Let Love Win

This mama's heart is heavy today.
I hold my son close and breath in that exquisite baby scent. 
I think, this is a gift from Heaven. 
My child. 
This innocence, when does it get lost? 
 I look at what I have around me and wonder how could I want more? 
My heart breaks knowing that in Ancaster 
a little girl is missing her daddy 
and doesn't understand why she can't see him again. 
I wonder how did something so innocent as posting an add on Kijiji 
turn into something so hateful? 
There seems to be those in this world 
who have no good in them at all. 
But, we were all Heaven's child once. 
Our mama's all thought how can this child be born into sin?
They all tried to keep you
wrapped in love.
It's in times of crisis and great need that we turn to God.  
And maybe ask
God, where were you? 
Why would you let this happen? 
Many would conclude that God is not there 
or that He is not all powerful, 
or that He doesn't really care about people suffering. 
But, He has a plan and a purpose 
that is mysterious, 
not always evident.
God will overcome
In the meantime
We need to not sit idly.
We need to get off our couches, our phones, and our to-do's.
We need to keep our children wrapped in love. 
We need to let all things work together for good (Romans 8)
Joseph said to his brothers: "You intended it for evil, but I intended it for good."
There are times when it's alright to lose faith.
Christ promised us hard times.
We need to blanket those who are crying
by poverty,
violence,
worldy pressures,
oppression,
wars,
marginalization
...
with LOVE
We need to let LOVE in
We need to Let LOVE WIN

Heavenly Father 

...

We bring all our hurts, our doubts, our guilt to You and lay them at Your altar, eagerly awaiting the day when You will bring healing.

We trust You to love the Bosma families well. Strengthen them to press on in You. 

You are the light of our lives.

  

Please make Your presence known to them in the coming days, weeks, months, and years. Fill them with the peace that defies worry. May they learn to walk in full confidence of what You have planned for their lives and rest in that as the only truth. 

AMEN

If I Could Keep you Little

Dear Isaac;

I can feel your breath on my skin, your head nestled in the bend of my elbow, and your cute bum tucked in my right hand. Your legs, all cozy in your blue and white striped footy PJ's, and they're draped over my lap. When did you ever get so big? Slow down a bit, pretty please. ~ xxoo Mommy

.....

Some of you will think this is crazy and some of you will find this normal. But, I was parted from him for the first time the other day. It felt so strange to be more than 100 feet away from him when he has gone everywhere I have gone in the last 4 months. I felt this tug to get back as soon as I could. Fearing that he needed me or would have separation anxiety. It's nice to feel needed. Meanwhile, I knew that he was surrounded by love. I whizzed through my errands as fast as I could. For, I was the one with separation anxiety. And he was once within me, my flesh and blood. And, since entering this crazy broken world, the distance between us has never been more than half a football field away. I recalled reading about a Mbuti Pygmy tribe and their custom for mother and newborn. It is not until the third day after the birth of her child that mother and babe leave their womb shaped leaf hut. During those three days she rocks and sings to her baby as she did while he was still in her womb. She might sit close to the doorway so he can slowly adjust to the bright light of his new world. And, I think on the adjustment it was for me to move him to his own room. And, I wonder how we will handle it when I go back to work, or when he steps on the school bus for the first time, when he gets his drivers license, and when he goes off to university. I know all of these experiences will be hard, but as he grows, he is going to need to find his own way. He can know, though, that his parents will always be there for him. We will never be far away.

.....

It's a tumultuous world we live in where the weakest don't have a voice and the hunger for wealth seems to trump all else. And, this new mama is trying hard not to worry but to trust and to be content in every circumstance. How now do I live for God when I'm now living for my son and family? I think on the story of the Isaac of the Bible. Isaac was the promised son to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. His name means laughter. God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. And, Abraham, trusted so much in the Lord that he was about to give Isaac as a sacrifice knowing that God would really never ask that of him. And right at the last moment, a ram was provided to take Isaac's place as the sacrifice. And I'm sure I couldn't do what Abraham did, especially if I had a hard time leaving him for 15 minutes. I would tell God "No, sorry God, but I don't have the strength to. I would give anything, everything I own, my air, but not that." And, in doing so, I'd be saying "God, You're not worth it. You are not number one in my life. My family takes priority over you."

