By Bob Berlasty
Ushers Lead

This morning I was reading Joshua. Specifically, the crossing of the Jordan into the promised land. This passage always struck me because it really highlighted the faith of the Israelites. More to the point, their growing faith. When reading the Old Testament, it doesn’t take a scholar to see that the Israelites had a faith problem. They saw the ten plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. They were literally provided food from Heaven and in 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, their clothes never wore out. Yet despite all of these miracles, as soon as things started to go wrong, their faith was gone.

What I find interesting about the crossing of the Jordan is that the previous generation had to wait until God parted the Red Sea before they crossed. They had to see the miracle first. A generation later, the priests did not wait until God backed up the Jordan, they proceeded to walk into the swollen river before they witnessed the miracle. Their faith had matured. They had enough faith in God’s Word that they acted as if the miracle had already occurred.

How many of us can relate to the ancient Israelites that wandered the desert? How often to we have faith when things are going well, but lose faith, or at least question our faith when things get tough? God is either faithful to His Word, or He isn’t. As Christians, the latter shouldn’t even register with us, however, that is exactly what happens when we doubt.

In Matthew 17: 20-24, Christ tells us that if our faith were the size of a mustard seed, we can tell mountains to move! We are also told that nothing will be impossible for us. How easy is it to read that compared to how easy it is to really believe it. The problem I see is a problem many of us Christians have. We look at one part of scripture and forget there is often more to it. Christ continues this passage by telling us that this kind of faith comes with prayer and fasting.
I believe Christ was trying to tell us something else. A revelation came to me this morning while I was in prayer. I have been really digging into my prayer time and one thing I have noticed is that the more I pray, the more I see an answer to prayer, specifically seeing my daughters and their significant others in church. That prayer has been answered. I believed before I saw. That tiny act of faith is causing my faith to grow. So, what was my revelation? I believe Christ was telling us more than we read. I don’t think Christ intended for our faith to stay the size of a mustard seed.
You see, the mustard seed is one of the tiniest seeds in the world, and yet like all seeds with the proper conditions, will grow into something much bigger and stronger.

The Asbury revival has been on the minds of many Christians over the past few weeks. What God is doing in Asbury - the outpour of His Spirit is the desire of many churches and Christian groups around the world. But even before this encounter at Asbury, many of us have been sensing the coming of a great move of God.
Throughout the history of the church, revivals have happened many times. Each is unique in its way - according to how God wants to visit His people and provide direction for His kingdom's purposes.

And, although God can do whatever He wants to do, whenever he wants to do it, I believe revivals don’t happen as a surprise to those who are waiting for it.  Someway somehow, God’s people will sense something coming before it does.
I once heard a preacher say “when God is about to do something, He puts it in the hearts of his people to pray”. A perfect example of this is the story of Pentecost in the book of Acts (Chapter 2).
Since I (and many of us) strongly believe we are at a similar stage in history, let me share a few insights from the Pentecost experience to help us in our season of prepping and waiting for His next great move.

• Be Obedient

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me”- Acts 1:4 (NKJV)
Before His departure, Jesus gave the disciples a command to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power for the assignment He gave them. He did not add any timelines to the command. He just said, “wait for the Promise”! We can say the command was clear, but the details were missing. Some of the disciples might have thought: “for how long?”, “how many hours in a day?”, or “how many days in a week” should we wait? The command was simple – WAIT! I believe this was quite frustrating for some. But 120 disciples obeyed.
Radical obedience always precedes any great move of God. In this season, our anthem should be “whatever He tells us to do, we will obey.”

• Be of One Heart

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place”. Acts 2:1 (NKJV)
We read from the story that they were all in one accord - meaning they had one heart or were in agreement. Once again, before Jesus left, he did not provide any specific leadership structure for the disciples. Cultural differences, special interests, and group cliques could have divided them. Competition for power could have easily set in. We are aware of when James and John upset the other disciples with their unguarded desire for positions even when Jesus was around. Yet in His absence, they all agreed to be one. “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction” Amos 3:3 (NLT).
If there is a time for the body of Christ – at a global level, and even at specific congregational units to lay aside our differences to seek after the main thing, it is now. The heart of REVIVAL is not divided.

• Be Ready for Whatever is Coming. 

 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”. Acts 2:1-4
The disciples had never experienced anything like the Pentecost revival before the Pentecost revival came. The truth is, they did not even know HOW the Holy Spirit was going to come upon them. But one thing was sure - they were ready. For Peter to have referenced Joel 2 after the outpour of the Spirit, means they were familiar with the scriptures concerning the promise of the Holy Spirit.
Waiting and being ready for anything God brings is not idleness. In the waiting, we do everything Jesus has commanded us to do, with a pure, sincere, and hungry heart. As we do this, it is none of our business to try to figure out how He will move. That is all His.
Asbury Revival is different, Azuza Street Revival is different, and Toronto Blessings is different… because our God works in different ways.
A heart of revival is hungry for more. A heart of revival is expectant. A heart of revival waits with obedience, unity, and readiness for whatever the Master brings. Are you ready? If you are not, get ready, for something is coming.

BY BETH SKANDERUP
VGP Choir Director 

We all have embarrassing moments. Times when we open our mouths when they should remain closed, or you are about to sing a special and you have no idea how the song goes, or you put your dress on backwards and wore it out to the meeting! Yep, I have done all of the above. The thing is, how you get past these embarrassing moments without being angry, offended, or becoming down on yourself makes all the difference in how you will go forward.

Now, if you have a personality like mine, not many do, (probably a good thing) then you simply smile, pour another cup of coffee and keep on. However, this is not how most of us react. I confess, I have grown a bit in this area, from many ‘embarrassing moments’. I believe part of the ability I have to get past these things is a sense of humor. The God given ability to laugh at yourself and the situation, then continue on. I can laugh at these events now, and yes I did back when they happened, but I also carried the sting of that embarrassment. The trick then is, how do I live with that embarrassment and still move forward with grace, victory and humility?

• Realize who you are. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV84) We are new creations, let us not look at ourselves like we are not.
• Realize that embarrassment is closely attached to pride.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, NIV84) It is difficult to admit we are imperfect and prone to both mistakes and sin. The situations described above were not sin in themselves, but the damaged pride that snuck in to leave me with hurt and shamed. The moment pride stepped in sin was revealed.

• Embarrassment also is about ‘fear of man’. I was in the presence a large group of my peers and afraid they would think less of me or think me a fool.“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” (Proverbs 29:25, NIV84)
• Know that God is changing you. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV)
• Don’t give up, He has started a work and He will complete it! “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6, NASB95)

 

• Remember God’s point of view is different than yours. You are His little child, growing and learning. A child is often embarrassed by failure or mistakes. The loving parent watching and encouraging does not condemn or reject the child. How many times have you laughed at a little child trying and having a spectacular failure? ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9, NKJV)

We will fail many times until we have been made perfect. It is so easy to be discouraged and feel condemned when we fail by falling short or sinning. We expect so much of ourselves and so want to be more than we already are. Remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and are called according to His purposes. (Rom. 8:28) He knows about every one of our failures and
embarrassments before they happen and hasn’t rejected or given up on you.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God” (1 John 3:18–21, NIV84)

So, the world does not end, God’s love for us does not fail or change and you might feel like you want to die, but you really don’t! You are going to live and see the goodness of God!

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

A common source of stress is loss. You can lose your job, your health, your money, your reputation, or a loved one. And when you add all the other challenges you have in life, it just amplifies the stress.

There are two common reactions to loss. One is fear, and the other is grief.
Grief is good. Grief is the way we get through the transitions of life. In fact, if you don’t grieve, you get stuck! Grief will not wreck you if you let it out.

Fear, on the other hand, can be a bad thing. Not once in the Bible does it say, “Grieve not,” “Sorrow not,” “Weep not,” or “Cry not.” It does say, “Fear not.” And it says that 365 times! Grief doesn’t paralyze us, but fear does.

In Psalm 23:4, David says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (ESV).            
David knew shepherds always carried a rod and a staff to protect their sheep. And he knew God had the power to protect him. So David trusted God, even in the darkest valleys.
If you’re going through a dark valley and you’re under a lot of stress, you can choose to trust God. He is faithful even in the shadows, where things may not make sense and where it can seem like a long, long way out of the valley.

But here’s the good news to remember about big, scary shadows. You can’t have a shadow without light. If you see a shadow, that means there is a light shining nearby.
When you’re going through the valley of the shadow, the key is to turn your back on the shadow and look at the light. Because as long as you keep your eyes on the Light—Jesus, the Light of the World—the shadow won’t scare you.

Just like David, trust God in the dark valleys and pray, “When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn” (Psalm 142:3 NLT).

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor RickTalk It Over

• What shadows have you recently been facing? Why are they so daunting to you?
• Why do you think fear stresses people out?
• How can memorizing Scripture help you face your fears?

“[God] knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust.”
Psalm 103:14 (GNT)

Your failures don’t surprise God. In fact, he expects them!The Bible says, “[God] knows what we are made of; he remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14 GNT). He knows what you’re made of because he created you. God won’t stop loving you when you mess up. He doesn’t love you because of who you are or what you’ve done but because of who he is and what he has done.
God made you. He loves you. It’s settled. You can’t make God love you more. You can’t make God love you less. He loves you just as much on your bad days as he does on your good days. His love is not performance-based.

The Bible has a word for this kind of love: grace. And it’s absolutely amazing! Even when you do ridiculously bad things, God won’t stop loving you. It truly is amazing grace. When you accept his grace, you can relax about your failures and have the confidence to take more risks in life.
You may have gone to God multiple times for forgiveness on the same issue. Maybe you’re not sure you deserve his love and grace. (You can settle that now: You don’t.) And you’re convinced that God has grown tired of your constant efforts at change. (He hasn’t.)

God never tires of a conversation with you. He’s never too busy. No matter how many times you go to him for forgiveness, he’ll always be waiting with open arms.
You may have grown up in a home where conditional love was the norm. Your parents’ affections may have been based on your academic, athletic, or social successes. When you failed in one of those areas, you felt the loss of your family’s love.

You can relax. That is not how God deals with you.
The Bible says God “canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14 NCV).
The Christian life isn’t a mistake-free life, but it can be a guilt-free life. God understands your failures—and he loves you anyway.

That’s God’s amazing grace! It is his goodness to you, and you can rest in it today.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor RickTalk It Over

• In what ways does living guilt-free affect every area of your life?
• God responds to your mistakes and failures with grace, love, and forgiveness. How does that affect how you respond to other people’s mistakes and failures?
• With whom can you share the Good News of God’s amazing grace this week?
• 
  

You are saved by the grace of God

We all sin—but God offers his grace and forgiveness. The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. You cannot earn your way into heaven: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).
If you’re ready to confess your sins and to trust Jesus with your life, start with this prayer:
“Dear God, you have promised that if I believe in Jesus, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven one day.

