Canada Day 2011

Well I must say this Canada Day was beautiful.  This is our first Canada Day here in our new home city, last year we had gone back to my hometown to celebrate.  This year, we didnt do anything that was being run by the city, but went out into nature, down by the river and found a family of Canadian Geese, the parents were paitient for a while, but then started to get angry that we were there so needless to say we had to make a getaway LOL.  Then we went to the park, then headed to my inlaws for a family bbq.  It was a terrific day ended by fireflies, glow sticks and sparklers, the kids all fell asleep quickly afterwards, the day filled with smiles and thankyous to God for all we were blessed with. 

unforced rhythms of grace ~ No shipping and handling fee's

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rythms of grace

  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly." Matt 11:28-30 (MSG)

 Bare with me here, these thoughts are just pouring into me as I write this.

When I first read Matthew 11 in the Message I chucked because it almost sounds like a late night infomercial.  Could you see Jesus, acting like Vince from ShamWow, saying "Its only for a limited time ... I cant do this all day!"  (and yet have you noticed Vince has been doing that for years now? *grin*)

Could you see Jesus walking down the green screen "beach" talking about the freedom He gives us when we trust in Him?  Im just giggling as I write this, as serious as the topic is- salvation- God has given me these thoughts tonight I think to give me a chuckle after a long day.

In a way this statement makes sense, It is only for a limited time- only while we walk this Earth does Christ promise this 'recovering of our life'.  Its not like we are going to be able to say to God "Im sorry" while we are facing Him in judgement and havent accepted Christ as our Savior.  Think He's going to be like "oh okay if you are sorry then come on in even though you denied my Son your whole life?"

Thats not how this works.

Christ does "do this all day" though, He seeks us out. His Spirit calls to us gently.  Some people feel God for the first time and say "what is happening to me! Why am I feeling this way!"  The first time I felt God I bawled like a baby, it was tears of so many emotions, it was amazing.  Some people dont know what to do with that, do we go with the flow or return it and ask for a refund because its just "not the way people do things anymore."  Theres no small print, God gave us His word to tell us how it is.  Theres no `catch`` God craves a relationship with all of us.  His "infomercial" is in the Bible, His Spirit is the one who delivers this love right to your heart, removing your sin free of charge and replacing it with Holy Spirit. 
I heard Francis Chan once say:

"Its not Jesus plus good works, plus rituals.  Its just Jesus alone. Its not Jesus OR something else, God provided one way to spend friendship with him forever. The God of the universe is crazy about you and screaming out for your attention so dont just walk away and go back to your routine, this could be the greatest day of your life. Stop and have faith. "

Why I read the Bible...

                                                                              So since I have started this journey with this Walking with Him Wednesday's  I have talked about how I journal sometimes to speak to God, and how I love His creation.  Today I would like to talk about why I read the Bible because this I believe is very important for walking with God. 

I believe the Bible is the very breath of God.  This means that God divinely influenced the writers of the original writings of this amazing book. 


2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

I have been asked rightly "How do you know that its true? You were not there.  The people translating it today were not there."

And they are right, but our God was there, from the begining of time, and I choose to trust Him that this Book is the one we are to follow to understand what He sounds like, what He talked about, and what He taught while He walked with us on Earth among other things as well. 

Its a BIG book.  I havent read all of it, but I hunger to read it, to hear the accounts, to learn His ways. Its not an inconvinence to read scripture each day.  Its something I feel honored to do.

We are reading GOD here! 

I dont always understand some of the things He did, I havent always been the biggest fan of Bible study in the beginning I'll admit, but the more and more I hunger to learn more about our amazing God, the more and more I want to make sure I understand it right.  I dont want to pick and choose scripture just to suit my fancy.  I dont want to just be able to say "and He said Love eachother and a bunch of other stuff"... I want to fully understand it.  I want to have "a-Ha!" moments. I want to hear God speak to me through the pages, and oh, the days He does its just so beautiful. 

There is so much good stuff to chew on in there!  There is some scary stuff too.  Stuff that at first glance makes you cringe and say "why God, why on Earth would You let this happen?"  But the more and more I learn, through study, and read and soak it all in I start to understand things. 

Reading in the Old Testament on the ways things occured before God walked along this Earth, to understand the history, where we all come from!  I have been just really enjoying the Old Testament latley!

Getting goosebumps while reading the New Testament and how God..can you believe this!! GOD came and walked like us, felt pain like us, HEALED us, SHARED with us, SERVED us, and DIED for us. All documented, all so we could see what He was like, and come to a relationship with Him.  I cannot thank Him enough!  And to learn about what He freely gave to us when we put our trust in Him...His Spirit... its amazing! 

The more and more I read I understand. He gave us this Book, so we could understand what He really sounds like against the world- against the ways of Christ.  It is all we need. It is enough.  I have a shelf of books, self help, how to draw closer to God, what to do when books which are all amazing...

yet this one is enough.  If all books in my house were to be burned but one, this is the one I would keep.  And I want to understand it, memorize parts of it, chew on it, praise God for it, discuss it, share it, give it, live it.  

When I cant handle things

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8 NIV)

When way to much news comes into light, even if it all seems a bit "not such a big deal" to some, something in my heart is aching to fix everything.. all at once.   My mind never stops spinning. 

Its those things where I know only God can help me though, put the right people in my life, and the right words from Him. 

