Who Is Jesus?

It has been a long time since I have posted. It has been a very busy year for me. I have finished all of my courses for ministerial preparation and I will soon move into the hands-on supervised ministry part. Though I have learned much, there is so much more to learn. I look forward to this upcoming chapter of my life as I follow God's will for me.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of breaking God's word in our church and sharing the message while our pastors are away taking the youth to Follow2015 in Indianapolis. As we are coming quickly to the close of 2015 and look ahead to 2016, I would like to share the message that God laid on my heart to share yesterday. So, Who Is Jesus?

Before I give you the paraphrased version of the message I delivered yesterday, I want to encourage you to open God's Word and read John 1:1-14. Take time to read it carefully and see what it says about who Jesus is.

1. Jesus Is Light - In five verses, John uses the word light seven times. Most of these refer to Jesus as the Light, but each time, the word light is used in opposition to the darkness. If you didn't read from the RSV, that translation translates verse five a bit differently "...but darkness has not overcome it," (John 1:5). The darkness has not overcome the Light - nothing can or will overcome Jesus. He is the true Light of the world (John 1:9). Jesus freely offers light to all, yet not everyone will accept it. Sadly, much of the world rejects His Light because the love of sin blinds humanity to the Light of God. But there is hope because God will always have followers until the day of Jesus' return. Are you one of them?

2. Jesus Is Life - Verse twelve tells us we become children of God by accepting the gift of a new birth, not because we are human, but because we receive and accept the gift given. We must do our part. Remember though, it's not about what we do, but about what He's done. The father/child relationship flows not from being created, but from believing Him. When we accept Jesus in our lives, we have the promise of salvation and will spend eternity in His presence. If you haven't given your life to Him, what is stopping you?

3. Jesus Is Lord - Verse 14 tells us that the "Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Jesus left the perfection of heaven and chose to take up residence in a teenager's womb so He could be born like the rest of us. He lived on this earth and faced temptations - the same as we do daily - and overcame them all. He didn't just appear to be a man. Jesus was a man. The cradle was not the beginning nor was the cross the end. Jesus defeated death and Hell and is alive today. His life on earth was simply a blip in time for Him. He was alive before the cradle and lives today and forever. As you look toward 2016, can you look back over 2015 and say with confidence that Jesus is Lord over your life? Has Christmas been about Him, or something else? Will you choose now to allow Jesus to be Lord over your life today and every day for the rest of your life? If not, why not? If so, pray and tell Him. Seek His guidance and direction. Look to 2016 with expectancy and hope for He is Lord.

May the peace, love, and joy of Christ dwell in you richly as you submit to His Lordship over your life. Blessings to you and yours for 2016. In Jesus' joy, Natalie

Christmas Ponderings

Merry Christmas everyone! As I have been reading through the Christmas story once again, I was struck by the beauty of the love of Christ all over again. God's love is beyond anything we can even begin to imagine or explain. God sent His One and Only Son, Jesus, to earth to give every person the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with Him. How incredible is that?

The point that struck me this year is that not only did God send Him, He came willingly. Picture it with me for a moment. Jesus, Son of the Most High God, left heaven for us. Jesus was in the most perfect place. There is no sickness, no death, no unmet needs. The temperature is always perfect, the atmosphere always full of love, there is no sin in heaven. Yet this Jesus, left all of that behind, humbled Himself and grew in the womb of a teenage girl to be born in this sin-stained world, full of anger, hatred, dirt, and sickness, knowing that He would face ridicule, beatings, and death for us.

He had everything and gave it up for us...He gave it up for you. You were worth it. You were on His mind as He was nailed to a cross. See the babe didn't stay in the manger, but grew up and gave up His life to set us free. This is love - "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, " (Romans 5:6-8 NKJV).

Don't leave the babe in the manger. Jesus grew, lived, died, was buried, and is resurrected. He is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. Pray and accept His promise of eternal life with Him today. May He bless you and keep you this Christmas season.

Be Still...

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV): "Be still and know that I am God."

Advent season is here - we are looking to celebrate the birth of our Savior. We spend countless hours preparing for Christmas. Cooking, cleaning, cooking, shopping, cooking, wrapping, preparing, cooking... We want everything to be just right.

During the Advent season, will we focus on the Who of Christmas this year rather than the what - for instance, what am I going to eat, what am I going to wear, what am I going to get? Are we willing to take as much time to prepare our hearts (Christ's home) as we do our homes, the food, and all the trimmings? What if we took time to prepare our hearts as well as all the other stuff? What would happen if we took time to get alone before God and confess our need to control the season and all the "stuff" we feel is so urgent and ask God to lead us and allow Him to heal us and let Him take the lead?

