, I was involved in everything outreach, everything social, and everything crowded. I was never, ever the master mind behind any of these things though. To this day, I will help to decorate, I will help to facilitate, I will help with speeches and songs, I will tell stories, and do missionary work but never am I the organizer. Ask me to organize a party and I automatically shrink. I'm scared! --------- No, honestly, I feel completely inadequate and undone inside! It is out of my realm, my comfort zone!
Over five years ago, God graciously allowed us to move from the city to the country. I was so relieved. I had prayed for this and the Lord provided. He moved us to a small community in the Northern Canada called Yukon, parallel with and East of Alaska (for those who have no idea what I'm talking about).
We joined a small church here, (It is the only SDA church for at least 8 hours travel in any direction) and I plugged in with my ability to help out. I help with cooking classes until that dwindled and died. I helped with evangelistic programs until they dwindled. I helped with social programs at Christmas and Valentines and whatever until the masterminds behind them began to peter out with other responsibilities and I felt less and less capable and less and less satisfied with our mission results.
Then one day I attended an ARME Bible camp and ASI. I was inspired. It has something to do with being in a crowd of prayerful, enthusiastic, mission minded people (very few, if any of them, that I talked to ever heard of where I lived, though). I came home spiritually revived and fed and wanting to do something for God. Only problem was, I found myself alone in my enthusiasm. Very alone!
One day, in church, I spoke with excitement. I was sharing all about my experience at ASI and ARME. I didn't guage my audience well though. I mistakenly said, "I would LOVE to put Yukon on the map in the SDA world." It was like a zizzle went into the air. I was immedietly taken aback. The air could have been cut with a knife. I paused, confused. All was quiet for a few seconds and then I heard a low, "It already is!" coming from one person in the audience. I shrunk inside myself. I had no idea that they felt threatened by my joy to make our impact bigger, broader..... I felt bad!
Still, I had a desire to work for God. Maybe I could recruite some of my busy friends to join me. I felt a desire to have a Bible study and prayer group. I toyed with the idea. I prayed about the idea. I was scared. Could I possibly lead in something? I prayed and prayed and prayed and felt one day, after praying that I must not just stand in my fear, but walk forward in faith and do it. With heart pounding, I stood in church from my pew and announced that on Wednesday nights I would like to start a Bible study group. Again, the air was thick and uncomfortable. "What about Prayer Meeting then?" someone seemed a little put off. "It must carry on!" I replied. I had chosen a different day so as not to interfere with the prayer meeting that was held in someones home.
I began to realize that by doing something out of the ordinary, I was stepping on peoples toes. I shrunk back. I contacted our pastor and plead with him to understand. I was not trying to run my own show. I had an idea and just wanted to start one more avenue to reach the needs of everyone. He told me that prayer meeting only had 3 to 5 people anyway and that I could start a group and they would shut down prayer meeting and that in his experience groups like this didn't work anyway, but I could try. There was no encouragement there. I wanted to cry. This was proving to be so hard and discouraging! I cried to God and prayed and prayed. The Bible study group started and grew. Soon we had 12 to 15 people on a regular basis. It was working! Praise God!
I felt encouraged and later thought that some health programs should be going too. There are so many depressed people about, especially in the dark winters up here. I asked our pastor if he would consider starting an on-going support group for people with depression. We did depression seminars until there were not many attendees anymore but lots of the people who did come were re-attendees and I felt that perhaps a support group might be just the ticket to help them in their new way of living. Emphasis could be on the eight laws of health, new recipies, someone to talk to, and accountability for exercise, water, and abstenence of junk.
"In my experience, support groups don't work!" was the reply. No encouragement there! Rats!
I still felt I should do it. I prayed and prayed and with butterflies in my stomach, I made and posted advertisements up myself. I had found a little room free of charge down town. The first night filled up the room which could only fit 12 to the max. They all wanted to come back again. And for two months before summer vacation we enjoyed a not so well organized, but a well attended little program.
It was during this time though, that I had voiced a concern at our little church to a dear friend of mine. Unfortunatly it was not well recieved or appreciated and when all was said and done, I was very accused, and very alone in our little church. I went from loving being amongst a group of friends to finding refuge under the covers of my bed. I forced myself to attend church but I felt I was in a bubble with my family all alone. My joy was gone. I was so very very discouraged and now I felt angry about it too. I begged God for mercy! Being a missionary by myself was not my fortee'!!
