Well, just not feeling so jazzed up in the afternoon, but wanted to write anyhow and then felt better as I focused on a good part of my day. Plus, my followers would be oh so disapointed to miss a day of my oh so interesting life.
Had a good morning at church again and amazed at how many people are still welcoming me back so warmly as most of this bunch had not seen me in 5 years. It was just so nice as these people are really people that I don't keep in contact with, are much older or retired, and not people on the visiting list even. It made me think how important church community and fellowship is. Forgetting that it was my home for 11 years and everyone asking how my dad and mom are since they were both very sick and in and out of hospital. Word sure spreads fast.
Some think God is everywhere, so why bother with other people that you don't even want to love or strangers? Well from my experience, it is impossible to go through life in any way isolated or totally on your own. I mean, there are many clubs and organizations and even co-worker groups that you can be part of. Half of me is a hermit that loves solitude and shy; but half of me is a girl that just wants to have fun and be around others...yeah, I know...
People in groups just have a special bond like family, and care and concern for others (or at least you really hope they do) and the same values generally or interests. When one is in trouble or missing, boy do they notice. In the case of being a church regular, they pray for you and your needs, they care and show love by helping with errands, rides, finding help, fixing things, referring to doctors they like or other professionals, check on you when you are not there, give special gifts when you don't even know that they know your birthday, help when you are just doing all you possibly can but need financial aid due to sickness or job loss or loss of a loved one, bring you fresh fruit from their gardens or goodies...
But above all, the inspire you with their faith in good times and bad. They are precious examples, like family, of how one person makes all the difference in the world when you think that no one cares and would miss you if you were gone.
When my oldest brother died, so many people that had never even met him were at the funeral and prayers. I remember that day doing the music and just feeling the strength of the prayers and love of the sea of faces I looked into. They were not anonymous or there because they had to be, they were family, extended family, good friends, past friends and they were all there to support us in our darkest hour. That meant more than I think they will ever know, even looking back almost 2 years later.
The most important thing being not the material things of course, as love is always shown by actions because faith without love and care is truly dead to me. Being there among other similar believers, we may not always agree on the little details or have the same outside interests, but we all love Jesus and want to build up his church. Those are the greatest values of all time.
That is why I go to church.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
LESSON ON FISHING AND WORK FROM ONE WHO NEVER FISHED OR WORKED....
Luke 5: 1-11 ----
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply,“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them and they filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore,they left everything and followed him.
1. I wish I could have brought Jesus to work with me when I was most tired and stressed and at one word, my mountain of paperwork, applications and invoices would get done pretty darn fast!! But next time, I will try it with God's help and see how fast and easy it goes.
2. Peter thought, "Look, I know they all think you are a holy prophet and you seem good and all but dude, I don't know where you came from and you look like no fisherman, that is for sure. You come from carpenter country, so what do you know about my life and struggles? Not to be rude but I have been doing this since I could walk and I had no sleep last night, no coffee and kinda cranky, me and my buddies here have been trying all night and not even a sardine to show for it. All our equipment is put away and seriously we just want to go home and get an egg mcmuffin 'cuz we are starving....
But...OK, fine if you say so, I will try it again.
3. BAMM!!! Fish galore to fill 2 whole boats, which not only could they feed their families for a really long time, but stock up everyone's freezers, and have even enough to sell at every market they could hit up. Go big or go home would look good on a big billboard ad for Jesus, alongside a snapshot of the 3 grinning fisherman holding up their nets saying, "See Mom!"
4. Large crowd plus Peter and his buddies to witness.
5. That was enough for Peter. I would fall to my knees in shock too if I was in that crowd. At the feet of the God-man to lay bare his soul and say he is not worthy enough and not what Jesus is looking for; look how I have doubted you. Jesus said well, it is not about that, not about your power, just follow me and work for souls and forget the rest.
So he did.
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply,“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them and they filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore,they left everything and followed him.
1. I wish I could have brought Jesus to work with me when I was most tired and stressed and at one word, my mountain of paperwork, applications and invoices would get done pretty darn fast!! But next time, I will try it with God's help and see how fast and easy it goes.
2. Peter thought, "Look, I know they all think you are a holy prophet and you seem good and all but dude, I don't know where you came from and you look like no fisherman, that is for sure. You come from carpenter country, so what do you know about my life and struggles? Not to be rude but I have been doing this since I could walk and I had no sleep last night, no coffee and kinda cranky, me and my buddies here have been trying all night and not even a sardine to show for it. All our equipment is put away and seriously we just want to go home and get an egg mcmuffin 'cuz we are starving....
