You know when you come back from vacation, you try desperately not to lose that “feeling” you had while you were away? The smells, the excitement of being in a new place, the unique taste of the food, the anticipation at the beginning of each day for all you will experience, the joy of the memories that are being knit together.

Well, I’ve been back from the Resolved conference for almost two weeks now, and I think my vacation feeling has faded. I’m pretty sure it happened sometime after the third or fourth load of laundry.

But that’s okay…feelings come and go….What’s more important are the lessons I learned while I was away, and I pray they will stay with me for however long they are needed…Here are just a few lessons I learned that I would love to share with you.

GOD SAVES PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

During the final session of the Resolved conference I couldnt help but glance over at the man sitting next to Shady. Okay I didnt just glance once, I may have looked at him through the corner of my eye several times.  He just didnt look like someone who would be interested in a 4 day Bible conference. He looked like he would more prefer to be riding a Harley Davidson down the highway followed by a row of men that all looked just like him (not that men who ride a Harley Davidson down the highway can’t be interested in the Bible!) He just looked so rough, so intimidating, so…not what I would expect at the conference.

But he held this Bible. It seemed to rest in his hands with tremendous ease, as though his fingers were made for that very book. And the Bible itself, it looked like it had been places. The pages weren’t freshly pressed, they looked like they had been flipped through several times over. This man was clearly familiar with the content of his Bible.

And then it happened. The man on stage asked that all pastors and leaders in the room stand so that they could be appreciated for their labour of love in the church. So I looked around to see who in the room would stand….and he stood up!  I was clearly wrong in my first impression of him.

I loved that I was wrong about him. I loved that God used this situation to remind me that He calls people from all tribes, nations, cities, ghettos and highways full of bikers to Himself. It reminded me that it does not depend on man, but on God.

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of^f your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.” Colossians 1:22-23

FIND A CHURCH…THEN COMMIT

“This church starts too early! This church is too small! The sermons are too long! The sermons are too short!” In the words of pastor Austin Duncan….”Goldylocks, stop it!”

Of course it is important to find a good church. One that teaches sound Biblical doctrine, that explifies the fruit of the Spirit and that operates under the authority of the Bible. But once we have found a good church, we need to commit. We need to plant our feet, roll up our sleeves, start serving, and stop hopping around. Too many of us spend years and years hopping from church to church to church. In order to fully live in the truth of the Gospel we must be firmly rooted and established in a local body of believers. It’s wonderful to belong to the universal church, but this must translate into committment to a local church. More on this next week!  For now, Austin Duncan’s full sermon can be heard here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsytV3wZseQ

THE JOY OF RECONCILIATION

One of the highlights of the Resolved conference was definitely the time of singing and worship. Each of the songs that we sung fixed our gaze on the sacrificial love, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These songs set my heart on heaven and reminded me of the common hope that those in the church share together. I was thankful to be a part of this corporate time of worship.

One particular moment stands out clearly in my mind. It was during an old hymn that you’re probably familiar with called It Is Well With My Soul. One line drove people to raise their hands in the air in humble praise and gratitude to God. No, it wasn’t an emotionally charged line. It wasn’t one of promises of pleasure or rewards in heaven.

“My sin, O the bliss, of this glorious thought….My sin, not in part but the whole…is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more. Praise the Lord, O my soul.”

I shivered when I saw people’s hands being raised in response to these words.

We live in a culture that tells us to deny our sin.  Explain it away. Rationalize it. Compare it to someone else’s so it doesnt appear that bad. Calling something “sin”  is too harsh and is bad for our self esteem..it makes us feel poorly about ourselves. Call it an honest mistake and move on.

Unfortunately this way of thinking has even rubbed off on some churches. Many pastors are scared to talk about sin, so as not to offend, not to turn off, not to turn away its members. But this approach is so dangerous, and so unbiblical. If we’re never confronted with our sin, we will never see our need for a Saviour…we will never understand the magnitude of what Christ accomplished on the cross….we will never see our need for repentence…we will never be reconciled to our holy God.

1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

What sweet relief comes when we make this declaration. “It was my sin…my sin that drove the nails into your hands…and my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.” That is the sweet relief of forgiveness that comes only from the cross. That is what drove a room full of people to sing out their hearts to God, praising Him for reconciling them to Himself!

“Oh to see my name written in your wounds

For through your suffering, I am free

Death is crushed to death, life is mine to life

Won through your selfless love

This the power of the cross, Son of God slain for us

What a love! What a cost!

We stand forgiven at the cross.” (written by Keith Getty)

One more thing….the blogging team at This Passing Life would like to congratulate our Thursday blogger, Georgie, on the birth of her child yesterday!!! Um, Georgie, why didn’t you post yesterday?

I recently watched a video about Doug Wilson’s visit to India. He was conducting lectures on sexuality, you can find them here http://www.canonwired.com/bloomington/. At the end of those lectures he opened up the floor to any questions people might have…and they had many. A large crowd of people opposed to what Doug Wilson was teaching gathered at the lectures and seemed to dominate the question and answer period…not to mention the opportunity they took to heckle him from their seats.

I found the whole thing hard to watch (which is why I didn’t watch much of it). People were, at large, rude, irrational and didn’t really listen to what Doug Wilson was actually saying. But, I was reminded that these are the waters we swim in right now. People hate what the Bible says about sexuality and gender. People hate that Christians would even dare turn this discussion into a moral one. People hate that the Bible even has a moral standard. People hate God.

I would encourage you to watch some the Q and A I have linked above…and also take a look at the other articles I have linked below (the first I got off Paul Martin’s blog and the second off Tim Challies blog).  I for one am really disturbed by it all…but it’s making me want to read my Bible more so that I can be ready to give a defence for the hope that I have.

http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/prosecution+Linda+Gibbons/6792284/story.html

http://theaquilareport.com/first-they-came-forthen-they-came-for/

We are back from sunny California!

I realized that I never shared with you the purpose of our vacation. Besides visiting many of Shady’s relatives who we have not seen for years, the reason we travelled to California was to attend the 2012 Resolved conference. If you have never heard of this conference, I strongly encourage you to visit www.resolved.org  to learn more about it. This conference is a ministry of Grace Community Church which is pastored by John MacArthur.  After eight years, this was the final time that the conference would be held, and we were so blessed to be able to attend!

This year the conference focused on the topic of “The Church”.  It was four days of listening to one edifying sermon after another.  Over the next few weeks I hope to share some of my personal highlights from the conference, including what I have learned from the various pastors. For today I would love to briefly share something I heard that resonated with me in a powerful way.

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

Our hearts are constantly grasping…reaching for something to embrace in the hopes of finding momentary happiness and satisfaction. This passage admonishes us to set our hearts on the Gospel…to hold fast to it as with a firm grip. One of the blessings of meeting together in a conference such as Resolved  is the encouragement our hearts receive to tighten our grip even more on the truth of the Gospel.

What does it mean, practically speaking, to hold tight to the Gospel?  It means to be unswerving in my commitment to God (something which I can only do through His power) .It means love for the Lord that is nurtured with scripture towards constant growth. It means obedience without compromise.  It means that Jesus Christ sits on the throne of life…my heart and my hands hold fast to Him.

Amanda knows what it means to hold something in her grip. She’s actually quite skilled at holding tight to just about anything that catches her attention. These days it’s my hair…my collar bone…but especially my nose. Don’t be deceived by the fragile appearance of her hands. Once those fingers hold onto something they are determined not to let it go. That is of course until she spots something more interesting.

My behaviour often resembles that of Amanda’s. I resolve to hold tight the words of the Gospel to my heart. But worldly temptations and distractions compete with my allegiance and slowly pry my fingers off of God’s words. Like Amanda I temporary release my grip to make room for that which looks attractive and appealing.

This is why it is so important to be in God’s word on a regular basis…why we need to encourage each other with the truth of Gospel…and why we need to be committed to our local church. As I was reminded this weekend, Christ didn’t die for a conference…He died for the church.  As much as conferences are exciting and edifying, they do not replace the assembling together as a church family on a weekly basis. We are called to be committed to a local church where we can experience all that the Gospel has to offer, within the context of His body.  And as we spend time with those in the body of believers we should be striving to encourage our brothers and sisters to tighten their grip on the truth of the gospel and to release our affection for anything that hinders our commitment to God.

How can I encourage others to hold fast to their commitment to the faith? How can you do the same? This is what I was left to ask myself…and I hope you will do the same.

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:13

I’m including a list of the pastors that spoke at the conference, along with the link to their respective ministries/church. Each one of these pastors love God with their whole heart, soul and mind, and their passion for Scripture, for teaching it clearly, faithfully and applying it to their lives was so evident to me.

John MacArthur               www.gty.org

Steve Lawson                    http://www.cfbcmobile.org

Albert Mohler                   http://www.albertmohler.com

CJ Mahaney                       http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org

Rick Holland                        http://www.missionroadbiblechurch.com

Austin Duncan                   http://www.gracechurch.org/crossroads/media

Jonathan Rorke                 http://www.gracechurch.org/media/?filter=speaker&id=44

I wanted to write something tonight. I really did. I wanted to write something profound, something amusing and winsome, something worthy of a link from ‘the’ Tim Challies. That’s the only reason I care to write, really. But I got nothing.

It’s technically Wednesday now, so I shouldn’t actually be posting anything, since I’m infringing on Amy’s day… my apologies, Amy. But lest all you avid readers out there should think I have disappeared forever, I shall at least post a recipe. Don’t we all need a good spaghetti sauce recipe?  I think we do. So if you don’t already have a fave, try this one out. It’s kind of a mish-mash of my own recipe with some ideas from Mel’s version.  Bon Appetit!

Spaghetti Sauce

1 tbsp or so of olive oil
1 large onion, diced small
1-2 red peppers, diced small
1 green pepper, diced small
1 carton fresh mushrooms, halved and sliced (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ tsp red pepper flakes
2 lbs lean ground beef
2 (28 oz) cans diced tomato, pureed with immersion blender
½ cup tomato sauce
¼ cup brown sugar
3 tsp oregano
2 tsp basil
1 ½ tsp thyme
2 bay leaves
1 pinch or so of fennel seeds
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Heat oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and peppers (and mushrooms if using) and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add red pepper flakes and garlic and sauté until fragrant. Add ground beef and season lightly with some salt and fresh ground black pepper. Cook until browned and drain slightly if necessary.

Add tomatoes and the rest of the spices. Add more salt (1/2 to 1 tsp) and pepper, and allow to simmer for about 1 hour, over low to medium heat.

Feel free to add a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and a large handful of parmesan cheese at the end. I sometimes do, sometimes don’t.

Summer is in full effect here in the Tdot. We are experiencing some serious heat! Trying to stay cool is a full-time job so in order to make the mugginess less burdensome I do things like bake stuff with the oven on high and then spend the next hour washing the dishes and working up a sweat. Which then leads to me getting even more hot, and then having to jump in the pool as a refresher! Times are hard. Some people like to do cool things like MapMyRun and post these great statuses on Twitter and Facebook that say things like “I completed my run in 20 minutes. I ran 10 kilometres!” Wow seriously? I don’t know anything about that kind of workout these days. Working out for me is limited to things like carrying a 30 pound baby around for at least an hour a day. Ummm, come to my house and I’ll show you how to add about 1000 extra calories to your day- that’s what I’m good at working out. So, right now, don’t come to me for advice on how to stay fit- come to me for help with eating. Because that, my friends, is something I am really good at. I’m not saying I’m good at making it all, but I’m trying and along the way I’m learning fun things that I want to share with you. So here it goes: I’ll give you a few things to chew on literally. My top five things to make/bake for the summer, and my top five places to eat and hang in the city.

EATING:

1) Make this cake. It’s super easy and you can substitute other fruit toppings. I did blueberries with lime zest and I’m sure you could do the rest of the berry family as well. Great to throw together for people coming over for dinner.

2) Make these meringues with fresh fruit: This was a little recipe I happened upon in Bon Appetit and I love it! It’s so refreshing and for those who are actually watching their calories, if you do it without the ice cream, I’m sure it won’t be to heavy. The French know their food so just trust them, you can’t go wrong.

3) Make this salad: This salad is a winner. It’s beautiful to look at and beautiful to eat (is there such a thing as beautiful to eat?? If not, I’m coining that because really beauty should be a verb and I feel something magnificent when I eat good food!). I used Stilton blue cheese instead of goat, which I prefer. The sharpness adds some punch to the dish.

4) Make this Salad Nicoise for your dinner: Again with the French. I’m telling you, they know their stuff! Nicoise refers to the region the salad originates from, and the type of olive you should use, but I sub in Kalamatas and I think they taste just fine. The potatoes, beans, and boiled egg make it a hearty meal, not just some wimpy salad dressed up as a main dish.

5) Make these spare ribs: These are crowd pleasers. Kalbi is a traditional type of Korean meat dish. The cut is thinner than traditional short ribs so you probably have to go to a Korean grocer like Galleria to find these, but they sell the marinade and all you have to do is put them in to soak overnight in the fridge, and maybe add some chopped garlic and you’re good to go. The link here is for a homemade marinade, but I personally have only used the store-bought version and I love it. These will not disappoint! Plan for about 4-5 per person.

PLACES TO GO:

1) Starbucks. Enough said

2) Menchies. Enough said

3) Terroni: I love the atmosphere at this place. It’s not so much a summer place, as it is an all year-round type of restaurant with great pasta and pizza.

4) Boiler House: I’m a sucker for ambiance. The meals are pricey, but they’re amazing! So if you only want to go for a snack or drink, I think it’s still worth it since the location (The Distillery), and the place itself are enjoyable regardless.

5) St. Lawrence Market: Food galore! Take your pick, there’s tons to look at and tons of choices of things to eat. I personally love the Peameal Bacon Sandwich from Carousel Bakery. My dad has been taking us there since I was a little tot! They are delicious any time of the year.

Happy summer eating, and for some of you ambitious ones, exercising!

The last two chapters of this book (chapter 4 and the epilogue) are full of lessons I am really wanting to share on this blog…but my mind is just not capable of condensing them all (the way I would like to). So, rather than try to say things in my own words, I am going to let Dr. Roseveare speak for herself as I end these blog posts on her book:

(The context for the following quote is when rebel soldiers were threatening to brutally kill her and a young student flung his body in front of her to keep them from harming her). I was no longer praying. I was beyond praying. I held on to the name of Jesus. Someone back home must have been praying earnestly for me….Then, quietly, God met with me. He had reminded me that twenty years before I had asked for the privilege of being a missionary. ‘This is it. Don’t you want it?’ He seemed to say to me. The fantastic privilege of being identified with out Saviour dawned afresh in my heart….Together we learned why God has given us His name as ‘I AM’ (Exod. 3:14). His grace always proved itself sufficient in the moment of need, but never before the necessary time, and rarely afterwards.(105-106)

To love the Lord my God with all my strength might, paradoxically, mean to love Him wholly in my weakness. By giving Him what I thought of as my strength, realizing my actual weakness, He could then demonstrate His real strength. ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9) took on new meaning. (113)

 I long to be kept by God in an attitude of willing surrender so that He con go on to perfect that which concerns me; so that He can go on stripping and whittling and sandpapering until He is content with the new arrow He is creating. Crucifixion, the death-to-self life, must surely be seen by us all as costly, but the abundant life that He wishes to bestow on each can only be seen as unutterable privilege. (117)

Today it would appear that we Christian prefer to talk of a measure of commitment, the length to which we are willing to become involved, rather than the depths of God’s immeasurable love in which we long to become immersed. There is abroad an atmosphere of careful calculation, “thus far and no further,” maintaining certain reasonable limits. The carefree abandonment of love that marks the sacrifices of Paul, of second-century Christians, of nineteenth-century missionaries, seems sadly lacking. Today we weigh up what we can afford to give Him: in those days, they knew that they could not afford to give Him less than all! (125)

 I will end with these words from our sister; a refrain which we have heard time and time again throughout this book. May God help us take these words to heart:

As He loved us, so we should love Him, that He may love through us all whom He would reach. Christ so loved us that He gave Himself to be the propitiation for our sins, a willing substitute, the one perfect, sufficient sacrifice. He left the glory of heaven to come to earth to pay the penalty of our sin, taking our place on the cross of Calvary, and dying for us, the just for the unjust, that He might redeem us and bring us to God. In a response of overwhelming gratitude and love, let us count no cost too great to give to the Lord the service of our lives: through every moment of every day, rendering to Him those ‘spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.’ (137-138)

Where have we all been? You might have been wondering what’s going on- have we all quit our blogging, have we moved out of country, are we busy doing really fun summer things with no time to spend on the web? Well, not so much to quitting the blogging thing, but I think there’s been an unintentional lapse on all of our parts (except Dina! WOW you’re on top of things!). We can forgive Georgie because I think she’s supposed to be having a baby or something in the next little while. But we’ll expect a quick return to the blogging world after she delivers! No more excuses! 😉 And I can’t speak for Stacey and Amy but I do think that summer and all the fun things that come along with that have taken away some of our usual free indoor time. But I do know that no one has officially resigned and once schedules free up and everyone is able, we’ll be able to post more often. So thanks for your patience on behalf of all the ladies.

I for one came back from my trip just a little while ago and have been catching up on regular life things. The trip really was one of those once-in-a-lifetime adventures. In Armenia, we had the chance to venture around to some fantastic places. Almost everyday, we were driven to different sites outside the capital city Yerevan, where historic churches, museums and monuments are located. One place that really stood out in my mind, and I’m sure in the minds of the rest of my family members, was the monument to the Armenian genocide. If you’re not familiar with this particular event in history, it would be worth taking a few moments to read about the events of 1915, when 1.5 million Armenians were killed at the hands of the Turkish. I am actually 1/8th Armenian (believe it or not!), amongst a bunch of other things (Filipino, British, and Finnish). Prior to the trip, I did not know much about the Armenian part of my history. One of the only things that I knew was that the events of the genocide are a huge part of the Armenian identity. In fact, all my Armenian friends and family have been personally affected by what took place almost 100 years ago. Many have grandparents and family members who were killed. The fact that Turkey still refuses to acknowledge their responsibility in what took place is a cause of much bitterness and grief for many.

When we visited the site, there was a large torch placed in the ground that is burning continually in remembrance of all those who died. The museum they erected had a guided tour and the young lady who led us was very helpful at explaining the events that led to the genocide. It was silencing. Standing by the large open flame, looking at the flowers placed alongside in honour of the dead, and seeing the pictures, artwork, news clippings, and other artifacts that have been kept to preserve the memory of the horrors that took place, left all of us speechless for most of the tour. If you’re more familiar with the Holocaust of the Jews in WWII, then maybe you can visualize some of the images from that horror, and picture the same thing occurring on a smaller scale some years prior. The emaciated bodies, men hung up to die a slow painful death by asphyxiation, and other painful images of the treatment of the Armenian people were placed all throughout the exhibit. At the very end, there was a large collage of pictures. The young guide explained to us that these were pictures of some of the remaining survivors (men and women who are now in their 90s). I think that the pictures were meant to serve as a ray of hope at the end of the dismal exhibit. Those that survived are the grandmothers and grandfathers of many others who now live in Armenia and other parts of the world. Although Armenians are a relatively small people group, they have not been wiped out in spite of the efforts that were made by their enemies to annihilate them.

As I was looking at the photo, for some reason, the story of the Joseph and his brothers came to mind. After having been sold into slavery by his own brothers, Joseph spent many years alone in a foreign land. He was jailed for crimes he didn’t commit. He lost his entire family. And yet God was in control over all the events that were transpiring. At one point in his story, his brothers, who had believed he was dead, come to him in Egypt, not knowing that it was him. They were desperate for food, as the famine in the land had left them helpless and dependent on the mercy of the Egyptians. When Joseph realized that it was his brothers, he welcomes them and cares for their needs and forgives them for what they have done. His brothers were initially very fearful of him because they feared his wrath on them for the evil that they had committed. But Joseph says this: As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about^[a]this present result, to preserve many people alive.- Gensis 50:20. What a response. Can you imagine having that kind of mindset about the events that have happened to you? You were betrayed, sold into slavery, put in prison, falsely accused. Great personal suffering came about because of the evil of others. So how could he possibly say that God meant it for good? I think, that Joseph’s theology was such that He knew God’s character, and trusted in Him in spite of all the suffering that had taken place. He saw that God had used their evil towards him, to place him in a country like Egypt, where he was given a position of power and authority such that he was able to provide for the needs of his own family when the famine struck the entire land. He could have never known that God would use the events that had happened to bring about a good result- the preserving of life.

In thinking about the events of the genocide, I had a similar thought. What a great evil took place in those events. How many people suffered and continue to suffer because of what has happened. But God is in control over every event in history. Not one single thing happens outside His knowledge or care. Even the Armenian genocide. Their enemies had planned to wipe them out entirely. They were not planning to spare anyone! But God prevented their destruction. He persevered a people. And now, years later, there are many who are alive in spite of the destruction that was intended. My family wouldn’t be here today, if God hadn’t protected some of those people. Neither Serge, nor Emma or I would be alive, if God’s hand had not stayed the evil that was intended, and brought good to come of those events.

I know this is not a story that perfectly parallels the Joseph account, but all I was thinking was that God is always in control, even when we can’t see it and don’t know what his plans are. And he is not a God that delights in destruction, but instead preserves life. We can thank Him for preventing worse evils from occurring, and from using even the most horrific events in history for our good. What is the one place we can look to to be sure that this is God’s plan? The cross. If any other event in history were to astonish onlookers, it would have been that one. What great, unspeakable evil took place there. This was the most horrific event in all of history. Every genocide, and every war horror does not compare to the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross. Why can I say that? What is it about Him that would make His death more unspeakable than anything else in all of the deaths and crimes committed in all of history? He is the only innocent one in all of history, to be punished for crimes he never committed. And I don’t mean punished by human judges- I mean by God. God crushed His own Son, for the sins of other people. When humans die, regardless of the judgement pronounced on them by other human beings, they all stand guilty of sinning against a holy God. But the story didn’t end at his death. He rose from the dead. And that is where the hope is. For all those who would put their faith in Him, and trust in Him for the forgiveness of their sins, the greatest good that anyone could ever experience is given to them. So what was meant for evil, God used for our good- the preserving of many lives! Thank Him for that today.

Have you ever looked forward to something for so long, and before you knew it, it was over? A much anticipated wedding day, a family vacation, a get together with friends, or perhaps the visit of a most cherished cousin from San Francisco? (I guess you can see where I’m coming from!)

It’s been two days since my cousin Christine left. Two days since we said our goodbyes, knowing that once again it would likely be over a year since we can see each other again. We looked forward to that week together for months. We planned. Anticipated. Made lists (big surprise).  And now it’s over and I’m left thinking “Now what do I do with myself?”

I write this as I am preparing to leave for a family vacation. In three short hours we will be heading to the airport. Our bags are packed, the plane tickets are in hand, and the getaway we’ve been planning for months will shortly begin. But I’m onto things. I know exactly what will happen. God willing, if all goes well, I will be back on my couch in the blink of an eye, and I know just what I’ll be thinking: “It’s over already? What should I start looking forward to next?”

Can I be honest with you? Sometimes I feel like life is a series of events that I look forward to for months, and then look back on with sadness for being over so soon. I can never understand how the time went so fast, and I’m always looking for the next thing that can occupy my time, fill my heart and give me a sense of purpose and excitement. It’s kind of exhausting. And so not how God intends for me to life.

Why do I say that? I mean, in one sense it’s normal. As long as we are alive we will be looking forward to coming days, planning for events and reflecting on the resulting memories. The problem arises when I find my life’s meaning and satisfaction in these passing events. When the root of my happiness is the birthday parties, the family get togethers, the vacations, the celebrations, I will find myself constantly disappointed, constantly grasping for more, constantly exhausted. Why? Because all of these things are temporary, they fade away, they come to an end.

Of course we can have joy and excitement from the blessings we enjoy on this earth. But my heart naturally defaults into living for these blessings, rather than living for the God who gives the blessings. They were never intended to create the meaning of my life – only to point to the goodness of the God who bestows them.

God calls us to set our hearts on what is PERMANENT. To find our satisfaction on what is ETERNAL and UNFADING. What is permanent, eternal and unfading other than the Almighty God, the Gospel, the unfading Words of Scripture? Listen to the words of this verse:

1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Sure we will continue look forward to things, enjoy them, and even be sad when they are over, but as believers they cannot define our lives, nor should they drive our lives.  On the contrary, they should merely be the back drop of our lives, and the center stage should be occupied by the relationships that our hearts are enjoying with the Lord.

So….Bon Voyage my friends. May God remind me that the only thing that truly makes this vacation sweet is His presence…and thank God this will be a constant reality when I find myself back at home!

I apologize. It’s 11:30 at night. I’m soooo sleepy. But I want to write about something that’s been on my mind. So while it may be a little short and undeveloped, I hope this short little post sparks some thought on a topic I believe is important and requires thought.

This week I came face to face with one of my most annoying flaws.  As I was preparing my house for my cousins Christine’s arrival, I began obsessing over tidying my house. I know it’s normal to want to be in a tidy house…actually it’s healthy and good. But as with many things, taken to an extreme it can become a flaw. I think I’m getting dangerously close to that point.

Take for example the other afternoon. I was standing outside with Amanda enjoying the beautiful weather. And then I noticed it…the garden…it was full of little leaves and weeds growing out of nowhere. They looked so out of place and were demanding my immediate attention. But I’m enjoying the walk, the weather, my daughter. Not to mention the fact that I don’t have gardening tools, or even gloves for that matter!! Clearly this wasn’t the time or the place. But that didn’t stop me.  I got down on the ground, propped Amanda on my lap and started pulling out the weeds with my bare hands. These are the moments where I wonder if my obsession with tidiness has gone too far.

Today as Amanda was eating her breakfast, I was so distracted by the mess that was being created in the process. Crumbs were EVERYWHERE. Instead of enjoying the fact that she was learning to eat solids and learning to use her fingers to feed herself, all I kept thinking was how messy everything was getting, and how I couldn’t wait for it to be finished so I could clean up. Another wasted opportunity to enjoy time with my daughter. More evidence that my obsession with neatness is developing into a flaw.

But here’s the thing. I’m not like this when it comes to cleanliness. If something is dirty, it doesn’t seem to bother me the same way. Stain on the carpet? Well, as long as the stain is the same colour as the carpet, what’s the problem? As long as the house LOOKS neat and tidy, I’m okay with it. I guess you can say that in some ways, I’m more concerned about the appearance of my home, rather than what’s hiding under the couch.

Is this not how the world operates? Is it not all about appearances rather than reality? People spend thousands and thousands of dollars in an attempt to transform their homes into picture perfect retreats, when all along the home may be filled with broken relationships and families. We spend endless amount of time beautifying ourselves on the outside, and often neglect to address the mess that may actually exist on the inside. We say the right things, impress others with our words and our wit, all the while hiding how we truly feel and what we actually want to say.

For the Lord does not see as man sees;^[a] for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Unlike the world, God is not deceived by appearances, nor is He impressed. He looks right through us and sees our hearts. He gets right to the heart of the matter. This is what concerns Him. This is what He is after. This is what He wants to transform.

My prayer is that I spend more time sitting in front of the mirror of God’s word, rather than the mirror that simply reflects my outward appearance. My prayer is that I spent more time tidying my inward man, rather than just obsessing over the “mess” that is in my home. My prayer is that I will be genuine in my conversations, sharing my heart, my weaknesses and my struggles, rather than focusing on how I can build an impressive self image through humour and impressive stories.

My prayer is that I too would focus on the heart, rather than just the outward appearance. How about you? Is this something you have struggled with? What have you learned about the importance of the heart rather than simply the outward appearance of things? I would love to hear your thoughts.