Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Psalm 23 ~ Trevor Morgan

The Lord is my Shepherd
I shall not want
He makes me lie down
in green pastures

And He leads me
Beside still waters
And He restores my soul
He leads in paths of righteousness
For His Name sake

Even though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil
For You are with me
Your rod and Your staff
They comfort me
Oh, they comfort me

You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
My cup overflows

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever
Forever

Monday, January 30, 2012

It's Official. . .

I think it's official. . .

  • you may have thought that I was a little crazy when I announced that I was going to Austria in 2003 to hike the Alps (LaDawn, outside?!?)
  • perhaps I was a little off the beaten trail when I decided to go to Turkey in 2006 (culture shock does not even begin to describe it)
  • but today, after finishing my science teaching term on Friday, I was offered AND ACCEPTED a 10-week term to teach social studies (yes, you can laugh - I have no experience whatsoever!)

It's official. . .I think I have lost my mind!

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Live the Question

"Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart.
Try to love the questions themselves,
like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language.
Do not now look for the answers.
They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them.
It is a question of experiencing everything.
At present you need to live the question.
Perhaps you will gradually, without even noticing it,
find yourself experiencing the answer, some distant day."

~Rainer Rilke

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Judith Voth Photography

My friend Judith was kind enough to take some more Jolica pictures for me.  Check them out on her blog:


and check out her amazing photography website at:

Friday, January 27, 2012

Look Again and Think

Today was such a bittersweet day as I finished up the teaching term I started in mid-October.  I don't know exactly what's next, but I am trusting that God will provide (work, direction. . .).  This morning's reading from My Utmost for His Highest said this:

"'I say to you, do not worry about your life. . .'  Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing - our relationship with Him.  But our common sense shouts loudly and says, 'That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink.'  Jesus says you must not.  Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances.  Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life.  Whenever there are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship to God first.

"'Sufficient for the day is its own trouble' (Matthew 6:34).  How much trouble has begun to threaten you today?  What kind of mean little demons have been looking into your life and saying, 'What are your plans for next month - or next summer?'  Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things.  Look again and think."

Thursday, January 26, 2012

God of Wonders ~ Third Day

 Lord of all creation
of water, earth and sky
The heavens are your tabernacle
Glory to the Lord on high

God of wonders beyond our galaxy
You are Holy, Holy
The universe declares your majesty
And You are Holy, Holy

Lord of Heaven and Earth
Lord of Heaven and Earth

So early in the morning
I will celebrate the light
As I stumble in the darkness
I will call your name by night

Hallelujah to the Lord of Heaven and Earth

Precious Lord reveal your heart to me
Father Holy
Lord God Almighty

The universe declares your majesty
You are Holy, Holy

Halleujah to the Lord of Heaven and Earth

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Giving Yourself Permission

I love it how we can make plans for the day, but God has other things in mind.  I went into the city for an appointment last Friday, but I decided to go in EARLY to meet up with my Jolica mentor and friend Drina.  While driving, I caught a short program called LifeTrac (from Insight for Living) and it went something like this (italics are mine):

Do Others See You Differently?

"What do you see?" God asks.

If you could turn those eyeballs of yours around and blind yourself to what's in front of you and see only what is within you, what would you see?  It is that that must take your immediate attention.  Now.  Right now.

Living a life of authenticity means giving yourself permission to be who you are and when you stop trying to be someone else, you free yourself up to know who you are.


Apparently I was not early, I was right on time. . .the perfect time to hear a message that spoke right to my heart!  You can hear the whole message (about 5 minutes in length) at:

Monday, January 23, 2012

Every Piece

"My dear Jesus, My Saviour,
is so deeply written on my heart,
that I feel confident,
that if my heart were to be cut open
and chopped to pieces,
the name of Jesus would be
found written on every piece."

~St. Ignatius

Sunday, January 22, 2012

'Altona Feels Like Home'

Too much CNN chocolate blogging, so this article had to wait a few days. . .from last week's Winnipeg Free Press, check out:

www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/ourcityourworld/africa/altona-feels-like-home-137551253.html

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

CNN: How to Help - Slavery in the Supply Chain

This week's CNN focus has been on chocolate (I don't know about you, but chocolate is very near and dear to my heart!).  I don't doubt part of their focus comes at a time of the year when chocolate sales start to soar as we get closer to Valentine's Day.  If you can, check out "Chocolate's Child Slaves" (CNN International, Friday, January 20 - check local listings for a time) and:

thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/17/how-to-help-slavery-in-the-supply-chain-2

Monday, January 16, 2012

CNN: Who Consumes the Most Chocolate?

Taken from:
thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/17/who-consumes-the-most-chocolate

World CONSUMPTION of cocoa: 2008/09
Europe – 49.32%
North America – 24.22% (United States only – 20.19%)
Asia and Oceania – 14.49%
South America – 8.68%
Africa – 3.28%

Annual per capita CONSUMPTION of chocolates: 2008
Germany – 11.39 kg
Switzerland – 10.77 kg
United Kingdom – 10.31 kg
Norway – 9.8 kg
Denmark – 8.57 kg
Other Countries:
Belgium – 6.8 kg
Australia – 5.96 kg
US – 5.09 kg
Brazil- 2.48 kg
Japan – 2.15 kg

Net world Cocoa EXPORTS: 2008/09
African region – 76.8%
Asia and Oceania – 16.9%
Americas – 6.19%

Top 5 countries, Net world Cocoa EXPORTS: 2008/09
Ivory Coast – 37.01%
Ghana – 19.16%
Indonesia – 15.33%
Nigeria – 8.71%
Cameroon – 7.03%

Net world Cocoa IMPORTS: 2008/09
Europe – 58.87%
America – 27.25%
Asia and Oceania – 12.12%
Africa – 1.7%

Top 5 countries, Net world Cocoa IMPORTS: 2008/2009
United States – 20.96%
Germany – 13.20%
Belgium – 6.28%
United Kingdom – 5.63%
France – 5.47%

Friday, January 13, 2012

Rise ~ Shawn McDonald

Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise

Sometimes my heart is on the ground
And hope is nowhere to be found
Love is a figment I once knew
And yet I hold on to what I know is true

Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise

Well I keep on coming to this place
That I don't know quite how to face
So I lay down my life in hopes to die
That somehow I might rise

Yes I will rise
Out of these ashes rise
From this trouble I have found
And this rubble on the ground
I will rise
Cause He Who is in me
Is greater than I will ever be
And I will rise

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Do Something Now.


Continuing from yesterday's post - from dosomethingnow.com:
"We love music and have been privileged to bring many new songs to people around the globe. But we are convinced that worship is about more than music; worship is love in motion. It's clear that the kind of worship God wants most requires more than words, calling us to love the world in Jesus’ name. The desire of Do Something Now is to open the door as wide as we can, inviting everyone to join the movement. You don’t have to be university-aged or attend one of our events to impact those in need. You’re here, and you can join the movement wherever you are. This is hope of a brand new life for people who cannot help themselves. None of us can do it alone. Follow your heart.  Do Something Now." [I added the bold]

Thursday, January 5, 2012

A Hero's Journey

I love cards - giving them, getting them, spending too much time in the store looking for the perfect one that puts words to the feelings in my heart.  I found this one the other day from a company called Tree of Life Inspirations out of B.C.:

"The adventure of love is calling us on a hero's journey. . .

. . .to walk the path of the heart.
Braving vulnerability for connection.
Exchanging fear for insight.
Risking change for vision.

. . .A world where friendship
flows from the eyes of strangers,
and every hand is held with love."

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

God's Will

This is a long excerpt from my devotional, Our Journey, but I thinks it's incredibly important as I/we look ahead to the new year before me/us:

"I remember asking questions about God's will as a college student - persistent, distracting questions about ministry and direction and even a lifetime partner.  I was confused about what to do and where to get answers.  I sincerely wanted to do God's will, but I was not sure how to discover it.  People often gave conflicting answers and pious platitudes.  'Pray and wait, brother; God will show you,' as if God's will could only be found by putting my motor in neutral.  'Let go and let God, young man,' as if God's will could only be found by abandoning my search for it.  I became very discouraged in my attempts to locate this elusive thing called 'THE WILL OF GOD.'

"Are you at a place like that?  Maybe you want to move out of state, but you're not sure if it's God's will.  Perhaps you have been offered a new position but don't want to make a career move until you are certain that God is behind it.  Are you struggling with a difficult relationship and desperately need to know whether God wants you to walk away?  Everywhere people are wrestling with the same kinds of questions, and often it comes down to this:  'How can I know God's will for my life?'

"This may come as a surprise to you, but the Bible doesn't spend a lot of time on that stuff.  As I've said before, God's will is 98% about who you are.  God's focus isn't so much on the externals; He wants to change the inner you.  He says, 'If I can change you into the person I want you to be, you'll know where you're supposed to go, where you're supposed to work, and who you're supposed to marry.'  Paul said it plainly:  'For this is the will of God, your sanctification' (1 Thessalonians 4:3)."

Monday, January 2, 2012

The Story of Broke

I'm a little behind with the latest movie from The Story of Stuff.  Check out The Story of Broke at www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-broke.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

learn ~ live ~ hope

"learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
the important thing is not to stop questioning."

~albert einstein~
ESSE QUAM VIDERI - to be, rather than to appear
"Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God."
~Robert W. Pierce