....I Believe....

This is a interesting day that we are living in! In Canada we just finished Federal elections, we are seeing morality be tossed to the side in the name of equality, love, and convenience, the world is falling apart right before our eyes! A month ago students were killed because they were Christians in the U S of A. Really there is nothing I can say that we don't already know and are witnessing, but there are many choices we have to make on a daily bases, one being: Do I believe? Even till death?

When I was in Montreal at the beginning of this year, I had a lady, who worked for the National Film Board of Canada, teaching me how to make a certain type of documentary. I had known prior to going that I would be making a film so I had prepared ahead of time. When she read my script for the first time she looked at me, called me into a different room, and told me that I need to rewrite the script. It was..... "to..... deep".

 You see this film is going to be viewed by a lot of people, and I knew Jesus wanted me to use this opportunity to give the gospel.  I was up till midnight that night rewriting the script, in our tiny hotel room. The next day I remade the movie, recorded audio, got it till rough draft stage to show her. She and I went to another room and she watched and listened to it. I was told, even though I had taken out most of the mentions of God already, I needed to rewrite it again taking out the two verses at the beginning and the end of the movie, again "to deep".

 I didn't change anything. 

I told her I needed to keep those verses in, she let me, and even told me that mine was the most "well made" video out of the group! She still didn't agree with the message though. I tell you about this minor form of persecution to prove that you can be called to "give an answer for the hope that lies within you" at any moment, any time, in any situation.

I'm taking ground school (to get my pilots licence) at the moment, and have been extremely convicted of the fact that out of the six people in that room, I know I'll see one in heaven with me (he's made a public declaration of his faith through baptism); where are the rest headed when they die? I'm so grateful that God has given me sensitivity to that, but I know that I am now responsible to tell them about Him. I feel even more convicted of this when I think about the amount of people I've encouraged to stand up and be a light for Jesus. Am I willing to take my own advise? 

I honestly believe that yes, I am.

In that situation in Montreal, Jesus gave me the words I needed at the time I needed them. That doesn't mean I don't tremble at the thought of standing up and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I have already failed him terribly, by not standing up for what I know caused Him sorrow, but I was convicted of the fact and repented (I haven't yet had a opportunity to correct the mistake, I believe I will in the very near future!) The verse that comes to mind is the one in Philippians 4:13 

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me."  

To take that verse very literally... I can do all things through Christ! That would change the way I do... well, LIFE! Wow, the thought kind of just startles that reality right into me! 

Let us not be a generation of worriers, but of warriors! We know who wins this battle!

  

a learning process

On one camping trip, this summer, God revealed something to me (or it finally got through my thick skull!)

My soul, wait silently for God alone....
Psalm 62:5

For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.

Psalm 66:10

 

 

I had a interesting learning experience that happened to drag through the whole summer. It was one of those things where you just keep learning and growing through a series of events! It pushed me to need to know if I wait for God alone. It was a serious test. Not in the fact that I struggled to know that Jesus is who I turn to when tests and trials come, but in the aspect of how I reacted physically, with friends and family.

I love and respect my Dad and sisters! They have always been there for me. Something that I've always found hard to take though from them is rebuke. And as they would rebuke me, I started distancing myself from them. I still loved them, and really I didn't even realize that I was doing it, it was a slow fade.

 

I got some good relationship advice today from a gentleman I really respect, he told me to just be honest. Just be honest. Honestly (no pun intended) if you aren't honest (again no pun intended) and truthfully forthright with those you love, it is hard to live in harmony with one another.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Romans 12:16

 

I was trying to be wise in my own sight, most of the time this summer. If I had humbled myself and listened to what those that are wiser then me tried to tell me, I would've saved a lot of heartache. Thankfully, through that first verse and a few others, and my family, I saw where I was headed, and started to turn around.

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
    and you have healed me.

 O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,
    and give thanks to his holy name.

 Psalm 30:2-4

I need to keep remembering that God isn't done with me yet, that I will continue to make mistakes, and learn. In the process of my life, I want people to look at me and say "That is a woman after God's heart" and that they would see Jesus, not Regan Wiebe.

My convictions are strong, I pray that I'll be able (through God's strength) to carry through with them.

