When to give the gift of giving?

Good Morning World!

I've decided something.  It is a revelation that has been coming, I'm sure I've seen it, but my eyes were opened this week.  Not because of anything in particular, but there is was - knowledge and wisdom waiting to be seen and used.  What was this great revelation?  What was this epiphany that changed my way of thinking?

Here goes:

All my life I believed in the value of giving and the necessity of giving, but haven't ever been in a place financially or otherwise where I could give like I want to, or even as I know I should.  I have tried to give much money from my own pocket and my businesses, but before the cheques could go through something would always come up to hinder my faith based giving.  My intentions were there, but my reality swept my intentions under the rug.

The revelation I received is this: You have to give anyway!  I don't mean go out and give until you can't by groceries or pay your bills.  I mean go out and buy a cam-bro of coffee from Tim Horton's or Starbucks and take it to those who need it or will really appreciate it.  A friend of mine did that for thanksgiving.  He took 50 cups of coffee to the homeless and had a blast!  This isn't terribly expensive, but it is the kind of giving that really matters.  Find someone who will not be able to afford Christmas dinner, and give that to them.  Find someone who will not be getting gifts for Christmas and make sure they are taken care of.  There are so many ways that are inexpensive, for most of us, to help those in need.  My problem that has slightly stressed me out over the years, is that I want to help but have never felt like I could afford to help.  I have a big family and it takes a fair chunk of change to keep us going, so it always seems like at the end of the day all the money I get is gone, but I want to change that mind set.  I want to just give anyway!

So, one of my first 'acts of kindness' will be to do what I mentioned above.  However, we don't really have any homeless so I am going to take some coffee to the minor hockey game.  I'll find out when there is a hockey game on a weekend and buy an cam-bro of coffee set it up and give it to the cold people at the stadium.  Sure they could buy their own, but that isn't the point.  The point is give anyway!  If I here of someone who has a need this Christmas then I'll see to that then, but for now I will give anyway!

As Jesus said, "Give and it shall be given...!"

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

A Thankful Heart

Good Morning World!

Down south past the Canadian boarder many people are getting ready for thanksgiving, no sorry scratch that, it's Black Friday and many people are getting ready to spend more money than they actually have!  Don't get me wrong finding a sale to save some green backs is very nice and all, but to stand in a line up for hours, and then fight over toys and electronics so that your children or loved ones will be happy on Christmas morning?  What kind of thanksgiving celebration is this?  Now we have black Friday in Canada because many of our chain stores come from down in the USA, I'm not sure how I feel about, NO I am sure.  We shouldn't do this!  The Bible tells us that we should give thanks in everything!  A thankful and merry heart is like good medicine.  All this hustle and bustle just so some giant rich stores can make more money isn't worth it, and the stress you'll feel is definitely not worth it!

So, let's slow down - take a breath - and find something to be thankful about!
Here are a few to help get you going:

I am thankful for fresh air to breath.
I am thankful for a family that loves me.
I am thankful for a home to live in.
I am thankful for a community that cares enough to help those in need.
I am thankful for a Country that still believes in freedom.
I am thankful for those that paid the price of my freedom.
I am thankful for friends who are there....
I am thankful for my Saviour Jesus Christ.
I am thankful for Healing and Miracles.
I am thankful for my sweet Children and the funny things they do.
I am thankful for a wife that loves me - unconditionally.
I am thankful for parents that raised me to know the difference...
I am thankful for a good education and the ability to learn even today.
I am thankful for a good cup of tea.
I am thankful for pancakes, french toast and oatmeal.
I am thankful for the farmers who work hard to supply our food.
I am thankful for the wisdom of seniors.
I am thankful for cameras so I can remember the past in color.
I am thankful for facebook & skype so I can talk to people far away.
I am thankful for my Bible which keeps me grounded on the straight and narrow.
I am thankful for Pie & Ice cream....
I am thankful for my Quad ATV, which gets me away from it all...

