Psalm 5:1-3 "Give ear to my words, O Lord.  Consider my meditation; hearken unto the voice of my cry - my King and my God!  For unto Thee will I pray; my voice shalt Thou hear in the morning. O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer, unto Thee and will look up."

The campfire crackled in the early autumn evening.  Faces reflected the shadows and light of the flames; some faces were smiling in joyful praise and some were lifted upwards in intense worship.  Students had returned from the summer break and were gathered early for leadership training.  I had just driven up a day ahead and moved in the dorm the night before most students would arrive.

Joining these upperclassmen made me feel special, as I was new to the Bible school.  I had met a few of them on a summer missions trip and their friendliness and heart for missions influenced me to switch colleges. So here I was.  What would the next year hold for me?

Sitting on a bench near the warmth of the fire, I joined in the songs. I was familiar with some of the typical 1970's  choruses that were popular at Bible camps.  Many of these leaders in training had spent their summer serving at such camps.  Some of us had gone to various communities in northern Canada to experience cross-cultural missions work.  We had made flip-style song books for our kids' club ministries, which included some of those camp songs, as well. 

But this chorus was different.  Taken from Psalm 5, this song was slower in tempo, not a fast-paced action song!  The words were in King James version of the Bible and expressed something deeper that stirred within my soul.  As I listened the first round, I admired the beautiful rich bass voices combining with the soprano and alto parts.  The second time, I joined in tentatively with the melody line.  We had no song books, only the confident voices of students who had sung this chorus many times and so I learned the song by memory.  

That September night in 1985 sealed this song, this prayer, in my heart, and 41 years later I'm still breathing it softly to the Lord.

In the NIV translation, the words don't flow quite so lyrically; but the meaning is clear.  David, the shepherd and king of Israel, wrote many psalms, poems and songs while in the pastures or in caves on the run from enemies!  He addresses God personally, desperately.

"Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament.  Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray." (verses 1 & 2)  

David is experiencing difficult times and His prayers are sad, lonely and direct.  God, my God, please hear me!  In his desperation, David calls on the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God of his forefathers.  He is asking for help!

In Jewish tradition, prayers were offered several times a day: morning (shacharit), afternoon (minchah) and evening (arvith or maariv).  In researching this topic, I found Chabad.org to be helpful.  They attribute the morning prayer to Abraham, the afternoon to Isaac and the evening prayer to Jacob.  These prayer rituals are also connected to the offering of sacrifices at the Tabernacle and later, at the Temple.  Both David and Daniel are known for their faithful prayers three times a day. 

"In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly." (verse 3)

It seems to me that David sought the Lord in prayer first thing when he awoke.  Whether in the relative safety of pasture lands, the danger of hiding in caves or the security of his home and castle, David prayed.  He brought his concerns and his needs before the Lord and Him alone.  He lay his requests before the God of Israel and then waited.  He waited with anticipation and hope.  His faith was in God alone to answer and to help.

Psalm 86 begins with similar words.  "Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy...When I am in distress, I call to You, because You answered me." (verses 1 & 7)  David made a habit, a regular custom of praying, not only in the morning, but as a way of life. 

 Psalm 88 opens with this cry: "Lord, You are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to You.  May my prayer come before You; turn Your ear to my cry."  (verses 1 & 2)   This is not written by David, but by one of those assigned to sing and write music for the Hebrews to worship. The words are very similar to David's prayers and sentiments of faith.  Verse 13 is reminiscent of Psalm 5:3 - "But I cry to You for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before You."  First thoughts of the day are of the Lord; Heman the Ezrahite ( of the Sons of Korah) and David have this in common.

If I close my eyes, I can smell the smoke of the campfire, hear the North Saskatchewan River rippling.  I can see the college jackets and 1980's hairstyles of my fellow schoolmates.  And my heart remembers the close fellowship as we worshiped together.

This morning, will you join me in bringing your praise and requests before the Lord? 

 

 

 Have I ever mentioned that Walter and I are terrible at resting?  We don't "do nothing" very well.  So the "in-between events or trips" portion of our schedule usually ends up being quite full.

The time following the Candidate Orientation & Training in Big River has been busy.  We arrived home to spring, which involves yard clean up and preparation of flower beds for the new season of growth.  Our winter tires needed changing to the summer treads and the vehicles needed a good cleaning inside and out after a winter/spring of salt, mud and bird fly-overs! And then it is an opportunity for spring cleaning in the house: changing over my winter clothing for summer wear and purging things for donation.  Some I give to Salvation Army thrift stores and some items I give to Big River Bible Camp.

The month of May is Missions Month at Balgonie Baptist, our home church.  Walter and I help connect the missionaries supported by our church to the congregation, either through in-person reports and visits, or through video presentations.  What a blessing to hear what God is doing across the world, or in our backyard, as we heard updates from Cameroon, Philippines, Christian Motorcyclists Assoc. and Options Pregnancy Centre.  This last Sunday, our daughter, Caylea shared about Big River Bible Camp and her fiance Eric preached from 1 John 1.  So special to be able to pray for a variety of missions and ministries with our church family.

