" God is so good" is an Understatement

Three years ago today, it was a gorgeous Fall Sunday morning at the cabin at gull Lake. We were all together, slowly waking up sitting on the deck in the morning sunshine. .
Our son, Mike and daughter Lisa made breakfast for all of us. Mike made his special version of scrambled eggs and Lisa cooked the bacon. The aroma of brewed coffee was in the air. It was a wonderful breakfast and memorable. The atmosphere of contentment and warmth filled the morning..
After breakfast Ted told me when he woke this scripture verse played over and over in his thoughts. “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
He looked it up on his Bible program on his laptop, to see where it was. It was Psalm 118:24. He said it was very unusual; he’d never woken up like that before with such a strong clear scripture verse running through his thoughts. It made such an impression on him.

Ted wanted to go golfing one more time before we headed home later that day. He didn’t want to play alone so I joined him, and we played a par three nine-hole course. It turned out we shouldn’t have bothered, things were somehow going from bad to worse on the course, our game was that bad. We were glad to get back to the cabin. It was almost lunchtime and the guys had to get a fire going so we could have hamburgers for lunch.

We sat around the fire chatting and visiting while we waited for it to be ready to cook over. Ted told everyone about the Bible verse he awoke with. and how it really was appropriate for the wonderful day and time we’d had together. Lisa and I started singing the song, which we’d sung so often.
This is the day; This is the day, that the Lord has made
We will rejoice, we will rejoice and be glad in it………
It was getting time to start packing up for the trip home. We commiserated with each other that we hated for our weekend to be over. It was so wonderful to spend time together as a family, which we hadn’t done for quite some time..
We said our goodbyes and headed home in our vehicles.
We drove Lisa home and Ted unloaded her suitcase. I stayed in the car with the dogs, and I had this urge to turn around and really look at Lisa’s face. She was genuinely smiling and looking so content. It was the happiest I’d seen her in many years.
I was so pleased to see this wonderful, peaceful, contented look on Lisa’s face.
It was the last time we saw her and I am so glad for that memory.
Four days later we realized the importance of the Scripture God gave to Ted that morning.
“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it “
The Lord, Our God gave us that special weekend together because He was going to take Lisa home to be with Him. That’s why we were to savor that day three years ago today.
He had ordained it to be our last day with Lisa. This is so precious and comforting to us how He made Himself so real to us that weekend. “God is so good” is an understatement. Although it still hurts so much missing Lisa, knowing how much God cares for us is no small comfort. Knowing she is resting in the Father’s embrace soothes our aching hearts.

Our Standing in Christ

I have to admit that I have a tendency to get depressed about things, and get focused on my weaknesses, sinfulness, and regrets and the loss of our daughter. It's a battle sometimes to force myself through the fog to reach out to God, hear the truth and focus on Him and what He says about me. I'm sure there are others who struggle with the same thing.

I forced myself to pick up my devotional book this morning and to my amazement my present predicament was addressed so clearly.

Here is what I read, from Charles Spurgeon's Morning by Morning Based on Ephesians 1:6 although I would suggest reading from verse 3-14



What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but the term "blessed" in the Greek means more that that. It signifies that we are objects of divine satisfaction, even of divine delight.

How marvelous that we - worms, mortals, sinners- should be made the objects of divine love!

But it is only "In the Beloved".

Some christians seem to be accpted in their own experience-at least that is their apprehension.

When their spirit is lively and their hopes are bright they think God accepts them , for they feelso high, so heavenly minded, so drawn above the earth. But when their souls cleave to dust, they are the victims of fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could only see that all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do not really depress them in their Father's sight, but that they stand accepted in One who never alters. This One is always the beloved of God, always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. How much happier they woukld be and how mjuch more they wwwwwould honor the Savior if they could grasp Him! Rejoice then , believer, in this: You are blessed "In the Beloved"

You look within and say,"There is nothing acceptable here." But look at Christ and see if everything is not acceptable there. Your sins trouble you; but God has cast your sinsbehind his back, and you are accepted and blessed in the Righteous One. YOu have to fight with corruption and wrestle with temptaion but you are already accepted in Him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts you, but be of good cheer- he cannot destroy you, you are accepted in Him whohas broken Satan's head. Know by full assurance your glorious standing. Even glorified souls are no more accepted than you are. They are only blessed in heaven "in the Beloved" and you are even now blessed in Christ after the same manner.



What glorious freedom we have in Christ. I thank Him for truth that sets us free.
As C S Lewis says " " If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth.." How true.

