Communication. Good-Bye.

Good-bye.


What?!! Where are you going?


Away.


Where?!


I am not sure yet.


Is everything okay?


Fine...I need to take some time to be by myself.


Why?


Because I need to hear the sound of silence.


Oh. ...When are you coming back?


When you see me again.

Struggle, Struggle, Strive...

There is a painting called "Forgiven" by Thomas Blackshear that I absolutely love. It speaks of the forgiveness that Jesus Christ has offered to all of us, even the one who pierced His hands and feet...I used to carry cards of this print and give them out when led...and I am not one for handing out literature, but I was so impressed with the message that the image conveyed that I wanted to share it with others.

The artist, Thomas Blackshear, has done something in his work that I pray I will one day be able to do consistently...he poured out his heart in his God-given talent to honour his King. I see many others do this also, the Brennflecks, Donna Lee, Oliver, Michael, Os, the nakedpastor...they are all working with their God-given talents to inspire others and honour God. (They are not all pastors either.) They work with what God has given them - the interest of their hearts - in the workplace and in the world, to do what they do.

Over the past few years, I have struggled (to say the least) with this notion of becoming a nurse. You see, I have always wanted to go to Bible College and work full time in a "pastor"-type position. This is the only way I thought I should serve God. But apparently my King has other plans. I was putting limits on where I thought I could best benefit the Kingdom of God, but I am recognizing now that God needs people in the work place, in every work place, from the construction site to the CEO's office to serve Him and bless others. And as we reflect the character of Christ, so that others will be impacted, it doesn't necessarily mean sharing the Gospel outright at first, but rather, loving people with the love of Christ, regardless of whether they want to know more about Jesus specifically or not. We leave the details to the Holy Spirit, in the mean time, we are called to honour God where we are. I know this is an old message, and perhaps you are shaking your head doing a "no-duh" moment at my 'revelation', but I mention it because I also have struggled with something else.

The church.

Where does the role of the church fit into our society today?

More and more, I am seeing churches, church buildings, becoming obsolete. The traditional form of church services are being shaken to their core...and many have fallen. Again, an obvious statement of fact that many veteran Christians are quite aware of, I know. The question is, what are we doing about it??

A friend of mine made an observation about our particular city. He said that the majority of churches are on the edge of the city where people are required to drive or take buses to get there and that very few churches are in the core of the city to reach out to those who do not have vehicles or the money to take the bus. This is an issue for several reasons, one of which is the churches outside the downtown tend to stay away from the downtown core - they do not see the needs that are there and thus do not extend their ministry there consistently, also, the people in the downtown core are not necessarily aware of these churches and have little interest in going out of their way to seek one out, especially on the edge of town.

There is also a whole (cross) generation of people that are absolutely turned off by the idea of attending 'traditional' church and will not even darken the door of such an institution! This is disturbing because, it is not that these people are not seeking, they have just shut out this particular venue as a consideration.

So, what do we do as the body of Christ? It is a no-brainer, really...get out of the pews and into the streets, right?! Maybe...Actually, serving our community by going out into the streets and addressing needs and sharing the Gospel is a good thing, but it is also not the only thing we can do. To do as Jesus did, we would take every opportunity to serve and minister to others in our neighbourhood, our workplace, our schools, etc. But few of us do this consistently. Why? We don't feel like it, fear, embarrassment, insecurities...the list goes on, I am sure. The thing is though, time is running out! As each day goes by, our lives become shorter (reality check!) and we are one day closer to the Lord's return. We don't have time to put off reaching out to our neighbours, friends, co-workers, family members...It is time to get out of the pews with our love for Christ and be the love of Christ in the world, our world, our mission field, our community, our backyard!

Oh wait...! One other place for ministry, for sharing the love of Jesus...THE INTERNET! This is a new mission field that opens up possibilities we could have never imagined! Whether it is through an encouraging email to someone, a word of blessing on Facebook, or a website dedicated to sharing the Word of God, there are countless opportunities to reflect the love and Truth of Jesus Christ!

The Church is changing. Traditional institutions are being challenged to transform to meet the needs of the people, not remain as is and expect the people to keep coming because "this is how we have always done it"...

For me, the struggle to accept that God could use me in the field of nursing just as powerfully as a pastor in a church, has taken me to a new level of understanding of how God works, again how I have boxed my God in -and how He is truly uncontainable...and how I need to maintain an open and teachable spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead me and not depend solely on tradition.

Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:25-27 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter)


The link to "Forgiven" by Thomas Blackshear - Check it out!http://www.blackshearonline.com/cgi-bin/globaltemplate.cgi?id=18

WORSHIP ~ Written by Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is he, who,
felled by foes,
Sprung harmless up,
refreshed by blows:
He to captivity was sold,
But him no prison-bars would hold:
Though they sealed him in a rock,
Mountain chains he can unlock:
Thrown to lions for their meat,
The crouching lion kissed his feet:
Bound to the stake,
no flames appalled,
But arched o'er him an honoring vault.
This is he men miscall Fate,
Threading dark ways,
arriving late,
But ever coming in time to crown The truth,
and hurl wrongdoers down.
He is the oldest,
and best known,
More near than aught thou call'st thy own,
Yet, greeted in another's eyes,
Disconcerts with glad surprise.
This is Jove, who, deaf to prayers,
Floods with blessings unawares.
Draw, if thou canst, the mystic line,
Severing rightly his from thine,
Which is human, which divine.

The Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson - Volume VI - Conduct of Life (1860)

Where Did You Go?!

Where did you go...I miss you.

Communication. Be Real.

Be real.

What does that mean?

Stand for what you believe.

Sometimes I am afraid.

Afraid of what?

Well...I guess, a negative response.

Is what you believe worth standing for?

Yes.

Then you need fear nothing!

Crucified With Christ

There are three marks of one who is crucified:
One, he is facing in only one direction.
Two, he can never turn back.
And three, he no longer has any plans of his own.
~ A. W. Tozer

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:19-21 (in Context) Galatians 2 (Whole Chapter)

Did I Mention Cabin Fever?!

I am suffering illness right now, not fun. Just a cold that has managed to suck all, nearly all, my energy from me. But, I have also been out of commission for the past 5 weeks unable to work out, either at the gym or on the trail! Can you say cabin fever?! I had a mountain biking crash, which I might add, was so good that I won the award for best crash! If you are going to do something, give it your best right!?

Anyhow, this setback has made me realize a couple of things. First, I need to be around people. I like my alone time - definitely- but I also like to be around people - humans being made for relationship and all...it makes sense. Did I mention cabin fever?? Also, I miss working out. Like I have mentioned in the past, I can be very determined (when I want to be) and this translates into pushing myself too hard sometimes...the crash, by-the-way, was not a technical error - long story short - proper shoes are a must when mountain biking!

I was smart enough this time (yeah, I have had a few sports injuries...) to recognize that I really had to take time off from my regular workout routine in order to heal properly. This has been an absolutely excruciatingly painful (psychological) process, not being able to just go and do -I have had to exercise self-control and patience...easier said than done! I would test the waters every 4 or 5 days - go for a walk - 6km, a little too far...4km - more tolerable...around the block - that's where I am at...oi! Did I mention cabin fever?!

The nice thing about this whole experience has been the lack of running. If you had read my previous posting titled 'Michael' you would understand where I might be going with this; however, you may be surprised to read that during this time, despite previous grievances, I longed to run anywhere, for any amount of time, just go...! And I couldn't even do that! This is where I would like to bring in the life lesson. I have to admit that I am oh-so grateful that, normally, I can do all that I can do physically - I am truly blessed to be able to hop on my bike and take off through the trails for a few hours in the day or slip to the gym for a couple of hours and work different muscle groups (all-the-while listening to music or watching TV at that!). This time off has reinforced to me how many blessings there are in my life - my body, my city, my country, my family and friends...I am thankful for all of them! (And proper shoes too.)

Most of all, I am thankful that my crash wasn't as bad as it could have been...I am convinced God kept me from a more serious injury, despite my foolishness. What a God we serve! Thank you Lord Jesus!

Who? What??

Who are you?

What is your story??

Be at Peace My Dear...

Proverbs 19:21

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:20-22 (in Context) Proverbs 19 (Whole Chapter)

Roses are Red...

Roses are red...yellow, pink, and white,

Violets are blue...yellow, small, and slight,

You are mysterious...my heart's delight,

I wait for you...as these words take flight...

God speed your journey,

Be safe this night,

Bring peace my King,

Make a way with Your Light...

I wait for you as these words take flight.

I Only Let You See a Piece

I was going over my blog and realized the heaviness of most of my postings. I tend to be somewhat intense and not so light in my writing. I guess it is because I express lightness and joy right away - I release them - I celebrate the moment; whereas, when I need to deliberately unload the deeper, heavier issues, I write to release them.

This would be one of the downfalls to the Internet, you only see what the writer allows. If the writer chooses to hide or disclose selective information, the only way you would be able to truly know them is if you engage in a relationship by contact and dialogue. Sometimes, the character and personality of the author may differ in person compared to what is revealed online.

