Wall of Faith: GiniDo you like surprises? I sure do - especially this kind. Earlier this month I had a visit from my sister-in-law and brother. They surprised me by bringing something that belonged to me that I had not seen in 48 years. It was a Bible that had been given to me in 1964. My name was engraved on the cover. Our family had lived in Alaska from 1962 to 1967. My parents were missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. When I left Alaska, I must have left the Bible behind. While we lived in Fairbanks, we made friends with a woman named Dixie Myers. She was a secretary at the University of Alaska. Later, much to the delight of my parents, Dixie decided to become a member of Wycliffe as well - using her secretarial skills to aid in Bible translation. Little did we know that just a few years later, my Dad would pass away very suddenly. Mom needed to find a new role with Wycliffe and took some secretarial classes. She and Dixie were roommates in Fairbanks for several years and served Wycliffe together. Fast forward 40 some years. Dixie's daughter found herself with the chore of going through her mother's papers and books after her death. It was during this search that she found my Bible. Since my maiden name is rather unusual (Canonge), she had no trouble tracking down my brother. After it was confirmed that "Gini Canonge" was indeed his sister, the Bible was shipped to them. What a joy to look through what was my very first Bible. I had written down the references of verses I had learned and circled things in pictures that I deemed important - like baby Jesus in the manger and the gifts from the magi. Why was this so special? Our family has a combined 100 years of service with Wycliffe Bible Translators. 53 years after being given that Bible, I am still memorizing His word. It is a treasure to be able to read God's word to me in my primary language. Thank you Wycliffe for having the goal to translate the Bible into every heart language on the earth. Mindy here - Anyone else plan on looking these verses up? I must know what this dear woman thought was important to memorize first. Do you have any treasures you've received from your past?
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That's the Book: MalachiWe just got home from a walk down to the local park. My kids rode bikes, my spouse played with his new drone and I held my breath when my eldest hung upside down from the parallel bars. I let my kids climb trees and scamper over larger rocks. I really try not to panic or over react. I want to raise brave and tough people. But my hearts stops a bit when they hang upside down. It isn't the view I expect and the consequences of falling are high. Malachi was the last prophet to the people of Israel before the New Testament. He spoke about 100 years after the people had returned to Israel from their captivity in Babylon. The book involves a conversation between the people asking questions - oh let me be blunt - they were whining and complaining - and then God's response. They wondered when God loved them. Where was He in the midst of their hardship? Why did they suffer? Malachi covers a wide range of issues. Justice, marriage, tithing, the priesthood. Basically corruption and unfaithfulness were again (still?) the norm of the day. You know. Sin. Same answer. It's the reason for the pain. It's what bound people's hearts and broke their society. Crud. Nothing changes. But I think Malachi is interesting in the context of being the last word before the long 400 year silence before the Messiah came. Watch what happens. "You have wearied the Lord with your words. "How have we wearied him?" you ask. By saying, 'All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord and he is pleased with them" or "Where is the God of Justice?" Malachi 2: 17 The people had their truth upside down. Good was bad and evil was celebrated. Power, lust, anger, financial gain and oppression were rewarded. So the people were a mess and needed help and were angry at the One who could do something about it. God's response? "I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple. the messenger of the covenant whom you desire will come,' Says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears" For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap." Malachi 3:1-2 When I'm annoyed or fed up with my kids or my spouse my first reaction is to shut down and pout. And then the quiet voice of God speaks to my soul and reminds me that love doesn't cut and run. He whispers about how when the world needed help He dove in. Deep water in. Love does not disengage. Love gets in the mess. It fights to get clean. Sometimes I listen. Works best when I do. When my inside governs what happens on my outside my family benefits. Inside Out. "On the day when I act," says the Lord Almighty, "they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him." Malachi 3:17 See. Last word is that God will spare the people just like a father spares his