Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Android Revolution






I couldn't hold out any-longer.  My blackberry has served me well but I am tired of it freezing and not sending or receiving messaged until 2 days later. In our fast paced world this leaves me in the dust a lot of the time. But I am now officially up to speed! 

Now I won't need a laptop… I hope. If I can do Email, Skype, Facebook and google from my phone the only reason why I will need a computer is to update this blog… I'm way faster at typing on a keyboard than I am on the touch screen.  

So friends, Text me, Skype me, Facebook me, Call me… I guess my cell phone can do phone calls too! 


Friday, October 14, 2011

Life Choices


OH HOW HE LOVES US. 


As I listen to this song I think about my life choices… the good, the bad, the ugly and the "what was I thinking…" choices. I have made some incredibly stupid choices, I have also made some good decisions. The best decisions have been to repent from the incredibly stupid life choices. 

The beauty of a life with God is that we can see His love and His grace in the bad decisions and well as the good decisions. His love speaks louder than any decision I could make. Since I am His creation and He knows me so intimately none of my decisions are a surprise to Him. He may be disappointed with the choices I have made but that doesn't change the way He loves me. 

In the past few months I have witnessed/ heard about some incredible life choices that my friends are making. Some of those choices swell me with pride and joy. Yet others bring me to tears and make me ache for the consequences and pain that follow those decisions. None of those decisions change the way I love those friends. I will always love those friends no matter what life decisions they make. But, something does change, those life decisions either draw the friendship closer or cause distance. Once the bad life decision is made it's like there is a fork in the road, you choose one direction and your friend chooses another. There is the physical distance between the roads but also the emotional, spiritual and relational distance that comes from being un-able to relate. 

I believe that is the way it is with God. We can walk close to Him and be in relationship with Him, but when we choose a different direction we loose the contact with Him. We cause the distance. He didn't leave. He is there, walking parallel to us but on a different road. His arms are stretched out to us and offer us a way back to Him. All we have to do is admit we were wrong, accept His love and grace and run into His arms. He is always loving us and waiting on us. 

As I think about relationships that have changed over the years, the friendships that have grown distant have mostly been because of a physical distance. But other relationships have been because of life decisions and losing the ability to relate. Different Schools, Dating, Moving, Work, Marriage, and Children whether they are good choices or not isn't for me to decide but they have been the cause of losing that ability to relate. 

The longer we live the more life decisions we make whether good or bad (because we are not perfect) those decisions shape our lives and will either draw us towards the Lord or away from Him. I challenge you to think about that in your own lives. Can you see how decisions have pulled you away from the Lord and friends and how other decisions have been beneficial to those relationships. 

OH HOW HE LOVES US. 

HE IS JEALOUS FOR ME
HIS LOVE IS LIKE A HURRICANE 
I AM A TREE
BENDING BENEATH THE WEIGHT
OF HIS WIND AND MERCY

WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN 
I AM UNAWARE
 OF THESE AFFLICTIONS 
ECLIPSED BY GLORY

AND I REALISE 
JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL 
YOU ARE AND HOW GREAT 
YOUR AFFECTIONS ARE FOR ME 

OH HOW HE LOVES US OH
OH HOW HE LOVES US
HOW HE LOVES US OH

WE ARE HIS PORTION 
AND HE IS OUR PRIZE

DRAWN TO REDEMPTION 
BY THE GRACE IS HIS EYES
IF GRACE IS AN OCEAN 
WE'RE ALL SINKING

AND HEAVEN MEETS EARTH 
LIKE A UNFORSEEN KISS 
AND MY HEART TURNS VIOLENTLY
 INSIDE OF MY CHEST

I DON'T HAVE TIME TO MAINTAIN
 THESE REGRETS WHEN 
I THINK ABOUT THE WAY… 

HE LOVES US! 
WOO HOO!!!!!!! 



Thursday, October 6, 2011

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is coming up, I am so excited for this holiday. I think it is one of my favourites. We are having lots of family over, lots of food and I expect lots of laughing!

I am thankful that John and Shirley Bennett are coming from chicago
I am thankful that Emilee is coming from Ottawa
I am thankful that Luc and Rebecca are coming from Calgary
I am thankful that Mom and Dad are coming from Ft. Mcmurray
I am thankful that Patti and James are coming from Rimbey
I am thankful that it will be a full house for the weekend! … I might need to escape saturday for a bit of solitude though… :)

I have so many things to be thankful for. The Lord answered my prayers and has extended my job until christmas. I will be pruning the field trees at the nursery until then, Which means I don't have to get another job before my trip.

That is another answer to prayer. I have been wanting to return to Hawaii. Well, God is sending me again. I am going back as a volunteer for 3 months and my sister (another answered prayer) is applying to come along. Her agreement and feeling lead to go to Hawaii was my confirmation. I will be mission building from january 16- april 16. If you want to come visit… I'd love to see any of you there!

Another answer to prayer is that my Jeep has been stalling and it went to the mechanic today (thanks to mom and dad's good timing) and it's just spark plugs and crossed wires… The poor jeep is getting a little old. it's about time some things were replaced.

I am also thankful for fall. I love this weather. I love scarves, mitts, toques and the fallen leaves. I am so thankful for my family and my friends… who live all over the Canada and the world. I miss you all!

I am thankful for the ladies at work and the relationships I am building with them, it will be sad not to see them for most of the winter… but spring will be a sweet sweet reunion!

I am so very thankful for the blood of Jesus that restores my relationship with him. I am so thankful that He loved me so much that he painfully spilt his blood to save me from my own self and sin. I am thankful that he shows him love to me, through relationships, orchestrated meetings and timing, sunsets, northern lights, blue herons landing on the creek behind the green house, moose wandering through a field, Geese collecting and flying south. I am so Thankful that he cares and knows me enough to give me those gifts!

I am thankful!!