As the title suggests, this is my farewell message to 2022. In some ways, it has been a very good year, in others, not so much.
January started with us facing an unknown future as Mr. Barr had been diagnosed with cancer back in November. The 'Big C' still strikes fear into the hearts of many and while we were confident the disease was caught at its early stages, we had lots of long talks about what do we do now. This led to us purchasing a condo so Mr. B. didn't have so much yard work to take care of.
February had Mr. B's treatments start. I don't know what hurt the most, the biopsy he had in November which determined he had cancer, or the doctors injecting him with the nanobeads the radiation needed to stick (in order to kill those nasty C cells all around). The radiation treatment itself, ten in total, was quick and painless. My poor boy... :(
March stormed in and not only did Mr. B have cancer treatments, but also a hernia operation. During all this, we put our house up for sale and were constantly on the go while it was active on the market, and people viewed the house. BTW - you can check out this YouTube video if you'd like to see where we lived.
House sold!
April, May, June. -- I hate packing and going through things to determine 'what will we keep', 'what will we give away'? Ugh.
July - we are in the new condo, without my wall unit oven and microwave. Delays due to Covid. I think I hate that phrase, don't you? Fortunately, we have our cooktop, slow cooker, and BBQ. Sounds good, right. Live like that for months on end. It begins to wear on you. Subway has become my friend.
September - heave a heartfelt sigh - my oven unit arrived and I can bake! Cook! Microwave! Wait. What? What do you mean the oven door latch is broken and I cannot use my shiny new oven?
October - the oven is fixed in time for Canadian Thanksgiving, which is ironic because I have a countertop roasting pan I use for the big bird. Still, I can go back to baking bread, cakes, and cookies, and have meatloaf whenever I want. Oh, in case you are wondering, during this month we discover the cancer is gone, but Mr. B. has to see his doctor every six months for the next two years, and then if still not there, every three. His hernia operation was also successful, so we truly were thankful this year.
November is a special month for us. Not only is it Mr. B's birthday month but also our anniversary month. This year we celebrated 39 years of wedded bliss. We often joke, when asked how many years we've been happily married, either one of us will reply with, "Happily? I'd say about five." Humour is what has kept us close, along with our love and friendship.
Last, but not least, December. Looking back over this year there were struggles, but that's life. What struck me more than once was how the hand of God was on our lives. In ways, we could not even imagine until we looked back and saw how it could have been worse, yet wasn't. How things 'fell' into place for us to find a condo, sell our home, beat cancer, and be content and happy.
We are blessed.
I wish you and yours a Happy New Year and a wonderful 2023.
I'm starting a new Bible study, the Proverbs 31 Woman. When you read this passage in the Bible it seems quite daunting. What a paragon of a woman, but we have to realize this passage was about King Lemuel's mother advising him of what to look for in his search for a wife. She wanted him to find a woman who esteemed him greatly, (to put it in Jane Austen vernacular), and for him to esteem her in return.
Even though the intent of these verses were to instruct a son, all Scripture is given for the edification and instruction to man (as in human kind). I've read, and agreed with, that God allowed these verses to be included in the Bible for two different reasons.
TO INSTRUCT MEN in general on what to look for in a godly wife.
TO INSTRUCT WOMEN on how to be a more Biblically-minded woman.
Both are important to the Body of Christ - his church. So... here I go, diving into a Bible study that will help me esteem my husband more while at the same time, bring me closer in my walk with God.
There are times, as you journey through life, where you have to make hard decisions. Choosing to follow Christ is one of them. I struggle daily with choices. Television programs are one of them. While I enjoy the creativity and inherent intelligence writers have, I find the content leaves a LOT to be desired. My family's favourite show, ending an eleven year run this month, is riddled with sexual content. When my husband asked why I didn't want to watch the program anymore, I said as much. He was surprised, until I sat with him and pointed out how every scene (rarely no exception) had implied or direct sexual innuendo. He truly had never thought about that. He just enjoyed the comedy.
This is how the enemy sneaks behind our borders. It's fun. It's comedy. What harm is there in watching a show on TV. The sad truth is you become inured to the oily tentacles of sin. Who cares that everybody in that show is having sex outside of marriage, or all they are looking for is to 'hook up' with someone (for sex)? It's only a show, for crying out loud.
We are to be set apart. We are to be the standard bearers for God. We are to shun all appearance of evil. We are to make hard choices. Our reward, when we finally leave this beautiful earth, is to be present with the very God we choose to honour. What do you choose? Only you and Jesus know the absolute truth.
I wish all the ladies a Happy Mother's Day. Mine was wonderful and I now have a Clematis and Lavender bush to plant.
Cornelia Arnolda Johanna "Corrie" ten Boom (15 April 1892 – 15 April 1983) was a Dutch watchmaker and later a writer who worked with her father Casper ten Boom, her sister Betsie ten Boom and other family members to help many Jews escape the NaziHolocaust during World War II by hiding them in her home. They were caught and she was arrested and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her most famous book, The Hiding Place, is a biography that recounts the story of her family's efforts and how ten Boom found hope while imprisoned at the concentration camp. If anyone knew the power of God's love and what that all encompasses - it was Corrie ten Boom. I've said many times that I respect this woman of God soooo much. I recently watched an older clip where Kathryn Kuhlman interviewed Corrie and and she said something so profound, I had to share...
