Tree with Outstretched Arms

Scripture of the day
John 15:4 - Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

Being among believers, working together toward God's purpose, is one of the most satisfying experiences one will have. When God's people are in unity and all are contributing in whatever way they can, the entire body benefits. This can only happen when we abide in Christ.

When we remain in Christ, He is with us in everything we do. We cannot help but produce fruit. So, what kind of fruit do we produce? The Bible lists these fruits of the spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - Galatians 5:22-23

There are times in my life when I don't feel as kind or loving or maybe moments I lose self-control. It's in these moments I need to reflect on what's happening in my life. I need to ask myself, "Am I living with the Spirit of Christ in me right now?" or "Who am I serving, Jesus or myself?"

When I no longer remain in Christ, He no longer guides my life. I know someone who will gladly take over and is just waiting to pounce at the opportunity.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8

That's right, Satan is waiting there, ready to fill out our minds with nonsense! He will tell us that we don't need other Christians in our lives. He will instill in us, a sense of pride. He will distort and pervert our understanding of the scriptures. There are countless ways for the devil to pull us apart from God.

So we need the body of Christ always. We cannot do this life on our own. As long as we remain in Christ, He will remain in us. We must let His spirit guide our lives so that we can be fruitful.

Heavenly Father, I need your Holy Spirit to guide me through life. I  want to be fruitful. Awaken my heart so that I may use the gifts you have given me to glorify you. Give me the strength to resist the devil and let my mind be set on you.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Yesterday's Leaf Awaits Tomorrow's New Bud

Scripture of the day
1 Corinthians 13:1 - If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Interpreters amaze me. Especially those who know multiple languages. There are certain people who have the ambition, talent and ability to translate one language into another on the fly while someone is speaking.

I wish I had that ability, yet ironically, I absolutely dreaded going to my one mandatory class of French in high school. And since, had no desire to continue learning new languages.

But there is one language that transforms hearts and is even beyond words. That is the language of love. Even without saying one word we can show love.

I'm not talking about anything sexual or perverse in nature. I'm talking about about the purest form of love. The love of God who sent his son to die for our sins type of love.

So how can we show love to others without even words? Of course our words are very important and can speak love but there is much more to love than just talk. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

We can show love by doing. We can feed those who are hungry or help others in a time of need. Showing love can be a simple smile to someone as you walk, opening the door, helping someone load or unload groceries. It can be buying gifts or simply spending time with someone and listening instead of talking. There are countless ways to love someone.

But how important is love really, to God, to our soul and to our salvation. According to the Bible it's EVERYTHING! There is nothing more important. Here are just a few scriptures that talks about the importance of love:

1 Corinthians 13:1‭-‬13 - If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. 

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless. 

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. 

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

1 Peter 4:8 - And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Proverbs 10:12 - Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. 

1 John 4:8 - Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

Romans 12:9 - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

The greatest love story ever written is the Bible. That's how important love is to God and that's why we need to have love in our hearts more than anything else.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for your love for us. Your endless, generous, unfailing love. You've shown me through your word and throughout my life how to love. Give me the strength to love the unlovable. To overcome evil with love. Just as you love everyone, let my actions speak out to everyone in love.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Buck in the Camrose Cemetery

Scripture of the day
Matthew 5:14‭-‬16 - You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

I remember when I was at youth camp when evening came we would have a campfire. It was a great way to end the day with snacks, stories and singing. All of the youth looked forward being there.

One of my favourite songs to sing was, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine". It reminded me of the light we have in Jesus that needs to shine out to the whole world.

And how fitting it was to sing around a campfire. With flames blazing high, the warmth of the fire seemed to melt away the crisp cool nights. I remember stepping away from the fire once, only to come back and see how the much it lit everything up. You could see the light from the fire a great distance away and it lit up all the faces of everyone around with a warm glow.

Everyone needs to see this light. The light of Jesus. We cannot keep it covered and should never try to snuff it out. The light we shine in our communities, our workplace or at home change the atmosphere of everyone around.

I've heard it said, "The only way to get rid of darkness is to add more light!'

When darkness creeps up around us, many of us will hide our light. But the truth is that when we shine our light, the light of Jesus, darkness flees. I've seen this many times.

I've also seen examples in my past where I've tried to cover up my light when darkness drew near. And the most terrible thing happened. Darkness consumed me.

Whether it was denying Christ so I wouldn't look foolish or that I wanted to do my own thing, I always felt alone in darkness. How foolish I was.

