Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Fear

With all of the fear surrounding the H1N1 flu, I think this is a very important verse for us to remember: "Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday." (Psalm 91:6)

With 24/7 news networks blaring and sites like twitter and facebook bringing us real time information and speculation about this illness, it's very easy for us to get caught up in a cycle of obsession and fear. And just when we think we're getting over our fear, we turn on the TV to see another newsflash and we're back to square one.

As believers in Christ, we shouldn't be placing our faith in CNN or the WHO or even a friend on facebook. We should be placing our faith in Christ and trusting in His sovereignty.

The truth of the matter is, not one of us knows exactly how long we're going to be on this earth for. We might live to 100 or we might die unexpectedly tomorrow. But in the meantime, we can't live our lives so caught up in fear that we're not really living at all.

Even with this flu, all we can do is take reasonable precautions such as wash our hands, eat right, get our sleep, and avoid contact with people we know are sick. After that, it's up to us to trust God with the rest. Walking around like the world is about to explode isn't a way to live.

Things change at a very fast pace here on this earth. Illness come and go. Disasters take on many forms. And no one is given any guarantee over what is coming their way tomorrow. But we can know this- we follow a God who is worth trusting. A God who never allows us to walk through life alone. And a God who knows the number of our days. Isn't that alone enough that we can rest in?

"I lift my eyes to the mountains- does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps." (Psalm 121:1-4)

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Thanksgiving Wedding

Last weekend, on October 10 to be exact, was my little brothers wedding.  Yes, I realize I should have posted this days ago, but after the wedding I was so tired from all the busyness that blogging was the last thing on my mind.  But it's better late than never, right?

So back to the wedding.  The ceremony was beautiful and the reception was fantastic.  It was great fun to re-connect with some family and friends I hadn't seen in a long while and the celebration was unique and very much them.  From the mess-up during the ceremony and their reactions to it (one of the rings was put on the wrong hand!) to the speeches and stories to the dance to ending the evening with fireworks, everything contributed to making a very memorable day.

Part of my role for the wedding was putting together the slideshow and doing a speech and in the process, I took quite a few trips down memory lane.  Through that I realized just how lucky I am to have grown up where I did and with the people I did.  When we were younger we lived in the country and there weren't a lot of kids around, so my siblings and I were literally forced to become best friends with each other if we wanted to have any fun.  And what fun we did have.  From playing hours of hockey outside to making our own cabins in the bush to sumo wrestling in the snow to building our own "bob sled" track and doing crazy stunts on the toboggan, we are all blessed with many great memories of growing up together.

So thank you to those of you were praying for the wedding.  Your prayers were definitely answered.  The weather was beautiful and everything ran very smoothly.  God was certainly in the midst of it all :)

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Redemption & Someday

So last week I mentioned a song called "Redemption" that I had written the lyrics to and sent to my best friend, Julie Bouchard, who surprised me by coming up with music to the song.

Well now she has recorded a demo of Redemption and put it online, along with another song called "Someday" that we wrote together.

You can check out the lyrics to both songs below and visit www.myspace.com/juliejbouchard to give both songs a listen!

Redemption
If is a very hard word to live with
Something you wish you didn't
Ever have to think about.
Those mistakes that keep you tossing & turning
Praying, hoping, yearning
To be freed from.

But you've gotta believe,
Chorus:
That redemption is more than just a word
It's the story that God is writing
In our lives
The brush is still in His hands
And the picture He's painting
Is beautiful,
Just so beautiful.

All those things that you've done
The scars, every single one
Have been washed away.
Each tear, everytime you've cried
He's been there by your side
And He promises to never leave.

But you've gotta believe,

Everytime you fall,
Everytime you hide
Everytime you feel
Worthless inside
He's there, oh yeah
Everytime you doubt
Everytime you question
Everytime you pray
He's singing redemption
He's singing redemption
Redemption.

If is a very hard word to live with
Something you wish you didn't
Ever have to think about.

Someday
Sometimes my heart grows weary
Sometimes my heart grows faint
Waiting for that special day
When You call my name

Sometimes it's so hard to see
Sometimes I just don't wanna believe
But I've been given a promise
And that promise carries me
Oh yes, that promise carries me

Chorus:
Someday it's all going to fade away
And the Word that became flesh
Will stand right before me.
Someday it's all going to pass away
The old will be gone, the new will stay
I'll be standing there, singing Your praise.

Sometimes I can't help but wonder
Sometimes I just seem to question why
Still I'm holding onto hope
That You will redeem my life

Sometimes my vision is cloudy
Sometimes I don't seem to hear so well
But again You whisper my name
And I'm just so ovewhelmed

Bridge
Someday, it's a day that I'm waiting for
Somehow, I know that it's coming Lord
Someday, someday.

Monday, October 05, 2009

Wedding Prep

As one of my tasks for the wedding this weekend, I've been commissioned to put together the dance music for the reception. This has lead to many hours of sifting through songs to find ones that will be perfect for dancing.

I've found lots of good oldies, some beautiful slow songs, and some great fast songs, like the one below. However, I somehow doubt that any of us will be that co-ordinated on the dance floor ;)