Handmade Dish Cloth

Briefly, through the corner of my eye, I saw the red tinge covering the horizon as the sun began to rise early this morning. The fog lay over the fields like a nicely folded blanket percolating from the lowlands. Hundreds of black birds sat on the branches intermingling with the colourful leaves as they sang an extra loud symphonically orchestrated song.  I stepped outside to take a breath of the morning’s freshness while I watched our dog get the newspaper. Mornings like this bring a wave of appreciation to God’s magnificent ingenuity.  All these wonderful gifts to experience so early in the morning set the stage making it a great start to the day.

                We cannot always stop and smell the fragrances of autumn for too long. Life brings with it, many jobs which need to be done. It was not long before I busied myself with my daily routine of feeding chickens, doing dishes and hanging a load of laundry out to dry. There is something about seeing the clothing blow in the breeze. Perhaps a nostalgic memory of my own childhood when my mother hung all her clothing and bed sheets out to dry.

Wiping off my countertop, I couldn’t help but notice the holes in my dish cloth which had been well used. How often I had also washed that cloth with my laundry and reused it again and again. They are very hardy those handmade dish cloths, these ones that my mother had knitted together with her loving hands. Maybe that is why I hesitated for so long to discard it. I remember in her later years as aging had made its changes to her body, much like that aging dish cloth. Her hands lost their flexibility, her eyes dimmed by macular degeneration which made it difficult for her to see the stitches on her needles. I remember her frustration she experienced making those cloths. They didn’t come out square. She took such pride in whatever she did to make sure it was done right. Smiling at my memories, I also realize the love she poured into ever knit and pearl.

I looked at the huge hole in the cloth and saw the unraveling of the wool. It was no longer a nice white cloth. It had been used so much it was a dingy gray. That morning it had wiped its last countertop. With some sentimental attachment I had to put that dish cloth to rest. It accomplished its grand purpose. It just plumb wore out. Much like that dish cloth, my Mother’s body just plumb wore out too and she died a couple years ago. Needless to say those cherished cloths she gave me have such sentimental value.  

After reluctantly discarding that old dish cloth, I went on with my day. Sometimes it is difficult to keep on track as my eyes seem to wander to something else I could do. If I rearrange all my potted flowers or change a picture on the wall, move some furniture or change a table cloth. Then one thing leads to another.

                As I was digging through my over flow of stored blankets and table cloths, two little pure white handmade dish cloths fell out from the bottom of my jam packed Chester drawer. My mother had knitted them together with her loving hands. They were not square, somewhat distorted in shape and probably two of the last ones she had made.

                Little things like this sneak up on us when we least expect them. The two cloths I held in my hand, took me back once again to those reflective memories of my mother. I asked myself, should I use them or put them back in amongst all the table cloths and blankets and leave them there and save them? Or Do I use them knowing full well that they will wear out and eventually also finish their purpose.

                Sometimes it is hard to completely let go of these earthly treasures which we hold so dear to our hearts. In letting go, we somehow think we are letting go of the person connected to those earthly treasures. The sentimental value I attach to these things, other people don’t have to them. Long after I am gone, one of my children may pull out those two dish cloths that are imperfect.  To them, the dish cloths might look like rags. So, I pause for one more moment in time and ask what my mother would suggest. My mother would probably say, “That is why I made them, for you to use.”

The Bible tells me the answer to my peril.

Matthew 6:19 – 20 ESV -  ¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Reference -Biblegateway.com

The Figurine

While sitting at my kitchen table, I noticed the glass figurine with words etched into the glass. Don’t we all have the odd nick nack sitting on one of the shelves or set in just that special spot? Perhaps it was a gift from someone very special to us. Maybe it is just a simple quote that has words that will pick us up when we are feeling down? Just at that moment when you need a little encouragement it catches our eye and we read it. Whatever the saying, it’s words have some kind of power. Like maybe a footprints poem written on an old clock. For years it sat on that wall and perhaps you never read it. Because the right time had not come. The clock catches our eye and we read that poem which says:

Footprints

One night I dreamed a dream.

I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

When the last scene of my life shot before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

There was only one set of footprints.

I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life.

This always bothers me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.

“Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You,

You would walk and talk with me all the way.

But I’m aware that during the most troublesome times of my life

There is only one set of footprints.

I just don’t understand why, when I need You most, 

You leave me.”

He whispered “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever,

During your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you.”

Margaret Fishback Powers.

Once in a while these ornaments catch our eye. We pick it up, dust it off and read the message. Whether by some divine leading or not, today, is that day when the words come alive. It is a day when you are overwhelmed by many emotions - you can’t sleep because the thoughts roll in your mind one after another: Why questions? Where questions and how questions? How will I get through tomorrow, if I don’t know if I can make it through today? Years ago, after the loss of a close family member, I wrote a song with those words. It was on a day when I was alone, sitting in a canoe with no one else around. My song had all those questions. My heart felt broken. I never heard some of the answers until years later. Even still, there are many things I don’t understand.

The grief we feel at the loss of a loved one can linger for a long time, feeling like a big rock tied to our kite strings. We may wonder, how will my kite ever fly again without that person in our lives? That is how we might feel because of what I call the great disconnect that leaves a hole in the heart.  We don’t have a crystal ball which tells us the future. We can’t fathom that one day we will smile or even laugh again. 

Time goes on and eventually the ached in the heart seems less and the heart begins to heal. The kite begins to catch a breeze and begins to slowly lift from the ground.

All that being said, I sat today with the sun shining through my kitchen window, music playing, my heart feeling a mixed bag of emotions. The sun shined on the little glass figurine that was sitting on my table magnifying the words which read:

“MOTHER You have filled OUR LIFE with unforgettable memories of laughter, LOVE and a wonderful place called HOME." 

My heart cracks a little more as that Love pours in to my soul. It is like nourishment to my soul. The words hold so much meaning. In life we all take a journey and we have unforgettable memories of laughter. We reminisce and remember those great times we have enjoyed along our journey. Of course, we who have lost our mother’s can appreciate what those words mean. Maybe those words apply to someone dear to you who is not your mother? During times when I was feeling depressed or just upset about something, my Mother would give me wise words. She would tell me to pray. Count my blessings and take one day at a time.

As I read the words of the poem "Footprints" I recognize they are very much familiar to the Words Jesus also spoke to us when He said, “Never will I leave you nor forsake you.” May we find peace in knowing that even in the most despairing times, we are not alone. When we invite Jesus into our despair, grief, loneliness or simply into every part of our lives, we have a Saviour who hears our heart cries, knows our pain. God wants to bring us comfort and also carry us during those times.

The White Birch Tree

The White Birch Tree

Just the other day I walked my dogs around the neighbour’s pond located at the back of our house. The long grasses and weeds filled the field, still a little wet from the morning dew. The unplowed corn stalks stood tall as the dogs and I walked through the rows, pushing their leaves out of my face, and swatting away the bugs at the same time. Who says, I can’t multitask? Finally we made it back to the starting point. I sat in the chair overlooking the pond noticing all the trees which clustered along the pond’s edge. In ten years they have grown from small saplings into tall trees. A variety of trees; cedars, pines, tamarack. My, how abundantly, they have grown along with the weeds in the surrounding field. Over the summer even brown patches of weeds and algae has also grown throughout the pond. What was the cause of these changes? Was it the steady rains, hot days combined with the runoff from the chemically sprayed corn field? Whatever the cause, the pond is looking like it is dying. The pond which once looked blue as the sun and clouds clearly reflected from the blueness of the sky onto the calm of the water.  Flocks of geese gathered daily. The geese don’t land in the pond much anymore. I don’t see them bathing their wings or hear the synchronous honks of the flocks as they land. So the pond sits, somewhat stagnating. I noticed the changes. Nothing is ever done. Doesn’t seem like the owners care or even inspect the ponds or see the damage being done from the poisons seeping their way into these waters. Some of the causes could also be environmental. I’m not a biologist, so I only look from the perspective of what I see and not what I know.
            I sit in the little white chair taking a moment to talk to God about the things I see. After all this is our little garden that we share. It is my quiet place. I must confess that this summer, even I, have neglected going there. My path to that quiet place actually grew over with weeds too. The narrow path to my quiet place, where I often met on a regular basis to talk to my Heavenly Father was almost difficult to find, until one day my husband took the lawn mower and cut a path. The creep of simply having too many things to do which pull us away from our daily devotions, is perhaps one reason?

