Bread for the Journey

Her children rise up and call her blessed!

Proverbs 31:28

As I read about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, it is my mother that comes to mind. For her, beauty was not about outward appearances...but came from within. She was generous, kind and hospitable. She worked tirelessly from morning until night...with a strength that never seemed to fade. Everyone was welcome in her home...there was always room for one more at the table. She was a wonderful homemaker...and skilled with her hands. She sewed, knit and crocheted for all of us...and turned out needlepoint pictures that were works of art. She spent her life giving...with hardly a thought for herself. Even in the last few hours of her life, she reminded us that she had prepared a lot of food...we should be sure to cook the cabbage rolls and the pies that were in the freezer. Always thinking of others...always giving to us...and sometimes with hardly a word of thanks in return!

She left us far too soon...and with little warning. In July 2000 she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer...and three weeks later she was gone.  There have been so many moments since then that I would have loved to share with her. I wish I could thank her today for all she meant to me.  If you have words of blessing for your mom...share them with her while you still can!

We here at MGCC are a group of ten women...only four who still have a mother that can be honoured in person today.  The rest of us pay tribute to our moms by sharing the memories.  Here's a few wonderful words about our mothers on this Mother's Day...

My mother is probably the most unselfish person I have known and, adding to that, she is trustworthy, honest and faithful. There are women who are more concerned about charm and beauty, which is fleeting, but she is to be praised for fearing the Lord.  ~Anneliese

My mother loved to cook and bake, nothing made her happier than having the family home for meals. She loved people and had a great sense of humour..I miss you Mom.  ~ Betty

My mother worked hard at allowing her 2 girls to be who they were called to be.  She only ever praised my homemaking skills even though they left much to be desired at times.  She supported my sister and I in all our activities. She was as quick to admit her faults and ask for forgiveness as she was to forgive when we hurt her. She was wasn't afraid to try something new and was a bundle of energy. She also exemplified hospitality and knew how to make each guest feel very special.  I miss her so much.  ~ Bev

I am one of the four that is blessed to still have their mother.  I am so thankful for her generous gift of hospitality and her tender heart toward God.  In spite of her own health being compromised she still carries on in the kitchen blessing others as she can.  Thank you for your true example to us mom, we love you. ~ Char

My mother taught me by example that it is worthwhile to make sacrifices for your family. She worked hard to feed and clothe us with very few resources. To this day her greatest example is her love, respect and loyalty to my father.~Ellen

I am thankful to still have my mother - at 87 she is still in good health and active. I do not remember my Mom ever being idle.  She was a hard worker and nothing that could be done today was left for tomorrow.   The huge vegetable garden she planted every year always yielded a bumper harvest.   Meal times were important and the family was always together around the table.  She has lived her life focused on her family - their needs always came before her own -  and I know how much she loves her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. ~ Julie

I am thankful for the  many character qualities my mom modeled for me. As her own family grew when the four of her children married and the grand kids came along, it was her desire to allow everyone to be who they were and to accept each of us for who we were. She was not a woman who sought attention for herself, but thought of others and showed grace and love in relationships. Today I thank my Heavenly Father for my mom, who I look forward to celebrating life with again one day in heaven.  ~Kathy

My mom let me get my hands in the dough when I was still little and she got a kick out of serving my odd shaped buns to company ..declaring them just fine. She valued teaching me to have an obedient and sensitive heart to Jesus and made me feel loved and cherished. If I love my children unconditionally ..it is because I learned from her example. I am thankful for my mom who is waiting for me at home. ..her heavenly home.  ~Lovella

When I think of my mother, I think of her as someone who loved unconditionally and extended a heart of grace.  She had a heart to share her life with others and more than that, she wanted to listen to others and offer them hope and encouragement.  A cup of coffee was always offered to her guests or family in a very simplistic way, but filled with hospitality.   She was always there for me.   I miss her dearly. ~ Marg

And so today we honour these ten godly women who are our mothers.   We could each have written a lovely tribute to our moms-in-law today as well.  How blessed we all have been to have such wonderful women in our lives!

