I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders. ~Jewish Proverb

cup of dreams

We "find life" not in seeking it but in coming into a proper alignment with God and his plan for us. As you "lose your life," you find it again. This "life" Jesus speaks of not only includes life after death, but also "life during life." Jesus tells us that he came to "give life in all its fullness" (John 10:10). You should never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. God's plan for you is good. In fact, it is better than any plan you may have for yourself.

- Greg Laurie from Knowing Jesus Personally, New Living Testament.

fired!

ok, i admit it ... for the past few weeks i’ve been trying to do God’s job ...

guess what? i have been absolutely lousy at it! i know, no big surprise there ... *shakes head, foolishly grins* ... sooooo, i fired myself ... all i was doing was getting my shorts in a knot and accomplishing NOTHING! sheesh!

i fretted about a place to live ... the Lord provided many options ...

i worried about help for the move ... one friend drove 1000 miles to come take care of things ... others have offered help before and after the move date ... there are numerous trucks ready to go - with strong young bodies willing to lift & tote that furniture!

i got anxiety attacks over Leo’s poor health ... his health didn’t improve, it just made for a miserable household ...

all along, i knew better!

so i fired myself today ... i think i should let my God, BE my God ... my Redeemer, my Saviour, the Lover of my soul and the One who knows how my particular story should play out ...

when i start to fret again (which is my natural inclination) ... remind me that i am officially fired ... instead, the Lord is back in control!

Apart from me, you can do nothing - Jesus

Sleeping Through the Furious Squall

joyful woman wrote this post few days ago ... it encouraged my heart! so i thought i would share it with you guys too!

Sleeping Through the Furious Squall

Mark 4:35-38 "That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

No, Jesus didn't care. That struck me this morning as I meditated on this passage. Jesus didn't care because He knew His Father held them all safe and sound in His hands, and that nothing would happen that was not according to the will of the Father. There was no need to lie awake. There was no need to worry. Not even amid the Furious Squall did Jesus need to care, not even when the boat was nearly swamped.

Do you feel that you're in the midst of a Furious Squall? Could the waves be swamping your boat in huge, cold, suffocating deluges? There's no need to worry, no need to lose sleep. Just keep rowing toward the other side and calm your heart. If you are in the boat with Jesus and He seems to be sleeping through it all, it's because it's going to be okay. You'll reach the other side safe and sound.

copied from joyfulwoman

one track mind!

welcome to the "we're moving and packing" blog!

isn't it amazing how a person can become so focused on just one matter ... everything to me revolves around this packing business! i've even found verses tucked away in the books i am packing, that seem to apply to my current situation ... listen to this ... "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." 2 Chron. 15:7 ... are they talking about muscles? and packing? *smile*

we did get out and vote today (Canadian elections) ... and pick up more boxes for - what else? packing!

i should have cornered those politicians earlier - they could have had a really good photo-op at our place ... you know, the heart-warming type of picture where they are helping me pack - while leo looks on from his prone position ... that would have garnered some sympathy votes ... why didn't i think of it earlier! sheesh, eh!

well enough chitchat ... i still have more packing in the computer room to do ...

have you counted how many times i used the "p" word in this post?

i appreciate your prayer for this journey we are on ... but really now, you should live just a wee bit closer - i might need a hand with this packing!

what is hidden in your heart?

last year was a really good year for reading through the bible ... meditating on God's word ... and reading good scripturally based books ... i was being prepared for this journey that i am now on ...

this morning i woke up early, with worry wanting to control the day ... i started to pray, tell the Lord about my concerns ... and He in turn reminded me of verses that calmed those anxieties and set me resting on His promises once again ... He is so patient with me!

i've already been able to look back on these past 2 months - and see the many ways He has helped us out ...

worry is my natural nature ... resting on God's promises is my spiritual nature ...

that is why having the WORD of God in our hearts and minds is so important ... it is the true North ... our trusty compass that will NEVER steer us wrong ...

going rural

from cottage country, we are now going rural!

through a round about way ... even though we didn't think this place was for us at first ... the Lord gave us a feeling of peace when we walked into this sweet little rural bungalow ...

we said YES to renting it!!! YAY!!! it is only 3 km from town ... a place to "wait" until we buy something ... it does have a long driveway, but our young landlord said he would plow it ... we'll discuss grass cutting when that happens - too much of the white stuff on the ground to think about it!

i feel relieved ... now i know how to pack! the packing was my issue - whether for storage? or a place to move? ... i feel at peace ... *smile* ... thank you for praying for us! we are still praying for a condo to open up in town ... but now we have a place to wait in ...

our hard working friend left for home today ... the outside stuff has been taken care of ... now it's just the inside sorting & packing ... whew!

this time of indecision may not have been so much for my benefit, but for leo's ... i know he was praying earnestly for a place - because he saw my stress ... then on tuesday, leo told me not to worry, we will have a place on thursday to move too ... bless his heart, it happened that way! i'm so glad that the Lord humbled us both ... we are 2 stubborn independent souls ... well we used to be 2 stubborn independent souls!

so the saga of our move continues ...

goodbye to a trusty friend

i can't see Leo's boat from the kitchen window any longer ... friends of ours came and hooked the winch to it, pulled it through the snow ... then took it to a safe place to wait for spring ... and a possible " for sale " sign on it's windshield ...

as the guys were leaving our driveway, i saw Leo reach out and pat the engine ... then his trusty fishing boat left the yard ... our world has slowly, but steadily, been changing ... when i wrote the post on moving along, i didn't realize then how prophetic it was ...

i haven't been able to visit blogs this week ... timing and my computer room becoming a guest room have prevented it ... i steal a few moments here and there to post a quick message ... i so appreciate your prayer on our behalf ...

