News from April 2011

He Has Overcome

April 29, 2011

John 16:33

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples just hours before He would be crucified…

Death does not equal overcoming…I can only imagine how hopeless and alone His followers must have felt and how confused they must have been by Jesus’ words spoken hours before His death…

I just recently watched “The Passion Of The Christ” movie…the absolute hardest thing in the world to watch, but no doubt the most meaningful…It portrays horrifically the pain and suffering that Jesus went through leading up to His death and His death on the cross…

While watching this, seeing this…I admit, I felt pretty hopeless, it was hard for me to wrap my head and my heart around the truth that Jesus willingly went to the cross, He was, in this…overcoming the world! There is a beautiful, painful part in the movie where Jesus is crawling, stumbling onto the cross…His body bleeding and broken…yet He willingly places Himself on the cross…no one put Him there…

I want that image of Him to be forever etched on my heart, that I would not for one moment question the depth of His love and grace and His power to overcome the world, to overcome my world…

He willingly gave His life and He rose and conquered death…He has overcome!

Jesus, I thank you for loving me in the midst of my sin, in the midst of my brokenness…thank you for the peace that is mine in you regardless of circumstance, regardless of tribulation…Thank you Jesus, that you have overcome!

I love you, in your Name, Amen.

Erin

April 27, 2011

“While every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will become even more fruitful.”

John 15 : 2

A beautiful parable. One that speaks of Jesus, the vine and us being the branches. This verse I feel is pretty loaded… as is all scripture. So praying that I DO bear good fruit…I feel like I’m being “pruned” or cleaned.

I feel one way of cleaning me is my convictions. I do appreciate them, but there are those times. Pruning and cleaning is a tricky and tough process that is also entirely necessary.

Father, as you continue to prune me, I ask for comfort and that I would trust you. It’s amidst all this pruning that I will find myself. Will it be painful? Probably. Will it be an adventure? Oh ya!

There is no vine that I would rather stem off of. I bear fruit as a result of your Sons beautiful sacrifice. What an honor. may I embrace the pruning that lies ahead and remember that this is so much bigger than just me. To you be the glory forever and ever,

Amen.

April 26, 2011

John 14:27

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

Don’t be troubled or afraid. Don’t be worried. Those are hard emotions for human beings not to feel. As humans we have fears, we have worries and yet Christ says He has given us the gift of peace of mind and heart…

This just struck me this morning. I so often say that I am not worried. I say that I am not afraid. I say that I am not struggling or feeling troubled. And maybe on a surface level I am not. But do I feel peace? Am I opening my mind and heart up to the Lord and allowing this peace to set in, in all situations?

Father, You gave me this gift and I am so grateful for it. I ask that today I seek Your Presence and allow that peace to penetrate my life. I love you. Amen.

April 25, 2011

“I lie down and sleep; I wake up because the LORD sustains me.” Psalm 3:5

Each night, I crawl into my bed and fall asleep. The morning draws near and it is time to get up. Sometimes I don’t want to get up, not because I want to sleep in, but because I know what is out in the world, I know the pain I am going to feel, I know that today is going to be another day of war and frankly, I just want a break. I don’t want to get up. I don’t want to look into another child’s eyes and see the pain from all the bullying. I don’t want to hear about another couple getting a divorce, I don’t want to hear about another teen having pre-marital sex, and I definitely don’t want to hear about death. Just shut the door, stay in bed and hopefully the world will just fade away…

Definition of sustain:
1.To support
2.To keep going
3.To uphold as valid

Reading my bible is the first thing I do every morning, because when I spend time with my Saviour I am reminded why I even get up in the morning. I don’t get up on my own strength; I get up because my God supports me. I don’t fear the trials placed before me today because I know my God keeps me going. I am not going to give up this fight because I know God upholds me as valid and he has given me a purpose and a reason to get up and get out and fight the good fight. I get up because my God is my everything and he makes me get up each morning and tell the world of His great love!

Father, fill me up! Sustain me today! Make the fire in my heart burn so bright that it just cannot be contained! I got my armour on, let’s go to war.

Love,
Kelsey

April 22, 2011

John 12

23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.”

