Remembering Your Priorities...

Ever find you get so caught up in the day to day grind that you forget your priorities? You forget the things that are supposed to matter most...

Take family dinners for example, its something that is common around this time of year... how easy is it to get caught up in worrying about whether the turkey is perfect, whether you have all the proper side dishes, who is bringing their favourite drinks, etc... and yet is the time with family not one of the main reasons for this? Remembering the reason for the season, should that not be a priority?

This Christmas season my fiance and I headed north to spend some time with my family, and I had two different occasions where I was reminded of this.

First of all, I went to the Family Christmas that my Dad's side of the family always holds. My aunts/uncles/cousins all get together at someone's house for a lunch, that often becomes dinner as well, card games and time together. Just before we eat we get together and sing grace. Seeing the whole family gathered around that table, singing grace together, that for me was one of those 'ah-ha' moments. The moments when you find  yourself reminded of why you're there, in that place at that  moment.

The second came in the innocence of a child. Amidst the new toys, flashy wrapping paper and Christmas specials, you often don't expect to see much of your children during Christmas... and yet my 2 year old niece walks over, takes my hand and leads me to the couch this morning. She voiced her one and only request from me... "Cuddle me". When we reached the couch she curled up in my lap, pulling a blanket from the couch with her, so we could just curl up together for a bit.

So lets all learn a little something from that 2 year old child. Forget about the flash and commercialism, don't worry if your meal is perfect or your gift is worth enough... Just look at your loved ones as they are around you, some living so far away on a usual basis, and spend some time with them... No distractions

Christmas Spirit

I have noticed that there is a lot of talk as of late on the local Christian radio stations about the Christmas holiday, and society's reaction to it. As Christians we are being told constantly to avoid speaking of our particular beliefs in public settings, and to monitor what we display in our decorating so as to avoid offending those of other religions and beliefs... But why is it that this one holiday is suddenly so taboo?

It has hit the point that there are school boards that are actually banning the use of Santa and poinsettias in decorations as they 'too closely resemble the idea of Christmas', and the only approved decorations are snowflakes and snowmen. When did it go from Christmas to just a celebration of winter? When Easter rolls around we haven't yet banned the site of bunnies and easter eggs, but is that what is coming next in our move to try to make everything so unbelievably politically correct?

I am sorry, but I live in a country that was built on Christianity... We don't compromise our langugages and avoid speaking English so as to be fair to those speaking Chinese for example, so why should I compromise my celebrating of the holidays that mean the most to me? I would not be remotely offended if I had a neighbour that placed a menorah in the front window of their home as they are celebrating Hanukkah... sure I don't share that belief, but that's their home and their beliefs, but at the same time I don't believe in judging those around me. I have a nativity set in my home, and will proudly display it each and every year. My work decorations include a magnet on my desk that reads "Wishing you Christmas Joy" and quotes Luke 2:10.

Even worse, is hearing those who proclaim themselves as Christians dreading the holiday season, complaining about hearing Christmas music everywhere they turn, even if it is Christmas music based in the spirit of celebrating the birth of Jesus. This is a joyous time of year for all us Christians, the birth of our saviour and the acknowledgement that we are forgiven for all our sins. This is something we should be rejoicing in, celebrating and we should be full of joy and happiness! Why then are so many Christians so eager to return to the daily grind and leave it all behind?

For those of you who still subscribe to the idea of Happy Holidays to avoid offending others, that is your choice... but this year as I am signing all my Christmas cards for close friends and family with the words 'Merry Christmas' I will be reflecting on the true meaning of the season as a Christian! I am ever so thankful for the gift that God has given us, and hope that I never lose sight of that!

Living, Breathing Example

We’ve all heard it before, be on your best behavior at all times, you never know who is watching. Its something that as a child was more of a threat to make you behave, but I’ve come to learn that as a Christian it’s a way of life…

I was at church  on Sunday, waiting for a small group that I belong to which starts shortly after the service. One of the couples in the group actually is the parents of one of my fiancé’s previous employees. We have gotten to know them quite well through this, and I previously have seen the employee a few times here and there, but not a lot by any means. We noticed that the woman of the couple was sitting alone in the café; her husband was working this Sunday. We sat down for coffee with her, as we have become good friends with the couple during this time in our small group together.

While talking about what’s new, and how life is going, she said something that really opened my eyes. It wasn’t some world altering event, and nothing that you would see make the news, but it had a bigger effect on me than almost any story I have ever seen on the news would.

She was talking about her son, and his recent interest in attending our church. He stated he’d noticed a change in his parents that had peaked his interest, which I agree with as my fiancé and I had noticed a change in them as well. He had one other reason for wanting to go though, he stated he’d noticed a positive change in my fiancé and myself.

It just goes to show you, that as you go about your day to day lives… your drive to work, your morning coffee… your crazy work day or your grocery shopping… you never know who might be impacted by the example you are providing. Its not always going to be your best friends/family that come about due to a change in who you are, and you can’t choose whose lives you are going to change.

