Hello 2011!

I know… I know… I am a few days late on the resolution post.   But when your laptop is getting “adjusted” by your techy husband so that it is more performing in the end, I think this is a good reason for being late.

So 2010 is gone… and now we are in 2011.

I was debating what to do for this year for a devotional.   Reading through the Bible last year was challenging but it has been completed.

Now what?

Well, I had an idea in the back of my mind but it would take me too much time to do it and my priority is my kids for the homeschool.

So I decided to go with my 2nd idea.   I will be going through Mornings and Evenings with Charles Spurgeon (published at New Leaf Publishing) while still reading through the Bible but this time following the Chapter a Day suggestions.    I am also reading the daily devotions in the On this Day in Christian History published at Thomas Nelson as well as going through the Praying God’s Word cards from Beth Moore.   And I will continue to journal on a daily basis.

Consequently, I will go through the major events in the Bible this year, discover Charles Spurgeon, learn more about church history and pray more.

So welcome 2011.  I look forward to discover what God has in plans for me, for my husband, for my kids and for us as a family.  

Psalm 23

I am part of a mom’s bible study on Thursday mornings at the church I am attending.   We are going through psalm 23 and create crafts at the same time.   The first craft we made was a painting of a lamb. 

This painting is based on Psalm 23:1.   Let’s read the verses together.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.”

What does it mean not to be in want?  For me it means that God knows what I need and provides.   And this year, he did indeed provided in unexpected ways – on the homeschool front especially but other ways as well.   

In the painting, the lamb represent me hence the reason why my name is written across it.   God is my shepherd – He guides me, protect me, provides for me.   He is there with me at all times.   The red on the background represents the blood of Christ who died for me.   Around the edge of the painting, the scripture is written in French and at the back the word TRUST is written.  

The second craft we made was a little garden which we decorated with various things.  

This craft is based on verses 2 and 3 of the psalm.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.   He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

A little path of rocks is going from one edge of the pot to the other.   This path reminds me that walking with Christ can bring some bumps in the road sometimes.  But the important thing is to trust him no matter what happens.   The bench reminds me to slow down.  To rest.  To spend time with him on a daily basis.    The word love reminds me that He loves me deeply.    The two birds represent my husband and I.  The other bird is hiding under one of the leaves but if you lift it you will see that it is sitting on a nest with four eggs – my children.    I also put a frog there…  for a while I wonder why I put it there.   I thought it was cute.  But then I remembered the acronym F.R.O.G.  “FULLY RELY ON GOD”   How appropriate!   The sic yellow flowers represent also my family.   And the ladybug also represent me – ie the Canadianladybug that is!  *grin*

We are currently working on our third project.   I am having fun meeting with these women and talking together while doing our craft.    It permits me to have some adult time while the kids are in the homeschool room and doing homework.   

I needed this time and I am forever grateful to be able to be part of this bible study.

Discovering God through Arts

Have you thought about expressing your worship through the means of Arts, whether it is singing, dancing, drawing, acting and so on?

Well I think it is a wonderful way of serving our Lord.    And I personally like the drawing part and the acting part.

I don’t act much but I used to do it more when I was in high school.   Yes that’s me in secondaire 3 while I was acting the main part of a little thing at the Collège de l’Assomption.

The years have passed by and I didn’t do much of acting anymore.   Until a few years ago when my husband was preaching about the trinity.    I was acting as though I was his daughter asking him question about the trinity.   Unfortunately I don’t have pictures to remember this.  

Drawing is something I discovered a few years ago.  One of these days I wish to take some painting lesson.   But for now, I will stick with crayons and pastels.

I know there is room for improvement.  But expressing my faith through Arts is something that I love.

I am currently in a bible study of Psalm 23 with a group of women at the church we attend.   Throughout the weeks, we will also create three crafts.    I am enjoying the Thursdays mornings very much.  

How to you express your faith?

Psalm 148

 

*To see what the Lord is teaching some other sisters in Christ check out the Walking with Jesus Meme over at Guiding Light Homeschool.

Have you looked around you lately? I mean really look at what is out there…

Recently I was reading Psalm 148 which is a praise Psalm for the God who created everything. And I realized that wherever we go, whatever we are doing, we can see God’s handprints around us.

