Peter’s Picks

 The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Full Life’ 

Day 1: John 10:9, 10 – “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Day 2: Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Day 3: 1 Timothy 6:17-19 – “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

Day 4: 1 John 4:7-9 – “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”

Day 5: Ephesians 3:17-20 – “... I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

Day 6: Psalm 5:11, 12 – “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”

Day 7: Isaiah 12:2, 3 – “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

God On My Terms

If you have watched the services over the past few weeks, you may have heard the frustration in my voice and may have even heard my numerous apologies for being rather testy of late. The biggest reason, as far as I can tell, is that I have taken on way too much and think that I am fully able, on my own, to fulfill the obligations set before me. This leads to stress which, in turn, leads to frustration in self and, in the majority of cases, leads to the great snap. There just seems so much to do and so little time to accomplish it that it all needs to fit into that nice organized box which I made and I put the parameters in place by which it will be judged upon completion. This is life on my terms and by my standards. Now, many will wonder “what is wrong with that”, so let me throw this out there; there is more to life than making sure everything around us is perfect. There is only one perfection in life and I am not it.

I will be the first to admit that when life starts getting tight and stressful, I am the first one to take back the reigns and steer the cart in the right direction, my direction. No one else is better qualified to steer this rig down the road. This is a fallacy and a selfish point of view. When this kind of stinkin’ thinkin’ starts to settle in, those around us start to worry. As we travel down the path we have set and ignore or even forget the guidance of the Lord, we become very much alone. Walls go up, few, if any, is qualified to offer advice and our life falls off the right path and enters down a path less traveled, a road that only one person knows the route.

Faith on my terms. I remember that time from long ago. If I feel like helping out, I may, depending on the day. It’s a beautiful day out, I think I am going to skip out on church today and watch hockey on the tube. They won’t miss me at another prayer meeting. God knows me, we are connected and I tell Him what my needs are all the time. Consider this; life in Christ is not about self but  rather about dying to self and seeking out the richness of family and relationship with God the Father as the head of this family. He wants us to be together, love on one another and care for each other’s needs. This is the message; this should be our passion.

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 is not about getting God to live life on our terms but rather us seeking out His will for out lives and for us to live life on His terms. His terms are simple and the way is that of peace and love.

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. Luke 22:40-44 NLT

Jesus knelt before the Father in prayer and asked that His will be done, not mine. That should be out plea to the Father in Heaven day in and day out. Lord help me to become a reflection of your love and compassion while I draw breath on this earth.

We are fast approaching Easter and will be focusing on His Message of Salvation through the sacrifice of the Messiah on the cross. We invite you to join us this Sunday either in person or watch online at 10:30 AM.

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We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Todd

www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com

Living Dynamically In The Spirit

A question to ponder. Have you ever gotten to a place in your life where there just seems to be no way out? I mean you have been beat up physically or mentally to the point where there just seems to be no more gas in the tank. Your spiritual determination is waning, and the only thing still left is a chance that you can muster up one more bit of personal strength to throw up that final hail mary. I have probably related this story a hundred times, but I still remember coming home from school after spending another day getting physically and mentally beat up. It was a normal day in Junior High where I was ducking elbows, taking shots in the arm, getting charlie horses while standing in line for milk at lunch and getting called all sorts of names just because I was the new guy in school. What made it even tougher, I was a farm kid in the city and was taught to control my temper and not let it get the best of me. This one day, I sat on my grandmother’s lap bawling my eyes out and she just rocked my in the rocking chair and sang “Jesus Loves Me” over and over. This was the lowest of low in my life and yet, it was a moment of great joy because this was the day the Holy Spirit spoke to me and put me at ease. I did not realize it at the time, but this was the call upon my life. I told grandma that one day I would be a preacher and she just said, “I know”. It took 24 years of rather questionable living, but it finally happened.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9Stand firm against him and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So, after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. All power to him forever! Amen. 1 Peter 5:6-11 NLT

We all have our times of suffering, but the Holy Spirit is with us all the way and in Him we can stand on a firm foundation. We can live dynamically in the Spirit, and we will make a huge difference in a world that, at times, seems bent on self-destruction and violence. God has a plan; it is a perfect plan, and we can do all things in Him who protects and preserves us.

