Pastor Caroline - April 30, 2020

The picture you see this morning is on the front cover of my Amplified Study Bible. The tree seems to be symbolic as to how we are rooted in Christ. This is what I see when I look at this picture, and I see one trunk and many branches, like us, one body and many parts. Christ is the Head and we are the body.

   “God has made us what we are, and in our Union with Christ Jesus He has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared us to do”. Ephesians Chapter 2 verse 10. (Good News Bible)


Do you ever wonder why you are here on earth? What are you to do with this existence? Are you meant to be a Prime Minister, or a minister of God’s word as a priest for the Lord, a great artist or a talented author, the list could go on and on. Do you have a place of importance in this life?

Well our Heavenly Father tells us in Romans chapter 12 verses 5-8,(Good News Bible), that we are very important.
(5) In the same way, that we are many, we are one body in union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.
(6) So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God’s message, we should do it according to the faith that we have;
(7) if it is to serve, we should serve, if it is to teach, we should teach
(8) if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

Ephesians and Romans(the scriptures shared today), tell us that we are to do the work of God‘s kingdom here on earth. We are to do good deeds, spread the word of the Lord, serve, teach, encourage, share, work hard and be kind. We are to work together, (one body), many hands make light work, it is often said.

So no more wondering  why you’re here - - - YOU are here in union with Christ Jesus, to do His work which He has already planned and prepared and given you the ability to do. No one person is greater than the other, we are all equal at the foot of the cross. We are people who need people and each gift we have, can and will benefit others, and further the kingdom of God here on earth.

We are all missing one another right now and this proves to me that we need one another, we are one body. During COVID-19, I personally miss our Sunday services, our church gatherings, music practice, Bible study, and coffee time after Bible study. I miss the one on one visits with my church family members and people who I meet on a daily basis with whom I can share the word of God and invite them to join our family — the family of God.

As you sit alone with God during this time of isolation, take time to reflect on who you are and what God is calling you to do in your lifetime. We may never know “all” God has created us to do at this time, but, “we do know He has a purpose and a plan for our lives”. See Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11. The further we walk in our journey the more we will learn about our existence here on earth. God created you for a reason and He alone gives you your worth. You are priceless!! And YOU are God’s creation; for a reason.

Be blessed today in who He made you to be as your bring Glory to Him.

Now let’s go out on in our yard and enjoy the sunshine.  

Pastor Caroline - April 29, 2020

As I look out my kitchen window the snow lays like a beautiful blanket on my lawn chairs and chaise. The tree has “cotton ball“ snow decorating it, for me to enjoy the beauty only God can create. How blessed I am to see such beauty all around on this day that the Lord has given me. He’s given this day to you as well, so please enjoy every moment.

I feel today to urge everyone to say The Lord’s Prayer. You will find it in your Bible in Matthew Chapter 6 verses  9 to 13, or in Luke Chapter 11 verses 2 to 4.
I have also sent it to you in picture form as well.

I ask you to say this prayer every time you think of what took place here in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19th. As peaceful and quiet communities try to understand, we are left in a state of shock. Our hearts will forever remember those who lost their lives and the families and friends left to mourn. All Nova Scotia mourns, we stand together, as we lift up each one who is carrying a heavy burden. We ask God to send His peace and comfort through those who stand beside you in your grief. And please, let’s not forget those who were called out in the line of duty to help protect so many, during those frightful hours. Their minds contain pictures within them, that may never be released fully. They need our prayers as well, lots of prayer.

May peace and comfort flood our minds and souls as we pray in the words Jesus gave us in The Lord’s prayer.

Remember “with God all things are possible”, (Matthew chapter 19 verse 26) and with God each person will heal, trust and love again. In time forgiveness will come as Jesus said, in the prayer:
And forgive us our debts
As we forgive our debtors.
This forgiveness allows us to live in the fulness of God‘s grace and brings joy to our very soul.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen.

Pastor Caroline - April 28, 2020

Is this really April 28? Spring? The hills here are covered white with snow and the sky is full of snow. Looks more like winter. Well this is spring in Nova Scotia.

