Just to touch base with my blog friends, we are doing OK!
From sheer boredom and lack of motivation to joy and excitement for the vision God is giving for COVID-19 lockdown ministry...we never have a "normal" day!
This week, we are doing a newsletter mailing so our family and friends will be updated with the pandemic. Three questions I answered in our letter: how are we doing? how is COVID affecting our ministry? how is God working through this pandemic?
The bag of addressed and stamped envelopes is waiting by the front door to be mailed.
Done.
Tomorrow, Walter is hosting a Zoom AGM (annual general meeting) for NCEM. It was to be held at a staff conference in mid-April at Dallas Valley Ranch Camp near Regina, but that all was cancelled. Thus technology saves the day, once again! So as Walter coordinates the meeting, sends out the invitations to the 100+ members and the chairman gives his directions, as well, we have been busy in anticipation of this new way to do meetings. Everyone had to mail in ballots for the items that required voting. Interesting times.
Walter is also helping coordinate distribution of masks, gloves and disinfectants to northern communities. With the resources of Northern Youth Programs out of Dryden, ON and Samaritan's Purse in Calgary, we are also teaming with Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada to fly in to communities and be a blessing. We hope to also give out Tribal Trails videos and maybe literature or Bibles if the folks would like such materials. This is what the ministry during a time like this is all about!
With the nicer temperatures, we have taken frequent walks - usually one hour or over 7,000 steps. I've completed two puzzles (1,500 piece and 1,000 piece) with Daniel's help. I also washed down all my bathroom and laundry room walls to do a spring cleaning. But that cleaning spree has now passed and I'd rather be doing something outdoors now.
Hope y'all are doing well. As there are plans for gradual and cautious reopening of our SK businesses and services, we hope for life to restart. Lord, give our leaders wisdom and grant us favour.
My theme verse has been: "Be still and know that I am God. I will be honoured by every nation. I will be honoured throughout the world." (Psalm 46:10) May this be so, Lord!
Tuesday 28 April 2020
Sunday 19 April 2020
I feel like I have been busy, yet not busy! We slowed our pace and now adding anything extra feels like too much. Yet, only a month or so ago, our pace was fast and furious and seemed normal. Oh, to have a consistent life with the energy to be flexible!
So, we had Easter weekend. How different! No gathering for Good Friday or Easter Sunday, no meal with extended family or church family. Hmmm.
It certainly gave me more time to read the Scriptural account of Jesus' last week and last hours on earth. I could give more thought to His sacrifice. I could feel His suffering and meditate on the cost of Jesus' life for my sin. I did a Facebook live worship time on Good Friday afternoon. We observed our fasting that day and joined the Facebook live communion service with Healing Hearts. Walter, Daniel and myself shared the bread and juice in our living room. Memorable.
Preparing a simpler but tasty meal for Easter Sunday seemed weird but nice. Ham, mashed potatoes and vegetables, a salad. I made chocolate pudding with whipped topping for dessert. Quiet but still a special time to remember our Risen Saviour. Although everything surrounding us is out of sorts, this eternal fact remains and Easter could not be cancelled!
Continuing with my Facebook Live Bible study and worship time has been a lifeline for me! Even though I don't have that many following, it is still good for me to study, to speak out what I am learning and have an outlet for ministry. I especially enjoy the music aspect and that seems to be something people respond to, even on a computer screen! As I taught on the prayer pattern "ACTS", I was inspired to keep on with the theme through "The Lord's Prayer". I have done an introduction, and now will keep on this coming week, unpacking each phrase and how we can use it as a guideline for our prayer lives.
After being away from the NCEM headquarters for one month, Walter had been keeping in touch with the Executive team via Zoom. With the social distancing, it became apparent that the overall feeling was that a visit by the General Director would help encourage the troops and give some stability and security that seemed to be lacking. Walter organized a Zoom Day of Prayer with the Prince Albert staff and our IT guy made it work well. Although a little odd and awkward, I led some worship and Jason shared a devotional. Then Walter led in prayer and the various participants had email prayer requests that they also prayed in turn. It's amazing how creative we can be to stay connected and continue to serve God!
