Fathers by Bill

Greatings from Atlin everyone! This is my first time writing on our blog and I would like to apolagize for that. I've thought a few times of what I might write to a general audiance but wasn't moved to do so until early this Father's Day morning.  I do love the idea of this blogging, of giving our friends and fellow Brother's and Sister's in Christ a way to follow where we are and what we're doing.  We have been very blessed to meet so many others in service of the King! Please continue to pray for us, Tammy and I both covet and cherish your prayers and support. Thank you!

It rianed all night here last night and any of you who have spent time in a RV will know how loud it can be. Anyway, it was a restless sleep and I finally decided to just get up at 5am this morning. I got dressed, grabbed a much needed cup of coffee and went for a walk through the freshly washed RV park.  As I strolled and listened to the early morning sounds of nature my thoughts went to Father's Day. I began to think about this buisness of being a Father.  What does it mean to be a Father?.....Are we men today being good Father's?........What do Father's need to be anyway?......How do we know if we're doing a good job as Father's?......What's the plum line?.....What should we be measuring up to?  As I emptied that first cup and all these questions rolled through my head. My thoughts went something like this.  I began to think of my heavenly Father.  Of course! HE, is the model we are to follow.  So if God is Our model....and I know I've read in scripture that God is love....then we are to be.....love? Hhhhmmmm.......love eh.....and what is love......Love is patient, love is kind, something, something, something......I know I've read that definition somewhere.......I think in the book of Corinthians?....Yes of course here it is,  1 Corinthians 13: 4-8.   

Our Father above is the model for us men. HE, is the perfect example of a perfect Father. HE is what we must make the plum line for ourselves as Father's. And HE.....is love. So allow me to re-write this familiar piece of scripture for all the Father's out there today as an encouragment and challenge for us.

Fathers are patient, Fathers are kind. Fathers do not envy, nor boast, they are not proud. They are not rude, nor self-seeking, they are not easily angered, they keep no record of wrongs. Fathers do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. Fathers always protect, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres. Fathers never fail.

Oh Lord, Father in heaven. Please forgive me for every time I've fallen short of this with my children. Please help me to fulfill this posistion as Father to those you've entrusted to me. Guide me and help me. Thank you Lord, for your perfect example. Thank you for being patient and kind and for keeping no record of my wrongs!  I praise you this Father's day morning for all that you are Lord! I praise you for your goodness to me! For my 2 amazing step-sons, my precious little girls, and my wonderful wife. You've blessed me with the gift of family and I praise you for that. Thank you Lord for my earthly Fathers as well and for other men that you've provided to help me along the way. I praise you and thank you LORD! Amen.  



  

S'mores

The wheels are turning! Last week we met with Pastor Irv here at the Atlin Christian Centre for dinner and we made some plans to get a few things going on here! Tuesday nights will be our prayer evenings. Nothing really structured, just praising and praying. We had one new attendant and he spent a couple of hours just dumping some stuff he needed to be rid of in his life. We prayed with him and talked and it was an amazing time! Friday evening we held the first of the Friday night fireside fellowships! We roasted marshmallows,  made s'mores, hot dogs and sang songs. We chatted to everyone who walked by and waved at all who drove by. We had a few people pull in and join us. It always takes awhile for people to see that it is "safe" to show up. Our goal for the camp fires is just to get the community members to come. There is no sermon at these, the music is camp fire guitar worship songs, but they would have to listen closely to the words to know this. We are really hoping to encourage people just to show up! Enjoy some fellowship and free food. In tough little towns it is so important to promote a sense of community and show that segregation is not on the agenda. Sharing a meal seems to be the universal language for fellowship. From the people we have talked too, the response when asked,why don't you pop over for a hot dog, is, well I don't go to church, or I am not a Christian. We just tell them after that, well we aren't asking you to come to church, just come hang out at the camp fire on Friday night! SO if you would pray that the local people would just feel like stopping in to see what's going on, that would be great!
    There are so many people desiring prayer and guidance for their lives. So many broken hearts and broken lives.We have had a great moments of acceptance  and encouragement the past two  weeks, a fellow from the village stumbled over in his drunken state to give us some worship cd's he thought we might like. He told us he likes the book of John, as his middle name is John. So Bill read scriptures to him, and drove him to his flight out to work in the bush for a couple of weeks. People have come asking questions about us and our changed lives. Our coffee pot is always on and I bake daily to share a treat with those who venture over or to take to the church to have goodies on hand there.We also have a handful of children from the village who come over faithfully every afternoon for freezies and play time with Ella. My studies are a real struggle but I don't mind a bit! Bill has more work than he can do by himself at this point. We will be happy when our friends arrive from Sylvan Lake Alberta in a couple of weeks! We are blessed, and feel so very humbled that we can be serving our Lord here in this way. God has so graciously answered our prayers to use us. Thank you again to those that have prayed for us and that are praying for us!

