The Alpha

Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him.  So shall it be!  Amen.  "I am the Alpha and the Omega,"says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."  
Revelation 1:7-8



Do you ever wonder about your future?  Where you will be or what you will be seeing?

Well God is telling you that one day you will see Him with your very eyes.  Just as clearly as you see the clouds in the sky you will see Him.  Coming down from the sky there is no way He can hide Himself, nor can anyone else try to hide Him.  He does not want to be hidden, He wants to show Himself on the day He chooses to everyone.

This revealing will not only be for a certain select group of people, but everyone "...even those who pierced Him."  That includes you and me, everyone ever born on earth will see Him.  You may say 'but I wasn't the Roman soldier that nailed Him to the cross or pierced His side with the spear.'  Yes, that is true but you have sinned and that Has pierced His heart as a child disobeying the parent causes the parent to grieve. 

It is for that reason that "all the peoples of the earth will mourn..."  We will be graciously given the opportunity to see our Creator.  And we will know what it will be like to be face to face with perfection, love, justice and mercy (to name only a few of His attributes). 

It will not be a time of mourning only.  I believe it will be a time of rejoicing as well because of who He is: Timeless.  He says He "was, is, and is to come."  Meaning He was before time began and will be forever more.

Prepare yourself now for that meeting. 

Accept Him as your personal Savior and confess your sins to Him.

Mourn over your sins, yes, but also rejoice in knowing that eternity begins when we see Him in the clouds and for His followers, residence in the heavenly places.

Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Giving Strength, Blessing With Peace

The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace. 
Psalm 29:11


Today I'm at a beach house with my wife Shelley.  We had a late night last night, driving up and talking when we got here.  So it's been a lazy morning sleeping late and napping off and on all day.

Earlier I went for a walk along the beach by myself and had time to think alone.  After some of the heavy talking we did last night I really needed to talk with God.  And He showed Himself to me in the power of the ocean and the vastness of the horizon.

Before I left for my walk I read this psalm to meditate on, and the words have encouraged me to be strong and to live in peace.

Take time today and read the whole psalm yourself and meditate on what Holy Spirit would encourage, direct, or teach you in it.  Then live in strength and peace because of His blessing to you.

Peace To You

To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come...To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father - to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 
Revelation 1:4a-5b,6

You are loved!

You need to hear that.

The love that I'm talking about is not from some fickle human being, a co-worker, friend, or family member.  This love is from your White Knight that every man dreams of being and every woman longs for, but He is more than what our desires our.

He is our:

Peace
Grace
Lover
Freedom
Savior
God
Heavenly Father
All Glorious
Omnipotent
Omniscient
Everlasting life

That is how Jesus is described in only two verses of Scripture.  Imagine what His complete identity is in all of Scripture.

Knowing that you are in His family what trials or obstacles are too big for you to deal with?

Making Life A Priority

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show His servants what must soon take place.  He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, who testifies to everything he saw - that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.  Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Revelation 1:1-3

The day I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior was the first day of my eternal life.  Everything I had done before amounted to nothing.  It's sad to have let twenty two years of life, of precious time slip away like that.

But I'm encouraged because God tells us that we are blessed if:

1. we read His Scriptures and 
2. we hear it and take it to heart

I need to make Jesus and His Word a number one priority in my life.

If I fail to put things in their proper place, I may end up wasting precious time AGAIN, on things that amount to nothing in eternity.

Not only that, but we are much closer to the end of time as we know it.  John tells us that the time is "near."  And that was almost two thousand years ago.

Let's resolve to read His Word more and commit it to memory, so that when walking in a public place or driving in my car we can be thinking about it and preparing to talk to others when the time presents itself.  

Focus Your Eyes

My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only He will release my feet from the snare.  Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.  The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.   Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.  See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.  May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in You.
Psalm 25:15-21

Financial pressure, unemployment, relationship breakdowns, divorce, separation from loved ones, illness, loneliness, depression and the list can go on seemingly without end.

Maybe you know what I'm talking about, and even say "Jeff, add this one...to the list"  This morning was one of those mornings that I needed to do like David and turn my eyes to the LORD.

David was a man of God.  He was God's chosen and anointed King of Israel.  David was a leader, warrior, giant slayer, hero, song writer, worship leader, husband and father.  He didn't always get it right.  In fact he can add to his list: murderer, adulterer, absentee father without reason, faithless etc.

But before we run another man too far down lets give him credit for always turning to his heavenly Father (or at least turning back to Him).

Look again at the Psalm.  David says he's caught in a snare, lonely, afflicted, in trouble, in anguish, he has affliction and distress, multiplied enemies and sins.

Now look at what he responds with: his eyes are ever on the LORD, he asks for God's grace, freedom, forgiveness, protection and finishes by putting his hope in God.

Without minimizing your pain or circumstances, isn't this the best place to start when dealing with such overwhelming circumstances?

Today ask God to forgive you and tell Him you are putting your trust in Him.  Then know that He will give you the strength to get through today and for the days ahead as well.

Prayer

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."... Going a little farther, he fell with his face to  the ground and prayed, "My Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will."... He went away a second time and prayed...So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing...and he said to them...Rise, let us go!
Matthew 26:36,39,42,44

Today I'd like to point out a few things about prayer.