Then, this past weekend was my mom's 80th birthday celebration held in Kisbey, SK.  My sister and I helped set up and decorate for the party.  Then about 35 family gathered for a delicious BBQ burger lunch and then 25 or more joined for an afternoon of old-time dancing and a lunch including birthday cake!  I think Mom enjoyed herself; at least when she disappeared after the guests had gone home, she let us do the cleaning up and went home to rest!  It was a fun time with lots of visiting and waltzing and and eating.  I was so thankful that all our children and the two grandkids were able to be there for this special milestone. (I would have included photos of the party but a professional photographer took the majority of formal and candid shots; I was too busy having fun to take pictures!)

Yesterday, Monday, we tried to slow down.  But Walter had a prayer meeting invitation and lunch plans; I had to get some groceries and do other errands.  Besides that, we had been back to the Bible camp at Big River last week, and have a better idea of what we'll be doing at camp this summer!  So, yes, we keep busy - sometimes TOO busy - but the beauty of being home is we can go to bed when we're tired and get up without an alarm!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK, FAMILY & FRIENDS!

  

 

 

This is the seventh training session Walter and I have done together in the past 9 years...and every time I feel honoured and privileged to be part of these few weeks.  With only 3 candidates this year, we shortened the training from three to two weeks.  We condensed some material and adjusted for less discussion and presentation time.  

Every year, a new group comes in, ready to learn and eager to get into their area of ministry.  When the training takes place in spring, we see the change of the season outside and also the growth of the individuals inside!  This year, we arrived at Big River Bible Camp to two feet of snow and very much a wintry welcome!  In the two weeks, we now see ground and grass appearing.  The kids can play on the newly emerging playground.  And I detect that new green fringe of buds on the trees.  Spring!

My role has been very different this time.  I help lead worship in the opening session, then run upstairs to the kitchen to prepare coffee time snack.  I cook lunch and supper the rest of the day.  If I'm organized, I can sneak in a nap or a walk.  After supper, my helpers and I clean up the leftovers and then I set out -breakfast for self-serve.  I did teach two classes this time: "Building Your Support Team" and "Abuse Issues in Ministry" which are my passions.

Walter has done quite a bit of the teaching on topics such as Cross-Cultural ministry, Co-Dependency, Suicide Prevention & Intervention and Spiritual Warfare.  He prepared notes and handouts and felt more ready than in years past.  But every class has unique dynamics and you can never predict where the questions and discussions may lead.

A couple of guest speakers  came to present on Sharing the Gospel Cross-Culturally, Doctrine and NCEM philosophy. Its always good to have many perspectives for a well-rounded experience at candidate training.  

The childcare piece of these weeks has been amazing!  The mom of 5 brought her kids and has been homeschooling her own and the other family's two children.  Plus caring for two toddlers.  Super-woman!  So for the most part, this year's training has been running smoothly.

I best get back to the kitchen to heat up smoked pork, cook rice in the InstaPot and steam some veggies.  Dessert is apple crisp with Dream Whip.  

One more full day...so little time to teach a lifetime of wisdom, advice and vision!

 

 

 

 Even Jesus had a job description!

I'm so glad that God's Word has a record of what Jesus was supposed to do.  Many people had expectations of the Messiah - that He would rescue the nation of Israel, protect Jerusalem and preserve God's people in a political way.  They expected a king like David of old. Their vision was for Israel and the kingdom was limited to geography. But Jesus had a much bigger calling and purpose as Messiah.  

Continuing in Isaiah 61, the next phrase reads: 

*"He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners..." Now we can deduce from this statement that a political or military force would be required to fulfill this claim.  Someone with the authority to set prisoners free.  Like Pontius Pilate, who was the Roman appointee to govern Judea in Jesus' day.  He had the authority to release Jesus from the sentence of crucifixion, even though the crowd and religious leaders called for the criminal, Barabbas, to be released.  Or a ruler like Herod who had the right to arrest and imprison John the Baptist. Herod then eventually had John beheaded because he was offended at John's direct preaching against his sin!  

But what did this aspect of Jesus' ministry entail?  Who were the prisoners He was sent to release?

Reading through the Gospel accounts, Jesus encountered all kinds of prisoners: beggars, prostitutes, tax collectors, physically disabled, demonically oppressed, religiously stuck.  Jesus did not select certain ones who qualified to be delivered from their bondage.  He was sent to set the captives free, whoever they were.  Many were of Hebrew blood and descent; some were Gentiles.  Some were rich and well-off; others were dirt poor!  He was no respecter of persons, as the King James Bible would say.

