Edmonton Roadtrip!

This last weekend Sarah and I had our first roadtrip together. We were invited to go to Edmonton with 2 of our friends to celebrate Linda's birthday. It was an early morning (left the city by 7:30am) but well worth it. After a few wrong turns (okay maybe more than a few, including a "Call a friend" for directions) we made it to the Ikea store. We were impressed that we did it and I don't think we had too many upset drivers LOL At least no one honked at us. Due to the fact that we drove there in a car we were able to control our spending urges and only bought a few smaller items. Loving my new bedroom lamp :-)

Then off to find the hotel, and the Edmonton mall. A few more wrong turns but we ended up with a great parking spot at the mall (we figured God felt sorry for us and guided us to the spot). We did manange to do both floors of the mall even in the two days were were there. Even watched the Sea Lions. We didn't buy much, had fun, and oh my aching feet!


We woke up Sunday morning to lots of snow and me being worried about the drive home. We found the church easily (started to feel like we knew what we were doing!) and back to the mall. The drive home was a little nervous (okay maybe a little more than "a little" but the road conditions were only bad til about Vermillion). After that it was smooth driving. Got home around 11:30.

A good trip!!! PS I took Monday afternoon off to recuperate *g*

Definition of phrases and words...

I've wanted to spend some time trying to really set in my mind what certain words or phrases mean when I read them in scripture or hear them used in a sermon, bible class etc. I did attend a Wed night class where Bob discussed the meaning of "kingdom business" which is one I've puzzled at. That night I thought I'd finally figured it out but since I didn't write it down and my brain isn't good at retention these days, I'm going to have to discuss it with him again.

The reason this came up again, is because I was reading a chapter on Blame in this book titled "Holding on to Hope: a pathway through suffering to the heart of God" She describes the phrase "feared God". Another phrase that I don't think I've grasped properly - I know it doesn't mean "scared of God or afraid of God" but exactly what does it mean. The author descibes it this way.

"It is a profound sense of reverential awe toward God. But really it is even more than that. The fear of God is better described than defined. It is displayed in a person's character and conduct. A person who fears God recognizes God's authority over every area of his life. He has a desire to obey God's clear commands in Scripture. He recognizes his complete dependence upon God for everything he has and everything he is. He approaches every aspect of life with an aim to glorify God. And when life deals him a blow, his fear of God is revealed more completely."

So, if you happen to be reading this - what would you say your description of "fear of God, feared God" is? I loved to hear it.

Chapter 5 Doubt and video clips:

Wait - I'll explain why those two are appropriate together. First my favorite quote from Chapter 5:

"What God's absence does is usher us into a state of complete emptiness, where all these feelings are taken away. During these stretches our impure motivations for becoming a Christian no longer sustain us. All feelings of contentment and peace leave us, and we're forced to learn to love God simply for the sake of loving God and not for what we can get from him. It's as if God says to us during these parched moments, 'It's easy to love me when you feel close to me. How about when my peace and warmth are gone; will you loe me then? I'll leave the room for a while, and we'll find out.' "

Now video clips - the one thing I like about technology is the ability to keep in touch with people long distance on "real time" as oppose to waiting for days for the letters to arrive. I also like the fact that I have the opportunity to meet new people who turn into dear friends. And it's a great way to get information - like how to download and show a video clip on this blog. Thanks to Angela (who I have probably met briefly years ago but know her family) my doubt that I would be able to post a video to this blog has disappeared. I emailed her from her blog, she was kind enough to respond with instructions. I attempted last night and failed. But Angela encouraged me again this morning with some more advice and it worked! So thanks Angela.

This Sunday afternoon we attempted to defeat the dust bunnies, dirty dishes and laundry that was overtaking the house. The kids were helping until they got slightly distracted in the living room - here's what they got distracted doing...didn't get my house any cleaner but it sure gave me a good laugh (and that is even better than a clean house).

We need deliberately to call to mind the joys of our journey. Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day. We might begin; we could never end; there are not pens or paper enough in all the world.
-- George A. Buttrick

It always amazing how God provides for me, in the small things you know. When I'm trying to find something to read or a scripture for one of the Ladies Events or a for a card for a friend, or even when it's just something I've been chewing on in my head - he always seems to supply it. Like today, finished talking to Alice about what she thought she would talk about on Saturday, walk to the computer to check my email and thinking about what I should read or what scriptures, etc for the Ladies Breakfast on Saturday and wah la... there is a Heartlight message that is perfect - just received it today. Kristie and me have started calling them God moments.

