Yay God!

I love when God works things out because he always comes through but it is never how I expect. Yesterday did not go as planned. After an amazing week with family I boarded my plane at 12:20 we were not airborne till 4:30ish due to fog and the de-icing process. I feared missing my Toronto to Halifax connection but that turned out to be an issue because my next flight turned out to be on the same. I arrived in Halifax three and a half hours later then expected minus my luggage. And some what overwhelmed and underawake (to the grammar lovers I am sorry but I like making up new words it means lacking sleep)

My joys of air travel were both my seatmates were delightful. The first was a little boy who was six years old whose family was on the way to South Africa. The second was a fourth year English Lit major returning from Christmas break. She was completely delightful to talk with. We shared a few favorite authors and exchanged a few. We discussed some of the "religious" movies that have come out in the last years. The other joy was that every seat had personal touch television with an amazing selection of movies. One of which as the South African film Beat The Drum. It was really good. I’m sure I talk more about it some other time. It was good to hear Zulu again even if the only words I understood were grandmother and yes.

Last night after calling my parents and talking with good friends I set out to finishing my message for this morning. And by finish I mean start…I had thoughts but nothing had come together during the past two weeks. I had nothing and then like a well cooked chicken that just falls off the bone it just came laid out before me. The whole thing written in under ten minutes (Jo I didn’t even get my cry but I was to overjoyed to notice). And this morning God moved in the service. It was beautiful. I am thankful to be apart of what he is doing. God always comes through it is never when or how I expect.

I love my mummy. I admire her ongoing strength. She is wonderful.

Merry This Day

On this fine eve of Christmas Eve life is grand. I feel content and full. Today I cleaned my place. One of those days when cleaning was invigorating and freeing. Did laundry, repotted three plants, decorated for Christmas, put up my tree, knocked over two of the three recently potted plants. Had only a carpet sweeper to deal with the mess. The majority of the mess is still a mess. Maybe something will sprout in the middle of my living room over the next week. Will maybe post tree pictures tomorrow, if they make it from the camera to the computer. There is a good chance this won't happen. Shopped. Ate. Waited. Saw The Holiday with some friends. It was classic chick flick and just what my heart desired. I was filled with the gamut girlie emotions, oohed and ahhed in all the right places, and sighed with contentment at the conclusion. Jo, I think our idea will work. After the movie the girls came over. Silly times. Quote of the night: "You’re too normal to be a youth pastor" –Gina. Not really sure what that means or if it is a good thing. But I am leaning towards it being a good thing.

By this time tomorrow I will be home with family, in a house I've never seen, but home I will be.

Green

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;

It is the green-eyed monster which doth
mock…

-Shakespeare
Iago in Othello

And the monster lives in me. Most times it lays dormant or is happy to simply compare others, not that that is an endorsement of the behavior. But pet sins often go unnoticed, unchecked, and unchallenged. There are times it wakes. Hungry it feeds on something innocent and grows with anger and bitterness. Reveling a truly shallow selfish me.

Completely understandable -human even. At the same time it disgusts me.

Chicken Soup and Settlers

It’s flu and cold season again. I've been semi-confined to my place this yesterday and today, nothing serious just ick and dizzy. Under the self-imposed quarantine I had hoped to have great success in finishing a few projects around the apartment. One of the more major ones…unpacking. It’s been four months and there are still boxes I haven’t even opened. It was a less then productive weekend, unless you count watching many episodes of Stargate Atlantis. Highlight of the whole experience living on Canada Dry.

I was still healthy Friday night and enjoyed a delightful evening out. A family from the church invited me for supper and a games night. They have five kids...it was a lot of fun. Monday I had bought the card game Pit they let me try it out. I was also introduced to xbox's more innocent side with a bible game, something super monkeys (?), and a sherk game. While playing the youngest, who is about four slowing inched over till she was almost in my lap put her head on my arm looked up at me and said, "I like you Pastor Liz" Still sounds odd to hear pastor before Liz, but from her it was pretty cute. After the children were all in bed we played Settlers of Catan. Yeah for sickness waiting a day.

Would You Rather....

Would you rather:

Have me blog regularly but majority of the content fluff or poop for lack of creativity/writer's block

OR

Have me blog when there is a topic/thought that inspires, meaning much more sporatically?

Erwin

Cars are not the freedom I dreamed they were in high school.

I Love My Church!

I just love it. I LOVE MY CHURCH. Things are going so well. I am content and joyful and excited. Things are great. It’s not perfect, people are involved and that is the best and worst thing about it. The job itself still overwhelmed me and humbles me. Most days I ask God what he's gotten me into. I'd be sinking if it wasn't a God thing. With all that i am excited for some of the things happening.

Last Sunday we took ten teens to Halifax to help with Sunday Suppers which has been feeding homeless and needy people for the past 20 years.

Next Sunday the children will be putting on their first ever Christmas presentation.

In the new year we are starting a brand new ministry for preschool children called Hope Farm. When I first shared the idea I expected the whole plan to be rejected. It wasn't. I expected it to be put on hold for a year or two. It wasn't. I thought my creative decoration ideas would be thrown out the window. They weren't. In fact the men in my church have already built a barn frame for the future preschool classroom. I have a barn. They are buying new paint and tiles over the next few weeks. When everything is finished I’ll post pictures.

I heart my church!