“Jesus, I confess my sin, and I submit to you as my Savior and Lord. I want to follow you and serve you; I want to live in your grace and forgiveness, not my own guilt. I humbly commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.”

Christmas bespeaks of nativity. And nativity gives occasion to nativity plays. Who knows who first came up with the idea of dramatizing the birth of Christ, but the first script has inspired innumerable others.

Though each has its own unique wrinkle, they all have some common features: angels with chiffon wings, wise men and their gifts from afar. A weary innkeeper will turn Mary away. A wide-eyed Joseph will bunch the manger’s hay. And Mary, weary and sweet will say, “I think today.”

Beneath a suspended star a baby will be born, the angels will sing, the wise men will kneel and children of all ages will go home telling their parents that next year they want a part in the nativity play. Little boys want to be Joseph. Little girls want to be Mary. Some want to wear the angel wings or bear gifts from a distant land. A few might even offer to be the hard-hearted Herod or the hassled innkeeper.

But no one, ever, as far as I know, volunteers to be the donkey. Which is odd, actually, for what greater honor could exist than to do what the donkey did? He carried Jesus. I know, Joseph is better looking and Mary is quite stunning. Wise men get the cool hats and angels have the hallelujahs. And the donkey? He just stands to the side and chews on hay.

But look at him. Do you not see contentment in those big, brown eyes? A look of satisfaction on his face? He just delivered history’s greatest gift! Before Santa had a sleigh or UPS had trucks, God had a donkey. Thanks, in no small part, to him, the choir can sing “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.”

I know, I know. We’d rather be Joseph, rugged and bearded. We’d rather be Mary, faithful, beautiful, and immaculate.
But somebody needs to be the donkey. I’m thinking a donkey at Christmas is a good thing to be.
The Christmas donkey did his work. He delivered Jesus so Jesus could be delivered.
He plodded. He didn’t gallop or giddy-up. He did what donkeys do. He steadily stepped in the direction the master directed.

And, upon arrival, he stepped to the side. He demanded no recognition, expected no compensation. He isn’t even mentioned in the Bible.
He was happy to do his job and let Jesus have all the attention.

Perhaps we could learn a lesson from the Christmas donkey? There is always a place in the nativity, God’s nativity story, for the person who will plod along expecting no applause, bear up under the weight of the long haul, and carry the One who will carry us all.

So here’s to the donkeys of the story. May your ride be faithful and your rest be fruitful.

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14:40

Christmas is in the air! Lights are decorating streets and home, and the celebrations have started. It tells us that one year is ending for another to begin, very soon. Most people, around this time, will begin to recap how the year has been – the successes, the dreams that were accomplished and the ones that will be added to the to-do list for 2023.

In am sure many of us are still trusting God for the last miracle of the year. If you are with me on this, respond with a BIG AMEN because Jesus is able!!
Jesus did many miracles in His days. One of these was feeding the five thousand men, without counting women and children. This miracle is found in Mark 6:30-44.

One of the interesting precedents leading to that miracle was how Jesus demanded order from the people who were to be blessed through this miracle. Mark 6:39-40 says:
“Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. So, they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.”
 
This would not have been an easy task to be obeyed by this group of hungry people. You might have heard the saying that a ‘’hungry man is an angry man.” So why would Jesus require this?

 Let us look at three key possible reasons:

• The Order preceded the Blessings

So, they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves (verse 40-41).
Jesus knew that the solution to chaos is order. Placing resources in the hands of a group of people in a chaotic environment will cause more problems. Therefore, order was needed first before the release of the resources.
So, which areas of your life do you think God may be requiring order for the release of His next level of His blessings? Is it around finances, relationships, use of time, clarifying your vision, or family matters?

• The Order preceded the Distribution

“… gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. So, they all ate and were filled (verses 41b-42).
I am quite sure Jesus wanted to reduce the burden on the disciples, who were to serve this substantial number of people. Remember, the disciples were already exhausted from a previous mission trip (verses 30-31). Disorderliness, sometimes, if not all the time, causes us to be unnecessarily exhausted beyond the normal. When God blesses us to be a blessing to others, He does not require any unnecessary stress with it (Prov. 10:22). Creating an environment or system of order is one way to achieve this.

• The Order provided the Accountability 

And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men (verse 43-44).
When I read the Bible and see that through a miracle Jesus fed this vast number of people, plus twelve baskets full of leftovers were taken, my faith is strengthened. I am sure it is the same for you. Well, without an order, we probably would not have known how many people were fed. Order provides accountability. Accountability gives us valuable information for a testimony. And our testimony will always be our weapon for victory (Rev 12:11).
Jesus, who knows the end from the beginning, knew why He called for order before this great kingdom experience.

Conclusion
Paul also admonished “Let all things be done decently and in order.” I Corinthians 14:40. Orderliness should not be seen as a legalistic approach to life. It is at the heart of our Kingdom lifestyle. Godly order is guided by the Holy Spirit and God’s wisdom.
As we count the days before we enter a new year, you may need to consider order on your to-do list! And, if this is not for you, why not consider praying for this grace for some of the saints.
 This may be your gift to someone who is waiting for a great miracle before the end of the year.

Merry Christmas!

By David Dutchak
Young Adults Leader / PIT

Hello and good day brothas and sistas! I hope and pray that your day will be filled with exceedingly great joy today and be encouraged as I share some of my adventure with the Lord with you all.

I would like to spend a few moments engaging and sharing some insights that the Holy Spirit has taught me whilst reading and writing the words of Jesus. I felt it deep in my heart about three years ago that I should sit down with my Bible and grab a very large scribbler and go through the New Testament and write down the words Jesus spoke and only the red words, none of the in between. Well, like most of us, I delayed that adventure and procrastinated till June, 2022…yes about three years after I felt the nudge to do so. Praise God for his mercy, grace and patience with us, lol. Although it took three years to start, he began showing me some cool things and giving me an insights and basic understanding to what I’ve been reading. He leads me to some of the in-between to tie everything together in my head, lol.  Now, I believe that most scriptures can have several meanings and many of us will receive similar revelation, and some will receive a different revelation and we are to share these with one another. We must always look to the word for confirmation and prayerfully seek what we hear and read of others. I encourage you to do so after reading what I must share with you.
 
I would like to share this understanding and revelation the Holy Spirit gave me while reading and writing out Mark 4:21-25.
21 “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 for there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret that it should come to light. 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear more will be given. 25 for whoever has, to him more will be given; but to whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
 
So, I’m going to dive right in here and share some thoughts. The Lord has shown me that the Lamp is his word, which is Jesus.

Psalm 119-105 reads, your word is a LAMP to my feet and a light to my path.
I was led to John 1:1 which tells us this, In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. This tells us that we are hearing about Jesus and that he is the word, amen. I know this for some is elementary learning and it is, but some may not know this and its fun to explore this altogether, we are family and that what we do, ha-ha. Let’s keep going here, the word of God, his son, was not sent to us so that we could receive him and then hide him. He was sent for all of us to see and know him and through our walk with him, the hidden treasures and mysteries of his word, through the parables he taught, will be revealed to us as we are ready to receive it.  

Mark 4:33-34 tells us; 33 and with many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable he did not speak to them. And when they were alone, he explained all things to his disciples.  

So, when we get alone with Holy Spirit and seek intimacy with him, he will teach us these things as we are also his disciples. I encourage you to get alone with him so that he may reveal to you great and wonderful things. Once you start hearing like this while being intimate with him it becomes a fascinating thing and I know for myself, a deep hunger is awakened and I can’t wait to share what I’ve been shown no matter how big or small, it’s exciting and I crave and want more of him and I know, you will as well.
 
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, that’s when these mysteries are understood because as Jesus tells us in John 14:26 “But the helper, the Hoy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 
As things are revealed that were once secret are now brought to life in Jesus and that life became the light to men. John 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. Jesus is the light and as we grow, mature and walk in relationship with him, the more his light shines on our path and we can see where we are meant to be walking, amen.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this read and are encouraged and find excitement on how he lights things up and gives us understanding as we dig in and seek him. Be blessed and encouraged and I look forward to sharing more of what he shows me in the future. This concludes today’s entry, till next time, Love your brother in Christ;
David Dutchak

BY BETH SKANDERUP
VGP CHIOR DIRECTOR 

You may not realize that you have tremendous power in your tongue.  The power of speech. We were created in the image of God, and part of that image is the ability to speak.  No other created thing has that gift.  Only we humans.  God created the world and everything in it with the spoken Word.  

Gen. 1:3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.  NASB
Gen.1:6   Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters  NASB
Gen. 1:9   Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place  NASB
Gen. 1:11   Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation,   NASB
Gen. 1:14   Then God said, “Let there be alights in the bexpanse of the heavens   NASB
Gen. 1:20   Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”   NASB
Gen. 1:26   Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;   NASB 
God said it, and it was so.

Prov. 18:21  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.1”NASB

Wow!  According to this, our words can kill or bring life!  And, we will have to eat the fruit of either one, good or bad.

Prov. 10:19 “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”   NASB
Prove you're wise from the very start— just bite your tongue and be strong!”  Passion Bible


Simply put, when we talk too much, and listen less, we will sin.  No ifs, ands, or buts, we just will.  So, does it matter what you say?  It surely does!  

