It is really EASY?

It'sNot as Easy as it Looks
By:  Rachel (me) 

It's easy to pray for people's Salvation -- 
     It's not so easy to show your faith.

It's easy to give some money -- 
     It's not so easy to give your life.

It's easy to send a missionary -- 
     It's not so easy to go.

It's easy to sit in church -- 
     It's not so easy to stand up for Christ

It's easy to hang up our church clothes
     It's not so easy to hang up our hang-ups.

It's easy to open our Bibles -- 
     It's not so easy to open our hearts to the truth

It's easy to love our neighbour -- 
     It's not so easy to bring them to Christ.

It's easy to dress the part -- 
     It's not so easy to live the part - daily.

It's easy to reprimand -- 
     It's not so easy to accept criticizm.

It's easy to talk about holiness -- 
     It's not so easy to LIVE HOLY. 

HAIR today!

My daughter LOVES to have "fancy" hair do's, but I have to admit - I am NOT a creative person when it comes to hairstyles.  When I was a kid my mom put my hair up in two pony tales every day.  Functional but not very fancy (and that suited me well, as a tomboy!).  My princess, however, wants something nicer.  

I want to list for you a few savers that I have come across! 
The following sites are dedicated to offering ideas for hair-challenged moms of young girls like me!  If you're looking for something fun for your child's hair, check them out!  

The Story of  a Princess and her Hair 


Redpunzel 


The Red Door Salon


Adopt a Do' 


 Babes in Hairland

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!!

43 Days until Christmas!!

(just in case you were wondering) 

To Lancaster and Beyond!

We headed off to Lancaster this morning!  We went to the Amish heritage museum, the quilt museum, the Lancaster market, Quilt stores, Bible bookstores, yarn stores, the pottery place, some other Amish craft stores, and headed up to Strasburg to see the trains, too!  (just for Sir J), and Bird-in-hand!  What a fun and busy day!  It was wonderful to spend the day alone with my husband - something we don't do much of.  We talked and talked and talked - one would think, after 12 years, that there would be nothing left to say, but somehow we found enough!

Back to "real" work tomorrow!

Off to Harrisburg!

We are off to Harrisburg, PA again, for two weeks of training!  Since we have brought in 85% of our support (actually we're almost at 90%), and I have completed my second course (with a 91% grade!) we have been invited to attend Field-Preperation Seminar with ABWE.  It is our last training session before we head off to the field!  England is getting closer!  It is for parents only, so our children are staying with Grandma and Grandpa - I sure hope Caleb behaves himself!

We decided to come down a little early and take a couple of days to look around before our training begins since at the end of the course we'll have to rush back home.  Today we went to Wolfgang chocolate factory in York, PA.  We couldn't take pictures inside of the process, so I have no photos for you.  It was interesting to see how the treats are made - we actually went right down to the plant floor and could even talk to the workers!  There were a lot of regulations we had to follow in order to go in - no jewelery, no bags or purses, covered hair (and beards), etc.  I have to admit, it took a lot of willpower not to dip my fingers in the melted chocolate - it looked DELICIOUS!

As a side note - if you ever get the chance to try their chocolate covered raspberries and blueberries - they are fantastic!

Taste of the Nations!

We attended a fantastic outreach event today for a local church!  We were asked to set up a table of England items and tastes of British foods to represent the country we are planning to minister in.  There were about 14 other tables and couple there as well - all with foods that were common in the areas that they minister in.  People were invited to come in and taste whatever they wanted and learn about the countries!  It was so much fun!  We made sausage rolls, fruited malt bread, Walkers Crips, crackers with marmalades, shortbread, custard creams, English mints and licorice, as well as some lemon barley water to drink.  

Sir J, with his grandmother's suggestion, brought along a huge tote of Thomas the Tank Engine wooden trains.  After setting up a few around the table, he began to build a track on the floor out of the way from the goings-on.  Within moments, there were 10 other children "helping" him build a track - and more children came!  While their parents chatted and visited, Sir J hosted his own "train ministry"!  I counted regularly, and at highest count he had 25 children playing, and others continued to come and go.  On the way home he asked if he could have a REAL train in England - he thinks that would attract even more kids! 

Simple Thoughts from Simple Me

I want to be used by God.  I want God's glory to shine through me.  

