In our world with so many technological items to save time and help us, it is so noticeable that no one seems to have time. Recently I have been reflecting on the Word of God which in Exodus 20 reminds us to keep the Sabbath day Holy. It makes me wonder how many of our stress related issues would disappear if we were to go back to the Biblical principle of one day in seven set aside to the Lord.
If you ask a Rabbi what is Sabbath? You will receive the answer "it is a day to be - not to do." Wow, what a good answer that is, so much of our need is to take time just to be and to be free from the clutter to think on God and life.
How many believers really have time in the Word? How often this is the source of our problem, we have not heard from God in a long time. Scripture tells us to search the Word as if for treasure, and it truly is living treasure.
May God bless you friends who pray with me and for me with true Sabbath time with the Lord Jesus Christ, may He refresh your soul in His Word and by His Spirit.
This week please pray for guidance and discernment as I seek to lead the church and minister to His people.
John
Monday, May 14, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
The Privilege of Serving Him
Last weekend my son graduated. with his Master's Degree from Seminary in Calgary. As I attended and visited around the campus for a couple of days it reminded me all over again of what a privilege it is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. His Word transforms lives and His Presence is overwhelming love in every way.
So many people today in our western world feel unfulfilled and empty on the inside, it is because they have no way to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through them to serve the Lord Jesus. Everything becomes about self and there is no outlet for the love and grace of God. The power of God works best through clean empty vessels who just want to walk with delight that the Lord is walking with them and using them to extend His Kingdom on earth.
The best way to find fulfillment is to commit yourself to serve the Lord in all circumstances through thick and thin in the fellowship of His local church. He ordained the church and it is His instrument to reach a broken and hurting world. He gave us His Word so that we might know and obey His will for our lives, our families and for His world.
God bless you as you walk with Him and serve Him with a full heart.
Please keep me in prayer as I consider some invitations to speak a good word for Jesus. Thanks.
So many people today in our western world feel unfulfilled and empty on the inside, it is because they have no way to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through them to serve the Lord Jesus. Everything becomes about self and there is no outlet for the love and grace of God. The power of God works best through clean empty vessels who just want to walk with delight that the Lord is walking with them and using them to extend His Kingdom on earth.
The best way to find fulfillment is to commit yourself to serve the Lord in all circumstances through thick and thin in the fellowship of His local church. He ordained the church and it is His instrument to reach a broken and hurting world. He gave us His Word so that we might know and obey His will for our lives, our families and for His world.
God bless you as you walk with Him and serve Him with a full heart.
Please keep me in prayer as I consider some invitations to speak a good word for Jesus. Thanks.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
The Power of Prayer
Recently in my home church we were called as a congregation to come together for a 30 minute congregational prayer meeting on a Tuesday night. It was a wonderful time to see most of the church respond and pray together, some in small groups some individually and some stayed to pray for an hour and a half. Everyone was encouraged as the needs of those who were sick and those who need to be saved were brought before our God.
This gift of prayer which the Lord has given to us needs to be exercised more often in the corporate way, where congregations come together for prayer. Perhaps this is why we seem so powerless in these times, because as a body of people we are so prayerless.
May the Lord Himself remind us to take every opportunity to come aside for a time and seek His face.
Every blessing as you seek Him.
Pray too for John as he considers some invitations for the coming months.
This gift of prayer which the Lord has given to us needs to be exercised more often in the corporate way, where congregations come together for prayer. Perhaps this is why we seem so powerless in these times, because as a body of people we are so prayerless.
May the Lord Himself remind us to take every opportunity to come aside for a time and seek His face.
Every blessing as you seek Him.
Pray too for John as he considers some invitations for the coming months.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
What do these stones mean?
In reading through Joshua recently I was impacted again by how they took stones from the Jordan river bed and set them up as a memorial. They saying goes on to make a great point, "when your children ask what d these stones mean? You will say it is because the Lord brought us across the dry river bed by His strong Hand." In other words in generations to come you can say Our God is Mighty!
Truly He is Mighty, He continues too do great things. What a joy to see the Lord bring churches together in the Yarmouth NS area for a series of meetings, His Presence was so real in the services and there sertainly were times of wonderful response. Thanks to all who prayed for the meetings.
May I encourage you today to just stop and think back to the memorials which the Lord has set up in your life, I believe it will lift and strengthen you in your faith and walk with Jesus.
Blessings.
Truly He is Mighty, He continues too do great things. What a joy to see the Lord bring churches together in the Yarmouth NS area for a series of meetings, His Presence was so real in the services and there sertainly were times of wonderful response. Thanks to all who prayed for the meetings.
May I encourage you today to just stop and think back to the memorials which the Lord has set up in your life, I believe it will lift and strengthen you in your faith and walk with Jesus.
Blessings.
Monday, April 2, 2012
The Lord Encouraged Us
Thanks to all who prayed for the ministry trip to Nova Scotia. The Lord certainly encouraged us, and I believe He encouraged His people in the Yarmouth area. The meetings were well attended and many shared that the Lord had used the meetings to strengthen them in their walk with Him. Some also spoke of how the Lord had breathed encouragement for family and life issues.
The people from the area are wonderfully friendly and it is so good to see churches working together for the sake of the Kingdom. During the closing rally John challenged the congregation to go deeper in discipleship and in growing to become more like Jesus. It was a very special time at the altar as local pastors were called forward and congregations came around their pastor to pray for him. How marvellous it is to see the Love of God poured out from His people to His servants.
The people from the area are wonderfully friendly and it is so good to see churches working together for the sake of the Kingdom. During the closing rally John challenged the congregation to go deeper in discipleship and in growing to become more like Jesus. It was a very special time at the altar as local pastors were called forward and congregations came around their pastor to pray for him. How marvellous it is to see the Love of God poured out from His people to His servants.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
UNITED PRAYER
As you think about revival, one of the key components seems to be that there was a sense of unity in prayer preceding the move of God. Jonathan Edwards had as part of the title of his book "A Humble Attempt to promote United, Explicit Prayer amongst the Churches."
While it is true that individuals are praying for revival across the land, could it be that corporate prayer, united prayer is that which is missing? When was the last time that churches from all across communities really came together to seek God and cry out to Him for an out pouring of His Holy Spirit?
O God send us revival teach us how to pray with and for each other.
While it is true that individuals are praying for revival across the land, could it be that corporate prayer, united prayer is that which is missing? When was the last time that churches from all across communities really came together to seek God and cry out to Him for an out pouring of His Holy Spirit?
O God send us revival teach us how to pray with and for each other.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Encountering God
John is presently preparing for an upcoming series of meetings in Yarmouth, NS. There are 11 churches participating in the event and it will be a tremendous opportunity to encounter the Lord. Please pray for the meetings each evening from March 24-28 and pray for the morning prayer times of teaching. Pray for Hebron Baptist Church as they celebrate a great anniversary on the Sunday morning. Pray for Pastor Wayne Johnson as he leads the local pastors and people in prayer to prepare the way.
This will be the third series of meeting which John has taken this year so far and we continue to see the Lord touching lives for His glory. Thank God to hear reports of how the Lord has encouraged and strengthened His children and His church.
May the Lord Jesus Christ receive the glory due to His Name in each of the coming events on the schedule for this year. Pray too for wisdom in taking the right invitations so that John can be working where God is working.
This will be the third series of meeting which John has taken this year so far and we continue to see the Lord touching lives for His glory. Thank God to hear reports of how the Lord has encouraged and strengthened His children and His church.
May the Lord Jesus Christ receive the glory due to His Name in each of the coming events on the schedule for this year. Pray too for wisdom in taking the right invitations so that John can be working where God is working.
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