Think about it a minute…

Love

Marriage

Babies and children

Sunsets and Sunrises

Ladybugs

Witnessing a turtle laying her eggs

Birds, fishes, animals and insects

Nature

Trees, plants and flowers

Wind, rain, snow, and any kind of weather

Mountains

Fruits and vegetables

Us – human beings

Anything and everything that surrounds us shows how God was creative and ready to do anything for us to discover Him. God has thought about every aspect of each created things; complexity, purpose, originality, colors, and the list could go on and on.

When a child discovers and explores the world, he sees everything with new eyes. So why as adults do we miss all this. Perhaps we don’t take the time to stop, observe and discover God with brand new eyes. Have you done so lately? When was the last time you saw a sunset or observe ants for that matter?

Go out today and look around you as if you have the eyes of a child. It could be in your backyard, on your street, in the park down the road, in the field, in the forest – anywhere. Go camping with your kids. Discover fishing. Enjoy taking a walk outside or biking or simply sitting down on the beach and watch the waves come in. Go visit tide pools, take the time to admire each animals you encounter whether in the park or at the zoo. Smells the roses (and other flowers too!). Go pick strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, apples and any other kind of fruit or vegetable that you can go pick yourself. Smell the dirt. Dig your toes in the mud after a rain. Go dance in the rain. You will discover a God who loves you dearly and who wishes to spend time with you. Take the time to thank Him for all the created things in the world. And praise Him. Wholeheartedly.

This free picture collage generated with Smilebox

Technorati Tags: Walking With Jesus,Inspirational

Walking With Jesus

*To see what the Lord is teaching some other sisters in Christ check out the Walking with Jesus Meme over at Guiding Light Homeschool.

This week was though on me.   I’ve been dealings with mostly downs.   And it hit me bad about two days ago.   And then I remembered…

“ Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”  PROVERBS 3:5-6

Many Christians know this verse by heart.  

But it is always good to remind ourselves about the truth in it.

Trusting someone we don’t see is hard at times – especially when you don’t see what is in the future.  But God knows better than us.  He knows what is needed in our life and what is good for us.   So no matter what, we need to trust Him.

If I depend on my own understanding when I feel blue and depressed, then I might do something that will harm myself.   When you hit bottom and are teary eyes and can’t seem to see a positive side, it’s hard to think “happy” thoughts.

I’m fortunate to have an husband who is there for me.   And to be reminded – thanks for my daily readings – that God is always there no matter what is going on in my life.  

Why did I felt depressed this week?   I don’t know.  Maybe not having enough time for myself, too tired, and realizing that finding a church family is taking longer than I would have liked.   So I cried out to my Father in heaven and asked him to direct us to a church where we can growth, have friends, support and love, where we can get involve and make a difference, where the kids will be comfortable and make friends too.   

I’ve read somewhere that when you are looking for a church, it can take up to a year to find something for your family.   I will not get discourage.  I will trust God that He will bring us to an amazing church. 

In the meantime, I will continue to read His Word, meditate on it, let God speak to me and homeschool my kids.   This is my calling for now.   And I plan to embrace it fully.

Oh! And I sense that God is guiding me to get to know him better by registering to a three-year program going on in a church in town.   I’m looking into it right now.   It is once a week from September through May and I would be among adults.   The only thing that is bugging me is that it is at the other end of the city which means lots of travelling.    So I am thinking about it, praying about it and considering it.   But if God is directing me on this path there must be a reason…. don’t you think?

PS I’m glad that my sisters in Christ participating to the Walking with Jesus like the button I created last week. 

Walking With Jesus

A fellow blogger participating to the TOS Homeschool Crew is having this interesting Meme going on titled Walking With Jesus.    And this year as part of my blogging experience, I want to write more by participating in some of these meme going on around the blogosphere.
The idea behind Walking With Jesus is quite simple.  You have to blog about a Scripture verse that has been with you throughout this week, or yesterday or today.  Quite simple and easy to do.
So for this week, while doing devotions a verse struck me.

“Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.  Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.”  Psalm 131:2

Some of you might wonder where I am going with this but what struck me was the notes attached to this particular verse.  The notes are taken from the Transformation Bible.
Here’s what I’ve read…

The simile of the weaned child is a beautiful picture of the meaning of humility and maturity.   Hebrew children were weaned at age three or four, and this experience marked the end of their infancy.  But most children do not want to be deprived of mother’s loving arms and satisfying breasts, and they feel rejected and unwanted.  But after the crisis of birth, each child must eventually be weaned and learn the first lesson in the school of life: Growing up involves painful losses that can lead to wonderful gains.

Then is went on for part b of the verse with

God’s goal for us is emotional and spiritual maturity (1 Cor 13:11; 14:20’ Eph 4:13-15), and God sometimes has to wean us away from good things in order to give us better things.   Abraham had to leave his family and city, send Ishmael away, separate from Lot, and put Isaac on the altar.  To accept God’s will in the losses, and gains of life is to experience that inner calm that is so necessary if we are to be mature people.

Then I asked God the following questions…

• is HEAT a painful lesson for me?
• Why don’t I want to let go?
• Do I need to let go and grieve?
• Then we will have wonderful gains…?

For those of you who are wondering what HEAT is (or was), well it was our church plant.   We tried to plant a different kind of church in the downtown area but with the lack of volunteers and regular attendants, the church didn’t took off.   At one point, we had to shut the doors (back in November 2009) due to the leadership team being too small.    Since then, I’ve  been struggling, trying to convince my husband to restart but to no success.

So after asking these questions – I sensed a YES in my soul.   I need to let go.  I need to grieve HEAT and let go.    Let our baby go.   Peace swept inside me.   I share with my husband and he feels at peace as well.  
Since this, another leader expressed the wish to take over with his wife.   Maybe it was meant to be.   They are more gifted to reach out to the rave community than us in many ways.    However, we have told them to have at least 20 regular people before re-starting the church services and that we would be willing to be mentors for them – things we didn’t have when we planted.    HEAT is planning an event in July with a DJ coming all the way from Pennsylvania.    And another event are in the drawing for September.   We will participate as much as we can – encourage the team to pursue and continue to reach out.  

Hubby says a rock has been lifted up from his shoulders.   Me I am still grieving.   But I am encourage that God will bless us in the process.  The seed has been planted.  HEAT is recognized for their cool decors and clean raves.   Let me tears grow the seed now.   

I’m heartbroken.   I pray that God will also bring us to a church family who will love us and uplift us.   A church where we can get involved in ways we cannot imagine right now.    Amen.

I've also took the liberty to create a button to go with this blog post.  

Palindrome Video

Majestic trees

 The reason behind the title of this blog is because oaks can become majestic trees, strong, sturdy, and have life in it.  Oaks produce fruits that squirrels and chipmunks will feed off.   Oaks can also welcome birds and their little ones in their branches.

 I like the idea of oaks so much that I decided to name my home school Oak Grove Academy.  I want my kids to stand strong on the Word of God, to follow the Lord wherever He will take them and to trust Him with every aspects of their lives.   I want my kids to plant seeds of hope around them, show the love of God through their actions and become a beacon of light for others in this dark world.    I want my kids to be open to anything God will bring on their plates.   I want my kids to have compassion for others and be willing to sacrifice what they have for the ones who need it.

My kids had some money put aside.  But when disaster stroke Haiti, they wanted to do something for the people there or anyone in need.   This week-end, we went on the Samaritan's Purse website and clicked on their Canadian catalogue.   They bought small animals as well as Bibles and Gospel Storybooks for Children.   We also added gift of good health for a family as well as support a church and pastor.

The kids first question was "Are we going to receive the animals, feed them and then send it to the poor?"   So cute.  We told them the animals will go directly to the people in need.

Now, they are working hard around the house without us asking so they can get more money to spend to help the poor.  Over the week-end, while we were busy with something else, we heard the vacuum.   They were cleaning the first floor so they can get more money for the poor.  Priceless.

I'm proud of my kids.   I pray God will continue to guide them and speak to them.

Blessings

We are blessed lately.

Beyond measures actually.

2009 has been a hard year for us on many levels.    Our church plant was struggling and we had to shut down for a couple of months.  The business had troubles due to lack of contracts and we had to lay off our employees for a period of time (this is hard when you know some of them have kids... sigh), we battle the dark depression both of us but not at the same time (thank goodness)...   this is only to mention a few things that was going on.

