Dear friends!
Today I pondered much on being a father meant. It's not like I am one or ever will be :)!
But having lost mine 15 years ago to cancer, I wondered what it would be like having him around in my life in this stage of my life.
The Lord comforted me and reminded me that He is my father and is a Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5). If I take the Lord as THE example of what a Father is, here is what it would look like: a Protector, a Provider, a Servant, One who loves and cares about all of our joys, sorrows, worries and exciting events in His children lives. He wants to be part of all of our lives and see us through it all!
With that in mind I thought lots about my dad. he loved us and provided and protected but he was special because My heavenly father had lend him to me for a time to shape me in the woman I am today. While he reflected my heavenly father's love for me, he also teased me and enjoyed every stage of my life (well not all I'm sure) with me. He enjoyed skiing and playing backgammon with me and He loved hockey and also his Football! He encouraged me when I went to Europe in 1995, and celebrated with me when I graduated high school. I remember throwing ball with him on our lawn as a child, and I remember when he would come home from work and ask about our days. He was always interested in our lives. However, the one thing that I hold dear is something not every daughter gets to share with her father and that is our birthday! Yes I was born on his b-day!
I loved my father and keep him close to my heart to this day. Even if sometimes I wonder why he was taken from me, I am reminded that my heavenly father is Good and knows the number of our days. 'He gives and takes away, he gives and takes away, but my heart will chose to say blessed be His name...Blessed be the name of the Lord! (song we sang today at church).
I love you dad!
Steph
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Prayers for a friend
Dear friends!
I feel compelled to write today as I ponder on a friend of mine, who is having heart surgery this morning in London, ON.
Not so long ago, say September 20th 2006, I was in her situation awaiting to be taken down to the surgical floor. While I was sitting in my hospital bed in Montreal, praying that God would find favor in me and heal me, a friend in Thunder Bay organized a prayer vigil for me and many gathered praying for me. That day a huge peace came over me and my husband Paul. I am a living testimony that prayer works!
Coming back to my friend, she has had several surgeries over the years but not on her heart. I can appreciate and fully understand if you find the wait overbearing and nerve wracking. I can relate with you. Keep your eyes unto the Lord because He delights in his children.
The first piece of scripture I thought of as I was praying for you this morning was "The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not be in want. (That means you already have everything in Him) He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." When we give our lives up to the Lord he can restore it and us and he takes great pleasure in showing his Beauty and Love through us! You are blessed my friend to have a savior as sweet and as powerful as Jesus. You have the Lion and the Lamb on your side!
As for her family who awaits by her side, these scriptures apply to you as well. Remember that her life is in the best hands and that Jesus is the Great physician today. He is in control and nothing escapes him. Find peace in His love where I know your family's foundation lies.
I love you all, Paul and I are praying for you and Let the Lord of the Universe comfort you this day!
In Christ we are more than conquerors!
I feel compelled to write today as I ponder on a friend of mine, who is having heart surgery this morning in London, ON.
Not so long ago, say September 20th 2006, I was in her situation awaiting to be taken down to the surgical floor. While I was sitting in my hospital bed in Montreal, praying that God would find favor in me and heal me, a friend in Thunder Bay organized a prayer vigil for me and many gathered praying for me. That day a huge peace came over me and my husband Paul. I am a living testimony that prayer works!
Coming back to my friend, she has had several surgeries over the years but not on her heart. I can appreciate and fully understand if you find the wait overbearing and nerve wracking. I can relate with you. Keep your eyes unto the Lord because He delights in his children.
The first piece of scripture I thought of as I was praying for you this morning was "The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not be in want. (That means you already have everything in Him) He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." When we give our lives up to the Lord he can restore it and us and he takes great pleasure in showing his Beauty and Love through us! You are blessed my friend to have a savior as sweet and as powerful as Jesus. You have the Lion and the Lamb on your side!
