Heeding Obvious Warnings

This past weekend there was a torrential rainstorm in Calgary. One man, 60 years old, became extremely concerned about his car parked on the street being in danger. He told his friend he was going to move it. His friend told him that it wasn't worth the risk. None the less he ran out to the street. Somehow he became trapped user his car. His friends tried to save him but were unsuccessful and he lost his life. How sad it is when we fail to heed the dangers around us and take risks that have dire consequences.

God tells us that the man who plans his life around things is bound to lose them. "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" We need to seek his Kingdom first. How sad it is to be so blinded by the moment that we lose our tomorrow.

Loss

I found just this past week that an old and good friend had passed away at the end of last April. Albert Baldeo played an intricant and vital roll in my life. A piece of me went with him but his gifts to me and the world around him were beyond measure. Goodbye old friend, one day we will be together again and you can play that big old comb while I sing. You were unique and one of a kind.

Thankfulness for good friends and family

Without the support of my family, my church, my colleagues and my friends this past six months would have been unbearable. Their prayers, their love and their support has and is giving me strength, peace and hope. Please ocontinue your prayerful support for another month or so.

Rick & Evelyn

When all is lost.

Our hearts are extended to the people of Slave Lake. In a moment all that was important to them was lost. Fire consumed possessions in just a blink of an eye. More than 7000 people were stripped of everything that was important to them. Their homes, safety, security, jobs disappeared. Peace of mind, peace of heart were lost.

We need to pray for the people of Slave Lake that God will give them the strength and the wherewithal to reestablish their lives.

It makes the things in our lives seem small.

People of Slave Lake we will pray for you and will do what we can to help and be helpful.

Simple Encouragements

This week I conducted two funerals. People have asked why I conduct so many funerals. After the close of the first funeral a young woman came up to me and thanked me for the service. She said she was going through a rough patch in her life and that my words has spoken to her need. I pray that God will continue the work he has begun in her life. After the second funeral another young woman came and thanked me because my words had touched her heart. She received something she needed - an answer to prayer. I pray for her that god will fertilize and water the ground of her heart and produce fruit for her life.

Sometimes God use simple things to encourage and strengthen us. Thank you Father for the simple encouragements in our lives.

Patience

For years I sang a song for children about a snail called Herbert.

There was a snail called Herbert who was so very slow
He caused a lot of traffic jams wherever he did go
The ants were always getting mad, the beetles they would fume
But Herbert would just poke along and sing this little tune

HAVE PATIENCE, HAVE PATIENCE DON'T BE IN SUCH A HURRY
WHEN YOU GET IMPATIENT YOU ONLY START TO WORRY
REMEMBER, REMEMBER THAT GOD HAS PATIENCE TOO
THINK ABOUT THE THE THAT OTHERS HAVE TO WAIT FOR YOU

God has been speaking to my heart about patience. Right at this particular moment in time my life is in the hands of others. My natural reaction is to want immediate resolution. God is reminding me to wait upon him. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up on wings as the eagle, They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.". I am asking God to grant me a patient and peaceful heart - a heart to believe that everything is in his hands. "YEA THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEAT, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL, FOR THOU ART WTH ME."

Help me to learn the lesson of Herbert deep in my heart.

Thankful For Good Health

Two times today I went to sing for those whose health is declining. In the one nursing home there were about 40 people sitting around tables and spending their day waiting. As I sang hymns for them and prayed with them I was intensely aware that most of them really did not respond. They were in a world of their own. Some responded and were thankul or the service and the hymns

This afternoon I sang at an adult day program. Most of the people are still quite with it and the response was very different. They were singing with me and had all kinds of positive comments.

In spite of all this I became very thankful for the health that I have and that I have a healthy family. Thankful today for good health and a good family.

One Day At a Time

Somehow today I came to realize that there are lots of bridges to cross. I made the decision to live just in today and to deal with tomorrow when it comes. What a burden to be lifted. I do not know what will happen in the months ahead but I will live in each day as it comes. It seems that Jesus said. "Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.". He also promised to give us strength for every trial and every mile. One step at a time-god write that on my heart today.