But in times when I stood firm in my faith and let my light shine in the face of mockery or ridicule, the tough moments never lasted long. In fact darkness left abruptly. Darkness cannot be where light is.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. - John 1:5

Lord, let your light that dwells in me shine out for everyone to see. Give me strength to walk through darkness and shine my light bright. May others see your goodness in the light and praise you. Praise be to the heavenly Father who is the light, life and truth of this world.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Camrose Ski Trail

Scripture of the day
Philippians 2:12 - Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

The Christian life is one that is continuously growing and maturing. Making the decision to have Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives is only the first step. What comes next is a life of hard work.

It's one thing to say we are Christians but we really need to live a life that follows the example of Jesus. One of sacrifice, love, forgiveness, obedience, perseverance and integrity. We must do all of these things in the face of persecution, loneliness while battling temptations and distractions.

So how can we live a life like this when the world is against us? It looks overwhelmingly impossible. But God is with us through it all if we rely on Him. And He will not give us more than we can handle.

Philippeans 4:13 - For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

1 Corinthians 10:13 - The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Jesus knows exactly what we are facing. And He wants to be right there with us. Our faith grows when we walk WITH the Lord.

We must also have reverence and a healthy fear of God. He created us, gives us wisdom and provides everything we need to live. As Lord of our lives He is the King of Kings.

One day will come when everyone will show God reverence and whether they believe it or not, they will also confess that Jesus is Lord.

Philippians 2:10-11 - ...that the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Heavenly Father, may I humbly give you the reverence that you deserve. May I fearfully acknowledge the power and wisdom you have over the universe. Forgive me for taking you for granted at times. I know this life isn't always easy but I need to work hard at being a Christian. Thank you for walking with me throughout the good moments and the troubling times. And thank you for all of your blessings you pour out to me each day.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Let the Melting Begin

Scripture of the day
Colossians 3:16 - Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

Receiving the message of Jesus Christ can come in many different forms. It can come through sermons, testimonials, formal teaching, reading God's word and music to name a few.

We are all different and respond differently to how we learn. For example, if my wife and I are listening to the radio, I prefer to listen to sermons all day while my wife much more prefers listening to worship music. We both receive the message of Christ, but in different ways.

But we shouldn't limit ourselves to only a certain way of receiving God's message as we could miss out in opportunities to fellowship and experiencing Jesus Christ. Even though I prefer sermons, I need to be open to experiencing God through music, nature, etc.

Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives will also help us understand God's wisdom and live a life fruitful for Christ.

John 14:26 - But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

Galatians 5:22‭-‬25 - But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

Heavenly Father, please let your Holy Spirit guide my life. May I be aware when you speak to my heart. Whether in a sermon or song or in everyday moments may I look for you and find you and your truths. Lord, pour out your wisdom so that I may live a righteous life pleasing to you.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Winter Scene of the Ukrainian Catholic Church

Scripture of the day
Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.

When I read that verse, I used to think that sometimes God didn't hear my prayers. That if it was just me praying, God wouldn't listen to me.

We know for a fact that he listens to ALL prayers of his followers. But if we reject God he will turn away and won't hear our prayers.

John 9:31 - "We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will."

1 Peter 3:12 - "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

So if we find that God is distant in our lives, that He's not listening to our prayers or can no longer feel His presence, then we must examine ourselves and how we are living.

Are we living in accordance to God's will or are we living our own life. A life of sinful desires. God will let us go on sinning until we decide to come back to Him.

Also God loves us to be in Holy fellowship. Meaning, when we come together as believers, he is present.

We need not to live as Christians alone, but rather seek out fellowship with other believers. That could mean praying with those in church, coworkers, family or even strangers that you meet.

God wants us to live in unity. Unity, by it's definition, is getting along with others not living life by yourself. We need to seize every opportunity to fellowship with other Christians.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. - Hebrews 10:25

Lord, I want to live in your presence and I need you to hear my prayers. I know the best way for this to happen is to rid my life of sin and to live in your will. Forgive me of my sins, Lord. I repent of every evil thought or deed so I may come into your presence. May I seek out fellowship with other Christians and live in unity through worship and prayer.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Country Church by Duhamel

Scripture of the day
Galatians 6:2 - Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

In this time in society there is a lot of narcissism going around. Life is about themselves and ONLY themselves. But in reality life is much more than ones self.

There are people without food, clothing or shelter. There are those who are sick. Those who are grieving the loss of a spouse or loved one. There are those battling depression. And many more burdens to list.

