Happy 50th Opa and Oma!

The celebration took place a couple weeks ago, but the anniversary is actually in August.  We had a wonderful time together as family celebrating God's goodness to Rick's mom and dad.  His sisters did an absolutely amazing job organizing...we just came, provided a little entertainment, and enjoyed the day.  Pictures were taken outside with the family beforehand, so here are a few that I caught with my camera.

Just for the record...it might not look like it in the pictures, but in reality, I am still TALLER than all my children...well, Levi will probably pass me in the next month.  They might look taller in the photos, but that's only because the ground was not flat! :)

Thursday's Prayer

Once in a while, when I have some extra time on my hands, (like last week's sick-week), I play through some of my praise books and make a point of trying songs I've never heard or played before.  Sometimes I fall in love with the arrangements, and sometimes not so much.  Some days this exercise is therapeutic, and sometimes it just leaves me wondering where all the "fluff" came from. Sometimes I find lyrics that have very little scriptural depth but they are accompanied by music that's lovely.  Other times the opposite is true.  And then, sometimes I come across a gem that has both and I just want to share it!

Well, when I saw this song, I was drawn to it after a quick scan of the lyrics.  (I can't honestly say I fell in love with the music....though it is growing on me...)
It's a simple prayer.  Just a few attributes and truths about God are listed.  A tiny glimpse of the vast array of characteristics that attempt to describe God in words we might understand.
Then the song writer asks that those attributes might also be true of him.

It's encouraging to be reminded of how God is faithful and unshakable.  We have an unchangeable, reliable, all-powerful God.  But He's also compassionate, patient, and full of love for those we would call "hopeless".  At first glance, my thought was this:  It is amazing how God cares for people who really are having a hard time...for those who have no where to turn...for the ones that others have perhaps turned their back on or given up on.  The "hopeless ones."

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it's a description of everyone of us.  We're all hopeless until God reaches in and works a miracle in our lives.  And once He's worked that life-changing miracle in us, God continues to work another miracle.
That miracle is expressed in the desire that this songwriter pens in his chorus.  After God makes that heart change in us, He also gives us the longing and desire to have those godly qualities be true of us.  We want to be like Him!

I found that with everything that is going on in my life right now, the simple truths and the honest cry and desire of the heart expressed in these lyrics struck a chord with me.

These Things Are True of You

Tommy Walker

Unshakable, immovable, faithful and true;

Full of wisdom, strength and beauty:

These things are true of You.

Fearless, courageous, righteousness shines thru in all You do;

Yet You're so humble, You laid down Your life:

These things are true of You.

And as I turn my face to You, oh Lord, I ask and pray,

by the power of Your love and grace,

make these things true of me, too.

Make these things true of me, too.

Patient, compassionate, love flows thru You;

You never give up on the hopeless ones:

These things are true of You.

Holy and blameless, You stand up for justice and truth;

Yet You love mercy and forgiveness:

These things are true of You.

And as I turn my face to You, oh Lord, I ask and pray,

by the power of Your love and grace,

make these things true of me, too.

Make these things true of me, too.

A Week to Forget...or Not...

Have you ever had a vacation when you should be enjoying your time off but you find yourself sick instead?  Well, that is what my week was like.  I've had a few days off from the greenhouse and I was so excited about having some time off...some days to get busy and productive around the house...but God saw fit to have me rest and deal with sickness instead.

I try to tell myself that there's a purpose in everything...so when I have days like this I try to use them to read more and pray more and reflect more...and when that happens, days that seem to have a cloud hanging over them, turn into days of growth despite the apparent lack of sunshine.

I have had to give up my LBS Tuesdays for a season while I work at the greenhouse, so I was happy to have the opportunity to go to LBS once again this week and experience the fellowship of my sisters in Christ.  It's always such a blessing to get together, read and study God's Word and grow and share in one another's lives. God always blesses our time.  

When Wednesday rolled around, my health grew worse, the throat was more swollen and sore, the headache more pronounced and the sinus pressure intense.  I had to bow out of Kid's Club and I really didn't want to do that because we are preparing for our Club Parents' Night next week.  I may have missed out on Club, but we had a lovely quiet time at home...it was good to spend some quality time together as a family.