son. Only in this case God saved the people BY sacrificing his son who served him. You see right? Jesus the promised Messiah came into the mess and poured himself out on the fire as the sacrifice. God's economy is frequently upside down and backwards. The foolish things teach the wise. The perceived as weak things like love and forgiveness can break the powerful and mighty. God's message to His people was I am coming to fix what you broke. He took the consequences of our fall. Upside Down and Inside Out. ResourcesDoes your marriage need help???Marriage is hard sometimes. Wow baby. Malachi wasn't kidding about the importance of your marriage. "The man who hates and divorces his wife," says the Lord, the God of Israel, "does violence to the one he should protect," says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful." Malachi 2:16 If you are wading through one of those heavy dark rains will you consider getting help. Marriage Team in Vancouver, WA is a great option. Marriage couching with another couple can offer a new way to respond. Visit their website HERE. Tithe? What in the world is Tithe?Malachi has some clear instruction on tithing. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test time in this"says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. Malachi 3: 10 I didn't have space to cover this but I love the section of Malachi on tithing. It's one of the only places in the Bible where God says "Go ahead and test me on this one." Kinda fun. If you need some background or help in your finances or wonder what tithing looks like in your budget check out Dave Ramsey's article on tithing HERE. Need more info?Last book of the Old Testament. Wonder why it matters? Check out the Bible Project's Read Scripture YouTube for their overview. Educational, great graphics and intriguing. Wall of Faith: MichelleSome people buy house plants. Some receive them as gifts. I adopt them. Orphaned and abandoned house plants have found their way into our home more than once and yes, I've named them all. Let me introduce you to Fount (I really don't know what kind of plant he is...) and Joy (the Christmas Cactus). They belonged to my Grandmother. They joined our household almost a decade age. They were the last plants she tended. She supposedly potted them days before she breathed her last. She loved plants. She was generous, feisty and faithful. She had a huge vegetable garden, strawberry patches on the side of her house and a green house jam packed with Aloe plants. Whenever we had a scrape or a sunburn she would traipse us out to her green house and cut off a chunk of a plant and smear that soothing goo all over us. Every spring, she grew enough Irises, Dahlias and Gladiolas to outfit The Grand Floral Parade. I can vividly remember her cutting her beautiful flowers and arranging them and piling us grandkids into her car with instructions to hold the flowers up just so and then we would drive around the county delivering her homegrown jewels to others in need of cheer. In winter, she bought live Christmas trees so she could plant them when the festivities were finished. That sweet lady would tell us about the Fount of Joy named Jesus every chance she got. "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” Proverbs 11:25 Meet Vera (the Aloe Plant) and her offspring (Aloe, Al, & Allie) and Arachnid (the Spider Plant). I acquired Vera and Arachnid when my friend packed up everything she owned and followed her military spouse across the country. She is brave, outspoken, and courageous. She introduced me to my husband. She was my first college friend to get married and have a baby. Like the Aloe plant she gave me, she went on to have three more offspring. And like Arachnid, she has been transplanted many times and learns to thrive in each new setting. Her husband has been deployed multiple times and she has fearlessly held down the home front with four under her care. When I see these plants I think of her and the strength and courage she draws from God. "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 My most recent plant adoption took place a little over a year ago. I call her Grace. Her previous owner was gracious, gentle and kind. She was thoughtful and quick to listen. She had a gorgeous garden full of raspberries and flowers. She received this plant from her son and she nurtured it for more than two decades. She had an eye for beauty and saw the best in others. "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near." Philippians 4:5 I adopt plants because they remind me of their previous owners who nurtured them with care. All three of these ladies had green thumbs and loved the God who created all living things. I look at these plants and I think of the truths my friends lived out. "Remember, whatever you plant, you will reap! Therefore, sow good seeds. Sow the Word of God." Galatians 6:7 Joyful generosity, courageous submission and gentle, kind answers- these are indeed good seeds. This is the way I want to live.