But...OK, fine if you say so, I will try it again.
3. BAMM!!! Fish galore to fill 2 whole boats, which not only could they feed their families for a really long time, but stock up everyone's freezers, and have even enough to sell at every market they could hit up. Go big or go home would look good on a big billboard ad for Jesus, alongside a snapshot of the 3 grinning fisherman holding up their nets saying, "See Mom!"
4. Large crowd plus Peter and his buddies to witness.
5. That was enough for Peter. I would fall to my knees in shock too if I was in that crowd. At the feet of the God-man to lay bare his soul and say he is not worthy enough and not what Jesus is looking for; look how I have doubted you. Jesus said well, it is not about that, not about your power, just follow me and work for souls and forget the rest.
So he did.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
MONEY, POVERTY, AND HAPPINESS...
Nowadays our society thinks that "poor"is a generic mp3 player instead of an ipod, the same shirt bought at a discount chain instead of a brand boutique, a $600 laptop instead of a $2000 one, living in a basement suite instead of a big house, etc...
I notice too that either there are a lot of rich people or a lot of people that seem rich to me because of their massive credit cards and loans, which just buy them more stuff and more debt. To me, being loaded with a lot of money means being able to take multiple crusies and european vacations every year, not blinking at spending $200 for an evening out with dinner every weekend, buying gifts for their kids that are $500 each or spending over $1000 at Christmas because you just have to buy for everyone...
Maybe you are laughing at me, but from being a penny pincher and budgeter for so long, it has truly changed my way of thinking. Of all the people I have known or met like my definition, I have rarely seen any of them happy. They just seem distant and miserable, fake and cranky because they complain about being so so poor. Never enjoying life or what they buy; jit ust seems like such a waste...
(Please know that I am not taking about nice people that are happy with life and generous with their money and help others, because I know some of those, or that I am criticizing money in general. The point is that money does not buy happiness.)
I mean there are people that don't have a house, don't have a job, don't have any family left or friends, don't know what will happen to them. Just look at the programs on tv for sponsoring needy kids in other countries; they are pleading to us with their sad eyes, big belly from malnutrition, flies and garbage in their house or backyard which often times is just a homemade hut of straw, sticks, mud. They have to help their parents, if they have any left, because so many have died from diseases that are easy to fix in our world. The kids that are 10 years old that should be playing and carefree have to act in their household like a 25 year old. Where will their next meal come from, how will they afford to bury their family, how will they go to a dentist or doctor or get medication, how will they even get shoes or clothing, who will dry their tears when their mom or dad is gone and how will they even be able to go to school and learn the alphabet that could change their lives?
However, people who have gone on mission trips to poor villages say that they have changed their lives and their view of material things and they will never be the same to see these people amid all of this who have such a happy, simple and generous spirit that you cannot find elsewhere. How is this possible? Could it be that money does not buy happiness after all? And you don't have to go far anywhere in your city to know that there are people that cannot afford food, basic necessities, doctors or dentists, and for whom a happy holiday like Christmas is just not happy at all. There is judgement, shame, low self-worth and desparation and anxiety to even make ends meet.
In the end, it is not he who dies with the most toys that wins. You can't take it with you when you go, so what do you have left with your life to present to your maker? Do you even want to take that chance even if you don't believe? What if in the end you saw a slideshow of your life and all the people and things you neglected?
There are so many people that give and give and would give their last penny or the shirt off their backs to help others who are in really bad spots and so often they are people who you would never suspect. People on one income or a fixed income, people that barely have enough for themselves, people that are worried about their own future. You would never think twice even to look at them because maybe they are not the ones that even stand out in a crowd. You may be priviledged to hear their stories of how God has always provided for them and that they are blessed when they give, or how they were in similiar situations and someone came through for them at the last moment and that is how they learnt that it is more blessed to give than to receive. They seem to have the biggest smiles. Those are the rich in spirit to me.
"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose your soul" and "Why spend your life on things that don't satisfy" and "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do to me, says Jesus." So many other good quotes that just make sense to me. But that is just my opinion.