UPDATE: we found a cute little rental home near town today ... thank the Lord! and thank YOU for praying ... will blog more later ...

little by little

we got about 6 inches of snow yesterday ... so it was slow going outside ... but atleast we are getting things done, little by little ... it is truly wonderful to have the help! especially since leo was quite affected by the weather, and not able to do much ...

today is a colder day ... but no snow!

i am still asking, seeking, knocking ... for a place to move too ...

a little update for those of you who are praying for us!

unlikely angel

last week i finished reading Ashley Smith's account of her hostage ordeal ... it made me shake my head and wonder at the way God takes care of His children - giving us choices along the way ... i recommend the book ... it was a pretty fast paced read ... Ashley is nothing but honest in sharing her struggles before this horrific event ... and how God intervened in a miraculous way!

~~~~~~~~

we have company ... one of our old friends drove 1000 miles to come give us a hand with sorting the outdoor stuff and then the dreaded "dump run" ... YAY!!!! ... i'm hoping for reasonable weather this week ... after all it is January in Manitoba!

our bud said he noticed a decline in Leo's health, since his last visit ...

the Lord has also been bringing more "safety nets" into my life ... just to keep me patient, until the prayed for rental or permanent CONDO comes along! i guess the biggest job will be this move ... after that - we only unpack what we need ...

thanks for your prayer on our behalf!!! blessings on your week!

help through the day

God will be right there in the morning ready to help you through the day with all the power you will need . . . one moment at a time.
Charles Swindoll

updating the saga of our move

we still don't have a place to move too ... can you believe it? in a month we have to be out of our home and no where to go!

i looked at a possible rental place today ... good location, good price, but it was an older home so the rooms were small and our furniture wouldn't fit in there ... plus it was a 2 story - and stairs for a guy with chronic back problems and difficulties walking - well that just wouldn't do ...

so back to calling people - anyone i can think of ... something will hopefully turn up before the movers get here (the movers being our friends/family) ...

i would love to tell you how this experience is making me grow as a Christian ... but i am honestly not understanding it - YET, anyway ... so that kind of sharing will have to happen later ... i am really tired out emotionally by it ...

i'm so pooped, yet sleep hasn't come easily ... and for me, that is usually the last problem i encounter ...

so that is my up-date ... nothing to up-date! when something happens, i will blog about it right away ... for now, it is a waiting game ...

5 weird things about me

Tim, from the The Black Kettle, tagged me (5 weird things about me), so here are some oddities about moi ...

1. i never eat anything that has fallen on the ground ... even in my own house ...
2. i compulsively jiggle the door at work to make sure i locked it ... 2 or 3 times!
3. i love to go visit friends, but want to leave almost as soon as i get there!
4. i didn't own a pair of jeans until i was 19 ...
5. i am shy, yet in a gathering of strangers - i'm the one who breaks the ice ...

if you do the meme, let me know, i'd love to read it ... :o)

just another warm January day ...

Leo had his 3 month doctor's visit today ... it seemed spring time warm out there as we did the 40 minute trip ... so different from last January's doctor visit ... today was a pretty good day overall ... and Leo bought his first cane ... he's been staying away from helps like that because if you can get by - then you get by ... but the cane will help steady him on the days when his legs don't want to do their job ...

so the day has zoomed by ... time to hit the sack praying ... i like to fall asleep talking to the Lord ... that way i hope to wake up praising Him ... to set my heart's clock on the faith timetable ...

oh, i thought i would post a "backyard picture" for you ... soon there will be a new backyard to take pictures of! soon ...

treasures on earth

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ” (Matthew 6:19-21)

this verse has been meandering around my head for a month or so ... especially as i look through our "stuff" ...

then i saw it on my side-bar today ... and would you believe - it was also in our bible reading ... things that make a person go "hmmmm, what am i missing here?" ...

i've searched my heart ... i don't believe i am holding on tightly to material things ... in fact my motto has been "down size, down size ..." as i give away as much as i possible can! without giving Leo heart failure that is ... the less i have, the less i have to pack!!! makes sense to me ... *smile* ...

when a person is moving ... altering their usual state of affairs ... it is interesting to see what our treasures are ... what we value, and take more care in packing ... mine have been things from mom & dad's life together ... from the 10 years they were married ... they seem extra special ...

but i suppose the Lord is pointing out that the real treasures are things that are not tangible ... things we store in our hearts, that no one can yank out of our hands ... things that we don't have to pack!

when the Lord calls us home ... we will walk through that eternal door with only things we carry within ... nothing else ...

i don't know why those verses replay in my mind ... but i am paying attention ...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