I write this blog with honesty. Some have commented to me that my writing makes them uncomfortable, it challenges them, they didn't realize I was so deep. I consider this a good thing, but what you read is only a part of me. If you are observant, you will see more about me than what I write, but you will still have limited vision and understanding until you engage in a relationship with me.

The question would be then, "Why would you want to engage in a relationship with me?" Good question. For some of you, the answer would be, "I don't want to engage in a relationship with you." (Your loss...I mean, choice...your choice.) For others, you wonder what I have to offer. Actually, for most people, when deciding whether to engage in a relationship with another person, they expect to get something out of that relationship - consciously and/or subconsciously. It is not necessarily a bad thing. The person may make you feel good about yourself, teach you something, give you money....there are many things you could get from a relationship, including heartache. But that's the chance you take, right? Except for those who choose not to engage in a relationship...they are safe from heartache...and growth, and prosperity, and ...well, you get the idea. It works two ways.


Starting a relationship can be as easy as saying "hello" and going with the flow of the conversation. (Of course, for it to be a "relationship", I would suggest that the persons involved would converse more than once and preferably no less than three conversations. Passing "hellos" do not count as a conversation!) Sometimes starting a relationship can be nerve racking, painfully embarrassing, or tragic in whatever measure. Those are perhaps the times where your first impression hit the ground like a watermelon dropped from a 10 story building. Not pretty.

Back to disclosure. How much should you disclose when you meet someone? It would depend on the nature of the relationship, right? So, establishing fairly quickly whether the person you are conversing with needs to know the latest excitement after consuming an extra spicy chili dinner is probably best reserved for your doctor as opposed to the unsuspecting blonde woman that stepped on to the elliptical to your right, regardless that she is a nurse and has heard, seen, and smelled (for that matter) far worse. There is disclosing...and then there is just too much information! Watch for that in your next conversation...otherwise, that will be one relationship that won't be happening...not without intervention, resuscitation, and perhaps a gracious sense of humour.

Sometimes you long for a relationship and for whatever reason, it did not happen. Do you pursue after it? Well...I would suggest that you pray about that. Nice answer eh?! Pray. This is more relevant than you might think at first. Praying could save you serious heartache and trouble. God sees each individual, their strengths and weaknesses, and He knows you. He also knows whether engaging in a relationship with a particular person will bless or burden you, or them. (Didn't see that one coming?? You can be a burden too.) God knows best and we would be wise to consult Him when pursuing a relationship, whether personal, business, or otherwise.

Do you have a relationship with God such that you could go to Him in prayer and listen to His response? Do you want a relationship with God? What will you get from engaging in a relationship with God??

Well, like me writing this blog (a comparison on a very different level! - I know), God has revealed Himself through the Bible. But not just there, He has revealed Himself in creation, through others...and He longs to engage in a personal relationship with each of us so we can know Him intimately. We need to start somewhere with a relationship and our relationship with God is no different. You can talk to God, but without reading His Word, you may not recognize His response to you. You need to get to know Him by reading what He has spoken through the Bible, through creation, through others, and the better you get to know Him, you will learn to recognize His voice when He speaks with you...And you will want that assurance when you inquire about relationships with others, especially when God tells you to not pursue a relationship with the guy who suffered the chili episode and you find out later that it wasn't the chili that was the problem, it was the illegal activity that he regularly engages in before and after the chili dinner...