When fall came again, harvest was over, days were lengthening and getting colder, and it was time to start up the Bible study group again after summer. I was reluctant to start again and found it easy to bow out when an argument ensued between the members as to what should and shouldn't be studied. I was not emotionally ready for the battle. I knew the battle was not mine. I knew I should carry on but I dropped the ball into someone elses lap.
This year at GYC in Seattle, Washington, my husband came along to the meetings. It was wonderful. They had the same effect on him as they have on me. It was a filling up spiritually. He was as enthusiastic as myself, probably more so. Although, he is not a crowd person, he thoroughly enjoyed the meetings and brought back many an idea. I was happy because I had someone now beside me who shared the same excitement.
But, homecoming hit me like a brick. It was easy to be all excited to do and dare while we were not here but when I arrived home, reality hit me. My babysitting job suddenly ended as they are moving to Australia meaning $1000 dollars less per month and less to do missionary work with. The fridge started making a horrible racket. My van is making a tremendous noise and is scary to drive. The truck broke down. My sewing business lost momentum while we were gone and I haven't been able to pick it up. We have mission ideas but have not mentioned them to our church or pastor. Not a peep! I'm afraid! The walls seem to be closing in and I found myself more discouraged then ever I have been in a very very very long time.
One day, just the other day, I was reading my sister's blog when I saw the pictures she had posted there of her girls and their friends getting ready to do an evangelistic series of meetings. I had toyed with the idea a lot of asking them to consider doing intense Bible work up here for a couple months or maybe finding a couple of young people who would be willing to come for a year. I have no money though, and so I just lingered over the idea but who have I found yet of all the people I've talked to who would want to come up here. Everyone just smiles and says "Brrr!" and that's the end of that.
Suddenly though, as I sat looking at the beautiful pictures of my nieces and their friends, I had this idea that for six weeks, that's all, just six weeks they could come and I could be the host. We could put our heads together, we could pray together, we could come up with ideas together. With a group, it could be fun, we could go beyond this community to the next and the next. Suddenly I realized hope! I felt happy! These were enthusiastic young people. They had high standards, they were very spiritual, and would be very willing, I was sure! I didn't know anyone better then this (I don't know anyone anymore at all anyway) so they were the only ones to ask. I messaged my sister my idea.
I don't know why I didn't think about this myself. Of course they would be booked all the way up to their eyeballs for the next year. I didn't think of that though. My sister didn't answer me back until later that evening and by that time I had had a wonderful day dreaming of all kinds of possibilities. When she told me I would have to book them a year in advance, it was like my little world fell apart. I have never felt that discouraged in all my life so instantly. I can't tell you how I cried and cried!
I felt angry, yes, but not at them. They could not have known. Not at my sister, how could she help it? Not at anyone. I realized that I had no idea how to proceed, and not the courage to do it. I am even now in a kind of fogginess. Feeling called but unequipped.
My devotions every morning have been warning me about trials to come and being ready to face them with courage and strength from God. And I was prepared, scared but prepared, to face negative people. I was prepared to face more false accusations. But, I guess I was unprepared to face discouragement from thin air. There was no one to point to, there was just me with such a sense of "low" and of "aloneness" and "fogginess" . I could not pick myself up. Why I felt so absolutely down, I have no idea. Only that I did and I cried my heart out.
I am feeling better now. I don't know of any steps to take in any direction. I'm just sitting up straight again. I was reminded in my devotions again this morning that there were many a great man who without exception faced discouragement, bitter discouragement. It talked about Martin Luther who when facing a particularly dangerous and fearful time in his life was seen in deep reflection, writing on his table top with his finger, over and over again, "He lives, He lives! As if to remind himself.
I guess I could somewhat relate to the prophet Elijah as well, In his utmost discouragement, when he wished nothing more then to just die, God sent an angel to feed him, talk to him and lift him up. Did Elijah have a reason to be discouraged? No, but he was and very much so.
I am praying for God to show me a plan of what he wants me to do even if it is alone and we don't know how. Maybe, he doesn't want me to be a missionary in the community. Maybe he does. Maybe he wants me to stay home and clean house. Maybe he has more. Maybe he's got me on hold, maybe I'm just in school right now and He'll use me later. I'm in a position right now of not knowing what the next step is.
I'm praying!!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Little Girls and their Mother.
I have been babysitting a coupld of little girls for a few months now. It is so fun to have little girls around, especially ones as girly as these ones. They are so sweet!
