YOU'RE MORE....

Thank you Ann for saying what my heart speaks that I cannot put into words!

WORDS FOR THE WEEKEND

He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.

17 

He rescued me from my powerful enemy,

    from my foes, who were too strong for me.

18 

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

    but the Lord was my support.

19 

He brought me out into a spacious place;

    he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Psalm 18:16-19

NOT MINE BUT HIS

How thankful I am that He is holding on to me!

IN WITH THE NEW

A new day....
A new week...
A new year....
all with the turning of the hand of the clock past the 12.

A new beginning....

and for me that means a new word!

I will pause at this moment as these Thousand Foot Krutch lyrics run through my mind:

'cuz the end is where we begin

where broken hearts mend

and start to beat again

the end is where we begin.

I am looking forward to the mending of 2017!

My past two years flowed into each other, as did their words.

REST

And what follows REST? 

The fear of the Lord leads to life;

    then one rests content, untouched by trouble.

Proverbs 19:23

CONTENT

How do you follow up a year learning contentment?

Well, this song spoke to me throughout this year. So much so, that my daughter and I sang it at our church this fall. Not a perfect performance but heartfelt and true of my experience and where I am.

The Lord makes firm the steps

    of the one who delights in him;

24 

though he may stumble, he will not fall,

    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24

On my bed I remember you;

    I think of you through the watches of the night.

7 

Because you are my help,

    I sing in the shadow of your wings.

8 

I cling to you;

    your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:6-8

So, welcome 2017 - The year to be 

OUT WITH THE OLD

Another year, coming to a close.

*sigh*

Usually that would be a sad sigh, as I ponder all of the good times, the memories we made and I think about my children that are growing too quickly. This year that is a sigh of "it's finally done". No excitement but relief that we can move into a new year.

These yearly words of mine are not quite adding up to what I envision at the beginning but they are definitely growing me.

2015 - REST - a crazy busy year with a federal election that ended in the ultimate rest for me - the loss of my full-time employment and the loss of half our household income.

2016 - CONTENT - I anticipated peaceful, sunny days of reading and time with my children, finding fulfilling employment, and having purpose.

2016 became a year marked by loss. Loss of work, loss of people. Waves of discouragement. Lots of tears.

This year, so many people died. Others have told me that it is just the age we are getting to, our parents are reaching the end of their life, so death will become more prevalent. I know this is true but I don't think anyone is ever ready to lose a parent. So many friends have lost one of both of their parents in 2016.

 But, this year I experienced the loss of many who were so young. We aren't guaranteed tomorrow.  I know that is truth but, the loss of peers and one of my sixteen year old daughter's best friends is more than one anticipates. It feels like God is calling people home in greater numbers.

I believe that God has numbered our days before our birth.Though, I have hope in this and my faith carries me through, being CONTENT this year has been a challenge.

I think I embraced my word in many ways but had to remind myself over and over, to be content no matter what my circumstances. And this year circumstances were hard and contentment is a choice. A learned behaviour.

On the cusp of a new year, I can choose to be CONTENT. And so I do.

ANTICIPATING BABY

My lovely sweet Lauren is expecting. Sweet baby will be arriving soon. I was honoured to share a few words at her baby shower.

"Well, Lauren, I would like to say that this whole situation is making me feel extremely old, even though I know that I have been one of your “moms” for a number of years.  I remember shy, little Lauren sitting quietly in the corner of the couch in the farmhouse, preferring to fade into the background rather than jump into the spotlight. I was honoured to capture precious moments of the day you said “I do” and I am privileged to stand here today and say “Welcome to Motherhood”!

From the day you learned you were expecting this sweet little peanut, until, well... forever, your life will never be the same. You have added a distinction and a responsibility. You are a mother.

I have been pondering Psalm 139:13, a fair bit lately. It says,

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

We often focus on the beginning of the verse but I would like to take a moment to focus on the last three words. “My mother’s womb”. Not any mother’s womb. My mother’s womb. The Creator of the Universe has knit your son together in YOUR womb. He purposed that this boy, should have YOU as his mom. What an awesome trust (and I am sure a bit overwhelming). Motherhood is an incredible journey. A blessing beyond what you can imagine.

But as a mother, there will be THOSE days, (don’t worry, we all have them) when you feel unfit, unworthy and like you are totally screwing this up. In the midst, do not forget that GOD handpicked you to be his mom.

When the enemy whispers lies like “you can’t do this” and “you’re not good enough”, remember that God did not make a mistake. You are not perfect but you are  the perfect mother for your son. There are things that you need to teach him and there are things that he needs to teach you!

