Picture of the Week...

I am going to start a new weekly posting entitled picture of the week. Here is my first picture of the week...

This picture makes me smile. I hope it will make you smile too!

Yours Truly,
The Kindred Spirit

Faith like a Child...

Tonight we had a campfire with some friends from church. A little celebration of the end of school I guess you could say. I had to work until 9 but I joined them afterwards. It was so good to be together. I love being together with other believers who are friends. I love it when there are so many kids around, it brings such life. I sat with 2 of the younger girls for a while and just listened to them talk about what is going on in their worlds.

Do you ever just sit and listen to a child talk? It is really fascinating. To see the world how they see it. To love like they love. To hug like they hug. To laugh like they laugh. To cry when they hurt. That is part of the reason I love working with children. You always know how they feel. They ask the simple questions. They trust. You can be stern when you need to and they will still love you. We can learn so much from kids. It makes me think about having a childlike faith. Coming to Jesus as a child. I know I make it too complex. I have this desire to understand everything when I know I can't. I need to have faith more like a child. I need to laugh more and hug more and trust more. Trust. I have issues with trust. I want to know everything, that makes it hard to just trust. Today my prayer is that I could just trust. That prayer could take a while! I wonder how trust happens? I trust a chair when I sit on it, that it will hold me up. I trust the car everytime I drive it. I trust my parents.....most of the time...lol! Why do I have trouble trusting God?

Today I listened to a sermon by a guy named Greg Boyd...one thing he said caught my attention. He said that some of us have the kind of me and my personal Jesus religion...it goes like this "I asked Jesus into my heart so he's always there. I take Him out when I need him. I take Him out when I want to get blessed. I take Him out when I need to get free from condemnation. I take him out when I need my finances to be helped. I put Him away when I'm sinning or when I'm just doing my ordinary kind of life, but he's always there like a genie in the bottle to be taken out and talked to when I need Him." This caught me off guard. Is this me? Do I have a me and my personal Jesus religion or faith? No! I don't want that! Perhaps that is what I think though. How deep is my faith really? I want it to be more. I desperately want it to be more. I have become more aware of my shallowness. It's great to be a christian when there are lots of christians around and when there is a worship band or when people are excited and there is hype and I get excited and hyped up. There is nothing wrong with that, don't get me wrong. But I see now that I am shallow. If my faith and relationship with Jesus is based solely off of those experiences I really have no depth at all. I don't know Jesus at all. I know that it feels good to worship and I know that it feels good to be around people who share the same vision and faith. I know that part of me feels safe there. Those things are great and many times I have felt the holy spirit at work in those situations but they are feelings and when things happen that I don't understand those feelings don't do anything for me, I need more.

So I have decided to embark on a new journey. One to know Jesus without the hype. Everyday, big and small, in the shallow end and the deep end. I am tired of having to start over every time something happens that shakes me up, my faith must be more. I don't want a personal Jesus religion, it's not good enough for me. I believe God wants more. Writing this out keeps me somewhat accountable. I need to start at the beginning. I need to re-evaluate and rebuild the foundation.

All throught my childhood and on into the teenage year when I come downstairs in the morning I find my mom doing devotions and praying. We always prayed together for important things happening at school. Whenever something scary happened that needed the Lord's help I always went to Mom because I knew her and God were close, her prayers worked. I always said that one day when I am a mom I want to pray for my kids just like my mom. At this point in my life I am realizing that one day if I am going to have the depth of my mother I need to follow in her footsteps and seek after God. I want to love God and know Him like my mom. So if you would just say a prayer for me as I walk into this new journey. Pray that it would change me and bring some depth to my shallow world.

Yours Truly,
Darcie

Josh's Graduation....Class of 2007!!!!

This past Friday was my brother Josh's grade 8 graduation. I can't believe that he has graduated elementary school and is already going into high school. He is my baby brother and he is growing up. My other brother greg is heading into grade 10 and will be getting his license this summer....hopefully! It is crazy when your little brothers start growing up. Change is usually good but can be scary too. This past week I have been thinking a lot about change. Sometimes when you take the risk and step out into the unknown I suppose you discover many blessings. If my parents would have not moved to this unknown place called Wainfleet, we would have missed out on so many blessings. The blessings of being part of a wonderful church, growing up in a beautiful community and getting to have so many wonderful relationships. I don't know what the future will hold but I pray that I will be able to trust Jesus with any change he places in my path.
I also have been thinking a lot about death lately. Since the events of the past couple of weeks I have been a bit fearful. I am glad that I have the hope of heaven someday but I hope that I will be able to live long on earth. There are so many things I want to experience: getting married, having kids, raising them, travelling and meeting new people. I pray that I will get to experience these things. Tragedy can often really shake a person, even a bystander. I hope that the Lord will continue to work all these things out in my heart and mind.
Today was a good day. Church was this morning and I enjoyed a wonderful nap this afternoon. Mom and I tried this new make-up for your eyes this morning. I have very sensitive eyes and now they are swollen. I guess I won't be using that stuff anymore, mom really likes it though! This evening my dearest friend Diana and I went to Starbucks in St. Kitts....I enjoyed a green tea frap.....oh i love them so much! After that I went for a swim, it was a perfect evening for a swim. My family had Swiss Chalet take-out and now are enjoying watching Shrek 2...I love Sunday nights. It is so great to enjoy nights like this together as a family, I love them more and more everyday. Anyways I hope that you enjoyed your Sunday wherever you are.

Blessings,
The Kindred Spirit

My Favourite Things....

I always like it when Oprah does her favourite things show. I also always wish that I could be in the audience when she does those shows. I could go home with some of Oprah's favourite things. What are your favourite things? Here is a list of ten of my favourite things (that I can remember at this very moment)....

#1 - Lying on my bed on a warm's summer day with my windows open, the blinds halfway down and my ceiling fan and my
other fan blowing and feeling the breeze and the sun all at the same time.

#2 - Having someone play with my hair or tickle my back.

#3 - Green grapes, strawberries and chocolate chips all in the same bowl....yummmy!

#4 - A night with the girls to watch either Pride and Prejudice or Anne of Green Gables.

#5 - A Senators game with the whole family watching in the living room.

#6 - Lunches out with mom.

#7 - Earl Grey Vanilla tea with milk.

#8 - Dinner out with my family at Swiss Chalet.

#9 - I love getting notes.....especially from mom.

#10 - Hottubing with my little brother Josh.

ok and one more....I love summers at Chesley Lake Camp! It's nice to think about your favourite things....try it!

Yours Truly,
The Kindred Spirit

Thanks God for a Great Dad....

Today is a new day. The sun is shining and it is beautiful. Thank you Lord for a new day with new opportunities and new ways to be thankful. Today I am especially thankful for my Dad. He is a wonderful Dad. He spends lots of time with us kids. He always has time to make me laugh. He is great to talk with. I love how he is so wise and smart, I always like to ask him questions about life. One time Greg and I were wrestling Dad and we were determined to get him down on the ground. It was a hard fight but took him out....sweet victory....I am glad he wasn't hurt....lol! I love going to the car races with him at Chesley Lake. I like it when we play tennis and talk macs, and when he tries to explain how a car works to me. I also like it when he grabs my chin and say giblit gravy. I couldn't ask for a better Dad and someday I hope my future husband is like him. Happy Father's Day Dad, I am so proud to be your little girl.

Yours Truly,
Darcie

Cry Out To Jesus....

Today the words of this song are on my heart. I will share them with you....

Cry Out To Jesus - Third Day

To everyone who's lost someone they love
long before it was their time.
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye.

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
keepin' you back from your life.
You believe that there's nothing
and there is no one who can make it right.

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are.

Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love.
and they've done all they can to make it right again
still it's not enough.

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
you try to give up but you come back again.
Just remember that you're not alone
in your shame and your suffering.

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are.

Cry out to Jesus.

When you're lonely and it feels like the whole world is falling on you
you just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus

Cry to Jesus.

To the widow who suffers from being alone,
wipin' the tears from her eyes.
For the children around the world without a home,
say a prayer tonight.

There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
that meets you wherever you are.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary,
and love for the broken hearts.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing
that meets you wherever you are.

Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.

Cry out to Jesus. Cry out to Jesus.



I am glad that today is a new day and in it I can find hope and joy in Jesus.

Yours Truly,
Darcie

Help God, Please Help....

Yesterday was a horrible day. Right beside our house a young woman from our community was killed. She is the mom of 2 boys. In our community everyone pretty much knows everyone. Some of the family goes to our church. It was aweful and I am glad that yesterday is over. The mom was riding her bike with one of her little boys in the back buggy and she was hit. The little boy is alright, I am thankful for that. It is hard to know what to do in this situation, you just want to help but you don't know how. So I will pray for them, because that is all I can do right now. I find it easy to ask God why this had to happen but that doesn't help. I found myself praying all day yesterday help God, please help. This world sometimes really sucks. Something like this makes you think about your life. How are your relationships with your family, with your friends, who do you live for in this world? Did you tell that person that you love them today? A day like yesterday makes me want to take my family, lock them in the house and say you can never leave because it is safer here and I need to know you are ok because I need you. Pray for the family, pray that somehow God would comfort them. Pray that in your own life you would cherish each moment and the people in it.

Heavy hearted today,
The Kindred Spirit

It was a sad loss last night....

It was a tough loss last night for the Sens. I am quite disappointed. I really felt bad for Chris Phillips, I hope he doesn't get down on that goal, he has been so strong this year. Mike Fisher played his heart out, he is a force to be reckoned with and he alone deserved that cup. I guess that is it for the hockey season, sad really. It has been great though, I will look forward to next season. Now it is summer time, time to enjoy the outdoors! I went for a drive 2 nights ago, out by the lake. I love it by the water. I really connect with God when I am by water. I look out and think that it is so big and beautiful and my God created it. You can just stand and listen to the sounds and breathe in the air. I was there right as the sun was setting, an experience everyone should have more than once. I hope that this summer will hold many beach days.

I was at Costco shopping this morning for the church picnic, which is this Sunday. I am excited but very nervous because it is my first year running the whole thing. There will be lots for the whole family: face painting, beading, nail pound, candy guess, log saw, a jousting pit, cotton candy, hair braiding, a basketball shoot, a graffitti wall and so much more. I hope people enjoy the time of fellowship. Friday night is Ignite, a night for young adults with worship and a speaker and food. I am looking forward to it. Oh the fun never stops....wink wink!

We had our last Refuge this past Sunday night. It was fun. We started off with a water balloon toss and the kids soaked me. I was wet for the entire night. It probably would have been a good idea to do the water balloon toss at the end except we thought it was going to rain so we wanted to get the game in before it rained. Good thing because it poured afterward. However, I was still drenched all night.....it is wonderful to work with youth! Here are a few pics from the night....




What a pleasure for me it has been to get to know and love these fantastic youth....I hope the Lord continues to bless and grow them!

Anyways I hope that you are enjoying this beautiful day. I thought it looked cold so I put on jeans and a sweater....turns out I need capris and a t-shirt!
Be Blessed, Darc

A little taste of Heaven....

On Saturday night I went to the Hillsong United concert in Toronto. It was simply amazing. I think it must be the closest taste of heaven I have ever experienced. 12000 people worshipping God. His holy spirit was present and working in the lives and hearts of people. 100 people accepted Christ. For some of the songs I just stood there with tears in my eyes because I was so overwhelmed by the very presence of the God that I serve. The energy in that place was incredible. We jumped, we shouted, we laughed and cried, we sang our hearts out until we had no voice left to sing. Nothing more than a desire for God to fill us up with more of himself until we overflow....I want that, I want that more than I ever have before. I was struck with a thought about my brother Ben while I was there. For those of you who don't know, my older brother Ben died 3 years ago. He was severly handicapped all of his life and a pure joy. I miss him. It helps to know that his body is no longer broken and he doesn't want to come home because he is with Jesus. Sometime I will blog more about him. However, back to my thought about Ben. I was thinking about how what I was experiencing must not compare to heaven and how Ben must love it there. He must jump and sing and see everything (Ben was blind while here on earth) and love being in the presence of God. It helps to know he is better off where he is, helps the hurt ya know?
Here are a few pics from the concert.....or worship night....perhaps both.....




Starfield was also there, they were good. Our youth got there a little late so we didn't get very good seats for Starfield but a few of us managed to sneak past security into the sweet seats at the front section for the Hillsong concert, so I enjoyed wonderful seats for Hillsong! It pays to be creative....lol! The Sens won on Saturday night as well....I didn't see the game but Mike scored....yah!
My dearest friend BJ is coming to visit me this week. She will be here for a few days. She is going home to Georgia soon and I will miss her very much. We lived together for a year because we were on the same ministry team, it is always wonderful to be in her presence.
Tonight was the last Refuge at Sherkston. It was great to be together. I have enjoyed getting to know and build relationships with those kids. I hope I will be able to stay in touch with many of them. Anyways it is another busy week. I better head to bed.
I will leave you with a thought from one of my favourite movies 'Anne of Green Gables'...."Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it yet".
Yours Truly,
The Kindred Spirit