I sometimes "write" a blog post in my head. As you may have noticed they don't often make it from my head to here. I don't fully "get" blogging yet. Who the heck are we all writing for? When I blog there's no way I say everything I would if it was a private journal. Trust me I totally just deleted a couple sketchy, yet funny, sentences. The most entertaining blogs I've read have been strangers who I felt were being totally honest. Who knows, maybe they weren't. No one reads my blog anymore, so I really have to write for me. And yet those deleted sentences.... Oh bother.
Well here I am, but I just wanted to talk about a really sweet picture my daughter drew on the Magna-Doodle today. It's over there in my instagram shots. Its a family photo. Our whole family. She drew Caleb in a blanket in my arms. It really made me smile, how sweet and thoughtful of her. But once they were all tucked into bed and I looked at that picture that old familiar ache crept back up. My due date with Caleb approaches. How I wish that this house was getting ready for his arrival. How I wish for achy hips and back. How I crave those kicks and wiggles from within. Sometimes the sadness just hits. Tonight is one of those times.
I do have to say I've learned a ton though this experience. I've also been thankful for some pretty amazing friends. Sometimes people are just awesome aren't they? I am blessed. My times with God lately have been especially sweet. Oh it's just so friggin amazing to see him change this wretched heart of mine! Words just can't explain what it's like to really experience the love and grace of Christ and my precious Father.
Well I feel encouraged and lifted, and now I have this post to look back on and take me back to this time in my life. I guess that's part of what blogging is about for me.
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prayer. Show all posts
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
My Thoughts on Halloween
We used to do halloween. The first couple years of Katelyn's life we dressed her up and went to a few houses for candy. Things have changed and we no longer "do" halloween. Here's why:
We are Christians.
All the candy is bad for our health.
All the candy has wasteful wrappers on it, remember one of my favorite blogs? Zero Waste Home
I don't like the scary costumes and my kids get scared when they answer the door to hand out candy.
Ok, so now I'm going to expand on the first one because in my mind it's the one that matters the most. Please realize that this is my conviction and I'm not judging other people, nor am I saying you should all change because of what I say here! As a Christian my family and I are are set apart, different from the world (1 Pete 2:11&12). Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against evil spiritual forces (Eph 6:12). Do you know where Halloween comes from?
It's interesting to look into, and a few different things come up. It's origins are pagan, and yes so are the origins of Christmas. But Christmas celebrates Christs birth, and Halloween celebrates death and evil. Yes originally it had a lot to do with the harvest, but it was also believed that the souls of the dead would visit on this night. It falls right before All Saints Day which is no coincidence. Catholics believed that when people died they basically waited around and got a chance to go to heaven on All Saints Day. So the night before was their last chance to get revenge, and haunt. I've also heard that since Reformation the persecuted Christians dressed up and bribed their attackers.
Satan takes what God has created and twists it, he makes counterfeits. He's a fake and a lie. I'll use the example of lust. Satan took sex, a beautiful gift from God, and he perverted it, turned it into all kinds of pitfalls for man. I believe that as Christians we need to be extra vigilant so we don't fall into his schemes. Pretending we can just take the "innocent" parts of Halloween and leaving the rest is a cop out.
I choose not to compromise and just take the fun bits of Halloween. My kids dress up all year, and we get treats often enough. I do struggle because we are called to love our neighbours, and handing out candy is very loving. To that I say that we must be loving all year round. Look out for our neighbours, know them, know their needs. Pray for them! Get involved with them, get to know them.
I also don't want to be holed away in a dark basement watching T.V. feeling the need to hide. My dream would be to have a powerful worship service on that night. Again, our battle is not between flesh and blood. Can you picture the spiritual battle on Halloween night around a place of worship? I would much prefer to kill demons and ruin satans plans than just be complacent and eat candy with a couple cute kids. The world lies to us, Satan lies to us. (1 Jn 5:19) He wants us to not care, or to not think about it too much. I'm getting worked up, YES!
1 Peter 2:11 (in case you didn't look it up when I put it up there at the top)
"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and stranger to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul."
And in the Message translation 11&12: Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
We are Christians.
All the candy is bad for our health.
All the candy has wasteful wrappers on it, remember one of my favorite blogs? Zero Waste Home
I don't like the scary costumes and my kids get scared when they answer the door to hand out candy.
Ok, so now I'm going to expand on the first one because in my mind it's the one that matters the most. Please realize that this is my conviction and I'm not judging other people, nor am I saying you should all change because of what I say here! As a Christian my family and I are are set apart, different from the world (1 Pete 2:11&12). Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against evil spiritual forces (Eph 6:12). Do you know where Halloween comes from?
It's interesting to look into, and a few different things come up. It's origins are pagan, and yes so are the origins of Christmas. But Christmas celebrates Christs birth, and Halloween celebrates death and evil. Yes originally it had a lot to do with the harvest, but it was also believed that the souls of the dead would visit on this night. It falls right before All Saints Day which is no coincidence. Catholics believed that when people died they basically waited around and got a chance to go to heaven on All Saints Day. So the night before was their last chance to get revenge, and haunt. I've also heard that since Reformation the persecuted Christians dressed up and bribed their attackers.
Satan takes what God has created and twists it, he makes counterfeits. He's a fake and a lie. I'll use the example of lust. Satan took sex, a beautiful gift from God, and he perverted it, turned it into all kinds of pitfalls for man. I believe that as Christians we need to be extra vigilant so we don't fall into his schemes. Pretending we can just take the "innocent" parts of Halloween and leaving the rest is a cop out.
