Goal for May: Proverbs

I have a goal for May. I meant to do it in March but suddenly I remembered a couple days into the month. My goal for May is to find one truth from Proverbs every day of the month. The reason I choose May is because it has 31 days and Proverbs has 31 chapters. So I choose to find something important from one chapter every day that I can share, even just one verse that stands out.

When we were younger, my mom encouraged us to read Proverbs monthly and follow the calendar days. I liked the months that ended at 30 days because I could skip that "Virtuous Woman" chapter that always gave me guilt. I still may not be as virtuous as Proverbs 31 but I do believe I can learn more from it now then when I was much younger!

So please join me tomorrow when I start with Proverbs 1!

Summer's Comin...

Trying out my new kayak on the lake at Hayne's Point - photo by Lawrence Wolfe

Summer's comin in the Okanagan valley and its going to be a busy one FULL of adventure & fun! Beside the fact that hubby is building me a quad, from he & my parents for my birthday yesterday I got this beautiful kayak, complete with paddle, splash skirt & this contraption that I can carry it on my car!

Yes, yes! I'm as spoiled as they come but my loved ones certainly know me well. I have been "new year's resolutioning' for 4 years in a row that THIS would be the year I would learn to kayak. And so badly I have wanted to but other things seemed to take over the chances of getting out there & trying it.

So, instead of listening to me talk about it but not do it for one more year, in January, my darling husband approached my folks about making my 30th birthday a memorable one (not that it wouldn't have been anyways) and that together they would get me set up for kayaking!

I was pretty darn excited. I hopped in & paddled around for about 2 minutes - didn't go far because I had no life jacket on (I do have one at home) and didn't really know what I was doing with that double sided paddle but, oh the peace & tranquility I felt just being out there on the lake, quietly absorbing the sun & feeling the rhythm of the gentle waves. Yes, I knew I was going to love this.

Once it gets a teensy bit warmer, hubby will show me the ropes, including how to roll over & correct myself from being upside down, how to properly paddle, etc. Fortunately, Osoyoos Lake is probably the WARMEST lake in all of Canada, it is very shallow even though it is quite big so it will warm up quickly this spring. We've already had some 25 degree+ weather days - I love living in the desert.

And, once I learn all the proper techniques of 'survival' in the kayak, then we can take it camping with us to the mountain lakes (not so warm) and I can happily paddle out in the first calm hours of the morning like I've always imagined doing!

Many thanks to those of you who wished me a happy birthday yesterday. It was greatly appreciated. If you have an extra minute, hop on over to my blog friend Sharon Lynne's blog at California Breeze and wish her a happy birthday for today is her birthday!

Happy Birthday To Me

Today's the day! The big 3-0 for me!! I enter a new decade!! I'm pretty excited about it! I know some people, women especially, seem to dread 30 but I'm embracing it with joy. Maybe because I don't feel like I've needed to accomplish something or need to hold on to my youth. I'm just so content & happy with 'right now' so another birthday is just one great reason to have a celebration...and go out for LOBSTER :)



Many thanks to those of you who have already wished me birthday greetings. I appreciate each one!!







My folks are coming up for the day & we're going to go wine touring. Seeing as we do live in the wine capital of Canada, we're going to take advantage of it & go tasting at all the local wineries. Should be fun. And then to my fave restaurant for dinner so I can have the Seafood Feast - Lobster, scallops, prawns & shrimp. Mmmm! Looking forward to a great day!



But first, a cup of coffee with my hubby!

"I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" Psalm 139:14

Voice of the Martyrs

In the past I have mentioned the website called The Voice of the Martyrs before but today I wanted to draw your attention to it once more. As I've said before, its easy for many of us not to think about suffering or persecuted Christians around the world but it is very real & something we are asked to pray for.
(Can anyone help me find the verse that asks us to pray for those who are suffering/persecuted/in chains - I've looked & looked & can't find it)

I receive a weekly update of who & where Christians are suffering around the world & I received one this morning & found it upon my heart to share it with you, just so you may see a tiny glimpse of those who suffer for the faith we share. I admire & respect these strong believers so much. They are beaten, imprisoned & some of them killed for trying to spread the Word of God & they carry on. Here in North America, some of us are too 'ashamed' of our faith to even share it with people we are close to, when the worst that can happen is maybe they laugh & we lose a friendship, the best, they choose salvation & we have a friend for ETERNITY. Yet, we don't share. For this reason we should be praying for those who do it in places it is much much harder to do.