I must say the reading this morning is good advice to everyone of us. When we persevere we grow stronger and are able to handle the trials of life, just a little better. The dictionary gives us this meaning for persevere:
Continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.     
So why would one want to persevere? Good question.

Sometimes in life, “things happen”,  and we simply want to give up or give in. That would be the easy thing to do, but not the right thing to do. If we stay the course and persevere, our outcome, may well surprise and please us, inspire others, challenge others, offer help to others, and that will prove to us and others, that we just need, “to tie a knot and hang on”.

Don’t give up you’re on the brink of a miracle
Don’t give in, God is still on His throne
Don’t give up you’re on the brink of a miracle
Don’t give up, remember you’re not alone.
(Google the first line and you will be able to hear the whole) song.
This is the chorus I learned in church many years ago and I’ve often sung it in times when I need to persevere through a tough situation. Even when we cannot see the outcome, or think we will not succeed, we will never know if we don’t give it our all. Stay the course, you will overcome!!

We are all persevering right now through COVID-19 and all Nova Scotians near and far, are persevering through heartache, grief and sorrow, as we mourn the loss of so many beautiful people whose lives were taken far too soon. Family and friends will persevere and “will” come through this incredible loss and hold the lives of those gone in their hearts forever, guarding the precious memories that will remain always.

Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character, and character, hope.
 Romans 5: 3-4.
This is the scripture used in our reading today, in David Jeremiah‘s book “Daily in His Presence”. This is such a beautiful truth.

In our great trouble or suffering (tribulation) we press on, and as we press on our character is made stronger and we find a reason and hope to continue. God is our Promise, God is our Hope, He is our Salvation, and so we persevere in promise and hope to spend eternity with Him.  So I say again.......
Don’t give up you’re on the brink of a miracle
Don’t give in, God is still on His throne
Don’t give up you’re on the brink of a miracle
Don’t give up, remember you’re not alone.

We are never alone ......

He is still on the throne and He is waiting for us all to one day soon… Come home.

Now sit with a hot cup of tea or coffee and enjoy the snow. It will melt away and you will not have to water the lawn for a few days. See, a silver lining in every cloud.  ️ God bless you all.

Pastor Caroline - April 27, 2020

God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. Psalm 47:8 NKJV

We can all use good news and the reading today is “good news“. If you’re reading my writing first then you’ll have to go back and read David Jeremiah’s writing in, Daily in His Presence,  to understand what my reading is about. I love how David writes this and how true it is.

Well as I said, we can all use good news. When we hear the term “breaking news” or see the red banner on our TV screen, we stop what we are doing, we pay attention, we read the message flashing on the screen, and if there are instructions we follow them. Usually if there’s a red banner on the screen it’s followed with bad news and most often has a warning for us. We are “stopped in our tracks” and most often “saddened in our hearts“, by what we read.

                             But wait!!!!

I have good news this morning. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. Psalm 47:8

Psalm 47 tells us good news:
God is awesome
God is the King of the earth
He will subdue peoples and nations
He sits on His throne
God is greater than all the leaders
God is highly exalted
He is coming soon and will bring His kingdom with Him.
He is Coming soon and the kingdoms of this world will be the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.
      Now folks, that is
                       Good News!!!!

David writes it beautifully in his reading today, (a picture of his reading is included) as well as a picture of Psalm 47.

As David suggests in his reading take the 53 seconds to read the psalm, and don’t be anxious about what’s happening in this world today because as David says; let’s remember Who truly is in charge.

All Glory to the Father!!!

Enjoy your day in the knowledge of Psalm 47

Pastor Caroline - Sunday April 26, 2020

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - April 25, 2020

10 MORE DAYS

So after 40 days on earth, Christ ascended back to Heaven but still commanded His disciples to wait.  Wait a further 10 days before fulfilling His instructions to go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel. He wanted them to be filled with the Holy Spirit, that’s true, but was there also more?

According to the Commentary by David Guzak there are four reasons why the disciples may have been required to wait. It meant that there was:

1. a promise of something definite to come
2. something they had to receive and could not devise themselves
3. something worth waiting for
4. a test of their faith by waiting.

