Blog

April 18, 2008

Julie knows I've been wanting to spend more time with her and her beautiful spirit knows just how to respond. Julie is our 14 year old daughter. She brought home a book the other day, a compilation of refugee stories. She asked me if we could read it together each night before bed. I was honored. We began reading and within the first few pages we were both touched by a special phrase "born behind fences".

Julie is very musical and both of us sat down to right a song about the story we had read. The author of the compilation did not make it known, who the first story was by, but if we ever wanted to send the song to that person - we assume we could send it to the author - and he would know who to get it to.

This song is for all of you refugees who have settled in Canada and made a new home here among us. May you find safety and peace in this land, but most of all the "hand of God".

"The hand of God"© Cindy Palin/April 17,08

Born behind fences - it all depends,

if second chances come 'round the bend,

I remember the water, the bullet, the blood.

When I awoke to find a God.

Living in prison - behind a wall.

Nobody's missing until bones thaw,

I remember their crying, the fear like a flood,

and yet for me, the hand of God.

No rhyme of reason that I should be spared,

Many a season I'll wrestle with "fair".

Who tells their mothers' their children are gone,

and yet for me - the hand of God.

I'll take that ship to freedom, I like the air in my lungs,

I ache for justice to find them, and expose what they've done.

I'll take that ship to freedom, make a new home abroad,

I ache for the truth to find them, that I made it across.....

I wore the white pants, to hide in snow.

I hope they understand, I had to go,

I'll remember their faces, but goodbyes were not,

My Mama said "There is a God".

April 14th, 2008

Just returned from an amazing journey to Tijuana with Mexican Caravan Missions and our First Baptist Youth Team, to build houses. I want to thank everyone who offered up prayers, gave of their time and money to make this mission trip possible.

There is much to share and much to be compiled in the coming weeks, however I do wish to share with you what happened through the night and into this early morning.

As you would guess, when you return from a trip like this, there is much to think on and to hand over to God in order for any sleep to occur. I tried. In the night I had some bad dreams and woke up early this morning waving my hand in the air. In my dream I was pushing the doubts and worries away, not willing for them to take over and stay. As I was about to analyze my thoughts and emotions, a song began playing in my head. I listened for a while and realized it was a song I had written before our trip.

As my early morning hazy brain began to clear, the words I had penned, started coming through as well.

The lyrics are from Psalm 17: 7 to 9.

I call and hear your answers to my prayer,

I see the wonders of your love,

And by our right hand, you offer refuge.

Under the shadow of your wings.

Under the shade of God I sing,

Into your presence I awake and seek your face.

You heard my cry, You show your love,

I lift my voice to sing your praise!

And I desire to seek your face!

This song came to minister to my weary soul, and as it brought me comfort and guidance I reflected on the fact that the lyrics also speak of what God lead us to do in Mexico. God heard their cry, and sent people to provide shade, protection and show all of us together what God's love is about. Together we lift our eyes and seek His truth, and sing His praise!

Friday, March 28, 2008

OH, my it has been too long. Sometimes when you are in the thick of things - God sends a representative to help out.

He has done just that. A lovely young lady resides at our house, and she loves to pray. We continue to face some difficult circumstances, but the Bible tells us to persevere.

Sometimes, when we don't feel like it, offering a sacrifice of Praise is the thing to do!

The song might not be a number one hit, or top ten best seller, but this next song I have to share with you is real, and offered up to our Creator, and Savior - when I didn't feel like singing.

Thank you Lord for the gift of music, the comfort you provide in it, and the praise that is offered up with it.

Thank you Lord for sending a friend when I needed one, to pray.....

Monday, March 3rd, 2008

Wrote a new song on the weekend, thought you might want to hear the words. When I get it recorded on my mini-mac, I will be sure to include a sound sample.

In your childhood season, you were called a loser,

As your sister, I shuddered at the curse,

But the Truth tells me, you now wear another name,

And I sure like the look -

Of Grace - nothing like it on your face,

Knowin' you can't be replaced,

Knowin' that your loved,

and all is forgiven,

Grace - isn't it the sweetest name,

Knowin' we won't stay the same,

Knowin' that each day -

We're closer to heaven.

It is no mistake - that you were chosen.

Your offenses are forgiven indeed!

