An Escape?

Do you detach yourselves (remove yourself from reality) when you are watching a movie or some TV...
OR
Are you quite involved with what you are watching (like talking to the screen, or yelling...) ?
Just curious...
I'm definately involved: talking to the screen, even smiling at it, is my specialty!

Updateroo

Here's a bit more of an update:

Josh and I went to Richmond Hill Community Church this past weekend as the music guests. It has been really neat to see God placing us in new situations.. nice. All went well and from the feed back people were blessed by God moving. One lady even came up to me afterwards and said "We've never really seen some one dance like that in our church, it made me want to get up and dance with you!" Let it be that she will dance unto the LORD!

Dan is back with us and ready to serve. Nice to have him back, that's for sure.

Um, Baby Gabriel is growing and filling out his skin nicely. He's still the cutest baby around!
He's had a bit of a infected eye if you would like to pray for healing on that.

SWAT is this Saturday, if you are intersted in knowing about SWAT, leave a comment and I will get back to you...you're all invited! Saturday at 7PM at London Citadel.
The more prayers going up for SWAT the better! We hope to be as effective as we can be.

Things have been picking up around these parts, PTL! Especially on the connection front. It seems like we have all been connecting with people all around... hum, must be God's plans.

Yeah, so-- that's it for now.
Peace to you.

"Let no thought linger in your mind that you would be ashamed to let out of your mouth."

Geoffs trials

Gooooooood Morning 614:
It is a GREAT GREAT day to be alive!! One year ago today(give or take a day)I died!BUT and it is a big BUT! I was Born Again and made Brandnew!! YUP folks it has been one year since the Lord took away my cravings for alcohol and cocain.Let me tell you it is GREAT to be alive.No more hangovers,nomore fights,nomore alergies."Alergies" you say, yes cause evertime I drank I broke out in handcuffs.Seriously though I want to thank all of the people that stuck beside me when I faltered.You never looked down on me when I slipped,you were there to pick me up and love me once again.
Thank you 614,Thank you Neil&Dale Thank you all Geoff




NOW I AM BORN,YOU'VE MADE ME BRANDNEW
LIFE IS WORTH LIVING LORD,NOW I HAVE YOU
LOVE FROM YOU JESUS,NOW I CAN SEE
GONE FROM MY PAST LORD,WHAT I USED TO BE
GONE ARE MY SINS,BECAUSE OF YOUR GRACE
UP ON THAT CROSS JESUS,YOU TOOK MY PLACE
Thank you Lord/Thank you Jesus

Sneeky Pride

Read this the other day:

"THROW yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress." -1Timothy 4:15

Some thing to look out for... Pride. You could look at this verse and the enemy could see it as an opportunity to creep in with pride when you put this into action. The whole part with the EVERYONE WILL SEE YOU... you just need to flip-flop that around as the one that everyone is going to see is Jesus in you. Make it a testimony.

For sure, THROW yourself into what you do for the LORD, just don't let it go to your head, be on guard.


Short but hopefully sweet.
Peace to you.

New Slant

I was reading this morning in Genesis and found some thing new.

"I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. Is is the sign of my permanent promise to you and to all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will be seen in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with everything that lives. Never again will there be a flood that will destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth." -Genesis 9:13-16

Okay now I am sure you are all thinking "I was taught this since I was about 4.."
BUT what I realized this morning while reading WAS that the verses above are the LORD speaking to Noah and his sons. Read it again emphasizing each time on the "I's".

The LORD is saying that this rainbow is a reminder for HIM. Sure when we see a rainbow we think of the LORD's covenant with us.. YET when you read the verses above and see that the LORD was so serious about this covenant that he wanted to have this rainbow so HE could be reminded. Even though the LORD keeps his covenants no matter what, he still wanted to see a reminder in the clouds. That must make Him pretty serious about us eh?

Interesting isn't it..
Well I thought so.

Remember the LORD's covenants.

Blessings....

