A Burden Worth Carrying

• Over the last year and a half God has really been burdening my heart for people who are hurting, broken, lost, and spiritually and physically in need. Every book I read, almost every day as I open my bible (be it for small group bible study or my own devotional time), every sermon Dave and I listen to- the same message comes so clearly. It's been exhilarating and life changing and at times drops me to my knees or has me jumping out the door. I so desperately want to be obedient to God and passionately follow his plans for our life. I don't want to let this burden drift away with the distractions of this world.
  
  Today I woke up and was reading in Proverbs and again and again was hit by the passages that pertain to wealth, caring for others and giving. Then I was listening to a sermon which I thought was going to be about marriage and the verse that jumped out at me was from Isaiah 58.
  
  6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
  to loose the chains of injustice
  and untie the cords of the yoke,
  to set the oppressed free
  and break every yoke?
  7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
  and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
  when you see the naked, to clothe them,
  and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
  8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
  and your healing will quickly appear;
  then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
  and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
  9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
  you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
  
  “If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
  with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
  10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
  and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
  then your light will rise in the darkness,
  and your night will become like the noonday.
  11 The LORD will guide you always;
  he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
  and will strengthen your frame.
  You will be like a well-watered garden,
  like a spring whose waters never fail.
  12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
  and will raise up the age-old foundations;
  you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
  Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
  
  Oh how this is my prayer....
  
  I found this song by Lisa Chan, the wife of a well respected teacher who many of you are familiar with, Francis. The words broke my heart again.
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ck4r6MaG7s
  
  I don't believe in coincidences, so I was struck with the verse that runs at the very end of the video.  This scripture has been on my white board since we studied it several weeks ago in small group and it hasn't stopped resonating in my brain and heart.
  
  

  This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 

  1 John 3:16-18 

  
  

  This is also the verse that first took residence on my fridge last summer when we moved to Chilliwack. This verse, keeps reminding me that God's love is shown through my actions, not simply my words and that I need to show this broken world his love- in action.
  
  Some days I'm heavy with impatience. Heavy with the suite in our basement that continues to be empty when it could be a place of safety for someone,  heavy with a heart for the children that have no one to kiss them goodnight. Heavy with the conviction that I live with so much while so many live with so little. Heavy, with sadness for the people who who are living in darkness without the hope of Christ. Despite this heaviness, I am excited and so thankful for this burden.  I know that we are in Chilliwack for a reason. God has been so faithful in providing for us and I trust that he is working on me as my heart continues to break for women, kids, everyone who has that empty look in their eyes.
  
  I know God has given me this heart that seems to cry almost every week over the same reality of those who are dying without hope. I'm praying that God will continue to show me how to reach out, to widen my vision, and give me courage and boldness to serve whoever he puts in my path. Moreover, I pray for patience, clarity, obedience, humility and selflessness as I seek to follow him. Some days I feel exhausted with the people he has laid on my heart and put me in relationship with. Whether they are women from the shelter, woman from our neighborhood bible study or my kiddos, I often have no clue how I'm going to continue to show them the love of Christ. It is on these days that I remember Jesus words to Paul.
  

  My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 

  - 2 Corinthians 12:9

   It is not by my ability, but the holy spirit, who gives me the strength to do what he calls me to do. I pray that all of you will find the same fulfillment that I have found in simply striving to live and love like Christ did. 
  
  
  
• A few must reads that have contributed to this almost daily conviction in order of impact on my life :)

  - The Bible specifically every one of Paul's letters, Acts, Romans 1 John, Endless Proverbs and Psalms, Isaiah 58... and the list goes on as their are over 2000 verses pertaining to poverty, social justice, and generosity.

  - Crazy Love by Francis Chan 

  - Radical and Radical Together by David Plett

  - Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborn (although there are some significant things I question/critique in this one)

  
  

  And pretty much anything that you can listen to by Francis Chan on Youtube. I think this guy is a Prophet, called to speak truth into the western world of Christianity. Here is one of my favourite clips of examples of ways that people are living out the love of Christ.
  
