Imagine Jesus, walking throughout the countryside of northern Israel, in the region of Galilee.  Dust, heat, wind and sometimes rain.  His ministry had no headquarters or fixed address. The itinerant nature of His calling meant He was on the road, traveling from place to place as the Father directed.  Knowing the end goal was the cross, and the beginning was the baptism at the Jordan River, the middle was not mapped out specifically.

Can you see Jesus stepping out of the waters in the Jordan, the Holy Spirit lighting upon the Son of God like a dove?  With droplets dripping from His beard and hair, His homespun clothing saturated, Jesus emerged from the river and then what?

In Luke's Gospel, chapter four starts with these words:  "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days He was tempted [tested] by the devil..." (Luke 4:1-2a)  This new ministry venture began with a testing.  Now Jesus had lived 30 years on the earth, submitted to an earthly set of parents and learning under Joseph as an apprentice carpenter.  He had learned much about life, human nature, family, worship as a Jew. Leaving Nazareth, the home and family He knew and loved, Jesus set out for Jerusalem and was baptized under the ministry of John the Baptist.  With the exciting launch of His ministry with a baptism and then the heavens opening and God's voice of approval, how deflating to be led alone to the wilderness.

Somehow, God's plan was to allow the devil to tempt Jesus.  (Luke 4:1-13)  You can read that account and see how the devil found the most vulnerable and key areas of Jesus' identity and calling and directly attacked Him.  And you can discover how Jesus used the "sword of the Spirit, the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17) to defeat the lies and schemes of the evil one.

Maybe you are about to launch into a new season of your life.  Is God challenging you to step out and begin to serve Him in a new way?  Are you trudging through life and wondering if there is more to following Jesus?  Possibly involvement in your church, community or beyond?

If so, don't be surprised if a time of testing happens.  Doubts about God's call.  Financial challenges.  Opposition from friends, church members or even family?  The Holy Spirit often leads us into ministry through the testing grounds of such trials.  This prepares us for the real life challenges that ministry of the Gospel will throw at us. 

Pray and see what God would have for you! 

 

 

Celebrating Easter has been something my family has done since I can remember.  Easter egg hunts, candy baskets, stuffed bunnies and a new spring dress.  When I got married and had children, I carried on some of those traditions with our little ones. We would do a quick Easter hunt, then quickly get ready for the worship service.  Our church would have a special meal and often we would have a family gathering that evening or Easter Monday.  For a few years, we would pack up our van before church and then leave right after service to head to Alberta.  We would spend the spring break with the Selke family who lived in the Edmonton area. 

This past Sunday morning, our daughter-in-law prepared a special basket and hid little chocolate eggs around our house for Kaira (2 1/2 years old) to find.  The wonder in her eyes at the discovery of treats and her enthusiasm to find "more" was a delight to all of us!

I remember the first Christmas as a follower of Jesus Christ held special memories for me.  The familiar Christmas carols had personal meaning, the gifts and family time held more joy because I was celebrating the birth of my Saviour, Jesus.  I knew the story, but now it meant so much more!  And the first Easter, I tried to read the Bible passages about Good Friday and the death of Jesus.  I rushed ahead to the Resurrection accounts in the Gospels because I wanted to have the happy ending.  His death was important but so hard to bear!  How could an innocent man be so wrongly accused and not defended?  No wonder the daylight became dark for three hours when Jesus Christ hung on that cross!

But that amazing Sunday morning, when the women went to the tomb before sunrise, still brings a thrill to my heart.  Their sorrow must have slowed their steps, dreading the task of preparing their Lord's body for a proper burial.  And when they approached the tomb, an angel greeted them.  They couldn't believe their eyes: the heavy stone was rolled away and this blinding light emphasized the fact that the tomb was empty.  Where was their beloved Jesus?   The angel told them the good news: "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?  He is not here. He is risen."  Confusion, chaos, doubt and lies filled the next hours and days as the missing body could not be accounted for.  In one Gospel account, Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus - in her grief she assumed He was the gardener - and was sent to announce He was alive to the rest of the disciples!

 The disciples experienced special appearances of the Risen Saviour in the days that followed.  Jesus appeared to them in the house they stayed at in Jerusalem, while they were still there for Passover.  He walked along the road to Emmaeus with some of Jesus' bewildered followers, then revealed His identity to them and ate with them.  A week later, Thomas encountered  the Lord and was given the opportunity to see the nail prints and wound in Jesus' side from the crucifixion.  

If we were to witness the execution of our hero, our Teacher, then see His burial in a tomb, would we expect to ever see the Son of God again on this earth?  Yet, the Bible has four accounts and historical records from other sources also to back up the truth:  Jesus of Nazareth lives.  

Here's an acrostic for the word GOSPEL.   

G - God's

O - Only

S - Salvation

P - Plan

E - Ever

L - Launched 

The Gospel is a biblical word that means "good news."  And the death and resurrection of Jesus is that good news for all of us.  We can believe and receive the death of Jesus in our place, the death that paid for our sins' consequences.  God made this way for us to be forgiven and made right with Him.  And His resurrection gives us proof that He is divine, eternal and the promised One.  This is the pinnacle of the Gospel, Easter Sunday.  

There is no greater event since the beginning of time.  

Along with the family dinners, spring decorations and new Easter bonnet, what does Easter mean to you?

 

 What was Jesus doing in His final week before the cross?

Teaching - Mark 12:1 "Then Jesus began teaching with stories..." Jesus was focused on His final sermons, parables and even conversations to impart closing words to the Pharisees, crowds and His disciples.

Healing - Matthew 21:14 ' "The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and he healed them." Jesus continued to extend grace, mercy and verify His identity by signs and miracles.

Fellowship - Mark 14:3 "And while He was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table..." Jesus spent some special time with Lazarus, Mary, Martha and even Simon who had been a leper (healed?).  I'm sure the fellowship was for their benefit but also a comfort for Jesus in His last days.

Worshiping- Although no scripture that I found specifically mentions Jesus worshiping at the Temple, I assume He came to worship, as well as cleanse the Temple, teach, heal and proclaim the coming of the Kingdom! 

Preparing- Mark 14: 8 "She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time." Jesus was preparing Himself for the cross; and by divine coincidence, Mary pouring out her precious ointment on Jesus' feet was a prophetic preparation for Jesus' imminent death.  

Praying- John 17 is the classic passage of Jesus' prayer for His disciples, and for us, His future followers.  How beautiful to have a record of His actual words of prayer!  And the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane - the poignant pouring out of pain and drops of blood as Jesus wrestled with the cup of suffering.  

Submitting- Mark 14:18 "I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me."  Jesus knew and yet submitted to the Father's will that He be betrayed, beaten, mocked and ultimately executed on a Roman cross.  The Good Shepherd laid down His life for the sheep.

***** 

Jesus was doing the Father's will in everything. His intentional approach to every moment during his last days on earth speaks to me.  Am I using every opportunity to reach people, to listen to the heart of my Father, to pray without ceasing, to give my all?  

At the same time, He continued to connect with people.  How tempting it would be to withdraw, to process what He knew were His last days! Jesus continued to preach and teach.  He seemed to ramp up the intensity in confronting the Pharisees and opponents to His mission. 

