robin's journey

Picture from Simple Living "I will never"...were the words that flooded my mind when I first thought of the idea of actually speaking on a Sunday morning in my Church. First, I really never thought I would be asked. Secondly, I did not believe I could actually speak without throwing up or completely shaking in my shoes or shuddering uncontrollably. Thirdly, I did not believe I would have anything to say that someone would want to listen to. Well, I have learned not to say, "I will never!" I was completely wrong about all three of my assumptions. I was asked to speak for the seniors Sunday on May 16, it was totally appropriate considering I am on staff and the director for seniors ministry in my church. Secondly, I did not even feel like throwing up and I hardly shook at all. God has really been revealing to me that I have nothing to fear except for Him. Fear of man can paralyze a persons soul stopping them from being authentic and real. It does not m...

July was an extremely crazy, out of control month in my world. With the arrival of a new grandbaby, company, visiting patients in the hospital, deadlines both at work, and academically, I hit a period of needing to pull back. I was asked in a comment last week, “Where are you.” Well, I was hiding. Thank you Sojourner for asking. My brain decided to take a holiday from the numerous stressors that had build up before, and within the month of July. With this vacation of the brain, the creative process that I needed to write on the blog went completely on hold. Even reading has been an interesting experience, I just could not comprehend what I was trying to understand. Try reading a 600 page Theological book when you are in this place of numbness. I told my husband yesterday, my brain just does not want to click into motion to catch the creative sparrows that flutter around within my mind. Yesterday, while writing I felt like the imaginative thoughts were flying so fast, yet I just...

It is late, and as usual this is my favorite time to write. Last week I shared with you a video of my husband catching his first fish of the season. We have been trying to spend time with each other throughout our week. I enjoy joining him in what he likes to do, even if I do not fish! I usually read or write or sleep, last week I took a video. I simply like being in his presence. Yesterday, Murray surprised me by doing something I enjoy. Near our city, close to the South Saskatchewan river is a barn that has been turned into an eatery, with green houses, and a Saskatoon berry orchard. The Berry Barn has a unique menu, which includes the famous Saskatoon berry pie. Murray had never been there, we both had a simple supper, which was mushroom soup in a bread bowl. Followed with a berry dessert: My choice was cheesecake with Saskatoon berries, his was a berry surprise crumble. It is great when we can choose to be part of what another enjoys without complaining. Last week during ...

I really do not have time to write on my blog today, but writing is important and so is the blogging community in which I belong. Over the last few month’s I have been slowly going through Henri Nouwen’s book, Home Tonight , this book is a guide to finding our spiritual home in Christ. In the third chapter, a quote from Oriah’s book, The Invitation , inspired me to write. Her genre or label is under spiritual teachings, which could mean anything that goes (new age), but from a Christian view point her poem touched my heart and has lead me into deep reflection of what I ache for in my life. It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing. Oriah I have the same convictions in my daily life when I am around people. I long to hear what they are passionate about, what they long for in their life, and what core ache goes unmet. When I am visiting my friends who are retired the topic of what they ...

Over the last month life has not been easy in my home, I have alluded to this numerous times in earlier posts. My youngest daughter, 21, is bi-polar and has made choices in her life that have caused chaos to enter our family. It is amazing how our decisions not only affect us personally they affect those around us, if only we could realize the impact while we are making daily choices. I have noticed recently several of my blogger friends have written about how the negative words of our mouth and heart have a huge impact on our life. My daughter’s self-talk can be such a downer, for herself and our family. In the book of Psalm and Proverbs the words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts are a central theme. God knows how he wired us! What I have experienced is how the negative talk has affected every aspect of my own life. What I am learning to do is rise above the chaos and negativity by journaling about everything, getting it out of my heart, mind, and soul onto paper. ...

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul,"therefore I will hope in him." Lamentations 3:22-24 My focus this weekend will be on the wonderful hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness." God truly has been faithful each morning! His sweet mercies flow upon my home and life daily. I can honestly say, after journeying through the last two weeks of my life, I have placed my hope in Him. Great is Thy Faithfulness Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been thou forever will be. Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in thei...

If your thinking about what it means to live simply check out this website. It might be different than you thought. A thought I agree with from the Live Simply Website: Words of Wisdom at the beginning of Lent(25 Feb 2009) : We know we are beginning to live sustainably when we acknowledge, mention and delight in the love of those who sustain us; when we commit ourselves long term to others or another; when we give ourselves to our fundamental purpose in life. We live sustainably when we value what we have and need, not what others want to sell us. We recycle what is not needed, we do not recycle the relationships and commitments that underpin our very existence. We know we live sustainably when we find ourselves increasingly sad about the destruction of the created world that has been given to us as a gift by God.