Thursday morning arrived and I was awake before the sun with pain in my jaw and head.  Thankfully, after the Advil kicked in I was able to nod off again for a little while.  My day was quiet until noon when I got the dreaded "phone call" from the principal telling me about an incident at school involving one of our kids.  This is the second time in the history of Rick's administrative years that he's had to make such a phone call home to me.

Instead of taking a nap, I ended up visiting the school.  I must be honest...since that time, I have been struggling with anger towards those involved.  We have been trying to teach our children that when they are in a conflict they should respond in a Biblical way.  We've tried to teach them to turn the other cheek, to be kind and forgiving, to be leaders that God would be proud of and that other kids could look up to.  What happened to our child this week was disturbing on a number of levels, but it leaves me once again leaning on Jesus to trust that all things happen for a reason.  

God has been using this week to teach me to pray....more.  To pray that our responses might be godly, and to pray for the children and parents involved. I pray that God would help us all to see that His way is the only way to live a life that is pleasing to Him. I pray that our kids will learn to respond in love and to pray for their enemies. Oh that God would use this to help us all grow.

A week I want to forget?  On the one hand I would answer with a resounding "yes"...but the unexpected events of this week were showered with blessings and I pray that the lessons of this week won't soon be forgotten.

Maybe this post should be titled, "A Week to Forgive"...

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

This is what my hubby does when I say, "Carpe Diem!"

We are having a lovely Saturday in the Schenk house.  I am getting through the piles of laundry that accumulated as the week wore on, we are enjoying the left-over food from the party last night (lunch was super easy), the girls had a successful trip to the mall, the house is relatively tidy, Amber is spending an afternoon and evening with some friends, and Rick has enjoyed several games of hockey with his boys. 

Amber and Taylor's trip to the mall was one of "urgency" because Amber is heading to OFSAA with the King's senior women's basketball team this coming week and she needed something new for the banquet.  OFSAA is being held at Ridley College in St. Catharines, so if anyone wants to come out and cheer, just ask Amber for the schedule or check out the OFSAA website...we would be happy to have extra voices to yell and encourage them!  Last year we had such a "hoot" cheering them on.  It is exciting basketball to watch!

This past week was leaf pick-up time in our neighbourhood.  I love how things are done in this city...a big dump truck pulling around a wonderful giant vacuum...a crew of 3-4 drive and walk around town and suck the leaves up from the curb.  Perhaps it's a relative of Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street...

There was a big moon in the sky this week and I had fun trying to capture a nice shot...

Yesterday we had a funeral in our church for a wonderful Christian woman who recently lost her battle with cancer. Muriel Scott loved the Lord and was a wonderful witness for her Saviour till the end.  It is my understanding that she planned the entire funeral herself.  I was thankful for the opportunity and honour of ministering in music. During the service we sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow."  The latter was not in our hymn book at Trinity, but we sang it because it was a song that had special meaning for the family.

I don't know about tomorrow:

I just live from day to day. 

I don't borrow from its sunshine 

For its skies may turn to grey. 

I don't worry o'er the future, 

For I know what Jesus said. 

And today I'll walk beside Him, 

For He knows what is ahead. 

Every step is getting brighter 

As the golden stairs I climb; 

Every burden's getting lighter, 

Every cloud is silver-lined. 

There the sun is always shining, 

There no tear will dim the eye; 

At the ending of the rainbow 

Where the mountains touch the sky. 

I don't know about tomorrow; 

It may bring me poverty. 

But the one who feeds the sparrow, 

Is the one who stands by me. 

And the path that is my portion 

May be through the flame or flood; 

But His presence goes before me 

And I'm covered with His blood. 

Chorus:

Many things about tomorrow 

I don't seem to understand 

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand...

(Ira Stanphill)

Pastor Carl Muller preached a simple and clear gospel message.  He shared with us that Muriel had told him that the service was not to be about her...It was to be about Christ...and so it was.  God's offer of salvation was presented to her family and friends.  Now we pray that God might use this time in their lives and this message to change hearts and save souls.  One of her daughters shared how her mother had two dreams.  One was to see her Saviour (that is now her reality!) and the other was to see all eight of her children in heaven some day. Perhaps some day she will...what a blessing that would be! 

Retirement Party

A big "Thank You" to everyone for coming out to celebrate Dad's Retirement!  50 Years of farming is quite an accomplishment and something worth celebrating.  God has richly blessed Dad with health and safety and we are thankful for all his many years of hard work as a wonderful provider for our family and a godly example to us all.

