Because of the change of dates, we had some folks who were not able to join us that could have been here on the 1st, and some folks were able to be here, who had other commitments on the 1st.  But God knew who and when each one was going to be here and as I took a brief break from keeping the table fully laden with goodies – I was able to ponder the goodness of God in our lives.

I think our Open House is my favourite day of the year.  I have been baking for weeks, and all the planning has finally come together.  Jeff has been working diligently in the trains, and all the new elements are ready for viewing pleasure.  And it’s on this day that we watch as our church family, friends and colleagues join us for fellowship and food.  It makes warms this girl’s heart to have our home filled with conversation and laughter.

At one point this afternoon though, I realized that in our living room at least 6 facets of our life had come together, and in some way had multiple connections.  Some of these relationships go back more than 20 years – to even before we were married, and some are very new friendships, but the connection was there none the less.  One of the professors who was most influential in Jeff’s life from Seminary was here.  He has now become a treasured friend and colleague.  Also in the room were members of his congregation, one of whom came to faith in the church we served in Toronto – she and her husband are also dear friends.  Then we had a couple of Presbytery members here.

One goes to the church of the other.  The elder was a student of Jeff’s last year, and he is good friends with my former Sr Pastor (who also played hockey with the professor).  My former pastor and family now live out of the country, and I miss them dearly – yet here they were being mentioned fondly in multiple conversations.  The final folks in the room were friends from the church I serve.  She is the admin assistant there and she and her husband went to Nassau with us to visit friends last year, and the friendship bond has just deepened since then.

I sat – and as I reflect – realize just how overwhelmed I was.  The day ended with 2 couples who we hold very dear.  The wife of one, and the husband of the other grew up at the church I serve together.  A fitting end to an awesome day!

I think what strikes me the most is the promise that God will place us into families found in Psalm 68.  Jeff and I have come from very different background and made a home.  During our almost 2 decades, we have found family everywhere we have lived, and today – significant parts of that accumulated family were together in our home. 

I love how God shows up in unexpected places, and sometimes – if we are just quiet enough to listen and still enough to see – He says “see, I have been faithful”.  Jeff and I have always felt that we celebrate Christmas with our families and New Year’s with our Church family.  Today, the circle was bigger, but just that much more sweet.

Blessings my friends, may your 2012 be filled with reminders of God’s faithfulness to you – and may you be quiet and still enough to see and hear it.

Know this my friends, because of the infant we celebrated yesterday – we have a promise of eternal victory through the King who reigns with His Father.

Last night, my beloved surprised me with an early Christmas present.  He had been telling me for about a week now, that we had to go “get” my gift on Friday, and the only clue I had been given was that I probably wouldn’t want to wear jeans and a T-shirt when we went.  Despite my frequent asking, and trying to get him to tell me what we were doing – he didn’t give it away until the last possible minute.  Now, I must admit, my curiosity got a hold of me, and I tried very hard to figure it out.  I looked at websites for tickets, for concerts – but nothing twigged as something that we might be going to.  We left the house, with my still not knowing, all the while my excitement growing.  Our final destination was a wonderful surprise, and seeing Canadian jazz artist Emilie-Claire Barlow was an absolute delight.  (If you’ve never heard her, check her out on iTunes or YouTube).

Last night’s events got me to thinking…isn’t that just like God?  Have you ever been in prayer over a situation in your life, and it seems that God is not answering, or that the answer is coming in stages?  I’m in a season like that right now.  My last entry told the story of a situation I’ve been praying about for more than a year.  God gave part of the answer in a very clear way – but I know that there is more to the answer.  I’m waiting, and I’m trying not to jump ahead of where He wants to take me in this.  I know that the end will be worth the wait, and will be better than I could imagine for myself.

Waiting on God is not a new thing though, and as we end the first week of Advent, we are once again reminded that God’s people were waiting for the Messiah to arrive and bring true freedom.  For hundreds of years, the Saviour promised in the Old Testament seemed not to be coming.  It was as if God had fallen silent – but what a wonderful plan He was preparing to bring about.  Then, in a very humble shelter – God sent The Answer that the world was waiting for.  The plan was better than anyone could have imagined.  People had been looking for a grand entrance on a white stallion, who would bear a sword and free them.   The gift that arrived was God himself – as a helpless child.

