Father's Day!

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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!

A Tribute to my Grandfather

Paul and Steph in Tallahassee, Fl (Christmas 2009)

Hello dear friends!

I endeavor in this New Year 2010 to try something new: I will develop my creative side and share with you different topics that have either been happening or simply have been prevalent in my thoughts.

On this January 25th 2010, I remember my grandfather Richard E. Pare as he would be celebrating his birthday today! He would have been 90 years old! I love and miss him! Unfortunately I have not found a digitized picture to post of him. He passed in 1991 and has shaped my life in many ways. I can thank my grandfather for the job I have today: He taught me most of my English as he refused to speak to me in French growing up! He loved his wife, his grandchildren, his entire extended family (As his family was VERY large-8 siblings) and loved Jesus very dearly.

He enjoyed many sports, participating or simply watching. I will always remember my father and him watching football together. He also never missed a game of Tennis! He loved sitting on his balcony in the country and watching the sunsets in the summer time. He was a peaceful man with many passions and I always new he loved me and my sisters very much.

That is just a glimpse of my grandfather's life in a nutshell through the eyes of a 13 yrs old. How very little do I know of my grandfather and yet I know that I have a part of him in me! That is comforting.

While I have a very limited knowledge about my grandfather, the same goes for my knowledge of my Saviour! How comforting to know that even if I know him very little, He still loves me and shines through me!

I am constantly seeking after Him who sought me first! He is my constant and will always remain my rock!

Jude 1:24-25

" To Him (The Lord) who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!
Amen!"

Until next time,

I bid you good night!

Giving Thanks!

Paul and Steph at the Dicksons !

Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God...(Ephesians5:1-2)...Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus. ( Ephesians 5:20)

Paul and I want to give thanks to our all of you, our friends and family who continue to uphold us in prayer and continue to bear witness in our lives of the TRUE love of Christ. On this week end of Thanksgiving, we acknowledge everyone who has brought so many blessings into our lives! We would not be where we are today if it wasn't for your love and support and of course, our heavenly Father's grace on our lives. Thank you for serving us, thank you for ministering alongside us, thank you for sharing your lives with us, thank you for crying with us and laughing with us. Thank you for sharing meals with us, thank you for taking care of the ones we love so much, thank you for praying for us, thank you for taking time for us and loving us in your own special way, and thank you for speaking truth and wisdom in our lives. You are all very special to us and we are grateful to have been involved in your lives in one way or another.

We want to thank our heavenly father for having provided us with everything we need in Toronto, especially a very unique church family who are already demonstrating God's love to us in many ways! We give him all the praise for equipping us with everything we need to overcome our journey from Thunder Bay to Toronto with Joyful hearts!

I will continue the story of our journey to Toronto at a later date but for now here are a few people among many who have impacted our lives in this past year! Please note that it would be impossible to have a picture of everyone who has been present in our lives... and therefore either from a lack of pictures or out of respect for some individuals who prefer not being seen on camera this display of pictures will surely not portray everyone we are thankful for.

Peter (Paul's brother) and Paul at High Falls, Thunder Bay, Peter we have been so blessed by you! your friendship means so much to us! You would take your shirt off for anyone who needs it! How precious you are!


Trudi, Mackenzie-Skye & Poul-Erik Binderup, you are dear
friends of ours and consider you sisters and bother! Thank you for loving us!


Carla, Trudi, Mona and Shannon (From left to right to bottom). To the women who spoke into my life, who made themselves vulnerable and who gave me courage, thank you!


Paul, Steph, Angie Hedrick, Rod Kapitan, Alicia Hedrick, Justin Hedrick, Sky Hedrick and Richard Lebar. To our friends who minstered alongside us and served the Lord and who invested in our lives, Thank you!


Steph and Michele A.K.A Mom! Merci maman pour ta presence continuelle et ton amour si radiant! Je t'aime!


Mackenzie-Skye and Sarah Vanderleest! Sarah, you have been my friend through thick and thin and I thank you for your valuable friendship even through this move I feel you close to me! Thank you! Mackenzie-Skye, well, you are Paul and I's little sunshine! Keep on shinning for Christ!


