My financial picture has been tested as of late and as such my wife and I have looked very closely at it. Over the past year and a half we have been filtering out the things in our lives that we didn't need.
The past few months have been really tight. Don't get me wrong we are doing well but there is nothing left at the end of the week so to speak. More and more I am getting an increasing desire to not spend money on things that are not valuable. My wife and I started changing things about a month ago.
We started with our groceries. I really struggle with groceries and food quality but I will save that for another day. We have been praying and discerning what Gods design is for buying and eating groceries. You see I have high cholesterol and if I don't get it down within three months I will need to go onto some medication to get it down. So we have been looking very seriously on what a healthy diet is. We have pondered our past and our grandparents who lived a good ripe age. They ate well. They didn't worry about too much carbohydrates or protien or calorie counts. They ate in moderation. So we have decided to start doing that. We also really felt that pageged food is a killer. You pay a whack of cash for some thing that would cost you a fraction of that if you only made it yourself. Instead of buying a package of noodles and sauce for $1.50 we buy a 1 Kg bag of pasta, and add ingredients we can make from scratch. Our grocery list consists of potatoes, pasta, and rice. Misc meats, loads of produce and dairy. That's it. If we want desserts we are trying to make them. Next fall we hope to be baking all of our kids snacks for thier lunch while at school. I am experimenting with homemade breakfast cereals. I made granola a few weeks ago and it turned out very tasty. Any way that only one example of what we are doing in this process.
I am starting to realize that as a Christian I can live on way less than I think if I truly buy what I NEED. Do I need Gap jeans, or is a good quality pair from winners or Walmart just as good? I am at the point right now where I am really weighing where my money is spent. I'm not sure where God will lead this but I do know that he will honor it. The bible talks about God giving you all that you need and out of that God will give you more to give away. It's fun actually. I may not be the best clothed person and our meals may be basic, but with raising a family of 7 on one income, I am learning the secret of being content. I think that learning to live on less is a great discipline for us. It will turn off the desire or need for instant gratification which causes debt. Oh man do I ever wish and pray that I will be able to teach this some day and bring other people out of their financial pit...But God knows.
The House of Commons voted 158 to 133 to adopt controversial legislation that will make Canada the third country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
Let us get on our knees and be the church God has called us to be in this hour.
The prophet Elisha is my hero. He saw things that I can only dream about at this point. Everything that I do I try to see things through Elisha's eyes. When the King's army surrounded Elisha's camp, his servant came out and freaked. "Holy crap, we're doomed" (in modern english) Elisha came out, stretched, poured a cup of coffee, and looked out into the distance. He smiled and prayed "Oh Lord open my dear servants eyes so that this man may see" And then the servant looked out again and saw God's army surrounding the enemy.
I want to be able to see was is being said or done behind the scenes. I get into situations where I am hearing people talk or watching them (you can learn a lot about someone by simply watching them. I love doing that.) and I start to see the bigger picture as I like to call it. I am by no means there yet but it is the desire of my heart to see through situations and to be able to speak to that which I see.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
This verse was and is a promise from Jesus when he returned to his disciples following his resurrection. He does not say "you will receive power" but he does say "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" The second part of this verse is also a promise as he says "you will be my witnesses". In both places he states "You will". There is much authority and power in those two words. Authority in that the statement is not wishy washy, it is direct and subtle. "You will" point blank. "Power" in being what is behind the statement as he says "You will". He promises, he predicts (or prophesies) he declares, he stands on it. In the last part of the verse it says "in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" He picks out three places out of the whole world to use as his example. Why? Because it was the regions that they knew.
I broke it down in definition:
But: An alternative given, following a direct statement.
You will: Portrays authority and power. Is a promise. Gives hope.
Receive: Something given by another openly.
Power: A great force controlled by authority. When the: is a holding statement, used to link two combinations.
Holy Spirit: the Holy Spirit is the sactifier who frees us to lead new lives. (2Cor 13:17) Comes on you: is a personal statement. Is periodic (comes). To be filled with. And: not completely finished, more to come.
You will: Portray authority and Power. Gives more hope.
Be my witnesses: to be called forth to testify what you have seen and heard. In Jerusalem: within their midst, among their own. And in all Judea: A bigger goal, bigger picture, bigger challenge. And Samaria: Same as above.
And to the ends of the earth: Every unreached people group in the world.
No deep thoughts tonight. Too busy to think or write. Here is a sample of my week.....
Monday- worked 8 hours, went home, ate, ran out to a prayer meeting, met with a friend for coffee
Tuesday- met a friend for breakfast, worked 8 hours, had a board meeting, took my kids to the flood covered river.
Wednesday- Worked 8.5 hours, came home for supper, going out for a 2 1/2 hour support time (work), coming home for 1.5 hours to say hello to my wife, then going out for another 10 hour support shift (more work).
Thursday- work 8 hours, . rush to an AGM that will last till 9, pick up my son from a birthday party, meet with friends for coffee.
Friday-meeting a freind for breakfast, working 6.5 hours, rushing my daughter to a birthday party, coming home so my wife can go out with her girlfriends for the night, picking up my daughter from the birthday party. Come home and get some "ME" time.