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgwqeEVFr3s
  
  

Advent Adventures- Part 3

Here I sit,  sipping apple cider and eating a Turtles chocolate  (just delivered to me by my hard working hubby) and reflecting on all that we've done in the last week.  It's amazing to me how many people God has put in our lives in such a short time to enjoy this season with. It's no wonder that Kara typically wakes up asking where we are going and who we are having for lunch as we are often out and about or eating meals with friends who are becoming more like family. All the same it's also amazing to me how often both Kara and Emily talk about our old house, our family back home, and our big church. It's funny how somethings are just so locked in their positive memories that no matter how many experiences you provide as a distraction, they still are thinking about all their loved ones that live "so so soooooo far away, over the mountain". So, the count down is on with just over a week until we leave for Ontario. So far, the weeks are just flying with appointments, play dates, and advent adventures with friends. Here is the highlights from this past week.

Dec 13:
Breakaway continued one last week! (All the other groups stopped two weeks ago but our small little breakout just can't seem to get enough of eachother). I have really really loved this time of learning about and from this group of women ranging in age from 27-60.
Today was also the first day that I could feel my patience being brutally tested as Emily had to be removed from Walmart for a temper tantrum that left one onlooker rolling her eyes and muttering at me. It was humiliating and humbling to have to beg God for patience as I returned to the car to discipline my screaming child. Thankfully, the rest of the day was quite enjoyable, complete with a long story time followed by tea with the girls and then an afternoon of rest and cooperative play (a real joy to my soul to see Kara and Emily playing without needing a referee).

Dec 14:
A much overdue play date with Shay and Molly featuring a morning walk to Tim's for a snack. Our plan to walk to motley crew to Molly's school and back was squashed by Emily sitting in a puddle to which she was not impressed.  So, we drove Molly to preschool and I had met the admin staff at the preschool where Kara will likely be starting in the fall. It's crazy to think we are already at that point but she is so ready. It was hard to pull her away from the classroom as she begged me for "a school day".
That afternoon I dove into the book I had started reading (by request of Kevin Sinke)  "Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborn. A few chapters in and I'm intrigued and my mind is racing a mile a minute. I'll have to blog on this book when I'm done.
That night Shay and Molly joined us for dinner and tea, then the girls were in bed early.
Kara woke up at 1am and wouldn't go back to sleep until close to 3. After an hour of struggling to convince her to try to sleep we just went downstairs and wrapped gifts and had popcorn. Kara was insanely funny and I captured part of our conversation on video.

Three little cuties stalling for bedtime.

Tea after dinner with Molly.

Praise God, an afternoon of reading while my girls played together peacefully!

Emily's been interesting in potty training again!

And this is her new "growl face". Pretty funny but not terribly cute...lol.

Kara at 2am pointing to all the gifts she helped buy and wrap and remarkably let me give away!

Dec 15:
Doctor's Appointment meeting our new family doc.
Dropped the presents off for the Education Center.
Play date with my new friend and her son along with 8 other kids and mommies that we've been getting to know for awhile ago. It was a remarkably peaceful play date with 4 other mom's that all had kids between the ages of 2-3. 
Dinner with Daddy and then off to find the best lights in town with Rolanda and Janelle.

 Kara, Maggie and Emma (these 3 and several other make up a very busy 3 year old class at church).

One of the crazy houses in Chilliwack near our house.

Kara- "Momma it's Micky and Dora, I love them!"

Emily- "wesus loves me! I see him!"

Noah's Ark was a hit.

This amazing property had a walk through path, a community services collection box that was decorated like a church complete with Ken Barbie preaching to a room full of stuffed animals. Super fun for the girls!

Love the scripture on the little church.

 

 

 

 

 

Dec 16:
Weekly prayer with Sarah, so uplifting as usual. Little did I know I would need it so badly as I had some grumpy girls in the morning!
Skye and Charis joined us to tour the gingerbread houses at a fundraiser put on by Sutton Realty.
Lunch with the Farr's and Daddy who was home studying for his ATLS course tomorrow.
Visited our first Living Nativity with Shay and Molly and the Bruneski family. A mule, two goats and a moody turkey were the highlights. In addition the kids were able to dress up and participate in the telling of the Christmas story. All the kids, minus a shy little Molly and Isaac, dressed up as angels.
Drove around the city admiring the houses with the best lights (a list was printed in the paper yesterday), this time with Molly and Shay.

