//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