We need to be aware of our surroundings. Look for opportunities to help one another. One version of the Bible uses "share each other's burdens" while another version says, "carry' and yet another says to "bear". 

Whether we share, carry or bear another's burdens we are showing empathy and love. And that is obeying the law of Christ. When we see someone in need and turn away we are rejecting them and in the same way, rejecting Christ.

Make no mistake, when the final judgment comes, Jesus will seperate the sheep from the goats and the sheep will inherit the Kingdom of God.

“But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

“And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” - Matthew 25:31-46

Lord, give me eyes to see the burdens of others. Give me a heart of empathy and love to act upon those in need.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Prairie Sunrise

Scripture of the day
Galatians 5:14 - For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself."

When you look back at the Old Testament there are 613 commandments (including the ten commandments that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai).

Those commandments were created to show God's people how to live. The problem with so many laws was that no one person could ever live up to these standards. 

When I look at the ten commandments alone, I'm pretty sure I've broken every one of them either in thought or deed. Yes, I am a broken man.

Before Jesus, many tried to follow these laws, but failed and as a result a burnt sacrifice was made regularly to forgive their sins. But God's people kept sinning and desperately needed a saviour.

That saviour today is Jesus Christ. And He saves both Jews and Gentiles. God knew that man is incapable of keeping all of his laws and he needed to send a sacrifice to save the world.

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.  God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16‭-‬17)

That gift from God was the biggest gift mankind could ever receive. Jesus lived a sinless life yet was rejected by his own people (the Jews). This rejection led to his death on the cross.

However, he rose from the dead three days later. That is how we know Jesus is alive today.

But instead of following all of the commands in the past, He gave us one command that would sum up the whole law: Love your neighbor as yourself.

What does that exactly mean? We can simply look at ourselves and see how we want to treated. We want to be loved, respected, forgiven, allowed grace, spoken to in a kind manner, encouraged and the list goes on.

Now, who are our neighbors? Everyone. Yes, not just the person next door, but the person across the street, the next city or in a different country. Everyone.

But what kind of neighbors are meant in the scriptures? Again everyone. We are to love those who do good to us and our enemies. We are to love sinners and saints. We are to love everyone from every religion. Even those who are violently against Christ.

Jesus loves ALL, so as followers of Christ, we are to love ALL as well. Everyone.

Now just to be clear on a few points. We must love everyone but we don't have to love what they do. In fact we are told in Romans 12:9, Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Loving others doesn't mean we should believe what they believe or to do what they do. Respecting others doesn't mean we are to agree with their lifestyle either. No - we need to cling tight with all of our might to the truths found in the Word of God.

There are times when I encounter others who are against truth or against Jesus. My first reaction was that of Peter's in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was being arrested. To pick up my sword and defend Jesus at any cost.

But Peter did not show love, but rather anger. At that moment, Peter did not love his enemies but rather lashed out in harm. 

There will always be times when we meet others who offend us. I need to be vigilant of my thoughts and actions in those times. Sometimes the best thing to do is to take a moment to calm down and regroup before saying or doing something that is not from God.

One final note regarding protection. We should not look for fights, arguments or reasons to hate. We need to protect our hearts and our loved ones. That can often mean simply removing ourselves or loved ones from a situation and let the world do what the world is going to do.

We must choose our battles wisely, but when we do, may we do so in a loving manner.

Lord, help me to love everyone. Not just those who are lovable but also my enemies. May everyone encounter your love when I speak or act. Give me strength to engage others with love and the wisdom to know when to retreat when I need to protect my heart.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Buck at Augustana

Scripture of the day
Ecclesiastes 4:9‭-‬10 - Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

The last two years of my life have been the hardest years of my life. It's been a constant battle. A battle, that if I was alone, I would surely fail. 

It all started with having to put our dog down for multiple health reasons, then becoming ill and not being able to work, losing my employment because of the illness, being in the middle of a violent storm with my daughter mere feet away from her being seriously injured or death, to a car accident with a concussion, to a wisdom tooth being pulled and ended up with a painful dry socket and lock jaw, to finally being healthy enough to work but cannot find employment (and yes I've applied to a lot of minimum wage jobs too). Combine all this with some personal family issues that now both my wife and I live with a broken heart. I'm sure I'm missing more, but you get the point.

However, with all that has happened, I try everyday to live with joy and peace and perservere through it all. Some days are easier than others but nonetheless I believe better days are ahead.

