Peter's Picks

 The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Are You Willing to be Changed?’ 

Day 1: Romans 12:2 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” 

Day 2: Philippians 4:6, 7 – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” 

Day 3: Philippians 2:13 – “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” 

Day 4: Psalm 32:8-10 – “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.’ Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.” 

Day 5: Galatians 2:19, 20 – “For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law – I stopped trying to meet all its requirements – so that I might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” 

Day 6: Luke 9:23 – “Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.’” 

Day 7: Joshua 1:9 – “This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation 

Is It Hot Enough For You?

The two phrases that drive me up the wall are “Is it hot enough for you” and “Is it cold enough for you”. This past weekend, Natalie and I had the honour to attend a wedding for a wonderful couple. We were in Banff and the weather was amazing albeit a tad warm. As we were arriving at the location, the temperature, according to the truck thermometer, was already in the high twenties. By the time we had finished setting up and the service was about to begin, we were into the high thirties. We were outdoors on an open field with only the tents to provide relief from the heat. I had thought well ahead and decided to wear my khaki kilt, Kathy, the mother of the bride, and Natalie had on light dresses but poor Mark had pants, dress shirt and a tie. The only relief he got from the sun was the fedora that provided some shade for him. Needless to say, there was a significant amount of water being consumed and moist napkins were a necessity. The wedding went off without a single hitch and there were no cases of heat stroke and, in the end, the heat will long be forgotten but the joy of the day is forever etched in our memories.

Now, the wedding was complete, the celebration continued for the younger crowd and we helped the now exhausted parents get settled in their new hotel room in Canmore. I brought the bags into the room and felt immediate relief as the freezing cold air of the air-conditioner gripped a hold of me. We helped them get settled but I really did not want to leave but realized the restaurant we were heading to was air-conditioned as well. Once seated, the waitress asked us for our drink order and we all said the same thing, a big pitcher of ice water and please keep it coming. You don’t realize just how refreshing and comforting a tall glass of ice water can be. We all rejoiced as the body absorbed the life refreshing moisture and the coolness began to lower our body temperatures. With bodies refreshed and minds made clearer by the rehydration, we settled in for a great meal and wonderful conversation. This brings to mind the healing power of the Living Water, Jesus Christ. While our bodies scream out for the life sustaining water on a blistering hot day, our souls also scream out for the life sustaining Living Water that is our Lord and Saviour. While the world races around trying to find just the right source of fulfillment from a variety of sources, Jesus offers the perfect, life refreshing solution.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” John 4:13-15 NLT

When the promises of the world dry up, the promise of Christ never fades. He offers so much and asks so little in return. I would offer this up; be like the woman at the well, ask Christ to cleanse you and refresh you with abundant living water so that you never thirst again.

This week, our team is back together again and we celebrate a fresh start to the summer. The Board of Directors for MAF voted all in favour that masks are personal choice in accordance with the AHS Protocols but still ask that if you are feeling ill, watch us online until you are feeling better. We invite you to join us either in person at 10:30 AM Sunday or online at:

Facebook Live - https://www.facebook.com/main.ave.31

YouTube Live – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9LIkN_QTdVM6eVXEgy9QA

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Todd

www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com

 

 

What A Weekend!!!

This past weekend was amazing! We had our District Assembly where we not only shared and  celebrated the accomplishement of Canada West District but also shared in the enthusiasm of a new beginning with the lifting of restrictions and the joy of knowing that we would be moving towards a chance to hug and gather once again. 

There were also weddings, birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate and, for Natalie and I, the joy of knowing we are only days away from getting to meet our Grandson in person. 

We were able to share two amazing messages this past weekend and would invite you to click on this link to go to our live stream page and enjoy the services. 

