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Sunday, November 20, 2011

Our Story

I've been meaning to post this link for a few weeks but kept forgetting until now.  A few weeks ago in our church we did a series called "Stories that Preach".  Each Sunday someone from the congregation told their story about how God had worked in their lives and then our pastor moved onto a sermon based on that story.  In the final week of this series Kevin and I had the chance to share part of our story.  So below is the link to the recording of our story.  Our part goes until about 13 minutes in, and after that is the sermon.  I'd love to hear what you think.

http://mrcc.ca/node/650

Saturday, November 19, 2011

It's That Time...



For the past few days I've been feeling like others around me are getting into that Christmas time spirit, but that I was falling behind.  I am not sure what it is, but so far this year it isn't hitting me like it normally does.  Perhaps I'm too busy for it to catch up to me?  Perhaps this year I'm feeling more drawn to focus on different things than the regular holiday hub-bub?  Whatever is going on, I know that I love Christmas time and that I would rather not let it pass me by.  So let's kick start this thing...


Clementines...  Last night I bought a box of clementines and just the smell as I broke the skin of my first one pulled me into this time of year.


Lights...  Tonight I'm going to turn on our outdoor Christmas lights to see how they look twinkling in the evening darkness.


Music...  I just might have to dig through my shelves to find my Christmas cd's and throw them on random at full blast!


Food...  Apart from the clementines, there are other special only-at-Christmas-time foods that are bound to start making appearances.  A few examples for us are cheese ball, nuts and bolts, peanut butter balls, and Quality Street chocolates.  


Love...  This time of year can be all about me, or it can be all about others.  About taking or giving.  I choose for it to be about blessing others.



Thursday, November 10, 2011

Formed



I was hanging out with a friend and a sentence that came out of our conversation struck me.  She was talking about the Chronicles of Narnia, that she read them as a child.  And she said that they formed her.  Not just that they meant a lot to her, or that she loved them, that she thought they were great stories, but she said they formed her.  A child, beginning to comprehend the beautiful character of God through the character of Aslan, seeing the bigger and deeper picture of our spiritual reality through these children's stories that are more than stories.  I love that image, of something beautiful and good being brought into her life by God to help form her.


Psalm 139 says


"13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
      and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
      Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

      as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. "
God took care to form me (and you) inside my mother's womb, to physically create me.  But I think He also is active throughout our lives, bringing things, people, experiences into our lives to form us too.


I was thinking about this, and the various things from my childhood that helped form who I am.  I think of my parents.  The books I read as a kid.  The hours I spent playing the piano.  The close friends that did life with me.  There are so many things that helped form me.


But I realized that I am still being formed.  God is still guiding me, directing me, and putting the right elements into my path to help form me into the woman of God that he wants me to be.  And its still through a lot of the same kinds of things.  New songs that grip me with the significance of their words and open my heart to my Lord in a new way.  Books that uncover greater understanding of how to tackle life in a Christ honoring and Kingdom bringing way.  Old and new friends that listen to me and prompt me to make wise decisions.  


I am thankful to be clay in God's hands.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Sunday Morning

This morning I am thankful for...
  • A beautiful, clear blue sky that is lighting up early with the sun's warm rays
  • Sweet and crunchy red grapes
  • The anticipation of singing and hearing God's word today with my church family
  • Good food and good conversation shared with good friends
  • The patient and loving man I get to do life with
  • God's pursuit of us