Life Changing!

Psalm 37:3-7 reads:

"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this:

He will make righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

do not fret when men succeed in their ways,

when they carry out their wicked schemes."

We may be familiar with these verses, but it’s the *order* that really hit me one morning. We are restless... until we rest in the LORD. So, how do we refrain from restlessness? Look at verse 3...

Trust. Well, it’s easy to trust Him ~most~ of the time.... When I begin to realize that I cannot do it on my own, and put my trust back where it belongs – in an all knowing, loving, powerful, compassionate Father, who always knows what’s best for us, it becomes easier. What’s next?

Delight. To me this is incorporated in praise, prayer and worship. OK, I can do that. Next?

Commit. I need to commit my heart to storing up heavenly treasure and commit to making Jesus the centre of my life. This includes walking in the Spirit as I am led. I need to intentionally commit to allow the fruits of the Spirit to shine brightly in my life – that includes committing to service – in the face of persecution, hardship and trials (read time restraints). If I can’t find time for God – my priorities must be out of whack.

Be still. Rest. When we trust in the LORD, we can find rest because He is our refuge always. So, what do our Sundays look like? Do they reflect rest?

Let’s look forward to what God has for us... beginning with the promises given in Psalm 37.

Press in and press on,

Giselle

Practice, Practice, Practice

I am working my way through a book called “as we forgive” on the subject of forgiveness and reconciliation in Rwanda. I say that I am working my way through this book because it is not an easy read. I find that I must put it aside from time to time not just because of the heaviness of the stories but also because of some of the examples and teachings on forgiveness. These are not examples of minor offences. If there would ever be justifiable reasons for revenge, they are here, and yet there are examples of forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration in the face of unspeakable pain. I have been challenged and have spent a fair bit of time pondering.

The book also talks about a Pennsylvania Amish community that had to deal with a brutal school shooting a few years ago. The bigger story became the reaction of the Amish people who visited the parents of the shooter, offering forgiveness and sharing in their sorrow. The story goes on to say that in this Amish culture “forgiveness is a virtue that is cultivated” and that there are “habits of forgiveness”…and so I wonder….is this part of what Jesus was trying to get across when Peter asked if he should forgive his brother up to seven times.

Jesus answered,” I tell you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.” ( Matt 18:22)

Seven times, seventy-seven times or seventy times seven, if we are counting we may just have missed the point! On the other hand, if I have actually forgiven someone that many times, at some point, that is going to become my habit – maybe my default position. If I actually get to that point, maybe that whole turning the other cheek business will be more reality than theory in my life.

I often know when I should forgive. I may even want to forgive. When I remember all that I have been forgiven how can I not forgive? Forgiving though is often easier said than done.

A culture of forgiveness sounds like a great idea but how do I get there? How do we get there? It may need to start with just one being willing to form a habit of forgiveness. Habits are formed by repeating behaviour…practice, practice, practice…

We may need to start with the small things. The things we may pass off as insignificant and yet are habit forming – the driver who cut you off, the cashier who short-changed you, the person who invaded your chocolate stash…all pretty insignificant really and yet perhaps the beginning of a mindset. Imagine how our relationships, our families, our churches could be transformed with just a little more practice.

Ruth

The Challenge of Change

One of the views from our Maui space overlooks the garden area. From our view you can see banana and orange trees, some which have fruit on them. The pruning, and watering from the hard working gardeners, who are constantly tending these beautiful plants and trees, has showed pay off. As we have been here I have seen the growth in this tropical garden. The bananas and oranges are getting closer to being ready but its taken time, constant care and change....they certainly are not the size they were when we arrived.

Its been amazing to see how there is such peace in the midst of all the growth and change happening. Seeing this has challenged me in my own walk with Christ, as I have realized more how I am afraid of God's growth in my life....I am worried that its going change everything in my life and that its going to be painful, brutally hard and awful. When I read about people's personal testimonies I cannot help but feel fearful...thanking God that I did not have to walk the painfully hard journey some one else has had to do.

