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Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Receive His Joy’ 

Day 1: Luke 2:10, 11 – “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’”

Day 2: Galatians 5:22, 23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Day 3: Zephaniah 3:17 – “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” 

Day 4: Psalm 32:1, 2 – “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”

Day 5: Romans 5:1, 2 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

Day 6: Isaiah 61:10 – “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Day 7: 1 Peter 1:8, 9 – “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

 

New Start

Consider what the birth of the Messiah means for the people of this planet. There are the effects for those at the time and then there is the impact on us all today. We talked about this a bit last week when we looked at the levels of governance of the Jewish people. There were the rules of the Caesar through the levels of government, administered by the governors and military. Add to this the rules of the Jewish hierarchy and the leadership under the king, in this case, King Herod. Then there was the rules and regulations of the priesthood, the Mitzvah, 613 Commandments of Jewish faith, along with the laws, traditions, and edicts of the faith community. There were some delicate dances performed in the administration of the nation by all levels of government and those most impacted by all these rules, by all the bureaucracy; the common people. So many rules, so much stress and, for many, little hope. At the bottom of the hierarchy were the sinners, the infirmed, children, women, shepherds, and those who were not Jews, just to name a few.  So, when you are living in a segment of society where there is little hope for any appreciation, equality or forgiveness, life can be rather depressing or even meaningless.

Then one night, the angels of the Lord came to the shepherds to declare the arrival of the Messiah, God with us. He came to bring great tidings of joy, hope and peace. Jesus came to grant all a new start. When we dig into the Holy Word, we find that Christ came to forgive and not condemn. So many of the rules and regulations by the many levels of governance were based on the things that were not allowed and were punishable by incarceration and, in some cases, execution. Our Lord, Emmanuel, came to give us a direction, a pathway to a peaceful and joyful life filled with hope rather than fear. Love God with absolutely every fiber of your being and love those around you fully. Jesus said when you pray, give forgiveness as you ask the Lord to forgive you. Love as God loves, forgive as God forgives, claim as much of the Grace of God as He is willing to provide. How much Grace does He have for each of us? Who really knows because His love for us is without end.

So where is the hope for us today? Jesus came for us all. Look back into the Scripture for examples. Jesus walked among the sinners, healed the sick, dined with thieves (tax collectors), defended prostitutes and blessed the black sheep (Samaritans). Christ sent the Disciples into the nations to minister to all, Jews and Gentiles alike. When the Son of God came, He did so with a purpose in mind; to save and to offer a new beginning. When Scripture talks of being born again, it is not that we return to the womb to start over but rather that we are offered the opportunity to die to our past and be reborn in His love, forgiven by His Grace and we live with a hope for an eternity in Glory with our Creator. Yes, we are under the law of mankind in our daily lives when it comes to daily living and, yes, some of those laws are rather hard to rally behind, but the hope of our future is in the two commandments of God; Love the Lord Almighty and love each other as yourself. Embrace what Jesus has provided each and everyone of us, claim victory over the sins of your past by declaring Christ as Saviour, ask Him for forgiveness, and begin life anew in His love and by His Grace. Happy New Year and Happy New Beginning!

This week we celebrate the new beginnings in a new year at 10:30 AM. We invite you to join us either in person or watch us online.

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

 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Fægen Hāligdæg!

I don’t mean to start an argument or be seen as uncaring of other’s right to enjoy this time of year in their own way so I will simply wish you all a Fægen Hāligdæg! Perhaps I could wish you a Kala Christougena or Feliz Navidad? Are you perhaps awaiting a joyous “Seasons Greetings”? So many people get so easily offended by these words and find ways to either avoid or, in the cases of some businesses that wish not to offend any particular group, mandate that their employees avoid certain phrases. I recall a memo that came down from the higher echelon when I worked in retail that stated “please inform your store managers that the staff should refrain from wishing our customers a Merry Christmas as some of our customers are offended by it.” For me, I was offended by the fact they expected us to deny our right to freedom of expression because of possible lost sales. I could go down this road for a long time but that is not the purpose of this article. I am here to wish all a Fægen Hāligdæg! It is pronounced Faegen Haligday or Happy Holiday. In Old English, this literally means Happy Holy Day. How many people get up in arms about being forced to say Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas? Seriously, when we say Happy Holidays, we are wishing others a blessing on a Holy Day. What is the Holy Day in December? For Christians, it is Christmas, the celebration of the birth of the Messiah. Bring on Happy Holidays!!!

