ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY FOURTEEN (BE STRONG!)

I had no idea how challenging it would be to blog on a consistent basis!  It definitely takes work and discipline.  Although the sermon series is over I want to complete a 30 day blog on areas that God is teaching me on.

In the book of Joshua we see a leader not only filling in the big shoes of Moses, but doing a pretty darn good job.  Joshua does not inquire of the LORD and is setback with the Gibeonite deception.

However, Joshua pushes forward and continues to demolish five kings that rally their armies together to destroy the Gibeonites.  Not only does he crush the the five armies, he traps the five kings in a cave, blocking its entrance with a large rock.

A clear picture is painted of what it means to "Be strong" in the Lord by summoning all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings."  So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.

Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Be strong adn courageous.  This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight."  Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening (Joshua 10:24-26).

This is a good reminder for those of us who feel weak in our own strength.  Be strong in the Lord!

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY THIRTEEN (COURAGEOUS)

We live in a broken world full of fears.  I have the fear of failure, fear of embarrassing myself in front of others, fear of large nasty insects amongst other things.  With all these fears, it isn't always easy to overcome our fears but Joshua chapter one continually says to be strong and courageous.  I'm reminded that strength and courage comes from our Lord.

Even when I have my doubts or my future is uncertain, the Bible says in verse 6, "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them."  It goes on to say that if we do not turn from His Word, that he would give us success wherever we go.

It is so encouraging to lean on God's word and to hear the promises of God in times of turmoil.  Are you letting God's Word overcome the fear in your life?  Be strong and courageous!

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY TWELVE (COMMUNITY)

No man is an island.  We've all tried and failed.  Too many of us in life and ministry are lone ranger Christians.  This is the most dangerous place to be.  Not to mention, a very lonely place.  I've met people who have been jaded by the church and have no desire to be in community because of the hurt and pain they experienced.  But God has created the church to be a redemptive factor for broken and hurting people.  Sadly the Church of Christ today is missing community.  But Acts 2 paints a beautiful picture of the New Testament church.  This has always been how God designed the church to be.

The church is the people of God and not the building.  Let's look at Acts 2:42-47:

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

We meet regularly not to socialize or play games.  A missional community is when the people of God gather regularly to study God's Word and discern His will together in community.  It's a powerful thing when two or more are gathered, with God at the centre, we begin to discover God.  As a missional community, we should be filled with awe and expect miracles from God, this is not an exception.  The Bible says we should be on the same page and 'want' to meet together and share a meal and meeting each other's needs.

So many people are 'too' busy to be in community.  In your church do you desire to be in relationship with others, to meet regularly and study God's Word, and to share a meal together, or is that too inconvenient and time consuming?

Building relationship takes work and God's blessing and favour pours out as we come together as a community to lavish our praise to Him and God grows the church!

I desire to see this kind of community and to do "life together" as Dietrich Bonhoeffer says.  Do you desire to do life together and be in community?

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY ELEVEN (PATIENCE)

This is fresh off the press!  I am at the library right now sitting with an elderly couple probably in their 80's.  They are looking at some magazine and trying to look up stuff on the internet.  The husband is typing stuff on their laptop while the wife is trying to help spell the name of the persons they are looking for.

The husband keeps on slapping her hand in frustration that she isn't giving the proper spelling.  Whatever the reason may be, I can't believe my eyes!  I felt like telling him to stop.  An overwhelming protective side of me wanted to jump in to help this poor old woman.  I then realized that this is the "way it is" with them and probably how it's always been. 

It's so sad to think that after an entire lifetime of marriage, that these two have grown more in impatience that in love.  The Bible says, "Love is patient, love is kind". 

I'm not one to talk.  I am impulsive and impatient with my own wife and have just been given a snapshot of my future if I continue with my impatient behaviour.  Thank you God for revealing that to me now!  So much to learn!

Oh Lord, help me to love with agape (sacrificial, unconditional) love.  Because only then can I be kind and patient.  Lord help me.

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY TEN (HOPE)

What do you do when all hope is lost?  How do you have faith when there seems to be wave after wave of discouragement.  How do you navigate through the darkness when there is no light?

