The Courtship of Zachariah and Cassidy (Part 1)

Now most of you who know me in real life will know that my son Zachariah recently got married to his first love, Cassidy.  Zach had vowed to himself that if he was going to spend as much as he was on tuition for university, he was going to use him time wisely.  He had plenty of time to meet someone after he was done with his studies.  God had different plans for him though.

Back in the summer of I think it was 2018, Zach was working at Camp Kawkawa.  He had put his other job with the Township of Langley on hold for the summer.  Mid way through the summer he learned that the Township needed a bus driver for one of their summer kids programs, so this go getter of a son of mine decided he could get his bus drivers license and do the job.  And that he did.  It was at this time he met this cute girl named Cassidy.  University started up again and Zach was back at his after school care job.  I recall as Christmas came around he was telling me that he was going to be changing schools because the other supervisor at the other school thought it would be best for her program to have a guy working at it. And so the story began!

Even though they had met during their summer programs, the two of them were now working on a daily basis together.  It was quickly discovered that they both attended Trinity Western University but probably would not have come across each other on campus as they were in two completely different programs and their paths would not have crossed.

Valentines 2019 I get this facetime call from Zach asking me about vases. Which would I think would hold flowers better.  I sort of wondered who it was that he was buying flowers for but I didn't want to ask too many questions.

In March 2019 we learned that Zach and Cass were dating.  It was now time for us to meet this woman that had captured his heart before he was even finished school.  We met up for dinner with the at the Spaghetti Factory in Langley.  They beamed!  The smile on Zach's face was like I had never seen it before.  I knew he was in love.

Zach and Cass both graduated from TWU in April, however Zach still had one more year in order to complete his education degree as well.  In May Zach took off on a missions trip to Africa and missed his loves birthday, however he really didn't miss it as she was well supplied with gifts and special events that Zach had pre-set up.  Mr Romantic!!  While in Africa he would hike all the way out to the water tower, climb up it to get cell service so he could text Cassidy.

In June the two of them continued working together for the Township as well as through the whole summer.  Those two were inseparable. I recall close to the end of the summer one evening it was just Zach and I that were home and he decided to tell me that he was in love and that he knew Cass was the one.  My heart was warmed!

Fast forward to October.  Zach had already asked Cassidy's Dad for her hand in marriage which her parents both gave him their blessing.  Cass's Dad had a friend in jewelry business so that's where Zach went to get that special ring.  Now he just needed to wait for it to be made.

October 10th I was sitting at home doing my bible study when I got a call from Zach asking me what I was up to.  I told him I was doing my study and that a little later I would be headed to Horseshoe Bay to get Naomi from the Ferry.  He told me he got the ring and now was the time for the proposal.  He needed my help.  What a wild goose chase I was put on.  First I had to call about some special long range lens for his photographer.  I tried and tried to no avail but as I drove to the ferry he called me and I was to pick it up in Abbotsford before 5 p.m.  I picked Naomi up by 3 and there I was smack dab in the middle of rush hour traffic trying to get to Abbotsford with a stop in Port Coquitlam for roses.  We got to Abbotsford, got the lens and now it was time to drop it all off to Zach.  Naomi and I arrived at the school where he was working so we texted him to tell him we were there only to be told to disappear because Cassidy was there.  We drove to a safe zone and waited for him to let us know the coast was clear.  We dropped off the lens and the flowers and got to see the beautiful ring.

The next day was the proposal day.  It was also thanksgiving weekend and I was working the advanced polls for the election.  I knew the proposal was going to take place on the dyke in Maple Ridge as both Zach and Cassidy loved the mountains that were in the background.  This was also a significant spot for Zach as this is where him and my Dad used to walk.  Zach recruited the help of a couple of his TWU buddies.  As he and Cass where to walk the dyke, they were to set up a pathway of tea lights ending at a heart shape of purple roses.  Cass's parents were in on it as well and had brought their VW Westie out, decorated it with photos that Zach had provided.  Over the past months Zach had been putting together a scavenger hunt for Cassidy with puzzle pieces he had made.  Today was when she would find the last piece.

 

A few photos from the engagement

I was sitting on pins and needles all day wondering if it had happened yet.  Finally the two of them showed up at my polling station and I was able to congratulate them.

