TEN DAYS OF THANKSGIVING~Day 2

Today Walter and I drove out to Jacob Bear Church, a little gathering of believers from the First Nations communities in the Qu'Appelle Valley east of Regina.  The sky was gray.  The drive took longer than we thought.  I could feel some tension as we realized we would be a bit late and didn't want to be disrespectful to the folks there.  As we turned off the Trans-Canada, we knew we wouldn't make up time on the narrow secondary road.  A half-ton pulled out in front of us and kept a very moderate pace ahead of us, dodging potholes and puddles.  

We then turned onto the grid road leading to the Jacob Bear church and slowed down even more as it became slick with the morning's rain.  Then we turned carefully into the parking lot, all mud and a slight smattering of gravel.  Several muddy vehicles lined up next to the little country church and we made our way into the building.

A steady guitar strum greeted us as we slid quietly into a wooden pew in the brightly lit sanctuary.  About a dozen worshipers sat scattered in the rows, singing quietly to the old gospel chorus.  A few nodded and smiled at us as we made our entrance.

The worship service was simple.  With the regular pastor and his wife away to visit family and friends in the United States, various members of the small congregation took turns leading the music, making announcements and sharing a message.  To many church-goers, the lack of formality would have been a distraction and a cause for criticism.  Was this really "church"?

But to Walter and myself, after spending 26+ years in First Nations church-planting ministry, this was the most genuine and heartfelt worship service we could experience!

On this Lord's day, I am thankful for God's faithful followers continuing to meet in spite of rain, mud and no pastor.  

I am thankful for the simplicity of praise, prayer, the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus working in lives.

I am thankful for God stirring in a tiny body of believers, who long for their family and others to know the peace and joy they know in Christ.

I am thankful for the warm fellowship we were shown and the prayers offered when I shared a prayer request.

"Give thanks in all circumstances..." I Thessalonians 5:18

What could have been a dreary day with pressure to be perfect and perform as the "missionaries", turned out to be a day full of joy and many reasons to be thankful!

Day 2~ What can you give thanks for in your circumstances today?

TEN DAYS OF THANKSGIVING ~ by Cindy M. Selke
I finished reading a devotional book called "31 Days of Praise" that has inspired me to write on a very related and inter-connected topic:  Thanksgiving.  As this coming week unfolds leading up to our Canadian Thanksgiving celebration, my inspiration will be poured into blogging what God helps me discover through His Word.  I hope God brings you, dear Reader, along on this journey of discovery, as well.
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Genesis 4:3 & 4 "In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.  And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering..."
Parents often teach their children the polite terms "please" and "thank you" in Vocabulary 101. Initially it is an instruction for proper social behaviour.
As we get older, one of our first responses to receiving something is to give back.  An offering.  An action to show gratitude for the thing given.
So whether from a natural heart attitude or a family's teaching, we learn to "give thanks" at a very early age.  We learn to say it verbally, and later to give in return.
The first biblical account of thanksgiving is the story of Cain and Abel.  Although tragic in its outcome for the brothers, this is what I see in the passage for us today.
Thanksgiving is about "giving".  Without going into the theology behind why Cain's offering was rejected and Abel's was accepted by the Lord God, I see they both gave something.  They gave out of what God had provided for them.  Cain offered from his crops; Abel offered from his flocks.
In Psalm 136 the writer expresses thankfulness for twenty-six verses!
"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."
Expressing thanks to the Lord is both an action and an attitude, as well.  Knowing what I know about my Lord, He desires the heart of thanksgiving first and foremost, and longs for us to give back to Him and to others out of a heart of appreciation and generosity and love.  Not out of duty or obligation, nor out of guilt or manipulation.
I knew someone who, as a teenager and brand new Christian, saw an advertisement for child sponsorship in a third world country.  Moved by the need, he gave. It cost most of his allowance.  Not consciously thinking the action through, it was purely a response to Jesus having touched his life and giving him so much. His gratitude took the form of a physical and emotional offering.