James 3: 3-10 “A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship
in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
his is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same moutH2” The Message, Bible in Contemporary Language


Years ago, we visited with one of of Gerald’s coworkers. He and his wife heard and believed the Gospel, they were wonderfully born again with genuine repentance and godly changes in their lives. The couple had 2 children, a little boy aged 2 and a girl about 4.  The little boy, let’s call him Billy, was a very active, perpetual motion little guy. The first time Mom had him come to meet and greet us, she asked him who he was and he replied, “I’m a monster!” His mom laughed at the reply and agreed with his declaration. “We have tried to get him to listen and obey but it’s hopeless, he is a little monster.” Billy seemed to have no fear or limits built into him.  He would walk on the railing over the basement stairs and laugh when mom or dad rushed to get him down. He would stand at the top step and throw himself down the stairs. Sometimes he would be hurt and cry, but he would do it again a short time later. Toys in a toy box had to be hurled in all directions until the box was empty. Nothing was off limits. We were puzzled and concerned at his wild and even dangerous behavior. Mom and Dad tried to correct him and achieve better behavior and compliance with their instructions, but without apparent success.  
We became friends with this family and noticed that even extended family would greet the boy as “Billy the monster.” There was no doubt he was a boy!  Gadgets drew him like a magnet.  If there was any possibility of there being danger, thrill, destruction or a response from his parents, he would try it! He was not unhappy but seemed gleeful when pulling his outrageous stunts. As we spent more time with them, we observed that they rarely said anything about Billy, except to reference or attempt to correct his strange and dangerous behavior. (Which they thought was terrible and were quite embarrassed about.) In contrast the little girl, Sally, was very quiet, almost shy, and to all appearances, a happy and well-behaved child.  Well, we spent quite a bit of time with them, and this picture, never changed.  Billy, oh he is just a monster, we can’t do anything with him, but, the monster bit was the most popular!  It seemed likely to us that Billy was living out exactly what everyone kept proclaiming about him!  So, one day, we decided, after much prayer, that we needed to talk to them.  The best way to lose friends is to criticize their child rearing! ” However, we felt that for the good of Billy and the family as a whole it was important to speak to them about the power of their tongue, the power of the words they spoke over their kids.  So, with prayer, humility and caution we privately suggested to them that they could change their son by giving him and speaking over him a new identity.  We discussed the principles of identity and declaring God’s intention for their children. (We later heard that extended family were much offended by our
“meddling” and asked, “Who do they think they are?” Wisdom will not often create universal approval.)  We didn’t see them for quite a while, as farming hit the busy season. When we next saw them, there was a marked change in things.  Billy, was no longer running at high speed, everywhere all the time, with disasters all around him.  His parents were no longer calling him the little monster. Mom called him over and said. “Billy, tell Gerald and Beth who you are.” With a sweet smile, his reply was: “I’m Billy, I’m a little gentleman.” Then he took off running to play with his sister. In a couple of short weeks the “monster” had been transformed into a regular, energetic 2 year old boy! A little gentleman! Still active, still busy, but not the little monster that he had been called for so long.  To make a long story short, they thanked us for the input, and were amazed at the changes in Billy and their household.

So, what about you?  When you fail at something, or mess up at work, or can’t quite do what you planned, do you say, Oh, I am stupid, I am so clumsy, I am so forgetful, I always do that, I can’t do that, I only , etc. etc. etc.  Or do you say, I am the righteousness of Christ!  I can do all things though Him who made me, I am made perfect in His sight.  What is the language you are speaking into existence?   There is a verse that for me, scared me into putting this into practice in my life.

Matt. 12:36-37  ”But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned”3  NASB 

Wow!  I cringe at the number of careless words I have spoken!  The number of curses I may have brought down on myself and others. But, Praise be to God, I am also forgiven!  I can and have repented of those things, and made an about face, turn around, go in opposite direction, and now I am way more conscious of what comes out of my mouth.  Do I still mess up?  You bet I do.  But, again, repent, turn around and keep on going!  
 
So, I encourage you, put a guard on your tongue.  Speak less, listen more!

I would like to just put it ‘out there’ …. I’m not a blogger. (At least not yet!)
When asked if I would like to contribute to the weekly blogs on our church app, I had no hesitation in accepting the challenge (prompted by the Spirit??), yet here I am, two days late for submission, and NOTHING has come to mind; even though I have been asking Holy Spirit to direct my thoughts to what He would have me share.

 Don’t get me wrong; there have been little niggles, but nothing that I can sink my teeth into and just start flowing wisdom, and encouragement to all who want to read the latest nuggets inspired from above.

As I was walking upstairs to my office to sit down and write, just now, the one question that crossed my mind was, “Where is my heart?”

I’m pretty sure most, if not all of you have been there at one time or another, coming out of something that has shaken you to the core, that has made you look at the foundation on which you stand.

Strangely enough, I would say that in the years after recommitting my life to the Lord (after a failed first marriage), life seemed to be pretty good. Even in the hard times, I had an Anchor who I would run to during the difficulties and there was always a rainbow after the rain. Looking back, I would say that this period was my “baby” phase. (Only a matter of 25 years!!!!)
For even though by this time you ought to be teaching others, you actually need someone to teach you over again the very first principles of God’s Word. You have come to need milk, not solid food.

For everyone who continues to feed on milk is obviously inexperienced and unskilled in the doctrine of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action), for he is a mere infant [not able to talk yet]!

 But solid food is for full grown men (I’m thinking this means women too!), for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.  Hebrews 5:12-14

The first shaking was when my second husband of 25 years passed away within days of a terminal cancer diagnosis. Amidst all the goings on, funeral preparations, etc. and a deep grieving, I was battling with what did I really believe about God. Truth! But one morning, in prayer, I rebuked the devourer and told him, no matter what he does, I will never stop believing in God, and in Jesus as my Saviour, it is a non-negotiable.

About a year later, after some Christian counselling by a couple that were part of a charismatic/ Pentecostal church, I was baptized with speaking of tongues! Although I am intellectually aware that God does not make mistakes, what has been a roller coaster ride since then (for the last 10 years) has me convinced at times that I was totally unprepared for this gift. But on the other hand, when I start to question myself, in the REALLY challenging times, this gift has helped to get me refocused as it is evidence to me that Holy Spirit is living inside of me, and no matter what is going on around me; I am His and He is mine.

Recently, I was blessed to attend a day conference with the guest speaker Charles Price who spoke about the challenge that pastors and ministers face. I believe that leaders do have a higher calling from God as they are the representatives of the Gospel to the general population; but I also believe that every one of us, (every human being) face these challenges in our own lives. The challenge of becoming ‘dry’. Going through the motions, going through the rituals. ‘Doing’ church, ‘doing’ Bible studies, even serving in the church, but our hearts are dry. We know what we should be doing, we are even compelled to do because it has become second nature. The danger at this point is that we become restless. Instead of going back to the Source of our peace, love and joy; instead of remembering that Jesus is our Friend, we get caught up in the busyness of life, getting distracted by the things of this world. Instead of serving out of the flow of the Living Water that pours into us, instead of first going to the Well of Living Water where we are refreshed and refilled, we are tempted at times because of busyness to do it on our own.

The authority on this, the answer, is always the Word which is the voice of the Living God!

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

But You, O Lord, know and understand me and my devotion to You; You see me and try my heart toward You. Jeremiah 12:3a  
 
And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment. Mark 12:30

So, as for the question “Where is my heart?”….. I can say my heart belongs to my Maker; as beat-up, broken, and mended as it is, it is in the palms of His hands. It’s no longer perfect as it was in the beginning, but it belongs to Him.
Where is your heart??

BY JODY PETERSON
EVENT COORDINATOR / OFFICE ASSISTANT

Residue…..it is simply defined as the part that is left behind after the main part has gone or been taken away….. what do You leave behind?

Recently my husband and I went for lunch on a Sunday after church, nothing fancy, just a bit of KFC before heading home for our peaceful Sunday afternoon nap. We were quietly eating our meal while this table of grown men came along, they sat with their food and chatted away, they were very loud and vulgar with their language….you couldn’t help but hear them talk about their work and who did what. When they left there was garbage on the floor and a mess on the table and I heard in the spirit “what residue do you leave behind?” You see the garbage and junk that we can leave behind is not always visible, but it can be felt and we all know it is there.
The opposite is also true, now this mess that was left behind needed to be cleaned up and as we sat there finishing up our meal an employee came and cleaned up the mess left behind, leaving it looking brand new shiny clean… what she left behind was excellence.

As we  look into the Bible and the testimonies in there we can see that this is what happened everywhere Jesus and the disciples go. During Jesus’s journey through the various places in the years of His ministry He left  “residue” where ever He went, whether turning tables over in Matthew 21 :12-13 or healing, blessing and forgiving as seen in John 4 with the Samaritan woman and the possessed man in Mark 5. The disciples carried this on after Jesus transfiguration and in their ministries Peter’s shadow heals, in Acts 19:11-12 even pieces of cloth that touched Paul and had a residue of Him would be placed on people and they would be healed.

I love the chapter in the Bible:   Acts 16:16-33    Paul and Silas Imprisoned
16 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days.
But Paul, greatly [a]annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
The Philippian Jailer Saved
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. 28 But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”
29 Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

So we see Paul and Silas freeing the girl from possession, which was good for her, but not good for her employers. The employers were angry as now they had lost their source of income as they had used the girl for her fortune telling ability and that went away with the possession. Paul and Silas were then beaten and jailed, but they were on a mission and full of faith that  God would free them, so even in their pain and suffering they praised Him. Imagine having been whipped and feet put in stocks they still worshipped, and so loud that the other prisoners could hear them. The “residue” or influence when God joins in is incredibly powerful! Powerful enough to open the doors and remove chains! The jailer who was so frightened of what would happen to him was ready to kill himself rather than face it found salvation as did hid family, all because Paul and Silas moved in faith, even in the circumstances. Their jailer ended up finding hope and salvation in their faith and even fed and hid them.

I believe that today that is still the case, even in suffering, when we praise and glorify our God, welcome Him in to our lives He will move in incredible ways that we cannot even imagine. The “residue” or what we leave behind, when we are doing what God would have us do is a beautiful thing. When we pray for someone, take a gift to them, say a kind word, leave an extra tip or thank a server, buy a meal for someone in need, make a phone call or text them when they come to our heart…this is God working through us and it is an incredible blessing to be His hands and feet in this crazy world.

Every interaction is an opportunity for us to show God’s goodness and be the light, to leave a residue of His glory and love. May you be blessed as you bless others.

I have been passionate about the north for a long time. Yellowknife specifically. For almost 15 years a church plant in Yellowknife was on my heart. I have been to many communities in the north and fell in love with the territories.  Many people spoke over my wife and I regarding the north as well. I thought this must be God’s plan for me.

I own a couple compasses. One is an old Silva compass I carried with me over 30 years ago when I was in the army. The other one is a beautiful copper compass with Psalm 37:29 engraved on it. I also own a beautiful wooden watch box with a compass and “Carpe Diem” engraved on it. I wondered to myself, what is with the compasses? Is God trying to show me something? Is this just one more little bit of confirmation for me? I soon found out that the answer is no.

Recently I was in the Northwest Territories for work. For a week I was driving back and forth from Hay River and Fort Smith. During my daily 6-hour commute, I had the privilege of admiring the wildlife. Bison, bear, and moose. I soaked in the solitude and peace of that quiet highway, and got excited about our future move here, but a week later, that all changed. I spent 3 days in Yellowknife. My past experiences in this city were positive. I found it to be a nice, bright northern city on one of the biggest lakes in the world, however after my last visit, the city seemed dirty, dark, and oppressed. I heard God tell me that it was not His intent for me to bring my wife there.

Needless to say, I was confused. For 15 years I felt this was my destiny. What suddenly changed? It turns out that I was hearing God, just not correctly. He does have a plan for me in the north, but it wasn’t a church plant. I was following God, but my direction was a little off.
Back to the compasses. Did you know that all compasses point north? I bet you did, but did you know that they don’t point to True North? Compasses point to magnetic north which is southeast of True North. If your plan was to get to the north pole, you wouldn’t get there with your compass, you would instead end up in northern Canada.