Jesus also continued to invest in His disciples and spend time with those who loved Him and cared for Him.  Jesus laid aside His own inner turmoil to minister to those close to Him.  Knowing He was leaving them to carry out the biggest mission in history, the Lord Jesus must have felt the intensity and urgency of training the future leaders of His Church.  He made every moment count.

Are you and I follow our Lord's example in making our every moment matter for His cause? 

 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

 

  

 1 KINGS 19 - Elijah's Battle

 What an incredible manifestation of the power and authority of God!  Through a humble prophet who simply called on the name of the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, God vindicated His name and the ministry of Elijah, His prophet.  

But the battle wasn't over.  Although the people who witnessed this divine fire were proclaiming "The LORD - He is God! The Lord - He is God!" (1 Kings 18:39), the king and queen of Israel were still functioning in their evil ways and had in no way shown repentance towards Jehoveh God.  Only by the power of God did Elijah travel to Jezreel, following King Ahab as he returned to Jezebel to report all that had happened on Mount Carmel.  Actually, by the Spirit of God, Elijah outran Ahab's chariot to Jezreel!

 The king told his wife all that had happened and her response was to send a messenger to Elijah:  "May the gods deal with me...if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them [the dead prophets of Baal]."  (1 Kings 19:2) Elijah was no fool!  He ran for his life.  He left behind his servant and went alone into the wilderness near Beersheba in Judah, the southern kingdom - a distance of about 100 miles.  

After facing down over 900 idol-worshiping prophets and King Ahab, calling fire down from heaven and orchestrating the murder of these evil prophets, why did the threat of Queen Jezebel terrify the mighty Elijah?

Some would say that any man would run from an angry woman! Her wicked scheming and manipulating controlled her husband and the nation of Israel - she wielded power that had kept God's people from fully turning back to Him.  

Not only the fear of Jezebel, but some scholars say that complete exhaustion overtook Elijah.  After the showdown on Mount Carmel, he was emotionally, physically and spiritually spent.  Even though God had prepared and equipped His servant for this huge spiritual event, it required all Elijah had in terms of strength and stamina.  

Another factor that may have played into Elijah's collapse in the wilderness was the incompleteness of his mission.  Could it be possible that Elijah hoped for a complete return of the people of Israel to worship the One true God, including King Ahab and Queen Jezebel?  Or maybe he expected God to smite the rebellious royal couple on the spot.  The huge disappointment that the battle wasn't over could have sent Elijah over the edge.

"I have had enough, Lord," he said.  Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." (verse 4)  Elijah somehow feels like a failure and wants to die.  In the very next sentence, the Bible records that Elijah lay down under a bush and fell asleep. The Lord allowed Elijah rest; then He sent an angel to bake some bread and give the prophet some water.  Just like by the Cherith brook, God provided sustenance and rest for Elijah. Once revived by food, water and sleep, Elijah traveled to Mount Horeb and sought shelter in a cave.  (The journey took 40 days and nights - 1 Kings 19:8)

God continues to meet Elijah where he is at by asking him:   "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (verse 9b)  This question reminds me of when God asked Adam:  "Where are you?" when he and Eve were hiding from God in the Garden after they had sinned.  God doesn't ask these questions because He needs to find out the answers.  He wants to know if we know where we are, or why we are running? Elijah expresses his feelings and reason for running: I have been faithful to You, but Your people continue to do evil.  They have rejected Your covenant, killing Your prophets. " I am the only one left." (verse 10 & 14)  I fear for my life!

*Just a note - Elijah had met Obadiah before the 3 1/2 years of drought, and Obadiah told him that he had hidden 100 prophets who had NOT bowed their knees to Baal (1 Kings 18:4 & 13).  Somehow Elijah had the misunderstanding that he alone was faithful to God.  How often do we feel all alone in our circumstances, that no one knows our troubles and no one cares?  Elijah found himself in that place even when the facts told him otherwise.

As the Lord hears Elijah, He knows how to encourage and renew His servant.  He reveals Himself personally.  Not in the wind and storm.  Not in the earthquake.  Not in the fire.  Remember that God had sent fire down a month or more ago on Mount Carmel!  No, God wasn't in these powerful demonstrations.  The Almighty was in the gentle whisper, the still small voice.

"Be still, and know that I AM God."  (Psalm 46:10a)

Then the very next thing God does is to give Elijah work to do.  He is to anoint Hazael the next king over Aram  (Aram is connected to Sidon, where Jezebel's father had been king).  He is also to anoint Jehu over Israel, to replace Ahab.  Finally, Elijah is to anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet.  

In short order, God has replacements for those who have done evil.  He would use both Hazael and Jehu to kill those who still remained in the land as rebels.  And He was providing Elijah a helper, successor to carry on the good fight.

 God also establishes that He had reserved 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to Baal or kissed him!  (verse 18)  Without reprimanding Elijah, or condemning his belief that he was alone in faithfulness to the Lord, God gently but firmly guides Elijah back into active service.  

This same God can encourage you, establish you, bless you, lift you up from whatever circumstances have you feeling defeated.  God can and will help us fight the battle within!

 

 LUKE 9 - Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

As I prepare for the Holy week, my thoughts go to this scene that Luke recorded in his Gospel.  Jesus had been traveling, teaching, performing healings and all kinds of miracles.  Crowds were following Him and His popularity was growing immensely. None of these things distracted Jesus from the task He was sent to earth to accomplish.  Nothing sidetracked the Son of God from His divine assignment.

In Luke 9: 22, Jesus spoke of the events that were soon to happen: "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."  The words seem very straightforward and leave no doubt as to His coming demise. Later in the same chapter of Luke, Jesus again warned the disciples of His death:  "'Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you; The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.' But they did not understand what this meant.  It was hidden from them..."  Although we can read them today and see the meaning, the disciples could not grasp what Jesus was saying.  Denial, blindness, wishful thinking all play into the disciples' lack of understanding.

The prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 50 about the Servant, the coming Messiah.  His prophecy in verse 7b says, "Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame."  How does that connect to Luke's account of Jesus' life and ministry?  As Jesus was teaching, training and mentoring the disciples, His focus was on one thing: the cross.  In verse 51 of Luke chapter 9, Luke wrote:  "As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem."  

In Jerusalem, Jesus would face the worst and most intense season of His life.  The Jewish religious leaders, priests, scribes and Pharisees were waiting for an opportunity to accuse, charge and execute this threat to their popularity and power.  He sensed the time drawing near but did not skirt the city or avoid the dreaded cross.  Hebrews 12:2b says of our Saviour: "...For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  He had to bear sin and shame on our behalf, but as Isaiah wrote, the Messiah would not be put to shame in that He would be sinless and innocent.  He was willing to endure the cross.  He could see the joy on the other side!

Jesus, I can hardly think of such things, that You were willing to go to the cross for me!   How can I tell You how much I love You for taking my sin and shame on Yourself?  Your love and sacrifice are too much for me to comprehend.  Thank You! 