Jesus came so that we could learn from his example, and to experience a real, living relationship with the King of the Universe.  And that baby would not only be Saviour to the people he lived among, but all of us!  He came to set you and I free.  To make a way so that we can live forever in relationship with God.  The wait was worth it – more than anyone could have imagined.  This advent, don’t lose sight of the importance of waiting.  Watch with childlike anticipation for what God has planned for you.  Celebrate the coming of the baby born to be King of Kings!

I had the joy on the last weekend of October to spend time with dear friends, and some whom I sure will become dear friends in Fort Lauderdale.  We (8 of us from Ontario), had flown down to attend Women of Faith.  There were 14 from The Bahamas who came over to join us.  It was wonderful to worship, laugh and cry together.  Each year that I organize a group (this was my 11th), I put together a small bag of essentials – kleenex, pen, lip balm…and a memento of the weekend.  I include a letter that helps first time attendees know what to expect.

In that letter – I always put in a paragraph that encourages the ladies to listen for the moment when God speaks directly too them.  From my own experience, it’s as if God puts a loud-speaker up to your ear, and the message intended for your heart is abundantly clear.  This year though, it’s as if the loud-speaker was on pause for me.  When I got home, Jeff asked what my “moment” was – and for the first time in more than a decade of attending, I didn’t have an answer…or so I thought.  Don’t get me wrong,  I was ministered to completely at the conference, and my soul was filled in a way it hasn’t been in quite some time.  I love this event, and the women who occupy the stage.

Still pondering my lack of “moment”, I went to the Bible study I’m leading at Jeff’s church. We are working through Angela Thomas’ “Brave”, and our focus last week was “I have a thorn”…Angela’s teaching was that God allows us to have thorns in our life so that we might, in our weakness, be drawn closer to him.  We know it’s there, but it’s only God who can remove it – and when He does, it will be so that others might see His glory.  I had shared with the ladies that I have been dealing with a thorn for more than a year now, and despite prayer – God has not been taking it away – or so I thought…

This past Thursday – I was told by the leadership at the church I work at that after this coming June, my position will no longer be available.  (Not just mine, but some other key positions in the church too).  Hard financial times have fallen on the church, and they just can’t afford to be fully staffed at this time.  I have been expecting this news for a couple of years now, and knew that my position was on borrowed time.   It’s funny – I’ve been praying about this situation for more than a year now, and have known how it would end – but was totally caught off guard by the information.  However, as I drove home from the church – God turned the loud-speaker on…I kept hearing Angie Smith talk about Peter, and walking across the water towards Jesus.  As the waves rise, he begins to sink.  Instead of looking back to his companions – he chose to look forward and call to Jesus to rescue him.  That part of her talk just played over and over in my mind.  And it was with complete peace that I was able to call on Jesus to keep me focused in my walk forward.  I also know that my thorn has been removed.  I awoke on Friday morning to the most beautiful sunshine, and a complete sense of relief.

Relief that I don’t have to wait for the inevitable anymore – it’s in the open, and so is my search and discerning of what God has planned next.  I know it’s better than anything I could imagine – and I know, with all the confidence of my being – that He has it planned.  This thorn removal will be used for His glory – and because my job search can be in the open, I can help people see what God is doing when I have a new position to replace the one I am losing.  The best part of all of this – I know that my time to worship on a regular basis with my beloved is coming, and sooner than I had dared hope!  It will be good be in God’s presence together.  It’s the next step on my journey…and I can’t wait to see where it’s headed.

I follow Ann Voskamp’s blog at www.aholyexperience.com, and today she has linked her post to one she has at the Dayspring daily blog.  It’s about the desire to be a Velveteen mom.  You know the story – the velvelteen rabbit became real because the boy loved him.  Let this post encourage you, and know my prayer for you today and in the coming days, as you parent your littles – is that you will become a velveteen mom.

Use this link, and be inspired…http://www.incourage.me/2011/10/tiger-mothers-or-the-making-of-velveteen-mothers.html

This past weekend, I was introduced to a new-to-me author, and a Canadian author to boot!  A dear friend had read the book, and asked if I would read it, and the give her some feedback.  So, I started the book last Wednesday, and Saturday indulged into the finishing the feast of words that the author laid before me.

What was the most fascinating was that I was reading this on our Thanksgiving weekend.  A weekend to thank God for the bounty of the harvest, and all that he bestows into our lives.  The book is “One Thousand Gifts” by Ann Voskamp.  She writes for Dayspring Cards (a beautiful line of Christian cards), so her way with words should come as no surprise.  After a friend challenged her to write down 1,000 things that she was grateful for.