Wedding plans were underway!  The date of June 26th 2020 was selected.  They had a lot of very cool ideas that would require a lot of work but since they had the time, they knew they could do it...and then COVID 19 hit! 

He is my hero! #11

UPDATED JULY 14, 2025

This is my Dad, Gerard Winkel.  I met him about 64 years ago when I was first born to him and my mom. (No that's not my Mom in this picture, that's my Oma Romeyn at my wedding some 27 1/2 years ago). 

My Dad was my hero.  He was such a godly man. On the evening of July 15, 2006 we got a phone call that my Dad had passed away into the arms of Jesus. A place where he longed to be, a place that we all hope to go to.  David and I dropped our kids off at my friend Ingrid's place where they spent the night so that we could go and spend time with my Mom and sisters.  

I am so thankful that my kids were able to meet my Dad and spend time making memories with him.  Zachariah was born on my Dad's 62nd birthday.  I called my Dad in the wee hours of the morning (Zach was born at 3:27 a.m.) to tell him that I had a present for him....a grandson. 

Zach and my dad were inseparable. Even though we lived in Houston, we often got down to visit my family and if we were not visiting, we were on the phone with them.  Zach and Opa could talk and talk and talk.  Zach would wander around the house yapping and yapping, telling Opa this story and that and Opa would yap right back at him and then two of them were conversing. It was priceless.  When I was expecting our twins I had gone into early labour and was medevacked to Vancouver. David ended up bringing Zach down to my parents for them to look after him.  Zach and Opa just became even better buddies. Opa was a huge influence on Zach and often the two of them would be found together having their "Jesus talks."  As I would sit inside the house with the babies, looking out on these two having lunch, I would hear the odd "Pwaise de word" (Praise the Lord)  

Opa would have been so pleased with Zach when he picked Cassidy to be his wife.  I'm sure he was watching down from heaven during the celebrations.

In June 1999 my Dad became the very proud Opa to two little girls.  Rebekah Joy and Naomi Marie are the first and only grand daughters of my parents.  Right from the get go, Rebekah took a shining to Oma and Naomi took a shining to Opa.  Opa's nick name for Naomi was Opa's little woman.  Naomi could do nothing wrong in Opa's eyes.  When he and my Mom would stay for dinner,  I would make meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans. My dad made what he called a "prukje" (everything mashed together with ketchup) to help Naomi eat. He would let her eat on her own but once he was done eating he would help her out...one bite for Naomi, two bites for Opa.  It was amazing how quick she finished her dinner. 

As the girls got older, Rebekah grew closer to Opa as well. She loved when Opa would come over and they would play games while listening to Disney tunes.  We have one little video of the kids and Opa "dancing" to one of the songs from Jungle Book.  They were all elephants following each other blowing their trunk trumpets.  I am so thrilled we have those videos with my Dad in them, that we can look back on so that we don't forget those special moments.

When my dad passed Zach was 8 and my girls had just turned 7.  That means they had 7 and 8 years of memories to cherish.  I thought that as time passed it would get easier without my Dad however as my children reach mile stones I realized all the things he was missing out on.  My Dad did not get to see my kids all graduate with honors from high school. My Dad did not get to see all my kids graduate from University. Rebekah graduating with her Masters and now already finished her first year of her PhD. Zach and Cass  home from Australia and are all done with their Masters in SLP.  My Dad did not get to see Zach find his sweetheart.  I know Zach really wanted my Dad to know he had met the right one.

My dad did not get to see his "Little Woman" Naomi Marie, get married to the love of her life, Luke Warmerdam.  She's all grown up now Dad and she truly is that Little Woman!

Hey Dad....you are missed, very missed and there is never  a day in these 19 years that you have not been on my mind.  I love you!

A love story... #10

Way back in February 2001 I was asked to write a little piece for our church newsletter about our family.  I thought it would be cool to share this piece here in my blog.
David and I met each other when we were both at that point in life when we were not sure if we were every going to find that someone right. We were in our mid 30's when we first found each other.  Our love story was not your typical love story.  Back in the spring of 1995 I brought home the Christian Newspaper that was provided at church. Going through the paper I came across an ad which was advertising this type of "hook up" magazine called One to Another.  In this people could place ads in hopes of meeting someone.  I wrote away requesting the free sample copy they were offering.  I had forgotten about it until one day when it arrived in the mail.

