A Promise and a Covering

Just returned from a fantastic weekend in Vancouver with the Hughes.  It really was a lot of fun, this time of year Vancouver and the lower mainland are coming out of their winter months - the cherry blossoms are starting to bud out on the trees. Meanwhile back here in Alberta a little bit of everything is happening; 4 new inches of snow then +7 and melting then it drops back to - 8  - so a little icy and a fog today as the plane landed at EIA.  

The folks managed fine while I was away. Though nothing was shoveled, Big brother came out to see them for a couple hours on the Saturday but for the most part just them and the dogs and it looks like they ate well enough.  Its noon - Mom's still in her PJs and Dad well he was up then laying back down till I got home.    The dogs were happy to see me home and Mom said they listened well.  Haven't seen the cats yet.

I do wonder how they would be if I were gone longer. Would Mom remember her pills, attend to the things Dad needs but wont do himself (eye drops, wound care, etc)  Or even take special transit up town if they need something.   I know that if Mom's gone Dad he won't do any more and that saddens me. When I say gone I do mean - to visit her sister (Claudette up in Little Smokey Ab)  and we don't want Dad to really go there too long.  Mostly because he has quit smoking and they all still do - in the house  and so it would be very difficult for him I believe.  His toe is healing nicely per the doctors and nurses that he's seen and of course his COPD is actually getting a bit better I believe.   But he doesn't do anything and argues if asked.  But will tell the brothers or anyone who asks yes he is doing stuff.  Well I guess kind of he is.

Yesterday while in Vancouver went with Teresa to church.  The pastor was finding up a message series on God and The Gospel -  Genesis  Chap 3 - 24.      Basically some notes I captured:   Eve was named Woman originally by Adam - but  then he re-named her EVE - which in translation means mother or giver of life - though she had not had any children at that time ... the premise of this name was based on God's Promise, and with the Certainty of the Future not based on the past.  The pastor talked about how we as humans to often are 'defined by our past"  not the certainty of our future.  

That is very interesting when we think about it,  how often do we let our failings or weaknesses hold us back?  Why do we do this.. it makes me think of the "Glass half Empty/or Half full"  it makes me think about sayings like --- When things are Too Good to Be True.  Really why do we do this because we base so much on the past... and also I believe we based it on the flesh - on people on experiences. Not on what God wants for us, "promises"   God calls us to not look back but to move ahead in Faith with trust of the Promise He has Laid out before us.      (Chew on that for a while it may change your whole perspective"    We need to shed the past.  The Shedding is the beginning of a greater promise to come. 

The message also spoke about clothing suddenly coming into the picture.  The pastor spoke of this and talked about modest covering -     I believe we are covered by Gods Grace and we can put on the garment of salvation. or The Armour of God all these things are meant to protect us from going into the weeds.   And those weeds can be anything.  They could be addictions, obsessive behaviours,   But we live in a time were Excesses and Stuff seem to begin to be identified as good accepting expectancies and status defining.   Are they really.   If we really look around -- what do you/I see when it comes to our 'stuff'   Am I covering my self with these things.  Are you?   The "...aholics"    - you know Work-aholic, substance abusers, how about where food and exercise are concerned.  Shop-aholics, Compulsive gambles.  Kids losing any form of social skills because of social media addictions - the selfie syndrome.   etc etc.  I think we get the point. Right.. So I found myself asking saying... Hey Self... am I covered the right way?

I truly believe God has me covered.  Even going through this new health diagnosis. I actually have a greater sense of peace - I don't know what the future holds... But  I do know  -- God does promise there will be Trials.  He's not ultimately responsible for them I think.  But by having Hope and Faith in God, He will carry me through these trials to fulfill His eternal promise.

There was so much more said in this message, But this is the hope I knowingly walked away with -- my Faith is firmly planted in Jesus.  The story has been written for my life and I do have a Promise from Him.  I am covered and so in faith I will take each result, or worry that comes and lay it has His feet.

