Don't Ever Give Up

"But as for you, be strong and courageous,

for your work will be rewarded."

2 Chronicles 15:7 (NIV)

God wants us to never give up in doing His work. If we give God our whole hearts and lives to Him, God will give us the strength and courage to press on, and our work will be richly rewarded. But if we are half-hearted and hypocritical in living for God, then our work will become nothing more than a drudgery and an everyday struggle, creating a life of misery and unfruitfulness.

As God's children we are never to give up in serving Him. God may lead us down an unexpected path, and we may not understand why, but if we are faithful to Him, our work will always be rewarded.

Osha, our young Lynx-Point Siamese, constantly torments Hunter, our Black Angora Cat, and Barlow, our Yorkshire Terrier, by ensnaring and biting their tails. So the other day I bought Osha a tail toy. My son Tim placed the new toy on the top edge of our dinning room table with the tail dangling below. Then Tim took a slow-motion video of Osha as he cautiously tried several times to catch the tail of this previously unknown and unseen subject.

Osha isn't sure what to expect, but he follows his God-given instinct to capture the snake-like moving toy. Eventually he succeeds! It's priceless to see Osha's face as he struggles at first to accomplish his goal, and his reaction when the tail finally falls off the table without a dog or cat attached to it: he stares perplexedly at the lifelessness of it as it lies on the floor.

Jump Into The Water And Swim Swiftly To Be With Jesus

The Bible story that the children will be learning on Day 5 of "Sky" VBS is found in John 21:1-14. It's the story of Jesus making a beachside breakfast for His beloved disciples who were tired from having fished all night and caught nothing.

When the disciples saw Jesus standing on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, then didn't recognize Him. They were too far from shore. But when Jesus called loudly from shore and instructed His weary disciples to throw their fishing net to the right side of their boat, they obeyed, and immediately their net ensnared 153 large fish. The net was so full and heavy that they were not able to haul the fish into the boat.

As soon as John witnessed the miracle, he knew who the man standing on the shore was. He yelled out to the other disciples, "It is the Lord!"

Peter, without hesitation, and full of ecstatic excitement at seeing Jesus again, responded by wrapping his outer garment around himself and jumping into the water.

"Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter,

'It is the Lord!'

As soon as Simon Peter heard him say,

'It is the Lord,'

he wrapped his outer garment around him

(for he had taken it off)

and jumped into the water."

John 21:7 (NIV)

It is interesting to note that Peter was the only disciple who, as soon as John announced that it was Jesus, jumped out of the boat and swam to shore. The other disciples stayed in the boat as it was rowed to shore, towing behind them the net full of large, heavy fish. I wonder if I would have done the same as Peter. Would I have been as excited to see Jesus and as eager to be with Him as Peter? Would I have jumped into the water with my clothes on and swam to shore, knowing that I would end up dripping wet and shivering? I certainly hope I would, because being in the presence of God is far more wonderful and glorious than being dry and warm!

Once all of the disciples were on shore, Jesus gave His hungry friends a cooked breakfast of fresh fish and bread. Yum! It was such a thoughtful meal made out of the greatest love for tired and hungry people whom Jesus cared so much for.

No matter where you are — whether you are driving in a car, riding in a light rail train, flying in stratospheric airplane, or sailing on rough, stormy waters — trust God.

The Bible says that none of the disciples questioned whether it was Jesus or not. They just knew it was Him and believed, even though this was only the third time that Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

"None of the disciples dared ask Him,

'Who are you?'

They knew it was the Lord."

John 21:12 (NIV)

Rockslides, Floods, Tornados, And Forest Fires

On the fifth day of "Sky" VBS, the children will be learning the last Bible point: "No matter where you are, trust God!"

We can trust God anyplace, anytime, because God is always with us. He promises in His Word that He will never leave us. If you think you are all alone, you are not! God is there with you. If you are facing a giant who is a diabolical bully, trust God, He is all powerful and there right beside you. If a mountain is crumbling in front of you, if water is rising above your head, if wind is tunneling towards you, or if fire is blazing all around you, you have a real Hero you can call on to protect you.

The Bible verse that the leaders will be encouraging the children to learn on Day 5 is:

"Have I not commanded you?

Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid;

do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God

will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

We never have to be afraid or discouraged because, wherever we go, God goes with us. We can always be strong and courageous with the Almighty and Omnipotent God by our side.

*     *     *

When my son Matthew and I went shopping for "Sky" VBS costumes, we came across some really cool items. Here is a picture of a few of them: goggles, leather pilot cap, and navigator bag.

Religious Leaders Still Mock Jesus — Even From The Pulpit

Yesterday, I excitedly discovered beautiful wooden hanging wall scrolls with the Bible verse Hebrews 11:1 printed on them. This Bible verse summarizes all the Bible points, Bible verses, and Bibles stories of "Sky" VBS. You are not going to believe this, but I found them in a dollar store for $2 each. I bought twenty of them. I will give them out as prizes to the children. Here is a picture of one:

The Bible story for Day 4 of "Sky" VBS is found in Matthew 27:32-28:20 and it tells how Jesus died and then came back to life again. I am pleased that the children will be told this story — the most important story in the Bible — because many of them will not come from Christian homes or be regular Church goers. And the death and resurrection of Jesus is what our salvation is based on.