The "chili" incident is entirely fictional, as I cannot print the story it is based upon, which I still shake my head at and thank God for His protection:)

~~~Aim High~~~

SOAR

Sunrise

For me, a sunrise is a beautiful reminder of God's hesed - lovingkindness. I look out in anticipation of the light that will assuredly appear.

Each time the sun rises, it brings new hope for a day full of delight, adventure, and growth. Even on stormy days, the sun still rises with a steadfast presence. And regardless of the presence of clouds, the colour of the sunrise is always spectacular.

A sunrise illuminates the dew on the spider's web, the branches of the maple, the calmness of the lake. It is a special, almost holy time of the day for me. I look forward to it knowing that in the waking moments of the new day, my God is with me, waiting for me to join Him.

Some people loathe waking in the early morning....and I used to be one of those people. It is funny, but about 8 years ago, I was praying about getting closer to God and I felt impressed to do 3 things. One of those things was to wake up early and spend time communing with God. I laughed. "Seriously God, you want me to give up my comfy, cozy bed to get up and sit in a less than cozy (compared to my bed) chair and commune with you?? Couldn't I commune with you from my bed? I'll just wake up earlier and we can commune together without any inconvenience to me."

Sad, yes, I know... The God of all creation, my King, my friend, my Saviour asked me to join Him in the morning and I whined about inconvenience! Oh, I groan inside as I recall my attitude...

And I won't lie, it wasn't until about 1 year ago (groan...) did I actually, regularly, get my sad sorry butt out of bed to meet the sunrise....and my God.

And now, I find my day is somehow lacking if I, for whatever reason, miss my sunrise rendez-vous with God. It is a special time...a time I cherish...and I would encourage others to rise to meet God at the break of day, it is a beautiful thing - in more ways than one.

Proverbs 4:18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. Proverbs 4:17-19 (in Context) Proverbs 4 (Whole Chapter)

Communication. Be Encouraged.

Be encouraged.


Why?


Because you are fearfully and wonderfully made.



What does that mean??





It means you are special, you are...



Whatever.



No, seriously. You were created by God and...



Uh-huh...whatever.



God loves you!



He'd be the only one.

He's the only one who matters...Read Psalm 139: 1-16

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%20139:1-16;&version=65;

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:16-18 (in Context) Zephaniah 3 (Whole Chapter)

Meet Zoey...

Another blonde beauty added to my family...She was left behind when some people moved from their apartment...We adopted her from the Humane Society. A German Shepherd/Lab mix - well behaved, intelligent, healthy, good with kids...

She is a blessing to us that we are very thankful for...our cat on the other hand is not so impressed...

A Hidden Gem

A dream I hold on to, where it leads - I don't know.

A mystery, a hidden gem, a royal treasure piece.

For now, it is tossed around like a marble in a child's pocket.

Who will end up with the marble? The game is fierce, it is not children playing.

Do they realize the treasure within the marble? Is that why they seek to own it?

The ground is not as smooth as would first appear.

Will anyone look closer to see?

Sweep away the obstacles or the marble will become nicked.

They don't see, no one will look closer, they don't care. It looks good from afar.

Wait! Who is that that watches outside the circle?

The game has escalated to a physical battle!

The marbles are scattered. Kicked and...wait...

It is him. He has picked up the marble and peers closely.

Safe in his hand, he begins to walk away.

He gently caresses the marble between his fingers removing any dirt.

His fingers seem to linger across every minute nick and scratch that was barely visible.

The marble becomes warm. So warm.

He has stopped now and removes the marble from his pocket.

He places it on a table with a slight dent in it, so as the marble does not roll.

It is almost as if the dent was made for the marble. How odd?!

He turns to get something...a hammer! No! Not a hammer!

The hammer is raised high. His muscles are strong. This will surely hurt!

With a mighty swing and a direct hit, the marble is shattered.

Why? Why? It was a pretty marble.

The nicks and scratches weren't that bad. Were they?

He blows the crushed and shattered glass away.

Why? What was the point in destroying the marble?

Wait...One piece of the marble has survived the blow.

He picks it up to analyze it.

He smiles. His eyes, they smile with a gentle knowing.

The marble is shattered, but somehow it will be okay.

Again, he caresses the left over marble between his fingers.

He is pleased.

What is left is not jagged. It is round and soon it will be smooth.

He begins to polish the piece. He sings as he does.

He enjoys his work. The piece is warm again.

After some time, he stops and peers closely.

It is beautiful! He smiles broadly and laughs with satisfaction.

The mystery revealed. A gem unhidden. A royal treasure piece.

It was his from the beginning. And now, it is his again.

This gem will never be snatched from his hand.

He will protect it ferociously. It is his! His alone.

The dream has become reality - and now I know I am home.

You Are Called...

Don't Hold Back...Don't Give Up...You Are Called...

Will you answer?

Laughter

There is something about laughter that is such a release...physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is de-stressing and just plain enjoyable. Laughing does many things to your body...you take in more oxygen enriching your blood; immunogobulins and killer T-cells are increased, boosting your immune system; endorphins, feel good chemicals in your body, are released helping you de-stress; laughter positively affects diabetics, cancer patients, and heart patients among others; it is used in psychotherapy; in exercise programs to encourage weight loss (laughing can be quite a work out as you contract and release your muscles)....laughter classes are popping up all over the place, there is even Laughter Yoga!! Remember the movie "Patch Adams"? Robin Williams played a character that was based upon a real life doctor who uses humour and laughter in his medical practice, he was a pioneer in this area of medical therapy.