Acts 3:1-11 is the story of a lame man who was healed through Peter and John in Jesus name.  This man had been lame since birth, and at the time of the story he is thought to be about 40 years old.  He had been lame for 40 years.  I'm sure he learned how to cope with his lameness.  I'm sure he found a routine of getting himself down to the gates to beg.  I'm sure he had figured out who could help him do the things he needed to do, but that doesn't minimize the truth that he had struggled and suffered with this disability for four decades!  Not only did he suffer, but his family also would have been responsible to care for and help him - they shared in the suffering!

As Peter and John walked by, he asked them for money - alms.  They had none, but instead they healed his lameness in Jesus name.  Could they have known what the reprocussions of that healing would be?  The Bible states plainly that, as a direct result of this miracle, 4-5,000 people were converted!  This lowly, insignificant man was used for God's greatness in an incredible way!  

Why did this man suffer for 40 years?  Why did God allow him and his family to experience this?  His suffering allowed God to be glorified in a way that his health likely wouldn't.  What an incredible God we have!  

Lord, I want to be used by you, Let your glory shine through me!

An Interview with Royal Children

I interviewed my children with some random questions.  I love to hear how they answer - it gives up so much about their personalities!

Sir C - 2
Lady R - 5
Sir J - 8 



Question: Which of your dreams to you remember?
Sir C - doggy and dinosaur!
Lady R - I dreamed of a rainbow.  I drove in the car and followed the rainbow all the way to Grandma's house which was at the end of the rainbow!

Question:  Have you ever seen shapes in the clouds?
Sir C - doggy and dinosaur! 
Lady R - I've seen dolphins, Unicorns and even an alligator!
Sir J - I saw the dolphin too!  And I saw a whale

Question:  What did you do in Mommys tummy?
Sir J - Swim, grow, dream
Lady R - Sleep, lay down, swim around, think about food

Question:  What are your favourite smells?
Lady R - Roses, candles, trees
Sir J - Bacon, erasers, strawberries, croissants that have just been baked

Question:  What do you do when you're bored?
Sir J - Read, colour, play games, play on the computer, look for bugs
Lady R - Play with polly pockets or dolls, make cards, find my brother, ask for a banana

Question:  Where would you like to live?
Lady R - In a castle in Hamilton
Sir J - In Manitoba in three appartments all stuck together to make one house

Question:  What kind of pet would you like to have?
Sir J - a cat, a dog, a parrot, an ant farm, a fish and a turtle
Lady B - a pink bird, a bearded dragon and a turtle
Sir C - a dinosaur and a puppy! Oh, and a pink turtle for the bathtub

Question: What is your favourite thing to bake?
Lady R - Strawberry muffins, carrot cake and playdough!
Sir J - Banana muffins with chocolate chips and banana cake

Question: How can you tell that you are growing?
Sir J - I can touch more
Lady R - I get to shop for new clothes!

Question: What foods do you not like to eat?
Sir J - tomatoes that are not in tacos, peppers
Lady R - peppers, onions, alligator stew, monkey ears
Sir C - nothing, I eat it all. Can I have a banana?

Question: What kind of pictures do you like to draw?
Lady B - flowers, rainbows, cars, ponys, weddings
Sir J - Calendars, houses, eggplants, people, vehicles
Sir C - dinos and puppies!

Question: What can Daddy do really well?
Sir J - he can make coffee, tea and toast and play hockey
Lady R - he can talk on the phone and buy chocolate and drive and talk to people

Question: What is your favourite book?
Sir J - I love the Animal Ark Series!
Lady R - Princess search and find
Sir C - Thomas the Tank Engine

Question: What animals do you think are cuddly?
Sir J - cats, puppies
Lady R - Butterflies, parrots and hampsters
Sir C - birdies and penguins

Question: What kinds of things would you like to collect?
Sir J - light sabers, Bible man stuff, games, toads, frogs, books
Lady R - Shells, gems, jewels, cats, dogs, bunnies, roses
Sir C - dinos and puppies

Question: What can you do better then your parents can?
Sir J - Run, jump, get into small places, play mario cart
Lady R - Ride a bike, play Skippo

Question: What can you do to make people laugh?
Lady R - say funny words, talk like a bunny and tell jokes
Sir J - laugh, riddles, and do tricks

 Question: What makes you mad?
Sir J - when someone bumps my arm and I mess up my picture, when no one likes what i do, when someone picks on my brother or sister
Lady B - when I have to go to bed, when I have to clean my room, when I’m not supposed to talk

Question: How many children would you like to have?
Sir J - 4 or 5
Lady B - at least 8!

