BLESSED BY BLOGGERS

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Darlene Schacht,, the founder and editor of CWO Magazine, Uniting Women of Faith.

Write a post telling us some of the ways God has blessed you through blogging

As many of you know, I am a widow and live alone in a very small town. Through blogging I have met many wonderful friends. My computer is my life line to the world.

If I am feeling lonely all I have to do is read someone else’s blog and I am reassured that I am not alone in my struggles. If I feel like ranting about something, I can do it through my blog and I know that people will read and only take what they need.

I have been so blessed by the comments that people have left on my site and the fact that we are a community of believers.

The blog world is a place where people can drop their ‘masks’ and be themselves. Even when they are trying to be something else, it seems to come through in people’s writing.

Writing seems to be a window to the soul of a person. Even though we may never meet the other person we are reading about, there is connection of spirit and soul and we will know one another in heaven.

Jesus was not recognized after his resurrection until he spoke to the two men on the road to Emmaus. Then they recognized his soul or spirit.

I believe that is what the blogging community is like. If we read someone’s posts we get to know their spirit and will know them when we see them in heaven.

I have also been blessed by personal emails from bloggers wanting to get to know me better and I have also had bloggers send me gifts for Christmas.

When needed I have had a large army of prayer warriors on my side fighting the enemy along the way.

God has blessed me with an extended family of loving caring brothers and sisters in Christ.

I love my blogging community.

SHARING GRACE

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by the devotional team blog, "Laced with Grace."

"How do you share the grace you receive from God on a day-to day basis?"

I signed up for this challenge and boy is it a "CHALLENGE". I wanted to take my name off of the list as I was sorry I entered. How does one share the grace they receive? That is a very hard question.

First of all there is the ‘age old’ question; What is Grace?

At the beginning of the epistles, it seems to be used as a customary form of salutation or a blessing of some sort for all Christians in common.

Grace seems to have many definitions but mostly it is understood as the unmerited "favor" of God. It seems to work opposite of "works". It is something you cannot earn for yourself but must just receive it from God.

So we get back to the question, How does one share the grace they receive from God, on a day to day basis?

O.k. so maybe I don’t share that grace on a day to day basis. I do try to live a life that I think would be pleasing to God. Knowing me I am probably deceiving myself and am doing everything wrong. BUT!!! regardless of how I live my life, I have been promised that I would receive salvation if I truly believed in Jesus. Now that is Grace. Living with the knowledge that all my sins - past, present and future - are already taken care of. I can now live my life guilt free of sin (although that isn’t always the case.)

I think Grace brings HOPE. And Jesus is our blessed Hope. I live in hope daily thinking that ‘perhaps today Jesus will come back".

I don’t spend every day trying to live like a Holy Person. I just live my life in Jesus and try to let him have full Reign. I don’t try to work my way into heaven. I don’t do things for others so that I can get points with God. I do things for others because of a genuine love that God has placed in my heart.

I love giving things away. Maybe that is a form of grace. I enjoy making others happy. I love making things and then just giving them away. If I am out shopping and I spot something I think someone else might like or could use, I try to pick it up for them as a little gift of love from me.

So all in all, I can only think that grace is the unmerited favor of God. God loves me and that is all I need to know. God loves me no matter what I do or don’t do.
I can live my life with hope and knowledge that the creator of the universe loves little ole me.

That is Grace.

GAETEN (GATOR) RAYMOND CHARLES IVANISKI (1964 2007)

GAETEN (GATOR) RAYMOND CHARLES IVANISKI (1964 2007)


Suddenly and unexpectedly on March 31 at his residence in Winnipeg Beach, Gaeten passed away at the age of 42 years.