Where am I going with all of this? Several years ago, a dear friend of mine told me that God will not reveal His plans to us in their entirety. If He did, then we would get involved and start our own planning. That is exactly what I did. Instead of focusing on preparing my wife and I, I got to planning God’s plan for us, and it only took me 15 years to figure out I was wrong. (I am sure that my wife would like to say I told you so!) However, the point I want to make in closing is that, even though I was a little off on His plan, I still got to work. I followed faithfully what I thought was right. My problem was that I put my focus on Yellowknife, which took my focus away from Him. I was following my compass, but I wasn’t headed toward True North.

Remember the compass I mentioned earlier? The one with Psalm 37:23 engraved on it? “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way.” My steps to Yellowknife were taken in faith, and even though I missed the mark, God honoured that. He used my journey as a time of learning. Any steps you take toward God are never wasted. If you think you hear Him, start taking those steps. If you don’t move your feet, you will remain in place and that would be a wasted life. Even if your compass is off you will still be heading in the general direction. Take your focus off of the destination and look back to Him and you will always end up back on track.

 “…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”  - Luke 18:8b (NIV)

“Faith is the bird that sings while it is yet dark.”  - Max Lucado

I took a cursory look at where I am at in the present moment.  At first glance, I believe the best description of my life is that of being in a desert – “a dry and thirsty land” – bordering on despair and hopelessness at times. I have been groping around in “the dark” with only sparks or faint glimmers of light breaking through. What do I have to ‘sing’ about?

I could go on in explaining this place where loneliness overtakes my thoughts, when it seems like the world conspires to rob me of everything, especially my joy. But each time I find myself at what I perceive to be my ‘bottom’, the remembrance of where I have come from and the fact that I am still alive and able to write this excerpt is evidence to me that I have a God who knows me. ‘Something’ within my spirit responds.

Let me ask you…where does ‘faith’ actually begin in a person’s life? I’m not necessarily talking about faith in God but the essence of faith.

I believe that faith is inherent in our make-up, our DNA, our humanness. Even before we are totally cognizant of it, we, as babies, have faith that we will be cared for by our parents. We have faith that, when we cry out, our mothers or caregivers will pick us up and care for whatever our immediate need is. ‘Something’ in our make-up is designed to trust that our needs will be met. We learn to trust that they have our best interests at heart, no matter what, because we are their children. We exercise faith in their love for us. Even though their love is not a tangible ‘thing’, we see the outward manifestation of that love through their actions and provision for us.
This inherent beginning to faith tells me that ‘something’ in our core is designed to respond to the nurture and care of a God – our Heavenly Father – who loves us. In this truth, the essence of faith exists. But due to the nature of a fallen world, that essence of faith can be ‘lost’. Life happens, and various negative events and experiences can work against what is in our DNA to respond to a loving God.

I was taught about Jesus as a young girl. My parents decided that my sisters and I should start going to a Sunday School in the neighbourhood in which we lived. Although my parents themselves did not attend unless it was a very special event, they felt that it would be a good thing for us, primarily because of their own upbringing in church in our country of origin. It was during my Sunday School years that I accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

I was always in awe of the Sunday School teachers I had. I especially admired their strength of faith and how they were concerned about our salvation. We were taught that Christ was gentle, loving, and wanted us to give our lives to Him. However, we were also taught that God is a God of wrath, He is a judging God, and we must flee from any wickedness in our lives. And yet… God was one with Jesus… and with the Holy Spirit… and Jesus was one with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. In a sense, I realize where some of my confusion arose as a child. I believe this conflicting picture and my immature perception of God – with no spiritual understanding or insight – was the cause of a lot of wrong choices throughout my early adulthood.
Life went on, and I graduated from high school. I spent a year in Europe trying to “find myself” and to figure out what I should choose as a life path. After my return, I stepped away from the church.

I moved to a new city to attend college, but upon trying to get back into a church near my residence, there seemed to be a coldness in the atmosphere that had me walk away on a spiritual detour for over ten years. During that time, I met and married a young man with whom I share two children. However, the marriage did not last. This was largely due to not having a solid foundation of faith to build upon.

I know I was lost because I lacked the spiritual nourishment I needed to thrive and build my life upon. Without spiritual nourishment, your soul withers. Although you can fill your life with events and people that bring pleasure to your physical being, when you are alone – in the quiet of your mind and your inner being – the emptiness is a constant void. A quote that is paraphrased from Blaise Pascal’s Pensées says it most eloquently: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” Truthfully, I had forgotten the essence of faith.
I met my second husband during a time where I was close to ending it all because I just didn’t know where else to turn. Although I continued to believe in my Creator (God) and in Jesus, and therefore knew that I couldn’t take my own life, I felt that I had lost my chance at a relationship with Him because of my ‘wrong’ choices.

 But God is so good! He continues to chase us even when we aren’t aware of it!
Through a recovery program that my second husband introduced me to, and especially through a book that he gave me to read, In Tune with the Infinite by Ralph Waldo Trine, my perception of God began to change. In Ralph Waldo Trine’s book, the author explains the love of God in such a way that it changed my heart knowledge to that of understanding that, although He was a God of vengeance and wrath in the Old Testament, with the coming of Christ, He showed us that He IS a God of love, mercy, and grace. Thus began my journey back to the essence of faith and what was inherently within me that could respond to this good God.
Although my husband and I had our highs and lows and our ups and downs during our 25-year marriage, the anchor for me was that Christ was the center of our marriage. We were a triangle, and we went into our marriage with that understanding. During those years, I believe that God was building my faith reserve, strengthening me in my understanding of my connection with Him and that it was also a personal thing. My husband and I did not always share the same strength of faith, nor did we always live out our lives the way we should have or model the ideal, faith-based partnership, but we continued to try.

On September 15, 2011, my faith was shaken to the core!

Six days earlier, we were told my husband had lung cancer…inoperable…and that he only had a few weeks to live. One day earlier, we had a consult with the doctors, and they gave us an even shorter timeline, so we started planning on bringing my husband home for the remaining time. That evening, I said goodbye, expecting to spend the next day with him at the hospital along with our oldest son. As we were getting dressed and prepared to go to the hospital early on the 15th, I received a phone call from the hospital requesting us to come immediately as there had been an event that happened overnight.

When we got to his room, we found that my husband was unresponsive and having difficulty breathing. The hospital staff was very gentle and cautious when they advised us that he was in his last hours. By 3 o’clock that afternoon, his spirit had left his body.  

It was difficult for me to pray during the next days. I truly struggled, wondering why God would take him before I even had a chance to say goodbye – to ask forgiveness for when I had failed him and to sort practical things out – to be able to wrap my head around what I needed to do. In the days that followed, I found it particularly difficult knowing that Jesus was sitting on the right hand of God the Father and my husband was with them…but I was here, alone, not knowing how to carry on.

Since then, I have had my eyes opened up to a whole new realm of spiritual awareness. Holy Spirit moved me out of the church I had attended for 19 years and planted me in a church where I experienced what I can best describe as my perception of what the early Christians experienced in their gatherings. The journey is an adventure to say the least! At times, it feels like I am on the edge of a precipice, not knowing whether I will make it another day in the natural, but inevitably, God is there to lift me up.

In my own intellect, I have no way to explain the faith that is still alive in me, even when I fail God through poor choices or wrong turns. Nevertheless, it is the assurance that He loves me, and He will not allow the enemy to prevail, that keeps me believing that a better day is coming. I keep coming back to the essence or core of my faith – that which was placed within me even at birth – that enables me to respond to His love and have faith that my needs will be met.
I am reminded in Scripture of what Jesus said in John 16:33 (NIV): “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” It seems to me that I am in the crucible of ‘trouble’, praying that the refining that needs to happen will indeed happen according to His promise.

I also believe that God has a plan and a purpose for my life. I can ‘go out into the world’ and be a light in the darkness. I have a testimony of how He is bringing me through and has brought me through this ‘desert’ experience into a flourishing land, not only with a deeper and more abiding faith, but with tangible examples of His goodness in all areas of my life. This can be used as an encouragement to many who yearn to build faith during dark times.

The thought I want to leave you with is this:
Faith is the assurance that despite how we fail or feel, God has an enduring love for us.
He loves us no matter what.

Deep within our very being, God planted the seed – the essence of what is needed – to have faith in that love.
How will you respond???

 Raise your hand if you’ve ever asked the question, “Who am I in Christ?” What is my true identity?

These are questions that whose answers form the basis to our understanding as God’s children.
 
Maybe you’ve also asked one of these questions before: Who am I? What’s my purpose? Why am I here? What am I supposed to do with my life? We’ve all wondered it. Don’t feel like you’re alone or the only one who has questioned this. We have a world vying for our identity. Here is some of my story and walk to understanding that I AM A CHILD OF GOD! And as such have access to all He has promised for me.

One of the most important aspects of living out a successful and fulfilling life is knowing who you are, your identity. I was totally unaware for most of my life, that I had no idea who I was. When we immigrated to Canada, as a child of 10, I was mocked and teased severely. When riding the bus to school, my sister and I, were subjected to the loud telling of very crude poems, featuring us, proclaimed loudly by the high school students behind us. The only seat available on the bus was close to the back, so we were right in the middle of the older kids. One evening coming home from school, for no reason at all, the boy in the seat behind us bashed our heads together, so hard I literally saw stars. We wore over boots, boots you put on over your shoes to protect them. I would take them off before getting on bus and leave them at the end of the driveway. I hated Canada, I was so angry I thought I hated my parents for bringing me here. I didn’t fit in. At school, I remember hiding in the bathroom when the bell would ring and the teacher would have to come and find me and bring me back to class. In class, I asked for a rubber one day, as I had made a mistake on my paper, how was I to know that it’s called an eraser out here! The boot is the trunk, and so on! I was a little English girl in a totally foreign environment. Or who was I now? I didn’t really know.
 
As a teen, I was doing quite well academically. I didn’t have many friends and the ones I had were not the popular people. However, as I was good at math, chemistry etc, so I became the ‘smart’ student, every one of those popular people wanted me to help, or as I found out, do their homework for them. Finally, to avoid this problem, I ceased to work as hard and dropped my marks, so they were just average. So again, now who was I? A failed ‘smart’ student? 
The next major identity crisis came after I had been married for a few years and I was pregnant with, I believe it was our fourth child. It seemed to me, that I was Gerald’s wife, so and so’s mother, Leo’s daughter in law, but never was I Beth. One day I lost my cool! The phone rang, and they asked for Gerald, then I said he wasn’t in at the moment, and they answered, Oh you must be Gerald’s wife! I almost hung up on him, however, my manners prevailed and I finished the conversation politely before hanging up. When my poor husband came in, I exploded all over him! Why is it I am just ‘your wife’, or Leo’s daughter in law, or so and so’s mother? I HAVE A NAME! Well, he calmed me down, let me vent, and proceeded to affirm who I was. Didn’t impress me, at the moment.