In addition, the events surrounding Christ’s passion followed the Jewish feasts and not our Easter. 

• Passover: when the Hebrews were saved in Egypt by the blood of a lamb, without blemish, put on and over the doorframe of their homes. Christ is called the perfect lamb of God, who saved us by the shedding His blood.
• Unleavened Bread: As leaven refers to sin in the Bible, this refers to week of such food being consumed starting the day after Passover. The bread [matzah] was both striped and pierced; Christ received both stripes and piercings before being crucified and is known as the Bread of Life.
• First Fruits: On the day after Sabbath following the Feast above, this was to be a wave offering of the first of the harvest. No sin offering was given. Christ, in turn, is considered to be the firstborn of the dead [Rev 1:5] and without sin
• Pentecost: 50 days following the Sabbath of First Fruits, requires the offering of two loaves of bread made with leaven and a sin offering representative of both Jews and Gentiles, both with sin, and the foundation of the Church.

Nothing is in the Bible by chance.  The 10 days of waiting was required to fulfill the needs of the festivals as decreed by God, as well as a test of their obedience.

          

Even further, the number 40 is considered in the Bible to represent a time of consecration or trial and the number 10 to represent a period of Divine Order or Perfection.

When you look at the overall picture, it really does give you something to think about.  

   

Pastor Caroline - April 25, 2020

It is a sunny day here in Pictou County and it looks like spring maybe possibly be here.


Today I would like to use scripture from our Bible for the our time together.

Philippians Chapter  4 verse 4 in my Amplified Study Bible reads:
Rejoice in the Lord always (delight, take pleasure in Him); Again I will say rejoice.

Paul wrote these words while imprisoned in Rome, so history says. Imagine, while in prison to have such a heart for God. We are asked to stay in our homes for a month or so and we are complaining. Shame on us. We are being asked to stay in for our own good. The government officials and the medical professionals are trying to protect us. Let’s find something constructive to do. I am sure we can keep active and stay fit at the same time.

So, let’s feed our minds with good words from the Bible. “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I will say rejoice”. That was our opening scripture. Now let me share versus 5 to 8 with you , from the same chapter, and you will find your mind will be clear of negative thoughts and concerns and your voice will be lifted in thanks and praise to our Lord.

(5) Let your gentle spirit (your graciousness,unselfishness, mercy, tolerance and patience) be known to all people. The Lord is near.
(6) Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything (every circumstance and situation) by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your (specific) requests known to God.
(7) And the peace of God (that peace which reassures the heart, that peace) which transcends all understanding, (that peace which)stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (is yours).
(8) Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and a good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things (centre your mind on them, and implant them in your heart).

Paul certainly has given us lots to think about here and if you read one line at a time you will understand what he is trying to tell us in these four scriptures. He wants us to see that by following God’s word we can rest in the arms of Jesus. Paul tells us to have a gentle spirit and not to worry or be anxious, but rather, to pray about all things with a thankful heart. He says peace will come upon us, a peace we cannot understand or explain with our human understanding, but, our minds and hearts will be “at peace”. Wow, that is good news, (especially after what Nova Scotia has just been through this past week), and we need some good news to carry us forward.

Then Paul goes on to say, whatever is true, honourable, respectful, right (confirmed by God’s word), pure, wholesome, lovely and brings peace, admirable and of good repute, (report), excellent, praiseworthy, to think on these things. Here are a number of things to think about and this will keep us busy for a while, and, we will find ourselves lifted from the burdens of this world with its daily struggles, concerns, and pain.  Paul tells us to practice all of the above and we will be an example every day of how God wants us to live, live like Jesus, and God who supplies all, will be our peace and well-being.

I am assured, when we take these Scriptures to heart, we will live a better life, being an example to others, and people will see Christ in us, and we will not be worried or anxious, as the world around us is; because God, the source of abundant life, will keep us in the palm of His hand.

