News from January 2012

Obedience.

January 31, 2012

Genesis 22

Obedience.

God calls Abraham and asks him to sacrifice, Isaac, his son. No fight. No argument. Abraham packs his things the next morning and sets out on his journey with Isaac. He follows through with God’s instructions right up until God intervenes and spares Isaac.

What was going through their heads? Was Abraham calm about it? Or was he pleading with God to change His mind?

Such a step of faith.

I want to be an obedient follower of Christ. I really do. I want to be the type of person who will go and do whatever it is God calls me to do. But I often wonder, “would I?”

What if God asks me to do something challenging and painful .. like He did Abraham?

Would I be as obedient?

There is so much life and adventure in saying “yes” to God’s call .. I just hope I am bold enough to respond.

Father, I have seen your faithfulness in my life and in the life of many others. I have seen that you take care of us, when we listen and follow you and when we don’t. So continue to help me be bold and obedient. May I embrace risk and challenge in Your name. I love you. Amen.

January 25, 2012

“It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.”

Matthew 18 : 8

As life continues on, I find myself reading this verse and slowly engaging with it more and more. The terrible places my feet take me and the horrible things my hands do.

They are destructive extremities.
Some days they do a lot more harm than good. Yet never ever would I even come close to thinking about hacking them off!

Why? Is it because I would look weird? Maybe… Or is it that I am so caught in my own sin that it appeals to me more than eternity with GOD?!

That feels disgusting to write. Father I am sorry for deciding to indulge in the quick fixes, the easy outs and for just being plain stupid.

Have mercy on your Son. My desire is to do good things with my hands and feet. You have given me them for a reason, may I embrace that and start honoring tou with them. I love you, Amen.

As I read over my devotional, I realized that cutting off my hands and feet wouldn’t change anything. That is not the solution to my problem. There needs to be something pure and beautiful to strive for and in turn that would make my sin shrink before my eyes. You can’t uproot a tree and expect beautiful nice dirt to magically appear. You need to put in the work in order to make sure that it is filled with the RIGHT soil.

January 24, 2012

Matthew 17:19–20

“Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, ‘Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?’ ‘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.’”

The disciples wonder why they couldn’t cast out a demon and Jesus’ straight up answer to them is because they didn’t have enough faith. Ouch.

But honestly, he would say that to me for sure! What would that even look like? To have faith that could move mountains?

Last night at young adults, something along the lines of “what if we did everything full out? instead of just in cruise control?” was said.

Basically meaning… so often in our walks with Christ we go into cruise control, we just coast and Jesus still works through us… so many of us do things like serve at the Gospel Mission or go to bible study and even when we are on “autopilot”, God works through us.

So what do you think would happen if we actually engaged fully? If we actually had faith that big? If we were bolder? If we allowed ourselves to be fully open to the leading and guiding of Christ in our lives?

I don’t really have an answer because God works no matter what… because the truth is He doesn’t need us but He chooses to use us. It’s exciting to think of the potential opportunities that could come our way if we just took ourselves off “cruise control”.

So Father, I thank you for who you are and I am sorry that I am too often unengaged. Lord I am excited to see what you have in store for me and so many others. Help me to have a spirit of willingness and a heart that is open to your leading. Help me to seek you and only you and your will. I love you. Amen.

January 23, 2012

Matt 16:17:19

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of
Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in
heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

God only used one man that was perfect to do his work.
Jesus. That’s it, just one perfect man. Everyone else was flawed and sinful.

Who God chooses to do his work is completely up to him
according to his plan:

Solomon had many, many, many wives

Jonah tried to run from God

Saul, later Paul, persecuted Christians

And Peter denied Christ three times.

All these men were used by God to adance HIS kingdom.

Jesus came for the lost. There is not one person in this
world that is too lost to be saved, too broken to be loved, or too sinful to be
used by God.

God can make all people righteous again.

It isn’t about minimizing sin. Or making it seem like “no
big deal” because you can still be used by God. Sin is still sin, it was paid
for by blood. But the sin in our lived does not stop us from being used by God –
it’s only a boulder in the road to climb over.

I can easily get caught up or focused on making sure I am
doing everything right that I sometimes feel God can’t use me unless I have
been doing really really good. This is not true.

God, I am sinful and flawed in more ways than one. But you
can use me, I want you to use me. I will never be perfect. Use the broken to
reach to broken. Send me out for I am willing

Kelsey

January 18, 2012

“Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13 : 46

Jesus is speaking in parables, to the people and in this particular one He compares the beauty and pricelessness of a rare pearl, to the Kingdom of Heaven.

I have seen this fine pearl, this Kingdom. Well, maybe I haven’t seen it, but I know well of it.

My time is so divided, and I feel like somedays I would gladly give everything up for it and then there are other days filled with a schedule. Places to go, things to do and I simply forget.

Father, my days may be busy but I pray that I would be reminded. Reminded that your Kingdom is my goal. Its what I fight for. It’s what I risk for. The priceless pearl.

It is all for your Kingdom. Help your son to not get too caught up in his schedule. Help me to set my focus on what truly matters, Your Kingdom.

I love you,

Amen.

January 17, 2012

“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. I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.’ So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him….”

Genesis 12:1–4

God tells Abram to pack up and go to the land He will show Him. So Abram packs up and goes.

I mean why wouldn’t you? God has instructed him to! That’s how I see it atleast, I am not saying I wouldn’t be scared because I would. I would also probably have some hesitation. But… by following God’s leading that’s where one finds adventure. FInds blessing. Finds struggle. Finds peace. Finds joy and satisfaction!

I guess that thought that this once again brought forth in my mind is… “so what is THE call?”

What exactly is it God is calling me to do? Where is it that He is calling me to go?

I so desperately want to know that I think I get ahead of myself too often. I need to remember the verse in Esther that says “you have been brought here for such a time as this” and from Psalm 46 that says “Be still and know that I am God”.

God has a plan. He has a call. And He will reveal it in His timing. I just need to be patient. I need to know I am where I am for a reason.

So once again, Father I surrender all that I am to you! May I live to seek you and to glorify you. I love you. Amen.

January 16, 2012

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

Jesus is a refuge for the weary and burdened – we are all weary and burdened.

“I can handle it” – that’s kind of my life’s motto or pep talk. I say this to myself a lot, especially when the “little things” are getting to me. I view them as things that are just too small to give to God. I should be able to handle day-to-day life. But the big things – those things I hand over to God, or at least pray about. I should be able to handle the small things, right? Am I weak if I cannot handle life’s little challenges? Nope – just stupid, because if I believe in Christ and what the bible says then I should know that God wants me to give everything to him, even the smallest things: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7.
Christ knows me and cares for me. He also knows who much pressure I can handle in life. But he doesn’t want me to come to him when I am at my breaking point. Christ wants me to come to him at the first sign of pressure.

Father God, I struggle to give you all my day’s worries and burdens. I pray that you would help me to do that. It doesn’t show that I am weak, it shows that I am obedient. So today LORD I cast all that is burdening me onto you – may we carry this load together.

I love you, Amen
Kelsey

January 13, 2012

Matthew 10

29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

“Have No Fear”... this is the title that precedes these words of Jesus…

Jesus is encouraging His disciples, His followers, His closest friends and companions. They are about to go out to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” and in so doing will face danger; will be confronted with their fears…but Jesus is telling them to not fear.

For the Father is with them, He who cares for the sparrows cares also for them. If not one will fall to the ground apart from Him and they (we) are of more value than many sparrows…how much more does the Father care for them (us)...?

But here’s the thing with these words of Jesus…He’s not saying that the sparrows won’t fall to the ground, but that they won’t fall apart from the Father. He is moving, He is active, nothing falls out of His plan or His will…not even the hard, not even suffering, not even death…

I think if I were to be completely honest with myself here, this truth is where much of my fear and distrust lie with God…It’s not that I believe that He’s powerless, it’s not that I believe that He’s not in control, it’s not that I believe that He’s not with me and doesn’t know me – He does – He know’s the number of hairs on my head. It’s the fear of what He might call me to, of what He might walk me through, of what He might tear away from me or not bless me with…The truth that I must face is that I do not trust Him, I do not trust His best for me…instead I live in fear.

But…perfect love casts out all fear…and His love is perfect, it is not lacking, it is not wanting…it is perfect…His love is all I need, there is nothing that can compare. So why do I not believe this as I should? Why do I struggle with so much fear? Why does my heart and mind move to the “fear” rather than the peace and encouragement that the words of Jesus bring? What is still so broken within me???

Only you can answer these questions Jesus, only you can dispel my fear with your light, with the truth of who you are! I pray that you will, that you will move, that you will work within my heart and within my mind to help me face and overcome my fears…that I would learn to trust in you…to know and truly experience your perfect love that casts out all fear. Thank you for continually loving me and walking with me. Forgive me for my brokenness Jesus, I pray this in your Name, Amen.

Erin

January 11, 2012

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Matthew 8 : 2

Jesus is being pursued by crowds of people when a leper approaches and kneels. He then humbly says these words,

“Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Beautiful words.

If I were a leper I would be pleading with Jesus to take my ailment from me. Yet this man understands that all of Gods ways are perfect and just.

That fact slips from my mind all to easy. That God is the ultimate orchestrator of everything. From healing a leper, to destroying nations, to the very life of Kyle Walter Charles Dyck, He is in control.

If God wills it, it’s gonna happen.

This scripture meets me with two emotions. That of excitement and that of wonder. What are you doing with me Father?

I ask that like the leper, my posture toward you would be on my knees. Not trying to overshadow my perfect God or take control of my own life, but to be fully submitted to your plans for me.

I love you.

Amen.

January 10, 2012

Matthew 7 is one of our readings today. It is the end of the Sermon on the Mount. The past few chapters have been packed full. Jesus continually says one hard hitting thing after another. These chapters seem to be full of encouragement and exhortation.

I think if I were to pick the two main things that stood out to me today, they would be

“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 to everyone who knocks.” Matthew 7:7–8

“On judgement day many will tell me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. God away; the things you did were unauthorized.” Matthew 7:22–23

It is a great reminder that God has the ability to open and close doors. He has the ability, if it is in keeping with His will, to give one what they have asked for.

But the big one for me today is ..

Everyone who seeks, FINDS.

Everyone who seeks Jesus, finds Him.
Everyone who seeks satisfaction in Jesus, finds it.

The second passage talks about one of my biggest fears. Getting to heaven and having Jesus say, “I didn’t know you.” That is a terrifying thought… especially as someone who has lived their life as a Christian. As someone who leads worship, is on a church staff team, serves in ministries inside and outside of the church, attends a bible study…. It is scary to think that God may not know me… and that is where the heart check of verse 8 came in this morning.

EVERYONE WHO SEEKS, FINDS.

How can God not know you, when all that you do is seeking and glorifying Him? How can He not know you if your number one is Him? If your main priority in life is to seek and glorify Him?

Seek Him in earnest and He will answer your prayers. He will guide your steps. You will know Him and He will know you.

Father, I thank You for who You are. I thank You that when we seek we will find. My prayer today is simple: I surrender. May my life be an offering. May all I do from dawn to dusk be seeking and glorifying You. I love you. Amen.

January 9, 2012

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matt 6:34

As much as I try to hide it: I’m a worrier. I worry about a lot of things: people decisions, the future! Sometimes I just can’t seem to shake the nagging worrying in my life! I just can’t seem to put it to rest.

The biggest things I worry about are almost all things I don’t have control over. Yes I am also a control freak. But this scripture is saying that I don’t need to worry – focus on today, not tomorrow.

Right now in my life that I feel I need to worry about: my wedding, my schooling, my job, my future! My world is changing, and it’s a little freaky! But still Jesus tells me not to worry.

If the person who carried the world on his shoulders and my heart in his hand, is telling me not to worry… then I think I should listen. There is a new day ahead of me… tomorrow can wait.

Jesus, you tell me not to worry, and I pray I will listen. I pray my worrying would be kept to a minimum and my trust to a maximum.

I love you,
Kelsey

January 4, 2012

“The woman you put here with me – she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Genesis 3 : 12

The passivity of man. Something that is polluting society at an alarming rate.

At first the idea seems alright. You get rid of the blame, you still seem like you’ve got it all together.

It’s easy to avoid conflict, the tough talks, the challenging moments.

It would be easy for me to take a back seat as I plug back into life in Kelowna. To just squeak by, to barely make it.

I’ve been called to fight. To fight against the passivity that at first glance seems so appealing.

Father, as I continue to take more on my plate, may the calling to lead well only flourish within me.

I ask for the strength and boldness to take it all head on. Not to burn out, but to lead well.

I love you,
Amen.

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