He is survived by his loving mother Pauline (Cesare); brother Eugene; sister Charlene (Shane); nephews, Travis and Jesse and only niece, his princess Natalie, of whom he loved dearly; his aunts, Gert (Ian), Lavina (Barrie), Joyce (Jim), Marvel (Dan), Dorothy, Jeanette, Olga (Bert), Vi (Ron); uncles, Les (Loretta), Nick (Ruth), Walter (Betty) and Bill (Barb); great-aunts, Ellen, Evelyn (Eigill), Rubina and Pearl; and over 100 cousins. He was predeceased by his father Steve in 2004, which he never really got over; his grandparents, Jim and Gladys Johnston and Jack and Mary Ivaniski.

Gaeten was born on June 16, 1964, in Selkirk, MB. He attended school in Selkirk, participating in hockey, football, baseball and Ukrainian dancing. Gaeten joined the 737 Canadian Regiment in 1980 for three years. He worked numerous jobs over his short life, but his most memorable was working security at concert events in the old Winnipeg Arena.
His unique personality and humour will be greatly missed by his friends and family.

Honorary pallbearers are his close friends whom he enjoyed the company of.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2007, at 1:30 p.m. in the Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Selkirk, with The Ven. Godfrey Mawejje officiating.

Dear brother, our family is getting smaller, the crib table in Heaven is getting crowded, give Dad a kiss from us till we meet again - we love you dearly and will hold you in our hearts forever.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Gaeten's memory can be made to Evergreen Basic Needs, 96 3rd Ave., Gimli, MB R0C 1B0. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.


I am sorry to say that I did not get to attend the Funeral as I didn't know about the services till Monday. My prayers go out to the family.

This article is my submission to the blog challenge sponsored by Art Bookbindery, "Empowering Writers to Self Publish."

As I reflect on the resurrection of our Lord, I am reminded that if he had not risen from the dead, our hope would be in vain. It is his very resurrection that makes our faith what it is today.

In thinking on that, I wonder, how does one celebrate life? In our world we are constantly celebrating life. When a child is born we celebrate it’s birth. When someone graduates from high school we celebrate their graduation. When someone gets married we celebrate the big day. We celebrate Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, etc. These are all part and parcel of what we call celebrating life.

But looking closer; the best way I have found to celebrate life is to look through the eyes of a child. Children are full of life and energy. Everything they see and experience is new to them and they want to learn.

I remember when I first became a Christian that my life was full of wonder and learning. I could not get enough of the Bible and what God had to say to me. I was a little child taking baby steps I was learning about where my father wanted me to be and what plans he had for me.

I went through the terrible twos where I rebelled at everything my father put before me. I threw temper tantrums and yelled at him because I thought things were too hard. I got frustrated because I couldn’t get my message across to him.

Then I matured a bit and thought I could do things on my own. After all, I was grown up now. But my father patiently waited along the sidelines till I gave up trying things on my own and then he lent a helping hand. He is always faithful that way.

When you begin to see your life, through a child’s eyes and as the father sees his child, you will really begin to experince life the way it should be experienced.

I find myself reminding myself quite often that in the Old testament men and women lived to be nearly 1000 years old. In that way of calculating, I am only a child in God’s eyes and I will remain His child throughout eternity. He has adopted me into his family.

I am reminded of a song:

He was there when you drew the breath of life
He could hear your voice the first time that you cried
Though you couldn’t see him
He was very near
And there’s something now, that he wants you to hear

You will always be a child in his eyes
If you need some love his arms are open wide.
Even when you’re growing old
I hope you realize,
You will always be a child in his eyes.

He was there the first time that your prayed
And he heard all the promises you made
As you came before him
Saying Father I have sinned
He said I love you child
And made you clean within

You will always be a child in his eyes
If you need some love his arms are open wide.
Even when you’re growing old
I hope you realize,
You will always be a child in his eyes.

How many children do you know that worry about their next meal or the clothes they are going to wear? How many kids worry that their parents might leave them and abandon them? How many children do you know who worry that they wouldn’t have a bed to sleep in or a house to live in?

