Worship Melodies: Friendly People

Showing posts with label Friendly People. Show all posts

Pay It Forward

~~ Matthew 7:12 (NIV84) So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

by Carley Cooper

Homemade Baked Goods to Give at Christmas
Photo by Carley

Have you ever seen a movie called “Pay It Forward”? The synopsis of this film is a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who launches a good-will movement. It is all about passing on the blessings that have been received to the next person. Imagine how quickly the whole country could be ‘covered’ if every single person were to do a kind deed for 3 people this week. I do not know the stats on this thought, but I am sure that it would not take long before every person in the country would have received a kind deed from someone. Now, imagine it spreading to all of North America, then to Europe; and the whole world. What a wonderful place it would be.

This idea is not a new one. Jesus gave us what we now call The Golden Rule; “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31 NIV84). In our society today, though, it seems that this concept has been all but forgotten. We live in a society that is all about focusing on our own happiness and instant gratification instead of the well being of others. One of the greatest gifts we can receive in our lives comes in the form of giving to others. I would like to think that nothing I could be given would feel as good as seeing the happy face of someone else that I just helped in some way. My heart is always filled with so much excitement as I pass on a blessing to another person. Waiting to see the reaction feels a little like the anticipation one feels, as a child, when you were waiting for Christmas morning to come. Re-learning to share love with each other is something that we need to make a priority in our lives.

Here are some ways that I have shared love; and others have shared with me:

Not too long ago, in a supermarket, I was looking over some baskets of kiwi that were on sale looking for a good quality batch. A little old lady came by and asked me what it was. She had never seen kiwi before. I explained to her that it is a very tasty fruit that is green on the inside; and is very good for you. Some people like to eat the brown fuzzy peels, while others do not. She was very happy with my input and thanked me for telling her about kiwi. It made me feel very good to know I helped this wonderful woman. It really did ‘make my day’! (On a side note: eating the peels will increase your fibre intake up to three times, not to mention the extra nutrients and antioxidants. Wash and cut a kiwi into pieces, with peels on, and mix into yogurt or a fruit salad and the juices soften the peels. Very tasty and very healthy!)
I helped a friend do some painting in her house when she was preparing it to put it on the real-estate market.
I found out I was moving only 4 days before the moving day. I spent those few days preparing; packing, arranging for utilities and various services, movers, and much more. By the end of the day, on moving day, I was exhausted to say the least. I needed dinner. The cookware was packed somewhere in the mountain of boxes, and I had no energy left to dig it out. My wonderful friend came over; with her own food and cookware, and made me dinner.
I do not have a car right now. Because of this, I have a few friends that give me rides whenever I need them. They take me to church, grocery shopping, to appointments; and more. I love them dearly for it. To them, “it’s nothing”. To me, it is a wonderful ministry that I am very thankful for. One day when I get a car, I intend on making it a ministry of my own to ‘pay forward’ all the years I have been given rides by my family and friends; by giving rides to others who need them.
My family has a habit of inviting others to spend Christmas with us. At least one of us is always bound to show up with a guest for the holidays. Our attitude has always been “the more, the merrier”. Last year, I invited a special friend from Toronto who would have spent Christmas alone. We welcomed him into our celebration; placed gifts for him under the tree, and had a very fun holiday that everyone will remember.
My parents were superintendents in a large senior’s apartment building. One year we realized that many of these tenants did not have anyone to spend Christmas with. So we planned a huge Christmas dinner and invited all those who would have been alone otherwise. My Mom, my sister-in-law, two of my Aunts, and myself; cooked and prepared dinner (and all the fixings) for approximately 40 people. It was a lot of work, but it is one of my most treasured Christmas memories ever.
I gave someone the book that helped me get past my divorce; when he found himself in the same situation.
I have a friend that comes to my apartment now and then with a movie; and sometimes dinner, to keep me company. This is something that I very much appreciate as a single person living alone; who suffers from Bipolar Disorder.
My new-apartment building does not allow dogs. I have some friends that have been taking care of my dog for me in the past year as a result of this. Without the incredible generosity of my beautiful friends I would be left in a terrible bind. However, I never give up faith that God will find a way to reunite me and my baby.
A wonderful person from my church family; who is unknown to me, left a card of encouragement for me in my mail slot at church during a time when I needed some support. I keep it pinned to my message board at home where I can see it and be reminded that God, and my church family love me.

