The Light

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not " ... John 1:5

"Jesus said: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

~~~~~~~~~~

Joulu Sauna

i feel so very relaxed right now ... i just got back from my Joulu (Christmas) sauna ... i blogged about it last year too - click here ... it is one of those Finnish traditions that i love to keep ... i sat on the wood bench, and threw water onto the hot sauna stones ... sweating out my cares ... praying as i listened to the water sizzle and evaporate off the rocks ... it eased my tense muscles ...

i wonder why i didn't have a sauna earlier!! even though my spirit feels at peace, sometimes my body doesn't follow suit ... it just tenses up!

tomorrow we go to my aunt's for an old-fashioned Finnish Christmas meal ... and then some low key opening of presents ...

leo doesn't know that i got him a chess CD to load into the laptop ... i will have to remind him that the laptop was designated the "official Christmas present", so he won't feel bad that he doesn't have a "surprise" for me ... we don't usually do presents - but if i see something, i like to buy it for him ...

i'm still wondering if my new home will be under the tree? *smile* ... why not? God does like to surprise us with good stuff, doesn't He?

blessings to you, my dear blog buds! i hope that your Christmas is peaceful ....

letting go ...

my adventures in life seem to continue ... with lessons on relinquishing control being at the top of the list!

remember how i don't like rides? well, i took a little spin into the ditch today ... yup ... it happened in our neighbourhood as i was heading out to do some groceries ... yesterday leo warned me about taking that corner too fast ... but i just chalked up his observance to nervousness, since he doesn't go out much ... i thought i was handling the car just fine ... *cough, cough* ...

it was just me, the slippery road and a big snow bank ...

instead of calling leo or the motor league ... i called our neighbours, who arrived in a matter of minutes in their 4x4 ... this sweet father & son team reassured me and had me out of the ditch in no time flat ... they also noticed that my front tires needed some air and fixed that little situation too ... Lord bless them for their kindness!

if i had been driving slower ... and if i would have just let go of the wheel, instead of over-steering ... i would not have gone into that snow bank! in my head i knew that ... but emotionally, i just tried to force that big steel beast to behave ... i held onto the steering wheel tightly, cranking it hard ... of course, i ditched it ...

you know how i am diligently seeking a new house for us to move in - but after i have done all that i can - i need to LET GO and LET GOD ... after all, He is the one who controls everything ... i keep reminding myself to let Him steer!!

~~~~~~~~~

have you heard that beautiful Carrie Underwood song "Jesus take the wheel"? if not, i've posted the lyrics - i hope you get to hear her sing it, she does a lovely, inspiring job!

"Jesus Take The Wheel"

She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy
with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It's been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention
She was going way to fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this all on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I'm sorry for the way
I've been living my life
I know I've got to change
So from now on tonight

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Oh, Jesus take the wheel

Oh, I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I'm on
From this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

i had it all figured out ...

"If God says "no" to something we want, it is because He has something better in store." Ruth Bell Graham ...

i had it all figured out ... this was going to be SO perfect ... the house sold and there was a condo for sale, right on the waterfront in our little town ... the price wasn't bad, the location was more than perfect ... i rubbed my hands in glee at how this was all going to work out great!

notice ... "i" had it all figured out ...

well "i" had it figured WRONG ... again!

yes, we could have bought the condo - in fact we even put in an offer ... but it was not to be ...

i sort of knew it ... it seems that i kept on bumping into folks in town who told me one bad story after another - all valid reasons for not buying it ... all valid reasons to patiently WAIT for God's "something better" ...

we will celebrate our last Christmas here in our cottage ... and, i will continue to "ask, seek, knock" ... still learning my lessons on relinquishing control from my hands, into God's ...

keep it simple

keeping it simple at this time of year is a major feat! the advertisements say: if you love - then you will BUY ... or if you love - then you will go crazy with decorating, cooking and entertaining ....

i like this little thought from Charles Swindoll: " How quickly the thin thread of freedom snaps as heavy weights of perfectionistic expectations are placed upon us! Christ Jesus never did that with His own. When people were near Him there was this incredible magnetism because of an absence of unrealistic expectations and subtle demands and manipulative devices. He simply accepted people as they were."

hmmm, sounds like some pretty sound advice at this time of year ... or any time of year for that matter!

remember to take time to enjoy the Season and also the Reason ... i'll try to do the same!

"... learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. .." Jesus in Matthew 11:29

ask, seek, knock

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

maybe you can guess what i am asking and seeking for this Christmas ... a home ...*smile* ... i will gladly knock on it’s door, so that the Lord can open it to us ...

after having the security of our little cottage for so many years ... it is a weird thing to be gathering boxes, to prepare for a move ...

even weirder at this time of year - Christmas ... there is almost 2 feet of snow outside ... uh, we do have a shed to empty out and some other outdoor items to dig out ... hmmm??? what were we thinking ...

ask, seek, knock ...

we have asked the Lord, we are seeking and there are a few possibilities ... but we will keep knocking until the right one opens up ...

"... your Father knows the things you have need of BEFORE you ask Him ... " Matthew 6:8

"Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" ... Matthew 6:26

Jesus words are a comfort ... they boost my confidence for the days ahead ... as well as calming my fears regarding Leo’s ability to cope with this move ...

i think my body and my faith will both be getting exercise after the Christmas feasting is over ...

"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Matthew 7:8 ...

"Peace I leave with you"... Jesus

do you feel a bit harried? some stress? me too!

the last couple of days have involved rides on an emotional roller coaster ... have i ever mentioned how i hate rides? so it has been trying ...

suffice it to say, i have kept the prayer lines open ... as always, God answers wonderfully - in His time and in His way ... which begs the question, what in the world was i was worried about in the first place!

anyway ... just wanted to post this peaceful, Christmasy scene ... 'cause it is the SEASON!

click here for the serene side of me from last year!

blessings!

Sold!

it’s sold ...

our little haven of rest will be someone else’s cottage ...

yes, there is a peace about it ... and an excitement about our new home ...

hey!!! wait a minute ... our house is sold and we don’t have a place to move?! ... sigh ... more faith exercise ...

the picture i posted was taken in 1993 ... we had lived here in cottage country for a year, and felt at home ... Leo had already been in chronic pain for 10 years ... he still looked healthy, though the pain was setting it’s limits on activity ... my poor husband doesn’t stand as straight today ... but i think his faith has grown ... and isn’t that the important part, our spiritual side? the physical body can’t go to heaven, only our spirits can ...

so i need to focus on the positives, the blessings, the maturity that has developed in this little home of ours ... and to keep exercising my faith, that our future path is mapped out before us - by a Heavenly Father who loves us and cares ...

"What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see ... " Hebrews 11: 1

addiction

i woke up early today ... there was that slight ache to my head, telling me that i hadn’t had any coffee yesterday ...

yes, dear blog buds ... i am a coffee addict ... i know you thought i was almost perfect ... *stifles laughter* ... so this will come as a shock to you ... i need my morning coffee to jolt me into the waking world ... without it, i can become cranky and unreasonable!

this morning my body started craving java immediately!

my first waking thought was ... coffee ...

my next waking thought was a prayer ... "Lord i hope my heart tells me immediately when i haven’t had enough of you during the day ... "

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God." Psalm 42:1

physically my body likes coffee and misses it when i don’t have any ...

much more so ... my DESIRE is, that when i don’t have enough "God time", or prayer time ... may my spirit cry out and yearn for that living water that only God can give ...

during a busy December, we may forget Who’s birth we claim to celebrate ... we may even lobby to keep Christ in Christmas ... but way more important is keeping Christ alive in our own hearts and homes ...

so now dear friends ... i must go enjoy my last cup of coffee for the day ... as i spend time with Jesus, the best part of every day!

it's beginning to FEEL like Christmas

in our bah humbug world of arguing over everything spiritual ... the meaning and the feel of Christmas can get lost ... i was struggling to get on board that yuletide train ...

well folks, the train pulled into the station today! it's snowing, rather gloomy out - yet i feel the beginning of that warm Christmas rush starting to take hold of my heart ... it must have been the Christmas carols i was playing today ... i just felt happy ... so GLAD that we do have a cause for celebration ... so glad that God gave us a Saviour, His Son Jesus ...

here is one of the songs i was listening to ... hope it blesses your heart too!