Still, another crisis to go! My husband and I were down in the field, putting out bee boxes. We grew seed alfalfa and used leaf cutter bees. These bees required shelters, boxes for them to lay their larvae in and boxes to incubate in. We were removing full boxes from the shelters, these could weigh as much as 100pounds. I was on the back of the truck stacking them, and Gerald was pulling them from the shelters and throwing them on the truck. We were talking as we worked and drove between shelters, when all of a sudden I came up with, “I am not saved!” I had picked up book that was called, 10 Ways to Know Yu are Saved for Sure. If you are truly saved, it said, you will have a burning desire in your bosom to pray, you will have a burning desire in your bosom to read the Bible! I certainly didn’t have a burning desire in my bosom to pray all day, or read the Bible all day. I was convinced I was doomed! Well, at first my husband tried to reason with me and just assure me. Didn’t work! So, in exasperation, he grabbed me,
pushed me down and sat on me. This is what he said. DID YOU ASK JESUS TO BE YOUR SAVIOUR? Yes, I replied. DID YOU REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND ASK FORGIVENESS? Yes, I replied. DID YOU CONFESS HIM AS YOUR LORD? Yes I relied. DO YOU BELIEVE THE BIBLE TO BE TRUE? Yes I replied. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS BORN OF A VIRGIN, DIED, ROSE AND IS COMING AGAIN? Yes I replied. THEN YOU ARE SAVED!

After this incident, I was confident of who I was, or at least I thought so. Until much later, when all of the kids had left home. I used to say, I will have no problem filling my time when the kids leave home, I won’t suffer the empty nest syndrome! Well, little did I know, how much I had built my identity around my family! In spite of my identity crises, I had based who I was on my children. I was so lonely, it was so quiet! I felt like I had nothing to offer anyone anymore. This remained with me for several years! I functioned, but still didn’t fully know who I was or what I was good at. I knew I was fairly good at raising kids, they all turned out pretty good! I knew I was a pretty fair wife (my husband said so anyways), I knew I was a good teacher, but all of a sudden, the only thing required of me was the wife part!

Let’s jump ahead a little. I was in the position of having to find a secular job. Almost all of my past work experience has been in the Church, our farm, and our business. I did however, have 4 jobs for short times that were not connected to the Church. And the experience in all but one of them was awful! I was fired from one, because they wanted someone with a degree, I had to quit another because I developed tennis elbow in both arms! After being demoted from the job I was hired to do in favor of someone who decided to come back after quitting. The other one, I taught myself as best I could from previous year’s records. Help from superiors was non-existent, and the girl who was in the office decided she didn’t like me and wouldn’t show me how to run things. To make a long story short, I was convinced I had nothing of value to offer the working world. I was a failure in the secular work world. I have struggled with this for a very long time: For me the prospect of a job carries fear of failure again. I found myself in a place where I needed a job again. I sent out resumes, I went out to businesses and got an interview for a cashier. I went to the interview, I hadn’t slept at all the night before, but I felt good! I thought the interview went really well and I probably had the job. When I ran back over what I had said, I figured out why I didn’t get it! I was asked why I wanted to work in this particular store. I replied, well apart from needing a job, I really liked the atmosphere, and the staff always seemed happy, helpful and polite. Then I added, I must confess, I don’t shop here! I told this to my sister, and she laughed! Then, she said, let’s pray about this job thing. This really got to me. Here, from the moment I was saved, I was the one praying for and encouraging my sister. I was the one who helped and offered words of wisdom! And here, now, it was my sister’s turn! I was seeing the fruit of years of prayer. She proceeded to tell me who I was in Jesus Christ! WOW!
 
I am still a little apprehensive when I go out to look for work, but I know who I am now. I am a child of the King. I am a new creation! I am special and unique! I have been given all I need for living this life, in Jesus. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher and a friend. I am all of these things, but I am most of all a bought and paid for daughter of the Lord Most High. And as I keep on looking for a job, I am confident that He will prepare the way ahead for me. That He will bring the right job for me, the one that fits the gifts He has given me. Don’t get me wrong here, I still have moments when I waver in the face of obstacles, but by faith, I will keep on. 
So, for you, the most important thing to come to grips with, is that you are not what you do. Neither can you put yourself in a box by what you look like! As the world would tell us, unless you are a certain size etc., you will never make it, you are who God made you to be. You are a combination of incredible gifts and talents He has given to you. You have access to more than you can imagine through Jesus.

When we learn to stand on the simple truth, that our identity is in Christ, not in these other things, then we can move forward in our life adventure, with confidence and joy!
 
Here are some verses to help you solidify who you are. 
I AM ALWAYS... 
DEEPLY LOVED (Ephesians 3:17-18) 
BLESSED (Ephesians 1:3) 
A NEW CREATION (2 Corinthians 5:17) 
FORGIVEN (Acts 13:38-39) 
SPIRIT-FILLED (1 Corinthians 3:17) 
COMPLETE (Colossians 2:10) 
GOD’S MASTERPIECE (Ephesians 2:10) 
SET FREE (Romans 8:2) 
HOLY (Ephesians 1:4) 
GRACE-FILLED (Romans 5:17) 
RESCUED (1 Thessalonians 1:10) 
CHOSEN (1 Peter 2:9) 
ACCEPTED (Ephesians 1:6) 
AN AMBASSADOR (2 Corinthians 5:20) 
COVERED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (2 Corinthians 5:21) 
REDEEMED (Colossians 1:14) 
HEALED (1 Peter 2:24) 
SAVED (Ephesians 2:5-6) 
A CHILD OF GOD (1 John 3:2) 
FREE FROM DARKNESS (Isaiah 61:1) 
BELOVED OF GOD (Romans 1:7) 
JUSTIFIED BY FAITH (Romans 5:1) 
ALIVE IN CHRIST (Romans 6:11) 
ADOPTED (Ephesians 1:5-6) 
MEMBER OF CHRIST’S BODY, THE CHURCH (Ephesians 5:29-30) 
HEIR OF GOD (Romans 8:16) 
FILLED WITH THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22) 
ROOTED IN LOVE (Ephesians 3:17) 
RECONCILED TO GOD (2 Corinthians 5:18) 
UNIQUELY GIFTED (1 Peter 4:10) 

Reading a bit through Exodus this morning, and being reminded that it's not all about me.
Nor is it all about you. Or even about us together.
Its all about HIM. 
 
Sometimes, God asks us to step out into something that is wildly out of our little box of comfort, or out of the lines that we think we need to colour in. For example, one night a few years ago, my husband and I were asked to be part of a prayer team for a prayer tunnel at the front of the church. Now for anyone who knows me even just a little, getting me anywheres near the front of the church would take a very large man eating rabid spider chasing me - I like to stay out of the spotlight as much as humanly possible. I guess you could say that being called up to be a part of something like this was WAYYYYY outta my comfort zone. So, the minute my husband grabbed my hand and started making our way up, I began with " but but but but but …. ". My husband doesn’t listen too well when I start doing the excuses thing, but they began rolling immediately and automatically out of a deep fear.
 
This morning as I sat down to do my devotionals, I began to read in exodus about Moses and how he was a man who did the same thing. Actually, probably most of us may have said it at least a few times in our walk … "But God!"
 
"But God, I'm not good enough. I've messed up".  
Well, Moses messed up too. Read in exodus 2:11-15. Moses, in his anger, became a wanted murderer.
 
"But God, I'm not a college graduate. I'm not perfect, I'm not smart enough."
Ok I'll be really honest with you. I have used this sooo many stinkin' times. And still do sometimes.
Moses tried this excuse with God too.  In Exodus 4:10, Moses says, 'hey wait God, I don’t use any big words, i'm not smart, and did you forget I have a stutter?? And I don’t talk very fast God!!'
 
But keep reading. God already knows this and doesn’t care. God says " so, I made you. I made your mouth. I will give you the words to say and I will help you say them. So shush and get going"
 
"But God, I'm not anyone important, how could you care about lil' ol' me?
Well, Go back and read in Exodus 2:23-25. The Israelites were slaves, yet it says that 'God saw them, and took knowledge of them and concerned himself about them.  God cared even about the slaves. Not just the important ones, or the ones that were perfect people - but all of the slaves.
 
In Exodus 3:11, Moses asks "but who am I to do your work?" Moses was determined throughout the whole story to remind God of who he wasn’t. How many times have we tried to remind God of who we are when asked to do something? What we realize is that God ALREADY knows who we are, how we've messed up, what our strengths and flaws are and he surely knows what we also aren't ….. But here is the punch line: it isn't about us.

It's not about us. Its not about who we are ... or who we are NOT.
We can say to God, "But God i'm not good enough, i'm not smart enough, i'm not holy enough, i'm not perfect, i'm not someone who has it all together, but you know what God's reply is?
He says,  "NO, BUT I AM!"
 
It doesn’t matter who we aren't, because its not about us.
 It's about HIM. It's about who HE is! 

I was sitting watching the rain the other day. Listening as each drop hit the ground. The sound and smell was so refreshing; it almost immediately makes me close my eyes and breathe a little deeper. The rain washes my little brick paths, brightens up my water craving grass and makes my trees look glossy and refreshed.

The rain makes me want to light a candle, turn on my tea kettle and sit down for a bit. It makes me pause, even briefly to be still. 

In so many ways I feel I can relate to that downpour of rain that seems to put a pause on life. I’ve heard rain called “Heavens Tears”. Well, to be honest I can probably compete with the crazy storms and rains if we compare them to tears. 

When David says “My pillow is drenched from my own tears”…. on the inside, I’m like, OH David, I get it brother. I so get it.

You know those rains where it’s pouring so hard, you can’t see anything and the sheer volume makes talking pointless? Yeah, I’ve had cries like that. The kind of pain, hurt, or surrender where you cry so hard you think you might have broke something?

Crying gets a bad wrap doesn’t it? Our society associates crying with weakness. Just look at the way we try to stop ourselves from expressing emotions. We need to “compose ourselves and get it together”. We call ourselves and others cry babies for letting the pain, joy or sorrow show on the outside through tears. 

We come up with catchphrases to justify our locked up hearts like, “real men don’t cry” or we equate crying with just plain weakness or immaturity. My dear friends with real beating hearts and tender souls, this is not the case. Real strength doesn’t lie in our ability to “muscle through”, but in our willingness to let the Lord "walk us through”. 

