Laars

Ok, I can't pass up the opportunity to showcase my little Laars. This pic was taken when we were blowing bubbles today. But this is soooooo typical Laars. He tucks his chin down and looks through the top of his eyes. It is even more prominent a pose when he's being mischievous, or is disappointed because he heard the word 'no' directed at him.

I could eat him all up, he's so cute.

(ok,I'm a biased mama, cuz all my children are darn cute)

Bubbles, Last Chance Before They Freeze

Encouragement to Homeschoolers

Coming Home

The best thing about Everette going away.......is when he comes home. Ahhhh, yesterday was such a fine day, because my hubby came home after 5 nights away in BC. It was a trip he needed to do, to renew our van insurance, get his driver's license renewed and get a physical to keep his truckers license. So, he planned to be there over the weekend to spend as much time as he could with our eldest daughter, Layne who is living with my Mom.

So Everette and Layne had a wonderful time together, spending all of Layne's non-working moments together, having morning coffee at Starbucks (NO Starbucks on Cape Breton at all! The nearest is 4 hrs + from us in Halifax), walking the streets arm in arm, and doing lots of cuddling. Everette seemed to have had a great long weekend, and I'm sure that Layne soaked it all up. They spent Saturday taking the skytrain down to Waterfront and taking the seabus to Lonsdale Quay. She got to see the Celtic store over there (wonderful celtic jewelry), and she bought herself a lovely scarf to go with her new-to-her beige suede jacket (funny, but Rauchelle bought herself a new-to-her beige suede jacket the same week out here in NS. They must be on the same wave-length). I'm sure they enjoyed many wonderful snacks and meals together, and then they made a stop at a Future Shop where there just 'happened' to be a rep for Mac, and Layne bought herself her first Apple (her laptop hard drive was supposedly making some terrible racket). She's over-the-top with that, and her dad was available to help get it up and running. Everette was also able to take in a service with Layne at the church she's been attending for a few months in Cloverdale and meet a few of the other people that attend there. It's always nice to be able to put a face and environment to what you hear stories about.

I'm so excited that Layne will likely be able to come visit the family for a week sometime next month. The family misses her so much, and I know she's a tad afraid that 2yo Laars isn't going to remember her big sister. Ahhh, they all love her immensely, and Laars likes seeing Layne on Skype, so I'm sure it won't take long for him to warm up to her. It'll be grand to have everybody together under one roof. There'll be lots of loving going on.

Everette took a great pic on his cell phone of Layne with Science World in the background, but I'm not able to get it onto my blog. Bummer.

Well, I'm just thrilled that I got my hubby back home (as are the children), and my 'baby' will be coming home soon too. Thank You, Lord.

Question for You: Do you do something special when your partner returns home from some time away?

Is a Short Life God's Will?

I know that Jesus came to give God's children abundant life, and that its the adversary that has come to steal, kill and destroy. But when is death, particularly at an early age, a part of God's plan? I'm not sure. I'm a sojourner in a land that I don't understand. I wasn't really made for here, I was made for the glory (but I too have fallen from that place Rom 3:23) So there is alot of stuff I just don't get. However, I'm of the persuasion that we as His children accept death (particularly untimely death)far too easily. We've assumed that it must be God's will. When we don't understand it we say "God is sovereign, still in control. His ways are higher than ours, and we can never understand His will. We just need to accept it."

I agree that His ways are higher and better and beyond my pea brain. However, just because I can't explain an untimely death doesn't mean I need to accept that as God's will. Yes, He is the God of the Universe. Yes, He can do whatever He chooses (except He cannot lie). However, He has given us His children, responsibility and authority in running this world. Most of us just aren't doing a good job nor taking our responsibility seriously. He's given us a job to do. If we screw up or sleep on the job, we suffer the consequences because we haven't taken His mandates to us seriously.

By us I'm meaning both on an individual basis and corporately. We each have a mandate to fulfill as individuals, but we also work as and are judged as a whole universal body. The problems of this world are because of sin, yes, but as followers of Yeshua we have been given power to rectify situations. We aren't just victims of a fallen world. We are supposed to be armed warriors, trained to tear down strongholds, to set captives free, to be MORE than CONQUERORS.

I am not saying that if something bad happens to a certain individual that it is because they and they alone have done something wrong. Maybe they have, maybe they haven't. Maybe we as the body of Christ have failed them, too. Maybe we haven't entered the battle like the body should, and so although the outcome of the war is already decided, the particular battle might be lost.

On the other hand, we as individuals have to take more responsibility than most of us are comfortable with. Maybe we do have sin issues in our life that we haven't dealt with and we are suffering the repercussions. I know that is not a comfortable idea. I've been paying more attention in the last few months to how we humans seem naturally to pass the blame when it comes to our behavior. It's rampant. And it's been that way since the Garden of Eden. But the reality is that we are to blame. We've screwed up, royally, and continue to. (but thank God for His continued mercies that are new every morning without fail.)

One thing I have a difficult time with is when Christians use Romans 8:28 so flippantly. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.


One thing is, many people stop at the All things work together for good. But the verse says, for those who love God. So this is directly for Christians, not for the population at large. It is clarified by to those who are called according to His purpose.

Secondly, I don't understand this verse to say that all the things that happen are God's will. Yes, in His sovereignty He has permitted them, but that does not equate to them being His will. Like adultery. It is always wrong. It is never right. But in spite of that, God can restore marriages and relationships (and He loves to). He can even make them better than they were before. But only when we take action, take authority, choose to live according to His statutes & decrees and choose Life. So, a bad situation can be worked together for a good, bringing life out of what had brought death. But does that mean that the death was actually good, and was God's will? I don't necessarily think so.

Well, I can't say that I always know God's will, so I can't say that in a particular situation it was or wasn't God's will.

