Recieving God's Love at Christmas

As I sat quietly on the pew in the balcony, my eyes were captivated by the candlelit lanterns that were dimly glowing along the aisles of the sanctuary. My ears were tuned to the sound of the piano softly playing Christmas carols in the background, but my mind was still busy thinking about the preparations yet to complete for the Christmas gathering with my family the next morning. It was Christmas Eve and it was time to set everything aside and focus on the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Yet even though I knew in my heart that I should relax and enjoy this moment, my mind still could not join in with the rest of my senses.

My son as a child in his Christmas outfit

Then the moment came when a little boy walked in front of me dressed in black pants and red vest with a white shirt and a little black tie. I smiled at him as he proudly walked on by. Seeing that little boy brought back memories of a time when I dressed my own small son just like that for Christmas. My eyes suddenly filled with tears and the door to my heart swung wide open, receiving the love from my Heavenly Father, who was there waiting all along for me to open my heart to Him. He knew that it would take the simplicity of an innocent child to bring me back, not only into the present reality of that special evening, but into His presence.

Yes, it was Christmas and time to celebrate and remember that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that who ever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. The wonderful news of peace on earth, good will to men!

photos compliments of family photo album and photopin.com

A Summer To Remember

Our daughter walking in the Redwoods

This summer my husband, daughter and I took a road trip and drove through the states of Washington, Oregon and into the Northern tip of California. It was such an enjoyable time together. One of our destinations during the trip was to see some of the Redwood Forest. Although our daughter is a young lady in her early twenties, she just loved the experience of walking through the woods amongst those gargantuan trees. She said she felt like a child all over again walking in the Enchanted Forest!

 

Another experience we enjoyed was driving along the famous Highway 101 coastline. It was morning when we arrived at an oceanside view point and the morning misty fog was just lifting. I have to say that no pictures, movies or recorded sounds of the ocean waves could possibly prepare or compare with what I experienced when I saw and felt the ocean for the first time. It was there that all three of us felt like children all over again.

oceanside viewpoint Brookings, Oregon

 

The moment I got out of the car I didn't just see the ocean, I felt it. The power of the rolling waves as they came crashing in commanded my respect. I stood in awe as I gazed out over the sparkling blue water that seemed to go on and on. It was a moment I will never forget. I was seeing one of God's amazing creations!

 

My husband, daughter and I walked down the hillside and along the beach, dipping our hands and feet into the fresh, clear water. I honestly could have stayed there all day. I didn't want to leave. For me, it was like a spiritual experience in many ways for this was an opportunity, an invitation, a God moment. A moment that He, my family and I had waited all this time to experience together.

 

Our walk along the beach

It reminds me that it's those "God moments" that our Heavenly Father wants His children to experience so we can appreciate the reality of Him, His power and might. He is the Almighty and Everlasting God and He wants us to love and respect Him. Yet by His Spirit He walks gently along side us and wants a personal relationship with us. I believe He wants us to see ourselves as He sees us, with love and compassion, mercy and grace. He is so much bigger than us and our problems, yet so willing to come and dwell amongst us in everyday life. He Lives! Amen, let it be so!

Photos courtesy of our family album.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY !

On July 13, 2013 my son got married. It was a beautiful day, filled with many special moments that I will cherish for ever. I can still see them holding hands as they lovingly spoke their vows while gazing into each others eyes. It was perfect. I don't think there was a dry eye in the Church!

Another special moment was during the reception when my husband and I had the opportunity to welcome our daughter-in-law into the family. I shared a quote that I thought was very profound and I could relate to as a mother. It goes like this:

 "A mother is as happy as her least happiest kid".

I expressed how as a mother I could relate to that quote and that their wedding day was one of the happiest days of my life because I knew that it was one of the happiest days of my son's life! My eyes filled with tears and my voice cracked as  I continued to say that my new daughter-in-law was the daughter-in-law that I had always hoped for and that I hoped that I would be the mother-in-law that she had always hoped for. I could hear my own daughter quietly weeping in the background and I could see that my son and daughter-in-law eyes were filled with tears. As the evening went on I came to realize that what I said had a profound effect on many in the reception hall. I had various people with tears in their own eyes come up to me and express how that moment had touched their own hearts. I was blessed that they were blessed.

The quote I shared that night makes me wonder if our Heavenly Father is as happy as His least happiest kid. I know that He cares deeply and wants the best for each and everyone of His children. His desire is for us to freely choose Him, and allow Him to lead and guide us. I believe He too weeps over us. That we as His children are the children that He has always hoped for and that He will be the Father that we have always longed for. For He is a God of love and compassion, mercy and grace. He wants us to enjoy the journey!