We know that our heavenly Father takes care of these things. If he knows the very number of hairs on your head don’t you think he knows about every need you might have?

Our whole life is a celebration of His life and resurrection. Our lives should be an exaltation of that life He provided for us.

Soon our Bride groom is coming to take us to the grand wedding banquet he has been preparing for us. It will be the most elaborate celebration of all. It will be a time of celebrating our Eternal Life with the Father. Just as a bride is getting ready for the special day, each of us should be ready and waiting for the arrival of our spouse. He told us to watch and wait as we have no idea when that time will be.

Meanwhile we are busy making preparations to celebrate that glorious day. Our gowns are ready and waiting. We have been preparing special crowns for our beloved. We constantly talk to our spouse long distance and anxiously await his arrival for the big day. We are busy inviting friends and neighbours for the grand celebration. The excitement is mounting. All the preparations are ready and the final touches are being added.

What a glorious day that will be when we see our Saviour, face to face.

This little child plans to crawl up on the Saviour’s knee and embrace his face and give him a great big kiss.

Dear Friends of Gator

Dear Friends of Gator

I am so sorry that I caused you pain in my blog. That was not my intention.

Having lost my husband just two years ago, I understand the pain of losing someone dear.

I did not realize that anyone that knew Gator was reading my blog. I thought it was only a few close family members and personal friends.

In my writing I tried very spicifically to not speculate about what happened. I did not know. I only reported the facts according to what I saw and what I heard said to me. (Accept for a few personal thoughts) I knew that there would be all kinds of stories going around town so I tried to write just my experience.

I have not judged anyone and I am sorry if you think I did. I gave my opinions, many, based on things that Gator had told me.

You say that as a Christian woman, I should strive to see the good in all people. I have strived to do that all my life. Yet you have jumped to the conclusion that I did not see good in Gator. The opposite is more correct.

I loved Gator with the love of Jesus and I longed for the salvation of his eternal soul. I loved him enough to pray for his relationship with God nearly every night since I met him.

I do pray that Gator is now without pain and suffering and lying in the lap of Jesus. I just wish I knew for sure. The Bible says:

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Gator never told me if he believed in Jesus as Saviour or not so I never knew for sure if he was saved. I pray that he was.

I do offer apologies for any misunderstandings, and I send my sympathy and prayers for his family and friends.

If you would like to talk further about this, my email address is dorcas@mts.net.

OPEN LETTER TO ANNONYMOUS IN REGARD TO C.S.I. CHRISTIANITY

I am responding to your comments and I hope you don’t mind. I am glad that you love the fact that I am a Christian. Good for you.

As to your comment: "telling a story and enhancing it so that it is my own to tell is something else."

Fact: This is MY Blog and this is MY Story of the events that happened.

I agree that what happened next door was totally out of my control and may have had nothing to do with me. But the fact remains that I saw what I saw and the police involved me in it when they began asking me questions.

You say: Fact: The police were speculating more than they needed to on the cause of death probably because ignorant people decided to speculate it wasn't due to natural causes.

I tend to disagree with this comment as the police never bothered to check with any neighbours till at least 7:00 in the evening, so any spectulating they did was on their own or because of the fact that they had his friend in the car for nearly two hours.

You say, "Fact: Those same ignorant people don't even know your neighbour - Gator."

First of all you have made a judgement on these people and claim they are ignorant people. Secondly, you assume they didn't even know Gator.

Do you know these people? Have you sat and talked with them? Do you know anything about them whatsoever?

How can you claim they are "ignorant people". Did you know Gator? If so, then please fill me in on what he was like. I really would have liked to get to know him better.

Again you say: Fact: Gator was a very ill man. Since it is likely I will need to clarify what I mean...He was p-h-y-s-i-c-a-l-l-y ill.

I understand that Gator was on a disability pension of some sort. He may have used Marijuana for medicinal reasons. I grant him that. I did not make a judgement on what he had been doing with the Marijuana. I simply stated the facts as I knew them to be.

