full

A full church - over 450 people from across the Maritimes

A full schedule - meals, meetings, hosting (yes Anne and lobster!! of course!!)

A full heart - overflowing, thankful, tears, laughter, joy, deep gratitude. Can anything mean more, than to join with my children and husband, and a church packed to the rafters, singing "Thank You for the cross"? No - nothing - ever. Thank You Lord Jesus.

Am I tired? yes.

Have there been glitches? YES!

Do you think that maybe it was in the eternal plan that Robin Mark,who was supposed to arrive last night, ended up stuck in Montreal airport because the doors of the plane were jammed and he missed his connecting flight?

Or was it just one of those things that just happen?

Well...we're Presbyterian so it will be no surprise what side we are coming down on - and we are also sitting under some amazing preaching about Daniel who writes this about his God

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him." Dan. 2:20-22

My middle boy led the worship (his band is Robin's back-up for the weekend) and I am wondering if maybe Hannah felt a little like this - so full - so thankful - to see her son in the temple serving the Lord. I am praying that each one of my five children will find their place and their hearts' desire in serving Him because "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3John1:4

Robin is here now and we are all very glad - but I do not think the worship will be any sweeter because he arrived. This is the difference between the secular world and ours. You see - the Lord is present - and He is the Guest of Honour. Our applause and praise and cheers are directed toward Him - our joy is found in Him - our desire is to be drawn closer to Him and to spread His fame.

Thank you for your prayers - please keep praying for us. Our conference continues today and tomorrow morning. The final worship concert is Sunday night - there are 1800 seats sold and the tickets are still selling. We are asking the Lord for a harvest - that people who don't know Him will be drawn by His irresistible love- that they will land at the worship concert and not even know why they are there. And that they will come to know His saving power and incredible love.

I'll have pictures and more later - thanks again.

with love

ps - I have it on good authority...this little Island, the Garden of the Gulf, really is greener than Ireland!

ordinary things in extraordinary times

Oh my goodness - I feel excited - happy - a little anxious!

Today is the day we have been planning for all year long. Our Revival In Belfast conference starts tonight. Our visitors from Ireland arrived last night and are happily installed in a beautiful cottage down on Point Prim. 400 delegates are about to descend on our church tonight at 7 pm. The closing worship concert is scheduled for Sunday night (in Charlottetown) and we have over 1400 people coming and tickets still selling like hotcakes!

The sun rose in gorgeous splendour this morning - such a welcome break from all the rain although I am not complaining about the showery weather. It brings the springtime growth and right now Prince Edward Island is in all its verdant glory with lush emerald fields - greener than Ireland I've been told. But when you have company you like them to see your home in all its beauty - so I am thankful that the rain has stopped.

Gardens are growing, flowers are blooming, kids are swimming, school is almost over and summer is just about here. Ordinary times, yet there is an air of expectancy - a sense that maybe we are living in an extraordinary time here on Prince Edward Island.

I wonder if I should whisper about it let alone write about it. But I am asking for your prayer.

Just as the Island is awash in springtime growth, there seems to be a corresponding spiritual springtime happening. My husband, a pastor here for over 20 years, is inundated with seekers who want to know about the Lord. Our awareness of His presence is heightened especially when we gather to pray - like we are on holy ground. Could it be revival? We have been praying for it for many years.

This weekend is a part of this - maybe a pivotal part - I don't know. But we do ask for your prayer - we need them.

A perfect spot for quiet morning meditation...

From the rising of the sun
to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD
is to be praised.

Ps. 113:3

Milford House, Nova Scotia

The missing jewel...

The purpose of God in sending His Son to die and rise and live and be at the right hand of God the Father was that He might restore to us the missing jewel, the jewel of worship; that we might come back and learn to do again that which we were created to do in the first place – worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, to spend our time in awesome wonder and adoration of God, feeling and expressing it, and letting it get into our labors and doing nothing except as an act of worship to Almighty God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

A W Tozer (Worship The Missing Jewel)

Photo credit - RInda Dean