Those Embarrassing Moments!

My son Tim took some pictures of our new kitten playing on carpeted stairs:

He seemed to know we were watching because he began to show off:

His stunts were quite entertaining:

Ki-ai! (A term from Japanese martial arts.)

But the most captivating moment was when he lost his balance and bumped his head:

Don't worry, the kitten is fine. But his ego probably wasn't.

Sometimes I think God allows each of us to have those embarrassing moments, especially when we become overly confident or cocky. In those moments, which we would like to permanently forget but can't, we learn humility and how to depend on God.

Here is a picture of a more meek and humble kitten:

The Bible says we need to not rely on our own abilities, but continually look to God for His strength. We need to seek His face always in our prayers to Him and in our daily devotions.

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."

1 Chronicles 16:11

Tripping and bumping your head in front of a camera can be a good thing. Haughtiness and pride are never.

Envy Rots The Bones

Yesterday, I adopted a male blue lynx point Siamese kitten. He is beautiful with a very sweet personality.

Here are some pictures my son Tim took of the kitten:

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and speaks volumes, so I will share this next picture of Hunter, my two-year-old Angora cat, when I first introduced the new kitten to her.

Do you think that possibly she is jealous?

The Bible says that a peaceful heart brings physical health to the body, but jealousy makes you physically sick.

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

Proverbs 14:30

Are there times when we get jealous over someone?

How about when a person receives recognition or an award for something that you felt you deserved?

Or when a person gets paid more than you for doing the same job?

Or when a new person comes into your church with the same gifting as you, but is more talented and starts receiving all the compliments?

Or when someone is better-looking or richer or smarter?

If so, immediately remind yourself that prolonged jealousy will make you sick while peace in your heart will bring health and wellness. In other words, jealousy isn't worth it! Let go of your jealousy. And hopefully Hunter will let go of hers — the sooner the better.

You Will Again Bring Me Up

Today is Remembrance Day. It is the day we take time to remember the valiant souls that selflessly gave their lives so that others may live free from fear, bondage, and oppression.

November 11th is the official day that World War I ended. On the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the war formally ended when the Germans signed the Armistice.

Since 1919, Canada has chosen this day to honour all the fallen Canadian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of others.

We wear red poppies in remembrance of our brave soldiers because these flowers grew abundantly across the most horrific battle fields in Flanders during World War I. Red also represents the blood that was so willingly shed on our behalf.

Today, Canadians all over this great country will gratefully remember the enormous sacrifices made by gallant and noble men. We will also remember the grief and heartache of mothers and fathers who lost their beloved sons in war.

Throughout the Scriptures, one sees that soldiers are highly respected for their sacrificial service to fight against evil and hostile nations whose insatiable desire for control leads to the destruction of many lives and mass devastation of homelands and property.

It is comforting, though, to realize that the soldiers who served God in their hearts, but then died, live today.

"Though You have made me see troubles,

many and bitter,

You will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth

You will again bring me up."

Psalm 71:20

May God bless and protect all the soldiers in this world who are fighting now for justice, peace, and righteousness. May they also come to know the greatest sacrifice that was made on their behalf by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love Your Enemies

Generally speaking, cats hate dogs. But my cat, Hunter, is different. She loves my dog, Barlow, and Barlow loves her. It's definitely not normal. In fact, it's really strange.

When I first nervously introduced Hunter to Barlow, they were both immediately attracted to each other. Now they are inseparable. Even when I let Barlow out to go to the bathroom, Hunter follows right behind, and when I call Barlow back in, the cat comes too. Dogs are supposed to be a cat's worse nightmare, but Hunter thinks otherwise.

God has asked us to be "not normal" too. He tells us in His Word that we are to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us.

"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you."

Luke 6:27

If you discover that someone is saying negative things about you behind your back, say only positive things about that person to others. Soon people will no longer pay attention to what the other person is saying about you.

If someone is losing their temper and yelling at you, talk calmly back and genuinely say, "I'm sorry." Even though you may have done nothing wrong, you can still be sorry that they are so upset. Those two words spoken in honesty can abruptly stop in their tracks a person who is going full steam ahead in anger.

If someone has hurt you deeply, forgive them, because unforgiveness only leads to continued pain and destruction.

If someone is bullying you, do something kind for that person. If you don't know what act of kindness you can do, ask God to orchestrate a situation where you can offer your help. Sometimes an enemy can be turned into a friend.

If you find yourself making prejudice comments about a different ethnic group, learn more about the people and ask God for compassion.

Let's not be normal. Let's be different! Love your enemies. You will be richly rewarded when you do.

Trials Of Many Kinds

Yesterday, Tim, Matthew, and I got up early (at least we thought it was) and left home at 7:15 AM. Tim needed winter tires for his new car and we thought we'd get an early start before the rush. Right. We stopped first at a tire store to pick up four rims that Tim bought the day before. Then we went to Costco to buy four winter tires to put on those rims. However, when we got to Costco at 8:00 AM, there were 40 people already waiting in line at the tire service department.

After we waited an hour, I gave Tim the keys to my RAV4 so he could take Matthew to the LRT station to catch the train to university. I continued to stay in the line-up. I waited for another hour, passing the time by talking to a lady behind me. She teaches First Nations history and art.