            I continued to talk to God our Father, and to my surprise, I also noticed one little tree amongst all the other trees around the pond’s edge. The sun was shining bright on that day, the sky was blue and this white tree stood amongst the evergreens. It stood looking at me from across the pond. It did not have a leaf on it. Just a white leafless tree standing out in the crowd. It came to my mind that I too, had become like that tree. I was not a pine tree full of lush green needles sitting at the water’s edge, full of life. I was like the white dead tree, with no fruit, no leaves. I stood out, but not in a good way. It was a dead tree. It still had a beauty about it as the sun shined on it, magnifying it. It was a surreal moment, where God showed me a picture of myself. That white tree still had a purpose. It had a voice for God to speak to me, in our quiet place. I believe he did speak to me as I looked at that tree, not in an audible voice, yet I recognized the voice of my Heavenly Father.  His gentle voice paints a picture so vivid. God did not yell at me and throw guilt trips at me for the things that I did or did not do this summer. God our Father was loving in His gentle rebuke, His Holy Spirit showed me a picture. As a Father, I have known His discipline. As a father disciplines his children, so God the Father at times disciplines those He loves. Our talk was not about  God's discipline, it was the voice of my Heavenly Father telling me to take notice. It was about me finding the discipline in my daily life to make time for God. It was as if I could hear God tell me, Daughter, I AM still here. I have missed our daily visits, and your prayers. I know your struggles, how you busy yourself, your questions, your doubts and fears. You don’t have to be like a dead tree. You can be like the tree whose roots goes deep into the water. I know that often you feel separated from other people and like you don’t fit in. I know your loneliness, frustrations, and worries. I am here to help you overcome them. Often you try to take control and cope with these things on your own. How is it working out for you? I still come to this garden every day. You stopped coming.

Belief

Mark 9:24 - "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

I have been a Christian (follower of Jesus Christ) for over 26 years. As far back as I can remember, I always believed in God. I remember as a child playing outside by myself and sitting in the snow fort. The wind outside the fort was a blizzard. Back in that day, we did have snowdrifts as high as our snack-bar roof. It was a lot of fun making snow caves. Nice clean healthy fun. One day I was in the fort just talking to God. I was a child and I had childlike belief. The years went by.

It was not until later in my adult life when I actually had this need embedded within me to want to know more about God; to somehow find answers to the many questions in regards to the meaning of life, and of death. You see, my brother Larry had passed away that year. When he died, all these thoughts and questions came to my mind. I went on a quest for answers. The avenues varied. Long of the short, the answers had been there all along. When I looked back to years before his death, I remembered a book my brother Larry had given to me some years ago. It is a book called "Jesus". At the time, I flipped through the book and put it aside. I was busy with my two young children and just interested in other things; like writing depressing poetry and songs. You know the kind of songs country singers write and sing. That was my way of filtering through my emotions whatever they were. We all have them and the thoughts, the worries, insecurities, questions which bombard us. In one way or another,we cope through whatever it is.

During my walk with the Lord, I have travelled many roads while always trying to remain on the narrow road. Sometimes the road can seem so narrow, more like a little path. That is because the things of the world can be like weeds choking the road and making it more like a cow trail. It is during times like these when I have had to pray "Lord help my unbelief".

There are times in our lives when we are faced with major problems, concerns, anxieties, fear and we worry about the outcome of these problems. I think it is natural to worry. We may think that the problems will never end. Over my twenty six years of following Jesus, I have experienced many trials: The feeling of grief, helplessness, fear, depression. Some of these emotions due to sadness felt from - death of my brother, suicide of my brother in-law Steve, the death of my sister in-law Laurie, one by one our Aunts and Uncles passing - (a generation of family, my Dad, Mum, sister). There was also the feeling of helplessness watching other loved one's coping with sickness like cancer. Significant to myself was the loss which came from experiencing broken friendships, divorce, and the feelings of rejection which accompany. Then came the empty nest syndrome and so on.  Many changes and experiences which have come and gone. As life continues so do the struggles which come in many forms.

