He's Already At Work

I recently watched a video clip of a Bill Hybels interview with Bono (U2) at Leadership Summit 2006. Bono made a profound statement that has stuck in my heart this week, “Stop asking God to bless what you are doing, instead find out where God is at work, because that work has already been blessed.” Wow!

This has particular meaning for me since I just returned from visiting our international workers in Guinea and Serbia to learn about the work that God is doing there. For those of you that don’t know me, my family and friends would classify me as a "learner, do-er and go-er.” I like to be active and brainstorm new ideas and then implement.

Here’s where Bono’s words struck me the most: maybe I need to stop blasting forward first and then asking God to bless what I do; He’s already at work, here and around the world. I need to step into the good work that He has already begun and let Him direct me, “for we are co-workers in God’s service” (1 Corinthians 3:9). In finding the places that God has already blessed, like Renaissance FM in Guinea or the Men’s Rehab Center in Serbia, and supporting the international workers that are on ground each and every day, we are stepping into God’s work.

I feel so privileged to have been able to go on this trip and minister to these disciples of Christ. As we left, they told us that we had blessed their ministries, but in reality, by allowing me to witness and participate in God’s Mission, the blessing belongs to us all. 

In Service with Him,
Doug Johnston

Give it to God

This has been a long week for me. Almost two weeks ago, my husband, Doug, traveled with Pastor Wade and Chris to Conakry, Guinea and then to Novi Sad, Serbia to spend time with our global partners. When we’ve been able to communicate, he’s shared that they’ve learned a great deal about the ministries in these locations. They’ve also been able to bless these communities, as well as other international workers in the areas.

My heart sings at this news! But when news of violent demonstrations in Conakry made the headlines last week, I had my share of worry; what wife wouldn’t? As I prayed for their protection, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace – the kind of peace that only Jesus can provide…”give it to Me,” He whispered…“…do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10) As I thought through this, I was struck with the idea that there is no better companion in distress to be found than Jesus. As a wife, I worry for my husband’s safety and health; as a mother, I worry for my children. But when Doug travels, or my teenager climbs into her car to go to school or work, I am not and cannot be their best protector. There is someone who loves them even more than I do – and He promises to be with them when no one else is or can be there.

May you feel the peace of Christ this week,
Mandy Johnston

New Insights... Together

This week, my son Peter and I had a great conversation over coffee. We got around to comparing our thoughts on one of the Psalm talks we have heard at church recently. I shared how God has been challenging me through one particular Psalm, and Peter told me that God had revealed something totally different and unique to him through the same Psalm.

For both of us, God’s word had come alive in a precise way, shedding light on what we each specifically needed to see. How sweet to gain new insight together. As our coffee date ended, I left refreshed…challenged by God’s word revealed through Peter.

God’s word is inspired…so relevant and personal. The ancient words have timeless wisdom. God reveals Himself as we read His Word and open our hearts to receive. Understanding and insight increase as we engage in learning God’s Word each weekend and as we participate in spiritual conversations in groups or with individuals. Equipped with God’s truth, we feel encouraged to actively apply and share what He is uniquely teaching each of us.

Embrace the opportunities! Dive into His word, lean into learning environments and strike up spiritual conversations…and “grow in wisdom…and in favour with God and man” just like Jesus (Luke 2:52).

Enjoy the sunshine!
Pastor Donna

Taste and See...

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

During this time of year, we begin to wind down in our work, plan family vacations, and begin losing ourselves in dreams of white sand beaches between naps. It’s been a long year of struggle and accomplishment, with (unending) snow covering the ground, our families are busy, and we just...need...rest.

So often, I find myself rushing to get through another month, another season that I forget to stop, slow down, and follow in the footsteps of God. I become so captive to my schedule that I begin to look for escape.

And yet God calls me to something different.

He calls me to follow him to green pastures, to slow moving rivers, to be silent and still. Why? Is God so naive to think that my schedule will obey Him? We’ve got kids, obligations, employment, when do those demands ever slow down?

I’m reminded of my son Joshua during these seasons. In the few minutes before bedtime, I read to him. My job as dad is to read the story! Finish the book! Tuck him in, all in the span of a few short moments. “Mission accomplished!” I exclaim and move to the next event.

During these times, Joshua is often the whisper of God to me - as a five year old, he asks questions, he lives in the moment, he savors the breath of life that God has given him, and he slows down.

So during this season of winding down, when it feels like you are running on fumes and desperate to escape reality, remember to slow down. Remember what it’s like to listen. Remember what it’s like to live with meaning. And then taste and see that God is indeed very, very good.

Blessings on your weekend,

Shaun Smith

Praise Him

It probably comes as no surprise to you that, as a musician, I love the Psalms. Take Psalm 150, for example:

Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet… with the harp and lyre…
with timbrel and dancing…with the strings and pipe… with the clash of cymbals...

God has clearly ordained music to be a means through which He is worshiped. But have you ever pondered what He had to do to make it possible to do so?

First of all, He came up with the idea to have all of creation be made up of tiny molecules, invisible to the naked eye. He made some of these molecules light enough to float around and bump into each other. Then He made living creatures with super-sensitive organs that these particles could collide with. Random impacts would be perceived as noise—but when governed by laws of vibration, consonance and dissonance—again, His ideas—melody and harmony became possible.

So far, it’s kind of a technical explanation… but consider that we not only can perceive music, we also are moved by it. Music can inspire us, energize us, console us, sadden us, and even frighten us. But one of my favourite things about music is the fact that it can unite us—especially when we worship our Creator together.

…which was also His idea, by the way. So let the miracle of sound and the gift of music help fuel your worship this weekend.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Blessings,
Jeff

Unshaken

 I remember a time in college when I felt that my world was falling apart. A relationship had ended, and I was stressed about what path my future would take. A gift that God gave me was Psalm 16:8. Back then we used a translation called the NASB, so that's where my memory takes me,

"I have set The Lord continually before me, because He is at my right hand I will not be shaken."

God used this verse then, and many times since, to remind me of two life-giving truths:

• I need to choose daily and sometimes hourly (continually!) to allow God to take up the most space in my line of vision. When He is in His rightful place-First-all other problems are reduced in size and significance.
• When I make this choice, I simply align myself and my thoughts with reality...God is bigger...God's got it...God's with me. He is as close as my right hand. Even if my world and the world around me are shaking out of control, the inner world of my true self can remain unshaken.

These truths gave me a rock solid place to stand while in college and countless times since.

Joy!
Rita

Hope

Have you heard the term ‘YOLO?’ Over the last year, you have probably seen it in popular culture or in your social network of choice. The acronym, which stands for “You Only Live Once,” has been used by many as an excuse to make a series of poor decisions. The basic idea at play is that if we only live once, then why deny ourselves pleasure now?

To those who do not believe in the resurrection, this actually makes sense. The Apostle Paul nods at this in the second half of 1 Corinthians 15:32:

“...If the dead are not raised, ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.’”

But for those who choose to follow Christ, we live a different reality. We can live with hope! Hope that comes in the defeat of death, hope in a new life! This hope of a new reality impacts the way we live daily.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

In Him,
Jeremy