As a child, whenever it came to the part of the story where Jesus died on the cross…there would be fear and uneasiness…there was a park, garden that I lived close to in Richmond that my uncle would take me to and they had statues of Jesus’ life, but I dreaded the one of Him on the cross, I remember not wanting to go near it, and probably begging him for us not to go see it…

It’s interesting that there was such a fear that was in me as a child regarding the cross and the death of Jesus…and now today as I reflect on the meaning of this day above all other days…that fear is gone, that uneasiness is gone.

Today, on ‘Good Friday’ I am grateful, I am so thankful and I am broken by the reality of the depth of His love for me…that He would suffer and die and conquer the sin in my life out of His love for me…

Today, I remember the cross and I celebrate the life and the freedom and the hope that I have because of His sacrifice and because of His victory over death!

Jesus, thank you!

In your Name, Amen.

Erin

April 21, 2011

There has always been a question that has bugged me on Good Friday…

Why did Jesus go through with it?

I mean I kind of know the answer….pay for our sins and all that stuff….

But what KEPT him there?

If the pain was so intense…so bad…

If it was SUCH UNIMAGINABLE TORMENT….

What was it that stopped Him from getting down off the cross?

Well the truth is this….

It Wasn’t the Nails.

7.00pm
Good Friday

April 21, 2011

I’ve always wanted to go to Australia.

I’ve read alot about the country, seen lots of pictures.

I’ve studied it, watched movies about it.

But thats only half the battle.

No matter how many things I know about Australia….I’m only halfway to really understanding it.

Because Australia has a smell that I CAN‘T Google.

Australia has a feeling that you can’t describe.

Australia has a feel that I can’t read about.

There is another half to knowing Australia.

The personal half.

The experience half.

The Other Half.

And frankly…the other Half…is the most important half.

Easter Sunday.
10.00am

April 20, 2011

“At these words the Jews were again divided. Many of them said, ‘He is demon possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?’ But others said, ‘These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?’

John 10 : 19–21

Division. Jesus is explaining his parable to the Jews so that they might understand and there is division among them.

At first I read it and think, “Come on guys, lets think here.”

What about the prophesies? That Jesus was to come to Earth to be crucified? If there was no division, it just wouldn’t happen.

It’s like the Canucks. Some love them, and some despise them. Division is everywhere

We are all entitled to our own decisions. What we choose to like and to dislike or even hate. But Father how desperately I long for those who are closed off from you to see!

Receiving Brandons text last night saying that HE BELIEVES IN YOU reminded me that this is what it’s all about.

So maybe there is always going to be division, but I pray that I can be a good steward to your name. I pray that I can continue to be a friend to those who are divided differently than me. That all of that may be pushed aside so that love may win and grace may abound. Thank you for this scripture and for softening Brandons heart Father. Give me the wisdom to know and the courage to do what is right. may you recieve all of the glory forever and ever,

AMEN.

April 19, 2011

John 9:3

“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “he was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.”

This is Jesus’ response to his disciples questions about a man they met that was born blind. It is a really crazy thought to me. People can be born into suffering and hardship in order for God’s power to be seen in them. I guess it is a crazy thought to me because how many people would look at it like that? How many people would look at their suffering and think “it’s okay….God’s power and grace will be seen in this…..even if it’s not right away”....I mean the blind man had to wait years until Jesus healed him.

I think most people walk through (at least a part) their suffering and hardship with an attitude of discouragement; of deflation. I know that I do. When something goes wrong in my life, it is very easy for me to wade in the waters of deflation for quite some time.

When I look back at difficult times in my life it is easy to see that God was at work. That the things happening to me at that time were for a purpose…I would not be the same person without them. But what would it look like to try to see that in the midst of it all? In the midst of the chaos and hardship, to look for what God is teaching me. To realize that there is a purpose behind all the pain. That God’s power and grace is being seen or will be seen.

I don’t even really know how to do that. Having a change of heart and attitude in the midst of trials (or in the midst of joy) is difficult. In Ruth 3 this morning Naomi tells Ruth to ” just be patient”, when she is waiting for an answer from Boaz. I guess that in life, we need to just be patient and turn to Jesus. We may not have answers as to why things are happening, we may not know for years….but all we can do is praise and glorify the One who saved us. Turn to Him in times of trouble and in times of joy. He is what will fully satisfy.

Father, let people see You in me today. Help me to turn to you for answers. For help. For anything. Only you can satisfy. Let my life be an offering to you. I trust you, you are faithful. I love you. Amen.

April 18, 2011

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” John 8:58

“I am” not “I was”

Jesus isn’t just a “now” or a “then” he is an “always” Always has, always will.