Steph Abronzo and Dan Muzzin! Thank you for sharing your lives with us in the past year or so! You are fun to be around and have let us in your lives! Thanks guys!

So thanks to all of you who were not shown in pictures! You mean so very much to both Paul and I!

Have a happy Thanksgiving !

The Journey

Paul and Stephanie In front of Don Cherry's Restaurant in Sudbury

Greetings to all of our friends and family!

I have been thinking of my blog every since last Wednesday when I last blogged. I have been strangely longing to get back into the writing mode. Whether it would be free verse or simply conversing with you about our journey to Oakville, ON, which ended up being Paul's home during his studies at Sheridan College in Media Arts before we met! Ever since then, Paul had a desire to return to Oakville and here we are. God can hear the simplest of wishes! But to share with you how we got here I will start with our move down.
Paul and I rented a U-Haul to move down. We desired to bring a little bit of Thunder Bay to Oakville so we thought what better way than to make a transition from our home, where we met, got married and lived for the last 5 years, and Oakville, the new place, full of adventure and growth. We both felt like we were leaving a part of ourselves in Thunder Bay. What comforted us was the certainty that God was leading the way and that even if we didn't know what the next step was, He did, and that was all that mattered. Of course, on my part, it helped that I was getting closer to my mother!

However Don't be fooled! As we distanced ourselves from our home, we realized that it was much harder to keep our eyes ahead than it was to look back at what we were leaving behind. Paul and I took time to reminisced about our time with our family and the times spent with friends.
When we arrived in Toronto, it hit us both in different ways but nonetheless, it hit hard as we realized how woven we were with our dear ones back home. I guess that is why we call ourselves "The Body of Christ": the heart cannot function without the head and the foot cannot function without the leg. We are all connected by the Spirit of Christ. As some of you might have heard me say this before, it was like cutting the umbilical cord: hard to let go of the past, but still full of God's goodness ahead which we would be fools not to embrace and trust Him for what lies before us.

Here are a few pic from our trip down.

Some glances at nature on our way to Southern Ontario...

As we travelled South, the vegetation became more lush!

Paul in front of Don Cherry's NHL team photo in the Restaurant!And if anybody asks...Yes! It did rain the entire trip down! Well almost...

Until soon my friends and with Love and prayer, I pray that you would seek wholeheartedly after the Truth!

Steph

A walk in the woods!

Hello everyone!

Today was a weird day for me. I felt as though I could conquer the world and then I was reminded of how I don't have it all together. I guess the lesson to learn is that I don't have it all together but there is one who does and has enabled me to come back on this page and recommit to the pouring of my heart in writing to whomever cares to read. Since I can do all things through God who strengthens me (Phil 4:13), I do conquer the world, a little bit each day. One day at a time.
As I walk through the woods some of you might know me well enough that I enjoy pondering on the promises of Jesus Christ. A prayer turned into a conversation as He showed me today that I too could have a disciplined and enjoyable lifestyle.
I feel like the prodigal son having been gone from the blogging world for the last almost 8 months now! Wow that is a new low! I must say discipline is just not my bag. ;)
I miss you all, my blog friends, the ever so supportive people in my life that encourage me through your own blogs.
Many things have happened since last February and there is too much to recap it all in words but I have a few pictures to give you a glimpse in our lives and feel like you were with Paul and I this whole time. But in a nutshell, Paul and I had one last presentation at Fort William Baptist Church to show the documentary for Sky and Angie Hedrick that Paul filmed and edited for 'An Eagle's Cry Life Centre'. It was a very encouraging evening for many people and we witnessed that night what Paul and I long to do for missionaries all over the world! We saw the church body become unifyed and we saw brothers and sisters in the Lord step up to the plate and Honour their Heavenly Father. What a night that was!
We slowly geared up for leaving towards Toronto with no job or place to stay in sight, only the certainty that it was time to make a step of faith in that direction.
In June I went down to Toronto with the mission of finding a job and an appartment in 1 month. I was positive it could be done regardless of the economic downfall. Indeed, God faithfully provided and here we are in Oakville, Ontario since July 2nd, thrilled to have obeyed our calling and yet sad for being so far away from great friends and wonderful family! We miss them oh so much.

