Just God And Me

A few nights ago when I went for my evening walk, the thunder and lightning had ceased. The rains had finally stopped, so I eagerly gathered my two dogs and went out the front door with my camera in hand. It is amazing how God speaks to you through His creation. As I was half-way through my walk, pondering many things, I felt compelled to look up. I am sure glad I did for I beheld the majesty of God. There was a break in the dark clouds and the evening rays of sunshine had broken through.

"He is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning, 

like the brightness after rain that brings the grass from the earth."

2 Samuel 23;4

I couldn't help but think how many times have I been so busy and my mind so cluttered with thoughts that I missed out on God wanting to reveal Himself to me. My walks now have become precious moments where I can be alone with God, so He can share His thoughts.

Take time each day to enjoy God! He wants so much to bless you with His presence!

My dog, Barney, the Sheltie, is calm and easy to take a picture of; but Barlow, the Yorkie, is a different story. He is very hyper and can't sit still long enough for a picture to be taken. As a result, the picture is only of Barney and me. I can be like Barney and sometimes I can be like Barlow. I can get so busy that if God wanted to take a picture of me, He couldn't, and other times I sit quietly at His feet and listen. I hope in the future I become less active and give more of my time to God, when I am quiet and still.

Just Barney and me. Barlow is chasing dragonflies right now.

It is God's earnest desire to have times when it is just you and Him!

The Power Of The Tongue

The Prairies have a large variety of mushrooms and some of them are huge! On my walk the other day, I took some pictures of these mushrooms that are the size of luncheon plates.

I placed my foot beside this mushroom so you could see just how large it was.

The one above actually had an intricate design on top.

The mushrooms below had a frilly edge and an angelic appearance. (Ok, maybe I am getting a little carried away here with my descriptions.)

I don't know the names for these types of mushrooms or if they are edible or poisonous. However, I do know I am not going to eat one and find out.

As most know, some mushrooms can be fatal if digested while others are edible providing large amounts of nutrients for the human body. Some believe eating the non-poisonous mushrooms regularly can help the fight against cancer because they contain so many nutritional health benefits.

The tongue is like that. The Bible says the tongue has the power to give life or death.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue."

Proverbs 8:21

With the tongue, we can cruelly criticize, humiliate, control, manipulate, speak uncaring words, lie, and tempt others to do evil. These vile practices of the tongue can cause deep long-lasting hurt and insecurities which may eventually lead people to addictions, crime, depression, and suicide.

On the other hand, the tongue can also encourage, tell the truth, give sincere compliments, speak lovingly, offer help, show concern, and give praise to our Heavenly Father. Our words and how we say them can make a huge difference in our marriage, in our relationships, in raising children, in witnessing to others about Jesus, and in aiding the healing process of the physically and mentally ill.

Just like eating a mushroom can either cause sickness and death, or provide great nutritional health benefits, the tongue can do the same. The tongue can either tear down and destroy, or build up and give vitality.

When I was eighteen years old, a young man, in whom I was interested, came to visit me one Friday afternoon at Bible college. We stood outside of the dorms and chatted in the lightly falling rain. I was getting a bit wet, but I didn't care. I was just excited to be with him, that is until he looked at my hair and asked with unabashed confidence, "How often do you wash your hair?" Being a normal self-conscious teenager, I was completely horrified and humiliated at the young man's insinuation. Trying not to give him the satisfaction of showing my inner feelings and true reaction, I calmly spoke and replied, "I usually wash it every day, but sometimes I may skip a day if I am studying for exams. Right now my hair is wet from the rain." Nothing more was said, but inside I was angry and hurt. His comment was not easily forgotten.

When my father later came to pick me up that night to take me home for the weekend, I asked my mother if I could have my hair cut Saturday. An appointment was made and foolishly I told the hairdresser to cut my hair extremely short and sassy-looking. I was hoping this new style would ease my hurt and make my insecurity go away. Instead it made it worse. My first thought after the cut was, "I look like a boy!" and instantly regretted what I had impulsively done.

