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!

Christmas Party on ZOOM?

It should be fun.  And unique.  

Our restrictions for Saskatchewan around COVID are necessary and yet prove to make our holiday festivities a bit challenging.

We couldn't have our Christmas supper and gift exchange with our Healing Hearts Regina staff.  But the leadership bought Hot Cocoa jars (that the youth group made as a fundraiser) and fleecy blankets to give out to the staff.  A wonderful gesture!

We've been shopping online.  Church is still happening but on a smaller scale.  I got all my Christmas cards in the mail already.

A highlight last weekend was driving through a live Nativity presentation - we downloaded the story that went with each scene and it was really nice.  Caylea was "Mary" when the angel announced to her the news, that she would bear the Messiah.  She about froze in the little shed for two or three hours on Saturday and Sunday nights!

I'm glad my HOPE isn't in the traditions that we usually share for the holidays.

My HOPE is in the baby, who grew to be the Messiah

~ and He can be worshiped through Zoom.

 ADVENT is one of my favourite times of the year.  

For years I have loved the anticipation that builds to Christmas.  As a kid, it was about the school Christmas concert, getting two weeks of visiting relatives, eating way too much rich food and opening presents that I never could guess were coming!  The most special and memorable gifts I remember were the Barbie camper van (1970's vintage) and the wooden dollhouse (still have it in my basement!).  

When I became a believer in Jesus Christ, I anticipated the meaning of the holiday in a new way:  candlelight Christmas Eve services, reading Luke chapter 2, singing Christmas carols and understanding the story on a personal level.  

Now, as an adult, a wife, a mother, preparations for the big meal and gift-giving, decorating the tree and participating or planning Christmas events and services, the joy became more work.  Now don't get me wrong, I love to create the special dishes and sweets my family enjoys, I love to shop, wrap and stow the gifts under the tree.  I love the tradition of setting up the tree and decorating our home.  But the month of December becomes a race to get everything done in time!

Advent is still about anticipation.  Over the years I have loved writing music and devotionals about Advent.  Lighting the candles on the wreath has represented the build up towards the birth of our Saviour.  This year is a little different as we are not as personally involved in the church events.  So my own quiet times have been even more precious as I study and meditate on the truths of the season.

I have been doing a little singing and reading from my Advent Devotional book, The Reason, on Facebook Live. I'm praying that those who cannot get out to Church and have been isolated during this COVID-19 pandemic, may be blessed as they tune in. Just want to share the joys of the season and reach out to others.

I am anticipating this year to be different - but no less meaningful. Our Christmas celebrations will be simpler with just our family.   JESUS continues to be the reason I live and serve.

 It has been a wonderful past week or more at home.  We took a self-imposed break after a busy schedule and chose to step back from activities and responsibilities.  

How do we try to relax?

I tried some new recipes.  I did some writing and played my guitar more.  I took walks when the weather was unseasonably warm and did some workouts indoors when winter hit!

Walter has been loving his garage time!  The Volkswagen Beetle is coming along just great.  Walter got the VW running this summer and now he is working on the rust and bodywork issues during the winter months.  

We went to Moose Jaw to watch our son Daniel curl in a competitive event.  As a special treat, we spent the night at the Temple Garden Spa (my birthday present!) and enjoyed a lovely soak in the pool.  

Spending time with our family is always our preferred way to relax and recharge.  Our kids are fun and love to eat together and play cards.  A family favourite is "Hand and Foot", a game similar to "Canasta" that requires 4 or 6 players.  Last Saturday we had 6 of us (2 guests were newbies but caught on quickly) and played a rousing game. Lots of laughter and table talk made the evening a riot!

Now, I am shifting gears to prepare for our week in Prince Albert.  Laundry, thinking through my wardrobe, planning a menu and picking up the necessary groceries are on my mind.  Walter has a Zoom board meeting this evening.  So he, too, is turning his attention to our ministry focus.  I caught up on emails and did what I can from a distance.  

COVID doesn't really affect us at home.  But it certainly affects how we do our ministry.  We are anxious to be able to travel, get back to Bible Colleges and mission conferences, connect with people face to face.  We'll keep praying for God to work, even through a pandemic.  We know He is not limited like we are.  We have had several applications for interns, full time staff and many inquiries for ministry!  It is good to trust in the Lord.