To all of you who are mothers...I wish you a very Happy Mother's Day!  And be sure to 'rise up and bless' the special mothers in your life. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Bread for the Journey

I fought back unexpected tears as I stepped over the threshhold of this home.  One sees photos of people living in shacks or one may even pass them by when travelling, but to actually step into one, is something I've never really thought about.

Our daughter, with her family, lives in Indonesia where they serve with a non-profit organization. When we went to visit them recently, she took me to this home (their neighbors) to take some things for the new baby. In this shack lives a woman, her daughter, about 6 teenagers/young adults and now a newborn baby. They told my daughter that their home (another island  - where they come from) is many days away by ship. To have them understand how far Canada is, she told them that it is about 2 months away by ship! They were shocked.

In reflecting about this my daughter wrote, "Really, that's not very far ... when I think about where Jesus came from. He left perfection, absolute beauty, endless love, holiness, streets of gold ... and came to sin, filth, hate, brokenness and walked these dirt roads with sandalled feet. How far He came."

I've been thinking about this. We just celebrated Easter and the fact that Jesus came from heaven to walk on this earth and die for our sins, so that we can live in the home He is preparing for us.  How far am I willing to go to let others know of the hope they can have? God is no respecter of people. He loves us all. No matter what mess we live in, He invites us to come to His banquet table. 

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me." Revelations 3:20

Jesus paid the price.



Bread For The Journey / High Hopes Part 2 ~ Easter Sunday~

Thank you for joining us this glorious day of celebration of Christs resurrection.
Did God fail......Here is the rest of the story. If you missed Part 1 just scroll down a bit.
A continuation from the book "Diapers, Pacifiers and other Holy things, written by Lorraine Pintus. lorrainepintus.com

We have an advantage over Mary. We know the end of her story. We understand how, even though it seemed impossible, God would fulfill His promises to her.
Knowing this, wouldn't you love to step back in time and comfort Mary at the foot of the cross? Wouldn't you love to put your arm around her and whisper, "Don't cry, Mary! It's going to be okay. No grave can hold your son. He will be king. God hasn't let you down. Be patient; you will see. God is about to surpass all you've ever dared to hope or dream!"
God has an advantage over you, too. He knows the end of your story. He already knows how you will get through the thing in front of you.
Can I put my arm around you and whisper something in your ear? "Don't despair! God will not fail you. He has a plan. Be patient; you will see. God intends to do something in you and through you that will surpass all you've ever dared to hope or dream."
Our God is mighty. Bigger than anything facing you. Trust Him. Trust in His high hopes for you. He says, "For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab. 1:5).

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26

HAPPY EASTER

Bread For The Journey / High Hopes Part 1~ Good Friday~

1 Peter 1:18-19

For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

If you join us regularly you will see that today's devotional is much longer than what we usually do. I want to share with you a devotional that comes from one of my all time favorite devotional books called, "Diapers, Pacifiers and other Holy Things" written by Lorraine Pintus. I give this book as baby gifts. It is a great book of encouragement to women of all ages, even though it was written with young moms in mind. Likely written out of her own life experiences as a young mother in hopes to encourage others. I love this devotional, please take the extra time to read it, it is so worth your while.
If you would like further information regarding Lorraine Pintus her books and speaking engagements here is her website;
lorrainepintus.com
This devotional is so fitting for this Easter weekend. I am overwhelmed with His personal sacrifice for me......

