I took time to read this summer. A person can make time for anything that they truly want to do. I wanted to read. Now, this time to read may not have come in the form of relaxing on the sofa, with a hot latte at my side, my feet propped up, soft music in the background, and an otherwise silent background. (sounds nice,eh?) But, like I said, you can make time if you really want it. So, as I was preparing dinner, or watching the kids take a bath, I even tried reading while I was mowing the lawn. (Didn't work so well) But, usually, my reading took place late at night, or early in the morning. What did I read? I read the entire "Left Behind" series.
I realize that I am about 8 years late on my enthusiasm. When the series first came out, I was not patient enough to wait for the next book to come, and they were so popular that they were nearly impossible to find at the library. But, enough of my excuses on why I had not read them yet.
They were a simple read, thus the reason I was able to read so fast. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. And, I enjoyed the build-up to the final "Glorious Appearing". But, more than that, I was absolutely fascinated with the events that are going to take place. It read like a fiction story, and many of the judgments that God has planned are so mind-blowing that the human mind has a hard time comprehending them. But, they are truth! I was challenged about my relaxed attitude towards witnessing. If I really believe that Christ is coming any second for His own, wouldn't I be doing everything I could to persuade as many as my family members, neighbors and friends that HE IS COMING!!!!?????
I was also sobered by the fact that even after so many of these devastating judgments, people are still going to deny God. That God, in all of His overwhelming love and grace, is just and righteous, and He will win. That culminating battle of the ages will be fought, and will be won by the one who is TRUE and RIGHTEOUS. I had goosebumps.
And, it seems to me, that here on earth right now, we are comfortable. We are blinded. We spend more time planning our weekend, or our next vacation, or our next house, or our next car, or our retirement, than we spend planning the imminent return of our Saviour. I am guilty!
"...For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."
Monday, September 22, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
a good CAUSE...
So, I wrote about my humbling hike up Cascade Mt. A week after that wonderful hike, I was registered to run in a race. When I signed up for the race, I thought it was a great idea. Three days before the race, when I could still barely walk as a result of the hike, no longer a great idea. Nevertheless, I was committed.
Twenty-five years ago, a couple in our church saw the need for Christians to be participating in meeting the needs of poor people world-wide. They founded an organization called CAUSE, Christian Assistance for Underdeveloped Socities Everywhere. CAUSE is located in Canmore. Their biggest fundraiser every year is to organize a race. Every penny raised in this race is matched three to one by the government and is used directly for the overseas projects. This year, their focus has been Sierre Leonne. When I went online to register for the race, I was given the option to replace my race fee with a year-long commitment to sponsor a little child to go to school. I didn't have to pray long to realize that this is what God wanted me to do.
I received the information on our little girl the day before the race. Her name is Bensa. She will be able to go to first grade this year. She is beautiful. As I ran my race, I kept picturing her dark eyes and her big grin. Every step I ran, even though a little painful, I ran for her.
We are not a wealthy family, by any means, but we have a house, and clothes, and food. My children have health care and can go to school. We are so wealthy. It was necessary for me to look outside of my little bubble and see the bigger picture, and I am so glad that I did.
"...he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he."
Twenty-five years ago, a couple in our church saw the need for Christians to be participating in meeting the needs of poor people world-wide. They founded an organization called CAUSE, Christian Assistance for Underdeveloped Socities Everywhere. CAUSE is located in Canmore. Their biggest fundraiser every year is to organize a race. Every penny raised in this race is matched three to one by the government and is used directly for the overseas projects. This year, their focus has been Sierre Leonne. When I went online to register for the race, I was given the option to replace my race fee with a year-long commitment to sponsor a little child to go to school. I didn't have to pray long to realize that this is what God wanted me to do.
I received the information on our little girl the day before the race. Her name is Bensa. She will be able to go to first grade this year. She is beautiful. As I ran my race, I kept picturing her dark eyes and her big grin. Every step I ran, even though a little painful, I ran for her.
We are not a wealthy family, by any means, but we have a house, and clothes, and food. My children have health care and can go to school. We are so wealthy. It was necessary for me to look outside of my little bubble and see the bigger picture, and I am so glad that I did.
