“HELLO THERE”

Well, it has been about 5 months since placing a post on the blog!  As I mentioned last November, we were in the transitional phase of moving from Surrey, B.C., Canada to Goodyear, Arizona, U.S.A.  Let me tell you, it was a BIG MOVE and I’m still settling into our new location.  

With an international move, this requires finding a new doctor, dentist, grocery store, hair salon, meeting neighbors, the mail carrier and a myriad of other “new experiences.”   By the way, I have met all the close-by neighbors, and just the other day, I introduced myself to our nice mailman.  I’ve promised him “cool drinks” throughout this upcoming HOT season they call Summer.   He arrives by 9:00 a.m., so I compliment his service with a cold drink first thing in the morning.  His reaction to this:  a big GRIN on his face.

Since I’ve been placed in a “new season” myself, I thought that I might introduce a new approach to this blog.  I think I’m going to call it:

COMPASS THOUGHTS or COMPASS THINKING

My reasoning behind this “new route” is that I’d like to just share with you some of what the Lord has been sharing and teaching me in my journey down here.   Since we’re all human, we experience similar challenges, fears, doubts and anxieties in our individual walk of faith as we continue to experience God’s faithfulness.

I’ve found that we “need each other” to encourage, challenge, correct and uphold one another.  One thing we all have in common is that we aren’t perfect, or do we  have our “act” together as we see it appear on many Facebook posts.  I rarely walk the pages of Facebook; my time is precious: and I’m not into what people had for lunch or how they appear “air-brushed” and “all-together.”  Sometimes perusing our cell phone information can be addicting and very “distracting” from the important things in life.

So, if you don’t mind, I’m going to pretend that you are on the other side of my computer screen and we’re having “tea” or a “latte” together.   I’m a “people person,” so I’d love your feedback or input anytime you’d like to share that with me.  Feel free to email me personally, and if you have “signed on” to receive my blog, your email address will be kept confidential.

My posts will be transparent and honest.  They won’t appear as perfect, so if there’s a typographical error, please grant me grace & mercy.   We’re walking this life down here in the grace and mercy of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  What a journey we’re on … but we’re not alone.

Someone has requested that I begin posting with the following poem.  Each of our lives “tell a story.”  Each day is a new page for our Creator/Author to work in, on, and through us. 

I appreciate this poem, because it states so clearly that our lives “do influence others.”   My prayer is that God will continue His work in us so that we more accurately reflect Him in our day-to-day living.

The Gospel According to You

Men are not reading the Bible today

They’re dashing about in their own reckless way.

Most of them don’t care what God has to say,

But brother, they’re reading you.

What is the gospel according to you?

Can people see that to Christ you are true?

Your neighbor reads your actions and deeds,

What can he read in you?

Timothy read what was written by Paul,

I like to read about David and Saul.

But most people don’t read the Bible at all

But brother, they’re reading you.

The gospel according to Matthew I love,

Mark, Luke and John point to heaven above.

They all fit together like hand in glove,

The blessed whole Bible is true.

But most people don’t care what Jesus has said,

Their minds may be keen, but their souls are so dead.

The Bible ignored – they read comics instead

But brother, they’re reading you.

You are writing a gospel a chapter each day,

By the deeds that you do, by the words that you say.

Men read what you write whether faithless or true

Say, what is the gospel according to you?