As I studied particularly the death of Jesus, I was shocked to discover how many times the Bible stated that Jesus was mocked and insulted by others prior to His crucifixion. Jesus was not only brutally tormented physically before His death, He was venomously tormented emotionally.

"Then they knelt in front of Him and mocked Him."

Matthew 27:29 (NIV)

"They spit on Him."

Matthew 27:30 (NIV)

"Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads."

Matthew 27:39 (NIV)

"In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked Him."

Matthew 27:41 (NIV)

"In the same way the rebels who were crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him."

Matthew 27:44 (NIV)

And yet not one of His disciples, or the many thousands of people whose lives He touched, stood up for Him as He was being mocked and insulted.

I am disturbed to see that Jesus is still, even today, being insulted by comments that come from the mouths of religious leaders as they stand at their pulpits. I call them religious leaders, not pastors, because when someone plans ahead of time to include lust-filled jokes into his/her sermon, or makes ungodly references to sexually immoral TV shows and movies, and yet feels no conviction to not do so, he/she is no different than the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders who mocked Jesus before He took His last breath on the Cross. The pulpit in God's house is being defiled regularly, and yet is anyone speaking up? If someone is, he/she is obviously being ignored or condemned, which only further proves how deeply this same religious spirit — the same spirit that mocked and condemned Jesus — is infiltrating into our churches today.

Nothing Will Separate God's Love From Believers!

The Bible point for Day 4 of "Sky" VBS is: "No matter what happens, trust God!"

None of us knows the future — only God does. We don't know if, tomorrow, a natural disaster will strike our land, killing many and leaving the survivors homeless; if our country will suffer a severe economic recession, causing thousands of jobs to be lost, homes foreclosed, and families bankrupt; or if there will be a terrorist attack. However, amongst all of these uncertainties, we can be certain of one thing: that we can always trust God no matter what happens in our world around us.

The Bible verse that the leaders will encourage the children to memorize to support Day 4's Bible point is found in Romans 8:38. For this blog, however, I will quote verses 36 to 39.

"As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons,

neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers,

neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

After Jesus ascended into Heaven, His disciples and apostles faced death on a daily basis as they continued to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ amid heavy persecution. However, the Apostle Paul said that no matter what happens, nothing, absolutely nothing! could separate him or other believers from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus their Lord. Praise God that this fact still holds true for all of us today!

Always Walk By His Side, Hold Onto His Hands, And Look Into His Eyes

The Bible story for Day 3 of "Sky" VBS is found in Matthew 26:36-27:31. It's the account of Jesus being arrested and put on trial.

Before Jesus was arrested, He prophesied to His disciples that all of them would fall away that very night on account of Him. However, Peter immediately spoke up and proclaimed:

"Even if all fall away on account of You,

I never will."

Matthew 26:36 (NIV)

Jesus then sadly told Peter, one of His twelve disciples, that Peter would deny Him not once, not twice, but three times before the rooster crowed.

However, Peter and the rest of the disciples disregarded Jesus' omnipotence by immediately declaring their loyalty to Jesus even if it meant death.

"But Peter declared,

'Even if I have to die with You,

I will never disown You.'

And all the other disciples said the same."

Matthew 26:35 (NIV)

Of course, Jesus wasn't wrong. He never is. When faced with the possibility of being imprisoned, tortured, and even crucified with Him, all of His disciples denied knowing Him. And just as Jesus said, Peter denied Jesus three times. When Peter heard the rooster crow, he remember the words of Jesus and his own words to remain faithful to Him. Peter had betrayed his Best Friend, his Saviour, and his King. With great remorse, Peter went outside of the courtyard and wept bitterly.

"Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken:

'Before the rooster crows you will disown me three times.'

And he went outside and wept bitterly."

Matthew 26:75 (NIV)

Jesus went to the Cross all alone. Every one of His disciples abandoned Him, and yet Jesus endured all the pain and suffering for each one of them and every one of us.

No matter what people do, trust God. Always stand up for your faith in Jesus, and love and serve Him til you take your last earthly breath. Walk by His side, hold tightly onto His hands, and look into His loving eyes, as you travel together on your journey of life.

Soar High, Run Fast, And Walk Strong

The Bible point for Day 3 of "Sky" VBS is: "No matter what people do, trust God!"

If you are afraid of rejection from family members or friends for being a Christian, trust God and live for Him. If you are afraid you won't get that high paying job or promotion because of your Christian beliefs, trust God and profess your faith in Christ. If you are afraid people will mock and criticize you for standing up for righteousness, trust God and speak out. If the whole world around you is rejecting Christ and His ways, trust God. You are not alone; He is with you.

The Bible says that God will give us strength when we put our faith in Him. We will be like an eagle, soaring high and free above the world. We will be like an athlete in top physical condition, running without growing weary, walking without growing faint.

