Last Long Weekend of the Summer

It is the last long weekend of the summer! There are so many things that you could have done for the last long weekend of the summer – family BBQing, picnicking, hiking; going on a road trip, grabbing a last minute flight; doing an end-of season clean up, going back to school shopping, and preparing for the weather as it gets colder. With so much to do and so many distractions in the world around us, how can we keep focused on Heavenly things? A few ways we can try include: making Him a priority perhaps by making time for Him first thing in the morning, developing a habit of constant prayer, and asking God to remind us of His unconditional, constant love for us. It’s important for us to know that even when we forget God, He never forgets us! He knows what’s happening to us every moment of the day, and He also watches over us all the time. Make time for Him, rely and call on Him, and pray to Him, and He will always be there ready to answer. The answers may not be what we always want, but God has a plan for us and knows the whole story for start to finish, as we’re reminded in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Blessings to you this long weekend!

Vacation Bible School (VBS) program

We recently had our Vacation Bible School (VBS) program; it was such a great blessings to have so many children learning about Jesus in creative ways. Jesus places a high priority on children as he rebuked the disciples who were preventing them from coming to him. In the Bible, Jesus said, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all. And He took the children [one by one] in His arms and blessed them [with kind, encouraging words], placing His hands on them.” (Mark 10:15-16, AMP). It is clear that our Lord wants us to consider being a little child – teachable, mouldable, and willing. By allowing ourselves to be available to God, He can do anything with anyone. His purpose and plan for our lives is to make us more like him and to make us become what were destined to be. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, that when Jesus is in us, “old things are passed away and all things become new!” How exciting and assuring that we can leave the old past behind and become a new person in Jesus. We should all want that change, we all need that change, and our prayers should be to “change us Oh Lord!” Let’s wait for our change to come!

Shipwrecked… Rescued by Jesus!

It was an exciting week –our sanctuary was transformed into a stage of water, suitcases, rocks, and more! The theme for our VBS kids was “Shipwrecked… Rescued by Jesus!” As adults, we too can learn something from this lesson. Has there been a time when you felt alone or worried? The weight of the world around us feels overwhelming at times. Have you struggled with something – perhaps correcting a bad habit or a solution to a difficult situation? Have you done wrong to yourself or to others and needed to find a way to correct it? Has there been a time you felt so powerless, helpless of things beyond your control? Isaiah 41:10 says, “’Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” If we ever feel “shipwrecked” by all that life throws at us, we have the confidence that we can always lean on our Savior, for Jesus is our great Rescuer, and He strengthen us.

Age of Despair

We live in an age of despair. The personal and worldly dream is gasping for breath. We find ourselves amid a world in crisis a world that prefers darkness rather than light. A world that is becoming more atheist. A world that is becoming more isolated from reality and meaningful relationships. Shouldn’t the church have something to say? To do? To show? To share? To be? How can we be a church that says to promote and be something when we are really not there yet? The Bible says in John 13:35, “By this shall everyone (the world) know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.” How will they know if we do not live it and practice it? How do we become that kind of people and church? How do we measure that love? Only God’s love can compel and change us (2 Cor 5:14). May God help us to become the church of the first century so the world may know that there is God of love who desires to know and save them (Acts 2:47). Will the world see Him through us? Are we there yet?

Summer is going by so quickly

The summer is going by so quickly and we can hardly believe where the time is fleeting by. We trust that the summer days are treating each of you well. Have you ever had to make changes to your life? Sometimes change can be challenging and difficult, but change is a constant of life; change is inevitable, and we have to learn to adjust. Often times, conflict is a function of that change. By nature, we tend to avoid change and even avoid conflict as much as possible. Consequently, it is inescapable. Hopefully, this change makes us better, wiser, and moves us forward. In this life, there will be changing circumstances, challenges, and conflicts and unless we learn how to deal with change, it can get to the better of us. We much try to adopt an approach that allows us to face any changes that may affect us by “rolling with the punches” or having a “when life deals me lemons, make lemonade” attitude. Most importantly, gain assurance from the Apostle Paul’s words, “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me (to fulfill His purpose — I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace” (Philippians 4:13). No one person can do anything alone. We will fail, make a mess, hurt ourselves and sometimes hurt others, but in Christ, through Christ, and with Christ in us, we can confront any change or challenge and know that He is with us.