If ever a mother had high hopes for her son, it was Mary. When God arranges a miraculous conception, a birth heralded by angels, and visitation by royalty, something big is in the works.
As Jesus kicked within Mary's womb, She knew her child was destined for the greatest greatness. Set apart to lead a nation. Called to deliver God's own people.
Chosen for........a cross?
As Mary Gazed from the foot of a cross toward her beaten, dying son, what did she feel?
Anger? Of course! Her innocent son, humble and loving, hung on the nails of other people's sin. Righteousness suffered at the hands of the guilty. Good crucified while evil walked free. Such injustice was an outrage!
Agony? Certainly! Her heart broke over her own inability to comfort her firstborn during His hour of greatest need. She longed to wipe the blood from His feet, to put cold cloths on His swollen eyes and to gently clean the gouges in His back where the whip had slashed His skin. As His collapsing lungs gasped for air, her own breath became a curse to her, a reminder that while life flowed through her, it flowed out of her dying son.
But the emotion Mary felt most strongly, the emotion that pulled her to her knees and ripped through her soul, was despair. Cruel, hateful despair that smashed her dreams, shattered her faith, and left her screaming in silent darkness, "Why"?
Why, God? Why did You allow this to happen to Your beloved? Why didn't You stop Pilate before he pronounced the sentence? You sent fire from heaven to save Elijah and consume the prophets of Baal. Couldn't You have done the same to save Your own Son?
Why, God? You told Isaiah to announce His coming. You sent an angel to proclaim He would be a king. You said He'd sit upon the throne of David, that He would reign forever, why did you promise these things of they were never to be?
Why did you give Him power to heal the sick? to scatter demons? to raise the dead? Why did You stir up a nation through Him only to let Him die?
When He was two years old, You snatched Him from the jaws of death, For what? For this? For a cross?
A picture flashed through Mary's mind. Three days earlier she had watched as the people lined the road at the Mount of Olives, joyfully praising God, waving palm branches as Jesus road into Jerusalem on a donkey.

"Hosanna!" they shouted. "Blessed is the king of Israel" (John 12:13).

Mary was certain, then that Jesus would come into His kingdom. But the people turned on Him. Shouts of "Hosanna" became cries of "Crucify Him!" Rather than Jesus leading the Jews, the Jews had led Him......to Golgotha. Instead of raising Him to a throne, they had lifted him on a cross.
"King of the Jews" mocked the sign above his head. Mary longed to rip it down, to throw it at the sneering crowd and scream "Look what you've done to my son!"
Instead, she slumped at the cross and wept. It was too late. Her son would die. Jesus would never be king. the people had lost their Savior.
God had failed.
Or had He?
Join us Easter Sunday for the rest of the story.
Permission granted by Lorraine Pintus to post this devotional.

Bread for the Journey

From Psalm 87 -- Think on THAT !

Glorious things are spoken of you, O City of God....

And of Zion it will be said,

This one and that one were born in her.

And the Most High Himself shall establish her.

The Lord will record, when he registers the people... "This one was born there!"

Selah

I dread turning on the morning news knowing I will only hear more 'bad' news.

Another disaster, another accident, another crime, rising gas prices, political unrest, fighting, war..... It is all so quickly depressing.

But then I read scripture passages like Psalm 87 where God speaks through the psalmist of something that gives Him great joy .. It is GOOD NEWS.

The word ending the psalm is 'Selah' which means "THINK on THAT!"

The Psalm is talking about the 'City of God' which Hebrews 12:22 indentifies as the heavenly city that is home to those that have been 'born again' because they put their faith in Jesus Christ .

But God's expressed joy in this psalm is not focused on the city.

Note the words... "This one.."

God looked down the corridors of time, His eyes searching for ONE among the multitudes and His finger joyfully pointed to YOU as He recorded your name and proclaimed to all..

"This one was born in her!"

"This one belongs to Me, to my City. This one is safe!"

In God's City there is no bad news... only personal promises that God will keep!

Selah ... Think on THAT !

Let My Life Song Sing to You!

Over the past months, I've been challenged more and more about living a life well lived.

Opportunities come and go...at work, in my home, on my travels, with my acquaintances.
How do I reflect life in my ordinary world, with boldness and confidence?
How do others see me? Am I living my life well?

In 2 Timothy 4: 6-8 Paul talks about his departure from the earth.
Then he goes on to say: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness...."
What defines you are?
Who do you live for?
How do you live?
What is the outcome?

Following Jesus is not a spectator sport, it's an active work of daily discipline, looking to Jesus as the author and finisher of our race, walking uprightly, serving him. It's not all about winning the race, as much as it is about finishing the race...with faithful completion.
It is my prayer that I too, will be known as a person running the race with purpose and vision, rather than being caught up with religiosity, and that my words and actions reflect that He is the risen Lord.

As we prepare for the Easter season, my prayer is that he will be formed in me.