I do not need to fret or worry (try at least) I can have a sense of peace in this -  and as Pastor Derrick Tapper says (Burnette Fellowship a very long time ago)  "Joy is a Choice"

I choose Joy not sorrow or worry.      Carry Underwood sings of  'My temporary home" and that this is.

I love my friends dearly and I know many will not understand this way of thinking.  But many will as well.  I welcome feed back and dialogue and I pray those around me may also come to acknowledge the Promise of God and His covering.

Let's begin again

  Re-Birth    - Spring #startingover

So lots has been going on lately.. surprisingly - since 2011 some very major changes. I started this blog not long after I moved back to Alberta and up to Cold Lake, AB.

Since then I changed jobs 3 times and moved twice...Total nomad. Actually work opportunities moved me from Cold Lake to Lloydminster and then changes with my family brought me full circle. Now living back in the town I grew up in - Spruce Grove. I have a home with my aging parents and my roll has shifted from being a successful financial advisor to - full time care giver/support person. This job has no manual and is pretty much 24/7. It doesn't pay in cash but it does pay in Love.

Hence here I am in my days trying to keep up with the medical / normal day to day, and other needs that the folks have. I am also trying to retain some form of normal, missing my quite solitude.  I started to paint again  - ART THERAPY - Fluid Expressions.  CSaur Art.  I have quite the collection started and so its time to begin to turn this therapeutic hobby into a bit of a business.   I've had several people prompt me to do this, so it's taking the steps to set up my little Artistic adventure. 

So there are some other reasons as well to begin the Blog again.  The Lattes and Lasting Impressions was conceptually meant to be a spot to insight some conversation.  And so while I've been away - the question is do I start a whole new blog site?  I'm not really sure.  What will the content be - how to brand that. Soo much to think about  which is good I need the distraction. :)

Area 2 for blogging -  topic:  When the Child become the Parent (#childbecomesparent)   this is all about the shift that is happening for so very many baby boomers - those in the 5th - 6th decade of life.  Our parents are now 70+  and there are some real issues taking place.  Transitioning a senior   to a Independent, Assisted living or trying to modify the home so they can stay there longer and bring in the extra care that is need.   It's more than Homecare assistance and a housekeeper.   The planning for Personal Directives, POA's and Will - what is the estate plan - who will make the decisions for our loving parents when they cannot.  The Financial stuff - that to comes with its share of questions and queries and who do you go to for that help?   The social changes that take place  - When they can no longer drive themselves and the simplest tasks are no longer simple.  These are real and tough discussions.  Advocating for a Senior is a real deal and the one thing I've learned -- there isn't a lot of specific help in this area.    So I decided its time to blog about it, and it may well be a business to develop.

Area 3 - when things like "C" are put into the vernacular of what you Dr is telling you.   More on that later. Right now it's all a mystery and under investigation. 

 

So what will 2011 hold

So I've decided now just a mear 16 days into the new year to start thinking about what types of things I'd like to see happen in 2011.

I was reading back down this tiny little blog I started 2 years ago...all the good intentions to be diligent in adding posts. But then.. life and Facebook jumped in. :) Yes we do seem to spend a lot of time on FB. Our Social Network...but how social is it really? That'll be a subject for another post... however I confess I just got busy with life.

Now as the temperature warmed outside to a balmy -20C and the snow falls lightly... I'm thinking about this coming year. What kinds of things would I like to do or accomplish this year. There are a lot... so picking the priorities will be important. The whole idea of "Resolutions" ... well that leaves me in a quandry... probably because there are just so many things I could set a resolution about... but maybe it's Keep it Simple... pick just one or 2 that may be realistic and achievable. First though I think I'll start by heading out to get some fresh air and shovel snow! Happy Sunday..