The newsletter today:

INDIA

Christian Beaten, Arrested in Andra Pradesh- VOM Sources/ India Christian Council
CHITTOR DISTRICT – On April 11, several Christians were severely beaten by Hindu militants after an evangelistic team returned from distributing gospel tracts in the area. While they were fellowshipping with believers, more than 50 militants attacked them and burnt their literature.

HYDERABAD – On April 14, five Christians were arrested for distributing literature and praying for the sick at Gandhi Hospital. On April 15, twenty Christians were attacked by Hindu militants at Bethel Church in Borabanda. Four people were injured, including a three-year-old child. Pray for healing for the injured and ask God to comfort those in prison and their families. Pray Christians in India continue to share Christ with boldness despite their suffering. Acts 4:29

INDONESIA Christian Leaders Arrested – VOM SourcesMore than 40 Christian leaders were arrested after a video recording of them praying for Muslims was leaked to Islamic organizations. Muslims claim the Christians blasphemed the Koran by placing it on the floor and praying for millions of people that had been deceived by it. The Islamic organizations consider the video's content abusive and have released the video to the media. Among the imprisoned were parents of young children. According to sources in Indonesia, some imprisoned women and the elderly have been released.

The Voice of the Martyrs is working to assist families. Pray for those in prison and their families. Ask God to give them boldness and wisdom as they face these difficult challenges. Psalm 138: 2-3

TURKEY Young Muslims Murder Three Christians – Compass Direct NewsOn April 18, five Muslims entered a Christian publishing company and killed three believers in the Southeastern province of Malatya. Two of the victims were Turkish converts from Islam and the third man was a German citizen. It is reported that four of the five attackers admitted that the killings were motivated by both "nationalist and religious feelings." Pray for comfort for the families of the deceased. Pray the testimony of their loved ones will lead others into the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Ask God to give Christians in Turkey perseverance to serve Him in the midst of immense challenges. Matthew 5:3-4

LAOS Christian Families Forced To Leave their Homes- VOM SourcesConstant threats and pressure from authorities have forced five families to leave Nam Heang village. These families are in addition to four that left in February. According to VOM sources, the families recently accepted Christ and are being forced to leave their homes and belongings because of their faith. Their greatest needs are rice and materials to build housing. Pray God will encourage them and protect them. Ask He provides for their needs. Psalm 111:4-5

On the website there are many resources & ways to help beyond just prayer. You can write letters to those who are imprisoned, you can send Bibles to countries that are waiting & wanting them so badly (while I know in my own household, there has to be at least 8 Bibles and 2 people... And some go through pain & death just to obtain a chapter from the Bible)

While searching for that other verse, these verses were shown to me - what a wonderful reminder for us...

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God." 2 Timothy 1:7-8

Addendum: I think this is the verse I was searching for:

"Remember the prisoners as if chained with them..." Hebrews 13:3

That Time Again

*yawn* I'm tired this morning! Its that dreaded time of year again...Income Tax Time! Not that we are procrastinators or anything *wink* but hubby & I always tend to leave it till the last minute & then its even more last minute because its my birthday on Saturday so we're busy doing a few more things for that too.

Income taxes aren't THAT difficult, but they can cause a bit of stress trying to find all the proper papers. And for some reason they can cause unneccesary guilt. I'm trying to do mine up for my small business but as I enter the few meager expenses that I do have, I wonder if I'm doing it right & will they show up & beat down my door for this receipt or that receipt even though I'm quite positive its all perfectly legal. I suppose its like the feeling you get when a police officer drives by & even though you KNOW you aren't speeding or doing anything wrong, you immediately do a double-check of everything just to make sure!

So, thankfully, my good friend is a bookeeper & she was able to help me with a couple 'expense claiming' questions where I couldn't find an answer for on my own. (ie do I include the taxes or just the price without the taxes - I just didn't know!)