One thing about them though, is that they had been brought up strictly athiest. Well, I informed their mother when she came to me to babysit that we were Christians and that more then likely her little ones would come home singing about the love of Jesus one day. I told her that I would not go out of my way to teach them but that they would pick it up anyway as a result of the way we lived. She laughed and said ok.
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She couldn't believe it when just two days into having this new babysitter, her little girl was twirling around their cabin singing praises to God for saving and loving her. Even I was surprised because I had not said anything specific to her yet about Jesus.
The older little girl began to be bombarded though by other little children in the community. A little baptist boy about the same age (7 years old) informed her that God created the world. She addimently denied it and a big fight ensued, tears and all. Poor little girl dug in her heals stubbornly. Next her mother transfered her to the Catholic school because the education there was a lot better quality. In the play ground a small boy came up to this new little one and boldly asked? "Do you believe in God?" "NO!" was her reply! LOL
"Then, I'll pray for you!" he said. She was stuck her little nose in the air.
Things crumbled in their home. Mommy who had left daddy realized the value of keeping the family together. She was beside herself in emotional pain and guilt. She poured out her heart to me and cried on my shoulder. I told her of Jesus and his love and forgiveness!
She said, she did not believe it him. She had grown up an athiest in a comunist country. How could she believe when she simply did not believe. To say so would be a lie. I asked her if she would pray with me. She said, "How can I pray to someone who I don't even believe is there? It would be like a lie!"
I agreed. It all seemed so foolish to someone who truly did not believe him there. I prayed by myself for her. I told her I would do the praying. She wanted her husband back and realized that it would take an absolute miracle for that to happen but she did not believe in miracles. She was so very very hopless!
Soon, her hopelessness turned to complete dispair and on my bathroom floor she cried her eyes out. I sat down beside her and she fell into my shoulder and sobbed. She began to pray. She prayed hysterically! I prayed calmly.
For a long time she prayed relentlessly and hysterically. I prayed with her. Her husband came back. He made choices to let her into his heart again. She began to see the power of God. Now I could open the Bible to her. I showed her how to pray, I showed her how to claim God's promises. She excepted everything with open heart.
One day little girl found her mother kneeling in prayer. "What are you doing? This is the reason for all your pain!" The mother gently told her "no, it's the reason that things are turning around!" Defiantly the little girl asked, "Mom, is the easter bunny real?"
"No, that was made up sweety!"
"Is Santa real?"
"No, Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas!"
Angry and confused the little one walked away and didn't talk about it for several days as she processed it. Then one day she told her little sister that the best thing about Christmas was Baby Jesus being born.
Just before I left for Christmas holiday, I asked the mother if I could have my Bible back as I had lent it to her. She was willing but begged me for another one. She said, should could not live without it anymore. I was thrilled and for Christmas gifts presented her with a beautiful Bible and one for little girl that could read and a DVD about Jesus for the little one.
Their Daddy and husband was coming home for Christmas and the mother confided in me that she had written out promises from the Bible which she had pinned up all around her bed. She sat one day thinking about her athiest husband and what he would think when he came home to a family of christians. She thought that perhaps she should take them down for his sake and put them away. She opened her bible and the first words she saw were these, "I shall not hide.." That was it. She had to laugh! He came home and she did not hide. He did not understand but he accepted it.
Now, They are moving. They are moving to Australia to be with their Daddy and Husband. They are happy, apprehensive and unsure. Yesterday, the mother came to my house and asked me if I would kneel with her and pray for her husband. So together in my living room we knelt before the maker and redeemer of this man and prayed for him also. Please pray for them.
They have a long way to go. God granted me an opportunity to plant a seed. I must be content to do what he asks. May God grant some the special harvest!
She has informed me that she is trying to quite smoking now. God grant her strenth and will power! She also informed me that she is even praying to mother Mary now too. LOL I smile. I'm praying about that one too. In his time. One gentle step at a time.
Love this family! Think I'll plant a seed and watch a plant grow. Everytime I look at the plant I'll remember that my job was to plant the seed and pray! God bless them in Australia!
One thing about them though, is that they had been brought up strictly athiest. Well, I informed their mother when she came to me to babysit that we were Christians and that more then likely her little ones would come home singing about the love of Jesus one day. I told her that I would not go out of my way to teach them but that they would pick it up anyway as a result of the way we lived. She laughed and said ok.