 

 

1 KINGS 18 - The Battle with Baal  

How long did Elijah wait in Zarephath, living on the good graces of the widow and her son?  Chapter 18 of 1 Kings opens with this time stamp: "After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah..."  God saw fit to keep His prophet hidden away from the heat King Ahab's anger until the time was right. During that season, I believe the Lord cared for Elijah's needs and strengthened him for the next steps of his ministry.  Not only did Elijah see God's hand at work to provide for himself, he witnessed God's miracles for the widow and her son.  God was equipping Elijah, establishing his faith even deeper and preparing him for the great contest on Mount Carmel.

The Lord told Elijah:  "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land."   This was the dreaded confrontation, the inevitable meeting of the evil king and the prophet of God.  Did Elijah know how God would exalt Himself and bring Ahab to his knees?  All we as the readers of the account in the book of 1 Kings are privy to is God promised to send the rain.  When?  Why this showdown of the prophets of Baal and Asherah against Elijah, the prophet of El Shaddai, Yahweh, the God of Israel?

When King Ahab and Elijah meet, the king's anger has not subsided over time.  "Is that you, you troubler of Israel?" While Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets (1 Kings 18:4), the king's anger was constantly fed by his wife's wicked schemes.  The years of drought did not seem to soften their hearts nor cause them to recognize God's sovereign power over nature and the whole world! Therefore, God arranged this meeting on Mount Carmel to settle the issue.

The prophet's reply to Ahab's greeting: "I have not made trouble for Israel...But you and your father's family have.  You have abandoned the LORD's commands and followed the Baals." Ahab's blame-shift doesn't stand and Elijah declares the king's guilt for having abandoned the Lord and worshiping idols.  Then the stage is set for the greatest showdown in biblical history:  Ahab is to assemble the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah.  Elijah appears alone.  The people of Israel are given the challenge: who are you going to follow? "'How long will you waver between two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.'  But the people said nothing." (verse 21)

As the idolatrous prophets bring the oxen and wood for the offering, Elijah gives the instructions.  "Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD.  The god who answers by fire - he is God." (verse 24)

Talk about faith!  Elijah, whose name means "Yahweh is God", demonstrates all-in trust in God to do a miracle and send down heavenly fire to light the burnt offering.  All the prophets agreed to this plan.  For hours, the prophets chant, pray, call on Baal and invoke all manner of incantations, to no avail.  They shouted, danced and even slashed themselves to plead with their god.  While Elijah began taunting them, their frenzy grew! By evening, there had been no response from Baal or Asherah.  The meat laid upon the wood was dry and flameless.

With some theatrics, Elijah has some of the Israelites assist in repairing the altar, taking twelve stones symbolically representing the twelve tribes of Israel.  He has them haul up twelve jars of water to pour on the offering and on the wood, until a trench that had been dug around the altar was filled.  The odds were stacked against the God of Israel.  "At the time of the sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed:  'LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and have done all these things at Your command.  Answer me, LORD, answer me, so these people will know that You, LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.'" (verses 36 & 37)

Fire immediately feel from above and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, stones and soil as well as completely dried up the water in the trench.

And shortly after, Elijah's servant spotted a small cloud on the horizon.

Rain was coming.

 

 

 Elijah-1 Kings 17

"As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither drew nor rain in the next few years except at my word." 

What an opener for the prophet Elijah to begin his public ministry!  As far as we read in Scripture, this is the first mention of Elijah, who ministered during the reign of King Ahab of the northern kingdom of Israel.  Ahab is notorious for being one of the most wicked kings, having married Jezebel who was also renowned for her evil plots and worship of Baal and Asherah.  (1 Kings 16:31-33) Among Ahab's rebellious and hideous sins, he set up an altar for Baal in a temple built in Samaria.  He also erected an Asherah pole..."and did more to arouse the anger of the LORD...than did all the kings of Israel before him."  (1 Kings 16:33)  God was bringing this drought as a judgement on these evil deeds.

The message Elijah had for King Ahab was so devastating that God immediately told the prophet:  "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan." (1 Kings 17:3)  Elijah obeyed!  His life was in imminent danger and God directed him to a safe place.

King Ahab's reaction isn't recorded, but implied.  At the beginning of chapter 18, three years had passed and God's Word had proved true.  There had been no rain in that time, 36 months!  This was already an arid land so we can imagine the desperation of a king whose people would be hungry, thirsty and unhappy.  His leadership was at risk and he needed to do something to keep peace and ensure his control of the throne.  Elijah would be to blame for these dire circumstances!

Meanwhile, Elijah hides in the Kerith Ravine. As promised, God provided through divine means: "The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook."  Where God guides, He provides!  But it couldn't have been all fun and games for Elijah.  He must have felt levels of anxiety.  Would King Ahab send armed men to search for him?  What about his family, friends, fellow prophets?  No one seemed to know his whereabouts and he had no way of communicating with them.  He must have felt alone.  He also had no way of hearing news and the waiting must have been agonizing!

"Some time later the brook dried up..." (verse 7a)  The drought affected all of Israel, not just where King Ahab lived!  This affliction impacted the righteous and the unrighteous and, Elijah's water source disappeared.  So God spoke to Elijah:  "Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there.  I have directed a widow there to supply you with food."  God provided by sending Elijah into enemy territory!  Back in 1 Kings 16: 31, we read that Jezebel, the evil queen, is from Sidon, the daughter of the Sidonian king, Ethbaal.  Elijah would be cared for by a heathen widow in the land of his enemy.  By faith, Elijah obeyed.

When Elijah arrives at the widow's home, he finds her situation as bad as his previous one at Kerith!  She is gathering sticks to prepare a final meal for herself and her son.  She has enough flour and oil for one last loaf of bread and after that, she sees no hope for survival.  Elijah gives her hope through this promise from God.  "Don't be afraid.  Go home and do as you have said.  But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.  For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.'" 

The woman believed the prophet and did what he directed.  God's promise sustained the three of them for some time - we assume until rain fell again -  so up to three years. The widow from Zarephath had a miracle from the God of Israel - that had to impact her!

But tragedy strikes this woman at her most vulnerable point.  Her only son becomes ill and dies.  She blames the prophet.  "What do you have against me, man of God?  Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"  She acknowledges God and His prophet, but  she believes that her son has died because God is punishing her for sin.  Her fear of God was deep and she hadn't quite seen the mercy, grace and love of God, even though the miracle of limitless flour and oil was very real.  God shows the widow a personal act of grace by empowering Elijah to raise her dead son to life!

The woman declares by exuberant faith that she knows "...that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."  (verse 24)

I believe this miracle was for the widow and her son, as the results were shown in her faith.  God provided food on the short term, and also provided a means of support through her only son being restored to life to care for her in her old age.  But I also believe this miracle was for Elijah.  It had been almost 3 full years of no rain.  Elijah was hiding from the angry king in the land of Gentile enemies.  Through raising the widow's son from death, God demonstrated:

*God keeps His promises - He did not abandon the widow but provided for her as she provided for God's servant, Elijah.

*God has all power and authority - to stop rain, to provide food through ravens and widows, and to raise the dead.

*God uses His servants - even when they feel set aside from active ministry  (Elijah had been in hiding for years, feeling useless and afraid - how long, O LORD?)

