Under Your Feet You Will Trample and Crush

"You will trample upon lions and cobras;

you will crush fierce lions

and serpents under your feet!"

Psalm 91:13 (NLT)

In times of trouble and distress, call upon the Lord. God will answer and give us the will, faith, and strength to overcome and be victorious.

So The Works Of God Might Be Displayed

A few weeks ago, after seeing my doctor because he is still not feeling well, my son Matthew had some blood tests done. Yesterday he saw my doctor again to learn the results. He was told that his IgA levels are extremely low. He is scheduled to see an Immunologist/Allergist in August to determine what is wrong.

The blood tests also revealed that Matthew is severely allergic to milk, and most likely other foods as well, since the doctor was only able to test him for a handful of allergens. This is not too surprising since his brother Tim was diagnosed with serious food allergies last year.

Why do Christians get sick or injured? The Bible tells a true story about Jesus' disciples questioning Him as to whether a blind man or his parents were to blame for the man's blindness. Jesus responded and said, "Neither." He said that the man was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him. Then Jesus healed him.

"As He went along,

He saw a man blind from birth.

His disciples asked Him,

'Rabbi, who sinned,

this man or his parents,

that he was born blind?'

'Neither this man or his parents sinned,'

said Jesus, 

'but this happened 

so that the works of God

might be displayed in him.

As long as it is day,

we must do the works of Him

who sent Me.

Night is coming,

when no one can work.

While I am in the world,

I am the light of the world.'

After saying this,

He spit on the ground,

made some mud with the saliva,

and put it on the man's eyes.

'Go,' He told him,

'Wash in the Pool of Siloam'.

 So the man went and washed,

and came home seeing."

John 9:1-7 (NIV)

Many times sicknesses, injuries, and physical or mental challenges in Christians reveal the glory and power of God, whether it be through their miraculous healing, their perseverance and strength through it, or their continued faith in Him.

Being Made Complete

Do you want others to take notice?

If we really desire God's complete presence with us, so that we can be the most effective in ministry, have God's favour, and be the greatest testimony of God to others, we must obey His Word and love others.

The Bible says that the love for God is truly made complete in us, if we obey His Word. It is in obedience to God that others know we are in Him.

"But if anyone obeys His Word,

love for God is truly made complete in them.

This is how we know

we are in Him."

1 John 2:5 (NIV)

The Bible also says that no one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is then made complete in us. Loving others brings God's presence to us and to others, so they too can feel His unconditional love and experience His mighty power.

"No one has ever seen God;

but if we love one another,

God lives in us

and His love is made complete in us."

1 John 4:12 (NIV)

We will be made complete in God by obeying His Word and loving one another.

It Is Not The Church Building That Is To Be A Witness, But The People Inside

This Sunday, my church is having a neighbourhood barbecue in their parking lot. Flyers are being handed out door-to-door this week, and a sign has been posted out front of the church.

Yesterday and today, my son Matthew and I made Bible activity booklets for the children of families who attend. I am also giving out a small package of crayons with each booklet.

The Bible says that God's Church is to go beyond the walls of its building and preach the gospel to all people. This is not just referring to churches sending out a few members of their congregation to foreign countries overseas. This command means that God's people, not pretty church buildings, are to be a witness and a light to all those outside. These are their neighbours!

"He said to them,

'Go into all the world

and preach the gospel

to all creation.'"

Mark 16:15 (NIV)

Pay Attention And Turn Your Ear

"My son, pay attention to what I say;

turn your ear to my words.

Do not let them out of your sight,

keep them within your heart;

for they are life to those who find them

and health to one's whole body.

Above all else, guard your heart,

for everything you do flows from it.

Keep your mouth free of perversity;

keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Let you eyes look straight ahead;

fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet

and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil."

Proverbs 4:20-27 (NIV)

Such words of wisdom from a godly father to his son! They are the words of God the Father to each of His children on earth.

We are to pay careful attention to what God says in His Word. We are not to let God's Word out of our sight, but keep His Word within our hearts. Why? Because God's Word brings life to all those who read it!

We are also to guard our hearts, because everything we do flows from its contents. We are to keep our mouths from speaking words of perversity and corruptness, and to only speak words of truth, kindness, and benevolence.

