News from January 2011

Ordained Praise

January 31, 2011

But when the chief priests and teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” Matt 21:15–16

Something I love about children is their pure fascination about the world, the simplicity of a bug on the ground, a bird in the sky or even just the pebbles along the walkway. Children have this amazing ability to focus, they lock onto something and it is almost impossible to break their focus. For some that is video games, some it’s a book, some it’s the craft table, but each kid has it.

The most beautiful thing about this passage is that these children are so focused on Jesus that they are singing praise to him in the temple courts. I am not a theology major, and I don’t know, well… anything about the rules of the temple courts so I am only guessing when I say that children shouldn’t have been shouting in the temple courts, because the chief priests and teachers of the law were “indignant”. But I don’t think these kids cared about their surroundings, or who was watching them, because they were watching Jesus, and that was the only thing that mattered in their life for that moment. They were fixed on Jesus, not because he is all H-core flipping tables and such a couple verses up. No, they are fixed on Jesus because he IS Jesus. He is their God and they know that, their gaze will not be broken.

Do I have an unbreakable gaze fixated upon Jesus? Or is my gazed swayed by the “chief priests” and “teachers of the law”. How often will my gaze be pulled away from Jesus? How often will the world sneak in and try to sway me away from my God?

Today, I know that the world will try and pull away my gaze, distractions will come, the enemy will tempt, but it is only by the Spirits’ power that my gaze will be locked onto the eyes of my Saviour. So LORD I pray that I would be so fixed on you, that nothing would break my focus. That you would reveal to me when I am being pulled away. Would I give you ordained praise today!

I love you, and even when I am blind, I know you love me too,
Kelsey

January 28, 2011

Matthew 20:24–28
But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

I’ve been reminded lately of the importance of humility and servanthood, I think so often my intentions are to be noticed and to feel validated in whatever I am taking on, whether that is a form of leadership or service… When my intentions are not of a heart that is solid and firm in my foundation in Jesus, I quickly give in to irrational emotion, hurt, and bitterness.

The call of Jesus is not to become great, it is so different then the expectation of the world…it is to be humble, to be a servant.

Jesus had reason to lord His authority over others…yet He came to us as a servant, even willingly laying down His life for us… And I have a hard time with giving up my wants, my perceived needs, my comforts, to step out into insecurity and just love and serve people with no strings attached.

I love to love people who love me back, I love to serve those whom I love and whom I respect and appreciate and who are gracious and loving towards me…however I have a hard time with doing the same when the expectation or entitlement is just there…my heart is harder than I want to admit…

Jesus doesn’t say that I should be a servant to those I want to serve, but to serve at cost to me.

Jesus’ servanthood cost Him everything, cost Him His life…the question is once again…“Am I willing to die to myself?” How often I fail at this, how often I put my needs, my wants, my comfort above all else…

Jesus, my prayer today is that you would break my heart with your heart for people, that you would open my eyes to see people, to love people and to serve people as you do regardless of cost to me…I pray this in your Name, Amen.

Erin

January 27, 2011

Remember that time you did that thing with that guy?

Remember how hard you laughed?

What was his last name?

Where did he meet his wife?

Whats he struggling with?

Did you know he was struggling financially?

And that his mother had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness?

Sometimes relationships are so surface-level don’t you think?

We stand in our church buildings, a room full of people and look around realizing….these people don’t know me.

Like not REALLY.

What if we were to add intentionality to our relationships?

What if we were to add purpose?

What if there is a new level of community…that we don’t even know exists?

10.00am

01.30.2011

January 27, 2011

“Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”

Genesis 18:23

Abraham has such a beautiful soft heart. The LORD has just told him that he is about ready to crush Sodom because of their sin. Abraham is so bold and asks for mercy upon them and is certain that there is still good in Sodom.

I think of myself and how quick I am to pass judgement. If God told me that he was thinking about destroying a wicked city, I would probably respond with, “Can I watch?” Ok…maybe thats a bit too much. But what about those people I see with the huge trucks, spiky hair, tight shirts, big muscles and tattoos? If I’m completely honest, I am soooooo quick to judge and label them…

Shame on me. I need to look deeper. There is sooooo much more to a person than their outward appearances! There is a heart in there, there is goodness and love. In those moments, I need to stop and think. It is only for a split second where I throw my values out the window and look down on someone with such disgust. This HAS to change.

