Goodbye Manitoba!

Scripture of the day
Luke 6:35 -  “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

Angelic Peace

Scripture of the day
1 John 2:6 - Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Our identity as Christians cannot be one of living life passively. It's a constant struggle to always do the right thing and ultimately we will fail from time to time.

But we must actively be striving to overcome our weaknesses, take back our self-control and surrender our will to Jesus.

Saying that we live in God, and living our lives as Jesus did are two very different things. It's easy to say I love God. It's hard to love sinners (especially when they sin against you). But that is how Jesus lived. He loves EVERYONE.

When I look back in my life, I see the countless times I have failed, sinned and stepped away from God to do my own thing. It most often ended up in misery and pain. But Jesus still loved me, never abandoned me and was generous with his blessings when I was at my lowest points of my life.

If I am to say that I live in God, then I need to live as Jesus did. I need to love others, to forgive, to go out of my way to help others in need and to do ALL of this with kindness and gentleness in my heart.

Will I mess up from time to time? Yes, but I will keep on fighting the good fight to live more like Jesus every day.

As I heard a pastor say once, "We are not perfect as only God is perfect, but our perfection comes from striving to live as Jesus did."

If we stop striving, we fail. If we try, we succeed. If our lives are to be a reflection of Jesus then we must actively surrender our will over to God's and be obedient to his Holy Spirit.

May God give us strength today to overcome obstacles in our lives that prevent us from showing the love of Jesus to others.

Prairie Frost

Scripture of the day
Colossians 1:16 - for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

This Christmas we travelled to Manitoba from Alberta for Christmas. One way is 1,273 kms. It's a long trek but you see a lot of beauty along the way. It doesn't hurt that I have a little bit of an explorer in me.

What always amazes me is to see God's beauty in His creation. It surrounds us everywhere (from the deer in our valley back home to the brisk winter frost in Manitoba).

What I've learned in God's word is that it is not only me who enjoys His creation. It's God himself. "Everything was created through him and for him." Yes, this universe and everything created in it was made for him.

God has an agenda and wants his people to love him and give him thanks for all the provision and beauty he has created. Even in the Heavens the angels praise God for his creation on earth.

Psalm 29:9 - The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

Wherever we go today or whatever we see, may we be reminded of who our Creator is and to give thanks and praise for all he has given us to enjoy.

Moonshot

Scripture of the Day
Mattew 4:4 - But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Christmastime is often filled with family, presents and lots and lots of food. With candy dishes and leftovers a plenty, I'll  be the first toa admit the I overindulge and end up lying on the couch wondering why I had to have that extra cookie.

But I have to remember that even though we are often surrounded by plenty, many others do not have much. It can be a time of loneliness, hunger or even depression.

The Bible says we cannot live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. God's word provide us with spiritual strength to do things we feel we cannot do or don't want to do.

This Christmas season, may we all find the strength in God's word to love one another, to forgive those who've wronged us and to ask others for forgiveness if we've wronged them.

Christmas is about the birth of our Lord and Savior. Just as He has loved us, cared for us and forgave us, let us do the same to others.

Merry Christmas!

Scripture of the Day
Isaiah 9:6 - For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

God's beauty surrounds us. I guess that's why I love taking pictures so much. It doesn't seem to ever take long to stumble upon something so beautiful it can take your breath away.

However, no matter how beautiful the photos are, they pale in comparison to being in that moment.

One of the best moments of my life, was seeing my children born. It's a miracle to witness and marks the beginning of their journey on earth.

I can't help but wonder this Christmas what it was like to witness the newborn child given to us by the almighty God. This child was given to us out of love. A Savior for the world. One who would take away our sins.

We are not worthy of such a gift, but God loved us so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

I can only imagine what Mary and Joseph felt as they gazed at their newborn child. It would have been feelings of unimaginable love and joy.

This love and joy was shared by many such as the wisemen who brought gifts and the shepherds who came to witness and share how the angels (the armies of heaven) we're praising God in celebration.

May the joy of the Lord fill you this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Rural Beauty

Scripture of the Day
Luke 2:13-14 - Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

It's amazing to think that we are not alone in the universe. Not only are we continually in the presence of God but that He also created Angels to help battle the demons that want to distract us, tempt us or otherwise pull us away from God.

God's armies of heaven do spiritual battle on our behalf. These are battles that we cannot see are very real. Yet it is comforting to know God has created Angels to help protect us.

With God for us, who can be against us?

A Blanket of Frost

Scripture of the Day
Isaiah 7:14 - All right then, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us').


When we read the Old Testament it soon becomes clear that God had a plan for mankind right from the beginning. But prophecies spoken thousands of years earlier hold much weight when we see them fulfilled in the New Testament. 

Here are just 3 prophecies fulfilled regarding the birth of Jesus:

Micah 5:2
He would be born in Bethlehem
Matthew 2:1-5

Isaiah 7:13,14
Isaiah foreshadowed the virgin birth of Jesus
Luke 1:35

Isaiah 7:14
He would be called Immanuel (God with us)
Matthew 1:23

How wonderful it is to see God's plan for us by sending a Savior for all of mankind!

Can You Spot the Deer?

Scripture of the Day
John 3:17 - God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

When we look back prior to the birth of Jesus, we see how disobedient his creation was. And nothing has changed. We, as the human race, are just as disobedient (perhaps even more). God could have send Jesus Christ back then to judge the earth.

But He didn't.

God sent Jesus to give us something we all need. A savior. Someone to save us from our sins. Someone we can call upon in a time of need. Someone we can know from God's word and trust that he knows what we're going through.

How wonderful it is that Jesus was given to us by God to save us from our sins. The relationship we can have through Jesus Christ brings us closer to God.

This Christmas season as we remember the birth of Jesus Christ, let us all remember that he was sent to save this world. The judgement is yet to come.

Beautiful Sunrise on Mirror Lake

Scripture of the Day
1 John 4:9 - God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.

God loves us. A lot. We cannot comprehend the amount of love that God has. It's unconditional and eternal. And to think that he gave his one and only son to die for me so that my sins could be forgiven is unfathomable. 

I think of how difficult it would be for God to watch his one and only son go through the trials he had to endure. To be rejected by his own people, to suffer beatings, to watch Jesus cry out to God but let him die on the cross. It would be unbearable for any parent. Yet his death was for our life.

That kind of love is sacrificial. It is unconditional and it is eternal. It is the type of love we should not reject but be thankful in all circumstances. We have eternal life through God's love - Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord for his love for us!

The Perfect Climbing Tree?

Scripture of the Day
Matthew 1:21 -  And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

One of the most profound moments in time, is when God revealed himself through the birth from Mary. He was to be named Jesus (which means to deliver, to rescue). Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and remember why he came down to earth. Through his love and grace we are given eternal life through the shedding of his blood to forgive our sins.

It's easy to forget what the true meaning of Christmas is all about with all of the presents, decorations, food and the main focus of Santa Claus. Let us put away these distractions and really remember what Christmas is all about. Jesus Christ!

Mirror Lake Prepped for Outdoor Skating

Scripture of the Day
Romans 1:16 -  For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.

2 Bucks Locking Horns

Beautiful Sunrise