and the rains came down ...

on my way to work this morning, i discovered that our 2 miles of dirt road had flooded in 4 different areas! sigh ... we have gotten so much of that liquid sunshine here in "sunny" Manitoba (which shall soon be re-named "soggy" Manitoba!) ... in the afternoon the sun finally made an appearance ... it is scheduled to beam down on us for 2 days before the rains start again ...

i think i want to build me an ark! so with that in mind, here are some things to be learned from Noah ... as shared by some unknown e-mailer ...

1. Don't miss the boat
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5. Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you're stressed, float a while.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

wondering out loud

We wait for the Lord, our Beloved,

Our Comforter, Master and Friend

The Substance of all that we hope for,

Beginning of faith and its end;

We watch for our Savior and Bridegroom,

Who loved us and made us His own;

For Him we are looking and longing:

For Jesus, and Jesus alone.

- Annie Johnson Flint

every generation wonders if Jesus is coming during their lifetime ... i don't know how you feel about that thought ... i long for it ... for Jesus ... my Redeemer ....

i scanned the above picture from the July Decision magazine ...

it just got me to thinking, to hoping ... maybe it should scare me to think that one day i will face God ... but because i've placed my faith in Jesus - who has forgiven me my sins - i look forward to seeing Him ... being in His presence ... away from earthly cares and fears ...

i sometimes whisper to Him ... even so, come Lord Jesus, come ...

Five things I miss from Childhood

Five Things I Miss From Childhood

i was tagged by Gayla from Heart Journey, and Peg from blessed beyond belief, for a walk down memory lane ...

Five things i miss from childhood (in no particular order):

1. the excitement of summer vacation ... the thought of endless summer days, stretching on f-o-r-e-v-e-r and the hope of at least one day spent at the beach ...

2. the "firsts" seemed to be more thrilling as a child ... riding a bike for the first time ... the first sleep over at a friend's ... the first $$ earned ... the first time i dove into the deep end at the pool ...

3. i miss going to the movies with my dad and brother ... or having coffee with the family in the evenings and chatting about everyday stuff ...

4. i miss going to school ... the learning, the friends, the dread of a "mean" teacher - only to find out the teacher was GREAT (i've only had one "real mean" teacher in all of my childhood - the rest i loved!) ..

5. i miss the innocent laughter ...

i do NOT miss: having no control over where i lived, who lived with us, what i did with my free time ... having to eat things i didn't like ... not being able to read when i wanted too ...

i like being an adult way more ... :o) ... i actually had my "childhood", in the first years of my marriage ... one thing about being an adult, childhood memories are now looked at through rosy tinted glasses (with the senior moments of forgetfulness, this is happening more often!), i try to pick out the memories that bring a smile ... and i found that there were more than enough ....

Here's the tag part:

Remove the first person from the following list,
bump everyone up one spot and put your name in the number 5 spot.
Please link all of the blogs as they are linked now or risk future blog-shunning.
(Do you think this would really happen?) ((NOT!))

Jetty Betty

Heart Journey

blessed beyond belief

Thro' a Glass Darkly

Now, select four unsuspecting souls and add them to the list:
Knitter Kat
Blogin Idiot
Operation for a Soldier
I Like Being There

i think the above blog buds will have different experiences to share ...

if we only believe it ...

resting amidst rush

it's amazing how the Lord has given me moments to breath in, despite the hurry and activity of the past week ... it's come in different forms ... water was one ... just watching it rush and flow along ... even the sound was relaxing ...

another instance was the stillness found at city park ... the shade of a tree and a bench to sit on ... time to just watch the squirrels chase each other and listen to the laughter of children enjoying their summer freedom ...

here's wishing you tranquil moments in the week ahead ...

Happy Anniversary!

60 years of living and loving, together

here is the wonderful reason for my busy time ... my god-parents, who are also my aunt and uncle, celebrate 60 years of marriage TODAY!!! WOW, eh?

we have been blessed to live near them, here in cottage country, for the last 13 years ... they are truly an inspiration to know ... they love the Lord, their family and portray all the qualities that i strive for in my life ... you don't know how many times i thank the Lord for them, i am SO fortunate to know these wonderful people ... i get teary thinking about it!

so, now i'm off to have coffee with them ... and tomorrow is the big family celebration ... the reason for all the company from all corners of Canada and Finland ...

speaking of company ... i must dash ... just had to post the wedding picture that started their 60 years rolling!

clouds

going to the beach

we went to the beach today and there was this unusual cloud formation ... so i stopped the car and took a pic, just to post ... cool clouds, eh?

busy day

country lane

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy ... Psalm 16:11

busy day in my little world ... 2 sets of company ... one staying with us ... all from Finland ... so i'm getting some practise in my Finn chatter ... :o)

tomorrow will be a touring type of day ... blessings!!!

do you think?

