Day 13 - Christmas Music on the Radio

So I had an thought while driving home from work tonight. I had found a entirely Christmas music station (we had been listening to it at work earlier as well) and I was wondering why Christian music is even acceptable in today's culture. Sure it has its fair share of Santa and secular Christmas music, but almost have of the songs reference Jesus, Mary, Bethlehem, include some that are straight from the hymn book. My two conclusions were that:

1. People start feeling more "religious" around Christmas time. Maybe it brings back their upbringing or they just think it is the right thing to do so they are offended by something that is clearly from Scripture.

2. They don't actually listen to the words and just hear them as the "classics" of Christmas.


I know this sounds cynical but these were my two thoughts. Then I thought that maybe even if this is something that most people will miss, maybe someone out there will actually listen and wonder about something their hear in a Christmas carol this month. Maybe it will make them curious so they attend a local church and hear more.


My prayer for this month is that people will not just get caught up in the secularism of Christmas and actually hear the words and listen to the story.

Waiting On God's Timing

Well I guess the waiting game is not over yet. . . .



 I have decided that I am going to do my fourth year at Belfast, Ireland with Child Evangelism Fellowship... I even have my flights booked and I am working on getting my visa started. . . . . this was all working out so well.


But, God knowing my tendancy to not rely on Him when everything goes my way, has placed more obsticles in my path. . . . .


Heading home I knew that I needed work over the summer, full time work if that was even possible. . . . but then I got quite sick with bronchitis and really was not able to do much for the first month except apply to jobs and hope that I would get better before any of them called.


Well, now I am starting to feel better, have applied to almost every place in a thirty minute radius, and still have had only one interview that did not pan out. . . . It makes me wonder what God wants from me this summer. How in the world will I afford next year without making any money over the summer?


But I have again been realizing over this past week that God is absolutely sovereign and what He wills for my life right now is that I do not have a job. This will be for the ultimate good, this I know in my head, but actually putting this knowledge into belief and practice is a hundred times harder. I can get so easily frustrated with my lack of work.


But God knows this....He knew that I would not be able to get a job, quickly or easily. . .. perhaps I will not get one at all. . . . but as I already said He knows. . . this was in His plan. . . . now it is just up to me to rely on Him to either provide the money or a way so that I will not have to use it.


For I know that MY GOD will supply ALL my needs according to HIS WILL and in HIS TIMING. . . .


anything else would just be perhaps GOOD 


but it definitely would not be

THE BEST 

A Year Completed

Today I officially wrote my last exam ever at New Brunswick Bible Institute. It is a strange thing to know that three years of my life are officially over. It is both a sad and exciting thing. Because my exams are over I have a lot of time to think about my future and honestly it is a little frightening. Even now that I know what I am doing for my 4th year internship next year in Belfast Ireland.... I still do not know much beyond that. It feels like I am a grade 12 high school student just about to finish all over again. As I contemplate how little I know about the years coming up it is a comforting thought to know that I don't need to worry. My God is the same yesterday today and forever and if there is just one thing I have learned about God these past three years is that He never ever breaks a promise....never. So even though my plans are full of holes right now I know that God will direct my paths as long as I trust and follow Him. Trust in the Lord with all your hearts and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.

The Challenge To Endure

This month as school feels like finishing a long distance marathon. . . .

So much has happened and changed this year at New Brunswick Bible Institute. The school this year has almost felt like an entirely new school. The change has been monumental, but it has mostly happened in the little things. In saying kind things to encourage others, instead of sarcastic comments that bring others done. In the decision to have a good attitude even on the worst of days. In a body of friends that feel more like family, and who you know will always be there for you when you fall down.

I do not think that I could ask for a better group of people to have had my senior year with.


As I have been thinking about graduation which is coming up in just a few short weeks . . . I have been thinking about those Christians who before us have been to this school and then fallen away. I know, I know those of you reading this that go to this school or any other Christian organisation have probably heard this a million times before. "Be careful when you leave here because, seeing those before you who have, you could so easily fall away."

It is so easy to disregard those words. So easy to just glance over them and think, "This will never, could never, be me. I love God with all my heart and want to serve Him full time. . . of course I will never turn away." What arrogance!!

I don't want to be just another repeater of words, but I want to encourage all of you believers out there. Do not rely on what has God done in your life in the past. Do not say that you will never fall. . . . . . there is a verse in Scripture which basically says to take even more care we you think that you are standing lest you fall. Our weakest point is usually when we think we are the strongest. So this is my challenge to all of you. . . . do not rely on one, two, or three years of Bible school to get you through the rest of your life. Trust in God, keep studying His Word diligently and faithfully, keep involved with your local church and with ministries. . . . do not let your vibrant growing walk with God end when you leave the influence of Bible School . . . . and for those of you who are not in Bible school. . . . be careful. . . be strong in the Lord. . .


