....across the room to share my family......

There was at least one goofy looking person in every picture we took this weekend so I'll have to post more than one. We should know not to take pictures at the END of a long day! Next time we will get that over with closer to the beginning of the day. It was our great pleasure to finally get our family together for at least one day this weekend. These four little ones do not see each other often and yet they got along famously except for a very popular pretty pair of pink shoes that kept getting "stolen" because "I just wanted to look like a bootiful pwincess"!

During the day all the males in the family took in the Alberta Air Show and had a fantastic time while the women lunched, napped and talked our faces off like most women do when they get together after a long absence! The month for birthdays in our family is definitely July so that was our excuse to have a yummy birthday cake after a scrumptious dinner of potato salad, garden salad, and chicken and pork kabobs on the BBQ.

Later the driveway got decorated with sidewalk chalk and we were even able to get the new kites up in the air. It seems like the entire day was a buzz of activity, chatter, lots of laughter and expressions of love for one another. Considering how I can weep about anything these days I'm surprised I can see my screen right now! I feel so blessed to have such a loving and wonderful family!

...across the room to make good on a promise...

Sometimes the most insignificant deed can turn into a very pleasant "big deal"!

That was my experience today as I made good on a promise to a special friend of mine...a promise made a number of years ago. I remember very clearly the day she so very nicely made her request to some day, when I had time, when I was ready, be given a ride on the back of my Harley Davidson motorbike. Deb lives on the way to one of my favourite coffee/lunch places approximately 35 minutes from my home. We decided that I would pick her up for coffee this afternoon and we would go on my bike! I was not surprised to find her waiting for me wearing a nice pair of jeans (I had nixed the "longer shorts" idea), ankle boots complete with pointy toes and little spikey heels (I said no to gym shoes!), soft caramel coloured lamb skin leather jacket (because I said leather, not fabric) with matching gloves (I said, please wear them even though it's hot outside!), and of course, her designer sunglasses to match her jacket! Always the fashion statement...that's my friend Deb!

She loved the ride, especially on the way back since by then she saw that she could trust my riding skills. Perhaps I put the fear into her by being overly demanding of her riding attire! I think I enjoyed providing the ride as much as she enjoyed being the passenger, but more than that, we both thoroughly enjoyed our two hour visit! One of the greatest blessings in life is to have a friend with whom you can share matters of the heart. Deb is one of those people in my life. There's something very relaxing about knowing you are understood especially when you are sharing rather controversial material. On the flip side it is an honour to be trusted with another persons thoughts and words. When you never have to mention the word confidential you know you are in the company of a very trusting and safe friend.

What started out to be the fulfillment of a promise turned into an amazing afternoon of bonding with an amazing friend!

....across the room for peace....

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts"

WOW! That really caught my attention in church this morning. Can you listen to an entire sermon and hear only one thing? It's happened to me before. Today it was that sentence from the Bible in the book of Colossians 3:15a. What does that mean for us on a day to day basis?

If I could remember to let the peace of Christ rule in my heart in every situation in my life I dare say my life would look very different. For instance.....

*I could forfeit my rights to let the other person feel good about themselves

*Maybe, just maybe I could let that other person learn from their own mistakes instead of trying to correct them

*Rather than looking at a problem as a hazard or an obstacle perhaps I could see it as an opportunity as the pastor mentioned this morning

*I need not take offence at someone talking down to me like they tend to do at a business I frequent in my city

*The words "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" could become part of my daily vocabulary

The Christian Motorcycle Association was represented in the church we were at this morning. This organization has come up with a beautiful and very meaningful patch that you get to wear on your jacket or vest if you are a member. However, not just anybody gets to be a member. You have to qualify. They want to be sure that as a member of their Association you are letting the peace of Christ rule your heart in every situation (my interpretation).

How much more so should I then allow the peace of Christ to rule my heart! After all, I belong to the family of God and as a Christian, I'm sporting the seal of the Holy Spirit! Every day, I ask this of my Lord:

"Search me O God, and know my heart

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me

and lead me in the way everlasting"

Psalm 139:23,24

"May the Words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in Thy sight

O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer"

Psalm 19:14

Note: We were at Centre Street Church in Calgary this morning but unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the person speaking!

...across the room to celebrate summer.....

