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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Squirrels

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against on another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love..." (Colossians 3:112-14).

Most of the time, we bang the window to get rid of the squirrels that are eating our bird seeds. However, there are times, when I think, "we should love the squirrels too" and I watch them eat the food on the ground, or in the feeder. I remember my brother's friend visiting from Australia, taking pictures of squirrels because he thought they were so cool. We thought otherwise.

Sometimes it is difficult to love the "squirrels" in our lives. I pray that God will help me to love the "squirrels" in my life and to be more accepting. I pray that I will be able to put off my old self and replace my thoughts and actions with Biblical thoughts and thoughts that are compassionate, kind and loving. Forgive me Lord, for the many times that I have not had loving thoughts toward others.

Monday, January 25, 2010

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)



As I continue my list, I pray that God will continue to open my eyes to the many blessings around me...
Psalm 48:1 Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise...

229) pencil crayons

230) creative drawings

231) concentration


232) pride in hard work
233) sketch books
234) baby dedication of friends
235) reminder to embrace God as my Saviour
236) reminder to embrace God as my LORD
237) get together and celebration with fellow adoptive parents and friends
238) Christian fellowship with my hair dresser
239) encouraging, and caring Cadet counselor
240) swimming graduation
241) weekend with family
242) good times with family at sports game
243) free flooding of the ice (AKA rain)
244) a Monday night home
245) a friend to pray over the phone with
246) encouraging and challenging words from a friend
247) Curtis excited to have a sleep over with his older brother in a hotel
248) drawing time
248) study time
249) family time
250) mini stick games


holy experience


Friday, January 22, 2010

Inspiration


"These people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God" (Matthew 15:8,9 -Jesus applying the words of Isaiah 29;13).
Lyrics

Empty hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight
May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign Your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet
So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Let my lifesong sing to You


• Written by Mark Hall
"Worship is so much more than the songs I sing. Instead, worship is in the heart that lifts the song. If you think about it, worship began when I woke up this morning. My life purpose is to give God glory through everything I do. If my life does not worship Him, my songs don't either."
Matthew 15:8-9 / Matthew 23:25-28
Galatians 2:20 / Colossians 3:17
2005 Club Zoo Music (BMI) / SWECS Music (BMI) (adm. by EMI CMG Publishing)

http://www.castingcrowns.com/inindex.php

Although I do not sing (at least when any one's within hearing distance), I am reminded that in all I do, it needs to come from the heart. My worship to God is meaningless if my heart is far from Him. As Mark Hall says, "If my life does not worship Him, my songs (or in my case, being a Mom, wife, Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, etc.) don't either."

I want to "live my life as a living sacrifice" and "bring a smile to the LORD", but I know I fail in so many ways! LORD, please forgive me and cleanse me from the inside. I need to continue to confess to Him, and ask Him to help me to "let me lifesong sing to Him." Only by God's unfailing love and His grace which I am so undeserving of, will I be able to "sign His name to the end of this day."

Monday, January 18, 2010

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

"Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe" (Hebrews 12:28).


Again, I ask the Lord to open my eyes to the many blessings around me....


211) We are now #11 waiting for a referral!!!
212) more families with referrals last week
213) a clean van- thanks honey!!
214) family swimming
215) homemade cards
216) homemade slippers -thanks Sis!
217) cousins
218) a couple of hours on the ice before it began melting
219) worship service
220) celebrating the Lord's Supper
221) listening to our 5 year old read his booklet from school
222) listening to our 8 year old talk about her partaking and the significance of the Passover
223) our 9 year old working so hard and independently on his speech
225) hands to type
226) glasses
227) naps
228) being home

holy experience

Friday, January 15, 2010

Adoption Update


"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks forever" (Psalm 30:11-12).
We've cried, wept, laughed, celebrated, and prayed fervently. This process has been such an emotional roller coaster. Last night, I could hardly sleep as we found out yesterday that we went from #13 to #12 on "the list"- all in one day! We are all so excited! The children were so thrilled this mornings (hugs and high fives all around), when they found out we already moved up a number. I've started a countdown in my kitchen. I am constantly reminded of God's faithfulness! Thank-you, God!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Adoption Update

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12)

This morning we received news that we are officially number 13 on the waiting list (out of 200) for a referral! We've been anxiously waiting for our number, even though it does not give a completely accurate indication on when families will receive their referrals due to many factors such as age, gender, health, etc. It's a number simply to give us an indication where we are in relation to other families in the program. We're excited to be in the top 15! We're praying to get "the call" very soon!!

