Weekend recap and a time of contrasts and rest

So I last posted looking forward to my scrapbooking weekend.  Here is the result of the weekend.  I finished this entire book.... it was 61 pages and covered from June 1, 2013 through July 31, 2013. It included a long vacation with lots of pictures. This was a personal record for me!  Included in the weekend was a fun time swimming with the grandchildren.

Even Anna spent some time in the pool.  I don't think she totally "enjoyed" the pool since it was a bit cold for her.  But she stayed in the entire time.  The older kids had a great time.  I actually swam a number of laps before the kids got to the pool.  It was a nice time of relaxing along with lots of talking and of course, the scrapping.  I was telling a friend this morning that the time felt kind of quiet.  For some reason it was just a really calm, peaceful time yet I accomplished so much.  It seems kind of counter intuitive, but it happened.  

And then this morning...... this was out of my window...

We had about 6" of snow this morning.  Sigh,  Gone is our near springtime weather.  The grass is gone, again, and it seems bleak and dark.  The good news of this weather is that it is supposed to be 60 on Wednesday!  So this snow will not last long!  Wow, what an unusual few days!  On one hand my scrap time was calm and peaceful.... yet it was overly productive!  And then even though the calendar says that spring is here... there are inches of snow on the ground!   

Today I decided to clear out some of my massive amount of scrapbook supplies.  Since everything was already a jumbled mess after taking it all for the weekend, it was a perfect time to do this.  So I sorted and organized and I still have quite a ways to go.  I have one large trash bag of things that I wonder why I had been keeping.  And I have several stacks of items to give away.  The best part of this clear out is that I now know what I have and I can actually find it!  So I will have a little bit more time with a mess until everything is organized and rearranged, but it is so worth it!

Yes, this has been a few days of contrasts.  And I have also felt the contrasts in my emotions and in my spirit.  I have had times of feeling very joyful and upbeat, but there has also been times of sadness.  Currently there is a buzz around the internet and among my friends that there will be an amazing time of spiritual revival hitting the Chicago area soon.  There are a couple of upcoming events that have everyone feeling the mounting excitement.  I have been waiting and watching for the expectation and excitement to hit me.  I am attending one of those "big" events coming in April, but I have yet to feel anything at all.  I was talking to Jesus about that this morning and then I heard a very quiet and small simple word.  JUST REST!   That seems to be what was happening all weekend.  And even in the sorting and organizing today, I felt restful.  It is as if I am wrapped in rest and peace.  And it is a great place to be!  After I realized how wonderful this word was, I looked out at that snow and it actually seemed very pretty.  I put on my boots and went out and shoveled the driveway!  It was warm and the sun actually came out.  And melting was already happening.  I realized that I was looking out the other window (see my last blog)!  And I was filled with rest and peace.  Quite a good day!  

Jesus, thank you for this weekend and fellowship and fun.  Thank you for speaking and reminding me to just rest when I feel like there is something more that I should be feeling.  Holy Spirit, keep our focus on the things that you know are necessary and good for each of us.  Help us to except that what we need may not be what someone else needs.  Jesus, so many people are filled with anxiety and stress.  Help us all to JUST REST!  Thank you for all that you are doing in the Chicago area.  Keep our eyes and ears attuned to you rather than to people.  Amen

A day of contrasts...........

Hello from my vacation - Day 1 (in reality Day 2 since we left home yesterday around noon).  But this was our first REAL day of vacation.  The photo gives away our destination for today - Toronto, Canada!  I picked this particular picture because that is a Canadian National Train at the base of the CN Tower.  Yes, that's right.  There is a train museum (actually the original "Roundhouse") directly across from the CN Tower.  Now anyone who lives in the Chicago area knows that in the last couple of years we have NOT had a love relationship with the Canadian National Railroad!  Since their takeover of several tracks lines in our area, you may spend HOURS waiting at railroad crossings.  When the takeover was in the works, towns were assured that there would not be any problems.  However this has not been the case!  There are lots of trains on tracks that used to have 2 trains a day, and there are long waits at crossings that never had waits before.  But I digress.  I thought it was interesting that the old trains were in the shadow of the NEW technology.  The Tower, the brand new Aquarium, The Sports Stadium, and the train museum all share a block of land.  It seemed like an unlikely mix.  I like the contrast of the old train with the CN tower!

This day of contrasts actually started this morning on the drive into Canada.  We were told to expect a long delay crossing over the bridge into Canada at Port Huron, Michigan.  One web sight suggested that you should be sure to allow at least an hour for border crossing.  We left our hotel and proceeded to the bridge at 7:30am.  As we drove onto the bridge there was 1 Semi truck ahead of us.  And no other cars.  There was only one "Car" lane with a green light and we drove right up to the booth.  The entire transaction included passing over our passports, two questions, and a grunt from the agent.  It took us about 2 minutes!  And we were in Canada!  Quite a contrast from what we had expected.

As we adjusted to Kilometers for speed instead of MPH (thankfully our Navigation system shows the speed limit in MPH - already converted!) and to gas prices being shown in Canadian Dollars PER LITRE (which looked really good at $1.38 - UNTIL you realize that converts to about $5.00 per Gallon - OUCH!)  What a contrast.  Going the speed limit of 100 felt actually kind of slow at 62mph. 

