Celebrating Faith During #Canada150 - By Ruth L. Snyder

In 1977 our family left Southern Africa, where my parents served as missionaries, and settled in Three Hills, Alberta, for what we thought would be a one year furlough. Instead, we stayed in this small town on the prairies, which provided many opportunities for my personal faith to grow and flourish. Along with memorizing hundreds of Scripture verses, studying the Bible, listening to world-renowned missionaries like Dr. Helen Roseveare, and experiencing majestic music nights, I discovered not everyone wanted to follow Jesus Christ. (In grade 7 some of my classmates gave me the nickname, "Saint R.B.") During my grade 8 year I renewed my commitment to Jesus Christ and was baptized.

In grade 9, I entered Prairie High School. That year our language arts teacher asked us how she could pray for us. I was shy, so I asked her to pray that God would give me boldness and help me welcome all the new classmates who had joined us. I also joined the high school band. Our conductor was a former RCMP member who walked through the halls of our school with no emotion 😐 on his face. I made it my goal to make him smile every time he saw me. After several attempts, I was successful 😃.

High School provided many more opportunities for me to grow in my faith. I enjoyed the weekly youth events, including the "Sing-and-Share" nights where we were encouraged to share what God was teaching us. In grade 10 I thrived under the instruction of my volleyball coach. I related well to her because she wanted to be back in South America where she had served as a missionary, and I was still working through not being able to return to Southern Africa. At the end of grade 10, I spent the summer at Ross Haven Bible Camp as a junior counsellor. The campers challenged me to explain my faith clearly. I also learned how to play almost any chorus by ear on the piano as I was the only pianist at camp and printed music was not always available. One week I received a phone call from my parents, informing me that our family was moving away from Three Hills. I was devastated! I prayed that God would allow me to stay at Prairie High School. He answered by having my grandparents offer to host my sister and I so that we could attend school there.

However, the next year my parents wanted us home. My sister and I attended Hines Creek School - a small K-12 public school north of Grand Prairie. What a culture shock! I was the only one who had not been in the class since Kindergarten. I missed my friends. I grieved not being able to graduate with them. I cried myself to sleep. I prayed that God would bring at least one person to saving faith that year. God answered when one of my sister's classmates accepted Jesus Christ as her Saviour.

There are many more memories I could share of Canada and opportunities to grow in my faith. However, my prayer is that God will help each of us to continue to grow in our faith, that we will be lights, and that God will keep Canada glorious and free.

How are you celebrating Canada150?

The Gift of Family by Steph Beth Nickel

This month's theme is "the gift." I can't help but think of my mother-in-law, who recently went to be with the Lord. Here are the thoughts I shared at her funeral:

On Friday, November 11, 2016, we celebrated by mother-in-law’s home-going. She had gone to be with the Lord the previous Tuesday while her granddaughter read to her from the Bible.

Although Dave’s mom could no longer speak, she could make her wishes understood. She wanted us to read from God’s Word, pray, and give her frequent hugs. What a precious way to exit this world and enter eternity!

These memories will be with me for years to come—as will the legacy she left behind.
What did I learn from my mother-in-law over the years?

You don’t have to wait until it’s official to welcome someone into your family.

Among many other things, “love is patient and kind,” as it says in 1 Corinthians 13:4.

I remember the first Christmas Dave and I were together, December 1981. Dave’s mom knit me the first of many sweaters and welcomed me into her home and into her heart. I knew then, seven and a half months before I officially became a Nickel, that I was already one of the family.

It’s an expression of love to step outside your comfort zone for the sake of others.

Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Although Dad and Mom traveled extensively, Mom wasn’t comfortable in the big city. I could tell this the first time they came to take Dave and I out to supper. We were both attending Ontario Bible College, now Tyndale, in Willowdale. I can still remember the two of them in the doorway of the school. They looked uncomfortable, but still, they were there to reach out in love—something they both did countless times over the years.

Little expressions of love make a lasting impact.

First Corinthians 13:7 says, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Many years later, a simple act of kindness was destined to make a lasting impression on me. After Dad suffered his first aneurysm, Mom stepped up and cared for him in many areas he hadn’t previously needed help. By removing his shoes and socks and placing his slippers on his feet, I clearly saw her loving, selfless servant’s heart and I was challenged to love in even the most seemingly menial of ways.

Being appreciative is a lovely way to live.

The apostle Paul often gave thanks for his brothers and sisters in Christ. In Ephesians 1:16, it says, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

I have to thank my sister-in-law and her husband for taking care of Mom’s needs for the last number of years. They were there for her and it didn’t go unnoticed. Although Dave and I only live 40 minutes away, too many months went by between visits. Still, Mom was always happy to see us and let us know how much our visits meant to her. She was such a gracious lady.

