When God seems the closest, Satan is nearer This could be a depressing post, I will tell you this upfront. This has probably been one of my more, up and down weeks. Things this semester have been great, awesome even. Things have had some bumpy edges though. Something in ministry I have known to realize is that when God seems like he is as close to you as possible, Satan with his big "Temptation Pizza" shows up on the door step. I suppose that you can all relate to my situation, although I have almost become numb to the pain of my hurts, my emotional aches and scars. This is where things are sad. Classes this semester have been great, friends are awesome too and everything new and most of all you are looked to for once. All great, but here are the disadvantages....It seems that things can be easily used as distractions or temptation to forget the purpose you are out to achieve. This week has been a real test of Faith in my life. There are things on my mind about my home situation, friends that are sick or maybe even dying, dreams that have allowed me to wonder, compiled emotion of tension, challenges which have made me ask the question... Why am I here? This semester I have been told on a couple of occasions, that I am considered innocent....sure I will take that, but perhaps I am not. Satan has taken me when God has been closest and tried to distract me. There is truly a spiritual battle at work in our lives, especially when we find God and have Him closest. Satan will try his hardest to get a foothold on us, but we must not allow him in to make our faith waiver. Satan will try throwing failing papers at you, he will try making you curse at a neighbor, he will try putting things in your face that will make you think falsly of someone or about someone. When God is close, Satan gets closer.... Let this not scare you though. 1 Corinthians 10:13
13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
God will not allow Satan to tempt us beyond what we can bear. I recall an occasion when Jesus was tempted, after His baptism. He was taken to the dessert and put face to face with Satan. Satan challenged Jesus' Faith, offering Him all of the kingdoms of the world, along with other things, if He had fallen to the will of Satan. Christ did not give in to Satan, but He knew God was there, He knew what God's word taught and He knew that the power of God would overcome all. We are a fallen people and no matter how hard we try, we will be tempted by Satan, but we must remember this: Ephesians 2:1-8
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
We were dead in our transgressions and God made us alive in Christ. When we are tempted, let us remember that we our God's people, that God cares for us and when we are hurt inside or falling on hard times, that we are a fallen people, who are serving a risen Lord! I can endure through all, from the knowing that Christ is here for me, in my life, through all things. God Is Good. James 1:1-7
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;
Sorry Dave, its another Sermon, but I feel that the words must be said. In closing, let us not let our Faith linger by temptation, let us not be dead in transgression, but let us, be Alive In Christ Jesus, and endure, as His Love has endured to Us. Amen!
Note the Extra Wise Men in this Picture... Much Deeper Meaning What an exciting time of year this has been and will always be for me. I love Christmas, there are so many fond memories I have from Christmas. I remember making a teddy bear in grade 8 and giving it to a girl I had a crush on for years, as a gift of friendship to her. I remember a gift of beauty in itself, which was presented by the Church, as a gift to my family. Then there are fond memories of last year, my first year at Maritime Christian College and the great atmosphere here, which has carried through to this year. Maritime Christian College brings me memories of the parade and also the much anticipated yankee swap! at Tom Marshall's house and lest we forget Christmas Chapel. Through seeing these things, sometimes we forget about the much deeper meaning of Christmas. I used to forget this through anticipation of a man I just found out was a petifile...Santa Clause.... lol, right Rebecca!. Anyway, Christmas is much deeper than this. Christmas is much deeper than the giving and receiving of gifts. Allow us remember this Christmas, the greatest gift and the reason for the Christmas Season in Christs birth. Jesus is the deepest reason and one to rejoice in, it brings pure Joy to celebrate this season, because Jesus has given me a gift that is irreplaceable by His Loving Grace, this is a gift, that all are given. Don't take your time opening it! 12 Days Until Christmas Do you all remember the 12 days before Christmas song, that song is so cool, but not as cool as a song, a friend of mine at MCC has sang to me on numerous occasions called the 12 days after Christmas. This song is hilarious, which it brought me to thinking about what the original 12 days before Christmas had been written for. For those who are curious about the significance of this song, this extra bit to my post is for you!
