Majestic, Glorious Splendour

Today we went snowmobiling in the majestic, glorious splendour of God's creation. God's greatness is immeasurable!

"Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! . . .

. . . No one can measure His greatness. . . .

. . . Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts; . . .

. . . let them proclaim Your power. . . .

. . . I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendour, and Your wondrous miracles. . . .

. . . Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; . . .

. . . I will proclaim Your greatness."
Psalm 145:3-6 (NIV)

Birds, Woodpeckers, Squirrels And Guns

Today we hiked up Lion Mountain.

The snow covered forest was beautiful to behold . . .

. . . with the sounds of chirping birds, peeking woodpeckers, chittering squirrels, . . .

. . . and popping guns. (Someone could be heard target shooting in the near distance.)

The gunshots were a reminder we were no longer in Canada.

But no matter where we are, it is God who directs the snow to fall on the earth, reminding us of His purity and grace.

"He directs the snow to fall on the earth,

and tells the rain to fall down."

Job 37:6 (NIV)

Nothing Is To Be Rejected

Wild turkeys roam freely in Montana.

They are surprisingly ugly.

They are also surprisingly unintelligent. They stop traffic and won't budge even when cars honk their horns.

I was the only person on the road who was excited to see them and was glad for the opportunity to take pictures.

Although these birds are unbecoming and brainless, they were created by God. They are good. (What would Thanksgiving or Christmas be like without them?) It is a good thing we didn't reject them, but received them with thanksgiving like we should everything God has created.

"For everything God created is good,

and nothing is to be rejected

if it is received with thanksgiving."

1 Timothy 4:4 (NIV)

Before The Mountains Were Born

Today was designated for downhill skiing at Blacktail Mountain.

First one out.

Last one out.

But always first to go.

Blacktail Mountain at dawn.

"Follow me and keep up!"

We all enjoyed the beauty and fun of being on top of a mountain — one of the mountains God created. And before God created this mountain, He was God. Today, He is still God and will remain God to the end and always.

"Before the mountains were born,

before You gave birth to the earth,

and the world,

from beginning to end,

You are God."

Psalm 90:2 (NLT)

I Will Give You Rest

We rented two cabins in Bigfork, Montana, one for Brian and me, and the other one for our sons. The cabin Brian and I are staying in is called the Maverick. It is located in the woods.

The cabin our sons are staying in is called the Angler. It is located on Swan River across from the hydro-electric station.

The Lord's presence can be felt with us and He is giving us rest in these lovely cabins.

"The Lord replied,

'My presence will go with you,

and I will give you rest.'"

Exodus 33:14 (NIV)

Where Evening Fades

The drive to Bigfork, Montana, was lovely. We spotted two moose, eight deer, three wild turkeys, and one bald eagle sitting alongside the road.

Here are some pictures of Flathead Lake (minutes from our destination) at sunset.

"The whole earth is filled

with awe at your wonders,

where morning dawns,

where evening fades,

you call forth songs of joy."

Psalm 65:8 (NIV)

If Christmas Happened Today

This is the adult Christmas play I directed. It was performed last Sunday morning in church. My son Matthew acted as the bodyguard and journalist, and the other actors are members of the church. All the actors liked to ad-lib, so it turned out more humorous than what was actually written. It was great to hear the people laugh during a time of year when it can be very stressful or difficult for some to endure!

"So I recommend having fun,

because there is nothing better for people to do in this world

than to eat, drink and enjoy life.

That way they will experience some happiness

along with all the hard work God gives them."

Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NLT)

Just As They Had Been Told

"The shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all the things

they had heard and seen,

which were just

as they had been told."

Luke 2:20 (NIV)

One day we will see Jesus return to earth just as we have been told, not for salvation, but for those who eagerly await Him.

"So Christ also,

having been offered once

to bear the sins of many,

will appear a second time

for salvation without reference to sin,

to those who eagerly await Him"

Hebrews 9:28 (NAS)

And just like the birth of Jesus Christ was and is a great day to rejoice and praise God, so will be His second coming!

Blessed Are Those Who Are Invited

When my son Matthew and I went to a cooking class last Saturday, my favourite recipe was the one below:

Cranberry Sauce

Part A:

3 cups of frozen cranberries

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of raisins

1 cup of vinegar

1/2 teaspoon of chili peppers

1 tablespoon of lemon zest

Part B:

1 1/2 cups of cranberry juice

1 tablespoon of cornstarch

Instructions:

1. Bring part A to a boil.

2. Add part B and bring to a boil while stirring. (Once it starts to thicken remove from heat.)

It was so delicious I made some today for Christmas dinner on Wednesday.

I love celebrating Christ's birth by preparing a special meal. I can only imagine what the meal is going to be like when the church is invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.