Even more I look at these plants and I think about the God who made us, rescued us and is making a forever home for us in paradise. Isaiah 46:4 confirms, "I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and rescue you." He provides for our needs and painfully prunes us. He adopts us so we can be a part of His forever family. This world is not our permanent home. Heaven--where God resides--is where we belong. Romans 8:15 "So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." I am so joyful!, or am I ?
There are so many fun things in life, pop tarts, travel, candy, and so much more!! But lets find out what it means to be JOYFUL. Candy and fun things do not make us joyful. If you are bummed and you smother yourself in fun things you will be happy for a short time but not forever. If you are joyful you will always know that it is OK because God is in control. Let's find out how tobe joyful. •J is for Jesus . If you believe you will have a start to joy •O is for omnipotent. God knows all •Y is for you. You are joyful Now go grab your bible and look up 1 John 1:1 Psalm 66:1 Shout for joy to God all the earth! "There is always, always, always something to be thankful for..." The sign cost me twenty bucks. I bought it at an after season clearance sale. It was intended to be hung during November. I decided that gratitude was in season year round. I hung it in our entryway and prayed that the sentiment would grace my heart and mind as well.
My husband and I just got home from a week long California Coast Cruise. We sailed on the Ruby Princess (cue the Love Boat theme song) and felt like royalty all week. It was our ten year wedding anniversary celebration and a much needed get away to reconnect and relax. We ate lobster, cactus, fresh pineapple, prime rib, cheese cake and creme brûlée. Someone else made the bed and turned it down every evening and there were little chocolates on our fluffy feather pillows every night. We soaked up the sun and watched seals, dolphins and pelicans splashing in the ocean. We slept late and laughed and played. We observed the stars and moon, and watched the waves. We watched people too. We were encouraged to see so many couples celebrating milestone anniversaries, people in their 90's who were anything but elderly and multigenerational families making memories to last a life time. They were fun to be around. These fellow vacationers wore joy and gratitude like a garment- it fit on them naturally. They were full of laughter. They shined. Then there were the complainers. Although they carried Coach purses, wore Maui Gem sunglasses and upscale name brand flip flops and were sailing to the same sun kissed destinations as the rest of us, they were miserable. Though they were being waited on hand and foot, they complained about the food, the service, the accommodations and more... It was hard to be near them. They smoldered. Whenever I feel like complaining and getting a serious case of the "poor me's", I relive a common scene from my teen years when my mom would look at me with a raised eyebrow and would toss a book at me and expect me to read it...again. It was always the same book. It never changed. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie and her sister, both devout Christians, hid Jewish people in their home during WWII and later endured life in a concentration camp. At one point in the book she thanked God for lice. LICE! She was genuinely thankful for lice because they kept the guards away. They weren't raped or beat and were left alone to study the Bible they had miraculously smuggled into the camp because they were infested with lice. She literally praised God for lice. Corrie and her sister lived out the following verses; "Never stop praying. Give thanks whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Instead of complaining, they prayed. Instead of giving up, they gave thanks! The last few years threw some challenging curve balls our way. According to the "Holmes-Rahe Stress Inventory" we were racking up the points. This vacation was what the doctor ordered. The Princess motto is "Come Back New". We felt like we pushed the "refresh button". We came back ready and eager to take on life again. Gratitude is like a "refresh button" for our hearts and minds. While we don't aways have the time or funds to hop a plane to a sunny destination, to clear the fog in our minds and stress from our systems, we always have the ability to say thank you. Gratitude is the antidote for a bad attitude and gives us a new perspective in even the hardest situations. This week I was reminded of how a thankful spirit causes a person to appear even more beautiful while a grumbly demeanor causes even the most attractive person to appear sullen and hard. The quickest and least costly make-over is one that comes through prayer, a new mind; a thankful one. And the best part is gratitude is contagious. I challenge anyone who reads this to find more and