"...he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he."
Monday, September 15, 2008
Thou wilt deal bountifully with me...
I am frustrated today. I am frustrated with the world's scale and how I measure up on it. Today, I measure very low. I desperately needed someone to speak truth to me today, that on God's scale, I always measure 100%, because of what His Son has done for me. I went to the direct source of truth, God's Word, and this is what I read:
I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord; I make supplication with my voice to the Lord.
I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou didst know my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul.
I cried out to Thee, O Lord; I said, "Thou are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, SO that I may give thanks to Thy name; The righteous will surround me, For Thou will deal bountifully with me."
I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord; I make supplication with my voice to the Lord.
I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Thou didst know my path. In the way where I walk They have hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see; For there is no one who regards me; There is no escape for me; No one cares for my soul.
I cried out to Thee, O Lord; I said, "Thou are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Give heed to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. Bring my soul out of prison, SO that I may give thanks to Thy name; The righteous will surround me, For Thou will deal bountifully with me."
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Humility is a beautiful thing
Well, this last weekend, I had the bright idea to get together with some ladies in our church and do a hike. There is a particular mountain that I have wanted to hike for awhile. Cascade. It is a beautiful summit, 2998 meters, towering above the town of Banff. It was a worthy goal, and I was so excited.
Being as my husband and I are in the throes of toddler-hood, we have been unable to hike together for quite some time. He gallantly offered to spend the day with our three children, and all that was left was for me to find a partner. I was happy to find not one, but two women in our church who were also interested in climbing Cascade. We set the date and time.
The night before, I began to get a little nervous. I considered myself to be in reasonably good shape, but it had been a busy summer, and I had not been out as often as I would have liked. I then considered my partners. Caroline is a single, energetic woman. She works outside all day doing landscaping, and at night, for exercise, she rides her bike for 40 km. She hikes nearly every weekend. Sure, we seem to be on the same level. (yeah, right) Esther, a mother of six, the youngest is twelve, is a bit of a health nut. She is in shape and loves to hike. Ok, no problem.
I desperately wanted to back out.
However, I had youth on my side, right?
Well, about an hour into this hike, I realized I was in trouble. Their pace was akin to my light jog. I could keep this pace up for, oh, maybe 5 more minutes. However, two hours later, the smile wiped off my face, I realized it was going to take every ounce of strength within me to get to the top of this mountain. These girls were what I would call, "hard-core", no stopping for water, food, they didn't even have to go pee! Yes, they would stop and wait for me, and by the time I caught up, they would start again. I started singing praise songs, praying, making up to-do lists, anything that would take my mind off what I was doing to my body.
We reaching the top in about four hours, and as I crested the final ridge, the view took my breath away (what was left of it). I personally knew the God who had created all of this. I wanted to fall down on my knees and worship Him, and not just because I had made it to the top, but because He loves me.
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to do day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"
He has counted the hairs on my head, He keeps my tears in a bottle, and He knows my needs even before I do.
I sat on the top of Cascade and thanked Him. I thanked Him for my salvation, my health, my family, and my church. I thanked Him for His amazing creation, that cries out in worship to Him. And....I prayed for the strength to get back down.
It was a struggle to keep up with Caroline and Esther on the descent. They were kind and patient, and I just couldn't help thinking that humility is a beautiful thing.
Being as my husband and I are in the throes of toddler-hood, we have been unable to hike together for quite some time. He gallantly offered to spend the day with our three children, and all that was left was for me to find a partner. I was happy to find not one, but two women in our church who were also interested in climbing Cascade. We set the date and time.
The night before, I began to get a little nervous. I considered myself to be in reasonably good shape, but it had been a busy summer, and I had not been out as often as I would have liked. I then considered my partners. Caroline is a single, energetic woman. She works outside all day doing landscaping, and at night, for exercise, she rides her bike for 40 km. She hikes nearly every weekend. Sure, we seem to be on the same level. (yeah, right) Esther, a mother of six, the youngest is twelve, is a bit of a health nut. She is in shape and loves to hike. Ok, no problem.
I desperately wanted to back out.
