Hardships....

1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Remember what God has taught you in times of hardship and trials. Remember how the Lord has proved Himself faithful time and time again. These are stepping stones to a faith that will be required in your life in future hardships. 
Remembering how God has brought you through difficult times is a form of worship, it brings glory and honor to His Name as we remember how He has taken action on our behalf in the past.
God is not going to drop us by the wayside now. As He has faithfully carried us in the past, He will continue to hold our hand and to carry us step by step.  He is faithful to carry us through - nothing is too hard for the Lord. He is able, He is willing to come to our aid at all times!
Praise God!!

Hebrews 2:18  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

Abraham - Hero of the Bible

God wants you to worship Him, follow Him and thank Him!

James 2:22-23  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Our church is starting a sermon series titled "Heroes of the Bible". We started with Abraham. Later on in this post I will share the sermon notes from my home church. But I must admit that the sermon really didn't answer the question I have about Abraham. The question I have is why is Abraham a hero? What character trait is it that God is looking for in us that He would call us "friend" as He did with Abraham?  Jesus says in John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. So we see that obedience is part of it.

 I found the following article written by Jeff Strite. I think he makes a good point. You can read the entire article at  Abraham - Hero of the Faith   Mr Strite writes the following.

He was so significant, that in Genesis 12:2-3 we find that God sought Abraham out and gave him some very impressive promises. God said to Abraham:

"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

God promised he was going to make Abraham the father of a great nation and make his name would become great. Abraham would receive a special protection of God and not only was he to be blessed by God, but everybody on earth who would ever be blessed by God, was to blessed because of Abraham.

How did Abraham rate such an honor?

Because the eyes of the Lord had run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those who were loyal to Him.

God set Abraham up to be one of the major heroes in Scripture. And God made him a hero because God saw in him a special trait – Faith.

Romans 4:9 tells us that “… Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.”

So much so that Romans 4:12 tells us “he is the father of (those) who walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.”

Faith is a highly valued commodity to God.

Heb 11:6 “…without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him.”

And Hebrews 10:38 says “… my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

God calls His people to LIVE by faith. That implies that not just any old faith is going to do. God wants a faith that changes how we live.

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 So we can see that it is when we put our faith in God that He becomes pleased with us. A faith that changes how we live, a faith that produces obedience to the Word of God - The Bible.

Hebrews 11: 8-12

 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

It's pretty clear from the passage from Hebrews 11 that Abraham is a hero of the Bible because of the faith that he demonstrated as he lived his day to day life in faith - faith that influenced his decisions and choices every day.

Now to our sermon notes. 


The text is Genesis 12: 1-9 

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto theLord, who appeared unto him.

8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.

9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

 Our speaker was Pastor Ben. Here is some of what he said:

Abraham is huge in the Bible. The Bible keeps referring back to Abraham.
God makes massive promises to Abraham in verses 2-3.
* I will make you a great nation 
* I will bless you and make your name great
* I will bless them that bless you and curse those who curse you
God promises to make Abraham a blessing to the entire world.
This seemed impossible to  Abraham - he was living in a tent in the middle east, doesn't even know that America exists. Abraham was about 75 years old when God called him. He is not a young man. Yet the promise of a great nation??

This shows us that you are never too old for God to work in your life. Abraham has no children, no power and no influence.

The question for us is "Is God Faithful and Can we trust Him?"
Can God be trusted to keep His Word?
God's promises are for abundant life to those who follow Him - Can He keep His Word?

Abraham demonstrates great faith when he packs up his family, his goods and possessions and goes as God commands him to do.
Abraham waits years and no child is born. Sarah and Abraham decide to "help" God with this so Hagar the slave is given to Abraham as wife in order to bear a child. Ishmael is born, but we soon learn that he is not the son that God has promised to Abraham and Sarah.
God reaffirms his promise to Abraham.

God is faithful and does keep His promises - Isaac is born.

It is our choice whether we want to keep walking with God or if we want to turn our back to God and walk away from Him. We can reject God's promises, but God does not give up on us nor does He forget His promises to us. God is faithful to His Word.

Abraham's name has become great.
Abraham has become a great nation - the nation of Israel.
God's promises have come to pass.
God is faithful to every one of His promises!!

Valentine's Day - more than flowers....

 Happy Valentine's Day to my husband - all my love to you Cliff!