In all, we are doing well. We are adjusting and adapting to this new way of life. Events are being postponed with our ministries, but we know this all will soon pass. Then it will be busy! And I mean, activities and conferences will resume. But I hope we can learn to pace ourselves and take time to appreciate the Lord and each other.
Have a wonderful Sunday, my family and friends. We love you all and miss being able to just get together for a visit or a meal. Boy, will we ever have a celebration when we can meet again!
So, we had Easter weekend. How different! No gathering for Good Friday or Easter Sunday, no meal with extended family or church family. Hmmm.
It certainly gave me more time to read the Scriptural account of Jesus' last week and last hours on earth. I could give more thought to His sacrifice. I could feel His suffering and meditate on the cost of Jesus' life for my sin. I did a Facebook live worship time on Good Friday afternoon. We observed our fasting that day and joined the Facebook live communion service with Healing Hearts. Walter, Daniel and myself shared the bread and juice in our living room. Memorable.
Preparing a simpler but tasty meal for Easter Sunday seemed weird but nice. Ham, mashed potatoes and vegetables, a salad. I made chocolate pudding with whipped topping for dessert. Quiet but still a special time to remember our Risen Saviour. Although everything surrounding us is out of sorts, this eternal fact remains and Easter could not be cancelled!
Continuing with my Facebook Live Bible study and worship time has been a lifeline for me! Even though I don't have that many following, it is still good for me to study, to speak out what I am learning and have an outlet for ministry. I especially enjoy the music aspect and that seems to be something people respond to, even on a computer screen! As I taught on the prayer pattern "ACTS", I was inspired to keep on with the theme through "The Lord's Prayer". I have done an introduction, and now will keep on this coming week, unpacking each phrase and how we can use it as a guideline for our prayer lives.
After being away from the NCEM headquarters for one month, Walter had been keeping in touch with the Executive team via Zoom. With the social distancing, it became apparent that the overall feeling was that a visit by the General Director would help encourage the troops and give some stability and security that seemed to be lacking. Walter organized a Zoom Day of Prayer with the Prince Albert staff and our IT guy made it work well. Although a little odd and awkward, I led some worship and Jason shared a devotional. Then Walter led in prayer and the various participants had email prayer requests that they also prayed in turn. It's amazing how creative we can be to stay connected and continue to serve God!
In all, we are doing well. We are adjusting and adapting to this new way of life. Events are being postponed with our ministries, but we know this all will soon pass. Then it will be busy! And I mean, activities and conferences will resume. But I hope we can learn to pace ourselves and take time to appreciate the Lord and each other.
Have a wonderful Sunday, my family and friends. We love you all and miss being able to just get together for a visit or a meal. Boy, will we ever have a celebration when we can meet again!
Sunday 5 April 2020
My next book should be called "What God is Teaching Me Through COVID-19" subtitled, "Lockdown Isn't a Punishment." Can anyone out there relate?
Surprisingly, I am learning that I am more of an "I" personality in my 50's than I have ever exhibited. When I found I must stay at home and not participate in group activities and gatherings, I reacted badly. I felt trapped, angry, indignant, then worried and fearful of what this pandemic would mean for us all. While Walter, who is normally an active, project-driven person, is actually enjoying this down-time and accepting the parameters with little resistance, I have taken longer to settle down and roll with this social distancing and self-isolation.
Now that I am a couple of weeks into this new normal, I have developed some routine for myself and our household. I am trying to keep my morning quiet time consistent and that has been wonderful. With no need to rush into the day, I can meet with the Lord and enjoy journalling, singing, reading and praying. I am planning and preparing tasty meals, which has been good for our health and making use of leftovers more efficiently. Making exercise a daily habit, we walk often, or I have a workout DVD that keeps me moving and stretching! I am learning to discipline myself into a routine once again, now that our schedule of travel and commuting has ground to a halt.
Although not a new lesson, I am discovering how I value our family time with just "us." With Caylea at home, and Daniel the only outside person coming into the house, we are spending more time together for meals, visiting, playing games or watching movies. Walter and Caylea have worked on wood projects and Daniel has tinkered on his car, all taking place in Walter's beloved garage. Having each other to ride through this storm has been precious. We miss Mark and Amy! I am so glad they were able to come out a few weekends ago before the inter-provincial travel restrictions were in place. But phone calls and texts have kept us connected.