The only way I could have made it through these storms in my life are from two things: my personal relationship with Jesus and my loving wife who also loves the Lord.

I can attest that it is very much true when the Bible states, "If one person falls, the other can reach out and help."

I have fallen many times in the past, with my wife always there reaching out to help me. She has been a rock in these storms in my life. Without her, I would be in trouble.

Two is better than one and God new this from the very beginning when He created Eve. God called her a 'helper' (Genesis 2:18).

Also when we find a spouse who loves the Lord, it really doesn't get much better than that. When times are tough, my wife and I can lift each other up. 

We can both pray to the Lord knowing He hears our prayers and He's right there with us. Having someone with you to pray with you is worth more than I could ever want. 

"He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD." (Proverbs 18:22)

Thank you Lord for my wife who has been so much more than a helper but also a treasure. She has lifted me up and sustained me when I have been down. She holds my hand as we look up to you for wisdom, provisions, peace and strength. You have not failed us and have been with us every step of our lives. Your blessings are endless! 

Thank you Lord!

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Another Beautiful Day at the Park

Scripture of the day
Hebrews 10:24 - Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Deep down inside I'm an introvert. Although not as extreme as I used to be, I now don't mind as much meeting new people and striking up a conversation. It took years of actively pushing myself to be more assertive to get to this level of comfort.

Overall though, I find much more energy being with one or two close family members or friends than I do in large crowds or parties. Better yet, I feel comfortable being completely alone with my thoughts hours on end. That's probably why I enjoy going out and taking photos so much.

But I have to make myself realize the importance of communion with others. Life isn't just about me. My actions, whether intentional or not, affect myself and others.

Because I was more higher up on the introvert scale when I was born again, I thought I could be a Christian by myself. I didn't need anyone else except Jesus. But that's simply not the case.

In the Christian life, we need others and others need us. It's a symbiotic relationship.

We need other Christians (the church), to keep us accountable for our actions, to pray together, to worship together, to partake in Holy Communion, to help them when they are down or struggling and, as Hebrews 10:24 states, to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

Other Christians need us for the same reasons. How selfish and unfruitful our lives would be if we just lived for ourselves. It would be the opposite of what Jesus is and therefore unchristian.

Sometimes I question, "How on earth can I motivate someone else when I can't even motivate myself?"

The answer is simply through encouragement guided by the Holy Spirit. We need to look for opportunities to encourage one another.

Encouragement brings about motivation.

Sometimes though, encouraging others can be difficult and the results are not what we expect. In fact, we may never see the results of our efforts.

It can be downright frustrating to put in effort to try to motivate another Christian to do acts of love and good works and then they turn around and be selfish. Arrrgh!

It is so easy to write someone off when they don't do or act like we want them. Our job is to love and encourage no matter how tough the situation is. The Holy Spirit will take over and work on their heart.

Sometimes we see the results of our efforts, sometimes not. We must perservere in living how Christ wants us to live. Can you imagine if Jesus wrote us off the first time we were disobedient?

Lord, thank you for not giving up on us when we fail. We need you and other Christians in our lives to help us love and do good works. Give us strength to help others, Lord, who are struggling like we have in the past.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Luge Trail at the Ski Hill

Scripture of the day
John 15:2 - He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

The last time my family took a good vacation, we travelled to B.C. The weather was nice and hot and the scenery breathtaking.

We saw many fruit stands and checked some out. Inside were crates full of every type of fresh fruit imaginable. All picked from local fruit farms.

What I found more amazing was walking along the side of the road and seeing fresh cherries, peaches and apples hanging from the trees. They were just an arm length away ripe for the picking.

But to get these wonderful crops, fruit farmers need to pay close attention to their trees. They make sure they have adequate water, check for any diseases and prune off any dead branches for new growth.

And that's how Jesus works in our lives. He carefully watches over us, gives us the sustinence we need and at times when we are bearing no fruit, prunes off the dead branches.

I have a birthday coming up and getting closer to an age (not going to say it) that is making me feel old. In fact, many times I feel like an old withered tree that bears little fruit.

But when I look back on my life, I see instances when I slowly walked away from God and started to die. I noticed soon after, the Lord would trim back that dead part of my life and renew me with fruit bearing opportunities.

I can see many, many scars in my life where God has been faithful. He loves me enough to cut away the death in my life. It's often not a pleasant experience but one that I am grateful for.