In John 12:24 (NIV) it says: I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
So, sometimes death bears much fruit.

It does seems that a principle of scripture is that God will give His people a full life if we live in obedience to Him.

Ex 20:12 & Deut 5:16 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Ex 23:26 and none will miscarry (early death of baby) or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Deut 6:1-2 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

Deut 32:46-7 he said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

I believe God's intentions are that we live full lives of health and in years, but it is by our own choices that we make that shortens our lives.

The Choice of Life or Death

Deut 30
11 “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ 14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Question for You: Are you comfortable with your own thoughts and ideas about these issues, or do you still question it all?

Our Words Create

We've heard on our childhood playgrounds "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me!" That just is not true. Names and those words do hurt us. We so often take those words to heart, accepting those fiery darts of the enemy and then we let them fester and grow.

Our words are more powerful than most of us ever realize. They create.

Genesis 27 is the record of when Jacob pretends he is his brother Esau, and presents himself before their father and successfully sneaks a blessing out of Isaac. This story clearly shows how much power these people believed that words had. For in verses 33-36 Isaac tells Esau "Who-where-is the one who hunted game, brought it to me, and I partook of all when you had not yet come, and I blessed him? Indeed, he shall remain blessed!"
When Esau heard his father's words, he cried out an exceedingly great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me too, Father!"
But he said, "Your brother came with cleverness and took your blessing."
He (Esau) said, "....Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"

Esau and Isaac both knew and understood the power of their words, and that the blessing that Isaac gave to Jacob would be played out in Jacobs life, which also effected Esau's life because part of that very blessing was "be a lord to your kinsmen, and your mother's sons will prostrate themselves to you; cursed be they who curse you, and blessed be they who bless you." (v29)

We need not be victims to the words spoken by others towards us. When somebody says something to you that does not line up with the Word of God, take those words and related thoughts captive. Take Action!!



Isaiah 54:17
"No weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD."

From the Torah it says:

"Any weapon sharpened against you will not succeed, and any tongue that will rise against you in judgment, you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Hashem, and their righteousness from Me -- the word of Hashem."

There's power in words. And when they come at us, we need to be discerning to know the source from which they come, so that if they are coming from our adversary, then we can refute them, or condemn them. We must take action. In Eph 6 we are told to be wise about the devils means of attack, so that we can overcome him.

Below I have a list of scriptures that talk about the power of our words. Consider how they effect your life, and those around you.

Prov 16:24 "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb: Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." (So, if pleasant words are good for our soul/body, then what do unpleasant words actually do to us? Is that where some of our bad health originates from?)

Matt 15:11 "It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” (With regards to the above verse, could those defiling words coming from our mouth effect our physical bodies?)

Luke 4:36 Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” (Mark 16:20, John 14:12 Greater works/signs will we do as believers. Our words must hold huge amounts of authority & power. Are we careful how we wield that power?)

Job 22:28 says about His people (when they are obedient)
"You would utter a decree and it would be done." (Is this a decree that God mandated them to say, or is it their own words spoken from a heart in-line with God's Word?)

1 Sam 6:18 "The large rock, on which they set the ark of the LORD, is a witness to this day"

This is an amazing and yet scarey thought. That even the rocks around us, the materials in our house, have an ability to hear and record and play-back what they have heard. Before you think I'm off my rocker, consider technology today, that can store information and then we are able to retrieve it. That's the whole workings behind computer chips!!

Ecc 10:20 "Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say."

Now this verse jumped out at me about a year ago after hearing some Christian science men talk about quantum physics. When I read this verse it hit me, that it wasn't even just my spoken words, but it was my thoughts, really the intent of my heart even, that was somehow tangible. My thoughts create a frequency, and that creates a change in my own body (my feelings of rejection are translated into emotions and effect my behavior) and influences the environment around me. (I think this verse is very likely where we get the saying "A little birdie told me.")

There is a Japanese scientist named Dr. Masaru Emoto who is famous for his studies and photos of water crystals, and how they react to music, words both spoken or written. You'd find some of these photos absolutely amazing. Look here for a start.

Question for You: What would you like to create with your words?

Dance With Me

I have received this song and/or video 3 times now in 2 weeks, from 3 sources that are unrelated. I'll take it that the Lord specifically wants me to dance with Him, but I put it out there for others to be encouraged to Dance with the Lord for yourself too. To be intimate with Him, to hear His heartbeat, to smell His freshness.

I keep thinking of the Mary who took her alabaster jar and poured her precious and expensive perfume (likely her dowry...all that she owned) over Jesus' feet. She wept over Him, kissed His feet, wiped her hair over His feet. That was intimacy and worship. From the depths of her heart she gave Him everything she had.

After pouring her all out on Jesus, she left that house smelling just like Jesus.

I want to smell like Jesus. I want to smell like my Lover. I'll take this dance with Him.



Question for You: What is your favorite style of dance?

About Faith: a word from the Lord

From 'Journal of the Unknown Prophet'


MY HEALING TOUCH

O beloved, for I have seen as you have suffered, day after day, month after month.

I have seen as you have cried out to Me for healing and yet looking at your body, you have seen no change, you have known no ease. I have seen as in the darkest hours you have cried to Me: "Lord, I fear, for it depends on my faith, and I have no faith!"

And so your heart has been afraid and your hands have hung limp with dread. And beloved child, this day I would comfort you. This day I would declare to you: as you put your hand in Mine, as you put your faith in My person, that beloved child, is faith indeed.

