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God’s Son, Our Sacrifice
In numerous ways, my mother sacrificed to make my life better. She frequently went without things herself so I could gain an education and a better future. These sacrifices were driven by deep love and care. I have done the same as a parent. Our loving Savior made a sacrifice that cannot compare to anything we can do. While my mother made sacrifices by giving up things in life, Jesus gave up His very life for us. From the beginning God’s plan included Jesus dying for mankind’s sins. It is interesting that God allowed a brutal Roman crucifixion as the instrument for His wonderful plan of salvation.This centuries old practice…
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When God Hammers a Point in Your Life Circumstances
Recently we said goodbye to my dear mother-in-law. It has been a time to reflect on her life and her ministry to others. She had immense impact on those around her. Our pastor chose to preach her funeral sermon on her confirmation verse: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV) As I listened to these familiar words, the thoughts running through my mind centered on how I know these Scripture words to be true, but I seem to easily forget…
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How Can I Possibly Try Again?
For three years the disciples followed Jesus as He ministered and taught to many. Their lives were full – busy with tasks their Lord gave them and travelling many miles. So, you can imagine the emptiness they must feel after Jesus’ death. What purpose do their lives serve? What do they need to do? In their frustration one night, a group of the disciples went back to what they knew well – fishing. I am sure this must have seemed anticlimactic after all they had been doing with Jesus, but they didn’t really have any other directive as of yet. As was the practice in those days, they fished at…
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When Life Goes on Auto Pilot
While living out in the country has many advantages, one downfall is the extra time spent driving to get anywhere. It’s a 45 minute drive to work. I have a 25 minute drive to church, to medical facilities, and to do major shopping. As I drive my winding country road to get to the main highway, I often find myself going for miles without really thinking about it. It is truly amazing how the brain operates. What an intricate design God made that allows me to drive my vehicle on a familiar road without consciously doing it. Yet it scares me at times to think about how far I drive…
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When the Saviour Calls
As a new year begins many of us are looking for new paths and opportunities but how do we decide? There are pressures from many avenues for our time – family, home, work, charitable, community and so on. There are a multitude of things I could be doing with my time. I have the abilities to do many things, but should I be doing them all? Yes, God gives us different gifts and abilities and He designed us with ways to use them. What is significant is how we approach them. Do we go blindly ahead, choosing ways to fill our time at a whim, or do we carefully consider…
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Gaining Empathy
I walked into the large gym with great trepidation. I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know where to sit or what to do. I didn’t like feeling so lost, but that had been common in recent days. My quiet nature didn’t help either as it made it daunting to try to start conversations with staff I didn’t know. I had been thrust into a large public school after teaching for years in a small private Christian school where I knew everybody. Everything was overwhelming – the number of staff to get to know, all the new procedures, and many other new requirements. All I wanted to do was feel like…
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Pressing On in the Process
As I check my computer for recent medical test results, I am in shock. I look at the document and then look again, hoping that I am not seeing what I am seeing. I thought I was prepared. I have known for years that I have genetic risk factors from both my parents for conditions that are life changing. I also have known that there are things I could do to be preventative – or so I thought. Yet all my planning, prepping, and clean living have not been enough. Being diagnosed with both prediabetes and osteoporosis has shaken me right through the core. I watched both my parents suffer…
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God’s Amazing Plan
The Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ is no random sequence of events. Each intricate piece of this account was planned from the beginning of time. Our loving Heavenly Father set all things in motion, knowing from the start that we would need a Saviour from our sins. Every character in the Christmas story was carefully chosen to spread the wonderful Gospel message. This eclectic group of people came together, as Scripture foretold, to herald the birth of our Saviour. Firstly, there are Jesus’ earthly parents. Mary would have been a teenage girl at the time of Jesus’ birth but God chose her to carry His Son, knowing…
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Seeing is Believing
Some Scriptural accounts are just so humorous. I love that the Bible shows us real people living real lives. It is comforting to know that I’m not the only one who messes up or gets confused. One biblical account that makes me smile is that of Rhoda. She is a servant girl in the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. She enters the historical picture at the time the apostle Peter is imprisoned by King Herod for preaching the good news of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Members of the early church were praying for Peter’s release and many of them were doing so at the house…
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What It Means to Have a Shepherd
What do Abraham, Moses, and King David all have in common? At some point in their lives, they were shepherds. Before these highly respected men became great leaders, they honed some of their management skills in taking care of sheep. Sheep definitely need a guide. On their own they are easily lost or trapped in difficult situations. They are not good at recognizing and avoiding danger. Yet sheep are smart in one way – they know the voice of their shepherd. They know that in him they will find safety, shelter, and nourishment. In essence, it is a strong trust relationship. Describing us as sheep is very fitting as we…