Finally, there was only one person left in front of me. But then the tire service manager told us that they were no longer booking appointments for the day, and that I and the rest of the people might as well go home. I was so disappointed!

After pondering for a second my perplexing situation, I turned to the cashier and asked if I could just buy the tires and take them home with me. She said I could, but she would have to check to see if they were in stock. They were. I thought, "Well, that's good. At least the two hours I spent waiting won't be wasted."

When I was about to pay for the tires, Tim arrived and stood behind me. Just before I slid his debit card through the machine, I hesitated (to Tim's great relief). The amount was $8,280. I then casually commented as if it was no big deal, "Those tires are sure expensive." I couldn't help myself. Honestly. After all, the money was coming out of Tim's account, not mine. Tim didn't say a word. I think he was frozen in horror.

The puzzled and embarrassed lady stared at the computer and tried to figure out what she did wrong. She had charged me for 64 tires! She quickly corrected the amount to a more reasonable one. (It was still wrong, but I wasn't aware of that until we were half-way home.)

On the way home, Tim was studying the bill in the car. He turned to me and said, "You were charged for the tires that the lady in front of us bought." Her tires were for a four-wheel drive vehicle, not a small car, and so they were much more expensive . . . $250 more.

I turned to Tim in disbelief and asked, "You gotta be kidding?"

Unfortunately, Tim responded, "No."

I turned the car around and started to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation as we headed back to Costco. I thought to myself, "Is this ever going to end?"

Not yet anyways. The lady at Costco told me that if I wanted the tires installed, I would have to come early tomorrow and wait in line at an insane 5:30 AM (it doesn't open until 8:00 AM), because that's when people start coming. I immediately decided I wasn't going to do that. Tim can pay more money and go to another tire store to have the tires put on the rims. He was in agreement.

On the way home from Costco the second time, we stopped at another tire store. The man at the service department sarcastically told me to come back in February. Tim and I looked at each other and he then spoke words of great wisdom that I will share with you all: Don't buy a car in winter.

It is now quarter to five in the morning while I am typing this blog. I am starting to waver in my initial decision and wonder if I am crazy enough to go back to Costco. I think I just might be! Second thought: "No, I'm going back to bed. I will deal with it later. The tires and rims can wait."

The Bible says we are to view problems we face in life positively because they teach us patience.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

James 1:2-3

I don't know about you, but the words, "many kinds", scare me.

I know for one thing, yesterday's experience made me laugh, so I guess I passed that test. I hope I pass future ones as well.

Don't Lose Your Way

The greatest treasure and the most valuable possession we can ever own is the Word of God. And the best decision any of us can make in our life-time is to love and serve Him.

The preciousness of knowing God brings us tremendous comfort and genuine happiness. However, if we crave and love money more than God, then we will lose our way and end up piercing ourselves with pain and sorrow.

"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

 And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith 

and pierced themselves with many sorrows."

1 Timothy 6:10

Throughout our walk with God, I can guarantee you that He will periodically test us to see if money has become more important than Him. I know because God has tested me many times. I have passed some, but failed others.

Is a higher income tax refund desired more than telling the truth?

Is a higher paying job a temptation even if the hours are longer and days away from home are more?

Is a higher household income more necessary than for the mother to stay home with the children?

If a cashier undercharges you, do you bring this to his/her attention, or only if he/she overcharges?

If you owe someone money, do you forget to pay the person back because you really don't care?

How about if someone owes you money, do you hound that person until he/she pays you back?

If the work you paid for was not done to your satisfaction, do you lose your temper?

If you receive a parcel in the mail that you did not pay for and would like to have, do you keep it or mail it back?

Do you complain constantly that you are underpaid for your job and stop giving the company your best effort?

When God tells us to give, do we hold back?

We must all constantly check our hearts to make sure money has not become more important than God. If we fail one of God's test, tell God we're sorry and then use the experience to be more aware of this temptation that we all will face in this world of ours.

Don't lose your way.

Do Not Be Anxious

My son Tim needed a new vehicle. He had a lime green 1975 Volkswagen Beetle Baja, but it just wasn't practical to drive in the winter here, so he sold it yesterday, a few hours after he listed it.

The Bible says we are not to be anxious about anything, but in everything, (including looking for a new vehicle), present your requests to God with a thankful heart knowing that God hears your prayers and cares about them.

"Do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Philippians 4:6

God is so good! When my husband, Brian, went on Kijiji early Saturday morning to browse through the list of cars for sale, one car stood out. It was a model that Tim liked with very low mileage and the right price. The car was listed recently, so it was a good thing we are early risers. When we all went to look at the car, including my other sons, Daniel and Matthew, the car surprised our expectations. It was in brand new condition inside and out. I guess I don't have to tell you that Tim bought the car.

The miracle was that the car was listed at the exact time Tim needed one. Many people had phoned the owner after Tim saw it and some while he was buying it; but miraculously my husband was the first to phone.

The vehicle is a 2007 Toyota Yaris with 44 000 km. Can you believe that? It's in brand new condition inside and out. And I love the colour! It's a brilliant blue.

Here is a picture of Tim's new car:

Notice how both of Tim's cars are in the garage and not mine . . . the sacrifices a mother makes.