I choose not to compromise and just take the fun bits of Halloween. My kids dress up all year, and we get treats often enough. I do struggle because we are called to love our neighbours, and handing out candy is very loving. To that I say that we must be loving all year round. Look out for our neighbours, know them, know their needs. Pray for them! Get involved with them, get to know them.
I also don't want to be holed away in a dark basement watching T.V. feeling the need to hide. My dream would be to have a powerful worship service on that night. Again, our battle is not between flesh and blood. Can you picture the spiritual battle on Halloween night around a place of worship? I would much prefer to kill demons and ruin satans plans than just be complacent and eat candy with a couple cute kids. The world lies to us, Satan lies to us. (1 Jn 5:19) He wants us to not care, or to not think about it too much. I'm getting worked up, YES!
1 Peter 2:11 (in case you didn't look it up when I put it up there at the top)
"Beloved, I urge you as aliens and stranger to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul."
And in the Message translation 11&12: Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Prayer Vigil
This past weekend I was in Calgary with the fam. I went down for a couple reasons, doctors appts, birthdays, hanging out with family etc. But because we were going I was super excited to join in the prayer vigil at the abortion clinic there. It was the number one thing on my list. More than Ikea, more than the cute consignment store, more than Phil and Sebastian coffee. I wanted to see what it looked like so that when I pray here at home it's more real. I wanted to support the efforts of 40 Days for Life. Most of all I wanted to pray for those Mammas going through such a hard time. I hoped that by being there I could be a light and shed love onto that place a bit.
But I didn't go. I didn't go?! Seriously, I didn't even go. And there is no excuse. I guess I could say I was busy, which it true. I could say I was tired. Which is also true. I could put the blame on Satan because of course he didn't want me bringing the power of God to that hurting place. I really don't know why I didn't go, but it makes me feel sad, and a little sick. It's also a wake up call.
It's hard to get our butts out the door. I have SO much respect for the people that are filling the hours on the sidewalk there. I feel horrible that the sidewalk was empty when I should have been there. Beyond words. Sad.
Christians, we need to wake up! It's time to join together, to BE THERE! Time to stomp Satans crusty dirty head and ruin his plans! Our prayers matter. Our presence matters. Our time is worthwhile. What are you using yours for? I sure was convicted over what I'm using mine for, and it sucks when I have to answer God with a grovelling and meek "I'm sorry." I'd much rather have said, "Nice work God, thanks for being there with me, it was powerful!" I'm sure thankful that I'm forgiven and saved by grace (and don't actually have to grovel), but next time I'd way rather be used in His mighty army.
Food for thought. I'm munching. Now I'm thinking about other things I fill my day with, and what I can be doing instead. Oh wow, I have so far to go and so much changing and growing to do. It's fun! I'm excited!
p.s. I didn't do shopping or coffee either, just for the record ;-)
But I didn't go. I didn't go?! Seriously, I didn't even go. And there is no excuse. I guess I could say I was busy, which it true. I could say I was tired. Which is also true. I could put the blame on Satan because of course he didn't want me bringing the power of God to that hurting place. I really don't know why I didn't go, but it makes me feel sad, and a little sick. It's also a wake up call.
It's hard to get our butts out the door. I have SO much respect for the people that are filling the hours on the sidewalk there. I feel horrible that the sidewalk was empty when I should have been there. Beyond words. Sad.
Christians, we need to wake up! It's time to join together, to BE THERE! Time to stomp Satans crusty dirty head and ruin his plans! Our prayers matter. Our presence matters. Our time is worthwhile. What are you using yours for? I sure was convicted over what I'm using mine for, and it sucks when I have to answer God with a grovelling and meek "I'm sorry." I'd much rather have said, "Nice work God, thanks for being there with me, it was powerful!" I'm sure thankful that I'm forgiven and saved by grace (and don't actually have to grovel), but next time I'd way rather be used in His mighty army.
Food for thought. I'm munching. Now I'm thinking about other things I fill my day with, and what I can be doing instead. Oh wow, I have so far to go and so much changing and growing to do. It's fun! I'm excited!
p.s. I didn't do shopping or coffee either, just for the record ;-)
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Laundry and Prayer
I've been feeling really overwhelmed with house work lately. I've also been feeling overwhelmed in my heart in the matter of abortion and our country's stance on it. Two totally different things, but today they are chipped away together, at least in this household.
Today our government is dealing with motion 312. I'll be honest I really don't understand all the implications. Here's some info on it. I understand enough to know that I should be on my knees in prayer over the issue.
Basically Canada is talking about changing the definition of "Human Life", because as it stands now this hasn't been updated since who knows when.
So because I'm overwhelmed in house work and because I'm overwhelmed in my heart, I kneel and fold a HUGE pile of laundry and I pray.
I pray for our leaders, I pray for the conversation in that room today. I pray that our hearts will seek truth as a country. I pray for the lives that are at stake here. I pray for Christians in this country. That we would all wake up, not only to the crisis of abortion, but to so many things that we are blind to. That we would arise, join in prayer, join because of love.
Today our government is dealing with motion 312. I'll be honest I really don't understand all the implications. Here's some info on it. I understand enough to know that I should be on my knees in prayer over the issue.
Basically Canada is talking about changing the definition of "Human Life", because as it stands now this hasn't been updated since who knows when.
So because I'm overwhelmed in house work and because I'm overwhelmed in my heart, I kneel and fold a HUGE pile of laundry and I pray.
I pray for our leaders, I pray for the conversation in that room today. I pray that our hearts will seek truth as a country. I pray for the lives that are at stake here. I pray for Christians in this country. That we would all wake up, not only to the crisis of abortion, but to so many things that we are blind to. That we would arise, join in prayer, join because of love.
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