The other term that is a safe, non-religious declaration is Season’s Greetings. Let’s tear this one apart for a moment. To use this term is to declare to another that you wish the other person to enjoy the celebration of this particular time of year. This is the time of year when people gather to share in the love, peace and joy of relationship. We gather together when we can, break bread with each other, rejoice with old and new friends alike and share mementos of our appreciation of each other through gift giving. Now, the reason for the season is a celebration of the birth of the Messiah, the Saviour, the Son of God. God sent His Son for us all because He loves us and wants us to find and grow in relationship with Him.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 NLT

This is the spirit of the season in my opinion and when we ask a blessing upon others by greeting each other in this manner, are we declaring to others that we wish them love, peace and joy? Think about it for a moment. I declare to you a greeting in love, peace and joy. The name of that love is Christ for He is love and He is the reason for the joy of the season. So consider this, whether we declare Happy Holy Days, Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, Season’s Greetings or Merry Christmas, let us do so in the Spirit of the Season, with joyous hearts, love for all those around us and let’s strive to make this more than a blip on the calendar in December. Let us declare the love, joy and peace throughout the year for all those around us

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:11-12 NLT

This week we celebrate the birth of the Messiah at 6:30 PM on Dec 24th and new beginnings on Dec 26th at 10:30 AM. We invite you to join us either in person or watch us online.

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

Saturday, December 18, 2021

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Need Comfort?’ 

Day 1: 2 Corinthians 1:3 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort…”

Day 2: John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Day 3: Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” 

Day 4: Psalm 119:76 – “May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.”

Day 5: Psalm 9:9-10 – “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Day 6: Psalm 62:1-2 – “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

Day 7: Matthew 11:28-30 – “‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

 

Thursday, December 16, 2021

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Are You God’s Hands?’ 

Day 1: James 2:14-17 – “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Day 2: Philippians 2:3, 4 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Day 3: Romans 12:13 – “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” 

Day 4: Proverbs 3:27, 28 – “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’ - when you already have it with you.”

Day 5: 1 John 3:17, 18 – “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

Day 6: Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Day 7: Proverbs 19:17 – “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation 

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

What Is True Might?

When I was younger and we were on the farm, I remember a time when this guy came out from the city to load up some straw bales to take back with him. This guy was huge, weightlifter huge before the time of Arnold and Lou. Dad was in great shape, but this guy had some pounds on him. If an outsider was to take bets on who could load the truck faster with less sweat, I am sure that most would go with the bodybuilder rather than the skinny farmer. Now, this guy was chucking the bales around pretty good, launching them onto the truck with relative ease and rather quickly but it didn’t take long to realize that the initial fervour was going to wane with time. You see, we can look at the size and build and make an assumption based on preconceived notions but when it comes right down to it, there is more to true strength than looks. This guy did reps in the gym working in a specific pattern to build the muscles up over a specific time but what he had failed to do was work on his endurance. Dad, on the other hand, threw these bales around every day plus he loaded buckets with chop and carried them the length of the barn every morning and night. Dad lifted gates into place, shoved pigs and cows out of the way, cut boards with a handsaw, pounded nails, fixed fences and basically had a twelve-hour workout every single day. Dad had stamina, an inner strength that many could have missed if they were looking for a stereotypical “strong man”.

There are many people out there whom I greatly admire because of their strength. There are those who are not afraid to show their feelings rather than hide behind a façade, those who show strength in their transparency, the ones who are not too proud to admit when they are wrong or even lost and need directions. Some of my greatest mentors are the first to go to prayer, acknowledge the Saviour, Jesus Christ, as Lord and lean upon the Spirit for guidance and strength.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Eph 3:14-19

Christ did not come as a giant king on a white stallion ready to destroy all who opposed the Jewish nation but rather, He came to show the way in a very different manner. He brought the love and peace of God in a tiny, vulnerable package. His might was in the stamina, His coming is still celebrated today. He came to show the way to live a wonderful life wrapped in the power of the Spirit. His love for us is far greater than we will ever realize while we walk this earth but when we meet in glory, the fullness of His agape (love) will be revealed completely. He is in this for the long haul and those who claim the fullness of grace will share in the joy now and forever. Do not be fooled by the false might of those of the world for their power is fleeting, instead put your faith in the King of the universe.

This week we celebrate the Might of Christmas, week four of Advent. We invite you to join us this Sunday either in person or watch us online at 10:30 AM.

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

 

Thursday, December 9, 2021

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Have You Received God’s Gifts?’ 

Day 1: Romans 6:23 - SALVATION – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Day 2: Ephesians 2:8 - GRACE – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” 

Day 3: Romans 8:38,39 - LOVE – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Day 4: 1 Corinthians 12:28 - MINISTRY – “And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.”