So here are some pictures from the last 7 or 8 months!

Paul taking in the beauty of God's creation at Quetico Provincial Park

Lake at Quetico at Sunset! I'm so mesmerized during the sunset I forget to take a picture on time!

The Muzzin brothers with the two Steph's one last time on Avondale Place! Home Sweet Home!

Paul and Poul-Erik at the Men's Retreat

Providence

Today we were at Providence Bible College and Seminary. It has been a long and exciting day representing World Team and interacting with students interested in local and global missions. I'm learning a lot about mobilization and am being introduced to an amazing community of missionary reps from all over Canada. It's so great that we'll basically be spending the next 3 days together and building gospel centred partnerships. It was a long 12 hour day and so I'm a little fried so I won't say much, but will give you a few highlights:

• two amazing chapel times including worship, prayer and extremely inspirational messages from George Verwer the founder of Operation Mobilization. I am really encouraged by Mr. Verwer's vulnerability, honesty, and genuine love of Jesus Christ. I'm looking forward to hearing him speak at MissionFest this weekend. If you want to read an amazing testimony check out this link: http://www.om.org/history.html

• interacting with some really interesting students from all walks of life at the mission booths, during the workshops, and at the "market place" windup party afterwards. The Market Place was an idea of introducing different cultures to the students in the context of a Market Place where they can purchase different goods and services with the "fun money" they received from each missions rep that they visited throughout the day. I'm telling you, hanging out with all these students makes me miss my college days.

• My colleague, Jake ran a workshop topic on the Unborn: Protected or Exploited? Here's the summary: This workshop engages the participants through an interactive discussion on the underlying motives driving the very people that have absolute power over the unborn - their potential mothers. After this workshop, attendees re-enter everyday life with the challenge to consider what steps to take to reflect a missional approach to the plight of the unborn and their protectors/aggressors.

• an amazing, free, all you can eat lunch and supper in the cafeteria

Well, there's a lot more I could say, but I thought that I would just leave you with a couple of quotes that I wrote down from George Verwer today. I hope I didn't butcher them too much, I was trying to get them down and so hopefully they contain the basic truths he conveyed. Enjoy!

"If you don't understand that God works within a culture then I dare say that you won't understand how God has been working in the last few thousand years."


"In your evangelism make sure you give the other person equal time to speak... and you should also do the same thing in your marriage."


"Whatever the Lord has given you, pass it on... [be a disciple maker]"


"[In our Christian lives] there needs to be a marriage between proclamation and social concern and action."


"Sometimes failure can be the back door to success."

Here in Manitoba

Well, I arrived in Manitoba a little late today, due to a de-icing delay at the airport, but that is about the only hickup that I've had to face. This day has been really fun and enjoyable.

My friend Jacob picked me up and I'm staying and we're staying at his parents place in Steinbach while we represent World Team at Providence College, Steinbach Bible College, and Manitoba Mission Fest.

A few hours ago we had the priviledge to attend a CMC Missions board meeting. Jacob gave a field report and introduced me to the board members. I gave a short presentation about the media ministry that Steph and I will be doing with World Team. It was really overwhelming to interact with a great group of wise and humble men who love Jesus and want to help with the proclaimation of the gospel. I can't sum up the experience into words at the moment (it would take to long and I'm pretty tired) but all I can say is that this trip would be worth it just to be able to get to know Jacob a little more and talk with these guys, hear their words of wisdom, encouragement and love for Christ.

I just wanted to leave you with this section of Scripture that came to mind while the guys were discussing wisdom and our human the tendancy to be overwhelmed by a sense of inadequancy (like becoming a parent for the first time) when God lifts us up into positions of leadership. Our hope for success does not depend on our abilities, charisma, experience, or lack there of, but rather on the saving work of God. We look to Him to glorify himself through us. It is God who prepares us and puts us into these opportunties for His glory.

David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine [Goliath]."

And [Goliath] cursed David by his gods... and said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."

Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javeline, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliever you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORDS's and he will give you into our hand." (1 Samuel 17:37, 43-47)


- Paul

(P.S. David kicks Goliath's butt)

The Wonder of Christmas!