Jesus' ministry was very deliberate - He would pray and seek God's guidance as to where to go.  Then He would meet "random" people as He and His disciples traveled!  A Samaritan woman at a well at noon needed freedom from her series of relationships and lack of security in life.  A leper dared to ask Jesus to be made clean, to be freed from his social and economic and spiritual rejection.  A blind man made a public spectacle of himself as he cried out to be healed...Zaccheus, a tax collector and a very short man, truly an underdog, responded to Jesus' declaration, "I'm going to your house today."  Zaccheus was released from a questionable career and social isolation.  

Each one met Jesus, by faith received His ministry of freedom and followed this new Way.  What did Jesus ask of them?  Repentance, trust, changed life and leave the old behind.  The Samaritan woman faced her sin and became the first evangelist in Samaria. The leper was cleansed and restored; he, too spread the news of Jesus. The blind man could see; he gave up a life of begging and was be restored to dignity.  And Zaccheus, he not only experienced acceptance and honour, but he paid back those he had cheated and made restitution in response to his changed life and status.

Let's not forget those who were demonically oppressed/possessed.  Jesus demanded that the spirit or spirits be cast out of the victims and He restored them to mental, emotional and spiritual health.  Mary Magdalene followed Jesus faithfully, and we do not hear of any return to the torment she had once endured.  The demoniac who ran around naked in the tombs was fully delivered and sitting, clothed in his right mind.  There is no prison, no bondage, no affliction that Jesus has not conquered, and even more so after His death and resurrection.  The very Saviour who died for our sins, was raised for our justification.  He is victorious over death and hell.  Satan's authority is now limited in scope and in time.  The end is near!

Although we all may long for political, economical and social freedoms to be secured, Jesus came for a far greater purpose. If you are suffering from a bondage, a burden, a prison that you cannot free yourself from - call on Jesus!  And if you want someone to talk to, I can be there to help and point the way to the One who can truly help.  My husband, too, can listen, give counsel, pray and offer hope in the Lord Jesus.

Peace to you. 

 

 

 

Are you praying everyday?

Jesus knew what God wanted Him to do but had to seek the direction of the Spirit regularly, daily.  Mark 1:35-38 tells us that after a very busy day of travel, activity and ministry, Jesus rose early the next morning to pray.  When the disciples searched for Him and found Him, they were eager for Him to repeat what had happened with the teachings, healing and miracles.  But Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages - so I can can preach there also.  That is why I have come."  

Luke's account opens with verse 14: "Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit... He was teaching in their synagogues... He went to Nazareth..." (verses 14-16)  It was customary for a rabbi, a Jewish teacher, to begin such a ministry at age 30.  And it was customary for a rabbi to join the synagogues and be invited to read from a scroll at the Sabbath worship services.  The local synagogues did not have the entire Torah or a complete Old Testament.  They had scrolls in their possession.  Did the rabbis exchange and trade scrolls with one another to read and teach from in the region?  Somehow, when Jesus stood to read, the scroll given to Him was the prophet Isaiah.  And verses 18 and 19 were the readings Jesus gave that day.

From Isaiah 61:1 & 2 :"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour..."

What Jesus said next blew up the synagogue and community of Nazareth! "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." With one statement, Jesus identified Himself as the Messiah.  The whispers began:  "Isn't this Joseph's son?"  This is Jesus, the son of a carpenter. They knew Mary.  They watched Jesus grow up with His siblings.  Sure, they were pleased that He was pursuing the calling of a rabbi but this?  And the more Jesus spoke, the angrier the hometown crowd grew.

But I want to unpack the calling of Jesus as Isaiah the prophet recorded in the scroll.  Basically, this is Jesus' job description.  Here's what God called Him to do:

*Proclaim good news to the poor - Jesus traveled and spoke to those who gathered.  He often intentionally went to the places where the poor and outcasts hung out, like tax collectors booths, wells in the midday and pools where crippled beggars waited. He did proclaim the good news in the synagogues and at the Temple courts in Jerusalem, as well.  Mark's Gospel says it this way: "After John [the Baptist] was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 'The time has come,' He said.  'The kingdom of God has come near.  Repent and believe the good news!'" (Mark 1:14-15)

And what is the good news?  Paul defines it in 1 Corinthians 15:3 & 4: "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..."  

By proclaiming this good news to the poor, Jesus was declaring the way of salvation was not only for the religious, the learned, the elite of the Jewish race.  The Gospel is for the rejected, poverty-stricken, handicapped and non-Jews, as well! The Lord Jesus expounded in this synagogue address, saying that God worked through Elijah and Elisha (two popular prophets to the Hebrew people) among Gentiles in Sidon and Syria.  Somehow this infuriated the people of Nazareth and they turned from gushing over Him, to doubting Him to chasing Him to the edge of a cliff!

Read the next blog entry for the rest of this job description!

 

 

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?