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

they will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Trust God — no matter what people do — and you will soar high, run with energy, and walk in strength.

So That You May Believe

On Day 2 of "Sky" VBS, the Bible story is the account of Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life.

Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, were beloved friends of Jesus even since childhood. But one day, Jesus' dear friend Lazarus became seriously ill and died. The sisters sent word to Jesus about their brother's dire condition, but Jesus chose not to come to Lazarus' aid right away, even though Lazarus' life depended on it. How difficult it must have been for Jesus to wait! I know there must have been many tears that fell down the face of Jesus as he held back from going to his friends. While Jesus waited, He surely felt simultaneously the physical pain of Lazarus and the emotional pain of Mary and Martha. And just think: Jesus did this for our sake that we may see just how powerful He really is and believe the impossible.

"So then He told them plainly,

'Lazarus is dead,

 and for your sake I am glad I was not there,

so that you may believe.

But let us go to him,'"

John 11:14 (NIV)

Martha was the one whom Jesus reprimanded once for being too busy and working too hard to take time to spend at Jesus' feet like her sister Mary.

But this time, Martha was the one who ran to greet Jesus first, immediately acknowledging Jesus' power and authority. Amazingly, she even believed that Jesus had the power to still bring her brother back to life even though he had been dead for several days. Obviously, Martha had changed from that time Jesus had reprimanded her because Martha must have spent a considerable amount time at Jesus' feet to know Him that well and to have that much faith in Him.

"'Lord,' Martha said to Jesus,

'If You had been here,

my brother would not have died.

But I know that even now

God will give You whatever You ask.'"

John 11:21-22 (NIV)

You see, the secret to having great faith in God like Martha is spending time at Jesus' feet and getting to know Him through His Word. The more we know Jesus, the more we believe the impossible. This is the reason why Jesus waited until his dear friend Lazarus was dead for several days. God wants us to have extraordinary faith and to believe in His almighty power to do the impossible.

In Jesus, we can think the unthinkable, imagine the unimaginable, and believe the unbelievable. Everyone else around us might think you are crazy, but Christ won't. Jesus will always honour your faith!

Don't Be Fooled, Trust God Always!

The Bible point for the second day of "Sky" VBS is: "No matter how you feel trust God." In other words, if you are afraid, anxious, or perplexed, trust God. If you are happy, self-confident, or secure in your world, don't be fooled; trust God.

The Bible verse to support the Bible point is:

"'Do not let your hearts be troubled.

You believe in God;

believe also in me.'"

John 14:1 (NIV)

(Jesus and God are the same person.) Many times, people only turn to God when they are in desperate need, and then they struggle to put their faith in Him. However, this is not how we are to live. We are to trust God every day of our lives. We are never to put our faith in ourselves, in our abilities, in other people, or in the world around us, but God only. He is the only One we can completely trust.

Our world is like a decaying grape.

We are sinful in our nature, but God is pure in His. Our world is full of corruptness and evil, and our earth is decaying, but God's world is perfect and sinless, and His Kingdom is eternal. When we have God, why be foolish and put our trust in something temporal or in someone imperfect? Put our trust in Him at all times, no matter what we feel, so when the troubles come, we won't be grappling with our faith in God.

Just Say The Word

The Bible story for the first day of Vacation Bible School is Matthew 8:5-13. It is the account of a Centurion, a Roman officer, who shows a greater faith in God than all the others in Israel. This Centurion had a servant who was paralyzed and in terrible pain, so he came to Jesus for help. Jesus asked the Centurion if he wanted Him to come to his house and heal his servant. The Centurion's response was:

"'Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.

I tell this one, "Go," and he goes; and that one, "Come," and he comes.

I say to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.'"

Matthew 8:8-9 (NIV)

The Centurion didn't expect Jesus to follow him and go to his house, even though he was a Roman officer and used to people obeying his orders. He knew that he was, in the presence of Jesus, nothing more than a man — a sinner like every one else. So, the Centurion, recognizing Jesus' sovereign power and authority, asked Jesus just to speak the word. What faith! Even Jesus was amazed.

Not only did the Centurion show great faith in God, but he also showed great compassion and love for a man who was merely his servant. A servant isn't a family member, a fellow officer, or a soldier. A servant is an employed household worker. But, obviously, to the Centurion, his servant was much more than that; his servant was a person, and therefore had value. The Centurion's tender heart reached out to his servant in his dire physical condition, motivating the Centurion to take action — to search for Jesus, find Him, and ask Him for His help on his servant's behalf.

I, too, am amazed at the Centurion's faith in God, but I am also amazed at the Centurion's humility in God's presence, and his great compassion that he showed for his suffering servant. The Centurion had a good heart, a humble spirit, and amazing faith in God, so Jesus blessed the Centurion by answering his earnest and selfless prayer request. No matter who you are, trust God!

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We will be encouraging the children at the summer "Sky" Vacation Bible School to learn the daily verses by giving a prize to each one who can memorize all five verses by the end of the week. The prize is a large styrofoam airplane. Here is a picture of one with of course, my curious kitten, Osha.