We had a lovely time of fellowship and enjoyed lots of delicious food.  The chocolate fountain malfunction may have let me down, but the melted chocolate was still delicious to eat!

I thank the Lord for my parents and pray He will continue to bless them with many years of health as they enjoy their retirement and continue to serve God during these exciting years.

WE LOVE YOU!

Reflecting on 19 Years

Are you ever amazed at how God orchestrates things in your life? Are you ever just dumbfounded by how it all fits together?  Of course, we shouldn't be surprised considering He is the Master-planner and the One who has all our days already ordained.

Well, it seems that the theme recently for things that I have read and listened to has a lot to do with living and loving to the fullest.  Living each day, loving the people in our lives, with everything we have.  Living with the realization that life is short and that we are just pilgrims, passing through this world.  God has given me an amazing husband, four beautiful children to love, and each day passes by so quickly, that I don't want to miss a moment.  Life is not all about me.  It's not about us as a family.  It's about God, living for Him, serving Him while we are here on this earth, and preparing ourselves for the life to come.

Confession time...I have to be honest.  This time of year is always a very difficult one for me.  After spending amazing quality time together as a family during our summer vacation, the middle of August always comes with a dark storm cloud for me.  Rick is always back at school earlier than the kids, so I have to adjust to running things here alone.  It always feels that our summer holidays are cut short because of his early return to the office.  Yes, I feel ripped off...Crazy, I know.  (That's my pity-party moment.)  The kids still have two weeks off, so we hope to enjoy the time we have left, (without daddy around during the day.)  We'll keep daddy busy when he gets home from the office! ♥

I always treasure the extra time to read when we go on vacation, and this year I read through a series by Karen Kingsbury that I had read years ago, the "Firstborn" series.  I totally enjoyed them and was one again touched by these fictitious characters and the changes that go on in their lives.  God is at the centre of the story-line and the characters go through a spiritual journey.  Their struggles are not unlike struggles that I see all around me today and not unlike my own struggles. 

This summer Rick and I celebrated 19 years of marriage.  Comparatively speaking, it's not very long.  We are amazed by God's leading during these years, all the places we have had the pleasure of living, all the wonderful Christian people we have met and loved, and how He has been the cement keeping us together.  It isn't and hasn't always been easy.  In this sinful world, Satan would like nothing better than to destroy Christian marriages and see us compromise our standards and break down the hedges around our marriage.  I thank God for protecting us all these years, and I thank God for a man who loves Him first of all and me second.  I thank God for a man who has strong convictions, who is self-sacrificing, always willing to help me, forever encouraging me, and who loves and lives for Jesus. 

We have been blessed with Christian parents who are shining examples of what Christian marriage looks like.  We might not be able to leave a lot to our children when we are gone, but we do hope to accomplish one thing, and that is to live and love and model a strong Christian marriage for them.  We have always believed that to be one of the best gifts we could give our children.

Karen Kingsbury's books might be fiction, but God has gifted her with a wonderful ability to write.  I want to share something from the last book in the series where a mother writes a letter to her children containing "Ten Secrets to a Happy Marriage."  I think it's wonderful advice for anyone who is married.

1. God has you here to serve one another.  Love acted out is serving.
2. Women need respect and nurturing.  Love your wife so she knows you'd lay your life down for her.  Continue to date her and admire her.  Share a hobby--find something you can do to have fun together.
3. Laugh often.
4. Be patient.  Love crumbles quickly under the weight of unmet expectations.
5. Spend more time trying to fix yourself than your spouse.
6. Keep short accounts.  The Bible says, "Do not let the sun go down while you are angry." Make it a habit to forgive.
7. Determine up front that divorce is not an option.
8. Learn about love languages.  Not all people show love or receive it the same way.  You want a back rub and your spouse wants a clean kitchen.  The love languages are fairly simple: acts of service, time, physical touch, gifts, and words of affirmation.  Learn them.  Love is better received when it's in the language that person speaks.
9. Words of affirmation are a love language for all men.
10. Men are born to be leaders.  He cannot lead unless she gives him the confidence to do so.  If you love your husband, build him up.  Confident men do not seek love outside the home.
(from Karen Kingsbury's book, Forever)

Anniversaries are great times to reflect and evaluate how things are going in a marriage.  Every year I try to do just that and then ask God to help me see where I need to change things and improve.  I found this list a great spring-board.