Which brings me to another interesting contrast.  A friend of mine recommended Tim Hortons.  So as soon as we saw a sign for one, we pulled off.  I guess I would say that Tim Hortons is sort of a combination of Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks.  We loved their coffee.  It reminded us of the "old" McDonalds coffee.  At a later stop at a "On Road" (which is just like the tollway Oasis) there was a Tim Hortons and a Starbucks.  There was a long line at Hortons - like 50 people.  And there was only a couple of people in line at Starbucks.   What a contrast to the US!  There is always a line at Starbucks. 

 

Yes, I saw lots of interesting things today.  We walked the harbor front and most of the surrounding area.  The culture here is really a melting pot mix also.  We saw a diverse group of people.  I spent a lot of time remembering the mission trip I was on in 2009 to this city.  We are in the same area.  I have been thinking about the children that we met on that trip and wondering if any of the seeds we sowed have begun to grow.  I love knowing that the Holy Spirit can use a very small seed to grow a very big plant. 

 

And it is a bit of a contrast for me to know that I am just a tourist on this trip, rather than a missionary.  At least not an OBVIOUS missionary.  On the 2009 trip, we wore bright orange shirts that clearly spoke a message (a large cross).  We were doing a street drama that included a boom box and loud music and costumes that made people stop and watch.  And the message was clear.  Today I was just an average "touristy" older women with a camera.  In 2009, we were sowing lots of seeds through our message.  Today my message was hidden.  But my hidden prayer is for the Holy Spirit to water all of those seeds sown 5 years ago, as I walked the same streets. 

Yes, it is a reminder that we can all be missionaries as we walk the world.  Our prayers can bring the power and presence of Jesus where ever we are.  And it is a good reminder that we can activate all those seeds sown in the past, by praying the outpouring and watering of the Holy Spirit! 

 

Thank you Jesus for the power of reminders!  Thank you for the promise of the Holy Spirit, who brings life to all of us.  Help us all to see ourselves as your ambassadors as we go through our busy lives and even as we vacation!  Bless Toronto, Jesus!  Amen



The contrasts of today.........

Today is the day.  Three years ago today, I lost my mom.  She was truly more than just my mom.  We shared and laughed and enjoyed each other so much.  I just love this very old photo of us.  It is a "casual" photo - not posed.  And we don't have many pictures like that!  It was taken at "the lake". And I just love the look on my mom's face.   It was taken in 1955.  I assume that the cat belonged to my grandmother.  I know that she always had at least one cat around.  Most likely, she had brought it down to our cabin from the farm. I decided that this was the picture I would share today, in honor of my mom. I love remembering that she is now, celebrating with Jesus.

This has really been an amazing day, something that I didn't expect. First of all, it was actually WARM!  Like 75 degrees warm.  Remember that this winter was brutal and the ice and snow seemed to last forever!  So a day with the sun out and no coat required is really something to celebrate!  There was a short, very stormy period this morning, but it past quickly, and the sun came out again. 

And then the doorbell rang.  It was a neighbor telling us that a piece of siding near the peak of our house was "flapping in the breeze".  Needless to say, we ran out to take a look.  And there, on the OTHER side of the house, was the very loose siding. (See my post from November 29, 2013 - we had a piece of siding blow off in the same location - on the opposite side of the house)  Ken got out are very short ladder and our very long tree trimmer tool and tried to push that siding back so it wouldn't blow all the way off, lest we lose it!  Thankfully, as soon as he touched the piece, it fell to the ground.  So we are now in possession of THAT piece of siding.  However, there is still a LARGE piece that is loose. And it was Saturday, at noon.   The soonest that we could arrange for anyone to come out to repair this is Monday afternoon.  It is supposed to rain and storm over the next 24 hours, so we are praying that piece of siding stays put!  

To finish off the day I went to an amazing church service.  I just loved the wonderful worship and the sermon was great.   I felt as if the entire service had been planned for me.  The sermon topic was from 1John 5 beginning at verse 13.   It was about KNOWING! (See my comment from yesterday about Lia, just knowing).  The point was that knowing was more than understanding.  It was having absolute assurance. During the sermon the Pastor shared an interesting list of the contrasts that are expressed all through out the book of 1John.  Here was the list....

God (Love)      Satan (Sin)
Truth                 Lies
Light                 darkness
Life                   death
confidence        fear
love                   hate

The thing about this list is that these represent what it is like to live either in the Kingdom of God or the kingdom of Satan.  Without the KNOWING and the assurance, when we are in the world, our life is filled with lies, darkness, death, fear and hate.  I am so blessed to have that knowing - the assurance of living in the Kingdom of the King of Kings!  A place of truth, light, life, confidence and love.  

In each of the events of today..... there is the contrast.   My mom died, but she is celebrating with Jesus!  There was a time of storms today, but the sun came out again!  Our siding came loose, but we were able to retrieve the piece - it wasn't lost!  We live IN the world, but we are not OF the world.  Coming into this Holy Week, I am so thankful that I have the assurance - that deep knowing that Jesus is all that I need.  I am so grateful for Jesus' work on the cross, and his marvelous resurrection! 

Jesus, thank you!   For contrasts, for blessings, for all that you do in our lives.  Thank you for guiding and directing us to the exact places that we need to be.   Thank you for memories, for moms and for the assurance of our eternal life!   Holy Spirit, help us all to spend time this week, remembering all that Jesus has done for us.   Thank you for the assurance that comes from KNOWING!  Amen