"Let My Life Song Sing to You."

Bread for the Journey

It is our choice who we wish to serve. In Joshua's farewell message to the children of Israel, Joshua said, "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and truth!...and choose you this day whom ye will serve;...but as for ME and MY house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh.24:14-15) God is looking for people who will choose to serve HIM. We cannot go two directions at the same time. A choice has to be made. As we choose to serve Him, we become His representative, seeing the world through His eyes, ministering to it with His compassion.

I never forgot the time I saw my mother working as a volunteer in the Hospice ward. She was feeding patients with HIV/AIDS. Someone said to her, "Are you not worried about being infected by the disease? I wouldn't feed them if I was paid for it."
She smiled graciously and said, "I have chosen to serve Jesus Christ wherever He would send me, doing whatever He gave me to do."

This story speaks volumes to me. Who are you choosing to serve? This challenge is not for tomorrow, next week, or next year; it is a PRESENT challenge----choose you THIS DAY.
Joshua took a definite stand for the Lord. He displayed spiritual leadership. The way we live shows others the strength of our commitment to serving God.

This challenge is a personal one. What would your reply look like? The choice is yours.

Bread for the Journey

Psalm 46: 1-3 (ESV)

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

From The Message

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. 
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, 
courageous in seastorm and earthquake, 
Before the rush and roar of oceans, 
the tremors that shift mountains.

Today our thoughts and prayers join many others 

for the people in Japan.

We pray for those who have lost loved ones.

For the children, for their parents who face so much uncertainty.

For the aging and those with health concerns and needs.

For the emergency response teams and their leaders. 

For Japan's leaders.

For those of us around the world and our responsibility,

as individuals, as well as the relief organizations as they 

set their plans into action to help.

May God give wisdom.

God thank you that You care.

You are our refuge and help.

God, we will trust in You even in the storms of life.

You are a safe place to run to.

In the reality of the devastation and confusion

may Your love and faithfulness bring hope to the hearts

of the dear people of Japan.

Bread for the Journey

But then God our Saviour showed us his kindness and love.  He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy.  He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.

Titus 3:4-5 NLT

When I recently received this beautifully wrapped gift from my friend. ..

I thought it was a lovely demonstration of her kindness and love toward me.

Don't you just love giving gifts to deserving people? I  usually have cards and little tokens of appreciation tucked away with people in mind.

It is easy to give lovely gifts to people who are nice to us. .

or to our adult children when they are a blessing to us. ..

or to our little children when they have been obedient and have demonstrated an attitude that we want to encourage.

I then thought how God gives us gifts in such a different way.  We've been studying Jonah in our weekend services in church.    When God asked Jonah to go tell the people of Nineveh to repent he ran the opposite direction and we know that did not work well for him.  After he realized that he could not disobey God and decided to go . . he was unhappy because he expected they might repent and he felt that they did not deserve God's compassion.  He went into the city. . told them to repent and as we know. ..they did.  The city meant business and seriously demonstrated that they would turn from their evil ways.  God was compassionate on the city who had sinned in every conceivable way.  They were not destroyed but rather saved. 

Then. . I thought about myself and how I perceive my own sins.  The Bible is clear when it says that sin is sin.  I needed to admit that I sometimes find it  hard to fathom that I need to repent just as much as the most evil person in the world.

God who sees my heart .. saw me for who I was and in his vast love, chose to give me (all of us)  the most amazing gift I  (we) could ever imagine.

God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for me (us) and in his mercy, he forgave my (our) sins and gave me (us) a new life in Jesus Christ.

Humanly, it makes no sense but I am so grateful and so thankful for the gift I did not deserve but was given in grace.  No wonder we call his compassion on us . .."amazing grace."

God's love is the same for all of mankind.  We only need to see our need to repent and then accept and believe in Jesus. Can you relate to this?  Are you in need of a Saviour today?

May you have a blessed Sunday!