"Then the angel said to me,

'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited 

to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'

And he added, 'These are the true words of God.'"

Revelations 9:9 (NIV)

Even Fools Are Thought Wise To Keep Silent

My son Matthew was a body guard in the adult Christmas drama this morning in church. For a prop, Mathew used his air soft pistol which he carried in a black holster.

After the service, Matthew put his air soft gun in my purse to keep out of the reach of the children. Then on the way home from church, I stopped at a gas station to fill my car up with gas. The pay at the pump machine wasn't working at the station, so I had to go inside to pay. When I went inside, I had to take Matthew's gun out of my purse first before I could get out my wallet. Not thinking, (which is something I do occasionally), I placed the gun which was in the holster on the counter. As soon as I did, I realized what I had done. I looked up to see the horror on the teller's face, as she saw the horror on mine. "It's not real!" I said. "It was a prop for a Christmas play in church!"

The cashier gave me a, "Yeah right!" look. Thinking it was wiser now to keep silent than explain myself any more, I put the gun back in my purse, smiled, paid the bill, wished her a merry Christmas and left.

"Even fools are thought wise

when they keep silent'

with their mouths shut,

they seem intelligent."

Proverbs 17:28  (NLT)

On the way home my sons kept nervously looking behind them to see if there was a police following us after I told them what happened. When we arrived home without further incident, Matthew immediately removed his gun from my purse. 

Too Much Honey

This afternoon, my son Matthew and I went to a cooking class that was offered to me for free when I bought our new convection oven. The professional cook who taught the class prepared a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Since my son has food allergies and was too embarrassed to leave food on his plate, I ate all the foods he couldn't eat. I am now stuffed!

Even though the food was amazing, too much of it was not a good thing. And just like too much delicious food or honey is not good, neither is it good to search out one's own glory.

"It's not good

to eat too much honey,

and it's not good

to seek honours for yourself."

Proverbs 25:27 (NLT)

As God's children we are to live for the glory of God and tell the world how glorious He is. It is not praiseworthy for us to praise ourselves or seek the praise of others.

"Sing about the glory of His Name!

Tell the world how glorious He is."

Psalm 66:2 (NLT)

Demolish And Take Captive

A true Christian isn't defined by the world. It is defined by God's Word which will never pass away.

"Heaven and earth will pass away,

but my words will never pass away."

Mark 13:31 and Matthew 24:35 (NIV)

Any argument and every pretension that is against God's Word is to be demolished and taken captive.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension

that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take captive every thought

to make it obedient to Christ."

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV)

God never changes. He was, is and will always be perfect and holy.

"He never changes 

or casts a shifting shadow."

James 1:17 (NLT)

God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

"Jesus Christ is the same 

yesterday and today and forever."

Hebrews 3:8 (NIV)

A Christian is one who loves God and His Word. He/she will never try to change Him or His Word to obtain favor from others. A true Christian is one who loves others enough to risk speaking the truth of God's Word, so they too may be saved.

Remember The Words Jesus Taught

Last night, my sons put on a puppet show for the children with the message to help the weak and remember the words Jesus taught: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

"In everything I did,

I showed you

that by this kind hard work

we must help the weak,

remembering the words

the Lord Jesus Himself said:

'It is more blessed to give 

than to receive.'"

Acts 20:35 (NIV)

The Birthday Of Jesus Is Cause For Great Joy

Tonight is New Hope Kids Christmas party and we are going to celebrate! We have a Christmas puppet show, gingerbread cookies to decorate, and happy snowmen ornaments to make.

"I bring you good news

that will cause great joy

for all the people.

Today in the town of David

a Savior has been born to you;

He is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped

in cloths and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:10-12 (NIV)

No matter what we are going through, the birthday of Jesus is cause for great joy!

Arise, And Shine

When my son Matthew and I traveled on the Light Rail Train to beautiful Sir Winston Churchill Square in the city of Edmonton, I met and talked to two strangers who did not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. After they talked to me on a variety of subjects while I listened, (such as marijuana, criminal records, and tattoos), one of the strangers looked at me and said in a serious manner, "You have an angelic face." I was very surprised at the stranger's comment because I never mentioned God or His Word, or revealed anything about my self. They just saw Jesus in me.

The Bible says people who live in a world full of darkness, should see clearly the light and glory of Jesus in us.

"Arise, shine;

for your light has come,

and the glory of the Lord

has risen upon you."

Isaiah 60:1 (NASB)

Blessed be to God for His light shines throughout a dark world!

Where Truly Is The Church's Heart?

