So I can't believe it has almost been a year since I have posted anything on this blog. I have thought about it often but it seems to be the first thing that gets pushed aside when life is too busy. So here is an attempt to get back to posting. I really enjoy writing and am going to put it on my schedule.
Some of what I will write will be for children's ministry, some will be about my life. I am finding it harder and harder to keep my two 'lives' apart. I am realizing more and more that my home life and ministry life as so closely linked that it gets confusing at times. Oh well, I enjoy being busy and I am very much busy both at home and at church.
More to come over the next few days.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, November 14, 2011
Winter Tires and a loving God
I know I have promised over and over that I will post my thoughts about moving to Saskatoon and how we made it here and all that God did to get us here, and he did many a miracle, but I am just having such a hard time putting it all down in words, so it will have to continue to wait.
I do want to share a little 'God moment' that happened to us last week. Shortly after we moved to Saskatoon we realized that we would need to be a two car family, so we got on Kijiji and began looking for a car, well we ended up purchasing a 28 year old Volvo station wagon, not the best car in the world but the price was right. Well we hadn't had the car for long when a couple in the church saw Nathan getting into the car and asked where we bought it and how long we had had it for and as it turns out it had been their car, and they had sold it to the man we had gotten it from. So that is a fun story, but it gets better.
With the fall of the first big snow we quickly realized that the Volvo would need new winter tires, not an expense we really cared to purchase, but in Saskatoon you NEED winter tires. Before we even had a chance to price out new tires I received a phone message from the same gentleman from our church who owned the car before us, letting me know that he had a pair of gently used snow tires that they had purchased for the Volvo when they owned it sitting in storage and that we could have them free of charge if we wanted. A gift we very graciously accepted.
Our loving God once again looked after us in a miraculous yet simple way.
God cares about the little things too.
Pretty Crazy
I do want to share a little 'God moment' that happened to us last week. Shortly after we moved to Saskatoon we realized that we would need to be a two car family, so we got on Kijiji and began looking for a car, well we ended up purchasing a 28 year old Volvo station wagon, not the best car in the world but the price was right. Well we hadn't had the car for long when a couple in the church saw Nathan getting into the car and asked where we bought it and how long we had had it for and as it turns out it had been their car, and they had sold it to the man we had gotten it from. So that is a fun story, but it gets better.
With the fall of the first big snow we quickly realized that the Volvo would need new winter tires, not an expense we really cared to purchase, but in Saskatoon you NEED winter tires. Before we even had a chance to price out new tires I received a phone message from the same gentleman from our church who owned the car before us, letting me know that he had a pair of gently used snow tires that they had purchased for the Volvo when they owned it sitting in storage and that we could have them free of charge if we wanted. A gift we very graciously accepted.
Our loving God once again looked after us in a miraculous yet simple way.
God cares about the little things too.
Pretty Crazy
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Fall time is coming
I can't believe how fast time flies! Since my last post there has been many things that have happened. I had a successful week speaking at camp (mostly, long story to come), a second successful week of VBS and a week of holidays in Winnipeg/Niverville visiting with family and friends.
Now with fall coming quickly I am trying to finish up planning and recruiting for children's ministry.
Stay tuned for my funny (and not so funny) camp story and a few posts on what I have been learning about myself. Until then, have a great week!
Enjoy the last of the summer weather!
Now with fall coming quickly I am trying to finish up planning and recruiting for children's ministry.
Stay tuned for my funny (and not so funny) camp story and a few posts on what I have been learning about myself. Until then, have a great week!
Enjoy the last of the summer weather!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Speaking at Camp
Boy oh Boy!
I am preparing to speak at junior camp week at The Quest at Christopher Lake and I am starting to shake in my boots. I am pretty confident in my speaking skills, especially when it comes to speaking with and teaching children. Not that I am awesome by any stretch, but I can usually keep the attention of a group of children for a little while :)
What freaks me out is how I used to think about the speakers at camp when I was a child. I used to think that they were SO 'totally awesome' and just the coolest people ever. I remember thinking that the speaker at camp could do no wrong and must have a direct line to God, 'cuz they are just so smart'. I couldn't tell you what they talked about, or what they looked like or even their names, but I felt the same sense of awe for all of the 1/2 dozen speakers I saw as a child.
So needless to say I am putting a little pressure on myself. I don't want to disappoint my inner child, or the children at The Quest. It is hard to live up to those memories, so I'll try not too. What I will try to do is follow the lesson plans that I feel the Lord is leading me teach, pray like mad and be myself. (Even if I am not "SO totally Awesome!")
I ask for all your prayers, that I am fully prepared for my lessons, that God moves in my heart as well as the heart of all of the children who will be there and of course for good weather and safety.
Thank you.
I am preparing to speak at junior camp week at The Quest at Christopher Lake and I am starting to shake in my boots. I am pretty confident in my speaking skills, especially when it comes to speaking with and teaching children. Not that I am awesome by any stretch, but I can usually keep the attention of a group of children for a little while :)
What freaks me out is how I used to think about the speakers at camp when I was a child. I used to think that they were SO 'totally awesome' and just the coolest people ever. I remember thinking that the speaker at camp could do no wrong and must have a direct line to God, 'cuz they are just so smart'. I couldn't tell you what they talked about, or what they looked like or even their names, but I felt the same sense of awe for all of the 1/2 dozen speakers I saw as a child.