We have this mistaken idea that children are born as a blank slate and everything about them is learned behaviour and under the influence of environment and circumstance. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jeremiah 1:5 says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”

God not only formed us, he KNEW us. He knew your son before he was formed! He isn’t a blank slate, he is a child who was and is known by the Creator! He has been formed with a distinct personality and with talents. God has a plan and a purpose for him. Things that only he can bring to your family. Things that only he can do in this world. He comes with 9 months of womb experience and though we minimize the importance of these months for emotional and mental development, it is during this time that he begins bonding with you. Being intimately in tune with your body’s rhythm and recognizing your voice and moods and stress levels.

Charlotte Mason, an English Educator, liked to say “Children are born persons”. I like that. We need to respect the personhood, of every human even a baby. Remember “A person’s a person no matter how small!”

Psalm 8:2 says “Through the praise of children and infants

   you have established a stronghold against your enemies,

   to silence the foe and the avenger.”

There is some serious power that comes through the praise of a child and Jesus uses children to teach us lessons. The boy with the loaves and the fish, the children he healed - from sickness and evil spirits. The children he raised from the dead - the widow’s son, Jairus’ daughter.. The children who joined the crowds and waved palm branches and sang “hosanna” as he entered Jerusalem. The children who ran to him, though the disciples tried to discourage them, Jesus welcomed them.

Your son will have things to teach you. Be willing to listen and learn. But you have the grand privilege to introduce him to the Saviour, to the Creator, who knew him and knit him together.

The most important job you have is to teach him about his sin and the Saviour that pours out grace in abundance, even on little boys.

Introduce him to the Saviour but don’t stop there.

I love the picture of  Psalm 84:3

“Even the sparrow has found a home,

   and the swallow a nest for herself,

   where she may have her young—

a place near your altar,

   Lord Almighty, my King and my God.”

Set up your nest. You home. Your place near the altar of the Lord. A safe place. A place of worship .A place where the sacrifice for sin is not forgotten but celebrated.

How do you do that?

In Deuteronomy we are encouraged

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”

Instill in your home a love for the word of God. Hang it on your walls. Read it out loud.  Sing it. Play it. Pray it. Not just on Sundays and mid week meetings. Not just at meals and bedtime but make stopping and praying a habit whenever there is a need or an opportunity arises to approach the throne of grace. Make worship a part of your everyday. Take opportunities to serve and as your son grows, give him opportunities to serve with you. Even little things are a blessing.

He is your mission field. He is the “nations” of which you were called to preach the gospel and make disciples. Preach the gospel to him. Make sure he hears it and understands it. Live the Gospel with him. Let your son see the passion of your love for the Lord in you. everyday.

But even in the midst of this. There will be THOSE days. When you feel alone and forgotten and abandoned. When no one does anything right and they certainly don’t understand.

Isaiah 40:11 reminds us

“He tends his flock like a shepherd:

   He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart;

   he gently leads those that have young.”

Remember this. You are not alone. Your Saviour has promised to never leave you or forsake you. He is gently leading you. He knew your son before He formed him. He knew you before He formed you. Nothing in you is a mystery to him. He knows all of your ins and outs, your strengths and weaknesses. And He chose you for this special purpose.

Not to forge out on your own but with Bradley and with Him, along with your little man. The three of you figuring this out together seeking to be led by the Great Shepherd.

So when sleep is fleeting and a shower is a luxury. When using the bathroom without an audience feels like a miracle. When the laundry piles rival Mount Everest and a meal could be eaten from the remains on the kitchen floor. When it all looks daunting and there seems to be no end in sight, remember these words and cling to the truths found in scripture:

You are chosen for this divine purpose by the God who knows you and has fully equipped you.

He walks with you and is leading you with your little mission field, every day.

So build your nest near the altar of the Lord. Dwell in his presence, trust Him and rest in this new role of “mom”.

PARENT'S BLESSING

my beautiful girl and her best friend at their grade 8 graduation.

The message I gave to the HBC Co-op Graduates and their parents on June 4, 2016.

Well! It is certainly a day to celebrate! Congratulations graduates!! Whether it has been 8 years or 12 years, I am sure that it has been a long haul (or at least it has felt like it at times) BUT you’ve made it! Here you are!

Moms. Dads. Congratulations! You too have made it! But if you are like me, you are wondering where the time went and how you ever managed to get to this point. But here you are. Take a look. This is a group of really great  kids and YOU have had the privilege and responsibility of raising them. Well Done!