If I knew you and you knew me,

If both of us could clearly see,

And with an inner sight divine,

The meaning of your heart and mine,

I'm sure that we would differ less,

And clasp our hands in friendliness;

Our thoughts would pleasantly agree

If I knew you and you knew me.

Nixon Waterman

monday morning

have you ever wondered why a blogger stops posting? you know how you get to "know" someone a wee bit, through their comments on your blog ... and then by reading their blog?

well an English gentleman by the name of Stuart used to leave wonderful scripture verses and encouragement on my blog ... he posted thoughtfully about knowing the peace that comes through a healing faith in Jesus, on his own blog - Peace of Mind.

his last post was on May 9th ... then no more posts or comments ...

just the other day, his son e-mailed some of Stuart's blogging buds saying that his dad had passed away unexpectantly on May10th ... how very very kind of his son to do that ... i would have always wondered what happened to him ...

i went to Stuart's blog to re-read the poem he had posted the day before his sudden death ... it was entitled Eternal Light ... now Stuart is in that Eternal Light ...


i'm off to work (tho' this is Monday, it is my Friday ... ) ... this will be my busy week, lots of company and special events to attend ... so if i sound distracted and rushed in the next few posts ... it will probably be because i am ... *smile* ...

BLESSINGS on your week ...

remembering Isa

once upon a time ... long long ago ...

4 years ago, i made a Father's day card for my dad ... knowing in my heart that this would be the last one ... it was ... he died 4 months later, at the young age of 72 ...

it's funny how that *missing* feeling inside can still take over and make me so sad ...

a friend told me that even though her father had been gone for over 20 years, she still missed him terribly ... for me, the pain isn't as sharp anymore - but i would like to see his face and the way his eyes would light up at the sight of me ...

he loved me ... i know that ... tho' he wasn't a very demonstrative man ... in fact, the days he spent dieing - were the days he openly displayed his affection ... he held my hand, and even kissed my cheek ... that was a major show of love from this very stoic Finlander ...

my dad's addictions were something he battled all his life ... when he was in control of them - he was the best of fathers ... when they controlled him - well i won't go there today ...

i wonder why God gives us the particular parents that He does? it must be for an eternal reason ... so i do thank my Heavenly Father, for the lessons learned from my earthly father ...

this father's day i remember ... dancing with my dad, my little feet on top of his, as he waltzed a giggling little girl around the room ... i remember putting my hand in his hand and feeling secure ... i remember a wave and a crooked smile ... i remember isa ...

"Come to Me" ... Jesus said

sometimes we may be carrying a load of worries, and not even realize it ... Matthew 11:28-30 and versions of that thought, have been meeting me in various places ...

so as i leave for work this a.m., i thought i would share this particular translation of that verse ...

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest . . . For My yoke is wholesome, (useful, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant) and My burden is light and easy to be borne."

Jesus is waiting to help us out, in the everyday worries and also the big life changing concerns ... and not only "help" us, but completely take our care from us ... if we leave it with Him ...

Here comes the sun ...

the sun is out for a second day in a row ... wa hoo!!! we really are called "sunny Manitoba" for a reason ... though this June we all thought of changing that tag!

with the sun, comes an attempt to mow the foot high lawn ... but what is life, if not a challenge ... *grin* ...

Charles Swindoll's note for this day is: Jesus promised people "rest" if they would come to Him, not an endless list of unrealistic, high powered expectations. He even said His yoke wold be "easy"and His burden "light." He was something else. He stilll is!

this is my last day off before i head back to the salt mines in the park tomorrow ... i will try to balance it just right ... to enjoy, to work, to have realistic expectations ... how 'bout you?

afternoon blessings

"they toil not nor spin"

today has been a better day ... yesterday's rains are behind me ... and it has been beautifully sunny ... soggy, but there is hopes of drying up here in Manitoba!

as i was puttering around outside, i noticed this lovely wild orchid (i think it is from the orchid family, correct me if i'm wrong) ... they come up every year in the channel running behind our house ... all by itself, wild and beautiful ... God dresses up His creations in such finery ... no one to see ... until i came along and snapped a photo ...