So needless to say I am putting a little pressure on myself. I don't want to disappoint my inner child, or the children at The Quest. It is hard to live up to those memories, so I'll try not too. What I will try to do is follow the lesson plans that I feel the Lord is leading me teach, pray like mad and be myself. (Even if I am not "SO totally Awesome!")
I ask for all your prayers, that I am fully prepared for my lessons, that God moves in my heart as well as the heart of all of the children who will be there and of course for good weather and safety.
Thank you.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Life after Lent
So since the last post, which I just re-read with tears in my eyes, I realized that God has truly brought us through that season of Lent. Joy comes at the end of Lent, and God has given us much joy as well. We have moved into our own house, which feels so much like home. We truly are blessed to have found a house that we love so much.
God has also provided us friends, those small fragile relationships that start as simple conversations have started to root and sprout into meaningful conversations and coffee dates outside of church. Friends from the 'past' have also been great, emailing and visiting, showing love over the distance.
Our son is settling in, making friends as well. He is looking forward to starting school and karate in the fall.
Life is good.
The sadness and longing of Lent. The love and blessing from the Risen Lord. The help and comfort from the Holy Spirit. And now we move into 'ordinary times'
God has also provided us friends, those small fragile relationships that start as simple conversations have started to root and sprout into meaningful conversations and coffee dates outside of church. Friends from the 'past' have also been great, emailing and visiting, showing love over the distance.
Our son is settling in, making friends as well. He is looking forward to starting school and karate in the fall.
Life is good.
The sadness and longing of Lent. The love and blessing from the Risen Lord. The help and comfort from the Holy Spirit. And now we move into 'ordinary times'
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Reflections of Lent
As the end of lent nears and Holy week approaches, I find that I am sitting at my desk pondering this season of sorrow and joy. I have been asked many times over the last month or so about what I gave up for Lent. To which I answer, 'nothing, I've given up a lot recently, I'm adding to my life for this Lent'.
Well today I am wondering if that is true. What did I lose and what have I added? It is easier to say what I've lost (or feel like I lost), I've lost visiting with my family, as we moved a province away. I've lost a church family that I loved and was loved by. I've lost many friendships, as only a few will stand the test of time and email (all from the move). Right now I feel like I have given up my home, not so much the building, although we did that too, but my home the comforting place to be at the end of a day. The warm safe place that is always suppose to be there, doesn't seem to be there right now.
So what have I added to my life to counter act the loss and how does that reflect my Lent experience. I have been more intentional in participating in worship, mainly solitary worship but meaningful. Many times over the last few months I could be found crying in my car as my favorite worship song plays, "The Stand". I have intentionally focused on the sovereignty of God over the last few months, seeing even little things as gifts from him. God has blessed my family so much over the last four months, providing for us in miraculous ways, that I can't help but see him everywhere. I have added new friendships to my life, starting those new fragile relationships that take time and patience to nurture into full friendship. And prayer, I've added prayer. I find that I can't go far into my day or activity without calling out for help to the one who will always be there, and yet I never feel like I can call out enough.
So today my heart is breaking. Filled with longing for this season of Lent to be over. Longing for a home where my heart and body can rest. Longing for the joy that comes after the sorrow. Knowing that it will come.
In the mean time, I will continue on this journey of Lent. Is this a true Lent 'experience'? I don't know. All I know is that I will continue to offer my heart to my God in this time of transition and sorrow with this as my prayer
Well today I am wondering if that is true. What did I lose and what have I added? It is easier to say what I've lost (or feel like I lost), I've lost visiting with my family, as we moved a province away. I've lost a church family that I loved and was loved by. I've lost many friendships, as only a few will stand the test of time and email (all from the move). Right now I feel like I have given up my home, not so much the building, although we did that too, but my home the comforting place to be at the end of a day. The warm safe place that is always suppose to be there, doesn't seem to be there right now.
So what have I added to my life to counter act the loss and how does that reflect my Lent experience. I have been more intentional in participating in worship, mainly solitary worship but meaningful. Many times over the last few months I could be found crying in my car as my favorite worship song plays, "The Stand". I have intentionally focused on the sovereignty of God over the last few months, seeing even little things as gifts from him. God has blessed my family so much over the last four months, providing for us in miraculous ways, that I can't help but see him everywhere. I have added new friendships to my life, starting those new fragile relationships that take time and patience to nurture into full friendship. And prayer, I've added prayer. I find that I can't go far into my day or activity without calling out for help to the one who will always be there, and yet I never feel like I can call out enough.
So today my heart is breaking. Filled with longing for this season of Lent to be over. Longing for a home where my heart and body can rest. Longing for the joy that comes after the sorrow. Knowing that it will come.
In the mean time, I will continue on this journey of Lent. Is this a true Lent 'experience'? I don't know. All I know is that I will continue to offer my heart to my God in this time of transition and sorrow with this as my prayer
"I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned in awe of the one who gave it all. I'll stand my soul, Lord to you surrendered all I am is yours"
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
VBS DAY!
So I am so excited! I received my VBS material today. I am using Standard Publishing's Inside out and Upside down on Mainstreet.
It looks so good. I'll post more when I get a longer chance to look at it!
It looks so good. I'll post more when I get a longer chance to look at it!
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