It is common, on these auspicious occasions, to speak of the new chapter or ponder that famous quote about the two roads. We often associate, especially a high school graduation, with a new beginning, a clean slate, the start of a story or the beginning of a journey. We mistakenly put significant emphasis that this is when a life really matters; when God will begin to use a person and will reveal His will or plan for their lives.

Can I encourage you that this is not a new story but a new chapter in the narrative of your life. It is not a new journey but a new adventure in the continuing journey of your time on this terrestrial plain.

Your story began before you were born. Even before your parents anticipated your existence, you were known by the Creator of the universe.

Jeremiah 11:5 says “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart”. Now, I realize that these words were spoken to Jeremiah but I think that throughout scripture we find that God knows and cares about each one of us individually. You matter to Him. So much so, that He has the hairs on our head numbered! Your details matter to Him.

In Psalm 139 David says “For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” I know that this is one of those verses that we hear so often that we almost tune it out or we whisper along with the speaker because we know it so well, but we miss the message. Today,  I’d like you to take some time to ponder this verse with me.

Have you ever seen someone knit? Or maybe you knit. You may have noticed, knitting doesn’t just happen. No one just sits down with a pair of knitting needles and a ball of yarn and begins to knit. Even the most experienced of knitters has a pattern they follow (even if they made it up themselves and it exists only in their mind). 

Knitting is a two handed process with a purpose. And what does the psalmist say? “You knit me together in my mother’s womb”. The two hands of God knit YOU!!! You have God’s hand-prints all over you! How awesome is that?!

Not only did He knit you together, but He knit you in YOUR mother’s womb. Not just any mother’s womb. We don’t always understand the “whys” of our life but the truth is that whether you were born or adopted into the family, God’s hands were all over your life and circumstances. God hand picked your parents specifically for you. They are not perfect. They are far from it, but they are perfect for you and they are YOURS.

And do you know what else? God may have  decided that your family was complete with the addition of you.  But if not, God  hand picked each and every sibling, just for you. It was not an accident when they arrived in your family. You were not an afterthought. At the arrival of your brother or sister, God was not taken back with the thought of “oh no! I forgot about Rachel when I gave the Palmer’s Andrew What was I thinking?!?!” Nope, there was none of that. God had a plan and a purpose before the beginning for you. Something that only you could bring to your family. Something that only you could teach your parents and siblings. AND Something only they could bring to the family and something only they could teach you. Don’t miss out on that.

God was very intentional in placing you here in this time and place in history. Here in Canada. In Essex County. Even in our Harrow Co-op. He has things for you to do.

Maybe you are not aware, but there is significant sacrifice that parents make when they have children, and homeschooling is a huge undertaking. Being responsible for raising children is huge, being responsible for their education and feeling responsible for their future success, takes it to a whole other level. There is a popular saying, “Behind every great kid is a mom who’s pretty sure she's screwing it up”. I am pretty sure your mom feels this and maybe your father does too.

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference”

Robert Frost’s poem got me to thinking. Your parents, in recognizing that God has a plan and a purpose for you life and in raising you as a follower of Christ, have started you in your journey on “the road less traveled.”

And though, as parents, we have a variety of reasons for choosing to home-school our children, that choice has allowed you to continue on “the road less traveled”. You have been blessed to have time with your family that you wouldn’t have otherwise had. Most of you have had the opportunity to participate at co-op and learn things your parents couldn’t teach you(or wouldn’t) like dissection (thank you Betsy for taking THAT on) And you’ve had the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships.

Jeremiah 12:5 says ““If you have raced with men on foot

   and they have worn you out,

   how can you compete with horses?

If you stumble in safe country,

   how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”

You have been given a safe place to grow and prepare for this next adventure. The gift of “safe country” that your parents have provided is priceless. I hope you have taken the most of every opportunity you have been given to train and grow. For some of you, your new adventure is taking you into the “thickets by the Jordan”. If you haven’t yet taken full advantage of the “safe country” take your summer to truly enjoy your family and prepare yourself. You have a race to run. God is ready and willing to equip you. Are you ready and willing to go?

God has plans for you today and everyday until He takes you home. He has given you gifts and talents to do exactly what He has called you to do. 1 Peter 1:3 promises that “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”

Henry Blackaby is known for saying “The reality is that the Lord never calls the qualified; He qualifies the called”.

This next chapter of your life is set to open. The latest adventure in your life’s journey is about to begin. He has called you, he has qualified you. Like Peter, you need to keep your eyes on Jesus and in faith, step out of the boat and walk.