Today the words “I am” seem to hold more meaning than they used to. I was always a little confused when Jesus answered, “I am”. I felt like Jesus was making a grammar error, an incomplete sentence. I felt like there should have been more words to make His answer complete. But the truth is all Jesus needed was two words, two words with so much meaning behind them

“I AM”

The idea of God being everywhere at all the time in every circumstance always baffled me. Yesterday Brian preached on how “God was there first”. It is true, God was… is… in every circumstance, in every situation well before we are. When we question God’s hand or God’s presence in our life or in the lives of others the truth is that God was there first, before anything happened.

My prayer today would be that you Jesus would give me peace and hope. Help me to trust that your hand is in everything. You were working in my life before it ever started. You were there first, you are there now and you will be there till the end.

You ARE

I love you,
Kelsey

April 15, 2011

John 7:18

The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

I was hit this morning with the realization that more often than not I am afraid to speak my thoughts, my views when it comes to what I believe…I can express feelings and my heart to some extent, but when it comes down to the theology, the set in stone, stake in the ground facts…I’m quiet.

And I’m left wondering and considering why this is… Is it that I am afraid that I am speaking on my own authority and not on that of the Father? Is it that through so much of my unlearning these past couple of years, I am filled with far more questions than answers and I just don’t trust a lot of what I grew up trusting in?

Am I seeking my own glory or the glory of Him who sent me? Am I afraid of misrepresenting myself or Him?

I am afraid to speak of that which I do not fully know, I am afraid to place my stake in the ground in theological debates…I am far more concerned with matters of the heart and soul and the application of God’s Word in my life…but am I ‘copping’ out when it comes to the foundational truths?

I believe in grace, I believe in truth…but I don’t always understand what the scriptures are saying, my head can not always grasp the implications and meaning…the facts…

I guess today, I’m so thankful for the community of people who love Jesus and are on this journey alongside me…I don’t need to have this all figured out, but I do need to be willing and open to allow Jesus to be continually moving in my heart and leading and guiding me closer to Him, seeking His glory and not my own.

Jesus, today I come before you completely aware of all that I do not understand and know, but also believing that you are here in the midst of my uncertainties and questioning. I pray that I would seek your glory and that in my searching for you there would be no falsehood within me. I love you, in your Name, Amen.

Erin

April 14, 2011

Have you ever had your best laid plans fall apart?

Nothing was going as expected?

Circumstances outside of your control land you in a place….that was completely different than you thought?

Have you ever felt like you misheard God?

That if this was REALLY His plan…things should be going easier?

I mean, doesn’t God open doors for us when we are following His plan?

Maybe God this WASN‘T what God wanted me to do.

Maybe this WASN‘T where God wanted me to go.

Maybe I misunderstood.

Maybe I was wrong.

Maybe He’s been here waiting for me.

In the place of struggle.

Maybe He was here first.

10.00am
04.17.2011

April 12, 2011

‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

John 5:8

Thirty-eight years… For thirty-eight years an “invalid” sits by the healing pools and longs to be the first one in the water after it has been blessed.

And one day without warning, jesus comes and heals him.

This scripture caught my eye for two reasons. First is how Jesus just says these words to this man and heals him instantly of all his ailments and two, he specifically asks him to take his mat. Why take the mat? Wouldn’t the man be sick and tired of it? I mean it probably looks terrible and smells even worse. So why take it?

I think he carries it with him to remind him of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Looking at the mat and thinking, “I was on this mat for 38 years suffering, and by mearly opening his mouth, Jesus healed me.”

Father, I think back to the days before I knew you. I was suffering and not even aware of it. Than in one beautiful moment I opened my heart to you.

I find it very easy yo get discouraged Father. In those moments may I look at all my mats I carry and be reminded of your faithfulness. Like when you showed yourself to me at camp. Or in all those moments where I am met by you and reminded of how precious I am to you. You’ve rescued me Father. Thank you for showing me this scripture. To you be the glory forever and ever,
Amen.

April 12, 2011

John 4:13–14

13 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.

You know that feeling when you have an ice cold glass of water after a long run….or on a hot, summer afternoon? That longing for a thirst quenching beverage and the satisfaction that you experience once you have had it?

I guess with this passage I kind of imagine that….but on a heart and soul level. That deep longing in my heart and soul to be satisfied. That deep thirst that needs…longs to be quenched.

