Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - ALWAYS THE SAME BUT OFTEN DIFFERENT PART 2

 ALWAYS THE SAME BUT OFTEN DIFFERENT

PART 2

It’s been established and accepted that God does not change (Malachi 3:6) and that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Because of this, if we had kept our “part of the bargain” it is likely that He would have always dealt with us in the same way. After all, if Adam walked with God, it is most likely that a simple to and fro conversation would be all that would ever be required between God and ourselves.

However, we broke our part of the covenant, and rejected God, and, in doing so, made it more difficult for Him to supply our needs.  Thus, the need for Him to resort to various methods by which necessities might be accomplished. For example, perhaps this is why we don’t always get healing just by praying for it. In the Bible, healing took place in many ways. 

Jesus could merely speak a word and healing would occur. Such as in Matthew 9:6 when “…He said to the paralytic, ‘Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’” Or in Mark 10:52, when He told a blind man “…‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.” Again, in John, Jesus told another paralyzed man to “…‘Rise, take up your bed and walk. And immediately the man was made well…” (John 5:8-9).

Other times, Jesus’ touch healed people such as when He healed the mother of Simon Peter; “…He touched her hand, and the fever left her…” (Matthew 8:15). In Matthew 20:34, two blind men who were sitting by the road asked for healing and “…Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight…”

Additionally, a person could touch Jesus and be healed. Matthew speaks of a woman who suffered from a discharge of blood “and said to herself ‘If I only touch His garment, I shall be well” (9:21). Jesus replied “…’[Y]our faith has made you well.’ And the woman was well from that hour” (9:22).

He even spit in one person’s eyes to cause healing. “…And when He had spit on his eyes…” (Mark 8:23) and after laid hands on him “…he was restored and saw everyone clearly” (Mark 8:25). At another time, He used spit and His fingers for healing for a deaf and semi-mute man. “He took him aside…and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue…and said …‘Be opened.’ Immediately his ears were opened and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly” (Mark 7:33-35). He healed another blind man by His spit and dirt. “…He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay…he went and washed, and came back seeing” (John 9:7).

People did not even have to be present to be healed. When the Roman centurion came to Jesus regarding his servant, Jesus told him to “…‘Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.’ And his servant was healed that same hour” (Matthew 8:13). Likewise Jesus healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman, “…‘O woman, great is your faith! Let be done to you as you desire.’…”(Matthew 15:28), and to the son of a nobleman, “…‘Go…your son lives.’”(John 4:50), without either of them being present.

When God would choose people to do His work, again many different means were used. Jesus called people where they worked as fishermen “…‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of Men.’” (Matthew 4:19).  He saw Matthew, the tax collector, “…sitting at the tax office. And He said to him ‘Follow Me.’…” (Matthew 9:9). When Saul was persecuting Him, Jesus got his attention and his devotion by knocking him to the ground “…‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’” (Acts 26:14). Still others followed by simply hearing Christ called “…the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36)

In the Old Testament, God called people forth as judges in different ways as well. In the Book of Judges, we see Him calling Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite (Chapter 3); Deborah, a prophetess who supported Barak (Chapter 4); and Gideon, a quiet man and fearful of the Midianites, whom God used to liberate Israel (Chapter 6). He also called Jephthah, a man of valour spurned by his own people (Chapter 11) and Samson, chosen before he was even born and used in spite of his many faults.

The God who never changes is not reluctant to use different means to achieve His ends. But, although He relates to us in various ways, He, in turn, gives us only one way to ultimately relate to Him

But perhaps we should leave that for part 3. In the meantime, it might be best if we just “Meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8)

Pastor Caroline - Monday January 31, 2022 - Be One-Minded

SNOWED IN

 

Due to the storm, Pastor Caroline is unable to post her message today.

We can look forward to hearing it tomorrow.

Thanks for your patience.

Master's Hand Ministry

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday Janauary 26, 2022 - Being Rooted in Christ

 

Being Rooted in Christ

 

Colossians Chapter 2 Verses 6 & 7 Good News Bible.

(6) Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him.

(7) Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.

 

As I opened my Bible at random this morning the Lord showed me Colossians chapter 2 verses 6 and 7 as my reading today. I would like to share it with all of you.

 

He (God) is reminding us that we have accepted Jesus as Lord. He wants us to remember, claim and declare Whose we are, Who we belong to!!