Well, anyways, I have a good start on them thanks to easy programs like QuickTax to help it go so much faster than the old 'pen & paper' method. I'm sure I'll have them done in no time and still be able to enjoy my birthday stress-free on Saturday!

My husband is perplexed because I work in administration and my desk at work is always neat as a pin & I'm perfectly organized there. My desk at home, well, that's another story. I do know where everything is on it but, oh my! Its a disaster. 5 cartons of magazines, photography books, writers books, every sort of paper known to man, all my receipts, calendars, etc etc. I just can't keep it neat here. I blame it on lack of space in our tiny office that we share but really, I need an organizational kick in the pants here at home to get things tidy. Especially at tax time when I NEED to be organized.

What sort of tax filing do you have to do in your country if you aren't in Canada? I know it must be different for everyone. Is it the same time of year? Does it stress you out or are you so efficient that, unlike me, you would have had it done weeks ago?

Addendum: I just found this article on Freelancewriting.com titled :You've Filed Your Taxes, Now Organize Your Home Office! You can read the article here - its short!

Antelope Brush & Cacti

Its almost time. Its oh-so-close to time! Very very soon, the antelope brush of the southern interior of BC will be BURSTING into their gorgeous yellow blooms!

I was down at Hayne's Point again yesterday - yes, my favourite park - and checking out what was starting to pop out for Spring. This park is not only a protected wetlands reserve, but it is also home to an abundance of Antelope Brush, which is one of the most endangered plants in Canada! In fact, the "Antelope Brush Ecosystem" is one of the 4 most endangered ecosystems in Canada.

Once I 'googled' antelope brush, I managed to find out a lot of information about this 'endangerment' and some interesting articles/studies done about them. If you're interested in all that environmental stuff, click here to read more.

So, I could see that these plants were nearing their blossom time. I searched through the bushes in the sunniest location and managed to find a few open blossoms already. A few more warm sunny days & they should all start popping open. Hope to go back there this coming weekend & see if they are ready yet.

This is how the bushes look right now. In the winter & fall, when they have no leaves at all. They look rather menacing. Black leggy creatures spread out in the sandy valley. Almost like a big spider or something. I always think they look like the creatures from the movie "Starship Troopers". It was a cheesey space movie about killer bugs (but I loved it) and winter antelope brush always makes me think of it.

Because Haynes Point is, as the sign above states, a sensitive wetland preserve, people are advised to stick to the trails & not wander into the grasses or trailsides so as not to damage any of this delicate ecosystem. Now I realize that it is not only for the ecosystems' protection but for ours too. Because this sort of ecosystem not only contains grasses & different sorts of brush, but if you're not careful, you can stumble into a big pile of CACTUS!

I was just about to kneel down on the edge of the path to photograph these antelope brush blossoms when I looked down and saw that I was almost about to kneel in this pile of those prickly beauties. Yikes! That would have been a most unwelcome surprise. So instead, I knelt in the middle of the path & attempted to get some photos of the cacti themselves.

Thinking I was might lucky to have avoided that unpleasant shock, I suddenly looked down at myself wondering if they could sporadically jump out and attack me. Guess I stepped too close to the edge of the path because sticking out of my shoe was this image below...

So, don't forget to obey the signs, and, watch out for the bits that may stray across your path anyways. But do enjoy the beautiful sights, smells & textures (non-prickly) of Spring!

Lovely Looking Lilacs

You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it. ~ Psalm 65:9

One of the things I love most about Spring is LILACS! I love the color! I love the smell! I love seeing them and now, I love that they grow in abundance in my own yard! I feel lucky! I feel blessed! I feel privileged that I have lilacs to enjoy! And because I live in this warm southern town, I get to enjoy them almost a month earlier than I would have where I previously lived further north. Instead of "Mother's Day" lilacs, I get "Birthday" lilacs (as its my birthday this coming Saturday!!) My fave Spring flower for my fave time of year!

He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue. ~Job 14:2

As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. Psalm 103:15-16

Though they arrive fast, full of color & smell lilacs unfortunately wither & fade just as fast, especially if you cut them to enjoy indoors. It is a good reminder that some of the most beautiful things in life are meant to be enjoyed for just a short time, but if you wait for it & put it off, the moment will truly pass you by.

