Suffering- Powerful or Pointless?

Is there any sense to suffering?

Many of us ask that question and few are satisfied with the answers given.

In My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes,"The agony in Gethsemane was the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Saviour of the World. Because of what the Son of Man went through, every human being has been provided with a way of access into the very presence of God.


The cross was not something that happened to Jesus-He came to die-the lamb slain...
The cross is not the cross of a man but the cross of God, and it can never be fully comprehended through human experience."


As we look at Christ's suffering and dying for each of us, does it make us more aware of His incredible love for us? 




On this blog, I'm featuring Juno award winning Deborah Klassen. 

Out of deep personal pain, she has been able to reflect on Christ's suffering in a new way, her own life  experiencing different layers of suffering. She says,

"One particular journey has been travelled with our only son, Ryan, who survived Spinal Meningitis as a small child and then two years later suffered from a rare cancer. Part of the aftermath of that disease was reconstructive facial surgery during his teen years. His suffering continued. As a young man he experienced a life- threatening, life-altering accident." 




Before we leave this season of celebrating the Risen Saviour, why not take a few minutes to hear thoughts and songs of the cross with Deborah Klassen, recorded April 2011 on Words To Inspire Radio show and my full interview with her.
Her powerful rendition of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross might just soften some of life's tough moments.

Click on address below- then a link will appear. Click again on the highlighted link:

http://www.seasonedwithsalt.net/WTI04212011.mp3


Enjoy her beautiful voice, ('she sings with a passion like no other'), as you reflect on your own dark places and remember the ultimate sacrifice, a choice to bring us to Him forever. Hallelujah! He reigns!
Come back again soon for more engaging stories that will encourage and inspire.

Enjoying the Son today!


Ruth

Born in My Heart

Her empty womb left a deep desire for both Barb and her husband, a longing for their own child.
After a few more years of waiting, the process of adoption began and then a trip to China.
The first time she held her precious bundle, born on the other side of the world, her new baby cried for two and a half hours. Barbara describes that time for her as 'birth pains', truly a bonding time for mom and baby.

When I interviewed Barbara on FaithFM radio, she told how she explained adoption to her little girl. "You have a tummy mommy, but you were born in my heart."
What a beautiful description of adoption.

You can listen right now to this wonderful story of Barbara and her husband's journey to create their own family.
Also hear Steven Curtis Chapman sing "When Love Takes You In", a song he wrote for his adopted children. You'll be moved by God's     divine plan for these children.



Click on the link below to go directly to the radio show.

http://www.seasonedwithsalt.net/WTI05192011.mp3


Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your heart-warming story. I celebrate your special family!

More great stories coming!

Fiction Tells the Truth

My life is richly blessed with author friends who are using their writing ability to bring hope to their reader. A few years ago, at Women Alive event in Waterloo, Ontario, I met such an author-Sara Davison. Her commitment to her group of writing buddies as well as a personal invite, inspired me to attend my first-ever 'Word Writers' meeting at Donna  Mann's farm, north of Mount Forest.  It didn't take long for me to realize that God had orchestrated this

divine encounter. What a wonderful friendship has developed as we share this adventure of putting on paper what is in our hearts.

In her first published novel, The Watcher, Sara weaves romance, suspense and mystery to portray truths in a fresh, creative way.  

I interviewed Sara on radio show, Words To Inspire, a few months ago. Why not listen to her story as she tells of her early longing as a young girl to write a book? The link below will take you right to our show.

http://www.seasonedwithsalt.net/WTI04072011.mp3

As Kathryn Ellison struggles to let go of the past, the man who almost destroyed her life is tracking her down so he can finish the job. Kathryn’s faith, and the strength of the watcher, one of many unseen beings sent to help her through this time, will both be pushed to the breaking point as she fights to survive and to finally be with the man she has loved for twenty years.  

  

Bravo, Sara! You are a dynamic Canadian Christian author! I commend you on this International Women's Day!

Plastic Bag Treasures

John walks towards me and offers me a plastic bag."Here are your books," he said, as he stopped beside me at the back of the church. "Oh, thank you, John. This is wonderful!"

Although I know he is bringing me my first copies of Woman of Worth, translated into Chinese, I am not prepared for the sense of God's power engulfing me as I reach in the grocery sack. I pull out a single, small, pink book. My heart rate soars as I turn each page. I envision women half a world away gripping the freshly printed words, reading life-giving truths that affirm them, that speak of purpose and the presence of God- for   them. The tears fall. 

 My mind fills with memories of God's love as He directed my steps, while writing of ways He participates in my life according to Psalm 139. My life is changed, transformed by the power of His word. 

And now, this copy that I hold in my trembling hand represents over thirty-thousand more that are printed and distributed to Chinese women. They need to know how much God loves them. According to  the  practice used there, at least five women will read each copy; that's one hundred fifty-thousand women who will read the words God compelled me to put down on paper.

I just want to impact women with the truth of their value according to God's view of them. 

God's plan far exceeds mine.

John and Chris are a vital part of the growth of my ministry. God brought them into my life for such a time as this.

To hear my Words To Inspire interview with John and his work in China,  click on the address below and the link will appear. Takes you right to the audio feed.

http://www.seasonedwithsalt.net/WTI06232011.mp3

There is no one like our GOD!

Keep watching. There is so much more to come. I'd love to hear from you. 

Greater things are yet to come,

Greater things are yet to be done in this city

More Happy Happenings Ukraine #3

Our journey continues with each experience enriching our lives. What an honour to meet with key women leaders from this nation of Ukraine. As our conversation with Pastor Sophia  unfolded (centre of pic) , it was clear that God has impressed the idea of global unity with women into many hearts. Here we are with leaders from different church unions. All three of us were affirmed in our own ministry gifts and look forward to the future.