Day 1 ~ What am I "giving" this Thanksgiving?  What can I offer to the Lord?

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. 
 It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
 who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Life has given many of us some extremely challenging circumstances.
After surviving our childhoods, here we are...adults!  And many of the coping strategies we have employed to make it this far are maybe not so appropriate anymore.

"I have been crucified with Christ."
In the summer of 1981, I put my faith in Jesus as my Saviour.  I accepted His gift to save me and I changed.  Did I really understand what being crucified with Christ meant?  Not fully.  But as I learned more about Him and studied His Word, it became obvious that I had some growing up to do!  My life was not my own;  I was learning how to pray and seek His will.  I stumbled along and He was faithful to give me direction even when I had so little understanding and experience.  Jesus has been so good to me!
"It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
If only I could have grasped this, I may have realized the strength I had with Christ living in me.  The emotional reactions I had to being corrected, criticized or openly ridiculed were crushing to me and I had no defenses except to build walls and become self-protecting.  I thought being "tough" would keep pain away.  Then as a Christian, I thought being "nice" was the only option I had when life became hard.  My feelings were often hurt but I didn't know Jesus would bear that for me.
"And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God..."
So here I am in 2015, having walked with Jesus for over 30 years and I am still learning what it means to live by faith.  I am being transformed by the Son of God dwelling in my heart, renewing my mind, re-making me into the real "ME" I was created to be!  I still have the flesh, the body that I was given.  I still have the flesh, the sinful tendencies and weaknesses that I was born with.  But faith makes all the difference.  I am not stuck with the walls, the self-protective defenses I created to survive.  As I trust in Jesus more and more, He teaches me how to work through pain, respond differently to those who hurt me , with grace and forgiveness and often truth that I must speak out with courage.  I have to crucify the old ways of coping in order to allow Christ's ways to work.
"...who loved me and gave Himself for me." 
Today, I stand on the promise of Christ's love for me.  He gave His own life for me.  He took my place on the cross to suffer the punishment for my sins.  So the least I can do is live my life, crucified.  Dead to my sin.  Dead to my selfishness.  Laying it all down for Jesus.  Doing, serving, being what He asks of me.
The least I can do...
I am not my own; I am bought with a price.
I've been purchased with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
All my sins were paid by His sacrifice -
Hallelujah to the Lamb who redeemed my life.
~author unknown

