The Creator's Praise

The birds with their music 

The leaves with their glow 

The river a flowing 

The wind it does blow

The sun shinning brightly

The sky very blue

The lilacs all scented 

Sing praises to You

Can you hear their praises?

Do you see His face?

Can you feel His presence 

when all seems disgraced?

He's trying to show you

His love every day

So keep your eyes focused

and look for the way

Sometimes it's too easy

to forget His love

We fret and we worry

and don't look above

But God will be watching

and waiting for us

To notice the blessings

He's made just because 

So stop what you're doing

and look with delight

The things God will show you

will make your heart light

You'll want to start singing

 and dancing for Him

To thank and to praise Him

for love He's given

tidbits and blessings

    The last few weeks have been a little discouraging, looking for work, daily scrolling through Kijiji, emailing resumes, making phone calls, or trips into the city checking for work. Still I wait.... but hopeful of possibilities around the corner.

     We are also looking for a new place to rent. We have to be out of our current place by July 15, so we've been looking around for the perfect place, in size, price, and location. There are definitely many places out there available to rent. It's hard trying to figure out what is the BEST place for us. If I had a job already lined up, that would answer a lot of questions.... but the future is unknown.


     However.... I have truly been blessed lately. Janelle Glick, the lady of the house we are renting from now, takes good care of me. She loves to talk, and gives me ideas of places to check out for work, helps me write a resume, gives us some of her AMAZING chicken and potatoes, invites me to do things with her, and lets me take her boys out for walks. She is really an amazing lady, and we are becoming good friends. One day last week she invited me to go with her to a Mother Daughter sewing circle at her church. Her mom couldn't come so she asked me. (Janelle is about 2 years older then me) Normally it really wouldn't be my thing, but because she was only going for a few hours, and I had nothing planned I decided to go along. Plus there was a huge carry-in dinner. :) So I went, and immensely enjoyed myself. I met a few, old, MBS, acquaintances, and had fun meeting new, oldish, Mennonite, ladies. And the food was AMAZING!
     One day I took Dante for stroller ride. I was amazed at all the different smells. Dirt, diesel, fresh cut grass, a variety of leaves, flowers and bushes, rotting carcasses, fresh bread, and laundry detergent, just to name a few. Plus there were a few unrecognizable smells. I marveled at how an inch wide space on my face, could take all these different smells in, and my brain would recognize each one separately. What an amazing gift, the sense of smell.
    This morning Janelle and I got up early and went garage saleing together. It was much fun!!! We found some really amazing deals, and it was just fun being out with mobs of other people, looking for that "really good bargain." I found some much needed double size sheets for $1, an espresso machine, a french press for Twila, and I bought my first cookbook for $.50. Yes it was a good morning, rain and all.
     We are now planning an excursion to value village, and Joann's fabric sometime in the near future. Neither of us enjoy sewing, so that's unfortunate.


     Last night Kendra Frey, a good friend I met at SMBI, and I went out for coffee. We had a nice LONG chat, until the coffee place closed, then we went walking down the streets of Elmira. We walked and talked, and shared our hearts, and laughed, and really had a good time.


So yes, God is good, friends are fun, and I'm learning to wait, rest, and trust.

Prayer

    I've been thinking a lot about prayer. God has been speaking and prompting me to pray more. He's been showing me, that NOTHING is too little to pray about, and as I wash the dishes I pray for the little things in life. God delights in answering. But more then that, it changes, and deepens, my relationship with Him. It inspires me to praise Him for ALL that He IS doing! Cause God is working, in HUGE ways, through little things. Prayer is powerful!

"There is no power like that of prevailing prayer, 

of Abraham pleading for Sodom, 

Jacob wrestling in the stillness of the night, 

Moses standing in the breach, 

Hannah intoxicated with sorrow, 

David heartbroken with remorse and grief, 

Jesus in sweat of blood. 

Add to this list from the records of the church your personal observation and experience, and always there is the cost of passion unto blood. 

Such prayer prevails. 

It turns ordinary mortals into men of power. 

It brings power.

 It brings fire. 

It brings rain. 

It brings life. 

It brings God." 

Samuel Chadwick

  

Peace

 A cypress tree

      My thoughts have been going a thousand different directions the last week or so. Not only are they really confusing, but some of them aren't even worth mentioning. Last week Tuesday I packed up my car with all my important possessions and moved to Waterloo, Ontario. There were so many unanswered questions that clouded my mind. The main one being what I should do about the offer to teach at Countryside Christian School. But as I drove, great amounts of PEACE flooded my soul. I began praying and found that God was so very close and comforting. He was right there with me, giving me assurance that I was doing the right thing, and He would lead me. It was beautiful!! There are some verses in Isaiah that have been very special to me the last few years. They say...

       I will go out with JOY and be lead by the Lord, with PEACE. The mountains and the hills will break forth before me into SINGING, and all the trees of the field shall CLAP their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign of jubilant exaltation and memorial to His praise, which shall not be cut off.

      Isn't that beautiful! And yes, as I was driving God reminded me of my favorite verses. It was like God was saying... 

     "Amanda don't you see! I have an amazing plan for you! I am leading you to a new land, with new opportunities. Just rest in Me. You may be uncertain, and unsure of what to do, but I am guiding you. I will not let you go. I will not hurt you. Just trust Me, and follow My heart."

       What promises!!!! So I did.... but as the due date to give my answer to Countryside grew nearer I again found myself worrying about what to decide. I felt like if I would say "Yes" I would regret it, and if I would say "No" I would regret it. I again sought for God's guidance, and again He reminded me that He would lead me with JOY and PEACE. I prayed again and drove off to my meeting, still unsure as to what my answer would be. But as I drove I thought of all the little things that God had been showing me. All the little nudges, and signs that were pointing in the same direction. "But God," I said, "What if it's a wrong decision? What if I regret it? What if I fail? What if I get hurt? What if I feel like I'm in prison? I won't be able to get till next summer." The moment I started questioning and doubting, God again had to remind me...

     "I am HERE! I am with YOU! I am leading you. I have an amazing plan for you! Just trust me."
(You would think I would learn) :)  I gave it all to God and said, Ok, I will teach, my answer is yes. God is with me! He has a plan for me in this. Instantly great amounts of PEACE flooded my soul. I knew I had my answer. I knew I was following God's heart. The mountains and hills were singing, and the trees of the field were clapping their hands, but they weren't the only ones giving jubilant praise to God, my heart was free and light. God had spoken and given peace, why wouldn't I praise Him?

A myrtle tree