more ways to express gratitude throughout this week. Below are a list of ideas to get you started: - Make eye contact and thank the person behind the cashier counter. Quietly say a prayer for that person while they bag your things. -Use a sharpie marker to write thank you on the bottom of your garbage can for the collector. Pray for the collector each time you drag your garbage can to the curb. -Tell your kids thank you for any and every act of obedience or kindness. Tell them that they are a gift from God and you are thankful God put them in your family. -Before you order your food when eating out thank the waitress for serving your family. When you bow your head to pray ask God to bless your server (and remember to leave a good tip!). -Take the time to say thank you to the next fireman, police, military, paramedic personnel you see in uniform. Pray for their safety and wisdom every single day. -Send a note to your child's teacher saying thank you. Pray for your children, their teachers and their classmates while you drive them to school or pack their lunch. -Wave thank you to the person directing traffic in a construction zone. Say a quick prayer for them as you drive by. -Most importantly, thank God for a million blessings and more. "Yes, there is always, always, always something to be thankful for." Do you have more ideas? What helps you be thankful? Why I'm not participating in A Day Without a WomanI come from a long line of strong women. Women who run businesses, travel, volunteer, march and donate. Women who advocate and educate. When I think about their impact on my life though, smaller things stand out. My Grandma Lorenia poured out love in crystal goblets filled with root beer and hours of card games. She believed that every person was valuable. She served through cancer and poverty and unending demands. Her laughter was contagious. Her legacy was joy. My Grandma Viola sewed love into packages and prayers. She saved, she served, she perservered. She loved tight hugs, warm cookies and weddings. Her legacy was faithfulness. My mother-in-law Carleen ran courage into everyone she met. She was fully supportive and passionate about art and flowers and children. She made everyone she met feel welcome. Her legacy is kindness. My mother Sue is a bright and fierce force of a person. She's got a twinkle in her eye and she has the ability to make me laugh better than any one. This photo is an excerpt of a letter she wrote me when I turned two years old. I have letters from aunties and cousins. Sisters and friends. Beautiful women who wrote on my soul and call me to be present. To be faithful. Walking out to prove a point seems dishonest to their steadfast love. Earlier today I had to make a tough decision. I've been working long hours lobbying for a bill in the upcoming legislaive session. Couple of trips to the state capitol to meet with various governmental types. I received news today that I'd been invited to a dinner with a senator. Great opportunity for professional development. Problem is the dinner is on the same night as my daughter's choir concert. I'd already promised her I'd go. As I sat and mulled my options I thought about the Day without a Woman. I am quite certain I'm not necessary at the dinner meeting. My colleagues can handle it without me. But my daughter? I don't want her to figure out what it looks like when mom bails. I want her memories to be full of a steadfast mom who showed up when the call was hard. A mom who delivered on promises even when she wasn't being appreciated. A mom who thanked God because He allowed me to be her mother. So I declined the invitation with the Senator and circled my plans for a night with the elementary school choir. So today I'll wake up my babies. I'll help pick out their clothes and play my part in the daily taxi. I'll go to work. Not because I'm special or different or better than the hundreds of thousands of women who do the same thing every day. But because this investment in our future has more potential to affect change than any strike, any meeting, any lobbying effort. The legacy is love. And the power of love has nothing to do with protests or demands but everything to do with gratitude, service, peace and patience. Should we ignore injustice? Of course not. But love is the only weapon strong enough to win. Today I'd like to invite you to write on someone else's heart. Those words have eternal weight. Rather than making someone notice you are gone, how about making someone else feel seen? Those are not small actions. ENTER TO WINI've got a new set of note cards, envelopes and gel pens to get you started on your legacy notes. Write your kids, your friends, your parents, your spouse. Tell them you love them. I'll be giving this set to a winner randomly drawn from anyone who comments on this post or shares the post. Winner will be drawn Friday March 10, 2017. No purchase necessary. Prize mailed in the contenintal US only.
