uest 
ostsPerfect Peace – Eby
(This is a guest post by Jolene Eby who began writing over nine years ago after completing a correspondence course with The Institute Of Children's Literature in Connecticut. First published in 2000 just short of her sixtieth birthday, Jolene has had a number of articles and poems published, and she currently writes for The Seniors Review. Her children's book Katie's Tale was published in 2003. Jolene treasures time spent with her new found family and her friends, loves doing crossword puzzles, meeting new people, and learning new things. Jolene lives in St. Catharines, Ontario.)
Thou would keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusts in Thee. Isaiah 46:3 Most of us rely on our trusty radio or alarm clock to wake us in the morning. When the alarm goes off at the pre-set time, we have a choice to make. We can get up now or set the snooze button for an extra five-ten minutes of sleep. If we do the latter more than once, there can be serious consequences. Late for work, appointments or just starting one's day off. In life, this principle works in reverse. We are in snooze mode regarding health or major decisions. There are subtle warnings to do something now, but we ignore them. When the alarm goes off, there can be serious consequences.
The day began like every other Sunday morning. I got up, had breakfast and a little later relaxed with a cup of tea. I had been having a weird feeling in my chest. No pain just something not quite right. It wasn't going away. Instead of taking my bath, I laid down thinking it would go away. It didn't. The thought of calling 911 flitted across my mind. I dismissed it. What would I say?
From this point on, I believe the Lord took over. I remained calm and seemed to be guided by an unseen hand. I unlocked the front door, sat down and called 911. In minutes, the paramedics arrived, plus a fire truck. Don't you just love to give the neighbours something to watch?
After checking me over, they announced they were taking me to the hospital. I'm still in my jammies and robe, still remaining calm. They were making the decisions; I was just going along for the ride.
Shortly after being admitted, things moved quickly. Having a high tolerance for pain, I would describe what I was feeling as mounting discomfort. Suddenly, it felt like a giant fist grabbed my heart in a vice-like grip for just a few moments and then it was over. The attending doctor said, "You have just had a heart attack.”
The verse I quoted at the beginning settled into my mind.
Jesus talked about the peace that passes all understanding. He also said that He would give us His peace. It's different from what the world offers.
I awoke the next morning feeling good and spent the next eight days in hospital. I was never more relaxed. It was like a vacation. No worries, breakfast in bed, friends visiting, plus lots of TLC from the nurses.
Were there warning signs? Looking back, I believe so, but I preferred to live in snooze mode.
In spite of this, a very gracious God has allowed me extra days to enjoy Him and His bountiful blessings.
© Jolene Eby, February 2010
Looking Up Takes on New Significance - Kosowan
(This is a Guest Post by Nan McKenzie Kosowan, a freelance journalist whose news, features and profiles have been published in Canada and the United States for over 50 years. She is the author the book, Listening to the Sound of His Voice from Childhood to Grandparenthood; you can find her at www.dovenan.com )As these days of challenge unfold, not just in Haiti but across our world, I remember again and again something that gripped my heart, mind and spirit one day in 1970. It happened on the way to work at my new job.
The new job meant returning to my writing. I was to be World Vision’s writer as it opened its doors in Canada for the first time. Getting to work meant bicycling up one of Scarborough’s main roads because, after 15 years as a stay-at-home mom, I was determined to get into the best shape possible and the WVC office was just ten minutes away by bike.
My job with World Vision was full of thrilling promise as my favorite genre of writing was finding stories of Christians who loved the Lord and were serving Him effectively. Now, through World Vision, I was able to share the stories of such Christians taking God’s loving-kindness to disaster victims in the third world, as it was then called. What an awesome privilege to appeal to the legendary Canadian compassion for response to such immense need.
This one particular morning on my way to work, storm clouds began gathering overhead so I pedaled a little faster than usual as I approached the Highway 401 overpass through the early morning traffic. I was thinking with the certain kind of heaviness I so often felt as I pored over the heart-wrenching reports from WVC workers overseas. If I felt like that over these situations that it was my job to publicize, how did the Lord feel? Jesus saw and dealt with far more misery in this world of ours than I would ever get to know. He had experienced every expression of human sin and tragedy on the cross and He had conquered it all. Even as I focused my attention on fast stopping cars at the red light that awesome truth sharpened in my mind.
Then, in that instant, there at the highway 401 overpass stoplight at Victoria Park Avenue in Scarborough Ontario, the clouds broke in a way I had never seen before. There was a magnificent majesty about the scene as the sky opened to reveal bright billowing clouds that suddenly stilled. It was as though Jesus’ latter day reign were to be ushered in right there, right then in those billowing clouds. It was as though He was about to descend in triumph to this earth He had left and to which He would one day return as He had promised.
Poised as I’d been there at the light, one foot on the ground steadying my balance, the other on my bike pedal, I was oblivious to lights, cars and traffic in the face of that heart-pumping revelation.
As the light changed to green, car horns broke through my consciousness. I waved, smiled and got back to the business of getting to work all in one piece. At World Vision chapel time that morning, I joyfully shared my highway experience that had brought such expectation and the freedom to lavish grateful praise and devotion on our coming King as never before.
A heightened compassion and sense of privileged responsibility to be in God’s will that was fostered at that moment has never left me. It underscores my passion for using the means of expression He has given His children to share Jesus.
Forty years later, I thrill to hear the chorus of that prophetic song,
Behold He comes, riding on the clouds,Shining like the sun, at the trumpet call.
Lift your voice, it’s the year of Jubilee
For out of Zion’s Hill, Salvation comes!
Last week, as we hurried to make out our cheque for the World Vision Canada work in disaster-torn Haiti, that prophetic picture high in the clouds representing Jesus’ Latter Day return kept repeating itself in my mind’s eye. Surely the trauma in Haiti is another indication of the devastation to come to this earth before Jesus’ soon return.
Perhaps you too may have seen that promise in similar skies and thrilled to the thought of Christ’s return on the clouds one day. And who knows when that glorious day of “tomorrow” will be?