The bright fluorescent lights of the camp dining hall burned their eyes as they stepped inside.  Rain dripped off their hoods.  I came around the corner to see our fellow servants in Healing Hearts Ministry looking lost and hesitant.
I hugged them both, welcomed them and offered them supper.
"Oh, no!  We've eaten."
So I led them into the meeting room of Strasbourg Bible Camp's lodge where Walter was welcoming the rest of our group to the 5th Annual Healing Hearts Ministry Staff Conference.  The assorted couches and chairs were arranged in semi-circular rows facing the fireplace, where a simple sound system and podium was set up.  Walter grinned at our tardy guests, taking in their bedraggled appearance and directing them to an open spot to sit.  With hot coffee in their hands, our tired friends - who drove from Big Valley, Alberta in what took almost 12 hours instead of 8 - took a seat and listened as Walter carried on with his opening words for our gathering.
The preliminaries over, Carol, Spurgeon and myself took up our acoustic or bass guitars and began to lead several worship songs.  I had chosen some upbeat opening numbers on the goodness and grace of God.  Then we played the old hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness".  I was concentrating on the chords and trying to focus on the wonderful words, when I looked up briefly at the group of worshipers.  There stood my husband, arms raised to heaven and tears streaming as he sang out the words extolling God's faithfulness and steadfastness!  I had to quickly look back to my music sheets, or I would have lost it, too!  God has been so good to us and the ministry over the past year, giving grace for difficult days and bringing us together to celebrate His faithfulness!
This year, our guest speaker was Phil Ruten, president of Millar College of the Bible.  His wife, Esther, was able to come out with him and it was an absolute delight to have them both participate in our meals, board games, worship and prayer groups!  As Phil shared with us on "Guarding our Hearts so we can Finish Well," he gave us a glimpse of his own life and struggles in such a humble spirit.
After that first evening's session was over, the smell of fresh cinnamon buns wafted from the kitchen, and we wandered back there for night snack and visiting and games.  Later, Walter and I both expressed how it warmed our hearts to see people sitting together, talking and laughing, introducing themselves to each other and making old acquaintances new again.
The next 2 1/2 days were full of wonderful fellowship, pleasant walks along the Last Mountain Lake shoreline, delicious meals and sharing and prayer together.  Even the business meeting went well and people were astounded at how "short and sweet" Walter made it!
One of the highlights for us was the couple who came to minister to our children.  Carl and Brenda Ens are friends and fellow grads from Nipawin Bible Institute.  They came prepared to teach our missionaries kids with their various skills of puppets, skits, music and crafts.  This year we had fewer kids and so we were able to utilize this couple's gifts with our adults, as well.  On Friday night, Carl did a chalk drawing, while Brenda read Scriptures and played "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" on piano.  When his sketching was done, all we saw were clay pots, much like southwestern Navajo pottery.  In the middle of the canvas was a blank, white area.  Carl switched the lighting above the canvas and suddenly an image of Jesus, under black light, appeared and His hands were exactly around the partially formed pottery on a wheel!  
Also at our communion service just before we all departed for home, Carl and Brenda presented the book of James in monologue/music format.  It was powerful!
It was bittersweet to see people carrying their bedding and luggage back out to their vehicles as the conference was over.  Although we were so very tired, Walter and I felt a satisfaction that God had met with us in such a real and personal way.  He had once again answered prayer and showed up in our midst as we sought Him!  Later, once we were back home and checking out Facebook, it was another heart-warming moment to see pictures popping up on the HHM page of our antics and view of the lake from the camp lodge.  Greetings to one another and funny comments accompanied the photos and we chuckled with pleasure!
One of the challenges Phil Ruten had given us was to "be thankful and content" in order to preserve our hearts in Christ.  At times like these, after experiencing the "Valley of Blessing" through the battles beforehand, it is easy to give thanks to our gracious and faithful God.

