His Eye is on the Sparrow

Reflecting still on Mother's Day even though this blog is a bit late, my quiet time just doesn't go away these days so I thought if I blogged it you would understand why.
Being a mother of teenagers, with additional job of unpaid taxi, cooking, handing out money here and there and the morning battles to be in the car on time so that I can deliver these precious parcels to school and I can hopefully arrive at work on time. Jesus knew what he was doing when I was given the opportunity of this new job, it is somewhat flexi-time so I can make up the minutes I arrive after 8:30 to the end of the day and no one is checking their watch when I walk in.
This mother's day had it's own challenges, my eldest daugher still in the Middle East and her life in the hands of God everyday, my middle teenager working and choosing not to spend anytime with me, and seeing a picture of myself in my daugher's garbage can on the morning of mother's day. Not a good way to start the day but I constantly had my conversation with God throughout all the moments of the day. Although there were moments I found it hard to keep it together, at any moment I thought if someone said the wrong thing (not even knowing what that wrong thing was) Niagara Falls would burst in banks at the very moment.
Well I have my days when I struggle with the fact "does anyone notice all the stuff I am doing, will it get any easier, will my children understand the reasons a mother has to do the things she does?". It brought me to read of a book called "The invisible woman, when only God sees" a gift from my beautiful friend and sister in ministry Louise. During the course of the book it reflects on the great cathedrals, the author once received a book on cathedrals with the inscription from her family "with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when only God sees". Many of these cathedrals were built by masonry, carpentry and stained glass trades people whose names history will never reveal. Many will have died on the job, devoting their lives and service to something they would not see finished. One story shared a man watching a carpenter carve a tiny bird into the inside beam that would be eventually covered over by the stone roof - the man asked by the worker was spending so much time on something no one would ever see and without a blink of an eye the worker told him "because God sees".
This book moved me to tears and an acceptance of my position in life with my family and my girls. I have started a work that I will probably not be around to see finished and all my hard work that often feels like no-one sees, God sees everything.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin ? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. Matthew 10:29 NLT

So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Matthew 10:31 NLT

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." Genesis 16:13

Know how much you are loved.

Michelle

Jesus my Carpenter Friend

Well have you ever had a wonderful weekend and then you come home and you feel like have been hit with a 2 x 4. Sometimes life has a way of taking you off guard, well I had the most wonderful uplifting weekend with some of my favourite girlfriends as we went on our road trip to Rochester, NY for the Women of Faith conference. Yes we have a women's ministry but you just have to go get plugged in once in a while and be on the receiving end and we really enjoy our time together.

Well we had quite the ride, I was trying my best not to be the back seat driver but I couldn't help myself once in a while, and yes Anita and I were way in the back. Anita had emailed us prior and gave us all funny names before leaving - well when the air jets were going it was like blast off in our cramped little area - we can't complain really, since we are the shortest in the bunch, I couldn't image our Kimberley or Cheri squished back there, and we got quite the work out getting in and out climbing over the chairs. Always the optomist. Then when our van had been sitting in the sun baking, there was no air at the back we thought we would die in our little sauna. Our ride didn't stop their either, after breakfast our last day, we took a pit stop in at the "Go Karts" I knew for starters Louise would not be beat, she is determined for the finish line just like her faith. Then there were a few of us cut off just when things were going good - and I can tell you we didn't like it and there were grumblings. Well I have had time to reflect on my grumblings and being cut off and my back seat driving, I am sure God is looking down at me smiling as he keeps trying different methods to teach me to handle them as they come my way. Well my daughter is in the Middle East and being put in some very compromising positions with her security which is causing tensions all around.

I had to stop and talk to God and just put myself in the pit-stop for a while for re-adjustments, get some new tires so that I can get a grip on life and get everything in perspective. Things are getting better and we are all focusing on the right actions to take for the right reasons - we are not out of the storm but God is my umbrella and I have taken the 2 x 4 mentally and made it into a cross, since our Jesus has already conquered all. In my groaning, I am sure the Holy Spirit was advocating on my behalf.

1Cr 15:28
Then, when he has conquered all things, the Son will present himself to God, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

If you don't know Nicole C. Mullen you should check our her latest CD release - the songs have kept me going this past week as I sing them over and over in my car and in my head at work.

Thank you God for good friends and the stillness - where I hear your voice.

Love Michelle

I Stand at the Door and Knock

Well I have to share this little story that was shared at chapel today and it made me giggle so much at the same time made me think about not judging a situation.

A new pastor of a church thought one day he would go visit his parishoners, as his day went on he stopped by one ladies house and knocked on the door. He knocked again and saw a shadow through the sheers of someone cross the floor but no one appeared at the door to open it, he knocked again (now knowing someone was inside) but again nothing. So he took out a business card and wrote on the back Revelation 3:20 (Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me).

On Sunday as the collection plate was passed around the business card was found inside the plate with another scripture added to it. Genesis 3:10 ("I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."). Who said God's word does not have an answer for all of life's situations! But I had to ponder, sometimes we judge before we know the situation.

Well I confess the above little tidbit gave me a good belly laugh and I hope it does for you. I seriously believe we have all the answers in God's word, we just have to know where to go and we don't learn that until we understand it, which takes time and guidance. I would love to help guide you to certain passages that may help you along your journey, pray with you, praise God with you and give Him the glory that is honoring only to Him.

My life verse: Jeremiah 29:11-15 - 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord.

CAPTIVATED - WOMEN WHO LOVED JESUS

Wow! We have all just got back from our April 2007 Weekend retreat in Niagara Falls Renaissance Fallsview Hotel where we spent the weekend being Captivated by Jesus and learning about the women of the bible who were captivated by Jesus. Not forgetting the laughter and fun we all shared - Ladies you blew me away with your participation in our first PJ Party in the ballroom - crazy fun!

I have to say I miss all you women who attended this retreat greatly and look forward to our time together next April and connecting with you by email or through this blog (michelle@AHFMinistries.com), Sunday morning was a sad day as we realised our time together was coming to a close but knowing our time to give our relationship with Jesus a greater importance in our lives was being re-focused.

Again we were very fortunate to have Blessings bookstore partner with us, and in doing so I picked up Charles Sheldon's book "In His Steps", while soaking in the tub I was inspired as soon as I opened up the beginning pages of a journey a church had decided to take. After a life changing and challenging experience with a destitute man, who was turned away by the pastor and yet while he was under a seat in the church, the pastor gave a message about following Jesus, he stood up and asked them "What does it mean to follow Jesus". He heard others singing a song "all for Jesus, all for Jesus, all my beings ransomed powers, all my thoughts and all my doings, all my days and all my hours. Yet no one offered to help him when he asked, until he stood in the church with these questions and then passed out due to illness and later died in the Pastors home. This lead members of the congregation deciding for 1 year they would not make a decision without first asking the question "What would Jesus Do?" Quite a challenging task I would imagine for us in the Western World. One that I am personally going to focus on.

I am looking forward to the journey through this book as it challenges me, inspires me and encourages me. I hope to share tidbits from this book over tea with you!

It was exciting this weekend to announce the new name of our ministry "At His Feet" where else would you prefer to be than at the feet of Jesus. Choose the best things for you - Jesus did not come to condemn but to save. He has a better life waiting from you if you don't already know Him, He is calling YOUR name! God Bless, Michelle

Lemon Merigue Tea - Now you can have your dessert with zero calories.

I would have never thought it - it was like liquid Lemon Merigue Pie - all I can say is yummy! Thanks to one of my best friends and Sisters in the Lord Kimberley, she had this new delight to share with me. Bring it on in my china mug of course! Now as you get to know me a little better you will know that my English Grandmother passed down a few traditions or etiquette that just can't be beat. Drinking your tea from a real china teacup is the only way, not forgetting to put hot water in your teapot first to warm it, pour it out and push fresh boiling water in before infusing your tea. Then there is putting your milk in your cup first so as the tea pours on the milk it warms it and keeps your tea hotter! Then add your teaspoon on the saucer under the handle of the teacup and you are all set. I know for some putting milk in your tea is considered a sin, but I am talking Tetley Tea for a moment. I am now excited to collect little tea additions, special infusion balls for loose tea, a tea caddy, and my little silver tea spoons. Always on the look our for more teapots!

Thanks for good friends, good tea and a china teacup. Life's little ways of making you feel like a princess!

May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. Genesis 31:49 (NKJV)