Besides that, my week is free if anyone wants to make plans with me.......NOT :)It's all good though as it's all a part of the whole management process....will explain later.....Bye I have to be at work in 12 minutes.
I have noticed lately that I have needed to refresh blogs once I load them in order to get current posts and comments. Does anyone else find that?
I have a friend that is closer than a brother (well spiritually he is but you know what I mean). His heart is to bless and find good in other people. When you are down he lifts you up or if he doesn't know how to respond, he listens very well. His heart is sold out for his family and next to his relationship with God his passion is for the spiritual lineage (I hope I spelt that right Jeff) of his family. He is very real and has the freedom to be real when thing are great and not so great. I am truly blessed to call him friend and he has walked close beside me for 4 years. (for the past 4 years outside of a six month stint for me to care for my family, we have gotten together every week). If you want to find out what a true friend is, get to know this guy. Who is it you ask? Firestarter
The other night as I was spending time with God, he was speaking to my heart about owning my convictions. He was saying that it is not good enough to lay my foundations on what people write or what other people teach or say. He was telling me that he has great plans for me but I will not get there until I get my convictions firmly planted. This means that I need to get deep into the written word of God and expel it's truth. I also need to spend time in the presence of my almighty God. There is no other place that God wants me to get this foundation. I will also build a stronger authority in Christ as I truly stand of my convictions for myself. This makes sense to me as I have been very unsettled and hungry for more of God's word and truth in my life.
Today was a wonderful day. I started off having breakfast with a great friend. I then went to support a guy that I dont usually get to spend time with alone. We went swimming together, then relaxed outside of the pool in the sun. I came home to make my family pancakes, then took them all to cranberry flats (my wife went out tonight with the flower lady) .
I came home read them a chapter in a book on the prophet Elijah, then put them to bed. Just as my kids went to bed Rene the Rugrat came over for a visit. We had a great prayer time and some good fellowship....Oh and he brought me some Tim Horton's coffee. Finally when he left I put my beautiful baby boy to bed. Now I am posting and about to make Pasta Salad. I've never made it before but am going to wing it. Tomorrow I get to go to Pike lake for the day with work.....I tell you times like these make life worth living.
I realized that I have not linked attention to my son's blog. Please feel free to comment and encourage him.
I have thought about this for quite some time. Now I dare share it online. I beleive that the gay & lesbian debate hitting our nation is a direct result of a curse that our nation is under. I look at God's last word in the Old testiment.(KJV) Mal 4:6 "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse". May I be so bold as to say that the reason that we are wrestling with gay marriage is because fathers of old have not turned thier hearts to thier children? Fathers of old did not protect and raise up son's and daughters who were confident in who they were. Daddy wasn't daddy, so now they are going out looking for thier daddy love any way that they can. It is only seen as homosexual. If daddy of old would have shown affection, given leadership in thier home, and built up the family, I do not believe that we would not be in the place where we are. God promised a curse on the nations if the hearts of fathers and sons were not united. I am more convinced that in order to break this curse over the nation is to be the fathers we were called to be. No smite against mothers but it is man's role to lead. If we don't we cannot expect our wives to go there and nor should they. If we want healing in our land, we need to get on our knees and repent for our fathers of old and turn our heart to our children in order to reverse the curse and bring healing to our land.
Lawn mower:
I am a firm believer in trusting God for things. I believe that he owns everything and allows us to use some of his things. I believe that he put me in my house in Riversdale (the inner city) (second best to pleasant hill) I believe that he provided my family with a wonderful Safari van. This leads me to my post.I have no lawn mower. I own (or at least will own) my house and cannot cut my grass unless I rely on someone else to lend me their mower. Last year I think I only cut my grass 6 times. I am not ashamed to ask for help so this year I have been asking people if I could use their lawn mowers. Unfortunatey the first two I borrowed didn't work. I borrowed one today from a freind in my community, and it worked great. My wife mentioned that there was another family that offered thier mower as well. The mower I borrowed was an old mower but man did it sound good. I love the sound of old ratty engines, Espescially if it smells like gas. (must be a guy thing) Anyway my point is that as I was cutting the grass, I was chatting with God and saying "You know God, your house really needs to have the grass cut, do you think you can provide a mower that I can have in order to cut the grass weekly" That was cool because I want to have the faith in God that he will supply all of my needs.Clothes:Okay a little long winded but bear with me. I have one pair of pants and one pair of shorts, a few shirts that I have had for years that are worthy to be seen in. I have not bought clothes since the fall of 2003. It is not that I dont like shopping for clothes (in fact I like it more that my wife) it's just that after all the bills are paid and the kids are fed, there is not much left over for the extra's. God has been so faithful in keeping our clothes on and in good repair. My friend in Calgary is baffled by the way God cares for us. Clothes are another area that I am trusting God in because in my job it is crutial for me to dress well as I represent the company as I am out in the community. Please do not read this as a cry for help, it is a testimony of God's faithfulness. And in trusting him for needs. Well I feel that I have exhasted myself here so I will stop with this."Gods work done in Gods way will never lack God's supply"Amen