There is a Hope

I found this song recently and the words really speak to my heart. I wanted to share them especially with the Mom's and Dad's that I know of who's hearts ache just like mine does. May the truth comfort us like a healing salve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyMWBx6vvJo

Here are the words:

THERE IS A HOPE
by Stuart Townend and Mark Edwards
Copyright (c) 2007 Thankyou Music.


There is a hope that burns within my heart,
That gives me strength for ev'ry passing day;
a glimpse of glory now revealed in meager part,
Yet drives all doubt away:
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiv'n;
and Christ in me, the hope of heav'n!
My highest calling and my deepest joy,
to make His will my home.


There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
A consolation strong against despair,
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Savior there!
Through present sufferings, future's fear,
He whispers, "Courage!" in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.


There is a hope that stands the test of time,
That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
To see the matchless beauty of a day divine
When I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die,
and every longing satisfied,
then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
For I am truly home.

Terry and Juanita Stauffer

I wanted to share a link to this interview given by Terry Stauffer, pastor of Edson Baptist church, Alberta. Terry and his wife Juanita lost their daughter Emily to murder last year. They have been on my heart ever since it happened. My heart aches every time I hear of another parent who has lost their child. I feel a common bond with them even if we don't know them. As Terry says, God Gives strength, amazing strength without which we could not go on.

You can read the interview here.

Garden of Life

Ted and I have just finished re- landscaping our front yard and my love of gardening has returned after a drought of interest. This reminded me of a poem I wrote over ten years ago of the paralells between gardening and life in general. I have shared this poem with many already over the years but thought it worth it to post it again.


My garden is my favorite place
To rest and work and watch things grow.
Life's troubles seem to fade away
As I water, feed and hoe.

Much care must go into this place.
Conditions change,and danger lurks.
To beautify each little space,
I prune and weed, mow and feed.

I try to take great care to see,
That flowers bloom on endlessly.
If only I had more control
Over frost and wind, hail and snow.

The storms will come, put on a show.
To tell me firmly, I'm not in control.
The flowers droop, tattered and torn,
My garden looks destroyed, forlorn.

And yet I love this garden so,
With a heavy sigh, I pick up and go
To clean up the mess that's left behind,
and once again, tend this garden of mine.

A constant vigil I must keep,
To keep things in balance and harmony.
And so it is with God and me:
My life is a garden with many a weed.

He tends to my needs so wonderfully.
He pinches and prunes and pulls my weeds.
Often I scream with anger and pain,
Later to find, He was right again.

As I go through the storms of life,
I may have bruises from the strife.
But, in the end, I am stronger still,
For He is with me, His love prevails.

I need to feed my garden of life,
In order to grow, I need water and light.
To him I must go to quench my thirst.
To light my path, I must heed His word.

Thank-you Lord, for giving me
A special place to learn from you,
Beside the flowers, birds and weeds,
Enduring all things,`til with you I'll be.

Death is not Dying

I recently watched this amazing video and want to pass it on to as many people as possible.
Rachel Barkey of Vancouver BC is dying of cancer. She is a wife and mother of 2 young children. This past March she shared her journey and heart and passion at a presentation in Vancouver.
Her testimony is very powerful and challenges us to know God and trust Him through the valleys and pain . The video is about 55 minutes in length . Find a time when you can watch this uninterrupted.