1. In extreme times of stress, Jesus didn't go to His friends for advice, He went to His Father.
2. In His prayer, it was repetition, a pressing in and wrestling with God.
3. Through His prayer His circumstances didn't change but He changed and was willing to accept  and met them head on.

Will you take courage to pray and follow the role model that Jesus left for us?

A True Superhero

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1John 2:1-2

When I was a kid I always bought Peter Parker A.K.A. Spider-man comic books.  I would watch him on television at lunch time through the week (we lived only a few blocks away from my school).  And also on Saturday mornings.

My brother was an avid Bruce Wayne A.K.A. Batman fan and so I got a large amount of exposure to that superhero as well.

Both of them had hidden identities and wore masks.  They tirelessly fought against the evils of humanity.  Whether it was in Gotham city or wherever in the world there was a vilan terrorizing and exploiting helpless people.

Today these "super-heros" have resurfaced and been recreated.  People are spending ridiculous amounts of money to see movies, buy their T-shirts and any other memorabilia supporting the "super-hero" of their choice.

People have many issues in their lives that they feel they need a make-believe super-hero to help them resolve their many real issues.

Yet we have a real life Super-hero that has set the example of tireless and selflessly all around the world, working for humanities own good.  Even His death and resurrection is copied in many ways.  His name is Jesus Christ - The Righteous One.

We don't need to shine a light into the shy hoping He will see it and decide to come or read the sad headline of the local newspaper to find out the injustice that is happening.  We only have to call out to Him in prayer and He will hear us and answer.

Remember the Super-hero before all and over all super-hero's, His name is Jesus Christ, The Righteous One!

The Cure For Anxiety

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6,7

I did not write my first college exam until I was 25 years old.  To start college I either needed to have graduated from high school or waited until I was 25 and pass an entrance exam to be granted admission as a mature student.  

This was the price I paid for being lost in the world for the first 22 years of my life with no goals, ambition or self-worth.  Thankfully, Jesus got my attention and turned my life around then, rather than letting more of my life go by, aimlessly going through the motions before He saved me.

I remember the day of the exam clearly.  It was in a normal classroom, at a brown wooden desk and chair, the exam was church history.  The college was Central Pentecostal located in the wheat belt of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

I couldn't believe that I had made it that far!  I was so nervous, I was shaking, my heart was pounding, I was sweating and couldn't remember anything that I had tried so hard to study the entire week before.  I was having an anxiety attack.  And even though it was bible college, I didn't know enough to apply Philippians 4:6,7.

If I did, I'm sure that the exam would have gone much better, because I failed it.

What are you facing today that is causing you anxiety?

Have you tried and prepared to the best of your ability?

Did you give it your all?

If you have a relationship with the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, you can claim His peace that transcends all understanding.

If you don't, ask Him to forgive you now, to cleanse you from the sins of your past, and He will.  

Then commit your life to Him, to follow and love Him, and to love others like yourself.  Then you also can claim His promises for your life, and Philippians 4:6,7 are a promise to cure anxiety. 

Psalm 3

O LORD, how many are my foes!  How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him."

But you are a shield around me, O LORD;  you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.
To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy hill.

I lie down and sleep;  I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

Arise, O LORD!  Deliver me, O my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.

From the LORD comes deliverance.  May your blessing be on your people.
NIV Bible

Prayer:

Dear God I feel so out numbered.
It's like I don't have any friends and nowhere to go to.
I'm thankful that You are there for me all the time.
Even in the night when my fears overtake me, You are there to keep me grounded and to clam me down so that I can sleep.
Please help my plans come good.
Bless the things that I have been working on and what I've put my effort into.
Amen

John's Joy Is Complete

He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.  John 2:29

I’ve been in a few wedding parties enjoying the time leading up to the marriage.  It’s full of preparation including getting sized for suits, shoes, and shirts.  Cars need to be organized to drive the wedding party around on the day of the wedding.  The hall has to be decorated where the wedding meal will be eaten.  Speeches and toasts need to be prepared to add to the enjoyment of celebration of the nuptials’ vows.

The time leading up to the wedding day is filled with joy for the bridegroom and for me a time wondering where and how I can add to his special day.  Usually a party is organized for the bridegroom where he is the center of attention.  Often now these parties include both the bride and the groom.  Usually a meal is eaten and advice and congratulations are given. 

When the wedding day arrives and all the preparations have been made, it’s time for the friends of the bridegroom to step aside and let the groom take up his role as husband, make his vows, sign the marriage certificates and take his bride for himself.  The friends can watch with joy as the groom joins himself to his bride.

In this verse above John is making reference to Jesus beginning his ministry and the people of the time starting to go to him instead of John.  John is using the analogy of a wedding, the bride being the people John was preaching to (today anyone who believes in and follows Christ), Jesus being the bridegroom, the Saviour of the world.

John is happy to have fulfilled his role as the best man for the bridegroom.  When the bridegroom arrives John no longer has anything left to do but step aside and let this man take his place.  In spiritual matters John steps aside from people thinking he might be the Christ and lets Jesus take his rightful place as the Saviour of the world.  John has made all the preparations for the coming of the ‘bridegroom’, by telling everyone of the soon coming lamb of God.  John’s joy is complete.