"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" - Phillippians 4:13 (NIV)

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

What happened to 2010

Oh my.. what happened to last Year.. OH well let me just say... since Sept 2009 -- took a course, passed Canadian Securities, Applied for and was hired to take on a new position with ATB in Cold Lake, AB. Back to working with Clients helping them with investments. So that means I made a move from Edmonton. Love Love Love it up here. Moved in Aug 2010. Spent a good part of the fall with cousin's golfing, and with working meeting all kinds of people, in the communities of St Paul, Elk Point, Bonnyville and Cold Lake.



So now I travel between branches all week and while this is a bit scary in these cold snow winter months. The area around here is so lovely. Cold Lake is also the largest functioning Military Air Base in Canada... and well the jet fighters are always in the sky on training missions and that is very cool to see as I'm driving around.



The Cats have settled in to their new life. We have a little tiny house, which was built sometime in the 1940's It's small... and cozy. But I'd like it to be a bit bigger and well, since i'm just renting.. that's ok. has a nice big yard. I've taken on fostering the odd dog from the humane society - this has been fun, and fortunatly the one's that have come to visit have been very good with the cats. This is Jules (aka Sadie) she was a lot of fun and is still up for adoption. She didn't make a sound it was surprizing. But was very well mannered. If I had a yard and this were my own place. Totally would adopt her.

So what will 2011 hold... lots of fun this RRSP season. I'll be crazy busy. Hopefully I'll hit my goals and get my production bonus. Beyond that... I hope to get back ot being more active... looking forward to golfing this summer, making more friends.. and i've not made the steps yet... but I should chek out a few churches in the community. Lastly.. find Maverick in the midst of this community.. ... Prospects are looking good@ ;)

The coming of Fall

Wow what a week here in Edmonton. It has been truly amazing that at the end of September, on the first day of fall, the temperature rose to 34 degrees celcus here. Amazing for this part of the country.

Now working all day in an air-conditioned office meant not really feeling the 'heat" but when I left "job #1" to head over to "job #2", well the heat was obvious.

But now the the equinox has passed, there has been an obvious shift in the weather patterns. It's cooler and last night the winds must have hit gusts of close to 75Kms. As I listened to it whistle through the closed windows, I was a bit unsettled, but then I was reminded of a day back in BC when the winds were blowing and a good friend of mine mentioned how she loved walking on windy days, cause its those days things felt very alive. So I guess things were "really alive" last night, but probably not a night to be out for a walk, unless perhaps a good sandblasting was in order.

So now the trees are rapidly changing color and as the winds blow, their limbs are starting to become bare. All part of that natural order of life that God created. The bounty, harvest is here. And the winds will move seeds and pods to different places in the soil and the birds and small critters are preparing for winter, starting to fly south or store seeds, nuts and berries in safe places. Soon the winter snow will cover the ground, the frost will wrap those tree limbs thickly and winter hibernation and slumber will be here. But it is in these quiet times of winter these very things are being prepared to take root and sprout in the spring. Quite amazing really.

So one of my favorite things to do this time of years is take a drive in the country or walk through a park, enjoying all the colors. And I some times marvel when I'm luck enough to see one of Gods creatures in harvest or in formation flying south. This is beauty unbetold.

I love Autum and I thank God for creating this season, where He brings so much color to the canvas around us. But can you imagine, if He gives this to us each and ever year....what will it be like in Heaven?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xwzItqYmII

Sunday Morning Reflections

Since moving back to Alberta I've not yet made the step into a new church. And while I've used the internet to try and research some churches in the area I've not physically made the move. It has become easy to sit back on these Sunday mornings and just be lazy, sleep in, ease into the day. And it's not that there really is anything wrong with that, as I've been able to listen to messages by some of the tv-vangelists (Dr Swindoll, Joyce Meyers, etc) which have been good, but it's that time of community that has been missed.