\
She couldn't believe it when just two days into having this new babysitter, her little girl was twirling around their cabin singing praises to God for saving and loving her. Even I was surprised because I had not said anything specific to her yet about Jesus.
The older little girl began to be bombarded though by other little children in the community. A little baptist boy about the same age (7 years old) informed her that God created the world. She addimently denied it and a big fight ensued, tears and all. Poor little girl dug in her heals stubbornly. Next her mother transfered her to the Catholic school because the education there was a lot better quality. In the play ground a small boy came up to this new little one and boldly asked? "Do you believe in God?" "NO!" was her reply! LOL
"Then, I'll pray for you!" he said. She was stuck her little nose in the air.
Things crumbled in their home. Mommy who had left daddy realized the value of keeping the family together. She was beside herself in emotional pain and guilt. She poured out her heart to me and cried on my shoulder. I told her of Jesus and his love and forgiveness!
She said, she did not believe it him. She had grown up an athiest in a comunist country. How could she believe when she simply did not believe. To say so would be a lie. I asked her if she would pray with me. She said, "How can I pray to someone who I don't even believe is there? It would be like a lie!"
I agreed. It all seemed so foolish to someone who truly did not believe him there. I prayed by myself for her. I told her I would do the praying. She wanted her husband back and realized that it would take an absolute miracle for that to happen but she did not believe in miracles. She was so very very hopless!
Soon, her hopelessness turned to complete dispair and on my bathroom floor she cried her eyes out. I sat down beside her and she fell into my shoulder and sobbed. She began to pray. She prayed hysterically! I prayed calmly.
For a long time she prayed relentlessly and hysterically. I prayed with her. Her husband came back. He made choices to let her into his heart again. She began to see the power of God. Now I could open the Bible to her. I showed her how to pray, I showed her how to claim God's promises. She excepted everything with open heart.
One day little girl found her mother kneeling in prayer. "What are you doing? This is the reason for all your pain!" The mother gently told her "no, it's the reason that things are turning around!" Defiantly the little girl asked, "Mom, is the easter bunny real?"
"No, that was made up sweety!"
"Is Santa real?"
"No, Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas!"
Angry and confused the little one walked away and didn't talk about it for several days as she processed it. Then one day she told her little sister that the best thing about Christmas was Baby Jesus being born.
Just before I left for Christmas holiday, I asked the mother if I could have my Bible back as I had lent it to her. She was willing but begged me for another one. She said, should could not live without it anymore. I was thrilled and for Christmas gifts presented her with a beautiful Bible and one for little girl that could read and a DVD about Jesus for the little one.
Their Daddy and husband was coming home for Christmas and the mother confided in me that she had written out promises from the Bible which she had pinned up all around her bed. She sat one day thinking about her athiest husband and what he would think when he came home to a family of christians. She thought that perhaps she should take them down for his sake and put them away. She opened her bible and the first words she saw were these, "I shall not hide.." That was it. She had to laugh! He came home and she did not hide. He did not understand but he accepted it.
Now, They are moving. They are moving to Australia to be with their Daddy and Husband. They are happy, apprehensive and unsure. Yesterday, the mother came to my house and asked me if I would kneel with her and pray for her husband. So together in my living room we knelt before the maker and redeemer of this man and prayed for him also. Please pray for them.
They have a long way to go. God granted me an opportunity to plant a seed. I must be content to do what he asks. May God grant some the special harvest!
She has informed me that she is trying to quite smoking now. God grant her strenth and will power! She also informed me that she is even praying to mother Mary now too. LOL I smile. I'm praying about that one too. In his time. One gentle step at a time.
Love this family! Think I'll plant a seed and watch a plant grow. Everytime I look at the plant I'll remember that my job was to plant the seed and pray! God bless them in Australia!
GYC and Today
Generation of Youth for Christ meetings in Seattle were a real blessing! We so much enjoyed them.
I had prayed and prayed that my husband would attend and gain a real spiritual blessing and revival. My hubby is a wonderful man but I believe he was quite discouraged. We don't have much outside spiritual imput up here where we live. Sometimes a person needs to be fed, to have someone lift him up spiritually and in prayer, to see what other's are doing and to get new ideas and a new vision. I had experienced this at ARME Bible Camp last year and had come home so excited. My husband encouraged me but I was quite unprepared for the resistance I encountered from our own friends and fellow Christians here. I must admit, I've learned to appoach people with new ideas with much more caution and more concealed enthusiasm. When I was told that every new idea that I came up with wouldn't work, I felt like melting back into the ground.