Ella & Pastor Erv sweeping the front deck of  ACC

As we excited as we are to be actually physically working with and for the church here and praying with people here, there is an obvious resistance also. Almost every time we have really pressed in and had a chance to pray with some one here or share our stories  and faith with some one , we get hit with an exhaustion or depression. We have come to recognize it and are praying against it, but would appreciate your prayers for covering for us also. Bill lost an Aunt this week and my Grandfather is hanging on to life by a thread, there are always things in the back ground , but we feel God's guidance and loving hand protecting us.

Blessing,

Bill & Tammy & Ella!

Follow Me............

So sorry it has taken me so long to get back on here. As I am sure most of you know we are in Atlin now, and have been for almost a week now. After 4 days  of  gorgeous scenery, hundreds of hills, thousands of bugs, and many bears and rabbits and moose, we arrived. Pulling into Atlin always brings back a huge load of emotions. It is so incredibly beautiful, but for both Bill and I it brings back a lot of memories. With the passing of my friend on May1st in Atlin, I was a bit nervous to pull into town in case I was overwhelmed with emotions and grief.

As soon as we pulled off the Alaska highway and onto the Atlin Hwy we hit construction and as Bill and I sat in the truck with slight apprehension in our hearts, we were greeted by a very weathered Northern beauty flag person, controlling the traffic through a very large construction site on the hwy. It hit me like a ton of bricks as the lady explained that a pilot car would be taking us through the heavy equipment section and that it would be just a short wait until we were ready to roll, and because we were the first ones in line to stay close to the pilot car. As the pilot truck pulled up and made a u turn through the mud and backed up to us I started to weep. Follow me, those were the only words I could see. I remember when I first came to be a believer 7 years ago my favourite scripture in the bible was, when Jesus said to Peter, "follow me". I loved the simplicity and comprehensiveness of that statement. He didn't say the road will be tough in spots, you may need four wheel drive, and other times there will be clear sailing, however, watch for wild life...........He just said "follow me". So as we endeavour to follow Him where He leads us, I can honestly say I felt so happy He sent the message, that He is leading us through the rough spots. There have been a few rough spots, but His grace always shows up when we need that encouragement to keep on. To time and time again reaffirm for us that He has work for us, work for Him. All the time working in our hearts, and in our lives.

Upon arriving in Atlin, as the first rv'ers of the season here, we were made "the office" for the RV park in town so the owner could go back down south for a few more weeks. We are parked directly across from the local First Nations Village and the back of the RV, our bedroom, faces right out onto the most amazing lake view ever. The sun doesn't set til well after 10:00 pm and rises shortly after 3:00am. The view out the back of the RV is breath taking, so is the view out the front, but in an entirely different way. We have two bald eagles perched right out  in front of the RV, one on each power pole in front of us. Feels like they are watching over us.

Our first Sunday at the Atlin Christian Centre was great! I think there were 12 in attendance including us, but it was a great service. You can just feel that the Holy Spirit is there! Pastor Erwin has does a great job renovating and expanding the church. I think that he is really in his element here.  We will be heading out to the reserve tonight to pray there in one of the elders homes. We met him last summer and started a prayer night there that has managed to carry through all winter! After the hockey game of course. Bill has been over whelmed with work here. Everyday he gets more and more and more. We are so grateful and humbled by the way that the Lord looks after us.  Please pray for us as we engage with the town. We have had several locals from the First Nations Village wander over to chat with us. We explain to them about how God delivered us from our life styles here and how there is hope to break free from the bondage.