*God was preparing Elijah for something big!

In the next blog entry, we'll explore what God was about to do through Elijah and how chapter 17 was truly a season for Elijah to grow in trusting his God. 

 

 

 

 "I'VE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST..." (Galatians 2:20)

Crucified?  That's an old-fashioned word that signifies a barbaric time in history, an archaic method of punishment for crimes.  Historically, Jesus was crucified, along with thieves, murders and rebellious traitors.  The Romans had perfected crucifixion to an art.  The trained executioners knew how to maximize the pain and torture, stretching out the physical and mental suffering until the one being crucified begged to die.  We in modern western cultures cannot imagine such a form of justice, let alone that human agents would inflict this on another human! 

When we read Paul's letter to the Galatian church, how can we understand his statement "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer lie, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" ? Paul knew firsthand the practice of crucifixion and also understand capital punishment through the Jewish law of stoning those who had transgressed God's commands.  Putting a lawbreaker to death was common in that day.

Dying to self is not a common cultural practice for us today, especially in North America.  We are encouraged and persuaded that "I" am the most important person.  My pursuits should be for my own happiness and pleasure.   Although self-sacrifice is honoured, ( ie Mother Theresa and Ghandi, who denied their flesh and gave up worldly riches for great causes), the average person isn't recognized for the everyday sacrifices for the good of another.  

In fact, the opposite is true: self-preservation.  We would do almost anything to save ourselves, not kill our needs and desires.  And yet, Jesus asks us to choose the hard path to know Him.

Jesus said, "  (Matthew 16:24)  To be a true follower of Jesus, we must give up our comforts and choose to do what Jesus Himself has done.  He did not amass wealth; He did not pursue pleasures physically, emotionally or even socially.  The life of Christ was characterized by self-sacrifice, discomforts, homelessness, fatigue, hunger and thirst, giving of His time and energy for others, always for the sake of their souls. So when Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, says to be crucified with Christ, we are to follow that example!

Romans 6:4 gives us another word picture of dying to self:  "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead...we too may live a new life."  The pattern of following the way of Jesus is to die.  Only then can we be raised up - like Jesus was - to a new, resurrected life.  There is no short cut to spiritual perfection and acceptability; the path of Jesus is death first, then being made brand new.

A choice is involved.  We cannot love the world and follow Jesus.  We cannot love sin and please the Lord.  We must choose to love Him more and actually hate the ways of the world (1 John 2:15-17).  In Romans 12:2a, Paul gives this instruction: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."   This verse is a command, an imperative.  This means we have a choice and our will must be engaged.  Our will is influenced by our mind; our mind needs a complete overhaul, a renewing.  

How can this be possible?  In Ephesians 4:22-24, Paul is writing to the believers in Ephesus with clear directions for their life as Christ's disciples.  "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self..." The old, former way of living is done with, finished.  To truly follow Christ is to deny the flesh, to say no to the old self and its desires.  Then the new life can be lived!  "...to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  An act of the will - influenced by the mind that is transformed - is also required to put on a new self, a new attitude.  Again, you may ask, how?  Back to the letter to the Galatians:  "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh...Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Galatians 5:16, 24 & 25)

We die to ourselves.  As the selfish flesh is being crucified, the Holy Spirit is replacing, renewing all that is old and dead.  He brings fresh life by His presence to empower us to live for Christ.

As we approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday, let's consider our own crucifixion and our resurrected life as followers of the Christ! 

 

Do you ever feel like your whole life is a battle?

Work is a battleground; home is a fight waiting to happen. And even when you are alone, your mind is at war with you!

 Isaiah 54:17 is a promise in Scripture and maybe this will give you aid against the constant warfare you are facing.

The historical context of  the book of Isaiah is that the nation of Israel (including the southern kingdom of Judah, as well) has been punished for their disobedience and rebellion against God, their King.  He warned through many prophets that if they continued to worship other gods and relied on other kings for defense from their enemies, they would face consequences.  The Israelites pushed God until He did what He said He would do: send them into exile and give their land over to their enemies.

So we have a battle scenario here.  Israel is surrounded by their strong enemies.  The kings of the northern and southern kingdoms that made up the nation of Israel were both fully engaged in evil and not interested in seeking God's help!  But in the midst of a hopeless situation, God makes a promise that He will keep:

" '...no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.  This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from Me,' declares the LORD." 

At first glance, this appears to be a contradiction.  God is bringing about judgment on His own people; yet He says that no weapon forged (formed) against them would prevail (prosper). What is God really saying?

Earlier in chapter 54 of the book of Isaiah, God says this about His relationship to Israel:  "Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame...For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back....Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed..."  Although God follows through with His promise of punishment and exile, He promises to rebuild and restore His people.  If you research history, you will discover that God did bring back those exiles 70 years later.  (He also rebuilt the nation of Israel in the middle east in 1948).

The reality for Israel - and for us in the 21st Century - is that the battle is not just a physical, geographical or political conflict.  In the New Testament letter to the Ephesian Church, Paul wrote: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  (Ephesians 6:12) The battle is a spiritual conflict; our enemy is unseen, ruling with evil intent. The devil, or Satan, is against God in every way and therefore is attacking God's people with every method and strategy possible!

Isaiah may have been referring to physical weapons, literal metal swords, shields and armour.  But in Ephesians, Paul describes the spiritual armour of God for the Christian to wear as our uniform into battle.  (Ephesians 6:14-17)  Here is the list:  

*belt of truth - (John 14:6)

*breastplate of righteousness (Romans 3:22a)

*shoes of the Gospel of peace (Isaiah 52:7)

*shield of faith (Psalm 28:7)

*helmet of salvation (Isaiah 59:17)

*sword of the Spirit (Hebrews 4:12)

As we put on these pieces of armour spiritually - through prayer and faith - we will be able to stand against whatever the devil throws at us.  What does he throw?  What are his strategies?

*to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a)

*lies (John 8:44)

*spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4)

* counterfeit/disguise (2 Corinthians 11:14)

*division among believers (Romans 16:17 & 1 Corinthians 1:10)

Satan isn't creative; he will recycle strategies in every generation and even against you and me if he can be effective in reusing the same old tricks.  "Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Don't be fooled by his schemes.  They are deceptive and sneaky, but once we have eyes to see and recognize those traps, we can be alert to avoid them.

How do we stand up against this invisible and dark enemy?

1. Submit to God (James 4:7a) - confess any sins, submit your will to God's will.

2.  Resist the devil (James 4:7b and 1 Peter 5:9a) - once we have submitted to God, we are under His authority and protection.  From this place of safety, we can resist the devil and say NO to his temptations and attacks.  Satan must flee as we stand against him in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:12 and Romans 10:13)

3. Live in obedience to God's Word (John 15:10 and Psalm 119:168) - if we follow the ways taught in the Bible, we will not sin.  Sin is what gives the devil opportunity to attack us.  When we do sin in a moment of weakness, we simply confess to God, repent of our sin and submit again to God and His Word.  

4.  Fill our lives with truth and combat the lies (Psalm 119:11) - take in spiritual food daily and your mind will be renewed and your heart full of what is healthy and good.

