I read this quote today during my quite time with the Lord.. It is taken from Rick Warren's Book "God's Power to change your life".. Here it is:
"God produces the fruit of the Spirit in us by allowing us to encounter situations and people with characteristics that are exactly the opposite of the Fruit of the Spirit." (pg.44)
Interesting.
If I have read this correctly, God, who wants to grow in me the 9 Fruit of the Spirit, (that's all nine, not one, two or five, If I am a disciple of Jesus, I am to have all 9 fruit) He will put in my path people who don't have the Fruit of the Spirit.
Rick explains this quote by saying that if we want to love, (the first fruit) God will not give us people that we love, that's easy. God, who wants to grow the Fruit of the Spirit called Love in His children, will put people in our lives who are "hard to love" this, Rick says, will allow God to grow the Fruit of Love in our lives.
It makes sense. If I want to have Patience, (which I do, especially with my kids) then I need to have an encounter with someone who takes Patience. It's the same way with the other 7 Fruit.
God wants to grow these fruit in our Lives, and, this takes, time. Just as plants are not grown in one day, the Fruit of the Spirit will take time to "grow" in my life.
By allowing these 9 fruit to be in my life, I am becoming more and more like my Savior, Jesus Christ.
It's as a bumper sticker once said "God wants spiritual fruits, not religious nuts"
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
2 for 1
Here is the second post of the day. (this means that I am off the hook in posting for a few extra days....)
As I mentioned before, i love to read. I have been known, to have 5 books on the go all at once. (maybe this is why it takes me so long to finish even 1 of them)
One of the books I am reading in John Ortberg's new book. "the me I want to be>> becoming God's best version of you" what a book. I highly recommend it. While I am only in chapter 2, I have been left with some things to think about, here's one or two of those things:
God made me to be me. He didn't make me to be anyone else . He didn't make me to stay the way that I am. He expects me to become "a new creation". I am not supposed to compare my life with that of anyone else, because I am not anyone else. I am who God created me to be.... let me rephrase that... I want to become the me God wants me to be.
This is a process, it takes time.
If God has a plan in mind for me, chances are He has a plan for you as well. Sometimes we get caught up in comparing ourselves with others, or we become the "me someone else wants me to become" when in reality, God wants us to be us. He'll do the changing, if we will do the submitting.
I don't know if you got your money's worth today or not, but as my Uncle likes to say "you get what you paid for...."
As I mentioned before, i love to read. I have been known, to have 5 books on the go all at once. (maybe this is why it takes me so long to finish even 1 of them)
One of the books I am reading in John Ortberg's new book. "the me I want to be>> becoming God's best version of you" what a book. I highly recommend it. While I am only in chapter 2, I have been left with some things to think about, here's one or two of those things:
God made me to be me. He didn't make me to be anyone else . He didn't make me to stay the way that I am. He expects me to become "a new creation". I am not supposed to compare my life with that of anyone else, because I am not anyone else. I am who God created me to be.... let me rephrase that... I want to become the me God wants me to be.
This is a process, it takes time.
If God has a plan in mind for me, chances are He has a plan for you as well. Sometimes we get caught up in comparing ourselves with others, or we become the "me someone else wants me to become" when in reality, God wants us to be us. He'll do the changing, if we will do the submitting.
I don't know if you got your money's worth today or not, but as my Uncle likes to say "you get what you paid for...."
2 for 1
It's a 2 for the price of 1 today... don't you feel special?
My Friend and colleague, Rev. AJ Plaizier, whom I travelled to Africa with, posted this quote in his blog this past week, and I wanted to "borrow" it from him as is.
"That terrible zone of confusion so evident in the whole life of the Christian community could be cleared up in one day if the followers of Christ would begin to follow Christ instead of each other." A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of Man, p.117
Enough Said.
My Friend and colleague, Rev. AJ Plaizier, whom I travelled to Africa with, posted this quote in his blog this past week, and I wanted to "borrow" it from him as is.