And seeing that God has not abandoned me, gives me hope for a brighter future. I feel in this season, God is again, pruning the dead branches off of me. Preparing me for a life of fruitful opportunities.

I need to let God do his work. I can resist the pain and suffering or I can embrace and learn what God has for me. I'm learning to recognize God's actions and instead of being bitter at life. I can be thankful knowing whatever I allow God to do in my life, it ultimately is good for me in the long run.

May Jesus continue to prune out the dead in our lives to bring about a renewed life. A fruitful life that will please God. Throughout this process may we be grateful and full of joy, anticipating what God has in store for us.

Amen.

Roadside Sunrise

Scripture of the day
Genesis 1:27 - So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

When I imagine what God looks like, many images came to mind. I've thought of God as this powerful bright entity. So powerful and bright that no man could recognize his face.

And then I think of Jesus, a humble man that walked this Earth. He was fully man, yet fully God. Something I can't always 100% comprehend.

In a day where our society keeps adding more and more genders, it's refreshing to look to the Bible to see that God only made two genders: male and female. And those two genders are from the very image of God.

Through God's creation, making us male and female we are able to be fruitful and multiply (Genesis 9:7). God gave Adam a helper, Eve, as man was not created to be alone.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18)

Eve was sent as a suitable companion for Adam. Eve was suitable for a few reasons:

1) Eve was female and also in the image of God

2) Eve was suitable as a helper and companion

3) Eve was to represent the counterpart of a suitable union of God's creation. (Man and Woman)

Mankind could only increase in number with a female. This was by God's design.

May we always remember where we come from and how we were intended to live. We were created from the wonderful image of God.

God's creation is good and with purpose. Both men and women should celebrate who they are. No one is an accident or mistake. God knew us before we were born; He knit us in our mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13)

Thank you Lord for my life. You've created me with love and purpose. May I live out my life with gratitude and love to you, our wonderful Creator.

In Jesus name,

Amen.

Bitter Cold

Scripture of the day
Galatians 5:24 - Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

I would be lying if I said I was a perfect Christian. In fact, I struggle daily with impure thoughts, blurting out something inappropriate or just being plain selfish or greedy.

I wish I could say that at the moment I became a Christian, I simply asked for forgiveness, nailed my passions and desires on the cross, and never had to deal with sin again.

Perhaps that's what some Christians have experienced, but that's not me. For me, it's a daily grind, a battle that tires me out at times but one I know I can be victorious.

I've been to many churches and sin still follows. I've cried out to God at various times which He has comforted me as the devil was close by watching me struggle. I even went to Bible school but that didn't solve all my problems, but left there with more questions than answers.

Life will never be perfect until we are with Jesus. Temptation and trials will all be a part of life until death. There will be times we succeed in overcoming a sin where we truly nail it to the cross and crucify it. Sometimes it's easy to turn away. Other sins take longer, some years of struggle.

I truly believe in this verse, For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. - Philippians 4:13

We must turn away from our sins. And through Jesus Christ, who gives us strength, we can be victorious over any sin.

The greatest obstacle I've encountered when trying to stop sinning, is letting go of this world. You will never have self-control when you have one foot in this world and one with Jesus. Divided we fall, united we stand.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending us your son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins and that he rose victoriously after three days. Give me the strength to let go of my life, so that I may be victorious over my sins. May I nail those sins to the cross and crucify them there. I pray this in the name of Jesus. 

Amen.

Ice Fishing on Dried Meat Lake

Scripture of the day
Matthew 7:24 - Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

I've never seen the Netflix Original, House of Cards, but I've built plenty of house of cards with a deck of cards. The process was fun and often tried to make a bigger house than my siblings.

As a young boy, I remember grabbing the deck of cards off of my grandma's table and then heading to the living room floor to attempt to build a skyscraper. In reality, I ended up with a house of only three or four stories high.

The problem: I was on carpet. The floor was soft and any pressure nearby would result in my cards crumbling to the floor. As well, any gentle wind from someone walking by would also destroy my masterpiece resulting in much grief and frustration as the process had to be started from scratch.

The solution: Build on the table. It was only when I found a firm, stable surface that I was able to build higher. Not only that, but was often protected from breezes as well. I also found the more time I took, the more stable my house of cards were.

As all wisdom comes from God, Jesus reminds us we are to listen and follow Him to live a strong Christian life.

Our solid foundation should come from a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. It should be built on prayer and regular reading of God's word. And we need to live out the truths God has revealed to us.