I am learning so many rich lessons from the Word of God. Last weekend when I ventured into leading some worship times on Facebook Live, I had read a Scripture in Psalm 45 that linked to Hebrews 4. "Your throne, O God is forever and ever..." and "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace..." I was sharing how I had seen many Facebook memes and others quoting this phrase "God is still on His throne", and this truth was important in the face of this pandemic crisis. And as I was about to lead in some prayer, it struck me how God is on His throne in power and might, yet He also invites us to His throne to cry out to Him! We can come with confidence and not dread, that He will comfort us and show us His mercy and grace.
Today, as Walter, Caylea and I led a Facebook Live worship service from our dining room for Healing Hearts Ministry, I realized just how God can bring His people together even if they can't meet in person. As we sang, joked together a little, shouted "Praise the Lord!" and Walter preached his heart out, it all felt just as if our teammates and the church family were right there with us. God is amazing and the spiritual bonds we have in Christ are incredible to experience.
I am learning to trust the Lord more. The news is reporting various numbers, experts are giving various words of advice and we are trying to use the sense God gave us. But it is only the Lord God Himself who can bring us through this crisis and I am content in that fact.
One more lesson: this pandemic experience may go down in history as the "Great Toilet Paper Crisis of 2020." I hope we can look back and laugh when this is all over!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYONE!
Surprisingly, I am learning that I am more of an "I" personality in my 50's than I have ever exhibited. When I found I must stay at home and not participate in group activities and gatherings, I reacted badly. I felt trapped, angry, indignant, then worried and fearful of what this pandemic would mean for us all. While Walter, who is normally an active, project-driven person, is actually enjoying this down-time and accepting the parameters with little resistance, I have taken longer to settle down and roll with this social distancing and self-isolation.
Now that I am a couple of weeks into this new normal, I have developed some routine for myself and our household. I am trying to keep my morning quiet time consistent and that has been wonderful. With no need to rush into the day, I can meet with the Lord and enjoy journalling, singing, reading and praying. I am planning and preparing tasty meals, which has been good for our health and making use of leftovers more efficiently. Making exercise a daily habit, we walk often, or I have a workout DVD that keeps me moving and stretching! I am learning to discipline myself into a routine once again, now that our schedule of travel and commuting has ground to a halt.
Although not a new lesson, I am discovering how I value our family time with just "us." With Caylea at home, and Daniel the only outside person coming into the house, we are spending more time together for meals, visiting, playing games or watching movies. Walter and Caylea have worked on wood projects and Daniel has tinkered on his car, all taking place in Walter's beloved garage. Having each other to ride through this storm has been precious. We miss Mark and Amy! I am so glad they were able to come out a few weekends ago before the inter-provincial travel restrictions were in place. But phone calls and texts have kept us connected.
I am learning so many rich lessons from the Word of God. Last weekend when I ventured into leading some worship times on Facebook Live, I had read a Scripture in Psalm 45 that linked to Hebrews 4. "Your throne, O God is forever and ever..." and "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace..." I was sharing how I had seen many Facebook memes and others quoting this phrase "God is still on His throne", and this truth was important in the face of this pandemic crisis. And as I was about to lead in some prayer, it struck me how God is on His throne in power and might, yet He also invites us to His throne to cry out to Him! We can come with confidence and not dread, that He will comfort us and show us His mercy and grace.
Today, as Walter, Caylea and I led a Facebook Live worship service from our dining room for Healing Hearts Ministry, I realized just how God can bring His people together even if they can't meet in person. As we sang, joked together a little, shouted "Praise the Lord!" and Walter preached his heart out, it all felt just as if our teammates and the church family were right there with us. God is amazing and the spiritual bonds we have in Christ are incredible to experience.
I am learning to trust the Lord more. The news is reporting various numbers, experts are giving various words of advice and we are trying to use the sense God gave us. But it is only the Lord God Himself who can bring us through this crisis and I am content in that fact.
One more lesson: this pandemic experience may go down in history as the "Great Toilet Paper Crisis of 2020." I hope we can look back and laugh when this is all over!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK, EVERYONE!
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