And the lies will try to curse you again,

But I can hear Him say -

Sweet Grace - nothing like you in the world,

Little boy, oh little girl,

Hear me when I say that

You're my beloved!

Grace - I have loved you with my life,

I have loved you with my Son,

He has conquered death,

and we have given

Grace.

Monday, February 25th, 2008

So disappointed in the selection of movies that are coming out in the stores and into the Theatres. I know, I know, I sound like a broken record, or worse yet like my parents did when I was growing up. The truth is; our parents could see it coming, the truth is; we have been so brainwashed by television ads and series that the trashy movies don't even fizz us anymore.

Someone, somewhere out there, has surmised that we all crave distorted darkness, we all spew grotesque obscenities at each other across the supper table, and murder is our most dreamed of all American pass time?

We had an opportunity to sit down with family and friends on Saturday night and watch a movie. A trip to the movie rental store was made - only for us to turn around and send the movie right back. NEWS FLASH - if the movie jacket reads 14A - it virtually means the Canadian rating for 18A in the States. If the movie jacket reads R, it really in fact, does mean restricted, and as much as we may hope that the few indiscretions will only be at the beginning, we are sadly mistaken. Rated R means FILTH, in every language on the planet, for the entire duration of the film!

I got the impression by a few that we could turn a "blind eye" so to speak, or a "deaf ear" to the language in the beginning of the show. I had seen too many of these things go south before, the movie's depravity would only get worse.

I went upstairs to the piano to be by myself and to write out how I was feeling.

I offer no apologies for censoring profanity

you survived the Holocaust, but who's to say I will?

I'm done with your peer pressure points,

selling my soul for a few coins.....na, na, na, na, na, na

I've had my fill of "the blind eye", out of sight, and out of mind

how can I pretend again that black was ever white?

I'm done with sweeping under rugs,

confrontation - here I come! ©Cindy Palin Feb.24th,2008

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

Yesterday I had to leave work early to get to the city where our son skates, and lives. He and I had planned to grocery shop together for his fridge, and pantry, but he let me know ahead of time that Wednesday was the day he began partnering girls for the skating dance tests and that we couldn't shop together. I didn't mind and said I would pick some things up for him, if he could make me a list.

O Lord, thank you for our son. Thank you that at 17 years of age he is responsible and has a good work ethic! Thank you for everyone that is involved in his life in Calgary, and bless them for their friendship and support!

Please continue to watch over him, be my arms around him when I can't be there.

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Oh to have His eyes, and see the world He sees. It has been really tough with our parents aging and not doing well. Sometimes I wake with a heavy heart.

This morning I brought my 14 year old a coffee, (small cup) and sat with her while we both woke up. She needed to get up early to get a ride to school instead of taking the bus, because she is not allowed to take her guitar on the bus. She needed her guitar because she is playing at chapel on Wednesday, and the practice is today. She called the neighbor last night and arranged her ride.

I packed her a larger lunch than usual because she has a basketball game out of town tonight. This morning, as I waved goodbye to her I noticed she had her clean brown loafers on, shoes that I have recommended she wear when she is up in front of people. Otherwise, on regular days, she wears her favorite old shoes that look like they've been drug through the swamp.

My heart swelled with gratitude. O Lord, thank you that my daughter wants to get up early for a practice for chapel. Thank you that she is responsible and arranged a ride herself. Thank you that she wore the right shoes, and thank you God for the bright spot this morning in my heart. She is a bright spot in my life.

Wednesday, January 30th, 2008 (Motivating Music, world current events, and art!)

All this cold weather and resulting down time to think has brought about some amazing stuff! My hubby, and the girls and I are embarking on a short mission adventure with our church's youth group, this April! Our son is not coming due to his skating training. We need to raise some extra money to go and I've been planning some special fundraisers for our family. One of which is; to raffle an art piece. I've decided to use a photo taken in Mexico, add some filters from Adobe Photoshop, splash on some extra paint and artistic touches here and there, stretch it on a stretcher board and set it up for raffle.