I went through the magazine looking at the ads placed by prospective males, not sure what to look for.  I did not want to move away to another province so I concentrated on the ones that were in B.C.  One that caught my eye was M38.  It was a 33 year old male who lived somewhere in BC, he liked kids and was into sports.  I looked through the other ads, however I kept coming back to this one so I decided to write.  I had no idea what to write him. My Dad, who had over time observed me struggling with this reminded me that I needed to take things like this to God in prayer.  Instead I decided to write God a letter.  In my letter to God I told him what I was looking for in a man.  He had to be blonde hair, blue eyes, over 6 feet tall.  He had to be a grounded Christian, it was a bonus if he was from the Christian Reformed Church. He needed to be Dutch and most of all he had to love kids because I still wanted a family.

I wrote my letter to this M38, telling him all about me and I included a recent photo as well.  I mailed it and the wait was on.  The summer had passed.  I was on a trip to Disneyland with my sister Angela, when we called my Dad for his birthday on September 20.  It was at this time my Dad informed me that there was mail for me....in a red envelope. I could not wait to get home.

Upon arriving home, I took the letter and went into my room to read it.  A small black and white photo fell out as I unfolded the letter. In the letter David introduced himself to me.  What he wrote was almost exactly to what my letter to God said. He was a 6'1" blonde hair, blue eyed Dutchy from a CRC home. And the bonus was that he loved kids, in fact he was a grade 5/6 teacher at the Houston Christian School in northern BC.  We played telephone tag for a few weeks but finally hooked up mid October.  We would talk for hours on end with him often falling asleep after a busy day teaching.

We decided I would fly up to meet him in the beginning of December.  His good friends Bert and Anna were kind enough to put me up for the weekend.  I flew in on Thursday December 7th.  David had warned me that he may be a few minutes late as he had to drive from Houston to Smithers to pick me up.  I arrived and he was no where to be seen, but then suddenly there he was, the man I right then and there knew I was going to marry, coming to get me.  After getting my luggage, he took me to dinner.  I needed to give my parents a quick call to tell them that I had arrived safely and David wanted to talk with my dad.  I'll never forget him telling my Dad that he promised to keep me safe.

On our drive back to Houston David informed me that I was the moose watcher.  Apparently in the winter time there was an abundance of moose there that would trek over the roads to lick the salt.  I could not believe how starry the sky was that night.  Never in my life had I ever seen stars like that.  It was unreal.

Our weekend went well.  I was introduced to David's class on Friday morning.  He had shown me the night before how I was to walk from Bert and Anna's house to the school.  For me living in the lower mainland I had not ever experienced really cold weather.  In the mornings I would get up for work, wash my hair and take off for work.  Little did I know that you are not to leave the house with wet hair in such extreme cold weather.  After sliding down a hill on my butt because I lost my footing, I arrived at the school and my hair was frozen stiff.  The school secretary, Jean, told me not to touch my hair at all until it defrosted otherwise it would just break off.

On the Saturday night David had planned to take me to a neighbouring town, Telkwa where this young adult group he belonged to was having their Christmas dinner.  We drove together with a couple of other people because David's car was not really running well.  After dinner, on our way back to Houston someone in our car was not moose watching.  There in the middle of the highway was this HUGE moose.  The driver of our car swerved but instead of staying on the road, we ended up going down an embankment backwards.  No one was hurt but now we had to get out of this car that was stuck in this huge pile of snow.  Not for the life of me could I get up that embankment.  It was one foot up 3 feet down.  At one point they made a human chain and pulled me out of this embankment.  I had had enough in the way of adventures for the weekend...or so I thought.  On Sunday, the day I was suppose to fly home again, it began to snow and it snowed and snowed.  My flight was cancelled and gosh darn, I had to spend yet another day in Houston.  I think God was giving me a little taste of what it was going to be like if I was going to live there in Houston.

I had invited David to come spend Christmas with my family and he was more than happy to accept my invitation.  David left Houston after school on the 22nd, made it to Prince George and finally arrived at my place on the 23rd.  He celebrated Christmas with us and it was awesome.  On the evening of December 28 we had taken a nice walk along the board walk of the Lonsdale Quay.  David held my hand as we walked.  There were so many opportunities for him to kiss me but he didn't.  I have to say I was a little disappointed.  Finally back at home I got that kiss I so badly wanted.