Many of these trials have brought me to my knees, sometimes screaming out loud. At times feeling like no one hears my cries. Then I remember the snow cave and I remember my childhood belief and talking to God. The reassurance that through all these trials I was not alone. It was His strength that held me steadfast and faithful. It was God's loving arms that pulled me along and up the hills and through the briars, through the thorns along the path. Today, I'm still on that narrow road. Jesus is still there with me and I have God's promises that whatever happens along that road, I am not alone. He will never leave me nor forsake me. Where ever I go, He goes with me. I'm human and sometimes fear can be a thorn which tells me that I can't help myself or help anyone. I can do what I can do. With God's help, I can do so much more, through Christ who gives me strength.  I know who holds my future in His hands. I know what I believe. I believe what Jesus said. In the days when fear seems bigger than belief. When the pain of rejection raises it's ugly head and on days when I wonder why I bother, That is when I continue to pray.

"Lord help my unbelief." My unbelief is not in what God can do for me, it is not in what God can do through me for others. My unbelief is when I think in the natural and not in the Spirit of a Mighty and Amazing God. Unbelief is like a flame to an empty Styrofoam cup. It melts and leaves one hopeless. True belief stands the test of time like a piece of metal being transformed into a strong and sharp blade, purged and shape by the fire.

If we fill a Styrofoam cup with water (faith) then even if you put it in the middle of the fire the cup will not melt. Try it some time. I was amazed when someone did this. They filled a Styrofoam cup with water and put it in the middle of the fire. The cup sat there for a long time in the middle of the fire. It did not melt. The water evaporates over time. What do we do? We keep asking God to fill our cups. He will.

If you are feeling like the path you are walking on is choked by the briars of the world, and you are filled with all those same questions and fears and thoughts and feelings, I pray the Lord will fill your cup with his living water. May you truly find peace in the midst of the fire and believe and take hold of Jesus hand. He will give you the strength to overcome one day at a time. The years will pass and you will look back and see just how you made it through.

The Pond

It is winter, the season with the reason to be miserable. Is this true? Many people live life like winter gives us some permission to let out all our frustration on others. I was talking to someone the other day and he said, "It must be winter because everyone seems to be so miserable." One person comes home from work all stressed, angry and acting like she lives in bitch city. Her poor husband and children have to live with her bad moods day in and day out. Then there is another guy who wants to throw his computer out the window because it won't download fast enough. Someone else is all depressed and lonely because they have been staying indoors for the last few weeks, determined not to go outside in the minus zero temperatures. What are the root causes? Not enough vitamin D? Not enough social interaction? Not enough sex? Just asking.

The overcast grey skies creep into our souls and people become miserable. The news forecast is a daily re-run of bad news and horrible world events. That is not even mentioning all the other personal things people endure each day. We don't know how the mind works. I've been feeling the winter blues myself; feeling like I desperately just want to escape everything, everyone and go lay on a nice sand beach, soak up the sun, feel it's warmth and the gentle breeze and yes have a nice refreshing drink to sip. Sounds dreamy to me. That is about where my imagination stops and reality kicks back in.

Yesterday the sun actually shined and the sky was a beautiful blue. Go figure the pond had frozen over nice and smooth. It is a big pond. Without anyone to join me, I went out back, put on my cold rusty skates.  I pulled out an old hockey stick that had been leaning against a tree for the past two years then I threw down the little black puck. For the next hour I skated from one end of the pond to the other. My beautiful dog Camber ran by my side the entire time. It felt invigorating and refreshingly wonderful. While skating, I had a lot of time to listen to God and also talk to God in the quiet of the great outdoors. It was our time.