Anonymous

Published by Dianne Horne

I can’t think of anything I enjoy more than to see lives changed! There’s nothing more that puts “oxygen and joy” into my life than to bring the application of Scripture into the “shoe leather” of our lives and to share it with others. I feel awkward speaking about myself, but I understand it can be helpful to enable others to relate to and enjoy the work of our Lord does in other people. Another down-to-earth way of sharing who I am, is that I love to eat, laugh and to talk about the Lord. I’m not a very exciting individual, but my Savior sure is! I’ve been happily married for many years, and I now reside in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. God has transplanted my husband and I 28 times in our years together; and it is only when in His presence that you can ask the “why questions” as to the adjustments He’s brought us “to” and “through” in the numerous locations and countries we have lived. God’s care, love, forgiveness, faithfulness and moment-by-moment presence has not only carried me (when I had every reason to fall apart), but lifted me to a joy I’ve never known. There’s one thing to have joy when things are going great, and quite another dimension of joy and peace when everything in your world is crumbling and unknown. Most of our lives will appear like “ordinary oatmeal living”, but when we allow Him to “establish our steps”, He alone takes our mundane acts of kindness or aid and makes them “extraordinary” for His purpose in the lives of others. The seasons of caring for my parents and the associated grieving process has forever changed me. It was my honor, joy and privilege to participate with my Lord in what He was accomplishing in their lives, as they both gave their lives to Jesus Christ just days before they were escorted into His presence in heaven. The medical challenges and decisions that needed to be made for a number of those years thrust me into a trust and dependence upon the Lord that I had never known up to that point in my life. In my journey, I’ve come to realize that our “weakness” is our greatest “strength”, because real power, provision, and His purpose being carried out in and through our lives, depends on Him orchestrating such through His sovereignty. My “heartbeat of fulfillment” lies in sharing with women, in various settings, helping them to enjoy, study and apply the principles of God’s Word in a down-to-earth fashion. I thrive interacting with women and encouraging them to put their trust in the One Who knows them best and loves them extravagantly; and to prioritize “spending time alone with God each day” developing their relationship with Him. Our lives aren’t designed to just get answers to prayer….but to know and love a very personal Savior, and to surrender daily to “His plans, His agenda and purpose” for our lives. Several years ago I was challenged to respond to a critical question I had never considered: Why do you exist? What’s your purpose in life? I live to bring an expression of God in the ordinary events of life, seizing every opportunity of serving and delighting in others. I want my life to be an infectious expression of His love for others, and for them to know how special “they are” to Him; and thus be contagious with His grace. My life compass is: After people spend time with me, what do they think of Jesus Christ? The stories that will appear in my blog, are true events that have taken place in my journey. They’re all “very ordinary” circumstances that have occurred through sharing them with Jesus and watching Him orchestrate and demonstrate what He can do when we yield “our ordinary” to the Extraordinary One.

4 thoughts on ““HELLO THERE”

  1. Your story and the poem are good.and true. I hope for myself that I will always represent Jesus well.
    Marlies

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  2. A nice of such magnitude boggles my mind. Last April was my move from the family home, in Vancouver to Langley. Not a great distance. It was the going through the family collection. What to take, what to get rid of.
    Having mobility issues, has made it physically difficult. Not getting things done the way I like. Just not getting things done in a timely fashion.
    The new place is functional now. Not fully decorated. But fully sorted. It’s ok, I can function.
    Disoriented some, finding a good dentist, vet, new doctor, not going too well. Don’t like the vet, it’s awkward location & busy, impersonal. Going back to my own dentist & doctor.
    You don’t have that luxury of keeping your regular people, it’s too far. Mine will be 1hour drive, doable, but not the best.
    The new house is nice. Surroundings are nice.
    God wants me here for some reason I haven’t figured out yet.
    I’m nearer to my niece which is nice. It’s still a drive though.
    A move is difficult.
    Settling in takes time.
    Eternity awaits, Jesus will return, & our moves will be complete.

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    1. Hi Darlene
      Thanks for your note & comments. God has “transplanted us” 29 times! But one nice thing for you is that you’re not far from Vancouver, where you use to live. I find that we need to “look for the Lord” where we are….He always knows best….and yes, I can fully understand that you need to search out “new friends” and that takes prayer and effort. May you find peace and joy as you look out for others, even just to smile at or perhaps takes some baked goods to a neighbor. If God has moved you, He will sustain and help you each day. Stay in His Word and listen to Christian music…which uplifts our spirits as we think and sing the songs. KARI 550 AM radio is the Christian Station in Blaine, WA. You can get it in Langley. Excellent teaching…. ie Insight for Living, Truth for Life with Alister Begg, Charles Stanley, Dr. Tony Evans (Urban Alternative), Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah. I still listen to KARI here in Phoenix….on my phone. Wonderful teaching that can encourage your heart. A move is stressful, but learning patience day-by-day is one quality God can work in our lives “through a move/transition.” Praying that you’ll settle a little “each day.” Blessings & thanks for writing. Where abouts did you move in Langley? I’m familiar with Langley. We lived a 15 minute drive from there.

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