Lorene Lyon Homepage Last Updated: March 9, 2011

Name: Lorene Lyon, formerly Fiddler
Nicknames: Kakage (Crow)
From: Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Occupation: temporarily out of work
Hobbies: Sports, sewing, quilting, baking
Quote: kraft dinner, at least in my thoughts

On teh shores of Lake Michigan are great barren sand dunes that have never felt the point of a plow. But in the rich lowlands beyond them, the farmer is constantly cultivating the soil. The farmer knows what he is doing, so he keeps on breaking up the soil. The deeper the plow works and the more the sharp harrow, the more precious the crop will be when harvest times comes.

God's plow goes deep, but it is only that in the end we may forget the plowing and rejoice in the blessing of bearing much fruit for Him. "No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11.

When blades of distress cut deep into the soul, breaking up ground that was untouched before, the Lord is preparing soil to bear fruit, fit for the harvest to feed many more.

Even if you have nothing else to give, you can give encouragement.

7. But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them. Joshua 18.

As I pondered this verse, I concluded that the Levites received lots, and lots, and lots more than these tribes did. I received an email one time, saying I won thousands and thousands of dollars. My head spun, but I concluded that I would probably be compromising my walk with my Lord if I claimed it, so I didn't reply to it. As I thought more, I realized I received far more from my Lord than the riches of this world. I concluded that the riches of this world cannot compare to what I received from my Lord, so I told my husband, Walter, "We're rich!!!" I explained to him why I told him that. Ha, ha. Amazing, and amazing. Later! I hope you all have a good day!

My garden is a treasure to me, and the possibility of moving has hit me as far as my garden is concerned. I so much want to see my plants grow again this year, and I thought to myself that I would move after everything grows. My Lord spoke to me about this one morning when I was reading my devotionals, and here are the verses.

When thou cuttest down thine harvest in the field, and hast forgot a sheaf in thy field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Deuteronomy 24: 19, 20, 21. So I heard my Lord telling me to leave my garden for the next occupants to have, to appreciate it, to revel in the plants popping up in their backyard. That is so like God. He's always thinking of how to love a person, how to bring sunshine into their lives. I am able to rest my garden in peace now. I hope the next occupants really appreciate the yellow flowers that grow there every year. I am still going to plant new seeds in though, and if I leave it, I leave it.

When I needed hope, when I needed strength, when I needed someone who cares, Lord I found you cared. You make me laugh, even when I felt like crying, Lord, you make me sing, even when my heart is aching. I worshipped this morning and I worshipped with this song, there's more to this song but I'm blogging the parts that ministered to me. When this world is dreary, and all the cares press in, I find hope with Him. When I'm weary, from being dragged through the mud of this world, I find my strength from Him, when I am crying or feel like crying, he comforts me and makes me smile and laugh through the pain, He makes me sing even when my heart is aching. My God is wondrous.

Go on with God, all things shall work for good,

E'en all the things that are not understood;

The seed you're sowing in the gospel field,

Mingled with tears, shall bring a glorious yield.

Though you have failed and nights seem long, God loves to change regret to song.

With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. Psalm 18:29.

The gospel is sent to break hard hearts and to heal broken ones.

I believe the Lord wants us to finish whatever He calls us to do, even when it requires patience, perseverance, and hard work. God wants us to grow roots and learn to endure until the fruit of His promise is manifested.

Be willing to endure patiently to see God's plan take place in your life. If God has given you a vision of something He wants you to accomplish, keep doing whatever He has given you to do, even when the excitement for the work is over, and all the goose bumps are gone. If you don't have a vision, ask God to show you something that you need to do, and then commit your work to the Lord until it is completed.

We can identify with the message of this beautiful hymn with our own struggle to completely yield our will to God's will. It is our human inclination to resist God's will and want to take our own way. But as another song writer has reflected,

God's way is best if human wisdom a fairer way may seem to show.

Tis only that our earth-dimmed vision, the truth may never clearly know,

I will not murmur although the end I may not see.

Wherever He leads, I'll meekly follow.

God's way is best, is best for me.