Do We Look At The Heart Or The Outward Appearance?

My sons and I will be going back to Kamloops in July to do the music and drama for the children's summer Vacation Bible School. This year's program is called "Sky VBS," and the theme is: "Nothing is impossible with God" (Mark 10:27).

The program is designed so that, each day of the week, the children will learn a new Bible point/verse and Bible story. For the next ten days, I will go through each Bible point and Bible story so that I can prepare myself for writing the five dramas that my sons and I will act out to reinforce the message for each day.

The first day Bible point is: "No matter who you are . . . trust God!" In other words, it doesn't matter how young or old you are, how much education or work experience you have, where you live, or how much money you have, you are to trust God always.

The supporting Bible verse is:

"But the Lord said to Samuel,

'Do not consider his appearance or his height,

for I have rejected him.

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.

Man looks at the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks at the heart.'"

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

God told His prophet Samuel to go to the house of Jesse to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the next king. However, God did not tell Samuel ahead of time which of Jesse's sons to anoint. As Jesse presents each of his seven oldest sons to Samuel, one by one, God tells Samuel, "No, that's not the one." Perplexed, Samuel asks Jesse if he has any more sons, and Jesse responds by saying that he still has his youngest son who they left in the field tending the sheep because he was far too young and small for God to choose as the next king. Well, surprise! They were all wrong. David, Jesse's youngest son, was the one God had chosen. God doesn't look at the size, age, or physical appearance of people. He sees much deeper. God sees the heart, and we need to trust God's decision.

People haven't changed much over the years. The majority of Churches chose pastors and worship leaders mainly because of their outward appearance, talents, and charisma, and not because of the content of their heart. There aren't many pastors today who care deeply about others and love God earnestly, and there aren't many worship leaders who focus on worshiping God rather than on themselves and the music. Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. We need to do the same. I'd much rather see an unattractive person on stage who stumbles over his/her words and sings off key, but loves God with all his/her heart, than an attractive person who is eloquently spoken and sings perfect pitch, but loves him/herself more. One of the reasons why God's kingdom isn't advancing as quickly in our country because we focus too much on outward appearances.

The Searching Ends With Jesus

My son, Chris, came up to me a few days ago and asked if I could teach him to make home-made buns to bring to his work's luncheon on Friday in celebration of two employee's birthdays. I couldn't help but chuckle to myself when he asked me because baking bread is time consuming, and I didn't think my son was willing to take a day off work to do it. So I told him what any mother would say, "I would be glad to make you the buns, and I will teach you to make bread on one of your days off." I think Chris was a bit disappointed though because he wanted to say to his co-workers that he made them himself.

I ended up making two dozen honey whole wheat buns for Chris and three loaves of bread for the family. Don't you just love the smell and taste of home-made bread? No bread-maker in the world can compete!

The Bible says Jesus is the bread of life. He is also an eternal spring of water. If you have Jesus, you will never be hungry or thirsty. In Jesus, you have everything, and you want for nothing.

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me will never go hungry,

and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'"

John 6:35 (NIV)

Jesus is the living bread because, when Jesus gave His life for the world, He gave the gift of eternal life to all those who come to Him and believe.

"'I am the living bread that came down from heaven.

If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.

This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.'"

John 6:51 (NIV)

Also, if any of us drinks the water that Jesus gives, we will never thirst, because the water He gives us is like a fountain of cool, bubbling spring water that never ends.

"'But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. 

Indeed, the water I give him will become in him

 a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'"

John 4:14 (NIV)

Many people in this world constantly try to seek joy and happiness in wealth, material belongings, relationships, careers, and pleasures, but they are never satisfied. They continue to walk through life in the desert starving for food with parched, dry lips. They search endlessly for bread that satisfies their hunger and water that quenches their thirst.

Once people come to Jesus, the searching stops, and life begins with an indescribable and glorious joy that satisfies beyond our greatest expectations.

"Though you have not seen Him,

you love Him;

 and even though you do not see Him now,

you believe in Him

and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."

1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)

Jesus is indeed the Bread of Life and the Source of Eternal Spring Water!

How To Reconcile With Someone You Hurt

Peace or reconciliation on earth is commonly represented by a dove with an olive leaf in its beak. Here is a picture of my parakeet with a feather in its beak. It will have to do.

The Bible tells us that if, before you offer your gift at the altar, you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, then leave your gift in front of the altar, go to the person you have hurt, and reconcile with them first. Then you may return and offer your gift to God.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar

and there remember that your brother or sister
 has something against you,

leave your gift there in front of the altar.

First go and be reconciled to them;

then come and offer your gift."

Matthew 5:23-24 (NIV)

But how does a person reconcile with someone he/she has hurt deeply? It is easy to say that a person must reconcile with someone he/she has hurt, but how does one achieve a successful reconciliation?