AND i think i will have to get reading glasses ... i have glasses for driving but i find them such a nuisance ... but if they keep those pesky headaches at bay ... well Praise the Lord for glasses then! :o)

i'm off to do some more puttering ... just wanted to share the lovely wildflower ...

wednesday morning complaints!

this pic reminded me of ME!!! i'm the bulldog ... really ... the one eyed squint is what i feel like doing ... and the squirrel is whoever/whatever comes across my path ... *rye smile* ...

actually we're entering a busy period with visitors, etc ... and with the weather being so damp, my list of "to do's", is more like "to do ... not!" ... you know the feeling ... of course to top it all off, leo feels quite poorly and i'm having a few health issues (like eye strain and headaches) ... thought i would just share a little of that ... just unloading a wee bit ... in case you think of me, so you can pray for me ... thanks!

"The Great Physician, always has the right remedy."

2,000-year-old palm seed germinates

this story really captured my imagination ... i just found this so very interesting ... interesting enough to share!

2,000-year-old palm seed germinates
Last Updated Mon, 13 Jun 2005 11:12:18 EDT

copied from: CBC News

Israeli scientists say they've succeeded in growing a sapling from what's believed to be the oldest seed ever germinated – a date palm seed 2,000 years old.

One of the scientists leading the project said she hopes the ancient DNA from the seed will reveal medicinal secrets that have disappeared from the modern plant.

Sarah Sallon, of the Louis Borick Natural Medicine Research Centre in Jerusalem, said on the weekend that her team used seeds from archeological excavations at Masada, the ancient fortress where Jewish rebels committed mass suicide rather than be captured by the Romans in AD 73.

Researchers have named the plant Methuselah after the biblical character said to have lived for nearly a millennium.

The palm is now 30 centimetres tall, with leaves much longer than the modern date leaf.
Sallon and her colleagues sent a leaf for DNA testing, which may reveal clues to the tree's ancient medical applications.

DNA results are expected in the coming weeks.

"Dates were highly medicinal. They had an enormous amount of use in ancient times for infections, for tumours," Sallon told the Associated Press. "We're researching medicinal plants for all we're worth. We think that ancient medicines of the past can be the medicines of the future."

The date palms that grow in Israel today are from a strain originating in Iraq, but were imported from California.

Sallon said that before Methuselah, the oldest seed to have been germinated was a 1,200-year-old lotus seed from China.

through the clouds

with the rains we've had recently, there have also been spectacular cloud formations of various colours and shapes ... occasionally i've caught glimpses of a golden light filtering down through the clouds ... a light that makes everything else pale in its wake ... i sometimes imagine that the Lord has left the door to heaven open just a wee bit, just enough so that a little of His Glorious Light escapes ... streaming down to touch the faces of those looking up ...

a bit of whimsy on this Sunday night ... Lord bless your week ...

Grads! and Congrats!

if you get a chance, go over to Bekah's Musings to give your Congrats to Bekah, on this her graduation weekend ... now it's off to college! Remember when? i sorta do ...

RBC devotional for 11 June 2005

streets of gold

The story is told about a miner who struck gold and carried his bag of nuggets with him everywhere. One day he died and went to heaven, still carrying his precious nuggets. When he arrived, an angel asked him why he was carrying asphalt. "This isn't asphalt," he explained, "it's gold." To which the angel replied, "On earth it's called gold, but here in heaven we use it to pave our streets."

Granted, this is just a funny story. But it prompts us to think about what we consider valuable—and what is truly valuable to God.

What impresses me most about Revelation 21 is the description of heaven's street: It is "pure gold, like transparent glass" (v.21). We value gold as being the most precious of metals, and we use it to make our most prized possessions. In heaven it will be what we walk on. What a reversal!

The things we prize here on earth will not be so highly valued in heaven—the unnecessary things we buy and collect, stock portfolios and bank accounts, admiration and fame. When the time comes to bid earth goodbye, what value will they have?

Earthly possessions are temporary. Remember, our true wealth is in heaven. —Vernon Grounds

Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption,

The way into heaven could not thus be bought;

The blood of the cross is my only foundation,

The death of my Savior redemption hath wrought.

—Gray

Those who lay up treasures in heaven are the richest people on earth.

 

God is in control

"The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."

Psalm 121:8

this picture and verse have been on my mind ... i love both ... time to share them ...

a book meme

i was tagged by Rodney, from The Journey, with a book meme. if you haven't visited this Aussie cyclist/radio personality - check out his encouraging, family type blog ...

as for the book meme, here goes ...

Total books owned, ever: in my "computer room" (which is our guest room!) i must have over 400 ... but the total number ever? ... well i give books away and to the library, etc.... hmmmm .... safe to say a thousand plus

Last book I bought: Breaking Free by Beth Moore

Last book I read: one of the last was a B.J. Hoff book (second in one of her American series ... i'm so bad with names - but authors i store in some part of my brain!)