update: we are still searching for a place to move into ... even if we rent for awhile ... but you know, rental places are almost as difficult to find in our little town! hmmmmm .... needless to say - i value your prayer!

Sunday ...

it snowed lightly last night ... it looks lovely out there ... though i hope the warm january weather will continue and slowly melt that white stuff! ... that is a little miracle around these parts, the weather!

i think i may be fighting a cold at the moment ... i am eating oranges and taking my vitamins ...

we are also waiting to hear about a place ... even though no one is living there, these folks aren't keen on a winter sale, they prefer spring/summer ... we are praying that they might change their minds! if you could pray along with us, that would be wonderful ...

must go check the fire ... just wanted to wish you a Sunday full of joy ...

thanks guys!

thank you for the encouragement ... and prayer ... i so appreciate it! my anxieties have subsided and i have felt peaceful for 2 days ... nothing has changed with our situation (just the "hope" for change!) ... leo's health continues to restrict him doing much of the prep for a move ... but the thing that i can control, my attitude, has changed ... i am trying to view this as an adventure ... ya, that's what this will be!

just wanted to put a little positive spin on my blogging ...

at the moment, i have a big old 16 pound cat, perched on my desk - his head is leaning on my scanner and one eye is on me - with that "isn't it bedtime yet?" look ... so i will take pity on him ...

nite nite from balmy Manitoba ...

a small faith ... but in a BIG God!

"I don't understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate." Romans 7:15 NLT

lately this verse has taken on more meaning for me ...

it involves my fretting, anxiety and fear ...

you see, i know that God has worked marvelously in my life many a time ... answering prayer, supplying strength, cutting a pathway through a thick jungle of negativity ... He’s made a way for me to see the positive and to hope ...

then my home sold ... which should be a time for celebration - because it was definitely answered prayer ... but i wasn’t prepared ...

i was shaking in my boots ... even though i knew better ... even though God has never let me down ... i was anxious and fretting ... where do we move? how do we move? do i have the strength?

i didn’t want to be such a big cry baby! ... i wanted to have a HUGE faith and be a shining example of the Proverbs woman ... just packing away, making big plans!

duh ... i was a wimpy little girl instead ... and it made me ashamed ...

then i read about the great Apostle Paul ... he said what he wanted to do, he didn’t ... and what he didn’t want to do, he did ...

hey, that was me!!

i didn’t want to worry ... i didn’t want to fear ... yet i did ...

i wanted to have huge faith and be so calm ... but i wasn’t ...

in Romans 8:37 he goes on to say "No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."

Paul continues the encouragement with the wonderful verses 38 & 39

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." ... these words are God hugs to us trembling saints & sinners ...

please excuse my simple theology of a great passage ... it’s just that when i was going through a fearful time, the Lord reminded me that even the "superstars" of Christianity had their moments too ... no wonder us "little ones" quake sometimes ...

prairie warmth ...

notice i haven’t talked about our weather lately?

not like in January of last year ... yikes! every other post i did seemed to be weather related! it was SO COLD, i’m talking -47C COLD ... i posted pictures of our thermometer so that i would be believed ... brrrr ...

well this year the weather has been hovering around -3C ( ... 30F) ... that is absolutely shorts weather in these parts, at this time of year!

and perfect for us because we have things outside that need to be sorted ... today we spent almost 2 hours working on the shed ... i’m amazed leo lasted that long ... but we did make a dent (sort of) ... we just thanked the Lord that the weather was so great! if our move was in the summer, that shed area is where the mosquitoes hang out ... and in the spring, it is soggy ... so this has turned into a good time!

who knew, eh?

i guess God did ... *smile*

"For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him"... Jesus in Matthew 6:8

time

"Sometimes we limit God. Sometimes we think God must work on our schedules. But God will not be bound by time. God will not be bound by our schedules. God will work when He chooses and with whom He chooses. Therefore, there will be times when our circumstances don't make sense. Even then, we need to trust Him." Greg Laurie from For Every Season

isn't that the truth of it! i like my life nice and tidy ... i like to know the how, when, where ... i would really prefer not to step off the old mountain top into an unknown abyss ...

but with God all things ARE known, aren't they? He will clue us in at the proper time ...

as you've guessed, i'm encouraging myself on! reminding myself that i am in a good place, God's hand, God's will and God's timing ...

so i guess now i can go to bed and sleep in peace ... sweet dreams ...

fresh start

2006 !!!

a fresh start ... new adventures ... time to LIVE! EXPERIENCE! have FAITH!

*smile*

as we walk in this newly opened year ... remember ... we never walk alone ... Jesus said "I will never leave you, nor forsake you ... "

remember the old "footprint" poem? maybe those are the Lord's imprints you see in the sand, as He willingly carries us through our tougher days ...