Here is a list of steps to take:

1. Sincerely apologize for the wrong you have done. Don't use email, telephone, or Facebook. Instead, apologize face-to-face. I know it takes courage to look into the eyes of the person you have hurt and experience the painful feeling of your shame, but this shows genuineness, and also love and respect for the person you've hurt.
2. Don't wait to apologize. Go as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the more time bitterness and resentment has to build in the heart of the person you've hurt.
3. Look the person in the eye at all times while you are apologizing, and lovingly touch them by either taking hold of one of their hands in both of yours or placing your hand gently upon their shoulders.
4. If the person begins to open up to you about his/her feelings, don't say anything more, just listen to what the person is saying and try to understand his/her feelings. After he/she is finished speaking, reaffirm again to him/her how sorry you are.
5. Tell the person your true feelings for him/her and explain how much you love and care for him/her.
6. Arrange for something fun the two of you can do together in the near future.

Without God, Osha Can't Keep His Promise

Osha, my cat, has had his surgery and now retreats to the solitude of his kennel since arriving back home:

His eyes speak volumes: "I promise I will never break any more ornaments, chew on wooden picture frames, or climb and topple artificial trees while trying to get at ornamental birds, if you promise never to take me to that place of horror again!"

Unfortunately for Osha, unless he has the power of God in him, he will never be able to hold true to those promises.

Paul the Apostle tells us in the Bible that even he, a true and honest servant of God, still struggled to do what is good, and not do what is wrong.

"I want to do what is good, but I don't.

I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway."

Romans 7:19

The closer we are to God, the more awareness we have of God's holiness and the sin that still remains in our hearts. We will struggle with our sinful nature until the moment we step through the gates of Heaven. However, as we continue to walk close with God each day on earth, we become more and more like Him, and less and less like us, as God reveals to us the sin in our hearts and the beautiful nature of His heart.

We Live In Love Because God Lives In Us

On Saturday, my sons and I went to the West Edmonton Mall where Daniel bought himself a new jacket and I bought myself a new children's book at the Christian book store. The book is entitled, "I Couldn't Love You More," by Jason Ingram and Matt Hammitt, the lead singer of Sanctus Real. The message of the book touched my heart so much, I will share with you the words and a few of my favourite pictures. In the book, the words are spoken by a parent to their young child.

In the night

He is with you.

At morning light

He is with you.

Do not fear

For He is with you.

When I'm not here

He is with you.

I couldn't love you more.

No, I couldn't love you more.

But somebody does, Jesus.

Rest your eyes.

He is with you.

I pray you find.

He is with you.

When I let go.

He is with you.

And I can know.

That He is with you.

I couldn't love you more.

No, I couldn't love you more.

But somebody does, Jesus.

You are mine for a moment

But you are His,

Forever His.

In this life,

I am holding you.

But in His arms,

You live.

I couldn't love you more.

No, I couldn't love you more.

Oh, but somebody does, Jesus.

The Bible supports the words and message of this book. I will share three of my favourite verses that do:

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you.

Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you.

I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

"We know how much God loves us,

and we have put our trust in His love.

God is love,

and all who live in love live in God,

and God lives in them."

1 John 4:16 (NLT)

"But the free gift of God is eternal life
 through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23b (NLT)

Look Up From The Dirt That Lies Beneath Us

Okay, my cat, Osha, is definitely on a rebellious streak. My son, Tim, caught Osha in the act of trying to chew my picture frame, and it's only been one day since Osha broke my angel ornament!

We're all glad Osha is getting neutered Monday morning so that we'll have a few days of peace as Osha recuperates from the surgery. I don't think Osha will have much sympathy from us though, considering his recent bad behaviour.

The Bible says we're all like Osha: we've all rebelled, sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 3:23 (NIV)

The only person who has never committed any sin is Jesus Christ. In Him there is no deceit, only truth.

"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth."

1 Peter 2:22 (NIV)

However, the good news is that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus — in other words, for those who walk with Him, talk with Him, and live for Him. We are still going to make mistakes and fall along the way, but as long as we look up from the dirt that lays beneath us into the loving eyes of Jesus, we can, taking hold of His outstretched hand, get back up again and begin walking hand-in-hand with our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:1 (NIV)

God Can Always Repair The Brokenness Of Our Lives

A few days ago, my cat, Osha, was climbing an ornamental angel and it broke. (In fact, this angel was featured in a recent blog entry.) Osha was trying to get at another ornament that was too high off the ground for him to get, so he was climbing the angel to get to it. The angel became unbalanced by Osha's weight and crashed to the ground in pieces. Here is a picture of the end results:

The angel is unrepairable and, therefore, my house is now free of this false image of an angel. (I wonder if Osha reads my blogs.)

Fortunately, when we fall to the ground, with our hearts broken, and our lives in pieces, we are never unrepairable. God promises us in His Word that He heals the brokenhearted and binds their wounds.

"He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

My ornamental angel may be in the trash can, but God will never put us there.

Taking Care Of Creation Comes With God's Blessings

A few days ago, I took a picture of a large nest high up in a deciduous tree. In the summer time, nests are difficult to spot because of the green foliage, but in the fall and winter when the trees are bare, they are very predominant.