Question: What kinds of things do you like to touch?
Sir J - cool floors, bumpy toads, fuzzy caterpillars
Lady R - wool, playdough, bunnies, eyelashes, babies

Question: What makes you sad?
Lady R - getting hurt, when I can’t play outside, people who are mad at me, sleeping alone in my room, when Mommy and Daddy are away
Sir J - when I don’t get treats, not seeing my friends, when my toad dies, when someone picks on me

Question: What things do you want to keep forever?
Sir J - my Bible Man movies, my Bible, everyone who loves me, and my markers
Lady R - My necklaces and bracelets, games like skipbo, all my pretty dresses, my mommy

Question: What are some things that you would like to do really well?
Sir J - read, draw, jump, stand on my head
Lady R - Swimming (I swim like a mermaid), play checkers, and take care of animals

Question: What would you like to be when you grow up?
Sir J - World’s best soccer player
Lady R - Rose picker or a vet


 

Practice makes perfect!

I hear myself telling my children so regularly  "PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!"
Practice your soccer drills and you'll be better at soccer
Practice your music and you'll play better
Practice your phonics and you'll read better
Practice your flashcards and you'll be better at Math
Practice, Practice, Practice!!


So, does that work in all walks of life?
Practice sharing your faith and you'll be a better witness
Practice worshiping God and you'll have a better relationship with Him
Practice praying and you'll be a better prayer warrior
Practice saying "NO" to Satan and you're concience will be stronger
Practice, Practice, Practice!!

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!! 

A lesson in Giving up Self

We visited with a couple who had been moved to North America for work from Germany.  Jeff asked "Do you want to go back to Germany?"  He meant "Do you miss Germany?".  The answer of the wife - moved by her husband away from a close family and everything else familiar - struck me to the heart.  She explained that she missed Germany, the customs and her family, but she was intentionally content where she was because God had placed her family there.  Even though she'd love to go "home", if God moved her family elsewhere she would be content there also.  Where she really wants to be was where God wants her.


FAITH IN REAL LIFE

Ford Rouge Center

The church we are visiting this week, for missions conference, took all the missionaries on a "family day" trip to the Ford Rouge Center. Sir J was especially interested to see how the trucks are made! We were actually able to tour the factory to see each part of assembly. We even got to see the World's Largest "living" roof! Very neat! Sir J was a little disappointed at the end of the factory tour, however. When we toured the chocolate factory the children were given chocolate treats at the end of the tour. In the Crayola factory they received crayons. At the pretzel factory they tested pretzels. It made sense, then, to him that we should have each received a truck at the end of the tour! All in all, it was a very educational day, and a good excuse to not do school for a day with the children!

Children's Museum

We found a Children's Museum nearby our hotel.  There was so much to do!  There were two "child" restaurants, stores to buy the food from, a farm, a bank, a post office, a firetruck, a couple of other emergency vehicles, a working bee hive, a sandbox, a dress up and theater area, a learn-about-television area, puppets, several building areas, music, and so much more!  I loved the amount of information that was given to the children about each area - a real learning experience!  At the end of the day there was no fighting with the children to go to sleep - they went willingly and quickly.  It's been a long but fantastic week!  We are gearing up for another week-long Missions conference that will start on Sunday!

Grand Rapids Zoo!

Since we have some time off today we told the children that we are going to spend the day shopping!  (just kidding!  You can imagine how excited they would be at that idea).  Since the children were so well behaved during the missions conference, despite the very late nights and high expectations (that we, as parents have for them), we decided to take the day to do some fun things for them.  The John Ball Zoo seemed like just the thing!

It was a quite day at the zoo, so we were able to wander and enjoy with no crowds!  When Lady R spotted the flamingos she dragged me over to the water area shouting "Mommy, they really DO stand on one leg!"  She was quite amused!
Her favourite animals, however, were the penguins.  She was able to stand outside the clear tank and watch as they dove down into the water - I think they were showing off for her.  As she ran alongside the tank they followed her back and forth, going up when she stood up, and down when she crouched down.  She sure wanted to take them home!

