a view from kigali

Signs Along The Way

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 09:05:27 +0200

How often do we actually take the time to sit and reflect on our life? Where we are and how we actually got here? All the roads, pathways, hills, ally-ways, mountains, valleys, narrow ledges, freeways.... oh the list goes on and on doesn't it? But wow, look at all the different ways and means it actually took to get us here. And to think that we wouldn't be in this exact location, with these people and situations around us if we didn't follow all those different avenues. We would be some where completely different.

Would we be as effective as we are here? Maybe. Would our characters and spiritual lives, would they be shaped and molded in the same way? Maybe.

But the 'maybes' are endless and often quite useless to ask sometimes. Because here we are today. This is where God intended us to be for 'such a time as this.' Or is it? When we look back on our travels, did we actually follow the right roads, obey the signs that were marked so clearly, directing us down the right path laid out for us to have the best and most effective journey for our life?

There were rest stops along the way - for our benefit. There were some serious 'SLOW DOWN' and 'CAUTION' signs marked in bright reflective paint - to be sure to catch our attention, day or night. There were some stranded travellers - who desperately needed our assistants and to see 'Christ with skin on.' There was even a law enforcement officer to just one more time - to give us a warning.

So are we really where we are because this IS where we're supposed to be? Or did we take a wrong turn somewhere or ignore the signs because we thought we had the journey all figured out for ourselves or someone told us a better way.

Do we need to back track and start the journey in the right direction again from where we may have veered off the trail a little? Or actually pull over to one of the rest stops, enjoy that fantastic view, smell that fresh air and take some time to just soak it all in - unfold that map one more time to make sure we know where we are and where we're going.

I know for me personally, as I reflect back on my traveling adventures I must say that to be where I am today is nothing more than a miracle. I've tried my best to be that law abiding citizen. To try and pay attention and take note of the directional arrows, rest stops and caution signs, etc ... Oh there have been some detours along the way but I'm so thankful for the 'flagman' whose been there to re-avert my attention to the right road.

Our journey and the way we choose to get there (or here) is all about having the right 'man' at the wheel. Listening and following Him and His advice because He knows the the road ahead - bumps, dead ends, hairpin turns, traffic jams like the back of His hand. Oh sure He gave us a few options along the way and not putting up bumper pads so we had no choice in the matter. But seeing where we are in our life today is definitely a result of the roads we've chosen to take.

Even if a couple of wrong turns were taken, and a few flat tires were experienced, we can always be sure that God is our faithful flagman along the road and at the end of the race when those checkered flags will be furiously waving to say "your done, you made it, took you a while, a couple of restarts and flat tires but hey your here now and that's what counts "Awesome job!!!"

Isn't it amazing to see where preparing a Kids Church lesson can take ones thoughts?

Be Blessed and ... drive Safe!

Margit

A New Year - Margit’s View

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:19:45 +0200

A week of prayer and fasting with the 'back to basics' message of Abiding in the Vine. Wow! We've read it how many times? We've understood the truth and importance of it and yet, to take a week long look, an in depth study of what it is actually saying and biding us to do on a daily, hourly basis~ well needless to say I was encouraged, uplifted and given that extra little push I needed to step out in faith in more areas where hesitation was usually my first reaction. I was so blessed with the way Pastor Steve Chaloner brought a fresh look at this well known passage with illustrations, humour and wisdom that every time he would say....." and I'll close with this last point " my heart sank just a little.... okay a lot, because when you are being fed in the spirit in such a way that you just can't get enough ~ well you just don't want to stop eating at the banquet table with the King.

With the girls back in school in Kenya, the house is once again too quiet. But you know what? We're okay with that and do you know why? Because God is so good and supplies ALL our needs.
Oh sure the first few days were as tough as the first time we said good-bye, which was last August 2010, but a week into it this time we realize how God has helped us be able to cope with this 'new empty nest feeling'. He has shown us that this experience for the girls is drawing them closer to Him ~ He is supplying their needs. They are able to grow and experience so many new things. And we are NOT growing apart because of the distance both geographically and time wise ( which was, I must say, one of my main fears) but actually closer in so many different ways.

God has even shown Marty and myself how our relationship has deepened and grown. Now that the kids are gone, we don't sit across the room from each other and try to avoid eye contact thinking...." if he/she looks at me, I'll have to come up with something to say." or " Who really is that anyway? After all these with the girls and a busy house I just don't know anymore (man he/she sure has aged)". I can say a happy NO to that scenario. God has helped our relationship to stay strong and continue to grow with His faithful input. I must say we feel more connected in so many ways than ever. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness, patience and continuous love for us.

