​John 16:33 – these things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Peace – that seems like one of the world’s most priceless commodities as it is so rare to find. If we don’t guard it zealously, our peace can be easily stolen as none of us are immune from stress.
I face it in a very busy classroom, doctors face it with hard diagnoses to deliver, cashiers face it with angry people and their opinions, farmers have to worry about the weather … and the list goes on. These are all issues that we face daily and weigh us down. How wonderful to have these words of Jesus. It gives us the answer on where to go for the peace we all want.
In full disclosure of honesty, I have to admit this verse is bitter-sweet to me. He’s spoken words that will give us peace (sweet) then tells us we will have serious trouble (bitter)! I don’t really know of anyone who throws out their arms and joyfully yells, “bring it on” when confronted with tough times – at least I sure don’t. However, He doesn’t leave us on such a sour note – but ends with wonderful news to cheer us – HE has overcome the world. We have a place to go for our comfort and peace that lifts us above the situation we are in.
I shouldn’t tell you this (I can hear the outraged cries of fellow readers already) but I’m the type who will sometimes take a peek at the end of a book to make sure it turns out ok. Then I can relax and enjoy the book. So as we look at the chaos around us and worry about what is going on – relax! I’ve read the back of the book (Bible) and we win!! :0)
As a mundane fact to help in a practical way – find a thing, hobby, what-have-you – and make time (even if it’s just a few moments daily, or a set time once a week) and do it. I came home Friday very stressed, and sat down at my keyboard and harp. The difference I felt after half an hour made me realize I hadn’t taken time to go for a bike ride or play music all week, and that was partly why I felt so stressed. We need to take time for ourselves to be able to function well for others! God has made us uniquely and wonderfully and if we don’t take some time for ourselves, then we aren’t respecting one part of His Creation. It’s easy to feel we have to be everything for everyone –except us. (But that doesn’t mean turn yourself into a self-preoccupied couch potato, either!) Balance.
Okay, I’m finished “preaching” – have a wonderful week, and may that peace follow you into whatever situation you face. 

​Ps 92:1-2 – It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindnesses in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.
How have you survived your week? Was it wonderful, dreadful, just normal – or was it a combination of many feelings? Our first full week of school is now a thing of the past. I have to admit to many various feelings as we tried to establish a routine again and get students working after a summer away. How nice to open the computer and see this verse. No matter what happens, it’s a good thing to give thanks.
 If you’re feeling discouraged, the best thing you can do is start thinking, “I’m not happy; what is one good thing that I can think about?” It helps to focus on the positive and not the negative.
If you’re feeling happy, then you can say, “Thanks, God for the great day.”
 I haven’t necessarily done everything right or the best way this week, but His lovingkindnesses are still there each morning for me, and He faithfully brings me to the evening each night. That is definitely something to give profound thanks for!
 A few things I’ve given thanks for this weekend is a leisurely bike ride through the lovely fallish trails around here, and an offer of a hot tub soak to help with some of my painful spots.
My goal for next week? To have a positive remark about something each day.

​Ps 119:28 – My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
   When I asked for verses last December and was typing them into the random weeks, as I typed this verse, I thought, “Oh my! How am I going to have anything to say about this verse?” But I put it in – and  eight months later – here it is right on the week I needed it! God is good.
I’ve just had an incredibly intense week; we hosted a teacher fellowship on Monday at our school with about 44 people in attendance. A very good, but extremely busy day for me, after which I readjusted my classroom to be ready for school the next day.
   15 students – 10 boys, 5 girls – ranging from grade 5 to grade 12 are in my class and I wasn’t able to keep up with all the needs. That puts a lot of stress on me and when you have some that want to see what they can get away with – whew! By Friday my soul definitely was melting from heaviness. I get cross and grumpy when I can’t get everything done, and I hate it when I get like that. The burden seemed too heavy.
   Which is why, as I looked at this verse, the second part is so vital. I most definitely need God to strengthen me. So I had a chat with God over the weekend and asked Him to help me when I get over-busy this coming week to have this verse pop into my head. I need peace and strength from Him to know how to prioritize and get the most done for the students without going grumpy on them!
   Since it was Labour Day weekend, I had the opportunity to go to Saskatchewan to visit some friends and speak at their church. Although that also created some busy-ness (hence the Monday post instead of Sunday) it was something that I enjoy doing – meeting new people and sharing what God has done for me. The five hour drive gave a time of quietness and watching the changing sunset to help me be ready to face what this next week will bring.
   How are some ways you deal with heaviness of the soul? Do you have your favourite ways to renew, refresh and regain your strength from God? Feel free to share with me what does that for you!

​​Is 41:10 – Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
It’s a blessing to have these verses of comfort and assurance. We all have moments of fear – some of us more than others. I struggle with that in so many areas; if I can’t see the end result before I start, I get dismayed about what could happen. This is a verse that needles me; can I really trust God to help me, to get me through whatever crisis I may have or imagine I could have? It’s a comfort to have this verse, but also an intense challenge to obey it – fear not; be not dismayed – can I do that?
My imagination can easily come up with worse case scenarios and be dismayed at what ‘could’ happen. Satan will always want to pull us down and magnify the negative. So my challenge to myself is instead to take a good look at the positive in things – we could learn a lesson sometimes from pets. The dog that stays loyal no matter what, the cat that oozes contentment in a box. They aren’t concerned about the future; they live in the here and now. I look at rising food prices – but I have received many blessings of fresh food from the Hutterite colony gardens. I hear about the fires in Canada – but I see the beauty in the planted fields around me.
I need to focus on the joys to be found in life and not cross any bridges until I get to them. When they arrive, then God’s strength is promised to be there for me whatever the end result. Let’s try for the next seven days to find seven specific things that are uplifting to you. Feel free to email or message me about anything that has made a joyful or peaceful moment for you!

It looks like the town is on fire, doesn't it? But it's not!

​ Neh. 6: 3(b) – And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
How interesting to get this verse on this week. I’ve been on the road for a month, and just returned from a week at a camp. While camp can be fun, it can be a challenge – did anything I say mean anything to anyone? Was it worth driving all that way?
Yet, it’s not my job to ‘save’ these kids. My job is to do the work God lays on my heart. Once I’ve done that, I have no need for regret – as I leave, others come to take my place, and together hopefully we will have planted a seed that may take years to root, and someone else will water it for us. The important thing to remember is to continue to do the work whenever and wherever we have been assigned.
On the other hand – maybe this verse is an encouragement to keep on writing books. I’m just in the process of getting my 4th manuscript edited, and I’m at the stage of “how can anyone want to read this?” But I went into the Portage Regional library right after I returned and decided to try to find my books. My three books were on the shelf under Literature. To my amazement, I saw I had written books that were sitting right beside Jack London’s ‘The Call of the Wild, and ‘Gone With the Wind’ ; ooh did that do my heart good. “I’m in esteemed company,” I thought to myself, “so maybe the work that I do is good and I shouldn’t stop!” It’s great how God can speak to a person in so many different ways! (of course alphabetical order – eg Kauffman, London – may have something to do with it! :0)