How have you shared love with someone lately? What gifts and blessings can you pass on to someone else? As children of God; we are called to be like Jesus. God wants us to share the love, so that other people will see Jesus in us. He is the most selfless, giving, loving person there has ever been. God wants us to develop our character to be like that of His Son, who was willing to be a sacrifice in order for us to be saved. There has never been a greater ‘Pay It Forward’ gift?!

CHALLENGE for YOU: Try to ‘pay it forward’ by doing 3 good deeds for someone this coming week; then come back here and share your stories with everyone in the comment section below.

~~ Dear God ~~ Your ways are so wonderful that I never cease to be amazed. The gift of giving is the perfect reward. By giving selflessly, I am rewarded in return. Please help me to always find incredible loving joy in giving to others. Let others always see a reflection of Jesus in me each time I ‘pay it forward’. Never let a week go by in my life where I do not bless someone in some way. In Jesus name, AMEN.

Letter to My 18 Year Old Self

~~ Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) ~~ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Carla - Age 18 - St. John's, Newfoundland

Have you ever wished you could go back and do things over again? I do not think I know anyone who has not said at least once in their lives “If I could go back and do it all over again, knowing what I know now, I would do it so differently”. Maybe just to give yourself some advice would help so very much. The idea of writing your younger self a letter is hardly a unique one. I have read letters written by others to themselves and found them to be incredibly interesting, so I thought I would write one for myself. The process of gathering information and bits of advice; and forming them into this letter, was a lengthy one. It turns out, though, that this course has been as enlightening to me in the present day, as it would have been to my younger self, but for different reasons. It seems that I have come through a lot of trials and trauma in my life. I am a survivor. I have grown to be a person that is incredibly strong, and I have enough experience to give some very good and practical advice to someone younger. Most of all, I can see that I have grown, and am still growing, into a woman that I can be proud of.

Dear Carley,

Well, you are 18 now... legally an adult just starting your life. I want to give you some advice to prepare you for the life you are about to embark on. I know what your first thought is... “Who’s Carley?” Carley is you... me... us! It is what most people call you now. It started as a pet name with just a slight change from Carla, and it stuck. I let it happen because I like it, and I was on a journey to find and heal myself. I need to create the me that I always knew was inside somewhere longing to get out. She is the me in our dreams that few others have seen, and she got lost somewhere along the path tangled in the midst of a lot of pain. I felt that God gave me the new name to go with the new me. She is you, and one day she will be me again, only better than before. The journey we are on did not have to be as difficult as it has been, though I am learning to be thankful for it.

First; know that It is not only OK to be different, but it is cool. I know that you cannot begin to wrap your brain around that concept right now, but one day you will see that people who are all the same are not original. Being different makes you special... really! Let go of all the bad memories from school when the kids laughed at you, made fun of you, and said nasty things. They had their own hurt inside that they did not know how to deal with, and they took it out on you. This applies to anyone throughout your life who says mean things to you; and there will be others. It is not about you. Let go of the pain before the nightmares start and you need therapy to get rid of them. It is important to set boundaries for yourself; which you can do without being mean. Also, keep in mind that others cannot see things from your point of view. No matter what you say to others, they will not learn what ever lesson you are trying to teach them. It takes your experiences to create your point of view. Only you can ever have it.

When you get that letter from MUN, do not turn it down. You will regret it for the rest of your life. You do not need to know the whole plan for your life or what your major is before you start university. Many, if not most, believe it or not, do not know what they want to do even after they start college. You are not the only one who does not know. It will help you find yourself, and help you figure out what your dreams are. Dream big... do not limit yourself. There are people there who will help you. Do not focus all your attention on the one dream of becoming a Mother. It is the equivalent of chasing your own tail. Put it on the back burner. Some of your dreams will not come to pass in the format you hope for; and if you continue to push away all other ideas, your life will one day be derailed. Go to school. Choose something that will allow you to express your creativity. We love Interior Design (not Interior Decorating... turns out there is a difference); and toss in some business courses. Also you will grow to love writing. No matter what you do in life, business and writing will be useful. On the side, do some photography courses. It is so much fun! Do not delay dreams like sky diving, underwater diving; or taking lessons in music, singing or dancing. One day you will feel like it is too late. Oh, and correspondence programs are not the same. Do not settle for this.