As we face the struggles of life, we may not understand why things happen as they do, but we can be confident in knowing God is in control. He sees our suffering and wants us to come to Him for comfort and peace. His peace will go beyond what we can understand and it will clear our heads of any ungodly thoughts and mend our broken hearts in such a time as this. As all Nova Scotians grieve the loss of so many wonderful people whose lives were taken too soon, we also mourn with the loved ones left behind who are now faced with the challenge of moving forward. I pray that in this sorrow we all will find “strength” in God to move on, “comfort” at a time when this world is turned upside down and “peace” when our minds are overwhelmed with questions and our hearts are broken. I pray after the pain, hurt, anger and disbelief of this tragedy is in the past, that our future stands in a hope and a promise given to us by God. That when life here comes to an end when our physical life is over, a new life begins for us when we come into our eternal life, where we live forever, as promised in John chapter 3 verse 16 in the Amplified Study Bible. It reads:
(16) For God so (greatly) loved and dearly prized the world, that He (even) gave His (One and) only begotten Son , so that whoever believes and trusts in Him (as Saviour) shall not perish, but have eternal life.

The day will come when we all will join our loved ones in heaven and we will truly rejoice in the Lord and thank him for John chapter 3 verse 16. We will bow and worship our Heavenly Father as we live in the fullness of joy with Him, forever more.

Again I say rejoice!

Please join me again Monday as God brings a new message, fresh for the day.  Tomorrow (Sunday) I will do a video and it will be posted in the late afternoon/ early evening for you viewing. I pray God is touching your heart as we try to stay connected in His love.

Remember God loves you and me, and we are special to Him.

Again I say rejoice!!

Pastor Caroline - April 24, 2020

Encouragement — When we bring hope to someone who seems hopeless, and we support someone who is having a hard time, (perhaps not making ends meet so to say), when we impart confidence to someone who feels “less than“, we are bringing encouragement to them. We are an encourager. Everyone needs to be encouraged at one point or another and we all have “that someone” in our lives, who we know, we can call and they will set us back on the right track. Within a short time in their presence we will see the sun starting to shine in our world once again. Our world today needs encouragement like never before.

When you can put a smile on someone’s face, set a sparkle in someone’s eye, lift the head of someone who is always down- cast, you are well on your way to being an encourager. Keep up the good work!! Someone needs you beside them and you can change how they feel or think about themselves.

In Psalm chapter 10 verse 17 in The Amplified Study Bible, we see God encourages us in His word.
(17) O Lord, you have heard the desire of the humble and oppressed,
You will strengthen their heart,
You will incline your ear to hear.

God wants us to know He will hear us when we call out to Him. He will strengthen us, so we can move forward. The book of Psalms teaches us how to pray, how to grieve, how to rejoice and how to worship. It tells us this in the theme description. It is a practical and personal book as well as scenic and magnificently beautiful, also written in the description. When I need encouragement I go to the book of Psalms. I can always be encouraged and lifted up as I read this book in my Bible. There are many books in the Bible to bring encouragement to us. I can name a few for you to search out, Deuteronomy, Psalms, Acts, Romans, Hebrews, just enough to peak your interest and I pray you will seek encouragement in God’s word today.

God sends the Holy Spirit to be with us when we accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and the Holy Spirit is a great encourager. Acts Chapter 9 verse 31 (you may want to look this up), tells us the church grew in numbers. How? Well it’s in that verse so please look it up and be encouraged.

Studying the Scriptures can give us a wonderful peace, great direction, build our confidence, give us help, teach us how to encourage and love one another and so much more. This one book has many things to teach us and is truly the only book you will ever need in your bookcase. Just think of how quickly you can dust your bookcase and pack up your one book if you ever move. Now that should encourage you to rearrange your bookcase and fill the rest of the space with pictures of your loved ones. PS, donate your books to a library or school, they will be happy you did. 

Perhaps God is calling you to be one of his angelic encouragers, how wonderful is that? Are you up for the challenge? You may well be called to perk up someone’s day. To turn their “frown upside down” and free their spirit from depression or oppression.

So let’s put on our “coat of encouragement”, step out into the world and find someone we can lend our coat to for a little while. We can warm up the world with one small act of kindness as we bring encouragement to change the outcome of their day.  That is what encouragement does. Now,  give “all the glory to the Lord”, who dressed you fully for this day.