We are to stay on the path that God has laid out for us to follow, keeping our eyes straight ahead, fixing our gaze directly on our Heavenly Father's face, and not turning our heads to the right or the left. In this way we will keep ourselves from evil.

Ask The Animals

Here is the video recording of the puppet show my sons Tim and Matthew put on for the children last Sunday. The stage is the one we had such a difficult time putting together. Once it was built, I bought new material to cover it and made props.

I often like to use animals for puppet shows to teach the children because the Bible says that if we ask the animals, they will teach us.

"But ask the animals,

and they will teach you . . ."

Job 12:7a (NIV)

What Is Best? And Which Way Do I Go?

The four goslings above are trustily led by their devoted mother. Their mother protects them, leads them in the way they should go, and teaches them what is best. It is the same with the Lord our God! So always stay by His side and follow Him. In that way you won't get lost, lose your way, and fall prey to the devil.

"This is what the Lord says —

Your Redeemer,

the Holy One of Israel:

'I am the Lord your God,

Who teaches You what is best for you,

Who directs you in the way

you should go.'"

Isaiah 48:17 (NIV)

Let Perseverance Finish Its Work

Yesterday, Tim came to the conclusion that several pieces must be missing in the puppet stage's multitude of parts. So, after a restless night's sleep, Tim got up early and gave it another try at putting the stage together, keeping this conclusion in mind. After three hours and a trip to the hardware store to buy four missing pieces, the stage was finally complete and built.

Then Brian and I labelled every piece, took it apart again, and transported it back to the church where we set it up for today's show. Of course to add to my excitement, I set off the church's alarm when entering the building because I happen to have a number in my code that doesn't always work.

Anyways, I took pictures of the completed form of the puppet stage yesterday. Here they are:

The stage is massive!

The building of this puppet stage was a good object lesson in teaching all of us to let perseverance finish its work.

"Consider it pure joy,

my brothers and sisters,

whenever you face trials of many kinds,

because you know that the testing of your faith

produces perseverance.

Let perseverance finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything."

James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Thank Goodness God Gave Us Instructions!

When I took the position of Children's Pastor at New Hope Christian Assembly, the Pastor excitedly told me that the church had a puppet stage. So, this week, with eager anticipation (since I am teaching this Sunday), my son Matthew and I went to the church to put the stage together. However, after an hour of looking at all the different pieces, most of which were unlabeled, some of which were broken, with no diagram and no screws, we gave up. Then the Pastor walked into the church, saw what we were up to, and tried to help. Unfortunately, his attempts were also unsuccessful.

However, yesterday morning, I woke up with a new ray of hope because Brian was coming home soon. When he did, both he and I went to the church to see if he could put the puppet stage together. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. He did glue the broken pieces together and bought screws, but he became so irritated with the mess, I had to take him home to calm down. To torment him more, I took the pieces of the stage home with us. My husband was hoping I was taking it to the dump, but I was taking it home in hopes that my son Tim, the mathematical genus, could figure how to put it back together again.

After four long hours of both Tim and Matthew working together to figure how the stage was initially put together, I took these pictures. I thought the pictures would tell the story better.

The end! They both finally gave up, but it took them the longest of anyone. If only the creator of the puppet stage took the time to make instructions . . . .

Many times people become fragmented and their lives lay in pieces because of problems, hurts, and sins, but thank goodness we have God and His Word to put us back together again!

"For whatever was written in earlier times

was written for our instruction,

so that through perseverance

and the encouragement of the Scriptures

we might have hope."

Romans 15:4 (NAS)

Come With Jesus To A Quiet Place

The Calgary Zoo is a very crowded place with so many people coming and going throughout the day. But way in the distant meadow I noticed a small animal's head peering out of the tall grass among a gathering of trees. It was a fawn, so I asked Tim to zoom in with my camera and take this picture of the deer resting in a quiet place away from all the noise and bustle of the people.

Jesus beckons us to do the same as this fawn — to come away with Him by ourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

"Then, because so many people

were coming and going 

that they did not even have a chance to eat,

He said to them,

'Come with Me by yourselves

to a quiet place

and get some rest.'"

Mark 6:31 (NIV)

It is not God's will for any of us to feel weary, overwhelmed or burdened. If we do, we need to answer Jesus' call and come to Him. It is only in Him will we find the desired rest we need and long for.