God bless you all!

a perspective of praise

Well it is a rainy Monday in Southern BC. The river is flooding, the trees are green and we are down to only a few days until we leave. I can't help but be overwhelmed and moved to tears this morning. God is truly so very good to us.We spent yesterday puttering around the yard and doing the last minute  oil changes etc.... We had an amazing time of fellowship with Pastor Joe and Denise and Joe's Mom May. We had a lunch here at our place at the lake and then talked R.V's as we often do. We bid each other fairwell, plotting map's and approximate times where our paths may cross over the next few months. They prayed for us before they left and Bill and I just basked in the grace that has been shown to us. We headed into the River Valley church for a Monday night prayer and worship meeting. Bill brought out his guitar and we all worshiped and prayed together until well after Ella's bed time :).

I just want to post some of the highlights of our amazing last week. Bill and I were a bit nervous when we got all geared up to head North, would there be enough providence to pay the bills while we were there? It is a long trip and will be at least $1000.00 in fuel towing our fifth wheel. Bill has had more than enough work here and we are feeling confident heading to Atlin. We prayed together for the Lord to open doors for work while we are up in the North and almost immediately Bill's phone has been going off the hook. We have several big jobs to do in Whitehorse, and Atlin and even a job in Tagish. We have almost being feeling embarrassed by the out pouring of God's providence to us this past week, all the details have just fallen into place. We received a call from the only RV park in Atlin and he is needing someone to look after it for a few weeks while he is away due to family circumstances, so there is our RV slip paid for a good chunk of the time we will be there!  Detail after detail, things just keep falling into place.

As we load groceries and clothing into the RV, I just can't help but be so excited about what God has in store for us. We have had an interesting session of opposition which I am not going to write about, because I don't feel like giving the enemy the glory of even putting it to paper. Through it all though, we have known what it is and where it is coming from and have been able to maintain a sense of peace. Bill and I as a couple made a commitment to stand and hold an attitude of praise. It is difficult at first when things go wrong our gut reaction is to get all upset and lament, but with practice it becomes easier and easier to find the good in the situation and praise through it. I realize that this is just the beginning of a way of life we are hoping to maintain, and that there will be lot's of things to practice over! The other day my brother cut his hand with a circular saw and I got the call to help him with his son while he went for stitches. I was prepared for the worst when I arrived and started praying the second the key was in the ignition of the Ford,  when I got down the hill  to my brothers place I was relieved that all his fingers where attached. I immediately started to praise and be thankful that God had saved him from something much worse, and wouldn't you know it, halfway to the hospital even my brother was in better spirits and able to see the grace in the situation. That and it got him a couple of hours off work! :)

Pastor Gabe hit the nail on the head again in his Sunday sermon. If we are looking for something to complain about, we will find it. So many of us show up expecting to be disappointed to what ever it is in our lives, and sure enough you will be disappointed. Please join in prayers with us that we will ALL be able to stand in a position of praise, maintain our peace and joy. I believe that JOY is what sets us apart from all the others on the street, not self righteous or accusing attitudes, but joy that we have in our hearts!  I think when others see JOY and LOVE in our lives they will be attracted to that. Who wants to be a down trodden miserable Christian! Again, Pastor Gabe thank you, this line of your sermon will stay with me forever I hope............when others go on about what God isn't doing in their lives I WILL testify to what HE is doing!


No matter were you are at today I encourage you to seek His face, and put things into a perspective of praise and thank Him. You will be surprised to see how much more thankful you will feel at the end of the day. Go ahead and love each other today.

prayers for Slave Lake, Alberta

Well another week has passed, I keep thinking that I will be posting every couple of days, but that just doesn't seem to happen.We are at 13 days 'til lift off today. The list of things to do is pretty substantial. The new trailer has a few issues, and we will need to decide, when , how and where the work will take place. Yes, you can be sure that I am thankful for having an RV Tech for a brother, the who would be doing the work was decided immediately! Last week of course had some difficulties, but I am over whelmed with a sense of peace, that things are just going to work out how God wants them to. I have surrendered this to do list over to Him, because there are just way too many details to worry about, even for a details girl like me!
While this is easy enough to say, it is difficult to fully walk out, because what if He doesn't work things out the way I want them to go? Just saying.............and that is  whole other rambling!