This Sunday, we will dig into 1 Peter 5 and examine life lived dynamically in the Holy Spirit. For those who wish to know more about Dynamic Living, we invite you to join us either in person or watch online at 10:30 AM.

Facebook Live - Main AveFellowship Facebook

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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 

‘God Clearly Seen, Just Look’ 

Day 1: Job 12:7-10 – “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

Day 2: Psalm 95:4, 5 – “In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.”

Day 3: Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Day 4: Psalm 104:24, 25 – “How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number - living things both large and small.”

Day 5: Psalm 8:3, 4 – “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”

Day 6: Romans 1:20 – “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”

Day 7: Nehemiah 9:6 – “You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

 

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘Good News in Tough Times’ 

Day 1: Exodus 15:2, 3 – “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name.”

Day 2: 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 3: Psalm 27:1, 2 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.”

Day 4: Psalm 28:7, 8 – “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. The Lord is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.”

Day 5: Psalm 32:7 – “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

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: Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Living Dynamically in Today’s Society

This Sunday will be the last in our Living Dynamically Series and, while Rev. Reeder’s series ended on our End Times service, I was led to bring one more to the series. What is it to live dynamically in our society today? We touched on this a little bit on Sunday when I asked “How does the community look at us when we declare we are Christian?” Do they guard their words? Do they find ways to walk away rather than get into a conversation about the Bible? Do they act differently, talk differently or look at you differently? Here is a tough one to hear; “Really, I would never have guessed!”

Living dynamically for Christ in our society, means not backing down from our conviction to lead a Christ-like life, regardless of what the world thinks. Being a follower of Christ is not a job but rather a calling and He has called every single one of us to follow Him. He created us to have fellowship with Him!  Do you want to know what the most frustrating thing about being a member of the clergy is, in my opinion? It has nothing to do with numbers, it has nothing to do with counting converts. For me, it is simply this; finding the best way to communicate to the world that we are all God’s creation and He wants only the best for each and every one of us. This is where I put it out to everyone, we are His and He is with us all the time. Name it and claim it, that is name Him as Lord and Saviour and claim His love and peace in your life. It has absolutely nothing to do with money, wealth or power but rather peace, joy and grace. Live dynamically in His love, in His grace and you will find perfect peace and those around you will be impacted. There are those out there who will deny this, but I ask you; have they given it their all?

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Heb 4:12-13 NLT

Transparency in living is the key. God knows our inner most thoughts, He knows our very essence. We cannot, should not, think we can deceive Him. As we live before Him, so should we live in front of our family, friends and neighbours. It is time to live dynamically in His Light for we are accountable to our Creator in Heaven. Let His Light Shine.

This week, we finish the series of Dynamic Living in End Times with Pastor Todd. For those who wish to know more about Dynamic Living, we invite you to join us either in person or watch online at 10:30 AM.

Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship Facebook

YouTube Live – You Tube

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Todd

www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com

What's In A Prayer?

This past week I saw statement by an atheist, or atheist organization that said this. ”Prayer is only a demonstration of doubt in the power of God”. As I took a few minutes to allow my initial reaction to settle down, I actually chuckled inside, as I thought it quite odd that an atheist acknowledged the very God they don’t believe in. Perhaps it was just someone who really wanted prayer for a situation, or someone who was wanting to get a reaction. Either way, the statement gave me this message.

For me, prayer is an intimate conversation between us and God. Period. It is a total vocal reliance on the power of our creator. It tells Him that through everything, good and bad, that we trust Him. We either do or we do not, as there is no in between. Prayer is a deep communication of our needs, and yes, our wants. God listens to every word, and to every heart for sincerity and from there on takes the lead. He grants, or He does not. It is not immediate in most cases, which can lead us to question or doubt God. That’s our human reaction as these days we want instant gratification and results. I don’t mean to burst anyone’s bubble, but that is how God works. We must be reminded that He is not the mean old man in the sky, like written about in the Old Testament. That understanding changed when Jesus made a new covenant as told in the New Testament. Yet we all must have a reverence for Him as our Father. God does not play with us like a pet with a toy, rather He waits for us to realize how perfect a Heaven He has for us if we want it.

