Reflecting by Lorilee Guenter

Promises Kept 

 "For I have not given you a spirit of fear (timidity), but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control." (self-discipline) 2 Timothy 1:7

In January I chose this verse as a focus verse for the year along with the words courage and boldness. At the time no one predicted what was to come during 2020. When I started to reflect on this verse, I thought about changing my habits to care for this gift of life God has given me. I thought about being willing to grasp hold of the opportunities God showed even in uncomfortable situations. I thought about using what I have to build up those around me, to engage with neighbours more, and to continue to look for God's hand in my life and our community. All these happened and so much more.

This year this verse came to mind in unexpected ways and at unexpected times. Even when I prepared to write this post, God reminded me through a podcast that His spirit of power and love and self-control are working through us to accomplish His work. Not only that but He wants to work with us boldly and powerfully.

I clung to Him during the spring shut down. The absence of physical gathering with community highlighted the value of these communities. But our God made us with creativity and we were able to find new ways to gather, new ways to reflect His love. For me it came at great cost to my mental health but not with fear or panic. God gave me peace in place of panic. Peace I could then share with others.

As we were forced to give up distractions, I was surprised by new things, new opportunities. I had the courage to say yes to telling Bible stories for our Sunday School via video using my art and a basic script. I have been encouraged to share my art in other ways I had never considered. My first response to these opportunities was to be hesitant. When I was asked the same question by three people about an art related possibility, I knew I need to trust God and step into this role with boldness.

I do not know what God will do with any of these things. Some of the things God has shown me this year have been huge, some small. Through it all, at various times and in various ways, I have been reminded that God is at work. He will use what I give Him in unexpected ways. Through His power and love even the small steps of courage through faith will reflect His glory.

As we step towards a second shut down, I continue to trust god will continue to work with me and through me. Where that leads I have no idea, but He does. His power will replace panic with peace, fear with faith.

The Help by Terrie Lynne

Lately I've been thinking about a movie I watched with my daughter about a year ago titled, The Help.  

It's loosely based around two African American women who work as maids for white families during the Civil Rights era in the 1960s. If you go to Wikipedia  you can read a little write up about the movie content. If you haven't seen the movie I highly recommend it.

One of the maids, or as they were referred to in the movie as the help, was named Aberdeen Clark. One of her duties was to take care of a little girl around 3 years old. Every day Aberdeen would speak in her broken English these encouraging words of affirmation over the little girl, "You's kind, you's smart, you's important!"

Our eyes filled with tears and our hearts were deeply touched when we watched that scene. I felt as if it was what I call a "God Moment".  Like a blessing being spoken over that little girl!

 It's such a powerful reminder of the power of words, both good and bad. I've heard it said that when one negative or discouraging word has been spoken to a person it takes up to seven positive or encouraging words to counteract the negative affect in our mind and heart.  I believe the scriptures do refer to the fact that words have power for good or for evil.

I believe the Bible also refers to the  Holy Spirit as " The Helper", the one that wants to come along beside us. He wants to  speak words of encouragement and affirmation into our hearts. Words like, you're kind, you're smart, you're important!

 I hope I can reflect "the helper" that lives inside me when I speak the words,  "you's kind, you's smart, you's important, to a lost and hurting world around me that so desperately needs to hear these healing and encouraging words!

I hope you have been blessed and encouraged too!
Amen. Let it be so!

JESUS: HUMILILTY OR POWER by Bryan Norford

She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7.

People of every age make life’s biggest mistake by imagining God in every guise but His reality. Really, the stable is ridiculous; the Ruler of the entire universe would come in power to a palace and take up His rightful place as King of the earth. In fact, God’s people of that time fully expected their Messiah to come as a liberating hero and kick the occupying Romans out.

Both convenience and fear dictate our caricatures of God. Our Father-God should want everyone to have a good time; He must be a grandfatherly figure, who pats us all on the head. A God of love has no choice but to provide a haven where He overlooks our sin, so we’ll all enjoy a heaven of our own making—some heaven!

We may imagine Him as an erratic father who needs to be appeased at every turn; perhaps a stern and disinterested judge who brings adversity to punish us for our sins. He probably waits to pounce on every deviance from his will like a tyrannical dictator.

Alternatively, He simply wound up the universe like a clock, and, with no further interest in it, left us to our own devices. Just as likely, He doesn’t even exist, so we’re accountable to no-one!

But, the stable, a significant symbol of Christianity, destroys all our foolish imaginings. Seeing God in a cattle trough can only attest to one overriding characteristic: humility. When God gave Moses the Law in Exodus 34:6–7, he described Himself by characteristics we possess and recognize: compassion, graciousness, patience, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness—all components of humility; above all, expressing the values by which He would administer the law.

However, that doesn’t ignore His omnipotence. In the same passage He also described Himself as just. When His humble approach to humankind reaps no response, He will take the only course left, that of judgment. He was constrained to the manger by His love, not weakness. Don’t let us mistake “gentle Jesus, meek and mild” for a weak, ineffectual Ruler who will never bring justice to the world.

So this Christmas season, we rejoice that God reached out to us in a way we can comprehend—by becoming like us, feeling our pain, showing us how to live, dying to redeem us back to Himself, and finally rising from the grave to confirm his authority, power and truth. But, the fulfilment of the promise of His first coming is the guarantee of His return with power and justice.

 

God's Gift of Authority

One day as Jesus was preaching in the temple courts, the priests and the teachers of the law challenged Him, “Tell us, by what authority you are doing these things? Who gave you this authority?”

Among the crowd were experienced teachers of the law and elders, and leaders of the people. Suddenly, Jesus comes along preaching the good news of eternal life. Do you think that these leaders could have been threatened by His presence? Was Jesus convincing to them? Perhaps in their minds they could not deny God’s power of authority.

According to Matthew 7:28, the crowds were amazed at His teaching and they acknowledged Him. “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching because He taught as one who had authority, and not as teachers of the law.” What was the difference then? It was this: Jesus responded to the challenge of the priests and teachers by asking if John’s baptism was from heaven or from men. After some discussion, they could not answer. But the answer was clear; the authority came from heaven. Jesus said: “My Father is always at work to this very day, and I too, am working. I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his father doing because whatever the father does the Son does also.” (John 5:17 &18)

As believers, God gives us authority also. We probably have the concept of having the authority to drive out Satan or rebuke sin when we have to. That may be so, but the authority that God gives is the authority to build up the church. (2 Cor. 10:8) It is for building up not for tearing down. Using God’s gift of authority means availing of God’s power.

Jesus gave the disciples power and authority to cure diseases and drive out demons but also to preach the Kingdom of God. We can build the church fearlessly and with great confidence. We can build up the body of Christ and we can continue to preach Salvation. There is a profound verse that is worthy of mentioning: “For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.” (2 Cor. 13:8)

Remember the question, Jesus asked? Was John’s baptism from heaven or from man? If it were from man there would be little convincing or conviction. When work is ongoing to benefit the Kingdom of heaven, God will give us the authority to make His truth and purposes known. That’s what makes all the difference in all we do! Whatever we do, do as though working for the Lord! Go in the strength of the Lord. Amen!


Janice Keats