When we lose hope in Jesus, surely we have lost all hope and are hopeless.  This is why we need Jesus, because He is the only hope for this broken world.  People need Jesus.  Are you pointing people to Jesus?  Are you leading people to Jesus?  Why haven't you if you haven't?  Why haven't I?  What's wrong with me?

In the midst of much trial and discouragement, it has been so easy for me to lose hope in every area of my life.  Is it ok if I'm real for a moment?  Yes, I said, I have been discouraged and was losing hope.  But then, an epiphany struck me and blew me off my feet.

In Isaiah 40:28-31 I received a strong word of encouragement for such a time as this and want to leave you with this word.  I hope this encourages you to "hope" in the Lord.

 ²⁸ Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.
 ²⁹ He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.
 ³⁰ Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;
 ³¹ but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY NINE (CHILDREN)

I love kids.  I think I get along better with kids than adults.  They seem to like me more and I seem to like them more!  We get each other.  It must be my child-like immaturity or the FUN side of me that loves to play, explore and be creative.

In Mark 10:13-16 people were bringing kids to Jesus so that Jesus could touch them, and his own disciples rebuked them.  One might think this is noble since they were protecting Jesus' ministry and time but the Bible says that Jesus was "indignant", meaning he took offense and strong displeasure.  But to whom was Jesus offended and displeased with?  The children?  No!  He took offense at his disciples!  Why?  Guess who also loves kids?  Yes, Jesus loves children big time!

Because Jesus says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Let's love children.  I love my daughter Kristen so much.  I used to kiss her 50 times a day.  She only let's me kiss her up to 10 times at one time, and that's stretching it.  I can't stop telling her that I love her and smother her with kisses.  Let us love and invest time and energy into the next worldchangers!

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY EIGHT (BLESSING)

What is a blessing?  This can be so many different things to different people.  There seems to be a direct correlation between obedience to God and God's blessings to us.  The best way I can understand it is when my daughter listens to me, or obeys me.  When I know she is being a good girl, I am so pleased and want to reward her.

Although the Bible talks about a man by the name of Job who had great wealth and blessings from the Lord.  For whatever reason, God allowed Satan to give Job a hell of a time (pardon the pun).  He faced trials and hardships and lost everything, but the principle is still the same.  He remained obedient and worshipful to God, and God blessed him in even greater ways than he had known in the past.

My goal is not to obtain the blessings, it is merely to remain obedient to God, the blessings will come, don't you worry!

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY SEVEN (WISDOM)

WISDOM

All I know is that I need more wisdom.

All I understand is that it is the Lord whom gives wisdom.

All I can do is fear the Lord because that is the beginning of wisdom.

All I desire is to obey Him at all times.

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY SIX (LOVE)

Today I got to experience love at its best!  I performed my 2nd wedding ceremony with Deve and Dylan today.  I couldn't believe the traffic in getting to the church today.  I nearly had a heart attack!  Toronto traffic kills me sometimes.  So sorry I was late....aaahhhh!

Anyways, back to "love".  Love is not sex.  In fact, this could be the furthest thing from love since sex outside of marriage is selfish and for personal gain.  This kind of love becomes destructive.  Look at all the relationships that happen out of physical attraction. 

The Bible says in 1 John 4:8 that "God is love".  So the question I ask is can people know what love is without knowing God?  Yes and no.  There are different kinds of love.  Eros, which is erotic or lustful love of the flesh which I talked about earlier.  Fileo which is brotherly love.  The highest form of love is agape love which is sacrificial and unconditional.  This is God's love for us.

Since God is love (agape), we cannot love unconditionally unless we know God.  That may be really hard to swallow for some.  Just like Jesus is the only way, truth and life and no one can come to the Father except through Jesus can sound exclusive and narrow.  It sure is!  But be sure and glad that there IS a way!

I love weddings!  It's like a big family reunion.  It's so great to see friends from different walks of life come together in one place.  I was telling my wife in the car ride back home from the wedding, that I am so blessed and consider it a huge privilege to be entrusted by God and people to officiate their weddings. 