Prayer is a link to the promise of an eternity of peace and love. It gives the believer (you and me) a hope for something far greater than we can imagine. God asks only that we truly believe in His son Jesus, as written in John 3:16. When we read this scripture with a clean heart, we cast out any doubt whatsoever. Prayer is not doubting the power of God, rather it is an outward demonstration of our belief in His power. We pray for healing. We pray for recovery. We pray for health. We pray for others, and yes, we can even pray for ourselves.  Don’t ever allow anyone to try and convince you otherwise. Those of you who have ever fervently prayed for anything, know that you always feel better afterward. Why? I suggest it is because you know in your heart that God was listening and will answer in a way that will always amaze you.

These recent weeks of watching the news has made a lot of us wonder about the future of our planet. The Russian invasion of a sovereign country like Ukraine is unfathomable. Yet, I see thousands of people all around the world kneeling wherever and praying for peace. Will God answer? I believe He will. Do I say that because I am in the safety and security of my home here in Canada? No. Those who read this should feel blessed that God placed us where He did in times like this. As someone who’s Ukrainian grandfather fled the same thing in the first world war, I ache inside thinking that this could happen today. My bloodline to Ukraine ended with the elimination of my ancestors on my grandfather’s side, yet I am sickened by the way one man has caused terror to so many for personal gain. You, me and everyone else who believes in God, must be praying daily that He will somehow cause a change and have this end. Prayer is a powerful weapon, so let’s us it for good. Pray for Ukraine, pray for each other, pray for ourselves, and pray for our planet. What’s in a prayer anyway? The same power force as it was when Jesus prayed to the Father when He was on the cross, with no hint of doubt in sight.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks 

‘A Healthy Heart Condition’ 

Day 1: Proverbs 3:3, 4 – “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”

Day 2: Proverbs 27:19 – “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”

Day 3: 1 Peter 3:3, 4 – “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 

Day 4: Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Day 5: Proverbs 17:22 – “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Day 6: Proverbs 3:1, 2 – “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.”

Day 7: Proverbs 4:20-23 – “My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” 

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Wednesday Prayer

 We want Jesus to shine in us in this dark time.

Today, as we pause to pray, we focus 

our thoughts on Ukraine.

Please pray for:

- our Ukrainian pastors - as they serve and support their families, congregants and neighbours. Pastors Volodomyr, Andriy, Serghii, Nabil and Tolik. 

- the men who have had to leave their families at the borders and remain in Ukraine

- mothers, who are travelling with their children and those who are pregnant - for protection as they travel and safety for those giving birth. Pray for the mothers who don’t have answers to their  children’s questions right now.

It Was The Best of Times, It Was The End of Times

What truly drives me up the wall is when people come up and ask “Do you think we are living in the end times?” My answer is YES!! Of course, we are living in the end times. We started living in the end times the second we were told that Christ was coming back, in the end time. It will be the end of the world as we know it and the beginning of the new life with the Creator. The next push back comes in when they say “No, no, I mean will the world end in our lifetime?” Let me think about this for a moment; “I have NO sweet clue, in fact no one has any idea except for the Lord Almighty. Do I look like the Creator of all the Universe?” So, let’s wrap our head around this for a moment; the second we are born is the moment we start to die. We all have a shelf life on this earth, in fact there are those who may even say we have a best before date.

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!