                                        Photos compliments of Connor Tkachuk and by JBoisvenue photography

THERE IS HEALING IN THE WRITING

As I quietly type out my posting in the wee hours of this morning, I find it difficult to stay focused on the task at hand. My thoughts drift to the concerns of my dear, sweet Mom who is undergoing surgery tomorrow and to the thousands of people in southern Alberta who have lost their home, businesses and even loved ones over the last few days due to major flooding. I whisper a prayer for them and refocus, but my mind seems as blank as this page that I'm staring at. The thought comes to me, "Why write...what's the point?"

I'm reminded of the words that were spoken deep into my soul last summer, "There is healing in the writing", and I remember what I still believe to be true about writing. For me, the blank page is like a meeting place where I can "lay my cards on the table" through words on the page. I can be myself and bare my soul to the one that I am writing to, be it the Almighty Counsellor, the Author and Finisher of my faith, a family member, a friend or that someone out there in cyberspace that may just need a word of encouragement for that moment.

I'm reminded of revelations from last summer that I still believe to be true; that if I wait until I feel 100% confident in myself or that everything is perfect in my life, then I will never write because that will most likely never happen this side of heaven. Why? Because I'm human...you're human. We live in a broken and fallen world that desperately needs a Saviour and His healing and empowering grace.

It's a world that needs to see my transparency, both as a believer and a writer; to see that I need His healing and empowering grace in order to live out every moment of the day, and that I am simply nothing without Him!


For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

In Him we live and move and have our being . Acts 17:28

If you are in Me and I in you, you will bare fruit; apart from me nothing. John 15:5

A MOTHERS DAY TRIBUTE

Although this year's Mother's Day celebration has come and gone, I would still like to take this time to pay tribute to my Mom. She is an amazing person, one of the people that I truly admire more than anyone else in my life. I literally would not be here if it weren't for her! You see, after giving birth to her second child and experiencing some complications, she was told by her doctor not to have any more children. But my Mom thought it was her decision how many children she would have and went on and had five more - all girls I might add.

Living on the farm, Mom would plant a large garden every year and raise chickens. Many times she would proudly tell us that all the food on the Sunday dinner table was either made from scratch or grown by her hand. She produced everything, from fried chicken, potatoes, peas and carrots to home made dinner buns. She worked hard, alongside my dad. I still cherish the times I would ride beside her in the big farm truck while she hauled grain. She would have me recite scripture verses and we would talk and laugh as the sun went down and the harvest moon came up.
 

I remember when she nursed my dad right up until he passed away from cancer. She said she'd never marry again but, not only did she remarry two more times, she also nursed and stood by both of them right to the end, as they too passed away to cancer.
 

Mom had seven children of her own, but through these marriages she accumulated step children and grand children along the way. All of them still stay in touch with her because she has became their mom and grandma too.
 

In addition to everything else she does, my mom has found time to travel through the years, going to places like Israel, Greece, Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska and Bali.
 

Mom in her twenties

Now that she is 93 years old, I watch her in awe, wondering how she does it all at her age. I don't know if I would have the strength to go through and experience all that she has. It is hard to see her struggle with the inevitable effects of a body that is growing tired. I could go on and on sharing more, but I hope I have given just a little glimpse into the life of a beautiful person that means so much to me.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Thank you for blessing my life!

COME TO THE THRONE OF GRACE

One of the things I enjoy doing during my morning quiet time is to sit in my rocking chair. There's plenty of room there for me plus my furry little friends, my dogs Lilly and Bo. There are times when Lilly will come freely and sit on my lap without hesitation and we enjoy cuddling together. Then there are times when I beckon her to come and sit with me only to see her staring, as if frozen in fear. Then she'll shift her eyes to our other dog Bo, who is already sitting next to me. Bo can be possessive, staring Lilly down as if to say, "This is my lap and my chair."

When I see this interaction going on between the two dogs, I immediately reassure Lilly that she is to look at me as I open my arms and call out her name. I calm Bo and remind him that there is plenty enough room for both of them. I have heard it said that a dog can be as intelligent as a two-year child. I don't know if that is accurate, but I would have to agree that dogs are definitely smart. They play the same games and act out like a toddler can!

But what stuck in my heart the other day, while calling out to Lilly, is that I too experience this in my own life. Sometimes I stand still, unable to come freely to the throne of grace. I might be frozen with concerns for the future or allowing worries about the past mistakes to hang over me like a cloud. I'm focusing my eyes on such things instead of shifting them onto my Heavenly Father. He is calling out to me to come to Him just as I am, with all of my worries and fears, trusting that He will take care of them and me. He wants me to lay my burdens down and just be...just breathe.

As we approach Easter, let us be reminded that through Christ's death and resurrection we can all come boldly to the Throne of Grace...to come just as we are, with all of our worries and fears, trusting that our Heavenly Father will take care of us and our concerns.

Heavenly Father, we come to you and to your throne of grace just as we are. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you and not on the worries of the future, the regrets of the past or the concerns of today. We cast our cares on you, trusting in you to be our everything. In Jesus name Amen (Let it be so)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrew 4:16 KJV)

Photos provided by Terilyn writer, photopin.com, flicker.com