In just a couple of days, another annual gathering will take place for our ministry.  Since our ministry has grown to be multi-staff within Regina, and now has extended to communities in northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba and into Alberta, as well, we invite our missionaries to a conference each year.
WHY?
Various reasons.  So those who identify themselves as ministers under Healing Hearts can meet together.  To provide the opportunity for fellowship, team-building and mutual edification.  For good Bible teaching and preaching.  To worship Jesus.  And to support one another in prayer.  Some folks are in teams.  Others may be alone in their place of service.  We all need to share our burdens and receive God's grace together.
Last week as I was preparing for and praying about the upcoming staff conference, I was reading a devotional on praise.  My heart was intent on covering our speaker, our childcare workers and everyone participating with God's blessing and protection.  A particular Scripture - a story, really -  came to mind.
Jehoshaphat, one of the kings of Judah, was a particularly godly and God-fearing king.  He had consorted with the king of Israel and "Because of this, wrath has gone out against you from the Lord.  Nevertheless, some good is found in you, for you destroyed the Asherahs out of the land, and have set your heart to seek God."  (II Chronicles 19:2b & 3)  He wasn't perfect but God recognized his heart.
During his reign in Jerusalem, the Moabites and Ammonites (and some of the Meunites) came against Jehoshaphat.  When he was so warned, "Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."  The people gathered at the house of the Lord and Jehoshaphat humbly prayed, in all their hearing, for God to save.
While they were gathered, the Spirit of the Lord came upon a Levite in the midst of the assembly.  The Lord gave instruction as to how His people were to proceed against the imminent attack of their enemies.  "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.  Tomorrow go down against them...You will not need to fight in this battle.  Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem." (verses 15b-17a)
The simple battle plan was to show up and wait.
Any military strategist would question the sanity of such a suggestion.  But Jehoshaphat responded in bowing before the Almighty One in worship.  His subjects did the same, actually falling down before the Lord.  The Levites "stood up to the praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice." (verse 18)  Simple, all right.  Simply crazy!
The very next morning, Jehoshaphat assembled the people and addressed them with strong words of faith.  Then he appointed worship leaders to lead out before the army and say, "Give thanks to the Lord, for His steadfast love endures forever."  (verse21)  And an incredible miracle began to unfold.  As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the enemy who marched against Judah, and "so they were routed."  (verse 22b)  Hallelujah!
So what does any of this have to do with our fifth annual Healing Hearts staff conference?
The spiritual interference with our planning and preparation for this conference is usually ramped up.  From finding childcare workers to people's various circumstances and obstacles arising in the midst of their planning to attend, we have experienced all manner of warfare!  But here is the part of the story in Chronicles that really caught my attention:
Jehoshaphat and the army of Israel did not lift one sword.  The enemy forces ended up battling each other to the last man!  So the king and his men came to gather up the spoil and "they found among them, in great numbers, goods,clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more.  They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much."  (verse 25)  The blessings were so lavish that it took them three days to gather it all!  Not only did the Lord fight the battle, but He gave gifts to His people.
I look at this wonderful graciousness of our Lord, the same Lord God of Israel, as what God is preparing to grant us at Healing Hearts as we persevere and press on to obey Him in meeting for our conference.  The Scripture account says that they assembled in the "Valley of Beracah"which means "blessing".  Then they returned to Jerusalem, rejoicing and celebrating all the way to the house of the Lord.  They gave thanks and blessed the Lord.
I pray we will come to our own "Valley of Beracah" (on Last Mountain Lake!) to rejoice in the victories our Saviour has won and give thanks for the blessings we will receive.
Let us all "stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord."
"When your enemy presses in hard, do not fear; the battle belongs to the Lord.
  Take courage my friend, your redemption i

s near; the battle belongs to the Lord.
And we sing glory, honour, power and strength to the Lord..."
~ "The Battle Belongs to the Lord" ~ Jamie Owens-Collins

HHM Staff Conference 2014

To the outside observer, the Sunday morning worship service in our little inner city church was just routine.  We had our pre-service music practice with the usual mistakes and glitches.  People wandered in until almost noon (starting time is 11-ish).  The coffee urn was constantly in use.  Kids ran around; parents sometimes chased them.  It was our regular casual, but family-friendly time for people to connect with God.
The room we use as a sanctuary used to be a work-out space, floor hockey gym and storage area.  With a few adjustments to the electrical panel and some paint, we transformed a grey, institutional looking "Butler Building" into a place of worship.  And the Lord has met with us there.
Only a handful of us are still around who attended the very first Healing Hearts service.  So many things are different since that inaugural meeting.  The faces, the hairstyles, the sound equipment, the assortment of used coffee cups...but over the years, the Lord has led our leadership team and the congregation to keep the vision of a spiritual hospital within the northcentral Regina community.
As we sang songs of celebration, shared joys and sorrows with each other and heard a message from John 13 on servanthood by our lead Pastor, Bob Lydiate, we acknowledged God's faithfulness to us over the past 21 years.  Walter led the sharing time and took that opportunity to express once again, the vision to bring the hope of the Gospel to those who are hurting, addicted, struggling, outcast.  Jesus makes a difference.  Nothing is too difficult for Him.  Healing Hearts will continue in Regina and beyond with this aim and desire.
What God has stirred, no person or spiritual power can thwart.
Pastor Bob gave us all a few minutes, at the end of his sermon, to pray and get things right with Jesus.  It seemed appropriate for us to celebrate our ministry's milestone with a cleansing of our hearts and a fresh start to the fall.
And then, Pastor Nick organized the setting up of tables and Gwen gave direction to the pulled pork and side dishes for our anniversary meal.  We all pitched in.  It felt good to break bread together and visit around tables.
By about 2:30 pm, the last of the dishes were dried, the last dustpan of crumbs was emptied, and Walter and I sat in our car in the parking lot.  We sighed, feeling our age and yet experiencing that contentment that the Lord had blessed us and was not finished with what He began way back

in September, 1994.
To the outside observer, it may have seemed like a chaotic and frenzied event, but to those of us who have invested, it was a harvest of joy!

