A FULL LIFE

Contrary to popular belief, I have not forgotten that I have a blog...
I've just been very, very busy!!
I thought that perhaps I would update it while on my trip to Alberta in March...but unfortunately, that didn't happen. Then, it was Missions Conference and Easter, and travelling and all of a sudden, it's almost the end of April and I haven't touched my blog for weeks!
It also takes time to express what I'm thinking and feeling, and I'm finally in the right "mood" for it today.

MARCH -- Alberta Trip
I met my nephew for the first time and we had a wonderful time together as a family!!

I also had a fantastic time visiting with old friends, making new friends, visiting churches and sharing about my passion for the orphanage ministry in Ukraine!

We had safe travels, ate lots of good food and enjoyed sweet fellowship all along the way!

MARCH - APRIL ~ Missions Conference
Our church here in Ashcroft hosted a missions conference at the end of March, and it was great!!

I was especially privileged to meet the Carlaws, an EFCCM missionary family serving in Hungary, and Marina & Jenia Dilevskiy, a Ukrainian couple serving with the EFCCM in Ukraine. I anticipate seeing these dear people again when I get to Ukraine.

APRIL -- Celebrating Easter
My dad's sister and her husband came down from Penticton to visit us over the Easter weekend, and it was a fun and special time.

We also enjoyed a wonderful sunrise service on Easter Sunday and a special morning service celebrating our risen Lord!!

APRIL -- More Travelling
On April 14, we went down to Abbotsford to surprise my Oma on her 80th birthday -- she didn't know we were coming!! It was a great time, and I enjoyed meeting and visiting with relatives I haven't seen for years!

I also had the privilege of sharing with Abbotsford EFC on Sunday and then spent some time with friends before returning on Monday, April 15. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of contacting people, making travel arrangements and plans for April and May and even into June!!

I'm not complaining -- it is a bit challenging to make my own schedule and ensure that everything important gets done, but I am enjoying this new stage of life and there is SO MUCH to do in a very short amount of time!! However, I will try much harder to be disciplined about my blog -- 'cause it is important and I do enjoy writing and sharing with you all!

Blessings in the Lord, friends!

WITH EYES TO SEE

The apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 1:17-19 --

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe."

I am so thankful that God has enlightened my spiritual eyes -- not only at the time when I acknowledged my need for salvation, but also in my journey of sanctification, to be made more and more like Jesus as I grow in my understanding of who God wants me to be.


I realized this anew during the past week and I would like to recount this for you -- to publicly acknowledge God's work in my life and to hopefully be an encouragement to someone else.


It was a Sunday afternoon and I had just had a slightly angry disagreement with someone who was close to me. I felt hurt and inside I wanted to demand an apology. The other person sat only a couple feet away from me, but looked away and did not say anything. I sat there in the silence, trying desperately to hold back the tears so that it would not be noticeable how upset I was. I tried to rationalize in my mind why it was unfair and why he needed to make it right with me, and it was quite some time before my mind and my heart were quieted and I could hear the voice of my Lord speaking to me.


The Lord revealed to me that it was my heart attitude that was all wrong. It was not my place to have such expectations of another person, and that really it was a small matter of disagreement -- nothing to cause such a rift over. I was convicted, and I quietly confessed my sin to the Lord and received sweet peace.


I realized that if I had spoken all the rash and angry words that I felt inside instead of holding my tongue, if I had demanded that he bow to my felt needs and expectations, and if I had not allowed myself to feel the pain of my self-centeredness and to learn to be quiet and still, I would have missed out on what God wanted to do in my heart.


I am thankful for the disagreement and the disappointment of not being in agreement with someone I love because it has taught me an even greater lesson -- that true love does not demand that another person live up to my expectations and respond the way I want them to, but accepts that person for who he/she is (1 Corinthians 13). Also, that I must be honest with myself and recognize that I sometimes have a selfish heart that needs to learn to submit and be molded by the One who loved me enough to die for me -- in the midst of my sin.


I am not perfect and I know that I will probably have to learn this lesson again, but for now I am thankful for the blessing to see God's hand at work in my life and for the reminder of His promise to faithfully complete the good work He started in me (Ephesians 1:6).

OBEDIENCE -- THE VERY BEST WAY

Yesterday, I was convicted...God had spoken to my heart about something and I was still hemming and hawing about whether I would do it and if I did, how I should do it.

Then, unexpectedly to me (but I see this as the working of the Holy Spirit), I had this little song that I learned at Dorion Bible Camp ringing through my mind...

                                  Obedience is the very best way 
                                  To show that you believe: 
                                  Doing exactly what the Lord commands,
                                  Doing it happily. 
                                  Action is the key--do it immediately, 
                                  The joy you will receive! 
                                  Obedience is the very best way 
                                  To show that you believe. 

It didn't take long! I knew what I needed to do, and as I bowed my heart in obedience and then took the action that God had been nudging me to do, I realized that the issue was not the exact details of the action, but rather my willingness to obey.

And yes, as soon as I obeyed, I received three joys -- the joy of release from my internal struggle, the joy of giving freely, and the joy of knowing I had pleased my Father.

Obedience is the very best way to live -- and to show that you believe God's Word to be true and His working for good in your life.

                                  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.
                                  Trust and obey, for there's no other way 
                                  To be happy in Jesus, 
                                  But to trust and obey.