Lost Confidence
My friend asked me a few days ago why I haven’t blogged in a while… then told me she missed them.
I gave a few excuses and admitted that life and its punches had knocked my confidence and left me somewhat silent.
I have decided to find my words once more – or rather craft endless words of life and the precious ordinary that dance around my head. I thought 5 minute Friday would be a good place to start with the prompt ‘lost’.
Are there gifts and talents you know you need to find? Do you need to say yes to dormant gifts and promises?
Circumstances can so easily define us, if we let them. Our self-confidence often wraps us tight. Our overthinking dries us up.
Then we see the dry bones of Ezekial 37 and are reminded again to invite God into the dry and desolate. Declaring resurrection life into the barren places. I am not suggesting a positive thinking exercise or the ABC’s to super living – you know me. But, I do believe in the power of God’s word, the declaration of His promise coming together with your destiny and the reality of knowing God’s strength in the struggle.
Lost Luggage.
Mom, Dion and Charlotte arrived last night! They landed in Kelowna at 8pm minus any luggage because of a computer malfunction at Heathrow.
It’s unfortunate, it’s a first world problem… yet when the loss brings genuine upset and high anxiety – when Aspergers says ‘I need this now’ the loss becomes real. So we all sit on the sofa at 1am, jetlagged and tired and we invite God into the loss and we invite Him to be the ultimate comfort, tangible peace descends and we all sleep.
We are a family who have known much loss and we know our source of peace. We know the God of all comfort.
Lost Children.
Phil has been disturbed by the plight of Syrian children and the hideous refugee crisis. So he decided to do something. Today (Friday) He is embarking on a 32 mile peace run – a day of prayer, wilderness and endurance. He is following High Rim Trail from Kelowna to Vernon, a grueling, isolated path, known for its mountain cougars, bears and moose. He will be running through thick green pine forests, crossing numerous brooks and descending into hidden valleys. A challenging distance to achieve in a day.
It’s the first time he has run a distance with a bear banger (sounds like a gun) bear spray (looks like hairspray) A GPS alert system (black box) a life straw (for pure water)!!
I will keep you posted of his progress but here he is 1 hour in!
He is taking sponsors so if you feel led go ahead let me know in comments! He is running for MCC, Mennonite Central Committee, a Canadian charity who bring relief and reconciliation to the darkest areas in the world.
We face a lost generation – over 1.2 million Syrian children have fled Syria for safety, and more than 4 million children remain displaced inside the country. The situation for these children is dire. These children have lost their homes, seen their loved ones killed, their schools destroyed and their hopes eroded. They have been physically or psychologically wounded and are vulnerable to the worst types of exploitation. Please keep thinking and praying for Syria.
Gods reminds us today he is the God of the lost.
He restores,
He comforts,
He says ‘Let the little children come to Me; do not get in their way. For the kingdom of heaven belongs to children like these’.
Love, Michelle xo
michelle's musings 
Beautifull friend….I understand the literall reverberations of lifes punches…and sometimes stopping and reevaluating for a while is not giving up…its just a needed break …for refreshments maybe? …and then you feel able you start again!…which is exactly what you have done…well done …keep on keeping on ?..JBP….and go phil xxxxx
LikeLike
Thanks JBP. Wisdom right there… x
LikeLike
I’m here from #fmf. Lost and loss has so many meanings; meanings you have so clearly drawn in your post. The children in Syria are like too many children who have lost their childhoods. I hope that through prayers, their suffering can be eased, and their hopes and dreams restored.
And, through active means. I wish Phil well on his “adventure.” The MCC is an incredible organization.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading!
LikeLike
Dear Michelle, Thank you for your blog filled with wisdom & encouragement & God’s word. I enjoy
your stories of life and hope for the heart. Keep creating!
LikeLike
Thanks Patti. Appreciate YOUR heart.
LikeLike
Wow! I have that crazy song in my head….’I get knocked down, but I get up again’…..Someone wise once said that if you don’t tell the world who you are, it will tell you who you are!! You are a princess of the most high God….so look up and smile 🙂
LikeLike
Ah thanks Baz. Lovely words… and now I have that song in my head!
LikeLike
My heart cheers you welcome back to writing. We benefit from your words and your heart on paper.
My heart cheers Phil and stands in admiration of his plight and journey.
My heart weeps for the children of Syria. My prayers are with them.
LikeLike
Love you my friend.
LikeLike
Dear Michelle……….you are such an inspiration and I am continually amazing at how God works………….at a time when i too am feeling a bit lost, your posting reminds me that even the strongest get lost and are silent sometimes…..and then we get these gentle nudges and whispers “we are never alone”….thank you………….and so with the children in Syria..we pray for their strength and courage and God’s mercies………and are honored to be able to sponsor Pastor Phil in our small way.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing and sponsoring Cheryl. I think you’re great!
LikeLike
Wonderful post. We worked with some Syrian refugees. It was truly harrowing to hear their stories. So good to see how you are helping.
LikeLike
Thanks for reading Helen. Blessings.
LikeLike
[…] Phil’s run went well, thanks for your interest. Here’s a little write up from him: Thank you so much for your support on my recent High Rim Trail run. How did this start? I sat one crystal clear evening, listening to the many news reports and I felt powerless over the Syrian crisis – I was a viewing participant but that was it. Then, a compulsion to act – a long distance run/walk flooded into my mind. So I did it! At least I could identify in the smallest of ways, focus my prayers, as each step became more uncomfortable, with those brief moments of isolation, disorientation (I did get completely lost three times). My toe nails, my muscles and the patterns of well placed mosquito bites testify that it was no walk in the park.This all fades into insignificance compared to the displacement of millions of little souls. The path runs north, but in reality twists, tears and lacerates its way through the deep shadows of the forest, with the occasional pairs of green eyes glowing, moving in a cycle from stunning old cedars, to crowds of antagonistic pines, the odd flower filled high meadow, to logged desolation. Relentlessly, the forest works to reclaim this path and stop its travellers. Fallen trees obstructing the way that one has to jump over, climb or bow down on all fours, the shadows seemed to smile at our endless genuflection. Deer paths confused us, thunderstorms and 2 hours of rain stole warmth, but we were encouraged by the many chortling creeks leaping between boulders, high above the Okanagan valley. We only met one other chatty traveller, trying to complete the High Rim Trail himself, he joined us for 30 minutes but soon called for a ride, we left him by the side of a random logging road. I explained to him that last time I looked $6000 had been raised for refugees – so I was willing to crawl to the finish. John Bunyan smiled. Thank you for your support! […]
LikeLike