David wanted to be back in Houston for New Years as the young adult group he attended was doing something special together.  His plan was to leave Friday the 29th at some point so he could leisurely drive back.  I was sad because I really did not want him to leave.  We walked hand in hand to his car and all the while I was praying, "Lord please don't let his car start! Really Lord, I'm not ready to have him go yet!"  David gets into his car and it's dead....deader than anything.  It would not even click over.  Lucky for him I had BCAA so we were able to get his car towed over to a garage and gosh darn, they were not going to be able to get to his car until January 2.  YES LORD!!!

In February David hypothetically asked me what I would say if he was to ask me to marry him.  And in April on his birthday he went ahead and asked.  Later that year in the summer, he and I flew to Ontario to meet his family and get their approval.  We were married December 28, 1996 (exactly one year to the day of our first kiss) and that afternoon/evening/night the lower mainland experience the snowstorm of the century.

On a side note, Zach was born on September 20 which was just 2 years after I received my first letter from David and it was also my Dad's 62nd birthday! (Yes he was born less than 9 months after we were married however he was 3 weeks early - our honeymoon baby)

In God we are fully known and deeply loved #9

Sorry about the font sizes.  I tried to make it all the same but for some reason......

"To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial.  To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.  It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us." Timothy Keller 

A little girl once prayed, Dear God, I bet it's very hard for You to love everybody in the whole world.  There are only 4 people in my family, and I can never do it? God's greatest love for you is a love without conditions. He loves you not for being good, clever or pretty or for going to church.  He loves you just for being you. 

My Mom was sharing a memory with me the other day.  As a child I recall one day going out with my Dad for a drive to downtown Vancouver because there was a girl there that wanted help getting away from the cult and drugs.  I remember driving home and almost every block we had to stop so she could throw up.  That's how strong the drugs were.  My Dad shared with her on our way home all about the Lord and how much He loved and cared for her.  When we got her into the house, she basically had nothing, even no clothes. She really wanted to take a bath however we could not leave her alone in the bathroom.  My Mom stayed with her, helping her wash her hair.  After bathing she said it was like washing away her old self.  Susie was with us for a few days, learning about how deeply loved she was by God, however her addictions were still very strong and she left our home.  The Lord loved her deeply but it was hard for her to accept His deep love for her.   

I want you to know that Jesus loves you, Child of God, He fully knows you!  He knows every single flaw and yet He still desires a relationship with you. The maker knows His creation.  Through His death on the cross Jesus offers to you and me a relationship with Him in which we are fully known, fully loved, and fully accepted.  Not because we are not flawed, but because Jesus wasn't and He has covered us and provided the perfection we need.  

God is still working in me. Not everything, but so much more than all I could have imagined before.  My deepest desire is to be fully known, fully loved and fully accepted...and yet I know that I already am.  Jesus knows every single thing about me, and he still loves all of me and I am fully accepted though His blood.  

Come, let’s shout joyfully to the LORD, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Let’s enter his presence with thanksgiving; let’s shout triumphantly to him in song. For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods. The depths of the earth are in his hand, and the mountain peaks are his. The sea is his; he made it. His hands formed the dry land. Come, let’s worship and bow down; let’s kneel before the LORD our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care. Today, if you hear his voice: Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the wilderness where your ancestors tested me; they tried me, though they had seen what I did. For forty years I was disgusted with that generation; I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray; they do not know my ways.” So I swore in my anger, “They will not enter my rest.” Psalm 95 

Fully Known & Deeply Loved Verse 1 Even in my weakness I am not alone That's when You're the strongest That's when You bring hope I'm not a disappointment Even when I fall Your grace for me is constant You've seen me through it all Chorus There's one thing I'm certain of I'm fully known and deeply loved I'm no slave to what I've done I'm fully known and deeply loved Verse 2 Your light chased down my darkness My hiding was in vain But You never called me hopeless You called me by my name You have called me Righteous I can't outrun Your grace The blood that runs through Christ is Running through my veins Bridge As I am I am enough Nothing to prove Or to become I am found I'm found in Your love Forever I'll sing Of all that You've done

Abiding #8

John 15:4-10 ESV Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Abiding in the vine is more than just going to church and hearing a sermon preached once a week. True abiding means seeking an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Just like any relationship, it takes work. The more intimate the relationship, the more work it requires.  Jesus Christ gave His very life for us. All He asks of most of us is to be fully surrendered to His will and to walk in fellowship with Him.