People often think of the twelve days of Christmas as the days preceeding the festival. Actually, Christmas is a season of the Christian year that begins December 25 and lasts until January 6th - when the church celebrates the revelation of Christ as the light of the world and recalls the journey of the magi. From 1558 until 1829 people in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. It was during this era that someone wrote 'The Twelve Days Of Christmas' as a kind of secret catechism that could be sung in public without risk of persecution. The song has two levels of interpretation: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the church. Each element in the carol is a code word for a religious reality.
1. The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.
2. The two turtledoves are the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three french hens stand for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds are the four Gospels.
5. The five gold rings recall the Torah (Law) the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese of laying stand for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit.
8. The eight maids a milking are the eight Beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5).
10. The ten lords a leaping are the Ten Commandments.
11. Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful diciples.
12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
There you have it...the hidden meaning of the Twelve Days Of Christmas and the secret behind the song. I had never heard this before, and I thought maybe alot of you haven't either. Now the song has so much more meaning when I do hear it. I pray that this post has influenced you to look for the deeper meaning in things. This is such a funny song, especially the 12 days after Christmas, but from now on, through my laughter, I may now see the meaning that is Christ. Jesus is the Reason for the Season! this is not a saying, but the deeper meaning is that it is Truth!
It is Friday and I just got back from Hockey with Dave Marshall, actually forgive me its actually Saturday, November 18. I think that my forgetting the date and the day has something to do with the hit that Dave gave me tonight, he hit me silly, I am seeing Stars, reminds me of Eric Lindros. Talk about stink too, Samara and Katherine will attest to this, they were spectators tonight, and ran from my hugs, which they usually love to have. Lots of fun playing Hockey, one of the funnest things I do in the run of the week. Tonight as I make this post, I would like to have a time to reflect, as the significance of this date to me is a reminder of my confession of Faith through Baptism to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is AWESOME! a date that I look forward too every year to remembering, and one I try my best to remember Jesus' sacrifice on my behalf. Allow me to contrast my two greatest loves in dedication to my savior. I play Hockey once a week and I work, work and work to score goals, in fact tonight I promised a certain individual that I would score a goal, but as much as I tried and tried to score that goal, I could not put that tiny puck in that net. This led me to disappointment. At the same time though, it served as a reminder to me. My life before Christ was like me working and working, trying to score the goals which would lead me to my eternal destiny, in the process though, my stench built up, just like in Hockey tonight. It took me about Thirteen years to realize that I was a stench before God, working to score the goal on my own, trying to live life to the full while stinking that bad. Because of that life, people ran from my hugs, they wanted nothing to do with me, life was good at times, but the reality was that I was living in a stink. God could not stand the site of my stench and fled from my stench, as horrible as that may sound as a reality to some. The truth is, I could not score that goal tonight, I know exactly why too... That goal dwelled on my mind the entire night, I would go in on my own and take shot after shot, ending up on the ground flailing like a fish out of water. My end result would be sweat, and exhaustion, I just could not complete my plays, I had no follow through. Folks, if you are still with me, I want you to know, that you are me! when we do not have the reality of our need to have Christ in our lives, we try and do things on our own, just as I did tonight...this leads to failure, disappointment. When we finally come to that reality that we need Christ in our lives, He reduces that pressure in our lives, He gives us room to "pass the puck around," He keeps us from getting hit from the play and most of all, He makes us clean from that awful stench. I Belive that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, this realization has opened up the ice, it has helped me to focus on that goal, which Christ has scored! Thank God for putting His son on the ice, that we may realize that there is no I in team, there is a me, but God in me is what makes me strong, God in me is what makes me Clean.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
-Hebrews 9:14
Let us not forget that we have Christ there, waiting to receive the pass and that goal you were trying to score, He has already scored, and He did it on our behalf. But keep in mind that the work here is not done, we must be on guard and out of Love for the one who has scored the goal, keep playing out life, let us see that Jesus has made room for us to have an assist in the play....
15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
- Mark 16:15
Let us keep on our oppurtunities... And God's People said "____." I will let you fill in the Blank! Dave I guess that hit you put on me hit some sense into me brother!