The pain was excruciating.  Waves of nausea hit and there was no relief in sight.  With little persuasion, Walter was willing to go to emergency at the Chemainus Urgent Care Centre.
Our dear friend, Laurie - who is a nurse in the emergency there -  drove us very quickly from their home along the winding roads and hustled Walter in through the doors of the centre.  She escorted him to the curtained area and began paperwork to admit him.
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After such a lovely time in Campbell River, where we enjoyed Island hospitality with our fellow NAIM missionaries, we were able to make connection with my former youth leaders from Arcola Alliance Church.  Doug had just finished haying back home and had driven with his trusty pal, Rocky  (German Shepherd) through the mountains just a couple days before.  Laurie had been back to work a while after flying back from a visit to the farm in Saskatchewan.  So the timing of our visit worked out well.
We planned to spend a night, maybe two.  They fed us, toured us around Nanaimo's wharf area, down by the shore to watch the "wet sort" of logs by cool tug boat/jet ski type work vessels.  We spent the evening playing Monopoly with them and their 3 grandkids.
The pains started about 4:30 am and Walter was biding time until Laurie (and Doug) would be up to say "good-bye" to us as we had planned to catch the Nanaimo ferry at 8:30 that morning.  By the time they were up, Walter's attack was growing very severe.  Laurie's expertise was a gift from the Lord, as Walter was immediately able to get on IV, have some morphine and Gravol.  But despite the competent care, Walter's gall stone attack was a 12-hour ordeal, the worst the nurses there had ever seen!
I sat with Walter some of the time, left for a bite to eat when he was sleeping, and paced around the now fairly busy emergency ward.  I wandered down to a little used book store and found a crossword puzzle book to keep me occupied.  A lovely park by the ocean was just a block away, so I went down there to take a break, pray, and make a phone call.  It was Mark's birthday that day, September 1, and I was able to connect with him.
I reluctantly and yet determinedly went back to the Urgent Care Centre, wanting to be there when Walter was awake to see how he was doing.  On his 3rd dose of morphine and a stronger anti-nausea medication, he was dozing off again.  He told me to head back to Doug & Laurie's for supper as he was going to sleep.  Another gift from the Lord that day was the use of their friend's vehicle, a nice RAV 4.  So I found my way back the 20 minute drive to their acreage and they graciously fed me supper.  I was going to shower and then return to see how Walter was doing when he sent a text that he was discharged.  I had been mentally preparing that he may require emergency surgery, so this was tremendous relief!  We hustled to get back to Chemainus, taking their mini-van and the borrowed RAV 4.
Sitting on a bench outside the emergency entrance, Walter was dressed in regular clothing and playing on his I Phone.  He stood gingerly, still not 100%, but smiling.  I fairly jumped out of the vehicle and hugged him gently.  In his hands were some "barf bags" and an envelope of the medical documentation of the day's adventure.
Thankfully, Walter rested well with the help of meds and we were able to catch the ferry and head east towards home the next morning.  Only one day later than originally scheduled.  Our hopes were dashed for a leisurely trip back home, with time to explore the area, buy Okanagan orchard fruit and spend an extra night in Canmore.  Instead we had to motor our way home fairly directly.  We did connect with our friends at Sunnybrae campus of Millar College of the Bible near Salmon Arm.  We met folks and toured the Samaritan's Purse headquarters in Calgary, as well.
Not bad for a sick guy and his concerned and weary wife!
Home again.
(And a check up booked with Walter's doctor and a date for a surgeon's consult at the end of September.  Hoping this experience in B.C. will expedite treatment!)