In my last blog post I spoke of the spiritual gifts. If we are going to produce spiritual fruit in our lives, we must be in constant fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot do what God has called us to do apart from Him.  The word abide means to STAY (in a given place). Abiding is crucial to experiencing a fruitful and abundant Christian life. We cannot experience the fullness of God’s blessings if we do not walk with Him.

My parents knew the meaning of abiding in Him.  They knew we can do nothing apart from Christ and the Christian who tries to live in their own strength will not produce fruit and will eventually whither up and die spiritually. This was something we as their children also learned from a very young age.  

Growing up my parents had a ministry to young adults.  They had a heart for those that were seeking out who Christ was and how they could live a life in Him.  Already back from early childhood, I observed my parents and how the love they had for Jesus was so evident.  My parents had friends who lived on the other side of town and along with them we participated in bible studies that were attended by a lot of young adults.  

Now to provide a little history, in Vancouver there were two cults - The Children of god and The Jesus People Army.   The Children of god was founded in California during a time of hippies and sexual liberation.  Female members of the COG were expected to lure in men by having sex with them. Children were sexualized and sometimes sexually abused at an early age. Thousands of members worked like slaves raising money to support the shadowy sex-driven lifestyle of the group's leader. You have to totally submit yourself to your leader, to the person in charge. No matter what they ask you, you have to obey and being single, you were asked to go out flirty-fishing. That means going into a bar or restaurant or hotel and meeting some people to ask for the mercy of Jesus in their heart in exchange for a donation. I'm sure you get the picture.  The JPA was very similar to the COG.  These cults had houses in the downtown Vancouver are and this is where you'd find these young adults. As well in both these cults there were drugs involved.  

(Small disclaimer here - these are stories as I recall them as a child.  They may not be 100% factual but they are pretty close.) The friends of my parents, Ron and Shirley, along with others I'm sure, first started a bible study in the home of R & S.  From there they went on to running a coffee house in a large warehouse type of building right at the foot of the underpass in Port Coquitlam.  From time to time, my Dad would head downtown and bring home strangers.  These strangers that came were often on drugs, and although they knew the scriptures somewhat it was often a distorted version.  My Mom and Dad, as well as others would spend hours on end ministering to  these young people.  I later learned what they were actually doing was deprogramming them, getting them off their drug of choice.  They would envelop these young people as they were attacked by the enemy - the drugs they were on and this distorted form of religion they knew.  This was not an overnight fix for my parents.  These young people would be prayed over for hours, scriptures would be read to them, songs would be sung to them.  The transformation was unreal, sometimes like a butterfly emerging from their cocoon.  I will never in my life forget Bryan or Richard.  We were like their little sisters. 

All the while, my Dad still worked a regular job and my Mom was caring for us and now all these others.  I recall on more than one occasion, my Dad would come home from work and my Mom would pull him aside, showing him what little we had left in the fridge or cupboards.  There was not even enough for them to feed us, their own children. These young people would be sitting around waiting for dinner as well.  The door bell would ring.  Was it Ron or Shirley bringing over someone else?  Who could it be? No one was there, but what was there was bags and bags of groceries.  My Mom would call over everyone to help carry them all to the kitchen. There was more than enough for all of us. 

My parents demonstrated to us kids what it meant to ABIDE IN HIM.  Their constant faith and dependence on Him for all they had and did.  They took that step in faith when they adventured out in this ministry to young adults.  My parents experienced the fullness of Gods blessing on their lives.  

I have much more where this came from and maybe one day soon I'll share a little more. 

Growing #7

Knowing and Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

Have you read Galatians at all lately? Recently I was prompted to take a look at the book of Galatians.  Attempting to try and achieve what this passage is conveying has always been a goal of mine. Something to strive for, however, I must confess I am not there yet. I am learning that each fruit is a characteristic of the Holy Spirit’s active presence in our daily activities. This month here in my editorial I'd like us to look at each one and ask some  questions that I have been asking myself, to make sure we’re healthy.