Are you willing to  sacrifice something you want to do, to do something He wants you to do? Are you spending time alone in prayer and keeping your heart open to hear from Him? Are you praying for strength to be obedient to Him in all things this season?

Jesus holds all of us - and this whole world - in the palm of His hand. So what if the mince pies don't get made? So what if every ornament is not in place? Are those things really as important as spending time in His presence, preparing your heart for His coming?

Jesus came to this earth the first time as a baby. The next time He comes, He's coming for us. We must be ready. No amount of shopping, cooking, or cleaning will matter on the day the trumpet sounds. I encourage you to take time each day to get before the Lord - just you and Him. Find a spot that is quiet where you can spend time in His presence and ask Him to help you to "be still and know that He is God". Let go of the endless lists of to do's and focus on the true meaning of Christmas. "Jesus is the reason for the season" - let's give Him the welcome He deserves.

May the peace and the love of Christ be with you. In Jesus' joy,
Natalie 

Blessed Giving

"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35 NKJV

It is at this time of year that I begin to think about what Christmas really means. Every store I go in - whether to pick up laundry detergent, ink for the printer, or milk - is clothed in sparkles, decorations, garlands, gift ideas, and Santa. I often wonder, "How did we get here? How have we as the human race (and especially Christians) gotten so far from the truth of what Christmas is about?" These thoughts challenge me to think about Jesus and His purpose and mission while He walked the dirt pathways of this earth and the mission He left all His followers with.

Jesus did not take, He gave. He was not a recipient, but a server. He left His home in heaven and became one of us that He might know the trials and temptations we all face. He ran with sinners and lowly people whom the religious people of the day didn't have time for. He didn't even have a place to lay His own head.

Christmas means different things to different people. What does it mean to you? The disaster in the Philippines makes me wonder if it is truly in our best interests to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on ourselves. What if we each took even a percentage of that money and gave it to them? Would it make a difference? What if we all did it in the name of Jesus, a gift for Him this Christmas? What if we opened our eyes to those around us and saw those in need around us and gave of ourselves this year to make a difference in someone else's life? Would that please Jesus?

Need some ideas - volunteer for a food bank, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen; give of your time and resources in your community to help the organizations that are there to fill the needs of those who are less fortunate (examples: Red Cross, Salvation Army, YMCA, Teen Challenge, pregnancy clinics, volunteer at the hospital or nursing home, rehab. centers, reach out to a family in need and provide Christmas for them...). There are many ways we can give of our time, money, and other resources.

I challenge you to begin praying about what you can give Jesus for Christmas this year. It is His birthday we are celebrating. Listen carefully for His still, small voice and give to the One who gave everything for you. May He bless you abundantly as you step out in faith and obedience.

Blessings,
Natalie

Christmas Traditions

Christmas time! Can you believe it is here already? Each year it seems to creep up more quickly than the last, yet the number of days on the calendar are the same. Everyone is rushing around trying to prepare food, gifts, concerts, and the other things that we traditionally do during the Christmas season. What are the things most important to you at Christmas? Have you ever really thought about it? Truly, I would love to hear what they are. How about listing your top 5?

One of our favorite things to do is to prepare for our church Christmas concert. We all sing and enjoy taking time to do this as a family. We also love to cook and prepare goodies for family and friends then do them up in nice packages and deliver them. We have an advent calendar that goes up every December to count the days down to Christmas. We clean the house and scurry around trying to get things in order so we can relax for a few days over Christmas. Then on Christmas day, we love to read the Christmas story (from Luke 2) together discussing what it might have been like on that very first Christmas day.

In the busyness this season brings, have you yet taken time to "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10)? You can do this as a family or alone. I encourage you to take some time, settle in a quiet place with your Bible and your Lord and pray that He would reveal more of Himself to you. If you don't yet have a relationship with Jesus, you can accept His gift this day and become one of His children. If you are unsure how, just click on  http://www.promisesforall.blogspot.ca/2010/09/greatest-promise.html

Christmas is a wonderful time to begin spending time with Jesus, but don't stop there. Take time each day to spend in His presence, reading His Word, praying and seeking His will for your life and you will find He is right there with you. What a wonderful tradition to begin that will carry you through the days ahead.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed and Wonderful New Year - May the peace and joy of the birth of Jesus be with you and yours this holiday season and each coming day!

