I did something new.
I did a worship session on Facebook Live!
Last week I had listened to the sermon online and wrote in my blog the things I thought were God's ministry for me.  As I really miss worshipping through music with other believers, I thought this might be a way to obey what God was challenging me to do. So in my very amateur way, I chose some of my favourite songs that were public domain, and some that I had written, and sang my heart out! 
The instant replies, comments, likes and even a song request really blessed me!  All I had wanted was to offer something to the Lord and encourage others who might be feeling like me - wishing to worship with others. 
This morning, Walter and I joined Caylea to watch the online Calvary Baptist service.  Her interview with Pastor Luke Miller went very well!  Funny, engaging and informative. 
It was such a quiet day.  Sundays are usually much busier.  So, I chose a few more songs, not worrying about the copyright of songs as I am covered by both Healing Hearts and NCEM CCLI song licensing.  What fun to sing, have a few more folks interact and say some hello's!  I guess I am more of an extrovert than I realized and needed more people connection.
We rested, had a friendly game of Crokinole and a family supper together.
Never too old to try a new way to serve the Lord!

      Once a month I write a short thought for the NCEM in-house newsletter called "Labourers Together."  My themes are on how to build our support teams, the churches and individuals who donate to our ministry projects financially and stand behind us in prayer.  From practical tips on how to write a prayer letter to encouragement for those who are not comfortable with presenting themselves and their ministry, I share my own experiences and insights of other veteran missionaries.
     Two neat things have happened this week for people close to us.  First of all, Caylea was to be presenting at a church here in Regina this coming Sunday.  She has been part of their Young Adults Bible study on Monday nights for a few years now and was asked to share with that group about a year ago.  Then a few months ago, the missions director/pastor met Caylea and was very interested in her ministry.  So this was quite an exciting and hopeful opportunity for her to speak on her vision for First Nations ministry...alas, the COVID-19 crisis has shut down public gatherings. 
     Creatively adapting to the situation, the pastor invited Caylea to come to the church this week and record her presentation in an interview style.  She wore her NCEM sweatshirt and brought some mugs and other SWAG (give away items with logos of the ministries) for both NCEM and Healing Hearts.  I can't wait to watch how the interview went when it is shown during the online worship service this Sunday!
     The second amazing story I heard (technically I read - it was a text!) was from our missionary friends in northern Canada.  They have also worked part-time at the local Salvation Army but had recently decreased their involvement there.  With challenges now to the economy, and their secondary income had decreased, this couple was concerned about how to raise their support to an adequate level.  God heard their prayers.
     A random donor to the ministry they belong to, designated their gift to go "where needed most."  In a case like that, the bookkeeper would have a list of missionaries who were low in support and assign the gift to one of them.  Our friends' level was low enough that they were on that list.  When the missionaries sent a "thank you" note to the address given from the donor, it turns out the woman had been born in that very community where our friends' serve.  She had wonderful memories and a soft spot in her heart for that place and felt God had blessed her with this surprise connection!  Her donations (and prayers) will now go towards our friends on a monthly basis.  How awesome is that?
     In the midst of a dark and confusing time, God shows His faithfulness and loving care.

 
    

     My normal life rhythm has existed of going flat out, then stopping.  For three years now, we have spent a week or two in Prince Albert every month, plus travelling across Canada to visit missionaries.  We have been going steady, with catch up days at home in between.  Some days off interspersed here and there have given us some rest.  We have taken vacation time, plus family time for the special holidays.
     Now here we are, in self-isolation, working from home.
     I thought it would be so relaxing.  The very thing I longed for, extended time at home to do whatever I wanted with no responsibilities beyond what I can accomplish around the house or on the computer.  But it's not as easy to "take it easy" as I hoped!
    One morning this week, I read Psalm 46 as part of my devotional time.  It had been referenced in a sermon I heard and it kept coming back to my thoughts.
"Be still, and know that I am God..." verse 10
     Although I had been longing for such an opportunity as we are experiencing with COVID-19, I am having a really hard time being still.  The pace we have had makes me anxious to do something.  I feel restless and antsy.  I especially miss the connection with people face to face!  When I am having a quiet time, it is so easy for me to be distracted, to feel my day stretch out with no specific structure and I feel at loose ends! AAAAHHHH!
     My prayer is to learn to be still.  To quiet my mind, to calm my soul.  I truly want to seek the Lord and know Him, to know my God.  The rest of that psalm is so rich and fits our global circumstance.  The world is in chaos; the nations are in turmoil.  People are fearful and it isn't always bringing out the best in humanity!  We need God.
"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved."  verse 5
     This verse brought such comfort to me.  God Himself is with us, in our midst through this crisis.  Whether the virus touches us directly or affects us only through the current restrictions, God promises to be our refuge and our strength.  He is our very present help in trouble.  God has not changed and He continues to dwell with and be intricately involved in the lives or His people.
    He is a God worth knowing.  And I am choosing to press on to know Him more.