.....

I want to make my God the first priority in my life. But, now that I'm a mama I can see God falling by the wayside. Instead of saying "It's all about Him" now, I find myself saying "It's all about the other him in my life, my son." I have two lights of my life and I struggle to give priority to the great I Am. And, the God who knows my inmost, knows me by name, knows the number of hairs on my head, has slipped even farther down the priority list. How do I reverse this? How do I pay special attention to following Christ while being a mother? So,I  pray for my son just as much as I do for myself. That I may love You, God, first and then my family. Because, that way I can only love them more. Because God is love and you cannot experience the fullness of love if you have not loved God. I pray that all my actions and words no matter how menial may be a reflection of that love. That in the grunge and grime of every day I may be thankful because my family is clothed and fed and warm and sheltered and loved. That even the most mundane of tasks can be done with my heart trained on God.

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11 

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men." Colossians 3:23

And, that revelation gets me through. I know that loving God first is a powerful witness to not only my son, but to those around me.

.....

And, when I can't be by my son's side, I pray that You, God, may wrap your loving arms around him, that he may have the peace of Christ with him and come to know the love of his Heavenly Father. That he may feel grounded in faith that it brings him home even when he is not home. And, this is my prayer for all children. That they may feel surrounded by love, a love that takes them home, even if they don't have a home.

.....

Yes, Jesus "Wubs" Me and We "Wubs" him too!

Isaac 3 1/2 months - hanging out with Dad at lunch time

Isaac 3 1/2 months - does not usually like tummy time but is getting there!

This book really spoke to my heart. "If I could keep you little I'd keep you close to me, but then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be."

Just when I think that I'm getting my groove thang down - I learn something new. Some of the best advice I've received - Babies change so fast, so hold on to them a little longer and forget about your messy house!

God's Coffee

This past weekend in our church bulletin was this little devo. I loved it and wanted to share.
It reminds us to:

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God. 

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.  Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups-porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite-telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:  "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.   While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.  What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups.  And then you began eyeing each other's cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup,
we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us."

God brews the coffee, not the cups. Enjoy your coffee!  

 

I try my best to live my life this way - honouring God, and being thankful for what I have. When it's all been said and done, all that really matters is whether you did your best to live for truth. But, to make God my number one priority is something I really struggle with. I find that I place value on so many earthly desires and forget that they really belong to God. And, by His mercy, He has given them to me. Now, being a new mom, I find I put more value on my family than on my God, forgetting that He has placed these people in my life as a blessing to me. And, when things are not going my way, I find I lean into my husband and loved ones more than casting my worries to God and trusting in His good and perfect will. When it's all been said and done, all my earthly treasures will mean nothing. Only what I have done and how I love will stand the test of time.

Pray with me that we can all do our best to live for truth.

- ♥ - Sonya

The Farmer's Hands and Morning Kisses

 The Farmer's Hands

Every hand tells a story
about our life and character.
Hands provide inward glimpses
and reveal who we really are.

Our hands cannot be hidden
they display the effects of time.
They show hard work and dedication
Through every wrinkle and line.








There are hands that hold
and hands that share,
Hands that break bread
and hands that fold in prayer.

God left his seal upon our hands
so we may come to know our purpose.
Our fingerprints are God's signet
as unique as our gifts and talents.

The artist creates beauty
with the work of their hands.
The farmer's hands tell a story
of working the land.










Though fingers are calloused
and rough they appear.
Those scars and soiled nails
are evidence of what's held dear.

Etched in the lifelines
the dirt and grime of every day.
With time scars heal
and grime is washed away.










My own hands are not as soft
as they once were.

The skin on the sides of my index fingers
never comes quite clean.
No matter how short I keep my nails
dirt still finds a way underneath.

While they are less outwardly beautiful
I am joyful.
They declare more effectively than I ever could
that they are useful. 








"I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land." ~ Psalm 143:6

"Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are in My view continuously." ~Isaiah 49:16

Father, use my hands to bless others and glorify You. Strengthen my hands to be used for Your good work.

My husbands hands are calloused and rough. But that doesn't mean that his spirit is. He has a gentle and tender presence. And, he never lets a morning go by without making sure to give me a kiss - 'good morning' before he leaves for work. I recently read this little tidbit in a Faith Alive Christian resource, A Woman and Her World, from 1987.

"There is more to that morning peck than meets the eye. According to a recent survey by an insurance company, a husband who kisses his wife each morning before going off to work in the field, factory, or office, or wherever gains several advantages over the non-kisser. The study found that the husband who gives the morning kiss will probably live five years longer than the one who doesn`t. And what`s more, a kissing husband will have fewer auto accidents, will lose up to 50 percent less time from work as a result of illness, and will earn 20 to 30 percent more than the non-kissing husband."

 
- ♥ - Sonya

Garden Blessings

Each new spring and summer I marvel at the mystery and generosity of my edible garden. When I plant the seeds I say a quick prayer. I imagine them being blessed and bearing good fruit. In turning over the soil with compost I picture rich, fertile earth that will provide each plant with the nutrients it needs to grow. When I see the first seeds sprout I rejoice and thank God and reflect on His good creation. And, when I pick the first fruits of my labour, if I`m really present, I practice resurrection gratitude.

Gardening brings us closer to creation and helps us come to know His presence in our daily bread. It helps us see this world as not merely planet earth, but as creation: a divine mystery.

Upon this garden
May your stars rain down their blessed dust.
May you send rain and sunshine upon our garden and us.
Grant us the humility to touch the humus,
That we might become more human,
That we might mend our rift from your Creation,
That we might then know the sacredness of the gift of life—
That we might truly experience life from the hand of the Mother.
For you planted humanity in a garden,
and began our resurrection in a garden.
Our blessed memory and hope lie in a garden

Excerpt from Blessing of the Land from the Book of Common Prayer.

Blessing our gardens through our love and our loving care blesses us in so many ways. Gardens have a special place in the human story. After all God first planted humanity in a garden, the garden of Eden. And, the most redemptive act in history began in a garden - in Gethsemane. And the story ends in Revelation with the image of the garden taking over the City of God, with the river of life flowing through the city center and the tree of life piercing the urban concrete.

A beautiful garden is a work of heart. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Thanks be to GOD.

Springeth has sprugeth - corn sprouts are one of my favourite sights

Spinach is starting to reseed

Deep roots

Room 2 Grow

Finding shade among the potatoes

From garden to table

- ♥ - Sonya

Building our Youth from the Inside Out

What do you see
if you look inside the minds and thoughts
of today's youth and young adults?
What are the daily issues they face?
What drives their conduct?

We live in a world of elastic morality.
A culture of diminished responsibility
and inconsequential habits.
A culture that takes young people to
places that their parents and grandparents
would find unfamiliar
and uncomfortable.

Acceptance
approval, recognition,
hunger for sanction
are drivers for many young people.
No matter the gender, age, church affiliation

As acceptance works it's way into their lives
beliefs can take a hit.
They daily wake up to
Morals unlike their own.
And, silently wonder if it would be easier
to go against their Maker,
To decidedly drift from their family.
To secretly imitate the culture.
And, not have to feel alone in this world.

But, that doesn't feel like home.

How can we help them navigate
through their world with purpose and courage,
and still be open to diversity?
Living a life of robust faith.
Being confident and sure of consequential faith.
Resisting judgement,
holding to their own
and saying with confidence:
"What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)

We can't fully understand the currents of their world
by just watching from the shoreline
We have to engage them into the adventure
that God is calling them to.
And, lead them towards living a tangible faith.

 Many people know the Bible verse from Romans 12:2. 

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will." 

The version from The Message was used as the theme verse for All Ontario Youth Convention, and I have been contemplating this verse over the week.

"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." 

Agreeing or disagreeing with the ways of the world in which we live is not the point. Understanding it's diversity and mystery is how we can effectively draw young people to the love of God. Without judging, try to look at the world that young Christians are growing up in. Wade into the world of youth culture. Get a picture of the hearts and minds of today's young people and respond to them in concrete ways.

Check out our church youth group and their AOYC experience that I think leads to intentionally living out faith.

Highlights from AOYC 2012 - Victoria Day Weekend.

- ♥ - Sonya

The Old Blue Hymn Book

His coming was for this ending!

What if we believe we have everything we need?
Am I really getting the full experience of God's peace?
When the mirror tells me I'm older,
and the Bible has dust,
and the treadmill has dust,
and I think I have nothing to wear
and the dishes on the counter
and I am scrambling to figure out a good meal.
And, I think "No wonder God feels
like Elvis has left the building."
God is not above these moments.
He is offering peace and I am not paying attention.
Can we ever experience peace and happiness
if we receive worldly condemnation and get discouraged?
So many distractions of this world,
hinder my relationship with Him.

His compassions never fail, They are new every morning

 Lm 3:22

His Word is not just for Sunday morning
when I am cleaned up well and feeling orderly.
I'm reminded on this Ascension Day,
that God brings out the best in us,
unlike the culture around us.
He changes us from the inside out.
And, fitting in with the culture
is what we're supposed to do
without even thinking.
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Do you see a child of God?
I came across these words, ever true
long preserved, from the Old Blue Hymn Book
reminding me to be glad in all things.
Because His coming was for this ending!

 Alas! And did my Savior bleed
And did my sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?
Was it for crimes that I have done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity, grace unknown
And love beyond degree.
Thus might I hide my blushing face
While His dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness!
And melt mine eyes to tears!

(Alas! And Did my Savior Bleed, Isaac Watts, 1707)

For me, dear Jesus
was Thine incarnation.
Thy mortal sorrow
and Thy life's oblation.
Thy death of anguish
and Thy bitter passion
For my salvation
Therefore dear Jesus
Since I cannot pay Thee.
I do adore Thee
And will ever pray Thee.
Think on Thy pity and Thy love unswerving
Not my deserving.

(Ah Dearest Jesus, How Has Thou Offended, Johann Heermann, 1630)

Forty days after Jesus rose from the grave,
He left His disciples and ascended into Heaven.

He was taken from their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight ~ Acts 1:9

If not for His ascension,
Our walk with Him would not be necessary.
No material things really matter.
The songs of the old blue hymnal open my eyes.
Often He shows up that way.
You have everything you need.

For thou art our salvation, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward;
without thy grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.

(On Jordan's Bank the Baptists Cry, Charles Coffin, 1736)

You have everything you need 

- ♥ - Sonya

 

Riches from Heaven

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms, - Soon to be Moms, Hoping for Moms, Single Moms, and Unplanned Moms to be. Today we celebrate you! May you have a blessed day. 

May she who gave you birth be happy. ~ Proverbs 23:25

Happy Mother's Day Mom! xox Love You!

I give thanks to my God upon every remembrance of you. ~Philippians 1:3

This beautiful poem was written by and shared by a friend from Coffee Break (Women's Bible Study).

Riches from Heaven

God looked into His treasure chest
And found the perfect gems;
He gently touched them one by one
And marked them all with 'M's'.
Dear mothers, you're the special gifts
of beauty from His hand;
Your love keeps shining everywhere
Just as the Father planned.

Your countless deeds of kindness
Bring us smiles as they unfold;
You weave each one so magically
And spin them into gold.
The prayers you say on bended knee
Shed light along life's way;
Your guidance gives us confidence
And courage day by day.

A mother's hands are instruments
Of comfort, joy and peace;
God fashioned them with tenderness
And warmth in every crease.
Dear mothers, as you grow in faith
May children all around;
Go hand in hand with Jesus Christ
To stand on solid ground.

Marion McKenzie

- ♥ - Sonya