Democracy?

On PEI it is still possible to see the historic country church. I have woven several samples of these churches- like the picture in this post. Visits to these sites are meaningful to me and I always wonder about the intrinsic value of the building through the blessings in the lives of those attending. In today's world that blessing is being unfairly taken away. In Canada, Quebec require's anyone attending church to be vaccinated. The remaining provinces all have different rules although in Saskatchewan there are no regulations. On PEI churches are limited to 50 attendees and 50% capacity. In biblical times leper's who had been pronounced leperous by a priest were not allowed to attend the synagogue. They were unclean outcasts who had to leave society and live away from everyone else. I see a sad growing similarity between the leper's of biblical times and the unvaccinated. Worshipping God is apparently a privilege not a right anymore. I wonder what God thinks about this? It is an undisputed fact that fetal cell lines were/are used in various stages of vaccinations. It is the legal right of each Canadian to object to vaccination. The Canadian Charter promises the right to worship and the right to individual conscience and this is being broken. It is cruel and illegal. In Canada we have reached a new historic low in human rights violations. Why is it that we cannot learn from history? Man cannot act as a conscience for another. To do so is a violation of the great commandment Jesus gave, "This is my command: Love each other." Ten years ago I could have had an abortion but I didn't. Even when my partner told me to I did not. I knew he was wrong and eventually in time he acknowledged that. I chose to trust God and I will tell you today that I made the right choice. Thank God I did. My daughter is my life. Yes abortion is legal. Yes it is permitted by most church organizations. But it is a sin. It is murder. It invoked God's wrath on the Israelites- Jeremiah7:30-34. There is no difference in the heinous action of ancient Israel sacrificing babies on the alters of Baal or modern day abortion. Infusing it with the morality of today's church only serves to show how far the church has separated itself from God. Our life came from a holy God, " And God said, Let us make man in our image," Genesis 1:26 and that makes all human life very sacred.

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A Christmas cake mishap

Since my move to the east coast some things in life have changed dramatically. I now have running water and I am connected to the electrical power grid. Other things have not changed like the annual tradition of knitting us each a new pair of socks which are usually blue coloured and making a Christmas cake. This year I had decided on substituting the buttercream frosting on the cake for a cream cheese frosting that had very little sugar in it. With all the sickness in the world it makes sense it eat less sugar. This particular cream cheese icing recipe I had eaten in my childhood when my mom made it. I have never made it but my memories assured me it was tasty and I dangerously concluded my young daughter would like it too. I couldn't have been more mistaken. Not only did I realize I didn't like the taste of it but after completely icing the cake my daughter said sadly "Why does the cake look like that?" I did my best to remove the offending icing and than I whipped up a batch of buttercream and made the cake in the picture on this post. My reward was an excited little girl and the unmistakable yummy taste of buttercream that I enjoy as an adult. The whole experience reminded me of the power of perspective. If we both had been willing to change our perspective than we could have accepted the cream cheese frosting. While the intention to go sugar free was healthier we were unwilling to accept a substitution unless of course it resembled buttercream. It reminded me of the Christmas story and how the Jewish leaders were unwilling to accept Jesus as the Messiah. He didn't meet their expectations. They were unwilling to change their perspective even though as he pointed out to them there expectations were biblically incorrect. It made me consider my perspectives. Are they truly biblically based?  Or am I hanging onto them because of tradition or because it is acceptable as truth in the worldly culture of today?

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What is love?

