Life Changes

I know I posted awhile ago...seems like a lifetime ago ~smile~....about no longer being able to care for children in our home due to my medical issues and wondering what my next step would be. I just thought I would give an update on that.

I did look into a retraining program which is an awesome program that the government has to pay for people to be retrained when they are no longer able to do the job they were doing because of layoffs, medical issues etc. I was in the midst of applying for this when it occured to me that it just wasn't the right thing for me to do. I had been having mixed feelings since the beginning and the more I got into it the worse the feelings got, so for various other reasons as well I let that plan go.

I couldn't figure out what kind of job I would be able to do without lifting anything and also one where I could still be here for my family, look after our home and have the freedom to have time off when my hubby did. Those kind of jobs are mighty hard to come by! ~smile~

Then I realized that when I was working outside the home the kind of work I enjoyed most were the times I was cleaning and organizing. Then it occured to me that I can clean my own house with slight modifications to how I do things to make sure I don't lift anything heavy so why couldn't I do that at other peoples houses as well?

So that is just what I did. I placed an ad in the paper for a couple of weeks and put up ads in the two grocery stores. The result is that through the additional help of word of mouth my schedule is almost full of clients and I am loving my new job! I am still here to look after things at home, care for my family and am still able to have time off whenever I need it. As an added bonus all my clients are in town so I do not need a vehicle to get to and from work and I will not have to drive the highways in the winter. Both of those were added concerns of getting a job outside of the home, since so many others in our area have to travel to other towns for their jobs.

It has been a hard few months getting my life back on track and changing churches in the midst of it all was tough too but we are on the other side of it all now and life is great! God is so good to us, to lead us onto the right path for our family and to also bring us to a church where we can worship together as a whole family for the very first time....what an incredible blessing that is. How grateful I am.

Blessings,
Liisa

Picture from www.allposters.com

Friends

I read something a few weeks ago that really hit home for me. It was on a plaque in a shop and it said "Don't let grass grow on the path of friendship."

Wow...what a picture that paints for me of a long neglected path winding through the woods of life overgrown with the grass of neglect.

I realized that due to my life being hectic and so many changes going on that I had let that happen to my friendships...and at a time when I really needed them most!

I had been talking to my hubby about how much I need fellowship with other Christian women and lamenting the fact that our new church is in another town and we do not have much opportunity to really spend time with the people there outside of Sunday services. Then I realized that perhaps the reason that I had been feeling the need for fellowship so strongly is because I had let friendships go in my life.

One of my friends and I recently saw each other at a funeral for another dear friend. We realized that the last time we saw each other was at another funeral several monthes earlier! How awful that is!

One of my other close friends I used to talk to almost every morning on the phone before my family was up and after her hubby left to go work on the farm....I somehow haven't found the time to even fit in a phone call. ~sigh~

Life has been busy, full of change, issues that have bogged me down for a time and all those things have been hard and kept things hectic but it is long past time I broke out the lawn mower and cleared those paths of friendship! How thankful I am to have realized this before the paths had grown over to the point of being impossible to find again.

Do you have any paths you need to clear? ~smile~
Blessings,
Liisa

Picture from www.allposters.com

Soup Kitchen

This morning I am going to help at the local soup kitchen and I thought I might share a bit about it in the hopes that others will start the same type of ministry.

This one all started when there was a fire downtown. It took out two buildings and damaged others before the firefighters were able to get it out. The fire started around 7:30 in the morning and I called my friend to let her know what was going on as she lives outside of town. We realized that there were people displaced who lived in those buildings and needed somewhere to go while this was going on. My friend Nancy contacted her pastor and the doors of her church were opened to anyone in need. Food and coffee were served to those poor people and over the next few days it became obvious that there was a bigger need here. These people did not have much and were often making use of the food banks to get through the month.

