A little salt goes a long way by Pamela Mytroen

I don’t see God’s supernatural hand when I’m in the midst of a storm; I see it after the calm. After that wounded day of 9/11 in September of 2001, I had responded by writing an article, which I had taken to our local newspaper. It was rejected. However, I was offered a job as a correspondent, which softened the “blow”. I began writing feature pieces for the paper but I was restless. I desired to share Christ with my community, to point the way to Truth.   

The world’s thinking had shifted as the smoke from 9/11 dissipated into the clouds. Christ was embraced at first as people grieved, but the thunder of suspicion and skepticism towards Christianity began to rock our world. I felt that if I didn’t quickly share truth with people, that our chances might crumble like the twin towers. The editor had assigned me to write human interest pieces and I was not allowed to venture out of that role. How could I write for Jesus in our paper now? 

Previously, the Pastors of our community had written a weekly column in the paper, but over time, as the Pastors moved on and a new editor was hired, that column disappeared. I longed to see God’s Word in print, taking on advertisements and news. I began to pray about it and God began to nudge me to take action.  

God whispers, seldom shouts, but it’s a whisper made of fire that burns deeply. I don’t like to be the one to give feet and action to my dreams, but God believes in us; isn’t that amazing? So He wouldn’t let go. I was and still am fearful about leading. A storm of doubt always rages inside me when I need to talk to people and make something happen, but God’s whisper had shot through me and I needed to obey.  

I could send an email to the newspaper office with my desire to see this column start up again. No, too impersonal. Or I could call. Again, too easy for the editor to say, “no.” I knew I had to go in person, which unsettled my stomach. I approached one pastor and shared my idea. He liked the idea of writing for the paper, but said he was too busy to help me. So I approached another pastor, who was very young, and new in his position. “Yes, of course, I’d be happy to come with you.” I suspected that our inexperience and youth wouldn’t stand a chance against this seasoned, curmudgeonly editor. I’d been told that the new editor was very secular and wanted nothing to do with Christianity in her paper. “She will run you out of her office,” one said. Another said, “She won’t publish anything Christian. I’ve been trying for 3 years.” I really hoped the editor wouldn't be there when we went to see her or that the office would burn down before we arrived. Anything to avoid being chased from her presence. Just before we went to the Times, this young pastor and I bowed our heads and prayed that God would open the hard heart of this editor. 

We were ushered into The Editor's office. She jabbed at her keyboard as we stood before her. She asked what we wanted while she scrolled through her screen, harrumphing and sighing. We sat down. She looked at us over her glasses and I shared how I would like to see this type of column start up again. The young pastor enthusiastically talked about his ideas of writing for the Times. 

I will always remember what happened next. The editor crossed her arms over her chest and stared at us. She said nothing. The silence condemned me – why did I think this had been a good idea? Then, she leaned back in her chair. It was one of those reclining office chairs. She kept her arms folded and continued to stare at me. My perspiring hands slipped on the plastic arms of the chair. Not only would she reject this crazy idea, but she would probably not trust me to write any more feature pieces. Her chair creaked as she leaned forward, preparing to announce her judgment. I uncrossed my legs, and planted my feet, ready to flee from her presence. 

The words she said burned their way into my imagination and seared my doubts to a crisp. “Yes,” she said, picking up her pen. “That is exactly what our paper has been missing.” 

The young pastor, who had believed all along, chatted with her and they began to put plans in place. It would be called, “Pass the Salt” The word count would be 300 and pastors from a variety of denominations in town would take their turn writing every week. About that time I began to breathe again and we left the office together. That was almost 20 years ago.

The salt is still being "passed" every single week. Storms continue to happen since 9/11, but during every one that our nation, province, or community endures, the Word of God is shared by our pastors. Like a rainbow, it arches over the fear and devastation and gives hope and light to our community. 

