What an Ash!

I wish my faith was a weed. 
As I look at the trees surrounding my yard, two out of five are giant 30 foot weeds. Scientists say they’re trees but native Ontarians know that Ash trees are actually weeds! Their branches are laden with a ton of seeds. Of all the trees that surround our yard theirs is the only seed that takes root and begins to grow. When you try to pull them up you’ll find the root system to be disproportionately larger than the tree, running deep and connecting with the other seedlings.
Psalm 1 says that in order to be firmly planted and to bear fruit, I need to meditate on God’s word. Jeremiah 17 says that if I put my hope and confidence in the Lord that, my roots will go deep and find water; when life gets hard I won’t have to fear or be anxious.

Growing up I was told to “read your bible pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” It was also implied that if you didn’t daily read the bible and pray that you would be left behind when the rapture came. That was enough to strike the fear of the Lord in me! I never missed a day or else I spent the next day repeatedly asking for forgiveness of my sins. Looking back on that I think I missed the point of it all. It wasn’t all about making it to heaven, it was so that, here on earth I could make an Ash of myself; living a life that is strong and deep and satisfying; that grows and multiplies, spreading like a weed that can’t be easily uprooted; that provides shade for others. That I would live the life of someone who knows their heavenly Father and does what He does. (John 5:19, Matthew 12:50) 
My hope is that more and more people will look my life and say, “What an Ash!”

Sunshine, Lemonade and Money

Ah! I’ve just spent the afternoon brainstorming business ideas with my young entrepreneurs. Brainstorming business ideas is one of my favourite things to do. To think your idea could be a seed that produces harvest!  I love it! It thrills me! 

I was remembering way back when…Macs Convenience had a sale on 1l cartons of lemonade. Naturally my friends and I decided to start a lemonade stand. It was myself and three friends and my sister Kimberlee and her two friends. My friends and I parked ourselves across the road from the store, in front of an apartment building. We sold our lemonade at 50 cents a cup. We made about $5. My sister came back with about $28…She parked herself to the left of the convenience store, in front of a closed up shop. Her and her friends put on clown costumes to attract even more attention. When they needed more cups and lemonade they walked right next store. Brilliant! Somehow I convinced her, her friends...and my mom that we needed to combine our profits since we had a lemonade stand on the same day…and then I performed a hostile takeover and cut my friends out of the business. The next day my sister and her crew joined me beside the convenience store and we sold lemonade like crazy!
I have better ethics now.

Ouch! Ouch! Brian Beattie!

Ouch! Ouch! Brian Beattie!

This blog will seem very vague to some if you didn’t attend Freedom House on Sunday. Let me just say that our pastor brought a word about Kingdom finances…Need I say more? You know that means he talked about tithes and offerings, about being generous on all occasions, on being good stewards of what God’s given us.

These messages ‘ouch’ for different reasons. If you’re stingy then they totally offend you. If you you’re in financial trouble they remind you you’ve been a poor steward. Tithing is a good rabbit trail subject that leads back to…well tithing. I’ve never created so many excuses and justifiable reasons not to do what is right than when it comes to tithing. And if you think that tithing is old fashion, then new fashion dictates you give it all, so…

Where do I fall in all this? For the most part I love giving. It thrills me! Tithes! Offerings! Gifts! 

Then sometimes money feels like a huge rock pinning you to the ground. When you hear a message on giving it just feels like added weight. Circumstances, poor stewardship whatever the reason for the big rock, it makes it really hard to give. I get it, I do! What I’ve come to realize is that this, especially, is not the time to hold tightly…this is a “give or die” situation. If I don’t take this stewardship stuff seriously, if I don’t get some good seed scattered out there there’s really no way I’m getting up from under this weight…Sowing and reaping is a law of the kingdom wether we believe it or not.

You are My Greatest Romance

My God,
You are the greatest romance of my life. It’s amazing that you didn’t just create the universe and abandon us for other projects. You care about all of creation. You have individualized plans and desire intimate relationship with each of us. Amazing!
Over a month ago I felt you prompt me to get a resume ready for Goodness Me. As usual I ran ahead on what I thought this meant. I assumed that since thus far I’ve been led to homeschool, the job I was applying for would be part-time evenings. I went only so far as to hope for a job as a cashier there. 
The week I finished my resume, Goodness Me posted that they were hiring for a Healthy Living Advisor position. A full time position. This rocked my world. I laughed, I cried, I was excited, I was sad. This would mean the end of our homeschool journey. A journey that taught me so much. It built my character and strengthened my relationship with my kids. I learned humility, patience, discipline, organization and more. At the same time, this job would fulfill my passionate pursuit of healthy living, my desire to see others achieve optimal health, and it was after all what I had been studying for. 
Friends, Lord! Good, godly friends. I don’t think I could’ve obeyed with such peace without the people you have enriched my life with. They’ve prayed with me, counselled me, and cheered me on the whole way!
The process has been a long one. The job closed…I waited…one week later I had a pre-interview phone call. They left me with a “we’ll call you if you get an interview.” I thought I’d hear back shortly; in my mind I gave them a week and then I would know. I figured You wouldn’t lead me this far without an interview. One week passed and nothing. Remember that morning where I sat on the chair and shook my fist at you crying, “how could you disrupt my life like this? Dangling the perfect job in front of me just to be let down…” Finished with a “your God and I’m not. It’s still better to obey.” Once I quieted myself I heard you say, “I saw that this job was coming up and I knew you would be interested in it. That’s why I had you get ready.” I was overwhelmed with the romance of it all! The God of the universe looking down on me and watching out for my interests? What? God you are too sweet! Later that day I got the call! 12 days later I would have the interview!
You told me to brush up on studies, to prep for the interview and to fast. I took it serious. I studied the company and wrote out and practiced interview questions in front of the mirror. I say all that to say even then, when the weekend before the interview came you told me just to enjoy the weekend, to rest and put the studying aside. How thoughtful and wise is that?
Last night anxiety, a migraine, fear and negative thoughts tried to crowd in on me and again those great people you placed in my life rallied around me. They prayed and spoke words of encouragement and I felt peace. And do you know how many were especially thinking about me today? I could feel their support, Lord, and I’m so thankful. Would you bless them? Show me ways that I can be a blessing to them too.
My children too Lord! What a capacity for love you have placed in them. They’ve been so encouraging to me in going after this job. They keep telling me how happy they are for me to have the opportunity to pursue something they know I’m passionate about. How about Lydia? This morning before I left she said, “Mom, I really excited for your interview. Not just because I want to go school, but because I know this is something you want to do.” Wasn’t I so worried about them in the beginning? But you have a romance going on with them too and I know you’ve been speaking to them. 
First thing you said to me when I opened my eyes was, “Go get ’em tiger!” This was both encouraging and humorous. I love that about you; you get me! The interview went well. I remembered how you said you would go before me, and stay after me, and give me favour. That thought has been my comfort this last week. You know just what to say.
Now I wait again and that’s okay. I’ve got you and you are peace. Your love and kindness toward me overwhelm me. You are the love of my life!

Love Yours Truly,

Trina