Fact: Gator had friends.

Yes, I know, Gator had many friends. Yet where were these friends when Gator needed money or cigarettes or just someone to talk to? They were not always available to him so he would drop over once in awhile to borrow things or just to chat.

"You've now left the impression that this guys life was not worth mourning over. And yet, you've taken it upon yourself to seek sorrow for your grief in the matter. You want pity? Well you've got it!!"

I’m sorry if you got the impression that Gator’s life was not worth mourning over. That was not my intention. I mourn deeply for him and his family. It is a very sad loss. In my own way I loved Gator with the Love of Jesus. I tried to treat him as I believed Jesus would have treated him. I was never uncourteous to him or turned him away. I gladly leant him things, never expecting their return but Gator faithfully returned what he borrowed (even though others cautioned me about him)

I have not sought pity for myself. I have stated the facts of what happened as I know them to be. I felt bad about Gator’s spiritual life. Not knowing where his eternal resting place may be, should be everyone’s concern.

As I said earlier, the marijuana may have been for medicinal purposed only. I did not state that Gator was a drug dealer or anything of the sort.

For you to make the statement that the friend who found him dead, might have encouraged Gator to use Marijuana for any other reason is making a judgement on that friend. Do you know Gator’s friend that found him?

I am sorry if I sounded judgemental in telling about what I thought of Gator. These were my observations from the few conversations we had together. Unless you know Gator personally and can tell me more about him, these were MY observations and opinions from knowing him the short time that I did.

For Gator’s sake (not mine) I hope to God that Gator died painlessly and naturally, and not because he was murdered. I cannot imagine what must have gone through his mind in those final moments.

As for disclosing anything, I just gave you the facts as I saw them. I did not speculate on anything.

From reading your comments I tend to think that you knew Gator personally. If you did, then I am very sorry for your loss and would love to talk to you more about Gator.
If you do not know Gator, then I can only surmise that something I wrote really ticked you off.

Could it be the fact that he used marijuana?

Maybe it was for medical reasons.

I am not against anyone using marijuana for medicinal purposes. I believe there is positive effects of using marijuana and scientists are looking into it more and more.

As for being haunted by your facts, I am sorry to say that I will not be haunted by that. I will be haunted by the fact that maybe Gator didn’t find a good resting place. That maybe he is doomed to spend eternity in pain and suffering. I would not wish that on my worse enemy.

The whole point of the article was to discus what occured and my feelings involved. It was meant to be a warning to others to do all they can for those around them at all times. We never know when it might be the last time we talk to someone.

I hope you have a good day and a great eternity.

WOMEN OVER 40

In case you missed it on 60 Minutes, this is what Andy Rooney thinks about women over 40:

As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.
If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.
Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40.
Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.
Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal.
For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress.
Ladies, I apologize.
For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?", here's an update for you.
Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!
Andy Rooney is a really smart guy!

C.S.I. CHRISTIANITY

The day started like any other day. I was sitting at my computer checking emails and such when I noticed two cop cars and an ambulance pull up in front of my house. So like every other nosey neighbour I went out there to see what what going on.

They were all over at my neighbour's house - Gator as we call him. Police were going in and out of the house and they were standing there talking to a guy. I asked if Gator was all right and the officer said "We can't disclose anything". Then I asked "Is Gator alive?" to which they once again responded "We can't disclose anything". At that time the guy I had asked the question to, just put his head down as if to say "Yes, Gator is dead". I felt awful. I had talked to him many times and he had been over here many times borrowing one thing or another.

He seemed a harmless type guy with a few brain cells missing from doing too many drugs over the years. I would estimate he was probably in his early fifties, a little overweight, balding, but seemed in fairly good shape as he walked nearly everywhere he went. He had all these big dreams and plans but you could tell he would never follow through on them. They were just "pipe dreams".