The blog has been a little on the heavy side lately so I thought I would share some of the sunshine in my life for a change. This spring, for some reason I felt the need to buy some new "summer dishes". I had broken a few of the dishes I use every day and felt the need for a new set, something bright and cheery. However, this was to be my year of curbing my spending and I just wasn't sure whether I should give in to this desire or not. I had been eyeing these pretty bright dishes at our local Safeway store and decided finally that if they went on sale I would get them. Not too long ago I needed a few things from the store late in the evening and there they were again! Discounted and waiting for me to take them home and now one of the bright spots in my day is waking up to these dishes, coffee, and whatever else my heart desires. I use that big plate even though I'm just having a little piece of toast, a muffin or some fruit and cheese! Even raisin bran tastes good in those beautiful big bowls!! I love my new dishes and I'm not sorry I bought them :)

...across the room for a sermon...

I was reminded again yesterday that my God is a God of order. He is not about chaos and confusion. If you have read my last two blogs you will see that I have been through a valley in my life. I have experienced Psalm 23 in a very real way recently. God showed Himself to be faithful and a present help in my time of trouble. He used His Scriptures to lead me through my troubles and also to encourage me. Then on Sunday He used a sermon to put it all into perspective! "Where Is God In My Darkness" was the title of the sermon. I immediately rummaged through my purse for my pen because I knew I was going to hear from God. In our darkness we often don't look for God because we're too busy trying to find our own way. He referred to that period of time as "Pain of life without God". Once a person has known what it is like to have God in one's life there is no satisfaction of life without acknowledging Him. We thirst for that relationship when we allow something to come between us and Him and we are broken because of losing what used to be. Discouragement sets in as well as a sense of isolation because suddenly we feel abandoned even though we are the one that has done the abandoning! We experience an overwhelming sense of helplessness when the pressure of the situation is uninterrupted and we feel lost, as though we're living without any direction. Exhaustion sets in, and I think that could be mental, emotional and physical. We've gone from a spiritual high to a spiritual low because we've pushed God away in a sense and we really feel that distancing. I'm amazed at how just one area of disobedience or sin in our lives will cause us to feel so disconnected from God. I really do not like to go there!

To restore our life with God we have to recognize the problem and admit where we are at. It is good to remember the past experiences with God as they will encourage and strengthen us. We have to make intentional choices like eating, sleeping properly and surrounding ourselves with people who will lift us up instead of drag us down. Committing ourselves to a life of worship and trusting in God who has told us He will never leave us or forsake us will restore our life with God.

If we have ever had a relationship with God and then leave Him out for a period of time we will find that we really miss Him and the only cure for our darkness is to turn back to Him by repenting and accepting His forgiveness and embracing His love and grace.

That's a very abbreviated version of the message in our church on Sunday. I thought it was great! It was for me! Thank you Lord for showing me one more time how intimately you know me, what I need and what is best for me!

...across the room to give thanks....

To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile. You rescue those who are humble......As for God, his way is perfect. All the Lord's promises prove true.…Psalm 18:25-27,30 NLT

Promises such as the following.....

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control......Galatians 5:22 NLT

....ahhh yes! It is the Holy Spirit inside the life of every devoted Christian that helps us to persevere through those struggles that overwhelm us at times. I don't know why I'm always surprised by God's faithfulness and help to me. I know it comes from Him because I cannot change my heart on my own. It is impossible. I can try to change my mind, my will, my actions but I cannot change my heart. My heart has needed some repair work lately and although I knew that, sometimes I let myself stumble onto a path that feels good to me for awhile and then when I realize that I'm heading into a situation that will cause a mess for me I have a hard time turning back because by now it may be a matter of pride, "justifiable or righteous anger", or just stubborn will! When I get into a situation like that I know that God is very near, I can feel Him close, and I know that He is waiting for me to make my move. It reminds me of when the Israelites saw the Egyptians closing in on them by the Red Sea. They were so scared and crying for God to rescue them. God's answer to them was to "get moving"! Well that's been me this last while. Praying and crying for God to do something. Finally I heard Him "Get Moving Elayne"! That left me with a choice....do what is right, or drown in my sea of frustration. Well, I decided to start moving. Moving to a state of repentance, forgiveness and obedience. Oh what a sweet spot. Humbling , yes, but so very sweet. It brings me right into the arms of Jesus, as close as the air that touches my skin. I just KNOW I'm forgiven, hugged, squeezed, and I feel completely whole again.