It’s people that matter—not things.

In Matthew 6:20, we are instructed to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

It blew me away to learn what Mom said the last time Mavis took her through the house she had lived in for years. Mom was getting ready to put it on the market and we wanted to make sure she had everything she wanted before her belongings were packed up and given to those who wanted them. Mom said that there was no longer anything for her in the house. Oh to hold onto material possessions with such a light grip!

The only things she wanted in the nursing home were her knitting supplies, some of her books, and pictures of family and friends. It was those photographs that surrounded her at the care centre, pictures of those she loved and prayed for faithfully.

Deep, genuine faith can be quiet and strong.

Colossians 2:6-7 says, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

While those who knew my mother-in-law would not have referred to her as pushy or preachy, it didn’t take long to learn that her faith was genuine and deep. Her response when I read to her from the book of Psalms and her folded hands asking us to pray with her when her words could no longer do so were proof of that.

Mom prayed for family, friends, her church family, and many others around the globe. She knew her Bible and through hand gestures, indicated what passages she wanted read to her, showing just how well she knew the Scriptures.

This dear lady has left a legacy for us—and I pray that many of us will learn the lessons her life exemplified so clearly.

Have you lost someone close to you? How do you remember them? What legacy did they leave?

How do you want to be remembered? Are you living in such a way as to make it a reality? What changes are you willing to make to ensure that you will be remembered for your deep faith and selfless love?

Family members who point us to Jesus are, indeed, a priceless gift.

Deliberate Ramblings by Sharon Espeseth

Apprenticeship Still in Progress . . .

By both Jeff Goins' and Malcolm Gladwell's standards, I have done my writing apprenticeship: plus 10 years practice, 10,000 hours writing, and at least 1,000,000 words. I've had my share of sporadic writing. I haven't daily practiced my scales and pieces. Years have passed when I didn't perform, or publish my work, regularly.

I'm thankful for what I have inscribed in my journal and what I've had published. My writing has not made me wealthy, nor has it always satisfied the taxman. I do, however, have a few bulging binders with clippings of blogs, poems, memoir pieces, essays, and religious articles. Would some of these writings fit between book covers? If so, I'm running out of years to accomplish this feat. It's time to escape apprenticeship mode.

Intrinsic Rewards!

I have enjoyed the writing and I have been rewarded in spiritual and emotional ways. God has blessed what I've written to I-don't-know-how-many readers. Occasional responses, or personal comment attest to this. For everyone who thanked me for a message that blessed him or her, there may be others who were also blessed.

Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, met and healed ten lepers, but only one leper came back to thank him. Do we encourage other writers by letting them know that their writing helped us?

Listening: A New Emphasis

January 1, 2016, I made one resolution and that was to become a better listener to God, and to my husband, family, friends, and others I meet. As background to this, I reread the story of Elijah, and his experience in listening to the voice of God. (I Kings 19:1-18) After upsetting the status quo by destroying the prophets of Baal, Elijah fled to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. There Elijah spent the night in a cave.

The Lord woke Elijah and asked, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Elijah reminded God what had happened.

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is going to pass by."

Expecting something big, Elijah waited on the mountain. The Lord was not in the terrible wind that ripped the mountain apart. The Lord was not in the earthquake that followed; nor was he in the fire. Torn and shaken, Elijah waited. After the fire, God whispered to him, telling him what to do.

Disappointment and a Whisper!

For years, the Edmonton Journal has been running a Saturday column called "Offerings," which is an "opportunity to express thoughts on religious issues." Over the years, I've had a number of articles published in this 750-word column, as have other Christian writers. The column is open to those of other faiths as well. I feel disappointed when there is no column. Do we as Christians, have no words to express our gratitude for what God has done for us?

Years ago the Journal paid $75 per column, fair pay in the 90s. Then they quit paying, but still invited columns. To satisfy the taxman, I looked for other markets, but I still wrote occasionally for Offerings and read what others wrote.

The Early Morning Call

"I need you to write the story about Lent, Sharon."

During Lent, I watched for tidings on the Easter theme. Nothing. I awoke at 6:00 a.m. one morning I must proclaim the Easter/Lenten theme. I wrote a quick draft for critiquing at the March meeting of Women Word Weavers.
knowing that

Reading my essay to the group, I discovered that we, being of different denominations, had uncommon understandings about Lent. One of the ladies, also a Christian admitted Lent hadn't been a big part of her background. Discussion and suggestions prepared me for a total rewrite. I prayed about the rewriting and set to work. My writing buddies were surprised to see how the published article differed from my original draft.