I am a risk taker. Sometimes I hop into a situation without taking too much thought. Anyways, here's the lesson on leadership I was going to share.

Say No to the Status Quo.

Status Quo is Latin for "the mess we're in." Leaders see what is, but they also have a vision for what could be. They are never content with things as they are. To be leading, by definition, is to be in front, breaking new ground, conquering new worlds, moving away from the status quo.

Dissatisfaction with the status quo does not mean having a negative attitude or grumbling. It has to do with a willingness to be different and to take risks. A person who refuses to risk change fails to grow. A leader who loves the status quo soon becomes a follower. Raymond Smith of the Bell Atlantic Corporation once remarked, "Taking the safe road, doing your work, and not making any waves may not get you fired (right away, at least), but it sure won't do much for your career or your company over a long haul. We're not dumb. We know that administrators are easy to find and cheap to keep. Leaders, risk takers, are in very short supply. And ones with vision are pure gold."

Risk seems dangerous to many people because they are more comfortable with the old problems versus what it takes to come up with new solutions. The difference is attitude. When you seek out potential leaders, seek people who seek solutions.

Until you've "coached" a blind golfer, you can't appreciate how hard it is, and how wonderful it is when things go right. You find that you've never been so interested in someone else's golf game.

Becoming like Christ is a lifelong experience: therefore, we need patience with others and ourselves. All of us will have challenges and disappointments along the way. But if we put our trust in Him, we'll grow spiritually and have character qualities that will radiate new life.

Conversion is the miracle of a moment; maturing takes a lifetime.

We abide in Christ's love when we show love to others.

Although the world is full of suffering people, it is also full of people who overcome suffering.

Devotion.

When you pray for other people, it may seem that they get worse before they get better. The devil wants to discourage you from believing that God is answering your prayers. The apostle Paul said that he learned not to be discouraged even when going through terrible trials. He said to look to the things that are unseen, not to the things that are seen. (See 2 Corinthians 4:18.)

Keep believing, and the power of the Holy Spirit will fill you with joy and peace until you are overflowing with hope (see Romans 5:13). Always trust God to answer your prayers.

The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.

For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the soul of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 97: 1- 10.

There is direction from God not to consume one another. In fact, it's a sin that we need to confess and repent of. He directs us to love one another, and instead build each other up. If we bite and devour one another we will destroy each other. Our goal should be to not use each other up, but be used for good for our brethren. We are called to affirm the worth and value of persons, not destroy them. A person can thrive and flourish if we see them as worthy, for instance, as having an iron will and fierce determination, a man or woman of dignity and courage, or other positive qualities. To consume and bring each other down is forbidden in scripture. Give actions of kindness and love. There is something honourable about building each other up.

I think that's about the gist of it, but there is healing and immeasurable value of building and treating with dignity your fellow man.

I'm going through a couple's devotional book right now, but the following really spoke to my heart. It's about grace for your children.

A man told me that when he goes into a room with his six grown children and nine grandchildren, one by one they all get up and leave. There is no overt antagonism displayed. There is no visible acrimony. No one seems to plan it in advance. Yet, there is something in this man's demeanor that sends his children away.

On the other hand his wife is constantly on the phone with her children and grandchildren. She draws them out and listens attentively. She looks for creative, positive ways to get involved in their lives. She doesn't judge or condemn. She doesn't offer opinionated advice. She simply loves and serves her children. When the family is together her children and grandchildren flock around her.

How is it possible for two people to raise children under the same roof, then end up with completely different relationships with those same children?

Children are people too. In the same way that adults respond to encouragement, attention, genuine interest and sincere listening, children do, also. Likewise when children sense no sincere interest in them they take it to mean a lack of love. Children, like adults, know if you are for them or not.

It is not what happened in the room that led to this man's children to leave, but what happened through multiplied years of neglect, harsh criticism, overly strict rules, and indifference. We can rule our homes by grace or law, but grace is better. If we rule our homes by law, our children won't be able to wait for the day they can leave.

In today's scripture passage, "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of the children," Proverbs 17:6, the word pride figuratively means an 'ornament'.

My Favourite Websites