Here I am sitting in my warm and cosy home, preparing for our Christmas brunch and imagining the laughter and love that this season brings! I feel my heart explode with love and thank Jesus for giving us himself to show us what true love is! Paul and I are thrilled to be in Thunder Bay and celebrate Christmas with his family. Last year we spent Christmas in Montreal with my family. It was truly wonderful spending not only Christmas but also my 30th birthday with my family! Nonetheless,this year is very special not traveling, just spending Christmas with my in-Laws and looking forward to some quality time with my mother-In-Law! Paul and I are so blessed to be in Thunder Bay during this season of our lives!
Just two days to Christmas and the preparations are making me feel all warm and fuzzy inside: the hot chocolates, the smell of cinnamon in our house, the wrapping of the presents, the cards hung above our livingroom window as a testimony of all the friendships we have built, but mostly the shopping with my mother-in-law, sharing the wonder of Christmas together! What joy this brings to my heart!
We pray that you and yours will have a Christmas filled with Wonder!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!

Spoken To

I am sitting here pondering on the last few months where Paul and I have been searching for God’s will in Paul’s life regarding his job search and for the next job I could get that would sustain us for the remainder of our stay in Thunder Bay before we leave for Toronto, Lord Willing, in May or June\09. Much has happened since our last blog and we owe all of you an apology for our silence.

Moving on, in these past few months, Paul has been filming for the Eagle’s Cry Life Centre. He has also found some part-time work cleaning but he is still looking for another part-time job that would somehow build him up for working in his field once we arrive in Toronto. Paul has also been busy editing for a church in town. As for me well, I worked a lot. I taught French as a full time job and had different opportunities presented to me to teach French in the community and working with children at an after-school program, and also tutoring on the side. Now my question is not what will the Lord provide next but more how will he guide me in making the right decision? I don’t need to worry about that either. We are His children and are cared for unconditionally. Let me encourage you in showing you how Our Father cares for us in very mysterious ways.

Yesterday, I went to a fruit of the Spirit night at Care’s place, a powerful woman of God who is so hospitable that when you enter into her house, you feel you have entered a haven, a holy place. She has made her house a sanctuary. It was such a beautiful evening and filled with God’s love and a fellowship of women who come from different backgrounds and life experiences. It was so refreshing to the soul. Imagine sitting by a creak of water and building your roots by this creak. It makes for solid roots and no winds can affect these roots. Imagine a bond fire and a circle of women just sharing their lives, being vulnerable and when one hurts all the others gather around and help her with her burdens, carrying the load. Around a bond-fire there is also singing lifting each other up and keeping Christ the center, Christ is our fire and He ignites our hearts. Last night reminded me of Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul...” Last night restored my soul and helped me to realize that I need to lie down in green pastures more often. Yesterday I witnessed (not for the first time) the Holy spirit at work. Some of these women knew my heart before I even spoke to them. What a miracle! I love it when that happens, I really feel cared for and witness God’s love in a tangible way!

I didn’t have any pictures from last night but I hope that I painted a picture that moved your hearts in some ways. So I would encourage you all to put on the Armour of God (Ephesians 6:14-18) and remember if God is for us who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)Read the Word of God. It not only refreshes, it heals our wounds, binds the broken-hearted and sets the captives free!

Today...

Today was a good day. Over the last couple weeks Steph and I have been blessed to serve alongside Sky & Angie, two missionaries to the Native people group of Thunder Bay. They run "An Eagle's Cry Life Centre," building relationships and spreading the hope of Jesus with anyone who pops by. Check out their website: www.aneaglescry.org. They are extremely encouraging. I had the priviledge to sit down with Sky and hear more about his vision for ministry that flows directly out of his testimony: how Jesus' captivated his life, freed him from bondage and laid his healing power upon his soul.

At "Eagle's Cry" we had an amazing time. I think the two greatest moments for me were: seeing some 40+ people (some God haters and others Jesus followers) stand in a circle, holding hands and giving thanks for the special spagetti lunch that was offered today. The 2nd amazing moment was with William, a 70 year old homeless man suffering from arthritis. William currently lives at "The Shelter House" and shared with me part of his life story. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with him, building a friendship, and I look foward to seeing him tomorrow. Please pray he will be open the hearing the gospel as our friendship builds.