Why is it that when we read the Word so many of us don't ask God for help to follow His Word.....a lot of the time we believers don't even read it....why? I think a lot of the reasons are found in the above comments.

Here's the deal though..... Nothing moves without change.

Nothing moves.

Nothing moves without God causing it to move.

When I read and study the Word, I see people lives being constantly changed, shaped and moved as His power is changing the World.

Perhaps God has something for you in your life, it will require everything we have talked about, but if you don't ask God to help you trust Him, immerse yourself in His Word and get ready to jump....how are things going to pan out?

I'm turning 30 this year...honestly, I'm excited, I'm not even close to the person I was at 20, and that, is a good thing.

Isaiah 26.3 says: " You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts you."

The truth of God's Word is that some people will grow in their life walk with Christ.....trusting Him at His Word... even though they will experience change, painful challenges and even seasons that will humble them. They trust Him that amidst the change - HE IS PEACE.

Sadly, some people do not.....and wow, what life they miss out on.

Ask God to help you wherever in this you are at. He will give you HIS PEACE amidst the change. I am asking Him for that in my own life right now too*

Mary

Steadier

Revelation 21:6 says “And He said to me. “It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.” (daughter) NKJV

In my Christian walk, I am learning that my walk needs to be steadier – not slowing down – not rushing ahead – not wavering – just steady. But as the scriptures say, “In this world I will have trouble..." John 16:33. The Lord has been showing me that whatever happens in life, I need to hold tight to my Saviour’s strong right arm. Psalms 89:13 says, “Your arm is mighty. Your hand is strong. Your right hand is lifted high.” GW

Perseverance in my Christian life is very important. Life as a minister’s wife can be very interesting. Instead of being a “church member” and part of a congregation, now I’m at the other end, where people are looking at me, standing beside my husband – shepherding a congregation. The trials that come my way, I have to see through the eyes of Jesus. They are not necessarily against me as a person, but against the spirit that dwells in me. I treasure the covering of my Lord and Saviour over our family.

We are all being watched by someone. That someone is definitely our children. It could be a neighbour, a grocery clerk, etc. and we will never know all the people who were watching us till we get to heaven.

As a church body we need to be encouraging each other on – “you can do it” – “keep going”, “never give up”. The church body is like a team and Holy Spirit is our coach. He gives us the power to continue on; Jesus is at the right hand of the Father cheering us on and God looks at us with love because He sees us through Jesus.

I have also found in my walk that if I spend time with a friend or encourage someone, my trials become smaller. I love the verse in Hebrews 12:2 “Keeping our (my) eyes on Jesus – the author and finisher of our (my) faith.” NKJV.

Last spring our church ladies put on a Free Clothing Day. Our church foyer and basement became stocked full of clothing and household items. I know that my community was blessed by this free day. I also know that everyone from our church family that was involved was blessed by this day too. We gave of our time, from our resources and for some it was a time of healing as they cleaned out closets that held memories of the past. It certainly was a miracle day.

I am convinced that the more we help, when we are in a time of trial and growth, the more our times of trial seem so small. We can so easily wallow in our own trials and become a recluse. I have been there. My choice is to keep my eyes on Jesus – He’s my author, He’s my example of an overcomer.

Hebrews 12:2 “We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so He endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought Him. Then He received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.” GW

Be encouraged today – The King I serve will soon be returning and we need to be ready – laying aside every hindrance and distraction – I will keep reaching out to those around me. Will you?

Bruni

Bruni is a pastor's wife, mother to three and she is very involved in her local church.

Encouraging one another – A Daily Ministry

Encouragement is part and parcel of God’s character. Our God is a God of comfort, patience and consolation. He never gives up encouraging us in His Word. He continually exhorts us to “fear not!”. He used such phrases as: “be of good cheer” and “be not afraid”. This is the desire of God’s heart. One way He can accomplish this is through His people – the body of Christ. Are you willing to be a vessel through which He can minister?

Hebrews 3:13 says: "encourage one another daily".