As for her family who awaits by her side, these scriptures apply to you as well. Remember that her life is in the best hands and that Jesus is the Great physician today. He is in control and nothing escapes him. Find peace in His love where I know your family's foundation lies.
I love you all, Paul and I are praying for you and Let the Lord of the Universe comfort you this day!
In Christ we are more than conquerors!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Is Jesus useful or Beautiful?
Hello!
1 day left before we celebrate the resurrection of Christ!
Paul and I traveled yesterday to visit my mom and Rick at their beautiful home in the eastern Townships of Montreal. What a blessing this weather has been! Sunny and upwards of 28 degrees! I have never seen that in the beginning of April!
On our way here, we listened to a sermon by Timothy Keller who was talking about How God ought to shape our lives and not us fit God in our comfortable lives. It is easy to do the latter in the western way of life! At one point, He challenges us to think about why we would Love God's Mercy, Power and Wisdom and how all three characteristics are useful to us but If we focus on The Beauty or in other words His Holiness, we would be awestruck by his beauty and there is no other motives for us to worship Him besides desiring to be closer and to have more of Him. Out of that love for Him comes the outflow of our deeds as we desire to share Him with others!
Well, here in the country, we hear His creation just shouting out His name all day! It is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoy the smell and the sight of my surroundings. To be close to my mom and Rick is definitely a treat and we enjoy spending time with them. we will be going to the gym and to the sugar shack to celebrate Spring, a Quebec tradition and we will enjoy their property and Monty their dog for the rest of the day!
Tomorrow we will be spending time with my sister, Dominique and my mom and Rick and go to church and go for a nice long walk!
Happy Easter and let's Keep Jesus at the center of our lives!
In Christ and with Love,
Stephanie
1 day left before we celebrate the resurrection of Christ!
Paul and I traveled yesterday to visit my mom and Rick at their beautiful home in the eastern Townships of Montreal. What a blessing this weather has been! Sunny and upwards of 28 degrees! I have never seen that in the beginning of April!
On our way here, we listened to a sermon by Timothy Keller who was talking about How God ought to shape our lives and not us fit God in our comfortable lives. It is easy to do the latter in the western way of life! At one point, He challenges us to think about why we would Love God's Mercy, Power and Wisdom and how all three characteristics are useful to us but If we focus on The Beauty or in other words His Holiness, we would be awestruck by his beauty and there is no other motives for us to worship Him besides desiring to be closer and to have more of Him. Out of that love for Him comes the outflow of our deeds as we desire to share Him with others!
Well, here in the country, we hear His creation just shouting out His name all day! It is beautiful and I thoroughly enjoy the smell and the sight of my surroundings. To be close to my mom and Rick is definitely a treat and we enjoy spending time with them. we will be going to the gym and to the sugar shack to celebrate Spring, a Quebec tradition and we will enjoy their property and Monty their dog for the rest of the day!
Tomorrow we will be spending time with my sister, Dominique and my mom and Rick and go to church and go for a nice long walk!
Happy Easter and let's Keep Jesus at the center of our lives!
In Christ and with Love,
Stephanie
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Jesus' Humanity
"I am thirsty!"
After taking care of forgiving those who were mocking him and killing him, after he promised salvation to the repentant thief on the cross, and after he took care of His mother, we see Jesus turning his attention on His own suffering:" I am thirsty!" The book of John says that the reason why Jesus was thirsty was to fulfill Scripture (the old Testament). Everything that was prophesied about Jesus up to this point had been fulfilled right up to the last detail of the last drink he was offered: Vinegar and Hyssop. " Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said,"I am thirsty". (John 19:28)
In order for Jesus to reconcile man to God, in order to be the perfect sacrifice for the atonement of our sins, Jesus HAD to be one of us. He had to be fully Human. The fact that he was thirsty shows us just how much he entered into our humanity. He also had to be human to fully sympathize with our sufferings as he had suffered and had been tempted in every way!