Big Day

Ahh, life's accumulation of STUFF! Today is our big day. Its Yard Sale weekend. Everything must go! Last year, we were renting this very large home where we were free to spread out all our things & not pay any attention to how much STUFF we actually had. Last fall, as many of you know, we bought this adorable little old house & began the process of down-sizing. There is only two of us for goodness sake. How on earth did we ACCUMULATE all this stuff. A lot of it happened the day we got married, suddenly we had TWO of everything. TVs, microwaves, dishes, coffee makers, etc. We managed to GIVE most of that away but still, all the knick-knacks & doo-dads that us women can stock pile like its going out of style. Its insane!

The morning was a whirlwind of people. Being a small summer-town, we have mostly seniors here. Lots & lots of people showed up early! Lawrence put up my bright pink signs that he strategically put arrows on & people could find us from just about any street! Balloons are along our fence so they know they've got the right house!

Yard sales are a great way to meet people. Especially if you're selling books, as books can tell you a lot about people. Both of us have gone to Bible School & University in the past so we had a lot of books out. The history books went quick as did many of the Christian books. Lots of conversation starters when you sell anything Christian. We were "God Bless You"'d many times today when books were purchased.

Seems our nice weather is past now & it may be time to pack things in as the morning is past & shoppers have gone. Just hoping the rain will hold off a little longer. Ah, I see more people coming down the driveway. Off I go again! Happy Yard Sale Season to you all!!

Tomorrow

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. ~ Proverbs 27:1

Had tried to do up a more interesting blog this morning but I will save it for another day.

I work for a freight hauling trucking firm. One of our drivers died of a heart attack today. Thank God he wasn't driving his truck at the time but had just pulled into a truck stop for fuel.

We're all feeling a little sad & shocked today.

Thinking of him & his family.

You just never know what's going to happen tomorrow!

For Hubby's Birthday!

Today is my darling husbands birthday!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart! He's 38 today!

Here's 38 things I love about Lawrence!

1. His singing voice (hooked me on our first date)

2. The way he can write songs & play guitar.

3. His skill at being able to build or fix almost anything.

4. His sparkly blue eyes, love those blue eyes.

5. His gorgeous smile.

6. He lets me nuzzle his neck...and nuzzles back.

7. The way he can comfort me in an instant in his arms.

8. That he is a lover of the outdoors & an adventurer.

9. That he encourages me to try new things that he thinks I will love too.

10. He is an amazing BBQ chef!

11. The way we can be completely silly together.

12. Dancing in the grocery stores.

13. That he lets me run my fingers thru his hair, and does the same for me.

14. My perfect size for cuddling.

15. Always helps around the house.

16. Cleans the bathroom because I hate to do it.

17. He's a champion Spider Killer.

18. Dashingly handsome!

19. Lets me sleep in & hog the bed on weekends.

20. Knows my quirky morning routine & respects it.

21. Loves me despite my quirkiness.

22. Loves animals, especially his cat.

23. Excellent winter driver (when I'm too chicken).

24. Cheats at Krokinole.

25. Likes to play basketball with me.

26. Allows me my independence.

27. He loves camping (like I do)

28. He loves his parents & his family.

29. Loves to play with kids & dogs.

30. Drives slowly/carefully when I'm riding on the motorbike.

31. Gets excited over the big things and the little things.

32. Makes all occasions extra special.

33. Loves to surprise me.

34. Gets lost in 'a moment' with me.

35. He lends a helping hand to friends in need.

36. Shares my love & need for a morning coffee.

37. Goes on Sunday drives or road trips for no reason.

38. Makes me feel like the luckiest woman alive.

Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength: Is it possible?

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment." ~Mark 12:30

Does God ever ask the impossible? I know it says in the Bible that with God all things are possible...but we're just humans. And humans screw up everything! Can we do it?

Today in church, the message had to do with obeying God & this verse was used. If we can achieve this sort of love, then all the other commandments fall under this. If we love God like He commands then we could avoid breaking all the other commandments. But is this sort of love achievable? Heart, soul, mind & strength? Definitely not without faith!

I guess you have to look at the relationships you do have, the people in your life whom you love & ask yourself if you think you love them in this way... with EVERYTHING that is in you? Your spouse? Your children? Your parents? Your siblings? Do you have this sort of love for them? Is it possible? Can you love someone this deeply? Why should it be impossible to love God in this way?