As our summer comes to a close, I thank God for blessing me with the family that I have.  A new school year brings all kinds of emotions, opportunities, and even anxieties, so I am praying God will continue to be the captain of the "Schenk ship" and that this year will be one of great spiritual growth for Rick and myself and for all of our children.

In Memory of Dianne

We have a funeral in our church family this week.  Dianne Paton, a dear sister in Christ, was taken to heaven suddenly last week.  As we heard in a message this weekend, there might be tears here on earth, but there is rejoicing in heaven.  God decided that her work here was done and it was time for her to be with Him. 

Dianne lived just around the corner from us, so we had the pleasure of getting to know her a little better in the past few years.  Some of us also went over from time to time to help with the leaves or the snow.  We have found it to be such a pleasure that God has given us opportunities to touch lives right here in our neighbourhood. (It's awesome!)

Well, it is very striking to drive past Dianne's house now and see her car sitting in the driveway.  For us as a family, it has given us opportunies once again to think and talk about the realities of life and death.  To consider eternal realities and especially in this world of "things", to see the reminder that Dianne's "things" are sitting there and she is no longer here.  This world, our lives, are not about things.  It's not about stuff.  It's not about our home, our cars, our gadgets, our clothes, our toys, our portfolio, or our books.  You and I were created and put on this earth for one purpose, and one purpose only.  For God. 

Christians mourn.  We still shed tears and we will still miss her.  The glorious reality is that though we might still mourn, we don't mourn as those who have no hope.  We can rejoice and praise God in days like this, because of Christ's work on the cross.  We have a Saviour and a Friend up above who desires that we be with Him where He is. Dianne is experiencing that reality right now.  What a Saviour we have!

I have one daffodil in my garden and it looks pretty isolated out there.  In honour of our friend Dianne, I have captured a picture of that solitary daffodil and posted it here  along with the words of a simple little song that captures my thoughts these days.

I am praying that even though the hurt is still fresh for those who were close to Dianne, we might still be glorifying Jesus in our thoughts and actions.  I pray that we might experience the oil of joy in the place of our mourning and that our heaviness of heart will be replaced by a garment of praise!

"You give and take away. You give and take away.

My heart will choose to say...Lord blessed be your name!"

And Can It Be ~ Charles Wesley

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Taylor is 14!

Our Taylor girl turned 14 on Monday.  We celebrated earlier when we visited Orillia, and we celebrated on Sunday when Grandpa and Grandma came over, and we celebrated again on Monday when it actually was her birthday.  What can I say...we love to party! 

I can remember the day Taylor was born, and I can remember wandering the halls in the wee hours of the morning b/c she would not sleep and I was sharing a room with 3 other women with babies...it was a busy Good Friday, that March 28th...

Little Taylor was only content to stay close to mom and sleep snuggled up in my bed.  I don't think the nurses were too happy with her sleeping with me, but a mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do.  Thankfully we went home in a day or two, cause I was t-i-r-e-d and I didn't sleep very well in a hospital, especially having to share the bed with a baby.

I thank the Lord for giving us Taylor and for blessing her with health and talents and a heart that desires to serve God.  We pray God will bless her with many more years and keep her close to Him.

Life According to His Plan, Not Mine

Well here is something I've been struck with...again. It's amazing how patient God is with me. The longsuffering of God towards someone who needs to learn lessons over and over is striking.
Isn't it amazing at how when looking back upon your life you can see God's leading?!?  I must confess that I don't always feel it in the moment, but I do try to live trusting that He does all things for my good.

In recent days, I have just been pondering the idea that my life isn't going according to my plans.  Before you get the wrong idea, you should know this is a good thing.
There were thoughts that I have had ingrained in my mind for years and years, put there by none other than myself: thoughts about what I would be doing with my life. I have to admit that it's not exactly what I had pictured when I first got married. That is not to mean that I don't love where God has led me. It's just that I didn't plan for all of this: where we would move, what churches and friends would influence our spiritual growth, what little communities we would live in, what schools my kids would go to, what I might be doing once my kids were all in school, and the list could go on and on. I would never plan to have myself go through rough patches...but God did. It was all His plan, not mine.