As she launched into that list – combined with her own readings and reflections, she realized that the key to living “eucharisto” (communion) begins with thanks.  When delving into the accounts of the miracles – Jesus began with thanks.  She so beautifully invites the reader to enter into true “eucharisto” living.   As she shares how her perspective on life changed – to the point that one of her sons tells her that he’s noticed – I wanted to find that key to living in thanks.  Her blog has also become part of my daily reading – you can find her under my links, look for “A Holy Experience”.

True joy for the Christian is supposed to be part of our lives, but the enemy does his level best to prevent that from happening.  Life tends to get in the way, and our walk is interrupted.  Our joy is swallowed by worries (not that they ever solved anything), our sorrows, our – well – every day living.  I want the joy that walking in “eucharisto” brings.  It’s not a journey to walk alone, nor is it one that should go unnoticed.  Pray for me, and join me if you will.

Today’s post is perfect for this blog.  A mom who is busy, but knows how to carve out real quality time for her girls – this is the stuff memories are made of!

If I was smarter – I’d bring her whole post over to here, but alas, I am not…so here’s the link http://www.kellehampton.com/

Enjoy and be inspired! 

Good morning!

            One of the somewhat paradoxical things about the Christian faith is that in its ‘fundamental’ or ‘radical’ sense – and I use those terms literally, to mean ‘basic’ or ‘foundational’ – it allows for disagreement.  The spirit of the gospel of Christ is that Christians accept that not everybody is going to accept the good news.  This, over time, formed the foundation for democracy and free speech in the world.

            It is sadly ironic, then, that sometimes, believers can gain notoriety for suppressing free speech.  An example of this occurred this week when Tyndale University College & Seminary, the school at which I have been both student and teacher, announced that a friend of the institution was hosting an invitation-only breakfast event to raise the profile of the school.  What was newsworthy about this?  The speaker was to be George W. Bush, the forty-third President of the United States.  News reports uncovered that a number of students and alumni, and even some faculty, had raised a petition to have the event cancelled, because they disagreed with what Bush stood for as U.S. President and didn’t want him associated with Tyndale.

            Sadly, the event was cancelled.  No official word has connected the cancellation to the brouhaha that came about when the speaker was announced, but many people have surmised that the school was responding to the outcry.

            Either way, I think that’s unfortunate.  Whether or not any or all of the faculty, students and alumni agree with Bush’s policies or the way he expresses his faith, it flies in the face of the freedom of expression for which the church stands to cancel an event because of such a protest.  A saying that is often attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire (but was actually penned by someone else who was summarizing his beliefs) resonates with basic Christianity:  “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” 

            The Christian faith, at its core, is about defending rights, because people – all people – matter to God…even those with whom we may disagree.

            Free speech is all too easily suppressed in our world today.  Often, it’s about secular society suppressing Christian free speech.  It’s particularly sad when Christians go about seeking to suppress free speech.

            None of God’s representatives in the Bible, from the prophets to the apostles to Jesus himself, sought to arm-twist anyone into the kingdom.  We have no record of any of them disrespecting those who chose to believe differently.  Sadly, the record of the church has not been stellar in this regard throughout church history, but the goal of faithful disciples of Jesus should be to be tolerant, in the original sense of the term:  to allow people the freedom to be wrong.

            There are differences of opinion and interpretation as to what Scripture says about such things as war and social policy.  The gospel indicates to us, however, that we should be loving toward even those with whom we disagree.  The church must model this for society.

            Disputes happen in local churches everywhere, but thankfully, they don’t usually make the news.  My prayer is that we who are disciples of Jesus will strive, daily, to allow for freedom of expression, even when that expression doesn’t concur with our understanding of truth.  After all, Jesus said, “You have heard that the law says, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you!  In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5.43-45a, NLT).

Passionately His,

Jeff+

So, imagine my reservations when, asked by my boss, I travelled to work at a gathering of 10,000+ youth and their leaders.  Yep, that number is correct.  10,000 teenagers, and all those hormones – in the same place at the same time – and I was going to be part of a team that would be selling music and resources to them.  I was anticipating headaches, problems, etc…

Here’s the reality. The doors opened to the exhibitors booths at 12:30 pm on both days for the conference, and by 12:35 we were already experiencing a line-up.  By 1:30, the assigned security to our booth had to maintain a line of kids waiting to come in to make their purchases.  And while all that was happening, the cash registers never stopped…we had a line-up until 10 minutes after the doors were closed.  And what behaviour did we witness?