"'Come to Me,

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.'"

Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Is It Noticeable? Is It Obvious?

Even though Joseph was sold into slavery by his older brothers, it was so obvious that the Lord was with him  that Potiphar, his master, made Joseph overseer of his house and everything he owned.

"Now his master saw that the Lord

 was with him

and how the Lord caused

all that he did

to prosper in his hand."

Genesis 39:3 (NAS)

Then later when Joseph was unfairly thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit, the evidence the Lord was with him was so remarkably that the chief jailer gave Joseph the authority to be in charge of all the prisoners.

"But the Lord was with Joseph

and extended kindness to him,

and gave him favour

in the sight of the chief jailer."

Genesis 39:21 (NAS)

Now let me ask this: If Joseph had hatred and unforgiveness in his heart towards his ten brothers, Potiphar's wife who lied about him, the Chief Baker who forgot about him for the longest time, and God who allowed all these bad things to happen to him, would it have been evident to others that God was with him? No it would not have been. It is vitally important to God and our testimony to others that God is real and that He is with us by how we respond to the problems, hurts, disappointments, and losses in our lives.

As a seventeen-year-old boy, Joseph may have started off arrogant for he was spoiled, tattled on his older brothers to their father, and then told them about his two dreams which implied that one day they will all bow down to him. However, his pride must have turned into humility the day his coat was tore off him, he was thrown into a pit of dirt to die, and sold into slavery by his own brothers. He could have been bitter, but instead he was humbled. He became sorry for his prideful attitude, trusted God and did good all the rest of his life. As a result, God was with him and eventually exalted him to the second highest position in all of Egypt, not as a proud man, but as a humble one.

A Tortoise Or A Hare?

This Sunday I will be teaching the children that the Christian walk is not necessarily about how strong we start or how fast we go, but how steady and faithful we are to God, not allowing the storms of life to cause us to stop, turn around, and go back. We must always keep our eyes on the finish line, where we know Jesus is waiting for us with open arms and the greatest amount of love in His heart. Like the Tortoise in the famous Aesop's fable of the Tortoise and the Hare, we must keep on going and win the race.

"Don't get tired of doing what is good,

don't get discouraged and give up . . ."

Galatians 6:9a (NLT)

The Pleasing Aroma Of Christ

A momma Musk Ox and her baby feed contentedly on hay provided for them by the Calgary Zoo:

Musk Oxen are herbivorous animals. They live primarily in Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. They were named Musk Oxen because the males produce a strong musky odour to attract females during the mating season.

Do you know that as God's children, we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing? It is this pleasing aroma of Christ in us that attracts the unsaved to God.

"For we are to God

the pleasing aroma of Christ

among those

who are being saved

and those who are perishing."

2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)

If we are not attracting people to Christ, then the pleasing aroma is simply not in us.

The Same Mindset As Jesus

A woman has been coming to our church recently who has been ostracized in other churches because she has a special needs child who makes disruptive noises. Noticing this, our pastor immediately addressed the issue from the pulpit. No, he didn't ask her to remove the child from the sanctuary. (In the recent past, I have observed other church pastors do this when a baby or young child started crying or making loud noises in the service.) Instead, our pastor lovingly told the woman that she was very welcome here. Then he sternly warned the congregation that if anyone says anything negative to her about it, then that person will have to answer to him. Afterwards the pastor bowed his head to pray, and when he did, he included in his prayers the boy's healing. "Wow!" I thought. "This is a pastor with the same mindset as Christ Jesus!"

The Bible says that we are to value others above ourselves, looking out for the interests of others, not ourselves. We are to all be like-minded and have the same love as Jesus. We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

"Therefore if you have any encouragement 

from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from His love,

if any common sharing in the Spirit,

if any tenderness and compassion,

then make my joy complete

by being like-minded,

having the same love,

being one in spirit and of one mind.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

not looking to your own interests

but each of you to the interests of the others.

In your relationships with one another,

have the same mindset as Christ Jesus."

Philippians 2:1-5 (NIV)

Yesterday I noticed that another woman in the church decided to sit with the lady and her special needs child. It is so true that what we do and how we respond speaks more volume than what we say.

Our Sighs Are Not Hidden From God

"All my longings lie open before You, Lord;

my sighing is not hidden from You."