I notice too that either there are a lot of rich people or a lot of people that seem rich to me because of their massive credit cards and loans, which just buy them more stuff and more debt. To me, being loaded with a lot of money means being able to take multiple crusies and european vacations every year, not blinking at spending $200 for an evening out with dinner every weekend, buying gifts for their kids that are $500 each or spending over $1000 at Christmas because you just have to buy for everyone...
Maybe you are laughing at me, but from being a penny pincher and budgeter for so long, it has truly changed my way of thinking. Of all the people I have known or met like my definition, I have rarely seen any of them happy. They just seem distant and miserable, fake and cranky because they complain about being so so poor. Never enjoying life or what they buy; jit ust seems like such a waste...
(Please know that I am not taking about nice people that are happy with life and generous with their money and help others, because I know some of those, or that I am criticizing money in general. The point is that money does not buy happiness.)
I mean there are people that don't have a house, don't have a job, don't have any family left or friends, don't know what will happen to them. Just look at the programs on tv for sponsoring needy kids in other countries; they are pleading to us with their sad eyes, big belly from malnutrition, flies and garbage in their house or backyard which often times is just a homemade hut of straw, sticks, mud. They have to help their parents, if they have any left, because so many have died from diseases that are easy to fix in our world. The kids that are 10 years old that should be playing and carefree have to act in their household like a 25 year old. Where will their next meal come from, how will they afford to bury their family, how will they go to a dentist or doctor or get medication, how will they even get shoes or clothing, who will dry their tears when their mom or dad is gone and how will they even be able to go to school and learn the alphabet that could change their lives?
However, people who have gone on mission trips to poor villages say that they have changed their lives and their view of material things and they will never be the same to see these people amid all of this who have such a happy, simple and generous spirit that you cannot find elsewhere. How is this possible? Could it be that money does not buy happiness after all? And you don't have to go far anywhere in your city to know that there are people that cannot afford food, basic necessities, doctors or dentists, and for whom a happy holiday like Christmas is just not happy at all. There is judgement, shame, low self-worth and desparation and anxiety to even make ends meet.
In the end, it is not he who dies with the most toys that wins. You can't take it with you when you go, so what do you have left with your life to present to your maker? Do you even want to take that chance even if you don't believe? What if in the end you saw a slideshow of your life and all the people and things you neglected?
There are so many people that give and give and would give their last penny or the shirt off their backs to help others who are in really bad spots and so often they are people who you would never suspect. People on one income or a fixed income, people that barely have enough for themselves, people that are worried about their own future. You would never think twice even to look at them because maybe they are not the ones that even stand out in a crowd. You may be priviledged to hear their stories of how God has always provided for them and that they are blessed when they give, or how they were in similiar situations and someone came through for them at the last moment and that is how they learnt that it is more blessed to give than to receive. They seem to have the biggest smiles. Those are the rich in spirit to me.
"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose your soul" and "Why spend your life on things that don't satisfy" and "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do to me, says Jesus." So many other good quotes that just make sense to me. But that is just my opinion.
UNBORN BABIES, ME, AND FAMILY...
http://clcbc.org/clinic/whsc1.html
Old article link from newspaper, but even then the numbers are freakin' scary. I was born sickly at 7 months to 40 yr old parents who never had enough money and still so many struggles, like illnesses and job issues. If we 4 kids could grow up to love them back and stick together, than anyone can. You know what we learnt? That money is not what life is all about (even though you need it to survive) and the giving of my parents to their last pennies just to help us instead of themselves, all the church people that helped us when our roof was leaking, my parents were sick, I needed shoes or lunch money. That is what life and love and children are about.
Childless couples of the world who cannot have kids or afford $10,000 to adopt would so take these unborn babies in a heartbeat. And even I on my own would be one of them. I would gladly endure inconvenience of any kind just to look at my baby and hold it in my arms. I am inspired by very young single woman I see that look like they are barely out of high school who are out and about big and pregnant and later who are carrying or strolling their child along. They are my heroes.
I also as a woman feel for pregnant woman that for whatever reasons are not feeling like heroes at all. Lonely and afraid, embarrassed and ridiculed in ways that men will never be, lost and abandoned by everyone, including their families or partners. Maybe though they are on top of the world, with everything that they finally worked so hard for within reach, popular with many friends, free to party and enjoy life on their own terms and now this. To them it is not a baby yet, it is the end of their world as they know it and an end to their perfect body, their own glory. But it now houses the most breathtaking gift that no one else on this earth was priviledged enough to get. Just check out an ultrasound (or look at your neice or nephew.)