I took this picture of a stained glass window while standing outside of an island country church. The banner above it reads, "The Lord is my Shepherd." When I see the limitations and lack of human love that humans have for each other I am awed by God's love for us. Christmas is a love story. It is a marvel that instead of the purity and perfection of a God pushing us away from himself because we are not good enough instead He binds us to himself through the heavenly gift of Jesus to humanity. This is the example He gave to us. He was the physical manifestation of Immanuel- God with us. I am so dismayed when I see what is happening throughout the historically Christian countries of both the USA and Canada. In the Canadian national anthem we sing, " God keep our land glorious and free," and today that is my prayer. In Canada under the Canadian charter of rights, section 6 it reads, " Every citizen  of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada." Currently under the Trudeau government if you do not have your covid vaccinations you have lost the right to leave Canada. In New Brunswick, the province neighbouring Prince Edward Island their provincial government as part of their winter plan has given permission for grocery stores to ban the unvaccinated from entering. This is in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 25 which states "all have the right to food." How does God feel about coercion? Scripture says, "So God created man in his own image." Genesis 1:27 Free choice was a part of that and it was given to the first man and woman. After they sinned, he never took away the power of choice from mankind. Under ancient mosaic law which was established by God, Israelite's were allowed to be slaves but only for six years and in the seventh year they were to be released. Not only were they to be given their freedom but they were to be given liberal gifts. There owners were to adopt a mentality of joy and if they obeyed a promise of prosperity was given -Deuteronomy 15:12-18. We all have the choice whether we will serve God or not. "choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, Joshua 24:15. Salvation is a free gift determined by one's choices. God forces no one to serve him. God value's the power of choice so much and continues to give it despite the terrible atrocities done. Mandatory vaccination is sin because it violates the free choice God gave and intended for humanity. What is sin will result in unhappiness and God cannot bless sin and as history has shown repeatedly this is not the pathway to a prosperous country. God gave us our individual freedom and that He respects it is astounding considering He made us. We must stand up against this tyranny and advocate free choice for our neighbour for that is real love.

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Surviving Christmas

I will never understand why my partner treats me the way he does. I know that at least part of that perspective is built upon lies. But whatever and however hurtful to me that perspective is, it is reality to him and he uses it to justify himself. There have been times however when he has given me valuable feedback and even a few times he gave me money. He is however, by his choice to my daughter an absent father. I have noticed that I am better able to cope with living when I don't focus on myself, my perspective as a mother and how I perceive it all as grossly unfair. I do my best at living daily life when I look away from self. Still, I feel like I don't belong on this planet, I am tired of mean people and there are a lot of them out there. I notice when someone is genuinely kind to me. I look forwards to heaven and I long to be in the company of the saints there. I know than I will finally quit hurting. "and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations...neither shall there be any more pain," Rev 21: 4; 22:2. So the hope of heaven encourages me. I try to live within the framework that maybe someday he will change. Maybe his perspective will change. As for the hurt I have - it never really goes away. There are however days stacked together when it is in the background instead of the foreground. I have forgiven him but not myself. I do appreciate the sweet, simpleness of the days and that is how I would characterize living alone without him. My daughter is my world and in the picture we are wearing socks I knit. God is very real to me. He has given me the strength each step of the way. He has provided the care I need. He has not failed me. Whatever situation you find yourself in over the holiday season God will help you too. Just give him a chance and ask. Merry Christmas to each of you.

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Love at Christmas?

It's Christmas time and with the season I try to spend my time contemplating the biblical nativity story. Where else in the history of the world can I observe true love? How is it that a heavenly God could love humanity so much that he could send his son, Jesus as an innocent babe among mortals? I've seen and felt the limitations of earthly love. My common law partner couldn't love me enough and that is why I concluded he left me alone with his baby. He expected in me a type of perfection that I didn't have and as far as he could see I could never attain. And than he shunned me and our child. I know about the pain of rejection. I cry because God loves me because I thought and sometimes I still do think I am unloveable. In the last several years since I have posted my world has changed. I have had some family members shun me for what I can conclude is for my unpopular viewpoints. But it isn't these personal hurtful experiences with shunning that motivated me to write this post. I only have told you this so you know that I personally know what it is like to be shunned. But I am writing in reaction to what I read over and over in the news last week. The holiday advice from the provincial government was to only invite the vaccinated. In a season of love how many are going to give hate in the form of shunning? Isn't Christmas the time to at least try to give a love that surpasses mortal definition? What if in giving love it becomes a missed opportunity to transform and elevate one's own spiritual experience? Will I live to bless humanity or to bring shame, fear and pain in the hearts of other's?

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