Psalm 38:9 (NIV)

We all have longings, but not one of our sighs is ever hidden from God. I long for past friends that I left behind in BC. I long for family that I never see. I long for the familiarity of the landscape I grew up with. I long for what was and is no longer. Loneliness is what I battle most in life. I fight it constantly and I hate the feeling. As soon as I saw this gorilla at the Calgary Zoo, I knew instantly what she felt.

This week, my next door neighbour and dear friend in Kamloops lost her home and all her belongings as she stood by and watched them burn. When I saw her on television being interviewed, my heart broke. She asked a firefighter if all her books were gone, but the firefighter only shook her head slowly as she looked into the eyes of a lost soul. I knew which book my friend longed for: her precious Bible that I saw so often opened on her living room end table and spilling out with her mementos. As my neighbour's eyes dropped to the ground, her body heaved a sigh of grief. Then with a slight glimmer of unrealistic hope, she raised her head and asked about her old upright piano that she loved to play her beloved hymns on. Sadly again the firefighter shook her head in helpless silence and another sigh came from a woman who lost so much.

My neightbour knows God and God saw and sees every one of her sighs. I long to see my old friend, talk to her and comfort her, but I can't. I don't know where she is. I have tried to find out through other people she and I both knew, but so far I have been unsuccessful. I feel helpless. I can't help but wonder if my neighbour and friend feels like the gorilla above. Does she feel all alone? Does she long for what was and is no longer? All I know is that all her longings lie open before God, her Lord and Saviour, and not one of her sighs is hidden from Him.

How Much More!

Who provides food for the birds?

"Who provides food for the raven

when its young cry out to God

and wander about for lack of food?

Job 38:41 (NIV)

The Bible says that all creatures instinctively know that God provides for them.

"All creatures look to You

to give them their food

at the proper time."

Psalm 104:27 (NIV)

In God's eyes birds are valuable. That is why He cares for their needs, even though they do not sow, reap, or store in barns.

"Look at the birds of the air;

they do not sow or reap

or store in barns,

and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

When we consider the birds, how much more valuable are we in God's eyes?

"Consider the ravens:

They do not sow or reap,

they have no storeroom or barn;

yet God feeds them.

And how much more valuable you are

than birds!"

Luke 12:24 (NIV)

If we look to God like all creatures do, God promises us that He will take care of all our needs!

As The Waters Cover The Sea

The wolves at the Calgary Zoo were restless. The ones pictured below are Grey Wolves.

Wolves are the largest species of the wild canine family.

Contrary to what most people think, wolves live more in harmony and integration than aggression and submission.

Wolves also have a hundred times greater sense of smell than humans.

When Jesus comes again to reign over the earth, Satan will cease to exist. There will no longer be any harm or destruction in all the earth. All the people and all the animals will live in harmony with each other. Fear will be an unknown experience. The wolf will live with the lamb and the leopard will lie down with the goat, because, as the waters cover the sea, so the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

"The wolf will live with the lamb,

the leopard will lie down with the goat,

the calf and the lion and the yearling together;

and a little child will lead them.

The cow will feed with the bear,

their young will lie down together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The infant will play near the cobra's den,

and the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest.

They will neither harm nor destroy

on all my holy mountain,

for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord

as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:6-9 (NIV)

Too Good To Be True

Four weeks ago, a friend of mine came to my house to give me a book I bought. She was on the way to work, so we chatted a bit by my door. She asked me about the church I am now attending and working in. My response surprised me because I didn't stop to think about it. I just said, "I don't know. The church seems too good to be true." Recent church experiences and hurts since moving to Edmonton have caused me to be very skeptical. I was like the Prairie Dog below. I was on alert, even though in my heart I knew I was in God's will.

But then last week, the Pastor in his sermon stated that he too in the beginning felt the same way about me and my family. He even used the the exact idiom I did four weeks ago: "Too good to be true."

The Bible says that our Lord will indeed give what is good, so that our land will yield its harvest. And that is what church ministry is all about: working together to yield a harvest of believers for God's glorious Kingdom.

"The Lord will indeed give what is good,

and our land will yield its harvest."

Psalm 85:12 (NIV)

All Birth Is A Blessing From God

Penguins are highly social and fun to watch at the Calgary Zoo. They liked to jump straight out of the water and land on the surrounding rocks.