So, beloved, in this time of anxiety, do not listen to the lies and the snares of the evil one who would whisper to you: "You have no faith, there is no hope for you." For I tell you, beloved, I did not call you to have faith in your faith. I did not call you to have faith in healing. I did not call you to have faith and rely and lean on your own strength. But I said to you, I declared to you, that even in your very weakness, I shall show Myself strong on your behalf. And even today, beloved, I declare to you that even in your weakest moment, as you reach out your hand to Me -- as yet even in the face of the great darkness that surrounds you, you lift up your voice and your heart to Me -- so I declare to you, beloved, that this is faith indeed.

For I search not for a people who have faith in a formula. I search not for a people who have faith in their own faith. I search not for a people who have faith in a promise book. But I tell you, My child, My Father and I seek out a people who have faith in My person, who have faith that I Am.

So surely this day, My child, I tell you you DO have faith. As My Father and I watch you, WE see a child who is filled with faith, filled with faith, for, beloved, you are filled with faith in Me. And so, beloved, do not fret.

And so I declare unto you, do not fear. For My Father and I We run to your aid; We run to your assistance. For did I not say that you only need faith as small as a mustard seed to move mountains. And so this day I tell you that you have faith to be healed, beloved. For you have faith in Me.

For surely this day I declare to you, you have faith to be healed, for you have faith in My Father. And so My healing virtue starts to flow. And so My healing power starts to rise toward you. And so My great compassions start to move toward you. And so My mercies start to overshadow you. For you see, beloved, you do not need faith in miraccles; you need faith in the One who works the miracles. You see, beloved, you do not need faith in healing; you need faith in the One who heals. You need faith in the One who spoke the Word -- in the One who IS the Word made flesh.

And now I declare: See your healer comes toward you, not dependent on your faith in My works, but dependent on your faith in Me. Every satanic curse shall be broken; the spirit of infirmity that has bound you shall be destroyed. The fetters of disease and sickness shall be broken. And now I release HEALING, HEALING, HEALING. Be loosed from your infirmity. Be loosed from your sickness. Be loosed from your disease. Be loosed from pain. Be healed. Be healed. It is yours.


****************************************************************************
Luke 8:49-55

This has really struck a chord with me this past week. About having faith in Him.

It was either yesterday morning or the previous day, it hit me that although I can be thankful of how God has made a woman's body to conceive, to grow a baby, and deliver that baby all by absolutely miraculous processes, I must be careful that I don't put my faith in my body to work as it was designed to do, but to be sure that my faith is placed in the Creator (not the creation).

I must not trust in my body to do the 'pregnant' thing well, but keep my faith in God that my pregnancy will go well.


Question for You: Is there something/someone you are putting your faith in rather than in God Himself?

The God Journey

I became aware of the podcasts of The God Journey through Emerging Mummy and so I am starting to work my way thru the archives. I'm pleased with what I've listened to so far, and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of these 2 men chatting back and forth. Be forwarned, the first 5 mins or so are just chatter, about random stuff. But then, that's alot of how my girlfriend Lisa and I start a conversation....a little of this and a little of that, and then we are onto some deeper topic sharing our heart and whatever else fits.

Today I was listening to Get Off the Dock and it jived with stuff they talked about on the previous show A Family Without Fences. And I can so identify with what they are saying. Not because I've ever been in a pastoral position (officially, never). But because I've been on the receiving end, the place where a pastor has blatantly told me that I was being deceived and walking down the wrong path, because I wasn't understanding scripture the same way that he was. And I really think it irked him big time because I had actually believed or agreed with somebody else who I had actually just met and who wasn't my shepherd like he was.

Anyways, I think Wayne and Brad have so many valid points they make about us not learning how to hear for ourselves the voice of God, our own lover of our soul, and how we don't trust ourselves to hear from Him but are always looking for somebody else to be the mediator or the translater or the go-between.

This is a walk I've been on for years now, especially since I left organized religion/the church about 7 years ago now. I am a slow learner, I suppose. And I have admittedly fallen for the "give me a John" as I easily fall prey to listening/relying on yet another preacher/author/prophet instead of pressing in to my personal relationship with God Himself, listening to Ruach breathe life and truth into my spirit.

He is my Good Shepherd, and I am His lamb(I don't belong to any other shepherd), and I am always learning more and more how to hear His voice. But I can and do hear it. For myself.

He is ALL I need.


Question for You: In what ways do you 'hear' God speaking to you?

How Great is Our God

We were fortunate enough to be introduced to a DVD of Louis Giglio while we were in AZ last winter, and the whole family was ahhhhed by Louis' talk. Today, while I was visiting Astronomy Picture of the Day Mitchell was "Ah, remember that really cool talk about "If Earth was the size of a golf ball? That was so cool, I wish we could watch it again!"

Well, mama found it on YouTube, and thought I might as well share it with those of you who have never heard of this phenomenal show. It really makes you marvel at the creativeness and utter awesomeness of God. We feel so incredibly small, and yet so incredibly special to God.












Question for You: What part of these videos spoke the most to you about How Great is Our God?

What's Your Label

Everette had some paperwork to fill out at a hospital a couple weeks ago, and was asked

'What faith/religion are you?'

Hmmmm, that stumped him for a moment. In the past he would likely have said "Christian" like a natural reflex-response. But that night, he was more aware that he wasn't living a life on auto-pilot, doing as he'd been taught and what was expected. He was more purposefully aware of the life he was living and the road he was walking on.

If he said he was 'Christian', he was thinking that around here it has definite Roman Catholic connotations to it....and we aren't Catholic. And if people took 'Christian' as being Protestant, which of the many denominations of Protestantism would we be? We both grew up in a Pentecostal church, but we raised our oldest 2 daughters mainly in a Fellowship Baptist church, but now our youngest 7 have really grown up outside of organized church. Are we still even Protestant? (And if we are, what are we protesting?)