Who knows, you could raise the next relief aid worker, doctor, nurse, lawyer, family man, writer or missionary?
And the women who have undergone abortions (and their men that have suffered along side them) have enough pain in ways that we cannot imagine. Just think if you heard their story. They are never the same. They have a tough road to forgiveness, healing, and the God that hold their tears and pains of body and soul. They have found miracles of new life that overcame the death and despair and even the journey to find their faith that they never thought would happen. Only something beyond our humanity and weakess can do that.
Jesus knows our hearts and no one else can judge; that is not our place as Christians or other and besides, there is too much of that going on anyways. I am sure you have been on one end or the other and that does permanent damage. Even people judging Christians are in my same point of view; don't think yeah we are all the same, wierdos and hypocrites? All we have to do is put ourselves in others shoes like the good Samaritan that didn't care what his neighbours thought or how much it would cost or how he could not touch a stranger as he did not know where he had been. He loved as Jesus did; that was all. And took care of the beaten man on the side of the road that could have been his brother, father, uncle, or friend.
I worked with a lady whose daughter was 16 and got pregnant; the lady knew it was her grandaughter and excited in a small way even though she was ticked off at her daughter. But how much could reality change in just a week? It seemed the "best" thing for her daughter was to have an abortion as she made the decision for her and didn't want to be stuck helping care for her as her daughter needed to go on with her life and "be responsible" and the lady wanted to be carefree...I don't know how they are doing, but I will always wish I said more...
Old article link from newspaper, but even then the numbers are freakin' scary. I was born sickly at 7 months to 40 yr old parents who never had enough money and still so many struggles, like illnesses and job issues. If we 4 kids could grow up to love them back and stick together, than anyone can. You know what we learnt? That money is not what life is all about (even though you need it to survive) and the giving of my parents to their last pennies just to help us instead of themselves, all the church people that helped us when our roof was leaking, my parents were sick, I needed shoes or lunch money. That is what life and love and children are about.
Childless couples of the world who cannot have kids or afford $10,000 to adopt would so take these unborn babies in a heartbeat. And even I on my own would be one of them. I would gladly endure inconvenience of any kind just to look at my baby and hold it in my arms. I am inspired by very young single woman I see that look like they are barely out of high school who are out and about big and pregnant and later who are carrying or strolling their child along. They are my heroes.
I also as a woman feel for pregnant woman that for whatever reasons are not feeling like heroes at all. Lonely and afraid, embarrassed and ridiculed in ways that men will never be, lost and abandoned by everyone, including their families or partners. Maybe though they are on top of the world, with everything that they finally worked so hard for within reach, popular with many friends, free to party and enjoy life on their own terms and now this. To them it is not a baby yet, it is the end of their world as they know it and an end to their perfect body, their own glory. But it now houses the most breathtaking gift that no one else on this earth was priviledged enough to get. Just check out an ultrasound (or look at your neice or nephew.)
Who knows, you could raise the next relief aid worker, doctor, nurse, lawyer, family man, writer or missionary?
And the women who have undergone abortions (and their men that have suffered along side them) have enough pain in ways that we cannot imagine. Just think if you heard their story. They are never the same. They have a tough road to forgiveness, healing, and the God that hold their tears and pains of body and soul. They have found miracles of new life that overcame the death and despair and even the journey to find their faith that they never thought would happen. Only something beyond our humanity and weakess can do that.
Jesus knows our hearts and no one else can judge; that is not our place as Christians or other and besides, there is too much of that going on anyways. I am sure you have been on one end or the other and that does permanent damage. Even people judging Christians are in my same point of view; don't think yeah we are all the same, wierdos and hypocrites? All we have to do is put ourselves in others shoes like the good Samaritan that didn't care what his neighbours thought or how much it would cost or how he could not touch a stranger as he did not know where he had been. He loved as Jesus did; that was all. And took care of the beaten man on the side of the road that could have been his brother, father, uncle, or friend.
I worked with a lady whose daughter was 16 and got pregnant; the lady knew it was her grandaughter and excited in a small way even though she was ticked off at her daughter. But how much could reality change in just a week? It seemed the "best" thing for her daughter was to have an abortion as she made the decision for her and didn't want to be stuck helping care for her as her daughter needed to go on with her life and "be responsible" and the lady wanted to be carefree...I don't know how they are doing, but I will always wish I said more...
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