Wednesday, December 7, 2016
A Nugget of Truth that spoke to my heart today
Repentance
December 7, 2016
Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation…
2 Corinthians 7:10
Conviction of sin is best described in the words:
My sins, my sins, my Savior,
How sad on Thee they fall.
Conviction of sin is one of the most uncommon things that ever happens to a person. It is the beginning of an understanding of God. Jesus Christ said that when the Holy Spirit came He would convict people of sin (see John 16:8). And when the Holy Spirit stirs a person’s conscience and brings him into the presence of God, it is not that person’s relationship with others that bothers him but his relationship with God— “Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight…” (Psalm 51:4). The wonders of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven person who is truly holy. He proves he is forgiven by being the opposite of what he was previously, by the grace of God. Repentance always brings a person to the point of saying, “I have sinned.” The surest sign that God is at work in his life is when he says that and means it. Anything less is simply sorrow for having made foolish mistakes— a reflex action caused by self-disgust.
The entrance into the kingdom of God is through the sharp, sudden pains of repentance colliding with man’s respectable “goodness.” Then the Holy Spirit, who produces these struggles, begins the formation of the Son of God in the person’s life (see Galatians 4:19). This new life will reveal itself in conscious repentance followed by unconscious holiness, never the other way around. The foundation of Christianity is repentance. Strictly speaking, a person cannot repent when he chooses— repentance is a gift of God. The old Puritans used to pray for “the gift of tears.” If you ever cease to understand the value of repentance, you allow yourself to remain in sin. Examine yourself to see if you have forgotten how to be truly repentant.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The attitude of a Christian towards the providential order in which he is placed is to recognize that God is behind it for purposes of His own. Biblical Ethics, 99 R
Monday, May 9, 2016
I've Got Your Back
Last night I took a walk along the river. The Canada Geese were nibbling grass along the way and to my amazement there were four little goslings already out and about with their momma and poppa.
Come back, come back he was saying.
O no...I've been left behind....peep,peep,peep
The aunties and uncles were all looking and discussing how they could help.
The momma and poppa and brothers and sisters trudged up the hill to look for him.
I tossed him gently into the water and all the aunties gathered around and headed the little one back to its momma....safe and sound.
Along came a dog and all the geese dashed to the river for safety.
I thought I would take a peek and see if everyone made it safely as those goslings were pretty little.
Three were floating with their momma but one was missing.
I heard a 'peep, peep, peep' and out popped a head among the rocks....one little one was clearly in trouble....stuck in the rocks.
I climbed down the rocks and picked him up
O no...I've been left behind....peep,peep,peep
The aunties and uncles were all looking and discussing how they could help.
The momma and poppa and brothers and sisters trudged up the hill to look for him.
I tossed him gently into the water and all the aunties gathered around and headed the little one back to its momma....safe and sound.
Happy Mothers Day to all those special people who help to bring my children home safe and sound and encourage and support them.
Friday, April 29, 2016
April 28, 2016 Nugget of Truth
I have joined a ladies Bible Study that is taking me through the whole Bible in two years. Sometimes a truth just jumps out at you. I leaped into this adventure 8 weeks behind so I thought I'd cram today and try to catch up.
"God challenges each man's faith through the moments of crisis that define who he would be as God's representative." The Old Testament is full of real people who went through very real crisis and these moments in time shaped their characters into 'men and women of great faith in God'. It is easy to sit comfortably in our own little world....never changing,...just accepting life as it is....never stretching ourselves or growing into the man or woman God sees in us. Its easy to say , I am who I am and if you don't like it ....so be it! God looks at us and sees us as His amazing creation....as we are meant to be....made in His image. Until we are 'tried and tested', we can't discover what we are truly made of. Studying the Old Testament people makes me realize....we all make the same mistakes...over and over again throughout history. But I am also noticing that God is there...lovingly showing us how to be victorious.....we just need to learn to trust Him and learn to 'listen' to Him.
