Plain clay pots.....now beautifully designed.
Lenise Krebs
Last week as I was preparing for my grade 4 and 5 class mid-week activity. I wanted to reinforce a theme that I had been teaching for the past month with these young ladies…. After much thought, I went to Michael’s Craft store (my favourite) and picked up nine plain clay pots.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (The Message) states: “If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.”

I placed each pot in place and had the girls sit down… then began to explain to the girls that we are precious and they have been uniquely made, shaped, moulded, and designed by a Loving God!
We all know that clay pots are not much to look at! Unless we do something with this plain pot it will be just that.
I then explained that God wants to fill our lives with beauty, colour, talent, creativity, and all things that are lovely.

Psalm 139:14 …” I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

To illustrate this… I gave the girls paper napkins decorated, designed, filled with colour and flowers…they then mixed ‘modge podge’ and soaked the napkins in glue and began to apply colour and beauty to their plain clay pots. It was heart warming to see these girls put so much love and care into their plain clay pots…..carefully planning, positioning, shaping the flowers and pressing out any wrinkles. Making sure everything was in its perfect place!
It reminded me of how we have been designed and shaped by our loving God, and how He works daily on our lives reshaping, replenishing, and reviving. How so deeply God cares about each of us… even the smallest details of our lives……it was a beautiful moment. I reminded the girls that as each one of their pots are different and unique so they as young women of God….each with a special life to grow, cultivate, nurture, and enjoy!

Maybe you have been feeling a little plain, unloved, or just simply ordinary.... if so just remember that you are precious and the master potter is waiting to refill your life with beauty, colour, and spectacular design!!! Now sitting on the table.... are nine colourful and beautifully designed clay pots created by my grade 5 class!



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Blessing our Children
Lenise Krebs
Throughout the scriptures we often hear of ‘God’s Blessings’. When God created the earth he blessed it by saying, ”Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters and the seas, and let the birds multiply on earth.” (Genesis 1:22)

After God created man and woman in his image, He blessed them by saying, ”Be fruitful and multiply: fill the earth, and subdue it; have dominion over the fish in the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves the earth.” (Genesis 1:28)

God also blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because He rested on this day. (Genesis 2:3)

With each of God’s blessings there was always a special anointing, a release of God’s supernatural power.

We read of God’s blessings in many situations throughout the scriptures. Abraham was the first person on earth to receive God’s blessing. God made a covenant with man, which contains seven promises.

“I will make you a great nation; I will bless you; I will make your name great; you shall be a blessing; I will bless those who bless you; I will curse those who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2-4)

As believers and recipients of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become God’s children and Abraham’s seed. I believe that as Abraham passed on his blessing to his sons we can pass on blessings to our children.

God has provided a rich inheritance for our children. He wants them to live healthy productive lives, He has given us all things that pertain to life, physical, spiritual and material. Also, He has met every need that us as families need to have a truly good life. Society says that children are a product of their environment, meaning that we can provide our kids with a positive or negative influence. What are we teaching our children? The most important thing that us as parents can do is to teach them to bring glory to God in all that they say and do!

Jesus himself provides the best example of how to bless our children. We read in the book of Mark of how parents brought their children to Jesus just for Him to touch them. He “took them up in his arms, put His hand upon them, and blessed them.” (Mark 10:13-16)

Blessing our children should be a daily prayer in our homes, before our kids go off to school, pray for them, and bless with God’s mercy and grace, a gentle touch and a soft word for them to start their day.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His countenance upon you and give you Peace.”

You have been chosen to be His own possession. He is God, the one who has created you with a loving hand and has a plan for you life and the lives of your children!



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Feeling Unravelled??
Lenise Krebs
Feeling Unravelled???
My youngest daughter Aliyah is so creative! She loves to play the piano, organize her room, her school supplies, as well as make beautiful things with her hands. Just recently she joined her schools knitting club......total cuteness! We went to Micheals craft store and purchased 2 purple knitting sticks, purple wool, (Bieber's favorite colour) and ordered a special 'How to knit book'! After a few weeks of seeing her knitting ... I really didn't see any results... I began to see her frustration and asked her what has she accomplished? In a quiet and discouraged voice she replied, 'nothing', and began to cry. My heart was so sad for her and I just wanted to do the mother thing and knit a few rows for her. I realized that this was not the answer and she must begin to learn a lesson from this experience. As we talked about her frustrations she began to explain to me how she would mess up, miss a stitch and that would make a hole. so she just thought it was better to unravel her work and begin again. Time afer time she did this and became very discouraged. I have been blessed with an amazing daughter and am the mother of a perfectionist... and sometimes imperfection is a hard thing to deal with.
I explained to her that it is important to continue with what she started and learn from her mistakes...each row is a new chance to make it right. I explained that unless you can look back and be reminded of where you began you will never realize how far you have come. If she continues to unravel every time she misses a stich or a mistake is made, she will never create a design....never move forward. God has a specific design for your life and he will make it perfect in His time. Just press on, learn from your mistakes, and don't fuss over missed stiches or imperfections. it is important to use those lessons as starting points for a better you and take life one day at a time....Fully trusting in a Loving God!



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Life Lessons
Lenise Krebs
Life Lessons....I have been thinking of this alot lately.
A few weeks before Christmas I had the opportunity to visit with an old friend. As we ventured from store to store looking for the perfect gift for our families I had a revelation of what is truly important.
We continued with our plans and then found ourselves looking for the perfect hat to cover her beautiful hairless head. We picked out several styles and colours with matching scarves and mitts and finally decided on the colour red! It was peerfect! We finished our day with a sweet cup of timmies coffee and reflection of old times. I realized that night that life is something that is never to be taken for granted. We are to live each day as if it would be our last....take time to enjoy those sweet moments....never allow life to keep you away from precious moments with family and friends. Take time....choose the perfect colour....and savour the sweetness of a friends love!