It was then that the idea of the soup kitchen came to Nancy - why not help these people and any others that may have a need on an ongoing basis. With church approval she opened the doors of "Soup and More". These loving people serve meals from 11-2 on Mondays and Wednesdays. The media got involved and donations and food have been pouring into this little church from all over the county. Volunteers come from many different churches to help and the people both those helping and those coming have been blessed!

As the name indicates this ministry is about more than food. Volunteers spend time with these people sharing their troubles and their lives and most importantly sharing the gospel. A couple who has been there from the first meal the day of the fire has been faithfully attending church every Sunday and every other time the doors are open! A man known as "the biggest drug dealer in town" has accepted the Lord! So many people are being reached that no one has been able to reach before. Hearts and lives are being changed!

We were all unaware of the needs in our own town before that fire. We had no idea that there were homeless people in our town, that people were going hungry for days with no money to purchase food for even the most basic meals. We live in a prosperous little town in the middle of farm country. We were blind to the needs around us.

Perhaps you or someone you know would like to start this type of ministry! Pray about and seek God's will! ~smile~

Blessings,
Liisa

Let Your Light Shine!

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

These words are found in Matthew 5:14-16. One thing we need to always remember is that the lost are watching us. Be honest when they see you are they seeing the light of Christ in your life? How can we let our light shine?

Appearance. This is one key way. When people look at you are they thinking what a lovely woman, what a modest woman, what a clean woman, what a well dressed woman or are they thinking EEEWWWW! or holy moly her whole chest is going to fall out of that top, or wow that woman should not be wearing that outfit or she looks like she just crawled out of bed. There is no excuse for dressing poorly. You may have a house full of little ones- this is no reason to appear in public in pajama pants and slippers. It takes no more time to toss on a nice easy care outfit than pj's. You may not have much money... no excuse - I always shop for my clothing second hand. You can find beautiful clothes in pristine condition if you just look. You may feel that you look your best in super tight clothing and revealing skirts and tops - you don't. You are leading men to sin by wearing that kind of clothing.
Matthew 5:27- 30 says...
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
Strong warning isn't it.

You have heard the saying "cleanliness is next to godliness" Well, cleanliness is so important in your appearance. In the image you project to others. Take care with your personal grooming. Strive to always look your best. You are an ambassador after all!
Smile, be happy, let it show! You are a child of God! There is no need to run around looking put out, or grumpy, or with a frown on your face all the time. Life throws us tough stuff sometimes but when you are having good days let the world know! There is a lady in town that my son used to call "the smile lady" when he was small. Whenever you see her she is smiling. It makes you want what she has! Even a small child had noticed this!

Your speech is another way your light shines before men. When you speak be sure you words are sweet and full of love not harsh or crude. There is never a need for "potty words". The way you talk shows the condition of your heart.If your heart is not right the things you say won't be. Honesty falls into this category as well. If you lie to someone one day are they going to trust you when you tell them about God the next?

Your actions. In all you do, do it for the glory of God. When you work, work hard. When you are having fun be sure it is good, clean fun not something you would be ashamed to do before Jesus. When you encounter people be open and friendly. Reach out to those in need, to your neighbours, to those you meet each day. A simple smile and "good morning" can brighten someone's day. Be open and take time to talk. You may have noticed the lonely older lady waiting in line, strike up a conversation. The over worked mother of young ones can use a soft word of encouragement. There are so many opportunities each day to be kind, don't let them pass you by. If you can go even further and volunteer somewhere. Not everyone is at the stage in life where they can be free to do this (remember your home, hubby and family come first)but if you do have a bit of free time bring some light to a seniors home, help at a school, charity shop etc. You never know who God will place in your path!

Through these things you may be given the opportunity to speak to someone about the gospel. People are drawn in to the light of Christ, they can see it in you when you let it shine before men and they will want what you have!

Let your light shine!
Blessings,
Liisa

Temptations

No not the singing group! ~smile~ This morning in the email study I send out we are reading Matthew chapter 4 and that got me thinking about temptation. Here are some thoughts that were running through my mind and some scriptures I found....