Natalie

Unlikely Messengers

We are quickly approaching the celebration of the birth of the Lord and Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. The days are quickly rolling by and most people are completing last minute shopping, cooking, cleaning and visiting. During this time, I encourage you to take your Bible and find a nice, quiet place. Open your Bible to Luke chapter 2 and read through the Christmas story carefully and prayerfully, asking God to reveal His truths to your heart.

In studying verses 8-18, I can picture this story unfolding. The angel appearing in the night sky, the shepherds frightened within an inch of their lives, then the awe they must have experienced as a whole host of angels sang praises to welcome and announce the birth of a long-awaited Savior. Amazing grace!

Meditating on these verses I realize the shepherds were not the most likely people for God to use-at least in the mind of many. Shepherds were lowly people, not those born of royalty or status. Just meek and humble men trying to earn a living to raise their families. Yet God chose to reveal the Messiah's birth to them first.

1 Corinthians 1:27-29, states it well, "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence." NKJV

Do you ever wonder if God can use you? Do you think you are not good enough, smart enough, thin enough, pretty enough, fill in the blank? Realize that God can use you. When He calls, He equips. No, you can not do it on your own, but with God, nothing will be impossible (Luke 1:37). There is nothing He cannot accomplish, and no one is out of His reach. I love this promise from God. Trust me. I am no one special. I praise Him and thank Him for salvation and life. He is my All Sufficient Father. Trust Him with your life and make Him yours today. Allow Him to use you as one of His "unlikely messengers".

May God richly bless you and be near you this Christmas season and throughout the New Year.
Natalie

Reflective Preparation

In this the third week of Advent, it is my prayer that Christians everywhere take the time to reflect on their purpose for celebrating Christmas. In this time of reflection - which I also am taking part in - we can ask ourselves many questions. Some of which may be:

1. Who is the person (or people) I focus on the most in this season?
2. What is the greatest gift I have ever received and why?
3. What is the greatest gift I have ever given and why?
4. Who is on my guest list this year and does it include Jesus?
5. Is the nativity scene-that is probably part of your decorations-central to your celebration or just a religious symbol?
6. Is my heart right with Jesus?
7. What gift have I chosen to give Jesus this season and all year long?

These are just a few questions we can take some time to consider. When we do, we bring the focus away from the bobbles and fancy lights, tasty food, gifts, and many things that keep us from our true focus of CHRISTmas.

I pray you take the time to read Luke chapter 2, seeking Him. Don't just read it through, but experience it. Put yourself in the Story. For those of you who know it word for word, try to read it in another translation so it might be fresh reading, a way for God to truly get your attention, rather than just skimming it over. Soak up the truths and the promise of our Savior. The love He showers us with is incredible. As undeserved as it is, He continues to seek us out, draw us to Him and forgive us that we may be near to Him.

What an incredible God we serve! May this week and the days leading up to Christmas be a time of quiet, reflective preparation in your home and in your heart. May Jesus Christ be central as you celebrate CHRISTmas.

A Gift for the World

"For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

We are now into the second week of Advent. The days continue to quickly slide by and the countdown to Christmas is on. The more I read and study my Bible this Christmas season, the more in awe I am of God's great love for us. That He would send His One and Only Son to this earth to live and then die for our sins...

I love this Scripture. The description of who this Baby would be is absolutely amazing. To think of Christ being born in a stable, not a nice barn as most of us in North America are accustomed to, but in a cave: dirty, dingy, dark, and dank.  It is very humbling. What a place for the Savior of the world to be born! Yet, Scripture reveals the truth to us (Luke 2:7).

As we stroll-or run-through the days leading up to Christmas, may we remember it's not about the gifts or the toys, the gadgets or the food; Christmas is about the gift of our One and Only Savior of the world, coming to us as a babe, growing into a man who would give His life for us. Let's make it personal. He gave His life for you. If you were the only person, He still would have given His life for you. He loves you, dear one.

He is extending His hand to you right now. Will you hold on and give Him your heart, your all? Will you allow Him to be your Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace? When you think of Jesus, don't leave Him in the manger as a helpless babe. He is alive. He is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you and for me (Hebrews 1). Remember whose birthday we are celebrating. Have you figured out what gift you will give Jesus this year?

What Will You Do?

Yesterday marked the beginning of the 2011 Advent season. As we step into this time of year, many of us are filled with thoughts wondering what to get each person on our Christmas lists. There are children and parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, coworkers and aquaintances. The list goes on and on.

Last week, as I prepared my Sunday School lesson, the question that rolled around in my mind was one that struck me in a profound sort of way and is still on my mind. What will I do for Jesus this Christmas season? We are-in fact-celebrating His birthday. His gift should be the one to be most concerned with. Thinking on this question, I look at myself and think about what I have to offer Him. He has given me abundant life and promises too numerous to mention here in a few words. Anything I can think of seems to come up short. However, as I search my heart and pray for guidance, I trust He will help me to know what it is I should give Him.

Have you considered this question before? Maybe, this question is one you focus on each year. If not, maybe you would like to think about it. In the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, let's not forget the wonderful, blessed gift of Jesus we have all been given. May we remember the true meaning of this holiday is not gifts, but the giving of life from our Savior, Jesus Christ to each and every person who will call on His name to be saved (John 3:16-17).

So my question for you is this: what will you give (or do for) Jesus this Christmas?

Christmas Giving

CHRISTMAS: it has been dubbed as, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," yet for many it is quite the opposite. Christmas can be a time of stress and dread. It can be a time of frustration, heartache, anger or even pain.

There are many families, orphans, widows and widowers who will not celebrate a Merry Christmas this year. The reasons are as different as the people themselves. Some may not have the monetary resources to have a big celebration. Some may be dealing with loss. Some may have lived through Christmases with huge disappointments that time has failed to heal. Some may have family members who will not be with them this year, for one reason or another.

What can we possibly do to help?

The first and most important thing Christians can do to help is to pray. Pray that God will bless those in need in a very special way this Christmas. Pray that God will send help to those in need. Pray that their hearts would be open to receive the gift God has for them. Pray for God to heal and bind up the wounds of those who are hurting.

Next, you can put action to your prayers. If you know of a need and are able to fill it, go ahead and do so. Do not wait for someone else. God may have laid them on your heart for a purpose-not just to pray, but to bring them some joy.

To accomplish this may mean giving of your time, money or other resources. It may seem trivial or just too hard, but it could bring about big changes to the landscape of eternity.

If you are wondering what you could possibly do, I have a few suggestions if you will allow me.

1. Gather some friends and go carolling through town.

2. Go carolling at your local senior's centre.

3. Give to the Salvation Army, Food Bank or Soup Kitchen or other group that helps the needy of your money and/or time.

4. Give to a local family in need: provide them with a Christmas feast and gifts.

5. Go to the hospital and sit with, read to or talk with someone who is lonely.

6. If you are blessed with money this season that you were not expecting, donate it to a family in need or an organization that helps those in need.

7. If you want to do something that is on-going, sponsor a child.

These are but a few things we can do to make an impact. Be prayerful and ask Jesus to show you what you can do. What better way to spend Christmas than to help a neighbour in need? What better gift could you give Jesus this year?

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to Me."

Matthew 25:35-36

Each time we help someone, we are showing the love of Jesus and shining His light. May your light shine this Christmas season and all year long, lighting the path for those in need.

What's in a Name?

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 NASB How do you think about Jesus this time of year? Is He a baby in a manger? Is He simply another decoration in your home? Or does His name stir something deep-down within your heart and soul? The names of Jesus in this passage of Scripture gives us a picture of the Lord we serve. He is not just a baby, born of a virgin in a stable so many years ago. He is our Wonderful Counselor. Jesus lives within each one of us, abiding in us through the Holy Spirit He sent to dwell within believers. We have access to be counselled by the best if we would listen and wait for His wisdom. Jesus is our Mighty God. Who else could heal the blind, lame and sick? Who else has the power to raise the dead? He is also our Mighty God. Mighty are the things that He does. "Nothing is impossible with God," Matthew 19:26 (paraphrased). Who else is that mighty? Jesus is our Eternal Father. He was there when the foundations of the earth were put together. He is here now and He will be here when the earth passes away. He is the One who is, who was and who is to come. He will be there always in all ways. That is a Promise you can count on. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He came into this world to give us peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). If you do not have His perfect peace, take the time to claim it for your own. It is there for the asking. All we must do is ask and in faith believe and receive. What a wonderful gift this Christmas to accept. The love and peace that only Christ can give us. Dear Lord, Thank you for the many blessings of my life. Father I pray in the name of Jesus that You would reveal Your truths to me in simple and clear terms. Father, I release my will and my ways and accept Your will and Your ways. Cover me with Your peace and joy You alone can give. Fill me with the fruits of the Spirit that I may be complete in You. Father, let me look past the baby in the manger and see the Man, Jesus who is here with me now, who always has been and always will be. Thank You for all You are. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.