Amy's Prayer

May we be keen listeners to the voice of grace as we continue on a path of freedom from evaluating ourselves, comparing ourselves, and living our lives based on people’s responses to us.

May we accept the mystery of our own realities; and in doing so occupy our own lives with optimism, with enthusiasm, with honesty, with hope.

That we might wake up in light and not darkness
Free from fear of living and of dying.

That our eyes would be open to the wide and beautiful generosity that God dwells in us as ourselves.

That we would know joy and peace and that mysterious judgment of God- which is always an expression of liberation and freedom

For divine generosity, for good company, I am grateful.
It is a good time to be alive.
May we receive the gift.

Prayed by Amy Bergman Loewen on her 25th birthday.

Summer Randoms

Sugar-wheat-free beet muffins

Summer reading

Luke & Auntie watching the parade

Cousins breaking in the new gazebo

Lots of play-time outside

First optometrist appointment

Our own Martha Stewart getting ready to serve us at her 25th b-day party!

Amy had planned an entire afternoon full of amazing eats, games, an awesome sing-a-long (she typed out song books for us!), a prayer, and rhubarb slushy which served us well on a smokin' hot afternoon! Did I mention she stitched each of us a fan for the day & sent us home with jars of homemade granola?!

This is the first thing the guests saw upon arrival.

Undoubtedly, one of the most amazing-meaningful parties. Not sure I want to attempt any myself after this...

Manitoba's Best Coffee

I had to do an entry about Green Bean Coffee.

http://www.greenbeancoffeeimports.com/



They are Manitoba's first certified organic & fairtrade roaster. I pick mine up at Organza located at confusion corner in Winnipeg. They are also available at Sobeys. So far I have only sampled their Sumatra, which is intoxicatingly smooth & earthy.



Their Company's Mission Statement: "To maintain our passion and believe in what we do. Achieve sustainability while being socially, environmentally and ethically responsible; be more than a "just-for-profit" entity."

Sounds good to me!

Andy gets Scriptural!

I feel kind of geeky writing an instructive devotional today, but I just felt like studying the Word and I suppose this blog is my outlet right now. I was inspired by a friend whose bible study group gathers to read only from their bibles and commentaries –-and it sounded kinda refreshing. Ephesians 4 starts out as follows:

I…beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called (NRSV)

I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. (The Message)

Can you picture Paul pleading passionately with the church??!!

He is referring to a calling that we have received not one we have acquired through self-effort (says my commentary). He is crying out for us to live a congruent life through word and deed that our faith will show itself in our relationships. Here are the Four Qualities necessary to nourish healthy relationships:

Humbleness or Humility
Gentleness
Patience
Bearing with one another in love

I love how straight forward and simple that sounds. Four qualities that are powerful relational binders. I tried to imagine a marriage built on these four ingredients or a conflicted relationship, this Paul guy definitely knows what he’s talking about. On Thursday at the Leadership Summit (a bunch of speakers via satellite), Jim Collins stated that the quality that separates Great leaders from good leaders is humility. Not surprising when you think of the leaders in your life that have impacted you. Something that often impacted me as a child was the many times my parents apologized to me. They would often say, “hey, I’m sorry I got it wrong and you had to pay for how I acted.” Humility seems to have an upside down power to dissolve defences. Although it may show itself to be meek & mild, when the ego is able to step aside….look out…reconciliation and healing are close at hand.

Listening Exercise: Ask Jesus to highlight one of these qualities that he wants you to be aware of today as you are chatting with those you come in contact with. For me today, Jesus highlighted patience…specifically reminding me that I must have grace for others faults, habits, and quirks as I have many of them myself and am in need of their graces. Next, if you so desire, ask someone that you live with which ones you do well and which ones may need some work. Donovan thought I did humility well, to which I laughed because I recognize the many times my ego does the talking. He said the one I do the least is gentleness—I can get snappy if ya know what I mean!

Humility, Gentleness, Patience, & Love be present in our relationships today.