May God bless you all richly and we will see you this coming weekend in a new yet old way (the masks come off :) 

Pastor Todd

Vacation Bible School

Monday, July 12 - Thursday July 15

10:00 AM until Noon each day

Vacation Bible School Day Camp for Gr K-6 

@ Main Avenue Fellowship 

402 Main Ave W

Sundre AB

Call 403-638-9012 for detail or register 

or

Click Here to Register

The Start of Holistic Healing 2021

In Canada, July 1 is a national celebration of our nation. There will be people in the millions decked out in red and white, waving the Maple Leaf and enjoying the freedoms we have in this wonderful nation. Differences will be put aside and many will come together to sing O Canada, voices raised in somewhat perfect harmony. In Alberta, the celebration will be two fold. The Covid restrictions will, for the most part, be lifted and we will be able to celebrate a new beginning and a fresh start to the summer. Now, as I said that, there was a shiver went down my spine and it was not one of fear and trepidation but rather of relief and joy. You see, for the past fifteen months we have focused primarily on physical health and healing. In order to tackle the virus, we have put the priority of spiritual and mental health of the nation into a hold pattern. You could meet with a counsellor but it had to be virtually or in a Covid safe manner. There was the loss of an aspect to counselling that was lost in the absence of in person sessions. Churches were either closed and had to rely on virtual services or they were under restrictions that took away from the spiritual health that a faith gathering nourishes. The wellness of the nation took a hit but July 1 marks a new start to personal wellness.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 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. Heb 10:23-25 NLT

This wonderful piece of scripture deals exactly with what has been missing. By gathering together, supporting one another in prayer and compassion, we can be the catalyst for a healing. Many will cling to the past and to the darkness of the past fifteen months but I challenge you to consider the hope that comes with the new day. July 1 marks the start to the second half of the year. Let us leave behind the darkness of the past many months and embrace the newness of community fellowship. Not only will this renew our emotional health but will build upon the foundation of a spiritual wellbeing for us all. Let us not neglect meeting together and sharing in each other’s strength and joy but also encourage one another to embrace the wholeness and unity of our faith. There are so many distractions in this world right now that divide and weaken us as a community, as a person but if we focus on the healing and the gathering, we can find a greater peace and a new outlook going forward. The time has come to rise up from the ashes of the past year and a half, embrace the Light and reach out to help those around us to rebound from the chaos.

This week, our District celebrates our annual assembly; Reunion 2021. On Sunday, we will be broadcasting the online from our General Superintendent but will lead into the service with a time of worship and praise from our own Worship Team. We invite you to join us either in person at 10:30 AM Sunday or online at:

Facebook Live - https://www.facebook.com/main.ave.31

YouTube Live – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9LIkN_QTdVM6eVXEgy9QA

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Todd

www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com

 

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘The Fear (Deep Reverence, in Awe) of the Lord’ 

Day 1: Proverbs 19:23 – “Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.” 

Day 2: Proverbs 22:4 – “True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.” 

Day 3: Psalm 103:11 – “For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.” 

Day 4: Psalm 115:11 – “All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord! He is your helper and your shield.” 

Day 5: Proverbs 14:26, 27 – “Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children. Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.” 

Day 6: Malachi 3:16, 17 – “Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. ‘They will be my people,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ‘On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.’” 

Day 7: Psalm 34:9 – “Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation 

 

Quick Update

 So, here is the latest at Main Avenue Fellowship.

We are open to 1/3 Capacity which means we have added a few more chairs 👍. According to the Government of  Alberta, this will last for two weeks and then we will be open to full capacity. 

Part two, we will be hosting a BBQ and a bonfire behind the church beginning at 5:30 pm on July 1st to not only celebrate Canada Day but also the lifting of the final protocols.

God has provided and protected and we will celebrate this by breaking bread with friends and family!!

We would ask that you bring your own chairs to save us from having to move furniture from the church.

Hope to see you all there!!!