As I look back I see that although God’s whisper is so gentle, and can be snuffed out, that is how He guides me. He is so wise. He fought the battle in the heart of an editor. He paved the way to transform lives, and all He asked of me was that I take His hand, go along with Him that day, and watch Him do something amazing. We serve an extraordinary God who whispers calm into a storm. 

Christ + Mass = Christmas by Nina Faye Morey

I remember how amazed I was when I was making cards and my teacher told me how to spell Christmas. Until I was eight years old, I had no idea that the first five letters spelled the title of the King of Kings. ~ Bruce Atchison

While Bruce had no idea as a youngster that the “Christ” in Christmas referred to the King of Kings, I was a young adult before I realized that the “mas” referred to the word, “Mass.” Having grown up in a family that was nominally Protestant, I wasn’t familiar with either the word “Mass” or “Eucharist” until I married into a devout Roman Catholic family.

I still remember how stunned I felt when I heard my husband explaining to our little ones what the word “Christmas” meant. It was one of those “slap the forehead” moments for me. I had never given any thought to the meaning of the “mas” part of the word. Now that it had been pointed out, it seemed so obvious it referred to “Christ’s Mass.” Of course, I knew that it was a commemoration of Christ’s birth, but my family’s holiday celebrations focused more on the secular aspects. I decided to look up the meaning of some of the other words associated with this celebration. I discovered that “Nativity” was derived from the Latin word, nātīvitās, meaning “birth.” Another familiar seasonal word, “Noel,” from the Old French word, noël, is also derived from this Latin word.

As a youngster, I never attended any Christmas religious services with my family. However, I do recall attending regular church services a couple of times with my dad. I fondly remember enjoying stories and colouring pictures in Sunday School on those occasions. In my early teens, I sometimes attended a church service while visiting a devout aunt. A classmate invited me to summer Bible camp one year and, occasionally, to some of her church’s youth activities. But Christmas mainly consisted of Christmas trees, Christmas decorations, Christmas presents, Christmas stories, and, of course, Christmas dinner with family when I was young.

After I was married, Christmas came to mean so much more. A major part of the celebrations was attending Midnight Mass with my husband and his family. Then my mother-in-law would have all the family members present over to her house for a late-night snack. To her, a “snack” was no meager amount of food, even at this late hour. I enjoyed this whole Christmas Eve tradition immensely. It carried on for many years, despite the increase in her family’s size through marriage and grandchildren, until she no longer felt able to continue. I cherish those memories and still miss her contribution to our Christmas celebrations.

As a young mom, I wanted to provide a different Christmas experience for my children. Sure, we had the usual festivities associated with Christmas: Christmas baking, decorating the Christmas tree, wrapping Christmas presents, watching Christmas movies, and reading children’s stories like “The Night before Christmas.” But a miniature Nativity scene was added to our holiday decorations, and I enjoyed reading them the biblical story of Jesus’s birth. And, of course, we always attended Christmas Mass—just not the midnight one until they were old enough.

Having discovered both the “Christ” and the “Mass” in Christmas, I now enjoy the full meaning, spirit, and blessings of the season. All those precious Christmas gifts and colourful Christmas lights pale in comparison to the One who is the true gift and light of Christmas:

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.

~ James 1:17 (NIV)

Merry Christmas, everyone! May you experience the peace and joy of Christ in your hearts and souls this Christmas.

Photo Credit: © 2017 Nina Faye Morey

Life: A Delicate Balance by Sharon Espeseth

Life: A Delicate Balance
Free Pixabay Image

Wisdom from Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way

In her June post, Sandi Somers mentioned The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. I found this idle and previously unused book on my shelf and started reading. I quickly decided this book might help me get from feeling stalled and stymied to accomplishing some of what I believed I was meant to do in life.

I was the blocked creative Cameron was talking about. I was the flower seed crowded out by weeds of care and concern for everything and everybody. While trying to fix everybody else, I was short of the sunshine and elbow room I needed to grow myself. Low on sunshine and nutrients, my growth was also stunted by a creative well run dry.

Cameron lists ten Basic Principles, which coincide with my beliefs. Sample: "Creativity is God's gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God."

