My life in 2010, my future in 2011

Some of the Barley we rouged

Well it's the last day of 2010. It has been an interesting year to say the least. Changes overwhelmed me this year. And for you that know me, I don't adjust to change very well...but we'll get back to that later... I started a new career in the agriculture industry. It has intrigued me...agriculture...One thing that I always have noticed is that the Bible is so full of agriculture imagery. And because of my new job, it has become more alive and relevant. Quite a change from what I was doing for the previous 10 years working in a factory.

I now know the process of cleaning, grading, packaging, planting, husbandry, harvesting and storing wheat, oats, barley, and soy beans. It is very labour intensive. My first 3 months I piled close to 60,000 (55 lbs) bags of seed...but I lost over 40lbs I feel better than I did 20 years ago!

This summer I had the privilege of supervising 19 of the brightest, honourable and dedicated students a person would ever want to work with. They were my fellow rougers. We worked the fields, walking close to 20kms a day for the summer months. Making sure that the grain was the purest as possible. Needless to say, the CFIA passed every field that we worked in on the initial inspection and at the highest grade possible.

It was during this time that I began to realize that God was calling me to become closer to Him. The majesty of His creation stared me in the face every day. I realized how blessed I am to live in Canada. I remember saying to the students...”Do you realize how blessed we are. Here we are, walking in the sunshine, and not having to worry about unexploded mines or bombs under our feet. In a lot of other countries, farmers are regularly killed or maimed while doing exactly what we are doing.”

Nothing like putting things into perspective :)

All this time, my family was and continues to be very supportive of me. It was a big change for them also.

To be continued...

Pray or Complain....part 2 of 2

One important thing to remember is that the journey is just part of the process. It enables a person to grow and develop as you continue to press towards the goal. God knows what your needs are and will provide in His way in His timing. Think of how God has provided and cared for you in the past...Why would you doubt that He would not do it again. Think back to difficult situations that were tough when you originally were going though them, but in retrospect, you recognize that you saw God's hand in it for good.

So today, thank Him...thank Him for how He has worked in your life. Thank Him for His sovereignty as He continues to work in your life. Go to Him with your problems and allow Him to minister to your heart. Pray....there is nothing in your life that is going on that is out of God's control. His love is from everlasting to everlasting. By praying to Him, you are acknowledging that He is more powerful than you - you realize that He is greater than any problem that you have and He has the power to intervene.

The Israelite s allowed their past (We had it better in Egypt) bleed into their present ( we're at the water and we can't drink it) and it polluted their future ( a 3 month journey turned into a 40 year journey)... Don't allow your past, bleed into your present and pollute your future !

The conclusion is this...In all your circumstances praise Him. 2011 is almost here. There will be challenges, trials and adversities that will come your way. What are you going to do? I trust that you will seek His face, trust in Him, and cast all your cares to Jesus.

Pray or Complain - pt 1.

Life is always full of challenges. Just when we think that everything is going smoothly and according to God’s plan, we are faced with a challenge, something that causes us to feel inadequate once again, something that causes us to seek His direction and strength. It didn’t take very long for God to give Moses and the children of Israel some challenges that would stretch their faith and patience. With 2011 being just around the corner, I want to look at what Israel did when a problem confronted them.
When Joseph was originally in Egypt, he was an honoured guest – He and his family were exalted. Over time however, the Israelite s became more numerous and overstayed their welcome. - Life is a series of steps. And just like a step – it is a place provided for you to move. You've never seen a person living on a step, because that is not what a step is designed for. - And the Israelite s were not suppose to be living in Egypt – It was not the land that God had given Abraham – so God turned up the heat on Israel...sort of encouraged them to get back to where they were suppose to be.
Moses becomes their leader and leads them out of Egypt. I want you to think for a minute what that would look like...a few million men, women and children...with all their belongings....walking across the desert. Then they make it to the Red sea... Water in front – Egypt's military behind them..And what do the people do...Complain...Exodus 14 tells us about it....

10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Escape through the Red Sea

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelite s can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.
God opens the sea and the Israelite s walk to the other side. Let's take a minute and look at this...Have you ever thought what it would be like to walk with 2 walls of water in each side of you?
After they safely made it across the Red Sea – they had a 3 month journey to the promise land. 3 months...
God had just delivered Israel from Pharaoh. They were free from the tyranny that they had been living under for 215 years...(430 years from the time God gave Abraham his promise). God had delivered them. They were ready to live a new life, in a new land. They were praising God and singing songs to Him…until there was a slight problem. There was no water to drink. Instead of continuing to praise God, they began to grumble.

What happens when the bottom drops out of your journey?

What happens when you see were you are to go, but you are not there yet.

Do you give up on your dreams?

Do stay stuck?

Do you go back?

Do you give up on your destiny?

What do you do when you are on your journey from Egypt to the promise land and plans drastically change?

To be continued....