Our translator Maria came along with Pastor Victor to drive us to Pereyashav-Khmilnitsky (say that three times  and see how it sounds!)
We met with Valentina, Pastor's wife of the church in this thousand year old town. They rent an old Soviet theatre and have a strong congregation.
They prepared a delicious meal- the best cabbage rolls I've ever eaten, as well as many other Ukrainian dishes.

Here we are (below) with the women that gathered to hear from us. How many can fit into a little room? At least another twenty, who are sitting in a side area.

 We were deeply touched by so many hugs from these beautiful women.
 


Just though you should know... in Ukraine, Chocolate is a food group!

On to our only English-speaking conference, International Christian Centre. Held about ninety miles outside Kiev, what a wonderful experience with women from all over the world. They are teachers, missionaries, ambassadors wives, seminary leaders and others.

Alma and I finally had the opportunity to launch our material for the third WOW (Woman of Wisdom) Bible study. Since we are co-authoring this study on Ruth, the last four months have been spent in exploring possibilities. After presenting the background, volunteers played the different characters while a narrator read the entire book, a script from  scripture.

Here is the cast!

Mahlon and Killion die!

We can't wait to do the trial of the entire text in Cambridge, February-March, 2012.

Moving on to Poltava

All of us are amazed at the growth of the church here.  Each village we visited touched our hearts. One such church started four years ago and already has fifteen daughter churches. Simple strategy with incredible results. 

We stayed in a simple hotel and ate breakfast in the hotel restaurant.

Here we are trying to order simple morning fare. I needed to call Oleg, our translator to finally discover that there were no choices. Below see our meal, minus another boiled sausage and vegetables.

A new adventure every day!

We joined up with Bob (after a ten day separation) Tim and Ed.

A view of a nunnery taken from atop a hill on the other side of Poltava.

How's this? (above)  A monument to perogies. Alma is sitting in the spoon.

Another five hour drive to Krivoy Rog. This is where Bob has been teaching. Now we have a Pastor's and woman's conference.

 Look what we found on the way to the market. 

Ah. Roshen candy!

Ending on a sweet note!

Tonight we head back with an overnight train ride. We have been told, memories will be made.

Our time here is coming to to an end. I hope you are enjoying the time we have shared with you. There is so much more. Perhaps one day some of you will cross the ocean to experience this culture, rich in relationships  and new life.

Thanks for your prayers. 

Alma, Marg, Tim, Bob and  Ruth

More Ukraine Happy Happenings

Hello again. We are back!
What a wonderful adventure we are having, Marg, Alma and Ruth.
On Tuesday, Ed and Natasha took us downtown Kiev.
A world-class city with incredible architecture.

On to the Lavra, a fifteen hundred year old monastery. Such an experience, lighting a candle and descending to the lower catacombs, where we viewed the remains (delightful) of several saints. Couldn't see much except for a blackened hand sticking out of one wrapped body.

Here are some of the many buildings in the immense compound, taken in the pouring rain.

As Ed drove through the entrance gates, the guard asked for his pass.
Tim mentioned he would like to buy the guard's hat. The guard said he would give a price on the way out. As you can see, Tim got the deal sealed.

This round structure is covered completely with beautifully-decorated Ukrainian eggs.

Wednesday, Ed picked us up to drive to Smila. We met Dennis and Oxanna and their three children last years. Many prayers are going up for his beautiful daughter who has no known medical reason for her hair loss. What darling girls.

Wonderful meeting at Smila church, their services held in a theatre. We enjoyed lots of energetic worship music, words of greetings and a powerful message from Tim, utilizing his God-given gifts.

Ed and Tim went on to join Bob in Krivoy Rog, Alma, Marg and Ruth travelled back to Kiev with the pastor and his friend.
So we had three English speaking females and two Ukrainian-speaking males, driver and passenger. A two and half hour drive turned into a four hour drive. They got lost and we couldn't help them except to say Na, Na, when we knew they were in the wrong neighbourhood. Such fun! Back to our nest at 1:45 am. We can sleep when we die.


Tim and Bob are in Krivoy Rog speaking, teaching, eating, sleeping. We know they have a very full schedule too but we have no pics of them.


We have so much more to share so watch for our next post.

Love and prayers coming across the ocean,
Margaret, Alma and Ruth

Happy Happenings in Kiev

Hello from Kiev.  

We arrived Wednesday mid afternoon. Another hour drive to Paul and Christine Pierquet's (pastors of International Christian Assembly) brought us to their home, where we will live for the next ten days.
Thursday morning we started speaking at Kiev Bible Institute.
Here we are with some of the female students. Marg challenged them to rise to their godly potential, utilizing Biblical women as role models.

Friday afternoon we started a two day conference with Christian Hope Churches. Some women came on an eight-hour train ride, then another hour drive to be with us. We were able to communicate with these fantastic translators.

Sunday morning we had the opportunity to participate in Pastor Sophia's church, a dynamic woman who is known throughout Ukraine for her positive influence in drawing all together in unity. Here we are in the choir room working with Julia, our translator, making last minute preparation for Marg's message and Ruth's recitation of Psalm 8.

 The three hours of singing, dancing, words of encouragement, blessing for the children, soloists, saxaphonist, string quartet, children's worship team was topped off with a timely message from Margaret. She shared stories on her spiritual heritage from the Ukraine.

Here we are with Ed Dickson (who arranged this memorable morning), his family, Pastor Sophia and her assistant pastors.

Tim Gibb flies in tomorrow and we will be join up with Bob who is already many miles east of here speaking at a Bible school.


We are so blessed to be in this environment to see God at work with His people.
Will have tons more to share. Come back often.

Please remember to keep praying for us. We can't do this without you!

Marg, Alma and Ruth