As you can see the list can keep on going forever!
Let's remember to be thankful!

Yours for Christ
Pastor Fred

Are you making your father glad?

Good Morning World!

Here is a thought, which came to mind while reading Proverbs:  Are you making your father glad?  The scripture reads like this, "A wise son makes a glad father."  So, I ask the question again.  Are you making a glad father?  Are you a wise son, or at least trying to be?  Or, are you one of the many foolish sons out there who don't have respect for anything?  Society seems to be falling apart at the seams, and I believe it is because we don't have children with wisdom.

What is wisdom?  Basically, wisdom is this.  The ability to understand what is going on around you, and then having the fortitude to act appropriately.  Many people have understanding, but don't know what to do.  Most people have action, but they don't have a clue what is going on, or why people look at them strange.  Wisdom is an equal mix of understanding and action mixed with the salt of experience.  I truly believe that wisdom is developed within a person who is willing to learn.  Learn not just book smarts, but learn life lessons.  Are you willing to learn from other people's mistakes or do you have to learn everything the hard way - by yourself in the school of hard knocks?

This morning let's try on wisdom, understanding and the knowledge to do what is right.  Let us not put on the clothing of the lazy, rude, crude or ignorant.  Rather let us wake up, smell the coffee and look around to what is going on around us.  If you for one moment start looking at life with other people in mind rather than just yourself you will find there is a great big world out there that can be discovered!  Have a little wisdom!  Make your dad proud!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

What do you believe in?

Good Morning World!

I heard this song the other day on the radio while driving, and I fell in love with it.  Too much of our music today is whining about what we don't have, or what we lost, and not enough is about values and what we have.  This is a good song and it is worth listening to.  I know it is country, but this is what country was meant to be.  Let's stop wishing our lives away and start believing in something that will change our world!

Here it is: Call me Old Fashioned by High Valley


Yours for Christ
Pastor Fred

Society Might bread laziness.

Good Morning World!

So, I think I might have figured out why we are breading a generation of lazy people.  This isn't necessarily 100% factual, but it is from my own personal experience, and therefore should have some merit.  Anyway, last weekend we went to the city for a doctor's appointment and to do some shopping.  My wife and I calculated the amount of money that we had available, and it wasn't much but it was more than usual.  So, we figured we had no worries, and while being frugal we would get what was needed, take our three oldest (who were with us) out for a nice lunch.  However, when we got to second store our account was dried up, and we had barely spent $200, which today isn't much.  So, leaving our treasures at the counter and being very frustrated we went to a bank to check out what was going on.  We had forgotten to account for our bi-weekly mortgage payment!  

I know that as a person who trusts in God and believes that all things work to together for the good of those who love God, I shouldn't have had a bad attitude, but it took a couple days and much prayer before I was even keel again!

So, with this story in mind, here is my premise:
How many times have you gone to pay for something only to find out that all your money is gone because someone has withdrawn it for you?  I know that as a parent my children do, on occasion, hear me grumbling about not having enough money.  They know that I work hard, getting up at 6am or before each morning to go to work.  Yet, for all my hard work I have very little to show for it, especially in my bank account!  Sub-consciously we are teaching our children that it doesn't pay to work hard, but rather that no matter how hard we work we will never get ahead.  Don't get me wrong I am teaching my children that working hard is good, but our grumblings and our complaints will get back to them, and the conflicting information will bother their little minds.  At the end of the day I see more and more young people entering the workforce, with little or no work ethic, and I believe this is why.

I am sure that there is more to it than this, but if we can learn to be content with what we have, and stop grumbling and complaining about our state our children would learn to do the same!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

Do you know what you will be, so you can be what you will be?

Good Morning World.