"That terrible zone of confusion so evident in the whole life of the Christian community could be cleared up in one day if the followers of Christ would begin to follow Christ instead of each other." A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of Man, p.117
Enough Said.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Reading
I love to read.... this was not always the case... when i was in school, I didn't like to read. I remember one particular book report. It was a Saturday morning and I was "supposed" to be reading this book for a french report, and my father asked me what I was doing. I told him I was done reading for the day, and he asked me what I read.... I tried to tell him some mumble jumble, but needless to say I had to go back and read the book again. (If I recall, I didn't get a good grade on that report... but that's not the point...)
I have a page a day calendar on my desk that gives me "road sign" statements, and this is the one for today: "better to be over the hill and under it"
Is it?
Is it really better to be over the hill than under it? Let's remember that this statement is completely contrary to what we as Disciples of Jesus believe. We believe that once we die, we will be with Him, so I would have to disagree with that statement. It's better to be under the hill than to be over it....
Unless of course, you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. in that case it is better for you to be over the hill than under it.
I also read this a long time ago: No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus Know Peace.
Do you know Jesus? If you do, then it truly will be better to be under the hill than over it, no matter how old you might be.
I have a page a day calendar on my desk that gives me "road sign" statements, and this is the one for today: "better to be over the hill and under it"
Is it?
Is it really better to be over the hill than under it? Let's remember that this statement is completely contrary to what we as Disciples of Jesus believe. We believe that once we die, we will be with Him, so I would have to disagree with that statement. It's better to be under the hill than to be over it....
Unless of course, you don't know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. in that case it is better for you to be over the hill than under it.
I also read this a long time ago: No Jesus, No Peace. Know Jesus Know Peace.
Do you know Jesus? If you do, then it truly will be better to be under the hill than over it, no matter how old you might be.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Get out of the boat
On Sunday, I will be speaking from the passage that led me to resign as Pastor of the Havelock Wesleyan Church.
The Passage is taken from Matthew 14:22-33, and it's the account of Peter walking on the water. I have found solice in this text of Scripture over the last few weeks, as I've wrestled with this important decision. I have come to a couple of conclusions taken from this passage.
1. God wants His childen to get out of the boat.
I don't think God intended us to stay in our "boats" for life. I think it's when we choose to get out of the boat that He does His best work in and through us, becasue outside of the boat is where life truly begins.
2. Fear
Many people don't get out of the boat becasue of fear. Peter was fine as long as he was looking at Jesus, but when he saw the wind and the waves, he became scared and sank like a birck.
When we get out of the boat, we start playing the "what if game", and like Peter, we sink. We become afraid, afraid that Jesus can't help us.
3. Trust
Once out of the boat, we've got to trust that the same God who told us to get out of the boat, will be the same God who will look after us outside of the boat. this was Peter's downfall, and if the truth be told, it's my downfall too. We must, as it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 "trust in the Lord with all our strenght..."
I beleive that God wants us to get out of the boat. to not be content with the "status quo". I beleive that God wants us to get out of the boat and walk toward Jesus Christ.
I have, will you?
The Passage is taken from Matthew 14:22-33, and it's the account of Peter walking on the water. I have found solice in this text of Scripture over the last few weeks, as I've wrestled with this important decision. I have come to a couple of conclusions taken from this passage.
1. God wants His childen to get out of the boat.
I don't think God intended us to stay in our "boats" for life. I think it's when we choose to get out of the boat that He does His best work in and through us, becasue outside of the boat is where life truly begins.
2. Fear
Many people don't get out of the boat becasue of fear. Peter was fine as long as he was looking at Jesus, but when he saw the wind and the waves, he became scared and sank like a birck.
When we get out of the boat, we start playing the "what if game", and like Peter, we sink. We become afraid, afraid that Jesus can't help us.