Next, some things that I wish someone would have told me:

Now that you have your license, get a car! Do not put it off.
Travel. Go anywhere and everywhere. The world is not as scary as you think it is. I know that going to St. John’s at first was overwhelming and terrifying; but it does not have to be. Travelling is an adventure. Enjoy it.
Read more - for at least 30 minutes each day.
Eat right! Educate yourself on how to achieve and maintain a healthy body. Stay away from junk food, non-fat or low-fat anything (they are not as wonderful as the media will make you think they are). Avoid anything made with white flour, or anything that says ‘enriched’. Above all else avoid artificial sweeteners and processed foods. If it comes in a box or a bag, chances are you do not want it. Do your shopping in the produce and meat departments. Buy only whole-grain breads and such items... not whole-wheat! They are very important for good health. Always go organic when you can. Grab any opportunity to buy farm fresh unprocessed milk products. Store-bought dairy are filled with chemicals, preservatives, hormones, and antibiotics; all of which are dangerous, and will affect your health!
Exercise. Every day! Working out does not mean sports! Go swimming, ride your bike; but you will find that power-walking is something you will fall in love with. Hold on to it. Oh, and do sit-ups daily, without fail.
Wear a good support bra. Go to a good lingerie store and get yourself properly fitted for one. You are not wearing the correct size. Do not even bother to look at the price tag. Whatever it says, it is worth it!
Do not mix money with friendship or family. The two just do not mix well so do not even try.
When the time comes and you find yourself watching a lot of TV, turn it off! It is a nasty habit that was very hard for me to break; but now that I have I am so very thankful!
Cut up the credit cards.
Do not start taking antidepressants. You have a right to say no. Also, do not let them keep doing surgeries because of your ovaries. There are other options. Do not trust the advice of every doctor you see. Read, research and know your rights before accepting care from a doctor. Not all doctors know what they are talking about, even when they sound like they do.
When Mom and Dad ask you to move to leave Newfoundland and go to Ontario with them; do not fight it. It will be one of the best decisions you will ever make. There is the most amazing world out there that you never imagined was there!
Do not put Dad on a pedestal. The view is not a realistic one. You will never stop being Daddy’s little girl.
Do not let Daphne and John, Charlene or Charlyse drift out of your life. You will need them one day, and if you do not stay in touch you will have no one to turn to. Life is lonely without friends.
When, Graham comes along, know that you will be a best friends forever. Do not let anyone tell you that having a guy for a best friend is wrong. You will share a special friendship that so many do not get in their lifetime. One day when an argument gets out of hand, do not let him walk out the door without making up first. Ten years without him was much too long to wait to see my best friend.
Shadow belongs with you. Do not let him go.
Roommates – you will have quite a few. One named Lawrence is bad news! Do not go there.
Learn to enjoy being alone. I know that is a concept that seems contradictory to you right now. Loneliness is painful; but it can also be a wonderful time of solitude. Learn to embrace that or it can eat you alive.

About men - do not believe everything that some sweet talking guy whispers to you... no matter how cute he is. The boyfriend you have right now is not as loyal as you believe him to be. Let that relationship go and move on. I know it is very hard sometimes to tell the difference between lust and love, but they are worlds apart. When you are young and know you are in love... you are not. Real love will come along when you are truly ready for it and there will be no doubt. Do not be so willing to give yourself to a man. It will not make him love you. In your twenties you will get an overwhelming amount of attention from men; especially on the beach and in bars, but beware, they are not chasing your heart. Before you get married, make sure he loves you as much as you love him. If there is any doubt, then getting married is the wrong thing to do. Stop worrying about the clock. There is no rulebook that says it has to happen by a certain age. It is better to wait than to end up in divorce court on your 30^th birthday. Finally, do not ever, ever, ever, let any man abuse you physically, mentally, emotionally or financially. Do not give them power over you by falling for the guilt trips. Be strong.