One Small Child

by David Meece

One small child in a land of a thousand

One small dream of a savior tonight

One small hand reaching out to the starlight

One small savior of love

One small savior of love

One king bringing his gold and his riches

One king ruling an army of might

One king kneelingWith incense and candlelight

One king bringing us life

One king bringing us life

CHORUS:

See the shepherds kneeling before him

See the kings on bended knee

See the mother praising the Father

See his tiny eyelids fall

One small child in a land of a thousand

One small dream of a savior tonight

One small hand reaching out to the starlight

One small savior of life

One small savior of life

trees, cats and laughter

cats have way too much fun with Christmas trees ... they could get themselves into trouble eating decorations ... or toppling trees! if you own a cat - then you have a christmas tree story ...

it's a snowy Saturday morning here ... we have over a foot of the accumulated white stuff! ... it looks clean and fluffy ... soon i will venture out to sweep steps and carry some wood ...

an update: at this point, our house deal can go either way ... on Tuesday we will know one way or another ... and you know what? ... whichever way it goes, is fine with me ... on the one hand, i don't want to move in the winter - there is a heavenly peace in our neighbourhood during the snowy months ... on the other hand - it would be a done deal and we start a new chapter ... but regardless of which HAND ... this is ALL in God's hands!!

"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

so i will go do my usual snow stuff ... turn on the Christmas lights early ... enjoy the day the Lord has made and the peace He freely gives to all His children ...

blessings on your weekend!!

"If you know how to worry, you know how to meditate, which means to think of something over and over, Meditation on God's Word is the way to find deliverance from anxiety." Joyce Meyer

last year's tree

this was last year's card tree at our place ... the lights are red and green around it and it really looked cozier in real life, honest! ... *smile* ...

this afternoon i taped up our first batch of Christmas greetings inside the 2005 card tree ... even though there are only about 10 cards on it, it is already looking friendly & filled with love from the snail mail we've received ...

we don't have a regular tree ... we started this little tradition and it has become our "real tree" ... a time to remember family and friends ... to pray for them and share stories from Christmas past ...

what kind of traditions have you created for your Christmas time?

resting, walking, believing

leo took this pic of me and "our boy" the other day ... and no, this isn't staged ... this is actually the way i read my bible in the mornings ... with a purring cat cuddled up to me, looking as if he were reading along ... he is the sweetest of companions!

i also wanted to share a blog that Debra from As I See It Now, recommended ... it's called The Sojourner's journey ... i checked it out and i think there are some interesting posts geared for this Christmas season we have embarked on ...

and i was surprised at my own post from a year ago - click here ... it seems that the Lord was starting to prepare my heart for the sale of our home ... it made me feel cherished by my Heavenly Father, who knows all things and has a plan for each of us ...

"Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You." Psalm 32:8

Christmas past

last year i blogged a lot of happy things during December ... click here to see our coffee table decorations ... i can get kind of meloncholy during the Christmas season ... but keeping my blog, kept me focused and joyful!

this year, we've been busy doing "selling the house" stuff ... people coming and going ... i have not had much of a chance to reflect ... which is fine, but i feel like i'm neglecting my blog buds - i've been visiting blogs (hey - when/if we move - maybe there is HIGH SPEED in my future!!! do you think???? cool!) ... i haven't left too many messages because it is time for bed and more folks coming over for house appraisals and stuff tomorrow ...

just wanted you to know that God is ever faithful and patient ... even tho' i am ever curious and impatient as to our future! ... i guess it will be our Christmas surprise ...

reminder ...