The other project, is.....A MUSIC ONE! Over the years I have written several mission songs specific to world current events, i.e.; Bosnia, Rwanda, Beirut, and so on. For the last two weeks I've been working feverishly in my basement recording studio to make a compilation CD of these songs. This particular project is so near and dear to my heart, and to add an extra bonus - I've decided to include narration of the actual events that inspired each song. Talk about motivating music! My hope is that we will all be spurred on to care even more about people, and be encouraged to do whatever we can to make this world a better place.

We will be building small shelters for families in Tijuana, Mexico. We're only going for seven days - so it is going to be a full seven for sure!

If you are interested in praying for us, or supporting us through one of the fundraisers I've mentioned above - contact me at palin@telusplanet.net or (403) 556-6847.

I will also be posting excerpts from the CD narration to give everyone an idea of what is coming.

Tuesday, January 29th, 2008 (Zombies on the Treadmill of Life?)

Our teens had the day off yesterday due to a terrible cold front effecting the entire province. Our youngest stayed home all day, our eldest daughter had a diploma, she did get half the day off. It was wonderful that one of her classmates who drives a 4 x 4, to conquer the mighty white drifts on the road, could take her to her test. Thanks Josh!

The month of January has been slow (in a business way}, then this cold front, and people don't want to go out of doors. I did go out to the frame shop and got some work done, I wondered and worried for a few moments, but then I realized a special truth.

We tend to forget how to get off the tread mill of life. When it is 40 below outside, it is ok to stay home, maybe not for some - and for them I am truly sympathetic, however - It is absolutely necessary for us to recognize the opportunity for rest and fellowship when it presents itself!!

We laughed yesterday, our sweet neigh neigh (short for neighbor, oh, I guess that would be long for neighbor) came over to bake cookies, our girls played games. I didn't get much laundry done. The floors got swept. My point is - it is ok to sit and enjoy one another's company. It is almost a lost art, let's get reacquainted with it and each other before we all become mere zombies on the treadmill of life.

Thursday, January 24th, 2008

Life sure has a way of throwing us a curved ball. Recently, my family has experienced a string of illnesses involving our Senior parents. I was reading in my devotion "Jesus the One and Only" by Beth Moore, and realized something very important. We may or may not think of ourselves as the best daughters or daughters-n-law, etc., but: we can ask God for the strength to be the best we can be, the best of who we are - the real person must stand up. I am thankful that I can be honest with myself about who I am, and what I can do, and what I can't. This kind of healthiness produces kindness and genuine friendship at the most difficult times. We must not be fake, or phony.

Dear Jesus help us to be genuine and honest people, help us never to do things out of worry about what others may or may not think. Help us to ask you for the wisdom to go through each and every situation. Amen.

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

Have any of you seen the movie "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"? I haven't either, but I hear it is good. I think of it this morning because of an unusual but delightful occurrence that is ongoing in the Palin household.

Our oldest daughter is just beginning her diploma exams and getting ready to leave the nest to study nursing in the fall.

Between myself running a business, cooking, cleaning, the regular daily chores, and Laura with her nose in her books, we don't get to sit down often to relish each other's company very often, but....

Out of the blue, one day - I spied a stray sock on the bathroom vanity. Just before the girls were to leave the house for the bus, I asked Laura, as she uses the same bathroom as I in the morning, if the sock was hers? She quickly replied that she knew of it, and that it was not.

I decided, in the quiet of the morning, to tidy a bit before going out to the office, and to place this stray sock on her floor to see what would happen. She said it wasn't hers, but never the less, I threw it in her room to get a reaction.

That evening before bed, I was putting away a few clean clothes, and - spied a familiar sock on my floor. I smiled to myself and realized, that no indeed this sock was truly not her sock, and she was clarifying the fact by throwing it back my way.

The following day, after Laura had left for school, I placed the sock on her bed, again to get a reaction.

The next evening just after supper, while my husband was still sitting up in the kitchen, I called to Laura to come talk to me. I smiled and told her that I was enjoying a certain sock game, that it reminded me of "sisterhood of the traveling pants" idea. She laughed and said that when she was in college she was going to take the sock and mail it back to me. What a lovely thought! Later that night I turned down the covers to discover THE famous multi- striped sock. Before I crawled into bed, I secretively returned the sock by slipping it on the back door-knob of her room, and fell asleep wondering where it would turn up next.

The next evening as I was getting ready for bed I slid out my pajama wicker basket and discovered........ a striped sock laying on top! Well, isn't that funny, how did that get there, I knowingly mused.