 TODAY IS CELEBRATION DAY!

Last Wednesday, Caylea left our Healing Hearts Ministry staff conference for a couple of hours to have a CT scan.  After three years following her Interferon treatments for melanoma, she was to have bloodwork and a scan to check for any return of the cancer.  Being quite independent throughout her treatments - we drove her to the daily sessions the first four weeks, but after that, she learned to give herself the injections and toughed it out!  So for her scans, she never needed us to go with her.  For her annual checkups, we would come along.  Today, she chose to go alone.

At 10:25 am, I received this text:

My ct scan was all good!  They won't be doing yearly ones with me anymore but said I could do one with my family doctor as a routine check if I want.

Immediately, I started planning a celebration!  

When Caylea had finished treatments three years ago, she planned an "End of Treatment" party!  She invited family and friends, asked her dad to be the M.C. and even organized a game and speeches.  Some friends helped decorate the church for the special event.  If there is one thing Caylea has learned to do, it is to celebrate the milestones in her life.

I decorated with streamers and balloons, picked up a DQ Skor dessert pizza and then we played a game of Crokinole after the supper dishes were cleared away. Daniel was able to join us and brought chips and Pina Colada mix for a celebratory treat.  How wonderful to have Walter pray a prayer of thanksgiving for God's healing touch on our daughter!  

"Caylea" sounds like the Gaelic word "Ceilidh" which means party.  And that is what we did!

 Perfect timing.

After a week in Prince Albert for our monthly Day of Prayer and Executive Meeting (October 21 & 22), we had the weekend to prepare before our Healing Hearts Staff Conference (October 26-29).  Sometimes I look at our calendar and on paper it looks like it should work out.  At other times, I see the line up of events and appointments and wonder:  when did life get so crazy!

It was good timing for one of our staff couples to stay at our place Saturday before conference.  Carl & Brenda Ens are friends from our Nipawin Bible Institute days.  They serve with us in HHM and were coming down early in order to share a dramatic presentation with our Regina church.  We had a nice chance to visit and connect with them before the demands of the next week were upon us.

Through dramatic monologue, some music, video clips and pictures, Carl and Brenda presented the story of Jim Elliot and the men who were martyred in trying to reach the Auca people with the Gospel in the 1950's.  I remember the story when I was a Bible school student and the cost of their lives impacted many to sign up for full time missionary service.  As Carl played the parts of all five men, it made their lives and the price they paid seem so real and personal.  Walter and I were both impacted deeply.

The conference began Monday late afternoon and I was feeling pretty good about the preparations and details falling into place.  I even had two NCEM interns doing the childcare for us!  But as the woman arrived to do the registration of our guests, she got a call from Sask Health that a confirmed case of COVID was reported at her son's preschool.  She had to return home and isolate with her family for 14 days!  So her boys would not be at the conference, thus no need for our childcare workers.  Sigh!

But as everyone that could come arrived, we settled down into sweet fellowship and rich teaching in the Word.  I was thankful for the others who helped lead worship, the interns who did dishes and others who served in various ways throughout the week.  The speaker, Paul Ens, preached on "The Story of Grace" and it proved to be a timely theme.  I was impressed by the teaching on legalism vs. grace, how Pharisees were notorious for adding laws onto laws, more layers of rules to the basic, simple regulations God gave the Hebrew people.  We may not have the complicated system the Pharisees developed, but I know I have added expectations, personal do's and don't's to my own life.  I have expectations of others that become legalistic and I forget about grace, about freedom, about living by principles not by rules.  So I am still processing how that impacts my spiritual journey in a practical way.

On the final evening of our gathering, the group had a special time of prayer for Walter and me, as we look to God's leading in the year ahead.  Walter has been pursuing medical answers for his health issues in the past year, and one issue became apparent in the tests and checkups.  He has been diagnosed with a slow-moving prostate cancer, being "actively monitored" through a urologist's care.  We're not overly concerned, yet the word "cancer" does bring its own drama!  

Through it all, Walter and I are trusting the Lord.  His timing.  His purpose.  His goodness.  His perfect ways.  We do feel His grace surrounding us as we face another challenge.

I'll try to keep my blog followers updated as we know more...