Take the time to Remember and reflect How can something so beautiful be a symbol of such suffering
I apologize if you are unable to witch this video, I warn that it is very deep, but it is the ultimate display of someone beautiful, derserving of our remembrance. November 11/Lest We Forget Its Saturday, November 11/2006 and I started out my day by going to my local senataph with some friends for the local remembrance day service. This moment brought many thoughts to my head, thinking about the sacrifice of these many men, on behalf of us today who have freedom. In remembering these men, I also remembered another sacrifice, one which was by Christ Jesus, a sacrifice for many, on behalf of us today who have freedom. I found a contrast here, many men dying for all, and one man dying for all....Both sacrifices made on behalf of Freedom, a fight for peace, reconciliation. As I stood at this service there were prayers to God, which was respected by me as local ministers came to give prayers on behalf of those who lost loved ones at war. Through all of this though, there was zero mention of the sacrifice of Jesus, only mention of God who is reigning over us. Where I want to take this, I am not sure, but my thoughts today are, on what bounds did these sacrifices take place? The sacrifice of the men who died at war were on behalf of freedom, and so was the sacfrice of Jesus Christ. Lest we forget in which context freedom comes. Would these men who died at war, would Jesus who died on the cross, would they be disappointed in us today who have fallen from the name of God. The direction that we have chosen to take our freedom to would be one that is disappointing to these men who died at war as well as God above. Lest We Forget that God sent His son to deliver us from the sins which held us captive, to Satan who opposes God. Lest We Forget the sacrifice of these men who died so that we may live in peace under God. These men layed down their lives for their friends, family and even those that they did not know. Jesus Christ came to this earth, a man full of righteousness, but would not want you to take His place on that cross for one moment, because He had the oppurtunity to die on our behalf. Because of this sacrifice, we are filled with God's Grace. Lest We Forget! Let Us Remember Him! Today, Tomarrow and until the end of time, just as We remember our War veterans on this November 11th Day. Lest We Forget! We would Forget a Truth that sets Us Free.
Finally, those many Chick flicks girls that I have watched have made me think a bit. Perhaps not in the way, that the ladies responsible for making us innocent guys watch these movies may have wanted us to be effected, but it has taken me in a different way of thought. I am not overwhelmed with emotion, or even falling into one of those gushy Awww! how Romantic moments that often the girls speak of, but its a different feeling, one that one would think cannot come from watching these movies, but it can. Pride has finally been overshadowed by the reality of its evils, it bugs me to consider myself a prideful being. Humility is something that I long for and I have finally been humbled. I sat upstairs in my room at about 12:00 am on Sunday Evening and thought about the times I have had to sit and watch these movies. In the beginning I was disappointed we were'nt watching some manly movie like Spider-Man or Braveheart, both my favorites by the way. Although the point is not the favortism I have towards certain movies. My point I am getting at is that I would have never sat down an been abliged before to be asked to watch a chick flick in a flock of girls....I have changed in a humbling way.
"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12
I am ashamed to admit, there has come a point in my life, especially now looking back that there has been many times I have been proud. Through those times of being proud, I have become cocky, or arrogant, I am disappointed at the sight of myself. These humbling experiences are good for me, so I guess the point is that I am realizing that I must humble myself a little bit more. Afterall Jesus Humbled Himself many times. He humbled Himself by Coming here to this earth, a dispicable place, a disappointment, much like I have been to myself lately. He brought Himself here, He humbled Himself more as to wash the feet of those who followed Him, Jesus came into the town of Galilee on a donkey, not a big strong stede.
"And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!"Philippians 2:8
Most of all, this disapointment which I have been...Jesus humbled Himself beyond what He had ever done before. Jesus Humbled Himself to die for those who were unhumble, so that they may come to a point to realize like I have, the need to be Humble. Jesus I Thank You for your Humility, because you have shown me that I must become Humble and do whatever it takes to become a great light to your kingdom.
"Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5
This is the reason that God has put me here is to be a light, He has a similar idea for those who read this blog. We must Humble ourselves and recognize our position on this team. We must not be like the proud, but of the Humble. The Humble are who God uses, the Humble allow themselves to be used by God and for God's Purpose. God use me, God use my Friends! AMEN!
I have been on many teams in my life, but none as great and wonderful as the team I was drafted to on November 11th 2001. God's Team has given me victory, where I had experienced defeat and its by God's goal and the save of our saviour that I was chosen to be a part of this team. This is a team that I would not have made by trying out, but only by knowing the will that the Head coach has for my future.