My prayer is simple this morning Father. May you equip me with your eyes and may I always be aware of those moments where I am so quick to pass judgement. I don’t want “Jesus prescription glasses”, I want to be rid of my eyes and receive yours. Just as Abraham had done. Please, Please, Please make me so aware of this. I love you and I submit to you out of that love,

Amen.

January 25, 2011

Matthew 17:20
“You didn’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible”

This is definitely a familiar passage. I have heard it over and over in my life. As I read this passage today, I happened to be looking out at the mountains across the lake. I was floored by the reminder of how little faith I actually have. All I need is a couple of millimetres of faith and those mountains would move. So often in my life I lack trust. Without even being conscious of it, I try to control all aspects of my life. I lack the faith and the trust that God is in control, that He has a plan.

Today I was reminded of the simple fact that God is always faithful and I can trust Him. All I need to do is have a little faith. I just need to believe and trust in the all mighty God who saves.

Father, I ask that You continue to remind me of how trustworthy You are. Of how faithful and powerful You are. Lord, I am sorry that I try to take matters into my own hands. That I, so often, lack faith and trust. Lord may my life be an offering, I surrender all to You. You are so good and so worthy of praise. I love you. Amen.

January 24, 2011

Matt 16:21
“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Jesus knew that his life’s purpose was to die a horrific death. He knew how his life would end. He knew that his surrender would bare that weight of the world and his obedience would make up for our lack of obedience. He would have to suffer so we did not have to taste the fate of our sin. So when Jesus asks us to take up our own cross (Matt 16:24) and surrender our life to the King who has paid fully for it, why don’t we?

I don’t know what kind of death God has planned for me, so why do I think that the tighter I hold onto my life the safer it is? I don’t know what will happen today or tomorrow or, 10, 20, 30 years down the road. Jesus faced death so we don’t have to. Can I not just accept that and just live recklessly for God?

I am reminded of the girl from Columbine. She stared down the barrel of a gun and made a beautiful sacrifice for Jesus. The gun holder asked her, “Do you believe in God.” She picked up her cross and said yes. Her life was laid down for Jesus.

LORD, I am not staring down the barrel of a gun, yet I struggle to lay down my life, I struggle to carry my cross. I know that if I hold on to my life that I will lose it, but not just on earth, for eternity. Above all things I want to be with you, forever helping me to make choices in my life that will bring me closer to you. Take hold of my heart

I love you,
Kelsey

January 20, 2011

Have you ever wondered…why is this happening to me?

Why the pain?

Why the hurt?

Why…the suffering?

I mean wouldn’t it be easier to follow Jesus if life wasn’t so stressful?

How does Jesus expect us to focus on Him…when everything else around us….

Is just so hard.

10.00am

01.23.2011

January 19, 2011

“After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

Acts 16:10

There is so much that is going on in these four short verses. So Paul, Barnabus and Luke are travelling and preaching the gospel. The Holy Spirit is denying them access to cities that they want to preach in. If I were in their shoes, I think I would be pretty annoyed. I mean i’m spreading “The Jesus” right?

So these men camp out and during the night Paul has a vision of where God wants them to go. So they go. Now I imagine that Luke and Barnabus would maybe have slight hesitation at first, but they “concluded” that that is where they were to go.

This is such a beautiful piece of scripture. At first I was a little jealous of Paul. How awesome would that be to get such a clear and definitive vision from God! What faith and courage Paul has to listen to it!

So lately I’ve been caught up with what I’m doing with my life. I’ve looked into many things and the door always seems to shut. I feel like my intentions are good but you have different plans.

Father, i don’t doubt you for one second. You are faithful. Just as Paul, Luke and Barnabus kept proclaiming your name and obeying you, I ask the same of myself. There will come a time. Wether you come to me in the storm or the fire or the whisper, i will wait. Help me to focus on right now. Thinking about my future isn’t a bad thing, but man how quickly it consumes me! At times it may be discouraging but I ask in this moments that I would look to you. May I be attentive to your ways in my life now. I pray for the support of those around me. Just as Paul had Luke and Barney, I ask that me and those around me would continue to fight the good fight, I’m faithfully yours,

Amen.