DAILY! Not once a month, or even just once a week at church, but daily. Just imagine what would happen if each one was being encouraged by someone else each day? It would be difficult to backslide into unbelief.

A word of encouragement can change someone’s life! One act of kindness and love can turn someone’s life around. How would this change your relationships with perhaps: your husband, your children, your extended family, your friends? Everyone around you would thrive. The atmosphere of your home would change; simply by stopping the nagging and beginning to encourage.

"Pleasant words are as a honeycomb; sweet to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

What would happen in your life if when you awoke each day, and spent time with the Lord, you asked Him to show you who to encourage that day? In my own life, I have seen Him give me creative ways to bless others: ie: shovelling their walkway, baking cookies to deliver, driving errands, buying someone else’s meal/coffee at a drive thru, delivering a handful of flowers from my own yard, and so on...

Simply, give yourself room to think of others. The Living Bible says in Philippians: "Don’t just think of your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and in what they are doing." It’s fun to mail cards too – folks are so used to getting bills that it is so much fun to get a card of encouragement. Whom around you is lonely? perhaps with child? widowed? Think about dropping them a few lines of encouragement – purpose to be a spirit refresher!

Press in and press on,

Giselle

Don’t Get Stuck

Oh the things you can see on the internet! I recently watched a video of a grown man who, because he was “triple-dog dared”, put his tongue on a metal pole. It was winter. In northern Minnesota. Guess how that ended?! As a life-long prairie resident I watched and cringed… and was a little fascinated!

I have walked past metal poles or chain link fences on a cold winter day and had the thought pop into my head that maybe I could touch it quickly enough…maybe just once…I haven’t actually done it, but since I have lived all of my life in Manitoba you would think that thought would know better than to waste it’s time in my head.

Why do I even consider trying the things that I know will end badly? Why do I do the things that will damage relationships, hurt other people or dishonour my Father?

The writer of Hebrews talks about “sin that so easily entangles”. Given in the context of running a race, I can just picture myself tripping over my own feet and falling flat on my face. No chance of finishing the race never mind winning the race.

Thankfully the writer does not leave us in that place of despair. Instead we are encouraged. Encouraged to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Heb. 12:1).

Get up. Keep going.

But then even more important words: “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…” (Heb. 12:2)

Keep our eyes on Jesus and not on our failures, because He is the one who perfects…it is His work in us…He started it and He will finish it as we keep our eyes on Him.

Ruth

He Restores My Soul: Hawaii

Anloka

Aloha ladies! I am writing this post to you from the beauty of Maui, Hawaii. I never expected to be here mind you, my travels have always taken me far away from resorts and valet parking. Usually I'm backpacking through some remote location, hanging out with local families and getting to know the sometimes sketchy bus service very well. Here though there is such peace of mind and rest. Already after only fifteen hours of being here my heart feels at peace. I have realized that sometimes whether we're at home, away on vacation or on a missions trip we get so focused on DOING DOING DOING. Taking time every day in the presence of the Father will overflow into the fabric of our everyday life and change the quality of it.

Yes, there is a huge difference between Maui and Winnipeg, but there is no difference when it comes to the peace and presence of the Father. You can be wherever, His presence will immerse you, ask Him today. Carve out time in your life to connect with Jesus, make it a priority. Ask Him to help you do that. Sometimes I forget how much His presence is beside everything else - a spa for my heart and my life. His Word so beautifully says it: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He RESTORES my soul." Psalm 23.1-3

I know that He takes us spiritually to that place, but He also takes us physically. However that looks for you in your life, take your vacations, days off....take them and rest, soak in the restoration of peace and especially the presence of Christ. Here in Maui, I am surrounded by stunning lush mountains, turquoise waters and flowers of all colors and shapes.....not to mention the amazing, amazing people here. ALL of this from the Creator. Instead of worshipping the awe of the creation, how incredible that we are able to be connected to the Creator, the one who loves you and longs to cover you in His presence and fill your heart with His beauty and rest.

Dear friends, I think and pray for the peace and rest that fills my heart here would fill yours, wherever in the world you find yourself.

Mary