Bread for the Journey

'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25:40 NIV

When Mennonite Girls Can Cook came into being several years ago, it was all about preserving our family heritage recipes.  We discussed that as individuals we never wished to profit from the blog, but if the opportunity would ever arise we would love to use our blog to help feed hungry children.  Little did we know what the future had in store for us.  One year after we began the blog we partnered together with a few businesses that agreed to support the project of our choice in exchange for having their business profiled on our sidebar. The project we chose was that of providing goats to families in Kenya under the direction of MCC (Mennonite Central Committee).  It seemed like a good way of feeding hungry children in a faraway place...and at the same time giving their families a way to become self-sufficient.    I never gave the project a great deal of thought at that time...and definitely never considered the possibility of traveling to Kenya to see first hand how our donations were being used.

Last summer we began to make plans to visit friends of ours in Kenya...who happen to be the directors for MCC in that country.  Suddenly I thought about our goat project...and realized that Ron and Martha were the ones who were overseeing the very project we had been supporting.  What a great opportunity to see where our funds were going...and to see what a difference a small herd of goats can make to a family. 

We returned recently from our time in Kenya...where we were hosted by Ron and Martha Ratzlaff.  We spent time with them as they went about their regular duties.  We joined them as they distributed blankets and school kits to students in a school in the slums of Nairobi.  I had to think of the ladies from our church back home who meet faithfully every week to quilt blankets such as these for MCC...and wished they could have seen the joy with which these blankets were received! 

We spent one day touring the sand dams...a project with which MCC is involved that provides water to many who previously had no access to water during the dry seasons.  We also saw another project that they support, which uses solar energy to purify drinking water for the children in the slums. We visited several schools in which MCC is involved...providing a chance at education for children who who previously never have had that opportunity. 

For many, learning to read and write is secondary...the meals that are served are the reason they are there. 
 
And we made a trip out to the Masai Mari...where we saw first hand the importance of goats to the livelihood of these nomadic peoples. 

Goats survive drought much better than cattle, and provide milk for the families.  It is mostly the women and children who tend the herd of goats.  We had the opportunity to meet these particular 'goat-herders' and were invited into their village, where we even toured one of their homes...a tiny hut made of sticks and plastered with mud and cow dung.  It was here that we met the little fellow pictured above...the one who could not open his eyes because of the flies.  Our hearts went out to him...to all of them.

Though we at Mennonite Girls Can Cook are now partnering with MCC in providing food and shelter for street children in the Ukraine...I  am ever so thankful that I had the opportunity to see first-hand the work that MCC is doing in Kenya and the difference they are making the lives of so many children.  The goat project in Kenya has now been fully funded, and the Kenyan directors send a word of thanks to all who helped support it. If you are interested in knowing more about the Goat Stocking program and seeing pictures of the first goat distribution you can read about it right here. 

To all of you who have helped us in our quest to feed hungry children...thank-you! Thank-you for joining us in being the hands and feet of Jesus to 'the least of these' around the world. 

Bread for the Journey

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change

and become like little children,

you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:2,3

One day, many years ago, I drove my little guy to a Birthday party. We had purchased a hockey stick for his friend, who was turning 4 or 5 and there appeared to be nothing but anticipation and excitement on his face. It was the first time he was invited to a Birthday party without a parent coming along.

I parked in front of the house and thought that he would just get out and go to the door, but out of the blue, he hesitated, and suddenly became very quiet, saying, “Mommy, I need you to go to the door with me.”

We went to the door and he joined the party. When I got back to my car, it hit me … how he had just plainly told me, that he needed me. I realized that the time would come where he would not need me anymore and I tucked the memory in my heart.

I’ve thought about how sweet those words must sound to my Father in heaven. I need you. No pretenses about being able to do it on my own. Does He not surely feel the same way as I did? Would He not be happy to help when we ask?  Will He not be there to catch me if I tell Him I need Him to do that?

What is it that you need God to do today, that will lighten your load? Why not tell Him?

I am reminded of an old hymn we sang at church . . .

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

Bread For the Journey -The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, who is in Heaven

Hallowed be your name.

Your Kingdom come Your will be done

On earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our Daily Bread

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory

Forever.

Amen.

As the disciples walked each day with Jesus,

they must have seen the importance and value of prayer first hand.