After my story was printed, a few people commented on the article, but one gentleman I didn't know sent me an encouraging message by LinkedIn. He said he had read my essay twelve times and that he would probably read it twelve more times. What message from the Lord did this fellow receive?

My story in Offerings in the Edmonton Journal

Listen, Trust and Obey

When God tells us to write, we are expected to listen and obey. The message may be tailored for a particular readership God has in mind. If we fail to do God's bidding, God will have other options to get his message across. In our failure, however, we have denied the Lord, as Peter did the night Jesus was arrested. When God has done so much for us, how can we neglect our work in his vineyard?

Income or Outcome? by Glynis M. Belec

Today I scribbled down some more notes in my big green idea ledger. I love my old fashioned scribbler - it's a warm and wonderful story place where I go to get refuelled if I run out of ideas.

I know it's kind of dopey in this day and age to use such a relic to store ideas. I should get with it technologically speaking and create an idea file for such thoughts. But there is just something wonderfully stimulating when I crack open the pages of my 'old faithful' looking for inspiration. Maybe a little nostalgic; perhaps a little comforting; definitely the place to go for this gal.

Some of the ideas in this book are from decades ago, but it's quite amazing and fascinating to me when fresh ideas from my old notes surface. And they really do. When I page through the old book I often feel articles or story lines percolate and sometimes an entire editorial bubbles to the surface and then it is all I can do to get the words typed into my trusty laptop.

Many of the entries in my ledger are lists. Some are random words or clever thoughts I had or ideas I heard from sermons, speakers, children's conversations.

The title for this piece held a particular fascination for me today as I leafed through my ledger. Income or Outcome? I started to consider what the dickens I was talking about when I wrote down those two random words.

Then I got to thinking. My writing. Do I do it for the income or do I do it for the outcome? Not sure where I heard or read this saying, but really those few words hold a lot of wisdom. Yes, sure I would love to say I write and earn a great income from arranging and rearranging the 26 letters of the alphabet on a page. But sad to say t'ain't so! I do earn some income from writing and I love that because I get to contribute to the household finances. More important to me, however, is the outcome of my writing.

Nothing stirs my heart more than to hear that a child is taking one of my books to bed with him or that she couldn't put my book down because she just had to find out what happened next. Or if someone said they see Jesus in my words. Or I encouraged them to keep on keeping on in the faith.

When I wrote my column in the local newspaper, my greatest reward was not the $2 a column inch I received each week. Rather it was the words of a reader saying, "I loved your column this week. I sure can relate!" Or if someone told me they clipped one of my columns and it is now on their fridge! Sweet joy.

When the outcome of something I have written gives someone joy or comfort or peace or intrigue, or draws them to a closer walk with the Lord, then I am content.

God has given me a passion to write. I love it when he connects the dots from fresh ideas inspired by jottings in my ledger and then transfers them to words on the page.

Income is nice, but when the outcome glorifies God then I feel rich beyond measure!

Writers rejoice when they can reach their audience with the right words at the right time.

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

— Proverbs 15:23

Strong Verbs Give a Strong Message by Sharon Espeseth

Looking forward to spring walks

On holidays, my husband Hank and I drove past a church sporting a brief, but all-encompassing message. All it said was, TRUST, LOVE, FOLLOW, CARE, SHARE. "Wow!" I thought. "That is the Christian faith in a thimble, and it's all verbs.

The Christian walk is one of action. As I scribbled this church sign on a paper napkin, a few Bible verses flashed through my mind.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart." (Proverbs 3:5a)

"Love the Lord your God . . . and love your neighbour as yourself." (Luke 10:27)

"'Come follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.'" (Matthew 4:19)

These few verses fleshed out the memo, but kept the Christian mission succinct. One could add more about caring for people in prison, sharing with widows and orphans, healing the sick, caring for the elderly, acting justly, but that is all included in "love your neighbour as yourself."

Strong verbs! Any writing teacher worth his hire will remind us to use vivid and virile verbs; and go easy on the adverbs.  Precise verbs show action and inject life into a story. Verbs with punch lessen the use of passive voice. To say, "She was driven crazy by the dog," is lame compared to, "The dog drove her crazy when he pattered in with muddy feet." Action verbs tell it like it is. Well-chosen verbs bring life to the page.

The language of the Bible demonstrates effective writing while teaching the spiritual lessons God wants us to understand. Look at the verbs in John 3:16. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." What life-giving verbs! What a life-giving story.

Prayer: Thanks for the reminder, Lord, of how simple, yet powerful and complete is the Christian calling. Help me share the good news of your plan of salvation enacted 2000 years ago. I am in awe of what you did for me, for all of mankind, to save us from the errors of our ways.