Moments before Emily broke one of the gingerbread houses but surprisingly confessed to it when I started to accuse Kara.

Charis standing near her favourite. Unfortunately the pics were taken on my phone...

Molly and Shay bravely approaching the turkey who later turned on Molly and scared her out of the building!

As close as I was getting to that sharp beak...

Some very friendly goats roamed fee and a mule was penned for petting.

The goat kissing and nibbling on Isaac.

Cade sharing some love.

Moody turkey

Kara "Don't be afraid, I bring you GOOD news of great joy!" She shocked me by reciting the part of the angel almost perfectly..... I swear this kid has the sponge memory of her dad.

Admiring baby Jesus.

Kara was mesmerized by Jesus in the manger.

Emily wanted to be upfront with the microphone when they performed the story. I could hear her singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" over the speakers...so funny.

My favourite shot.

Kara getting "One last peek at Jesus"

Toby dog came for the trip but wasn't allowed in to see the animals.

We love our van! There is always extra passengers!

Exhausted tonight....To be continued!

Advent Adventures- Part 2

Four Christmas parties in a row equals a much needed jog! So off I went at 10:30 at night, when to my surprise people start turning off their Christmas lights. It really wasn't much of an attempt to burn the excess amount of calories as I started hacking up a storm after only about 15 minutes. Really, me and exercise have not been well acquainted the last few months and I'm noticing that needs to change. Anyway, on the flip side, the moon was shining super bright and the Chilliwack sky was clear and the winter air was crisp but not too cold. It really was such a blessing to be running in such a safe neighborhood with my health and my family cozy back home. I felt so richly blessed. Tonight I learned that my Grandma is in the hospital and not doing so great. As I jogged I prayed for her and my Grandpa and the rest of the family but couldn't help but get side tracked thinking just how precious life is. How important it is to live it to the fullest in God's plan for us. A dear sister said it quite simply. This is the only life we get, that's pretty serious. Sometimes, I forget to ask God where he wants me to go, what he wants me to do and who it is that he wants me to reach out to.

Anyway, enough of my little rant... here's what the last week has looked like.

Dec 8:

Shopping for gifts for the kids at the Education Center (our job was 4 preschool girls).

Dickens candy shop and Santa's Village visit with Rolanda and the girls then off to good ol' McD's for some happy meals.

Emily and Kara were rocked after a busy day

Daisy and Janelle are a normal passengers on our advent adventures and these two stayed awake!

Dec 9:
Laundry and low key day :)
The girls were babysat by Rolanda while we went to Dave's work party- a great night of good food and funny conversation with some of the docs and their spouses. The girls enjoyed their time with their new friends Daisy and Janelle who have been wonderful company to us over the last couple weeks.

Dec 10:
Toy Drive complete with a free picture from Santa and a nice lunch (that wasn't expected but was very much appreciated!)
Costco Run with Kara to do some last minute groceries before our Christmas party and to pick up our Christmas cards.

Christmas Outreach Banquet with my neighbor Shayley. It was a nice meal with great company and a beautiful and unique reminder of what Christ did for us starting with the manger and ending with his death and ressurection. There was a story teller and special guest singers who really made the night come to life. Shay and I had some good hearts to hearts that certainly help guide my prayers for my dear friend.


Dec 11:
Residency Dinner at our place. We had insane amounts of food! A funny gift exchange game and a photo was taken of the whole group. Overall, a nice reunion after many of them having been all over the map with different rotations.

23 adults for dinner (4 kiddos) makes one very tasty potlock! Turkey worked!

R1's (one of these things does not belong here....)

Dave and all the girls.

R2's (and partners) or most of them anyways.

The "Generosity Jeep" a new addition to our advent season.

Our home.... far more than we could ever deserve.

Our cozy fireplace warms me up many 6am prayer mornings with Sarah.

The girls having a good classic wrestle.

Nothing more warming to my heart than a house full of people eating and enjoying each other.

Dec 12:
Small Group Christmas Social. A simple night of just hanging out and getting to know each other better. Again, a huge spread of Christmas goodies.

The girls were quite pleased to finally