New Battles

This past week my sister who is 11 years younger than me advised us that her blood count is up and she has spots on her sleen and live. It has been about two years since she was treated for ovarian cancer. We are trusting that God will intervene on her behalf and that shebwill soon be well again. Please parry that everything will be in God's hands and that the she will receive peace and healing from his presence. Psalm 23

We love you Cathie - hang in ther and put your trust in God.

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength

Today is a day when I am thankful that I can preach on Sunday morning.

Psalm 121

I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord that created heaven and earth.

I am thankful that I heve a place to to turn when there seems to be no where else go. Even in

the valley of the deepest darkest shadow.

Each Step I Take

When I was a child we used to sing a Sunday School chorus -

We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder
We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder
We Are Climbing Jacob's Ladder
Soldiers of the cross

Every rung goes higher, higher
Every rung goes higher, higher
Every rung goes higher, higher
Soldiers of the cross

When you choose to begin climbing, you have a goal in mind. You cannot reach that goal without moving upward. The walk of the Christian always leads upward even when the road get rough the ladder wobbles a lot.



2 Peter 1:5-8
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

After the Darkness Comes the Light

Unless we have gone through the trials and hardships of life we cannot begin to understand the pain and suffering of others. Without the valleys, the rough roads and obstacles along the way we can not appreciate the beauty of the mountaintop. Without the deep darkness of the night in the light of the day we become blind. I remember being out on the farm on the bald prairie where the darkness would penetrate deep into your soul. It seemed totally encompassing and overwhelming. The the sun would peek over the horizon and it's rays would spread and dance across the prairie landscape wiping away the darkness and overcoming fear with the joy of a new morning. We have precious and great promises that overcome the darkness and evil of the night. Take heart my child for joy comes in the morning.


2 Peter 1:4

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Friends

During what is turning out to be one of the most traumatic times of my life I am intensetly aware of the importance of friends. My family have been more that super supportive to me. My church family is behind me all the way. My colleagues have also been very supportive. I would like to particularly thank three very special friends who have gone beyond what I would have expected. First, I would like to mention my very special friend and brother in Christ, Roger - his encouragement, advice and his kindness have lifted me up at times when I need it the most. Second, I would like to thank a very special friend and Christian brother, Lorne, who has just been here for me. He has made me laugh, kept me humble and prayed with me. Third, I want to mention a very special new friend and brother in Christ, Bill, who has taken me to places that I would have had trouble going alone. He also is full of advice and knowledge that I would have been lost without. These are only three individuals out of many who are supporting me when I thought I would stand alone. Sometimes we forget the many friends God places in our lives. To all my friends and family I just want to say thank you. I hope I can be as true to you as you have been to me. Love to all!!!

God Loves Us Unconditionally

We live in a world of expectations. In order for us to fit in many people want us to do things their way. If we don't then we are wrong. Those who live this way demean others in order to elevate themselves. We have expectations of ourselves - if we don't live up to those expectations - we have failed and we am wrong. We look at others and look at ourselves with negative, dark glasses. The Bible tells us that God chose us before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. God loves us without condition - He wants us to rise above the negativity of the world around us. Give me the strength today Lord to see others as you see them and to accept myself, failures and all, as being uncontionally loved even in the moments that I might not love myself.

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star and reaches to the lowest hell.

O love of God, how rich and free, how measureless and strong
It shall forevermore endure, the saints, the angels song.(quote from Hymn - The Love of God)

Eph: 1:4-6 NIV

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Grace For All

It is sad that we have to come a place late in our lives in order to realize that our lives are in God's hands (too late; too schmart) . We think it is because of who we are or what we have done that we gain grace in God's eyes. It is is not so. If only we could see that the same applies in our relationships with each other. It is not because of who we are or what we have done that our friends and family love and accept us. I am thankful for those around me who have accepted and continue to love me (THANK YOU). My prayer today is that I will learn to be more loving, kind and patient.


2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time...

Hope comes from above

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” -

When things seem at their worst God sometimes sends us some reassurance. My prayer is that this is the absolute truth for our lives at this time. Please pray that God will give direction and preserve hope.

Life brings unexpected & big changes

Things come into our lives that can take our joy and our will to live away, thankfully our family and friends gather around us to remind us that we are stilled loved, without those who love and support us we would drown.