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Miracles...
Lenise Krebs

. “The prayers of a righteous man , is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16b

Our prayers have been answered and God put his hand of healing upon Jordans life.
Just a note... to let you all know that Jordan is doing well, and to thank you all for your prayers
Here is a quick recap of what has been going on in our lives for the past few months.....
Nothing less then one Miracle after another.

In February, of this year we took the kids for a routine trip to the pediatrician. While I was there I mentioned to the doctor the Jordan often turns his head when somebody is speaking towards his left ear. Often saying, “pardon me,” and saying, “I can’t hear what you are saying.” This concern was noticed by many people including his teacher at school. I am sure he must have been often thought of as being heedless and not paying attention.
While we lived in Ontario we had several hearing tests and pressure tests done time and time again and yet no answers? Simply we didn’t know there was a problem and it seemed as though these symptoms were being caused by ear infections. After a scheduled CT Scan and being referred to a specialist, Jordan was indeed diagnosed as a child with a hearing problem... this test revealed many dark grey areas surrounding the bones of Jordans left ear. Erosion of the bones and growth of a cholestoma were the main concerns for the doctor.(not being explained to me at that point).
Days after a visit with the Specialist, Jordan came down with the worst ear infection ever...the pain was so intense that we couldn’t control it....antibiotics would not kill it, he could not rest and he could not eat. Too much pain to move...stand or even talk . As a parent it was so painful to watch.....every two hours I would give him pain relief but it only took away the edge.

Miracle #1
On the fourth night....he was at wits end. Our family gathered around Jordan as he was laying on the couch and we began to pray. Peace immediately filled the room and a few minutes later he said, “ Daddy the pain is not so bad now.” Within ten minutes Jordan was feeling better and fell asleep.
Meanwhile the specialist was at her office and realized this is a case that is out of her league. Dr. Heather Levin called me and said, “I need to get another opinion so I am referring Jordan to Dr.Lateio”.
The procedure then was for Dr. Levin to dictate a referral letter and have it sent to Dr. Laieto. It then sat on a pile with the other 150 appointment requests

Miracle #2
After not hearing from Dr. Levin for a week, I called and said I haven’t heard anything for some time. She informed that this is a long process that may take up to 6 months or so. I would have to wait. Well me, the patient soul I am asked if I could have the phone number and, well to make a long story short....I was off the phone and at the school picking Jordan up and at Childrens Hospital within 65 minutes.. This is a miracle that only God could have provided. My voice was no different than any other mothers who called concerning their children. But the Lord was gracious in opening the door sooner than the doctors thought possible.

This appointment revealed that Jordan had a ear disease called Cholestoma. It is a problem that occurs when skin is growing on the inside of the eardrum.. This benign tumor(cyst) sits in the middle ear creating a barrier for the sound to move. Too complex to get in to. Part of Jordans problem had been that the cysts would grow and begin shedding skin then get infected and perforate the ear drum causing severe pain...

Dr Latieo had an intern student with him and they closely went through the scan and looked in Jordans ear with a special microscope. In fact, he reached in a pulled out a part of the cholestoma and I held it in my fingers. At this appointment
Jordan was diagnosed and listed for surgery as soon as possible to repair this problem. This could not be left because it could eventually cause him to loose his permanent hearing or even worse, grow into the skull and cause infection in the brain.


We went through all the appointments; exams; research questions; fears and prayer requests and now it is August 18. Today Jordan’s spirits are good.., all prayed up and ready for battle. He has spoken life into his own problem time and time again. I would say, “How is your bad ear?” Jordan would respond, “You mean my good ear, the one God is healing ” His faith was unbreakable, unbelievable We have learned so much from him.
At Boys and Girls camp, Jordan was prayed over by the pastors....at family camp he was prayed over....at church he was prayed over....anointed and prayed over again. He received endless cards and emails of prayers that are being prayed.....daily....consistently...desperately.
We arrived at childrens hospital ten o’clock this past Friday morning.The doctor wanted Jordan for a little longer because of this delicate surgery. There was possibility of bones being replaced and they were not sure of what they were going to find?
All the paper work was finished and we were in the OR waiting room waiting to see the Doctor. He came in and had a talk with us and went over the whole procedure. He then asked Jordan if he was ready in which he responded, “I want to get this over with.”

Miracle #3
The doctor then asked Jordan if he could look in his ear. He looked....looked.....looked and looked again....and put his hand on his head and said I can see no sign of a Cholestoma in this ear.
He then said, “I think instead of a 4 hour surgery...we are looking at a 5 minute one.”
They followed through with the procedure ..... and basically did an exploratory surgery...(approx 40 minutes)
We were sitting in the room upstairs and the Dr. called. He told us that he looked in every crevice and place in Jordans ear and that all he could find was fluid. Nothing else so he inserted a tube which is a very common procedure.

Miracle # 4
Then next miracle involving me....about 2-3 months ago I had a dream. In this dream it was very peaceful and we were with a doctor. This appointment was intense at first and then there was a huge sigh of relief. In this dream, the doctor looked at me and said, ‘the problem is only fluid.’ Upon my arrival home I remember saying to Dan, “Oh everything is okay.... it is only fluid ”
Yesterday when the doctor called my heart leaped for joy.... he said, “There was only fluid..”

So I tell you this to share our joy...that our faith has been tested and our son has received a complete healing in his left ear.

Praise the Lord for his Gracious Love and MIRACLES

All our Love
Your Friends
Pastor Dan & Lenise




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