1 John 4:9-11 says  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another

Most of us will spend time and money to get that right Valentine's gift for that special person in our lives. We want it to have meaning and we want to somehow express our love through it. To show this kind of love is important on a special day like today.

BUT..... more important than flowers or chocolate or that romantic supper you have planned for your spouse, is the love that you show everyday. Flowers and chocolate will have very little meaning if that love you claim to have for your spouse today is not lived out tomorrow, next week, next year and the rest of your life!

So what is important?
1) exclusive love - The love we have for our spouse must be exclusive. Our spouse is the only one that holds "the spot" in our heart. No one else will be offered that spot ever nor will we allow anyone to steal that "spot ever"! It belongs to my spouse alone.

2) faithfulness - Faithfulness to our spouse is extremely important. If we fail in this area, our whole life will be destroyed. There is no sensible woman who will accept being "one of many".  No, the fact is true love demands faithfulness, and exclusive love till death do part. No other option is acceptable.

3) in good days as well as bad - Someday either you or your spouse will have a bad day, perhaps due to circumstances beyond your control or due to illness.  Exclusive faithful love is what is required here - there is no plan B. In these times of hardship, your spouse may not be able to meet all your needs but real true love is not selfish. True love is a serving love. The needs of your spouse become the focus and your own needs and desires are put aside. You are not going to fill your own needs and desires with any other thing or person - like I said , there is no plan B.

4) encourage your spouse - Lavish your spouse with words of affirmation and encouragement.  Tell him/her about the love you have in your heart and the feelings you have for him/her. Open your heart up and tell your spouse the deep things inside your heart. Tell your spouse about the exclusive love that you have for him/her. Tell your spouse that you will be faithfull all the days of your life.

5) go public about your love for your spouse - Let the people around you know that your spouse is the only one for you. Say it verbally, out loud for everyone to hear! Even if you have been married for years, be public about this regularly. Hold hands with your spouse. Put your arm around her in church or other public places. Catch the twinkle in her eye that says I love you.

6) issues that need resolving - do it privately and seek help from your pastor when necessary.  Never put down your spouse in public even if you are upset. Show respect one toward another.

7) give your kids a Valentine's gift - the gift of showing love to your spouse everyday of the year, it will help them immensely to see Dad loving Mom and also Mom loving Dad!!

8) forgiveness - There are no lasting relationships without forgiveness. That is a quote from James McDonald. How very true it is. We must be willing to forgive each other. Forgiveness can be hard but it is worth it and the relationship you have with your spouse will be stronger for it.

Worship in Marriage - Sunday Sermon

Sunday Sermon Review - August 5, 2012
Topic - Worship in Marriage

Marriage is like a pair of shears oft times working in opposite directions, but punishing anyone that comes between them.” - Sydney Smith

The service began with the group leading us in several songs - one of which was " How Great Thou Art". There was a children's feature where the first line of Hebrews 13:4 -  Marriage is honourable in all  was emphasized. It was explained to the children that they need to honor marriage by giving their parents space to spend time together ( just the two of them) in order to maintain a good friendship. The children were encouraged to send their parents on a little date and to not fuss if they need to stay with a babysitter at such a time.

This was followed by the reading of Ephesians 5:15-32.
Pastor Ben came up to preach on " Marriage as Worship".
He reminded us of the theme of the series that Worship is our Response to Who God is and what God has done for us. We need to place God as first and highest importance in our lives.

Marriage as an Act of Worship
Pastor Ben also referred to Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
Marriage is a covenant before God and witnesses to be faithful till death parts.
Just as it takes a village to raise a child, married people need support and blessing from their children, parents and others.
In order to worship God in marriage we need to realize that God is the one who gives us significance. As individuals we are loved and accepted by God. We need to be rooted in God in order to be successful in marriage.