3. Trust
Once out of the boat, we've got to trust that the same God who told us to get out of the boat, will be the same God who will look after us outside of the boat. this was Peter's downfall, and if the truth be told, it's my downfall too. We must, as it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 "trust in the Lord with all our strenght..."
I beleive that God wants us to get out of the boat. to not be content with the "status quo". I beleive that God wants us to get out of the boat and walk toward Jesus Christ.
I have, will you?
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Church
Tonight is one of my last Board Meetings as Pastor of the Havelock Wesleyan Church. Hard to imagine. What I also have a hard time thinking about is that that I have only 5 more messages to preach. There may be a funeral here and there, (I hope not) but the fact remains that my time is coming to a close. I am both sad and excited.
First of all I am saddned because I have spent the last 7 years of my life in Havelock. My kids were born here. I've seen God at work many, many times in this church, and I am going to miss the people. some of my best friends live in this community, and I will not be seeing them as much as I do now. Some of these make me sad.
But I am also excited. I am excited becasue the Lord is going to do something more in the life of Havelock Wesleyan Church and her people.
I beleive that God has done some wonderful things in this little church, and I think my moving on means that He's got more to accomplish here. I'm fine with not being the one to "get r done". Remember: John the Baptist was sent before Chirst, not after. So I am excited for this church and what may happen in the future.
But I am also excited for me, and for my family. Starting in July, I will be the new Pastor of the Maple Ridge Wesleyan Church. I am excited for the challenge, and the ways that the Lord is going to use me and my family in that church. If this church is any indication of the Work the Lord has done in my life, I can't wait to see what He has in store for us in this next Phase of Ministry.
I'd apprecaite your prayers as we finish strong here at Havelock Wesleyan and begin our new Church in July.
First of all I am saddned because I have spent the last 7 years of my life in Havelock. My kids were born here. I've seen God at work many, many times in this church, and I am going to miss the people. some of my best friends live in this community, and I will not be seeing them as much as I do now. Some of these make me sad.
But I am also excited. I am excited becasue the Lord is going to do something more in the life of Havelock Wesleyan Church and her people.
I beleive that God has done some wonderful things in this little church, and I think my moving on means that He's got more to accomplish here. I'm fine with not being the one to "get r done". Remember: John the Baptist was sent before Chirst, not after. So I am excited for this church and what may happen in the future.
But I am also excited for me, and for my family. Starting in July, I will be the new Pastor of the Maple Ridge Wesleyan Church. I am excited for the challenge, and the ways that the Lord is going to use me and my family in that church. If this church is any indication of the Work the Lord has done in my life, I can't wait to see what He has in store for us in this next Phase of Ministry.
I'd apprecaite your prayers as we finish strong here at Havelock Wesleyan and begin our new Church in July.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
Well, today is Good Friday. at least for me it's a good Friday.
it was on this day, over 2000 years ago that Jesus paid the price for the sin of the world. He Died the death I was supposed to die, and because of His Death, I have been set free from my sin. While this day was hard on Jesus, it had to be done, there was no other way of satisifying the wrath of God, for sin demands a perfect sacrifice, and Jesus was that perfect sacrifice, so for me it;s a good Friday, becasue Jesus has taken my sins away...... have you accepted the Work that Jesus did on your behalf? If so, this is a Good Friday for you as well!
Have a Blessed Easter, and Remember, He is Risen!
it was on this day, over 2000 years ago that Jesus paid the price for the sin of the world. He Died the death I was supposed to die, and because of His Death, I have been set free from my sin. While this day was hard on Jesus, it had to be done, there was no other way of satisifying the wrath of God, for sin demands a perfect sacrifice, and Jesus was that perfect sacrifice, so for me it;s a good Friday, becasue Jesus has taken my sins away...... have you accepted the Work that Jesus did on your behalf? If so, this is a Good Friday for you as well!
Have a Blessed Easter, and Remember, He is Risen!
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