 

When I am weak

I am back from two weeks of counseling at camp. I was taught a lot about myself in those two weeks. This verse was one of the few that I kept going back to during these weeks and after reading it you may guess how my time at camp went.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.                                                                  James 1:2-4 (NKJV)

 

This was, in a technical sense, my first time cabin leading. My first age group was ten to twelve. Within the first 24 hours of my first week, one of my campers was sent home. That was tough. I felt like I had failed in some sense, I just pray that in the short time we had her, that the love of Christ was shown, the gospel presented and her life impacted for Christ in some small way. When she left though, it felt like a weight was taken off mine and my co-leaders shoulders, we were free to give our attention to the rest of the girls in our cabin now, which as it turn out, they needed every last drop of it! 

 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday morning, there was no conviction, no movement of the Spirit in these eight girls' hearts...... Wednesday evening devos........ the questions came like a flood and they didn't stop till those girls got onto the bus on Friday evening! My co-leader and I looked at each other with tears in our eyes, break-through! We talked a lot about heaven and hell, the reality of the spiritual world, creation vs. evolution, how we were all given a choice, we even touched on gay marriage! Jesus used this to get me searching for my answers, why do I believe what I believe? I knew all the sunday school answers but these girls wanted more then that, and when they would ask these questions, all the creation vs. evolution debate answers that I thought I'd memorized, left me, all the biblical references left me, I was just like 'OK God, your words not mine' ....... He came through every time! 

 

This second week was different in a lot of ways. My cabin ages were four to five years younger, they had a very hard time listening, and they were always on the move! I would go to sleep exhausted and wake up exhausted every day, those kids took it all out of me! I didn't become as attached to this group as my first week. I felt like I was constantly degrees away from boiling point, if you get what I mean. As some of us counselors were talking we all said that the kids seemed to be getting worse and worse! What was going on?!?!?! Then Wednesday night the Holy Spirit came on the camp. Boys that were known from running in circles all day stopped and started to pray and open up with the male cabin leaders, kids dedicated their lives to Christ, our cabin was silent as my co-leader gave devos, and Thursday at lunch one of my campers and I had a one on one where she asked questions about the gospel that I never thought I'd hear from her! Camp seemed to go better after that for me, knowing that when I am weak He is strong! 

 

The last morning staff meeting that we had was really special! We went around telling stories of how Jesus had moved that week at camp, then we went to the top of the hill and stood in a circle in the early morning air, and sang songs of praise and prayed....... the song Holy Spirit really felt special as we sang it!

 

I have lots of stories...... hail breaking windows, staff zip lining without harnesses, hurting my hand, cannonball contests at the pool, nicknames, archery injures (animals were harmed in the course of this week!)....... and much more!                       

//Victory//

 

Last night our family was having one of those spontaneous ‘gospel’ nights. We sit around the table, or on our couches downstairs, and talk about the gospel, the good news! We learn more about it, gain a new love for it, and have a few revelations about it! A revelation I got last night was the part about having victory in Jesus.

 

 

I personally have never liked storms. Especially since a tornado in Ellie, Manitoba when I was about 10. That tornado didn’t hurt anybody, but overhearing what the adults talked about after that, I gained a unabated fear of tornados. Then we had a wind shear go through our yard about two years later. That night was one of the scariest nights that I can recall in my life, I will never forget it. Ever since that night I can get myself very worked up if I even hear there is a thunderstorm forecasted where I am.

Recently I admitted this fear to a friend, unintentionally. After I told them, I had this sense of shame. Jesus would not live in fear like this, if I am in Him then why am I fearful? A few days before I had told them about this fear, I had gone through a thunderstorm where my Dad was gone and I was in charge. I almost freaked out. It was 6:00 am and everyone was asleep. I was pacing and not settled at all.

Finally I sat by my bed on the floor feeling sick, and I saw my Bible laying there so I opened it up to the book of Psalms and began to read. I would skim-read until I saw a verse about God as my rescue, or that He will deliver me. I prayed, and then I fell asleep. When I woke up the storm was over and I felt victorious! Really I wanted to tell everyone! (I didn’t!)