Remember this moving forward today… Someone could be watching and learning from your example right now! You are a living and breathing example of Christianity and the work of Christ for each and every person that you interact with every second, of every day. Sure it sounds intimidating, and yes it’s a big responsibility…. But its your responsibility!

Letting Go of Control

Alright, so I will admit it... I am a control freak. I have always to some degree been a control freak.... There is something about the comfort of knowing that my personal actions and choices can set me up for success or failure, that it is all at my finger tips and is my choice in what I want to do....

I think it might have something to do with how we're raised in society. How many times do you hear "Just go to school, get good grades, get a safe secure job and all will be well"... Ask all the people currently laid off in today's economy how that is working for them. We are rated all through school, getting our grades on the basis of how we personally handle everything, no need to condition ourselves to circumstances beyond our control.

This for me has been by far the hardest thing since becoming a Christian. I remember sitting in a class at our church when I first heard them use the phrase 'let go and let God' and the idea was frightening to me. You mean I have to just let go of all the control I have on what's going on in my life, plug forward doing what I can and trust that God will take care of me? The same God that I have just recently started to develop any sort of a relationship with?

Last night I came home for work, my mind running a million and one ways. When I finally told my fiance why I was 'in a mood' it all just spilled out as I fought back tears of frustration... I told him that I was feeling overwhelmed, that there is too much on my plate. I talked about stresses at work, about trying to take care of various friends/family and help them with their situations... I talked about health issues that I have been facing, and I talked about finances, with the wedding, and Christmas gifts, and everything else going on.... He supported me, consoled me, and made sure I had a night at home to relax and not worry, a night to sleep early, let the migraine (stress induced I'm sure) subside and put my feet up.

It was while I was relaxing, home alone, thinking to myself that I realized, this is exactly the situation they talk about... the moments when we realize its time to 'let go and let God'. I mean really, lets look at my health for starters... as long as I'm doing what I can to eat healthy and stay active, attending my doctors appointements and taking medication where needed, what else can I honestly do to fix it? Nothing! I need to trust that God knows what is happening, and that he will help me get through this and solve whatever is going on.

Another one... finances... one that we all dread talking about! I am a big time budgetter... I track everything, spend only what I have to, save what I can. I have account information, the exact reason for each purchase, what catagory every transaction falls under... I track my savings account, my interest amounts coming in for what I have in the account.... I work extra hard, try to earn more commission....

But when it all comes down to it, and something falls apart (currently we're facing, for example, my laptop... the one that I need to be able to work on my internet based business, to plan our wedding, to access my budgetting site... has decided it will heat up to the point it is slowly frying its own parts... including the motherboard apparently), I need to have faith that God will help us through it, and provide those things that I need most.

My favourite bible verse, and always has been, reads:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28, NIV)
So if this is true, and something that I love and believe in, why can I not trust that whatever I am facing, God is working good through that and will take care of me at the end of the day?

So my challenge to all of you today is rather than stressing yourselves trying to control the day to day happenings, rather than trying to control your circumstances, your coworkers, your friends and family, your spouse... Let go and Let God...

New Blog - New Experiences

I have always considered starting a blog, outlining the joy, excitement, trials, tribulations, and emotional rollercoaster that has become my life.

A little background - almost a year ago (December 2010) I was invited to attend a local church by a good friend of mine. At the time I was not in any way religious, nor did I have any desire to find a church, find God, or even explore the idea of Christianity. The thing was, this wasn't the first time he invited me.... and I knew that it wouldn't be the last...

I decided that if I just gave in, attended one service, that was the 'check in the box' and he would stop pressing, because if he did I could honestly say "Hey, I tried, its not for me". I also refused to go alone, I informed my boyfriend at the time that he was coming with me because "If I am walking into one of those churches, you're sitting through it with me". Well its funny how God works.... we've been attending ever since and in July 2011 I was baptized.

That's definitely not the end of the story, merely the start of the journey that I have embarked on, the journey that is learning to live a Christian life. I have been blessed with some amazing friends along the way who have helped me tremendously in learning and growing through Christ. I have also been blessed with a partner that I know will never leave my side, that same boyfriend that I dragged with me the first service is now my fiance. We attend service together, and this week will be completing the Marriage Preparation Course at our church.

This blog isn't really for one target audience... but rather a more vast group.... I am writing this blog for:
- The Christian man or woman who can find joy in reading of the transformation of another life through Christ
- The new Christian who is also going through these new first steps, discovering the peace in the love of Christ and wanting to find another they can connect with, one who understands what they are currently dealing with
- The curious reader, who maybe has attended a service but isn't sure if they really believe this whole 'Christian thing', or maybe has never attended a service in their life, but is curious as to what the appeal is... may this blog help you to find the answers to the questions that are in your heart.

Please feel free to comment on the posts, share your support, advice, favourite scripture, or ask the questions that fill your heart. I will be on here answering as many of them as I have the answers for, and if I dont' have the answers I will do my best to direct you somewhere that you can find them.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope to get to connect with each and every one of my readers as time goes on.

God bless!