These are the tough moments, the moments I know God has permitted to happen, a challenge to make me keep my eyes on HIM and not to have a nervous breakdown.  I need to thank Him even in these moments because even they too have a purpose for His perfect will. 

Its the moments where I cant get my brain to stop spinning and turning. Its the moments where I even turn to my husband and he goes "seriously these things arent that big of a deal." And I say "well my brain sure thinks so!" 

I wanna make things right, no one to be offended, peace all around, no anger,

I fear confrontation.

Its in that kind of moment I need to surrender to Christ, coming off a weekend of a huge Spiritual high and ask myself, do I allow this to completly rip me from clinging to Christ's feet or do I cling tighter, cry and soak in His love.  

Soaking soaking soaking in His truth and His love, His grace, allowing time to listen to Him, waiting for those words that say

"even when you think that in those moments that I dont have control, I do."

Im just so greatful in this moment, I am learning to quicker and quicker to allow Him to tell me this because to be honest sometimes I dont let my mind stop obsessing long enough for God to get a word in edgewise.  

"With all your heart  you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. Always let Him lead you, and He will clear the road for you to follow. " (Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV)

“Do not be anxious about any thing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV).

 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15 NIV).

  

Multitudes of gifts #37-70

#37 - moss and bare toes

#38 - ceiling fans blowing gently in the supermarket

#39-  toddlers falling asleep outdoors

#40-  planting hostas as the sun tucks itself in for the night on the longest day of the year

#41-  Midnight laughter with my husband

#42-  Psalm 119 while sitting on the deck, wind blowing, night falling

#43-  our 8 year old husky still acting like a puppy

#44-  potty training, slow and steady
#45-  My mother in laws banana bread
#46-  midnight thunderstorms

#47-  moss growing up a tree

#48- stray kitties sleeping in our garden

#49- sharing between neighbours

#50-  new summer dresses

#51- Avon calling (Thankyou Daisy!)

#52- Steaming cup of coffee

#53- curtains dancing with the wind
#54-  cinnamon rolls rising...

#55- puddle splashing
#56- mud fights

#57- shuffling toddler feet across the kitchen floor, bowl full of pasta in hand. 

#58-  the shadows of tall trees
#59- the sound of dinner simmering
#60- babies bum scooting across floors
#61- babies peeking into Mothers rubber boots
#62- Fiesta nights with children laughing

#63- balloon animals
#64- Grand Openings of parks
#65- outreach for Christ
#66- time spent with cousins
#67- laughter, uncontrollable laughter
#68- backyards
#69- God Mothers
#70- middle of the night phonecalls with friends

Join the Applause!

This morning I stumbled across this amazing idea called "Join the Applause" Founded May 31st 2011, it is a global movement of gratitude directed at God.  "gratitude changes everything"  It is "simply a catalyst to encourage people to learn more about God through what has been created." 


God reveals Himself to people through what He created.  As my readers and friends know, Im big on discovering Gods creation and praising Him for all of it, its beauty, strength. Its awe.  When I seen that there is a movement started to just totally give God praise for His creation, I got very excited!

Psalms 19:1-2 says "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge"

Romans 1:20 "for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse"

 

"pause, ponder, appreciate and respond appropriately to our God, the Creator of it all." Join The Applause should be something done everyday as the creators of this group have also stated, but they have made the last Saturday in June "Applause Day." THATS TODAY!!! Its a day to go outside and explore God's creation. A day to ponder, appreciate, and respond appropriately to God by Joining the Applause to Him for all that has been created.  A day to explore, a night to celebrate. The applause begins at sunset in the first time zone- New Zeland, and follows the sunset for the next 24 hours of contact applaude for our Creator. Will you join us? - Join the Applause."

www.jointheapplause.com -  there are beautiful photos taken of Gods beauty in Creation from around the world, you can upload yours as well!!! There is also a facebook and twitter connection as well.. as well as many others Im sure. This is such a great idea! I had to share it with everyone!

He didn't have too....

He didnt have to give us shadows, He didnt have to create rain... He didnt have to make water bubble when it boils, He didnt even have to make it boil at all!  He didnt need to make it bead up on flower petals, or make it clear, or even close to how it is! Think about it, all that is happening around you right now, the birds, the sky, the air you are inhaling..exhaling... all that was created by God, just like that. 

These thoughts circling my head. The physics of this Earth.  He could have done it any which way.  In ways we cant even imagine because they are like nothing our minds are capable of understanding.  We are so limited in a way compared to Him who is limitless. 

He doesnt have to bless us, He doesnt have to want desperatly to have a relationship with us, but He choses to be that God for us. To want a relationship, to help us, put the work boots on, lace them up and put the hard hat on with us.  He is one of those friends who once I asked to have a relationship with is always honest, and in times of celebration and sadness I can call upon, and He is there before the "text message" is even sent out because He knows us that well.  And He didnt have to make it this way. 

Its in moments of thought like this I am totally humbled and overjoyed to have a relationship with God, for these things I could never do, He makes it all work out perfectly for His purpose. The moments I try and fix things, to go inward, to say I have the ability to bring peace into my life on my own without the help of Christ, I stumble... if I were able to do that, I would never have begun to stumble.  There would be no stumbling ever.  God catches us and dusts us off and He will lead us through this world of sunlight, rainfall, war, murder, silence, loudness.  I look upward and praise Him.  Today is a new day and He's leading the way.