http://deathisnotdying.com/eventvideo/

Longing for Home

Ever since our daughter Lisa died almost two and a half years ago I’ve had such a longing for Heaven, to be with her at God’s throne, singing and praising Him with jubilation. Some days the longing is stronger than other days. Grief is my constant companion whether you can see it or not. It is like the waves on the shore; sometimes gently lapping at the edge, and other times the storm is so strong that the crashing of the waves threatens to drown you. Sometimes it does feel like we have drowned and lost our bearings. Thankfully the Lord is faithful and carries us through the storms when they come. “We do not mourn as those who have no hope.” But we DO mourn and it’s a very long journey.
It’s still a physical pain in my chest when I allow my thoughts to go back to the day when the unimaginable happened. The loss has changed my view of this world and of our real home heaven.
Our experience has brought me in touch with other Christian Moms who also have lost a son or daughter through sickness, accidents, execution, and even brutal murder. In every case I hear them saying I want to go home, they are yearning for heaven. The tie to our children is so strong, it’s extremely difficult to let go It’s what makes Mom’s who they are. I was reading Spurgeon’s “Evening by Evening” last night and was comforted by what he wrote; (By the way I love reading his writings, he has such depth, honesty, compassion and always hope pointing to God and His love and mercy)
He writes:
A short stay on earth will make heaven more heavenly. Nothing makes rest so enjoyable as work; nothing renders security so pleasant as exposure to danger. The bitter cups of earth will give relish to the new wine that sparkles in the golden bowls of heaven. Our battered armor and scarred countenances will render more glorious our victory above, when we are welcomed to the seats of those who have overcome the world.
We would not have full fellowship with Christ if we did not sojourn for a while below, for He was baptized with a baptism of suffering among men and we must be baptized with the same if we would share His kingdom. Fellowship with Christ is so honourable that the sorest sorrow is a light price by which to procure it. Another reason for our lingering here is for the good of others. We would not wish to enter heaven until our work is done, and it may be that we still have a part to play shining as light in the dark wilderness of sin. Our prolonged stay here is doubtless for God’s glory.
A tested saint, like a well cut diamond, glitters much in the King’s crown. Nothing reflects so much honor on a workman as a protracted and severe trial of his work and his triumphant endurance of the ordeal without giving in or giving up.
We are God’s workmanship, and He will be glorified by our afflictions. It is for the honor of Jesus that we endure the trial of our faith with sacred joy. Let each man surrender his own longings to the glory of Jesus and declare: “ If my lying in the dust would elevate my Lord by so much as an inch, let me still lie among the pots of earth. If to live on earth forever would make my Lord more glorius, it should be my heaven to be shut out of heaven.”
Our time is fixed and settled by eternal decree. Let us not be anxious about it, but wait with patience until the gates of pearl shall open.

So is it wrong to long for home? No I don’t think so. It’s quite the opposite, but we must be patient and serve Him wholeheartedly until He calls us home. Even in grief we can serve and honor Him because of His precious gift of salvation without which we have no hope at all.

Steadfast and Sure

The weather here has been blustery, snowing, cold and wet. It's the end of April and you wouldn't know it except by looking at the calendar. People here are generally feeling blah and depressed. They yearn for the warmth of sunshine, green grass, and the typical signs of spring. Our winter has been very long this year and we had more snow than we've had in a hundred years according to the records.
We know spring weather is coming , it's a sure thing.It's a matter of when?? The promises of the weatherman keep us hoping and anticipating.
I was out for a walk today and was pelted by several snow showers. As I walked I noticed that the trees were budding out. I was excited because that's a sure sign of better days to come even though we've waited so long. All the moisture was making those buds really plump up. I was encouraged.
It all reminded me of God's sure promises, no matter how dark the days, He is there right with us. His promises keep me hopeful and anticipating as we see signs all around us of His handiwork and the order with which He planned things.
In this chaotic world, how good it is to Trust In Him.

He Knows My Thoughts

Have you ever felt manipulated , used or taken for granted? I had such a day not long ago, and I felt fully justified in my anger and resentment. On the surface I was performing the task I was told to do but underneath the surface my feelings were a cesspool of frustration threatening to boil over. Had I not done enough already? What about my needs?
Yes, I was in full self pity mode. As I was going about preparing things, I became aware of a song playing in my head… “Make me a blessing, make me a blessing, out of my life , may Jesus shine..”
What?!! “ Not now Lord!” was my initial response. “ Lord you know how tired I am … Aren’t my feelings of resentment justified? “
The song continued….” Give as twas given to you in your need., Love as the Master loves you.”
Well that stopped me short in my emotional tracks. “Oh man, your right Lord.” Forgive me in my foolishness” I recalled how the Lord used many people throughout my life to give of themselves sacrificially to care for me. My anger dissipated rapidly I began thinking deeply about what it means to serve God. It’s so easy to do good when it doesn’t require discomfort, and harder to say “Yes” to Him when the task requires sacrifice of some sort.
I’d been thinking of God’s sovereignty lately and how everything, yes everything that happens to us goes through Him first and He has a plan where our obedience and service to Him is a part of the bigger picture which we often don’t realize or understand.
I love God for teaching me about Himself through practical ways in my everyday life.
Hopefully, I have learned from this simple experience whenever I am tempted to whine about something, May the Lord bring this song to my mind again. .

God Knows Best

God Knows Best

by Helen Steiner Rice

Our Father knows what's best for us,

So why should we complain--

We always want the sunshine,

But He knows there must be rain.

We love the sound of laughter

And the merriment of cheer

But our hearts would lose their tenderness

If we never shed a tear...

Our Father tests us often

With suffering and with sorrow,

He tests us, not to punish us,

But to help us meet tomorrow...

