The Copeland Ramblings/

Announcing the arrival of 6 more pinkies

Say hello to six new little gerbils! They were born just a few short hours ago and are very pink and tiny! They are already very mobile and vocal. Mom is pretty protective but we snuck them out for a look and a photo shoot. So… we now have 12 gerbils in our house but the old litter is pretty much spoken for. Once again, let us know if you are interested in having some of these cute little guys move in with you! Just email us a note!

The wildlife was out in full force this afternoon…

The wildlife was out in full force this afternoon, this duck and his family often like to play on the road… they seem to be pretty confident that they are important enough for people to stop before they’re run over

We came home from church to find this little guy o…

We came home from church to find this little guy outside our house. Paul later told us that he was getting into cattle feed and was going to be ‘taken care of’. But Paul gave us the option to take the racoon down the road to these old railroad tracks and let it go. This wasn’t your ordinary happy little neighbourhood racoon. He was a crazy mad man. Hissing, lunging, biting. Deb and I actually had to stay in the car and use sticks to get him out of the cage. He high tailed it out of there, over a little stream and paused to look back at his captors. I definately wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley.

Mom and Dana groovin’ to “If I were a rich girl…..

Mom and Dana groovin’ to “If I were a rich girl….”

Dad wasn’t a fan

It’s about a relationship, not rules

I was doing some reading this morning and was reminded of some really cool truths. How often do I attempt to maintain my relationship with God by doing things? Or not doing things, by trying to keep whatever rule will somehow make me look good to God. Romans 7 uses a married woman as an example. This woman would be committing adultery if she married another man. But this law only applies to her while her husband is alive. If he were to die, she wouldn’t be breaking the law if she were to remarry. What was wrong before isn’t now, because of a change of condition. The same goes for me: The law no longer holds me in its power because I died with Christ on the cross. He died in my place, taking punishment for every wrong thing I ever have or will do. What controlled me before, what aroused sin in me before no longer has any power over me because of a change of condition. That change in condition is the Holy Spirit that now is in me. He is the only thing that gives me the ability to do any work or act that is pleasing to God. Obeying rules, just to obey rules was the old way, now I am to serve God in the Spirit. God is concerned with my heart, not just the outward actions. Awesome acts of service not fueled by the Holy Spirit are useless! That thought kind of humbles me, makes me think of all the ‘good’ things I did just to look good. But He of course knows about all this and is all the time working to make me more like His Son.
~ Norm

Newly Proposed Crayon Colors, what do you think?

Newly Proposed Crayon Colors, what do you think?

Gardening

This morning I surprised Debra by coming home from work with a flat of flowers. She’s been wanting to plant a garden outside our house, so why not today? Actually, it turned out to be a cold, windy day, maybe not the best for planting flowers, but it was a lot of fun. We lined some of the white flowers (which deb later informed me where petunias) down our walk way, Deb did a great job. We are definately sad to have to move out this summer but thought that it would be great to leave Joy with something.

LUKEWARM!

In Revelation it says it is worse to be lukewarm than cold. Meaning God would rather for us to be a cold Christian than a lukewarm. I have been thinking about this and how I fear I am more lukewarm than I am hot. This saddens the Lord. I want so badly to be what he desires. Here is the passage in Revelation, and a song by Kutless that really makes me realize how much God wants our friendship and how little I give him.

Revelation 3:15-22

15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, `I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. 18 I advise you to buy gold from me-gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. 19 I am the one who corrects and disciplines everyone I love. Be diligent and turn from your indifference.
20 “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends. 21 I will invite everyone who is victorious to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. 22 Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”

Artist: Kutless
Song: Run

How often do we ignore the Lord and how many times does he ignore us? I can tell you one thing… GOD NEVER IGNORES US! He is always there waiting for us to come to him! How can you keep a friendship going if you don’t talk and spend time with your friend? It is no different with GOD!
~Deb

● Kutless Lyrics @Christian Rock Lyrics >> Kutless > Grace And Love

● Kutless Lyrics @Christian Rock Lyrics >> Kutless > Grace And Love: ”

Artist: Kutless
Song: Grace And Love

Many things in life are hard for me
Many things can pull us down
I don’t understand why I do what I do
How could I take my eyes off you
After all You’ve done for me
And after all You’ve done for me

It’s by Your grace and love I am saved
It’s by Your grace and love You’ve forgiven me
And by that love and grace I’m amazed
It’s by Your grace and love I am free
I am free, I am free, I am free

And it’s by grace and love that I am free
I’ll live with You eternally
I thank you Lord that I am free
I thank You Lord for loving me
I thank You Lord for dying upon the tree of Calvary
I thank You Lord for loving me
I thank You Lord for dying for me

Because it’s by grace and love I am saved
It’s by Your grace and love You’ve forgiven me
And by that love and grace, I’m amazed
It’s by Your grace and love I am free
I am free, I am free, I am free

Many things in life are hard for me
Many things can pull us down
But by grace and love You’ve forgiven me
And by grace and love we are free “

Tabasco Copeland

Meet Tabasco! For Mother’s day, Deb, Dana, Ken and I all put in and got Tabasco for mom! Deb and I picked her up on Tuesday and so we have been hiding her out at our place since then. We’ve really grown to love her odd little personality. Kitty, mom’s other cat, wasn’t to fond of the whole situation, but she’ll get used to it. We got Tabasco from the Brampton Animal Shelter and we ended up doing a couple trips into Brampton this week. Tabasco is well worth it though, and will probably be seen very soon hitching a ride in mom’s housecoat.