We Live and Grow in Christ

 
We are entering dry season in Malpaisillo, Nicaragua and the land is beginning to look brown and dry. The weather is hot and the dust is blowing. Despite the change of season, I have been noticing the brightly coloured blossoms on certain plants and trees. Just this week, I noticed the bugambilia plant at church and it seemed it had more flowers than leaves! This was interesting to me and it inspired me at the thought that it bloomed so vibrantly despite the change of season and the dryness sweeping over us. I’m grateful for God’s grace in our lives, that like the blossoming plant in dry season, we can bloom vibrantly in Him and for Him in the good and hard seasons of our lives.

When God calls and you follow in obedience to His leading, there are innumerable blessings. One of the greatest blessings in my life has been to answer the call to the mission field with my family. There has been a great amount of change in our lives and the journey has stretched us tremendously, but it is a path that is teaching us so much and bringing us closer to Christ as we learn and work together for Him. We find ourselves making new friends, learning a new language and culture, leading out in church services and children’s meetings, visiting with neighbours, spending time with children, having people in our home, and needing God each day.
God has amazing ways of working in our lives and it’s interesting to look back on the paths He’s taken me. Long before Nicaragua was on our hearts, my family and I prayed that God would be able to use us in His kingdom wherever He called us. It’s encouraging to watch prayers being answered and Him leading our way.

He has a calling for each one of us, and though we do not know the future, we know that He is with us step by step. I encourage you to continually answer to His call, whether it is to serve at home or abroad, and follow His leading full-heartedly. He has a purpose for every soul and calls us to share His love. Do the hard things by His power and you will be blessed.

April Showers

We've been having rainy, spring days recently in southern Ontario. It's been so exciting to watch the snow melt and the flowers begin to grow!

"My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come..."  Song of Solomon 2:10-12a

There is lots of love to go around too... 
and recently, we have been celebrating with my dear friend Amanda and her fiancé, Shawn. They plan to get married this coming summer, so my friend Janell and I decided to throw a bridal shower for Amanda. 

To Amanda and her dear mom and sisters: I dedicate this post especially to you.

Janell and I had so much fun planning this bridal shower. I think we were both having so much fun crafting that we considered the work PLAY at times. We decided we would use Amanda's red umbrella as the center focus of our party theme... and the rest just came together!

My mom and Janell did a wonderful job preparing all the food. It was delicious... we had hot dips and bread sticks, vegetables in little cups with dip, chocolate cream cheese cupcakes, berry tarts, fruit, cake pops, and punch and coffee. 

We played two games with the bride-to-be and her friends. "What age was the bride?" was fun as guests guessed how old Amanda was in different childhood and youth photos. (Thanks so much, Jolene, for sending us these great pictures!)  The other was a guessing game where different facts were given about the happy couple and the guests had to guess if they were about Shawn or about Amanda. (You'll have to ask Amanda who the most organized is... or who is the most spontaneous between the two of them.)

We signed a pretty apron for Amanda and wrote date-night ideas on large popsicle sticks (for the couple to pull out of the jar and use in wedded days of the future, of course). 

We got to know Amanda & Shawn a little better, enjoyed chatting with each other,

 and watched Amanda open many beautiful gifts.

 Even another little guest sneaked in on the party after he returned from mini-golfing with his daddy and brother. Why? He's Miss Miller's friend too and, after all, there was lots of left-over food to be had. 

It's such a happy evening when you watch a smiling bride-to-be

and join the lovely friends who celebrate with her. 

Sunday Evening Song Service

[suhn-dey, eev-ning, sawng, sur-vis]

noun-with-lots-of-adjectives 

A time when our church family meets to worship and adore the Lord our God for a whole evening in song. Once a month, we have a service like this. 

Personal opinion: I'm glad we do. 

     Yes, the definition is my own; the only thing you'll find at dictionary.com is the pronunciation key. It is beautiful and... I wish it would be appropriate for me to leave my post just as that: a short, sweet definition. Instead, I'll be real and tell you why I write about this. 

     I love Jesus and I love singing, but I have much to learn. Sunday evening, before I went to song service, I was not motivated to go sing at an "All Evening-Long Service". Confession: Then and there, my human flesh didn't feel like worshiping. You know those times? It is particularly at those times, I've learned, that one needs a tune-up. It's good for a soul to be humble and learn the lesson at hand. 