But this brought us close to God as well which is VERY good.

In the last month, we have been blessed twice with our finances.    It's incredible what God can do. 

Okay to give you a bit of perspective, let me tell you about the business.   We are in the IT world building databases for clients in the area.   Well back int he Spring 2009, the federal government has changed the rules concerning contracting.   Back then we wanted to release LobsterNetwork so we didn't worry too much when we were not getting calls for contracts.   All three employees were working on LobsterNetwork and that's what we wanted.    But then September arrived and we sensed something was bizarre.   No calls.  Now to think about it - it was a while since we had calls...  Mmmm!   Not good.   We learned about the changes then.   We had to layoff our guys.  Sad time.  Very hard time.   OUCH!

But then contracts came in.   We re-hired the guys.   Problem is the money don't usually come until a month or two later.   Mostly a month later.   So we are still in a thight spot even though we have contracts.  We are getting out of it slowly but man it though.

Recently, we had a business bill to pay.   But how should we pay it when the money is low.  We pay the employees no worries about it.   We usually take the hit as we pass the employees first.   So we had that bill to pay which was about 1500$ or so.    I know about the bill but not the amount.   One day I go to the mail and bring back an envelop from the government for the business.  Inside it a refund cheque for the GST.  Believe it or not the amount is 5$ less than the bill we had to pay.   God is so good.   We had forgotten about the refund we were supposed to get.... and it arrived exactly when we needed it.  Amazing!

It will be taxes season soon here in Canada.   So since we know the amount of our donations, we did a draft to see how much would we owe in taxes.   We had put aside some money back in 2009 to cover this but when times were hard we had to use some of it.   So we needed to know how bad the situation was.  So we do the taxes and we just couldn't believe our eyes.  I was emotional at that point.   A good emotional that is.  Why?  Because it turns out that we don't owe much but instead we shall receive.    Unbelievable.   God is indeed good and takes care of us.  

Then because we are still not out of the thight spot we were in we talked about the essential things we needed to buy for homeschooling.   There was MathUSee books for Alexandre and Jérémy (we already have Dominic's book), Easy Grammar for Alexandre as well as some French things to get for Alexandre and Dominic.   Oh and don't forget the renewal for RVHEA and Homeschool Legal Defense.   So that were the basic things we needed to get.    I also had some things I had accumulate from previously.  And I was blessed with good things from my first year on The TOS Homeschool Crew.   Well about a week ago I was asked if I could rejoin the crew for the remaining of the year since some people have dropped off.   I said yes because I know it is good.   What I wasn't expecting is how blessed I would be...

The first products I received (via email) were from Home School In The Woods.  It was the Olde World Style Modern and Ancient Maps: World Maps AND the Old World Style Modern and Historical Maps: United States Maps.    I was looking into it and realized the quality of the product.   I had tears in my eyes.  I was indeed blessed beyond measure and I just couldn't believe that I had a wonderful geography tool to use with my kids.   I won't tell you more about it because I will write a review soon on Canadianladybug Reviews! - if you want to know more about it follow me there!   Something else came up for me to review, Math Galaxy has a bunch of software to review.   And from I see it looks pretty good...  Then there will be Educaching which looks really cool.

So I am not worried.  God will take care of us.   I am blessed indeed.   Thank You Lord for taking care of us, the business and homeschooling. 

Returning to your first love

We have this series at church right now about returning to our first loves... like evangelism, reaching out to the community, prayer and so on...
Anyway, I have been returning to my first love as well in the last few weeks. For the second time this Sunday I was in a skit and LOVE IT! Okay there was the usual stress before going on the stage and the fact the English is not my first language (I am French-Canadian...) but I just enjoyed myself.
I used to do plays when I was in high school and cegep (equivalent to beginning college in Quebec). Then when I went to university I stopped for whatever reason...
A few weeks ago my husband and I made a skit about the Trinity. I was playing the little girl and he was my dad. It was fun. This time, Shawn and I did a skit on evangelism presenting the idea of the fun cruise tied with the Way of the Master. Again I enjoyed myself... Fun Fun Fun!
For those of you who would like to know more about the Way of the Master please check their website... Remember Kirk Cameron from Growing Pains. He is part of this new way of evangelizing people. We went through the basic training and loved it.