And you know what? It's a wonderful, beautiful, amazing plan! I have loved the places we have been to. I have loved the Christian brothers and sisters, our "family" we have been blessed with. I have even grown to appreciate the difficult times because they have taught me lessons I would otherwise have never learned. God is a loving Father and it is a comforting fact to know that I might make plans, but God is the director of my life.

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Nought be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all

link:  kyschenk - Be Thou my Vision

The "Being" One

I had a blessed Lord's Day this past weekend.  I had the privilege of playing the organ again, and do the people in Trinity ever sing!! Some Sundays their singing just blows me away.  Such power and volume and praise from those lungs.  Not only that, the words of the hymns were beautiful to meditate on.

It was another day of encouragement from God's Word and in the evening Carl spoke about the Majesty of God.  I was drawn to those thoughts earlier Sunday afternoon, when I didn't really even know he was going to speak on that theme.  He is preaching through Habakkuk in the evenings, and this week we looked at chapter 2:20.  "But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." Our thoughts were directed to focus on the many attributes of God.  His transcendence and omnipotence, His omnipresence and omniscience.  His holiness.  The "I am".  I didn't write down who this particular term came from, but Carl read from someone who spoke about God as the "Being" one.  I like that...the "Being" one.  God always has been and always will be.  He is always the same.  He never changes.  Awesome thoughts.

We thought about how God is completely present wherever He is.  All that He is, is everywhere, where God is.  He is the high and lofty one.  We thought about Jesus being at the right hand of God, in Majesty.  How man makes plans but the Lord directs his steps and our times are in His hands. 

I have to confess that often my thoughts of God are too small.  The more I think about Him, the smaller I feel and the more I realize I don't know much about Him.  There's so much to learn.  The older I get, it seems the less I know...

It was wonderful to think about how certain words in scripture are repeated for emphasis.  Repeated so that we won't miss the point.  Like when Jesus would start something by saying, "Truly, truly I say unto you..."  You know the repeat is there for a very good reason. It should cause us to pay close attention to what comes next.  Or it is like saying it's "Cold, cold" outside.  It means it's really cold out there.

And so we contemplated that and thought about the holiness of God and the references in scripture to those who are before the throne crying out, "Holy."  Not just one holy, but "Holy...Holy...Holy."  God is thrice holy.  So pure, without blemish, absolutely light, no darkness at all.  To think that the Holy, Holy, Holy God loves......me.  To think that this God in fact, lives in me with His Spirit...humbling thoughts.

Some day, we who are His children, will see Him as He is.  We will see Jesus face to face.  It causes me to quietly reflect, but it also fills my heart to want to cry out and sing to Him.  It is cause to rejoice for what He has done, and it is also cause to trust.  To trust Him...our majestic God who keeps His promises...always.

Isn't it wonderful that while we go through the ups and downs of life, we have a majestic God who is the "Being" one.  He is steadfast and doesn't change.  He has given us a Bible full of promises and He has promised to keep us to the end, to never leave us or forsake us, to never give us more than we can handle, and to be there with us when we go through this "vale of tears."  Some day...no more tears. 

We have an awesome God!

Well, on Sunday afternoon I put some of my pictures to the music of one of Chris Tomlin's beautiful praise songs, "Majesty of Heaven."  I hope you enjoy the video and glorify God for what He has done for us.  I pray the words will touch your heart.  He's given us these things to enjoy...so give Him the glory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QWBR5ti1Gk

Some Thoughts on the Words..."I Love You"

Those words are said a lot in this house.  We tell our kids we love them.  I speak those words to my husband several times a day and he also says them frequently to me.  I never grow tired of hearing them.  They never grow old.  They are not just words.  Love is demonstrated through acts of kindness to one another.  Love is a fruit of the Spirit, and as far as the fruits go...it's the one on the top of that list.  Don't you think that being on the top of the list means something?

Love is the summary of the law...to love God with all that we are...to love Him above all and our neighbour as ourself.  We are commanded to love.  Husbands are commanded to love their wives...Titus 2 tells the older women to encourage the younger women to love their husbands and to love their children.  Our marriage and our family life is to be characterized by love.  The Bible is full of examples of love and explicit commands to love...not just the ones we find easy to love. 
We love our children just because of who they are.  We love them even when they disappoint us.  We love because God first loved us.  We love because of what Jesus has done for us. 