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace." Isaiah 52:7

Postcard perfect, a New England church and covered bridge sparkle with Christmas joy as another wintry night descends. Following the silent 400 years of night between the Old and New Testaments, Jesus came into the world to shine with a light that will never be dimmed.
- RBC calendar

* * * * * * * * *

my blog thoughts on "contentment" from a year ago ... click here

peace ...

our house is all decorated for Christmas ... the fire is glowing ... it is cozy and warm ... leo is watching hockey (kinda through his eyelids tho!), our big ole cat is sleeping on the couch ... and me? well i'm thinking about the offer we accepted on our house today ...

yup ... we signed some papers ...

BUT there are some hoops to jump through first - if the purchasers finances and inspections all work out by december 13th ... our house well then be sold! their possession date is february 15th ...

we will have to get serious about looking for a place to move ... ? ... yikes ...

our prayer is "your WILL be done, Lord ... " ... as we step into the unknown ...

but for now, i will be learning lessons in "resting" in the Lord ... "leaning" on His promises ... and "praying without ceasing" ....

now you guys are up to date on what is happening ...

"Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day." Psalm 25:4, 5

December has arrived!

the first day of December ... who would have thought a year ago that we would actually have an offer for our home, an offer that we refused ... and counter offered ... and who would have thought that i would end up with such a great circle of blog buds ... folks who care enough about my little ups and downs - to pray for me ... i am a blessed woman!

you never know what a day holds ...

so tonight as i wonder what tomorrow will bring, i am humming this song ...

I know not why God's wondrous grace

To me He hath made known,

Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love

Redeemed me for His own.

But "I know whom I have believed,

And am persuaded that He is able

To keep that which I've committed

Unto Him against that day."

blessings to you!

YIKES!!!

i'm stressing here ... yes, in this lovely little home pictured above ... see the light in the smaller window? that is where i sit as i type this ... our computer room and spare bedroom ...

and why am i stressing in this picture perfect location? well, our real estate agent brought us an offer for our home today ...

not too long ago i mentioned that no one had come to see our place ... we were going to take it off the market on Monday and put it up again in the spring ... well, on Sunday some folks did come by ... and today they made an offer ... we counter-offered ...

that's all i know ... except that i have little nervous tingles happening ... not that i'm worried - our future is in God's hands ... it's just that i would like to take a little peek ahead and see how it turns out!

so my Christmas cards are only half done ... the baking is left on the back burner ... and we don't have a place to move if this plays out!

if you think of me ... could you ask the Lord to give us wisdom and peace through this process ... thank you!

and if i seem a little fuddled - well, now you know why!

a tag

David Fisher, from Pilgrim Scribblings, just celebrated one year of blogging ... he created a 3 question tag for the occasion ... which is actually a cool idea ... he wanted a one sentence response, if possible ... so here are the questions and my responses ... oh, and if you haven't visited Pilgrim Scribblings ... drop by and say hi ... David always has an encouraging thought or story to share ...

now the tag:

1. What comes to mind/what is your heart's response when
you think of or hear the word..."CALVARY"?
pain/suffering; forgiveness/love; redemption!

2. What would you like to have inscribed on your tombstone?
Saija is not here ... she has graduated to Glory!

3. Which attribute of God do you find yourself revelling in the most?
His infinite love.

if these questions intrigue you - why then, you are tagged!

... along the road ...

as i headed home from our little town, i wondered at how the scenery is ever changing - though my route remains the same ... today revealed a snow covered shoreline, along a fast moving, troubled water ... there were white caps on the river, as the wind blew in a bitter fashion ... soon those white caps will be frozen in place - for a season ...

these are the same waters that i swim in during the heat of a prairie summer ... swimming was far from my thoughts today, as i tried to coax the cold digi camera to life (it kept on giving me a high pitched shrill sound, like it was in pain!) ... finally after warming the batteries between my hands, it came on ... the product of this effort is posted for you to see ...

along the road ... we think we know exactly what we will see along familiar pathways ... but life is ever changing and presents a new view daily ... there is beauty in everything, it's all in how we look at it ...