Today was also a good day because we have continued to labour for Jesus and spend time with our church's Outreach team planning and praying. It was a pleasure to see Ellie joining the team and embracing her passion to outreach to the lost in our community! Afterwards, we went to encourage Jon & Kathleen (aka The Cedars of Lebanon) as they played a set in a local coffee house. To hear more of the Cedars fo Lebanon check out: http://www.myspace.com/thecedarsoflebanon.

So Steph and I got back home around 10:00. We've been out since breakfast, and now we're feel spent. I'm drinking some tea to help fight this weird cold I've got and I am just finishing some posters for an outreach dinner event that runs on the 2nd Saturday of every month. (We're trying to do something unique for Thanksgiving and we hope it will turn out well.) Well I gotta run because I have to cut the posters and go to bed. But I have just one last thing to share:

Today is a good day... because Jesus reigns today.

The familiar faces at the Desiring God conference

Hello!

We spoke to you about our experience at the Desiring God conference last week end but had no pictures posted. I must say these pictures only give you a snapshot of what our weekend was like. Unfortunately, we have no pictures of the speakers, the crowd, and our hotel room but we do have pictures of memorable moments with our friends with whom we shared this experience. I don't know if any of you ever had an adventure where you look back and said: "It would not have been the same without these people." Well, this week-end was definitely like one of those adventure; and what an adventure it was! Paul and I carpooled down to Minneapolis, a 6 hour drive across the border, with Jeff and Rich. Great conversations, great laughs, great snacks! What a great time!

Once we arrived in Minneapolis we met up with Poul-Erik and Trudi and Mackenzie-Skye. There were also another group from our church there whom we met up with at the conference. Unfortunately, we do not have pictures with them. There was Debbie, Laurie & Rob, their kids, Josh( who flew from Vancouver with some of his friends) and Sarah. We also saw Rosemary and Marvin. Imagine saving seats for about 15 people when 3485 others are looking for good seats as well! There were a few others from other churches in T-Bay who came to enjoy the fellowship and teaching time! It is so great to share this time together worshiping our Lord and Saviour, surrounded by countless others who share the same passion. What a rich experience!

One of the things that was so amazing was when we saw a familiar face in the crowd! Paul and I were talking with some friends when we saw Ed. Ed is a man who played in the Messengers group. The communication group whom Paul and I followed to Toronto in March 2007 and who introduced us to World Team, the mission organization we are with now. Yes! It was fantastic to see him and to hear about his adventures since March 2007! He has not changed one bit! Ed, it was a joy to share supper with you!

Meet Ed! Ed was volunteer for the DG conference.

We first met Ed when he came to Thunder Bay with the Messengers for a presentation.

Paul and P-E at the DG conference

Father-daughter time at the hotel in Minne. What a great pic mom!



Jeff and Mackenzie at the restaurant


Why do you get to eat and I just sit here and watch?

At the conference, Paul and Mackenzie bonded some more. It was truly priceless to see Paul with her, entertaining her. What a break it gave to Trudi!

What is that on your face?

Ha! Tricked ya! Got your nose!

...Where can I get a hat like this one?...



Howdy pretty lady!



This is our group who hung out the most together. from left to right: Trudi, Rich, Jeff, Paul, Steph and in the middle, P-E.

This picture was taken in the bookstore area. It was such a great experience and thanks to Trudi, we have great memories from that weekend. I must say, I am still wondering what was the better part of the weekend for Paul, the conference or his new found buddy, Kenzie!

With much love, we bid you goodbye...for now.

So Thankful!

Boujour a tous! (Hello all)

I am blessed by a mother that looooves me, a husband that adores me and friends that bless me every single day. This is how I see God providing for me all the time! I had coffee with my friend Beth yesterday and I was blessed my socks off, as she would say! We laughed and cried and shared and it was all around beautiful to meet a new sister. It is so wonderful to meet someone, once every so often, who will touch your heart in this way! Beth you are precious and you empower people around you. Don't ever lose your passion for life! Beth is a woman with much wisdom. She does not hold back, she makes sure that what she says will edify and build. Beth is a mother to many and is viewed as a spiritual guru for many moms and moms-wanna-be! What a fierce woman and yet with a gentle spirit she moves your heart to love Jesus more every single day. Thank you Beth for that precious time with me.