Hebrews 4:15 says: " For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin.
16- Let us then approach the throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may received mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
I challenge us today to go to Jesus boldly and finding Peace knowing we are restored in Him and through Him!
And if you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, where He knows your name and knows you intimately, than i would encourage you to ask Him to be your Lord and Savior today and bring your sin to Him so he cleanse you and Free you from the bondage that sin holds on you! He has paid the price and is waiting for you to invite Him in.
Have a wonderful day!
Stephanie
After taking care of forgiving those who were mocking him and killing him, after he promised salvation to the repentant thief on the cross, and after he took care of His mother, we see Jesus turning his attention on His own suffering:" I am thirsty!" The book of John says that the reason why Jesus was thirsty was to fulfill Scripture (the old Testament). Everything that was prophesied about Jesus up to this point had been fulfilled right up to the last detail of the last drink he was offered: Vinegar and Hyssop. " Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said,"I am thirsty". (John 19:28)
In order for Jesus to reconcile man to God, in order to be the perfect sacrifice for the atonement of our sins, Jesus HAD to be one of us. He had to be fully Human. The fact that he was thirsty shows us just how much he entered into our humanity. He also had to be human to fully sympathize with our sufferings as he had suffered and had been tempted in every way!
Hebrews 4:15 says: " For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without sin.
16- Let us then approach the throne of Grace with confidence, so that we may received mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
I challenge us today to go to Jesus boldly and finding Peace knowing we are restored in Him and through Him!
And if you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, where He knows your name and knows you intimately, than i would encourage you to ask Him to be your Lord and Savior today and bring your sin to Him so he cleanse you and Free you from the bondage that sin holds on you! He has paid the price and is waiting for you to invite Him in.
Have a wonderful day!
Stephanie
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
The Prayer Experience
Good morning!
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
Sometimes at this time of year, we carry burdens with us that we should leave at the Cross. We are troubled by this world and wonder why we have to endure this side of Heaven. Let's take heart in knowing that as we confess our sins to Jesus we are freed from the bondage of sin. We can turn our hearts towards Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith. All this thanks to Jesus dying on the cross and his resurrection.
Last night, Paul and I went to our church's Prayer Experience. They had 8 different stations.
Station 1 was about the crown of thorns that Jesus had to wear on his path to the crucifixion. We could touch branches full of thorns and have an idea of what he had to suffer. The presence of the thorn branches made the experience very real!
Station 2 was very moving: THE CROSS
We were encourage to write a sin down on a piece of paper and take a nail and nail our sin to the Cross. This was a two fold experience:1- that Jesus had to pay for my sins by being nailed to the cross, and 2- that I was completely forgiven of that sin and was no longer slave to it because Jesus took it from me! This station moved me very much
Station 3 was The Vinegar
We were asked to take a Q-Tip and dip it in vinegar and put it on our tongue, just like Jesus was offered Vinegar while he was carrying His cross. This was to taste the bitterness of our sins and to reflect on the sweet Love of Jesus!
Station 4 was the Confession
We took a dice and the number of dots that we would get were the number of things we needed to confess that was keeping us from seeking after The Father. This was very meaningful to me as well. To be brought right before God because of the confession of my sins is very refreshing. It is hard to admit and be at a place where you can go to your Heavenly Father and lay your sins down, and see the objects of your affections and ask for them to be changed to JESUS CHRIST.
Station 5 was writing your name
Wriitng my name on big whiteboard was to be reminded of God's everlasting Love and if one has accepted Jesus as Savior of their own life and their personal sin than he will NEVER be forgotten. Each one of us wrote a a thank you note to our Lord and Savior. This was to take from the passage in the Bible where the thief on the Cross says to Jesus: "Jesus, remember me in your kingdom. "
Station 6 was the tearing of the curtain
In order to get to the next station we needed to tear the curtain ad behind was an Easle with a passage of scripture and different cloths. I was able to rejoice that we can now boldly come to the Throne of Grace thanks to Jesus' death and how He tore the curtain of the Temple and basically invited EVERYBODY to confess their sins and be freed by HIM directly. At His death we did not need any more Priests and high priests to intercede for us, because Jesus became our High Priest!