My husband watched, encouraged, and patted me on the shoulder but he never became involved, himself. We had high lifestyle standards which he upheld beside me and when we voiced concerns about some things in our church, we were hammered down. My husband stood stronger for what he believed but backed off from any kind of service. He really didn't care anymore to have an active position in the church. I felt very alone in my desire to be a missionary so I prayed. I prayed and prayed that Art would attend GYC and be inspired to service.
I must say, though, the Devil had other plans and it was only 3 days into the trip and all the pipes in our house at home had frozen. Poor Art was ready to jump on a plane and fly back home and forget the whole holiday idea. He would miss GYC. God came through for us though, and eveything was taken care of by friends.
At GYC the boys and I scanned the list of different seminars that we could attend. There was like twenty different ones happening all at the same time. It was a tough decision for me! Not for the boys though. Jacob had heard John Bradshaw speak at ARME Bible Camp and had so enjoyed it that he made up his mind that that is where he was going to go. Caleb Joined him and Art, being the schofer decided he had no choice. Isaac and I took in the Ty Gibson workshop. It was good!
Still, everyday, Art would tell me, "Julie, you should transfer over to our seminar. You will love it!" John Bradshaw and Jim Howard so inspired my husband with ideas that he wouldn't miss a one. I could see the excitment rising in the hotel. Suddenly it became important to be on time. I was quietly thrilled!
On the way home, Art shared with me a lot of what he learned. I didn't have to bring the subject up or start the conversation. All of a sudden he would turn off the music and say, "Oh, and back to our conversation about what we can do for outreach...."
Praise the Lord!
We have been praying for a little space to do outreach on sabbath in town. I made some phone calls. One place was $100 dollars for 3 hours. Ohh, that seemed steep! I prayed and asked God for guidance. The next place was $50 for half a day. That would work better. I could use my babysitting money to pay for this facility and I could set money aside as well for Glow tracks and books and DVD's for outreach.
LOL, Not so fast! Not so easy! The lady I babysit for has now informed me that they are moving to Australia. That means $1000 less per month for our family. All of a sudden, if any missionary work is going to be accomplished it is going to be through God's means and in his time, not our own, lest we should boast. So, it is by faith now.
I advertised my sewing skills. I sew all the time for people. I made a lot of money for several months before Christmas, sewing anything and everything. But, now, not a single reply. :) God knows! He knows what it will cost to be missionaries. He knows I am willing, like Paul, to sew my way around the world if I have to. So, we are on our knees in prayer knowing that it is not us but Him who will provide.
Another note: I was brought to tears the other evening when in family worship, Caleb, called us altogether and with tears confessed that he was convicted about his pride and his ego and making stories bigger then they really were about himself. He cried and said, God had convicted him on this point several days earlier but he took a while to bring himself to say it. He asked all of our forgiveness. I was so proud of him. I cried with him. God is working in the hearts of our kids as well.
I had prayed and prayed that my husband would attend and gain a real spiritual blessing and revival. My hubby is a wonderful man but I believe he was quite discouraged. We don't have much outside spiritual imput up here where we live. Sometimes a person needs to be fed, to have someone lift him up spiritually and in prayer, to see what other's are doing and to get new ideas and a new vision. I had experienced this at ARME Bible Camp last year and had come home so excited. My husband encouraged me but I was quite unprepared for the resistance I encountered from our own friends and fellow Christians here. I must admit, I've learned to appoach people with new ideas with much more caution and more concealed enthusiasm. When I was told that every new idea that I came up with wouldn't work, I felt like melting back into the ground.
My husband watched, encouraged, and patted me on the shoulder but he never became involved, himself. We had high lifestyle standards which he upheld beside me and when we voiced concerns about some things in our church, we were hammered down. My husband stood stronger for what he believed but backed off from any kind of service. He really didn't care anymore to have an active position in the church. I felt very alone in my desire to be a missionary so I prayed. I prayed and prayed that Art would attend GYC and be inspired to service.
I must say, though, the Devil had other plans and it was only 3 days into the trip and all the pipes in our house at home had frozen. Poor Art was ready to jump on a plane and fly back home and forget the whole holiday idea. He would miss GYC. God came through for us though, and eveything was taken care of by friends.