While in line, the kids were straightening the product piles, talking with each other, politely waiting, and generally understanding that we were keeping up as well as we could.  We even were routinely asked where we wanted them to place their backpacks while they were shopping. (I guess that’s an adult stereotype – we don’t trust young people in groups).

I have been at great youth events before, and interacted with amazing kids in those gatherings – but that was through conversation, and have had the privilege of worshipping with them.  It’s really a powerful thing, to watch that many teens with deep and real questions, worshipping a God who is very real to them.  It always raises my spirits and let’s me see that the Church will continue to be a vibrant place where God is known and welcome, and where the Gospel of Christ will be taught – but to watch that many kids be, without exception, polite and honouring of each other was, well, quite happily unexpected.

It shows that the leaders who are pouring into their lives, and the parents who are doing their best to raise decent members of society are doing their jobs well.  It was awesome to have one of the security guards, during a rare slow point, ask what this weekend was all about.  After I explained it to her, she said – “I knew there was something different about these kids, I’ve never been to anything like this before”.   I had to smile – the Body of Christ, gathered there, had just shown Him to this young lady.  And I couldn’t have been happier to be wrong about a preconceived notion.  The Church will be in very good hands with this generation!

On the surface – we saw all that one sees in the tour books…but the experiences our friends introduced us to were so much richer and will hold a longer impact.  We were taken to a community outreach center that the church our friend pastors supports.  We saw the Nassau that will never show up in the list of places to be – door and plumbing-less houses, just in behind the opulence of the downtown area.    We had the joy of watching a ball hockey league play – and for the first time, watch our host show off his skills…he’s really pretty good!  This is a league of about 50 guys, most of whom are former Canadians, with a few NHL players thrown in.  It was a great evening, but you’d never see that in the tour books either.

We were taken to a couple of stores that highlight the creative talents of folks that live on the Island, but are nowhere near the beaten path – and were able to bring home some Island beauty with us.

We were also privileged to attend a lecture sponsored by the Bahamas National Trust.  In an amazing setting that was once private lands, we saw the most diverse collection of Palm trees, while hearing (and watching) the cartoonist who creates “Sherman’s Lagoon”.  You see, the BNT is petitioning the government of The Bahamas to outlaw the harvesting of sharks.  We learned that one of the reasons that the waters of the Bahamas are so pristine and clear – and of a shade of blue that can only be appreciated in person – are that way because the delicate eco-system is in almost perfect balance.  Shark harvesting threatens to throw that out of whack, and then the water cease to be the wonder-filled place that it is.

Without our hosts letting us experience life on the Island the way they do…we would have only seen the “surface” of the island.  The view that the tourist trade wants you to see.  But there is so much more, and it’s full of life and wonder and celebration and learning.

If you are one who attends Worship at a local church, but never opens your Bible through the week, nor spends time with those you see on Sunday outside of that gathering – you really are seeing just the surface of what the Church is called to look like.  If you want your children, spouse or loved ones to know Jesus, you need to take them deeper in the journey with you.  You need to see beyond the hymns, lights and happy gathered people, and well adorned sanctuaries.  Or, are you one who is curious about the man, Jesus, and what makes his followers different.  Spend time with someone who’s life you admire – not because of who they are or their occupation, but because of how they approach life.  Learn from them and ask questions – seek to see the world through their eyes  – cause you can all most be sure they are looking through their Jesus’ eyes.

Faith is a journey that should get our hands dirty with living among His people.  Reading and studying what God says to us in His Word fuels that.  Helping those who are in need – be it money, food, prayer or just a hug.  Being Jesus to others, is not easy, nor is it glamorous.  But it is when we are truly in that space that we experience the richness, the wonder and learning of truly being a Jesus follower.

The Body of Christ is called to do life – together.  And that’s with those who call us out of our comfort zone – who challenge us to be there with them.  Read Act 2-4…does that look like a church you know?  I haven’t found one yet…but here is the account of the early church, sharing, caring and prayer together.  How awesome that must have been.  Certainly not “touristy”, but real. 

I loved our trip, and true to instruction, we “got sand in my shoes”, so we’ll be back.  I saw colours that were more vibrant than anything I’ve ever experience, but I was enchanted by the Island because I saw it through the eyes of my friends who love it so much.  May it be that way as others look to see this Christian life through us – may they be drawn in to Him, because of our love for Him.