 

 

I grew up singing the song ‘Victory in Jesus’ and never took it to heart till last night. I have always known that the gospel isn’t just ‘getting saved’, it is living it out too. If we are in Christ, we have victory. If we have victory, we need to live in victory.

 

Last night the aspect of the gospel we talked over was Noah, how the story of Noah shows the gospel. In the boat they were safe, in Christ we are safe! In the boat they came out victorious, in Christ we are and will be victorious! Praise Jesus we can live in victory!  

 

A really good gospel message. 6 minute long.      

 

     

//day 4// Ottawa

Day 4

July 1, 2015

It was a every hectic and busy day.

We got to sleep in till 7:30, because we didn't need to get down to the the noon show till 10:30. After we got through the crowds and through the securit
y, we sat and waited in the VIP section. In the time that we waited Minister Shelley Glover came and talked to us winners. She was very happy to talk to some fellow Manitobans!

It had rained the night before and was a pretty cloudy and dark all day. Some people were saying that the the fireworks had been canceled!

It started raining half way through the noon show.  Luckily the VIPs got free rain ponchos!

The Prime Minister spoke and the the Governor General spoke. Afterwards the Prime Minister and his family, the Governor General and his wife walked in-between the VIP sections on a red carpet shaking hands. 

I was towards the end taking pictures, I was thinking even if I didn't talk to the Prime Minister, I got pretty close!!! Right after this picture He turned to me and reached in-between two guys I was standing behind and shook my hand and asked me how I was doing!!!!! Ahhh! Right after some of my friends just look at me they were like 'Did you.... did he.... did that just..... WHAT!'

Jennifer Jones was a MC so us girl winners took a picture with her, unfortunately I didn't take that picture.

After that was all done it was 2:00 pm and free time and a down pour!!!! So we ran through the rain back to the hotel, changed, ate lunch/supper and went to the War Museum, because there was free admission!

Then we ran back to the hotel to meet the group at 5:45 to go to the VIP section for the evening show.    The evening show was really amazing in one aspect and completely sickening in another. The work that went into it was amazing, but the song artists and and dancing were just vulgar, and honestly if I had had no obligation to stay, I probably would have left.

The fireworks began as soon as the last note was played by the band and we still had to make our way around parliament to see them! So what fireworks we did see was about as impressive as Portage's!! but none the less it was still an amazing experience!!

Then we had to get back to the hotel. As we came back around parliament all we saw was a red and white stampede. We all looked at each other held hands and braced ourselves for the walk back. Quite honestly I was a bit scared. I hate shopping because of the crowds, never mind this crazy,  half drunk mob! As the police officer let us out of VIP into the mob I honestly prayed for protection, and that Jesus would keep us together. We got off parliament and were swept into the street with the crowd.

As we made our way through broken glass, squashed beer cans and people,  I began to think through if Canada was really that different then any other country, morally I mean. I don't now of one country where people don't get drunk, where people aren't murdered and the law isn't broken. I do believe that Canada is a much safer place, but really all across the world we are a sinful and fallen people, no matter were you are from. And as drunk men want us to give them high-fives, ambulances, firetrucks and police were going every which way, and people seemed to not have a care int the world I was reminded of my small town, not that it is like that, but how much I love being around family and friends that are like minded, that love me and whom I love back.

Signing off,

Regan

//day 3// Ottawa

Day 3 

June 30, 2015

We all had to get up at 6:30 go down to the restaurant and eat breakfast by 8:30.  Everyone then left the hotel on the bus heading to the Rideau Hall! We all looked pretty snazzy!  When we got there, after waiting for a lot of construction, we unloaded and started to tour the Hall.  

It was a really beautiful place! After that we watched the trading of the torch, for the PanAm torch relay. 

Someone ran it up to Rideau Hall and handed it off to the Governor General then he ran it down the hill and past it off to someone to keep going. Police security was really heavy. I have seen more police security here in the past three days, then I can ever remember seeing before! 

Then we all went to the upper terrace to meet His Excellency! He came a little while later because he was still running! When he came we winners were all in a line and he talked to us and shook our hands! We took a picture, then we had to show him our work and tell him about it! 

He was really nice and I didn't have to address him at all, we just talked about farming. Yup, he has a farm,  he is used to hard work! 