Just as John had joy knowing that Jesus had come we also can find joy in knowing that we are:

Part of the ‘bride’ of Christ (we are included in His family) .

Sharing with those who are not yet following Jesus as to who He is and introducing them to the intimacy found with Him, which will be complete at the marriage feast of the lamb.

God's Grace

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.

1 John 1:5-10

Yesterday I talked a little bit about my experiences as a dental hygienist and what it was like dealing with clients that told me how well they take care of their teeth, only to find out the truth when I had to do a proper inspection.  Then the consequences of not properly taking care of their teeth, often leading to drilling out the cavities and fillings put in place. 

Then I compared that to what it's like for anyone of us to tell ourselves what we think is true spiritually about ourselves, but when God's light is shone on our lives, we see the truth for what it really is.

Today I want to highlight something we should all be eternally grateful for, and that is God's grace.

To be clear:

• God is light
• In Him there is no darkness at all
• The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin
• If we confess our sins
• He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Now imagine if you are in the dental office and it turns out that you need a cavity drilled out and a filling placed in, then the dental hygienist says to you and the dentist, "I'll sit in the chair and take the drill and filling in your place.  You don't have to feel the pain and discomfort."  In fact you can leave the office, you don't have to feel the needles in your gums; feel the medicine being injected and the resulting numbness, or hear the sound of the drill, smell the rotten cavity being removed, or feel the pressure of the filling being put in its place.  Yet, YOU somehow miraculously get the benefit of having the cavity removed and filled without having to go through the experience.

Would you accept the offer?  Wouldn't you be thankful for the sacrifice for your benefit?

That is similar to what Jesus has done for you.  He took your place and took your cavity (sin) upon Himself, and you get to walk away free.  That is grace.

In Romans 8 it tells us that "...there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because...Jesus...set me free..."

Today walk in the light as He is in the light and feel the freedom He has given to you.  

Oh, and by the way, unlike the dentist, there is no charge for His services. :) 

You Will Be With Me In Paradise

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve.  But this man has done nothing wrong.  Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." 
Luke 23:41-43

I was reading Dave Walkers blog: God in the ICU http://godintheicu.wordpress.com and in one of his stories he tells is about praying with a patient.  He shares how he didn't teach the four spiritual laws and try to lead him in a sinners prayer.  What was important was the man's heart attitude toward God while he lay recovering in the ICU.

I felt some conviction as I read Dave's blog because I have a way of complicating things sometimes.  It's not that I mean to do wrong, just that I get to caught up in the things that just don't really matter. I don't want to leave anything undone, any stone unturned.

As I recall, my own conversion experience, it was simple and uncomplicated.  A little child could have understood what The Holy Spirit was telling me.

Today if you haven't made your relationship right with God, through His only Son Jesus Christ it's really very simple.  Like the one hanging on a cross beside Jesus, realize that you have done wrong.  Yes, it's humbling but at the same time freeing to know that you don't have to hide anything before God anymore (He knows it all anyway).  Then to ask "Jesus, remember me..."

If your heart was right before Him (and only you and He really knows) you can have confidence that Jesus will make you the same promise he did to the thief on the cross "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

You Are Needed

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though its parts are many, they form one body.  So it is with Christ.  For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.  If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.  
1 Corinthians 12:12-15

The church I attend has many different prayer groups that meet in the middle of the week for fellowship and time to encourage and pray for each other, they are called "life groups".  Each Sunday morning a different life group is given the duty to set up the chairs in the sanctuary, bring out the tables for coffee, prepare the coffee and tea and so on.  It works nicely since most adults enjoy a hot beverage after the service while we all mingle around and talk before going home.

It was my life groups turn to do it last Sunday.  A few people showed up early and had most of the chairs almost set up.  The ladies were busy in the kitchen filling urns with water to boil for the drinks, measuring out milk, sugar and so on.  I was given the job of getting some tables out to put the cups on.  I feel a little closer to these people because we are working together to bless others that will come later.    The whole church has come to expect this to be done every week.  But what if this past Sunday my group just said we're not going do the set up?  We don't do as good of a job as last weeks group, or we just wanted to not bother to attend at all and just sleep in that Sunday morning?  We would have let the rest of the congregation down.  The after service social time would be shortened and there would be concern from them for us.   Some would be wondering what happened to us and maybe others even begin to think maybe they would take their next turn off as well.  Soon we wouldn't be having that time afterwards to talk and visit and that could begin to affect other areas of the church.  Areas like children's church, music ministries, or preaching.

The point Paul is making is that we need each other.  YOU are needed, wanted and depended on.  This whole illustration can be used in the whole of your life.  Apply it's principles to your family, friends, job.  The place you find yourself in is where God has placed you to be and therefore represent Him in those areas.  Later in the chapter Paul goes on to say that no one is greater or lesser, weaker or stronger than the others in the body.  But we are interdependent on each other.  Just because you are not the drummer in the band, or the preacher, does not mean you are not just as important as they.

Today make a decision to get fully involved with a group of believers.  Then find out where they need your expertise and get involved.  I promise you the effort is worth the long term benefits.

I'd love to hear from you how this post may have impacted on your life.

When The Storm Finally Comes...