Anyway, all this started around 1:30 in the afternoon. Soon the ambulance left but no body was taken out of the house. Police came and went and unmarked cars came and went. Men went in with rubber gloves and face masks on and many camera's were taken in and pictures taken. They also removed plastic bags of evidence or something.

One neighbour lady started thinking he had been murdered as the body hadn't been taken yet. Speculations were running wild as to what might have happened and the police were being "mum" about the whole thing.

Around 5:00 p.m. a man with a black bag went into the house and came out about a half hour later. Talked to the police for awhile and then left. Shortly after that a black van pulled up and they took out a gurny. Finally about 6:00 p.m. they hauled away the body in a body bag.

One of the officers was going to neighbours and asking questions. They came to my door and wanted to know my name, address, phone number and when I had seen Gator last and what he had been doing. They asked if he owned the house or if his mother did. Then they asked me to watch the house in the evening and if I saw anyone hanging around there to give them a call. He also said "Many of the neighbours are worried that he might have been murdered but at this moment we believe it was natural causes, so I hope you wouldn't worry."

I waited and watched like the curious person that I am. More comings and goings and everyone slowing down as they pass this section of road to see what was happening.

Then a police type van backed into the yard and they began hauling out green garbage bags from their cars and bringing them inside. I watched as they started hauling out flower pots with dirt in them and little stubs of dried up plants. They must have hauled out about 30 to 50 of these dead plant pots and ice cream containers with dirt in them. I also saw them hauling out what looked like a heater and electrical wires and lights. I kept watching and to my surprise they started hauling out green garbage bags with large plants in them. They hauled out approximately 6 garbage bags with at least 2 to 3 pots of plants in each bag. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. So I asked to officer "Is that what I think it is?" To which he answered "What do you think it is?" "Marijuana?" I said. To which he responded "I don't know." That made me giggle. Imagine a cop that doesn't know what Marijuana looks like. Oh well, I guess they can't say anything.

Finally around 8:00 in the evening everyone finally left and the house was left dark and empty.

Poor Gator. To be all alone when you die seems to be the most horrible thing to me.

It seems his friend had gone over to see him and when no one answered the door, he looked in the window. He saw Gator lying there and he didn't look right so the guy broke down the front door and found him there and called the police. I guess they had loads of questions for that guy as they kept him for over two hours or more.

I am sure within two hours of his death the news had spread around town already. This is a little town and everyone is alerted the minute anything of interest happens around here. I mean, after all, the big excitement of this town in winter is the train that passes by twice a week, so an event like this is big news.

My heart aches for Gator. He was not a bad guy nor a good guy. Just a lost and lonely guy. I wonder where his final resting place is and what he met on the other side. Did he find Jesus somehow or not? I know he believed in the "big man upstairs" as he used to say. Is he destined to spend the rest of eternity in hell or in heaven? It saddens me to think that maybe he will have an eternity of pain and suffering.

Could I have done more? I have prayed for his salvation regularly but, could I have done more? Should I have forced him somehow to read his Bible? Should I have forced him to listen to the Salvation message? Was I a good witness to him? I doubt it. I tried to do and be what I thought Jesus would want me to be. I tried to be a good neighbour and never turned him away. Yet - what is going to happen to his eternal soul? I know I should have done more. I could have prepared meals for him or something like that. I should have reached out to him more and maybe be a better friend to him.

One never knows when it is their turn to go. We may be prepared to meet our maker but what of those around us? Our closest friends, our relatives, a neighbour. Have we done all we can do so in the end so we do not feel guilty? I know I didn't, and I will have to live with those thoughts the rest of my life.

God, Please forgive me for not doing more to reach this man for your kingdom. Give me strength in the future to know your will and to do it in these types of situations. Help those who read this to consider their very brief time left here on earth. Let them be prepared to meet the end and let them reach out to those around them, for your honour and glory. I ask this in the precious name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.