Station 7 was Communion
Paul and I broke bread together (It's an actual loaf that you break!) and drank the wine (juice really) and we were able to worship Jesus Together! It was beautiful!
Station 8 was being the light of the world!
It was a very unique experience to be at that station. There was a big mirror with candles and what the station was about is that throughout the evening, the other stations prepared us for being the light to the World because the light is in us through the Holy Spirit. That by communing with God and seeking after forgiveness and for His love we come to a place where He wants us for service and to be light in a dark world!
You see, like I said yesterday in my other blog, God the Father made me not because he needed me but because He wanted to share Himself with me and show me how loved I am. In and of Himself, He can display his glory better without me. But we are created to worship him and enjoy Him forever. It is because of His love for me that I am enabled to serve Him. Not because I first loved Him but because He first loved us!
The father did not just make me in my mother's womb (Psalm 139) but He bought me with a price! he bought back what was rightfully His! WOW! Now THAT is love my dear friends!
My Chains fell off. I've been set free!
On these words I bid you a very wonderful day!
Stephanie
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
Sometimes at this time of year, we carry burdens with us that we should leave at the Cross. We are troubled by this world and wonder why we have to endure this side of Heaven. Let's take heart in knowing that as we confess our sins to Jesus we are freed from the bondage of sin. We can turn our hearts towards Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith. All this thanks to Jesus dying on the cross and his resurrection.
Last night, Paul and I went to our church's Prayer Experience. They had 8 different stations.
Station 1 was about the crown of thorns that Jesus had to wear on his path to the crucifixion. We could touch branches full of thorns and have an idea of what he had to suffer. The presence of the thorn branches made the experience very real!
Station 2 was very moving: THE CROSS
We were encourage to write a sin down on a piece of paper and take a nail and nail our sin to the Cross. This was a two fold experience:1- that Jesus had to pay for my sins by being nailed to the cross, and 2- that I was completely forgiven of that sin and was no longer slave to it because Jesus took it from me! This station moved me very much
Station 3 was The Vinegar
We were asked to take a Q-Tip and dip it in vinegar and put it on our tongue, just like Jesus was offered Vinegar while he was carrying His cross. This was to taste the bitterness of our sins and to reflect on the sweet Love of Jesus!
Station 4 was the Confession
We took a dice and the number of dots that we would get were the number of things we needed to confess that was keeping us from seeking after The Father. This was very meaningful to me as well. To be brought right before God because of the confession of my sins is very refreshing. It is hard to admit and be at a place where you can go to your Heavenly Father and lay your sins down, and see the objects of your affections and ask for them to be changed to JESUS CHRIST.
Station 5 was writing your name
Wriitng my name on big whiteboard was to be reminded of God's everlasting Love and if one has accepted Jesus as Savior of their own life and their personal sin than he will NEVER be forgotten. Each one of us wrote a a thank you note to our Lord and Savior. This was to take from the passage in the Bible where the thief on the Cross says to Jesus: "Jesus, remember me in your kingdom. "
Station 6 was the tearing of the curtain
In order to get to the next station we needed to tear the curtain ad behind was an Easle with a passage of scripture and different cloths. I was able to rejoice that we can now boldly come to the Throne of Grace thanks to Jesus' death and how He tore the curtain of the Temple and basically invited EVERYBODY to confess their sins and be freed by HIM directly. At His death we did not need any more Priests and high priests to intercede for us, because Jesus became our High Priest!
Station 7 was Communion
Paul and I broke bread together (It's an actual loaf that you break!) and drank the wine (juice really) and we were able to worship Jesus Together! It was beautiful!
Station 8 was being the light of the world!