At GYC the boys and I scanned the list of different seminars that we could attend. There was like twenty different ones happening all at the same time. It was a tough decision for me! Not for the boys though. Jacob had heard John Bradshaw speak at ARME Bible Camp and had so enjoyed it that he made up his mind that that is where he was going to go. Caleb Joined him and Art, being the schofer decided he had no choice. Isaac and I took in the Ty Gibson workshop. It was good!
Still, everyday, Art would tell me, "Julie, you should transfer over to our seminar. You will love it!" John Bradshaw and Jim Howard so inspired my husband with ideas that he wouldn't miss a one. I could see the excitment rising in the hotel. Suddenly it became important to be on time. I was quietly thrilled!
On the way home, Art shared with me a lot of what he learned. I didn't have to bring the subject up or start the conversation. All of a sudden he would turn off the music and say, "Oh, and back to our conversation about what we can do for outreach...."
Praise the Lord!
We have been praying for a little space to do outreach on sabbath in town. I made some phone calls. One place was $100 dollars for 3 hours. Ohh, that seemed steep! I prayed and asked God for guidance. The next place was $50 for half a day. That would work better. I could use my babysitting money to pay for this facility and I could set money aside as well for Glow tracks and books and DVD's for outreach.
LOL, Not so fast! Not so easy! The lady I babysit for has now informed me that they are moving to Australia. That means $1000 less per month for our family. All of a sudden, if any missionary work is going to be accomplished it is going to be through God's means and in his time, not our own, lest we should boast. So, it is by faith now.
I advertised my sewing skills. I sew all the time for people. I made a lot of money for several months before Christmas, sewing anything and everything. But, now, not a single reply. :) God knows! He knows what it will cost to be missionaries. He knows I am willing, like Paul, to sew my way around the world if I have to. So, we are on our knees in prayer knowing that it is not us but Him who will provide.
Another note: I was brought to tears the other evening when in family worship, Caleb, called us altogether and with tears confessed that he was convicted about his pride and his ego and making stories bigger then they really were about himself. He cried and said, God had convicted him on this point several days earlier but he took a while to bring himself to say it. He asked all of our forgiveness. I was so proud of him. I cried with him. God is working in the hearts of our kids as well.
Wood
A couple months before we left for vacation, we ordered a logging truck load of wood. We were nearly out so we needed more for this year. Unfortunately, things did not work out the way they were supposed to. The temperatures dropped and michinery began to break down. Parts were ordered, from the lower mainland but they sent up wrong parts. New parts were ordered. Temps dropped again. Everything was going wrong. People everywhere were beginning to squirm as they watched their wook piles dwindle.
Well, it was time for us to leave and we chopped up every last bit of firewood that we had and stacked it neatly by the house for easy access. We prayed it would be enough for while we were gone. We paid for a load of wood to the logger man on faith that he would get us wood while we were gone and we left.
When we came home, still no wood was in our yard. Our pile of chopped wood was small but yesterday we got the call. The machinery was all back in order, It wasn't -45 degrees, the logging truck was in service and the landing was open. We were already paid up so we were the first to recieve our order. Praise God!
Well, it was time for us to leave and we chopped up every last bit of firewood that we had and stacked it neatly by the house for easy access. We prayed it would be enough for while we were gone. We paid for a load of wood to the logger man on faith that he would get us wood while we were gone and we left.
When we came home, still no wood was in our yard. Our pile of chopped wood was small but yesterday we got the call. The machinery was all back in order, It wasn't -45 degrees, the logging truck was in service and the landing was open. We were already paid up so we were the first to recieve our order. Praise God!
What we had left.
What we own now! Happy Day!
Baskets
Since we've been home, I've had visitors nearly everyday. I never mind that. I love visitors. One of my favorite visitors is always Beverly. She came over on Tuesday and Showed us how to make baskets out of news paper. I can't believe how sturdy they are I love them. They make great little gift baskets. (Mom, perfect for your girls to make and sell in Africa).
We spent a day fiddling around and experimenting. I think we have it all down pat now and even Caleb has got the technique down pat. He is weaving his second one now and it is much tighter then his first. I only have a picture of his first one but his second one is a lot better.
We spent a day fiddling around and experimenting. I think we have it all down pat now and even Caleb has got the technique down pat. He is weaving his second one now and it is much tighter then his first. I only have a picture of his first one but his second one is a lot better.
Here are some pictures.
