November 16, 2014

Here are some thoughts for you from last  Sunday’s meeting.

One of the songs sang during worship was ‘More Than Anything’ which you would know if I added the lyrics ‘God loves people more than anything’. The last part to the songs goes like this, ‘More than anything, He wants us to go, and show the world so they will know that God loves people more than anything’. Just felt to share that part.

Spencer brought Psalm 59, talking about vengeance. Vs 5 “… Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors”. Now, what vengeance did we see from Christ?! As he was on the cross, He said “Forgive them, for they know not what they do”. While we were sinners, he begged for our forgiveness. Is it easy to forgive our enemies? Is it easy to love them? How is it that God can love us through our sin? Maybe it’s because he can see the future! That’s why scripture says to love your enemies, do good to those who abuse you… you will be blessed! You do not know what’s to come.

I will apologize for my lack of notes this time around. I love it when I’m enthralled by a speaker, who captivates with his speaking, stories, and analogies. But this is what I can share with you from Rev Glen Matheson…

-      Everyone has skills and abilities. Technology is not one of Rev. Glen’s. So when he’s in a computer store he is welcomed by some ‘computer-geek’ who’s trying to make him understand the issue or solution. Rev. Glen humbly prides himself as a ‘church geek’ :D

-      The Bible is not like a novel that can be read from beginning chapter to end chapter. The Old Testament helps to understand the New Testament

-      Exodus 33, when Moses was setting up a village, he would situate one tent away from the village to be designated as the ‘tent of gathering’, or church, or sanctuary.

-      God spoke to Moses face to face; as a friend speaks to a friend.

-      Moses brought his worries to God; wondering where his helper was.

-      Everyday people are used in the right place, for the right reason, for a certain period.

-      We can live each day as we choose; we are in control. Like a pendulum, on one side we can be crabby Cathy, or on the other side we can be pleasant Patsy. We can get the right amount of sleep, or not; we can eat the right foods or not; we can over-work, or under-work. We have to choose for ourselves.

-      Rev. Glen encouraged us, as Ehab did last week, about our perspective on speaking to God and sensing His presence. He is alive and present!

Well if you haven’t been out to church, you are missed. Come for a visit. And bring a friend out to our Christmas night, Saturday December 6^th as we celebrate the reason for the season!

Blessings

Master's Hand Ministry in the Sunday 16th, 2014 Christmas Parade!

November 9, 2014

Some highlights from this week's service:

First off, hope you took a couple minutes this week to respectfully remember those who've fought and who are still fighting for our Country!

A member of the group shared Sunday night of a revelation he had regarding worship and prayer. 
"Please let me try to explain. Imagine sitting, looking at a picture of Obama. You tell the picture over and over how great he is; what a great leader he is; how awesome he is. Will you feel closer to him? NOW, if you said these same things to your wife, you would get a response, and feel close to her. This may be the same with our worship and prayers to God. We can tell Him how great He is; what a great leader He is; how awesome He is without feeling close to Him. We need to realize that we are talking to a real, alive God, who listens and responds."

Pastor Caroline began her message singing a song:
"Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes"

Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse
"Walk a mile in my shoes"

 (http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/joe_south/walk_a_mile_in_my_shoes.html)