I know that 'Christian' means 'follower of Christ', but honestly its had a bad name for years. I mean, what does the general public think about 'Christians'? Do people really see the average 'Christian' as somebody who is living the way that Jesus would if He was walking the streets today and running a business in our country today? The crowds flocked after him, wanting to hear what He had to say. He was relative to their lives, and gave them a hope. Does the public today want to hang out with 'Christians', interested in what they have to say or offer? Would they actually aspire to do like 'Christians' do? To have a life like they live?

Since we've stopped going to church, it almost seems that people cannot compute in their own minds that we could possibly love and follow Christ and yet not attend a church. Cuz, doesn't 'Christian' mean 'church attender'? Don't good 'Christians' teach Sunday School and VBS, and go to prayer meetings? I admit, I used to judge people who no longer went to church as 'backsliders'. I couldn't understand that they could ever grow deeper in the Lord if they weren't regularly sitting in a pew swallowing whatever the guy behind the pulpit spooned out to them.

Labels categorize. Yes, they are a generalization. Everybody within that label or category is painted with the same paintbrush. For the good or the bad.

And that is precisely one reason why I am uncomfortable with using the label 'Christian'. I don't want to be lumped in with the rest of those who claim they are 'Christian' and yet don't even really know the Christ they supposedly are following. They might go to church and warm a pew or even tithe and teach a Sunday School class, but do they have a relationship with Christ? I believe this to be a common (if not the majority) scenario with 'Christians' in the western world. We don't love like He did, and the signs and wonders that Jesus performed don't seem normal in the lives of 'Christians' today like scripture says it should (Matt 16:15-20) Many are concerned about the do's and don'ts of religion(Matt 23:25-28), but Christ was concerned about our inner-man, the issues of the heart. It wasn't about keeping a list of rules, but it was about loving God with all that is within a person, and then showing that love by how they interacted with society and the world around them.(Matt 22:36-40)

A verse I've been pondering recently is from Malachi 3:18
"Then you will return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him."

We ought to be noticeably different than the world, but not 'religious'. Mark 16:15-20 gives indications as to some things that ought to be different about us, what signs might signify that we truly are followers of Jesus Christ in action, not just in word.

"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed."

So, I have to ask myself, does the world know that I am really a follower of Christ Jesus by the way I live my life? Do I have these signs and wonders following me? Am I known by my love, something different than the world offers? (see 1 John 4)

I want these things to be evident in my life, and I'm working on that manifestation.

If you are a follower of Jesus the Messiah/Yeshua, do you call yourself a Christian, or do you phrase it some other way? Do you have a succinct label you would apply to yourself concerning your faith?

Question for You: What words do you use to explain what 'religion' you are?

Resident Artist Rauchelle

Although these pics are oldish...like a few months old now....I refound them today and thought I'd show off Rauchelle's artist flare. This is the bedroom for which Toveli, Gaelyn and Anders share, most of the time, but now adays Anders sleeps up in Rauchelle's bedroom, mostly because Rauchelle is his hero!!




Aunty Joanne had given the children free-reign to decorate their bedrooms however they wanted to. Joanne used to be a house & commercial painter, so she knows how easy it really is to repaint and get a new look, so painting murals on the walls wasn't a big deal with her....and she knew it would endear the nieces and nephews to Aunty!!



So, they decided to do an underwater scene, but the problem came in when Anders wasn't thrilled with the ideas of his bigger sisters and Aunty. And the idea of sharks and whales didn't win him over....although I think Chelle did an awesome job on the shark!!




Although he wasn't thrilled with the water-theme, Anders is always thrilled with Rauchelle. They have a special bond between the two of them that is priceless, in spite of the huge age gap. And he loves the attention she pours on him.



Anders really didn't get excited about the mural...until we came up with the idea of a Jimmy Johnson car....under water. The story goes that there was stolen treasure in the back of the JJ race car, and after being chased by the authorities it flew off of a wharf and crashed into the ocean, sinking to the bottom of the ocean where the trunk popped open after hitting the rocks, and the treasure box was ejected out of the trunk.




PS That might explain why Jimmy Johnson has a new car now!!


Question for You: I enjoy scrapbooking. What form of art do you enjoy?

Pathetic Bowlers

Joanne took the 4 youngest girls and I bowling today. Such a pathetic sight.

I took one lane with Tov (7yo) and Gaelyn (5yo) which the fella put bumpers in the gutters to give us a fighting chance of getting ball to connect with pins. Aunty Joanne took the lane beside us with Danaka (12yo) and Maret (9yo), with no bumpers in the gutter.

Well, I'm not sure I would have gotten more than 20 points in a whole game if it weren't for the bumpers which mercifully kept my ball on the lane more than 50% of the time. And then if it weren't for the spinning pins knocking over the other pins, or the ball somehow jumping out of the gutter (last 10 feet or so of the gutter was open) at the very end and crashing into some pins....well, that tallied up a few points for me. Jeesh, it was not impressive at all. My dc don't have a whole lot to learn about bowling from their mama! Nor from their dad, because he bowls even less often than I (I think he's bowled once in our almost 24 years of marriage....and this is like my third time in that same time period).

I traded lanes with my sister for the second game so she could hopefully fair better with the bumpers, and we'd have a better picture of how much I suck at bowling. But, there were still the jumping-the-gutter balls, and the spinning pins that dance around and take some others down with them, and then some that just seem to tremor and fall due to some unseen forces.

I'm amazed really at my score.....but I know it really had nothing to do with skill. But we had fun anyways, and were able to laugh at ourselves. It was a fun girls day out. Then Aunty treated us to lunch. It was great for memories anyways.


Question for You: Do you ever take your children bowling?

satan's Dirty Little Secret

Everette and I often watch "It's Supernatural!" with Sid Roth on Sunday mornings on TV, and sometimes rewatch archived videos online at sidroth.org

There's several points covered in this interview, the beginning of which is pastor Steve Foss' testimony of his own conversion to following Christ.