Just as I am the daughter of Dick and Rita Stewart, I am also a daughter of Jesus Christ. As I spent my years being known as one of the Stewart girls, I’ve also been known as a child of Christ. We must never forget our roots. Tracing our family history builds us stronger in our heritage. The more we learn about our ancestors and their traditions the more we understand about ourselves. Perhaps you have a strong heritage of hospitality. You enjoy being with people. You will probably find another in your family who has this very same trait.

 

I was born in Cape Breton but only lived there till I was five years old. To this very day I claim Cape Breton as my home land and heritage along with the gift of hospitality Cape Bretoners are known for.

(P. S. You can take the Cape Bretoner out of Cape Breton but you cannot take Cape Breton out of Cape Bretoner.)

I love to be with people, I love to visit in their homes, in the senior nursing homes, do hospital visits and just be involved with people. When I traveled, even from a young age, my parents would say; there she goes talking to people she doesn’t know. I remember saying, “there are no strangers Mom – only just people we have not met. In a few minutes I’ll know them”. And I did!

 

Nowadays, I meet people on the phone. Due to Covid, visits are restricted in person, however, a fellow Cape Bretoner named Alexander Graham Bell, invented the telephone years ago and he probably never once imagined that it would become such an essential part of our lives. Who today can live without their phone? 😊

I have people on the phone call list that I do weekly, whom I’ve never met face-to-face. Perhaps when Covid  is behind us I’ll meet them but until then we share our lives by the phone. I learn a lot about them in the conversations we share.

 

Well just as I get to know them by phone, I also get to know more about Jesus because I stay in the word of God. The Bible tells me a lot about my heritage and Jesus. My faith is made stronger the more time I spend in the Word and as I spend time talking to God in prayer. It is amazing how much we learn when we become rooted in Christ. As we read the Bible we realize how blessed we are to be children of God. In verses 9 and 10 of chapter 2 here in Colossians we read:

(9) For the full content of divine nature lives in Christ, in his humanity,

(10) and you have been given full life in union with him. He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority.

 

We have fullness of life in Christ. We have been given a full life in union with him we are told in the above verse. This is our heritage. Jesus purchased our salvation on the cross and gives it freely to everyone who accepts Him as Lord and Saviour; this wonderful inheritance is ours already. We inherit life eternal through Jesus Christ when we are rooted deep in Him.

 

Today let’s raise thanks to Jesus for the gift of salvation. Let’s thank Him for giving His life in our place and by doing so forgiving us our sins, so that one day we may be in heaven with Him for eternity.

 

Remember He is supreme over every spiritual ruler and authority as we are told here in the Bible. Aren’t you glad you are a child of God, and heir to all that heaven holds because you are rooted in Jesus?

Then let us be filled with thanksgiving.

Everyday is a great day to be thankful!!

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Judges Part 18

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - ALWAYS THE SAME BUT OFTEN DIFFERENT (PART 1)

 

ALWAYS THE SAME BUT OFTEN DIFFERENT 

PART 1

The Bible makes it quite clear that God is an unchanging Deity. In Malachi, it is stated that: “For I am the Lord, I do not change…” (3:6), and in Hebrews 13:8 that: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

These are the statements that give us confidence in God’s further declarations ensuring  that His covenants are also without change. He stated that the covenants that He made would be “between Me and you and your descendants after you” And that He had established “an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you” (Genesis 17:7). Our part of the covenant He put in a more formal way when “…He declared to you His covenant which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments…” (Deuteronomy 4:13). So then, on the basis of His unchanging character and His everlasting covenants, we can take assurances from the truth of His statements that: “…‘I will never leave you nor forsake you,’” (Hebrews 13:5) and “…‘lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age’…”(Matthew 28:20) 

However, He also said: “For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always” (Matthew 26:11). I realize that in the last case, He was speaking in the flesh, but the context of the statement above the question is the same: is He either with us always or not? And how is that possible when above we see that He promised to be with us always? 

Perhaps the answer, in part, lies in the fact that He has kept His part of the agreement - “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has got out of My lips” (Psalm 89:34) but we have often not kept ours.

The earth mourns and fades away,

The world languishes  and fades away;

The haughty people of the earth languish.

The earth is often defiled under its inhabitants, 

Because they have transgressed the laws,

Changed the ordinance,

Broken the everlasting covenant. 

Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, 

And those who dwell in it are desolate.

(Isaiah 24:4-6)

  It is difficult to remain close to those who do not wish to remain close to you. If God never leaves us but we refuse to maintain the relationship, what can He do but try different ways to let us know that He’s still around? By doing so He gets His message across even when we expect something entirely different. Healing in the Bible, for example, often occurs in various forms but rarely by direct request. And when He calls someone to His service, it’s often by some means other than a direct route, especially in the Old Testament. He may be the same, but His ways are often different; something we’ll talk about in part 2.