If Jesus is our rock and foundation, we will not waiver when violent storms in our lives approach us. We will not crumble with the weight of the world but stand strong. And we won't make hasty mistakes in the heat of the moment.

The world will offer many solutions which are not good for us. They promise quick fixes, get rich quick schemes or instant relief. But nothing compares to a strong, Christ filled life built on the wisdom of God.

Building a strong foundation takes time. At times it can be hard work. It can take years of one's life to realize and understand that the best way is often the longer and more difficult road to take. But in the end we are stronger and better prepared for whatever comes our way.

Let us build our lives on Jesus Christ, the one and only true and solid foundation.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your wisdom that only comes from you. Give us the strength to listen and follow you so that we may build strong foundations in our life. Thank you for your Word that we can trust as truth and live our lives by. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Frosty Ski Trail

Scripture of the day
James 1:17 - Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

When I look up at the stars and see the Milky Way, I'm amazed at how many stars are up there. And because we live inside this galaxy, we only see a small part of it.

Our galaxy consists of roughly 100-400 billion stars. No one knows for sure exactly how many stars (suns) there are but we know that its huge!

Just consider our sun for a moment. This star is about 150 million kilometers away from Earth. That's far! But God put it exactly that far away from Earth to give us just the right amount of light and heat. It is perfect for life.

The nearest star to us is about 4.5 lightyears away. Meaning, if we wanted to visit that nearest star in the Milky Way we would have to travel at the speed of light for 4.5 years.

That is how vast space is. But let me add one more thing to the mix.

The Milky Way is only one galaxy of up to an estimated 2 trillion galaxies in our universe. Each with their own plethora of suns, planets and moons. And far beyond the reach of anyone on Earth.

It makes us feel pretty small and insignificant until you realize one thing. There is no other life anywhere in the universe except on planet Earth. None.

That makes us special. Special in the fact that God created us in His image, He loves us and provides us with all of our needs.

When we see how good and perfect our planet really is in its place in space, we can know this is from God. He put all the lights in the heavens and how marvelous they are.

God does not change. Only out perceptions of Him do. He is the same loving God in the Old Testament as He is in the New Testament. Sure we make see different characteristics of God as He interacted with different people throughout history, but God does not change.

God has an agenda and it's laid out in the Bible. He wants all of His creation to turn away from their sin and love and worship Him. He also wants us to love one another with the same love that we experience from God.

It is a perfect plan and those that follow it will be blessed abundantly and have a place in heaven with God. Jesus is the only truth, way and life.

Thank you Father for all of the perfect and good things you have poured out to us on Earth. I thank you in the name of your son, our saviour, Jesus Christ.

Morning Fog Over The Valley

Scripture of the day
Matthew 16:24 - Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.

When Jesus was sentenced to death, the process was not a fast one but rather a long torturous one. He was first whipped and beaten and was made to carry, pull and drag the very thing that would kill him - the cross.

The verse today can be divided into three parts: give up your own way, take up our cross and to follow Jesus.

What does it mean to give up our own way? Some other versions say to deny yourself, but really what needs to be done is a self evaluation. We need to ask ourselves what things in our life prevent us from a relationship with God. It's ultimately sin. 

But sin can take many forms: lust, greed, pride, murder or even not doing what we think we should be doing is a sin (James 4:17).

So we need to change our ways. We need to deny ourselves of sin, temptation and distractions of God. We need to live a life that is not worldly but different then everyone else. We all struggle with something but we all need to address our own struggles (not always everyone else's). 

We need to repent (actually turn away) from our own sin no matter what the cost. It is only then we can move forward.

Secondly we need to take up our cross. Jesus sacrificed his life on the cross by dying for our sins. We need to carry out daily, put to rest any sinful thoughts that creep up. But as well, we need to live sacrificially. We need to help others at the expense of our own desires. It's very tough to do and I fail often at this.

Lastly we need to follow Jesus. We ultimately have to come to realize our life is not our own, but belongs to Jesus. He gives us everything we need. He will not forsake us. And as he gave His life for us, we must also give our life for Him (completely).

Living as a follower isn't an easy life but a life worth living. And filled with joy, blessings and peace even in the most difficult times.

Railway To The Unknown

Scripture of the day
Matthew 11:15 - Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

When I first worked for a large department store chain, I had the opportunity to travel to a few other stores and help them out which in turn helped me gain some valuable experience.