"God challenges each man's faith through the moments of crisis that define who he would be as God's representative." The Old Testament is full of real people who went through very real crisis and these moments in time shaped their characters into 'men and women of great faith in God'. It is easy to sit comfortably in our own little world....never changing,...just accepting life as it is....never stretching ourselves or growing into the man or woman God sees in us. Its easy to say , I am who I am and if you don't like it ....so be it! God looks at us and sees us as His amazing creation....as we are meant to be....made in His image. Until we are 'tried and tested', we can't discover what we are truly made of. Studying the Old Testament people makes me realize....we all make the same mistakes...over and over again throughout history. But I am also noticing that God is there...lovingly showing us how to be victorious.....we just need to learn to trust Him and learn to 'listen' to Him.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
A Nugget of Truth worth saving....
The Supreme Climb
April 26, 2016
Take now your son…and offer him…as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall
tell you. —Genesis 22:2
tell you. —Genesis 22:2
The great lesson to be learned from Abraham’s faith in God is that he was prepared to do anything for God. He was there to obey God, no matter what contrary belief of his might be violated by his obedience. Abraham was not devoted to his own convictions or else he would have slain Isaac and said that the voice of the angel was actually the voice of the devil. That is the attitude of a fanatic. If you will remain true to God, God will lead you directly through every barrier and right into the inner chamber of the knowledge of Himself. But you must always be willing to come to the point of giving up your own convictions and traditional beliefs. Don’t ask God to test you. Never declare as Peter did that you are willing to do anything, even “to go …both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33). Abraham did not make any such statement— he simply remained true to God, and God purified his faith.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
April brings......another birthday and so much more
I never thought I'd get excited about getting old.....but I am counting the days til I get to be '65'.
Some people 'live to work' but I 'work to live'. I live for my days off.
Some people 'live to work' but I 'work to live'. I live for my days off.
Days spent enjoying playing with my grandkids.
Hunter's words."Look at the view Nana! thrilled my heart....sharing the beauty of God's creation.
Taking walks along the river on a spring day and seeing the first crocus.
Spending heart to heart time with my friend Marie and enjoying a favorite spot along the river and a birthday dinner
Leisurely checking out all the thrift stores and finding a treasure for Marie that she can turn into a sewing table and some wonderful wooden dressup dolls for me to share with my grand kids.
I am drawn to the 'Living Water'....it refreshes my soul....I am reminded of God's Love for me as I bathe in the beauty of his creation.
Counted with the Stars
I love historical fiction....it brings to life the cold, hard facts in ways I can relate to. As I read the bible I wonder about the feelings of the people involved . This book draws you into that time period of Egypt and the exodus of the Jews. Two women come together from very different worlds and learn to love each other.The book shows the power of God and the power of his all encompassing love for all mankind if we are willing to reach out to Him and take that 'gift of love'.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Come to the River of Life Part two
While I was enjoying my breakfast I soaked in the beauty of watching a few pelicans play in the water and a deer
and its little one came by to enjoy an early morning drink. Got the gear packed
up and off we sailed.
The leaves along the river bank were amazing colours.
We even got to see ‘the cattle on a thousand hills’ as the old chorus goes. It was turning out to be a hot day so by three o’clock Sailor Dan and I decided it was time to go for a ‘skinny dip’ to cool off…We found a lovely beach to relax and have a swim and a little snack.
We packed up and off we went….but somewhere we missed a turn
in the road….I didn’t see any other channel but there must have been one
because our river turned into a trickle of water. I got out and pulled the
canoe following the deepest parts of the trickle. I was getting so tired and
was thinking I would have to unload the canoe just to pull it through this
tough part when I looked up and saw two beautiful shiny brown horses. Now how
did they get on the island side of the landscape…. They gave me hope….
So I pulled some more…..Here I was with a rope around my body pulling the canoe like a workhorse…..they must have been smiling at me I thought. They patiently watched me and I had to pull the canoe past them and finally I found deep water….Sometimes in life God expects us to get out and do our part andpull our weight….There are times of hard labour and times of refreshing….I was definitely enjoying the times of refreshing as the current once again pulled my weight down the river again.
So I pulled some more…..Here I was with a rope around my body pulling the canoe like a workhorse…..they must have been smiling at me I thought. They patiently watched me and I had to pull the canoe past them and finally I found deep water….Sometimes in life God expects us to get out and do our part andpull our weight….There are times of hard labour and times of refreshing….I was definitely enjoying the times of refreshing as the current once again pulled my weight down the river again.