That is what I did. I said to The Lord, "Okay, if there is anything you want to tell me Lord, I'll just be quiet and listen. There was no one else around. It was so quiet. I thought, well I can't lay on the nice warm beach, but I will just lay in the middle of the pond and wait on The Lord. There I was - looking up into the vast canopy and all I could see was blue sky with some rays of sunlight.  I felt the same warmth, I once felt as a child. This was not my first time laying out in the middle winter looking up and experiencing the presence of God with me.  It really could not have been much better if I was on a nice sandy beach. Did I hear God speak to me in an audible voice? Many would like me to say yes. No. However, I have to tell you, there was more than once where I heard the moaning and grumblings of the ice upon which I lay. It was almost scary. For a moment I thought, the ice could break open and swallow me up. Not likely since the ice is about ten inches deep. Then my thought drifted off again for another  moment. I even thought, Oh, I wonder if God will just rapture me. That is how much I believed that God was with me. 

Then I thought, how incredible the sounds of the ice. Then I heard a crow squawking in the distance and the sound of whistles of the wind piercing my ears. Somehow to me, it seemed that God was speaking and letting me know that he was there. There was no loud deep voice speaking Moses (Rebecca) you must do this or do that. In my prayer and meditation with God, I did share with Him many things, which he already knows anyway. What more can I say? It was a refreshing time. Once again I realized how great winter can be when we choose to enjoy it rather than complain about it.

So many of us, would rather look out the window rather than open the door and look with a new perspective. I'm guilty as charged. Now that I realize it. I'm going to go out that door again today. I could go skating again. I think. . . instead, I'll take my mum out and let her get some fresh air too.

Guess what? If you look out your window today, you will see once again the sky is blue and the sun is shining. Why not get out and enjoy it. Even if you are at work or many things to do. Consider taking a break. You could go outside for a minute or two and clear out the cobwebs, release the stress and while you are at it - talk to God. Don't be surprised at what you might hear in response.

You might not have a pond in your back yard. Come over to the one in my back yard or look around and you will find the equivalent. May God Bless you today and may He lift up your spirit to find the sunshine and help you through these winter blues. Amen! I think it is going to snow today. I might have to build a snowman instead of skating on the pond. Want to build a snowman?

Life on the Back Burner

Yes it is a New Year. Another year, 2014, and another one gone and another one gone and another one bites the dust. Glad to see 2014 go. It was one hell of a year with many twists and turns. Times of trial and testings. A few exciting events to help. I can recognize many times when God's hand was at work.

There were many mornings of wondering what the future holds. Mornings of tearful prayers fuelled by frustration. The Bible says, "The Lord disciplines those He loves." Was 2014 a year of discipline?  I believe yes, in some ways God was teaching many things, and changing me in the process. In some ways, it has been a year of sacrificing my own wants and desires. It can be a difficult time in life to enter. For me it was bringing mother home to live with us. It changed the dynamics of our lives in many ways. For others it may be different types of priorities and sacrifices.  It is human nature to want to have freedom and control of our lives. I always thought that freedom meant - being able to do what ever I wanted to do.  If I want to go weed in the garden, write a book, go shopping, have coffee with my bff or whatever I want to do, when I want to do it, I can. This year, I felt I could not do many of the things I wanted to do.

Many women are good at juggling the many aspects of their lives. It seems that when I was younger and my children were at home, I could do that without feeling much stress. Now that I am older, and going through the reversal of puberty, I can't seem to juggle as many things. Or maybe I'm juggling more. I can't really figure it out, but over the past year I have felt stressed, overwhelmed and at times like I was losing my mind with not being able to cook six pots on a four burner stove. Are some of those feelings symptoms of menopause thrown into the mix? It has been a year of disconnect with all my close relationships except one. That relationship with my mother (Mum). The constant flower in my entire life.  

I realized about a year ago that my mother won't be here forever and our precious relationship could come to an end any time. Only The Lord knows. I could not be here tomorrow. I know life can change on a dime when we least expect it. I was fearing that one day I would get that dreaded call? Many times throughout my life of ups and downs, my Mum has always been one of the few who always cared about how I was doing, she sincerely wanted me to be a part of her life. All the years of my life I have depended on her to help me through all the storms of life. Over the last few years the tides have turned. As she gets older, she has depended on me more and more. I'm thankful for my family who also help our mother.