     I'm so glad I have a mom who encourages me to attend church rather than skip out and I'm thankful for a brother who is confident in the blessing to come, even when I'm not. I went to church Sunday night and the words I sang spoke to me. I was blessed and challenged beyond my expectation. As I post parts of several songs, I'll let them do the same for you. 

-------------------------------------------------

Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;

Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?

All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;

Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumb’ring on the brink of woe;

Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?

See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down;

Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;

Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?

Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;

Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.

Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;

Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.

Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;

Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.

-George Atkins, 1819

-------------------------------------------------

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, with my soul,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

-Horatio G. Spafford, 1873 

-------------------------------------------------

Again, I have learned a little more because of God's grace. "Oh, the height and depth of mercy! Oh the fullness of His love!" I can not stand by and be apathetic in this walk with God. I am inspired to serve Him with all my heart. He has given all for us. 

Everyday Seeking

" Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. "

Jeremiah 9:23-24

   I read this at bedtime about 24 hours ago. And now, a day of work and play later, I understand a little more... and realize that there's much more to learn. That's how life is. 

Let me glory in this: That I understand and know God. 

   Not in my own wisdom, my might, or my riches. 

Not the words I muster up, my control of life, and the stuff that distracts me. 

  This coming year, I want to grow in my prayer life by God's grace and strength. I've been challenged to be connected to God every day, throughout the whole day. Secondly, I've been reminded to take time in my day to pray and read my Bible. Yes, that sounds like regular devotions. The problem I face is that my devotion to God, regretfully, has not been regular. If I don't plan and dedicate time for Him, I run out of time for Him. I have to begin in viewing my time with Him as something special. I want to look forward to my days spent with God and my appointments with Him. I can not push them off for a later day, arrive late, or be half-heartedly in my worship of Him.  I want to seek the I AM. After all, I'm in a love-relationship with Him. 

  I feel like one of His disciples, asking, "Lord, teach me to pray."

And here's what He answers,

  "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

The Lord also sees my weary heart, and encourages again, 

   "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

   Recently, my family has thought a lot about Nicaragua. Lord willing, it's to become our home in about 5 months. (Some day, I shall write more about that.) Among the many things on our minds, one (to be honest) has been the thought of the changes we face living in a place where robbery is more common than here in our Canadian community. We know life is not really secure anywhere, as earth is not our final home. We understand that all communities are different, but we often remind ourselves that maybe we'll lose a laptop, some clothes, or something dear to us... and we try already to cultivate an attitude of surrender and joy. 

   All that to say, that God is teaching us today in this. I came home to find that my brother lost his Samsung tablet this afternoon. Automatically, something like this makes me want to panic, call everywhere I can, and search for it to find it for him. Yet, I'm learning to stay calm, wait, and pray- as my brother so nobly has exemplified. We trust it will be found, but for now it is lost and we don't know what has happened to it. 
   As small as this incident may be, it did look big and it did remind us that (even in Canada!) whatever the case, we must surrender. 

Nothing is as important as staying rooted in Christ. 
While we ask God to help us find, we find that prayer helps us. 
Not only in finding the lost, but helping us find Him. 

Live life hallowing God's name, seeking, and asking... 
"Thy will be done. Give me this day my daily bread - what you see best for me. Forgive me my sins and help me forgive others. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one."

And, it will be given to you... 
Doors will be opened for you...
You will find and You will receive.  

Beyond Myself

Sometimes, life seems so big.
Too big, too heavy for me to carry on my own.  
There's joy; there's pain. 
       I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.  
There's so much to take in, 
         so much to think about, 
              and so much to hold on to. 

The turning hands of the clock 
leave behind memories of the past, 

emphasize the importance of the present, 
and offer anticipation for the future.

       Time tells me that change is inevitable.
Life seems big.
It seems so beyond myself. 

But my God is so big, so strong, and so mighty...

When life and change look big, He's Bigger!
There is joy and there is pain, 
but holding on to Him makes it all beautiful.

When I let go and say "yes" to Him, 

my relationship with Him becomes sweeter.

And then I see it. 
True joy is found only beyond myself. 
Saying “yes” to God is letting go of my life for Him. 
The load can't be carried by myself. 
He loved me and gave His life for mine. 
The only life that will last, is one hid in Himself.  

Life is in God.  

He is Life.
Life really is Big.

Do you see? 

We ought to believe like we sing it: 

He is Big. Bigger than we believe.
He is the One in control. 