The main reason I wanted to share this video with my friends and family, is because Steve talks about 2 demons from which (he says he was shown in a vision)all the evil spirits who afflict us get their energy from. They are the demons of Insecurity and Inferiority. He explains how issues like rage are actually empowered through the 2 root demons, and basically all of our issues come back to those 2 problems. He describes how these relate to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and how Eve was tempted and succumbed to the lies of the serpent....undermining who she was and the relationship she already had with God.

I really really encourage you to listen and consider what Steve has to say.

I've pondered these two things, Insecurity and Inferiority, recently when I've wondered what made myself or somebody else behave in a particular way. Like, why is somebody a 'cutter'? Why do I react to my husband that way? Why do I take offense? And I can see many many correlations between an action/reaction and those two areas of Insecurity and Inferiority.

If I truly know who I am in Christ Jesus, and how my relationship is with the Father, then I wouldn't have issues or battles where I presently do. Like water rolling off the back of a duck, peoples opinions or responses or actions wouldn't have any influence on me, good or bad. All that would matter is the strength of my relationship with God, and in that I would be properly positioned and totally secure.

Search the Scriptures and know who you are in Christ Jesus. Know your identity in Him. There is great power in that.

Question for You: Do you see issues of insecurity and inferiority in your own life? I certainly do in mine.

Health is our own Responsibility

"Dr. Strand is a classically trained physician with more than 30 years of experience in health care, and in this interview he reveals why he believes many consumers are being harmed and even killed by commonly prescribed medicines. He is a respected author of several widely published books, including "Death By Prescription" and "What Your
Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You." "

The full interview is available now as a download:
http://downloads.truthpublishing.com/LivewithDrRayStrand.pdf

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Dr. Strand: there was a tremendous effort placed in the 1990s through the American Academy of Pediatrics and various health organizations to make people aware of the overuse of antibiotics on viral colds. Through that ten-year period they were really excited to see that antibiotic use had dropped by one-third. But what was really interesting was that the office visits for those same problems dropped by one-third. So what really happened was that the people, the parents, became more aware of what was a
virus and was not. The antibiotics don’t help viruses, so they didn’t just take their kids into the hospital or the office. But when they finally did go into the office, the percentage of antibiotics prescribed by doctors never changed. So it really was owing to people becoming more aware...."

**********************************************************************************

This is so true. Let's get reasonably educated ourselves in areas of health, and for Christians particularly, learn about the specific ways that the Lord provided for health....through the use of herbs/plants/our food (Gen 1:29, Heb 6:7); thru a system of quarantine for the unclean/sick (Lev 13); and through prayer, anointing with oil and the laying on of hands (Mark 6:13, 16:17,18, Luke 4:40, Acts 28:8); faith/belief (Matt 8:13,9:22,28,29, 21:22, Mark 5:21-42,6:4-5,56, 9:23, 11:22-4 John 5:4); spiritual warfare (Matt 12:22, 13:11-17, Mark 9:17-29, 16:15-18, John 14:9-14).


Question for You: Has your view of antibiotic use changed over the past few years? And if so, what do you consider the major reason was for the change?

Flu Vaccine Quackery

Mike Adams, The Health Ranger, has written an article....a paraphrase of an article here.

Mike says, "If the whole world knew what you're about to read here, the vaccine industry would collapse overnight.

"This information comes to you courtesy of a brilliant article published in The Atlantic (November 2009). The article, written by Shannon Brownlee and Jeanne Lenzer, isn't just brilliant; in my opinion it stands as the best article on flu vaccines that has ever been published in the popular press. Entitled Does the vaccine matter?, it presents some of the most eye-opening information you've probably ever read about the failure of flu vaccines. You can read the full article here: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/2009..."

One of the points that really hit me, was the fact that in the years where the flu vaccine was totally unmatched to the strain that was circulating that season, there was no change to the 'death rate'. So, the vaccine is a total waste of money.

Anyways, I encourage you to read Mike's article here
and The Atlantic article.

Question for You: Do you believe that mainstream media is telling the full story about vaccinations?

The Lord is My Shepherd

From the Tanach:

A Psalm by David.
Hashem is my shepherd, I shall not lack.
In lush meadows He lays me down, beside tranquil waters He leads me.
He restores my soul. He leads me on paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.
Though I walk in the valley overshadowed by death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in view of my tormentors. You anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
May only goodness and kindness pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of Hashem for long days.

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I've heard this well known Psalm alot recently, and had a few thoughts to share about it. But first, I've never heard it quite like Princess Abby:




A thought:

Even though we walk thru the valley of the shadow of death ....the shadow isn't the same thing as death itself. Just like our shadow isn't actually us. It may resemble us, look alot like us, but it isn't us. So things in our life might look like death....physical death, or death of a dream, or death of a relationship, etc.....but it isn't necessarily death in reality. This might just be a season, a transition, a walking through a valley that we will soon exit into a land where we don't see those same shadows.

***********************************************************

Never fear shadows.

They simply mean there's a light shining somewhere nearby."

~Ruth E. Renkel


Question for You: Are you presently feeling that you are in the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Can you feel or even believe that there is a Light shining somewhere nearby?

An Autumn Drive

Went up to Marble Mtn to view the autumn colours before they got blown away.


This is the man of my life. He's Awesome!












Did a little climbing the hills along the lake. It was a cold day, almost like snow could be in the air. We hit some rain, but so typical here it comes and goes quickly. Often you just wait 10 minutes and it looks like completely different weather.



Then we got back to my sister's house in time for a turkey dinner to celebrate Thanksgiving with my sis. We've just happened to be coming or going sometime around now, and been able to spend 3 Thanksgiving here in Nova Scotia. Hard to believe that, but it's true.