For growing trees are strengthened

When they withstand the storm,

And the sharp cut of a chisel

Gives the marble grace and form...

God never hurts us needlessly,

And He never wastes our pain

For every loss He send to us

Is followed by rich gain...

And when we count the blessings

That God has so freely sent,

We will find no cause for murmuring

And no time to lament...

For our Father loves His children,

And to Him all things are plain,

So He never sends us pleasure

When the soul's deep need is pain...

So whenever we are troubled,

And when everything goes wrong,

It is just God working in us

To make our spirit strong.

Lifegiving Love

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Stuart Townend

One of the best songs expressing the incredible love of God that saved a wretch like me.

Quietness and Confidence

I happened across this wonderful writing by Spurgeon from “Beside Still Waters.”
Another Mom who is grieving the loss of her daughter posted it on her blog and I had to share it. Hope it touches you as it did me. Thank you for sharing JS

Isaiah 30:15"In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

This is a truth concerning all the trials and troubles of this life . Some of you are passing through business troubles, for there are many tremors in the business world, and perhaps they are causing you to shake and tremble. [I thought this was funny considering that Spurgeon lived about 200 years ago!] If so, do not be readily carried away by these secondary matters. Do not let them depress or excite you. Hold loosely to all worldly things, but grip firmly the unseen God. Fussing, worrying, and hurrying will do no good. Be calm and quiet; all will be well if you are the Lord's child.Perhaps your trial is personal sickness. If so, nothing can be better than quietness and confidence. Worrying will not make you well, though it might keep you ill. You will be sick just as long as God appoints, but if anything can help to heal it is quietness and confidence of heart.Have you lost a friend? Is there a great sorrow? Have you some loved one lying in a new grave? My friend you cannot bring the dear one back, and you should not wish to do so. It is wise to submit to the inevitable. It is gracious to bow to the will of your ever-gracious God. You cannot do anything that will be as helpful to your sorrowing spirit as to exercise quietness and confidence; it will indeed be your strength.Do you have a sorrow fully equal to bereavement? Have you a loved one who daily suffers? Is that the living cross you have to carry? Do not worry. Submit to the Lord's will. Ask Him for grace to acquiesce in it, and learn to wait on the Lord.God's tested child, whatever your condition, remember this promise, "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

p. 132 - Beside Still Waters (Spurgeon)

Steady Now.

When the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come that following of Jesus which is an unspeakable joy. . Oswald Chambers

Comfort

O My Soul Arise and Bless Your Maker
Written by Stuart Townsend
Copyright1999 Thankyou Music

O my soul arise and bless your Maker
For He is your Master and your Friend
Slow to wrath but rich with tender mercy
Worship the Savior Jesus

King of grace His love is overwhelming
Bread of life He's all I'll ever need
For His blood has purchased me forever
Bought at the cross of Jesus

And I will sing for all my days
Of heaven's love come down
Each breath I take will speak His praise
Until He calls me home.

When I wake I know that He is with me
When I'm weak I know that He is strong
Though I fall His arm is there to lean on
Safe on the Rock of Jesus

Stir in me the songs that You are singing
Fill my gaze with things as yet unseen
Give me faith to move in works of power
Making me more like Jesus.

Then one day I'll see Him as He sees me
Face to face the lover and the loved
No more words the longing will be over
There with my precious Jesus


There really is comfort in knowing that someday our longing will be over .
I wish you could hear this song, it's one of my favorites on the CD called
"Chosen From the Nations" Live worship from The Stoneleigh Bible weeks.

Healthy Escape

I was listening to this wonderful old hymn yesterday, a lone violin piece played with such feeling and depth that it took my mind away from the present to the future, envisioniong what it will be like to see Jesus face to face . It's something I'm really looking forward to someday.



TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
Words and Music by Helen H. Lemmel
1922
O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free.
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.


Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion -
For more than conquerors we are!
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.


His Word shall not fail you - He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell.
Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.



I have found this one phrase "And the things of earth will grow strangely dim" to be so particularly real and true.