Love I don't feel the word love (agape) here refers to those warm fuzzy feelings you sometimes get, but rather to a deliberate attitude of dedication and devotion to others. This type of love gives freely without looking at whether the other person deserves it or not, and it gives without expecting anything back. Can I motivated myself to do this for others like Christ has done for me? Or do I just love others because I am looking to get something back? 

Joy I think the type of joy that is spoken of here is gladness that is completely independent of the good or bad things that happen in the course of the day. In fact, joy indicates a supernatural gladness given by God’s Spirit that actually seems to show up best during hard times. This is because you are fixing your focus on God’s purposes for the events in your life rather than on the circumstances. Sometimes I question myself; am I experiencing a joy of life on a regular basis, or is my happiness dependent on things going smoothly in my day?

Peace  I recall many years ago in a conversation with my Dad about the peace of God.  He reminded me that peace is not the absence of turmoil, but rather it's the presence of tranquility even while in a place of chaos.  My Dad said that peace is a sense of wholeness and completeness bringing contentment in knowing that God controls all the events of my/our day.  I still sometimes wonder why I find myself frazzled by the crashing waves of turmoils I sometimes have in my life, or am I experiencing what Phil 4:6-7 says where it talks about "the peace that passes all understanding."

Patience Other words that describe this fruit of patience are lenience, long-suffering, perseverance, and steadfastness. Having God given patience provides me with the ability to endure wrongful treatment from life or at the hands of others without lashing out or paying back. Am I able to keep a godly perspective when people irritate me or things go wrong?

Kindness Did you know that when kindness is at work in a person’s life, they look for ways to try their best to meet the needs of others. It is moral goodness that overflows as moral goodness expresses an essentially new and higher sense of the idea of value. It’s also the absence spite.  I try and ask myself, is it my goal to serve others with kindness, or am I too focused on my own needs, desires, or problems to let the goodness of God overflow to others? I really hope it's to serve others. 

Goodness Goodness reflects the character of God. With having goodness in you, you desire to see goodness in others.  Does my life reflect the goodness of God?  What can I do to help other experience God's goodness at a deeper level in their own lives? God is good: it's not just what He does but rather it's who He is and who He is NEVER changes. 

Faithfulness A faithful person is one with real integrity. Others can look to the faithful person as an example, and someone who is truly devoted to others and to Christ. Our natural self always wants to be in charge, but Spirit-controlled faithfulness is evident in the life of a person who seeks good for others and glory for God. When studying more about faithfulness I question - are there areas in my life where I act indifferent towards others or is my life one that is characterized by faith in Christ and also to those around me? 

Gentleness  Gentleness is not without power, it just chooses to defer to others. Meekness is not weakness. It forgives others, corrects with kindness, and lives in tranquility. Gentleness does not mean you are headstrong or brash. Gentleness allows the grace of God to flow through you to others. 

Self-control We are told in the bible that our fleshly desires are continually at odds with God’s Spirit and we always want to be in charge. Self-control is literally releasing our grip on the fleshly desires, choosing instead to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. I ask myself from time to time, am I allowing the Spirit to direct me to things that please God or am I allowing my desires to control my life?  One last question that has come to mind after studying Galations 5 is, am I willing to confess to God that His ways are better than mine, and that I need the Spirit’s guidance to live? 

  GROW STRONGER IN YOUR BIBLE

GROW STRONGER IN YOUR FAMILY COMMITMENT

GROW STRONGER IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE

GROW STRONGER PHYSICALLY

Hope - a special word from my daughter Naomi #6

Be Inspired

By Naomi Stuive

Hope

A few weeks ago my sister and I decided to paint some rocks to place around our favourite walking spot. We thought it would be fun for neighbourhood kids and families to spot some cute painted creatures and read the encouraging messages on our rocks all the while it would be fun for us too to find hiding spots for them far enough into the bush but not far enough that they couldn’t be seen. We had hoped that these rocks, while being a small gesture would bring some joy and encouragement to those passing through. A few days later, however, after we had set out on our walk I became discouraged when the rocks began to go missing. These rocks I had thoughtfully and intentionally painted with messages such as hope, unity, and trust vanished. I had anticipated that some would go missing as kids may bring them down to the water or slip one in their pocket but to see them all gone so fast took me by surprise. This however made me realize that even though we may hope and even anticipate a certain outcome we can not expect how things turn out some things are just beyond our control and for me when my sister and I placed the rocks around the park they where then out of our control. We can hope that they would have lasted longer, hope that whoever did take them home enjoyed them but beyond that we just have to trust that while they were only temporary they were still enjoyed.