When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.  Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island.  The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.  As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure.  When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together.  Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.  We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.  On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands.  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.  But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.  Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul.  You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.'  So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.  Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."  
Acts 27:13-26

Divorce has been the storm in my life.  The interesting thing is that I've had to go through it as a child watching helplessly as my parents divorced.  As a sibling while my only brother went through it and I was unable to convince them otherwise. Finally, I went through it myself and had to stand by as my ex-wife executed her freewill.

I've deliberately highlighted some words above that could easily be used in the storms of my life as well...

...they thought they obtained what they wanted...(divorce)
...before very long...(usually doesn't take long - whether they admit it or not)
...the ship was caught by the storm...(everyone was affected by the divorce, especially the children)
...hardly able to make a lifeboat secure...(trying to make deals to keep the marriage together)
...let the ship be driven along...(it takes on a life of it's own like a hurricane and wrecks havoc)
...a violent battering...(the divorce is relentless)
...throw the cargo overboard...(everything you worked for is lost)
...we finally gave up all hope of being saved...(the legal system is not a 'just' system)
...you should have taken my advice not to...(I even begged her not to go down this road)
...spared yourselves this damage and loss...(those who thought they got what they wanted are                         damaged and/or destroyed)
...ship will be destroyed...(marriage finally ended)
...an Angel of God...(finally a word of hope)
...do not be afraid...(the first thing Jesus says to those in a storm Mk5:36, Jn14:27, Rev1:17)
...keep up your courage...(there is a tomorrow)
...I have faith in God...(God can make something out of nothing)

Your life story is different than mine, maybe worse, maybe not as dramatic, but real and painful nonetheless.

It may be from a choice you made when you were younger, or maybe (like me) someone else made it and you couldn't persuade them to change their mind, so everyone suffers.

God is always there.  He is timeless and all powerful.  Yet even His will at times is not considered, and He has to let freewill have it's way in humanity or humans are reduced to something less than what we were created to be.

Paul urged the centurion and the sailors not to sail, yet they choose to regardless.  Paul was a prisoner and could not get off the ship, so he had to endure what the others choices were.  Paul never gave up, he obviously kept praying and seeking God otherwise he may have not seen the angel of the Lord and not gotten the words of encouragement.

We also may not be able to "get off this ride" but we can also choose not give up.  We can keep praying and seeking God.  You never know when God is going to break through into the storm of your life and tell you when it's over.

I recall some words of a song "the ship is battered, the sails are torn, yet the anchor holds..."

Let Jesus Christ be your anchor, let Him be your safe harbor or anchor and hold you during those times of trouble, through the storms of life.

What MOVES You?

You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes... 
Song of Songs 4:9b

Would you move more than fourteen thousand kilometers away from your home?  What if it was in a different hemisphere?  You have lived your whole life in a certain culture, life style, and standard of living.  Would you do it for a job?  A change of pace and see something different of the world?  Maybe an opportunity to make a difference in someones life?  Now would you do it if it meant possibly never going back to what you have always known?  This move I'm talking about is going to change your life forever.

I met Shelley in such a unique way.  No we weren't high school sweethearts, we didn't meet at a sports club or at church.

Of seven billion people living on earth today.  More than the majority have computers or access to computers and the internet.

I had just been in a car accident only a week prior and I was at the library working on accessing things on my relatively new iphone.  An advertisement came up on the computer offering to meet new Christian friends.  It was a free trial offer for a week, all they wanted was my email and some information that I might like to share about myself for others to read and choose if they would like to talk.  Of the other seven billion people in the world there was a woman in South Africa that somehow ended up seeing that same advertisement at the same time.  We both took a chance and answered the invitation.  Three days later I was going through my morning routine and was checking my computer and saw that someone in S.A. had looked at my online profile in Canada...little did I know that clicking on her profile was going to change my life forever.  Because when I did and saw Shelley's picture...You have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes

At first I thought she must have clicked my  picture by accident.  I didn't care, I had to speak to her, even if we were a world apart.  I had to draw her attention to this fact but it didn't seem to be an issue with her.  I love that about my wife Shelley, there is no mountain to big, no ocean wide enough, if God is in it then anything is possible...she stole my heart.

We would write to eachother every day.  Then we took the big step of talking on the phone and the sound of her voice would just drew me in to her even more.  The things we would talk about resonated with me.  To this day her voice is the sexiest I have ever heard and ever want to hear for the rest of my life.  Not long after we took another big step and began to skype, I noticed she has the most dainty hands and fingers, her eyes are hazel and framed with by her beautiful long dark brown hair...she stole my heart.

About three months after we first made contact I flew to meet her in S.A. and it was during that three week visit I asked Shelley to marry me.  I want to live the rest of my life with her.  My heart belongs to her.  I felt like God has ordained us to be together and...she stole my heart.

Well, this blog is for the glory of God.  I want people to read His words and be inspired to live for Him, be devoted to Him and love Him more.  If I can do that by telling you a very short version of my story, how Shelley and I came to be married, then I'm happy to do that.  Also I can't help but tell everyone how much I love her.  I don't take her for granted and I know I have so much to work on myself but I'm willing to do it because she is worth it and ...Shelley has stolen my heart.

Please pray for us.

Please pray for this blog to go out and accomplish what God wants to do with it.