I think there is a blessing that these Christian ministries do bring forward especially for those people that are home-bound for whatever reason. But I also know that God wouldn't want my time with Him in worship to be restricted to the confines of my 4 walls and being outside of a community of Christian's. So its time I moved "off the couch" and make my way through the doors of some of the churches in the area. And I've drafted a list of churches I would like to start visiting:

• Beulah Alliance Chuch,


• Edmonton's City Center Church,


• Harvest Vineyard,


• North Edmonton Alliance,


• Fellowship Baptist Church

And I'm a little afraid, I'll be honest, I'm not good at walking into places alone, which is silly because I'm not really. That must be the enemy poking at one of my buttons, cause he knows. But I'm casting that aside today and I will begin the journey of searching for that new home church.

I did however enjoy listing to Joyce Meyers message on the internet this morning.
09/6/2009 Living Without Frustration
God doesn’t want you to live a frustrated, miserable life! Joyce will share with you that God’s grace is available to help you through any circumstance—big or small—that may come your way. http://www.joycemeyer.org/ourministries/broadcast/

The link is above and the message was on "living without frustration". I reflect on this past year (actually couple years) since I moved away from the lower mainland in BC, and I've had a lot of changes. I believe these moves were/are part of Gods will , as I was able to spend a wonderful year in the interior of BC at my folks farm and now back here in Edmonton reconnecting with my brothers and their families as well as my extended family here and old friends from school.



But I've been frustrated in all this change and perhaps its because I've not settled into a good routine and I had pre-conceived expectations of what life would be like with the change. I started a new job, so there is always a learning curve between the job function and working with new people. The great news in this, my on boss is a Christian and in that he and I have had some good conversations that revolve around life with Christ vs life without. I'v'e also moved 3 times in the city since arriving. Why.... all because I was relying on myself or listening to others and I was looking at what I didn't/don't have and not what I have. Not spending the time with God, during these time of change asking Him to show me what His will is for my life I believe has had a lot to do with the frustration I've been feeling.



So in this message from Joyce I apperciate the refernces she makes in 1 Corinthians 1 = 24 - 28 Two points in particulare she makes - Trusting not Trying and not confusing your "Who" with you "Do" and thats a big point specially for me, and perhaps for others who'll read this post.

So in reflection....I ask God to help me and be my guide through this and it's Him I trust...because He will never forsake me or leave me. And those are powerful words!

• Psalm 9:109:10 (New International Version)
  10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
• Hebrews 13:5b (New International Version)
  because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
• Deuteronomy 31:6 (New International Version)
  6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Relying on myself, my 'wisdom' on my own has caused this frustration, but in Christ, walking in His will and trusting all He has, that frustration will be removed. I can do nothing without Him and on that the frustrations of this world while it may come, it will no longer be insermountable. Amen!



Now that is a "lasting Impression"

All scripture and passages are reference from http://www.biblegateway.com/
1 Corinthians 1 - 18 - 30
Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[c]
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

Image above is a painting by Karen Winters :http://www.karenwinters.com/pages/landscapes.html from Pasadena California. I love her style

Sweeter than Chocolate - Online Bible Study

I am very excited that a good friend and sister in Christ has decided to bring Pam Gillespies Bible Study called Sweeter than Chocolate into an online forum! What a great idea to provide a spot for those of us registered to come together, especially those of us miles away, to explore this study, Gods word and create some lasting impressions as we learn together.

Thanks Cathie for putting this together, I so looking forward to the study and reconnect with my good friends back in BC.

Carrie

PS: check out http://www.precept.org/site/PageServer?pagename=homepage to find out more about this study

Starting over

Back in MR BC a book club called Lipstick Lattes n Lasting Impressions was started. Designed for a group of avid readers who met once a month to discuss the love of books. There was much more depth to this group and hence the name. Lipstick was to represent the ladies who joined, Lattes as that warming element that brought the group together for a while and Lasting Impressions for those things we each would take away from our time together. Whethere it was from a character in a book we were reading or just a story we were sharing about something that happened on the way to the grocery store. It really didn't matter in the end, what we had was some time to be together, enjoy our lattes and find a common ground to build our friend ships.

It would be my hope that now living in Alberta perhaps a similar forum will begin.