Paul deserves a special mention. When he comes along, just know that his ego is just a facade to hide his big heart, but unlike most you will see through it immediately. He will break your heart more than you ever imagined possible, but do not let that stop you. You will share a bond that very few other couples in the world ever get to share; seriously! You will even have people commenting on it on a regular basis. Despite the heartbreak, the love is worth it.

Partying - drinking yourself stupid will not impress the kind of man you want in your life. Partying is fun, but you need to keep it in perspective. One day when Graham ties you to a chair and screams at you, listen to his message. Do not fight it. It will change the path your life is on. Too much booze will bring you a lot of trouble and heartache.

Of all the lessons that you will learn, of all the advice that you can get from me or others; the most important thing and the most important decision that you will ever make is to invite Jesus to live in your heart. Do it now! Do not put it off. Please look to God for all you need. God wants you to have a relationship with Him. Yes... a relationship with God! I know that does not make any sense to you now, but once you open your heart, truly, to Jesus, you will begin to understand. It will change your life. Even the world around you will start to look different... more alive somehow. God loves you! Being a Christian is not limiting. In fact, it is freedom. It’s awesome!

Once Jesus is the focus of your life you will learn many things, understand things with much more clarity and get many blessings. One of the greatest will be the gift of forgiveness. However, first you have to understand that it is something you do for yourself, not for others. This does not mean that you are telling them that what they did to you was OK; but truly forgiving opens up a whole world of new possibilities. Always choose caring over uncaring, giving over passing by, give the benefit of the doubt over criticism or gossip or judging. Do not lose faith in people. They will hurt you, but they also are hurting; it is not about you. Measure any kind of frustrations from others or indecisions by this standard... “Will this alter my life in 5 years from now... or even 1 year from now?” If the answer is ‘no’ then do not give it another thought. It is not important.

Keep smiling. You are beautiful. Please do not start hurting yourself because you think you deserve it for not being pretty. You are wrong. One day you will see that a lot of people will be telling you that, and they will mean it. Look in the mirror and tell yourself “I am a child of God. I am beautiful.” Then, believe it! Every time you hurt yourself, or belittle yourself, it hurts God. Do not let go of that bubbly personality that so many keep telling you is why they fell in love with you. If you hide her inside, one day you will not know how to let her out again. Life can get very lonely after that.

Do not ever quit! Hold on to your dreams. Follow your heart and do not be influenced by others; not even Mom and Dad. You have to live in your body and live your life. Do not ever hurt anyone to get there, but you have to make yourself happy first. Learn to push yourself... hard! You will come to treasure that about yourself. Do not let anyone tell you that Prince Charming does not exist, or that any of your dreams is not realistic. Anything is reasonable if you work hard and let God lead the way. Do not let anyone talk you into limiting yourself like that.

So, my wonderfully innocent and naive young self, if you take nothing else from this message, just remember these things... first, that person who was hurting you before is the bad person. It is not your fault. Repeat after me “it is not my fault”. You did nothing wrong. Next, invite Jesus to be the center of your world, and learn to dance in the rain; because the rest will take care of itself in God’s wonderful timing.

Love always,

~~ Dear God ~~ I know that I cannot go back and change my life. I also know that no matter what plan I may have, what advice I may be given; that the plan You have already prepared for my life is the perfect path. Despite all the bad decisions, wrong turns, disobedience, and sin that have caused so much pain and trauma; I know that You are leading me on my journey. Thank You, Father for this journey. Please teach me with each and every step all the lessons that I need to know to get closer to You. Open my eyes and ears; along with my mind and my heart to be anxious, willing and able to receive the Holy Spirit. Make me a disciple for Jesus that will make You proud. In Jesus name, AMEN.