Please pray for your own marriages, your own husband or wife, and let them exclusively own your heart.  I'm praying for you, Jesus and Jeff.

Water Into Wine

   On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.  Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine."   "Dear woman, why do you involve me"  Jesus replied.  "My time has not yet come."  His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."  Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.  Jesus said to the servants,  "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim.  Then He told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."  They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.  He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.  Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and them the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." 
John 2:1-10 NIV

My friend Mike is getting married tomorrow.  He and Caroline have been dating for a long time and now they are going to make their relationship permanent.

As I've been reading through the scriptures I've always wondered about this passage.  Is it an oversimplification to say that Jesus was only telling us that it's okay to drink wine at weddings and even when the supply is gone, to go get more?

The miraculous transforming of water into wine was Jesus' first recorded miracle.  I think that it isn't a stretch to say that if He could turn water into wine, He could also unite two separate people, transforming them into one flesh.  The bible calls the husband and wife union 'a mystery' and it is used to illustrate "...Christ and the church." Ephesians 5:32.  

Marriage is a beautiful, seamless union that cannot be broken.  It is made to reflect the magnificent creativity of almighty God as seen in the beginning of creation in Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 2:20-25.  God is for companionship, for marriages, unions that are godly, peaceful and seamless.

Another thought is that Jesus' mother came to Him with a request that He help them when they had  run out of wine to celebrate.  He responded by granting her request.  This act displays God's understanding of our needs and His generosity towards us.

No matter what your need is, He can perform a miracle.  We must do some work, we must have faith to believe that He can do it and accept His grace if He doesn't.

If you will fill yourself up with the pure water (of His word), He will transform you into what you are to be.

Unexpected Blessings At The End Of The Storm

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta.  The islanders showed us unusual kindness.  They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold.  Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand.  When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped form the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live."  But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.  The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island.  He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably.  His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery.  Paul went in to see him and , after prayer,placed his hands on him and healed him.  When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.  They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed. 

Acts 28:1-10



In spite of Paul's not wanting to sail, he is forced as a prisoner to go, and gets to experience what a violent storm at sea is like, ending in a shipwreck.  They land on an island called Malta, where they find the people who live there are friendly and helpful. 

Paul, true to his character, is going about doing the work that needs to be done and is gathering firewood to keep the ship wreck survivors warm.  In his work, he gets bitten by a viper but suffers no side effects, and the local people call Paul a 'god.'

As their stay on the island goes on, Paul heals the island chief's father, and the "rest of the sick on the island" as well.  In turn, when they were able to sail again, all they needed was supplied to them.

For someone who didn't want to be on this journey in the first place and who was foretold that there was going to be loss and hardship, Paul kept an impeccable attitude.  He is recorded as being encouraging, caring, someone with vision, hard working, faithful, and sharing.  Because of Paul's life, the centurion spared the prisoners from being put to death by the soldiers, and everyone makes it to shore safely.  The fact that Paul survives a viper's bite earns him an audience with the highest public official on Malta where he heals the man's father.  This in turn enables Paul to heal the rest of the sick.  To do that takes a lot of faith and Paul was the man who had it.  Through him the locals had their faith built up enough to be healed also.

It is recorded that there were 276 people on the ship.  It is also recorded that just before they were ship wrecked, they lightened the ship by throwing all the wheat overboard.  So when it was time to sail, they needed food for the journey and the people of Malta.  That was their gesture of thanks to Paul for his ministry there.  Paul didn't horde it for himself or ask for what only he could use himself, but got supplies for everyone.  A perfect example of selflessness.

I have to ask myself if I have had the same attitude through my 'storm' as Paul did through his?

I wonder if I cared selflessly about others and worked for them to the best of my ability?

Do I have the faith to heal those who God would direct me to?

Can I get back on that ship once it is ready to sail again, especially since I didn't want to go on it in the first place?

How about you?

Can you relate to any of what Paul has gone through in your own life?

Travel Arrangements

He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.  The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 
John 3:32-33 NIV

When I have the opportunity to travel I go to my travel agent to make arrangements.  I may have talked with friends or family about travelling to a certain place but they may not have ever been there to tell me what it is like.  The reason I go to the travel agent is because where I'm going they have already been and experienced it, and can tell me first hand what it's like.  They will also be able to get me the best deal available and get me onto the best flights and into the best motel rooms for the best prices.  Usually there are no hassles from the beginning to the end of my trip.  In a sense I'm honoring them by listening to what they are saying and trusting that it is true.  In fact when I return from the trip I can tell in my own words what it was like and so certify that the travel agent was right.

Jesus is like that travel agent.  He has come from heaven, knows what it is like and gives us a testimony to it's validity.  The old testament prophets are like people who talk about going somewhere but have never actually gone.  In a sense they are giving us second hand information and cannot make any of the travel arrangements.

Now it's our choice to believe the words of Jesus or not.  If you choose to believe and trust in Jesus Christ your are certifying Him as truthful.

• I encourage you to accept Jesus' testimony of heaven.
• In so doing you are certifying God's Word is truth.
• Have the confidence that your eternal travel arrangements are made and the destination will be more than what you could have dreamed.