"...when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love...Therefore be imitators of God, beloved children.  And walk in love..." 
Ephesians 4:16b & 5:2

     Sunday morning.  The city of Regina has banned public gatherings of more than 5 individuals .  So we are self-isolating in our home when normally we would be heading to church.  Weird!
     My freezer has plenty of homemade deer sausage and other types of protein.  Our pantry has non-perishable items to last quite a while.  Our fresh items in the fridge will last a few days, but we are set.  And I still had quite a stockpile of toilet paper from Christmas so that's not a panic!
     There is a restlessness in me.  Just knowing I should not leave the house, or cannot meet with my fellow Healing Hearts church family, makes me feel unsettled.  Off.  Just being honest.
     Walter found a livestream church service online and we enjoyed some very uplifting worship music, Scriptures and words of encouragement about the hope we have in Christ even during a pandemic.  And the message given by the preacher was solid teaching from Ephesians chapter 4.  That is what I want to share today - what God is showing me through this strange time that is affecting our global community.
     "And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, building up the body of Christ..." 4:11 & 12
     I get excited reading about the church and how God wants her to function.  Even after 39 years of serving Jesus and being part of churches, I still look so forward to being involved and attending church worship services.  Not going to church this morning made me feel odd and empty.  It's more than a habit, but a longing of my heart to worship and fellowship.
     The Church, God's people, the body of Christ, are all interchangeable terms to describe those of us who follow and serve Jesus Christ.  I am very humbled to be part of such a noble and unique family.  And God gave these 5 main roles so that churches can be started and established in every nation.  God's only program is still to have all of us as Christians to spread the Gospel and see disciples made among every people group around the globe.  (That is the real "pandemic" that God wants to infect us with - to be filled with His Holy Spirit and have Jesus reign in our hearts.  Not my focus today!)
     The saints are to be equipped "for the work of ministry" as verse 12 explains.  We all have a part in the body to build up the body.  The 5 roles listed have specific giftings and responsibilities, but that doesn't mean they are the only ones in God's Kingdom to be ministering.  It is not an exclusive club who professionally minister.  Some of us happen to be in ministry as a vocation, but that doesn't exclude everyone to share the gifts God has given them to reach the world and bless the church.
     "...until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ..." 4:13
     Is the church just a nursery class?  Is it a daycare centre?  NO!  We all start as baby Christians, but the goal is that we grow up.  Many times the Bible addresses immature believers and tells them to stop drinking only milk, but to eat meat.  Don't stay the same.  Be changed by Jesus.  Learn how to be mature and responsible, just as we who are parents all teach our kids how to be adults.
    What are some of the signs of maturity?  Verse 13 above lists four that I notice.
1.  Unity of the faith
2.  Knowledge of the Son of God
3.  Maturity
4.  Fullness of Christ
     Here's where my gift and love of teaching comes in:  I like having specific points and explaining how they can apply to real life!
     Unity is an obvious sign of growing up.  This means we don't function as a self-focused individual, but become part of the body.  We may not always agree and think exactly the same as everyone else in our church, but we can be one, with the same purpose and priorities as our fellow believers.
     Knowledge is not just facts and information.  Knowing Jesus, the Son of God, is a relationship with a person.  Knowing Jesus means we connect with Him, hear Him speaking to us, which is another way of saying we pray, listen and read His Word to increase our understanding of Him.
     Maturity involves growing up, becoming outward focused, taking responsibility, committing to serving in our church, tithing and caring about others more than ourselves.
     Fullness of Christ is deep and I won't be able to adequately unpack all that can mean!  But simply put, measuring our maturity against the standard of Jesus - impossible to reach on our own strength - and being like Him more and more in our everyday life.
     Which brings me to what I feel God wants me to do as a grown up Christian during this pandemic and self-isolation season...
     God wants me to pray.  There are a lot of people, Christians and non-believers who are freaked out by all of this stuff!  There are medical people dealing with the virus head-on.  There are government leaders and church/mission leaders who have difficult decisions to make.  Lots to pray about!
     God wants me to shine a light on social media.  I want to counter act the negative and fear-based posts out there.
     God want me to have wisdom.  I won't take unnecessary chances in getting infected or spreading the virus.  BUT I will serve and help out where needed.  Contact me if you need something and I can help.
     God wants me to take care of my family.  That's my first priority in a practical sense.
     God wants me to continue to serve as a missionary along with my husband.  We aren't taking a break from our leadership unless the Lord directs us to.  Our ministry might look different as we travel less and do more from home. 
     BE BLESSED, my family and friends. The whole thing is to keep serving in LOVE!  That's what my opening verse is intended to convey.  God loves us and wants us in turn, to love others!
   

 

Time for an update on the Selkes...
Caylea got back home from her adventure in Costa Rica!  She's been planning to visit a fellow MK, her childhood friend, Emily, who married a Costa Rican and serves in missions there.  So when a very good price for flights came up, Caylea booked her tickets and flew off to San Jose!  She came back tanned, rested and loaded with picture and stories!
Walter got a call for a specialist appointment - March 17!  He will have another round of bloodwork and then see the internal medicine specialist.  We pray for some clues to what's happening in his system and some course of action.
The boys made plans to enter a Men's Bonspiel in Gladstone, MB and asked Dad to curl with them, as well!  So the weekend of March 13 & 14, we will be spending some special time with Mark and Amy, crashing their home and enjoying family time at the rink.
Daniel is finished his curling season for now but busy at Curl Sask at his day job.  He's also hoping to get some side work under the name "Dan's Ductwork", keeping up his skills as a journeyman in sheet metal.  Apparently, he went rock wall climbing with a men's night at his church (Compass Church).  Knowing how he doesn't love heights, I can't wait to hear how that evening went!
Today, I plan to type up the minutes from our NCEM Executive meeting last Thursday.  And at 5 pm, we have a funeral service for a dear saint, Rose Lagimodiere, who battled three different times with breast cancer.  The Lord took her home last Thursday morning. This is the first funeral of a Healing Hearts church member being held in our building in Regina.  The wake last night was sad, but one filled with hope as several pastors and friends shared the Gospel message and Rose's love for her family.  Her heart's desire was for her family to know and love Jesus, to straighten out their lives and go to church!  The family asked if I would sing a couple Gospel songs at today's service.  It is an honour.
Caylea developed a special relationship with Rose, having their cancer journeys in common.  When Rose was going through chemo, she was having trouble eating and keeping it down. So Caylea baked some oven bannock and took it to her. ( Hamburger soup and bannock was the comfort food of choice.)
Have a good day, family and friends.  The Lord bless you all.