Lord, help us to be patient, to trust in your perfect timing, and to be faithful in prayer.

Monday, January 11, 2010

One Thousand Gifts (Continued)

196) children skippin' in the snow
"Gladness and joy will overtake them..." (Isaiah 51:11)

197) our small hill across the road (even with our small amount of snow)
"...every mountain and hill made low..." (Isaiah 40:4)
198) free time to build and be creative
"There is a ti9me for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1).


199) love for animals
"In His hand is the life of every creature..." (Job 12:10)


200) many bead creations
201) bed time hugs
202) bed time kisses
203) telling stories by the fire place
204) lengthy phone conversations with Christian friends/godly mentors
205) Christian nursing home
206) friendly nurses taking care of the elderly
207) Christian marriage books
208) Christian parenting books
209) adoption books
210) families who received referrals last week!





holy experience

Friday, January 8, 2010

Peace

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
The other night I watched the movie "Saving Sarah Cain". It's about a New York journalist who gets custody of her 5 Amish nephews/nieces after their mother dies. Although the movie was average with rather inconsistent accents, it certainly pulled a few heart strings. It also made me reflect on, and perhaps desire the simplistic, peaceful life of the Amish.

In the book, "Amish Peace", the author Suzanne Woods Fisher claims "you don't have to become Amish to make personal peace a reality." She also states that most of us wouldn't survive even one cold buggy ride on a winter day anyway! Although I have not read the book (yet), I was inspired by a quote given in the introduction (I was just perusing it on www.christianbook.com). The quote is from an Amish man ("Uncle Amos") who wrote for the Small Farmer's Journal. This is what he says to all of us who sometimes want to be Amish, "If you admire our faith, strengthen yours. If you admire our sense of commitment, deepen yours. If you admire our community spirit, build your own. If you admire the simple life, cut back. If you admire deep character and enduring values, live them yourself."

I don't want the peace that the world offers, but the real peace that only comes from my Lord and Saviour. I pray that I will seek Him and the peace that He offers. I pray that through Him, the many battles in my mind will cease. I pray that I will be able to "strengthen my faith, deepen my commitment, build my own community spirit, cut back in life and live out deep character and enduring values."

Monday, January 4, 2010

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

"Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness"
(Colossians 2:6-7).

As I begin a new year, I continue to pray that the Lord will open my eyes to the many blessings given to me. And so, the count continues...

175) house cats
"And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds; livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so....And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:24, 25b).

176) brothers sharing the same hobby
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification" (Romans 14:19).

177) holiday breakfast
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that"
(1 Timothy 6:6-8).

178) the sound of snow crunching under my feet
179) memory work
180) memory work journals
181) after school skating
182) making new crafts
183) shopping with my sister
184) indoor soccer
185) girls basketball clinic
186) family sleep over at cousins'
187) back to school routines
188) finding lost mittens
189) words of encouragement from hubby
190) camera
191) cats that lift the broken spirits (Nicole being comforted by Patches)
192) the joy that only comes from our Lord
193) the joy that we'll experience in the life to come
194) Christian movies- so many good ones!
195) provisions from our Lord



holy experience

Sunday, January 3, 2010

New Year's Resolutions

"I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds" (Psalm 77:12).

I drove by this sign, and thought, "That just says it all!" This is my New Year's resolution (although eating less junk food might be a good thing to add to it)!! It is my desire and my prayer that God will help me to "Resolve to feed my spiritual self in 2010".