Two of her Basic Tools are Morning Pages and The Artist Date, which she says are a non-negotiable part of her "recovery" program.  Morning Pages are three pages written first thing each morning; the Artist Date is a session of approximately two-hours set aside each week and "committed to nurturing your creative consciousness, your inner artist."

Cameron's program, which is designed to help us recover from blocked creativity, is divided into twelve weekly units. For each week, the author provides motivational material, quotes, and activities  suitable to that week's theme.

I have faithfully done my Morning Pages for 58 days. This works best for me when I rise early and write in solitude. I am on Week 6, Day 4. I have been a willing participant in the Morning Pages as this activity seems to keep me moving in the right direction. Often my writing is prayerful.

Not quite an Artist's Date as I am not alone

The Artist Date is something you plan and carry out on your own, which has been more challenging to me that Morning Pages. Sometimes I sit out on the front porch or the back deck and read or write, but I don't go off by myself as the author suggests. Does this mean I'm resisting this assignment? If so, I need strength and determination to overcome this reluctance.

Two weeks ago the assignment was to go on an extended date, one that lasts longer than the two hours. "Julia" suggested a more adventuresome outing. Yeah, right, I thought. If I can't do a two-hour date by myself, how am I going to pull this off? 

Wisdom and Synchronicity Making the Date

I hadn't been to Edmonton by myself since October 2015, when my sister Joan passed. Because of my husband's health, I didn't feel comfortable leaving him home alone. As we get older, Hank has become more protective of me also. I was gearing up for the Wednesday luncheon with my teaching girlfriends from my Fort McMurray years. Hank was going to drive me to the restaurant and wait for me in the hot van, which seemed ridiculous!

On Tuesday evening, Hank wrote down the time for Wednesday's Blue Jay's game. I reminded him we wouldn't be home on time, because, as I'd told him, I wanted to meet my niece and my sister for a dinner. His face fell. Was this an impasse? Would I have to give in and come home after the McMurray Girls Luncheon without seeing my people?

I reminded the Norwegian that I used to drive a lot and I'd be fine. I would pray for safety for both of us. He could pray instead of worry about me.

I would be going by myself. It was too late to make arrangements with my niece, Billie, or my sister Shirley. I'd  call them from Edmonton. Driving on my own was an unexpected pleasure. Comfortable and confident, I felt focussed. I shopped before the late luncheon. Billie-Jo met me for dinner in the evening. I stayed overnight with my daughter and family in Leduc. My sister from Calmar met me in Leduc for brunch on Thursday morning. I was home by 3:00 p.m.

I had a wonderful time and I suspect Hank did too. Julia Cameron would consider this episode synchronicity. When I set out to do what I set out to do, God was there helping with the details and keeping me safe. Everything lined up and I was grateful to all parties, especially my Father in heaven. I also whispered a thank you to "Julia" for giving me the gumption to venture out on my own.

Wisdom from Others

Lacey just trying to be herself

Recently I asked our seven-year-old grandchild, Lacey, "So, how are things going for you, Lacey?" "What have you been up to?"

"I'm just busy trying to be Lacey."

Interesting! I'm thinking, I'm just trying to be Sharon, to be who I believe God wants me to be.

A couple weeks ago, Connie Inglis, our InScribe spiritual advisor, shared her thoughts on Romans 5: 1-5. Because of my following The Artist's Way, the words of verse 2 especially touched me.

"For because of our faith, he has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be."



 Maintaining Balance in the Ups and Downs of Life

Yesterday was a topsy-turvy day and I struggled to accomplish what I needed to do, i.e. write my blog, and take care of what my loved ones needed from me. For this, I took another look at the New Commandment Christ gave us.

What the good book says!

Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind," and then, "Love your neighbour as yourself." Sometimes we cannot, nor should we, meet all our neighbours needs. They must look after some of their own needs. Many of their needs are met by God, which leaves some needs for which we are responsible.

