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

I PHONE TO HEAVEN

 

 

I recently purchased my first iPhone and all I can say is, I'm hooked! I have to admit though, that before I had my own iPhone, as I saw people walking around the stores texting or talking on their phones, I felt a bit perturbed. I would think to myself, "Can't they be without their phones for just one minute?" or "It's okay not to be available 24/7." Now I'm no different, for the simple reason that I found myself standing in a store the other day, texting and talking on my iPhone!

I can do all kinds of things on my iPhone - things like checking the Internet and my emails. I also keep a daily reminder. It even has an alarm. But what I enjoy most of all is the texting. Why, you might ask? I can stay in touch with family and friends. I love being able to send a little note to say hi, I love you or even just the icon of a happy face...like this :) They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, I'm beginning to think a few words in a text or something as simple as a happy face can be worth their weight in gold too.

 

It reminds me of something that I take for granted and perhaps don't do as often as I should and that's pray! As a matter of fact, prayer is far more advanced "technology" than the iPhone will ever be. We have a direct line to the throne room in heaven, 24/7. Whenever we call, there's always a happy face waiting on the other end of the line. We can talk to the almighty Creator any time, anywhere, whether it's in the store or driving in the car. We don't even have to pull over in fear of getting a distraction law ticket!

So next time you go to call someone on your iPhone, say a little prayer for God's protection and blessing on them. Ask Him to make His happy face shine upon them and give them His peace.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show His favour and give you His peace. (Numbers 6:24-26) NLT

Until next time.
Be Blessed,
Terilyn

Photos courtesy of www.photopin.com and www.publicdomainphotos.net

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

It's Thanksgiving day here in Canada and I want to share an article with you that I just posted on my other blog site A Safe and Secret Place .

I wrote the article a few years ago but it is about harvest and blends well with the "Its Harvest" posting that I posted on  this site yesterday. 

Thank you to my good friend Marcia for helping me with the tweaking and grammar. I hope you enjoy !

Happy Thanksgiving !
Be Blessed,
Terrie Lynne 

IT'S HARVEST

 I really enjoy the Autumn weather that we have been experiencing. It's my favourite time of year. It's harvest here in Alberta and that means time to gather everything from grain to garden vegetables.

I have fond memories of growing up on the farm. Memories that will always hold a special place in my heart. When I close my eyes, I can still see my dad climbing down from the combine to have a cup of coffee and a peanut butter sandwich that my mom and I had brought out for him. For me, coffee breaks meant time to run and jump like a hurdler over the rows upon rows of cut grain. It was fun, it was freeing.

The grain dust was so thick in the air one could hardly breath yet, as evening came, the dust made for an incredible crimson red sunset. When dusk gave way to the darkness, every star in the night sky seem to shine. It was amazing, it was beautiful.

Mom and I would wait patiently in the grain truck for Dad to flash the combine lights, letting us know that the hopper was full of grain and it was time for us to drive over so he could unload. I can still hear the gentle, humming sound of the combine in the distance. It was soothing. While waiting, Mom and I would laugh and discuss everyday life and sometimes we would talk about God. It was our special time together.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, I am grateful for these memories that will live on in my heart. Although my Dad has passed away now, I am thankful that I was able to grow up on a farm. I am thankful for the special time with my Mom and I am thankful to believe in a God that created it all!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Be Blessed,
Terilyn
                                                                          

 Photos courtesy of www.photopin.com

RETURN TO INNOCENCE

Do you ever find your mind drifting back to those days when you were a kid? Perhaps you have memories connected to the sights and sounds of being raised in the big city. Some of them bring back fond memories and some may even bring back painful ones that  you hold deep inside.

Perhaps you grew up in a small rural town where life was quieter where little things like running to the mailman to get the mail or going to the local grocery store for a treat brought excitement. Do you remember the taste of that creamy Homo milk out of a glass bottle?

For me, growing up on a farm made for many fond memories. During the summer, I was running through the grain fields, burning up the dirt trails on my bicycle, making mud pies or watching the storms come in. In the winter, it was making snow forts and angels in the snow. Whatever I was doing, there was a freedom and an innocence that somehow got lost in my adulthood and in the business of living everyday life.

 I hope you will join me as we adventure together. I will share with you stories of the past, thoughts from experiences of the present and hopes and dreams for the future. My hope is that together we can return to that innocence in our hearts and experience Gods love, freedom and grace, for this is where the healing begins!

Until tomorrow,
Be Blessed,
Terrie Lynne