This morning my prayers turned to Slave Lake, Alberta, where a massive fire is burning and the entire town has been evacuated. There are times when the magnitude of loss is far to great for my  mind to comprehend. I struggle with attitudes that I hear, like " well it's a sign of the times". You do not have to be a scientist or spiritual guru to see there are troubles with the weather and the political climate. You only need  to watch the news. Not everyone is called to be a missionary, or preacher, or teacher, but we are ALL called to pray. Pray for one another and love one  another. Prayer makes all the difference. It is our instruction from our Father to pray.
This mornings prayer brought me to this, it takes too little faith to resign to  the attitude that these are signs of the times and there is nothing we can do. I thought about the line of scripture we use so often, for we walk by faith and not by sight. Try it, close your eyes and walk through your house, it's work, faith is work. It takes commitment and there will be trials.  It is a gift, an amazing gift that is complex and profoundly unique and holds inexplicable outcomes for those who possess it in great amounts. That being said, those with great faith didn't get it by having a perfect and easy life. The only way to gain more is to use what you currently have.
So Lord, today I pray that there will be Christians every where that pray in faith to you Lord. That we will pray for our country. We will continue to pray for our leaders, from the Prime Minister to our Pastors, and specifically for the folks in Slave Lake. Lord I pray  that there would be an amazing out pouring of Christian generosity and charitable out pourings to the people in Slave Lake. That there would be such an undeniable act of brotherly love, that it too would make the news, not just the devastation. For I will chose to uphold my brother, so the whole world will see that we are not alone!
Amen.
Tammy

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One big week, one full closet.

Well, a lot can happen in one week. Yes, we all know that, but sometimes, doesn't it feel like maybe there is just too much in one week? Last week on May 1st we headed back over to Alberta to pick up our fifth wheel and get a few appointments tidied up there. On the drive over, I received a phone call that a very dear, long time friend of mine had been killed in a Helli skiing accident. This friend had been my employer and a close friend of mine for years before I had left Atlin. The Helli skiing industry was a serious love of mine. it was a time in my life that I thoroughly enjoyed. I grieved harder than I have grieved for a very long time. I wasn't ready to not see my friend again, I don't know if he was saved in those last few moments of his life. AND I had to let go of that last little bit of the old Tammy, I obviously had been clinging too. It hurt and I felt guilt at being so grieved at this loss? It took some words from a friend to point out to me that in the Bible there is a lot more about being chosen, than our having choices for how things turn out. I reflected on this long and hard. The rest of the week, was crammed with long hours of driving, studying for a neglected course, more news of distant relatives passing, my wonderful and amazing husbands birthday and preparation for Mother's Day .Oh yeah, and the Federal election, and news of Osama's death............One  big week.

As exciting as the journey for us is at times, there are moments when I wonder why me? Why us? The more I think about all of it the more it brings me back to how little I know, but long for a deeper understanding of God's ways. So, the following words ares a lot of things I don't know, and some I know for certain due to my experiences in the last year.  The whole issue of healing, is a why me.  Last May, when I was healed of my ridiculous allergies.............I went to a prayer meeting, not having any idea what to expect. I felt a lot of things, but nothing I could exactly describe in detail. I did know for certain that  the Holy Spirit was there. At the end of the night, the lady next to me, said "Wow, not sure what, but you where definitely healed of something".  I am sure I had a very transparent look on my face, that said,  Wow, I have no idea what you are talking about. On the drive home, I remember being upset with my Mom for not telling me that I smelled of onions.............I had been cooking all day prior. Two days later it occurred to me that I had not taken me allergy medicine cocktails. I used to  have to take two Benadryl at night, pop Reactine all day and used a variety of steroid nasal sprays and inhalers, etc. I was normally in complete misery for the entire allergy season..............spring and summer. I did not pray for myself to be healed of allergies, quite frankly it hadn't occurred to me to do so. No one else to my knowledge prayed for me, at least not admittedly or out loud, and I don't think anyone there would have even known allergies were a big problem for me. The pieces started coming together. I noticed I smelled like onions after the meeting, I didn't notice before, because I couldn't smell it. Then I started to take deep breaths! I realized that I was drug free! I felt like a million bucks! I didn't have my allergies! I wanted to throw a party!

