The wave of economic recession that began with a CNN report is now impacting most of our lives.  
Just yesterday I received a plea for prayer as a couple stand to lose their small business and home.

Before my Grandfather (a very Godly man) passed away I asked him what he could tell me about God.
He thought for a while and then said…

 “God is faithful”…

 At first I was disappointed in Opa’s answer because I thought it lack profoundness.

Then he explained how when the second world war crashed on Europe (My Grandfather lived in rural Germany)
like a massive title wave he was separated from his wife and children for along time and yet God brought them back together.

There was no one to protected his wife and children as the war forced them to move and relocate several times but the Lord was their fortress.

There was little food but they never starved. The war was very difficult but the Lord was very faithful .

When it was all over he had little or nothing to his name and yet God  made a way for his family (seven children) to come to Canada and start over.

God has prospered all of my grandfathers children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Though an army besiege me,
       my heart will not fear;
       though war break out against me,
       even then will I be confident.

 One thing I ask of the LORD,
       this is what I seek:
       that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
       all the days of my life,
       to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
       and to seek him in his temple.

 For in the day of trouble
       he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
       he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
       and set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27:3-5

Have a Great Day!

Psalm 51 is a plea for mercy and forgiveness written by David after his affair with Bathsheba. David’s sin escalated from adultery to murder. And as David focused on his own pleasures, he spiraled away from God.

Finally he prayed, “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice.” (Psalm 51:7-8, NLT). In the wreckage of his own plans, David remembered the joy only God can give.

Brokenness is often every bit as painful as it sounds. But remember that God is a good God and wants good things for you. If sometimes he needs to allow you to be broken, you can be sure that he intends to build something far more beautiful from the wreckage then you could imagine

Jesus . . . said to him, ’One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor . . . and come, take up the cross, and follow Me’
—Mark 10:21

“One thing you lack” . . . From Jesus Christ’s perspective, oneness with Him, with nothing between, is the only good thing.

“. . . sell whatever you have . . . .”

Have you ever had to carry a bag of books or a backpack for a long distance?
Doesn’t it feel good to finally put that bundle down?

Many people carry around a burden everyday that could easily be released: the burden of sin.
Sin isn’t just open rebellion against God; it’s also trying to live by your own wisdom, your own strength, your own effort.

It doesn’t take too long to figure out this world is more than any one person can handle.
But God has been saying for a long time: “Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks.” (Psalm 81:6, NLT)

It is true that there is uncertainty in an unstable economy but:

“Walk straight, act right, tell the truth.
“Don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor; despise the despicable.
“Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe.
“You’ll never get shaken if you live like this.” Psalm 15:1-5

Have a Great Day!

With all the gifts that people receive on Christmas you would think we would be satisfied but Nooo! Boxing day will find people “charging” through stores in mass, fighting over sale items as if they needed them. Consuming is the way a consumer culture scratches a perpetual soul itch. We scratch on Christmas and are itchy again on boxing day. Maybe this is what Jesus was talking about when he told the woman at the well “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again”

The good news is that Jesus went on to say , but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13,14

It’s just a thought.

For unto us is born THIS day our Savior, who is Christ the Lord…

May an awareness of God’s love for you overwhelm you this Christmas Season

I want to dedicate today’s scripture to our dear friends Randy and Shannon who in the midst of extremely trying circumstances find their peace and hope in God’s promises and His presence. God’s a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times.

The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked.
Psalm 9:10

People with their minds set on You, You (oh God) keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit.
Isaiah 26:3

Be Encouraged.

French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte wrote:

“I know men; and I tell you that Jesus Christ is no mere man.
Between Him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison.
Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have  founded empires.

But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force!

Jesus Christ founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”

…God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Have a Great Day

I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:16

Paul identifies himself a messenger of Jesus Christ. Paul could rejoice in being in prison if it served to advance the Gospel.

What is a amazing is how he would not be derailed from his mission by countless imprisonments, rod beatings, being stoned or shipwrecks.

As Paul did I also identify myself as a messenger of Jesus Christ but I am embarrassed by how anything that challenges my comfort derails me.

I daily enjoy time with God in the morning as I drive to the office. A few minutes after my usual Tim Horton’s stop I realized that some delinquent employee gave me a bacon lettuce tomato sandwich instead of my standard breakfast sandwich. To make matters worse there was only one piece of bacon.

This really bugged me.

God bring us to the place where we can say “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Phl 1:21

Ouch or Amen