O Canada!

Happy Canada Day!

We Pray For Canada

While the values of this country are diminished day by day,
may we lift your standard higher, to show the only way.
While folks claim their rights and freedoms,

lives are crushed beneath sins waves.
May we sound a warning siren, and tell them Jesus saves.
As we beam the gospel message, shining hope and grace on lives,
may they reach out for the lifeline,

that they may come to Christ.
Make us a lighthouse on the sea, drawing souls to faith in thee.
And in your strength help us to stand,

against attacks throughout this land.
Lord, shine the light of your salvation, in the hearts across our nation.
Lord, we pray for Canada, and your blessings from above.
As we pray for Canada, may revival start with us.

Every day, the values of our country are increasingly eroded. Immoral groups push for their rights, while the rights and freedoms of believers continue to be infringed upon. More and more children grow up without ever hearing about Jesus Christ. As the darkness of sin spreads across our nation, we as a body of believers have the responsibility to shine the light of the gospel through that darkness, in our own city, and across this country. We pray that God will continue to give us opportunities to spread his word, as he draws the lost to his saving grace. We'll be going to see the fireworks this evening, but I doubt I'll get pictures, so for a great fireworks display put to music go to CanFire, a Manitoba pyrotechnics company. Hope everyone has a safe, mosquito free day!

Manitoba Summer

My son, Justin took these pictures on Friday. There were tornado watches in the area, but all we got was thunder and then a downpour, but Justin caught this to the northwest of us.

I didn't pay much attention when Jerry said Justin was taking pictures of a tornado, so I was quite surprised when I looked at the pictures. Guess I'll listen to them next time!

Thankfully, it went right back up!

Years ago, when our older kids were in their teens, we had a trampoline. It finally wore out, but we definitely got our money's worth out of it! Brian has been talking about getting another one, so on Saturday he surprised the boys with it.

Stretching those springs is good exercise!

Notice their little supervisor in pink!

Proverbs 17:22a A merry heart doeth good like medicine:

First Bonfire of Summer

Summer has arrived in Manitoba!
We finally had our first bonfire, and roasted marshmallows.
Danny was already in his pj's, and you can see the sun setting behind them.
Do you think they have enough flames?!
What a happy looking bunch!

You'd never know they were having a good time....

Maybe they're sick of me taking pictures all the time!

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Tour Tuesday

Today's Tour Tuesday is posted on my Manitoba Gardens blog. Just click here for a boat tour at The Forks in Winnipeg.

Holiday Inn Winnipeg- Mini Vacation

This is where we have been for the past two days... taking a mini vacation with our boys. We only live 45 minutes from Winnipeg, but we seldom go there. It's a nice place to visit, and we had a great time, but it's always nice to get out of the zoo...I mean the city!

This is just a slide show of the hotel we stayed in. It really caters to families, with a huge play structure and a pool. Because it was during the week, it was fairly quiet too. While there we also went to the Imax...a first for two of our boys, and they enjoyed watching the movie with the 3-D glasses.

Besides some shopping we also went to 'The Forks' and had a boat ride, and then a short visit to the Assiniboine Park, but I'll save those pictures for Tour Tuesday.

Proverbs 17:22a A merry heart doeth good like medicine:

Counting Our Blessings

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how blessed we are to be a part of our church, Golden Plains Baptist Church. It has taken me many years to fully appreciate what we have, as Christians living in Canada, more specifically, in Manitoba. I know just how few churches there are that have what we have.

For instance, we have a beautiful church building, with no debt, on a sixteen acre piece of property that allows us to have many activities without going somewhere else. But more important than that are the families who fill that church; the people who work together for the Lord in so many areas of service.

We have a pastor who preaches the whole council of God, with passion, and with compassion; a pastor who upholds the inerrant, inspired, preserved word of God, as the standard by which we are to live, worship and serve; a pastor who works tirelessly studying, counseling, teaching and preaching, and yet he spends more time than any other man in the church, working physically to complete the building project. On top of all of that, he still takes the time to play ping pong or chess with our kids, or to join the teens in a soda pop tasting contest. I know there are many nights he doesn’t get the sleep that he should, and it’s only in God’s strength that he is able to do all that he does.

But I think there’s another reason that he is able to keep going….the Lord has provided him with an amazing help– his wife. I have watched her enlist help in projects with her infectious enthusiasm and positive outlook, and I’ve heard her respond patiently and sweetly to comments that could only be described as disrespectful. I’ve seen her work as tirelessly as her husband to finish any jobs around the church that she is able to, and I’ve experienced personally, her willingness to help others with projects that are important to them.

I’ve been thinking too, just how much our church does for our kids, to help them to grow spiritually, to learn to serve and to build friendships with other Christians. Every Sunday evening, our church has a time of fellowship, with couples taking turns supervising a playtime for the younger children.. Wednesday evenings, during prayer time, our kids have their own prayer and craft time. This fall, that will be expanded into a ‘kids club;’ a program that will help train our children to serve the Lord, but also a time of fun and games.

Every summer, we hold a camp meeting, where our kids have an opportunity to hear many preachers, as well as meet families from churches across Canada.
Our Juniors also attend camp, and this year we will be adding Daily Vacation Bible School.

As our boys reach their teens, they participate in our ‘Teen Lightening,’ during spring break, and teen camp, in the summer. If they choose to attend college or go on a mission trip, the church helps to make that possible.

After reading this, you may be thinking that we are way too busy at our church, but after many years of ‘nominal’ Christian service, and feeling like we couldn’t serve in certain areas, I couldn’t be happier! I can’t think of a better place for our family to work, play and grow together than at church!

Romans 13:11,12 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Colossians 3:2,4 Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Springtime Yard Work

Spring is finally here to stay in Manitoba, and that means we can get back to work on our yard. Our two acres was a yard site many years ago, so there are alot of old trees to clean up. This will be our third summer here; the first was spent building, and last summer we began to do some landscaping, but didn't get too far, as we had many other things going on. This year the plan is to clean up the rest of the mess, till, rake, and then plant more grass.

So, if my posts are shorter, or full of pictures of us working...or non-existent...you'll understand why! Here is the first installment of us working!

The huge trees towering over Brian are Cottonwoods.

You'll notice that the leaves here are just starting to come out...

...soon this area will be like a beautiful, park!

Here is Justin working hard....

.....and here is Justin showing off!
Every job needs a supervisor!

This area in front of our house was the only vegetable garden we had last year. This year we have a larger spot prepared, so we have decided to turn this one into more grass for Justin to mow!

Of course, there's always time to play!

If only there was time to take a nap!

Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Manitoba Gardens and More

Check out my new Garden Blog I hope you enjoy st