These are all the thoughts that are going through my head as graduation approaches in less then a month. In less then a month most of us at school will be heading our different ways. We may never see each other again this side of glory. PLEASE . . . . stay strong in Him. . . . .


He is OUR ROCK, our STRONGHOLD, and SURE HELP IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE

Just don't forget about HIM.

Testimony of God's Grace in My Life

Today I was just thinking back about how much God has influenced and changed my life.

I grew up in a Christian home where I was constantly immersed in the Word of God and in church. Like many testimonies I can say that I was in the church whenever the doors were opened and so I constantly heard the Word of God. Through the influence of my parents and my church and my Olympian program, I finally understood the Gospel. I learnt that God had came to earth, lived as a man without sin, died as a payment for my sin, rose again from the grace, and if I believed in Him I would be able to live with Him forever.

This seemed like an amazing thing to me. . . . so that night after Olympians club I went home and talked to my mother about this. That night I believed in Jesus Christ and He saved me.

Throughout the next years of my life I just coasted through Christianity. I believed in Jesus Christ and I knew a lot. I could quote almost any verse off by heart and give you the answers to all the Sunday School questions, but I hadn't made it my own. It was all head knowledge and not practical knowledge.

I would have moments after camp and youth events where I was on fire for God and desired to know Him better. I wanted to see after Him but it would always fizzle out after a few weeks.

Hitting my teenage years, I went into a quiet rebellion. I was quietly annoyed with my friends, my siblings, my parents, my life, pretty much everything. Looking back at it now, I was living completely selfishly and focused entirely on me and my own feelings. I thought that everything should go my own way and that when it did not God hated me and wanted the worst for me. What foolish thinking.

Through these years of selfish thinking I would have major ups and downs emotionally and had days where I was ecstatic and then days where I just wanted to end it all. . . .but God brought me through those turbulent years when I really was struggling.

After graduating from high school, I went to New Brunswick Bible Institute. Here I learnt more about God and realised how I needed to make all this knowledge that I already knew and was learning my own. Instead of just knowing in my head, I needed to know in my heart.

Junior year at NBBI, I learnt that God's call on my life should not be ignored. I knew where He wanted me and i need to willingly follow Him with all my heart. Even though I was scared of where He was leading me, He is strong and able to lead me. He knows the best plan for my life.

Senior year, I have learnt a lot more about caring for others and helping others grow spiritually. I have learnt that emotions are not a weakness unless they control your life. Through God's help I have been able to care more about other people and what they are going through. I have also learnt that God care about me even when everything in my life seems to be going upside down. Through God's grace, my weaknesses show His grace. For when I am weak He is strong. Although I have struggled with bouts of depression this year, God has brought me through all of them.  He is more than able to bring me through the roughest passages of my life. God is amazing and has shown His power through my life.

Faith Is It Just Knowledge or Is It Practical

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (ESV Heb 11:1)

One of my greatest weaknesses is faith in what God can do. In my head I know. I know that He will never leave me, that He will never change, that He loves me, that He will do the best thing, that He will provide. . . . . so why can I not act that out in my life. Knowing something in your head is never ever enough. If you actually believe in something or someone, you won't just sit there. . . . you will do something about that belief. Knowledge without practise is not belief.

So, if I don't act on God's promises, does that mean that I do not believe them?

If I say that God will provide, but don't actually leave it all to Him and trust in Him . . . . am I actually believing that God will provide?

If I say that God loves me and then think that I am alone in this world and no one cares about me. . . . do I believe in God's love?

Why is it so hard to put into action what we say.

For me, faith is one of these issues. I say that I have faith. .  . . I have studied faith. . . I know that "without faith it is impossible to please God." ....I know that the Bible commands us to have faith. . . .

I know all of this in my head, so why do I not act upon it?

In one of my classes today, the teacher asked the question. . . "Do we not receive greater blessings from God because He gives us what our faith asks for?"

This question was so convicting. . . . . maybe I do not receive great blessings from God because although I pray for them I don't actually believe that they will happen. I can be so cynical sometimes. I put God on the same level on humanity and believe that because some people have betrayed my trust that God will do the same. Wow. . . . what a idiotic view. If I look at the amazing Being that is God how could I even think such a think.  . . . . . . .


God sometimes puts us through situations that the only way out is through looking at Him and only Him. When our path is treacherous, we want to look down and look at the problem. . . . but the only way through this path is to look at God and Him only. With our eyes focused on Him, we will never even see the problem and although we know it is there, we will be able to navigate it without mishap.

God understands and knows what you are going through. He is all knowing and all powerful. I think it is time that I stop relying on humans wisdom and strength and believe in God. He is able to provide.

Prayer Power

JUDE:
"20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.22 And have mercy on those who doubt;23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." (ESV)

YESTERDAY at school we had a day of prayer.
During the afternoon, ten students went on a prayer walk through a town near us. I had never done a prayer walk before, and now I just want to do them all the time. A prayer walk is when you go to any town of your choice and just walk around and pray. This can be done by yourself or with a group of friends. You just walk through the town and pray about businesses you see, the people you see . . . . really anything that the Holy Spirit brings to your attention. You can also talk to people that you meet and ask them if they have anything that you can pray about. It is a great opportunity to minister to people in your town through prayer.

