weary and burdened...

This week has been 'one of those week' when everything seems to be coming all at once.  It started off with the burglary on Sunday, while we were at church.  A pretty bold move for someone to break into our place and take stuff.  We've had numerous phone calls with the police, the insurance and contractor over the past few days.  All of this has left us a bit weary physically and emotionally.  

Yesterday we went to the fire ravaged apartment building of our friend who is in hospital recovering from her brain aneurysm.  She isn't even aware of what has happened to her place yet.  We were given a short amount of time to recover what we could.  A few items were still intact and we were able to get it out in the allotted time.  Our muscles ached, our noses and eyes were burning with the stench of the aftermath of a fire.  She had lost pretty much everything and no insurance to recover the rest of her belongings.  

As we were ready to load the things into our truck and head home again, the truck refused to start.  This was not a good time or place to have a breakdown.  We checked under the hood, under the truck, looked for all possible causes and even had a guy stop by to give us a boost.  All to no avail.  We had a mechanic friend guide us over the phone through different steps to diagnose the problem.  Still nothing.  So we called BCAA for road assistance and they came pretty quickly to tow the truck back to our car repair shop back home.  The mechanic found the problem and said that it would be a fairly quick fix, maybe the same day.  Well it is still in the shop.  The simple fix wasn't going to be so quick.  So now we're hoping it will be done tomorrow.

When we got home from town this afternoon we got the message that Howard's dad was in hospital with heart problems.  Things are pretty serious, and we just heard tonight that he has a 90% blockage in his arteries.  He is now undergoing a procedure where they try to put in stents.  We pray that this will be successful.  Howard's dad Carl knows the Lord as His Saviour.  We are comforted knowing that God is holding him and us in His hands during this time.   

We are weary and we cast all our burdens of this week on the Lord, who alone can give us his grace, peace and rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest".

Matthew 11:28

our treasures...

Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."


Yesterday morning, while we were at church here in town, our house was burglarized. If you have ever been a victim of such a crime, you may understand the feeling of being violated.  The idea of someone breaking into your home, your place of safety is unnerving.  Looking at the rooms that were rummaged through is a very unsettling feeling. 


Yes several things were taken, some of our earthly treasures.  But that is what it was "earthly treasures".  Things that do not matter in view of eternity.  Things we cannot take with us into heaven.  


And although we can replace most of the items stolen, it still remains earthly treasures or 'stuff'.  We already filed our reports with the police and the insurance company.  Hopefully our 'stuff' will be found or replaced at some point.


In the midst of this situation we are reminded again that our true treasure is in heaven.  We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.  He will supply all that we need in this life, but even more so He supplies all that we need for eternity.  He has shown that by dying on the cross for our sins, so that we may have life eternal.


I am praying for the person(s) who committed this crime.  They evidently have their heart set on earthly stuff so much, that they were willing to steal it from someone else.  I am praying that they will feel remorse and repent of this sin and perhaps find God.

Stands Alone Vision Quest...

We just returned from another Creator's Talking Circle kids club.  The school kids here are on spring break, and because of several birthday parties and other activities only half of the kids attended.  

We usually meet in the early afternoon and start with a meal.  Today we made the ever popular Sloppy Joes.  They came back for seconds and thirds :).

We were all seated in the circle when Howard stood up to tell the story of Stands Alone and His Vision Quest.  We were amazed at how quietly everyone sat and listened to the story.  You could have heard a pin drop. Believe me, it is not always like that during our kids clubs.  

The story was crafted in a Native context and deals with the issue of hearing from God. In average Native mythology, these spirit beings are venerated and the end of the story.  In this one, the animal spirit manifestations reveal that they have no real power, and the hearer is directed to seek God (T’kwalt Kukpi) directly. 

You will recognize some symbols of other Biblical stories interwoven in this story.  God puts Abraham into a deep sleep and God appears as a light.  Jesus said that He was the Light of the World.  It ends with a contextualized version of Micah 6:8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXvGxo5nR58

Spring is in the air...

A new season has started officially as of Sunday, March 20th.  Spring has finally arrived in our area.  After all the snow we got this past winter, it is a most welcome guest around here.  Mind you, we still have knee-deep snow in the shady parts around our property.  But in the last two weeks things have started melting pretty quickly.  And we breath a sigh of relief.  


Spring is probably my favourite season, if I were to pick one.  There is something about the smell in the air as the sun is slowly warming the earth.   Although not everyone would agree with me, as I found out in talking with another lady last weekend.  She told me that she hates spring time.  To her, spring is "nasty and muddy and the air smells rotten".  


Isn't it amazing how one subject can be experienced in such different and quite opposite ways?  To me spring is the promise of new life.  I love to walk around the yard and see bright yellow green buds sticking up out of the soil.  New life sprouting from underneath dead leaves.  And the air smells sweet and holds promise of hope and  life as the dead earth gives way to new life.  


As we see the new season unfold, we are reminded again of God's unfailing love and faithfulness to us.  We are given new life in Christ, through His death and resurrection.  We read it in Scripture and we can see and experience it in His creation.


Thank you God for your great faithfulness!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, 

Sun moon and stars in their courses above, 

sing with all nature in manifold witness 

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness

morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me.