Penguins spend up to seventy-five percent of their time in the water. They cannot fly, but they sure can swim! Their wings are powerful flippers.

Each penguin has his/her own distinct call so that his/her mate and chicks can find him/her among the numerous other penguins in the colony. (If you look closely at the picture below, you can see the penguin at the bottom calling out.)

There are seventeen types of penguins in the world. At the Calgary Zoo, the Rockhopper was my favourite.

Father penguins take care of the eggs and build nests out of stones while mother penguins look for food. At present, the eggs in this nest have not yet hatched and therefore are still being watched very carefully.

God blessed not only man, but also all the animals, fish, and birds that He created with the power to procreate and continue their species.

"God blessed them and said,

'Be fruitful and increase in number

and fill the water in the seas,

and let the birds increase on the earth.'"

Genesis 1:22 (NIV)

All birth is a blessing from God!

Proud As A Peacock

A peacock is a male peafowl. Each peacock usually has a harem of two to five peahens, or female peafowls. (This is why a group of peahens is called a harem.)

It is sin for a man to have a harem. The Bible says that God created man to have one wife. He never condoned any man or king in the Bible having multiple wives. In fact, He forbade it and stated this clearly in the Old Testament.

"The king must not take many wives for himself,

because they will turn his heart away from the Lord.

And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth

in silver and gold for himself."

Deuteronomy 17:17 (NLT)

God also stated in His Laws that a person must not accumulate large amounts of wealth for him/herself. Yet how many Christians, television evangelists, and pastors of mega-churches do?

Wealth, focus on appearances, popularity, and sexual immorality all cause pride and selfishness in people's hearts, drawing them far away from God.

Which Of All These Does Not Know?

Here are pictures of a Bighorn Sheep and her lamb at the Calgary Zoo.

The lamb will stay with his/her mother for the first year of his/her life.

Within a day of the lamb's birth, he/she can walk and climb as well as his/her mother.

If we ask the animals, they will teach us that God is their Creator. If we ask the birds in the sky, they will tell us that God watches over them. And if we ask the fish in the sea, they will inform us that God is their provider. All living creatures know that it is the hand of God that gives life and breath.

"But ask the animals,

and they will teach you,

or the birds in the sky,

and they will tell you,

or let the fish in the sea inform you.

Which of all these does not know

that the hand of the Lord has done this?

In His hand is the life of every creature

and the breath of all mankind."

Job 12:7-10 (NIV)

Why then do so many people in this world deny God's existence and reject His sovereignty? All the animals, birds, and fish know God, but sadly only a small portion of the people in this world do.

Eyes But Do Not See, Ears But Do Not Hear

Giraffes are the tallest animals in the world. The males can reach a height of six metres (twenty feet) and the females five metres (sixteen feet).

Giraffes have the longest tails of any land mammal. Their tails can grow to almost two-and-a-half metres (eight feet) in length, if you count the tuft of hair at the end.

A giraffe's heart is sixty-one centimeters (two feet) across and weighs over eleven kilograms (twenty-five pounds).

People have eyes, but many in this world do not see the majestic glory and power of God. People have ears, but many in this world do not hear His loving and gracious voice beckoning them to come near to Him.

"Hear this,

you foolish

and senseless people,

who have eyes

but do not see,

who have ears

but do not hear."

Jeremiah 5:21 (NIV)

God made the earth by His almighty power, founded the world by His infinite wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by His omnipotent understanding.

"He made the earth by His power,

He founded the world by His wisdom

and stretched out the heavens

by His understanding."

Jeremiah 51:15 (NIV)

God is, was, and is to come.

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,'

says the Lord God,

'Who is,

and Who was,

and Who is to come,

the Almighty.'"

Revelations 1:8 (NIV)

Let us open our eyes and see God, and open our ears and hear Him.

Bold As A Lion Who Does Not Retreat

My sons and I went to the famous Calgary Zoo yesterday. My husband and I went there last year when we celebrated our wedding anniversary, but two of my sons also wanted to see it, and so did I again, so off we went. Below are some of the best pictures Tim took of the lions.

Sin makes people cowards because of their uneasy consciences. But those who fear the Lord fear not, because God is on their side. They are as bold as lions.

"The wicked flee

though no one pursues,

but the righteous 

are as bold as a lion."