We share a wonderful mother and daughter relationship. I have always known she loves me and that I love her whole heartily.  I tend to love deep those in my circle.  When my  circle gets broken, I get broken.  Mum has always been there for me to cry on her shoulder; always there with her wise advice. Sometimes that advice has been hard to receive, even though she is almost always right. Over the past few years it has become my turn to be there for my mother to care for her, love her, listen to her. This year even more so with her failing health.

God has been with us. My mother and I share a main ingredient and that is our faith in Jesus Christ. There have been many times of prayer, especially over this past year. I recognize God's hand at work in me and in my mother. I see Him preparing us for whatever the future holds. He is lighting our path along the journey.

I reflect on 2014. I know that many of my needs were put on the back burner. We all go through different stages in life. Our lives are like a stove with four burners and there are usually four pots boiling. There are many needs to care for, people to see, places to go and things to do. It is hard to watch all the burners. I know this because I constantly let the pots come to a boil and overflow all over the stove. We try and make the perfect meal in life. Individually, we try to fit into the pots of those relationships closest to us. So often because of the busyness in everyone's lives these days, sometimes we get placed in the pot that gets put on the back burner and left there to simmer. That is the pot that is often forgotten. The water comes to a slow boil and eventually just boils dry. So, my conclusion as I enter a New Year is that I feel like that dry pot melted to the back burner. I've spent years trying to keep the pots topped up with enough water and nutritious food. Sometimes the pot boils dry. Just ask my husband how many times I've burnt rice.

Just the other day, I put a pot of water on the stove.  I was going to cook some pasta in it. I turned up the temperature and the water came to boil, and it boiled and boiled until it was dry. I got busy doing something else and totally forgot about the pot of water boiling. For a moment, I even forgot what I was boiling the water to cook.

The slow boil which evaporates over time and there is nothing left in the pot. Relationships can be like pots too. The relationships/friendships drift apart like vapour. Usually it is the one who feels like the back burner pot who is left with that lost feeling of neglect. In the end result, it is easy to stay melted to the stovetop. Easy to become a recluse. Stop cooking. Give up. Keep the pots shiny and new sitting in the cupboard. Stay unscathed. That way, one does not have to feel the pain of neglect one more time.

On the flip side, now my Mum has chosen to live in a convalescent/ nursing home with many others who have aged. That is not easy to watch either. It would seem to be another stage in life. Once elderly people go to live in these homes, many of them tend to be put on the back burner by their family and friends. Many don't get visitors. I see this every time I go visit my mother. Some families put them in the home like they are a pot.  Then they get busy with their lives again and don't visit. I'm happy to see my Mother having visitors.

 Sadly in this world, often people are treated like they are recyclable. Throw out the burnt pots and replace them with the new pots. We live in a recycle society. Many times, I've gone through the recycle box too. When that happens, it tends to leave a person feeling insignificant.  It feels like being a pot on the back burner.

I don't know what I would do being an empty pot if I didn't have my faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. He is the pot maker and the one who fills our clay pots with living water. Many people struggle with similar challenges. Whether we have faith or not, sometimes we don't feel strong or joyful. I don't believe that we can always maintain human strength with the power of positive thinking. God knows when we are weak and all about our struggle. He can make us strong. We don't have to pretend. We can't live a life in pretence. We live life in truth.  Yes, we can make better choices on a daily basis. We have free will to choose right or wrong. I believe that relationship with Jesus is one pot that will never run dry. When I feel the water in my pot starting to evaporate by life's struggles, I cry out to God - Fill my pot Lord. I lift you up Lord. God gives great cooking lessons.

Going forward into another year, I think I'll do less cooking and more eating out. Hopefully, the spills will become less and the pots will remain sparkling and clean and full. I'll leave the cooking to the Super Chef.

To update Post - My mother passed away that following year. I am grateful for the time on earth we shared.

Morning Prayer

I was up early this morning, made the coffee, my husband’s lunch and kissed him goodbye, before he went off to work for the day. Then I took my coffee down stairs and for a moment thought about turning on the television and veg out, maybe watch the depressing news cast - just relax before my niece arrives and my Mum gets up. It was so quiet and the fireplace was burning a soothing flame, and the house was warm and cozy. I thought, No! I have some quiet time. I should pray and talk to God. I have slowly been drawn away from the discipline of prayer and other Spiritual priorities. 