In the meantime, this should give you something to think about.   

Pastor Caroline - Sunday January 23, 2022 - Morning, Noon, and Night

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday January 19, 2022 - God the King in All the Storms

 

God the King in All the Storms

 

Psalm 93- Good News Bible

 

(1) The Lord is King.

He is clothed with majesty and strength.

The earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved.

(2) Your throne, O Lord, has been firm from the beginning, and you existed before time began.

 

(3) The ocean depths raise their voice, O Lord;

they raise their voice and roar.

(4) The Lord rules supreme in the heaven,

greater than the roar of the ocean,

more powerful than the waves of the sea.

 

(5) Your laws are eternal, Lord, and your Temple is holy indeed, forever and ever.

 

Today is Sunday and the day after the storm. (God is encouraging me to write this for Wednesday’s message as someone needs to hear the beauty in this message). Many people today are clearing the snow from their vehicles, driveways, walkways and roofs. The storm left behind a lot of snow and it is heavy to move.

 

But wait, before you take to clearing and disturbing the beauty just look around and breathe. Take a good look at everything dressed in white. Depending on where you are, the shades of white are different. Here in the country where I am, I can see shadows under the trees and in the picture I used for today the sun shines through a tree like a huge lightbulb. So beautiful! Breathtaking! I can see the majestic hand of the Lord in the storm and after the storm.

 

God took me to Psalm 93 this morning and as I sat quietly and read it, it speaks afresh to me on this day. I realize the majesty and strength of the Lord, however, most likely, I will never be able to fully comprehend the fullness of Him and His ways until I am in glory with Him. In the meantime, I am content to know He is the master of the wind and all the storms. He is greater than the roar of the ocean, more powerful than the waves of the sea we are told here in Psalm 93. Also we are assured that the earth is set firmly in place and cannot be moved. So in the storms of life we can settle in and make a choice to let God be in control or we can make a choice to fret, be worried and anxious which will only keep us in a tizzy as they say. I choose to rest in God, who is King of this world and the Heavenly Kingdom and rely on His strength and power appreciating all He is and does for us.

 

As we now look at Psalm 34 in the Good News Bible it says;

(1)  I will always thank the Lord; I will never stop praising him.

(2)  I will praise him for what he has done; may all who are oppressed listen and be glad!

(3)  Proclaim with me the Lord’s greatness; let us praise his name together!

When the storms of life come, the weather bombs, the physical storms, the spiritual storms, let us be reminded that God is with us. He will see us through the storms of all descriptions and when we believe with all our heart He is God the King, then we can be assured that He knows the beginning from the end and all that will be present between the two. His laws are eternal, His Temple is Holy and it is forever and ever!! (Psalm 93:5)

 

Now I rest in Him, I thank Him, I will never stop praising Him and I will proclaim His goodness until breath leaves my very body. And so should you. Taste and see how good the Lord is, in and out of the storm, He is —God the King!!

 

 

 

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Judges Part 17

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - NAZARETH? EGYPT?

 NAZARETH? EGYPT?

Before we leave the season completely let us examine one more aspect of what happened just after the birth of Jesus. If you look at the Gospels carefully, it’s difficult not to consider the possible conflict of events that seemed to evolve between the writing of Matthew and Luke. Matthew apparently has Mary, Joseph, and Jesus heading to Egypt just after the birth; where Luke has the family going to the Temple in Jerusalem, from where “…they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth” (Luke 2:39).  So which really happened? Did they go to Nazareth or to Egypt? 

Part of the apparent difficulty may occur because the Bible does not give times for many events and the Church, and ourselves, often make an assumption about what happened rather than looking carefully at the whole possible scenario. For example, there is nothing in the Bible that states the Magi came to the manger in spite of what we talk and sing about at Christmas. In fact, there is absolutely no evidence that Jesus was even born at or around the time of Christmas.

So how is this apparent discrepancy to be resolved? Part of the difficulty stems from the lack of timelines in the story, so we don’t really know exactly when certain events took place. We always picture the Magi as coming to the manger along with the shepherds, but the Bible states that “…they had come into the house…[where] they saw the young child with Mary His mother” (Matthew 2:11). They saw the Child, not an infant. Likewise, the angel told Joseph to “…‘Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt’…” (Matthew 2:13).