Did you know that, in the Bible, God promises to prosper and give long life to those who respect wildlife? God gives us an example by instructing us that if we happen to find a bird's nest in a tree or on the ground, and there are young ones or eggs in it with the mother sitting in the nest, we are not to take the mother, but let her go so she is free to procreate. If we obey God by taking care of His creation, He promises to bless us with a long, prosperous life.

"If you happen to find a bird's nest in a tree or on the ground,

and there are young ones or eggs in it with the mother sitting in the nest,

do not take the mother with the young.

You may take the young,

but let the mother go,

so that you may prosper and enjoy a long life."

Deuteronomy 22:6-7 (NLT)

God's providence is upon even the small creatures of this world, and we are to fear God by respecting all that He created.

God Will Show You Which Path To Take

Yesterday was very warm and sunny. I went for a long walk with my dog Barney and my new camera. A few ducks and geese have already arrived from their long trip south. Below are a few of the pictures I took.

The male and female Mallard ducks are really beautiful creatures. They allowed me get close to take a picture. The ponds are still frozen, so they're standing on the ice waiting for it to thaw.

Below is the first Canada goose I have seen since winter. It was walking alone across the ice. There must be more, but I didn't see any.

Just as God directs the paths of ducks and geese to fly south for the winter and north for the summer, so also does God direct our paths.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart;

do not depend on your own understanding.

Seek His will in all you do,

and He will show you which path to take."

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

It is God's will that we do not depend on our own understanding, but trust in Him with all of our heart. If we seek His will in all that we do, He will show us which path to take. Ducks and geese instinctively know which path to take, and when to take it, because God is the One who directs them. Likewise, God's children know which path to take, and when to take it, because God is the One who directs us through the guidance of His Holy Spirit, who resides in us, and of His Word.

They Shook And Became Like Dead Men

In the Bible, every time an angel appears to a person or to a group of people, their first reaction is almost always great fear.

For example, the Bible says that when Jesus was resurrected from the dead, there was a violent earthquake because an angel of the Lord had come down from Heaven and had rolled back the stone that blocked the entrance to the tomb where Jesus' body was laid. It was as if the stone were made of styrofoam! And when the angel had finished moving the stone, he sat upon it. (Wouldn't you have loved to have been there?) When the guards who stood outside of the tomb saw the angel sitting there, they were so afraid of him they shook and became like dead men.

"There was a violent earthquake,

 for an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven

and, going to the tomb,

rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning,

and his clothes were white as snow.

The guards were so afraid of him

that they shook and became like dead men."

Matthew 28:2-4 (NIV)

Movies, Christmas cards, and children's books usually portray angels as feminine, beautiful, fluffy, sweet, and delicate creatures, and sometimes even as infants. This is far from the truth!

Angels are very frightening to look upon, extremely strong, and large in stature. Not only that, whenever an angel appears in the Bible, he is always depicted as male, not female. A more accurate picture of an angel would be one who is large, powerful, muscular, masculine, authoritative-looking, bold, and confident — in other words, a warrior-type figure.

Sometimes I wonder why we have strayed in the complete opposite direction from the true image of angels. Is it because we like to imagine God as a wimp with a bunch of singing cheerleaders instead of a host of warriors who await His command? I'm not sure.

Jesus Didn't Want To, But He Did

Here is another one of my favourite pictures from the Christian Children's Book I recently bought.

Jesus was fully God, but He was also fully man. The Bible says that while Jesus was on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions to His Heavenly Father with loud cries and tears for God to save Him from dying a tortuous and agonizing death.

"During the days of Jesus' life on earth,

He offered up prayers and petitions

with loud cries and tears

to the One who could save Him from death,

and He was heard because of His reverent submission."

Hebrew 5:7 (NIV)

Jesus didn't go to the Cross without fear and trepidation. He went to the Cross with love for us and obedience to His Father in Heaven. Jesus didn't want to suffer the extreme pain and agony of being beaten, tortured, and crucified. It terrified Him and at times when He would think about what laid ahead of Him, He would cry out loudly with tears to His Father to stop it from happening. His Father heard His Son's prayers, but didn't stop it, however, and when the day came for Jesus to die, Jesus never fought the soldiers, cursed the people, or even whispered a complaint. He endured all of the pain and suffering because He focused His thoughts on us. In His mind and heart, we were worth every strike of the whip and every nail that penetrated through Him. He loves us that much! Jesus didn't want to, but He did!

We Are Now Alive With Him And Have God's Power!

Recently I bought a beautifully illustrated children's book at the Christian Book store in the city. Here is one of the many pictures that really touched my heart.

The young donkey in the story was weak and physically disabled. so he was never ridden. However, Jesus chose this donkey to ride on in His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem because the donkey became strong and healthy when God's power flowed through him.

"Although He was crucified in weakness,

He now lives by the power of God.

We, too, are weak, just as Christ was,

but when we deal with you we will be alive with Him

and will have God's power."