Yesterday being the Remembrance Day Holiday in Canada, we decided to clean up the yard and put in a couple cord of wood.  During this activity, Benjamin my son, was helping out by grabbing the little pieces of wood.  At one moment he said, "The wood that I will take, is the wood that I will take."  (or at least something close to that)  It really struck me as I have been studying lately on the scripture that says, "I am that I am has sent you."  Benjamin uses this phraseology all the time, and I think I understand what he is talking about.  He is very particular about the size and shape of wood that he will pick up as he is only a little guy.  So, what he means is: When I look over the stack of wood and I see a piece of wood that meets my criteria that is the piece that I will take and throw into the house.  So, to use my sons way of thinking we can say about God: I exist and am the one who exists without the help anything else, and I am the source of all things, and by me all things exist, therefore I am the ONE who exists.

Do you know what you will be or want to be?  If you do the be what you will be, and do what you will do!  Life seems to work out better when we follow through on what we are going to be and do!

Just a thought.

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

How to Please Jesus: Part 3

Good Morning World!

This will be our final lesson on pleasing Jesus, however, by no means will this topic be exhausted. There is much study to be done, just use these three studies as a foundation to build upon.  There is much to learn on why and how we must please our Lord and Saviour!

-----------------------------------------

2Ti 2:4-5 MKJV  No one who wars tangles with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who chose him to be a soldier.  (5)  And also if anyone competes, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully.

Soldiers and Athlets are set aside in our societies, and have been for centuries, so that they may train and perform their tasks and duties to the satisfaction of their leaders.  Ask any professional athlet and they will tell you that they must train eight to twelve hours per day.  They must eat proper foods, and regardless of personal urges to eat other things, must keep to a strick lifestyle that most people couldn't maintain. A soldier must not even live within the regular civilian world.  They are kept separate from civillians by living on a base.  On this base they train daily, and have duties that only a soldier will do.  These training excersizes and duties are meant to keep the soldier in top fighting condition.  If the soldier doesn't please his or her CO they are punished until they line up with the standards of the group.

Paul is writting here to show us that being a Christian and following Christ is very similar.  If they are kept up to a high standard, how much higher a standard are we held up to.  Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, why do we think that we can continually cross the boundary between lost and found?  We must choose our position and stand firm.

A. Faith is the paramount attribute of a follower of Christ.

Heb 11:6 KJV  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We must believe that there is a God, and that He exists.
We must believe that if we seek after Him we will find Him and He will reward us.

B. Pray for wisdom and understanding of God's will so that we may do it.

Col 1:7-10 KJV  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;  (8)  Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.  (9)  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  (10)  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

As soon as Paul heard of their belief in the Word of Truth of the Gospel and their love in the Spirit he began to pray that they were filled with and understanding of God's will for them so that they could do it and please Him.

C. Children, obey your parents in all things...

Col 3:20 KJV  Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

This is the first commandment with promise.  The promise being that you will live long on the earth.  If we want to please God children need to learn to obey, for if they do they will be able to obey God their heavenly father as He declares His will in their life!

D. We must present the Gospel to all without deceit or guile, but with purity and righteousness.

1Th 2:1-8 KJV  For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:  (2)  But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.  (3)  For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:  (4)  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.  (5)  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:  (6)  Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.  (7)  But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:  (8)  So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

1Co 1:21 KJV  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.


The Gospel message which is the power of God unto salvation must be preached, and the more we spread the love of God, and the salvation that is through Jesus Christ the more we are pleasing to God!

E. Keeping His commandments is Pleasing to Him.

1Jn 3:22-24 KJV  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.  (23)  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  (24)  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

John didn't leave us without an answer:
  1. We must believe on the Name of Jesus Christ!
  2. We must Love one another
  3. We know He is in us by the Gift of the Spirit He gave us.

Faith in the Name, Love of the Brethren and being Filled with His Spirit are pleasing in His sight!  If we can learn to live by this simple mantra we will see so many more ways to please Him!

F. Praise and Worship are pleasing to God.

Psa 69:30-31 KJV  I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.  (31)  This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

He desires a personal relationship with us, and it pleases Him when we are willing to have a personal or corporate cummunion with Him!