Families Are Like Fudge

~~ Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV84) ~~ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Microsoft Office Copyright Free Images
Fudge Brownies

Family. What is the first thing that popped into your mind when you read that word? I will say it again... FAMILY! What does the word ‘family’ mean to you? Did your heart suddenly feel full because they are so sweet, or did your blood pressure shoot up because they are just a bunch of nuts?! Dictionary.com gives one definition as “a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for”. I really like that definition. It does not matter what kind of family you came from, what kind of family you have; or what you have been through with them or because of them; I would be willing to bet that you love them. Whether you came from a traditional family of 2 parents, 2.5 kids, a dog, and a hamster; or divorced parents, or even if the only family you have is a couple of the best friends anyone has ever had; they are your family. Even when they are making you so crazy that you just want to pull your hair out... or better yet, pull their hair out... you would never want to walk this earth without them; and you would go to just about any lengths for them if it were called for.

Well, think about this next thought for a minute... Can you say the same about your church family? Are they part of your life every day of the week? Do you take care of them when they are sick; give them food, money or a place to sleep if they need it? Can you confide your deepest secrets with them? Can you listen to their secrets and truly not make a judgement against them? Are you able to stay calm and love them even when there is a big disagreement about how the latest ministry within the church should operate? Do you even think about the people you go to church with as family? I certainly did not for most of my life. Truthfully, I had never heard the term ‘church family’ before; despite the fact that I have passed through quite a few churches in my life. That is, until I was finally led ‘home’. I think that is one of the things that first attracted me to this church. I was fascinated with the idea that they were a family together. From the first time I went there, the first sermon that I heard; it was stressed that ‘we are a family’. It is still stressed to us; it is a message that is not forgotten. The more I got to know them, the more I could see that they really are a part of each other’s lives; and not just on Sunday’s? They love each other. They laugh, cry, and pray together. I have yet to hear any gossip or see anyone with a grudge against someone else. When one grieves, everyone is sad, when one of us is lonely there is a friend that you can reach out to; when one of us is sick, someone will be there to take care of you; when we are hungry someone will bring you food; when we just cannot seem to make a pay-cheque stretch far enough, they are there to help.

In my time as a member of this family, they have given me gifts that are eternal. For the first time I have met people who truly do strive live the life, not just talk the talk. They allow the Holy Spirit to move very freely among them. I have been invited into their midst and been made one of the group. For the first time in my life, I know what it is like to belong to a group. They have shown me that knowing about God is not the same as knowing God; or having a relationship with Him. I have learned how to forgive; and how to strive for true repentance. For many years my one “rule of survival”, as I called it, was “never trust anyone for any reason no matter what. No exceptions!”. I really did live that way. I thought I was protecting myself. The first time that I was told “I will not judge you”, after sharing what I thought was something terrible, my life literally changed. In that one instant, I suddenly saw light that I had never seen before. My life, my heart and my view of the people of the world all changed completely. I suddenly had a door open in my heart that was never open before. A door that would allow trust to enter in... that would allow the Holy Spirit to enter in.

I have been given food and money when I did not have any. Anytime I need a ride, someone is there to give me a lift. They have let me cry on their shoulders when I had no one else to turn to. I have seen incredible patience from them while I learn how to emerge from my dark hiding place that was my world for such a long time. Honestly, I still feel like I am a new; like a new puppy that is still so very unsure of everything and still very wobbly on its legs; but they do not try to push me or rush me along in my journey. In their own homes, their individual family units pray together, play together and study the bible together. The men are actually as in love with their wives as they are with Jesus; and they welcome an accountability partner to help keep them on the ‘straight and narrow’. These are things that I have rarely, if ever, seen before.

Here is an example of something that one of them did for me once. It is just a small thing, but it is a wonderful example of charity that I had never experienced before. The situation was that I was at a church function. It was a big concert and it was getting late in the evening. I wanted to go home even though the concert was not over yet. I do not have a car, and I did not have a ride. I called a few people, but it seems everyone else was also out that night. I did not know the bus system, and I did not have enough money for a bus even if I had known where or when I could catch a one. One of my beautiful sisters in Christ came to me and gave me some money to get a taxi home. I started to cry, thanking her and assuring her that I would pay her back as soon as possible. She looked at me and simply said “Why? We’re family now. That’s what families do for each other.”