Well it snowed on Monday, icy icy icy roads and I had to take the work van in for serving. The only way to get there is down Circle (speed limit 90km) hmmm...not looking forward to it as I'm very very very very very nervous about driving a big vehicle on ice. Especially after last winters accident when dad was driving down Circle on icy roads and lost control, spun around several times (at least it felt like it, my eyes were closed at the time) and we ended up in the ditch, on top of the fence. So I'm doing my little crisis prayer "Please make everyone drive slow so they won't be mad at me while I drive slow." Guess what? No one on the Circle drove anywhere near 50km - so I got there safe and sound - thank you Lord. And then they had to keep the van in later than 4:30 and so someone else from work went and got it for me - even better answer to my prayer!!

Well my older daughter got "hitched" today to a "creepy guy" as she puts it. Tomorrow they will be planning when they will have their baby. Before any friends freak out too much - I'm referring to her Pyschology class. They had to "speed date" and then pick someone to "get hitched" to for this project. She said the speed dating was okay, unfortunately she is too polite and when the "creepy guy" did the eye contact and "you and me" for the "hitching part" she said okay even though she rather would have picked someone else. Now she is dreading going to school tomorrow. One side of me finds it all quite hiliarious but the side that remembers high school feels realllllly sorry for her right now, since she is concerned the "creepy" guy might actually like her. I put on my mother's hat and told her to give the guy a chance, it's only for a short term and she might "grow" from this experience. I had better stock up on some Ben and Jerry's ice cream for her.

Chapter 4 - Compassion - my favorite quotes:

The chapter starts with this quote "The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen".

It talks about authentic compassion - "Jesus' strategy for helping us extend authentic compassion to others is to allow us to be broken by hardship". What a way to learn authentic compassion - I feel like I'm too much of a wimp for that. "Our brokeness lets us feel what others feel, and it give us credibility when we reach out to others who are suffering." "Our wounds give us power to feel another person's pain."

"The second step in Jesus' stratgy for teaching us to extend authentic compassion to others is to give us his heart for the broken people around us." He mentions that there are two kinds of relationships in the world - I and Thou (person to person) and I and It (person to object). "Having Jesus' heart for people keeps us from turning people in our lives into it people."
"Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it's like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too. That's what it's like to have Jesus' heart for people."

I pray that God gives us all that kind of compassion - imagine what the world would be like if we did....

This day has not ended well...I got the news that a friends father past away today. My heart is quite heavy for my friend and her family, and the why's are emerging. I find I feel like crying more than I did when my mom past away. Most likely because we had lost mom way before death took her and it was just one more step in saying goodbye. But with Rick...he was still a vital part of their family, still needed, still a presence, and he is really going to be missed by them. I just feel so bad for them. With mom there was joy in knowing that she was finally free... but where is the joy for my friend? I know that he is finally free from the pain he has been suffering these last few months and there is joy in that but still....

I know that I don't have the answers (nothing new there) and we live in a world where bad things happen to good people. I have to hold on to my why's for now and know that God is with them.

Lord, look after him and please pour all your strength and comfort on the family.

What am I thankful for on this day?

Well were do I begin? Like everyone, no matter how lousy things are going, there is always something to be thankful for. That's the one great thing about this day - is the opportunity to look back over the year and realize how blessed you are.

I'm thankful for my husband who still loves me through all the ups and downs of our marriage. I've learned from him that things will work out no matter how much I worry about them, things will always work out and we will be okay.

I'm thankful for my daughters that I never planned on having but God knew better. Kristie who has taught me recently to have more patiences with drivers who cut me off or drive like idiots. Maybe they are not idiots after all - it could be someone learning to drive like Kristie. I'm thankful for Sarah who has taught me to laugh and laugh and laugh, and that owning a dog or guinea pig or fish or gerbils can be fun.

I'm thankful for my sisters - Gail has taught me about having a giving heart and always thinking of others. Twyla has taught me about calm steady faithfulness and loving children. Holly has and is teaching me about hanging on to your faith and perseverance during hard times. I love my sister's and am so thankful for them.

I'm thankful for my sisters in Christ - who have encouraged me through the years, taught me the importance of hugs, who have given me words of counsel, lifted me up, and stretched me in my thinking.

I am thankful for a good bed (if you've every slept over at my mom in laws you would totally understand where I'm coming from), friends that you have a history with because you can get together and remember the good old days and laugh and laugh, for technology to keep in touch with family and friends and the opportunity it gives you to meet new friends that become dear friends, autumn days and all the glorious shades of yellow, orange and red, good books, quiet evenings, new babies, and.. and... I could really just go on an on but I won't.

I will end with the one really important one - I'm so thankful for my loving, faithful, enduring, holy God that loves me, cares about me, created me, and who has blessed me so immensely. Thank you Lord.