Larry Holder wrote this song that describes my grateful heart today.....

You love me as a Father loves His child

Your boundless grace pours out to me;

I am fully reconciled.

Your Spirit calls, and I reply,

"Lord lead me day by day

To know Your perfect will, Your holy Way."

My one desire - to know You in the fullness of Your Grace

To hear "Well done, my precious one"

when we meet face to face

Lord, I aspire to please You in obedience and faith

For You, my God, are worthy of all praise.

Your favor has sustained me all my days

The faithfulness You've shown to me;

Oh, how awesome are Your ways.

My heart cries out; I can't contain

The joy that lives in me,

To know that You give life, abundantly!

As night gives way to morning

I'll arise to meet the dawn

As Your Spirit deep within me

Gives me strength to carry on,

Carry on...

My one desire - to know You in the fullness of Your Grace

To hear "Well done, my precious one"

when we meet face to face

Lord, I aspire to please You in obedience and faith

For You, my God, are worthy of all praise.

My greatest desire in life is to be completely devoted to my God....to passionately worship Him with my life and be totally committed to His will and His way for me.

...across the room to make room for grizzly's.....

This blog is supposed to be a place for me to express myself and yet so much of the time I hold back from saying what I really want to say because I'm afraid it might offend someone (yeah, REALLY! ... just in case some of you might think I'm already too outspoken :)  

I have to admit that I am struggling with some issues at the moment that once again, I feel I just am not ready to write about today.  The past few weeks have tested me in many ways and at this point in time I find I have the head knowledge to know what some of the answers are but my heart and my will feel sluggish.  Fear, disbelief, anger, frustration, disappointment, heartache and pain are interspersed with peace, reassurance, calm, joy, and gladness.  This is my reminder that God indwells me by the presence of His Holy Spirit who comforts, reassures, and calms me whenever I get over myself and focus on Him and what it is He would have me to do.  I admit that this past while there have been many moments (OK, well HOURS!...DAYS, even?!) when it just felt better to feed my "self" and wallow some.  That, however, is not a place I'm comfortable in for long any more and I THANK MY GOD for that!  I'm so thankful that He is patient with me and allows me to pace myself on this journey with Him.  I have every confidence that when I have worked through the tough stuff I will look back and be grateful for sloshing through the valley!!  

A little reprieve for me was a five day ride on my Harley as far as Osoyoose, BC where I met up with my guy who had ridden to Vancouver a week earlier.  I spent a night in Fernie where I discovered a fabulous little coffee shop "Cincott Farms Organic Market".  Should you be lucky enough to travel through Fernie at breakfast time you would want to order the spinach and black pepper gouda breakfast croissant.  Trust me that all that butter is well worth the calories just this once!  A definite highlight of our little get away was the sight of a magnificent grizzly bear on a mission to cross the highway in front of us!  I really believe it was those disgustingly obnoxious noisy pipes on our bikes that made him change his mind about completing his mission and it boggles my mind how quickly that huge animal turned back and disappeared into the forest.  It all happened so fast we only had time to brake hard enough to smoke our tires and no time to be afraid!!  It was after the fact that I began to wonder whether one of us would have had to hit him!  I was so mesmerized by how shiny his beautiful brown coat was in the sunshine I didn't even think about fearing that big beast!  He was stunning! 

As we continued our trip I thought about how determined and focused that bear seemed to get somewhere and how quickly he had to change his mind and back track.  Does it remind you of anyone?  Yourself?  Sometimes I'm so sure of the path I'm on and yet it is a path that could lead me into danger or destruction.  God uses all kinds of ways to get me to back track and change my direction.  Most often He uses the instructions in the Bible; sometimes a friend or a book; sometimes it's a sermon or a song.  

This morning I heard a sermon on "An Introduction To The Book Of Romans".  The book was written by Tertius but was dictated by Paul.  Paul's credentials are listed as "...a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News."  God equipped Paul to minister throughout the Roman empire through his Hebrew Heritage, Greek country of origin, and his Roman citizenship.  The Pastor said that just as God equipped Paul for the work that He wanted him to do, so God equips us for what He wants us to do.  That is why when we go through tough times, the valleys of life, we do so with a certain amount of anticipation of how God will use those trials to equip us, and  strengthen our faith and trust in Him. 

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow...."    James 1:2-4a