A GUEST!!

I am very excited to announce my first ever guest blogger!  I met Amber when we moved to Barrie about three and a half years ago.  We really started getting to know each other when I went on mat leave and she replaced my position (don't tell her this, but she does a MUCH better job than I ever did:)).
Amber has grown more and more dear to me as I have had the privilege of hearing all about her journey.  Each time we meet I am always so encouraged by her and what the Lord is doing in her heart.  I see a  surrendered heart, love for Jesus, vulnerability, love for her husband and a true desire to want what Jesus wants...no matter what.  I know this hasn't been easy for Amber and this is why I asked her to share.  I believe we can all relate to her, maybe not in the area of children, but in other unfulfilled longings we may have.  I know that you will be encouraged by her story.  I have also attached a video of Amber and Tyler.  This was played at our church a few weeks ago.
By the way, Amber sings BEAUTIFULLY!  I don't have much of a musical ear, but I believe this journey has even grown this gift in her all the more.  I wouldn't be surprised if we could buy her cd one day. :)  Thanks for sharing Amber.

Hearts Longing

First I want to thank Ang for the opportunity to be a guest writer on her blog – it is a true honour :o)

We all long for something, don’t we? Whether it be a spouse, a house, a bigger house, a better job, a new car, a new piece of clothing, children the list goes on and on. Our hearts become gripped with the desire for these earthly things, we spend time thinking about them and how to attain them, we imagine what life would be like with this ‘thing’ that we want so desperately; and sometimes the ‘thing’ that we are desiring can be a good thing, a gift from the Lord, and he has maybe even placed the desire in our hearts. But despite the fact that the Lord may have given us a desire he certainly never wanted us to desire it more than we desire him.  Not getting what you want is tough, whether you’re 3 or 30 but in these circumstances the Lord teaches us a very tough but sweet lesson. He has everything we need. He alone can satisfy.

Just over two years ago my husband and I began the journey of starting a family. After one year without conceiving we began to investigate to see if there was something preventing this from happening. After months worth of waiting and appointments, we received news that it did not look like we were going to be able to have children of our own. We were sent to see a specialist and again the prognosis didn’t look great. Throughout this time many of our friends and other couples our age were having children. This was a very dark time in our lives both individually and as a couple. The longing for children was great and this made the pain that much greater. Every time we heard someone else’s joyous news it felt like the wound that was already unhealed was being opened once again. There were many tears and many prayers. During that time the Lord really taught us that we needed to surrender our hearts to him so that he could begin his refining work in our hearts.

As a church we began to work through the When Life Is Hard curriculum by James MacDonald and I have to say it was very timely for us. We knew that we had a choice to make, either we were going to become bitter and separate ourselves from Christ or we were going to press into him and allow him to mould us and change us, that we would as Job 23:10 says ‘come forth as gold’. Though we had been prayerfully seeking the Lord through this whole time we were underestimating his power to change our hearts. We knew that we needed to rejoice with those who rejoiced – as the Bible commands (Romans 12:15). Not doing our best to congratulate someone while chocking back tears….we needed to be truly happy for those who were rejoicing over news of a pregnancy and praising God for this gift of life and answered prayer. We also needed to trust in him to satisfy our hearts deepest longings even if we never had children of our own. There were good days and bad days and slowly over time I could feel the Lord softening my heart and revealing the idols that I had allowed to enter my heart.

At the beginning of this year we had a follow up appointment with the specialist. On our way to this appointment I listened repeatedly to JJ Heller’s song Your Hands and can honestly say that the Lord’s peace and flooded my heart. I knew that he already knew the outcome, the results, everything, and it was all safely in his hands and so was my heart. The news we heard that day was that the Lord had worked a miracle and that there was a way for us to have children of our own. I was in awe! Even when we are in the midst of a deep trial the Lord knows what we can handle, ‘his yoke is easy and his burden is light’ (Matthew 11:30) – he allows us to catch our breath and then reminds us of his overwhelming goodness!

The journey is still not over for us, the road is still difficult but God is carrying us through – and we still don’t know the outcome but we have hope in him. Regardless of the outcome– the Lord’s goodness remains unchanged. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His love for me is perfect. His grace is sufficient. His mercies new everyday. The Lord has changed my heart – and his work is still not done (thank the Lord for that!)

One passage that has been on my heart through this journey is Psalm 63:1-8. I pray that this would be my hearts true desire, that my deepest heart longing would be for my Saviour and my King. It reads,

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

We had the great honour of sharing our story with our church family just a few weeks ago. We are truly humbled that the Lord chose us as a way to share with others of his amazing grace!

Here's the video: http://vimeo.com/29955413

Top 10 under 10

I've been thinking a lot about gift giving lately.  I love to give gifts and, lets be honest, I love to receive them too. :)  A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine, knit me this amazing cowl.  Didn't she do a great job?

If you're like me, you don't have lots of wiggle room in the budget, so I thought I would share some 'gifts on a budget' list, $10 (okay maybe $15) and under. 

1. A gift card for their (or your) favourite coffee shop.
2. One of your favourite books.  Write in the opening page why it's your fave.
3. A book of your favourite recipes (3 ring binder with sheet protectors...or something of the sort).
4. Some baked goods or even a meal.
5. A donation to a ministry/charity in their name
6. If you haven't been to ETSY, head on over.  They have some great handmade gifts to peruse. 
7. Support your friends!  Maybe your friend has a talent (like my scarf I received).  Ask if they will make you whatever they are good at and support/encourage their gifts/talents.  Believe me, they will be so encouraged!
8. If they have children, provide childcare so they can go out (even if it's just to grocery shop). 
9. A journal with a purpose.  Purchase a journal and personalize it. Write scriptures and other ideas/encouragement throughout. 
10. And of course, I must encourage you to purchase a mug cozy!  Visit ARA Gifts for ideas.

Hope that helps!  I would love to hear other 'budget' gift ideas from you.

Give Away!

So, if you're interested in a chance to win a free giveaway, head on over to ARA Gifts to enter: ARA gifts give away.

Masters

I like to buy new shirts.  There.  I said it.  Kind of like a confession.   But, I find myself in a different place today.  This past month, Mike and I (okay, maybe  more Mike) decided to do a budget freeze.  Basically, anything outside of groceries, gas and diapers is just not an option.  In the same way that this has, on many levels, been difficult, it has been SO freeing!   A while back, I was praying that we, as a family, would not be mastered by anything!  I don't know about you, but I am SO easily mastered.   Sometimes, I feel like if you just dangle a carrot (or a shirt or a house) in front of me, I'll just follow.  Eventually, I began to believe that I NEED that 'carrot' and will not be satisfied until it is mine.  Ew.  What a gross, 'running the treadmill', way of living.  When I allow 'things' to be my master, I will always and forever be disappointed.

Matthew 6:24 states, 'No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  you cannot serve God and wealth.' 

How many times have I read that and didn't think it really applied to me cause I don't love money and I would not be considered wealthy...to some at least.  BUT, when I see this verse today, I realize there are many things that can master me and I just am SICK of it!  Praise God.  I'm seeing, more and more, the 'thing' that I think is bringing me freedom is actually enslaving me.

1 Corinthians 6:12- All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

God is so faithful eh?  I am so thankful for how He gently reminds us and draws us to Himself.  Praise God!

And just cause he's cute, I'll end with this (hope he always feels this way about the Word). :)