As David says in the devotional reading today,  the very last line, Thank God for His angelic encouragers!

Have a very blessed day as you step out in your new coat 🧥 of encouragement and bring a little happiness into someone’s day.

Pastor Caroline - April 23, 2020

Good morning everyone —it’s snowing!! It’s spring in Nova Scotia. 


Our devotional reading from David Jeremiah‘s devotional “Daily In His Presence”, is a very interesting one today. Note the title “Miracle Memory”. What is a miracle? The dictionary says: it is a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be a work of a divine agency.

When we re-count the miracles performed by Jesus we are amazed to say the least. The Bible tells us of at least 35 miracles He performed. How can we read in the Bible about all that Jesus did in His short years of ministry, and still forget about Him in our lives?

Let’s look into our own lives, I am sure everyone can find a miracle or two over their lifetime. As for me, the first miracle I see everyday; is how He gives me the breath to breathe and follows that up with a good strong heartbeat.Thank you Lord.

These miracles are too easily taken for granted most often and perhaps not appreciated as much as they should be. We just assume we are going to breathe and our heart is going to beat. Well, what if it didn’t? 
I have to say these are my most welcome events of my every day life!

After this time of COVID-19 and the lock down, we will hopefully be much more appreciative of the little things in life, like going to a movie, or out to dinner, or visiting a loved one in hospital or nursing home. Things like getting together for a coffee, or sing song. Gathering together for church, hugging each other after not seeing one another since the Sunday before. To me, these are all the “little miracles“ God grants to us every day, and too often we forget to thank Him. Our surprises and welcomed events that God grants unto us every day, thank you Lord.

As David says in the last paragraph we must treasure everything God does for us, big or small, building a miracle memory. Not only will it lessen our surprise, but it will also increase our faith. Well said David, and so very true!

So today, take some time and recount for yourself, the miracles you’ve seen in your life or the life of someone you know. Then ask yourself, “who could possibly perform such a miracle”, and you’ll have to answer,  “God alone and only God”, could do such an extraordinary thing!!

So marvel in all He has done for you, be amazed at what He continues to do, be thankful for how He has blesses you beyond measure, give praise and honour to Him, tell the whole world, or at least those around you how wonderful our Father in heaven is. Now, look in the mirror and see the best miracle of all, in your life,  —YOU — He loves you beyond measure.

Start building your miracle memory today and be thankful to the Lord who gifts you with these resources to do just that!!

Please continue to hold in prayer all of Nova Scotia today and give thanks to those who serve our province making Nova Scotia a beautiful place to live. God bless each and everyone who reads this and shares it with others, and tells of God’s miracles.  In my kitchen hands a framed picture that reads, and I read it everyday:
Where there is Hope
There is faith
Where there is faith
Miracles happen.

Enough said, now watch for you miracle today. ️

Pastor Caroline - April 22, 2020

Let’s go right into scripture this morning and look at Proverbs Chapter 18 verse 24 the last line.
“But there is a (true, loving) friend who (is reliable and) sticks closer than a brother”.
This is taken from the Amplified Study Bible. Your version may read just a little differently but it will carry the same meaning.

As the rain falls today it seems more gentle than the rain that fell through the night. It was a hard, pounding, rain and reminded me of how we cry when we are terribly hurt. I wondered - - if God was crying so hard at the tragedy He sees here in Nova Scotia with all the people who have had their world shaken to the core; that His tears fell,  “like pounding rain“.  I can only imagine His broken heart as He sees their pain and I can just imagine Him crying for them.
Now, the rain this morning is falling gently,  it reminds me of how we cry when we are “closing in on our tears”.  I do realize our Bible says there are no more tears in heaven but remember God is omnipresent. Omni means all. God is all present, or everywhere present. So I can picture Him, in my mind’s eye, sitting beside anyone, or any number, of those who are grieving. He sees and feels their suffering and He cares. God is in heaven but He is also on earth as the Bible tells us, in Jeremiah Chapter 23 verse 24 taken from the Amplified Study Bible. Verse 24 reads:
“Can anyone hide himself in secret places
So that I cannot see him?” says the Lord.
“Do I not fill heaven and earth?“ Says the Lord.

