Fountains

This is one of the fountains at Leisure World, in Mesa, Arizona.

I have always had a fascination with fountains. Whether it is the white noise – which gives me peace or the visual effects of the droplets continually raining – which give me assurance of continuity of life, fountains bring comfort to my soul.

This time while watching and listening to the water spray in all directions, I thought about the image of fountains in the Bible. Could I learn more from God about fountains?

Deuteronomy 8:7

“For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills;” (Amplified Bible)

What wonderful images. Now I see fountains in more depth. Especially here in the desert where water is precious – God has supplied artesian wells that bring life to the desert. When I see the waste that goes on here it rankles my spirit. The fountains at Leisure World are run on recycled water; so, too, is any irrigation. But, to know that God planned for water – even in a desert – is to me a marvelous thing.

John 4: 13-14

“Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”" (The Message)

Jesus talked about “living water” so the fountain is an analogy for how God gives us new life as well as the promise of eternal life with Him.

Let us remember that Jesus gave us that fountain within to spread His message so all will know that He is the Saviour of the world.

Christian Writer’s of Canada Expo ‘09

On Friday November 20th, show your support for Christian writers and publishing. Meet over 30 Christian writers, publishers and editors for an exhibition of Canadian talent between 7pm and 9pm.

For more information check Christian Writer’s Expo 09.

My Own Vineyard

Our front garden was a disaster! What had been carefully planted five years ago had become overgrown and was not a pretty sight. There were even three dying bushes and the deer had made havoc of the hostas and lilies. Something had to be done

With gusto and a newfound passion and energy, my husband and I tackled the job. We weeded, pruned, hoed and raked until we had the garden back under control.

It reminded me, as I hoed, that our lives could be like this garden. When we first find Christ – we are new Christians and the light in us shines brightly. Sometimes, though we stop tending to our spiritual needs – LIFE happens and stuff gets in our way. We neglect to study, to pray, to praise and thank God.

Our lives get complicated and like our garden, overgrown and weedy. Our light can no longer shine as brightly.

Pruning is necessary and God is our gardener. Our scripture today says:

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.”

In order to be a strong and sturdy Christian we need that pruning.

Let us help God by clearing away the rumble in our lives and focus on the one who planted us.

A Prayer for Today

Lord, we all have weeds around us, and branches that need your pruning. Help us to discern how to make our lives fruitful for you. Give us wisdom to know where and what needs to be done. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”  John 15: 1,2

“my own vineyard I have neglected.” Song of Songs 1: 6

We are on line – high speed

It is wonderful to be on line again – at high speed. I bought a new computer and tried the Bell Stick – we get 1 bar but it is enough to work quite well.

So now I can see the water and type.

A new learning curve again though. I bought a MAC – so I have to learn all over again. So far it has been excellent. I like Safari which is the Internet Browser. It is quick and reliable.

Conference

The Write! Canada Conference in Guelph was fabulous. Workshops and classes were top notch and it was exciting to see everyone again. Lots of new faces and new friends.

Slow – Dial up

We have been at the cottage since mid May. There is no service for high speed. This has been hard for both my husband and me. Patience has been necessary in order to do anything online.

I even tried the Rogers Stick. After buying the device, making 8 phone calls and arguing whether I should have to pay another $100.00 deposit (I didn’t), I found out that there was NO SERVICE.  So another trip to Orillia to give back the Stick and get my money.

This Monday we are trying a new service called Xittel. They have a tower 1 kilometre from the cottage. We will see what happens with this one.

In the meantime, I am at my daughter’s house in Peterborough – wireless, high speed. Hurrah.

Next week – is the BIG ONE – Write! Canada – a three day conference for all writers, editors or wantabes who are Christian. I am so excited. Hopefully, when I return, I will have high speed and be able to connect via blogs, Facebook, and emails with less pain.

I recently read a wonderful book called Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove. What a read! It has everything – suspense, great characters, and heart warming moments. The characters are real and that’s what I like. It is believable.

Inspiration

I needed to be inspired. I felt lost, as dull and dreary as the weather has been.

This morning I picked up a book that I had started to read – The Bible Jesus Knew by Philip Yancey.

We hear people say, “I like the New Testament but I don’t like the Old Testament”. I used to feel that way. However, I took a course given at our church called Crossways. It teaches all the books of the Bible – yes even the Old Testament. It opened my eyes to see something of what God’s people had learned and it showed me that indeed there was an importance to the Old Testament. There was a plan, a plan fulfilled. Much of the OT points us to Jesus.

Now, in reading Philip Yancey’s book I see a more important part – the fact that Jesus heard this as a child, then read and studied it. Yancey says, “The more we comprehend the Old Testament, the more we comprehend Jesus.”

I love this. In my studying this year I am using a one year Bible. I find it fascinating as I read daily from the Old Testament including Psalms and Proverbs, and a passage from the new Testament as well.

This fact has inspired me this morning. As I read the Old Testament I am learning more about Jesus. That is wonderful and powerful.

The song Shine Jesus Shine inspired me years ago and still does. Here it is sung by Graham Kendrick.

Shine Jesus Shine

Our Town on Television

There was excitement in town yesterday as Huntley Street broadcast a segment about our little village of Haliburton. In February, Magdalene McCalla-John, from Crossroads brought a video crew to town to talk to the 4Cs – Christian Community Concern Centre – about how this group looks after the needy in our community.

My husband, is the chair of the Board of Directors, and I think he did an amazing job (of course I am biased!) of explaining how this group operates.

If you would like to see the segment click on the Huntley Street link. View Huntley Street.

Renewal

For the past two weeks I have been painting and refurbishing a home for my daughter and her fiance. Although it was physically demanding it gave me time to just “be”.

In the usual flurry of normal daily activities I don’t always have that solitary time. Even when I read my Bible, journal and pray, it is only an hour or so at a time. These past two weeks have been full of just being me. There was some interaction with others but most of the time was working alone, scrubbing, sanding or painting.

It was a glorious refreshing change. I feel renewed.

I read in the Bible this morning that Jesus would go away on His own to pray. He left the busyness of life and found fellowship with the Father. I think that is what this week was like. Being away – from phones, from mail, from activities.

Luke 5: 16 “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Connections

After Christmas I had read somewhere about praying for the people who had sent me Christmas cards. Armed with the stack of cards, each morning I have read over the card, remembered the sender(s) and prayed for them. I then have recorded their names in the back of my journal. It has been a wonderful experience.

I don’t know about you but when Christmas cards arrive here it is  in the flurry of Christmas preparations. I open them and read them and then place them in front of my husband’s dining chair. That way I know that he will see them. But, it is a quick look and if there are notes, we try to find time to read them. Sometimes there are little newsy notes; sometimes long tomes.

This time each card gets a special read – a quiet time to really think about the person who sent it. I have liked the experience so much that I am contemplating about going through the cards a second time.

How do you keep a connection with your friends and family? Do you have a way of remembering them to God?

Psalm 54:2
Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.

Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Conferences

Now is the time to check out conferences that are available this spring.

Check out Women Alive. There are many conferences across Canada.

For writers and editors who are Christian, there is Write! Canada in Guelph, Ontario, run by The Word Guild.

In western Canada there is a conference called Inscribe’s Fall Conference.

If you know of more – please contact me and I will be pleased to link them here.