Now speaking of heart, I was able to share with you about my surgery on september 20th but not how we celebrated our 2nd year! So here are some pictures to show you and no...She is not my baby girl! Although I would love to have Mackenzie-Skye as a daughter! ;) So P-E, Trudi and Mackenzie-Skye came for a visit for the afternoon\evening. It was so great to have them and you can only imagine who was the biggest entertainment! We didn't do a movie marathon this time but soon maybe we'll do one! he he! Those are the best.

Mackenzie Skye lying down on our living room floor. What a cutie-pie!

Jordie paid a visit while she was in a deep sleep...too bad he was no prince charming!

Well it wasn't much longer before Paul would befriend her! What a pair they make!



You can see who was the biggest entertainment now!



What a beautiful girl! Mackenzie-Skye you will break hearts!

As for mom and dad you will have to wait until tomorrow for their picture! P-E and Trud's, thank you so much for celebrating such a significant part of our year with us! You ahve been such a blessing to Paul and I. Continue to live the Joy of the Lord! This will without a doubt have a print on Kenzie's life!

You see this is what I mean, blessed all around! I hope you feel just as blessed as we do!

What are friends for?

Last night we had our ladies Bible studies Kick off night! It was a blast! Not only did we do a fashion show but we all had the opportunity to listen to Heather talk on our wild hearts and how we have a perfectly tended pasture offered to us, but like mustangs we all ere towards the wilderness where we don't have to answer to anybody, yet again, we have no one to take care of us either. Well, If you know me, you would know this talk spoke to me. First, because I am like a mustang, wild at heart, adventurous, making my life difficult by doing everything on my own and always looking for the long way home. Second, because I LOVE horses!
Last night touched my heart because she reminded me that I don't have to face the storms of life on my own, and that crying out to Jesus for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Letting go of what I know best, myself and clinging to Him.

You see if you knew Heather that would have touched you too because, like me she is wild at heart but loves Jesus. She went through storms and not without struggles but came out victorious! Heather is very dear to me. She needed hip surgery this year and is now enjoying her new hip. But not without hardship! But she hung on to her Savior and let go of herself, knowing her own weakness. She used to horseback ride and ADORES it! Yet she had to go 4 yrs without ridding because of her hips. Yes! I did say HIPS! She is on the waiting list for her next hip replacement.
I want to head to what many have said before her and cling to my Savior, "to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us..."
Have a beautiful day!

A weekend filled with Fellowship!

Paul and I came back late Sunday, refreshed spiritually and yet there was this feeling of exhaustion from taking so much in and being surrounded by 3500 people for 2 days. Wow! It seemed longer than that! What a wonderful experience to fellowship with so many people. It was a time of renewed perspective, spiritual growth and so much laughter. I don't think I laughed like that in a looong time! I don't mean to rub it in, Desley. I would encourage anyone who would like to hear the speakers to go on the desiring God website at www.desiringgod.org and check the speakers out as they podcast the teachings. They were incredibly enjoyable and yet they spoke right to my heart! Every speaker had their purpose there this weekend.
Unfortunately, we don't have pictures yet to put up, but as soon as we get some we will put some up. It was such a blast to share our very first experience at a desiring God conference with about about 10-15 others from Thunder Bay. Beth, we saw Al and his wife, along with Dennis and Maureen! It was so neat!
Paul and I were able to connect with the head of Desiring God for the media ministry and to talk with them a little. That was awesome! And if you knew us at all you would know that Paul and I found a few books to bring back. On our way back to Thunder Bay, I heard myself ask Paul, "where will we put these books?" and he answered, " I guess we'll have to buy another book shelf!" ;-0 It was a Desiring God conference after all!

So nice to share our experience with you! We encourage you to check out our new memory verse on the right hand side, it will be on there for 1 week! We would challenge you to equip your heart and your mind with Scripture! Enjoy!