Because we're selfish! We don't have the selflessness to abandon all the things we love in order to put it all on God. And yet, when we abandon it all for Him, we are so filled with love 'left-over' to pour out onto others. Why should that require strength to do if its so obvious that there is over-flowing blessings in return? He is asking us, commanding us, for our love, not some of it, ALL of it. With everything we have, heart, soul, mind & strength. It requires faith, faith that He will bless you for it, faith that you will have love abundantly to pour out to others.

This is the greatest & most important commandment He has given to us. If we can strive to love Him with our heart, soul, mind & strength, if we can obey this foremost commandment, oh the blessings we should see!

Why?

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” ~Psalm 2:1-3

Iranian President Ahmadinejad

(photos borrowed from CNN)

This passage jumped out at me today. My husband & I follow middle east stuff closely because we are passionate about end times prophecies. There always has & always will be wars in the middle east and surrounding the Jews until the Lord comes again. But it doesn't stop many of us from wondering why? If the Jews are God's chosen people, why do they suffer so much? Why do the nations rage against them? Why are things done in the name of religion, terrible things?

I've said before that for most of us in North America, it can be rather easy to detach our emotions for the wars in the middle east & in parts of Africa because we feel safe here. But with all the threats that Ahmadinejad has made against the United States, our safety is starting to feel encroached on, even here in Canada.

I wonder what the next 5 or 10 years will hold in the way of war & peace. I wonder if there will even be another 5 or 10 years to go. The saying goes that "it has to get worse before it gets better". Yes, it will get worse won't it. Being on the brink of nuclear war, it can definitely get worse, but the 'better' is the part I'm holding out for. An ETERNITY of better!

Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him ~Psalm 2:10-12

Wondrous God

The fool has said in his heart,“There is no God.” ~ Psalm 53:1

For You are great, and do wondrous things;You alone are God. ~ Psalm 86:10

Healing

Balsamroot flower...with backlighting :)

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. ~Isaiah 58:8


A herald of spring, it covers the dry sunny hillsides. Its bright sunflower-like complexion spreads the joyful message that the winter is indeed past. The Arrow-leafed Balsamroot flower has once again sprung to life.

To some, this is nothing more than a wildflower, a welcome sight in April & May that quickly fades as the sun turns on the heat! But this important little spring champion is chalk full of uses.

It provides good healthy feeding for the creatures that need them, cattle, sheep, and other big wild game. The flowers are especially palatable, but all portions of the plant except the coarser stalks are eaten. Horses are especially fond of the flowers. They will increase when grazed by cattle, but decrease when grazed by sheep or deer on winter ranges. (I guess they grind them down a little too much)

Traditionally the native peoples had many many uses for this handy little flower. This plant is and was used for numerous things because most of the plant is edible and high in fibre and energy content. And it could be used for healing a variety of things. The natives boiled roots, stems, and leaves, and drank the decoction for stomach pains and headaches; they also steamed the plant and inhaled the vapors for the same purposes. The roots contain an immune-stimulating substance and a sap used for disinfectant. The roots were often burned, using the smoke to cure headaches or fumigate rooms. Ripe seeds were pounded into flour. The fleshy, edible roots were often eaten raw or boiled. It is said that the balsamroot is one of the most versatile food plants used by indigenous people in the interior of British Columbia.

Modern medicine has come a long way in its capabilities of healing. But there is still a lot to be said for traditional natural healing methods used by those who went before us. Including the waste not, want not approach to things.

A cheery flower like the balsamroot can do a lot more than physical healing. For those who suffer from seasonal depression or those that are just have a sad day or time in their lives, a bright yellow flower can heal the soul. It can bring forth hope that the winter of our lives is passing behind us & the joy & warmth of Spring is before us. It can bring a smile, a happy memory and a moment of peace just by gazing at a hillside in bloom...and you don't even have to eat its roots to find this healing!

**Sorry to have disappeared for a few days over Easter weekend friends. It was an important & busy weekend away from the computer. I hope & trust you had a great & blessed Easter weekend! I hope to catch up with you all soon.**