Help me to love my neighbour, Lord, as I love myself, and give me the wisdom to know which duties are mine. Amen.

X Stands For... -- Brenda J. Wood

Do you remember your A-B-C’s? You know, the traditional A is for apple; B is for baby and so on. I wondered if there could be a Christian version. Strong’s Concordance supplied the following: 

A-Adopted         B-Blessed         C-Conquering          D-Delivered  

E-Established     F-Free               G-Graced                H-Healed     

I-Inheritor          J-Justified          K-Known                L-Loved M-Ministering 

N-Named           O-Over comer   P-Precious              Q-Quickened  

R-Redeemed      S-Saved             T-Transformed        U-Upright      

V-Valued           W-Wanted          Y-Yielded  

X-                      Z-Zealous 

There’s no X word in an English Bible, but in the Greek, it’s Xpioros, or Christos, meaning anointed, Messiah, an epithet of Jesus Christ.

The Dictionary says X stands for Christ as in Xn (Christian) and Xmas (Christmas).  X also stands for the algebra unknowns we fought  in math class. We may wish to have or be everything in this new alphabet version but without X, the Christ, it’s impossible.

Where is the X, the Christ in our lives? Is He  X, the unknown?

 X, the Christ, a shortcut to what we want?

Or is He X, the crucified Christ, raised from the dead and our personal Saviour? 

John 6:69: And we believe and are sure that thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God (KJV)

Prayer: Father, thanks for X, the known Christ!  Amen.

Brenda J Wood, author & speaker
The Pregnant Pause of Grief, the first trimester of widowhood
http://heartfeltdevotionals.com
www.facebook.com/brendawoodspeaker

A Glimpse of Heaven-Sulo Moorthy

When our Women's ministry chose to study the Book of Revelation this Fall, I got excited. For years, I've avoided reading  the last book of the Bible thinking that I wouldn't even understand what's written in those chapters even if I try my best to grasp the meaning of the symbols and signs mentioned in the book.

My enthusiasm for the study heightened  when I learned that we were going to follow Beth Moore's teaching on Revelation through video sessions. Along with me,  80-100 women signed up for this study to get a grasp of what is uniquely revealed in this Book.

As Beth Moore points out in her study book-" No scholar, commentary, denomination, preacher or teacher can plausibly claim to have all the answers and ultimate interpretation for this fascinating finish of scripture. It's futile to expect a full understanding of everything written in the book. As long as God is glorified and His Word held sacred and inspired, having our views challenged can be a very healthy thing."

Surely, our concept of God and understanding of His Word shape our lives and reflect in our faith walk. As a child attending church on the other side of the globe, I grew up calling Christ as Jesu Papa and picturing  Him with the image that I saw on calendars hung on the wall or on Sunday school takeaways- the smiling Jesus with blond hair and blue eyes having  little kids on His lap, or the One with a staff in His hand and a lamb around His neck.

 In my teen years, when I was introduced to the meaning of grace and salvation, I began to see Jesus as the One who died on the cross for my sins in order to give me a place in heaven. . As I grew in years and in my faith, He became my Lord and Savior. When life and family brought challenges and threw uncertainties to fog my view, I saw Christ as my provider, protector, deliverer and counselor,

 In this last book of the Bible, through the eyes of Apostle of John, God has revealed to us the majesty of Christ which we haven’t seen before. Even John couldn’t compose himself to stand straight, but to fall as if dead at the sight of his Lord.  He couldn’t see the Son of Man as Jesus of Nazareth with whom he once walked, talked and ate in Galilee, or as the One who stood silently with a twisted crown of thorns on His head before the mockers, who shouted,“ Hail King of Jews”, and struck Him with their hands. Nor did John see Jesus as the risen Christ, who showed up within closed walls with nail marks on His hands and feet, or the One who was taken up to heaven in clouds while two men robed in white apparel stood on guard.