2 Corinthians 13:4 (NLT)

Jesus Christ was crucified in weakness, but He was resurrected from the dead by the power of God. God's children are the same: we too are weak, but when we accepted Jesus Christ into our lives and hearts, we immediately became alive with Him. We now have within us the power of God, the same power that Jesus has. By this same power, we can do the same things as Jesus did when He walked upon the earth. We can lay hands on the sick, the demon possessed, the blind, and the crippled; when we do, the power of God that has been given to us will flow through us to heal, deliver, and restore people's physical and mental health. But we need to believe God's Word and pray with the authority and power that God has given us through the resurrection power of His Son, Jesus Christ.

30 Pieces Of Silver — Do You Have A Price?

"'What are you willing to give me

if I hand Him over to you?'

So they counted out for him thirty silver coins."

Matthew 26:15 (NIV)

When the name Judas Iscariot is mentioned, we immediately think, "Ooooh, he was the traitor who betrayed Jesus for only thirty pieces of silver." We don't think, "Oh! He was one of Jesus' twelve disciples who had the honour to be one of His students." Judas got to walk beside, watch, listen to, and serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for several years. We don't remember the good Judas must have accomplished being a disciple and servant of Jesus. Instead, we remember only the bad he did.

What about today? How many movie stars, singers, professional athletes, presidents of the United States, or even pastors or TV evangelists come to mind who are remembered for their evilness or sin and not for any of the good things they might have accomplished during their life before their evil sin was committed and made public?

People have the tendency to remember the evil others do far more than they remember the good, even long after those who committed the terrible sin have died.

Yes, Judas was willing to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. But how many of us would also sell Jesus out for a price? It may not necessarily be for money. It could be the temptation to have sexual relations outside of marriage, to accept a marriage proposal from a non-Christian mate, to fulfil a dream that will cause you to go against the holiness of God, to take illicit drugs, or to go to wild, alcohol-fueled parties.

It's easy to condem people like Judas, but we all need to be constantly on guard to not fall into the trap of trading Jesus for other things, which would ruin our relationship with God and our reputation as one of His servants, and cause us to be only remembered by others for our evil sins.

Is Social Media De-Socializing Us?

Yesterday night, when I was at a restaurant with my family, I couldn't help but notice a couple sitting at a table across from us. After the couple ordered their meals, they immediately took out their cell phones and searched the Internet and sent text messages for a full half an hour until their meals arrived. During that time, they never spoke a single word. They didn't even look at each other; their eyes were constantly transfixed on their cell phone screens.

Have the people in today's world lost the ability to socialize face-to-face? Have they lost the ability to look into each other's eyes and sense each other's feelings, not just through words, but by the expressions on their faces and the tone of their voices. Is social media and internet addictions de-socializing us?

What I saw last night was pathetic, and instantly I felt great sadness for the couple and all people who can no longer keep their cell phones in their pockets when out on a date with their husband/wife, or boyfriend/girlfriend. These people loose out in so much.

The Bible warns us that we must never stop listening or paying close attention to God's voice and what we hear Him speaking. The closer we listen to God, the more understanding of His character and His ways we receive, and the more blessed we are in knowing and having a close relationship with Him.

"The He added, 'Pay close attention to what you hear.

The closer you listen,

the more understanding you will be given —

and you will receive even more.'"

Mark 4:24 (NLT)

This holds true with any relationship. The more we pay close attention to what the other person is saying, the more understanding we will have of the other person, and the more fulfilled and happier we will be in the relationship. We really can't fully understand people's words, until we hear the tone of their voices, sense their moods, and watch for facial cues and body language. Social media takes that ability away from people.

Let us all listen and pay more attention to God and to others by keeping our cell phones in our pockets more, and spending less time on the Internet using the various tools of digital socialization.

The Death Of Jesus Offers Us Forgiveness And Healing

Each summer when I was a young girl, I attended a week-long Vacation Bible School during the mornings as my family and I holidayed at our lakefront property. To encourage me and the other children to learn the Bible, any child who memorized twenty-five verses by the end of the week was promised a prize: a beautiful, framed poster of the verse below.

"But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His wounds we are healed."

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

I thought twenty-five verses was a lot to learn, but I was determined to win the prize. At the end of the week, I was thrilled to find myself among the few children who accomplished the task and won the framed verse. When I got home, I immediately placed the picture right above the side of my bed to remind me daily of the miracle God did for me by healing me of Perthes disease several years earlier.

Today is Good Friday, a reminder of this verse. Think of this: if Jesus had not died on the Cross, not only could our sins not be forgiven, but our diseases, physical ailments, and disabilities could not be healed by God. That means that I would still be in a wheel chair with Perthes disease. I probably would not be married. I certainly wouldn't have been able to have my own children and experience the immeasurable joy of having four sons.

The death of Jesus accomplished so much! God can forgive people's sins and heal their diseases when they open up their hearts and minds to Him with love for Him and trust in His Word.

It's April, Isn't It?

I woke up this morning to see wet, heavy snow falling. Already the ground is covered in four inches of snow, and it's supposed to continue to snow for most of the day.

The snowflakes are huge! Here is a picture of them.