They asked Jesus to teach them to pray and He responded with the Lord's Prayer.

(Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11: 2-4)

Have you felt, like I do at times, that your prayers are ineffective or worse, not heard at all?

A book that came highly recommended to me is Andrew Murray's classic:

"With Christ in the School of Prayer".

He urges those of us who long to have a vital and effective prayer life

to follow the disciples' example; to go to Christ

and ask Him to be our teacher.

Something I had not realized is that God was never addressed as 'Father" in the Old

Testament. To the Israelites he was a Holy, Holy God, a God of judgement

and approachable only through a priest.

However when Christ came to earth as a man,

He introduced us to the concept of God as our Father -

an "Abba" father - totally approachable because of Christ's death on the cross.

He is our loving, compassionate and understanding Father.

If we submit to Him as His child, He will teach us all we long to learn.

He will gladly give us what we ask for and like a wise father,

He knows better than we do what we need.

I have so much to learn about Prayer.

Why don't you join me in the "School of Prayer" and ask God to be our teacher?

Bread for the Journey

A dear one sent me a small brochure in the mail the other day by Mart De Haan.

The paper version was entitled Beating Ourselves Up.

Does that ring a bell with you?  I remember that when my boys were youngsters . ..it was easier to deal with a small offense against them by a young friend than if they were the offender.  It was simple to encourage them to forgive but I always felt so bad if they had been the offender.

 Do you ever find it easier to forgive someone else than it is to forgive yourself?  I have found that I am eager to punish myself and often feel tempted to confess my sin to another long after I have done my part ask for forgiveness and tried to make amends.  I do believe that God forgives me but when I hurt others  . . I feel the need to drag it around with me because I feel I deserve to suffer.

A verse De Haan quoted from the Bible brought tears to my eyes.

"This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything"

( 1 John 3:19-20 NIV)

Do you see? God does see everything clearly.  He sees what we do wrong . ..and he sees our deep acknowledged regret .. and he knows better than us the price that was "paid to release us from that sin. He sees the trust we have put in His Son.  He sees the good work He has started in our hearts". . .which he has promised to finish.

Isn't that just wonderful? 

Later in the article he says . .

"We may be limiting our ability to be what God wants us to be.  Refusing to forgive ourselves as God has forgiven us does nothing but prolong and multiply our sin. Self-condemnation is the opposite of the gratitude that opens our hearts to God."

I don't want to be robbed of a joyful heart.

I want to live in freedom of forgiveness and I want to use my time to Praise my loving Heavenly Father.

Take heart dear ones . . .

"He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.  As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust"

(Psalm 103:10-14 NKJV)

I'll remain thankful for my beloved husband that patiently listens to me relive my transgressions but I'll choose to be obedient in this areas that God has laid on my heart this week.

Gratitude for forgiveness.

all for now. . .

Bread for the Journey

I’m a Great Aunt, (pronounced “ont”). When my grand nephew was 2 years old he announced to his mother, “I don’t want to obey!” I love his immature honesty. I don’t want to obey either but I’d never say it outright. I’m passive aggresive in my disobedience. When God reveals an area of my life that needs a change I really test Him. Is that really what you want me to do? Is that really your voice? Like, right now? How about next week? Can we go slowly in that direction? Sometimes I can ignore Him completely.

There are times when obedience does come more easily. What sweet times those are. I want to be a more trusting child and say yes quicker to whatever God wants from me. I want to be in His word more so that I know what he requires of me in this relationship with Him.

Deut. 30:11-14-16; (ESV)

“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.”

I’m remembering the song we used to sing in Sunday School, Trust and Obey. Simple but true.

Trust and Obey

(text: John H. Sammis, 1846-1919)

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word
what a glory he sheds on our way
while we do his good will
he abides with us still
and with all who will trust and obey

(refrain)

Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey.

vs. 4

Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet
or we’ll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.”

Bread for the Journey

Hebrews 12:11 NIV

" No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have trained by it."