“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 

You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!” Mark 13:32-37 NLT

This is not a message of condemnation, it is a heads up, like preventative measures. Brush your teeth to prevent tooth decay, take your vitamins to ward off ailments, believe and follow Jesus Christ to ensure the end of times don’t catch you napping. As a Pastor, all I can do is communicate the Message. There are so many out there who would have you believe they know the date and time, they have been doing it for eons but I say this; be prepared today, live dynamically in Christ and you will not live in fear but rather in joy and happiness. You need not ask when but rather rejoice in the promise of eternity. Keep an eye out but do so with expectation of the best things to come, the best life to live. There is absolutely no reason we should not live in dynamic joy. Life, on earth, is short but what is to come is eternal, so while we are here, dance like no one is looking.

This week, we continue to explore the series of Dynamic Living in End Times with Pastor Todd. For those who wish to know more about Dynamic Living, we invite you to join us either in person or watch online at 10:30 AM.

Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship Facebook

YouTube Live – You Tube

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Blessings,

Pastor Todd

www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.com

Global Week of Prayer Day 7

 

USA/CANADA REGION     PRAISES Praise God for the 27 missionaries that were sent from the USA/Canada Region from 16 districts throughout 2021. We are thankful that the called are still answering and going even in the midst of uncertain times. Praise God for the virtual Work & Witness Conference that took place in late 2021. 600 participants registered, and over 80 site coordinators participated with representation from every region. In the last two years while we have been unable to travel internationally, preparations have been made for the future.        REQUESTS Pray for the families and communities of those who have passed away from Covid-19, including local and district NMI leaders in the United States and Canada. Pray that the church continues to reflect the diversity of our nations, as we resource all local churches on the region for Kingdom building. Join the USA/Canada Region in the Half-Million Mobilization prayer initiative through June of 2022 as we pray for protection, direction, and revelation.       STORY OF PRAISE In June of 2021, Encuentro Missions had three sites for their teams to serve across the USA/Canada Region: Indianapolis, Appalachia, and South Texas. These intergenerational teams from all over the region came together to serve local communities through VBS, sports camps, construction, medical clinics, and community outreach and relationship building. In 2021, the teams worked on 35 projects across the three sites with around 700 participants.        Since 1966, Encuentro has facilitated trips in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Peru, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. Over 250,000 students and adults have participated, resulting in more than 2 million children and adults hearing the Gospel message through Encuentro events. Please be praying as Encuentro returns to Appalachia and Puerto Rico in the summer of 2022.

 

Global Week of Prayer Day 6

 

SOUTH AMERICA REGION     PRAISES We praise God for the riverboat project in the Peruvian Amazon. Five boats were built with the purpose of optimizing missionary and evangelistic work, planting new works, and strengthening the churches of the Loreto District.     We praise God that in the midst of the pandemic, many have responded to the missionary and pastoral call and have begun to prepare. During the last year, 17 candidates were approved as missionaries, and some of them have already been sent.   In the midst of increased virtual meetings, God has given us the tools to better serve on digital platforms. We thank God for ProduSam, a production team that has guided the virtual regional conferences with excellence.   We praise God for the new churches, preaching points, and new small groups in the midst of a pandemic.          REQUESTS For the pastoral body and missionaries, who were hit by the Covid-19 crisis. 46 pastors passed into eternity as of October 2021, and many were affected. We pray for emotional health, physical recovery, spiritual renewal, and provision. For the plans of our region to continue expanding the Kingdom of God in pioneer areas of the ten countries on the region. Pray for missionaries and pastors who have been challenged to reach these new areas. For regional training initiatives: IWin, which seeks to train leaders, and Disciple Academy (ACADi), which provides training in local church ministries. We pray for the leaders who are serving today and for those who will be discovered, trained, and sent in the coming months in the different ministries of our region.      STORY OF PRAISE Months before the pandemic, Paraguayan leaders met to set goals in church planting. Expectations were high; several missionary families joined the challenge, and together with the national leadership, they committed themselves. Soon after, the pandemic arrived and the outlook was not hopeful. However, this team began to see the hand of God. The church buildings were closed, but the pastors and missionaries continued preaching, visiting, ministering, opening new preaching points, and new small groups. The results have been 11 churches opening their doors for the community in the midst of the pandemic. To God be the glory!