Then later on that evening, we had a group prayer with the school. We divided into groups of two people and for a hour and a half we just prayed. We prayed for whatever was burdening us at that moment. This could involve relationships, funds, missions trips, and revival.

After experiencing this day, I have come to better understanding of the full power of prayer. It isn't something that we should just past by lightly. As a Christian, your lifeline with God is prayer. There are so many times that I rely on human wisdom or my own experience instead of relying on God. Instead of prayer, I rationalize. . . .instead of prayer, I talk with friends. . . Instead of prayer, I avoid God.


Instead of strength, I have weakness. . . . . . 

Are you weary today? Are there many burdens that laden you down? 
Who are you relying on. . . . . . . friends will fail you. . . . . . your wisdom will fall. . . . . your strength will crumble. . . . . . 

Trust In God, He WILL NEVER FAIL

Turn a Frown Upside Down

I just want to talk about the encouragement of friends today. Today was not an easy day for me. I learnt that although I was not rejected for the school that I want to go to next year, I was deferred to the next round of applications. I also learnt that a close friend of mine's Dad possibly has cancer. I struggled with problems today of what I am going to do with my future, how I am going to raise money for my missions trip to Texas, and what to say to encourage this friend when I really do not feel all that great about life myself?

But then I saw how encouraging my friends can and could be. They didn't let me wallow in my own self-pity and sorrow, but tried to encouragement and keep my mind off the immediate problems and on the bigger scheme of things. One of my friends after hearing what had gone on in my day and how worried I was asked me if I wanted him to pray for me right there and now. So in the supper line this friend prayed to Jehovah God and asked Him to give me wisdom and strength and that I would have patience and follow His will. I don't think my friend will ever know how much that meant to me.

The care of friends is something that is relatively novel to me, but something that I can know see incredibly important. Before this year, I was relatively a loner. I didn't trust anyone and relied on no one. I believed that if I couldn't do it myself then it wasn't worth doing. Deep down I wanted friends desperately, but I thought that because no friends were just appearing that every one hated me. What negative thinking!!!! This kind of thinking brought me down so low last year that I seriously considered quiting all that God had for me, and just making my own way. I denied all that I saw God doing around me and believed that because (as I wrongly thought) that no one liked me that God didn't like me either. But then I noticed the verse in Proverbs which says that a man who wants friends must show himself to be friendly (loose paraphrase). This slightly obvious and extremely practical piece of information just had totally escaped my notice before then. Sure, I had read it but I never really understood it. I thought that if I wanted friends that they would just show up. I didn't think that I had to act as a friend to have friends.

After realising this principle I noticed that people were more likely to respond positively to my interaction. And secondly, I noticed that encouragement through friendship is a great positive attribute in a friendship.

If you are a friend to people that you know are going through something difficult, or even if you don't know if they are going through something challenging, I will give a challenge. Find ways every day to encourage someone else. If it is just something small like a little facebook note, or a written note, or a nice thing to say to them, a hug, a Tim Horton's coffee or any other little thing you will never fully know what you have done to that person's heart. Maybe you will stop someone from giving up, or perhaps it will just give them something to smile about that day. But whether it does something noticeable, or whether you receive thanks, encouraging others is never in vain.

Waiting for Answers

Waiting . . . . . .. . .

I've always hated that word. Beyond just my culture, my very personality hates the idea of waiting for something. Whether it is that car I've always wanted, some information I need, something that is just taking too long in the mail. . . . whatever it is I have always struggled with patience. Right now God has me in just the right spot to learn patience. I am currently raising support to go on a week long missions trip to Texas where I will be serving in a camp. As of yet I have no idea where and how I am going to receive my money. In my limited earthly mind, there is no foreseeable way that I will be able to raise all the money I need. Secondly, I applied to Moody Bible Institute for the coming up school term 2012-2013 and I am just waiting for the results to come to me. I have no idea whether I will be accepted or not and my whole future does depend on whether I get in there or not. So I guess right now God is trying to teach me patience. Now I just have to do the hard part: actually learn it.

Right now in my devotions I have been reading in the book of Job. It is all about one righteous man whom God permits Satan to abuse and hurt. He lose all he has except his life. He loses children, property, wealth, and even friends, but he has patience. He desires to know answers but knows that God will provide them in His own time. Even with his friends mocking him and scolding him, Job knows that God is supreme and eventually justice will be shown.

My trials and impatience are nothing compared to what Job had to go through. I need to take a lesson from Job and learn to trust in God to provide answers and solutions in the best time possible.

So from wintery and blustery New Brunswick I will quote the psalmist when he says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" -Psalm 27:14 ESV