Question for You: What is your favorite thing about Autumn?

Things that Bring Thanks Giving in our Hearts

ALPHABET OF THANKS.......With some help from Toveli and Gaelyn, I was able to put together an alphabet of things we are thankful for today, on our Canadian Thanksgiving. Besides the turkey dinner with fresh butternut squash soup and homemade pumpkin pie, today we are thankful for........




Abundance. I shall not want (Psalm 23), for He is the God of "more than enough".

Beauty. Sunrises and sunsets. Reminders to keep our eyes upward, looking for our Bridegroom's return.

Conception. Of Lives, of Dreams, of New Beginnings.

Diapers. Sometimes filled with oddities like pretzels, coins, dominoes, whatever. But always filled with a cute derriere.

Everette. A man whose hunger for intimacy with God grows week by week. He's the love of my life, and the reason the rest of the children even exist. AND Every new day. For this is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Everette and I quote this verse together every morning, usually before anything else passes our lips)

Freckles. That dance across childrens' noses, and even painted on our friends faces.

Grapes. See how many you can cram into your mouth, or catch after you toss them in the air. They bring giggles that grace our walls.

Hunger. Hearts that hunger for more of Jesus. For man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Imagination. Anything is possible with imagination. Our little boys have imagination, and are into everything. That means my little ones are healthy and curious.

Jesus. For without Him there is no purpose in life, and no bridge to the Father.

Kisses. Wet kisses. Sticky kisses. In the middle of the night kisses. Morning breath kisses. Suck your face kisses. Heal a boo-boo kisses. I'll take them all from my loved ones.

Living. The Word is Living. It isn't a stagnant history book. It is a love letter from God to us.

Moms. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for Moms.

Nice people. Like Aunt Jo who lets us stay at her house, here in Nova Scotia where winters are better for playing out in (compared to wet BC....but not as nice as warm Arizona).

Oranges. Sliced and sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon. A simple sweet dessert idea Layne brought home from Morocco.

Promises. The promises of God to hold onto when we are unsure, unsteady, unnerved. His promises are Yes and Amen!

Quiverful. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of children, for they are gifts from God. Every single one of them.

Rest. The sabbath. A change from the regular activities of the week. Time for games, and reading, and fellowship, and family.

Sunshine. The light source from God, shines warmly down on us. Like His arms wrapped around us, embracing us in His love. And Samuel Xavier Douglas, who is our own little sunshine still in my womb, who makes us happy when skies are gray. He'll never quite understand how much we love him. Please don't take my sunshine away!

Technology. Helps keep us in touch with family and friends, and keep us organized and hopefully more efficient.

Unconditional. No matter how often I may screw up, or how bad my attitude might be, my Heavenly Father still loves me unconditionally, and extends mercy and grace to me. Not because of who I am, but because of Who He Is. It's all about HIM.

Vans. Our 15-passenger van has taken us all over North America, and its been a real ad-Venture for our family.

Water. For drinking up, for swimming in, for splashing on, for shooting with, for sailing on, for birthing in, for relaxing in, to sit by. To hear roaring and crashing and tumbling and trickling and running. Water soothes me.

XP. Extreme Prophetic has brought new friends, new prayer partners, new experiences into our lives. We are extremely blessed to have crossed paths with this ministry.

Youngsters. Helps us get off our butt and into action. Keeps us Youthful.

Zillions. Our hearts are full of so much thanksgiving, for God has blessed us abundantly that a ka-zillion alphabets could never express it.


PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!!


Question for You: What are you most thankful for this year?

Fire-y

My sister and her dh were gone today, to take in the autumn colours on part of the Cabot Trail before the winds pick up and blow all the leaves off.

Our family was having a quiet Sunday evening, lazing around my sister's house. I was sitting in the living room, lights off, when I saw a van or truck with red lights in the front grill pull in and then back out of the driveway. Was that a cop? I didn't know. But then less than 3 minutes later I saw a fire truck with lights flashing pull in to the driveway. It stopped, too. I thought it was peculiar that both the vehicles would choose the same driveway to turn around at. But then he lunged forward and was immediately followed by 2 more firetrucks, all lights a flashing. They pulled up the ATV trail that goes along the side of the property between us and the neighbour Alice. What was going on?

I yelled "Something's happening. There's 3 firetrucks in the yard!" while I was heading out onto the front porch to have a look. Well, that got lazy bodies moving into fast action. And there we saw a fire up in Alice's backyard. At first I thought it must be one of her many outbuildings but turns out, she was just doing her usual burn in her burn barrelundercover of another dark evening. So, it was a contained fire....but I suppose from the road it must have looked like a brushfire. That's what it had been reported as when somebody called the fire department.

Well, its a good thing it wasn't at this address. The fire department has already been called out to 2 brushfires on this very property, and also the house fire that destroyed my sisters house just 2 years ago. They even had to call in the heli's to help. Rest assured, my sister and her dh go to almost all of the fund-raisers for the local volunteer fire department. That's the least they can do! And Alice had faithfully spent almost the entire weekend helping the department out at their lobster-feast. Gotta keep those men busy.

Question for You: Have you ever had an accidental fire?

A Noisy New Song!

Psalm 149:1

Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.

That 'new song'....it's your song. It isn't a Robin Mark or Jason Upton song....it's a song from your own heart to the heart of the Father. It's about your relationship with Him, and where you are right now in your walk with the Lord. It isn't a borrowed song....it's your song, your lyrics whether they rhyme or not doesn't matter. He just wants to hear from the depths of your heart, like deep calling to deep, the intimate feelings and longings of your own heart towards the lover of your soul.

