November 17th

I have good friends, Lord, and I thank you for them. I thank you for their honesty in holding me to account, their support when I'm feeling down, their sarcasm which makes me laugh, their wisdom that guides me along your paths, their generosity which blesses me with their love, all that they bring to me life and all that they let me offer them.
Bless them and strengthen them and let them know how much it means to me to have them in my life. Help me to be truly appreciative of them and to express my appreciation appropriately. Thank you, again, for placing them in my life, and help me to be as much as blessing to them as they are to me.

November 16th

Got some good work done today planning for worship and looking ahead a bit, God. Thanks for giving me that time and insight to plan and prepare.
Still worried about Anna as she isn't %100 yet and there is no clear diagnosis. Grant her patience and healing, Lord, and help us support her and encourage her and do what it takes to help her get whole again.
I especially ask you to be with Lois as she struggles to take care of Anna and not go crazy with worry or frustration. Take care of her and help me to be a blessing to her however I can.

November 15th

A busy, good, but at times frustrating day, God. Had a chance to chat with some folks and get to know them better, which is a blessing, and attended a meeting that was productive and honoured your work through our efforts.

Getting to the meeting was a bit of a nightmare, with directions that ended up getting me lost and taking far too long to get there. It was not fun, but I was able to figure out how to arrive at me destination eventually. It's kind of typical of life, I suppose, trusting in human things for guidance only to be led astray. Quite often we get things pretty close to right, but usually we make a mess of it. Without your help I'd be nowhere, so I try to follow your spiritual direction every day. Help me, God, to be more perceptive of your will and your guidance so that I can go the way you want me to go, say what you need me to say and do what you need me to do.

November 14th

After many delays and interruptions, the backsplash finally went in today, and the kitchen is slowly reaching completion. Thanks for the many blessings that allow Lois and I do have such a beautiful space. Help us make it a place where we can enjoy time and meals with family and friends and others, and that through our fellowship, reflect Christ's own loving heart. Help us entertain Angels unaware serve those who need to be served.
As this project finishes and others start, help me, Lord, to use them as times to relax and be a better person.
Lord, as I get back to work on my CD, be with me so that it can get done quickly and so that, as with everything else, it can be a way of using my gifts in your service.

November 13th

Well, God, we ordained a new Elder today at St. James and welcomed two others to Session, and had a pretty good worship service. Had lots of folks, five kids and some great music. Thanks for the great experience. Thanks also for the chance to just spend some time with Lois and to enjoy some shopping and fun together. Help us continue to grow closer and to be a blessing to each other with fun, relaxing times just for ourselves.

November 13th: The Hesitant Guest

I’m not really a pet person. Yes, my household currently includes a cat and a dog, but it’s not as if I really went out and led the foray to get them. They fell into our laps, so to speak. The kids and Lois pretty much took them in because they wanted pets. I went along with the plan because it was an act of kindness. We took Mentor in when Sheila, her original owner, passed away, and Zed entered the family as a stray that had been deposited into Lois’ car. It was the right thing to do because I couldn’t stand the thought of either animal being abandoned and uncared for.
As a result of this desire to care for the lost and lonely, the Giurin household is currently feeding a wee cat that seems to have no owner. It’s a bit of a runt and as far as we can tell is just a stray. The little critter came to our attention because our cat, Zed, appears to have taken it under its care. They seem to hang out together and even though Zed occasionally snaps at it, the tiny beastie never goes too far away.
We’ve named the thing ‘Q’ (for cutie) and we leave it food but we haven’t claimed ownership yet. First, we don’t know if it really is a stray or not and second, we haven’t been able to catch it. We’ve been close. David has sat for extended periods trying to feed it without success. It has even followed Zed over the threshold and into the front hall, but as soon as it sees a human, or realizes where it is, it skitters away like a, well, like a scalded cat.
It reminds me of folks who are hesitant to come to church. I’m pretty sure ‘Q’ can sense that the house is warm and smells pretty good. He has already learned to associate us with tasty food and so far with no pain whatsoever but that’s as far as it gets. For whatever reason he has not made the connection between our home and comfort.
I get that sense with folks who don’t make church and God a regular part of their lives. Hesitant guests at best, they know something good happens, or at least is supposed to happen, but they haven’t seen enough proof to make a foray into church life. Perhaps they’ve been hurt before and can’t forgive. Perhaps they are confused by conflicting reports of what God and His church are all about. Or maybe they just don’t have a clue where to begin. I don’t know all the reasons; all I know is that there are a lot of spiritually hungry people that can’t or won’t let themselves be fed regularly.
That’s OK. Really, I don’t mind; I’m happy to leave a bowl of food for ‘Q’ and know that he’s at least getting an occasional good meal. I’m just as happy offering whatever service I can to folks on the periphery of God or the church. It’s not ideal, but at least I can provide a bit of spiritual nourishment every once in a while. The bottom line is this: whether it’s a regular member of St. James or a hesitant guest peeking in, they are equally welcome to anything and everything I can offer them on God’s behalf.

November 12th

Not much to say, Lord, other than thanks for another day, and for seeing Lois, David and Anna have so much fun in Theatre Kent.

November 11th

Thanks, God, for a good day remembering and honouring those men and women in the armed forces that gave their lives in support of the principles you laid down for us.
It's an honour to know them and remember them and I give thanks for what they did for the cause of freedom. It's hard to imagine the sacrifice they made in the world of peace we know today. Help us live and serve in a way that prevents us ever having to call on our soldiers services again. Help us serve your cause and lead lives that draw others to Christ and his way of life. Bless all those who laid down their lives in the past and those who continue to serve knowing that their next day may be their last.

November 10th

First run of Sound of Music tonight, Lord, and it was fun. Thanks for these opportunities to just be myself and have fun outside of my calling. Thanks also for the folks at St. James that support me and encourage me to have my own 'life.' I pray that you help me re-energize through the fun stuff that I do so that I can be a better servant and parent.
As I have fun and do things beyond the church, help me to represent you well, and to draw others to Christ through my own attempts at Christ like actions. And forgive me, when I occasionally let the world get to me and I don't act in a way that honours you.

November 9th

Thanks God, for a good, but tiring day. Some good things are happening, the After-School Program is running well, but we still really need help staffing it. Help us find the right person to work with Shannon, and to find the right folks to sit on the committee we're setting up to help her.