It was a very unique experience to be at that station. There was a big mirror with candles and what the station was about is that throughout the evening, the other stations prepared us for being the light to the World because the light is in us through the Holy Spirit. That by communing with God and seeking after forgiveness and for His love we come to a place where He wants us for service and to be light in a dark world!
You see, like I said yesterday in my other blog, God the Father made me not because he needed me but because He wanted to share Himself with me and show me how loved I am. In and of Himself, He can display his glory better without me. But we are created to worship him and enjoy Him forever. It is because of His love for me that I am enabled to serve Him. Not because I first loved Him but because He first loved us!
The father did not just make me in my mother's womb (Psalm 139) but He bought me with a price! he bought back what was rightfully His! WOW! Now THAT is love my dear friends!
My Chains fell off. I've been set free!
On these words I bid you a very wonderful day!
Stephanie
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Seeking Jesus at the Cross
Good morning!
I have been reading a book called "The Heart of the Cross" by James Montgomery Boice and Philip Graham Ryken. That is where I am getting my inspiration from this week. I strongly recommend it to anyone who desires the Cross to be the Center of their lives. By this I don't mean that we go to the Cross and wait and not live the life that God has given us, but to satiate our thirst for knowing our Lord and Savior(If that is even possible)!
This weekend, I was reading about the plagues in the time of Moses and how God was showing His Beauty and power through Moses. It struck me when there came the plagues of the frogs that once The Lord stopped the frogs from invading houses and lands that He kept His promise and all of the frogs fell to the ground and died. 3 things struck me, 1- God does not need us to show his Greatness in all the land, which means that 2-God gave us the gift of life so that we could enjoy fellowship with him and taste of His Mercy and Love, and 3- That God can take my life away just like those frogs. It made me realize just how fragile life is, yet if I keep my eyes on Jesus, My life is secure! God gives life, and God takes it away.
When we look at Luke's passage of the crucifixion, we see that there are 2 thieves hung on each sides of Jesus. Both of them ask for salvation. The unrepentant thief mocks Jesus like the crowd below and is only thinking about himself and how he wants to live the here and now: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" He does not see passed the present. He is talking of a physical salvation and he asks with his lips.
The second thief realizes that he got what he deserves and rebukes the other Thief: "Don't you fear God since we are under the same sentence? We are punished Justly but, for we are getting what are deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. And then he said 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." This passage is powerful for 2 reasons: 1- The repentant Thief admits that he is a sinner and also admits that Jesus is God and 2- He sets his mind on the future and asks Jesus to remember him in the life to come. He came to Jesus with His whole heart and met him at the cross. He did not want to be saved from this life, He wanted to be saved from all of his sin and believed in the unseen, Christ's Kingdom.
This passage reflects what we should do when we go to the cross. In this passage, the thief pays for his sins but we don't have to pay for ours. We don't have to hang on a cross or be judged for our imperfections in this world because Jesus payed the price for them on the Cross!
I challenge you all to take a moment and think of your life and bring it all before the Cross and surrender it all to Him; your treasures, your worries and most of all your hopes and dreams. It is so much more secure in His hands than in your own!
Let's meet together at the cross and share our burdens with our Savior!
I have been reading a book called "The Heart of the Cross" by James Montgomery Boice and Philip Graham Ryken. That is where I am getting my inspiration from this week. I strongly recommend it to anyone who desires the Cross to be the Center of their lives. By this I don't mean that we go to the Cross and wait and not live the life that God has given us, but to satiate our thirst for knowing our Lord and Savior(If that is even possible)!
This weekend, I was reading about the plagues in the time of Moses and how God was showing His Beauty and power through Moses. It struck me when there came the plagues of the frogs that once The Lord stopped the frogs from invading houses and lands that He kept His promise and all of the frogs fell to the ground and died. 3 things struck me, 1- God does not need us to show his Greatness in all the land, which means that 2-God gave us the gift of life so that we could enjoy fellowship with him and taste of His Mercy and Love, and 3- That God can take my life away just like those frogs. It made me realize just how fragile life is, yet if I keep my eyes on Jesus, My life is secure! God gives life, and God takes it away.