G. There are some things that we should abstain from, which is pleasing to God.

1Th 4:1-8 KJV  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.  (2)  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.  (3)  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:  (4)  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;  (5)  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:  (6)  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.  (7)  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.  (8)  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

   1. Abstain from fornication or sexual sins such as adultery, and sleeping around.
   2. Possess your body in sanctification and honour
   3. Learn not to lust and desire for what is forbidden.  Be content.
   4. Do not defraud your brethren in any matter
   5. Be ye holy as God is holy!

H. Doing good deeds for others and bring aid to those in need.

Heb 13:16 KJV  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

These are a few ways that we can learn to please God as Christians and born again believers.  If we do these things we can be sure that we are doing what is pleasing to our saviour.  It is important that we pray, for when we do we are in communion with the one whom we wish to please and He can lead and guide us into all truth!

Wise or Foolish?

Good morning world!

Reading in the book of Proverbs today, and many of the verses deal with wisdom and foolishness.  Wisdom being something we should all attain to, and foolishness is something that we should shy away from.  For example one verse tells us the that the labor of the righteous tends to life, and another verse tells us that the back of the foolish is for many stripes.  It might do some people good to get a good smack once in awhile!  Anyway, the point this morning is that we too often jump into situations in our life without thinking about the circumstances first.  Our ability to act with wisdom and understanding in many areas of our life seems to diminish over the past few decades. Years ago people were taught to think before they spoke or acted, but today we jump into life's crap without even knowing there is a bottom.

Why don't we try to use some wisdom today in our daily dealings?  You never know it just might change the outcome of your meeting you have today!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

What are you into?

Good Morning World!

So, my children are really into Gamecube the past week.  Almost an obsession really.  I finally got the cube working again, and that is about all they want to do.  It is even funny to watch the little ones try to play as if they have played all their lives!

It got me thinking this morning, "What if we serve our Saviour Jesus Christ like that?"  What would happen if we really loved Jesus more than anything, and that all we thought about was what we could do that would please Him?  My children are always trying to win new levels and get new awards and unlock new characters, and so they are always taking every spare minute to play.  What would happen in our lives if we took every spare minute to serve Jesus, talk to Him and listen to what He wants us to do for Him next?

I think our lives would change so much that within a few short weeks we would be so changed that we wouldn't even recognize who we are!  I mean a change for the better of course!

So, my question this morning:  "What are you into?"  What do you 'obsess' about?  Why don't you try to 'obsess' about the Saviour and creator of your life?!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred

How to Please God: Part 2

Good Morning World!
Here is our lesson for Sunday Morning November 4, 2012.  Part 2 of our ongoing series about Pleasing God.
--------------------

Joh 8:29-32  And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.  (30)  As he spake these words, many believed on him.  (31)  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  (32)  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

We can see from this verse that Jesus did what He came to do, and obedience equalled pleasing God.  Not only did Jesus please God, but because He please God the Spirit of God was always with Him.

I know that this can sound kind of rhetorical as Jesus was the Almighty God wrapped in flesh come to reconcile the world unto Himself, but we must understand the principle of this lesson.  Sure Jesus always obeyed the Spirit within Him as it was what drove Him, but we too who are filled with the Spirit of God, which was in and apart of Jesus Christ also must learn to obey and be driven by this Spirit!

