First off, if you remember from last blog I was curious who the first to read was! Well now we know! Alberta was close to sweeping the podium Manitoba Friends!!
Joan - Alberta!
Jackie - Alberta!
Al - Manitoba!
I was starting to write a letter to a family yesterday to enlist help for some projects at camp, but it turned into more of a devotional/sermon pretty quick, so I'll start over today but share with you what was impacting me writing that letter.
Thinking again through the last few years, there have been times that have been very challenging to walk through, as many of you have experienced too. I was thinking the other day how much more challenging it would be to walk through those times not knowing God's love for us. Yet often we tend to struggle with our faith when God brings us through those hard times.
Jade and Charlie replaying with Christmas story a couple days ago. Charlie forgot his line of "Is there room in the inn?" Which was replaced by, "Are you a Jew?!"
I feel there is a misconception in the Christian Community that when one follows Christ, everything should fall into place and life should be good! No where in the bible does it mention that life will be easier with Christ, but quite the opposite. Pick up your cross and follow me says Jesus.
Charlie at work with me at Gimli Bible Camp
BUT, when we realize the Creator, Our Saviour, the Holy Spirit inside of us, Loves Us, it gives us hope to endure all things that come our way, so we may walk in the Kingdom of our Father one day soon!
We just tilled up our gardens again this spring, ready to some planting... and playing....!
Romans 8:35-39
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[o]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[p] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Prayer Requests!
- Praise Item, we got our round pen dirt work and sand work in on our yard! The quote came in a lot cheaper than I thought. Now were just waiting for a good deal on some panels
- Praise item, thanks to Pa and Al for tilling up our gardens, we are excited to plant fruit trees and a veggie garden!
- Praise item, thanks to Pa for donating a horse trailer to Gimli Bible Camp for our use at Rise Again Ranch!
- Our family is looking for the right goats, we want to try our hand at milking them! And that we can find good options to keep adding to our petting zoo
- I'm finding it challenging at work right now with the unknowns of summer, and just trying to do my best with what the 'normal' is now, knowing that its not normal... I find myself easily distracted in it all.
- Amanda is still lacking a lot of energy
Thank you all so much for your prayers, your love, your care, your cards, emails, texts!
Tj Penner
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