The Woman At the Well

One of my favourite recaps of Jesus in the Bible is of the meeting He had with the Samaritan woman at the well. (John 4) For me, it is a message filled with hope, mercy and a life reborn. Jesus knew everything the woman had ever done (and apparently, her past wasn't one of purity or holiness). I can relate to her - searching for something (or someone) to fill the void in my life that would bring meaning and purpose - only to be dissappointed again and again by what the world has to offer. And finally coming to learn, as the Lord reveals, that this void can only be filled with a relationship with God - and that only Jesus can restore that relationship. He doesn't just leave us there, however ... we are blessed to become a blessing! He uses our past and our pain and His healing to reach out to the lost. The Samaritan woman was no longer ashamed of her past - she had received forgiveness, healing and was KNOWN to God! She no longer had to come to the well during the hottest part of the day just to avoid contact with people who judged her ... she had been set free by the Lord and she ran to tell everyone she knew!!! Isn't it just like Jesus to reveal his Sovereignty, His Lordship to such a woman?

"Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, 'He told me everything I ever did!' When they came out to see Him, they begged Him to stay at their village. So He stayed for two days, long enough for many of them to hear His message and believe. Then they said to the woman, 'Now we believe because we have heard Him ourselves, not just because of what you told us. He is indeed the Saviour of the world." John 4:3942

RELEVANCE!

Here is a video of a monologue based on this account. I hope you enjoy it!

A New Journey ...

... once again, our family will begin a new journey - a new chapter in our lives together. We have encountered many changes in the last two years and we are about to add another to the list.

We have put our house up for sale. Lord willing, our family will be moving out of the city by the end of the school year. Tony will continue to work in the city (he will be commuting). However, we have a serious desire to simplify our life and seek out the quieter, less complicated existence of the small town atmosphere.

We have been praying ALOT over this major decision - and have been thinking about it for some years. The timing seems to be now and we ask that you join us in praying for the Lord's continued guidance and provision.

The other night, Tony and I (after receiving the kids' input) sat down and wrote a list of everything we would love to have in a home for our family. At the top of the page we wrote, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will grant you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4 Well, our greatest desire is to draw ever nearer to the Lord and we rejoice in the peace and grace He gives us daily (and the mercy we do not deserve) ... as we sought Him, our #1 item on our list was "The home that God has chosen for us." (Other items included a tire swing for Maria, a big yard for Louis and Regina's very own room :0)

Tony and I have ALOT to learn about walking with the Lord. We stumble and lose our way - but His rod and staff, they comfort us :0) He is a Good Shepherd and we know His voice (by His grace alone!) The other morning, as I sat in my "Mommy Chair" and sought the Lord; I asked Him to help me not seek 'things' for myself (He has been bringing me back to the book of Jeremiah quite consistently :0) ... I wondered how wanting a home that 'fit' our family wasn't seeking 'things' for myself? I cried a tear or two as the Lord so graciously comforted me and revealed my OWN heart to me - I doubted my OWN intentions ... but the Lord showed me how He will (and has) used me in the lives of my children, husband and extended family. He showed me that we are friends and that I do not need to be afraid :0) I'm so thankful for His lovingkindness. It is His love and mercy that carries me through these times of anticipation ...

We do not yet know what is fully in store for us over the next few months - but we are praying and waiting ... please pray with us and for our family (especially the children ...) They will be leaving their school and making new friends. It will be a time of transition for them and I am hopeful everything will go smoothly for us all as we learn to rely on God every step of the way.

"O God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

O God, You are my God

And I will ever praise You

I will seek you in the morning

and I will learn to walk in Your ways

and step by step You'll lead me

and I will follow You all of my days"

A True Inspiration

This is one of the most inspirational stories I've ever heard of. They are called "Team Hoyt" from Massachussettes, USA and they are a father and son team extrordinaire. Rick Hoyt was born a quadripeligic after his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck and cut off the oxygen supply to his brain. Doctors said he would never be able to communicate, go to school or live independently. He is 45 years old and has done them all with the help, determination, love and will of his father. They have travelled the world entering multiple races for years! (marathons, biathalons and triathalons - including the Ironman) and Rick's father does them all WHILE PULLING/PUSHING HIS SON (in a wheelchair, dingy or bike).

Watch this video and try not to cry!! They're coming to our city as motivational speakers - and they are. They're mottos is "YES, I CAN!"