When we look at Luke's passage of the crucifixion, we see that there are 2 thieves hung on each sides of Jesus. Both of them ask for salvation. The unrepentant thief mocks Jesus like the crowd below and is only thinking about himself and how he wants to live the here and now: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" He does not see passed the present. He is talking of a physical salvation and he asks with his lips.
The second thief realizes that he got what he deserves and rebukes the other Thief: "Don't you fear God since we are under the same sentence? We are punished Justly but, for we are getting what are deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong. And then he said 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." This passage is powerful for 2 reasons: 1- The repentant Thief admits that he is a sinner and also admits that Jesus is God and 2- He sets his mind on the future and asks Jesus to remember him in the life to come. He came to Jesus with His whole heart and met him at the cross. He did not want to be saved from this life, He wanted to be saved from all of his sin and believed in the unseen, Christ's Kingdom.
This passage reflects what we should do when we go to the cross. In this passage, the thief pays for his sins but we don't have to pay for ours. We don't have to hang on a cross or be judged for our imperfections in this world because Jesus payed the price for them on the Cross!
I challenge you all to take a moment and think of your life and bring it all before the Cross and surrender it all to Him; your treasures, your worries and most of all your hopes and dreams. It is so much more secure in His hands than in your own!
Let's meet together at the cross and share our burdens with our Savior!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Easter Week!
Hello Family and friends!
I have been pondering all week end on the marvelous Love of Jesus. His empowering Love which pierced through our hearts and continues to do so every day. More so, His sacrificial Love that we are preparing to celebrate in less than a week from now!
Let us be reminded of Jesus' words on the cross: "Forgive them Father for they do not know what they are doing."
If I was hanging from a tree with nails pierced in my hands and feet and people mocking me below, it would not be my first reaction to forgive those who were hurting me. THAT is how we know that Jesus is truly God.
Let us be reminded of His great Love for us and the cost that comes with true forgiveness! As we believe in Christ and The Salvation he offered on that Cross, it may not have been costly to us but it was costly for Our Lord. It would not have been JUST for God the Father to have no payment for our sins...Only we did not pay for them. In THIS truth do I rejoice and find Peace, and yet feel sad for my sweet Lord and his sufferings.
Thank you Father for forgiving me and considering me your child on the basis of your perfect Son's sacrifice on the Cross. Help me find TRUE meaning in my life on that Truth alone. That gratitude would be the fruit of a thankful heart.
Happy Easter week and let us find strength at Jesus' Feet!
Stephanie!
I have been pondering all week end on the marvelous Love of Jesus. His empowering Love which pierced through our hearts and continues to do so every day. More so, His sacrificial Love that we are preparing to celebrate in less than a week from now!
Let us be reminded of Jesus' words on the cross: "Forgive them Father for they do not know what they are doing."
If I was hanging from a tree with nails pierced in my hands and feet and people mocking me below, it would not be my first reaction to forgive those who were hurting me. THAT is how we know that Jesus is truly God.
Let us be reminded of His great Love for us and the cost that comes with true forgiveness! As we believe in Christ and The Salvation he offered on that Cross, it may not have been costly to us but it was costly for Our Lord. It would not have been JUST for God the Father to have no payment for our sins...Only we did not pay for them. In THIS truth do I rejoice and find Peace, and yet feel sad for my sweet Lord and his sufferings.
Thank you Father for forgiving me and considering me your child on the basis of your perfect Son's sacrifice on the Cross. Help me find TRUE meaning in my life on that Truth alone. That gratitude would be the fruit of a thankful heart.
Happy Easter week and let us find strength at Jesus' Feet!
Stephanie!
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