Grace

 Jesus didn't have to extend His love. He didn't have to die on the cross. He didn't have to rewrite my story. He bought me the day He died. He overcame my fear of death in that unbelievable moment in His Resurrection. And in that stunning grace is peace.It is the greatest story ever told.

Grace ; it's all grace. His story not mine.

I bring Him my life, my sorrow , my brokenness. He accepts it, embraces me and loves me.

His love saw my heart, and said She is mine. She is my daughter. I have something wonderful for Margret.

Grace is the sweet moment you never expect but turns up to get you through a day. Kara Tippetts

1. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
   Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
   Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
   There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
   
   • Refrain:
     Grace, grace, God’s grace,
     Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
     Grace, grace, God’s grace,
     Grace that is greater than all our sin!
2. Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
   Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
   Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
   Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
3. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
   What can we do to wash it away?
   Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
   Brighter than snow you may be today.
4. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
   Freely bestowed on all who believe!
   You that are longing to see His face,
   Will you this moment His grace receive?

Thankful this Easter morning for His grace.

Beautiful Things

Kathe -My Mom March 28, 1932-November 1, 1973

"Beautiful Things"

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

GUNGOR LYRICS

The other day someone mentioned only seeing a picture perfect envious life portrayed on facebook. And I said people don't want to see hurt, messy lives, and many don't want to know what really sits inside the heart of a grown up woman who still at times thinks as a child. Most people like to think life's okay and thinking only positive thoughts are whats going to get us through life. I beg to differ. If I can't go through pain in life and share about it I can never get to the beautiful side. I love deeply, enjoy life with abandonment, but I also grieve very deeply. It's how I'm wired. I don't just remember my loved ones only when its there birthday - its just that seems the time the world lets me share my thoughts. So at this time in my life I've pulled up chair around the banquet table of Gods love and my feast is my memories. Some good , some bad. And every memory met with tears, some regret, some sorrow, some joy, Its my life unique to only me. And I talk to God who's invited me to His table of grace. And I still wait for more beautiful things of this life.

 

The Elephant In The Room -Part Two

Dealing with Mental Illness.

A series that our Church NLCC is walking through.Yesterdays topic; Put On Love.

Colossians 3:12-14, have a read it's so relevant to the topic.

1. Stigma- we see mental illness as a mark of shame.
"It's amazing to me that any other organ in your body can break down and there's no shame and stigma to it," Warren told the congregation. "But if your brain breaks down, you're supposed to keep it a secret…. If your brain doesn't work right, why should you be ashamed of that?"Rick Warren

2. Simple Answers. We are looking for a quick full time fix. So we give our opinions as if the person dealing with mental illness has not tried every approach to get well. Mental illness is not a casserole illness -we support and rally around people in hospital or other sickness- but draw the line at mental illness.

3. Spiritual Lies. Almost 50% of Evangelical Christians believe prayer and Bible Study alone will heal mental illness .Ed Stetzer. It's simply not true. When we spiritualize mental illness we blame sick people for their illness. Amy Simpson



Our hope is rooted in our knowledge that something much better is on its way. For no matter how deep the darkness, how painful life can be in this decaying world, as children of God we can always look forward to the day when “our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength” (1 Cor 15:43). - See more at: http://amysimpsononline.com/2013/05/a-conversation-about-mental-health-and-faith/#sthash.2ZGp5xN1.dpuf

How do we put on Love to those dealing with mental illness? Love by listening.

So simple, so profound.

We don't have answers but we all have ears to listen and hearts to exercise compassion.

PUT ON LOVE_-LOVE BY LISTENING .

The Elephant In the Room (Church)

What are little girls made of?

Sugar and spice ,and everything nice

Robert Southey.

As a little girl and later having a daughter of my own. Those were my thoughts. Little girl dreams , big girl possibilities. But what happens when mental illness joins this picture? My childhood was full of big elephants in our home. Sugar and spice was over shadowed with sickness and unpredictability.

So while the world we live in is very beautiful-it is often overshadowed by mental illness. The white elephant in the room,  Mental Illness ,last Sundays church topic.

Our guest speaker Rod Wilson. President and professor of counselling and psychology at Regent College in Vancouver. He not only had some very good advice for the Church but shared from life experience.

2 Corinthians 1:6-9 . Summarised- when I am in pain and go through painful situations it allows me to help others. Pain is a reminder that I cannot rely on myself. I am overwhelmed can't do it on my own. I need God , I need others to help me through life.

Mental illness is a very big part of my life. A very painful part.My mother went through severe mental illness, I too struggle and have had deep bouts of depression and I'm dealing with depression with my daughter.

And one thing I'm learning in my journey is it's a long dark road. And too often I've been guilty of this too -I just want to fix things and make it go away. Nobody likes dealing with mental illness, and just about everybody has a solution for it. One thing that really spoke to me Sunday morning was-the best and proper way to help someone with mental illness -is to acknowledge  their pain . Not offer your answers to their questions, not fix it with theories . But offer comfort-plain and simple. And Rod Wilson offered a very simple illustration to remember this. Think back to when your child was young  and had an extremely bad fall on hard pavement, and they were crying at the top of their lungs and bleeding from their knees. What would be the right response to have to this situation? Get down on your knees, offer comfort and a hug. That simple. Get down on your knees ,offer comfort and a hug. That's how we as Christians and a Church should handle mental illness. A tough topic. Check it out at NLCC .

Monday Morning Thoughts-Saying Goodbye To Johnny D.

Sunday morning Johnny our pre high pastor shared he was called to another Church.

It was with tears and joy that he shared. And I gotta tell you it was hard for me too.

The influence and lives you've changed Johnny -you will never know.

And a little song from my childhood popped into my mind...

Heavenly Sunshine, Heavenly Sunshine

Flooding my soul with glory divine

Heavenly Sunshine, Heavenly Sunshine

Hallelujah! Jesus is mine.

Johnny that's you, full of sunshine and blessed by God's assurance that Jesus is yours.

That's what you taught, that's what you lived.

And I thought back to Church influences in my life

People that left the warmth of heavens glow in my life

And I thought of my Sunday school teacher Martha Guze-she loved on us gals, and she taught me life was not just about rules

And I though of Pastor John Dyck who made the Bible come alive in my life and who lead me to the Lord

And I thought of Pastor Ken Dyck who awakened in me a desire for helping others in need

And who can ever forget  Pastor Kevin Snyder? My Children's beloved youth pastor. Our house fell in love with you the day we met. And your footprints in our lives will never leave us. 

And then it was Pastor Matthew Price. We fell in love with you and your passion for youth. And your joy for the Lord. I'd say our kids had the best of all youth pastors. You and Kevin remind me of my most critical growing up years- and the youth Pastor I had, Mr Baerg. Amazing .

And then Pastor Matthew you became our pastor to the congregation of NLCC. And the blessing that happens every Sunday morning blows my sock's off.

And Pastor Johnny you were part of this Church family and you rocked being pre high Pastor and you will so be missed.

And Pastor Johnny you were the perfect fit in our Church and in our lives.

And we are so happy you said yes to God in your life.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You

May The Lord Make His Face To Shine Upon You

And Be Gracious To You

May The Lord Lift Up His Countenance Upon You

And Give You Peace.

And may we continue to be heavenly sunshine to those around us. Thanks for the reminder Pastor Johnny.

Heavenly Sunshine, Heavenly Sunshine

Flooding My Soul With Glory Divine

Heavenly Sunshine, Heavenly Sunshine

Hallelujah! Jesus Is Mine. Charles E. Fuller

Only One Life Will Soon Be Past ;Only What's Done For Christ Will Last.  C.T. Studd