The closer I get to God in my journey the more I feel His peace within me. To have the support of a wonderful family around me during my journey is helping me learn how to become more and more like Jesus, as we are called to do. With each and every small step I take the sins of my past are becoming smaller and smaller. The more I grow in Christ, the more freedom I have in my life. In the past, I thought was being free was living behind a protective wall and keeping others away. Now I am able to see that instead I actually built a big wall around myself so tall and so secure that no one could get in, and I could not get out. God sent people into my life that are helping me break down these walls. They not only help guide me out into the light; but also show me wonderful examples of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

As Christians, we know that we are all children of God; heirs with Jesus, but we also know that we are mere human beings living in a broken world. To me, this means that I am fully aware of the fact that as wonderful as my new family is, that they are far from perfect. No one is perfect (Romans 3:23 ~ For all have fallen short of the glory of God), and it is important that we do not forget that. When someone in your family is causing you stress, or just making you crazy; give them little slack, learn to forgive and forget just as God does with us (Hebrews 8:12 ~ For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more) and as He calls for us to do with others (Luke 6:37 ~ Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven). There’s an old saying that says “Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts!” (~Author Unknown) Enjoy, nuts and all... sometimes the nuts are the best part!

~~ Dear God ~~ Your infinite wisdom and grace never cease to amaze me. The whole idea of a family is an awesome idea! Thank you so much for placing me with families that are the most incredible mixture of sweet and nutty people. They help me, teach me, laugh with me, cry with me, play with me and pray with me. But Your Son, Jesus, is the most important family member of all. Please do not ever let us be separated. Thank You, Father. Oh, one more thing, Lord; am I one of the sweet ones or the nutty ones? Never mind... I am not sure I want You to answer that one. In Jesus name, AMEN.

How God Led Me Home

~~ 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV84) ~~ The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

Photo by Google Maps

One day when I was about 3 years old I got lost in the supermarket. I was likely only an isle or two away from my Mom but, at that time, it felt like hundreds of kilometers. I remember feeling so alone and so terrified. The world suddenly seemed big and scary. This very nice man talked to me and asked me some questions, and then he helped me find my Mom. Since I was so young I do not remember all the details, but I do remember feeling so very happy when I saw my Mom again. It was like going home after a long time away.
Many years later when I first started to look for a church to attend, I had no idea which one to pick. At that time in my life I was not Christian in the true sense of the word. Granted I believed in the basic facts, like the virgin birth, Jesus lived a perfect sinless life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection. I also knew that the Baptism and Holy Communion are important in choosing a church. I did not have a relationship with Christ, nor did I have any concept of what could possibly mean. Neither did I know or understand the Holy Spirit. I had no idea that they are an absolutely vital part of the Christian life. The one thing I did know though was that I could feel the pull within me to find a church. I prayed for God to “help me find a church home, like a family where I can fit in, that will become the center of my world”. I was not even sure I understood what this meant, or why I prayed this prayer so often because I had never heard the terms ‘church home’ or ‘church family’ before. I had been to a lot of churches in my life and none talked about these things, or this kind of ‘belonging together’. I only knew that I felt the need for it, that I had never known the feeling of fitting in, and that we are called to attend church regularly just as Jesus did (Luke 4:16 (NIV84) - He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom.). But to find that church... I mean, there are so many denominations; all with their own ‘rules’; and each one claiming their rules are the ‘right’ rules. How does one know which one to choose? Does it matter? I just wanted a church that did not care about ‘set rules’ but instead followed the bible without leaving parts out, changing it, or twisting anything to suit their needs.

My first choice was a church that I remembered being only 10 minutes walk from the new apartment I was about to move in to. Convenient, since I do not have a car. The new apartment was in a different city. I was moving back home and was so very excited about that! They say ‘home is where the heart is’ and I took the opportunity to move back to the place that my heart says is home, after my life took a huge unexpected turn. I arrived in town, and that church I remembered being just a hop and a skip down the street... wasn’t! They had moved. It seems during the years I had lived elsewhere they outgrew their building. The old building was now the new location of my dog’s veterinary hospital. Great... we got our old vet back just down the road, but no church! This meant that I would have to find another church; and that I would have to get connected with someone who could help me with transportation. This problem for me was in the same category as the chicken and the egg. I need transportation to get to church, but I need to go to church to meet people who could help me with transportation.