To Learn We Have To Ask Questions

"How can a man be born when he is old?"  Nicodemus asked.  "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"  
John 3:4

Before I was old enough to go to school I had learned how to skate, forwards and backwards.  I could skate with a hockey stick in my hands or without one in my hands.  I had played all the positions on a hockey team, goalie, defence, winger and center.  I had at least a basic understanding of how the game was to be played and I loved it.  My favorite team growing up was the Montreal Canadians, and Ken Dryden was my absolute favorite player.  As I got older, I learned how better to play the game and found that i continued to grow because of the patience and wisdom of my coaches.

When going to a hockey game with someone who doesn't know how to play,  I tend to get asked questions about how the game is played.  Why is the puck dropped there?  How come that guy is sitting across the ice from his team alone?  What just happened that those guys are hugging each other and there is a red light on behind the goalie?  It makes me feel like I know more than I really do.  But for love of the game and the person asking the questions (because I want them to love it like I do), I take the time to explain everything to them.

Nicodemus was somebody who wanted to know more about eternal life and so he asks someone who knows a lot more about it than he does.  In fact he is asking the Son of God.  Nicodemus wants to know more about the spiritual life and spiritual things.  Because of his thirst for understanding and his  acknowledgement that Jesus has the answers, he continues to ask questions.  For that I admire Nicodemus.

Do you have a thirst for the spiritual life?

Are you wanting to go deeper in the things of the Spririt?

Do you acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and that He has the answers to your questions?

Will you keep asking God the questions you have?

I promise you He will listen to your every question and give you an answer to the ones that are important for you to know the answer to, if only you humble yourself to Him hear what He has to say.

Matthew 7:7 "Ask and It will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives;..."

Time To Rest

By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all his work.  And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. 
Genesis 2:2,3 NIV

                                   
After God had finished creating, day and night;  sky between the waters (remember the earth had been encapsulated in water before the flood), dry ground with all the vegetation,  sun - moon and stars to govern between day and night, birds and fish, wild animals and finally mankind, He rested.

To follow His example we also rest from our work and part of our rest is to corporately worship God. It's called keeping the sabbath.  Hebrews 4:9-11 "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;  for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from His own work, just as God did from His.  Let us, therefore make every effort to enter that rest..."

Resting includes not checking our stocks and bond prices.  Not making mental notes and lists of things that need to be done at work on Monday.  Not even doing housework or repairs, if at all possible.  This of course does not mean that we become "religious" in what we do or don't do.  God wants us to have a heart prepared to rest and to honestly worship Him.

We have a week ahead of us that we can work and do the things we want.  Today I hope that you have been refreshed spiritually, physically, and relationally.

R - regaining
E - emotional
S - spiritual
T - tranquility

They Wanted A Miraculous Sign

Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"  Jesus answered them, "destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."  John 2:18-19



Jesus had just cleared the temple of cattle, sheep, doves and money changing tables.  He had zeal to have His Fathers house be exclusive for worship and adoration of God.

Now we are told of the opposition to Jesus' actions.  The attitude towards Him and the demands the Jews have are disrespectful.  Through their actions and words it shows they had no revelation of who Jesus is.  Yet it is through our weakness that His strength is made so powerful.

• How do we talk to God?  
• When things happen to us that we are not used to, do we make demands of Him to explain Himself?  To expect Him to change them back to the way they were?  
• Do we require Him to prove Himself time after time?

If my children were to express themselves to me the way the Jews did to Jesus I'm more likely to remind them of their place as my child and to be more respectful of me as their father.  Jesus answers us today the same way He did then, with truth and a promise that is beyond belief.  He entertains their demands with sincere answers and patience.  He knew how exactly to handle them, Jesus is in perfect control.  There is no sense of panic or uncertainty in what He says.  Jesus has just begun His ministry and now He's beginning to unfold His plan of salvation.

What Jesus was talking about was His death and resurrection.  He is both heavenly and earthly minded in His response.  The temple He was speaking of was His body and raising it up is the greatest proof of His authority and our only hope of eternal life.  Yet because of unbelief and blindness to the things of the Spirit (which at that time the Holy Spirit had still not been sent), those that opposed Him could not understand what Jesus was talking about.

Do you understand why Jesus is allowing things to happen in your life?
Are there things being removed from your life that maybe you have become accustom to?
Will you respond by demanding He explain who He is and why He's removing things from from you?
 How will you respond to God today?

Read my next blog to see how this story of the temple clearing continues to unfold,
sincerely,
JesusandJeff

The Sixth Day

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."  

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."  Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.  They will be yours for food.  And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food."  And it was so.  God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.  And there was evening, and there was morning - the sixth day.  
Genesis 1:26, 28-31

So far I have written to you about the third day of creation (water and land), the fourth day of creation (greater and lesser lights), the fifth day of creation (birds and great creatures of the sea).

I wanted to get across that while God was creating:

1. He was having pleasure in it
2. He saw that it was good
3. His ability to create is consistent and equal in the small and the great.

When  God finished creating His masterpiece of man, made in His image, He looks it over and says it is very good.  That includes you, perfectly made in His image, and He takes pleasure in you.  There is no freckle or wart out of place, not a hair too many or missing.  Your height, eyes, voice, skin colour, and location on the earth is exactly right where He wanted.