Psalm 23 - An Audio and Visual Presentation

Hope you enjoy this one! I got it from a website called: "thetwentythirdpsalm.com"


23rdFlash

A Heart for God

I found the lyrics to this song and thought they were very good. A relationship with the Lord isn't a formula ... for me, it's about sincerity, paying attention and being thankful - and by His mercy and grace, He is near.

MORE LIKE A WHISPER
Words & Music by Scott Krippayne & Steve Siler

Sometimes the mountain moves and is thrown into the sea
Sometimes the lightening strikes and a vision comes to me
But sometimes
it's more like a whisper
Quiet and gentle, peaceful and still
When questions rain down like thunder
Sometimes the answer is more like a whisper
Sometimes the waters part
and the path ahead is clear
Sometimes the angels sing and it's music to my ears

CHORUS:
Lord help me listen whenever you speak
If the river runs wild or silent and deep
Sometimes one candle burns
and a light glows in the dark
Sometimes a flower blooms and your love grows in my heart

Overheard today ...

Tony and I were on our way to check the girls' clean-up efforts before bedtime. Louis was in the main floor washroom brushing his teeth. He overheard Tony and I say that we would give them 2 more minutes before heading downstairs. Louis then proceeded to try and give the girls a 'heads up' warning through the vent! Here's what we heard:

Louis: "Girls - you have 2 minutes!"

Regina: "Is that God?"

Maria: "He's speaking to us from heaven!"

Louis (in a very deep voice): "This is God's angel - clean your room!!!"

Regina: "God, do I have to be nice to my brother?"

followed by fits of giggles ....

They sure do keep us laughing!!

We're Back!

Well ... we've made it home! Here are some photos from our Easter getaway with our family!

The Easter Story

http://www.biblesociety.ca/free_scriptures/escriptures/easterstory/index.html

Watch the Easter Story ... click on the link above to open the list of events in Jesus' last moments to choose from ...

May you know the deep, deep, love of God today!

In His Service,

Our Family - Steph, Tony, Louis, Regina and Maria

"Every good and true thing is given to us from heaven, coming from the Father of Lights." James 1:17a

Happy Easter!

I thought I'd do an entry today as things are about to get busier :0) The kids and I have been at my mom and dad's since Tuesday evening. It's been a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful time - I was scheduled to return home on Thursday (as Tony's ending of the work schedule would coincide with our return - but - Tony ended up working until 10pm on Thursday AND on Good Friday - so .... we decided to stay!) Tony is now on his way here and we have lots of fun stuff planned for the remainder of the Easter weekend - colouring eggs, finding eggs (I hide our 'resurrection eggs' for the kids on Easter morning ... they are plastic eggs that contain little symbols of the Easter story that we re-tell). We're going to bake some cookies tonight and then we're going to my sister's house for Easter supper ... I'm salivating already!!! She's making cutlets (breaded - just the way my Baba used to make them ... haven't had them in AGES!) and our Ma is making the italian rice ... life is good!

Pop is out delivering his Easter lillies to my other sister. It's his yearly tradition - one that we all look forward to - all his ladies get them (x 4). He's a sentimental guy and I love the way he faithfully delivers the beautiful lillies every year. This year, our girls asked for lillies of their own - so I bought them. But I still couldn't wait to receive my own from my Dad - it's a meaningful gesture just from him that blesses my heart dearly.

I look forward to Easter as much as I do Christmas! It's like I've been waiting for the 'rest of the story' for 3 months!!! I loved my friend Jenn's poem on her site (she's in my favourite links :0) the other day - it was about PATIENCE ... it was a very timely word. Sometimes I worry (no kidding?!) about kids, marriage, relationships, money ... oh - there could be a great list! But, as my Mom and I were visiting over coffee this morning, I said, "I just keep praying. What's the use of saying you have faith if you don't believe that God answers prayer? So ... we keep praying." And with that, comes PATIENCE.

The other night, as I sat in my mother's cozy chair in front of their fireplace beside the bookshelves (it really is a wonderful homey-home :0) I picked up a book I had bought for her some time ago ... it was the story of Corrie Ten Boom (an amazing woman of faith that helped many Jewish people in WWII). I just flipped to somewhere in the middle. She was explaining to someone that it wasn't her FAITH that got her through those horrible times - it was Jesus Himself ... if it had been up to her faith, then she would have given up long before. That statement comforted me because it reminded me that without Jesus, all the faith in the world wouldn't make an ounce of difference! He alone is the reason I have faith and hope ... He is my salvation and rock - and I will think about that EMPTY TOMB and what it means to me.

Happy Easter!