At this point, the thought occurred to me that since I have to find a church elsewhere, I might as well find one that I felt had the same beliefs as I have. I figured, if I am to spend my life attending services every Sunday with this group, whoever they may be, than being comfortable with their belief system would make things much more enjoyable. There are those out there that are not necessarily Christian, though they claim to be. Then there are those that have beliefs and practices that are just... well, down-right ‘weird’. I started to do some research and began with the church that I had originally planned on going to; in their new location. I read their doctrine, statement of faith, beliefs, and core values. I very much liked what I saw. They had all the ‘good stuff’ I was looking for and none of the ‘bad or weird stuff’.

However, I felt that I should keep researching just to make sure I knew all my options. I checked out many other churches in the area; looking at the same information, mainly through their websites. There were a few that did not have this information listed; so I emailed them and asked some questions. Most were more than willing to share about themselves. There were also a few that did not want to share so willingly. I saw this as a ‘red flag’ and crossed them off the list right away. In all my research, I found none that I liked as much as the first one. Eventually, that first church became like a measuring stick that I used to evaluate others. One day I said to myself “if that’s the church you want, than just make your decision and go”! So I did... make the decision, that is. Getting there was still a problem.

Then one day my cousin said that she wanted to start going to church as well. Wouldn’t you know it, she chose the same one I had picked! So we went together in her car. However, she changed her mind a short time later and stopped going. I was so very disappointed. I had enjoyed the services and the people more than I expected. There was a certain warmth among them that I had never felt in church before. There was also something special within their sermons that touched my heart and shed some light in ways that I had never experienced before in church. Plus their music was a wonderful mix of old and new, which I so very much appreciated! Nevertheless, I felt I had not been going there long enough to know other people well enough to request a ride on Sunday’s. So, with no transportation any more, I would have to go back to Sunday morning TV services as my church time, hoping that one day soon I would find a solution. So I waited for an answer to show up.... for about 2 years.

Then one day I got an email in response to an advertisement I placed looking for a new roommate. Without someone to share my apartment with, expenses were just too high to live alone. This reply came on the last possible day before I would have to move again. It turned out that this person not only showed up just in the nick of time, but is Christian and is a member of the church I had waited so long to join! I saw this as a sign from God that this was the person I was to accept as my new roomie. I felt this so strongly that I before I even replied to the email I called my Mom to tell her the good news that I had found my roommate! During this time in my life I was very social-phobic. This new friend ended up bringing me to church, introducing me to people; and helping me feel comfortable. Since then my heart and my life have changed drastically as a direct result of being part of this church. I am a whole new person, with a whole new life.

It has been a little more than 2 years since attending my first service there. My first reasons for choosing a church were simply due to location and convenience. I did not even include God in the decision process. For that matter, during those days I did not know I could or should include Him. He used this to lead me on a journey that would bring me full circle, but this time I would know without a doubt that God led me to this place. It is His decision where my home church should be. God is the one who places us in each and every position in our lives; to fulfill His purposes. If we keep Him in our focus we will complete that purpose; His glory will shine and we will have many blessings bestowed upon us. Today, I can understand that it is important for me to know God led me here because it leaves me no doubt that this is where I belong. When we are in a position to see that it is His calling or our lives, we have no reason to doubt or rethink the decision. We know that no matter what the present circumstances may appear to be, that the future is very bright.

Since then, the church really has become the center of my world. I have learned what a church family is and what a church home is. I have also been introduced to the Holy Spirit, and have developed a relationship with God. I am growing closer to Him with each and every lesson I learn. My views on certain portions of my life went from a completely worldly perspective to one that God’s Word calls to live. I volunteer on a regular basis, I attend bible studies, Adult Christian Education courses, I work at the Welcome Centre sometimes on Sunday’s, and any other areas where I may be useful. I do all of this because I just love Jesus so much that my heart longs to do these things for Him. I am part of something bigger. I have a place and a purpose. I am part of the Body. I am part of a group; and I feel I belong there. I have never had that before in my whole life. This is a whole new experience for me. They have welcomed me into their midst, made me a member of their family and they have shown me love like I have never known. I in turn made a commitment to them when I was enrolled as a member. Sunday’s are my favorite day of the week because it is worship day. I get to sing ‘Worship Melodies’ to Him. There is no doubt in my mind that I am where I was meant to be. I am no longer lost. Just like that day when I was 3 years old, I have finally come home.

~~ Dear God ~~ Your ways, Your plans, Your purposes are all perfect. Thank You for leading me home to You, and for the incredible position that You have blessed me with in Your divine plan for the world. Thank You for bringing me closer to You with each and every lesson I learn and every ‘Worship Melody’ that I sing to You. Even when circumstances are upsetting from my point of view, I know that You have a wonderful ending planned for me. I do not have to question if I have made any wrong decisions or choices. Those that I have made You will erase. As long as I follow You and I will never again be lost. In Jesus name, AMEN.

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

~~ Proverbs 10:2 ~~ Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.

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The province of Newfoundland is an island in the great Atlantic ocean, located at the very east end of Canada. It is overwhelmingly rich in history, culture, and beauty that is second to none in the whole world. I was born and raised in this wonderful place commonly known as ‘The Rock’, where people are so friendly they would give you the shirt from their back if it would help you in the least little bit. Our ancestry makes us a unique gene pool in this world that scientists are eager to study. We will invite you, as a complete stranger; into our homes, give you supper and a place to sleep in a heartbeat if you need it. The next day you will likely experience a party like none other you have ever been to with laughter and music as unique as the people. You will get to eat a ‘Jiggs Dinner’; and finish it off with some scrumptious treats that probably involve tea, fruit cake, seafood, tea buns and a very special potion called ‘Newfie Screech’.

As children growing up, playing on the beach next to the ocean was a common practice for us. As carefree kids there was only one rule back then... “Don’t tell Mom we were playing on top of the big rocks near the water!” Like young people anywhere, we would often collect all sorts of riches found on the shore. There were snail shells, pieces of drift wood in the most amazing shapes, rocks of incredibly unique shapes and colors, many variations of sea shells, dried star fish, bits and pieces of gadgets from old fishing boats, and the list goes on.

One of the things that we often collected was a shell called a ‘Sand Dollar’. We liked them because they were sometimes rather large in size and held a shape resembling a disk. Its size was rivalled only by that of a scallop shell. The uses for such a treasure in a child’s world were endless! After we took some home, one of the smaller sized shells might be attached to a string and become a necklace; another might become a place to hold trinkets, and yet another might be painted to become an ornament for a Christmas tree. Once there was one that became an ashtray for my Dad... except Dad never did smoke cigarettes, but he loved it anyway! Sand Dollars, we also thought were pretty, because of the unique star shape in its center. Little did we know, at that time, the treasures hidden within the symbols that this little shell held for us.

There is an old poem that tells a little story about this appealing little sea shell. There are several versions of this poem. The original wording and the true author are unknown. I hope you like it.

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

~Author Unknown ~

There's a pretty little legend

That I would like to tell

Of the birth and death of Jesus

Found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely,

You'll see that you find here

Four nail holes and a fifth one

Made by a Roman's spear.

On one side the Easter lily,

Its center is the star

That appeared unto the shepherds

And led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia,

Etched on the other side

Reminds us of His birthday,

Our happy Christmas tide.

Now break the center open,

And here you will release

The five white doves awaiting

To spread good will and peace.

This simple little symbol,

Christ left for you and me

To help us spread His Gospel

Through all eternity.

Next time you are walking along a beach collecting treasures, and you find a sand dollar; take one home and place it where you will see it as a reminder of this wonderful story. Tell your kids about the Legend of the Sand Dollar and why it is one of the greatest treasures you will ever find on the beach.

~~ Dear God ~~ Thank You for the symbols that you give us as reminders of the great sacrifice that You gave us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Please let me see this treasure in everything I find as I walk along life’s seashore. In Jesus name, AMEN.

Click this link to read the other known versions of ‘The Legend of the Sand Dollar’

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Pay It Forward

Letter to My 18 Year Old Self

Families Are Like Fudge

How God Led Me Home

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

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