We are small. 
Our position ought to be in continual, humble awe of Him;
trusting Him Who is Big;
surrendering daily to Him Who is Life. 

  

When I believe and surrender to Him, God brings joy. 
He also works in my life in ways beyond myself. His ways are outside of my understanding and above what I can imagine or plan as a human. 

Are you in for the ride?

Within the limits of human knowledge, viewpoint, and capability, 
such surrender {the cutting off of my will} looks like a fearful step. 
The walk will be hard, pain is real, 
and plans do not go the way we wish the would all the time. 

It’s easy to understand that life could be joyful on the mountain, but joy in the valley?
       God is real and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that He keeps His 
       promises.There will be tears, but I'm here to shout to the world that,
       though I am weak, He is strong. He loves with an everlasting love and 
       His plans our higher and better than ours. Though there are valleys and 
       tears, trust that God is good in every step of life. Believe with all of your 
       heart that He is GOD in the good and bad times.   

Yes, then, by faith and in God's strength, we can find joy in all of life. It's found in Him.  

God is Creator. He is Sustainer. He is Redeemer. He is I AM.

The more I see Who He is, the more I see how much He loves us.
The more I see how much He loves us, the more I love Him.  

The more I see how Big He is, the smaller I become.

Life in Him is not about me.

See Him work in life as such?! 

It's humbling. God chooses and uses those who love Him to be a witness of Him.
Love Him and He will work in you and through You. 

To witness is to see, to hear, to know, and to testify. 

Think about those words. Weigh them in your heart. 

The Bible is full of countless witnesses of God. Moses saw God’s power in the burning bush. Isaiah heard God’s call and responded, “Here I am, send me.” John knew Jesus and was sent to testify of the True Light.

Jesus was the true, living Witness of the fullness of God's grace and love. He made the way for us to reach God. He gave everything, so we might have Life. 
This is the Gospel, the good news, we are commanded to share. 
We are called to be like Him, sharing God's love. 

Am I a witness of Him? 
      Am I willing to go beyond myself? 

Is life's span so dear

and are home comforts so engrossing

as to be purchased with my unfaithfulness

and dry-eyed prayerlessness?

At the final bar of God shall the perishing millions

accuse me of materialism

coated with a few Scripture verses?

Forbid it, Almighty God!

I know not what course others may take,

but as for me,

Give me REVIVAL

in my soul

and in my church

and in my nation -

or give me DEATH!

Leonard Ravenhill -Why Revival Tarries

Don't Give Up

It takes courage to give, to live, to genuinely thrive.
Because often it hurts.

I think the Father allows us to be in hard places, so that we can testify of His goodness even though we don't understand the whole picture.

When you feel as if you're between a hard place and a brick, remember that Someone is watching over you and He is the One that makes everything beautiful... that has a purpose for everything.

Remember that your pain may serve the purpose of encouraging others to be strong in their journey. Others watch you.
You stand out when you live on the foundation of Him.

You will bless others by the grace that you flourish in.
Even when it's hard.

He Has Spoken

Strength for the Day

One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be patient and strong,
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time - but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave and the soul is not strong,
O Thou strengthening Christ, be Thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet;
I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I never will leave."

Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear.
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care;
Why should we look forward or back in dismay?
Our needs, like our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time and the day is His day;
He has numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.
                                                  -Selected 

     I've been encouraged by God's promise of being with us. I love how several times this week, with that thought in mind, He brought words in some way or from to remind me of that specifically several times.
     I've been looking at Jeremiah's Call in studying for Sunday School and I'm in awe of God's call and encouragement to Jeremiah. This is Jeremiah's testimony:

     The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

     “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!"

     The LORD replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the  LORD, have spoken!"
     Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”
     Then the Lord said to me, “Look, Jeremiah! What do you see?”

     And I replied, "I see a branch from an almond tree."

     And the Lord said, “That’s right, and it means that I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
     Then the Lord spoke to me again and asked, “What do you see now?”

    And I replied, "I see a pot of boiling water, spilling from the north."

     “Yes,” the Lord said, “for terror from the north will boil out on the people of this land. Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the north to come to Jerusalem. I, the Lord, have spoken! They will set their thrones at the gates of the city. They will attack its walls and all the other towns of Judah. I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil— for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with their own hands! Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
                                                  - Jeremiah 1:4-19 (NLT)

     I believe the Lord's words still stand true for us today! He is with us and will take care of us - He has spoken.