Ezra 3:11-13
With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD :
"He is good; his love to Israel endures forever."
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

Sounds a bit like mayhem; certainly something that would create complaints by members of the local church today. But what a glorious time of celebration I bet it was. The noise was all directed at the Lord, for they were celebrating the building of the house of the Lord!

Do we worship and give praises like that? Do we worship with abandon? Or are we concerned about looking proper?

There is neither right nor wrong when worshiping from the heart. "The sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping" were indistinguishable as everybody gave praise to the Lord in the way that seemed best to them, from their heart.

Let's learn to give our all to the King of Kings. Lets make a joyful noise, even if it isn't on key. It isn't about performance. It's about a heartfelt sacrifice to the Lord.

Question for You: Are you one who sings in the shower, or while driving, or you never sing

Impossible Dream

Everette & I ended up having to take an unexpected drive yesterday and found ourselves without much listening-option. But in the driver's door was a stash of CD's including one by Robert Stearns. It isn't my all-time fav, but it certainly fits the bill at certain times. The Lord knew it would fit for such a time as this.

There were several lyrics that spoke deeply to my questioning and tender heart, but I wanted to share the words of one particular song. Called "Impossible Dream" from "Man of La Mancha". Words written by Joe Darion. Music written by Mitch Leigh.

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest to follow that star
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march
Into hell for a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star.

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No matter what lies ahead, no matter where He leads, I want to hear Him say, "Well done, My faithful servant. Enter into My rest". It will all be worth whatever it took.


Question for You: What is your Impossible Dream?

Kelp Noodles

I played it risky on the last order I put into Upaya Naturals,

I have to say that the Kelp Noodles were quite a hit!

As soon as the children unpacked the box of stuff, they were all interested in what was in the noodle package. It was moist, and squiggly, and somehow appealing to them. It was only mid-afternoon when I was tired of all their questions, and figured that I should present these noodles when their interest was still at a peak.

The children weren't at all interested in a stir-fry, and the salad recipe on the package didn't sound good to them (sounded great to me.....noodles, with shredded carrots, chunks of cucumber with mustard salad dressing), so we agreed on making wraps for an early supper.

You just rinse some of the salty water off of these noodles, and viola! they are ready to be used. So, as we drained them in the collander each of us had a try at these foreign looking wigglies. They are rubbery noodles in the fingers, but basically tasteless (a slight salty taste) in the mouth, but really crispy crunchy when you bite into them. Hmmm! Interesting, that's for sure.

Anders took a little bit and said "I not like it". So, I chopped some finely to sneak into Anders' wrap, while the rest of the children put the long mess of noodles right into their wrap with the rest of the fillings and chowed down. They all liked it. Well, everybody except Gaelyn.

Before I got the left-over noodles packaged up for the fridge, I found Anders helping himself to the noodles right out of the collander. I guess he changed his mind. Three year olds are allowed to do that.

Today we had a 15 bean & veggie soup for lunch, and we put handfuls of kelp noodles into our bowls. It was really yummy. It was something firm amidst the soft textures of the cooked beans and veggies, and ohhhh how I love noodles in my soup. So it was a great replacement for any kind of pasta.

At Tommie's blog Awesome to be Rawsome she has pics and recipes she's used with Kelp Noodles.

Well, I've done some more research about kelp noodles, and have discovered that although labeled a Raw Food, because there are no laws regulating the labelling of Raw Foods, anybody can claim that on their packaging. So, after considering what kelp looks like in the ocean just outside our front door, I got to thinking that it is likely very processed. After a little looking, I found John Kohler's video about kelp noodles. (2nd video down)

So, here's what I think, for my family.
We still miss eating pastas, but I especially don't want Anders eating much wheat, and I personally don't like rice or corn or other kinds of pasta. I think these kelp noodles can still be a replacement for the wheat, and provide iodine that is still needed by our bodies. So, I won't be ordering them often, like I originally thought I might. But I won't live under condemnation for the times that we choose to eat this packaged food.

Here's the manufacturers info page if you want to educate yourself a little more about kelp noodles

Question for You: Do you eat any type of sea vegetable?

Variety of online Videos

Everette somehow came across some incredible videos yesterday. We are talking INCREDIBLE TALENT and unusual. Some of them moved me to tears. This one is of aerieal bombings over Kiev during WW II. Lots of tears in the audience.





Thanks to Coralyn for letting me know about this video about Mandatory Flu Shots for Health Workers. Coralyn has tonnes of information on her site about Holistic Health,Natural Remedies,Global Consciousness. Be sure to check Coralyn out.



Also on the health topic, I really enjoy much of what Paul Nison has to say, and lots of information is passed on through all his videos. Today's interview was with some Jewish dance teachers who are now eating a raw diet and loving it. You can see their love for Yeshua and for life itself. Enjoy!

Will Real Health Reform Ever Happen in America

Mike Adams, The Health Ranger, writes the way I wish I could. I get a kick out of his writing, but a tonne of knowledge. He just makes so much sense to me, I really like Natural News.

Here's today's article . Yes, I know this is all about healthcare reform in the US, and I'm Canadian, but whether for good or bad we don't seem to be very far behind when we follow our 'cousins'. So what happens south of our border does interest me, because it often influences what will eventually take place here in our land.

I see Mike's point as the need to get rid of the money & politics that drive the medical system, and get down to what truly works. After all, that's what we ought to be after. It's HEALTH CARE, not supposed to be business first. But like the end of the video on Reducing Infant Mortality a lady at the end is talking about litigation and how unfortunately that concern comes before CARE, which is ironic in a service/care industry.


Question for You: What's your take on all this health care reform? Or what's your opinion about Health Care here in Canada?

Reducing Infant Mortality

I found this video refreshing, because these are mostly people who work/ed in hospital environments, and they see the stats that support less intervention in pregnancy, more education for mothers, and the great need for midwives to help the medical system be relieved of some of the work load so they can deal with those that are in need of surgery and more specialized care due to disease and such.