And just think: I was enjoying for days now seeing all of my grass start to turn green in my yard, and watching my flowering plants begin to sprout. I looked forward to gardening! It's April, Isn't it?

The weather here is extremely unpredictable. I think this is the only place in the world where one can experience all four seasons in one week, maybe even in one day. I'm certainly glad that God is not unpredictable.

The Bible says that God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

"I am the Lord, and I do not change."

Malachi 3:6 (NLT)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

God does not change like the seasons, or like the weather in Alberta. Thank goodness! At least this is one way I can look positively at a snowfall in April.

The Lord Is Compassionate, His Love Unfailing

Since I moved here I have been seeing an eye specialist once a year to have the pressure in my eyes tested. Unfortunately, with every appointment so far, I have left the eye specialist's office with my corneas scratched. The result is eighteen hours of extreme pain.

After the first appointment, I phoned him back and informed him of the pain, but he didn't believe me. The second time it happened, my eyes started to hurt even before I left his office, but he denied having scratched my corneas. The third time, he made a point to check my eyes after the test because I made sure that his receptionist had my complaint written down on file. After checking my eyes, the specialist sheepishly told me that the corneas of my eyes were scratched again. No apology followed, and I fearfully anticipated the next eighteen hours of pain. I made up my mind then and there that I would never see him again.

However, for me to see another eye specialist, I had to find an optometrist in the area to recommend me to one. God is good and compassionate! for He led me to a kind optometrist who recommended me to a new eye specialist whom he said was probably the best in the city.

Yesterday, I nervously waited an hour and a half to see my new eye specialist for the first time and have the same test performed on each eye. I am very pleased and thankful to say that I left his office without any discomfort in my eyes, and a glowing report. Praise God!

It's kind of funny though. The eye specialist looked at my test results in puzzlement as he wondered why I was even there. If he hadn't been running so late with an enormous amount of patients in the waiting room, I would have loved to share with him the story of how God healed me.

"The Lord is merciful and compassionate,

slow to get angry

 and filled with unfailing love."

Psalm 145:8 (NLT)

God is indeed merciful and compassionate! His love is unfailing! As I sat in the waiting room for an hour and a half and saw the sad, despairing faces of people who were loosing their sight, God's compassion welled up inside me. I closed my eyes to hide my tears, and prayed that God would heal them all.

God Is Like The Sunrise On A Cloudless Morning

This morning I woke up again to blue skies and shining sun. After a long winter, it's so wonderful to wake up to the brightness of the sun. I hate waking up during the winter months to darkness outside. I love it when the time springs forward in March so that it's the sun's rays shining through my bedroom window that gently wake me up, not my husband's alarm clock.

The Bible says that God is just like that! He is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning. 

"He is like the light of morning at sunrise on a cloudless morning."

2 Samuel 23:4a (NIV)

Waking up to a sunrise when the sky is clear is so refreshing and lovely. Waking up and knowing you are a child of God is just as refreshing and lovely.

It Wasn't The Red Carpet, But Jesus' Heart Was Touched

Yesterday we celebrated Palm Sunday — the day Jesus, our King and Saviour, rode a young donkey into His beloved city of Jerusalem. He could have chosen to ride a golden chariot pulled by powerful and magnificent white stallions, but instead He chose to ride a lowly donkey. In those days a donkey was used primarily for work and was usually associated with the lower class of people who worked hard but made little money.

When Jesus sat upon the donkey and rode into Jerusalem, the people in the crowd took off what was probably the most expensive item they had with them, their outer garments, and spread them on the road to make a special pathway for their King. Others who had nothing to give but their hearts cut leafy branches and laid them on the road as well.

"Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of Him,

and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields."

Mark 11:8 (NLT)

Jesus didn't get to ride His donkey over a bright red, plush carpet like movie stars and famous musicians do today, but I know His heart was touched by the people's symbolic act of love and worship toward Him as they made their own carpet of garments and leaves — a carpet far superior to the red one seen on television today.

You Have Already Won The Victory

Our cat Osha has a habit of hiding under chair, couches, and beds, so whenever anyone walks pass, he stretches forth his paws and snares them with his claws. Ouch!

Even though our cat may be photogenic, don't let his looks deceive you, because he can be wicked! Well, sometimes he can be.

The Bible says that throughout our Christian walk, the wicked who are being controlled by Satan will at times set traps to hurt, injure, and destroy us, trying to prevent us from being productive for the Lord. However, we must remain faithful to God and be determined to not turn away from His commandments.

"The wicked have set their traps for me,

but I will not turn from Your commandments."

Psalm 119:110 (NLT)

The more you are doing for God, the more opposition you will receive from the evil one. Don't let this discourage or frighten you. You are on the right track. It just means that Satan is worried and on the alert. However, the Bible says that you have already won the victory over those people who desire to do evil to you, because the Spirit of God who lives inside you is much greater that the devil who roams the earth trying to trap and snare the servants of God.

"But you belong to God, my dear children.

You have already won a victory over those people

because the Spirit who lives in you

 is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

1 John 4:4 (NLT)