My response to His creation of me is joy and excitement, like a child has when a loving caring father spends time with them.  I allow myself to see all the good things in this world and the good that He created in me.  Whether I'm considered by some to be little in this world or by some to be great, the only thing that matters is that I know God wanted me here, and I'm enjoying it for as long as He has granted me time to.  Then I can have the confidence in knowing my loving Father will spend time with me for eternity.

• Can you see the good in the world?  List them.
• Think of all your God given abilities, attributes, and interests.  List them.
• How can you best utilise them now?
• Give thanks to God for all He has created in you.
• Are there any that you would like to further develop, whether they are physical, intellectual or spiritual?

Take Time To Enjoy The Children

People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, He was indignant.  He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  And He took the children in his arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.  

Mark 10:13-16

I'm late putting out my blog today, but I have a very good reason why.  This morning I was at a creché.  That is like a kindergarten and after school care facility for children.

A couple of weeks ago my wife Shelley brought home burglar bars for windows and thought that we (I) could install them for Penny, the principal of Butterfly Way Educare.  So today was the day that I went to so the work, hoping to make the place more safe and secure for her and the children.

Well, the truth be told, that wasn't the only thing James and I were doing, we were making the kids laugh simply by talking to them.  They thought we sounded funny with our Canadian accents (eh).  We also got to play a little touch tag with them until they had to get back to whatever Penny had planned for them.

Children are an integral part of society, in fact they will be in heaven, maybe more so.  From today's scriptures we're told Jesus took them in His arms, and that's all out acceptance.  Arms wide open, hands touching them, blessing them.  His actions show not only acceptance but protection and provision.  The disciples got it wrong by trying to keep the children away, Jesus was in fact saying they need me, they need you.  Children need our acceptance, protection and provision.

That is what I see in the work that Penny is doing.  I want to do a proper interview with her and give her the opportunity to describe and explain what goes on at Butterfly Way Educare.  For now though I am asking you to pray for Penny and her ministry to these children and go to her webpage (www.butterflywayeducare.co.za) to find out more.

Now go give your child, niece,  nephew or grandchildren some of your time.  If you don't have children go spend some time with your mom or dad.  Make it a blessing for everyone.  That way you will be following the example and instruction of Christ.

Some Thoughts on Psalm 1

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers... For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,  
Psalm 1:1-3,6a NIV  

The first verse makes clear what 1 Corinthians 15:33 says:  Do not be mislead: "Bad company corrupts good character."

It's interesting that every possible physical posture is addressed, walking, standing, sitting.  In what other posture could we be found in to associate with another person?

From the Free On Live Dictionary: blessed is defined as: "Bringing happiness, pleasure, or contentment." 

So it would be reasonable to conclude that if one does not associate with the "wicked, sinners, or mockers" they would have greater happiness, pleasure and contentment. 

Already I hear the arguments about Christians having to  be salt and light in a dark and dying world.  What about Jesus' ministry while on earth?  How could anyone be saved if we're not to associate with the 'sinners'?

What the psalmist is saying here is that Christians should not be getting their advice or popular ideologies from the world.  He says as much by saying your delight is on thinking over the words of the scriptures.  Internalizing it in the heart and mind enables you to share your wisdom that is given by God (through meditating on it) to those in the world. 

Also from the Free On Line Dictionary: delight =  Something that gives great pleasure or enjoyment.  A word of encouragement, makereading and memorizing scripture fun.  Reward yourself somehow in little ways when you do so.  You know what you like, just be moderate in your rewards.

I used to have maple trees on my property.In the spring time when the sap would begin to run up the tree, we would drill holes and hammer in a spout (also called 'tapping') and let some of the tree sap pour into a bucket to be boiled down to the sweetest maple syrup.  It sounds like a nice family thing to do but the hard work that goes into it almost makes it not worth while.  Up until recently when we got battery powered drills, all the taps had to be drilled by hand.  The trees are just coming out of a frozen Canadian winter and Maple wood is one of our hardest woods there.  This is what I think of when reading the psalmists words of ...like a tree planted by streams of water,... Strong winds or storms cannot easily break these majestic structures.  The streams of water are the word of God, and being filled with it will cause you to be fruitful when the time presents itself to be salt and light to the world.  He will prosper you.

It's a hard world out there, I don't have to tell you that.  Everyone is out there trying to get what they think belongs to them and willing to do whatever it takes to get it.  People can be difficult to get along with if communication isn't clear, or if you are getting in their way.  Whether it's on the highway or on the job or in the grocery store, if you don't look out somebody is going to take your place in line or your promotion.  Yet God says He "watches over the way of the righteous."  Nothing will come across your path without Him knowing about it. 

Where have you been walking lately?

Who have you been sitting with?

Seasons Of Life

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:...a time to hold on and a time to let go. 
Ecclesiastes 3:1,6

I just finished reading an article of a mother who was having difficulty transitioning from one season in her life to another.  The seasons were from raising children to being free from the responsibility of caring for them.  For some this comes earlier (like myself) than for others.  Five of my children still live with their mom and I have very, very limited access to them, not at all by my choice.  But this isn't about me so to get back to the mother in the story.  She found herself looking at old pictures in photo albums and crying and being unable to get motivated to do things in her day.