This is one of the most significant events in a person's life and God has trusted me with this!  God thank you for your unfailing love!  Dylan and Deve, may God bless your marriage as you make Christ the foundation and let NOTHING separate you from God's unfailing and unconditional love.  Vancouver is a better city and the church is strengthened because of your love for God and for each other!

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY FIVE (FAMILY)

OK.  So there are so many thoughts that run through my head when I think of the word 'family'.  I think of my earthly family and I think of my spiritual family @ Catalyst Church (www.catalyst-gta.com).  That was a shameless plug!

Family, much like close friends are a HUGE ASSET to the Kingdom of God when the family chooses to serve and love God.  Joshua 24:15b says, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

As much as I love and appreciate my family, those closest to us, know how to push our buttons if you know what I mean.  They know how to work the inner parts to get our emotions to rise to uncontrollable levels.

There are several family members in my family that either don't know God or don't serve God and it is quite sad.  I used to try everything to help them and got discouraged and kind of gave up.  I know that's not nice.  But I've decided instead to pray for God to change their hearts.  I believe that stubbornness and pride can be changed by God.

I'm praying that my family will 'know' God and not just 'about' God.  I'm praying that they will love Him and serve Him.  The family is a powerful God ordained unit designed by God to wreak serious havoc in the spiritual realm.  I believe that when a family in Christ is mobilized, there is nothing that can stop them.

I dream of this kind of family in my home and in my church.  Have you given up or lost hope in your family?  If so, what are you going to do about it?

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY FOUR (GREATNESS)

What does it mean to be great?  Do I even desire greatness?  Should we desire greatness?  Greatness from the world's perspective may be seen as attaining a high position of power, or accomplishing important things, or someone who is famous.

Regardless of your motives, part of who we are by God's design, desires to be great.  Whether your motives are good or evil, we are all created by the "Great I AM".

Those who claim to be followers of Christ, are called to be like God, "great".  In Mark 9:33-37 we find a story of Jesus' own disciples not reflecting the likeness of Jesus.  In fact, Jesus asks them what they are arguing about and they kept silent because they were busy arguing which one of them was the "greatest".  Even their motives were wrong.

Our motives may be masked when we serve in church and try to look good, or when we behave well in front of our bosses, but Jesus knows our hearts.  We can't fool the Master.  Jesus himself reveals the motives of their hearts by taking a child and embracing the child in his arms and saying that anyone who welcomes a child in His name welcomes Jesus.

A child is none of those things described in the world's perspective of greatness.  A child is weak.  A child is dependent on his father.  A child is not seen as important.  If you want to be great, Jesus says we must be like little children who are weak and dependent on God the Father.

Lord I desire to be more like you.

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY THREE (DISCOURAGEMENT)

Let's face it.  Everybody faces discouragement.  Whether you are Billy Graham, Mother Teresa, or the guy down the street.  Life is full of disappointments and discouragement.  People irk us all the time and when those whom are closest hurt us, we have nowhere to turn to.

Or do we?  We have a Saviour named Jesus who died on the cross and paid the price for our sin so that we would become conquerors and victors in Him.  When Christ comes into our lives, He supernaturally empowers us to overlook offenses, to see beyond the evil, and to love and forgive just as we have been.

It is only through Christ that we can face and overcome discouragement in our lives.  I face discouragement all the time.  In my marriage, in 'my' relationship to God, my family and friends, and my church.  I also am realizing that God places those discouragements to give me opportunities to practice love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control.  It's for this reason, I am grateful for discouragement.  How then can we grow in Christ?  How then can we learn to depend on our Master?

Thank you God for discouragement.  I am the potter.  You are the clay.  Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY TWO (PRAYER)

In Mark 9:17-29, a man in the crowd is wondering why Jesus' disciples could not drive out the evil spirit from his son.  Jesus says, "Everything is possible for him who believes."  Jesus also mentioned in verse 29 that "This kind can come out only by prayer."  In your Bible you should see a superscript which is in the footer at the bottom saying "Some manuscripts prayer and fasting".

I once asked an elderly Jamaican woman, who was a neighbour of mine, what the secret to God's power was in her life.  She answered without hesitation 'prayer and fasting'.  She mentioned that God's power was displayed constantly and continually in her life as she practiced the spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting.

Perhaps the question we need to ask ourselves today is do we really have faith to believe that Jesus answers prayers?  Do we truly believe that Jesus fed the 5,000, raised Lazarus from the dead, healed the blind, sick, deaf, and mute?  Or was it some sort of made-up fairytale story?

Whatever your opinion is, Jesus says EVERYTHING is possible for him who believes.  I've prayed for family and friends with cancer and believed that Jesus could heal them but He didn't.  That didn't change my belief in God's power to heal nor did it shake my faith in Christ.  I still believe that God can and will do what is according to His will.

Today we put an offer on a house which if we got it, many would consider it an impossibility.  I'm not praying that we win the house.  I'm praying that God's will be done.  If this is the house, so be it.  If not, God is preparing a better place for us.

Do you believe everything is possible...according to HIS will?  I do.  So start praying and fasting for your family, friends, workplace, and neighbours.  Start the morning on your knees and end the night on your knees.  Prayer and fasting is the means in which the supernatural power of God is unleashed.  I believe!

ONE MONTH TO LIVE - DAY ONE (LIFE)

Let's face it...life is short!  If God were to end your life right now, could you say that you have fulfilled God's purposes in your life?  Would you be satisfied with your life?  What if you only had 30 days to live, how would you spend that time?  Would you live life differently?  

Many people are dissatisfied with their jobs, finances, family, friends, and churches.  Yet Jesus says in John 10:10b in the Message version of the Bible, "I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

Imagine that!  Whatever life you're dreaming of, Jesus promises a life that is BETTER and BIGGER!  That's HUGE! 

The way to live that better life is continued OBEDIENCE to His Word.  God presents open doors everyday for you and I, these God moments in which we can act in faith to His Word to see His purposes fulfilled in our lives.  I don't ever want to miss "God moments" but I know I have in the past.

I am praying for the next 30 days to hear the whisper of His voice and for the sensitivity to His Spirit that I may be obedient to live life as He has designed for me!  Life is short!  Let's live it for Him!

House Hunting

Who would have guessed what the housing market would be in September 2009?  We sold our home in Castlemore (east side Brampton) in December 2008 in hopes to grab a home closer to the city (Toronto) in the recession that was coming in 2009.

We were excited to get a bargain while house hunting in 2009.

Much to our surprise, it has been nothing but a SELLER'S market and 9 months of searching for a home has never been harder for us.  This will be our 3rd home since Viv and I got married and has been a test of patience and prayer.

We finally found a home that we like but heard that 120 other people also liked the home and there were 9 offers including ours.  We heard that the house needed a new roof.  $15,000 for a new roof?  Makes you think twice?  It did for us.  We were highly outbidded by one person who went WAY above asking price.  So for now, we will continue to "be still and know that He is God" and wait for the right place and the right time.  Back to house hunting again!

Happy Birthday!

Another year passes and we all get older and one day closer to our Maker...if you are a believer that is!  Birthdays come and go and they are a constant reminder that our lives are not our own.  They were bought at a high price.  I am reminded and encouraged that I have less time to make an eternal impact.  So I must press on to fight the good fight and to run the race and to win souls before moving on from this world.

I am truly grateful for the journey that God has brought me on, and although there have been times of trial and difficulty, I rejoice.  He has been building my character.  I am also equally grateful for my wonderful wife Vivian and adorable daughter Kristen, friends, and ministry that He has given me!  I pray that as each year passes, that I will become more like Him and teach others to do the same.

Fast 4Friday

Fasting is a choice, not a gift.

Choosing not to eat is an act of worship before God. Temptations are everywhere. The 'ooey gooey chewy' cookies and the lady beside me with an entire bag of food are reminders of how dependent I am on food. My growling stomach reminds me of how weak my flesh is.

I am fasting for Friday because Pastor Eugene Ramirez is coming to Toronto to do a teaching on spiritual gifts/prophecy and will be prophesying over our leaders. In preparation, he's asked us to fast and pray. And so here I am in the library, fasting and praying so that I can be more receptive to hear God's word for my life.