The word “hope” has been a word that has been on my mind lately. I believe the Lord wanted to show me something through this that I hope can be an encouragement to you. Sometimes we can place are hope in something and our expectations will fail or disappoint us. We can get so caught up in the anticipation that when something does not turn out how we wanted it to or what we thought would be best we can find ourselves feeling hopeless. It made me ask myself what am I putting my hope in? When I put my hope in something that is temporary it has become apparent that it does not always last as I expected. Rather, when I put my hope in the Lord who in his word he says is unchanging I know that He is faithful. I am assured that He knows what is best for me and I can expect that it will be far better than what I could have imagined for myself. So I leave you with this; rocks may come and go but the Lord remains faithful. Continue to put your trust in Him the author and perfector of your faith because he promises you a hope and a future far beyond what you could have ever hoped. Be encouraged- He wants the best for you!

- Naomi Stuive

God says #5

The other day when I was trying to come up with something to write for my opening editorial, I came across this picture. Now initially I had some other ideas of what I wanted to write but my mind kept coming back to this picture that I found. Maybe I'm just a sucker for beautiful sunflower pictures? I'm thinking that maybe I was just drawn to the message in that simple little picture. 

To be absolutely truthful, for me the struggle has been real ever since this Covid-19 pandemic has started. I am not typically one that sits at home day in and day out. I love getting out to the gym a couple of mornings a week; getting out and doing groceries, having coffee out with friends, visiting my Mom. For the first couple of weeks I was sort of okay with it. I was enjoying having my kids around; we'd grab a Tims once in a while to make up for not being able to go out for coffee.

Days have turned into weeks and weeks have turned into months. Almost three months now. In the beginning I would often find myself crying out to God asking Him why He was allowing this to happen. I mean, we have plans. Our son Zach and his fiance Cassidy were to be married in the end of June and now this!!  Come on God! In those times of questioning, God would send someone to reach out to me - a phone call here, an encouraging message there. In my mind I would think, "How can these people think so positively in times like this?" Then I was subtly reminded that God does not speak to us all in the same way. Some of us need to be reminded that God works differently in all of us. I needed to be reminded of this and that is where this pretty picture came into play

How can I get the encouragement I need directly from God? By surrendering myself to God and asking myself  "Who does God say I am"? These are awesome reminders of who God says I am.(Click on the bible verses if you want to see what they say. Then click your back button to get back to this screen)

God says you are UNIQUE: Psalm 139:13     

God says you are SPECIAL: Ephesians 2:10  2 Corinthians 5:17

God says you are LOVELY: Daniel 12:3  John 3:16

God says you are PRECIOUS: 1 Corinthians 6:19 -20

God says you are STRONG: Psalm 18:35    2 Corinthians 5: 14-15  

God says you are CHOSEN: John 15:16   Colossians 3:12 

Who does God say YOU are?

I declare! #4

I Declare

I declare I will experience God's faithfulness. I will keep my trust in Him knowing that He will not fail me. I will give life to every promise God put in my heart and I will become everything God created me to be.

I declare God's blessings over my life and my family's lives. I will see God's goodness. I will experience His surpassing greatness.

I declare I will choose faith over fear. I will fix my eyes on Him.

I declare I have the grace I need for today. Nothing I face is too big for God. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.

I declare it is not too late to accomplish everything God has placed in my heart.

I declare I am grateful for who God is in my life and for what He's done. I will see each day as a gift from God. My heart will overflow with praise and gratitude for all of His goodness. 

I declare a legacy of faith over my life. Not only my generation, but the generations to follow will be blessed. God's abundance is surrounding my life today.

I declare that God has a great plan for my life. He is directing my steps.

I declare I am His masterpiece. I am made in his very image. I am a son/daughter of God.

I declare that As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord! 