Grace means to get something you do not deserve. Hand in hand with grace walks mercy. Mercy means you do not get the punishment you deserve. God is abundant in grace and mercy and we can read all about it in the Bible. I'm going to share one verse and also a video of Matt Redman singing his song, "Your Grace Finds Me".
Therefore, since we have been made righteous by faith, we have peace with God through Lord Y'Shua Messiah also through Whom we have had access by faith into this grace in which we stand and boast in hope of the glory of God.
What famous person in history would you like to meet?
What a conundrum - my list is too long for this post. The biblical characters alone would fill this page and look like the chapter where so-and-so begat so-and-so. The major ones being Christ Himself, Esther, and Adam and Eve (I mean, they WALKED WITH GOD!!). I guess that would have to also include Moses and Enoch as they also walked/conversed with God. Then there's David, Daniel, Paul, John (the Revelator), and on, and on, and on... See what I mean? My only comfort is that, as a Christian, I believe when I finally ascend to Heaven, I'll see them all there. So, I guess I'll get my wish someday.
My other choices are varied. They include Jane Austen, Smith Wigglesworth, Katherine Kuhlman, Billy Graham, and finally a woman I always admired - Corrie ten Boom. Her faith, which had been honed by the very fires of hell at Auschwitz, serves as a template for all of us. Years after her release, at a meeting where she was the guest speaker, one of the attendees came up to shake her hand and she recognized that person as one of her guards from Auschwitz. Can you imagine the fear? The flash of anger, maybe even a shimmer of hatred? Corrie wrote that she prayed for God to lift her hand as she couldn't do it on her own accord and He granted her prayer. Through this simple act of faith, she was able to forgive. How I would have loved to meet her and learn from this wise woman.
I took a break from Weekend Writing Warriors to share a little bit of my Christian faith, and what better time than on a Sunday - the Sabbath. :)
I was listening to an interview with Keith Green - fabulous ministry in song for the Lord - on 100 Huntley Street a few months before his death in 1982. He said something that jumped out at me concerning young people who attend church with their parents, (because they HAVE to), and don't have a personal relationship with the Lord. Sometimes they believe that because they have been brought up in the church that they are all right.
They're not.
You must make a decision on your own. You must make the choice to follow God. There is no other way. Keith said to the host, David Mainse, God does not have grandchildren. Wow. To the point and a reminder that WE are the only ones responsible for our choices.
Below is a recording of one of his songs. I hope this touches your heart like it did mine.
And the scribes and the Pharisees led a woman who was taken in adultery and standing her in their midst saying to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery: and in the Torah of Moses it is commanded for us to stone such as those. Therefore what do You Yourself say?" And they were saying this testing Him, so they could accuse Him. But Y'shua, bending down, wrote with His finger in the dirt. And as they were continuing to ask Him, He straightened up and said to them, "The one of you who is without sin must cast the first stone." Then bending down again, He wrote in the dirt. And those listening were leaving one by one, beginning with the elders. Then only He and the woman in the middle were left. And straightening up Y'shua said to her, "Woman, where are they? Does no one accuse you?" And she said, "No one Lord." Then Y'shua said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, from now on you must no longer sin."
John 8: 1-11
This is a beautiful parable of not only the woman who sinned, but of us. Each of us has sinned and the devil loves nothing better than to throw our past mistakes in our face and taunt us that we deserve to die. But Christ writes in the sand and the devil has to flee. Do you want to know what He would write in the sand for us?
IT IS FINISHED
Christ died on the cross so that if we believe on Him, our sins are forgiven, never to be remembered. Never let anyone tell you that you are a worthless person, for you are so precious that even if you were the only person on this planet - Christ would still take on all your sin so that you can stand before God forgiven. How awesome is that?
I pray everyday for God to forgive my sins. Sometimes I get angry, say words that hurt and need the Lord to forgive me. This does not impugn me from asking forgiveness from the one I wronged - I absolutely have to ask their forgiveness, but I have the blessed assurance that if I humble myself before the Lord, He is faithful to forgive.
Don't let anyone tell you different. God's word is immutable and He cannot lie. His word states that if we ask for forgiveness, He will grant it. 'Nuff said.
Welcome to my inaugural Monday Meditation post. I'm excited to share with you the overriding tenet of my goal with these posts.
"I have sought You with my whole heart; let me not wander from Your commandments. I have hidden Your word in my heart so I would not sin against You."
Psalm 119: 10-11
I believe firmly the written word of God is more than '2000 year old letters the church quotes as its best defense'. (see footnote 1) God's Word helps us through any difficulty, helps us rejoice in good times and gives us peace when troubled. I will share Bible verses that speak to me and trust God's Word will touch your heart as well.
"...but the Word of our God will stand forever."
Isaiah 40:8(b)
Footnote:
The following clip is to let you know where this heretical statement came from. Please pray for those who have forgotten that our Lord is eternal as is His written and spoken Word. Society and 'culture' do NOT like what God has to say and ultimately this will all be between them and God at the Final Judgement Day.
Dear Lord, soften their hearts. Show them the error of their ways. Bring back the prodigal children.
Around 1:22 of the video is where I've taken this direct quote.