God is near in our heartbreak, in our desperation, in our times of need and especially in our sorrow and grief. If you look up Psalm 139 in your Bible, (my Amplified Study Bible titles it, God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience), and read it though you will understand better what I am about to share with you. Omnipresence means “everywhere-present”,  an Omniscience means “all knowing”.  Versus 7 to 12 in this psalm tells us God is there and the Psalmist David is sharing it with us. David leaves us with a wonderful, powerful truth and promise, in this scripture.

Let’s go back to the scripture I opened with, it tells me God is “a friend who sticks closer than a brother”.  He is the One who knows us inside out, He knows us better than we know ourselves and He knows that through life we are not always going to be okay. There will be times of pain and joy and He is there in it all. God wants to be part of our life so that He can guide us, help us, comfort us, dry our tears and mend our broken hearts.
He covers our fears as He strengthens our faith. (Please read that line again and tuck it in your heart as you may need it often)

We can be honest before Him, and true and real (to ourselves and) to Him. He sees our anger, disappointment, shame, hurt and He still loves us, because He created us!  He wants to carry us through all the seasons of our life and whatever we face in those seasons - - His plan is to be beside us, “like a friend who sticks closer than a brother”.
I often use the expression, “I am alone but I’m not lonely”. This is because God is with me, in spirit, and I often feel His presence so strong around me that I actually turn to see - - who is there. I am comforted by His presence and thankful to know He is never far away.

My prayer today is that everyone, (especially people here in Nova Scotia who are going through this most difficult time and), people all over the world will know God as I do. I am confident in my testimony that “God is always there”, as He walked and talked with me, when my own brother was murdered and taken too soon from this (my) world. He allowed me to pen these words and as I share them with you, I pray that they will help you today as they helped me.

         God Is Always There

Some say God is just a memory of a man from long ago
Some say God is just a vision
Of a man will never know
Some say God is the Redeemer
Creator of the soul
I say God, He is my Saviour, the One who made me whole

Why be the one afraid of taking the first step to God above
Why be the one afraid of being made a fool because of love
Why not be one who won’t be sorry
For sharing his own need
Because God is there to love you
And you He’ll never leave.

When your trials have been too many
For even you to bear
When you think you are alone
Just remember,- God is there
When you find yourself in trouble
Take it to the Lord in prayer
And the Lord, the great provider
He will be waiting there.

(copyright number 332775)

I pray these words will bring you as much comfort as they’ve brought to me and I thank God for Him giving me these words to write. I believe these words were sent to me from God as a love letter that day and it is forever etched in my heart. Thank you Lord.

God is my Heavenly Father, He loves me and He loves each one of you. Sit before him today and let Him speak to your heart.

The rain is almost over
And we know we need the rain,
Just as we know we need to shed our tears
To help ease our pain,
God will bring forth the sunshine
To brighten up our day
To remind us, He is in control
He is never far away.

Wow God just wrote this through my hand, He is amazing!!!  As the words came the sun burst through my window so bright I can hardly read my paper. God is so good I think I’ll have a glory spell, come and join me, it will do your heart good.

Thank you Lord, bless each one today with your love and remind us all that you are the Great Provider, covering every need. You are always there.               We glorify Your name!!

Pastor Caroline - April 21, 2020

I am not using the devotional today that we usually bring to you. I bring this message to you because God has laid it on my heart. It is called——

     In This Sorrow

The sun is shining and the air is a little warmer today, however, a dark cloud hangs over our beloved Nova Scotia. In the aftermath of what took place on the weekend it continues to take our breath away. Condolences pour in from near and far to those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones. I wish I could somehow be “a present help to even one of the people” whose life has changed forever. However with COVID-19 ever present we are asked to stay in, stay home, 
so as not to increase the spread of COVID-19. When tragedy takes place we “so desperately“ want to reach out and help. Do whatever we can do, whatever needs to be done - - to help ease the pain. These are very sad days in Nova Scotia and all of us share in your sorrow and grief.