Well, it's the beginning of a new year.  I pray that I will grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ in the year 2011.  I pray that I'll grow in love as I should...that I'll forgive others as God forgives me...frequently and completely.  That I'll display those fruits of the Spirit more and more.  I pray that when December 2011 rolls around(DV), I will be able to look back and again see God's faithfulness in my life. That He has drawn me closer to Him and that He's made me more like Jesus.  How exciting it is to have a fresh new year to live for Him.  Who knows what God will bring our way this year...

What a lovely Christmas break we had as a family.  It was such a blessing just to be together and celebrate this wonderful gift of Jesus. 
Just prior to Christmas I celebrated 40 years of life.  How can it be that I am 40?  I still remember being a young girl and my mom turning 40. 
Isn't life amazing?  The older we get, the younger we think we really are...I'm not so old really, am I? 
All I have to do is ask my youngest.  He thinks 40 is a pretty big number...It's all perspective, I guess.

I believe that the best gifts don't have to cost a lot of money.  They don't have to be wrapped in fancy paper.  Sometimes the best gifts are the simplest.  For me, this card was one of those gifts.  It struck home and reminded me once again how God has blessed me.  Are husbands supposed to make you cry on your birthday?  (My dad says happy tears are ok...)

I am posting pics of the card I received from Rick for my birthday...probably illegal to do so...but I wanted to share it's message...and I want to be able to read it from time to time...(just in case the paper version does accidentally get misplaced...)

♥I am so blessed...

Anniversary Weekend at TBC

Trinity Baptist Church celebrated 38 years of God's goodness this weekend.  We had a lovely time together as church family, enjoying fellowship and worship, amazing singing and edifying lessons from the Word of God.

Our visiting pastor from Coconut Creek in Florida, Pastor Bill Hughes, gave us some wonderful messages.  We were challenged to be the salt and light God wants us to be and to have GREAT faith.  The focus on our Heavenly Father and the home He has for us in heaven gives us perspective while we go through difficulties here on earth. 

At times, the "tough times" seem to be everything and all-encompassing in our lives, but as we were reminded again, these are just "light afflictions" and they pale in comparison to what God has prepared for us in glory.  We were reminded to keep eternity in perspective and heaven before our eyes..."to have heaven in us now, before we are in heaven."  Deep things to meditate on and put into practice. 

I'm so thankful for men like this who have such God-given gifts to open up God's words and "thoughts" in a way that our feeble minds can understand and our hearts can be encouraged and built up. It was awesome to sit under the Word again.  Isn't it amazing how our Father in heaven always gives us what we need to hear, when we need to hear it!?!  We came to church hungry and we went away fed.  I believe this weekend was another foretaste of heaven.  God is so Good!

We learned a new hymn this weekend and I suppose it was our "theme" song:

O God beyond all praising, we worship you today

and sing the love amazing that songs cannot repay;

for we can only wonder at every gift you send,

at blessings without number and mercies without end;

we lift our hearts before you and wait upon your word,

we honour and adore you, our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Saviour, accept the love we bring,

that we who know your favour may serve you as our king;

and whether our tomorrows be filled with good or ill,

we'll triumph through our sorrows and rise to bless you still;

to marvel at your beauty and glory in your ways,

and make a joyful duty our sacrifice of praise.

Michael Perry 1942-96

A Thanksgiving Prayer

(This prayer was written by our David...He read it at the TCS Thanksgiving chapel on Friday, October 8, 2010)

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the world that we live in and play in all of the time.

Thank you also for a house to live in with all we need.

Thank you for lots of education and for a school that tries its best to keep us safe and warm.

Thank you also for making me who I am God and if you didn't we would be all the same and boring.

Thank you for warm clothes that keep you warm at night time when you're cold.

Thank you also for a bed to sleep in when it's late.

Thank you for your Son who died on the cross for our sins for whoever believes in Him shall not perish.

Thank you also for friends who help you in your time of need.

Thank you also for animals.  Without cows, we wouldn't have milk.

Thank you for plants, without them we would probably die.

Thank you for shoes to wear or we would get really hurt feet from the ground.

Thank you for cars and vans and trucks to help us get around.

Thank you!

Written by David Schenk (age 8)