Grace-Part Two

What a wondrous time is Spring when all the birds are singing....the buds begin to bloom...that's how it is with Gods love, once you've experienced it , you want to sing , its fresh like spring, you want to pass it on...remember that song?

Such a feel good song, at a feel good time of year.

So Sunday sermon was about Grace again. Yup , I got this one Pastor, I really do.

"When the grace of God grabs hold of a life , nothing stays the same" Matthew Price

Yup still with you Pastor . So take a moment and search your heart. Who is grace for? It is for everyone? Even the one that has wronged you beyond being fair or repair. How about those people you really don't love? How about that person that's way to hard to love? Yup everyone. Grace is for anyone that surrenders to Jesus. Nobody is excluded. Yup still with you Pastor.

So then he asks us, so what's changed in your life? What refuses to stay the same?

You see I can have this beautiful backyard of mine and lament how beautiful it is but never use it..what good would that be? I can except grace but never change what good would that be?

And you got it. My life looks more like, dare I show you? The cobwebs in my garage. I store up all this grace and don't change. Grace, the power to forgive. The power to let go. The power of not always wanting my way. The power to love people different than me. It was all very clear in that Church service Sunday morning. And a few hours later at home it looked so different. You see Grace at work in my life is work, yup that's it, it's work. And it's easier to slip into my old thought patterns...Yet Grace if it has grabbed a hold of my life needs to see changes.
So the Pastor asked again after the service. If you accepted Grace what's changed in your life?
I'm working on this , thank you Lord for again revealing to me the need of your Grace.

We ended the Church Service with this song;

This Is Amazing Grace

 

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger
The King of Glory, the King above all kings

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder
Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder
The King of Glory, the King above all kings

Chorus:
This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You lay down Your life
That I would be set free
Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me

Verse 2:
Who brings our chaos back into order
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter
The King of Glory, the King of Glory

Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of Glory, the King above all kings

Bridge:
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave

Read more: Phil Wickham - This Is Amazing Grace Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Thankful
1.unending grace
2.sunshine
3.flowers in spring
4.peace
5.having all I need
6.new songs
7.old familiar songs
8.friends who get to travel and come home safe
9.warm bedand clean sheets
10. NLCC and my pastor Matthew Price (come check us out Sunday morning).

Thursdays Thoughts

For I Know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a hope and a future. I was given this verse as a promise from God in August 16, 1993.

I was questioning why my only two siblings had to walk the path of cancer. For me losing my mother at an early age ( she was 42, I was 11) was more than a lifetime of sadness, regret , sorrow. In May of 1994 God took my sister Alice home ( she was 38), in July of 1995 he took my sister Irene home (she was 41). Three days before my 33 birthday.  I was left without siblings.
Why reflect on this today? Today Irene would have been 60 , tomorrow my Mother would have been 82.
82 would be a good year to say until we meet again.
Saying goodbye is never easy. Living with what might have been is not easy either. Finding peace in my heart is a constant struggle. While I know who is in control and I know where I am going, it's the go between that's hard. Finding a balance between the struggles and joys of everyday life and holding on to those I love too tightly. Wanting to see just one more sunset, celebrate just one more birthday, love just one more day. While I know it's not up to me to decide that I still want more. I believe that's how God intended us to be. Our life on earth is wonderful and only a glimpse of eternity. He gives us a hope and a future. His path , my path, His choice , my choice.

Happy 60th birthday Irene....I can only imagine.

Healing

The Ache for healing . The hands of the King are the hands of a healer. J.R.R. Tolkien

Our desire for healing holds a special tension: If we believe that God is powerful , if we believe in his ability to heal, what do we do with the uncertainty of whether or not he will? And if he does not heal when healing is desired, should we construe that as a reflection of his diminished love or power, an indication that something is not right with us, or simply a reality to be dealt with--nothing more? It's that "Will YOU" gap that gets us-the aching , vacant space between what we believe God can do for anyone and hope what he will do for us. Leigh Mcleroy.

Was at the Freedom Biker Church last Sunday. Three testimonies of God and his power in the lives of individuals. Redemption , change ,grace, miracles. God is at work. The Sunday before at NLCC church we were morning the loss of a young man succumbed to cancer. We all believed, we all prayed -so where's the miracle ? God is still at work.

Can I be so bold as to say? Sometimes healing sometimes not. It is a huge struggle to remain weak and yet hopeful before a God that can change everything if only He would.  We all have begged for healing. I am not exception. We've all seen miracles, we've all been touched by death.

Good people get sick and die, even on bright blue days. Things get broken , even in the midst of beauty. "We live on holy ground". And whether our brokenness is healed here in the now or in the distant "not yet" , healing always comes, when it comes, at the hands of our wounded King.
 Eugene Peterson.

I understand the ache of praying for healing and waiting for results. Maybe you do too? God sees us , God hears us. God holds us .

And it's as if the next paragraph was written just for me.
The hands of the King have healed me too. From sickness and from sorrow, from broken hearts and broken bones, from sin and from sadness, and from grief that seemed to great to bear. I have never placed myself in those hands and regretted the choice to do so, even when the result was not what I might have hoped for.When and how have you been healed? For what healing do you still wait? Can you see the beauty of your brokenness or another's-and believe in the weight of glory that will one day be yours? leigh Mcleroy

Daniel- turning 30

My boys turning 30 today. Seems like just yesterday....

 

1.Getting to know you...

You were born to a very patient mom who had been in the hospital delivery room twice waiting for you. Having grown up with only sisters you taught me the importance of two handed diaper changes. You were born with amazing eye and hand coordination and you rairly missed your target. Naps were restricted to 20 minutes a day for you because you had so much exploring to do and why waste it sleeping? Your mischievous smile more often than not kept you out of trouble. Though you remember our kitchen corner it was easy for you to say sorry. You protected your brothers and sisters ferociously. And you loved the outdoors, biking and hockey. At the first inch of snow fall you would awaken with glee and expect the household to join you at 5:30 am. You never tired of pulling your siblings and the neighbours kid's up and down on your sled in that old cudelsac. You had whit and charm and used it well. As a soccer goalie you gave it your all. I marvelled how you never gave up no matter the score. You loved your friends and your dog so deeply. You gained independence and worked very hard.  Well down my son I am very proud of you. I was only 21 when I had you. And though I wasn't always right I did the best I could. I loved you , kissed you and prayed for you.

2.Being your mom

I love being your mom. You have taught me so many things. I love that you resemble your Dad. You are handsome and tall and your smile lights up my heart. You are a man that works hard and plays much.  And now I am having the privilege of growing old with you. I had the Honor of bearing you my son. You are a special gift from God, for a moment put in my care.

Happy Birthday Daniel.