January 18, 2011

Genesis 12:1
“Then the Lord told Abram, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you”

Trust and Obedience. The Lord tells Abram to go and he goes. The Lord does promise Abram great things, he makes the deal seem quite awesome actually…however, I can’t help but wonder what I would do in that situation.

I am okay with change, I am definitely okay with adventure. Often change and adventure can be exciting and fun; often in change and adventure, we grow more. In fact, it sometimes stresses me out to think of a life lived without any risks, any adventure or any change. At the same time, I wonder if I would feel just as obedient if God called me to do something I didn’t want to do, or to a place I didn’t want to go. Would I be willing to do WHATEVER He called me to? Would I be willing to leave the ones I loved? Go to places I didn’t want to go; stay in places I didn’t want to stay; work in places I didn’t want to work?

I guess it all comes down to a matter of what and who I am living for. Am I living for myself? For my own ambitions? Or am I living for Christ? Is my life’s goal and ambition to be in relationship with my Creator? To glorify, worship and love Him in all I do and with all that I am? If His Glory were my only ambition, if my identity was completely in Him, then I feel like this obedience and trust would (or should) be the natural response.

Father, thank You for all You have done. Thank You for being faithful. Lord I ask today that You would be my focus. That I would strive to be filled and satisfied by You and only You. That I my life would be an offering, that I would be obedient to Your callings and trust that You will guide and protect me every step of the way. That no matter what the circumstance, even if it’s hard and I suffer along the way, that I would continue along…looking only to You. Seeking only You. Finding joy and peace in only You. I love you. Amen.

January 17, 2011

“Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”
Matt 11:28

Well that sounds nice. We just need to give Jesus all of our worries and it will be all better. If we just give all the stuff on our shoulders, the stuff that weighs us down, and put it at the foot of the cross, Jesus will deal with it. He wants all our burdens, He can handle it, He died for it. When we can surrender our life into Christ’s hands, we can trust it is in a safe place.

If surrendering the burdens in our life were only that easy… When we surrender our burdens and worries to Jesus, he needs to actually take them from our lives. Am I willing to let Him? I don’t know how I feel about Him taking these things from me. Maybe they have become confortable to have them around, maybe they have attached themselves to my heart and if Jesus takes them it will rip my heart and I will be left feeling hurt and confused. I don’t know if I am ready to let go. I don’t know if I am ready to give it up, I don’t want to hurt right now.

Why do we have this strange attachment to the things that burden us? Do we really believe that God will take away our pain and worries away? Can he really fill the emptiness in our hearts? Or, I don’t really want to give up some of the burdens in my life simply because I don’t have enough faith in God, and that he will actually help me and satisfy me. Is He REALLY enough?

LORD, you know exactly what burdens haunt me every single day. You speak to me and tell me to lay it down at the cross. But can I do it? No. It is only by your power and your grace that allows my heart to surrender. So God, I believe that you are what is best for me, tell my heart that and allow me to just let it go.

I really do love you, a lot.
Kelsey

January 14, 2011

Matthew 10:39

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

So many of my goals and dreams and desires are about finding life, living life, becoming something to myself, to someone, to people around me. I want my life to count, to mean something to someone…I struggle with the descent…but that is where Jesus is calling me…

He is calling me to not try to find my life, but to intentionally lose my life, let go to find true life in Him. In Him is life, the only life that makes any sense, the only life that really is life.

Yet, I don’t really believe this… I have been on a continual search to find a different life than the life Jesus is talking about; this life that society paints as significant, meaningful…being successful, put together, strong and independant…

I am not any of these things…I have never been the strong independant type, I need a support system, I need family and friends and most importantly I need Jesus. I need Him to continually show me that the life that I have been searching for, longing for…I can really only find in Him and in letting go…

I know He is asking me to let go, to trust Him, to deny myself the comfort and security that I not only want, but cling to.

I wonder if you are at all like me, if you have been searching to experience the life that everyone else around seems to have, when all along Jesus is saying…“LET GO…”

I don’t think this is something we just get overnight and it is natural and easy to let go, but I do think and believe that this is the journey that we are on, the journey that Jesus calls us to. If we are to love as He loves, if we are to be to people, Jesus, and point them to something more…then we need to be living this out…not always getting it, but asking Him to help us lay ourselves down, our wants, our desires out of our love for Him and our desire for LIFE!

In so many ways I hate this, I wish it were easy…I am lazy and often feel like giving up in the hard…I give in to fear more often than walking out in obedience and giving up my illusion of control is honestly not something I want to do…

Jesus, I pray that you would help me not to settle for anything other than the life that is in you, the life that is truly you…help me to let go of that which I cling to in order to find and experience you in your fullness. Thank you Jesus, in your Name, Amen.

Erin

January 13, 2011

Have you ever had your life interrupted?

Sometimes its something as simple as our children….

Other times its much more significant…

The Lunar Landing.

9/11.

Cancer.

Job loss.

What do we do when our stability is ruptured….and everything changes?

More importantly….what is God doing?

What if God is doing it on purpose…

To move us from Rebellion to Relationship.

10.00am

01.16.2011

January 12, 2011

“Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.”
Genesis 8:21

So the Earth is finally able to be walked upon again and Noah offers a sacrifice that is pleasing to the Lord. This verse is very interesting to me because it shows Gods heart and how it had softened toward man as a result of the flood. It makes me think about why the flood even happened, because as a result of the flood mans heart is still unchanged. We still continue on with our sinful ways.

I look at the second half of this verse and think, “it can’t be that bad.” But I am quickly reminded of my sinful ways. Sure I try to fight for my joy and do good things, but in the end, I by myself achieve nothing.

I sit here Father and I am just so unbelievably thankful for your son Jesus. I have no hope alone, but you give me all the hope I could ever need through your Son.

I come before you today humbled and amazed that you continue to shower me with love and mercy, despite all of my imperfections. I think back to what the world must have been like when you flooded it. So much sin. I feel like if the foundation of our relationship wasn’t LOVE there would be a lot more world flooding. So on that note Father, I lift up those who haven’t received your gift yet. Or those who have strayed away from you. My heart just hurts for those who haven’t experienced you like I have. You love them SO much. I don’t know what to ask for today Father, other than that your grace will be shown, your will will be done and that you will receive all the glory forever and ever,
Amen.

January 11, 2011

Matthew 7:7–8
“Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened for everyone who knocks.”

This was a simple reminder for me today about how I pray. It is so easy for me to ask for things half-heartedly. Not fully believing that my prayers will be answered. Or I do believe that they will be answered….I just always assume that it will be in ways that I did not expect or want.

But the passage says that if I continually ask, if I continually seek and knock, then I shall find. I will be given what I asked for. Doors will be opened. But I must truly believe this. I must pray whole-heartedly, trusting and believing that God will answer my prayers. He will open doors.

Simple reminder but necessary. I must have faith and trust when I pray. God has the ability to answer our prayers, to open doors and He will. I must also be grateful for the gifts He gives. For the answers to my prayers…even if they are not what I wanted.

Father, you are so good. I thank you that you are always with us. Thank you for continually calling me, thank you for answering prayers….even if they are answered in unexpected or unwanted ways. I love you. Amen.

January 10, 2011

Matt 10:19(b)&20
“Do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say for it will not be your speaking but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

For the past two days there has been this recurring message really hitting me heart: invest in relationships. Two nights ago I picked up a book I hadn’t read in a while and just started where I had left off. The title of the chapter was “Invest” and it spoke on investing in the people in our lives and loving them, putting an effort to give your time and care about what is going on in other people’s lives. I jotted down a couple notes, closed my journal and carried on with my day. Yesterday at church we sat at round tables and Brian Hawkins spoke on the kingdom of God and relationships, investing in others even at the inconvenience to us. Just like Brian said in his message, “I am good at walking along side people, when they walk the direction I want them to walk. I am good at loving people, but only when it is convenient to me.” I don’t actually mind going out of my way for people all that much, but I want there to be a good reason why I am sacrificing, as if looking to get something out of it for myself.

One of my biggest concerns for investing in people like my non-believing friends or my family is: What if I say the wrong thing. What if I mess up and they get a bad impression on God. What if I offend them? But I think todays scripture speaks it all: if I keep my heart open to the movement of the Spirit to guide my actions and guide my words then it isn’t by my words that people may get to know God, but by His words would they come to know Him.

God, my prayer today would be that I would not get in the way of the work that you would want to do in the lives around me through me. Would you not allow me to try and take control, help me to surrender to your Spirit and your ways. You know where people’s hearts are at, I don’t, so please guide me today and every day.

I love you,
Kelsey

January 7, 2011

Matthew 5:6

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

There is so much is this one book of Matthew…Jesus is going through the law of the Old Testament and bringing light to the heart of the matter not just the physical act of obeying or disobeying the law, but the heart. And that’s what it comes down to…the HEART…my heart.

I get caught up in the doing…but in my doing can I honestly say that I am often hungering and thirsting for righteousness???

Or am I more so focused on the outward appearance of my faith, my relationship with Jesus, while the inward state of my heart is far from righteousness, far from seeking Him?

I’m not sure I know the answer to that. I’ve been searching my heart and I keep falling into the pattern of doing…performance is the lense by which I see myself most often, it’s the the lense by which I credit my value, my worth, my identity…

Jesus is saying “It’s not about how you perform, it’s not about what you do or don’t do…are you seeking, are you hungering and thirsting after righteousness in your heart?”

I’m reading this incredible book called “The Gift Of Being Yourself” and one truth the author keeps bringing to light is that Jesus sees me just as I am, He sees you just as you are and He loves us in our entirety, our complete humanity…We need to see ourselves the way He sees us and learn to love the whole, not just the good, desirable characteristics or parts of ourselves, but our complete and total true selves…the parts we are realy good at hiding or at least think we are…

I know in my heart that there is a freedom, a belonging and acceptance in Christ and an assurance in His never ending, His agape love that I have yet to experience or totally believe in yet…and that this is the journey to His heart that He is inviting me to walk…and there is a promise in this short beatitude:

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

In my searching and seeking…I am not alone, He will meet with me and I will be satisfied…

So Jesus, search my heart…help me to truly hunger and thirst for righteousness, for knowing you and growing in you…Jesus let my heart be after you.
In your Name I pray, Amen.

Erin

January 5, 2011

“And do not think you can say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our father”. I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children of Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Matthew 3 : 9–11

WOOF. John the baptist speaks some crazy truth to these pharisees and sadducees. He speaks to them with such love. Thats something I’m learning more and more everyday. Those who care about you, have the boldness to tell you what you NEED to hear. Oh how grateful I am for those people in my life!

This scripture brings forth a truth that I NEED to hear daily. I write about this all the time, but it never has, or never will become old news.

There are those times where I look at myself and my faith and think, “Good job Kyle. Way to be a Christian. You made a great choice.” and than…BOOM, it hits me. The only reason my heart longs for you is because you allow it to. Like John says, “I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children of Abraham.” Oh perfect. So I can sit back and let it all happen? I have a duty. ( If you want to call it that.) Bearing good fruit. Loving others, showing grace, my purity…Father you captivate me with your grace. Help me to see and to understand. My faith exists solely because of you. That will never get old. To you be the glory forever and ever,

Amen.

January 3, 2011

Gen 1:3
‘Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light’

Let there be light. I can only think of Matthew 5:14–16: “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put is in a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and so will your father in heaven.”

Pardon for the large scripture reference, but I cannot over look this plain and simple truth: God made light, Jesus was the light of the world when He was here and now we are called to be light unto the world. This recurring reference to “light” is found all through the bible. When God speaks, he always has something important to say, and when God says something over and over again it must be really, REALLY important.

Today, I don’t see Genesis 1:3 light as the sun, or a lamp. I see this light more as a light of love, of boldness, and of faith. We are not called to be a silent generation; God does not call us to keep our faith in him a secret! The world that surrounds us is full of darkness, and we are very little stars amongst a very dark sky, but we can shine really, really bright. God, you are calling us to be a light in our families, our communities, and in our nation, so God I pray that I would not hold back my light, that I would shine my light boldly knowing that it is something you have called me to do.

God, some days my light is dull, it feels as if it is being swallowed up by darkness and there is no hope. But Lord, it is only by your power that my light can shine bright. I pray that today, and each day, people would see my light shine, and they would see my love for you as well. Help me to do this

I love you,
Kelsey

This is Love...

Date Posted: May 18 2012 by Erin MacIntosh
The Secure Place.

Date Posted: May 17 2012 by Brian Hawkins
A challenge.

Date Posted: May 16 2012 by Kyle Dyck
Thoughts and Thanks

Date Posted: May 15 2012 by Alecia Klassen