The last few months I have been intent on de-cluttering our home and as a new year is upon us I am even more eager to get it done. The stuff falls into different categories..to keep, give away or throw away. It's encouraging as I go along because as each area gets de-cluttered I feel a new zeal for life!
As important as this is to me I believe that it is even more important to de-clutter emotionally and spiritually as well. When we get rid of the baggage that we carry around in all areas of our life we will become more excited and energized to be able to follow God's will for us.
We need to simplify life from inside out and when we do this we will have more time for studying the Bible and for prayer.
I pray for a closer walk with our Heavenly Father and less distractions to keep us from His Word.

The 'frost on the window' in the photo above is a beautiful work of art by God.

Bread for the Journey

Fight the Good Fight...

I’ve been reading off and on a devotional by John Piper called Taste and See -Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life - 140 Meditations. I’m sharing part of Meditation 50 (How Can Elsie Run? How to Run and Box when You are over 80) I’ve highlighted in bold green print parts that really spoke to me…

…”Are running and boxing only for the fit and hardy?

The answer is that we all must run, whether old or young, whether sick or healthy. And this is possible for the sick and senile because the race is run with the heart, not the legs, and the fight is fought with the heart, not the fists. It is a race and a fight not against other athletes, but against unbelief. It is possible for the aged and weak to win this fight because the fight is a fight against lost hope, not against lost health.

Here’s the biblical evidence for this. In 1 Timothy 6:12 Paul says to Timothy: “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession” The fight is a “fight of faith.” It is not a fight to get out of bed, but to rest in God.

It is not a fight to keep all the powers of youth, but to trust in the power of God. The race is run against temptations that would make us doubt God’s goodness. It is a fight to stay satisfied in God through broken hips and lost sight and failed memory. The race can and may be run flat on your back. In fact, it may be run and fought better by the paralyzed than by the able and seemingly self-sufficient.

…Finishing the race means not giving up the hope of the gospel. It is a race against hopelessness, not against flawlessness.

When we cheer on the diseased or aging runners who run their final laps in hospital beds, what we are really saying is, “Do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward” (Hebrews 10:35) The finish line is crossed in the end, not by a burst of human energy, but by collapsing into the arms of God. And let us not forget: In the Christian race, we do not finish alone. We finish together. It is part of the rules. “Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called Today, so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13)”

I find this very encouraging and I hope it will encourage someone out there who is having a hard time running. Keep the faith. Keep looking ahead to the Hope we have in Christ. Keep acknowledging God’s goodness to you every day. Blessings on you…

Bread for the Journey

(photo- taken at our Christmas week-end at Manning Park)

What to do With the Gift?

**

Christmas is over for another year.

Gifts have been given and received, but now decisions must be made -

what to do with the gifts.

Some will be boxed up and returned with various excuses as to their unsuitability.

Some will be put on a shelf to admire.

Some will be stored in cupboards to pull out on special occasions.

A few will change lives in their usefulness and will be appreciated daily.

**

2000 years ago a heavenly gift was given. Jesus.

Personal decisions need to be made about this Gift as well.

Some people 'box' Him up with excuses that He 'just doesn't fit' or

'I have no use for Him'.

Some put Him on a shelf to be admired,

but He has no part or influence in the living of their daily lives.

Some store Him away in a 'cupboard' and pull Him out for special occasions,

like weddings or funerals, Christmas and Easter.

But a few keep Him in their hearts.

They involve Him in their thoughts, choices and decisions

and can't live without Him.

**

" Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift."

II Cor. 9:15 NKJV

The Gift that keeps on giving !

Bread for the Journey

I can guess that you have had a very busy week behind you and are wondering how you will finish this week, so I want to encourage you to take time to rest today. My prayer is that, as we listen to the words of the carols being sung we will apply them to our life. May we have time to hear an angel voice and welcome the Prince of Peace into our hearts and homes.

Bread for the Journey

I came across this poem in my files this week and found the words beautifully expressed how we can live the message of Christmas.

A Christmas Prayer  

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing
which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake.
Amen

bread for the journey

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 NIV

Peace is not an absence of conflict...

but an assurance that whatever circumstance we may find ourselves in...

we are safe in God's hands.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

~Horatio Spafford, 1873

May you experience the peace of knowing that 'it is well with your soul' during this advent season.