Get Help

She was wise enough to realize that something was wrong and she went to see a counsellor.  That person was able to help her see that she hadn't changed through the years of motherhood.  She still had her talents, gifts and dreams.

The counsellor helped her to see that she had a choice:

1. she could look back at the life she had lived raising the children 
2. get God's perspective and see that He still has a purpose for her

I think of Israel when they had been freed from Egypt and were across the Red Sea, it didn't take them long to start wishing for the "good old days".  They had lost their perspective and had no vision for the future, they were pining for the days of slavery if that is even possible.  Ask yourself, do I really want to go back to those sleepless nights, dirty diapers...get the picture.  Or can you envision a future?

God's Plan

His plan does not include us living our lives every day looking in the rear view mirror.   When every day all we long for is to live in the past and have no goals or ambition for the future, wishing for yesterday.  We need to set realistic goals for ourselves.  Do those things that we have always been dreaming of doing before we started on the 'family plan'.  Get God's perspective and live with purpose now for Him, for yourself, for the future.

Lord Jesus please help me to dream again.  Help me to stop thinking about myself but rather how I can get involved in other peoples lives and share my gifts and talents. For your glory and my own health, amen.

Rest And Relaxation

After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them.... 
John 3:22

Boyers campsite was a place that I have fond memories of located on a beautifully clear freshwater lake.  It was just over the Quebec border from Ontario, about an hour and a half drive away.  My parents bought a travel trailer that we would cook in and play board games in late at night or when the weather was bad.  My brother and I would camp in a tent just a few meters away from the trailer and fire pit.  Those times brought us closer together as we would swim, fish, play games... they were some of the best days of my childhood with my family.

Do you ever look at travel brochures and wish you had the time or money to go and spend some time away enjoying those far away places?  Who are some of the friends or family that you would want to take with you and enjoy experiencing them with?  Maybe you don't have to go so far as getting a travel agent and you only need to go to a park or campsite in the next town over.

Jesus wanted to be with his disciples, his friends, the ones he was pouring his life into.  Like wise his disciples wanted to be with him.   Where better to go than into the countryside?  Somewhere they could go swim, fish, maybe play some games, have a campfire and tell stories and relax.  In the countryside there were no more crowds, no more people challenging you.  It was time away from the boring day to day business of earning a living and paying the bills.

Even Jesus spent time resting and relaxing in his early ministry.  Everything written in Scripture about Jesus is there for a reason, and this verse tells us its OK to spend time relaxing with those we want to be with and those we love.  No doubt Jesus spent a few mornings staying in bed just a few minutes longer, resting.

• Make your family a priority and spend time with them.
• Show the love and concern for your spouse that they unconditionally deserve.
• Pour yourself into those who need you to teach them.
• If you're a young adult allow yourself to be transparent with a few other friends that you trust.
• Over all, rest.

"...God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work." Genesis 2:2

READ THIS! Light At Creation

And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth."  And it was so.  God made two great lights - the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night.  He also made the stars.  God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness.  And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening, and there was morning - the fourth day. 
Genesis 1:14-19

I remember the day a christian scientist came to our campus to try and give us an understanding of what science is coming up with from a creationist point of view.

There were over five hundred students in the auditorium, so when he held up an object and asked us to describe it (it was an unrecognizable blackened item),  only a brave few ventured a guess but apparently didn't even come close.  He did tell us that one day when his wife had left their house, he turned up the oven as hot as it would go, inserted the object on a cookie sheet and baked it until he achieved what he was now holding before us.  Still not one of the seminary staff or students even came close in their few guesses.

He wanted us to tell him what it was, what it originally looked like, the purpose of it, if it retained anything of its original content and what the ingredients in it were.  It looked liked a flat black "blob".  As it turned out it was a two hour baked, two litre clear plastic pop bottle, with the famous red and white Coca-Cola label on it that held a black carbonated, sugary, flavoured beverage.  How could we have known before it was destroyed by the hot oven?   There was no way to tell that it was such a famous bottle holding such a well known drink.

His analogy was simply this, just as we couldn't know what the black blob looked like in it's original form and the purpose of it, neither can we know what the earth was like in it's original state prior to the fall of man and the soon following flood.  Yet we are left with remnants of the earth and we can venture guesses of what the original looked like based on evidence of what is left of the earth as we know and experience it today.

He explained to us that the earth was encapsulated in water, somewhat like a baby in utero.  So when the light would shine on the earth it was protected by the harmful rays of the sun and the temperature was equally distributed globally.  The light rays would have been deflected from the surface of the earth rather than having them shine directly onto the earth.  Also, there would have been no total darkness since the suns rays would have been reflected back onto the earths surfaces because of refraction off the film of water on the 'night' side, in a shade of very tranquil and gentle pink hue.  Yet is was still dark enough on the night side of the earth to see all of the stars and the moon.  There originally was no total darkness but rather a magenta pink, being the most calming colour of all our colours.   God would have known that babies are inherently afraid of complete darkness but He took care to ensure that even our babies fears of dark were looked after.

When God created the light he saw it was good.  As I said in my last blog, His creation pleased him

• How does the warmth of the sun on your face feel early in the morning?
• Do you ever look up into the stars and wonder where did they all come from?
• Take time today to appreciate the creator of the sun and tonight thank Him for the beauty of the stars and the moon.