 Instead, in the first few chapters of the book that I’ve studied so far, John sees Christ as Son of God whose eyes shone like blazing fire and feet looked like burnished bronze, and  voice sounding like rushing waters announcing that He’s the First and the Last. Later, in the throne room of God, where the throne dazzled with the brilliance of jasper and carnelian, and voices of angels numbering ten thousand times ten thousand singing,

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain
To receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
And honor and glory and praise!”

John  sees Christ as a slain Lamb, the only One worthy to open the scroll that was in the right hand of God seated on the throne.

“ To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
Be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” sang every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them. Rev: 5:11,13.

 Wow! What a glorious scene, and what a mighty King we serve! It's too wonderful to realize that, such a holy and glorious Christ, who is hailed day and night by thousands of angels in heaven, knows my name,  hears my prayers from His throne room and comes to my rescue in my time of need. Such a knowledge makes me want to fall flat on my face in gratitude and worship Him with adoration till my last breath. Instead of confining a day of celebration for thanksgiving, I pray that thankfulness would become my way of life.

My Inbox - Janis Cox

My Inbox

I am learning more and more to trust in God. I have written many posts this year on the "me" factor and how it inhibits my growth with God. Relying on "me" can be frustrating and exhausting.

Relying on God is freeing.

If I look at my Inbox, I see too much. I panic and say "I can't do all that!"

But if I look to God, He says, "I am here. Look to me and not to your Inbox."

Then I can focus on Him. He helps me calmly DO one task at a time. And they all get done - miraculously.

Oswald Chambers says:

"It is much easier to Do something than to trust God. We mistake panic for inspiration. That is why there are so few fellow workers WITH God and so many workers FOR Him" (June 1). (emphasis mine)

Oswald asks:

"Am I quite sure that God will do what I cannot do?" (June 1).

Here is what Scripture says:

"I can do ALL things in Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13 NKJV).

This all ties in with a Bible study I am leading with a group of women. Grace Fox has written a study called, Moving From Fear to Freedom: A Woman to Woman Conversation. We are learning strategies to push past our fears and blocks. One strategy stressed is:

FOCUS ON GOD

As I spend more time with God, praying and studying His Word, He is teaching me that:

"Yes, I am quite sure that God will do what I cannot do."

Oswald Chambers says:

"The degree of panic is the degree of lack of personal spiritual experience" (June 1).

Tough statements. I will panic... and when I do, I remind myself, "STOP! Look to God."

Panic cannot live in the same place as God. "Go to the right place. Choose God."

Prayer:
May all of us, Lord, look to You - You alone. You can do ALL things because Christ can give us the strength. Help me to continue marching towards complete and utter trust in You. In Jesus' name. AMEN.

When Life's School Will Be Out Forever - Bruce Atchison

June is a joyous time of year for school children. Summer vacation lies before them, offering a smorgasbord of fun and freedom. Walking out of school that final afternoon, children feel such joy and relief from the tedium of study.

When I was a child in the sixties, I had an additional reason to rejoice. Because educators wrongly assumed that I needed special teachers to educate me, I was sent five hundred miles from my home in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta to Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind in Vancouver. Being deprived of my family and all I loved for three or six months at a stretch made me yearn for summer in ways words can't adequately express.

Being home was like paradise to me. Instead of being woken by a dorm supervisor, I slept in my own bedroom until I felt like rising. Instead of eating institutional food, I ate meals lovingly prepared by my mom. Instead of being with strangers, I enjoyed the company of family members. Instead of going on occasional supervised outings like escorted prisoners, I roamed the town freely. Best of all, I was away from the school bully for eight wonderful weeks.

I look at our lives here in this world in much the same way that I once viewed my incarceration at Jericho. Jesus said in Matthew 24:32-33 (KJV), "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Nobody knows when Christ will return but we can tell that this world is growing worse by the day. As my dorm mates and I waited eagerly at the end of june for the school bus driver to take us to the airport, we knew we would soon be out of that impersonal institution and back home where we belonged.

You can find out more about my Deliverance From Jericho (Six Years in a Blind School) memoir by clicking here. I also post excerpts of my writing here.