The comment is made that only in America is a surgeon there at non-complicated births, when somebody not trained in surgery could have done the same work. Canada, too. Sad. No wonder our systems are overloaded and failing.



Again, pregnancy, labour and delivery are not inherintly dangerous. They are miraculous moments where families are born or enlarged, and generally don't require medical intervention.

Yes, it can be great to have medical technology and trained hands to help when/if a problem arises. But to assume that problems will arise is foolishness.

Near the end of this video a lady talks about the public thinking that midwifery is only for use in the home environment, when it is also available for in-hospital. And yet here in Nova Scotia, as I shared in a previous post (Midwifery in Nova Scotia : I'm Irked!) the midwives can't do homebirths but ONLY hospital births. It's unfortunate. At least in British Columbia you can use a midwife for either a homebirth or a hospital birth. You get to pick the place.



Question for You: What's your views on midwifery?

Born at Home

Question for You: If you've had a homebirth, what has been your favorite part of the whole experience?













Born in love.
Where I was lovingly conceived.
With those who care surrounding me.
In my own unhurried time.
Born with no agendas other than to be born.
Where it seemed appropriate for mama to be at the time.
In the right position for the moment.
A quiet room, where candles flicker.
Where no needles jab;
no needless ointment to blur the vision.
I find mommy's arms and her warm breast.
The voice I've heard for months;
The voice I love. It comforts me.
I feel the skin of my loved ones; they caress.
Born at home.

Negative Thinking

Here is an audio of Sara Taylor sharing about our thought life. She shares about her own struggles in her thought life, and how we need to change the songs that play around in our minds.

There is so much truth in what Sara has to say. We are called to having a new way of thinking. We are to reconsider and redefine everything about how we think and see this world. We are not called to positive thinking, but Biblical thinking. We are to focus on things that are pure, holy, true, etc. We need to accept the truths of scripture, irregardless to whether we understand them at first.

Let's put a new and a good Biblical song into our thoughts. And let's sing a new song from our own heart to the Lord. One that is from our own spirit and soul, rather than always borrowing songs from others. Sing to Him a New Song. Your Song.



Question for You: Are you taking your thoughts captive? Lining them up to Scripture?

Sukkot

Sukkot has started, and my children have built another fort/booth farther away from the house, using spruce and moss for the roof (because that's all that's available here on the property), and they are bedding down on cat-tail rushes, cat-tail fluff and moss with a plastic liner underneath it all. Hope they stay warm there tonight. Danaka is sure that they will.

I'm not so adventuresome so I'll cuddle up with Laars and Everette in our bed and sleep with the window open to enjoy the fresh air. Actually, we've been doing that every night now...the open window. We sleep better that way usually, and after listening to Paul Nison's videos about the health benefits of sleeping outside we got back to having the window open.

So, have yourself an awesome weekend, because I know we will. There is so much to be thankful for, and as we celebrate Sukkot we can easily identify the abundance the Lord has blessed us with. We Thank You, Lord.


Question for You: Does your family celebrate the Feasts of the Lord?

Midwifery in Nova Scotia : I'm Irked!!

Ok, let's say I'm a bit perturbed. Ticked-off. The government and the medical field are looking worse and worse in my eyes almost daily. They are imposing and controlling where they don't have true authority. The unfortunate thing is that it seems that citizens are wanting authorities to decide for them. I think the boundary has been over-stepped. For those of us who acknowledge our own responsibility for our lives, we just want to be able to make different decisions for ourselves. But our options are limited. Our freedom is not freedom.

Yes, I need to be praying.

I am shocked that such a recent change in laws here in Nova Scotia would be even more limiting to midwifery. They are degressing here. Such a shame.

Here I am, living on the south end of Cape Breton. The population of the island is roughly 100,000 people. Fairly large island approx 10,300 sq km. It's a beautiful island, rugged and wild. But disappointing in the midwifery department.



So, the nearest hospital to us is about a 35 min drive; it's considered a 'bandage' centre. The 'real' hospitals are in Sydney (1 hr 10 mins north of here on a terribly windy car-sick kinda drive, almost unusable during the winter), or Antigonish on the north end of the mainland (about 1 hr 20 mins south-west of here).

In March of this year, the Nova Scotia government enacted legislation regulating midwifery. There are now 3 'test' sites throughout (?)the province (NONE for Cape Breton) where they have hired midwives to supposedly provide 'midwifery' care. One of the test sites is in Halifax, one is in the South Shore District, and the last is Antigonish. But get this!!! These midwives are only permitted to do hospital births. No homebirths. NO HOMEBIRTHS!!!

They say they "have integrated midwifery services into their existing primary maternity health care teams." That's simply hospital care. Ob/gyns, doctors, the whole hospital-based mentality people who see disease and accidents and trauma all day long, and of course are more likely to see labour and delivery as more of the same. Another opportunity to 'fix it', even if it doesn't need fixing but rather it needs to be left alone.

So for the 100,000 people on Cape Breton the only midwife available is on the mainland, and is tethered to the hospital. So there is no homebirths allowed. None for the province.

I find that so ironic. They pass legislation to regulate midwifery, and what do you get? A hospital birth. To me, that is just undermining the whole philosophy of midwifery, and one of the main reasons why women want a midwife in the first place. It isn't just the longer appointments you get with a midwife versus the rushed 10 minutes with a Dr. It's the perspective that pregnancy, labour and birth are natural events, not a sickness or disease, nor an accident, nor an emergency waiting to happen. It's a natural occurence in life. There is no reason to routinely treat it as something dangerous.

Question for You: Do you know if midwifery is legal in your area? Do you even care about midwifery?