laurie laughter

This is Laurie on our vacation in July. She was eating her hot dog when she stopped and said, "My hot dog has a wart!"

Today Ashlin finally changed her earrings. She's been counting down the days until she could change them (6 weeks). She was soooo excited. Laurie was there when she was taking the original ones out for the first time. She couldn't get them out and I had to help.... yeah, all my earring experience! Anyway, I got them out. As Ashlin walked away to check out her ear holes in the mirror, Laurie says, "Whew!...I thought they would be gushing blood." She is so funny. She really makes me laugh every day!

nearer my God to thee

Being cast upon God is amazing. Lately, I've needed Him moment by moment. And He has met me with a smile, a thought, or a friend each time I've really needed Him. When I was feeling overcome by despair, and feared Satan's taunts that I really am alone and forgotten, He gave me the physical peace to match what I knew intellectually. He doesn't want me to wallow in self-pity. How could I? He has blessed me above all that I could ask or think - except for this trial, which I'm certain is a blessing in disguise. I want to be like Joseph and say, "God meant it for good." Oh, I'm not saying I'm contented to remain in this trial for one second longer than He has measured - but since this is where I am, I'm so glad to be in a place where I literally run to my Bible to see what He has to say to me next. I feel the same anticipation as when I check my email - "any messages from God?" He also surprises me with encouragement when I'm not expecting Him at all. Tonight we went to "String Night," a giant orchestra performance by violin and cello students from all over Halifax. Marcella is in first year violin. It was spectacular! About half-way through the evening, one of the pieces played was "Nearer My God to Thee." Remember, this is music taught through the school system. That piece was not played by mere co-incidence. God had them play it just for me. He is just that amazing!

nearer my God to thee

nearer to thee

even though it be a cross

that raiseth me

yet in my dreams i be

nearer my God to thee

nearer my God to thee

nearer to thee

casting out fear and doubt

Yet I am confident that I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.
Psalm 27:13, 14

And so, LORD, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in You.
Psalm 39:7

crazy life

at lunch today, Laurie took a bite of her chicken. It was really hot. She said, "That is soooo hot. I could roast marshmallows with my breath!"

at supper tonight, she was telling us about her two legs..."this leg bleeds, but this one just gets hurt and stuff."

I think God gave me all of my blessings in people. Could there be any nuttier kids? Or a lovlier husband? Oh, I wouldn't trade any of my blessings for anything! We had a discussion at work a few weeks ago about winning the lottery. Two of my co-workers were discussing the saying, "you can't buy happiness." They were saying that with $30 million, you could - you could even buy love with that much. It made me think of all of the things in my life I wouldn't trade for 30 million dollars. I pray that God will give you, reader, the desires of your heart - not what your heart desires, but that He will give you desires that will give you true happiness. That's what I pray for.

"Then, God's fire upon the altar
of my heart was set aflame.
I will never cease to praise Him.
Glory, glory to His Name!"

i will rejoice

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17, 18

i am sure

God is good.
He cannot be otherwise.
His goodness does not depend on me.
I cannot merit His goodness.
He will give me His best for me simply because I am His child. (also His doing)
When all human logic points otherwise, still He is good.
I cannot obtain better than God's goodness for me.
When I search out other means of getting goodness for myself,
I call Him a liar.
He will never, never forget me or leave me in distress without it being for my good.
He is the Almighty God.
Satan whispers in my ear, "Why should He remember you? You have done no great thing for Him."
I have not. But He has done great things for me.
Even when I cannot understand His timing, He is perfect.

"I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD." Psalm 116:17

relevant truth

The Christian-radio preacher summed up his message: "No doubt there are many out there thinking, 'I'd love to come to Jesus, but you don't know what I've done.' Well, God does, and there is no sin too big for Him to forgive" He went on expounding on the love of God. Wouldn't that be easy....if the world really were thinking such things? Maybe these evangelists pretend this is an actual issue because it's one that's so easily dealt with.

No, what the majority of people are wondering is: "How is God or sin or morality or Jesus even relevant to me?" How indeed, in this age of truth - truth that is no more than an opinion which each person must form on his own. Why should I rely on something so ancient as morality? I must cultivate my own virtue by following my heart and mind. No one else can tell me what is right for me. This train of thought, although disguised as new, has been around for a very, very long time. It was being written about in the early 1700's. Interestingly, each generation thinks they have found new ideas that give freedom. There are no modern ideas - just old ones in new packaging. The poison of this attack on truth is slow but deadly. It creates a lack of revelancy for truth, goodness, and love.

God doesn't re-package His truths in shiny, new paper. He makes no apologies for His laws. Goodness and wisdom will always grow best in the soil of obedience to God - obedience to the truths revealed in the Bible.

It isn't that there is no room for proclaiming God's love - there is no greater proclamation. However, we must sometimes begin further back. The relevancy of God. The immutibility of truth. The limitations of humanity.

"Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."
"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."
1Corinthians 1:20,21,25