And with these kind of relationships in place we move onward into a new year. There are so many unknowns before us all. So many questions and uncertainties that we are leaving for God to work out as He sees fit in His loving Kindness and for His purposes. The hard part, however at times, is just that....leaving it. Leaving it at His feet and walking away....just walking away. Not looking back, taking it back and start worrying all over again. Just leaving it. Our job is to just ABIDE Him. " Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and ALL these things shall be added unto you according to His riches and glory." And why don't we sometimes? Who better to leave all our cares and concerns with than the One who is the most capable of doing the best job ever in taking care of ALL our issues with all their details no matter how big or small. Oh that we may grow this year in Abiding in Him. And at Harvest time.....may our fruit may be much, more and lasting!!!

Great Way To Start The New Year

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:56:44 +0200

We just finished a week of prayer and fasting at Christian Life Assembly and was reminded of how great of a way it is to start a year.

CLA’s theme this year is ‘Abiding In The Vine.’ Steve Chaloner, PAOC’s Africa Director dissected John 15 in a way that was both challenging and inspiring. We were also so blessed to have the opportunity to reflect on what can happen when our focus is on the source of our strength.

If I could describe the thoughts I had in a few words, I would say the words, ‘tough love.’ Jesus words about abiding are hand in hand with his words of obedience. This will be year of abiding and obeying.

Anyhow ... I trust that as we all look to a new year, we’ll take another look at Jesus words about abiding in the vine.

Christmas come and gone

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:38:13 +0200

Another Christmas has come and before we knew it it was in the history books. Once all the church services finished (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day [Sunday]), we began to rest and enjoy some R&R with the girls before they returned to school in Kenya.

It was our first Christmas without Katelyn, but thanks to Skype, we were able to share some memories with her as well. We are so thankful to her friends and family in Kelowna that have gone out of their way to make it a special Christmas for her in our absense.

We were so blessed this year to see the results of so many in our church family come together and do some amazing things in Kigali to reach those who have so little. Check out some of the videos on our ‘Video’ page to see some of the things that we did as CLA’s version of ‘The Assignment.’ The plan was to get our cell groups to take on a project to help the needy in and around Kigali.

Some of the projects ranged from helping individuals start small businesses to providing basic staple foods for those in need. In Video 2 you can hear about a very foreign thing to western thinking - people who can’t get released from hospital until their bills are paid - this year one of our groups released several people from this kind of ‘prison’ ... they can stay there for months and months if they have no family to bail them out. Again, the stories you see on the videos are just a sample of what God has done through individuals at CLA.

We have just finished a week of prayer and fasting and are thankful for the focus and recalibration that this has done for our spirits. We are ready to take on a new year.

The Pressure Cooker

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:45:21 +0200

I remember many moons ago listening to a familiar sound coming out of our kitchen. It was like a miniature steam engine docked at the station ready to harness the pressure and convert it to energy which would move the tonnes of steel down the track. Only this was the kitchen model which converted the energy to drive it into the food to tenderize whatever edible material was on the inside.

Many years later, we added a pressure cooker to our kitchen arsenal - we were told it would be a good idea when we moved to Africa. Even though my mom knew what she was doing, we had no clue - so a little research was the order of the day. Why would a pressure cooker help tenderize meat and even cook things faster?

As it turns out, the 15 psi of pressure which builds up on the inside of the pot actually raises the boiling point of the liquid inside to 122 Celsius (from what is normally about 100 - depending on elevation). Basically, this means that food cooks in 1/3 the time it normally does. Thus, pressure is a good thing for cooking things faster and tenderizing meat quicker. On the other hand, a faulty pressure release valve could turn this same useful energy into a dangerous force which could do much damage.

It makes me think of what it feels like being far from home - new surroundings, a different stage of family life, a new set of rules to play by, etc. The end result is a constant sense of pressure which, if it weren’t for God’s grace, would cause us to blow our top. I realize that the constant pressure, although many times uncomfortable, is making us stronger faster!

Just like the meat gets tenderized as it submits to the forced hydrogen molecules - we hope that we too are becoming what God wants us to become as we submit to what each day brings. It’s hard but it’s good.