We have questions that perhaps will take a long time being answered, or may never have an answer. This is very difficult for the families and friends of the victims. Innocent lives taken in a moment, changes the lives of those left to mourn for a lifetime. This is truly heart wrenching to say the very least. Tears fall on this page as I try to write something, anything, that may give a glimmer of hope to even one broken heart today.

Because of my Christian belief and experience over my lifetime (I am 67 years old), I do know God has been with me in times of sickness, in my anger and disappointment, in the midst of pain when people I loved passed away (in 1989 I lost six of my family, and went to another 15 funerals of friends for a total of 21 deaths in one year) in my grief, during natural disasters and in the times in my life when I wondered if He(God) was seeing my pain and suffering and yet I knew,  He was there: all the time.

He was there in my times of achievement, in all the special moments in my life, He escorted me (in spirit) when I walked down the aisle to the man I would share my life with, and to a love that would grow stronger every day, although at the time I did not know that; He was there at the birth of our son and daughter, and was with me helping me raise our children to be the young man and woman they are today. He was there over the past 40 years of my life as I carried out His instruction in ministry in various ways that He chose.  He was there all the time, in the good times, the hard times, the times of joy and pain. He never left me - - this I know and am very thankful. I stood on His promise “I will never leave you, I will never abandon you”; found in Hebrews Chapter 13 verse 5 in the Good News Bible. God is with us every day, every moment of every day and He gives us His full attention. I’m so thankful for His daily presence in my life.

You may wonder why I would share so much of my personal life today, well I did that to show you, I am only one ordinary person and He covers me in protection and provision every day. I know in my heart God is with each and everyone who today is brokenhearted in Nova Scotia, who today is grieving a tremendous loss, who today has more questions than answers, who today is wondering if God really exists. He does!!

Psalm 46 verse 1 from the Good News Bible reads:
“God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble”.

This means God is with us in all our trials, hurts,  pain, grief, loss, abuse, anger, sickness, whatever we’re going through, He is there!! He is with us in our worst moments in life and in our very best moments in life.Thank you Lord.

I remember reading this quote one time:
"The Christian finds safety not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God." -  Anonymous

I read it over and over and finally understood that in the presence of God I am safe even in the danger of life. Powerful!, and who ever wrote this had a tremendous understanding of who God is.

As the minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months move forward I pray you will find God in your loneliness, in your times of tears, in your frustration and questions, in all the emotions that sometimes will overwhelm you, God is there.
Acts chapter 17 verse 27, again from the Good News Bible reads, in the last line of that verse, this way:
“Yet God is actually not far from anyone of us”.
I pray this brings comfort to know that God is not far away from you.

To draw close to God is to study His word, the Bible, and begin and / or continue your relationship with Him. The very One who holds the stars in place, holds YOU in the palm of His hand.

David Nicholas wrote:
God’s promises are like the stars - - the darker the night, the brighter they shine!

To know God’s promises you need to know His word, believe in His word and receive His word, in your heart, soul and mind. Knowing and accepting His word will take you through this life and bring you to a life that is eternal. Revelation Chapter 21 verse 4 from the Good News Bible reads: “He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief, or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared”.

When we all get to heaven what a day that will be!!  Sorrow will have passed away and joy will be full and complete in the presence of our Lord.

I pray these words have given hope today in our province that needs hope. I pray peace and comfort will be with each and everyone who are filled with sorrow at this time here in Nova Scotia and I pray the promises of God will become your
stronghold. I pray His love (because of the prayers of many) will surround you and bring you through this very difficult time. Reach out to God, for His hand is extended to you. He is as close as the whisper of His name. Jesus.

We at Master’s Hand Ministry, and so many other ministries, are holding in prayer all the people in Nova Scotia who are suffering right now. The amount of people are many and the area is widespread, our prayers and thoughts are with all of you. God is ever present with us and He hears the cry of our heart for you. We lift all of you up to Him and may the Lord be with you all.

I ask everyone who is reading this to continue praying and I thank you in advance. May God bless you so you can bless others. ️