These are the small ones we started out with. They turned out so much fun!
Beverly, leading the way!
Caleb's first basket
I decided to go square and this is mine. I'll post finished pictures later as I haven't finished painting it all up yet.
All Chewed Up!
We are home again. Things at the house looked good.
The dog, Sammy, was very excited to see us. We discovered what he did when he had a lot of down time alone in the house. He chewed!
We discovered boots, shoes, pluggins and the tassles from the rug that my husband bought in India had been chewed.
The dog, Sammy, was very excited to see us. We discovered what he did when he had a lot of down time alone in the house. He chewed!
We discovered boots, shoes, pluggins and the tassles from the rug that my husband bought in India had been chewed.
Well, we had to set about fixing dog destruction.
Here is me one morning sewing back the tassles on the carpet so that they didn't show anymore.
Sammy was very facinated by the needle that kept poking up from the carpet over and over. He was quite curious about how it poked him everytime he tried to grab it.
Yeah, I t was me who chewed the carpet!
That needle just poked my nose!
Happenings of the last month
Christmas Holidays were fun and busy! We thoroughly enjoyed our time down south. Of course, spending time with family is the best part. We started off our holidays leaving Whitehorse in -40 degree weather. We had arranged with a lady to look after our home, sleep there, keep the fires roaring, feed and look after the dog and cat and basically keep everything alive. With that all in place, which took tons of string pulling, we took off a little apprehensively.
We stopped over at my husband's brother 14 hours later. We did not stop for anything more then gas for the vehicle and bathroom stops but the roads were messy and it took us 2 hours longer then usual. By the time we stopped for the night it was -3 degrees celcius. Much better! It had warmed up for us 37 degrees! We discarded most of our heavy winter gear there and that freed up some space (not much) in the car.
The next day we traveled another long day and were exhausted. The roads were horrible and it made for a very tense trip. We decided to stop in at a hotel and enjoy a restful evening and sleep. Well, no such luck. I opened my facebook and discovered that all was not well at the home front. The lady who was to look after our place decided it was too difficult and she didn't want to. Oh, great!!! I scrambled for telephone numbers, calling anyone and everyone I knew to find someone who could go to our house and animals.
God is so Good! We have some awesome friends who took over for us and went to our house. They discovered that because the fires had been neglected, all the water pipes in the house were frozen (only one was broken). Thank you to them for thawing everything out and fixing everything up for us.
But that took several days and my husband was so stressed, he was ready to book a flight back home and call it quits on the vacation thing. That would have been just up the Devil's Alley! So grateful that didn't happen!
We spent the first few of days after we reached our destination, at my sister's house. The kids spent all day everyday, sledding. They were soaked to the bone and having fun with their cousins and friends. It is so awesome to have other kids to play with.
Then we all (My sister's family, my parents from Colorado, and our family) headed to the coast for Christmas. What a beautiful place to spend Christmas! I didn't miss the snow one little bit. It was such a reprieve!
We rented little cabins for each family and ate altogether in my sister's.
Here are some pictures of our time there.
Opening Christmas presents.
Isaac got a STOCKING monkey in his STOCKING
Art got a CD holder with lots of beautiful, Christian music. We've been listening to them ever since. Never get tired of them.
Thank you Anna Joy
Jacob built a little lap desk for Brianna. Our Neighbor helped him out a lot!
My Parents watching Jacob open up his gift of Solar System Monopoly.
Thank you Uncle Steve
Out on the beach there were hours of fun. The rocks were so beautiful!
My sister looking at the different colours.
My Niece, beautiful Brianna
Colourful pieces of seaweed and rocks
My Dad!
A valient effort at running on shifting rocks. Go girls!
Anna Joy picking rocks
My Hubby, Art, enjoying the ocean from the outside.
Caleb and his seaweed friend
Rocks, drift wood, seaweed and railroad tracks
Climbing dead trees
Our favorite photographer! Bri
My mom! I miss her~
Mom and Dad~ Wish our visit was longer
The whole gang!
Love this picture of Jacob!
Stina-Bee
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Pick up colourful seaweed
Picking rocks
Drift wood
My sister and her husband, Steve
Beautiful sunset
Mom and Stina, picking rocks
Our Sweet Vanessa
Beauty
Sea creatures. I know what they are but don't know how to spell it. LOL
Still exploring at sunset
Aaaaahhhh! Greenery at Christmas!
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