Proverbs 28:1 (NIV)

A lion is mighty among beasts because a lion will retreat before nothing.

"A lion,

mighty among beasts,

who retreats before nothing."

Proverbs 30:30 (NIV)

And that is what we are to be like: a lion who is bold and fearless and will not retreat no matter what battle he is facing.

Near, But Far

When I went for a walk a few nights ago, I came across three Brewer's Blackbirds feeding on insects in a grassy field.

From afar these birds looked like they were all black, but when I zoomed in with my camera to take a closer look, I saw that the birds had midnight blue heads and metallic green bodies. Their legs and bills were the only parts of them that were black and yet they are called Blackbirds.

People can be like that too. From afar they can look like Christians, but when you examine them more closely, you sadly realize they are not. The Bible says that people can come near to God with their mouths and honour Him with their lips, but have their hearts far from Him. Such people's worship of God is based merely on human rules they have been taught and not on true love and devotion for Him.

"The Lord says:

'These people come near to Me

with their mouth

and honour Me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from Me.

Their worship of Me is based

on merely human rules

they have been taught.'"

Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)

Oh, That My Actions Consistently Reflect Your Decrees

Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord, who obey His laws and keep His commandments, who search for God with all their hearts, who do not compromise with evil, who walk only in His paths, and whose actions consistently reflect His decrees. On the other hand, sorrowful and troubled are people of immorality, who do not give attention to God's Word, who disobey His laws and commandments, who live to please themselves, and who walk in the paths of the world.

"Joyful are people of integrity,

who follow the instructions of the Lord.

Joyful are those who obey His laws

and search for Him with all their hearts.

They do not compromise with evil,

and they walk only in His paths.

You have charged us

to keep Your commandments carefully,

Oh, that my actions would consistently

reflect Your decrees! . . .

Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet

and a light for my path."

Psalm 119:1-5,105 (NLT)

God's Word is truly a lamp to our feet and a light for our paths. Let's all walk in the freedom and joy of living God's Word.

Had Any Such Passover Been Observed

When Josiah became king of Judah, he commanded the people to celebrate the Passover, which falls in early Spring. The Passover is the first of God's seven annual festivals and it is a reminder of how God rescued His people from Egyptian slavery. When God took the lives of all the Egyptian firstborn males to convince Pharaoh to let His people go, God spared the lives of the Jewish firstborn males by having the angel of death pass over their homes if the blood of a sacrificed lamb was on their doorposts.

The Passover foreshadowed the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, who is called the true Passover Lamb. Because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross, the angel of death can pass over our sins if we repent and give our lives to Him.

"For Christ,

our Passover Lamb,

has been sacrificed."

1 Corinthians 5:7b (NIV)

It is interesting to note that Jesus died on the day of Passover. These Jewish festivals have significant meaning and importance in Bible teaching. I wonder sometimes as to why Christians do not celebrate any of these Jewish holidays. We have our own "Christian" holidays, but many times they do not correspond to the right times of the year that the holiday represents and are interwoven with worldly practices and beliefs.

The Passover that King Josiah and all his people observed was the first since the days of the judges in Israel and the days of the kings in Israel and Judah.

"Neither in the days of the judges

who led Israel

nor in the days of the kings of Israel

and the kings of Judah

had any such Passover been observed."

2 Kings 23:22 (NIV)

When I was in Bible College, we celebrated the Passover Feast, but that was my first and only time. If Jesus continued to honour the Jewish holidays, shouldn't we?

Follow The Lord With All Your Heart And With All Your Soul

By the time Josiah became king of Judah, the Jewish people had long forgotten God. They had embraced the cultist practices of the Canaanites and Assyrians, worshiping idols and practicing sorcery. Even Josiah's father, who was king before him, did not follow God. But Josiah was different — very different! Before a nation of godless people, Josiah stood strong for the principles of God. He went up against the powerful current and intercepted its course of destruction, thus saving lives.

"The King stood by the pillar

and renewed the covenant

in the presence of the Lord —

to follow the Lord

and keep His commands, statutes, and decrees

with all his heart and all his soul,

thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book.

Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant."

2 Kings 23:3 (NIV)

Like Josiah, we too must go against the catastrophical flow of society and stand strong against the forceful current, following the Lord with all our hearts and with all our souls, keeping His commands, statutes, and decrees.