By now I had learned my lesson not to leave it so late to
pitch my tent so found a lovely stretch of beach to pitch my tent….this time an
island so those coyotes wouldn’t be hanging out with me.. Made a nice supper
and watched the sun set. Could hear the coyotes singing on both sides as I
drifted off to sleep. I had stuck a tuna can in the water so animals wouldn’t
be attracted to it and in the morning the water had shifted or lowered so much
that I had to drag the canoe several feet just to get it to water.
It made me wonder how hard it was going to be to get home if the water had lowered that much. The sky was dark and filled with angry looking clouds but the sun came out and made the coloured leaves brilliant against the dark sky.
It was a beautiful day for canoeing ….not so hot as the day before. My battery died on my camera so missed some great shots along the way. I was coming around a corner and I heard cows very close to the water but there was bush right to the edge and then all of a sudden out of the blue was a beautiful brown cow in a tiny opening in the bush so I got my cell phone out and got a lovely shot.
Found a lovely island with lots of driftwood on it so gathered a heap so I could make a rip roaring fire. Enjoyed a lovely conversation with Marie sitting by the fire while I watched the stars. Made arrangements to meet her at the Berry Barn the next day for supper thinking I would camp my last night at Bare Ass Beach not far from there.
The next day looked dark and stormy so I pushed myself and arrived at the Berry Barn at two o'clock so phoned Marie and said " I'm coming home" The weather was suppose to be cool and rainy overnight so decided to sleep in my own bed that night. Had a lovely bowl of borsch and a bun at the Berry Barn and enjoyed watching some people on horseback on the shore as I paddled down the river.
It made me wonder how hard it was going to be to get home if the water had lowered that much. The sky was dark and filled with angry looking clouds but the sun came out and made the coloured leaves brilliant against the dark sky.
It was a beautiful day for canoeing ….not so hot as the day before. My battery died on my camera so missed some great shots along the way. I was coming around a corner and I heard cows very close to the water but there was bush right to the edge and then all of a sudden out of the blue was a beautiful brown cow in a tiny opening in the bush so I got my cell phone out and got a lovely shot.
Found a lovely island with lots of driftwood on it so gathered a heap so I could make a rip roaring fire. Enjoyed a lovely conversation with Marie sitting by the fire while I watched the stars. Made arrangements to meet her at the Berry Barn the next day for supper thinking I would camp my last night at Bare Ass Beach not far from there.
The next day looked dark and stormy so I pushed myself and arrived at the Berry Barn at two o'clock so phoned Marie and said " I'm coming home" The weather was suppose to be cool and rainy overnight so decided to sleep in my own bed that night. Had a lovely bowl of borsch and a bun at the Berry Barn and enjoyed watching some people on horseback on the shore as I paddled down the river.
Lots of sandhill cranes all along the way!
The fall colours were amazing!
Old Man River had a different look when I came around the corner this time......somebody readjusted his arms and gave him a 'manly' look....lol
Almost home I thought....here is the train bridge ....but it was still a couple more hours to get to the boat launch.
Here are my 'Angel Feathers ' that showed me the right path all along my trip
Scooped a feather up for a souvenir and found a 'lucky' ladybug
Was getting dark and I was feeling a little uncomfortable canoeing as I could no longer see the sandbars that might hang me up....Phoned Marie and told her to meet me at Victoria Park boat launch as Broadway launch would take me another half hour and it was already dark.
I got there and was having trouble figuring out how to hold onto the dock and get out of a canoe without capsizing. Along came two young men on bikes with back packs and they offered to help me. I told them I wasn't expecting to find 'angels' at the dock and I was truly blessed by there help. They carried my gear and my canoe all the way up to the top where I needed to meet Marie. They even helped me put the canoe on the roof of the car....God is so good....I had no strength left and he sent me two beautiful native angels to end my trip and get me home safely.
I can hardly wait for the next adventure .......
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Nugget of Truth for Feb 3.2016
Gleaned from my 'Daily Bread' devotions today
I Corinthians 9:27
No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
So often we 'know' the truth and share it but we don't live by that very same truth we share with others.
As we ask the Holy Spirit to transform us, moment by moment, we leave our old selves behind. Empowered by God, we stop ourselves from uttering that cruel word. We put away our electronic device and remain present with our friends. We don’t have to speak the last word in a disagreement.
As we train to run in the Spirit of Christ, how might God want to mold us today
Lord help me examine my heart today and be true to the truth that you show me that I share with others so in the end I can say I ran the race and won the prize.
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