A little town called Peace

There once was a person who enjoyed life. Each morning as the sun arose he would look outside at the wonderful colours of the sunrise. Red, orange, yellow and purple as the suns rays reflected off of the morning clouds. It was beautiful in this place called Peace.

Then one day a terrible thing happened. A storm came from out of nowhere. The clouds darkened a blackish green colour. The wind all but ceased. Stillness was in the air as all the birds stopped their singing.

The person got scared, but instead of staying in the shelter of Peace, he ventured onto a path - just a small path - called Anger's Path. At first, the path brought some relief. His back was now to the storm. Leaving Peace behind almost felt good. The storm was getting stronger, thunder, lightening and hail - but it was behind him now.

Looking up ahead there was a clearing...then another road - a road called Bitterness. This road was wider, smoother and well traveled. It went as far as the eye could see and the great thing was that it was going away from the storm. He walked, and walked and walked some more. Great distance was traveled, but no matter how far he walked...the storm was still in the rear. 

The person grew tired. It took a lot of energy and time to run from the storm. But guess what - Soon the person noticed that there were others. People just like him - People called: Loneliness, Hunger, Thirst, Pain, Struggle, Anxiety and Fear - All running, all on a road that lead to a place called Nowhere.

The person stopped to look back from where he had come, his heart sank - the storm was still there. The clouds where black and lightening flashed - but there was something else... In front of those black as night clouds a rainbow appeared. Red, Orange, Yellow - Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet - brilliant colours. Made more brilliant by the storm behind.

Then it hit him - Running from the storm of life was just that - running. If he had just rested in the shelter of Peace while the storm raged - eventually the storm would pass. The sun would shine and the birds would sing again. The air would be fresh and the flowers would bloom. Peace - the place that gives you shelter in the storm.

John 14:27 - Jesus said "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

What not to say...you cannot un-ring a bell

It's been a while friends since I have updated my Blog. I can't promise I'll be writing as much - things are really busy in my and my families lives right now. I had a few minutes tonight, so here goes.....About seven weeks ago, I had very unfortunate experience....this is what I had started to write, then I stopped...

"You see, my wife and I are expecting again and it is suppose to be a happy time. Funny how one persons happiness, is used by others to rip and tear you down. Some people just don't think...Or maybe they do think, but have no filter between the brain and the mouth? Here are some words NOT to say when someone tells you they are expecting: These are things that I heard in the last couple of days. I am not saying by who or whom, but I heard it more than once.

"I guess you weren't using birth control"

"Really, another one?"

"Oh No...you already have your hands full"

"I guess I should congratulate you?" "

So that was 7 weeks ago. Last week, I sat beside my wife in the hospital, holding her hand, crying with her as she miscarried. I now reflect on those words that were said a few weeks earlier... I am trying not to get bitter. I am trying not to be angry. But it reminds me of how hurtful and damaging words can be. So instead I reflect on how fabulous the nurses were. They treated my wife with compassion and professionalism. One of them cried with her, and they all showed amazing compassion. The doctor was caring. He was very helpful and forthcoming. 

Now here is part 2 of things not to say....this is what was said to me the day after the miscarriage to my wife. "You know, there is a new study out that siblings are 20% more likely to have autism if one sibling has already been diagnosed. So maybe this was a blessing?"

My wife responded - "Well you know that nothing surprises the Lord, so why would this child have to worry"

the response...."Well the Lord took the child...didn't He."

I was amazed....totally speechless.

I actually had to preach the next day. Emotions were flowing. Pain was in my heart. While I sat beside my wife, Jeremiah 29:11-13 came to mind.  

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart...so that is what I spoke on. A few verses on hope. A few verses of encouragement :)

I had studied and planned on speaking on Psalm 51. While studying, I read about King David losing his son with Bathsheba. When he lost his son, he said - "my son cannot come back to me, but I can go to him." That was on the Monday of the ultrasound....the morning we found out that the baby did not make it. 

I really believe that the Lord was preparing my heart for what was to take place over the next several days.

So in summary we will carry on -  trying to make light of what was said - looking for the best in everything. When all is said and done, it boils down to how you view a child. You see, I believe that children are a gift from God. They are to be loved, cherished, supported and cared for. They are not a "mistake."  You can agree with me, you can disagree with me...but you know what - I'm tired and not in the mood for a fight. Blessings to everyone of you that are reading this :)

Keep Looking UP ↑: Avoiding the obvious - God's Will

Keep Looking UP ↑: Avoiding the obvious - God's Will: "Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd Have you ever been going down the railroad of life...and your train becomes derailed? So many time, p..."

Avoiding the obvious - God's Will

Psalm 23 - The Lord is my Shepherd

Have you ever been going down the railroad of life...and your train becomes derailed? So many times, people seek God's will. Questions like - "What is God's will for my life?" "What does God want me to do next?" Where should I go?" or "Who should I talk to?"

I may be over simplifying this, but I think that there is truth to it....Maybe God's will is not so much the minute details, but the overall picture? Often we hear of God's Perfect Will vs God's Permissive Will. I think that this type of thinking can be frustrating to the average person.

Too often, I think that people use the arguement "I need to find God's Will" to do nothing, rather than to do something.  A lot of God's will is really clear when you read the Bible - Give to the poor, care for the sick and needy, help others, love one another, forgive one another, visit the sick and those in prison, seek peace, love the Lord.... Very clear - isn't it?

Today, when you are "Seeking God's Will" try a couple of the above suggestions the Bible gives. Maybe, just maybe, your train of life has become derailed not because you are Seeking God's Will, but because God's Will is being avoided.

The good news is that no matter what situation you find yourself in - God is not taken by surprise and He does not go into a panic because you make a "wrong" decision. God does not leave you when mistakes are made, but He remains close to you in order to help. He will turn things around to serve His purposes...It just may take a little longer than you or I want :)

Have a great day friends !

Interesting Canadian Facts - Eh !

Here are some interesting and fun Canadian Facts:

July 1, 1867 -Confederation of Canada

$1 574 000 000 000 Gross domestic product

34 502 000 population

12 400 000 houses

9 984 670 square kilometers in area

3 854 085 square miles in area

891 163 square kilometers of fresh water

559 105 Immigrant arrivals

381 382 births last year (2010) 

244 000 kms - length of Canada's coastline

7 604 kms - length of the Trans-Canada highway

5 959 meters - height of Mount Logan

614 meters deep - depth of Great Slave Lake

181 stories - height of CN tower

80.7 years is the life expectancy

48 feet - difference between high and low tide, Bay of Fundy

46 year old - age of the Canadian flag

40 C to -40C...Edmonton temperature range

24 Stanley Cups - Montreal Canadians

18 years in a row the Bluenose won the Fishermans Trophy

13 Stanley Cups - Toronto Maple Leafs

10 Provinces 

7 NHL teams

6 time zones

5 recognized parties in the House of Commons

4 Great Lakes

3 Territories

3 Oceans

2 official languages

#1 country in the World !