 I didn't ask for a healing,  God chose to heal me. There was no one preaching over me, or proclaiming anything............just quiet prayers for others. HE just did it.  That's Mercy.

It was enough for me to get excited about things. It was enough to get Bill and I excited about working for God, and excited enough to let him use us, no matter how bizarre the plan seemed to look. It was enough for me to feel completely loved, at random, from my Heavenly Father. He just picked me to heal of  my dreadful allergies, so I would feel cared for at a time in my life when I really needed it. God knew what was in my heart.It was enough for us to feel moldable, and leadable. It was enough for us to (months later) decide to walk away from the big house at the lake we had been so desperately trying to hang on to and the life style we were hoping for. Enough for us to say, O.k. Lord, let's do this!
That night at the Monday night prayer meeting, I was harbouring hurt, rejection and bitterness in my heart from serious emotional wounds I received earlier that winter. I had been separated due to work from my husband for the five months prior and pretty sore about that experience too. ( Hurt and lonely!!) We had been in a tough spot financially and he had to go away to work. We were both  having a tough time seeing what God's purpose and plan for us was at this time in our lives.

 My heart wasn't "right",  (as I have heard the coin phrase used in regards to some receiving healings and others not recieving healings)it was broken and hurt, and I am a regrettably sinful human. If you need to have no sin in your life to be healed and pure heart, than I failed the enterance exam but still passed the test? Having experienced the healings I have I also understand  more fully now,  that Jesus dealt fully with my sin a long time ago,  once and for all on the cross, and I received that forgiveness in it's completeness the moment I accepted him into my heart.  I need to thank the many Pastors in our lives and of the three churches we attend regularly* in two provinces for  helping me receive the message of forgiveness in it's entirety. That is "The Good News"! I do know that God calls us to continually clean out our "closets" and make more and more room for him as we grow in Him. But, I also know, that my "closet" wasn't that clean that day. I have been showered with grace and mercy from our Lord. I also have no more unforgiveness in my heart about that issue any more and I understand the dangers of harbouring unforgiveness! More room for joy  and praise when you get rid of the other stuff! God showed me clearly what that can do to my heart and health. God knew of course, that it would be enough to prompt Bill and I, on to a new, deeper walk with Him.  AND I know that God uses flawed vessels, for we are such flawed vessels.

I know not much about the doctrines of healing, I just know that it happens. So why use me(us), as I know so little? I only know when the Holy Spirit leads me to pray. I have experienced healing and seen it in others.  I have had the privilege of being used to help a few others clean out their closets, and receive freedoms, and heeling's too. But, God's love  for us, is unconditional, as is His mercy. We can't earn it, He just gives it, freely. I have also seen God just  heal others with a full closet like mine . I know that God has healed me twice, both times, I had not asked, had a hurt heart, and He just chose me so that my testimony might glorify His name. I believe God heals, to glorify Himself. The testimony of our healing's, bring glory to Him. I will talk (testify ;) ) more about the healing of the blindness in my right eye, the following September, at a different time. For now, I just want to sign off being content to know that I have been chosen. I don't know a lot of things, and God does, and I am o.k. with that. I may not ever figure out why us, and if any of you do, don't tell us ;) we will know eventually! LOL.  This past week was a rough one, but I can honestly say at the end of it all, I am o.k. with it as well, because I  DO know without a doubt that God is in one hundred percent control.
Blessings to you, and comfort in the knowledge that you are chosen by our Lord.

Isn't that amazing???????????????????? He picked us!!! That's right, God, the one and only picked us! He knocks on the door........all we have to do is answer. Yes, Father.