Five Books that mean a lot to me: of course the Bible ... and i know i am copping out on this next part ... but i go by authors more than anything else ... so i enjoy Ruth Bell Graham, Charles R. Swindoll, Francine Rivers, Greg Laurie, Warren Wiersbe, Elisabeth Elliot, Joseph M. Stowell, J. Oswald Sanders and many many others ........ so many wonderful, gifted, uplifting authors around ...

as for tagging someone ... well if you haven't had a chance to do this yet, consider yourself tagged ... :o) ... bloggers and books seem to go hand in hand ... it is always interesting to see who, what a person reads ...

* * * * * * * *

it is still raining here ... i've read on other blogs about your heatwaves and here we are wearing rubber boots, walking through tall grass (can't cut it, too wet) ... atleast the weather forecasters are kind, they keep promising sunshine "tomorrow" ... there is always hope, right?

ceiling fans and angels

lilacs love rain

this week will be rainy, or so the weather folks say ... hmmm ... the ducks and lilacs love it! can't say much for the rest of us!

today we continued our ceiling fan project ... with leo's health and me just being me - well the projects can be challenging! i prayed that the Lord would send us an angel to help out ...

picture this ... i'm standing on the dining room table, holding a large ceiling fan above my head ... Leo is hurrying to connect things so my arms won't fall off ... then there's a knock at the door ... Leo groans, goes to the door to send whoever is there, away ... well it turns out to be a work bud of mine, who i greet with a "come up here and hold this, wouldcha?" .... *smile* ... so Leo and J were able to get the fan done much more quickly than just Leo and me ... i held the flashlight while the guys worked on the ceiling fan (we had to turn the power off and the rain makes it so dark!) ... my bud J kind of looked at me funny when i told him i had prayed for an angel to come help out and the Lord sent him!

we are still struggling with the ceiling fan in the bedroom ... parts breaking, screws bending and poor instructions ... i guess i'll have to ask for different type of help for tomorrow ... mostly wisdom!

hope there is sunshine in your corner of the world ... despite the rain, there is always SONshine in mine ...

be all there

"Wherever you are, be all there.

Live to the hilt every situation you

believe to be the will of God."

Jim Elliot

we are getting ready to build an ark! it has been unusually wet and dark here in "sunny Manitoba" ... most of us just aren't used to this kind of weather and the impact on our emotions ... so i have been trying to be my own "cheerleader" ... and overcomer of things that are completely out of my control ... which includes Leo's elevated pain levels, because of the dampness the rains are causing ...

those are my challenges this Monday morning ... what are yours?

"Don't let what you cannot do ...

Interfere with what you can."

Quote

skyline and seminar

skyline

i was in the city for 2 days ... one of which was spent attending a work related seminar ... the location of the seminar was on the 23rd floor of a downtown hotel ... what a lovely view ... the downtown core looked clean and green as viewed through a misty rainfall ... Winnipeg is a very green city, with lots of trees and parks dotting the urban landscape ... i could even see my car parked down below ... it stayed in the same spot until i retrieved it at the end of the day ...

it was a wonderful overview from such a height ... made me wonder what the Lord's view is like? ... now that MUST be quite the overview!!! *smile*

He knows ...

eye hath not seen

But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." "

1 Corinthians 2:9

i had my first outdoor sauna today ... at my aunt and uncle's place ... sweating in a sauna helps me to rest, reflect and pray ... it is calming to sit on those cedar benches and watch the steam rise, as i throw water on the hot stones ...

as i was praying, just telling the Lord why exactly certain things troubled my heart ... explaining to Him why i felt a certain way - trying to get Him to see my point of view and my solutions to the problem ... i all of a sudden stopped in mid sentence (or mid thought/prayer!) ... in my mind i heard the words "I know saija, I know" ...

and the simple realization struck me ... of course He knows ... He made me, cares about me and wants the best for me ... i want to do His will ... He wants the same ... i don't have to worry about the solutions to my problems - the Lord has all of that taken care of ... the fretting ceased and my heart got in harmony with the Spirit within me ...

i chuckled to myself ... threw more water on the stones, and felt reassured of God's love towards me ...

the path

the path

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

That shines brighter and brighter until the full day . . .

Watch the path of your feet,

And all your ways will be established.

Proverbs 4: 18 & 26

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check out The Faith Expedition, Becky has a lovely inspiring picture for today and also a poem from Annie Johnson Flint ... it blessed my heart!