Many church leaders and members grieve more over the lack of finances in the church than over the lost unsaved souls who are doomed to spend eternity in hell. Their main focus is not on God, but rather on money. They want the church to grow, but with financial gain in mind, storing up treasures more on earth than in heaven.

"Do not store up for yourselves 

treasures on earth,

where moths and vermin destroy,

and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves

treasures in heaven,

where moths and vermin do not destroy,

and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV)

To God the real treasures in heaven are the people. And God has given us everything we need through His Holy Spirit to reach, touch and save lives for His Kingdom. It is the power of God, not money, that attracts people to Him. Jesus, God's Son, was born in poverty, lived and walked in poverty, but His ministry was powerful and effective!

People Don't Realize

Last night we had a severe freezing rain storm, which made the roads and sidewalks treacherous, and car and house windows unclear.

The people who have lived in Edmonton all their lives, say the weather is getting worse with each passing year. 

This change in weather is a warning sign from God that the Son of Man is coming soon. 

The people who lived during the time of Noah didn't take heed to God's warnings, just like many people today. Instead, the people mocked God, until the floods came and swept them all away.

"People didn't realize

 what was going to happen

until the flood came 

and swept them all away.

That is the way it will be

when the Son of Man comes."

Matthew 24:39 (NIV)

 It will be the same when the Son of Man comes. Many people today mock God and ignore His warnings. They will not realize what is going to happen until it is too late. 

Great Will Be Their Peace

Today, there is a practice at church for the children's Christmas pageant. I am excited to have the children act out the Christmas story. I love seeing the children dressed in their costumes and hearing their sweet voices. I love teaching them God's Word and the true meaning of Christmas! I also love seeing God use the children to teach or remind the adults of the truths in God's Word!

"All your children

will be taught by the Lord, 

and great will be their peace."

Isaiah 54:12 (NIV)

When the children of God, young or old, are taught God'w Word, great will be their peace. When they are taught a mixture of God's Word and worldly views, great is their confusion.

How Easy It Is To Get Distracted

"But Martha was distracted 

by the big dinner she was preparing."

Luke 10:40a (NLT)

It is easy for a Christian and the Church to get distracted and loose focus like Martha did. When Jesus was visiting at Martha's house, nothing else should have mattered because the Son of God was in her home. What Martha should have done was prepare the meal ahead of time, so she wouldn't miss out in one second of being with Jesus. Christians falter and ministry fails when we get distracted: when our eyes are not on Jesus, when our ears are not tuned to His voice, and when we are not sitting humbly at His feet.

Only One Thing Worth Being Concerned About

God commands us to remember the observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 

"Remember to observe

the Sabbath day

by keeping it holy."

Exodus 20:8 (NIV)

How do we keep the Sabbath day holy? By being only concerned about one thing: sitting at the feet of Jesus.

"But the Lord said to her,

'My dear Martha,

you are worried and upset

over all these details!

There is only one thing worth

being concerned about.

Mary has discovered it,

and it will not be taken away from her.'"

Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

The church leaders should also not be worried or upset over other things. If the church leaders seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness, all these other things will be given to them as well.

"But seek first His Kingdom

and His righteousness,

and all these things

will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

The Walls Collapsed

"When the trumpets sounded,

the army shouted,

and at the sound of the trumpet,

when the men gave a loud shout,

the wall collapsed;

so everyone charged straight in,

and they took the city."

Joshua 6:20 (NIV)

"So humble yourselves

under the mighty power of God,

and at the right time

He will lift you up in honour."

Peter 5:6 (NIV)

The procession, the blowing of the horns, or the shouting of the people did not cause the walls of Jericho to fall. It was the Israelite's humble obedience to God's commands that unleashed His mighty power.

Even Though It Seems Impossible, Believe Otherwise

My husband, Brian, and I, and our four sons, will be spending a week during the Christmas holidays in Big Fork, Montana. I have made reservations for us to stay in two cabins: one for Brian and me, and one for our four sons. Unfortunately, our two dogs won't be able to come with us, so I've had to think of other arrangements for them. I didn't want to put them in a kennel, because kennels remind me of jail cells. So I kept thinking. I thought some more, but nothing happened. Finally, out of desperation, I started phoning the nearby kennels, the top-rated ones first. Unfortunately, they were all booked up, so I ended up phoning a kennel that wasn't on the veterinarian's recommendation list. This kennel's website made the place sound like it was some kind of holiday resort for dogs, so I assumed this kennel didn't make the list because it was located further away.

Well, I was wrong! When Brian and I visited the kennel last weekend, we were sick to our stomachs. It wasn't dirty or smelly, but it certainly wasn't a resort! It was just like I initially thought it would be, a jail for dogs, who only get let out to go to the bathroom. Both Brian and I left despondent, not knowing what to do.