We then watched the changing of the guards at Rideau Hall and left to go back to our hotel.

We ate lunch in a hurry and then started walking to Parliament Hill as a group. We got to meet the lady who plays the bells in the Peace tower, 

got a tour of Parliament,

 and then headed down to the Rideau Locks!

 Everything was so fascinating! Parliament is so completely beautiful! The locks are amazing!

Afterwards most of the group went back to the hotel to rest and change before the reception at Parliament! It was put on by the Chicken Farmers of Canada, so dad was in good company! There we had a delicious meal (although I don't know half of what I ate!), listen to some speeches, including one from Brent Hayden,  a famous Canadian olympic swimmer! (that I had never heard of!) 

Then it was time to go back to the hotel and sleep it was a good day!

Signing off,

Regan      

//day 1 and 2// Ottawa

It has been crazy busy here!! I will give you the time line of events!

Day 1

June 28, 2015

 I got up at 4:30! I just couldn't sleep anymore! Dad was already up and making last minute preparations! By 5:45 we were showered, packed and ready to go and pick up Grandpa and Grandma! By 6:00 we had turned our vehicle east to the airport, and what ever lay ahead!

We got to the airport, parked, got our tickets, went through security without any major difficulty and sat down to await the arrival of our plane!

At 9:30 am our flight number was called and we boarded. My Dad and Grandpa switched seats because grandpa wanted to sit closer to the front, then dad and myself switched seats because I wanted to be closer to my sisters and Grandma! And as Providence would have it, Jesus gave me a very pleasant seat mate! He looked around late 50s, he worked in the air force, he had his helicopter license and he had lived-in the States! So we had a few things to talk about! Jesus also gave me a very pleasant first commercial plane ride experience! I normally get car sick on road trips, so I was prepared for anything! My ears didn't even hurt, and I didn't feel sick once! Yup, Jesus. Thats all I can say! 

So we landed in rainy Ottawa, got our baggage, and then went to find transportation to the hotel. 

That turn out to be a little bit interesting! None of us had ever ridden transit bus before! But we made it to the hotel in one piece! We entered the lobby, where greeted by our hostess', checked in and went for lunch. by that time it was 2:30pm Manitoba time and 3:30 pm Ottawa time! We were ready to eat! We ate with another winner and her mom, she was the youngest to win, 10 years old, and I am the oldest!

Then we hit the sack for a nap, we were done. 

We meet at 7:00 and went for supper.

On the way back to our room we were in the elevator with three other people. I recognized the girl right away, and started talking with her! To make a long story short, we found out that that too are Christians! Ruth (the girl) were very happy to find that out, and have this special bond now! (Fun side note: she was baptized about 9 months after me!) We were in bed by 10:45 pm.

Day 2

June 29, 2015

I had a pretty bad night thanks to my dear sister Rebecca! Yes I got punched and hit a few times during the night! ( we have different sleeping arrangements tonight!) But none the less I had to get up at 6:30 to shower and get breakfast by 7:15. Need less to say I am not a breakfast person, so it consisted of a piece of fruit the size of a strawberry! I made it till lunch!

We have a personal bus, so we, winners only, loaded at 8:45 am, and were off the the Canadian Museum of History! There we got to know each other a lot better, as most of us had never met! There also, we learned how to use our Nikon Cameras and Mac books that the National Film Board of Canada gave us for the trip. We did mock interviews, and a fun photography activity! I was always assigned to be with the only two boys on this trip Eric and Luke! Ya, nuf said....!! Eric is a pretty cool kid, and Luke..... well...... he's himself I guess! 

After that we got to go to lunch in the Museum, and then had an hour to tour by ourselves these are the two places we went in that hour (where by the way I broke the no taking pictures rule.... oops!).......

Then we went to see this in the park!

Afterwards we went to the Royal Canadian Mint were we were presented with coins, and toured.

We headed back to the hotel 5:00 pm and had some free time. At 6:30 we had our welcome reception and were presented with more prizes. 

We were back in our room at 8:00 pm! 

I am done and ready for a good nights sleep!

I will try to do this tomorrow too!

Signing off,

Regan

P.S. If you can please pray for my grandpas hip. We are doing a lot of walking and it is starting to bug him.