Since I moved out of my parents house over 10 years ago, I've secretly wanted my own Kitchen Aid stand mixer. But the sticker shock kept me from officially putting one on a wish list. After all, I had a handheld mixer that worked just fine. And since I want to be able to continue wearing my jeans, I really don't need to make baking cakes an easier process. And who has time to bake bread anyway? I rationalized like this for years, never mentioning I really wanted one to grace my counter top. My family pooled their money and bought me one for my birthday. I was shocked and thrilled! My favorite feature is the dough hook. During a recent snowstorm I made cookies, homemade pizza, a loaf of bread and God taught me a few things in the process. Meditation Matters Our culture is quite taken with this practice. It has recently made the cover of magazines. Public schools are teaching it. And even politicians are holding mediation sessions before meetings in Washington DC. The benefits touted include reduced stress and a sense of awareness. It's participants are often encouraged to empty their minds. Meditation is a biblical practice. But instead of emptying our minds, we are told to focus our minds on God's truth. We need to do it over and over and over again. Just like the hook hits the dough over and over and over again. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Psalm 119:15-16 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate. Psalm 145:5 Our Children are Watching My kid is just as fascinated with the new machine as I am. He has been warned to look with his eyes and not his hands. He watches the machine churn and churn and whirl and whirl. He watches me do the same. You see, the day I made this particular loaf of bread I wasn't meditating on God's truth. I was angry and I was churning my judgmental thoughts over and over again. I was meditating on my anger. Yeast is tiny...and powerful. It has a strong smell that stays on your hands days after the bread was baked. Jesus warned that a tiny bit contaminates a whole loaf. What started off as a smattering of little irritants grew into something ugly and hard in my heart. In the book of Matthew Jesus asked, "Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?" I told myself I was baking my son a loaf of bread, but inwardly I was building a jagged rock. I don't want to give my son a stone when he asks for bread. Anger hardens hearts. Bread is life giving. It is soft and smells heavenly. I had a serious "come to Jesus moment" while my bread baked. Hot cross buns are traditionally baked at Easter. They are a picture of what Christ did for us. Jesus went to the cross and suffered so we don't have to go to the ovens of hell. He took our place. His body was pierced and broken for us. He is the bread of life and He offers this bread for free. The price of my Kitchen Aid mixer seemed steep- the price Christ paid you and me is unfathomable. While I didn't ask for my mixer, I begged for His forgiveness. "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26 Preventative Maintenance Matters
My new machine has a few rules for keeping it running smoothly for years to come. Hand wash certain parts. Turn certain notches before others. Keep it clean... This machine taught me that my heart and mind does too. I wrote a serious of apology notes and confessed my issue to some trusted friends and I prayed. I also learned I need to watch what I meditate. Here are a few verses I'm intentionally churning over and over and over again...just like my dough hook. I hope you'll join me: May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27 What are your favorite verses? Do you have any you repeat to yourself to keep God's truth in mind? It was Christmas 2011. I was sitting with my new gifts. My mom hands me a new gift, a lumpy gift. I tore it open. Just a shirt, a pink shirt with black lettering. Right? No. This shirt changed my life. Let's jump back a few months before, I'm sitting with my blanket crying. I'm crying because I don't have a sister. Mom sits down with me and I say "I want a sister". Mom and I prayed to God "Lord, please give me a sister to play with." Let's just say this happened for a long time. Now, back to Christmas. I start reading the shirt. "I....am....going.....to....be....a.....big....sister!"
"Mom! Am I really going to be a big sister?!" My mom says "Yes!" (This goes on for the rest of the day). The point of this is that God may not come to you and give you what you want right away. And sometimes he says no. I am so grateful that he said yes to me this time! Now, my sister is 4 1/2 and so cute! This just shows that praying is powerful. |
About MeI love Jesus. I think my two daughters can change the world. I think you can too. Past Posts
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