Just before I went to bed, I crept across the hallway and gingerly pulled the sock up over the snowman's head that dangled from a decorative Christmas wreath on the front of her door. I wondered if she would see it? Duh...of course! But when?

The next morning as I rushed around to get ready for work - I located my makeup bag and unzipped the zipper to find - a stray sock staring up at me. I laughed, she doesn't miss a thing!

Today I found an unsuspecting character, a cute duck ornament that sits on her desk with these little wiry legs that wiggle back and forth over the edge of the desk shelf - I rolled the sock up a bit to make it look like a toque and pulled it over the duck's head, just so his eyes and beak could still be seen peeking out from under.

Ahhhh, the many ways you can tell someone you love them........

Thank you God!

Cindy

Wednesday, January 16th, 2008

Yesterday a friend of mine and myself were talking in the kitchen about raising children. He commented that all three of our children were strong and confident. Before he could say much more, afraid that he might credit Lloyd and I, I hastily interrupted to explain that their success and confidence and strong self esteem grew mostly from steadfast prayer.

When Lloyd and I were new parents we were the same as any new mother and father. We soon realized that we needed God more than ever. Raising children brings us face to face with our humanity, and usually the dark side. How can anyone get frustrated at such a cute face, well that depends on what the owner of that cute face is doing, like rubbing ashes from the fireplace all over the walls like a finger painting lesson. How can anyone lose their patience when an infant cries? Well that depends on how long that small infant has been crying doesn't it.? We are frail creatures.

I can remember wondering in agony one Father's Day what kind of a card I would get my husband, because to me - he wasn't much of a Father yet. Ouch!

You should see him today. Our children adore their Father, he spends time with them, he was the one to teach them all how to drive, he goes to movies with them, he teaches them about life and oh yes, did I mention - cars? He is approachable, patient and kind. He became and is becoming the Father God wants him to be, through prayer.

Last summer I met a friend on the street, we were both going in opposite directions. I could tell right away that something was wrong by her eyes. She was dressed so bright and fresh, but her eyes looked incredibly sad. In brief, I found out that she had just lost her Mom, and she told me she felt like a "walking bruise". I'll always remember that description. I asked her if she ever thought of getting together to pray and she hadn't. Sometimes we forget that Christ wants to hear about everything. He cares so much about every detail of our lives.

I am needing prayer today, and needing to spend time in prayer. That is another important point we must remember. Don't hesitate to ask people to pray for you. Sometimes we can't pray, and need someone to pray for us. Often times the weight of the world is too heavy to press through, but prayer will press through for you.

Love and prayers - Cindy

Happy New Year!

January 10, 2008,

So just what is happiness? I haven't wanted to rush back to these pages and write anything until I could put words to what has been on my heart.

"......I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" Philippians 4:11

This shall be my heart's theme for the year!

Our fall season of 2007 was filled with agony as we watched our Father's health disintegrate at a rapid pace. Both my husband and I had forced job changes that were abrupt and unexpected causing our family to seek God even more for a direction and a future. My husband's parents, through illness, surgery, and aging, were brought face to face with life changing decisions as well.

Christmas came with the miracle of a renewed promise of life, as our Father's health rallied and enabled him to be present with us on Christmas Day! Thanks be to God.

Here we are in 2008, given a gift of life, the promise of a New Year. The changes that have recently knocked down our door cannot and will not crush our Spirit. The days ahead are filled with an urgent need for prayer in order that we stand in God's will and not our own. Our families health and provision rest in His hand, our new business ventures rest in His hand, all for the Glory of God.

And back to this contentment thing! We can be content if we remind ourselves it is all for the Glory of God. It won't be comfortable all the time, life won't be easy most of the time. "Dear Jesus, do not let us be consumed by circumstance. Give us eyes to see above the fog! Guide our footsteps purposefully."

And oh how we thank you for Grace! We are loved and cherished by you, Oh God, and it is not based on what we've done, or will do. Your love comes freely to us. Your forgiveness enables us to face each new day with worth, with value, with purpose.

Will I allow, will you allow, the circumstances that surround us to control, to squish, to twist and defeat?

Let us say together, as it is said in Philippians 4: 11 - 13

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.