Time Off by Susan L.

I am heading down to Sarnia today to spend a couple of days with family. There will be some beach time and maybe a brief trip to the U.S. to shop. It will be nice to get away. It's been too long since I've seen my grandchildren. Last time I continued to blog. This time I'm not. Precious and rare moments with family need my full attention. I should be back Thursday morning. Maybe not rested but home. "Peace to you!" Jn 20:26

Routine by Susan L.

I've lived most if my life without a lot of modern technology: internet, cell phones, etc. In fact, I dragged my heels for a number of years before breaking down and actually getting a mobile phone. For some reason I couldn't get wireless reception until late last night when I thought to turn the troublesome phone off and restart it. Ta-da! Internet! That's about the extent of my capabilities to troubleshoot and fix electronics. What amazed me is how lost I was without having access to the net or email at my fingertips. It irked me as well not being able to post my blog first thing in the morning even though there are times I don't anyways. But that's my choice. Last weekend's power failure didn't frustrate me half as much! I wish...I hope...I pray my relationship with the Lord never reaches that taken-for-granted state; that there is never a disconnect. I've lived in the desert, a hollow, lonely existence and I remember it well. Just as I remember the moment He entered my life. The moment I so desperately invited Jesus to be my Saviour. Oh, how His presence has filled me and connected me to His spiritual internet. "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;For the Lord upholds him with His hands." Ps 37:33

More Thoughts by Susan L.

I got thinking about surrender in relation to my simple human understanding about the nature of God. The comment yesterday about surrender implying defeat has made me realize why it isn't in the Bible, at least my King James anyways. Surrendering negates our own free will. It means we're backed into a corner with no choice but to give up or give it up whatever "it" might be. The God I am growing to know would never do that to His children: force us to do anything we weren't a) ready b) able c) willing to do. Yet, at the same time, if we are open to the process, He gently molds us and shapes us so we ARE ready, able and willing to do as He asks;to give up things, thoughts, habits or whatever stands in our way. Forced capitulation is both legalistic and an horrific breach of trust. This is where sacrifice, sacrificial offerings, come in to the picture. More times than I can count, I've unwillingly/willingly uttered the words, "I choose to forgive..." sacrificing all my negative bad,sad, toxic and rage filled emotions to God's will. That is the paint sealed window opening. I can testify the Lord has guided me along the joutney of recovery, or as I like to say discovery, never pushing, never hard, never condemning. That stuff came from me. I think I've said this before although it isn't my idea: Jesus' life and resurrection turns the ten commandments into the ten promises. That is the power of love beyond measure, the power of an offering and a freely given sacrifice. "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour." Lk 1:46

Redirection by Susan L.

Yesterday's therapy session was an opportunity for me to debrief about all I'd learned over the last month. Life lessons, faith lessons were solidified. There were a lot what with the kitten, the AGM speech, and the power failure. The best part of these sometimes not-so-gentle lessons is being able to surrender to the Lord the things I no longer need to hang on to. It just dawned on me why surrender is such a difficult concept for me. Typically on the battlefield, the one who surrenders has been defeated; has failed to achieve victory. That is a very human perspective isn't it? Surrender, in a faith sense, is synonymous with sacrifice. It is admitting we can't go it alone but need the Lord thus sacrificing our pride on the cross. Surrender is like throwing open a once painted shut window and letting the fresh air in. I've written all of this but maybe I'm missing something. In my search for today's scripture I have discovered the word "surrender" is not in my concordance and therefore not in the Bible. Offer/offers/ offered/offering/offerings take up page after page. I like that. These words represent true victory. They are words of love. "O God of my salvation." Ps 27:9

Cleanup Completed by Susan L.

It was much quicker getting rid of the piles of branches than I had anticipated. I'd burned some Monday and finished the rest yesterday morning. My two neighbours got out their chainsaws last night and cleared the big branches that were left hanging over the fence and resting on my shed. There are still people without power in the hardest hit areas. Fallen trees, snapped hydro poles and wires lay tossed like a bowl of spaghetti. It's been a summer of violent weather here and in the U.S. The term, global warming, is on everyone's lips. Another frightening sign I've noticed is a lack of bees at my flowers. The fact they are dying at alarming rates has been in the news. Which brings the question to mind: what exactly are we doing to this planet we call home? "Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it." Gen 2:15

Threads of Friendship by Susan L.

A friend called last night who I hadn't talked with in ages. She had moved, I wasn't well so we'd lost touch. The Lord must've heard me wondering about her this past week and nudged her to call. There was no shame or guilt about being absent on either side. We simply picked up the threads of where we'd left off. Our "status reports" were updated: kids, work, family. It's nice to hear she's doing well. I'll never forget the day she grabbed me in a bear hug as I was fleeing church. My mind was in a full blown panic attack. At that time I didn't know what was happening. All I knew was I needed to get out ASAP! I didn't know her name but she wouldn't let me go until the worst had passed. It was the beginning of an amazing friendship. Thank you, Lord, for our Simons, the friends You bless our lives with for the days our own crosses are heavy. "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." Jn 17:26

Automatic by Susan L.

I've had a chuckle at myself over the weekend: flicking useless light switches, putting bread in the toaster, but Saturday night took the cake. I'd plugged a fan into the generator to cool my room, glad the worst of the heat was over. It concerned me that I wouldn't be able to hear if the generator stopped. Silly me, the fan would have stopped too! I had no water either, being on a well with an electric pump. It's surprising how often we turn on the tap in the course of the day. Thankfully the water filled sump pit provided pails of water for the throne room to function. My little barbeque was utilized to cook up the thawed meat from my freezer: a bit of bacon and a couple of ready made burger patties made for a high cholesterol breakfast. All these perishables were tucked into an ice packed cooler. Memories of camping! We got power back Sunday afternoon. My back yard is piled with branches from the downed tree. It was quite something to watch the hydro folks clear and repair the line. Watching the news last night, others got hit by the storms a lot harder so it might be a couple more days for them. We North Americans are so blessed. All the things we take for granted: power, running drinkable water, cheap gas for our generators. We have a hydro company with men and women who often risk their lives chopping trees, repairing fallen lines so all of us can use those little receptacles in the wall. Concidering there were tens of thousands of people impacted by the storm here and in Quebec, to only be a few days without is amazing. Thanks to those who are working night and day. "But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs in distress." 1 Cor 6:4