What was Jesus sent to do?
1. I am come to fulfil the law - Matthew 5:17
2. I am come to send a Sword - Matthew 10:34,35 (The sword that shows sin)
3. I am come to send Fire - Luke 12:49 (The Fire of the Holy Ghost is God's consuming fire!)
4. I am come in my Father's NAME - RECEIVE THE NAME - John 5:43
5. I am come for judgement - to show truth and hide it. John 9:39
6. I am come to give abundant life - John 10:0
7. I am come as a light to take away the darkness - John 12:46
8. Tell John this is what I am doing: The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. - Matthew 11:5
9. Luke 4:18,19 - I am anointed by the Spirit of God to: preach the Gospel to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, preach deliverance to the captives, the recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised and preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
10. I am come to seek and to save that which was lost - Luke 19:10
11. I am come not to destroy lives, but to save them. - Luke 9:56

It sounds at the first glance that Jesus came to destroy, but in bringing a sword, fire and judgement He is shedding his Light into our lives.  This light of Truth is so powerful that we often reject it at first.  This causes turmoil where peace was intended.  It causes pain where life was intended.  It is not God who brings destruction  but it is our reaction to light and truth that brings destruction upon us.  Jesus didn't come to destroy, but to give us life in full abundance!

Jesus mission was to open up a door that lead all humanity back to the God who had created them.  The veil had been put in place because sin in men's heart and mind could not be allowed in the presence of a righteous God.

Jesus taught us how to live in this new union, and through the disciples spread this good news all over the world.

Jesus' death on the cross was the final piece to the puzzle, and even though it looked like the end, it was only the beginning!

The purpose of Jesus fulfilled and please God that He continued His purpose in us through the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ, which is Christ in us the hope of glory!

So, what is the lesson here, and how does it teach us to please God?
The lesson that we learn from Jesus is that we must learn to obey and follow His will.  How can we do this?  By learning to listen to the voice of the Spirit in us and doing what it says.  As Samuel said, "Obedience is better than sacrifice."

Fulfil God's purpose for your Life!

Playing Around will get you nowhere!

Good Morning World!

This morning I heard a song on the radio that got me thinking. It was a country song, and the only reason I had it on was because it seems my CD player has kicked the bucket.  Anyhoo', one line in the song caught my attention, "Friday night football, Saturday night last call, Sunday morning Hallelujah!" Certainly the tune was catchy, but the message was all messed up!

Do we honestly think that we are going to get anywhere by playing with the pleasures of this world during the week only to do lip service to God on Sunday?  Are we willing to sell our souls to carnal nature and "fun" during the week, only to "repent" on Sunday?  Will we truly find salvation by slapping Jesus in the face all week long only to give him a big huge on 'the Lord's day'?  Why don't we just pick up the nails and hammer and crucify him afresh ourselves?  We ought to just push the spear in his side ourselves!

It's a crying shame that we think that we can ride the fence without getting hurt.  It's stupidity to think that we can play with fire all our lives and not get burnt.  If we can't live for Jesus 24/7 then we have a problem.  Too, often we live not for Jesus or others, but ourselves.  Sure, it's nice to take a break and chill, but that should be the exception not the rule!  How is this world going to become a better place if everyone is only thinking about themselves?  Are we not taught as children the only way to change the world is to help others?  Yet, as adults and older teens, we seem to forget that other people are important.  We forget that we are not the only person on the planet with problems.  We forget that someone else has it worse than us!

I think I'll write a poem about this:

Sunday is day we worship the Lord,

I hope you don't get too bored.
I love my hands to raise,
To the Great I am in praise.

Monday my faith is strong,
With His help I'll do no wrong.
Through daily prayer I'll gain,
The strength to stay in the lane.

Tuesday, and I'll not turn back
From the daily mental attack.
I'll read His holy Word,
And fly away like a bird.

Wednesday I'll reach out and touch
A person that needs some lunch.
I'll show this world it needs
To hear some Gospel seeds.

Thursday I'll work for Jesus
Because He saves and see's us!
His will to preform,
My wayward soul to reform.

Friday and we think the work is done,
We are ready to lay it down for some fun.
To our knees we should go,
Before our salvation we blow.

Saturday we reach out to the needy.
Maybe there is someone crying feed me!
Let's take the family to the store,
So we can another life restore.
------------------------------------------
Maybe this little poem will help you live you life a little bit differently!

Yours for Christ,
Pastor Fred