Full of Joy

I'm coming to your now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within in them. John 17:13

"I'd make more mistakes next time", said 85-year-old Nadine Stair when asked what she would do if she had her life to live over again. "I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them, In fact, I'd try to have nothing else - just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those person who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle and a raincoat. If I had to do it over again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances, I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies."
In his final prayer, Jesus prayed that his disciples would experience the full measure of his joy-now. He prayed for us to have his joy in the middle of rush-hour traffic, screaming kids and a darkening world. He doesn't want us to wait for heaven to be full of you.
Jesus' joy has a divine purpose: to real him. He desires to fill us with overflowing joy, to proclaim his victory to the world over life's worst conditions-even in the face of hurricanes, plagues, terrorism and nuclear disaster.
But as Nadine tells us, joy flows from a foundation of truth. so many times we focus on imaginary troubles. But Jesus reminds us that joy comes from knowing the Father through the son. as you reflect on your life, whether you're 18, 38, 48 or 88, choose to live in fullness of you by taking the time to pick more daisies....and by living each moment fully aware of God's love for you.

This was my devotion today from the Women's Devotional Bible - I had to share as it really touched me. Well I'm off to take my shoes off.....

Halloween

Well another Halloween has come and gone, but I still have the candy to show for it - lol.

Helen had a great time this year deciding to dress up as a Mad Scientist - yep her idea not mine.




David just loved being Spiderman. He loves it so much, we're still wearing the costume.



Halloween is a great time not only for dressing up and getting candy, but for talking to our kids about the evil in our world and about Satan. I had a great talk with Helen about what was acceptable in our family and in the eyes of God and what wasn't. I was able to talk about Satan and how he attacks us all through the year not just on one specific day and how as children of God we have nothing to fear from him.

Counting Down

Okay there are officially 29 days to go before my sister gets here and I'm starting to get excited. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, but this year will be extra special because I'll have her here celebrating with us. I've not had any of my family here for the holidays and the last time I spent Christmas with them was in 2000 so I'm sure you can see why I'm exited.

We've got so much catching up to do and so much to put into 36 days that it is certainly going to be run, run, run. She has never met David so this is going to be fun and basically we're trying to put 4 years into those 36 days. It has been 2 years since I've seen her and it'll be probably another 2 years or more before we get to see her again.

For now I'm not going to dwell on the fact she has to go home. For now I'm going to embrace the excitement of her coming, the excitement of planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Paul & I are also celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary with a service at church so I've got that to get organized as well. So hang on to your hat we're in for one heck of a ride.

What's important?

A very good friend of mine has had a really tough 2008. It has been filled with much joy and much sadness, but she and her family have certainly been and inspiration of living the faith.

It is terribly painful to see someone our love slowly leave this world for the next, yet there is so much anticipation and joy. We feel guilty because we pray the Lord will take them home and away from the pain. We feel great anticipation in knowing that soon they will be whole and without suffering, enjoying the joy of seeing our amazing Saviour. We are filled with so much sadness knowing that soon we won't have our loved one with us here on earth and sometimes we're not ready to say goodbye because we still have too much to say.

When we have a loved one that is preparing to meet the Lord we are given the gift of being able to say all that needs to be said. We are able to say "I love you" and "I'll see you again" and "Good-bye for now". We need to be thankful for that.

Unfortunately we sometimes take it for granted that our friends and family will always be here or at least for today so sometimes we forget to say what's important today putting it off till tomorrow. We get so caught up in life that we forget to say and do whats important. We get caught up with the job, the house, the washing, the cooking, all that stuff that isn't really all that important. What is important is that we take the time to let our family and friends know how we feel about them. We need to take the time to not only tell them, but show them.

Take the time today, because we don't know God's plan and we don't know when He is going to call any of his children home.

Illusion and impression

Every day we make choices, some good and some bad. Sometimes we make a choice we believe in only to realize that it was only an illusion of something we are trying to achieve.

As Christians we are taught that sex outside the marriage is wrong and a sin. Now if a committed couple should innocently spend the night together, in separate rooms, in separate beds are they doing anything wrong? What is the impression they are giving to those that drive past the driveway and see both cars in the drive???

I go to dinner several times with a male friend and alone we end up at his home for a coffee and talk. I'm seen with him, what is the assumption most people would or could make? What am I up to and what am I doing?