One of the first stores I was able to visit was in Yellowknife, N.W.T. and I was thrilled. I had never been that far up north and was excited about what I would see.

That morning, I woke up and checked my ticket for departure time. I decided to go to the mall before the flight and get a haircut.  After my haircut, I went to eat at the food court.

It was fun to be at the mall and soon after lunch I thought, hmmm...why don't I do a bit of shopping. So in and out of department stores I go, buying shoes, pants and shirts. Life was good.

I then sat down for a rest. Then in a split second my heart sank. I totally forgot about the flight. I was engrossed by shopping at the mall, that I lost track of time.

I quickly grabbed my ticket out of my jacket and then looked at my watch and realized I was too late. I missed my flight. My heart sank even further and I started to panic.

What was I going to do? How could I tell my boss I didn't make the flight after the company paid for my ticket? I basically felt my whole life start to crumble in an instant.

And the whole reason was because I wasn't paying attention to what I needed to do. I was totally preoccupied with my wants, that I totally neglected to focus on my need to be ready to go.

To make a long story shorter, I was able to get the next flight out and make it to Yellowknife. All ended up ok.

But there is one trip coming up for everyone and no one knows the exact day or hour it will happen.

Every day that passes is one day closer to when Jesus will gather His flock and take them back home. The trip will happen in a twinkling of an eye and you won't want to miss this one!

So how do we prepare to be with Jesus when we don't know when He's coming? Simple...we don't prepare for when He comes, we prepare for WHENEVER He comes.

This means our minds and our hearts must be ready at all times. We do need to listen AND understand. Many will listen to the Good News and turn away and do their own thing. They heard what God requires from us but truly don't understand or want to understand.

The consequences of not listening and understanding may not have sunken in. Hell is real but I've heard far too often from people saying, "God loves everyone so much that He wouldn't put anyone in such a place. I'll just continue on living as a good person and I'll get to heaven".

Those half truths are a destiny to eternal suffering in Hell. Yes, God loves everyone but he requires us to live for Him, not ourselves. In this time when many have an abundance, we don't want to share our lives with God.

We don't want to give up anything. Our unhealthy relationships. Our material possessions. Our money. Out sin. Or most importantly our own will. If we give, we expect something in return; a tax receipt, recognition or payment back. 

We don't forgive as we should. We don't extend grace to others as God has extended to us and our broken lives. We are afraid to tell others about Jesus in fear of what will happen to us.

Those who have heard and rejected Jesus are eternally lost unless they come back. Those who do know Jesus and are ashamed to share Him to others, may not really understand what is required of them and may share the same fate as unbelievers.

It's simply not enough to know Jesus. We must worship Him as Lord, lift Him up to everyone as Lord and give Him all honour and praise as the King of Kings.

If we want a place in the Kingdom of Heaven, and if we have ears to listen, then let us hear AND understand the true Good News of Jesus Christ.

By-the-Lake Park

Scripture of the day
Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23 - The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

If I have a choice between hymns and contemporary Christian music, I'll always take hymns. I'm not sure if it's because I grew up singing those in church or because of the humble beginnings that most often these hymns were written in.

One of my favourite hymns is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". Knowing each day is a new day and that God's faithful love and mercy reach out to me gives me peace to start the day.

I know the stresses in life can sometimes overtake us. We can feel overwhelmed and at times helpless. There are obstacles that we feel we simply cannot budge or mountains too high to climb.

But God is with us every step we take. He will carry us when we are too weak and He will lift us if we can't reach the next rung on the ladder of life. 

God is faithful. His love endures forever and His mercies begin afresh each morning. That is God's promise I will keep close to my heart each day.

Old Homestead

Scripture of the day
Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

When I was a kid in school there was a lot of gossip running around. You would often hear people start a conversation with the words, ''Did you hear..." or "Can you believe..." and then end with something about someone.

And then that kid would tell someone else and so on. The story would usually get embellished or twisted every time it was spoken. I hate to admit it, but I also participated in gossip when I was in school. 

As one matures, you tend to have very little faith in gossip. It's probably because most gossip or rumours contain half truths and are not good news.

But there is one truth that builds faith and can be accurately shared and quoted time and time again, that is, hearing the Good News of Jesus Christ that we find in the Bible.

When we hear this Good News from a sermon or a conversation from another believer, it builds our faith. It's vital to hear the Good News regularly.

You may have heard the phrases, "exercise your faith" or "stretch your faith" or "grow your faith". We can think of our faith like a muscle.