Our precious Jesus was full of emotion. Jesus was constantly moved by compassion. He openly wept at the heartbreak of Lazarus’ death. He wept over Jerusalem as His heart ached for their lost hearts. He wept bitterly and intensely as He spoke with the Father ahead of facing the cross. 

I’ve had seasons in my life where I wondered how my body produced so much liquid pouring out of my eyes… It seemed like my tear pump was working overtime and it was becoming an inconvenience to me honestly. I felt weak. I felt broken. I felt like I was set back and not fit for God’s plan because I couldn’t “get it together”. 

Here’s what I’ve learned. Tears locked in will be pain unleashed at some point in our lives. Pain not healed becomes pain expressed, often to the people we love. Tears when cried WITH the Lord become healing rains for our broken hearts and bleeding souls. There really isn’t a shortcut. I’m sorry to say, we must cry those tears. 

My Aunty used to always say, “never apologize for crying, the tears keep you tender.” 

When we take our process to the Lord and allow ourselves to face the unpleasant emotions, and let those tears flow we get to take part in God’s promise from Psalm 30 that says… weeping may remain for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning! 

The Word tells us that the Lord is near the brokenhearted. There is something so special and healing about bringing our broken hearts before the Lord. There is a nearness we can experience in those tearful offerings we bring Him that we can’t when all seems to be going well. Let me guarantee you, your tears are not in vain and the Lord holds them dearly. Psalm 56:8 says, “… you have collected all my tears in a bottle, you have recorded each one in your book.” I can’t even imagine the collection of tears the Lord has just from me! 

Here’s the amazing thing about God. NOTHING is wasted. Not even our tears. When we go back to the analogy of the rain, I’m reminded of another Aunty of mine. This Aunty is an incredible gardener with a beautiful yard she tends to. I was so delighted my last visit to see all her hard work and the beauty of the space she tends so well. Something about growth and plants is the need for water. So, my genius Aunty has a couple large rain barrels to collect water naturally! She then uses this water to nourish her flowers and plants for growth. 

Isn’t that just how God uses our painful circumstances to pour out and minister life to those around us? When we go to God in our tears, He heals us and those sowed tears become a testimony for others who may face the same things. What a redemptive God! 

Psalm 126:4-6 “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.” 

What if we can’t get to the shouts of joy without the planting in tears? It really does shed light on the importance of our tears doesn’t it? Not only does the Lord cherish them and collect them, He uses them for your future joy, growth and even to bless others! Incredible!

So dear friends, never tell yourself to “keep it together” if the Lord could be inviting you to a precious encounter with Him. One where He is so very near, where He reminds you He understands and treasures you even in the pain. A meeting where He helps you sow your tears into ground that might be hard and dry, but will soon produce beauty and joy. 

Rest assured too, we won’t always have these precious and painful times to walk through with the Lord. One day He’ll wipe away every tear from our eyes, there won’t be sorrow or mourning again. Until then, let’s not miss any opportunity to allow the Lord to be near our broken hearts and allow our Father to walk us all the way through to the new day! 

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. — Matthew 11:28-30
When our family first moved to the Soviet Union, the Soviet economy was so collapsed and the system so broken that even the most basic supplies were difficult to find. One of those hard-to-find supplies was gasoline for one’s car — and not just for the car, but for any machinery that operated on gasoline. Because of this lack of fuel, few cars were driven, and people walked great distances. There was just no available fuel to put into the tanks of the cars parked inside people’s garages.

At that time our family lived in a remote area on the edge of a small city where people were given small plots of land to grow gardens. One spring when it was time to plow the garden and plant seeds, I looked out the kitchen window of our house and saw something I could hardly believe! Our neighbor had taken an old harness, like one that would be normally placed around the neck of a cow, a horse, or an ox, and hooked it up to his wife! I watched in amazement as this man walked behind his wife, guiding the plow as she heaved forward with her neck and shoulders, dragging the plow through the hardened soil. The two of them were working to break up the ground so they could plant their seeds and produce their garden. They owned a small tractor, but because there was no fuel, they couldn’t use it. Therefore, this couple resorted to the action I beheld that day.

I called to Denise and told her to come to the kitchen. She looked out the window with me and saw this poor woman hooked up to a harness and pulling the plow, with her husband trying to guide the sharp blade through that solid ground. Denise was speechless! What this couple was doing just outside our backyard looked so hard and difficult! We both wished we had a couple of oxen to loan them that day in order to make their job a little easier!
Many times Denise and I have worked so hard in the ministry that we felt like we had given every ounce of our strength; yet there always seemed to be so much more that we needed to give. On several occasions, I told my wife, “I guess it’s time for us to hook up the plow and press through this hard ground! Let’s go for it, Sweetheart!” We’d laugh and then remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30, where He said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The word “labour” in verse 28 is from the Greek word kopaio, which describes the most wearisome kind of labor. This is a person who is giving everything he has to a project or assignment. He is striving, laboring, and working with every fiber of his being. But the Greek tense describes people who have been laboring under this load without a pause for a very long time. Their work has been wearisome, exhausting, and unending.

The words “heavy laden” tell us why these people are so weary from their labors. These words are from the Greek word phortidzo, which denotes a load or burden that is normal and expected for an individual to carry in life. It was a military term that described the backpack or bag that every soldier was required to carry as a part of his career as a soldier. Carrying such a weight was a normal and expected requirement for soldiers. The weight of these backpacks and bags was determined by the length of the soldier’s journey. If his trip was short, the weight would be less. But if the assignment mandated a longer journey, the weight of the backpack or bag would be much heavier laden.

This means Jesus was referring to people who had been doing their job for a very long time — and their job wasn’t done yet. Their journey had not been a quick, short, and easy one, and much of it was still before them. They had quite a long distance yet to go before they reached their destination. Knowing how exhausted they were and yet how much further they had to go before they were finished, Jesus told them, “Come unto me…and I will give you rest” (v. 28).
The word “rest” is from the Greek word anapauo, which means to rest, to relax, to calm, or to refresh. The root is pauo, from which we get the word pause. So in Matthew 11:28, the word anapauo carries the meaning of to pause, to cease, to desist, or to refrain. In our modern-day language, it could be translated to take a breather; to have a break; to have a hiatus, a lull, an interval, an interruption; or to take time to get away from something or some responsibility.
Jesus never promised that He would take difficult assignments away from you. However, He did promise that if you would come to Him, He would give you the rest you need in order to be refreshed for the continuation and conclusion of the journey. So when it seems like you’ve given all you have, but there’s still so much more for you to do before you’re finished, just take a break from your journey and go to Jesus for some supernatural refreshing!

Then in Matthew 11:29, Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you.…” The word “take” is the word airo, meaning to deliberately lift or to deliberately take up. The fact that Jesus used the word airo implies that one must deliberately invite Jesus into the harness so He can help you pull the plow. The word “yoke” is the Greek word zugos, which describes the wooden yoke that joined two animals together so they could combine their strength to pull a load that generally would have been too difficult for one animal to pull by itself. This “yoke” made the team inseparable. As a result, they were stronger, and their combined strength made their task easier.
This is Jesus’ offer to the weary and tired worker. Jesus offers to come alongside the worker and join him in his assignment or affairs. However, the worker — the weary soul —  has to make the deliberate choice to enter into this working relationship and to come under the yoke of Jesus. He has to take the “yoke” of Jesus upon himself, reaching out by faith to lift it up and place it upon himself.

Becoming “yoked” to Jesus in your life, your ministry, your business, and your personal affairs is a premeditated, determined choice — not something that occurs accidentally. But just as two animals that are “yoked” together make a job much more easy and manageable, the strength of you and Jesus together is unbeatable! That is why the Lord went on to say, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30).

The word “easy” is the Greek word chrestos, meaning pleasurable, delightful, or comfortable. This means it is a delight to work with the Lord. When you are yoked together with Jesus, even the most difficult assignments become pleasurable! Situations that would normally make you uneasy become comfortable. Being “yoked” together with Him changes the atmosphere and brings peace and strength to your soul. It is the most pleasurable experience in the world!
Jesus concluded this verse by saying that being “yoked” together with Him is “light.” The word “light” is the Greek word elaphron, describing something that is not burdensome, but light or easy. I can tell you from personal experience — what was once hard, wearisome, and troubling because you were doing it all alone becomes pleasurable and lighter when you are partners with Jesus!

So what about you, friend? Are you going to keep pulling that plow through that solid ground all by yourself? Or are you going to allow Jesus to become partnered with you in your endeavors? Going it alone is the hardest course you can take. But when you choose to be yoked together with Jesus, you suddenly have the greatest Partner in the universe who will turn a once-hard situation into the most pleasurable experience of your life!

My Prayer for Today
Lord, I admit that I’ve been trying to pull the whole load by myself, and I simply can’t do it any longer. I have given every ounce of my strength; now I need You to come alongside me and help me finish the task that is before me. I’m willing to do it, but I must have Your help if I’m going to do it with all my heart and finish it all the way to the end. So today I am asking You to become “yoked” with me in my job, my business, my ministry, my family, and in all my personal affairs.
I pray this in Jesus’ name!

By Jody Peterson
Office Assistant & Special Events 

What is in a name, each of us have at least one, most in Canadian culture have 3…a first, middle & last, then there are nick names or pet names, and each has a different use and application.
When you think about it we all have several names, my first name Jody is a from my Mom’s name, Judy. My middle name Lynne is for my grandmother Lillian and Holmes was the surname that my dad gave me which identified me as belonging to the Holmes family. When I got married, I took my husbands name that identified that I had become part of Peterson Family.  Then there are nicknames such as: my family calls me Jo, when I was a kid and I had gotten myself in trouble I would cringe hearing “Jody Lynne Holmes”

In the Book of Proverbs 22:1 Solomon puts it like this, The Value of a Good Name: A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Our name, to the world, is our identity, when we produce our official identification the first thing that will be looked at is our name, it often goes before us and as we become known in a community will carry our reputation & identity along with it. The reason we spent so much time picking names for our children is because a name speaks to identity, and identity is a big deal. Who are you? Who do you associate with? What are you known for? What family/organization/workplace etc. do you belong to? Do we want to name them after a family member, friend even celebrity that we look up to and admire?

You may have noticed that there are many different Names of God through the Bible and each one speaks to a different character trait and part of His multidimensional personality and nature. It is these names and traits that we can call on, and depend on because they are who God is. These names carry power and when spoken over your circumstances and needs, or just in prayer to glorify and celebrate who God is are powerful. Just a few of these are:

El Roi - The God Who Sees - Genesis 16:13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” God sees all, even those the world would call insignificant and unworthy. Hagar was a slave girl, mistreated and abused, but God still saw her.