I decided to pray.

With the sermon notes on the subject of prayer from the last few Sundays, still fresh in my mind, I began to exalt God and acknowledge my Holy and Heavenly Father, Creator and Savior. Many of us in my generation grew up starting our day at school by saying the Lord’s Prayer and then singing 'O Canada', at the sound of the 9:00 school bell. The Lord’s Prayer is a format example of how Jesus told the disciples how to pray. It is a helpful instruction for those who don’t know how to pray or communicate with a Holy and Just God. If you want more information on the topic of prayer in this regard contact www.hopefortoday.ca and I’m sure Pastor Bryan Vaughan will send you a copy of his sermon notes which will direct you to Bible scripture on the topic.

This morning, I began praying for others, who I know are struggling. I find, as I begin to pray for others, topics or thoughts will come to my mind. It is important to pray. See sermon notes. It should not surprise me that during prayer, often God responds. For me, I don’t hear God speak in an audible voice per say. It is more within my inner thoughts and inspirations. I just know it is His voice. His answers, add to the prayer, instructs with inspiration, direction ideas of action, obviously not contrary to The Word of God.

So, after that little prelude. After praying, I was inspired to write again.

Often, people reach for other things to meet their needs and desires rather than reach out through prayer to God. People bury themselves in paperwork or a multitude of other things. After a long day at work, the couch is a very inviting place. Even this morning, I would have turned on the television to find some rest rather than rest in the Father God and talk to Him through prayer. Ridiculous, since I just had eight hours sleep. How many people are no different than me? I know of so many who are struggling with trials, anxiety, worry, addictions. It seems easier to reach for the quick fix:  Turn to other people, your job, success, prosperity, fame, alcohol, and cigarettes, Tim Hortons or MacDonalds to fill that graving. We get the picture.

People line up for a half hour to buy a coffee. Thus the new jingle. “You always line up at Tim Horton’s”. A half hour of prayer would fill your cup with a better replacement than coffee, wine, or the cravings of the sinful heart.  On and on I could go. People are trying to ease the pain of their real struggle, with some or all of these types of things. It is so true. I think it is called comfort food. What is my comfort food? What is your comfort food? Can you ever eat enough of it? We are getting fat consuming the wrong foods. I’m not talking about whether or not we should eat pork. I’m talking about what nutrients are you consuming for your Spiritual, Physical and Emotional needs? Are you going to Tim’s or MC Doo Doo’s for it, or are you turning to God and a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Tis the season to be Jolly, Fa La La La La La, La La La La. Tis the season to know and understand that Christ is the Greatest Gift of all, and through Him, you can have a minute to minute communication with the God of the universe. Give Him all your worries, anxiety. Rest in Him Merry Gentle Men.

I know that there are so many unanswerable questions about God, about faith. There are also many answers in the Holy Bible. I can see many eyes rolling who are reading that line. The Holy Bible is the infallible Word of God. The Bible is proven, tried and true with many fulfilled prophecies to date and a few more Biblical prophesies still to come. Example - the return of God the Son for those who believe, repent and receive that greatest gift of all Jesus Christ. The Bible is full of God’s good advice, instruction which can give those who seek Him and ask Him for help a means to find that help on a daily basis. The “BIBLE, yes that is the book for me. I stand on guard for the Word of God. The BIBLE”.  How many people even pick up the Bible or have a Bible these days? If you want a free Bible also contact www.hopefortoday.ca. They will give you a new Bible.

Many know how to turn on the tap, but don’t turn on the tap of communication with God. Or maybe it has become a slow drip. To some God is not real. To others, they can put way more faith in a man in a red suit named Santa. (Satan) Same letters used. Isn’t he a sly devil that father of lies? We tell our children the same lie then wonder why they don’t believe in God when they get older. If Santa was a lie then God must be a lie too. That is probably one of the biggest lies of all.

We pray for God to speak to us, but in reality within the Word of God, He tells us how to receive all these things and so much more. Why is it, even for Christians who know and study the word of God, the first signs of trouble or problems, even just business; reading the Bible, studying it and then prayer and application is the first things to be put aside?

All stop there and continue my prayer.