5.  Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18b) - our power to overcome the evil one is by the Holy Spirit.  Ask daily, or more often as needed, for the Spirit to fill you up and live through you.

6.  Worship the Lord (Psalm 100 and Colossians 316) - praise is a powerful weapon against darkness and discouragement.  The "JOY of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10b) Learn to rejoice even when your emotions aren't in it!  We live by faith, not by feelings.

When you are feeling overwhelmed by the battle, remember that "no weapon" that the enemy uses can overcome you as you live under Jesus' authority.  You can stand against the devil by faith; you are able to refute every lie and accusation by the enemy with the truth of God's Word!  God is for you, not against you!

 

 

 

 Sunday morning...it always feels surreal when I wake up somewhere other than at home.  My routine is to make coffee, read, journal, pray, maybe play a round or two of Blockus!  But in someone else's home, I feel guilty if I sleep in longer than they do; I feel unsure if I should stay in my room and do my personal devotions and have my coffee.  What to do?

Walter and I did sleep in until about 8:30 or 9 am.  These late nights were catching up with us!  But our hosts were late rising also. They were very gracious to us in letting us rest, making coffee and serving us another delicious brunch: french toast and garlic sausage.  

Ernie also surprised us by saying he felt that he could do an interview for Tribal Trails.  So after we ate, Walter set up the cameras around the dining room table.  Ernie put on a shirt and vest, got his Bible open and was all ready.  I helped monitor one of the cameras, keeping an eye on the battery power.  (One of the batteries wasn't working/charging properly so we didn't want to lose that camera's view.) It did take two tries, but Ernie was able to share his testimony very clearly and we were so thankful he was willing to be recorded.  

Another surprise was that the other pastor, John Charles, wanted to have a 4 pm service, as well as the special meeting at 7 pm!  Walter had no problem coming up with another message to preach. There was some hymn singing, a couple testimonies and the Creasy's sang a few songs.  A 1 1/2 hour service seemed short compared to the four-hour services but it was a special time of worship and fellowship that a few new ones attended.

Supper was at Trevor and Sherry's house again - turkey, stuffing, potatoes and vegetables.  We certainly felt blessed as the church folks served us their best.  By this time in the weekend, we all began to feel more relaxed and comfortable with each other.  There was more teasing, joking and laughter, a hallmark of good fellowship in the First Nations world!  We all ate our fill and then some left a bit early in order to set up, tune up and prepare for the final service of the weekend.

Our hosts, the McDougalls, were celebrating a grandchild's birthday so had a family supper.  They weren't able to arrive until after the service was to start, so Trevor as M.C. called upon me to lead in a few opening songs.  I'm so glad I brought my binder of hymns and Gospel songs - that I often use at funerals.  Using Ray's guitar again - which unfortunately had gone out of tune because of the unregulated heat in the church building - I got up and led four or five songs that seemed to go over well with the congregation.  It was fun to look out at the now almost half-full sanctuary and feel as though it mattered that Walter and myself both came to this weekend of special services.  I felt a special love for these believers in Garden Hill.  I prayed for the others who had traveled here to sing, testify and be servants for Jesus.  What a privilege to be called to this ministry!  It's not easy but the blessings of obedience and overcoming challenges are so worth it.

Walter preached his fifth and final sermon and it was the heart of his series on Spiritual Warfare. This message gave practical application for resisting the enemy.  He shared Scriptures like James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."   And 1 Peter 5:8 and 9a also give direction on how to fight the spiritual battle - "Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith..." We are able to stand against the devil because we have the authority in Jesus Christ to do so.  When we submit to Christ's authority, when we call Him Lord, then He fights for us.  He gives us strength and the ability to resist evil, to escape temptations, to be delivered from darkness and fear and demonic influences.  What a liberating and life-giving message!

At the end, Walter asked the pastors permission to pray for the church and they eagerly agreed.  We all stood and prayed on the Armour of God (in Ephesians  6:10-18) and resisted the devil from the church and the community.  I've heard these messages before but the authority of God's Word and the thrill of seeing folks respond with joy and tears is so powerful.  I sat during Walter's sermon praying for him and for the truth to sink deep into these thirsty hearts! 

People didn't want to leave after the final hymn and closing prayer.  Someone had brought homemade buns filled with meat, cheese and lettuce - all wrapped individually - and we enjoyed fellowship and said our goodbyes.  Todd and Krystal left all the books and resources they had brought for the church to distribute.  We packed up our cameras and tripods; we got several good hours of music and testimonies that hopefully can be used on Tribal Trails, as well. 

Although completely spent after a full weekend of visiting and ministering, we sat up with the McDougalls to have a last visit and cup of tea.  They would be up early to go to work (teacher and janitor at the school) and our ride would arrive about 9:30 am to take us to the airport next morning.  So we said our goodbyes and I got their mailing address to keep in touch.

Whew!  Our last night and we needed to sleep.  I don't remember much except waking up to the smell of coffee and our friends already gone for the day. We packed up and I left some of my snacks for their grandchildren on the kitchen table with thank you notes for everyone. Trevor picked us up on time and drove us to the airport on the island. We waited maybe half an hour and Norm and Charles arrived basically at the time they said.  It was a cloudy morning, but our flight back to Winnipeg was uneventful.  I dozed, looked at my phone a bit and soon we were starting our initial descent. We had a few more bumps as we descended through clouds, but our pilots were great.  Ray didn't suffer from air sickness - thank goodness - and we all were happy to land safely.

And that was that!  Thanks for following our adventures and I hope you are inspired to pray for our Indigenous friends and the many communities that need to hear the Gospel.  The work isn't finished yet!

                                       The Last Service at Garden Hill Testimony Conference
 

 

 My usual waking time is around 7 am - I did wake up then but there was no sound from our host family indicating they were up yet. Fortunately, Walter and I were both able to sleep in until 8:30 am.  The smell of coffee urged us to get dressed and venture out of our room.

Mare was taking a shower and no one else stirred in the house.  I grabbed two mugs and filled them with the steaming coffee.  Taking the opportunity to gaze around the kitchen/dining room and living space, I noted the family photos and scripture plaques on the walls.  It was clear that this household loved the Lord and their family!  Walter and I drank the coffee in our room as we had our morning quiet time.  I journalled as I usually do, then read the "verse of the day"  on the YouVersion phone app.  I barely got through my prayer list of family, friends and missionaries plus praying about the special services this weekend.  Hearing some sounds in the kitchen, we emerged to join the McDougalls.

Ernie was the last to rise, around 10:30 am and Mare had a lovely breakfast of bacon, eggs and hashbrowns waiting for all of us.  We sat around the table and enjoyed the food and fellowship.  (The two grandchildren they raise never did join us for any meals but stayed in their rooms most of the time we were there.)  They told us about their family, the loss of their daughter a few years ago, their lives in the community and some details about how they met.

Plans for the day were vague, so we hung out and enjoyed the slow pace.  Ernie sat in his recliner and put on worship videos on the television. Mare cleaned up the kitchen, turning down my help and insisting that I relax.  

Then Ernie got a text.  Nattie would be by around 2 pm and take me for a ride!  I was hoping to spend some time with her, having tea and a visit.  But she told me she was very busy and wasn't sure she was available.  I guess she was available after all!

