Here's A Question...

I have been working on this post for the past two weeks as I have been trying to wrap my head around a question that is challenging me to the core. I will post my journey another day but thought that I would throw the question out to you.

What are your thoughts around this question from our homework book, pg 70:

Do you realize that even your capacity to love God is completely divine and supernatural?

Here

Sorry, I hit enter before I realized what happened. I am now trying to think of something profound to say about the word "here" because I can't figure out how to delete this!!!

"Here" is where we are right now. Let's make the most of it!

A Good Day!

I have so many good reasons to be excited about today.

The sun shining brightly is definitely one of them. Although Manitoba has some very cold winter days, the sun has a very uplifting effect for me and helps to cancel out some of the effects of the cold.

I was a very proud Canadian last night watching Virtue and Moir make history!!! What an amazingly intense skate both artistically and athletically. They captured my imagination and my emotions so completely that I was in tears at the effect during their skate and cheering much louder than a mother with sleeping children should have when their marks were posted!!! What an amazing and beautiful performance.

I am also very excited about meeting for Bible study again tomorrow night. Like many of you I missed our time together this past week. The session 4 video will be played through the TV/DVD combo as well as the large screen - the same way we viewed them before Christmas. Something about this DVD isn't letting us play it on the DVD that is set up in the fireside room. I appreciate your patience on that matter.

Finally, I wanted to let you know that we are hosting the Beth Moore Simulcast entitled, "So Long Insecurity" on April 24th! Dave has been talking with NKMB and McIvor MB. We are excited to be able to move in this direction. Please mark the day on your calendar - invite friends and family and co-workers and neighbours. I have really been enjoying working through the book as well and am looking forward to the Word God will speak through her at that event. More details will come out shortly but I wanted to give you a heads up so you can mark the date and prepare to be there.

I hope that your day if filled with some joy. Nothing fights the blues like being glad in the goodness of God.

Psalm 32:11

Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

More on Love...

This past weekend I was able to hear the last part of Stuart Maclean's radio show. I enjoyed the story he told called "Love Never Ends." In case you are interested in listening to it here is the link. It is a free down load. Just click and listen!

http://podcast.cbc.ca/mp3/vinylcafe_20100213_26915.mp3

I love hearing peoples love stories. Mostly I love how a good story makes us want to love those in our loves with the best that we have. And this story reminds us where that best love comes from.

Musings on Valentine's Day

I know there are differing opinions about Valentine's Day. As with most celebrated days it can hold a mix of fond memories and hurtful ones. One of my favourite memories growing up was coming to the breakfast table and finding a card from my dad. He always sketched one. It was usually made from the thin paper of one of those doodle pads. We probably wouldn't even find that kind of paper at the dollar store anymore! The card was given with a few chocolates that my mom had no doubt picked up. I loved the card for a couple of reasons. The first was that my dad meant the world to me. I loved everything he did. I love his drawings, especially of horses. I loved the way he taught us sports and played baseball and frisbee with us. The way he played board games with us, always letting us win. The way he tucked us into bed every night, prayed with us (always praying for God to prepare a spouse for us) and tried to teach us German! As I grew up I loved his faith in God. Even though we didn't always agree on everything, he taught me about the importance of loving generously, even when it was painful. He prayed constantly and took church seriously. He loved to worship and thank God for everything. He was simply a man of integrity. I loved every card he ever wrote me!

Another reason I loved the cards were because in my mind it wasn't conventional. Men didn't typically make things like that. At least I had never heard of it. That made it special. A keepsake!

I remember it being very hard the first time my dad disappointed me. God has ways of reminding us that no one will ever be able to satisfy like He does or love us like He does.

A couple of years ago I had another such reminder of human capabilities in the area of loving. I love Dave a lot. I am thankful for God bringing us together and for the commitment, the experiences and children and our love. It is a gift from God. Dave is my Valentine. I also believe that no one is ever to take the place of God in our lives. God's love is so much more than earthly love can be.

It was very clear to me a couple of years ago that I was depending far too much on Dave for too many things. It would be the first of many times that I would recall God asking me, "who is your God?".
Dave was going overseas for two weeks and I knew that I would be taking my own spiritual journey at home. I felt that I was to "let go" of the way I was loving Dave, not because something fatal was going to happen but because it was something I had to do if I was to walk in obedience to God. Throughout the weeks I began realizing that there was just no way that Dave would ever be able to or should ever have to fulfil all of the expectations that I was placing upon him. I'm sure a very freeing time for Dave!! I am learning that if God's love isn't my example and source it just isn't humanly possible to love well at all.

So however you remember the day, whether you celebrate the romantic holiday or wish it away; I know for certain there is a love out there for everyone of us that outlasts and outloves any of the best love we've known or given here.

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Eph. 3:17b-18

Oh Deer!

Since we moved into our place in summer we have had neighbours telling us that we would be seeing deer in our backyard. We thought maybe our big viscous dog......had scared them away and that we wouldn't have to be concerned about our shrubs after all.

A number of days ago, we spotted them. (There in the arbour...positioned so nicely for the photo!)We thought there were three of them but as it turns, there are four!!! They are beautiful.

It is quite funny. They sit and stare at our house as if spying on us to see what we are doing! And our household, including Max, stare back!!This afternoon one deer came to eat our cedars.
As the deer was coming closer, I grabbed for the camera. I opened the patio door to get a picture and out shot Max ready to save our shrubs!! He bounded through the snow scaring all four of them, white tails up, chasing them deep into the yard and toward the river. I missed the best picture as I was shouting for Max to come back, frantically hoping that the deer wouldn't change their minds and decide maybe they were meat eaters after all!!

Here they are. Dave making sure Max wasn't in over his head. Max is just in front of Dave...can you see him, our big strong dog!