However, I had youth on my side, right?
Well, about an hour into this hike, I realized I was in trouble. Their pace was akin to my light jog. I could keep this pace up for, oh, maybe 5 more minutes. However, two hours later, the smile wiped off my face, I realized it was going to take every ounce of strength within me to get to the top of this mountain. These girls were what I would call, "hard-core", no stopping for water, food, they didn't even have to go pee! Yes, they would stop and wait for me, and by the time I caught up, they would start again. I started singing praise songs, praying, making up to-do lists, anything that would take my mind off what I was doing to my body.
We reaching the top in about four hours, and as I crested the final ridge, the view took my breath away (what was left of it). I personally knew the God who had created all of this. I wanted to fall down on my knees and worship Him, and not just because I had made it to the top, but because He loves me.
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to do day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?"
He has counted the hairs on my head, He keeps my tears in a bottle, and He knows my needs even before I do.
I sat on the top of Cascade and thanked Him. I thanked Him for my salvation, my health, my family, and my church. I thanked Him for His amazing creation, that cries out in worship to Him. And....I prayed for the strength to get back down.
It was a struggle to keep up with Caroline and Esther on the descent. They were kind and patient, and I just couldn't help thinking that humility is a beautiful thing.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Be ready...
My husband and I own an ice cream business. This may sound silly, but we have a old school bus, and we sell ice cream out of it. We park it on an empty lot in Canmore, and spend a few months of every year wearing flip-flops, selling ice cream, and talking to a lot of people.
Also on our lot is the business of a dear friend of ours, Tony. He lives in Indonesia for the better part of every year, and comes to Canmore in the summer to sell clothing, jewelry and art. We enjoy seeing him every summer.
He has a son, Dante. He is eight years old. This summer, Dante was able to participate in a Christian soccer camp, and a vacation Bible school, both run by our pastor here in Exshaw. A few weeks ago, Tony, Dante and I were sitting on a picnic table on our lot. Tony was attempting to tell me about an article he read about the origin of man. I was distracted, watching the bus, but nodding my head every once in awhile. Suddenly, I realized that Dante was looking right at me. I turned and looked at him. "That's not true, is it Deb?" I stared at him for a moment, before I realized that he was talking about the article that his dad was summarizing for me.
"No, Dante, it is not", I said.
"We know where man came from, don't we, Deb?"
"Yes, Dante, we do."
"We know that God created man, and that because we are sinners, He had to send His son to die for us, and all we have to do is believe and we can live with Him forever. Right, Deb?"
He bounced his ball a couple of times and then got up and walked away.
I sat in stunned silence for a few moments, then looked at Tony and said, "Yes, that is truth."
I wonder how many opportunities to share the most incredible news of God's love pass me by because I am distracted by the temporary things of this life?
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be READY ALWAYS to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
Also on our lot is the business of a dear friend of ours, Tony. He lives in Indonesia for the better part of every year, and comes to Canmore in the summer to sell clothing, jewelry and art. We enjoy seeing him every summer.
He has a son, Dante. He is eight years old. This summer, Dante was able to participate in a Christian soccer camp, and a vacation Bible school, both run by our pastor here in Exshaw. A few weeks ago, Tony, Dante and I were sitting on a picnic table on our lot. Tony was attempting to tell me about an article he read about the origin of man. I was distracted, watching the bus, but nodding my head every once in awhile. Suddenly, I realized that Dante was looking right at me. I turned and looked at him. "That's not true, is it Deb?" I stared at him for a moment, before I realized that he was talking about the article that his dad was summarizing for me.
"No, Dante, it is not", I said.
"We know where man came from, don't we, Deb?"
"Yes, Dante, we do."
"We know that God created man, and that because we are sinners, He had to send His son to die for us, and all we have to do is believe and we can live with Him forever. Right, Deb?"
He bounced his ball a couple of times and then got up and walked away.
I sat in stunned silence for a few moments, then looked at Tony and said, "Yes, that is truth."
I wonder how many opportunities to share the most incredible news of God's love pass me by because I am distracted by the temporary things of this life?
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and be READY ALWAYS to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
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