And the Countdown to Christmas Begins!

 

 

----- Fort Worth, TX - Parade of Lights - Friday, November 25, 2011 -----

So Blessed, So Thankful

For the relationship we share with Christ, though Christ; for the relationship we share with each other; for our families; for health; for God's continual provision for Mike to attend school here at Southwestern; for our friends far away from us; for the friendships he's brought into our lives since we've moved to Texas - for all of these (and more) WE ARE THANKFUL!

Today, on this American Thanksgiving day, we were blessed and renewed in our thankfulness for the friendships that the Lord has brought into our lives. Jackson and Heather were one of the first couples we got to know after moving to Texas over a year ago; and, as we have spent time with them, we have come to appreciate their love for the Lord, their love for their family, and their love for people. Their hospitality has been extended to us on more than one occasion (which means so much when being so far from family and friends we've spent most of our lives with) and today they gave us a taste (literally :)) of their family's thanksgiving traditions. It was a blessing to spend the day with them and their sweet boys! And now we've officially experienced our first American Thanksgiving...duck, football, hockey, apple pie, and all! :)

The Silence of Heaven

     "I think there is nothing so startling in all the graces of God as His quietness. When men have raged untruths in His name, when they have used the assumed authority of the Son of God to put to death His real children, when they have with calloused heart twisted the Scriptures into fables and lies, when they have explained the order of His creation in unfounded theories while boasting the support of rational science, when they, using powers He grants them, claim universal autonomy and independence, He, this great silent God, says nothing! His tolerance and love for His creatures is such that, having spoken in Christ, in conscience, in code of law, He waits for men to leave off their bawling and turn for a moment to listen to His still, small voice of the Spirit. Now, after so long a time of restrained voice, bearing in Almighty meekness the blasphemies of His self destroying creatures, now, how shall it break upon the ears, the consciousness, hearts, and minds of reprobate men, the voice of One so long silent?
      "It shall thunder with the force of offended righteousness; rage with lightning bolts upon the seared consciences; roar as the long-crouched lion upon dallying prey; leap upon, better, destroy, and utterly consume the vain reasonings of proud humankind; ring as the battle shout of a strong, triumphant, victory-tasting warrior; strike terror and gravity to souls, more forcefully than tortured screams in the dead of night!
      "O God, what shall be the first tones of Your voice again on earth? And what their effect? Wonder and fear, denizens of dust, for the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with battle-cry, with the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet blast of God Himself made more terrible, if that could be, by the long suffering of His silence."

---- Jim Elliot, November 29, 1949, in The Journals of Jim Elliot ----

In the meantime, Heaven is silent.

      "Yes, but it is not the silence of callous indifference or helpless weakness; it is the silence of a great sabbatic rest, the silence of a peace which is absolute and profound - a silence which is the public pledge and proof that the way is open for the guiltiest of mankind to draw near to God."

---- Sir Robert Anderson ----

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him"

---- 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 ----

(As quoted by Elizabeth Elliot, in Secure in the Everlasting Arms, Pgs.28-30)

An Extra Dose of Fun

My family is all about surprises....One time my dad had me organize our Oregon Coast road trip just to distract me from the surprise Disneyland vacation they already had planned (I spent a lot of time researching places to stay and see when I found out it was only a decoy...but Disneyland sure was fun!). Another time, while Mike and I were dating long distance, I was sent out by my mom to take something to the garage freezer where I discovered Mike standing at the door. The surprises certainly make life interesting and add an extra dose of fun to my already very blessed life!

A couple weekends ago I had just gone back to sleep after dropping Mike off at the airport in the early hours of the morning (so he could go be with his family for his Grandmother's funeral), when my phone rang. "How would you like some company for the weekend? Mandy and Mitch have found a flight and are flying in tonight." How would I like company? Oh my, how I would like company! That morning they had randomly checked flights to Dallas, knowing I was home alone for the weekend, and had found a last-minute seat sale.

What an extra dose of fun for me! We had a wonderful weekend together, just the three of us, hanging out, shopping, eating at some Texas favourites, and exploring the city. (By the way, did you know that Fort Worth is the #1 tourist location right now in Texas? This we heard at the tourist information center.)

Hope in a Time of Grieving

A couple of weeks ago this wonderful lady (Mike's Grandma) went to be with the Lord. I smile when I imagine her walking and running (she hasn't been able to walk for over 10 years) and praising her Saviour!

"...we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (have died), so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus." 

---- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 ----

The above picture was taken just over a month ago when we were visiting Mike's family in Ontario - we are so thankful for those few days we were able to spend with her...not knowing that they would be our last together on this side of heaven.

Mike was blessed to be able to fly back home to be with his family during the weekend of the funeral. He said it was a very uplifting time as they celebrated her life and rested in the joy of knowing she is now with our Saviour.

(Pictures and obituary can be found here.)