How's everybody doing?

I can thankfully say that I am doing well.  God has given us so much grace these days and I know I am blessed!

Walter had an angiogram last Friday and the good news is nothing is wrong with his heart that they can detect.  The extra heartbeat doesn't seem to be an issue of concern.  There was no need for stents so he was able to come home the same afternoon.  And so it seems that any heart issues have been eliminated from Walter's health journey!  Praise the Lord!

During this journey, we have felt very supported and encouraged by folks checking in and saying they are praying for us.  If we are so loved and cared for, then that is the best of blessings I can think of!

Also in the past week, we have lost a couple of men who were special.  Walter's Uncle Ossie passed away after a battle with illness for just over a year.  So with sadness but also with gratefulness, we rejoice that Uncle Ossie's battle is over and he is with the Lord, and his wife Auntie Evie. The second man we say good-bye to is Ed Cooper, a dear coworker whom we served with while we were missionaries with NAIM.  He passed away from a brain aneurysm, so he went quickly.  He leaves behind a dear wife, Diane, a son and daughter and grandkids, plus a legacy of faithfulness to Christ.  We watched the funeral service online and felt so privileged to have known such a man.

Our kids are doing well, facing the normal challenges of young adulthood.  Figuring out career, ministry, relationships and finances.  We are so thankful that they seek the Lord in everything they do and they make us proud.  Hanging out with our kids is our greatest joy and yet...being empty nesters is a blessed stage of life!

Every week is a new adventure.  I know that the Lord will go before us.

 Here's what's on my heart...

I'm feeling a sense of urgency these days.  We are living through a world-wide pandemic.  The United States are having an ugly transition between presidents.  Racial tensions are intensifying, not healing.  Restrictions are affecting worship gatherings and people are divided on their responses.  

My response is "What should I be doing?"  I'm not one to sit back while others are acting, engaging and making a difference.  As I've been praying about the times we are living in, I feel like I have a two-pronged approach.

First, I need to prepare my heart for what we are living in and what is to come.  I'm upping my Bible reading and prayer. I've been working on memorizing scriptures, not my strong point! And I am trying to listen to the voice of the Lord, obey what He's showing me and prompting me to do.  If I think of someone, I send up a prayer for them and text or message them.  I just want to draw closer to my Saviour and be sensitive to what He's wanting me to do.

Second, I feel I should study and share teaching on "Being Prepared", using Facebook Live.  I see lots of folks on social media and I'm hoping some who need hope and direction will be impacted by the messages God is laying on my heart.  I want to let people know how to be prepared for the times that are ahead...the end times.  The first message was on being personally prepared for the return of Jesus Christ.  So I'm praying that those who need it will listen and call on the Name of Jesus for salvation.

The next messages aren't clear yet but usually the Lord gives me some practical things. I want to help people know Jesus and live victoriously.  We could see tough times ahead and having a strong foundation of faith will be what helps us make it through!

Psalm 46:1 is a verse that caught my attention this past week.  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  Every word in this short verse had special significance to me.  I feel like this scripture will be something I hang on to in the coming days.

I believe the end times are upon us and the sense of urgency to let others know they need to make peace with God before His Son returns is rising in me!  I need boldness and courage - which makes sense as the verse that I have for the New Year is Joshua 1:9 - "Be strong and courageous...."  

Well, that's my heart.  Lord, use me as You will.

I can't believe the holidays are over!

Although I always gear up for the gatherings, this year was much easier to prepare for and quieter in general.  Rather than riding the roller coaster of emotions and crashing hard when it is all over, I have found peace in accepting what is.  It was pure joy to eat goodies, watch  movies, go for a walk on Christmas Day and ring in the New Year (we actually made it until midnight)!  And when it was all over, I poured my feelings into cleaning up and physically expending that emotional energy!  It was a beautiful holiday and I am so grateful for our family celebrations.

Some big changes are coming our way in 2021.  As of December 31, 2020, Walter and I are no longer directing Healing Hearts Ministries.  A couple of months ago, it was becoming apparent that we could not carry the load of the two mission organizations for much longer.  And as we did not feel our time with NCEM was nearing completion but would need our energies and focus, we felt it only fair to allow the Board and staff of Healing Hearts to be free to find a new director and/or a new direction for their future.  

A heart-wrenching decision!  We shed many tears in the realization that the 26 years we had poured our lives into something we had started was now going to be moving in a direction without us!  Just like letting our kids grow up and become adults, we needed to let go of HHM.  Over the years it has been a grieving process to let go of leadership in the local church in Regina.  Gradually, our role with NCEM took us away from the travel and relationships with all the staff serving in the prairie provinces.  And now, we are going to help the transitional director learn the ropes and carry HHM into the next season of the ministry.

My own personal goals this year are small and simple.  I want to do a writing project.  I can do that with or without COVID-19 restrictions.  And I want to continue working on my dollhouse.  Shingles, windows and finishing touches are all waiting for my attention.  Thirdly, I would like to record the Christmas songs I've written over the years.  Walter figures he can find the right software and record at home.  And when I say "goals", I mean desires that I will seek to fulfill but not feel pressured to accomplish in a "do or die" fashion!  

Even as I have sought to experience and display peace this Christmas season, I also have been intentional about proclaiming hope!  When doing a couple of Facebook Live sessions, I have shared songs and Bible verses about the hope we have in Christ alone.  The world situation is scary and not very stable these days.  Who knows how long this virus will affect us all?  And only God is the perfect leader whom we can trust to bring order into our chaos!  More than ever, we as Christians have the opportunity to share the Gospel and pray like never before for the lost to find hope and peace through Jesus Christ.  

I have felt a bit unsettled with the upcoming changes in our ministry and the Lord has been faithful to give me promises for this time in my life:

Joshua 1:9 ~ "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8 ~ "Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you. ... It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed."

Wow!  Those verses came up in my devotional readings at just the right time!  If Joshua needed these words to encourage and direct him, I can claim them for my own, as well.  And He needed repetition; I won't be ashamed to need to hear these words more than once!

God is with us!  God goes before us!  

And to add a New Testament promise about the mighty and omnipotent God we serve, Romans 8:31 is a huge comfort to me.  "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Family and friends, I wish you a BLESSED NEW YEAR and may you have peace and hope in Christ wherever He leads you!