Luke, on the other hand, is quite precise, stating that when Jesus was eight days old, He was taken to Jerusalem to be circumcised according to the Law. They then “…returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth” (Luke 2:39), traveling “…to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover” (Luke 2:41).

Is it possible that Jesus may really have been born around the time of Passover, was circumcised on the eighth day, met with Simeon and Anna, and then returned with His parents to Nazareth just as Luke reports? Is it possible that it was during a subsequent visit to Jerusalem, and while staying in a house, that the wise men visited with their gifts; after which at some time, the angel warned Joseph in a dream and the family fled to Egypt? Jesus, at that time, would have been perhaps two years old. Joseph may even have been back in Nazareth when he received the warning to flee to Egypt from the angel regarding Herod for shortly thereafter Herod “sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under old and under…”(Matthew 2:16).

While it is impossible to accurately know the sequence of events of these two stories, in order to correlate both Gospels, something other than what we commonly portray at Christmas must have taken place. It’s hard to be sure that what is suggested here is what actually took place or not, but it does give one something to think about. 

     

Pastor Caroline - Sunday January 16, 2022 - The Helper, The Holy Spirit

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday January 12, 2022 - Never Alone

 

Never Alone

 

Help carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ. Galatians Chapter 6 Verse 2. (Good News Bible)

 

In these days we are not physically connected to many people. We all have a bubble of 8 or 10 people perhaps, but the vast majority of people who were in our lives before March 2020 are separated from us right now. Well there are some ways we can stay connected even if we are not face-to-face and in person. We can text, email, FaceTime, send a letter, call or send a selfie to someone. This at least lets people know we are alive and well. However, even these connections somehow do not completely fill our deep inner need to fellowship with family and friends. We feel alone at times – especially when we cannot reach out for a great big hug!! Oh how I miss the hugs! (When hugging is allowed again I will hug everyone I meet, friend or stranger so get ready when you see me coming your way). 😊

 

God never intended us to be alone. He instructs us to help carry one another’s burdens, to reach out and be there for others. God even promised us in Hebrews Chapter 13 verse 5 “I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.”

 In Joshua Chapter 1 verse 9 also in the Good News Bible we read; “Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go.”

This tells me that God wants to be with us and reminds us that He does not want us to be alone. Never alone!

 

God wants us to have fellowship with one another. To strengthen and guide each other. One man’s weakness is another man’s strength and so together we can encourage and strengthen each other.

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds we are told in Psalm 147 verse 3. He wants us to walk through the trials of life with each other. This is done through the instruction He gives each one of us when we come along side one who is in need. Physical, mental and spiritual needs can all be met when we carry one another’s burdens and stay in the word of God.

Psalm 91:4(GNB) reads;

He will cover you with His wings; you will be safe in His care; His faithfulness will protect and defend you.

Glory hallelujah this is indeed good news!

Here is more good news in Psalm 143 verse 8:

Remind me each morning of your constant love, for I put my trust in you. My prayers go up to you; show me the way I should go.

With these few scriptures, and there are many more in the Bible; you can see God never wants us to be alone. And we are never alone when we have God as our anchor and guide.

Pray for one another, pray with one another, pray over the burdens and the cares of the day with each other before the Lord. He hears and answers our prayers.

 

Also we are never alone when we share life with others. It may look differently just now but it is not impossible. Share your love and faith with others in whatever way God shows you. He allows me the privilege to write these messages and this keeps me connected to all of you and I feel the connection so I never feel alone. Thank you for your prayers for me and I love to pray for you as well.

 

When I make my daily phone calls I believe God has this phone ministry purposed for something greater than I will ever know. Everything you do in the love of Christ is a connection.

So folks, stay connected, stay in His love, help carry each other just now and always and let your faith lead you to be a blessing. Let the blessings of heaven pour out as God leads you every day. You are never alone – He is always by your side.

Dr. Barclay's Bible Study - The Book of Judges Part 16 - Sampson

Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - SIMEON

 SIMEON

When discussing the birth of Christ, we often don’t go beyond the visit of the Magi and Herod’s rampage on the children of Bethlehem. Usually, we do not read further in Luke to realize all that happened after the time in the manger. But there’s so much more to the story…

“And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, [and] when the days of [Mary’s] purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord…” (Luke 2:21-22). It’s interesting to speculate as to where they were living during this time, perhaps in the home to which the Magi later came. And if the shepherds, after seeing the baby Jesus, had “…made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child, and all those who heard it marvelled at those things which were told them by the shepherds…” (Luke 2:17-18), how could they enter Jerusalem unrecognized and unnoticed? Certainly the supporters of Herod and of the High Priest could not have known what was taking place.