That night, I prayed to God for forgiveness for waiting so long to make arrangements for our dogs, and asked for a miracle.

Then yesterday, when I took our dogs to the vet to get their immunization shots, I talked to their veterinarian about the predicament I was in. She told me to phone this place that offers boarding and daycare for dogs. She said it is not a regular kennel. The dogs play all day in an indoor playground and sleep only at night in their cages. It sounded wonderful, but I hopelessly told her that I already did phone that place, and there were no more spaces available.

However, when I came home, I felt compelled to phone the place again. Even though it was against all reasoning, I did. When I phoned, I was told someone just cancelled moments before I called, so miraculously there was a kennel available for our two dogs. Praise God! This truly is a miracle, because here is a quote off their website: "Christmas and August Long Weekend. These times are the peak boarding seasons. We operate at capacity and have to turn down literally thousands of requests. Therefore, reservations are quite different than the rest of the year."

Even though the reservations this time of the year are quite different, resulting in thousands of requests being turned down, a late reservation is still possible with God.

"Jesus looked at them and said,

'With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible.'"

Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

I am glad I ignored what my brain was saying and acted on what I felt my spirit was saying.

Your Sleep Will Be Sweet

I caught my cat Osha sleeping in the manger that my son Tim made for the children's Christmas pageant.

"When you lie down,

you will not be afraid;

when you lie down,

your sleep will be sweet."

Proverbs 3:24 (NIV)

Christmas Eve On The Farm

This morning, my sons Tim and Matthew put on a puppet for the children. I wrote the play years ago for a children's Christmas Eve celebration.

"Today in the town of David

a Saviour has been born to you;

He is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths

and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:11-12 (NIV)

Unexpectedly Received, But Given Without Expectations

My son Matthew and I went Christmas shopping a few days ago and on the way home, we spotted a Value Village store, so we stopped to browse inside. As I was looking around, my eyes spotted this Christmas train set for only twelve dollars. It was a bit dilapidated because some of the zip ties were missing. It also wasn't plugged in, so I asked the cashier if it worked. She didn't know, but told me I could plug it into one of their sockets to find out. To my delight, it worked perfectly! Even the smoke stack goes off and on. I call this train a present from the Lord

The most treasured gifts usually cost the least amount, like a home-made card from a child, picked wild or garden flowers, a warm hug, a listening ear, and a plate of baked goodies. Why? Because they stem from God's heart. They are good and perfect. They are unexpectedly received, but given without expectations.

"Every good and perfect gift

is from above,

coming down from the Father

of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows."

James 1:17 (NIV)

Stubbornness Of Heart

Recently, the temperatures in Edmonton have dropped to -30 degrees Celsius, so my Yorkshire Terrier doesn't want to go outside. If I give him a gentle shove out, he will quickly go to the bathroom, but then he stays put, shivering in the cold. He won't come back into the house even when I call him. I have to put on my coat and shoes to go get him. For the life of me, I haven't been able to figure the dog's reasoning. It is like he is telling me, "You forced me to go outside in freezing temperatures, so now I am going to let you watch me die."

Feeling sorry for my dog Barlow, my son Matthew and I went shopping today to buy him a sweater to keep him warm. I was going to buy Barlow a plain coloured one, but Matthew who loves to dress stylishly talked me into buying him an argyle sweater instead. Then when my son Tim came home from university, Barlow ran to the front door to greet him by prancing around showing off his new garment. Barlow loves his sweater, but he still doesn't want to go outside or come back in. He reminds me of the people of Israel. Many times they wouldn't listen to God's voice, even though He lovingly provided everything for them. So, God finally gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, to walk in their own devices. Hmm, that's a thought. No, I can't do it. I guess I'll let the dog have its way---for now.

"But My people did not listen to My voice,

and Israel did not obey Me.

'So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart,

To walk in their own device.'

Psalm 81:11-12 (NIV)

When Fear Is Replaced By Faith

The birth of Jesus Christ brought great fear in the hearts of people, but it was replaced by love, joy and peace to those who believed in God.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary with greetings, telling here she was highly favoured of God, she became greatly troubled.

"Mary was greatly troubled at his words

and wondered what kind of greeting this might be."

Luke 1:26 (NIV)

When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he was afraid to take her home to be his wife, so an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream to calm his fears.

"But after he had considered this,

an angel of the Lord appeared to him

in a dream and said,

'Joseph son of David,

do not be afraid

to take Mary home as your wife,

because what is conceived in her

is from the Holy Spirit.'"

Matthew 1:20 (NIV)

When an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night, they were terrified.

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were terrified."

Matthew 2: 9 (NIV)

When fear is replaced by faith in God, the results are love, joy and peace.