Tracy's Blog

Two years ago today, our family packed ourselves, our dog, and a few of our belongings into our blue Suzuki Esteem and left Ottawa for Manitoba. When we took possession of our new house later that week, we were aware that the well water had been contaminated with bacteria in the past. So, we got it tested. It came out having both coliforms and e-coli. We had the well "shocked" and tested the water again. This time the water only showed coliforms. Needless to say, we didn`t use it for drinking or washing vegetables. Beside our bathroom sinks were bottles of water to brush our teeth with. Other than the water that passed through my lips accidentally in the shower, I refused to ingest this water unless it was boiled first. A year passed. In the summer of 2011, we got out water tested again. This time the result surprised me. It had nothing – no menacing micro-organisms – in it. . Could it be true? I couldn`t believe it! Even though I would tell other people, “Ou...

One day, Timmy's room was a disaster. There were clothes and toys scattered all over the floor. I said, “It's a mess,” indicating that we needed to spend some time cleaning it up. His response was interesting. He said “It's a maze”. His focus was on the challenge ahead – how to get to his bed through the maze – and not the mess. He had a very different perspective than me on the same situation. I started to wonder: is that how life is sometimes? Can our perspective make that much of a difference? I think so. Life can be a mess. Many things go wrong, situations are not what we hope them to be, and we have difficult challenges before us. We are overwhelmed by the mess and don't know what to do. But what if we alter our perspective? What if we were able to view the “mess” as a “maze”? And what if we switch our focus from the mess onto how to get through the maze with God's direction and help? So, here are some verses that have been very significa...

Yesterday in church I was struck by the "comfortable words" that are part of Holy Eucharist (1962) in the Book of Alternative Services of the Anglican Church of Canada (pages 238-239).  As the deacon said "Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him", my ears perked up.  And as I listened, I was struck with why these are comfortable words... because we have great needs that God meets - to have a place of rest, to know we are loved, and to be forgiven for our sins. It is when we acknowledge our need that we can then receive the amazing gifts of God. So, hear these words and may they be your comfort. Hear what Jesus says: "Come to me all that labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you."  Matthew 11:28 "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 Hear also what Saint Paul says: ...