I was ready when Nattie arrived and jumped into her truck.  It was a cold but sunny day.  Where would Nattie take me, since Garden Hill was a fly-in community?  Where could we possibly go on this drive?

Well, first off, we drove to where the ice road went across to the airport, RCMP detachment and a few houses on an island.  But Nattie turned right instead of going across the ice and told me we were going to drive up to Wasagamak.  Where?  I'd heard of the community and one of our ministry team, Chris Creasy, is from there.  So as we drove along the cleared track on the ice, Nattie told me about her family, her late husband Arnold and life in Island Lake (Garden Hill and the other nearby communities).   She pointed out certain islands where her Dad would take the family to live for the summers, other places where her family lived during the winters.  Nattie told how she went to residential school from age 7 to mid-teens.

We met several other vehicles along the ice road.  Some maintenance crews were scraping and flooding areas; others were widening the lanes.  We drove to the landing of Wasagamak, then turned around and headed back to Garden Hill.  More stories and then touring around the community of about 3,000 people.  The north side and south side, central and even some new areas that were being cleared and houses being built.  There was a large, new school, health centre, daycare and Headstart program.  The Northern Store with a KFC and Tim Horton's was near the main crossroads of the community. It was special to have Nattie's perspective on the history and current developments of Garden Hill, MB.

We had spent three hours in the truck and I needed to get ready for supper and the evening service.  So Nattie dropped me off at the McDougalls and had a few errands to run herself - mostly picking up grandchildren and dropping off others.  In the meantime, Walter had spent the afternoon visiting with Ernie.  They had discussed all the weighty matters, theological topics and issues of global significance. Ernie had also whipped up his famous chili that was smelling very good as I walked in the door.

After we ate supper, I helped Mare dish up the leftover chili into to-go containers.  She wanted to give it out after the service to anyone who was hungry or could use a meal.  Then we rode over with them to the church for the Saturday evening meeting.  The others had started with music already and we slipped in to the front row and joined in the singing.

Several of us were called up to share our testimonies - and there were many tears as each one told of the life of sin, the lostness and then the miracle of being saved through the Lord Jesus!  Gilbert's testimony of years in jail and the way he regretted leaving his daughters while incarcerated.  He's been living clean and sober, employed and able to be with his girls in Weagamow.  Doug's story of losing a daughter to murder and the journey to forgiveness touched us all deeply.  

Chris and Rochelle ministered in music, a mix of contemporary and country Gospel.  And we sang some hymns in English and Cree, which were becoming very sweet to our ears.  I'd look around, feeling surreal at being so far north among believers and experiencing some of the history of our NCEM missionaries having brought the Gospel to this community.  How great is our God!

By 9:30 or so, Walter was at the podium preaching on Spiritual Warfare and the origins of the devil and his evil schemes.  He preached his heart out and many were impacted by the Word of God.  What a privilege to minister to a church family that was hungry to learn and was longing for God's Word in their lives and their community.  We stood and closed the service in a hymn.  Then Mare distributed the chili and folks stayed to fellowship together.  

We didn't leave until way after 11 pm!  I wasn't sure why Mare and Ernie were in such a hurry.  That's when we found out that Garden Hill has a curfew...at midnight.  The local police were patrolling but we made it home in good time.  (There is a $250 fee for being out past the curfew; Mare thought we would only get a warning!)

Enjoying a cup of tea and a snack before bed, we ended the day rejoicing and very tired!

  Nattie in her truck - with Todd W.

 Sitting on the tarmac of the Jet Air terminal - where our private Cessna Caravan was revving up - Walter and I were in the back seats.  Ray sat in the single seat in front of me, Chris & Rochelle were in the double seat in front of Walter and the couple who sat in the front were Todd & Krystal.  The Garden Hill Native Evangelical church invited us all to come and share in music, testimonies and preaching.  The pilots, two missionaries with Northern Youth Programs (Dryden, ON), were pressing buttons, flipping switches and conferring with their laptops in preparation for take-off.  

The smooth rising of the 9-passenger plane gave us aerial view of Winnipeg, the main terminal and the Perimeter Road around the city.  In minutes, we were soaring over snow-covered fields and little farmyards surrounded by shelter belts of trees.  We all settled into the next 1 1/2 hours of flying time to Garden Hill, a fly-in community with access by winter road.  It felt like we were leaving civilization and heading into the wilderness of Manitoba's northeast corner.

We had Starlink on board, so I connected my phone.  I checked emails, sent a couple of texts and played some games.  Then I did some reading on my Kindle.  The ride was so smooth in -40 something degrees Celsius.  The air is dense and allows for no heat thermals that cause turbulence.  Going north in January is actually a great time to travel! 

I'm so thankful that my cold was mostly over; with the help of Dristan, my sinuses were cleared and I had very little trouble with the take-off and flight. But as we descended into the bush-covered region of Island Lake, I felt some discomfort as my ears popped.  The scenery was breathtaking - the sun was glowing magenta-red on the western horizon as we slid onto the runway.  We landed on the island across from the mainland where Garden Hill is located.  Dusk was upon us and we were had an adventure ahead of us.

The pilots let us disembark from both the front and back of the plane. The cold northern air was brisk but refreshing as we grabbed our luggage and headed for the small terminal.  We were greeted by the local church folks who were to pick us up.  Saying good-bye to Norm and Charles, we followed the First Nations women who had come in pick-up trucks.  We threw our bags into the backs of the trucks and squeezed into the backseats.   We were being taken to Trevor & Sherry's for supper.  But on the way, Nattie had to stop and pick up some food that was prepared by one of the church members.  Then Nattie made arrangements to give rides to her grandchildren before dropping us off for supper.  

We crowded into the home, where all 9 of us who were invited to minister for this conference, would enjoy a delicious supper. Shepherds pie, meatloaf, potatoes and salad were served.  Gilbert & Doug had also been flown in to the community by our pilots earlier in the day.  They came from Round Lake, ON (Weagamow Lake) to share their testimonies.  We found out that they also played bass guitar and joined in to accompany the musicians during the weekend.  It was special to meet these new folks and share in our common faith in Jesus Christ.  

The couple who hosted us were in a teacherage; it was a spacious home with a large kitchen and dining area.  Their 3 children lived with them, plus a son-in-law and grandson.  We realized that the housing shortage in the community meant most homes consisted of two or three generations under one roof.  Two doors down, one of the pastors who is also a teacher, would be our host for the weekend.  Taking our luggage over to the house, we thought we'd just be there for a few minutes before heading over to the church to prepare for the first meeting of the conference.

Ernie and Mary were just sitting down to their supper, so we waited while they ate and then got themselves ready for service.  We were watching the clock but they seemed unaware of the time.  We decided to relax and wait patiently for them to say it was time to go.

Winding our way through the community in the dark didn't help us figure out where we were.  They pointed out the school,  the Northern Store, the Blue Store and other landmarks.  Within a few minutes, we were in the North side, pulling up to the church building.  It had a cross lit up on the roof, but no other indication it was a place of worship.  Walking up the three steps and entering the building, we saw it needed some updating and repairs. Their senior pastor, Arnold, had passed away a few years ago.  His wife, Nattie and several grandchildren live in the parsonage next to the church.  Two elders, John Charles and Ernie, now serve as pastors and Trevor is an up and coming leader in the church.  

A wood stove was warming the building, and most people kept their coats and boots on during the service.  Ernie tuned up his guitar and chose some Cree hymns to start the service.  Walter had set up a tripod with a Tribal Trails camera to record the services.  Todd & Krystal set out books and other Christian literature for the church folks.  The rest of us sat in the chairs, waiting.

Ernie invited us to stand and opened the service with prayer.  We sang a song in English, with a Cree chorus. About 8 or 10 people were there plus the 9 of us guests.  Our prayer was that God would bring more to hear the Word.  Ernie invited each of us to share an introduction of ourselves.  He invited me and Walter first and I wasn't sure what to expect.  I shared a little of my story and sang a song.  Walter would be speaking later, so he just stood with me to support me.  

Did I mention that the services were advertised from 7 pm to 11 pm nightly?  So with all the guests taking turns sharing the first night, some hymns interspersed and Ernie sharing the theme scriptures and thoughts, Walter wasn't to speak until 9:30 pm!

Did I also mention that the services would be broadcast through the local radio station?  The church had the equipment and simply had to flip a switch so our songs and testimonies and Walter's sermons would be heard in several communities like Red Sucker, God's Lake Narrows and Wasagamak.  We were going to be celebrities!

The time actually flew by and by 11:30 pm we were heading back to our hosts' home. After a snack, a cup of tea and time to visit, we didn't get to bed until almost 1 pm!  We had two more nights so we hoped we could pace ourselves for this weekend.  

Ernie and Mary had gone the extra mile. We were treated royally.  Stay tuned as I write more about the amazing things God did in Garden Hill!

 Yeah!  We're grandparents again!

God has blessed us with a grandson - born on January 19 at 5:42 am. 

So much for us to be thankful for: 

*the weather and roads were okay as Mark & Amy drove to Brandon 

*medical staff who are monitoring little Nathan Christopher Selke after a very quick and distressing birth 

*for the Teichrib grandparents who are caring for big sister, Kaira (2 years old) while Mommy & Daddy are away

*for God's perfect timing

As Walter and I are packing for our trip to Garden Hill, MB this weekend, we hope to meet our new grandson either coming or going.  In the meantime, I am dogsitting for our daughter, Caylea while she participates in Camp Days at Millar College.  Lindy (Bernese Mountain dog) and her 3 month old pup, Wilbur (half Mini-Australian Shepherd) are enjoying our snowy backyard and the frequent visits indoors because I am too soft on them being out in the wind!  They are a fun distraction while I have been housebound, recuperating from a cold.

Adventures with the dogs this morning:  At 7 am, I heard Wilbur give a little yip.  That meant he was awake and needed to be let out of his kennel to do his business outside.  Lindy slept on our back deck, preferring the cooler temperatures.  But during the night, the wind had blown open our gate. Little did I know that I would soon see the neighbour waving through our back window!  What???

Lindy is very loyal and not adventurous at all.  She kept to the deck/backyard all night.  Wilbur, however, went out and escaped onto the road.  Our neighbour was just leaving for work and brought Wilbur back!  Oh, boy!  I could have been in big trouble with my daughter if I lost her puppy.

Pray for us and our upcoming trip!  Walter is preaching on Revelation 12:9-11 "The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray...They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death."  He'll be speaking about spiritual warfare and the end times.  Heavy topics but pertinent to the times we are living in now.  I'll take my guitar and maybe share some music if my cold/voice will allow.

Pray also for baby Nathan, as he is being monitored in the NICU.  His oxygen levels and heart rate were somewhat unstable and they want to keep an eye on him.  Amy is resting and recovering.  Mark is keeping us updated.  And Kaira is unaware that her life will never be the same with a new brother added to her world!

 

 

Winds gusting up to 80 km/hour buffeted our vehicle as we drove west on the TransCanada Highway.  Very little snow in the fields and ditches adjacent to the highway indicated just how dry this southwestern part of Saskatchewan can be.  As we turned onto the narrower paved road leading to Millar College of the Bible in Pambrun, SK, we felt the wind die down.  The little prairie town is nestled in a coulee or small valley and is somewhat sheltered from the elements.  

 Walter pulled in along the gymnasium of the college, where the mission booths would be set up; students opened the doors and greeted us.  Some offered to help us with our displays and supplies.  I was thankful to have help as the wind did whip around the corners and tried to snatch the bristol board from my hand! We located our table and met our coworkers, Jordan & Linsey, (with their one year old son, Asher) who were just beginning to unpack their display items.

Almost every January for the past 15+ years, Walter and I have engaged at the college's Mission Weekend.  The staff have become like old friends; the students are new each year but we have appreciated their friendly and open welcome.  It was wonderful to be greeted by hugs and handshakes!

Why do we risk life and limb, through winter driving conditions, to set up a booth in this out of the way Bible College?  Because God has called us.  Because the college invites us.  Because the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few (Luke 10:2)  We have the incredible opportunity to speak about the ministry on North American soil to share the hope of the Gospel with the Indigenous people of Canada.  Surprisingly, many are not aware that remote communities may not have any church and many have not heard about who Jesus Christ is.  That is the very definition of a harvest field, with seeds planted but no one to bring in the harvest!

So we say "yes" to being on panel discussions about "Healthy Engagements in Cross-Cultural Settings".  We agree to leading a child care session where 12-20 kids listen to our missionary stories and learn to sing "O, How I Love Jesus" in Cree.  We also get up early for prayer meetings and stay up late to talk with students who want to know what our ministry is about!  We give out toques, lanyards, books and pens to bless these people and to keep the ministry of NCEM in their minds so they can pray.  (We also give out Tribal Trails & Generation Hope t-shirts, which we jokingly say is a way for the students to delay laundry for one more day!)

In case it sounds like I'm boasting about how great we are...let me tell you that anyone could do what we do.  We aren't special or extraordinary.  We get discouraged at times; we get tired and overwhelmed with the task.  It is clear we aren't getting any younger and need to recruit those who have the energy and vision of youth!  But we come away from a busy weekend like this so blessed and reminded that it is an honour to serve the Lord in this way.

Three highlights stick out to me: 

*The staff member who chatted with me at our booth and then took a moment to pray for us and our ministry.

*The engaged couple who wanted to talk about their vision for ministry

*The staff kid who loved our childcare session and wanted to "go to the Tribal Trails booth and chat with the guy" (Walter!)

We may never know the impact on others that God is stirring, but I know we always come home encouraged by some interaction He directed.  As we pray for those God-ordained moments, we trust that some will follow the Lord's calling and find great joy in obedience.

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." 

 

 

 Here it is - second week of January!  We had a nice break from travels and now we're getting ready to hit the road again.  The next two months will be filled with Bible College missions conferences and Winnipeg MissionFest. I'm dusting off the suitcase and getting back to our regular routines!

In the midst of scheduling, we are also awaiting the arrival of our grandbaby.  On one of our trips to Manitoba, we plan to meet the baby and play with big sister, Kaira.  So as we prepare for a busy season of ministry, we want to squeeze in our grandparent calling.  Sometimes our life pulls us in different directions. I'm glad we can have peace in the midst of unpredictable circumstances - even if that unpredictable event is the blessing of a grandchild!

Another thing I am grateful for is the privileged to serve the Lord.  I've never regretted following the Lord's call into full time ministry.  Even though there have been many disappointments, losses, sacrifices and difficulties, I know our work in the ministry has never been in vain.  (1 Corinthians 15:58) "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain."

There are some experiences I'd never want to live through again!  I want to learn lessons from hard times and not have to re-run those challenges because I refused to learn the first time.  Several times in Scripture, the Biblical writers teach that we endure hard times in order to develop character.  God's purposes often involve our growth and our increase in character qualities to be like Christ. We shouldn't be surprised when we ask God for patience and then He brings trials into our lives to teach us that very thing!  How do we learn to put our hope and trust in the Lord unless our faith is put to the test?  

But for me, the real highlight of ministry is meeting all the people!  Walter and I are both "people" persons and enjoy relationships with others.  We love hearing people's life stories, coming alongside folks who have struggles and pointing them to Jesus.  Lately, our focus has been on young adults who are searching for God's will for their futures.  Our greatest joy is helping them explore the opportunities that missions can open up for them.  The Lord has continued to fill us with vision and passion for First Nations/Indigenous ministry in Canada and nothing fulfills us more than talking about and praying for"labourers" to be sent to the harvest field.

 As I reorganize our mission merchandise, supplies and displays for the next season on the road, I'm so thankful for those who support us.  We know that we couldn't do what we do without our prayer and financial support team.  Believing God has divine appointments set for us on our travels, I get excited about who we will meet and how God will lead in our conversations.

See ya' later!

 

 

 

 

 BIBLE CHALLENGE

How is your new year going so far?  Are you feeling tired, uncomfortable after eating too much and exercising too little?  Are your Christmas decorations drooping and your spirits, as well?

To perk up my jam and get out of any post-holiday doldrums, I am challenging myself to a Bible reading goal for January.  Since the book of Proverbs has 31 chapters and January has 31 days, I'm reading one chapter of Proverbs a day this month!

So far, I'm on track.  A couple of verses have really stuck out to me in the first four chapters that I'll share with you.

"These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.  Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise.  Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just and fair." (Proverbs 1:1-3) New Living Translation

This version of the Scriptures gave a clear and succinct purpose for Solomon's writings.  He acknowledged later in the book that his own father and mother were personally involved in his own learning and training; he encouraged his own son to follow these teachings because they were so valuable.  It is good to consider the wisdom and instruction of our parents, not just for spiritual insights but for everyday, practical advice for life.

In chapter 2, Solomon makes another clear statement: "For the Lord grants wisdom!" (verse 6a)  True wisdom is from above, not from human origin.  Back in the first chapter, the basis for godly wisdom is also stated: "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge..." (verse 7a)  To truly understand and apply God's wisdom requires that we fear Him, honour Him and have a relationship with Him.  

By chapter 3, we can learn the many benefits of living by God's wisdom.  Protection, success, long life, safety, peace, blessing...just to name a few. And in the fourth chapter, Solomon repeats the principle that wisdom can come through parents' instruction and we all are challenged to follow and obey.  There is no special honour given to people who are independent, self-taught or lone rangers.  Credit is given to those who pay attention to a father's teaching and a mother's training.  Living a life that honours our parents, elders and the Lord is highly praised!

If you haven't got back into a rhythm of daily devotions, start today.  Proverbs is a great place to start - one chapter a day for January.  But other suggestions are the Gospel of John (21 chapters) or Joshua (24 chapters) that you could easily read in one month from now.  

"Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding." (Proverbs 3:13)

 

 

 

When you get to my age, HAPPY NEW YEAR is a state of mind, not an event!  My husband and I don't often make it until midnight.  We celebrate with whichever province and time zone corresponds with our bedtime!  

Rather than focusing on New Years' Resolutions, or plans and adventures for the upcoming year, I tend to be a bit more reflective on the year just past.  I recall highlights, remember adventures and meditate on the goodness of God.  I also lean towards evaluating my life and choices, wanting to learn from the past and apply wisdom to the future.  Sounds heavy, doesn't it?

This year, I scrolled through some verses of the Bible as potential themes for the upcoming year.  The ones that captured my attention are Philippians 3:12-14:  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But ONE THING I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

The Apostle Paul was a missionary, like me.  He gave His life to serve Jesus Christ in full-time ministry to bring the Gospel to people who had not heard.  Ever since I accept Christ as my Saviour (July 1981) I felt a tugging on my heart to go into ministry/church work.  I've traveled and taught the Bible and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ as a missionary to the inner city of Regina and to Indigenous people in Canada.

But the similarities end there! Paul was a strong, courageous, intelligent and learned man.  His life journey took him to dangerous and dark places.  He was beaten, imprisoned, taken to trial and left for dead because of his preaching.  He sacrificed religious status and financial success, even giving up any rights to a wife or family. From prison, he wrote several letters to new churches and those became part of the canon of Scripture.  Because of him and the other Apostles of the 1st century, we all have been able to hear and accept the Gospel.  Huge impact.

Many of us look up to Paul as a super-Christian.  His spiritual life, insights and impact seem beyond what any of us could ever reach.  And yet, this verse in the letter to the church in Philippi expresses Paul's humble opinion of himself.  "Not that I have already obtained all this...I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it..."  What is Paul referring to that he still lacks?

Perfection.  Holiness. Fullness.  Christlikeness.

This coming year, I want to press on, to forget what is behind and to strain toward seeking and knowing Jesus better.

Simple.  But not easy.

I can look back at the past year and see where I've grown and what I've accomplished.  I can see how God carried me through some difficult and impossible challenges.  I can fall on my knees in gratitude and praise for how the Lord graciously helped me and my family.  

I can also reflect on where I still need to grow: patience, humility, forgiveness, generosity, prayerfulness, thankfulness, grace, discipline, love... I need to"forget" what is behind: the offenses I've experienced in relationship with others, the mistakes and sins I've committed. I must let go of things that I can't change.  Paul had learned the art of forgetting what happened before and moving on by faith to embrace the pursuit of God.  It wasn't about setting goals for his next missionary journeys, how many cities he would visit or how many churches he would establish.  His "pressing on" was personal, not career-minded.  

His "one thing" was putting all his effort into pleasing the Lord, becoming more like Jesus and winning the prize of the high calling of being a child of God, a citizen of heaven!  Nothing else matters.

So this new year, I challenge myself - and you - to let go of the regrets and even the points of pride from the last 12 months.  Forgive those who trespassed against you.  Deal with your past and don't try to run from it.  And strain forward to pursue the knowledge and intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, Who is worth it all! Get into the Bible; study and memorize it. Pray, without ceasing.  Join a Bible study, get involved in church.  Share your testimony and what God is teaching you with someone else who needs to be encouraged in things of the faith.  

1 Chronicles 16:11 "Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!"