When we exercise our muscles they become stronger. Like our muscles, our faith will become stronger the more we exercise our faith.

So how does one exercise their faith? Simply by hearing, reading and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. As we exercise our faith, it grows and stretches and the need to share it with others becomes greater and greater.

May we seek the Good News daily so that we may grow in God's Kingdom and share His love with others.

Scenic View of Dried Meat Lake

Scripture of the day
Psalm 130:5 - I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Isn't wonderful to sit in anticipation for a sunrise? That's what I did in the photo above. I drove to this lookout point and eagerly awaited the sun coming up. 

As I waited the cool blue sky started  showing signs of orange, red and gold. And then in a moment, a fiery ball from the heavens started to rise over the horizon. In my mind, the experience was more precious than gold.

Our waiting expectantly on the Lord should also be met with as much eager anticipation and gratefulness. Another version of the Bible uses the words ''counting on" instead of "wait".

We CAN count on the Lord! Just as we wait for the sun to rise, we should have the faith to know we can wait and count on the Lord.

Until that moment God takes us into heaven, there is still work that He is doing in all of us. That means we can all count on Him to work for the good in our lives. 

There may be times we have to wait longer than others. But we can be rest assured, through the hope of His word, that he will look out for our best interests when the time is right.

Camrose Railway Museum

Scripture of the day
Jeremiah 17:7 - But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

When times in life get difficult, I have two options: I can either put my hope and confidence in God or I can choose my own path based on my own understanding.

The latter is often not comforting and can lead to more trouble and heartache. But when you set your eyes on Jesus, miraculous things will happen.

When we used to live by a lake, we would often take our daughter down so she could swim or splash around. The water was clear and the sand was fine. But there were spots in certain areas where the sand would build up just under the top of the water.

"Look dad," my daughter would exclaim, "I'm walking on water!" And sure enough it DID look like she was actually walking on water when in reality it was just on the sand beneath the water.

I remember in Matthew 14:22-33 when Jesus walked on water and the called out Peter to join him. As Peter climbed out of the boat and onto the wavy water he locked his eyes on Jesus. Peter was walking on water toward Jesus. It was only when he started to hear the wind and look at the waves he began to sink.

"Lord save me!" Peter cried out. Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed Peter and asked, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Let us be reminded of what happens when we lose focus and try to live life by ourselves. When our eyes are upon Jesus, when our hope and confidence is in the Lord and when we truly trust God we will be blessed.

Sunset Under Golden Jubilee Park

Scripture of the day
James 1:5 - If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Sometimes we think we are smarter and wiser than God. We do our own thing without thinking about the consequences or how it affects others.

When I look back at my life I see all of the foolish things I did in my life. Mistakes that not only hurt me and others but also led me away from a more blessed life with God.

In order to avoid many of the pitfalls in life we need to recognize at few truths.

1) All wisdom comes from God (Proverbs 2:6) Mankind thinks they are wise but that wisdom comes from God.

2) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) Unless there is a healthy fear of God, you will not humble yourself to listen to Him. You will choose your own path that most often will lead to self-desruction.

3) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. (James 1:5) All we need when we are in difficult situations is to humbly ask God for his wisdom. He will not turn us away but rather generously give us the right course of action.

God loves every one of us and wants the very best things for us. He doesn't want harm to come our way but rather for us to succeed in life. We just need to listen and act on God's wisdom. His plans for our life is based on His wisdom.

Let us look in Jeremiah 29:11 at God's promise for our lives when He says, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Beautiful Sunrise

Scripture of the day
1 John 5:14 - And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.

There are times when I pray that I feel like God's not listening. I'll pray for healing for someone or a job and hear nothing. Days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months. Still nothing.

So I start to think, am I praying for the right thing? Do I have enough faith? Is God even hearing my prayers?

When I pray, I have to check my motives. I have to ask myself these questions: Am I praying for God's will or my selfish desires? Will this please God or are my prayers only to please me? Am I praying with all my heart or just muttering words under my breath? Am I thankful in life through the difficult times or bitter?

The Bible assures us that God indeed hears our prayers when what we ask pleases him. We are also to pray with thanksgiving in our hearts (Philippians 4:6), to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) and to pray believing we have received what we prayed for (John 14:13).

We know God loves us. He is faithful and generous. He wants the very best for us and wants us to follow His will. May we humbly pray to our Father all of our requests in Jesus name and believe our prayers will be heard and answered in His time according to His will.