At the end of my emails and conversations I often end with, "Bless you" or "Blessings".
The other day I was reading (once again in the Psalms) and was struck by this passage:
Psalm 129:8
The blessing of the Lord be upon you;
We bless you in the name of the Lord."
I thought immediately of what a great authority we are entrusted with from the Lord. We can actually invoke blessing upon/in people's lives. I was somewhat shaken awake to what I'm doing every time I just happen to write these words at the closing of and email or speak them off handedly at the end of a conversation.
What does blessing look like?
As I read on in the Psalms - 132:15 states that the Lord will "abundantly bless her provision - He will satisfy the needy with bread - He will clothe the priests with salvation. The horn of David will spring forth (talking about strength). His enemies He will clothe with shame and finally you will have a crown that shines...
Psalm 133 declares that the Lord commands a blessing where there is unity. The blessing is "life forever".
This little word blessing can pack a ton of goodness called down from heaven on an individual's life.
So to those who read - "The blessing of the Lord be upon you. I bless YOU in the name of the Lord." In other words may you experience His abundant provision, His satisfying your needs. May He clothe you with His salvation. May you experience His strength. May you overcome your enemies. May you be established in His authority to rule.
Blessings,
Elaine

Speakers

We would like some input on Guest Speakers...
We are having monthly gatherings called SWAT, here in London and I was trying to find out some good ideas for Guest Speakers.
So for those of you out there who have some people that you have heard speak and you would reccommend, please do! Just put them under comments and we will see what we can come up with!

Ah yes, and if you would like to have more info on SWAT, talk with your Corps officer, they should have a flier (If you are in the Ontario area that is).
Join us!!

Peace to you.

Invited

She plopped herself on the long L-shaped couch, grabbed the nearest shaggy blanket and took a deep sigh. The candles were lit and the smell of incense was circling throughout the house. She picked up her book and began to soak in the words on the pages. As she placed herself in the pages of the book, soft jazz music pierced the atmosphere. Her eyes closed and she began to listen to the movement of the music. Beautiful, sweet music without words.

As the trumpet played smoothly and the drummer filled the beat, God was speaking. Peace attached itself to the insence and began filling the room. Still her eyes were closed lightly and as the music played on she knew God in that moment. This was no recorded Sunday service at church her ears were tuned to, this was jazz. Still God was speaking.
All because she invited the LORD in on her time on her long L-shaped couch, listening to jazz.

Amazing what God can do with a little participation. Don't put God in a box.

Peace to you.

Continue on Arrows

So to attach on the blog that Elaine had posted the other day called "The Arrows and Olives "-- she spoke of how our children are arrows used to over come the enemy...

I was reading Psalm 21 and towards the end of the Psalm it begins to speak of our enemies being defeated. Yet I was struck by the few lines that I read-- verses 11-12:

"Although they plot against you, their evil schemes will never succeed. For they will turn and run when they see your arrows aimed at them."

Now any other time I probably would have read this and seen the word arrows as in the literal sense-- BUT then I read into it as the children being as arrows.
So according to these verses the enemies schemes will not succeed, all because they will see the mighty 'arrows' (warrior children) pointed in their direction. Let me tell you, they will not be pointed in a lovey-dovey sense, they are out to fight.
As in Elaine's blog, let us see our children strong in faith, pointed in the right direction (at the enemy's camp)-- then we get to watch the enemy run off in the blink of an eye.
Nice.

Daily Bread

This morning I picked up the "Our Daily Bread ", the reading for the day was Luke 10, about the Good Samaritan:

"As we move through life, we are challenged to respond to the needs of people. We will either show them Christ's love or be indifferent. How will we respond to those God chooses to put in out way?" -Bill Crowder

Lord, we need Your help even to see the needs of people around us and then to know how to care for them. Give us a heart of compassion like Yours and opportunities to express Your love.
Amen

The Arrows and Olives

I've been slowly progressing through the Psalms and often find myself chewing on the food offered there.

Psalm 127:3-4 declares that,
"Children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth."

Recently I started working in the courts. There I see many young people whose lives are in chaos due to bad choices, disintegrating families and other causes. In the court room some of these kids dis the crown or other authority figures. One kid was actually taken down by a security guard for poor behaviour.
As I looked at these kids I thought of how they are arrows. These arrows have been shaped, fashioned and trained by someone. Instead of being arrows used to overcome the enemy they are being used by the enemy to wreak destruction. Instead of being used to establish righteousness and justice they are being used to bring forth lawlessness and rebellion.