Remember that old Calgon TV commercial, lauding the magical qualities of soaking in a hot tub breathing in the fragrance of this wonderful bath salt called Calgon? It was supposed to take one away from the worries and stress of the day and make you feel brand new and refreshed. The slogan was " Calgon , Take me away". Sigh......
So often the promises of a product we've tried aren't reliable as hoped. We may be relaxed momentarily, but the problems of life are always there, they don't magically dissolve and go away.
I've always struggled in dealing with stress, and often don't cope well. But I have found that when I purposely choose to look to Jesus, and trust in the promises He made, that the stress will leave me, and I do cope much better. I have to make a very deliberate choice to focus on Him, otherwise my thoughts whirl around like a tornado and I am a mess.
Scripture tells me this Philippians 4, 6-8
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

What wonderful advice this is and I have found it to be so true, especially after God took our daughter home. There were days where I couldn't do anything , frozen in grief, I couldn't pray, but had to cling to Him and listen to praise music which got me through the day. Like the song says, when we turn our eyes upon Jesus and trust Him with everything, the things of this world will grow dim even when things are chaos all around. We may not see Jesus face to face right now with our physical eyes, but he meets us heart to heart where we are at this moment if we choose to meet with Him.

Calm in the Storm

Spring has arrived, and the new season excites me with the promise of warm sunny days, green grass, trees budding and robins singing. It is what we expect and we look forward to it.
It is gorgeous outside this morning with the sun just rising and a stillness that gently lulls me into deep thought. . .
One would never know that we’re about to get pummelled with a snowstorm tonight. Another 10-15 cm of snow is forecast. Living just east of the Rockies our weather is often erratic and unpredictable. It’s almost bipolar in nature. It’s the source of much whining and complaining when the weather interferes with our plans.
When I first became a Christian I expected that life would be problem free and I would live “happily ever after” I was young and didn’t have much knowledge of real life and God. So I quickly became disillusioned when problems arose, and things around me and inside of me would crumble into a mess. My life was like the weather, unpredictable, and full of ups and downs. I often rebelled like a pouting child.
As I learned more about God and His love for me, I finally saw how He was working in my life, drawing me to Him through the trials, through the challenges, through the sorrows. He was always there waiting when I turned my back on Him. I learned to trust Him more and more.
God isn’t unpredictable, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I can rely on Him for my every need and He promises to be with me throughout every storm in life. In fact He told us we would have troubles in this life.

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as
though something strange were happening to you.

I needed to trust Him completely with everything in my life no matter the cost, no matter the pain, no matter the loss. He promises peace within the storms of life, if we trust Him.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

I’m so grateful for God’s patience , He is a wonderful Father in the midst of unpredictability.

Shadows and Light

I can't believe I am doing this, writing a blog!! But I have felt the urge to share some of my thoughts and musings for some time. My purpose is to encourage others and to glorify God in all I write. Like I named this blog, "It's not about me", It's about Him, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

My first article I am sharing was one I wrote about six months before our daughter passed away quite suddenly. Little did I know at the time how much God was speaking to my heart preparing me for what was to come.

Shadows and Light

Many of you know how much I love to try and depict some of God’s creation in watercolor paintings. It’s been a journey of learning , more learning and then some.
I learn things slowly. I have to repeat things often before I understand the process and theories of what makes a painting glow and draw the viewer into the picture. I have to ask myself what it is that catches the eye of the beholder and makes them gasp with delight while gazing at a work of art?

Lately I’ve been painting quite a few flowers and as I was learning more about how to make the flower look particularly appealing and draw the eye to gaze at its beauty, I found several things of interest. In order to have the flower glowing with light one needs to have strong shadows to depict a sun kissed petal. One has to exaggerate the contrast by having the darkest darks against the lightest lights.. Sometimes only light shadows infer the shape and curve of a delicate petal. If we really look at shadows we’ll see various colors, such as blue, mauve, and yellows, not just gray. Deep mysterious dark areas make the flower stand out or “pop” and give it dimension. All the variation in light and dark values give the painting of a flower its shape, it’s color, and it’s beauty. The color values actually give the painting it’s strength and “wow” factor or leaves it weak and unremarkable.
As I was learning this and absorbing the concept and seeing it become a reality as I apply my brush strokes, I became acutely aware of something.
I applied the same concept to the moulding and shaping of our character. Without the shadows and dark valleys God makes us walk sometimes, our character wouldn't be built, wouldn't strengthen, and wouldn’t glow, as He wants it to. He is creating beauty within us when we sometimes feel in the depths of despair. Just like I feel when my painting is in that ugly unfinished stage and I feel like tearing it up. I have to persevere, because it usually always works out and becomes recognizable and is enjoyed by others.
We can be at peace in the midst of the shadows, because He is the master painter, He doesn’t make mistakes, He will not throw us away in the middle of the process, in its ugly unfinished stage. He is delighted with His masterpiece because He sees the finished work of Christ in you and I. We can know that we are beautiful in His sight and in His perfect love, shadows and all.

Jeremiah 29:11For 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.