Then Sunday night came for me to head back to the college. I was so embarrassed and ashamed at what I had done. "How could I allow someone's comment make me do something I would never have initially done?" I told a few people in confidence when I arrived as to what happened, but my hair cut and the reason for it spread through the student body like wildfire, making the whole situation even worse. Then one young man changed everything. He came up to me Monday morning during my first class and genuinely told me he liked my hair cut. He told me I looked really cute. His thoughtful and sweet comment healed my hurt and gave me back my self-esteem. Oh how words can hurt and oh how words can heal.

I am sure the first young man didn't mean to be rude and purposefully hurt me. He just didn't think before he spoke like all of us at some time or another. May we all try harder to control our tongue, and use it only to give delight and be a blessing to others.

No More Death

On one of my daily walks recently, I noticed a beautiful dragonfly laying on the sidewalk in perfect condition, except for a "minor" fact: it was dead. I took a picture of it as it is very hard to take a picture of dragonflies when  they travel so fast. You hardly ever find them still, unless of course they are no longer alive. I looked on the internet and discovered that the life span of a dragonfly is only a month. I guess the month was up for this one.

The death of this dragonfly is a reminder that all living things will eventually come to an end, but the Bible says in Heaven there will be no more death.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, 

or sorrow, or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."

Revelations 21:4

Once we are in Heaven, all pain and sadness will cease to exist. You will no longer experience the grief of losing a loved one or saying good-bye to those you love. Even the memory of such sorrowful things that you experienced here on earth will be gone forever. Only gladness, pleasure and peace of mind will dominate your whole being and all those around you.

"In My Father's house are many rooms: if it were not so, 

I would have told you.

 I am going there to prepare a place for you."

John 14:2

And just to think, God is excitedly preparing a place for each one of His children! He waits anxiously expecting as we wait eagerly to meet Him.

I Died For You

When I went for my walk to one of the beautiful parks in town, I came across a mother duck and her sweet babies. I had the dogs with me, so the mother duck became frightened for her children. She called to her ducklings and they followed her into the thick bulrushes to hide. Then she came out of the bulrushes and started making noises to distract the dogs from finding her precious babies. My dogs are always on the leash, so she didn't have to worry, but she obviously didn't know that. The mother duck wasn't taking any chances.

The Bible says God acts the same protective way to His children and that is what we are when we accept Jesus into our hearts. We become His precious sons and daughters.

"He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings.

 His faithful promises are your armour and protection."

Psalm 91:4

The mother duck has safely hidden her babies and is now swimming away from them. Just like this mother duck was willing to die for her babies, God died for us.

"But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us

 while we were still sinners."

Romans 5:8

The mother duck fears for her ducklings. Because of the sacrifice God made for us, we can now live in a place where there will be no fear of anyone being able to snatch you from His loving hands. You will be forever protected! The evil one will no longer be a threat.

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; 

no one will snatch them out of my hand."

John 10:29

God Has A Plan

It is Brian's 50th birthday today! I thought I would share some of my favourite pictures of him for you to see that God had and still does have a plan for his life, just as He has for yours.

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the lord, 'plans to prosper you

 and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Jeremiah 29:11

Brian as a toddler on his tricycle with a toy gun in his hand. (He's a true American.)

Brian enjoying being catered to after he broke his leg playing soccer.

Brian at his grade twelve graduation. I always thought it was sweet he took his sister. Brian was nominated as valedictorian.

Brian on his wedding day with his father and mother.

Brian always tells me that the day he was born God then went to work and created me to be his future wife. Nine months later I was born. We are exactly nine months apart.

Brian holding one of our sons, Chris. All of our four sons weighed the same when they were born: eight and a half pounds.

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him."

Psalm 127:3

Brian, me and our four sons at Christmas. (From left to right: Chris, Tim, Daniel and Matthew.)

God's prosperous plans for each one of us give us hope and a future!