As much as I know that Jesus will be the only thing that satisfies, it is a daily battle to not turn to worldly things in order to find satisfaction. I so often turn to friends and family for comfort and love….Christ does want us to walk with one another but when people become bigger than Him….that’s a problem. I so often….to put it literally…turn to money and job security to provide for all my needs….not Him….that’s a problem.

In Christ we will find life abundant and be fully satisfied.

Father, thank you for loving me. Thank you for walking with me daily even though I so often turn my back on you. Help me to look to you for satisfaction…for thirst quenching. Only you can satisfy. I love you. Amen.

April 11, 2011

“He must become greater; I must become less” John 3:30

There is a sign on a 7-day Adventist church currently out in Rutland that reads, “Give God what is right and not what is left”. At first I didn’t get it, I kinda just thought it was another silly church billboard until I thought a litter deeper than the directions left and right: Give God what is rightfully His, not just the small scraps of life that feel like extra’s in our life and we wouldn’t mind giving them up. Kinda like dropping the spare change from the ash tray into the offering bucket instead of the $20 bill in the wallet. Or giving some spare time to help the needy, but only if there is time to do that, because there are things that I would rather do first, and if time runs out… oops, oh well.

When I try to take more control over my life, I become bigger and I make God smaller. I don’t surrender to Him what is rightfully His and I start to play a self-centered God of my own life, heading down a road of doom decorated with puppies and ponies and flowers – I am in control after all..

We love the image of control in our lives. I love to think I have control over what happens in my life, I am a control freak after all. But I just see the small picture, I don’t see the future, I don’t see the ripple effect, I don’t know how my life is going to play out, no matter how big I try and make myself in my life I can’t see what is going to happen in the next minute. All I am doing is blocking God from the life that is rightfully his. Because if I play the role of God in my own life then there was no reason for Jesus to die the way He did. But the truth is I need Jesus, I need what He sacrificed. He didn’t give me what was left. He gave me everything that he was, to die on a cross because it was right. It was what needed to be done for me to be with Him.

Jesus, I can’t pay you back for what you did. There is no debt in my life – but it isn’t my life, you bought it with the price of your blood. So God I do pray that I would become less so that you may become greater. Let me give you what is right and not what is left, understanding what what is right is a sacrifice in my life. Don’t let me take the image of control, but let me be the daughter you created me to be, to love you, to worship you and to tell the world of your great love.

I do love you,
Kelsey

April 8, 2011

John 2:23–25

23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Did Jesus guard Himself from these people…because he knew their hearts and how fickle they truly were?

Honestly, I’m confused by this passage, I’m confused by what its saying…and my fear is that I could so easily take this passage out of context and shape it to somehow fit into what I think its saying….

So Jesus, I pray for wisdom and discernment as I try to unpack the truth of your Word and allow it to penetrate my heart.

Jesus lived and died completely and totally giving of Himself to the people in His world, yet He knew that not all would follow or believe in Him, that many would not accept His words, that they would turn against Him and betray Him…He loved, He served, He gave…knowing the hearts of people…knowing “what was in man.”

I struggle with trust, and I don’t really know the true hearts of people, not like Jesus…yet I withhold my love, I don’t give of myself completely and totally for fear of rejection, for fear of hurt, for fear of what people might do, how they might act or respond to me if they really knew me…

I realize I have guarded my heart for far too long…and I think…if it were at all possible…I have even guarded my heart from Jesus!

I know that the journey that I am on, the journey that we are all on requires me to let down my guard, requires me to love…at cost to me, at cost to my comfort and security, entrusting myself to Jesus.

Jesus, I am sorry for continually failing at loving you and loving people, please help me to entrust myself to you and just love and give of myself because ultimately I am in you…I love you Jesus, help me to love you more.

I pray this in your Name, Amen.

Erin

April 7, 2011

John 1:6–8

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

This story struck me this morning as I read – and it struck me because I think that if I was in John’s position, it would have been really easy for me to forget that I am NOT the light…but a man sent from God to bear witness to the light.

I cannot save people. I cannot help people.

I cannot FIX people.

I am not the light…but I have been sent to bear witness to the light.

I have been sent to point people to the light.

Its weird how this somehow in my head becomes a SECONDARY task…as in I wish I was the light…but since I’m not, I guess I’ll just take the secondary role and show people where the light is….

And yet the reality is…I only know where the light is because the light revealed Himself to me…and I am TRULY BLESSED to be called of God to be a part of showing people the true light….

So in all things I am dependent upon this LIGHT named Jesus…

And I am ALSO completely blessed and totally undeserving of what this Light named Jesus has shown me….

And yet….if I’m honest…. I never feel half as blessed as I should….and I kind of wish I was the light…

I wish I could help people. I wish I could save them.

And I wish this…not because I’m a good person….but because I want the GLORY that comes with being THE GUY.

I want to be the guy.

As long as I don’t have to suffer….or get beaten…or get crucified…or die….

I want all of the glory and none of the work…

Wow….

I am worse than I know.

And yet because of this LIGHT NAMED JESUS….I more loved than I could possible understand.

Worse than I know…more loved than I could possible imagine.

The Light is Good.

Far better than me.

I am SO GLAD that He is the light.

If you would like some help finding him…I would love to show HIM to you.

April 6, 2011

“But they were kept from recognizing Him.”
Luke 24:16

Two men are on their way to Emmaus and Jesus comes and walks alongside them after his resurrection. Ok thats cool! But what really interests me is that God doesn’t allow these men to recognize their resurrected saviour!

All throughout scripture God hardens hearts and softens them, closes and opens eyes and does the opposite of what I think He is going to do.

Why not make Pharaohs heart soft so the Israelites could just go with Moses? Why not let these two men realize that it’s Jesus walking with them? Why?

To be perfectly honest, I don’t know. Your ways are not my ways. And I kind of like that. You have the infinite knowledge of knowing when people need to see you and when they don’t.

Father, I want to see you. I want a soft heart. I’m so blessed to even have the desire to be in relationship with you. I trust you Father. You are orchestrating everything on such a level of knowledge infinitely beyond my own. Oh the times I think I know! Help me to see and to feel.
May I praise you and all of your ways. I love you,

Amen.

April 4, 2011

How often do people pull a “Peter”, claiming to stand by Jesus through thick and thin but at the time their faithfulness if tested they retreat back into the holes in their hearts. Talking the talk but unable to walk the walk.

In Luke chapter 22 Peter claimed, “LORD I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (v.33) but just like Jesus said he would, Peter denied him three times before the rooster crowed.( v.34&56–62)

Peter didn’t have a sword held to his throat, (not saying that you are allowed to deny Jesus under these circumstances either) he was questioned by common people, people just warming up by a fire yet he still denied being with Jesus. In a day and age where Christians are not persecuted, well in North America at least, people would think that more Christians would be able to walk the walk that they would be able to follow through with their promises of faithfulness towards Jesus. We do face a strange persecution much different than that of different countries or that from Bible times. People today face a persecution of reputation. For a lot of people, their reputation and stature in this world is more valuable than their faithfulness to Jesus, they may claim they love Jesus, but they keep a special hole in their hearts for their love of themselves.

Jesus, I can be so much like Peter at times, claiming to have an unshakable faith but as soon as some pressure comes I retreat and crumble. I pray that my heart would be so full of you LORD that I would have no room to retreat back and that I would stay strong and firm in my faithfulness, that I would not just talk the talk I would proudly walk the walk. Fill up my heart.

I love you,
Kelsey

April 1, 2011

Luke 21:34,36

34But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap…36But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Often, especially lately, I have been beginning to recognize that I live so much of my life just going through the motions, the routine, moving from one day to the next, one moment to the next, without giving it much thought…

I fail to live intentionally, forgetting that there will be a day, there will be a time when this world, all that I hold onto and make much of will pass away, will disappear…Am I living for His glory, am I working for His kingdom?

Sadly…I have to admit to myself that I am not, that if Christ were to come today, I’m not sure that I would be prepared…There are people in my life I need to love more, there are people I have yet to meet in my life that I need to love, need to point to Jesus, there are many people in my life that I have failed to point to Jesus, that I have failed to make much of Him to, that I have not discipled and am called to disciple.

Jesus, help me to not go through the motions, to not get caught in the routine and miss out on you, on what you want to do in and through me…Help me to love people and to live intentionally pointing to you and discipling those you call me to. Jesus forgive me for all the ways, all the times I fail to truly walk with you, to truly love and live my life to bring you glory.

I love you Jesus, In your Name, Amen.

Erin

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