Build Up The Body

Let me take a stroll down a path that is becoming way too common these days.  I will do so by taking a well-known verse and adapting it to the ways of the world. The truth will cause those around you to bind you and make you slaves to the culture of cancellation. Okay, this may be a tad harsh; or is it? Think of this for a moment while I tell you about a recent post I read on social media. There are those on social media who are on there for one main purpose; to stir up controversy. These keyboard cruisers love nothing more than to throw out a barb or a slam just to set the ball rolling. It is almost like the spark in a sea of gasoline. Should you decide to take a peaceful approach and suggest an alternate way to look at things, not only do they jump on the chance, but they also enlist the help of their entourage and will bully a person into submission. Say one wrong word and you are a target, respond and you feed the flame and if the foul is, in their opinion, so hurtful to their own stance, brace yourself for you could find yourself culturally cancelled. This is not a new thing, by the way, for many have been subject to cancellation, rejection, shunning and isolation just for speaking their mind.

In the Book of John chapter 8 verse 33, the people of the time were convinced that they had never been slaves “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”.  They were convinced that they were fully set apart because they followed the father, their father Abraham and would do anything to see the Abrahamic law be seen through to the fullness of their knowledge but Christ came to them with a reminder.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

The Truth is not to bind us, it is not to be the agent of separation but rather it is the Word of the Father and is intended to set us all free, free from sin and despair. It is the Word of love and unification and not of hate and cancellation. Those who hear the Word, respond to the Truth and communicate the Message, truly understand the joy of selfless servitude, whereas those who promote chaos and disharmony, are more into serving selfish desires. A while ago, a group of people organized a charity fundraiser that was going to cause a small inconvenience for the people of that community but the benefits for that community far outweighed the disruption of personal activities for a short period. A few people complained (mostly out of towners), but for the most part, it was well received. Thank you to those who saw past the personal and poured into the lives of others and waited patiently. My challenge for those who find it so necessary to be a part of the noise of the world, seek out the peace and compassion of the Lord, think of others before self and choose to be a part of the solution rather than a creator of strife. If we commit to building each other up, what a wonderful change we could make.

This Sunday, we are able to open up to 1/3 capacity and are looking forward to welcoming a few more people in person. We invite you to join us either in person at 10:30 AM Sunday or online at:

Facebook Live - https://www.facebook.com/main.ave.31

YouTube Live – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9LIkN_QTdVM6eVXEgy9QA

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Todd

www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com

Peter's Picks

 

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Refreshing’ 

Day 1: Psalm 23:1-3 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” 

Day 2: Psalm 19:7 – “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ” 

Day 3: Acts 3:19 – “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” 

Day 4: Jeremiah 31:25 – “For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.” 

Day 5: Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” 

Day 6: Matthew 11:28, 29 – “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” 

Day 7: Revelations 22:17 – “The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.’ Let anyone who hears this say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation 

 

 The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Be Lifted Up’ 

Day 1: Isaiah 40:28-31 – “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” 

Day 2: Romans 8:38, 39 – “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Day 3: 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.” 

Day 4: Ephesians 3:20, 21 – “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” 

Day 5: 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 

Day 6: Hebrews 10:19-23 – “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.” 

Day 7: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation 

Find Your Perfect Rest

There is a memory that I will take to my grave. It is a memory that is embedded into my mind and every time I think of peace and rest, this image reappears in my mind’s eye. When my son was very young, he had tummy issues and would wake up in the early hours screaming in pain. I would go into his room, roll him over on his belly across my legs and gently pat and rub his back. Slowly, the gas would work its way out and he would calm down. As the pain settled and he calmed down, I would swaddle him in his blanket, gently rock him and stroke his hair. When his eyes started to slowly close, his breathing deepened into a contented rhythm and a small smile replaced the stressed features, there was peace and rest. That peaceful state, the look of utter contentment, meant he was at rest and, in my heart, I also found rest. For what seemed like hours, I watched as he rested in my arms and was always amazed at the trust he had in me in his time of distress and in his time of rest.

Cleland B. McAfee wrote a beautiful song in 1903 called “Near to the Heart of God”:

There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God;
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.

O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
Sent from the heart of God;
Hold us, who wait before Thee,
Near to the heart of God.

We have just come through a season of seclusion and separation. The darkness has shifted and the light of hope now shines ever brighter. Through it all, one thing remained constant; He was with us all the way. God’s message for us all during this past year and a half; rest in Me.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Ps 46:1-3 NLT

Let us all take time to rest in His Word, in His promise. Let us find peace and safety in His promise. As the protocols change, the restrictions are lifted and some semblance of normality prevails, peace should flow back into our lives. There is a deeper love and a deeper peace. God wraps us in His arms, swaddles us, He brings comfort to our souls and rejoices when He sees the peace in our faces as we settle into His arms. He is our perfect refuge, our infinite strength and, when the time comes, the Author of our perfect eternal rest in Glory.

This Sunday, we are grateful that we can gather with a few more people than last week. This Sunday, we are grateful that we can gather with a few more people than last week. We invite you to join us either in person at 10:30 AM Sunday or online at:

Facebook Live - https://www.facebook.com/main.ave.31

YouTube Live – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9LIkN_QTdVM6eVXEgy9QA

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Todd

www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com

 

Seek Out Rest

I have heard this over and over, in fact I have said it myself; “I need a rest from my holidays”. With the hectic pace of life and the norm of life being filled with stuff every waking moment of the day, every day of the week, it is not hard to understand that we look at our holidays as a chance to get away from the rat race and fill every moment with fun activities and events. For years, we would make plans for a getaway, and it was all about getting to the location and making sure we saw everything we could. If we were awake sixteen hours, we could jam in eighteen hours of “stuff” to enjoy the vacation. Something happened a few years ago when we went to Jamaica for the wedding of my son and daughter-in-law, we actually relaxed and enjoyed our time with family and friends. We had four things planned; a rehearsal, a wedding, a reception and scuba diving at Montego Bay. Outside those set times, we did something we rarely ever did; we relaxed. We got up when we woke up, we ate when we were hungry, we walked around, swam, laid on the beach, napped, swam and just plain out relaxed. When we returned to Canada, we were refreshed and renewed. Last year, Natalie and I, along with some other friends, went for a week of camping and we did the same thing; we got up when we woke up, we ate when we were hungry, we spent time together and we spent time alone. When it was all done, we parked the RV in the yard and prepared to go back to work. Again, we were relaxed and refreshed and at peace.

Too often we pack each and every day to the max and beyond. We stress over missed timelines, things get forgotten and those events that we should place high on the priority list are often pushed down to the bottom of the sequence or are rescheduled for the next day or even the next week. Family and faith are generally the casualties of over booking both on a daily basis and, I fear, during those times when we should be focusing on relaxing with the family on a well-earned holiday. I will admit that I have been guilty of cheating my holiday by going into work just to answer an email or attend a quick meeting. I cheat three groups or people in all this. Those I work with who will not have the benefit of a refreshed and renewed member of the team are cheated, my family who see that work is more important than the family and myself for not attending properly to the wholeness of self; mind, body and spirit. Psalm 23, the Psalm of David says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” NLT. We are coming into a time of vacations and gatherings and, after coming through an intense time of stress and seclusion, I ask you to consider this; as you plan your time, purposely make time for family and faith. Take the time to be thankful for that which He has provided in you life and bask in the peace and renewal that God provides. Not only will you be better for it but those around you will also benefit immeasurably by your new strength.

This Sunday, we welcome the fact that we can gather with a few more people than two weeks ago and anticipate further relaxation of gathering restrictions the following week. We invite you to join us in person at 10:30 AM Sunday or online at:

Facebook Live - https://www.facebook.com/main.ave.31

YouTube Live – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs9LIkN_QTdVM6eVXEgy9QA

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Todd

www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca