Forgive

Why forgive?

Well I could sit here and tell you how it frees you. You are no longer giving control of your thoughts and feelings to someone else. Though I want to talk about a different reason.

We should forgive because we are sinners living in a broken world apart from God. And despite our continual sins that push God from us, He still seeks us and offers forgiveness to us.

If God is my example, should I not try to forgive others too? I'm not perfect and neither is anyone else, so of I want to accept grace and forgiveness, I better be willing to offer it too.

(I took this picture in Ucluelet, BC)

Today's thought

That's all I had to say today. That and maybe just remember to love one another because in the end that's all that really counts.

(This picture is from long beach and is of my grandpa and my daughter walking hand in hand)

Why read the bible?

Why read the bible? I mean really most of us have at least some sort of familiarity with the stories right? Haven't we all heard of Goliath? Or of Jonah and the whale?

 Isn't that enough?

No. No it's not.

The bible isn't just some interesting old book filled with irrelevant stories of times gone by. It is a living breathing love story written for you.

The words are written for you, they are a love letter, an invitation for you to know God and come into relationship with Him!

By reading and meditating on the Holy Bible you begin to see the very character of God, and how since the beginning of time He has had a plan for your life. It is the most beautiful love story of ultimate sacrifice for Gods beloved... You. 

Allowing God's word to permeate through your very soul brings a peace that you couldn't know any other way. It provides hope, and a promise of things unseen in an otherwise desolate and lonely existence. God's word allows there to be light where there was previously darkness.

In studying and meditating on the bible something else also begins to happen. As situation arise, God's word will be present and will truly come alive. It is a very common way for God to speak to you. Perhaps it is a reminder to love one another as Christ loved the church (be willing to lay down your life!) or that to be first you must be last. 

If you read through my writing you will generally see that in everything I say I back it up with scripture. That's because God's word is ultimate truth. If you want to know if something is right or wrong it is better to go by God's word than societies current popular opinion which changes with the tide. 

I know there are many parts we all struggle with. There are even parts that upon first glance appear to contradict each other. 

We need to keep in mind that Gods ways are not our own. There are many parts that continually show us that man apart from God has a sinful nature, that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. This first needs to be demonstrated to show why we need a saviour! 

I love how throughout the Old Testament there are so many shadows of things to come. It is beautiful to see how since the beginning of time God had a plan to draw you and I back into relationship with Him.

So today take a step into understanding Gods word just a little more. Read a chapter, maybe even reread it again. Think about it, meditate on it. See what happens!

*if you haven't read the bible before or don't have one, I would recommend downloading one (there's an app for that!) and start with the book of John in the New Testament. 

Take the broken pieces

Last night as I was spending time in
prayer something new happened.

As I began to pray for my church, I had a vision and began to weep immediately. I saw instead of my church only rubble and could feel God weeping over the broken pieces of a once thriving house of God. 

The book of Ezekial came to mind and I said to God, only you can gather the dry bones together and once again breathe life into them. Only you can take this rubble and once again rebuild your church.

I don't know how long I prayed and wept. I can tell you I was also reminded of Lazerous. Jesus wept over His friends death, even though He already knew that Lazerous was not lost forever, that Jesus would call Lazerous back to life.

So while for a little while there is weeping I am trying to remember that we always have hope. This isn't the end of the story yet.

Praise Him

Today I am standing in a river of adversity, and I have a thankful heart.

It is in times when life isn't so easy that it is easier to lean on God, to rest in His goodness. I am thankful that my God is a living God, one who loves me like His own daughter. I am part of His family, His inheritance. My God wants good things for me, and provides for my every need.

I have come to learn that God likes to let us wait, it builds our faith. When we trust in Him He will always show up, though often not until the last minute. It would be easy to allow stress to consume me worrying about foolish things like how will my needs get met. It is faith building to trust and wait on the Lord to provide those needs. I find myself getting excited about how God is going to move. It is never the way I think it is, I find God to be endlessly creative in how He chooses to accomplish things.

Please don't think I mean sit back and do nothing... so rarely is that what we are called to do. Studying God's Holy word you will see repeatedly that we are to not be lazy, but do what we can.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV / 99 helpful votesFor even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 80 helpful votesBut if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Proverbs 10:4 ESV / 70 helpful votesA slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.
Proverbs 6:9-11 ESV / 51 helpful votesHow long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
Proverbs 19:24 ESV / 49 helpful votesThe sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Proverbs 6:6 ESV / 33 helpful votesGo to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
Psalm 50:17 ESV / 33 helpful votesFor you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
Proverbs 13:4 ESV / 30 helpful votesThe soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 27 helpful votesDo your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Proverbs 12:24 ESV / 26 helpful votesThe hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
Matthew 25:14-30 ESV / 23 helpful votes“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. ...
Proverbs 20:4 ESV / 22 helpful votesThe sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
Proverbs 13:1 ESV / 18 helpful votesA wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
James 4:14 ESV / 15 helpful votesYet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
Proverbs 28:19 ESV / 15 helpful votesWhoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 12 helpful votesAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Luke 19:12-27 ESV / 11 helpful votesHe said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ ...
Acts 17:11 ESV / 9 helpful votesNow these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 8 helpful votesIn all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Matthew 24:21 ESV / 7 helpful votesFor then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 ESV / 6 helpful votesPreach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 3 helpful votesNow the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
Proverbs 1:1-33 ESV / 3 helpful votesThe proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, ...

So go out and do what you are able, and trust in God because miracles happen everyday for those who believe.

In times of adversity Praise God! You are blessed because it is here in the valley that you grow closer to God and have the opportunity to watch the Almighty at work!

Amen

Embracing the challenge

Isn't it amazing how God gives us today what we need for today?

Here I was feeling rather frustrated with some circumstances in my life at the moment, when I was given this:

I had stumbled upon this app, daily prayers, this morning and when I downloaded it it was of course the perfect message for me.

We all face different challenges and struggles. The key is to remember Gods word. He has promised us that He will care for all of our needs.

Mathew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 

Mathew 7:11

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Mathew 11:28

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

James 1:2-4

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

And so my friends whatever you are struggling with today I pray you will embrace it and count it all joy.