So they came into the city and to the temple with no one apparently knowing who the Child really was. This, in spite of the shepherds having made it widely known what they had heard and seen regarding the Baby, and also in spite of the prophecy of Jacob: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah…Until Shiloh comes…”(Genesis 49:10). Well, the sceptre had been removed by the Roman occupation, the priests had even torn their garments because the Messiah had not appeared and yet here He was, in their midst and not recognized. 

Still one apparently realized who this Child really was. Simeon, a “just and devout” (Luke 2:25) man “…came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus…he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ‘…my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples. A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.’” (Luke 2:27-32). 

What made Simeon so perceptive regarding Christ when He was not recognized by so many others? And what made the meeting between the two so fortuitous? After all, it would be only for a short time and only for one occasion that Christ would have been in Jerusalem.

Firstly, Simeon “came by the Spirit into the temple.” It wasn’t just a coincidence that Simeon happened to be in the temple at that time. How many times do we get an urge to go places or meet someone or do something we perhaps didn’t initially intend to do? How many times are we led by the Spirit in such circumstances without recognizing it and as a result miss out on something special?

Secondly, Simeon had been waiting for and looking for the Messiah. It appears he was more in tune with what was happening than both the chief priests and Herod’s advisors. He was informed that: “…he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ” (Luke 2:26). We are told to “seek and you will find” (Luke 11:9) and that “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Simeon had been seeking Christ and was rewarded in Jerusalem.

Finally, Simeon was willing to accept Christ when he did at last find Him for “…he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said…my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:28,30). Do we sometimes not accept Christ even after seeking Him? Christ said: “…I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him…” (Revelation 3:20). When we do find what we have been seeking then it becomes most important that we accept and enter into a relationship with the One we seek.

Simeon did what was needed of him and as a result was able to see what the shepherds had first been told by the angel - “…I bring you good tidings…which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10). In turn, Simeon uttered the first post-birth prophecy that Christ would be “A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:32).

To seek and then to be led to the acceptance of that which has been sought: well, that is something to really think about.

Pastor Caroline - Sunday January 9, 2021 - Jesus - Every Day

Pastor Caroline - Wednesday January 5, 2022 - A Life That Pleases God

 

A Life That Pleases God

 

Happy New Year and welcome to January 2022. 2021 is behind us and 2022 is laid out before us. How should we live? As I was reading 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4, I was struck by verses 11 and 12 which says in the Good News Bible the following:

(11) Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before.

(12) In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need.

 

These scriptures are found under the chapter title, A Life That Pleases God and so I used that title for my message. It seemed very fitting. Here Paul is writing to the Thessalonians to encourage them, and so we can take that same encouragement in the year 2022.

Thank you Lord for instruction in how we can live a life that pleases You. May we begin this New Year with that one thought in mind, to live to please You.

 

Over the last 10 days I’ve slowed my pace a bit, and realize that God wants us all to rest so that we can be rejuvenated and refreshed. Then we can move forward completing the daily tasks given to us. A tired body and mind accomplishes little, but a rested soul has new energy and can accomplish much. Jesus went to the mountain to rest where He found peace and quiet. He went to take Himself away from the needs of the people and to seek His Father’s advice as He served.

 

People who rest in the Lord, spending time in quiet prayer, are leading a quiet life. They tend to the needs of their household and family and then reach out to others to help. They do not do this for any want of praise but rather out of love. When we do, or give, to others; we do so because we love. The love of Christ is in us and is displayed in our attitude and action towards others. The most successful people I know are ones who have learned to rest so that they can be rejuvenated to carry on with the tasks required.

 

God will supply our needs when we give out of our supply and others will see how the Lord of lords looks after His own. Non-believers will be touched by our generosity, love and caring; and believers will be encouraged to do more of the same. As we follow the example Jesus set for us we show others the difference in human love and spiritual love. We choose to glorify God and we are defined as Christians when we accept Christ as Lord and Saviour and serve with a Christ like heart. When we love and live as Jesus did, by His example we also can live a quiet life. Quiet, and yet very productive as we fix our minds on serving our Lord here on earth and one day spending eternity with Him forever. So live life to please God and you will soon see how rich every day is in His presence, as you learn to live a life that pleases Him. You will soon see yourself living a life of joy and contentment that is contagious to others. And others will be happy to learn how to live a quiet life that honours the Lord.