We all face temptations and some are really really hard to deal with and resist. God however knows this. These verses are speaking about Jesus.

Hebrews 2:18
For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Isn't that amazing news....Jesus understands and is able to help us! Some I know think if they are tempted that they should be ashamed and try to hide it but you cannot hide from God. He sympathizes with our weakness, He is able to help us!

How can we get that help? These verses explain that we should pray and ask for help. Lay it out. Be honest. He knows all about everything anyway.

Matthew 6:13
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Resisting temptations and growing stronger moves us further down the narrow path, toward God. Trials and temptations are no fun but can be necessary for Christian growth. The good news is the Bible tells us God is in control and won't allow to be tempted beyond what we an bear.

James 1:12
[ Loving God Under Trials ] Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

We need to know where these temptations are coming from. God allows it and won't let us be tempted beyond what we can bear but they do not come from Him.

James 1:13-15
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.


What else can we do....well this verse makes it clear that we need to watch ourselves when we are with others. Certainly we want to help the lost but we need to be so careful that we are not pulled down with them. It is so easy to pick up the habits of those we spend time with to spite our best efforts. I truly believe that bad association can cause you to fall away if you are not careful. My advice would be to limit time spent with those whose behaviour leads you astray and when you are together use that time to try and draw them away from sinfulness and toward God. If you are worried about them not being your friend were they ever if they'd leave you over refusal to partake in activities or behaviours you know are wrong? One more thing to think about is that we as Christians are to be a light to the world in order that others may be drawn to us and be saved from eternal torment in hell. This is no joke. If you love your friends help them. What kind of light are we when we are running around in the darkness ourselves? Some people refuse Christianity because they see that the Christians they know are hypocrites. They go to church on Sunday and act very religious, or act that way around their pastor or church friends but the minute they aren't they are wallowing in the same pit of worldliness and sin as the unsaved. The lost are watching us. They are looking to see if life as a Christian is worth the effort. They want to know what difference God has made in our lives. What do they see when they look at you?
Galatians 6:1
[ Bear and Share the Burdens ] Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

Blessings,
Liisa

Baby Sloth

Isn't he cute! Just had to share! ~smile~


Blessings,
Liisa

Work Outside the Home?

I find myself in an icky place :( I had surgery to correct some "womanly issues" two months ago. I took those two months off from babysitting in order to recover. I had planned to welcome the little ones back next week. That won't be happening now. I received the terrible news that will no longer be able to care for children as I can no longer do any lifting. It took me quite awhile to be able to mention it without crying and even now if I think about it too much I cry again. No more little ones. We were only blessed with one child and childcare was a way for me to still have the house full of children I longed for. That is gone now.

Sooo, after all these years I need to find employment doing something where I won't have to lift anything. All the time I worked outside the home I longed desperately to return home full time. I had started working outside the home when my son went to grade one and I so regretted it but found myself (as I am sure many women do) stuck there. Suddenly we "needed" my income. And now here we are needing my income and I don't have any!

My sister has suggested I apply for a retraining program. This would be fine as I have notes from my doctor and the agency I worked for stating that I need retraining but retraining to do what?

My whole life all I ever wanted to be was a wife and mother. All my high school courses were geared toward that goal. I took every single home ec. course I could! I never wanted a career, I never wanted to work outside the home.

When I became a Christian I read in the Bible that God means for women to be "Keepers at Home" How can you be a keeper at home if you are not at home?

I am praying and trusting God for His leading as I know He knew about all this before it ever happened and that He has a plan for me. How grateful I am for my relationship with Him. I could not imagine what it would be like to face uncertainty without God. To have my life turned upside down without the assurance that God is with me through it all and that just because one door closed doesn't mean a new and better one won't open. Only He knows what lies ahead...I wait and I trust.

Blessings,
Liisa

P.S. I welcome any thoughts and ideas you may have. ~smile~