Psalm 128:3 talks about children being like olive plants around our table. A table is a place of nurishment, sustenance, community and even a place to establish covenant. Olives are a staple in the middle eastern culture. They provide fuel for light, oil for cooking and medicinal purposes, they're even used for making soap. This olive plant, which are children are to be like, is a valuable, essential property. They are an important, central resource.
What happened to these olives?
How can we insure that our olive plants are not being damaged and rendered useless instead of useful and life giving?
As a mother of 5 I treasure the perspective of heaven. I declare that my children are a gift from the LORD. I declare that they are a reward and that they will be arrows that bring great destruction and havoc to the enemy's camp. I also declare that they are fruitful olive shoots.
I have many years to tend to them ensuring that are cultivated properly because it's my responsibility. And thanks be to God that it's not just up to me but He provides a community of faith to aid in the cultivation process.
It takes a community to raise a child. Let's all pitch in so that there will be less showing up in places of destruction and more being redeemed from the pit.
shalom
Elaine

Prayer Time

Check out this website for some guided prayer. There is a new one for each day.
A good way to start off a day maybe...

http://www.sacredspace.ie/

Peace to you.

Intentional Fellowship

Being intentional is a big dicipline of being a Disciple of the LORD.

Just throughout the last year I believe I fell short of being intentional. By this I mean, the kind of being intentional with meeting with others.
Without doing this I found that my days were too long and I felt like things weren't moving any where: empty. I mean where can you possibly head spiritually without time with others: where can you help others head spiritually without getting to know them.
Now it is different. I am making sure that I am intentional at going out and meeting with people and being intentional about pulling out the monthly planner and seeing that I am filling my time with a lot of fellowship.
Let's call it Intentional Fellowship.

Please make sure that you don't fall into the enemy's traps he has set for you to be isolated and lonely. Also please don't help set the trap for those around you. Go and spend the time away getting to know your neighbours and when you know them, meet their neighbours. After all it isn't just you who makes up the church is it?

I challenge you to schedule in time with 2 people this week; meet together, pray together, be together.
LORD, please help us all to build up the church body and not break it down.
If I haven't made it clear so far: be intentional. be a disciple.

Baby Boy

Gabriel Ian Parkin was born yesterday at 7:34pm (or close to that time), and a healthy 8lbs. 14oz.. nice.
Tasha is looking healthy and beautiful after a long day of labour. Ryan is a proud Pops.
Gabriel is so gorgeous..
I'm a proud Godparent.

Peace to you.

Soon to be.

Well it seems that a new baby will soon be in our midst.
Tasha and Ryan have been in the hospital since last night and are still awaiting their baby boy.
Pray that all goes smoothly through these last hours.
Pray for the baby's protection and the Mommy too.
What a gift from God.

Peace to you.

Defender of Orphans

Just recently I finished reading Job and then decided to keep on going through the Psalms.
This morning I read through Psalm 9-12 and I couldn't help but be stirred by a stream that ran throughout all 4 off these Psalms: JUSTICE.

"He will judge the world with justice.." -Ps. 9:8

"The LORD is known for His justice." -Ps. 9:16

"You are the Defender of Orphans." -Ps. 10:14b

"For the LORD is righteous, and He loves justice. Those who do what is right will see His face." -Ps. 11:7

"The LORD replies, "I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do." -Ps.12:5

Reading this I really understood what justice is.
Reading this I really understood how serious the Lord is about justice.
Reading this I really understood where we need to stand in our world.
Reading this I really understand that we need to do some thing about injustice.

Lord rise up and deliver the poor from injustice.
Rise up and protect the helpless.
You are the Defender of Orphans.

Let it be.

Cognitio Dei

I'm still reading through the J.I. Packer book "Great Power": here are some quotes from one of the daily readings:

"There is a difference between knowledge by description, in which you simply gain information about something, and knowledge by aquantance, in which you are in direct contact with that reality.."
"For knowledge of God, cognitio Dei, is relational knowledge, knowledge that comes to us in the relationship of commitment, trust, and reliance: in other words, of faith." -Calvin
"We are called to a knowledge of God which does not just flit about in the brain--" -Calvin

So I guess my question is do you know God or do you KNOW God?

Keepin' You Updated

Hey guys! Sorry about the few missed days on blogging!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving yesterday! The great thing is, I get to celebrate Thanksgiving 2 times a year now.. being an American living in Canada and all.

Good times with the Ivany side of the family, always is.
Tasha is due as of today, let's all pray for a safe delivery when the baby decides to come.
Rebecca is now with us here in London, nice.
Josh is a bit sick at the moment, please pray for some healing.
Elaine started her new job today, pray for good relationships and favour.
Yeah, God has been very good to us here.

More blogging to come.
Thanks for being a reader.
Peace to you.

Combatting Fat Heart

I think I'm stuck on the fat heart thing. I've been meditating on it. Last night I kept having a recurring picture. It was of a heart that was encapsulated with layers of fat. In order for the heart to function properly the fat had to be removed. Layer by layer the fat was burned away.
I asked the Lord how do you get rid of the fat that has accumulated around our hearts. Again my thought went back to Daniel. Instead of gratifying his desires with the fat of the king's table he chose to deny himself. Oh, Oh... it sounds like a cross thing. The key to burning away fat is fasting.
So often we just say yes to whatever our impulses or desires are. I feel like a piece of pizza. I go get some pizza. I feel like watching T.V.. So I watch T.V. I feel like listening to music. I listen to music. Whatever urge or desire I have I can usually just do it. When I reflect on it I can easily just live my life responding to my own personal desires and never learn to deny myself anything. After all why should I have to. Everything I need I can get. I have the means and the access to it. But what does this kind of living do to me spiritually? Is there ever any cross bearing or self denial?
So I've started some fat burning exercises. After a hard day of house work, childcare, serving the masses when I feel like vegging in front of the T.V. I say "no" to myself and pick up a book - right now it's about a missionary in Equador - new book - and read.
When I feel like running out to a movie and munching on a big bag of buttered popcorn I say "no" to myself (until I'm in Vancouver with Danielle) and stay home and play Scrabble with Caitlyn.
When I feel like going out to eat a Big Mac I say no to myself and Hannah and go home and make a scrambled egg fajita thing. (Trying to eat healthy)
When I'm boiling hot in the summer and feel like installing air conditioning, I say "no" to myself and choose to send the money to another country to help purchase a well so a whole community has safe water to drink.
For many of us it can be a new discipline to say no to our desires. This actually can be a revolutionary practice. Say no to some impulses in your life and be led by Holy Spirit as to what the replacement should be. It may be more time in the Word. New activities, habits and adventures!
Shalom
Elaine G

Fat Heart

I was reading through Psalm 119 today and stumbled across a passage that arrested my attention. Listen to this...
"Their heart is covered with fat, But I delight in Your law."
Through out the Psalm the writer is fixated on the statutes and law of the Lord. He longs to walk fully in God's boundaries, in what God decrees as just, in God's customs and regulations. He wants to conform the pattern of His life after God's blueprint. This is the writer's constant request to YHWH.
In contrast to this are other people who live their lives according to their own desires. Through their living their hearts become fattened or callous/unfeeling.
When I read the word fat and then looked it up in the Hebrew translation I immediately thought of Daniel in the courts of Babylon and how he was enticed to eat the fat of the king's table. I paralleled that with our lives here in North America. We have so much at our disposal to fatten our hearts so that we are numbed to the laws, decrees and statutes of the Lord. We fatten ourselves through our endless consumption of goods and in effect cause other lands to be in want. We fatten our hearts through the things that we allow ourselves to watch - we can ingest hours and hours of T.V., video games, computer stuff and barely tolerate 1/2 an hour a day in God's word. I could go on and on but I won't.
Suffice it to say this little verse has pierced my heart. I hope it does yours as well.
Shalom
Elaine G

Under Construction

For a few days now I have been driving Josh to work, and picking him up again-- so I could have the car for other errands.
The faster street to get there lately has been under construction-- so it seems to be taking longer that way now... and yet I still take it, because it is familiar I guess.

Now I got to thinking how frustrated I was getting with the constuction of this one traffic lane-- it was holding me up: taking me longer to get from point A to point B.
I suppose there are seasons where spiritually speaking God takes us through some construction.
It seems like it takes forever.
Here are a few key things to remember:
Be patient.
Turn up some worship music along the way.
Know that on the other side of the "construction" it is open street-- free flowing.
At least until God has more refining for your path.
Praise the Lord.

Know the Lord

So I ended up making my way to the Library this afternoon...
Man, do a whole lot of people hang out there. Especially people who seem to have no place to call home. At the library any one can go and watch some T.V. and fall asleep, check your e-mail, read a book, and so on...
Why wouldn't you go to the library?

I picked up a book at the library called "Great Power." It is a 31 day devotional book by J.I. Packer-- today's title was "The Joy of Knowing God."
Here's a little clip from that:

"Jeremiah, looking forward to what God was going to do, spoke in these terms: "'The time is coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.'" And the consequence will be this: "No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest" (Jeremiah 31:31,34). The Fulfillment of this promise is the glory of Christianity. Christians know God. Everyone may know God."

I know the Lord, I long to know the Lord in a deeper way...
Then I looked around the library and knew that each person in that place could potentially come to know the Lord.
Let it be.