Sir C enjoyed the monkeys - they made him laugh out loud!  When he jumped around making monkey sounds they copied him! 

Sir J enjoyed the tigers, leopards and lions.   He took notes in his little journal book about them all so he could look them up in the animal encyclopedia when he got home.

It was such a fun experience! 

A Friendship Gained

God provided a friend for Sir J this week.  The grandson of the people we stayed with, a sweet boy named Colin - 7 years old and homeschooled, too!  Since both boys were homeschooled Sir J and he were able to play together at Colin's house a few times this week - as well as hanging out together during the evening sessions at church and going apple picking together on Monday!  They formed a good bond.  Today, as we packed our car to leave the area, Colin came over to say "goodbye".  I think it was tough for both boys!  Sir J is learning to type this year for school, so they will be able to keep in contact via the e-mail.

A Lesson in Faithfulness

We visited with an an amazing lady who lost her husband and two grown sons (each seperatly).  She continues in mourning, and yet, is not angry.  She has daily, hourly heart pain, but yet no bitterness.  Her daily (and often hourly) prayer is that God be glorified through her pain and heartache - and already He has, as she encourages others who have had losses, and witnesses to the friends of her son, bringing them to Christ.


FAITH IN REAL LIFE

It's a bird.... It's a plane.... it's SEAGULLS!

We had some time off this afternoon from a busy missions conference, so our gracious host suggested that we take a walk along the dock and feed the ducks - she even provided a bag of bread for the children! 

The day was lovely - just a little cool, and the dock was quiet.  We walked for a while before Lady R spotted three small ducks floating in the water.  They looked hungry enough, so the children began to toss some bread over the side to them.

Literally, within second, the air was black with thousands of screaming "mine" birds!  (Nemo anyone?) They dove at the ducks in the water, and at us!  With no shyness at all, they flew past the children, grabbing the pieces of bread right from their hands!  I've never seen such bold seagulls before!  We grabbed the children by the hands and ran for the car - behind us ran and flew these persistant white birds.  We tossed the children in the doors without even bothering to buckle them in, and jumped in ourselves.  As we sat, panting and laughing in the car, the seagulls came all around us - on the driveway, on the top of the car...  just waiting for more bread!  These gulls had gaul!

Love your Pastor

Today is Pastor Appreciation Day, and with that I have stolen borrowed the following acronym from my pastor on how to develop a good relationship with your pastor.

P - Pray for your Pastor

A - Assist your Pastor

S - Support your Pastor
T - Thank your Pastor

O - Obey your Pastor

R - Respect your pastor

How can YOU bless you Pastor today?

Two weeks of Missions Conference

We are off to Michigan for two week-long Missions Conferences.  We arrived this evening to our hosts home and were greeted by a warm woman who said to the children "Take off your shoes and I'll show you where the toys are."  She must be a grandmother!  What a wonderful welcome after an 8-hour drive!  It was a 2-hour wait across the border today - doesn't usually take that long!  We are excited to be here and are looking forward to the next weeks.  I pray that we may be a blessing to those we visit with and minister to.

Are you SINLESS?

There has never been one moment in my life when I have loved God as He ought to be loved.

Jesus has always loved us SO Much more then what we deserve.

"Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength"

Jesus did - at ALL times - do we?? 

How much time is your FAITH worth?

The Israelites offered sacrifices (and there are several different kinds, not just the sin offering), cared for sacrificial animals (which would require daily care), as well as other rituals for cleanliness and food care that are dictated by the old testement laws.  The faith took time - a lot of time, in fact!  

How much time do we spend engaged in our faith?  While it should be an hourly (even moment-by-moment) occurance, reality says many of us do our little 10-20 min devotions, spend some time in prayer and say "ok, I've 'done' my faith for today, what's next on my to-do list?"  We treat our faith and our relationship with God as something to accomplish in a day and be done with.  How much time to we spend in true confession of sin?  How about worship? 

I think sometimes we get into the "fix it quick" mentality, but learning about God, having a relationship with our Lord, worshiping our KING just isn't that way.

Slow down today and consider - If God has top priority in your life, then just how much TIME is your FAITH worth to you?