What makes you laugh? Seriously, think about it....Comedy Central? jokes? blooppers? Sinbad? your brother? (My brother is generally hilarious - cheap entertainment at its best:) Something that always makes me laugh without fail, is the sound of babies laughing. I smile now just thinking about it.

It is said that children laugh around 300 times in a day, while adults only laugh about 15 times in a day...and I don't know what defines "real" laughter, but I am guessing that the belly laugh that children so easily produce occurs far more often in a day than the belly laugh of adults. Come to think about it, I am not even sure that I laugh 15 times in one day! (...Not 15 belly laughs.) I will have to work on that. How about you? Improve your health, de-stress, and let yourself engage in hearty laughter! Remember that saying, "Laughter is the best medicine"? It is for your own good!


All information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Please seek your physician before starting any exercise program.

Mercy is Falling

I am sitting here this morning listening to the sound of a heavy rain that is wonderfully calming.

As I listen to it, I am reminded of a song by David Ruis with lyrics that state, "Mercy is falling, is falling, is falling. Mercy is falling like a sweet spring rain. Mercy is falling, its falling all over me."

These words begin to paint a beautiful picture of God's mercy in our own lives.

Mercy is defined by Merriam-Webster's dictionary as, "compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power." It is an act that overlooks offense and precedes and/or accompanies forgiveness.

To show mercy to another is one of the most admirable actions a person could extend. To give mercy to another can be very fulfilling...but what about those on the receiving end of mercy?

What does it feel like to receive mercy?

The song mentioned is a simple repetitive song that continues..."Hey yo. I received Your mercy! Hey yo. I received Your grace! Hey yo. I will dance forever more!"

The person at the end of mercy has a choice to receive mercy or deny it. And, how often do you hear of someone denying the gift of mercy? Other than the odd few (mostly in fiction), most people receive mercy with gratitude. A need has been met. Sometimes it is a need that the person was unaware of until mercy was offered. Regardless, the response seems to be gratitude in each circumstance.

Continuing on...Gratitude... gratefulness - a thankful attitude.

How grateful are you when you receive mercy? How is your gratitude expressed? For the author of this song, he danced - and he will continue to dance. This is one happy cat! It makes you wonder what mercy was extended that would engage a man to want to dance forever!?

Well...let's step back...It would seem unreasonable for anybody to refuse mercy, wouldn't it? Especially if it was a matter of life and death, right? And yet, many do. These are not fictional characters. They are your friends, neighbours, co-workers, and relatives...perhaps you? The mercy offered here includes salvation, forgiveness of your sins, and reconciliation with God. The author has recognized that he, in his very core, was not right with God. He asked for forgiveness and reconciled with God. And don't forget, there was one other important item I mentioned in the receiving of this mercy...it was salvation. Salvation is the ultimate gift of mercy, to which rejoicing over should last forever! And it will last forever if you are saved.

How do you know if you are saved? ...You know, it is one of those things that a lot of people make more difficult than need be.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:8-10 (in Context) Romans 10 (Whole Chapter) Even a child can do this!

Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11-13 (in Context) Acts 4 (Whole Chapter)

Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, Ephesians 1:12-14 (in Context) Ephesians 1 (Whole Chapter)

I specifically use scripture in this instance so that you may read for yourself what I believe and so you can choose to receive the Truth, receive mercy.

We have a loving God, who desires us to know Him. He is offering mercy....will you receive it?

A Word of Encouragement

Don't stop being you! You are a wonderful gift from God! You have much to give this world. Don't hold back!!! God is calling you to serve Him in ways you could have never imagined. He has made you the way you are for a reason - for His Purpose for you.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:10-12 (in Context) Jeremiah 29 (Whole Chapter)

The Lord is with you - remain in Him - He will guide and direct your steps and as you walk with Him, you will glorify His name. People will see and hear and turn their hearts toward God because of the work the Holy Spirit is doing in them and through you. Hold fast to the Truth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He is with you - He loves you dearly - You are His. Rejoice in the Lord, give Him praise and honour! Rejoice in the Lord! Rejoice!

Sadness

I know how she feels...

Communication. Help me?

Will you help me?

With what?

I can't say...

What?! Whatdaya mean "I can't say"?

I can't say - Will you help me?

I dunno...

Please?

Is it legal?

Of course!!

... Okay...

Thank-you my friend.

Another Reminder...Seeking

Should you then seek great things for yourself?

Seek them not.

Jeremiah 45:5Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.' "Jeremiah 45:4-5 (in Context) Jeremiah 45 (Whole Chapter)

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness

Matthew 6:33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Matthew 6:32-34 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter)