Camping lesson...

June 30, 2009

Home from camping! Arrived home wearing a new perfume: Campfire no. 5. Everything was great... the tent was wonderful, the dungeness crabs freshly plucked from the water and steamed, melted butter on the side, wonderful! The kids, wonderful! The weather, well, wonderful, at times!

I used to camp in California, where the weather was warm and nice, guaranteed... the thing that had held me back from camping here was the seemingly everpresent threat of rain here in these parts. I just had images of sitting drenched from head to toe and shivering for a whole weekend, soaked socks, dripping hair, wet tent, soggy sleeping bag. It began to really bother me, because there's a gazillion places to camp here, and it's just what you do here in summer. I felt like I was cheating my family out of fun. I'd been reading in the Bible, "Suck it up, for I am with you always. " (Okay, so it says "fear not" but okay, it's a Jen translation) So, I figured I'd better get on with it, and deal. That's when I told Brad, that yes, it was okay to get all the gear. That we should go.

So, guess what.

It POURED rain our first night.

Brad had asked me Friday afternoon if he should tarp our site. I looked at blue sky and said no, don't bother. heheee... So it rained on our brand new tent all night long. It was nice to hear the sound of the rain at night, snuggled all cozy and dry inside. It rained into the morning. We enjoyed a good deal of beautiful sunshine on Saturday, and sat by the campfire, watched eagles, ate crab (well, I did), and walked on the beach (NO beach glass... *sigh*).

On Sunday, JUST as we were taking the tent down, the skies broke open so hard I was wondering if I shouldn't be fashioning an ark out of the tent poles. Rain ALL in the insides of the tent. I unhooked a piece from the tent and water that had collected on the top of the tent poured into my sleeves and all down my hair. Ten minutes later, we had blue sky and a tarp-wrapped, soaked nylon and mesh Coleman tent hastily shoved in the back of the van.

So, guess what.

I didn't melt.

It was all okay. It's funny how God makes you really face what you're fearing and makes you realize what you were fearing in the first place was really keeping you from having a good time or growing or experiencing life. I had this illusion of misery, my fear, and God gave a piece of it for me to experience, I have to say it was actually pretty funny instead. I wish I had a picture, but I'll have the memory forever.

I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. Psalm 34:4,7

Camping...

We bought this great big tent, and we're going to try it out beyond the backyard! :) Upon seeing the picture, a friend of mine commented, "that's not a tent, it's a Holiday Inn!" (it's 17x16 feet!) It's amazing how much stuff you need to take with you to go "get away from it all." Sleeping bags, food, tarps (essential for BC camping!), stove, etc.... I have been packing the back of the van since yesterday, and well, let's just hope the kids fit! I am actually, I know, crazy, leaving my laptop at home... so pray for me and my technology withdrawls (hehehe....)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth. John 1:14 Amplified Bible

Time to get silly! :)

School's out! Yipee! :) Let the summer silliness begin!

Most of us would be upset if we were accused of being "silly, " but the word silly comes from the old English word "selig", and its literal definition is "to be blessed, happy, healthy, and prosperous." --Zig Ziglar

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, "The LORD be magnified!" Psalm 40:16

School's (STILL) in session....

School's STILL in... I can't wait for it to be done... Wednesday can't come soon enough! I think I am more impatient than the kids are. I can't wait to silence my alarm clock for a season... to not have to search for plastic containers for school lunch bags.... I can't wait to go camping this weekend.... I just can't understand why there's school this week at all. They're taking the kids down to the beach and to the park during classtime. But I want to be doing that instead! I am sure their teachers would be pleased as punch if I did it for them. Ah, the waiting.... I know I write about this verse a lot, but I can't help it, it's one of my favorites.

Yet those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary. --Isaiah 40:31

The key to this verse, as I keep on hearing in my studies, is the waiting on the LORD... waiting on Wednesday, waiting on the weekend, or waiting on whatever the event may be, makes me weary and bored and impatient... but waiting on the LORD, that's where I am promised strength and eagle wings and all that good stuff.


(hahaha... that's so funny...went to copy the verse off of Bible gateway... I didn't know it was their verse of the day! God must know of a lot of people waiting on summer vacations, weddings, babies being born, and all kinds of reasons to pace the floor!)

The truth about complimentary continental breakfasts...

June 19, 2009

I am staying away from home at a hotel in Abbotsford (a ferry ride and about an hour's drive away from Vancouver) for these three days while I am at the Refresh Women's Leadership Conference. Four of us girls are packed into this one room, and last night we were extensively discussing what we should do about the breakfast thing the next morning. The conversation continued again this morning.

You see, we were offered a complimentary continental breakfast.

Do you see the dilemma here?

Complimentary continental breakfast.

What the heck does that mean?

Do you have an image of a complimentary continental breakfast in your mind?

See, when I was 22 I took the coolest road trip around the states, and stayed at the cheapest motels in the AAA book that had advertised a complimentary continental breakfast. I think I saw about 30 states, so about 30 different motels, and therefore, about 30 different versions of the complimentary continental breakfast. Some were good, some um, well, you get what you pay for.

So, this morning, should we stay in the hotel for the breakfast... after all, complimentary! Or, should we venture out really quick for a real breakfast? We don't have a lot of time, should we leave early, or just risk it?

We decided to check it out, the complimentary continental breakfast. And you know what? It was, so thankfully, not a sticky box of picked-over glazed donuts and cherry danish opened next to a pot of coffee made at 4am. What relief! No, this was continental breakfast in the best sense of the term. There were croissants, bowls of oranges and apples, muffins, English muffins ready next to a toaster, six jars of different cereals, coffee, juice, and little circles of scrambled eggs which were a little too suspiciously perfect circles to look anywhere near appetizing, so I skipped those. (I think eggs break the continental breakfast rule anyway, do they not?) My lovely little breakfast consisted of Raisin Bran, a croissant, passion-orange-guava juice, and coffee.

We had morning worship, and then a speaker, lunch, then our break out sessions. We had to join a group based on pretty vague titles that describe loosely where our leadership roles take us-- truth, justice, (the American Way... no, just kidding...), nurture, strength, identity, and change. So, I picked truth. I lead Bible studies. I dig truth.

We talked about absolutes... do we have absolute truth, and if so, how do we know? How do we know God exists?

God has revealed Himself in so many ways to us. To me, personally, in my life, but to everyone collectively. Creation cries out His majesty, His workmanship. He gave us the Bible, and we talked about all the different manuscripts, and all that He did to bring us His Word and how that it is reliable. How He gave us each a conscious, a moral compass, to be led by-- that everyone innately knows it's wrong to knock an old lady down and steal her purse. We talked about how He sent Jesus to tell us, we know that people have experienced Him, and have had special revelation, such as dreams (like me) and visions.

We talked about how leading from what God has said. When we know what we believe, we can lead from our convictions, that we can be sure. That we can go from strength to strength. That when we make decisions based not on what we believe, that things become haphazard, and that's when we go from crisis to crisis. Therefore, it's crucial to know what you believe.

We talked about asking for wisdom to know the truth, and to be able to share it for people to respond to.

And, we talked about being clear with each other in explaining the truth. Our teacher reminded us that it's crucial to define our terms. That when you talk with someone about say, "joy", that you both need to understand what you both mean by that, that Biblical joy is much different than the world's view of joy.

Or like in defining "complimentary continental breakfast."

Isn't there something satisfying in knowing that there's things that are absolute? It's been neat to see different people worshipping this weekend in different ways, praying different prayers, but all knowing that it's the same God we're all talking about. When we have a common understanding of the truth, we are built up, we have strength, protection, a perimeter, a guide, and, because of God's great love and mercy, salvation. Absolutely wonderful!

Praise the LORD, all nations;
Laud Him, all peoples!
²For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
Praise the LORD! Psalm117

The Sorting Hat (Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!)

June 15, 2009

There's been huge excitement in our house for days about "the sorting hat". It's a huge year-end tradition here at school for the kindergarteners. They sit on a stool in the middle of the gym with this purple velvet and silver-starred wizard hat placed on their heads. The voice of the hat comes out of the air (speaker) and tells them which of the four house teams they get placed on--very Harry Potter. (House teams are for spirit days, game days and such. They stay on their team on through 7th grade.) It's like a graduation of sorts, as the kindergarteners join the rest of the school. They get to join their new house team for the school wide games day tomorrow.

Finally, this morning, the day of the "sorting hat" arrived, after an entire weekend of speculation. She had talked about wanting to be on "Fire Storm"-- the red team. I don't know why that one, maybe so she could wear red. Her brother's on the yellow team--"Solar Storm" so she didn't want to be on the same team as him. I think partly because she doesn't have the perfect yellow outfit for it.

Keelin waited and waited for her turn very patiently. Most of her class had already joined their teams, and there Keelin was among the final three, sitting criss-cross-applesauce on the gym floor in her little pink dress and pig tails, smiling and waving at her mommy in the audience. She was so cute. (she's always cute, but especially just then, despite being in the middle of the whole school, everyone looking straight at her. Usually a moment at which she'd be apt to panic a little.) Her turn came up. She leapt up to the stool and her teacher balanced the hat on her two pigtails. The smile melted her mommy all over the floor....

FIRE STORM! the hat called. She jumped off her stool and joined her new team.

Isn't it good to belong? To be part of something greater than yourself for a common goal.... God calls us out of darkness and onto His team. He chooses us first, but we have to choose Him back.

(This is just how far I got the other day... was going to add to it, but I think it's okay the way it is...just gonna post it, and maybe I'll find the cute video on my camera in the morning.) I'm away right now at this women's leadership conference and I have so much to think on and process tonight!

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. 2 Peter 2:10

I'm writing... really!

I started a post the other day, and then had to run to Bible study before I could finish it... and yesterday was nutzo, beyond nutzo.... I have been driving kindergarteners to swimming lessons this morning, and I am off to Toastmasters in a couple minutes. I had to give up my speaking spot today because I haven't had a single solitary minute to practice. But I will finish it (God willing!) today, and I will have something I hope later on... maybe even with a cute little video! :) Then it's off to pack for a women's leadership conference over on the mainland in Vancouver for three days starting Thursday. Busy me!

When I don't feel like it...

June 8, 2009

I really don't feel like writing. I don't know why that is. I feel prompted to write more out of obligation to my blog, but I really don't feel like it. I'm sitting here staring at the screen, without an idea of what to write about, so I guess we'll see where this leads. I feel like I should be writing that I am happy about having done my public speaking debut at the women's retreat last Saturday. But I don't honestly know how I feel about it. I don't have that wonderful feeling of satisfaction over it, because I actually don't feel like it was anything about that. My having a feeling of satisfaction over it. I wasn't speaking for my own glory, and really wanted to keep it that way, and said a lot of prayer to that effect. So, there it is. I did it, and I feel all numb about it. In a good way I think. The mere fact that I am still alive after it testifies that that's all a God thing, because if you'd seen me stand up in front of the class in the fourth grade with all the tears and all the torture, and then Saturday night... you'd think yeah, that was God. I truly hope He had some glory in it, because that was its one and only purpose. I kinda thought, that maybe, just maybe, though, I would've heard a "good job, Jen" somewhere deep in my heart. Some kind of confirmation that what I said might have mattered to someone or accomplished a purpose of His somewhere. Nope.

I kinda was also hoping to have that feeling beforehand, too, one where I KNEW God was with me, that feeling of invincibility, calmness, and supernatural confidence of knowing I was pro surfing in a sweet spot inside a tube of a grace wave. Nope. Nothing. When everyone finished singing, and I knew it was my turn, knowing I couldn't retreat from this retreat, all I could think in my head was, "if I perish, I perish." Not exactly what I'd hoped for for inspiration.

I keep hearing something in Bible study, and Keelin's bringing Sunday school lessons home to the same end, and maybe it's a parallel. But maybe not, we'll see as I finish this post. That faith isn't a feeling. That sometimes our actions don't have to be preceded by a feeling. When God says, "Move!" we might not feel the happy, light feeling to move first. But the fact that He said "Move" should be enough. That faith is the evidence of things unseen. Those things, like "He'll never leave you," "I am with you always," are promises. And He is 100% faithful. It's a head thing, belief is. So when I was leaning really, really hard on those verses that God is "right by my side" and "in the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence" and when I prayed Moses' prayer about speaking He showed me that I don't have to "feel" Him to know that He's there. Hmm... it looks like someone got something out of the talk.

Ahh, confirmation. Imagine that. And I didn't even feel like writing.

Our soul waits for the LORD;He is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name. Let Your lovingkindness, O LORD, be upon us, According as we have hoped in You. Psalm 33:20-22

O What A Friend....

Just some notes from the talk I am giving on Saturday night... If you're going to it, don't read till Sunday! :)

When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world
Love is reaching down
When you can't find a friend in the world
A friend in the world
You got one now ---Matthew West, Chorus Lyrics from "A Friend in the World"(video at link)

Jesus....

...Is Caring
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

...Is Faithful
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. Deut. 7:9

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thess. 5:24

... Is Patient
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. Psalm 103:8

...Is Teaching/Serving
14"If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15"For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. John 13: 14-15

...Is Listening
Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalm 62:8

"Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Ex. 6:5

...Is Trustworthy/Honest
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Ps. 9:10

The LORD is my light and my salvation;Whom shall I fear?The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1

... Is Loving
O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;For His lovingkindness is everlasting.1 Chronicles 16:34

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. Psalm 36:7

3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalm 63:3

... Is Understanding
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, By understanding He established the heavens. Proverbs 3:19

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

... Is Encouraging
17O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear Psalm 10:17

...Is Comforting
The troubles of my heart are enlarged;Bring me out of my distresses Psalm 25:17

My soul weeps because of grief; Strengthen me according to Your word. Psalm 119:28

...Is Fair/Just/Full of Integrity
The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He Deut. 32:4

...Knows of the "real" me
Psalm 139

...and He allows me to whine :)
Psalm 38

I could go on and on. When we lose friends, they hurt us, or disappear when we find trouble, He never disappoints...O what a friend we have in Jesus.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Invisibility

June 1, 2009

Candan asked me a little while ago which superpower I'd most want. I said, "Invisibility." Actually, even to have Wonder Woman's invisible jet would even be cool. Then again, on second thought, I could just see myself wandering around the parking lots at the mall, muttering to myself, "Where the heck did I park?!"

I don't know why I just shared that. I read this passage today as I was studying, and it fell on me anew, and thought I'd post it, so you wouldn't think I've totally abandoned ship. Been working on my talk for Saturday night and it's keeping me busy. :)

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18