El Shaddai – All Sufficient Lord God Almighty - Genesis 17:1  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. God promised that Abram/Abraham, who had no children would be the father of many nations, at 100 years of age. It is interesting that it was at this time, with this promise that God changed Abram’s, name to Abraham, forever changing his identity.

El Elyon - The Most High God – Psalm 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. God is the MOST HIGH, there is none HIGHER, no king, no president, no one on earth who has existed or will ever exist will be exalted higher than GOD! There are times when our life situations or circumstances can seem bigger, loom larger than God, but He made all, sees all, knows all…Psalm 68:1 He is lifted high and His enemies are scattered. When we hold Him high, place our eyes, thoughts and focus on God, all circumstances contrary to His word are scattered.

Adonai - My Lord, Master - Psalm 16:2 O my soul, you have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.”

Yahweh - Lord, Jehovah - “He Who Makes That Which Has Been Made” or “He Brings into Existence Whatever Exists” This Name of God appears in over 6800 times in the original Hebrew Bible. He is the beginning of all things, the maker of all things, the Lord over all things that are, that were and that will be.

Jehovah Nissi - The Lord My Banner – Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love. Banner in the Bible is defined as a large flag or worked with embroidery and beautifully ornamented, a signal-flag, not carried about, but stationary and usually erected on a mountain or other lofty place. During battles as soon as the banner was seen the war-trumpets were blown. The Bible tells us that when we belong to God, his banner is over us and this marks us as His!

Here are some more for you to research:

Jehovah Raah - The Lord My Shepherd
Jehovah Rapha - The Lord That Heals
Jehovah Shammah - The Lord Is There
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord Our Righteousness
Jehovah Mekoddishkem - The Lord Who Sanctifies You
El Olam - The Everlasting God
Elohim - God
Qanna - Jealous
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord Will Provide
Jehovah Shalom - The Lord Is Peace
Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts

Names of the people and things in creation are important to God as well, in Genesis 2:18-20 God gave Adam the honour of naming all of the animals and the Bible tells us that one day God will give each of us a new name. Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” & Isaiah 62:2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name.  the name that He has chosen for us and will be ours for eternity.

Psalm 147:4 - He counts the numbers of the stars; He calls them all by name.
Names are so important to God and important to us, so wear your name well,  and ask God who He says you are, who He sees you as ... we are His children, His workmanship, which of His  wonderful traits do you carry? 

By Jenn Schmidt
Office Assistant/Graphic Design

Planned. Created. Wanted. Loved. Adopted. Redeemed. Even more, Chosen; very much on purpose, for a purpose.

We are than a flesh bag of bones and blood, with a random, environmentally produced personality and a purpose determined by the society and the circumstances we are raised in. We are more than a name, more than a job, bigger than any past of failures and mistakes. God has planned and created you, but also know that God has chosen you. You have been chosen ON purpose, FOR a purpose.

One of my favorite men in the bible is Paul (known more by his Hebrew name of Saul). A man known to be feared; known for the persecution and killings of the followers of Jesus. To the people who knew him, or even simply knew OF him, his identity was deemed to be a soldier; a persecutor; a murderer. He had an identity that society gave him, that his actions gave him, but this was not his real identity; this was not where his story had to end. Where the world saw one identity, God saw another. God saw the real Saul; the one He himself created and purposed him to be.

God loved, chased down, forgave and redeemed Saul, not because of anything he had done, but because of who he was: His son. His real identity was not dependent on anything he could earn or what his earthly status was; his only identity was that which God himself had predetermined it to be.

Saul came to Christ, allowed God to rescue and redeem him, and Saul became a new creation; he took on a ‘new’ identity. Maybe it would be more truthful to say that he dropped his false identity and put on the truth of who He was.  Because of this, Saul would then become an apostle, an author of almost half the New Testament, and was considered one of the most important figures of his time. He went from being someone that induced absolute fear by walking into the room, to someone that even today still instills hope to every nation through his writings in the bible.
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 God didn’t just make us, but He created us, on purpose and for a purpose and nothing we ever do or say comes as a shock or a surprise to Him. We are not so powerful that we could derail the plans of God by our refusal to accept His hand. Neither are we a mistake by any means; He created us in His image, and yes, we can feel that we royally mess that up, but He will not allow our faults, failures or mistakes to define who we are nor change our purposes. He will only use them that much more to show His power, His majesty, and His love for us.

We see proof of this in men like Paul and Moses - both men who could have been thought of as completely messing up their own purposes. Paul had been totally on the opposite end of the spectrum as his purpose, and Moses was so afraid after killing an Egyptian man, that he ran away. God still used them in ways they could never have imagined. Both Moses and Paul became major inspirational leaders of their time; Paul became an incredible apostle, writing an impressive portion of the New Testament. God may have let Moses run for a little while, but He went to Him; He called him out and used him to lead so many people out of enslavement, abuse and hopelessness to freedom and towards God’s promises.

 Even in the times when we doubt the fact that He can use us because we think we are so insignificant or unimportant, that we are too small or thinking that the situation is too out of reach, or maybe too out of control.

 Take little David for example, out tending his flock of sheep. His brothers, all older than him, all out doing things he couldn’t, because he was still too young and too small. Maybe he wondered as well about his purpose in life. He maybe thought it couldn’t be more than what he was already doing; maybe he dreamt that he would one day be a father, and a grandfather, maybe he could start a business with his sheep, or make something from their wool. Maybe one day he dreamed about being a soldier like his brothers - but I sure bet he didn’t expect his purpose to be what it turned out to be. I don’t think he woke up one morning, thinking to himself, ‘Today, I’m going to knock a giant’s block off. I’m going to show them who’s small’. He didn’t expect that when he was playing meals-on-wheels, delivering lunch to his brothers on the battlefield, that he would be the one to step passed every other man in that army, and do the one thing they couldn’t. He didn’t expect God to use him to slay that giant. And yet … God did. When David trusted God for guidance and trusted on God’s strength and held confidence in who he was, and who his Father was, David stepped into purpose without hesitation.

Our job is not to always know the exact purpose God has for us. Sometimes, He allows us to know before hand, and sometimes we are simply to trust that when He says, “I know the plans, I have for you … plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11), that our Papa God actually means it. Take a look at the verse - it doesn’t say, ‘IF I have plans for you’, or ‘IF’ He has purpose for us, it says He KNOWS the plans/purpose for us; for God to know the plans, there would first be a plan, right? We can rest assured that God has a plan and a purpose for every one of us.

In the hard times, it’s easy to ask questions. When our minds are riddled with battles of fear and other oppressions, it’s easy to doubt those plans. Now I know you’ve probably heard it; maybe you’ve seen it somewhere. Maybe skimmed passed it somewhere.

‘Perhaps you were made for such a time as this. ‘
 
 This quote actually came from the book of Esther (4:14), about a woman who was put in an unusual and probably terrifying predicament. Marrying a king may not seem so bad to us, but in her time, marrying a king didn’t necessarily mean a carefree life of luxury.

Even the queen herself wasn’t allowed to talk to the king without first being invited. After becoming a queen, Esther’s life and the lives of the Jewish people came into dire jeopardy when the Jewish people were slated for genocide. With her life, and the lives of her people being threatened, I can only imagine her anxiety levels, the panic she felt, and probably a whole new level of fear. During this time, I bet she thought the situation was hopeless, or maybe she felt pretty helpless at the very least, but this is when God was able to use her for His purposes. She stood in the presence of the king, even though it brought great fear and risk to do so and was bold enough to speak truth to the king. It brought safety to her people, saving their lives as well as her own.

She didn’t preplan what her purpose would be, and she didn’t see it coming - and it probably took an unbelievable amount of courage to step passed her giant fear and step up into what was needed. However, in a time when things got hard, she didn’t give in and curl up into a ball of fear, but like David, she chose to trust in the truth of who she was, and who her Father was. This opened the door for her to step into the purposes God had for her.

How do we know for sure that God has a plan for us? Well, let me ask you - are you still breathing? God has a plan for you. Are you willing to trust God’s guidance? Then He can use you. When you avail yourself to God, He will use you. When you offer yourself to God, He will make you a disciple. God is good. He can and will use anyone that will humble themselves before Him, willing to trust Him. In Numbers 22:28, we see that God, frustrated when man wouldn’t listen, even resorted to using a donkey! Are you not higher than a donkey?
We are all chosen by God’s grace. The things we are called to do may be different; maybe even very, very different, but the one thing we all have indisputably in common is that we are all chosen ON purpose, FOR His purpose, because of His grace. We will never find our own purpose in life, or find perfect fulfillment, satisfaction or joy by looking just into ourselves or through trying to derive it from the world. We will only find all that we are, and all our purposes, and full joy if we look to the One we were created by, and created for. If you allow Him to place you in the right place, and at the right time, you will be the next person God uses to do the next thing for Him.


(excerpt from "Storm be still",  Jenn Schmidt - 2021)
 

Have you ever been hungry? Like really hungry?

I don’t mean hungry as in ‘I’ve got the munchies,’ or ‘it must be getting close to dinner time’ type of a hunger. I mean the hunger that you feel when you haven’t had anything to eat at all in days or a week, or even two weeks kind of hunger. The kind of hunger where all your friends start looking like roast beef, so maybe you shouldn’t get too close, for their safety. (Or am I the only one that happens to?)  Anyone that has had to fast for surgery or other reasons, at one time or another, knows what I’m talking about.

When we feel physically hungry, we find food to fill our tummies. We shop daily/weekly for food to satisfy our hunger and keep us alive and nourished. Our shopping list depends on affordability, availability, allergens, physical reasonings and personal taste.
Some people will choose healthier food that is natural, organic, whole and nutrient dense  to benefit their bodies to the maximum ability.
For others, maybe with financial reasonings playing a big part in it, they go for less healthy food that maybe contains more sugar and fillers, tending to be emptier calories and not so super great for our bodies. Sometimes a treat is great - sugar is fun and tasty, and it’s all ok in moderation - but we all know that the sugar and fillers are not a replacement for the nutrients we very much need to be healthy in both mind and body.

When we begin to experience a deep hunger, or deprive ourselves from the sugary and unhealthy choices, our bodies can begin to detox from the junks, sugars and fillers that we have been using to fill our bodies with - and as we do, we begin to discover that we are hungry and yearning for healthier food choices; we begin to get hungry for the nutrient dense choices.

It’s so easy though to fill our hunger with the sugar that we crave - and just as so with our spiritual hunger. We will find that we often fill our lives and spiritual emptiness with unhealthy ‘calorie-clutter’, but should we allow ourselves to detox from the junk that we try to replace God with, we will find that we have a bigger yearning and hunger for 'the good stuff' - which is HIS righteousness.

'Blessed are those who hunger. and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.'  - Matthew 5:6 

Now take a few moments and really think and assess yourself honestly … this is just between you and God. How hungry have you really been for God’s righteousness? How about for just time with Him? How hungry are you for a true and intimate relationship with Papa God?

It’s easy to say “hey, I eat”, but are you really eating what your spiritual self needs to be healthy and efficient? Or are you feeding your spirit man with calorie-clutter?
Are you really allowing yourself to be hungry for the good stuff? Or are you simply getting the munchies and filling yourself with spiritual calorie clutter?

So many, I would say almost everyone, tends to do it in some way - we find things to satisfy our hunger that possibly acts as a replacement for the good stuff of God. Things like money, social media, movies, food, video games and a thousand other things.

Not that some of these are bad on their own, or wrong - they are like a donut or cake, available as a treat, but not intended as a replacement for the real meal. That spiritual hunger can only be satisfied when we fill it with our relationship with Christ Jesus and the Father. It can only be fully satiated by the presence and the Glory of God. 

We have come to a time where we need to begin to declutter - to detoxify - to get rid of the spiritual calorie - clutter that is blocking us from being hungry and desiring the ‘good stuff’. To get rid of anything that comes between us and God.

Today, ask God to show you what your spiritual calorie-clutter is, and how he wants you to stop filling those empty spaces that only HE can fill, so you can come up higher in your relationship with HIM, and desiring that which is righteous. It's time for the good stuff! 

By Melody Lesmeister ~ Worship Arts Pastor

“Shotgun!!” My daughter yells and takes off running to secure the front seat in the van. Then begins the race to grab that door handle and proudly be the one who gets the place second only to the driver.

What’s so special about the front seat? Well, unobstructed views for one. First receiver of either cold or hot air is a great selling feature too! How about this one - DJ. I automatically hand my phone to the one in the front seat and they’re picking the tunes that will carry us to our destination without making us too crazy. If I say “ugh, skip that one” it doesn’t bode well for the front seat DJ.

The front seater also gets to hear clearly and engage in conversation with the driver! This can come with privileges. Sometimes simply just “being in the know”, can  make you feel confident.
For me, front seat means less chance of motion sickness. Unfortunately I might be the lamest person on the planet in that regard…. Don’t slam the breaks too hard or be a jerky driver, or you might find me in the fetal position asking for a bag. Too much information?

The front seater gets to observe the driver too. They hear the under breath comments about the slow driver in front of you or the one who just cut you off. They see the stop sign you just rolled through or the curb you just brushed up against. Often to the embarrassment of the driver, they see the things we’d rather let slide.

I remember apologizing to my daughters and the respective driver for calling them a moron. That word seemed to be my go to for “less than” drivers. Now my kids were starting to associate slow drivers with “morons”. Haha! Ok, I laugh, you cringe and question my parenting. I understand. I’m sure you’ll be relieved to know I have since changed. I now call those drivers who annoy me “ding dongs”. Better? Probably not, but I’m a work in progress.

I had a beautiful and emotional thought today. Are the people who have a front row seat to my life happy they do?

My Husband and I do a Bible devotional together every day. We write out our responses and what we are seeing in that particular devotion or Bible passage. I wrote something like, “you get a front row seat to my ups and downs”. His response broke open a deep emotional response. I cried and cried, and the Lord showed me why.

His response. “I wouldn’t trade this seat for anything.” Of all the things that mean something to my heart it is this. To be KNOWN. To be SEEN. Now this is a beautiful thing, but what about to be chosen? Wonderful right? How about chosen “in spite of” our shortcomings and weaknesses.

My daughters fight for that front row seat. I’d like to think it’s to be closer to me. I know that’s a massive part of it! They know the benefits of being in the front, but they also genuinely love to watch their crazy mom. Oh the stories we could tell. Hitting the curb because I was air drumming to Reckless Love (you try cranking that bridge and not having a dramatic physical and emotional response!!), driving in the ditch because the cutest new calves have arrived and you’re fixated on them… having ridiculous conversations. They love to witness me from the front.

There’s so much to behold in the lives of those close to us. I wonder if the Cloud of Witnesses laughs as they watch us. I wonder if God points and says “Hey, check out my kid over there!!”

In this life we get to be both the witness and the one witnessed. The reason my Husbands beautiful words broke me so much was, I suppose I didn’t feel worthy or exciting to be known. Why would anyone delight to have a front row seat for this hot mess? Isn’t that the beauty of Godly, pure relationships built on love? It’s an honor to be seen. Even in our mess. Highs and lows. I bask in the fact my Husband delights in the position he gets to have in this life!

However there is One who is always beholding and delighting in His view of us. Our Father. He yells “Shotgun!!” For the front seat to our lives and then runs. He’s running against shame, hurt, fear, insecurity and all the things we allow to influence our lives. He’s hoping to grab that handle ahead of all other things. The Father knows His view will be best if all those other things and voices don’t get that front seat. Once He has that seat He sets the atmosphere with songs of deliverance. The songs seem to bring down all our defenses and we burst out into wild ridiculous singing at the top of our lungs! Even when I mess up and call the driver in front a “Ding Dong”, He sees and gently softens my heart. He laughs at my air drum solo, marvels with me as we drive towards a sunset and cries with me as memories, painful and beautiful unlock tears pent up. He sees it all. He’s along for the whole journey…

… and He won’t trade His seat for anything.

By Pastor George Sarkodie
Executive Pastor 

One of my greatest mentors of all time – Dr. Myles Munroe once said, ‘’Gifts become relevant in times of crisis’’.

We all know that the past few years have been quite crazy for the entire world. But more than that is the question of how the world can deal with the aftermath of a pandemic. The impact has been felt in almost every sector of society – economic, social, spiritual, and health, just to mention a few. Now, the big question on the mind of many is, how do we get out of the mess that has been experienced? There is no need to mention that the hope of many, even people of faith, for a better world continues to shake.

However, the Bible says, “… there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9). What we are experiencing now is not new. We are just a new group of people experiencing it.
The truth is a similar situation happened years ago in a country called Egypt. King Pharoah had a troubling dream. All the wise men around him could not help in any way. Consequently, Egypt was heading towards a season of crisis.

But how would God show up on the scene to save a whole nation, and by extension the whole region? Well, He had placed gold in a young man called Joseph. This gold in Joseph was his God-given ability to interpret dreams. This was the key to Egypt’s deliverance. With this gold, the gloom of Egypt turned into glory. But how did this happen?

Joseph remembered his GOD

No matter the type of life crisis Joseph himself went through, he did not forget his God. He had every reason to stay in bitterness about what his brothers did to him. But He kept his focus on God. Again, when his master’s wife tried several times to lure him into sexual sin, he said ‘’How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against my God’’ (Genesis 39:9). Later, when he was falsely accused and thrown into prison, Genesis 39 verse 21 says ‘‘But the Lord was with Joseph …’’. In moments of crisis, let us not forget our God.
 
 Joseph realized his GOLD

Even in prison, Joseph did not forget the gold inside of him. When two of the inmates - the chief butler and chief baker were troubled by their dreams, Joseph showed up to be the solution. He knew there was a godly deposit in him - his gift from God, which would be the answer to interpret dreams. And yes, he rightly did interpret the dreams (Genesis 40). Glory to God for His gold in every one of us. As you know, gold is hidden in the earth, and until it is extracted, it can not become useful. The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us to bring forth the gold deposit in each one of us.

Joseph realized His GLORY

Not only did Joseph’s gift become useful in the prison; but in Genesis 41, Pharaoh himself needed the gold inside of Joseph. Again, Joseph’s gift became super relevant in a time of crisis. This brought him massive breakthroughs including deliverance from prison, ascendance to the Prime Minister’s position, and the privilege to marry Pharoah’s daughter. But none of these privileges was more important than the glory of God that was shown throughout the land of Egypt.

When the gold in us begins to shine, the glory of God cannot be hidden, because the gloom around us disappears!

Solutions begin with innovation. Innovation begins with a dream around your gold. Dreams begin with God in mind. In this season, the big question is “what can your gold do – in your life, for your family, within your community, and around the world to transform the situations of gloom into glory? Do not look down on your God-given gift.

Stay blessed.

BY JODY PETERSON
SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR & OFFICE ASSISTANT

Recently at a Pursuit meeting at our church, I saw a vision in the spirit…I saw a room with a blacked-out window, this window was floor to ceiling, like sliding glass patio doors. Although these windows were huge, darkness was all I could see, all that was there… I prayed and said “Jesus where are you?”

When I called out to Jesus, seeking His face, the darkness cleared and the light shone through. As it did I could see that the window was beautiful stained glass, floor to ceiling. The whole room was lit up as lit up as the brilliant light of God shone through… The song “Came to My Rescue” says: I called, You answered, and You came to my rescue, and I want to be where You are” The awesome thing is that when we call out, He reveals a himself in every situation!
The Hebrew word for face is often translated “presence”, by seeking His face, you seek His presence, and He promises in 1 Chronicles 28:9 if you seek Him, He will be found by you.
When the light shone through the stained glass it shot rainbows all over the room, it was beautiful. Rainbows signify God’s covenant promise of protection over us in Genesis 9:13-15 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

This beautiful, brilliant arc of light has even deeper meaning, each colour is significant.
Red: The Blood of Jesus, the precious blood that was shed to save us all
Orange: fire, refining fire that changes us from what we were to what God wants us to be
Yellow: God’s perfect light, the light that shines from within us when we are carriers of His presence
Green: the earth, spring grass and trees…newness and new birth
Blue: the water, the oceans and the seas, the waters of baptism
Indigo: heavenly grace 
Violet: royalty, majesty

Rainbows appear after mighty storms…I feel that the person in the vision had just gone through a mighty storm, or many, so hard that they couldn’t see the light any longer. It had gotten so dark In this persons life and God felt so distant as they took hit after hit from life, from other people, even from themselves. But they finally heard that “Still Small Voice” that reminded them, to call out for Jesus. The one who never leaves nor forsakes us, He is always there, just waiting for us to cry out. Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. All you have to do is call out!
 
When we cry out to Him and seek His face in the storm, that’s when He can and will stop the storm and it’s purpose can be revealed. 1 Peter 10 (Amp) is a verse I have leaned on in the past…and leaned pretty hard at times After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace (who imparts His blessing and favour), who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm and establish you (making you what you ought to be)
It is in these times, in these storms of life that He can really work in us, changing, refining and healing us.

In Revelation 4:3 the rainbow is as seen the symbol of hope and the bright emblem of mercy and love, all the more true as a symbol because it is reflected from the storm itself.
Please let this be an encouragement to you, whatever you are dealing with, walking through, suffering “for a little while” with, it is after the Thunderstorm that we see the Rainbows.