God who Chose me #3

Be Inspired

Our Fathers Love

Ephesians 1:4 says "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." 

Did you catch that? God's love for us isn't dependent on anything we do or don't do, blab, or omit. Our Father's love itself is what makes us whole and holy, not anything we can contrive, create or earn. And he's had us - you and me - in mind to be the focus of his love even before the creation of our world!.

What a calming, reassuring thought! Such indescribable security. To know that we are truly loved, regardless of how many times we blow it. Even if we react poorly, there's a way out. We are treasured, cherished, admired. God wants nothing more than to just love on us with His comfort and peace into our troubled hearts, anytime, anywhere! He never gives up on us, never loses hope in us, and His love endures through every circumstance. Wow I am overwhelmed just thinking about how much He loves me, so unconditionally. It's this love that carries me through and for that I am so grateful! 

Huisbezoeken #2

Huisbezoeken  Sounds like an old Dutch term doesn’t it? The actual translation for it is House(Huis) Visiting(bezoeken). Huisbezoeken is a lost “art” in the modern church. 

Back as a child, I vividly remember that once a year we either had a "huisbezoek" from the Minister or two elders. Typically they came in the evening and sat down with my parents for coffee. 

Back when David and I were first married, we lived in northern BC before we moved here to Maple Ridge. We moved here shortly after our twins Rebekah and Naomi were born and had our membership transferred here to MRCRC. Not long after our arrival we had our first "Huisbezoek". One afternoon when life was feeling rather hectic (when doesn't it feel that way when you have newborn twins and an 18 month old energetic son) there was a knock at the door. I opened it only to see an old High School teacher, Rick Spiers and his fellow elder Gary Bil. We didn't have much in the way of living room furnishings, but these two men didn't care. They spent the next hour or so holding babies, and playing with Zachariah. With Rick it was like renewing a friendship(my Dad was actually a friend of Rick so I knew him outside of school as well as in school) and with Gary it was making a new friend who just loved our kids. He even offered his daughter to babysit for us when we wanted to go out on a date.

Over the years we were at MRCRC we had occasional visits from either elders or the Pastor. Fast forward 10 years and we are now back again.  It was important for David and I to meet together with Pastor Tim and he obliged. Then shortly after David's Mom passed away, we again were visited by Pastor Tim.  Both these visits meant a lot to us, just knowing that some out there cared about us.

"Huisbezoeken" is not just restricted to Pastors and elders. 1 Peter 4:9 tell us "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling" and Romans 15:7 says "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Hospitality is suggested in the scriptures yet we see it as an optional part of the bible. For some people hospitality comes very natural and it's easy yet for others they feel it involves a lot of work and with our busy lives now a days, it's just nice to sit back and rest on a Sunday. Hospitality is an important endeavor, and it is a joy to those who extend it, as well as those who receive it. Love God, Loving our city, Loving one another!

May our goal and joy in hospitality be to build up fellow believers for the coming day when Christ will gather us to His home. The greatest "Huisbezoek" ever!

Words to inspire #1

Words to inspire

Let this be the year you choose COURAGE over FEAR!

You never know what will happen when you let go. When you finally let go of the fear that you won't be enough. You never know where your mind will wander or what you will start to think about or how you will make sense of how your life looks right now. But even while all this is happening within you, you are still allowed to experience the freedom with the unknown. The freedom to trust even though letting go can feel like the ultimate embodiment of emptiness and being alone, you are opening up. You are being strengthened.  Grace is more than enough for you here.

So dare to look beyond your fears. Say goodbye to the worries that you are not worthy and it's too late for you. Let this be the year you look back on a  day: "I never knew I had it in me.  I never knew I had the strength to do this and I am here I am.  Here I am, learning to come alive, through the wild of letting go. Early this year, I thought it was over for me. But now, I am so grateful that I chose courage and I kept going.  I may not know what tomorrow looks like, but I have found a river filled with life. I am starting to trust I can breathe in these unknowns. I can dare to come alive." Allow yourself to be open to the very hard work of trusting, You have not seen all there is to see and there is more ahead of you.

Being in the unknown will ask a lot of you but there is freedom within it, too......slow down and notice the world around you and how even here the Light pours through.  MHN

Philippians 4:13  I can do ALL things through Him who gives me strength!

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.