Getting Practical in Honoring  Marriage
Your spouse should be your "Best Friend"!
Take time regularly and often to maintain friendship with your spouse.
Don't let anyone drive a wedge between you and your spouse.
If a couple has been apart due to work or other circumstance, encourage them to spend time together just with each other and don't invite them over to spend time with you when  in reality they need to spend time with each other.
Children - Give your parents time and space to spend quality time together. Pastor Ben suggested  older children  babysit their younger siblings ( for free!) in order to give their Mom and Dad time to get apart by themselves for a few hours.
Parents and Parents-in-law - don't interfere in the marriage of your grown children
Be a blessing to your children's marriage
Make sure you do not slander your child's spouse
You no longer have authority over your married children
You can encourage them but they must rely on each other (on their own spouse)  - not on you as parents
To Married People
Become God-centered
Let the reponse you are to your spouse reflect who you are in Christ.
Selfishness and self-centeredness are the core root of problems in marriage
We are to give up ourselves for our spouse and put his/her needs above our own
Our spouse cannot fulfill the longings of our heart that only God ia able to truely fill.
Your spouse has married a sinner.
Let your response to your spouse be a response to God rather than basing it on what your spouse has or has not done for you.
Be a living sacrifice for your spouse.
Love as God loves - base your love on how God loves.
Romans 12:1 says I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Note - next Sunday will be Worship in your Family

Ephesians 5: 22-28
²² Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
²⁸ So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

My Mom - Woman of Faith!

Recently in the news Ann Romney ( the wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney) was  criticized for having made the choice to be a stay- at - home mom to raise their family. She was criticized to have never worked a day in her life. Wow! I am glad that many many people came to her defense including Michelle Obama and the President himself. Raising children is not an easy task - it takes very much love, and patience, and the giving up of one's own desires for the good of the family.
So with that I want to turn my thoughts over to my own Mom who did this very thing - she has been a stay at home Mom and together with my Dad lovingly raised me and my 5 sisters.
Jeremiah 29:11 -

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

The LORD has plans for each of us and now that my Mom is in her eighties we can look back and get a picture of some of what that was.
Before my Mom and Dad met, my Mom's parents decided to move from Manitoba to Paraguay along with many other Mennonite families. The Mennonites were seeking to find a place of peace where they would be able to raise their families.So in preparation for the journey to Paraguay( thinking never to return to Canada) my Mom, a young lady,  had to get rid of her possessions which included her "hope chest". A "hope chest" was dishes and things girls would start to collect as young teenagers which they would then hope to use once they would marry the man of their dreams. She recalls the agony of leaving it behind. Then my Mom, her parents and siblings along with a couple of thousand other Mennonites  boarded the ship to sail to Paraguay.  Sailing there took approximately a month and as she recalls she was sick most of the time sailing. As it turned out though, life was not as promising in Paraguay as they all had hoped and they headed back to Canada within six months and back in Canada my Mom met my Dad. God had it all planned.

                                        This is a picture of my parents as a very young couple.                                  

My Mom was a very hard working person not only keeping the house, cooking with a wood stove in the early days, doing laundry with the old washing machine and no dryer, she was always helping Dad on the farm however she could. She was always by his side in a supporting role whether it was with farmwork - fixing the combine, running the baler, milking cows, but even more importantly she supported Dad in his work as a preacher. Always with him at his side whenever or however she was needed. As I think about my Mom, I remember the loving care she gave to me as a little girl. She would come to help me say my prayers each night. I would kneel in bed to pray and she would kneel  beside the bed as I prayed. Then she would tuck me in so I would get a good sleep.  If at any time in the night I woke up, and couldn't sleep, I would call " MOM" and she would be right there. She would read a Bible story to me regardless of what time in the night it was, then she would tuck me in again and she would say -" I'll stay right here with you until you fall asleep" and she did too. It didn't matter if it took half an hour or an hour for her little girl to fall asleep, she stayed there by my bed to bring security and comfort.  She was selfless and loving through and through. This also showed up in her giving spirit to the neighbors. She is a truly generous and caring person.
My Mom's faith has grown strong over the years. She has been a great example to us to see her reading her Bible and other Scriptural literature. Being sure of  one's salvation and that we be ready to meet the LORD at any time is something that she stresses consistantly. Since Dad's passing, she has blossomed in showing her love for the LORD even more.
When my Dad became ill with cancer, she again stood strong with him going to appointment after appointment  with him and caring for him. The last six months of Dad's battle with cancer were spent in the hospital. Mom would go to the hospital in the morning and stay there with Dad the entire day, come home in the evening and the next day do it all over again. It seemed Dad had peace when he was so sick, just to know she was there with him and know she would be there with him the whole way through.

Heavenly Father, You have given me a wonderful Mother...Thank-you , Amen