As a member of my church leadership board I've made a choice and commitment not to drink alcohol. If I happen to attend cookout with many close friends who know I choose not to drink, but enjoy a non-alcoholic beer, am I wrong to drink one? Maybe, maybe not. What would someone think if they saw a picture of me drinking out of that non alcoholic beer bottle? Could they tell the difference?

I'm standing at a rowdy party, filled with secular people drinking and 'having a good time' a friend of mine asks me to hold their drink while they go get something and my picture is taken as I stubble over rough ground. That picture is then shown to any and all who will look, what is the impression I'm giving?

Now these are extreme cases, but aren't these the same things that happen to our celebrities all the time with gossip magazines and paparazzi? What do we think when we see the headlines and the pictures plastered all over the media?

As Christians we are called to live to a higher standard and we are called to sometimes make difficult choices that go against the norm. Sometimes we don't see the impression we are making, we don't see the whole picture and sometimes we are just creating a illusion for others to see. We must all look into our hearts and know that we may be able to create illusions for those around us. There are no illusions when it comes to God. He knows what we are thinking, what we are feeling and what we are hiding, from Him and from ourselves.

If we are being true to ourselves and true to God, we must look at the whole picture. We must not put ourselves into situations open to interpretations. We must turn our backs to things that can be misconstrued we must stand firm in our faith and in the knowledge that we are the bible in action. We are living examples of God's word.

Parenthood

I've had a pretty crazy time of it of late and all because of life. Things seem to always be crazy, with what seems like very little time of peace and tranquility. Okay so who is ever going to have tranquility and peace with a 7 year old and a 19 month old boy. Well have you ever sat and held a toddler as he slept, while cuddling up on the sofa with your child that my friends is peace and tranquility. Just watching that sleeping face puts a smile on your face and fills you with peace. Knowing that this moment will be over soon and that you'll no longer be able to hold your little one does make the moment so much more special.

As a parent we experience so many emotions and sometimes in a very short period of time - lol. I can only image what our Father feels during our lives. I can image the joy and happiness He feels when we come home calling for Him, ready to embrace Him, telling Him of our great day. I can image His pain when we turn away from Him because He hasn't given us exactly what we want, when we wanted it. I know how I feel when my children get mad at me because I've said 'no' not now or 'no, that's enough'. I can image the Father's joy and pride at seeing us develop it what He has planned for us and His anguish when we take the wrong path that leads away from Him.

As a parent I have so many hopes and fears fo my children. What I find most amazing is that my biggest fear is that they turn away from the Father, they turn away from us. Whether they are a doctor, a baker, a candlestick maker, really doesn't matter what is the most important thing I can teach them is to love Lord.

What a blessing my children are to me. What teachers they are, without even knowing it. Trust me I'm failing some of the lessons they are trying to teach me, but I still work on it. I know I've a long way to go before I get the Mother of the Year award, but frankly I'm just glad I'm able to take part in this wonderful adventure. How dull and boring my life must of been filled only with myself, now the

Focus

Focus: to concentrate, a central point, as of attraction, attention, or activity

This is the definiation of focus and the very thing I'm lacking or having difficulty with lately. Now my lack of focus can in part be attributed to being physically tired. My brain just keeps wandering off because the energy needed to remain on track just isn't there and in part the reason for my lack of focus is because frankly its difficult.

I a world where the main focus is on "me" it can be difficult to stay focus on what's important which is God and His word. Job was in a situation where it would have been easy to focus on what was going on to him and around him. Let's face it not one of us would have be able to remain as focused as he did. Even Job's friends tried to change the his focus, but he remained true and keep his eyes on God.

It doesn't take a lot of energy to start something amazing, it takes focus. A small amount of heat & light in the right situation will create a spark, which in turn will create a flame and before long a raging inferno if not properly contained, controlled, focused. A single drop of water can create something as huge and magnificant as the Grand Canyon, because of it's focus and persistance.

What can we do if remain focused on the mission God has given us? This past weekend was the highlight of our LEAP week and it was amazing to see God at work. The focus of just a few people has changed the lives of many. It doesn't take a lot, it takes focus.

I'm going through a huge change in my life at the moment and things are just crazy. Frankly I'm not even sure I know which way up is, but if I focus on the Lord then I know that He'll see me through and the 'stuff' will be just 'stuff' and the important things will prevail.