In Every Situation

Last night while I was washing a few dishes and cleaning the inside of a glass, the glass broke and cut the back of my hand. I know what you are thinking: "Not again! You just cut yourself last week." My husband thought the same thing and told me that he is going to have to quit his job just to take care of me. I had to pause and think about that for a moment. No, I didn't do this on purpose.

Anyways, when I examined the cut, I forlornly realized that I needed stitches. As Brian was driving me to the medical clinic, I prayed and asked God to not have me wait hours at the clinic for a doctor to see me. When I entered the waiting room, I saw approximately 15 despondent people waiting. I instantly regretted the selfishness of my prayer. I went up to the receptionist holding a towel around my hand. When she asked what the problem was, I said, "I think I need stitches." I then lifted the towel and showed her the cut. She looked at me strangely as if to say, "You think so?" Then she got up and said, "The doctor will see you right away." I stood there frozen, looking at the shocked faces of the other patients. I just couldn't go in front of all those people, so I sat down with the rest of them, pretending I didn't hear. Then the receptionist came back and firmly said, "Follow me." I obeyed. What was I supposed to do? I really wished at the moment I could just become invisible — I should have prayed that request instead. However, once the door was closed, I felt better. I didn't have to see the dismal faces of all those waiting patients.

The young doctor came in soon and stitched up my hand. He was very kind and gentle until he told the nurse to give me a tetanus shot. I did not want a tetanus shot! I had one over ten years ago when I stepped on a rusty nail with my bare foot. The reaction was far worse that the injury. All my muscles painfully ached throughout the night. I couldn't sleep at all. I tried to sweetly talk the doctor out of it. He wouldn't have any of it. I got the tetanus shot. I prayed a second prayer, "God please don't let me react to this shot." As I left the room, I saw that the waiting area now held about 30 gloomy people. I wanted to be invisible again or say something enlightening. The only thought came to my mind was, "It really was a big boo-boo." I didn't think that was going to work, so I just hung my head down and quietly walked out, making visible the large bandage on my hand.

Well, as I write this blog, I am praising God for answered prayer. No, not for the first one, the second one. I had absolutely no side effects what so ever from the tetanus shot. My hand hurts and it is hard to type, but I am very thankful to God.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Phillippians 4:6

Don't be timid to ask God for things. It is not God's will for us to be anxious about anything. The Bible says that in 'every' situation present your requests to Him. God will answer!

By Their Fruit You'll Know

My apple tree has produced fruit this year! I have about two dozen apples growing. I planted the tree two years ago when I moved to this new house and landscaped the yard. Now nobody will need to ask the question, "What type of tree is that?" They will automatically know by its fruit.

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing,

but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.

Do people pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?"

Matthew 7:16

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Galatians 5:22

If you are in the process of choosing a pastor, a spouse, a close friend, or a business partner, but you are uneasy and undecided, look at the fruit that their lives produce. The fruit of a godly person is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Of course, we all know that no one is perfect, but if you are seeing an abundance of other kinds of fruit like criticism, insensitivity, selfishness, greed, unloyalty, control, pride, prejudice, and anger, beware. You will not go wrong in making a decision if you look at their fruit, for an ungodly person will produce ungodly fruit and the godly person will produce godly fruit.

Not too long ago, my sons and I were visiting a local church in the area. While the Pastor was preaching his sermon, a young child started to cry. My focus was immediately on the Pastor to see if he was going to react in a negative way. He didn't. In fact, he showed no irritation at all to the interruption and continued to be speak in a relaxed tone of voice. He never even looked in the direction the noise was coming from, so as to not embarrass the mother. This occurred twice in the sermon, and the Pastor responded the same way both times. I don't remember much about the sermon that was preached that day, but I do remember the lesson he taught through his actions. It is not what we say, look like, or the position we hold, but how we act that reveal the content of our heart. The Bible says we will know people by their fruit. When you need to make an important decision such as whether or not you should trust someone, pray to God for revelation of that person's fruits.