What Is Your Weakness.....

Happy long weekend! :)
Today is a bit of a lazy day, but that's not always such a bad thing :) So, today's post isn't too crazy, just something that I wrote for my bible study. This week we were talking about what we're passionate about, and this is what I decided to write...I hope you like it :)

What are your weaknesses? This is the question that kept rolling around in my mind as I tried to think about what in the world I was going to say tonight. One of mine is the fact that I really hate speaking in front of people, ironically enough. But I do want you to think about that question…what are your weaknesses? What things in your life pull you down? Tempt you? Cause you to doubt? Break you? We all have stuff like that, we all have things that we wish we could overcome, we wish would just go away.
That doesn’t sound like the best way to begin sharing about what I am passionate about, but I promise there is a point. You see, I am passionate about disability ministry; but more importantly, my heart is full to overflowing with the possibility of what could happen when the church begins to more fully embrace the disability community, as they teach us how to live more fully in our weakness.
A pastor friend that I met at camp last summer explained it best for me. He used the analogy of a clay jar with cracks and crevices all over it. The jar is us, and the cracks and crevices are our weaknesses, the scars that we’ve suffered over the years, the things that we struggle with, the challenges that we face. The beautiful thing is that, when you place a candle inside this clay jar, it’s light shines through every single crack and crevice, and out into the world. The more we are broken, the more His light shines through us. My friend went on to talk about individuals with disabilities, the overabundance of suffering that they have experienced but because of that, how brightly God’s light shines through them. I don’t know if you have ever had the privilege of worshiping together with an individual with a disability, but it is incredibly moving and inspiring. There is a connection with God that can be seen on their faces, that I don’t know if I will ever experience this side of heaven. And I think I’m drawn to it.
Last year at camp, the theme was “we are strong” and it is so fitting. When we are weak, then we are strong, but we are strong in Him. When we try to do things on our own strength, we really do stumble. All of those weaknesses that you are faced with in your life, His glory can shine through them, as you proclaim that He is the one that is Your strength, and He is never going to tire, or stumble, or fall…never!
That’s why I get so excited about things like Camp and Able Church. It’s a chance for individuals with disabilities to be able to use the gifts and talents that God has given them, to have a place for fellowship and building of relationships; but it’s also an amazing opportunity for us to learn, how in our weakness we can be strong, strong in Him.
So, that’s basically it I think. I truly believe that this is a passion that God placed in my heart, and, like everything else He’s done and will do, it was for a purpose. Not only for things like Able Church and the disability community, but for even more personal reasons, reminding me daily how weak I am, but also how much I need Him in that, and how much He loves me and how much He wants me to come to Him, and rely on Him, have a relationship with Him, and let His light shine through all of my cracks and crevices.

Lots of Love and Blessings :) <3

Tulips and Able Church...

Hola :)
The sun is streaming through the windows today, a nice change from the rain that has been coming down hard the past few days :) It is my day off, and I am home just enjoying the quiet BUT I had some wonderfully exciting news to share :) I've talked before about the Able Church that I visited in Wisconsin last summer, and how I felt God asking me to start a similar ministry here at home. So...we are officially starting in September!!! And, this morning, I woke up to find not one, not two, but three e-mails from individuals who had seen the little blurb that was put in our church newsletter and wanted to know more :) It makes me so excited to hear from others that share the same passion that I do, and want to be involved :)
In keeping with the exciting aspects of today, I would like to move to another topic...tulips (ok, a bit of a stretch I know, but work with me for a sec). I love tulips. We have a lot of them in our neighbourhood, and just by going for a walk you experience so many amazing vibrant colors. They always seem to make me smile :) I noticed something this morning that I hadn't before. If you look at the stem of a tulip, it's very long and thin...and unstable. The reason that it stays straight is it's foundation; the soil packed firmly around it, and it's roots. It becomes evident how important this foundation is to the flower, once you pluck it from the ground. We have a couple in a vase in the kitchen, and simply placed in water, they bend over, unable to stand on their own. This can be a mirror of my life more often than I care to mention, and I found it to be true as I was trying to get Able Church up and running. In short, I was trying to do it on my own, trying to stand tall without His strength, bending under the pressure, and wilting because of the stresses and feelings of failure. I was ignoring my roots, my foundation, in an effort to get the job done...and it wasn't working. You see, ulimately, it's not my Able Church, it's His; it's not my life, it's His. I also realised how much I need to trust His timing as well, because I can get pretty impatient :P But even when I feel like things are moving at way too slow of a pace, He has a plan. That's what happened with a wonderful detour called Friendship Club :) It is more or less what I hope Able Church will be, and it really prepared me in ways that I never expected or thought I needed.
So, that brings me back to this morning, and getting so excited about reading those e-mails. I was really excited in part because of the support and interest from others. But the other part came from knowing that it's where I'm supposed to be, and it's in His time...isn't it awesome what God can teach you through a simple tulip? ;)
Lots of Love and Blessings :) <3

Happy Mother's Day....

Hello all :)
Happy Mother's Day! I hope you are all having a splendid day, and that you've been able to take some time to be with family. It is an absolutely gorgeous day here and we have been taking full advantage of it :) So, in honour of mother's day, I thought I would dedicate this post to that wonderful lady in my life as well :)
It's amazing how much we take people for granted some times. In the simple, day to day things that are done for us every so quietly, all of the prayers that are said, all of the love that is given; and yet we so often discount it or pass it by. I am guilty of it way to often, even with the amazing woman that I am so blessed to call my mother.
She really is, you know :) For starters, is the fact that my mother...is a blogger. And not a wimpy blogger like me, this once every 2 months deal, oh no; she is a get up, get dressed, read her bible, grab some coffee and blog kinda person...every day...no exceptions! ;) I say it jokingly, but in all honesty, it's something that I really admire. The persistance and commitment, it's something that I could use more of in many area :P However, while her blogging schedule is definitely to be admired, it is when you begin to read her daily entries that you begin to understand my mum's heart. She has always had an amazingly beautiful and God-given gift with words. She can paint a picture in your head so vividly, it's like you're actually there, with pictures to compliment that would rival any photographer :) But, for me, what shines through the most in everything that she writes, is her faith. Whether it's her monday morning blog, a poem or letter for a friend, or another amazing children's book, she writes of her Saviours love, and all that He's done in her life. She writes of the joys and the sorrows and through it all, how He's been her rock.
I think I take that for granted too, having both a mum and dad who love the Lord. Knowing that through everything I have at least two people praying for me and even with me if I need. It also challenges me to see my mum's faith in God remain, even through the hard time. Trust me, there have been some hard times, and no one is perfect, but her centre has never shaken...her centre in Him.
So, here's to the most amazing mother in the world :) An amazing woman of God, with a heart as big as her blog(maybe even bigger) :) and who I know, loves me unconditionally <3
Love you tons! <3