- Shoes... sneakers, work-boots, army boots, sandels
- The song above is asking for tolerance, a bit of patience and understanding towards others... reminds us that we all hurt, are broken, negative words spoken to us, sickness to our body, even to death.
- We put on a happy face, thinking no one is aware, and move on.
- Are we living, or are we just getting by?!
- Sometimes all we feel we can do for another person is to pray; especially if we haven't experienced that individuals pain personally.
- When you have raised your children on the right path, and they seem to make some train-wreck decisions, you pray and vow to be there to pick up the pieces.
- How do people cope? To hold on? How do people show love to you when you're going through tough times?
- Answer: PRAY! Stay in the Word of God. Hold onto His promises. Romans 5:5
- Offer rides to friends in need of a ride; take a minute to sit with someone; make a meal for someone. Romans 12:15
- Pray, ask for direction.
- Bringing and showing the WORD is how we bring people comfort; Christ through us
- Joy is not given by the world. Happiness is given by the world. Joy is knowing everything is going to be well no matter what the outcome!
- May our words be compassionate enough to draw them to Jesus, to put sin away and the debt of sin.
- When Jesus went to the cross, it wasn't because he was compassionate for the people... NO , He was being obedient. (the same with our soldiers)
- Don't let sin keep you from Jesus. Let his gift, his forgiveness of sin, draw you near.
- As soldiers wear the gear, we need to equip ourselves as Christians.
- God brings change! Exodus 33:14, Exodus 33:18, Psalm 23:1, Psalm 29:11, Hebrews 5:5. Read these and insert your won name into each verse.
- Prayer... preparing the ground before you walk on it. :)
- Pick ONE promise a day, speaking it in and over every situation during your day.
- The Words gives! It gives strength, wisdom, shows us His love, gives understanding
- Just imagine walking a mile in a soldiers shoes. Just imagine walking a mile in Jesus' sandals.
- Do you feel sometimes Faith is all you have?! Well then, thank God for Faith!
- Romans 8:28
- Before you 'accuse', come to Christ and ask for direction... and you will see His glory!


Hope I've given you something to think about!! Have a great week!

Heather


'The Creed' was our communion song on Sunday night....

This I Believe (The Creed) [Lyrics] - Hillsong Worship

November 2, 2014

Some highlights from this week's service:

Something to Think About - Spencer added "PRAY-WAIT-BELIEVE" onto this talk a couple weeks ago "STOP-WAIT-LISTEN".
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
- Psalms 27:14
- Matthew 9:29
- Sometimes God waits to the end of waiting before He intervenes.
- God said He will never tempt; He didn't say he'd never 'test'.
- Are you standing on your Faith??

We have the great privilege of hearing again from Pastor Bill Annis from Moncton FCF church. Here are some thoughts from his message:
- Today is the greatest manifestation of God the world has even known.
- Who wants to please God?
- Proverbs 16:7
- Bible says it's impossible to please God... that is, without Faith!
- You can have the wrong 'concept' of Faith. That would be unpleasing to God.
- Who formed the way you view God? Who influenced you?
- John 1:18. No one has ever seen God, BUT Jesus is the image of God. Jesus has made Him known.
- Between people who worship Buddha, or worship spirit gods... there's a definite awareness of a 'higher being'.
- You are the inspiration of His creation!
- We think there's something between us and God... guilt, sin.
- Before we could come to Christ, Christ had to do something!!
- As we look at the heap of 'things' between us and Christ, He steps around it & DID something about our 'issues'. He became our sacrifice!
- We need to function on our righteousness!!!
- If you took DNA from a caterpillar to a scientist, they would says it's the DNA from a butterfly!!
- So it is with us. We are redeemed; Christ's kids.
- Done crawl/walk another day... fly!
- Some struggle with being a bad person trying to be a very very good person.
- Take your attention off the temporariness of a caterpillar! Get focused on the glorious emerging New Life!
- The problem with some churches, what's being preached is speaking to our behaviour. I they can make us feel guilty, we will be dependent on them.
- Preachers need to preach God's never-ending, all-powerful LOVE that casts our fears! That the devil has no hold on them!!
- Let's say you were to talk about Spencer. His kids would say "that's my Dad". His wife calls him "husband". His clients call him "Dr. Barclay".  Which is first? Which is last? Therefore God is father, spirit, and Son.
- You can't stop believing, when you KNOW the reason!! He is your Dad.
- Sin grows in the broken places in our life. When the brokenness is fixed... wow!
- To take your sin seriously, you need to take it to God! You can not be healed if you conceal it!
- Would you go to the Doctor and ask him to fix you, and not tell him what's wrong, where the pain is?
- You need to come to Jesus with ALL!
- No one gets fixed when they're hiding!
- Christ DID something to get in us, so to manifest Himself through us.
- When you trust in what Jesus has done on and through the cross... this is pleasing to Him!