Day 5: 1 Peter 4:10, 11 - SERVICE – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

Day 6: Acts 2:38 - TEACHER – “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”

Day 7: James 1:17 - ABUNDANCE – “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation 

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Majesty

We are coming into the third week of Advent and what a week this is to celebrate. We have been using a series that Rev Reeder introduced to us a month ago and it has been such an eyeopener. Paul’s letters to the churches throughout the Mediterranean served as both encouragement and warning for those new to the faith family but what truly amazes me is how relevant they are today. Consider this, the world is slowly losing touch with the majesty of the Creator. He is being reduced to a “once a week” visit, if that, and the fear of His majesty is getting so watered down that the urgency to seek Him out is falling down most people’s priority list. This past Sunday, we looked at the Ministry of Christmas and really drilled down to the foundation of faith, that being, we are more than observers of the majesty of Christ but rather are called to be ministers of the Word. Many will ask “what do we say?” Consider seeking it out in His Word!

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

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. Eph 2:14-21

His majesty has overcome the world and His Word is the perfect place to start sharing from. Don’t water it down because He who created the universe has empowered the faithful to speak through the power of the Holy Spirit. One can only wonder if Jack Hayford had this passage in mind when he wrote “Majesty”.

Majesty, worship His Majesty.
Unto Jesus be all glory, honour and praise!
Majesty, Kingdom Authority,
Flow from His throne, unto His own
His anthem raise!

This week we celebrate the Majesty of Christmas, week three of Advent, with Rev Bob Hillock. We invite you to join us this Sunday either in person or watch us online at 10:30 AM.

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

Monday, December 6, 2021

Missing You

This past Sunday, my wife and I enjoyed a visit with my wife’s mom. She fell and broke her hip a few months ago. Between her recovery, rehabilitation, and covid restrictions, I had not been able to see her in person for quite a while. My wife has been able to make frequent visits, but I wasn’t. The rules have only recently changed to allow more visiting. As we entered her room, she lit right up and offered me the biggest hug ever. In an instant, she went from lying alone in her bed, to sitting up enjoying a nice cup of tea and conversation. Her voice absolutely lit up the room as we caught up on family things and general chit chat. It was so good to spend some time with her, to hear her voice and see her face in the flesh. That in itself was a healing moment. My point is this. We never know or realize just how much we miss someone until they’re not in your immediate life for a while. The visit was as good for me, as it was for her. My heart was warmed just by being there with my wife and her mom.

As we drove home, I could not help but draw the comparison to our church family, and to Jesus. Since early 2020 when Covid-19 heated up, our church body has not been able to safely meet in person for services. As we meet in a rented space, the past and present restrictions keep our church family separated in the flesh. Our congregation is elderly, so we continue to be diligent in keeping them safe. Our pastor has adapted well to offering on-line sermons and is in constant contact, at least by phone with our friends. Just like my mother-in-law, we miss being together in person, yet we stay connected. We do miss each other and wait patiently for the day when we can meet with a better degree of safety.

Now, not gathering for service has created a small disconnect, but our thread that binds us together is Jesus. We may be apart from our friends right now, but we have never been separated from Him or His presence. We need only open our eyes and draw our first breath to realize He is with us. When each day dawns, take a moment, and offer up a little prayer of thanks for Him giving us one more day. The fact that we have not been able to gather for church, has done nothing to diminish His attention to our lives and circumstances. With Jesus, there are no Covid restrictions, threat, or barriers. He gives all of us at least two things to hang onto these days. First, He gives us faith in His healing power, but not blind faith. He also gives us wisdom to follow the advice of our doctors, scientists, and leaders, both pastoral and government. Some may not agree these days with some of these things, but I will follow His lead. Will He protect me? Yes, but He also expects me to avoid throwing caution to the wind and to be responsible for myself, my family and friends, and my neighbors. He has sent us doctors, and He has given them the knowledge of how to look after us. Let us all just hang in there for a while longer. Let us look out for one another, and not be divided by difference of opinion.

Christmas is quickly approaching, and we should be reminded that Jesus came as an innocent child to be the one who would save us all. He came at a time of great division, fear, darkness and uncertainty. Covid has set the earth into some of the same, so look to the mountains for help. (Psalm 121). Let’s be our brothers’ & sisters’ keepers. Let’s not lose our connection with common sense and courtesy. Instead, let’s look forward to this next year where we can hopefully remove restriction of movement, restriction of gathering in person for church, and fear of each other as we pass in the grocery aisle.

Keep connecting in any way you can, keep Christ close to your heart, and keep believing that we will all get through this together. Keep missing each other so we can all enjoy a cup of tea and a hug when this is over.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry