Keep the Faith

A man was in a place where the word of God was considered to be illegal yet he chose to be a faithful to his Lord and Master. His bible was never hidden because Christ said that a candle placed under a basket will not shine its light into the world. He also prayed throughout the day for those around him and many were not of faith yet he prayed for their safety and health. Through it all he remained faithful but not rebellious to the ruling power of the land. One day, the local authorities came by to collect him and his possessions and the man was put into jail without judgement from the courts. Weeks went by and he finally had his day in court where he was found guilty of his crime – blasphemy against their god and beliefs. They decided he would be imprisoned without chance of parole and would live out his days toiling in a work camp. Had he denied his God, he would have gotten off easier but he kept the faith.

Could you do this? When the world comes against you and speaks against you, would you stand firm in your belief and take the consequences? I would certainly try my best and call upon my God for strength through it all but until I am in the situation, I am not sure. Stephen, surrounded by the Pharisees and the Jewish mob, was about to die by stoning yet he sermonized hoping that his final seed words would find fertile soil in the heart of even one person. Saul (later known as Paul) was there, holding the jackets of those who killed him. Daniel threw open the doors of his home to pray to God throughout the day and those who were seeking to destroy Daniel deceived the king, Darius, into preparing an edict that would see Daniel thrown to the lions. Daniel did not deny the Lord and continued to pray to God. He kept the faith and the Lord saved him from death in the den.

Jesus, facing death at the hands of the chosen people of God, did not deny who He was and stayed the course knowing full well His end was going to be painful and humiliating. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42 NIV

This Sunday, we look at the time leading up to the return of Christ to Jerusalem and the Passion Week. Join us online at www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca or live on Facebook tomorrow at around 11:00 AM Mountain Time on my page (https://www.facebook.com/todd.macdonald.3158).

Shalom

Pastor Todd

Ask, When, Rather Than, Why

When we keep our eyes peeled, and our ears to the ground, we are most likely to recognize when God asks us to be in His service. We have been called in the most unlikely of times to step out of our comfort zone, to be His hands and feet on the ground. You could be in worship music ministry and be offered and invitation to use your gift to spread His word. Where ever it is, we should not hesitate and ask, why, rather we should simply ask, when. If you are asked to pray, or simply bring an encouraging word to someone, ask, when, not why.

God has placed in all of us a gift. We may not recognize that we have it, yet He always chooses the perfect timing to call on each of us to share. He will provide the ways and means to have us spread His message of the Gospel to all the nations of the earth. We are told this in Mark16:15 NCV, when  Jesus said to His followers, ”Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.” We are ordinary people, being asked and encouraged to do the very same thing today. Methods, and mediums may, and will vary. It may be an intimate one on one, or perhaps the tool of modern day social network, yet the message, His message, never changes.

So, when you attend a church service, come expecting. Expect to be open to the message that the worship team, speaker, or even Holy Spirit has prepared. Come, with all of your brokenness, with your fears, with your prayers, and with your victories. Bring all of these, and be prepared to have the power of God, which has been placed inside you, brought up to be put into service. Jesus will speak to you, instruct you, carry you, and use you in ways you cannot imagine.  He will raise you up though music, through word, through prayer, and through hope. He will disagree with you when you say you have nothing to offer. He will remind you daily of just how close He is to you and your life. He will show favor to each of us when we remain humble before Him, ready to serve.  He will raise us high when we simply ask, when, rather than why.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Week at a Glance

Week At A Glance March 27 – Apr 2 2017

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Monday

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday - Friday

Church Office Closed      - Saturday

Church Service                - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday

Special Events

Quad Fellowship                           - Call Pastor Todd for details

Safety Meeting at

Little Country Cappuccino           - 9:00 AM Wednesday

Lady’s Bible Study                       - 1:00 PM Wednesday

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose    - 2:00 PM Wednesday

Men’s Leadership Study               - 8:00 AM Thursday

Men’s Coffee Fellowship              - 9:00 AM Thursday

Church Service                              - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday

Care Home Services - MVSH       - Not On Scheduled this week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents.

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘Hurting?’

Day 1: Psalm 116:1, 2 – “I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!”

Day 2: Psalm 119:49, 50 – “Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles. "

Day 3: Psalm 46:1 – “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

Day 4: 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.”

Day 5: Deuteronomy 31:8 – “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Day 6: Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”

Day 7: Psalm 27:13, 14 – “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

When One Suffers, We All Suffer

How amazing it is to be so connected to our loved ones that when one is hurting, we all hurt. When the bond of love within a family is this strong, hearts actually ache when any one is under attack. We as parents will never stop worrying about our children, regardless of how old they become. Their independence, and miles from us in the physical will never lessen the concern we carry about their well-being and health. There will be times when the human fear and protective nature will cause us to become ill as we cannot fix everything. We, as parents will be forced to turn our faces away in order to try and lessen the hurt of seeing our children endure a painful situation. We are all equal in our helplessness when we do not have control.

It is times like these where we must lean on our faith in God to fulfill His promise to always be with us. This is when we will see how that same faith that we teach our children will come full circle. The example we set for them will come out of their mouths and hearts, when they too, call on Jesus to be with them. When they ask for prayer, and for prayer warriors to sweep over them and their situations, we will know they were listening.

God the Father even had to turn His face away when His son was on the cross. Not because He was ashamed, but of love. His love was so deep, that the sight of how mankind had caused such a deep hurt to His son, Jesus, overwhelmed even His heart. The hurt that Jesus was to willingly bear by himself, to this day, is felt by all of us in His family. We humans cannot stop the hurt of a loved one. God could have stopped the hurt of His son. Jesus could have come down from the cross. Yet, He was obedient to his Father, and fully understood what He was to fulfill. He took all the hurt and sins of the world, so we, His family would be free of the suffering. My encouragement to everyone is this. Honor Jesus’ sacrifice each day by praying for each other. Teach your children to call on His name when they hurt. Will hurt be erased, maybe not, but at least we will not be alone through it all.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Monday in the Mountains

I have been asked on numerous occasions "what do you guys do on Mondays?" Have you ever looked out to the horizon and wondered what lies just beyond the next hill? On Monday mornings we load up the quads, go as far west as the road allows and then off-load the rigs and travel just over the next hill. On this day, we ended up at this rustic trappers cabin that was nestled in the trees and overlooked a beautiful meadow. We have been past this way a few times and I never knew it was there but one of the crew knew the way and guided us to this treasure. Here we took time to look around, share stories from our past and we came away a little richer for the experience.

So often we are in such a hurry to get to the next appointment or the next task that we forget to stop and share an in an experience or even share a treasure from our own lives with those around us. This day one of our group shared with us and we are richer for it.

God has shared a treasure with each of us; His Perfect Love. Jesus came to us and shared the love of God as He walked among us. Jesus was and is our greatest guide, He has shared everything with us and rejoices as we enjoy His gifts. His perfect love is with us at all times and when we stop for long enough to witness His gifts, that is when we are truly blessed.

I stand outside my home and wonder just what is over the next hill, what is on the other side of the mountain. One day, my travels will lead me to the top of the hill and I will see glory and my Father in Heaven will be there waiting for me with open arms and a new journey will begin but until then, I will share these wonderful and beautiful experiences and messages with friends and family.

May you have a wonderful and blessed week.

Be sure to watch us on live on Facebook this coming Sunday. Look for me, Todd MacDonald, on Facebook.

Shalom

Todd

Week at a Glance

Week At A Glance March 20 -26, 2017

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Monday

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday - Friday

Church Office Closed      - Saturday

Church Service                - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday

Special Events

Quad Fellowship                           - Call Pastor Todd for details

Safety Meeting at

Little Country Cappuccino            - 9:00 AM Wednesday

Lady’s Bible Study                        - 1:00 PM Wednesday

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose     - 2:00 PM Wednesday

Men’s Leadership Study                - 8:00 AM Thursday

Men’s Coffee Fellowship               - 9:00 AM Thursday

Church Service                               - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday

Fellowship Feast                             - 12:00 PM Sunday

Care Home Services - MVSH        - 1:30 PM - Sunday

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents.

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘How Big is God?’

Day 1: Jeremiah 23:24 – “’Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?’ says the Lord.”

Day 2: Psalm 147:4, 5 – “He counts the stars and names each one. Our Lord is great and very powerful. There is no limit to what he knows."

Day 3: Psalm 33:6 – “The sky was made at the Lord’s command. By the breath from his mouth, he made all the stars.”

Day 4: Colossians 1:16 – “Through his power all things were made – things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen, all powers, authorities, lords, and rulers. All things were made through Christ and for Christ.”

Day 5: Isaiah 40:28 – “Surely you know. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever, who created all the world. He does not become tired or need to rest. No one can understand how great his wisdom is.”

Day 6: Jeremiah 32:17 – “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!”

Day 7: Isaiah 45:18 – “The Lord created the heavens. He is the God who formed the earth and made it. He did not want it to be empty, but he wanted life on the earth. This is what the Lord says: ‘I am the Lord. There is no other God.’”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Today, Satan Lost

Did you know that Satan lost this week? He tried to get to us, didn’t he? He did his best to attack our children, our friends, and our faith. Yet, Jesus was watching, and at just the perfect moment, He put Himself between the devil and us. This is how I know. My children and yours all had troubles this past week, and as parents, we prayed, and were prayed for. We used the most formidable weapon that God gave us, His Word. He tells us in Joshua 1:5 NIV,” No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you”. That’s His part. Our part is to believe Him, and stand on that promise.

Each week, just prior to church service, we have a time of prayer, giving thanks and praise to God, and asking for forgiveness and protection, and each week He delivers. He quilts the elements of our service together in a way that we cannot help but see His presence. He reveals to us, how He was with each one, all week. He prepares the hearts of those who are ready to join him in heaven. He stands at the bedside of the sick and injured, and is at our pastor’s side as they share His word each week. He is with the physicians who look after us, and holds the hand of us all when we bend a knee to speak to Him. With His power, He has tailor-made our suits of spiritual armor to fit us so perfectly, that we never want to remove it. Job 30:18 NIV, “In his great power God becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment”. He has given us the freewill to believe in Him, and every reason never to doubt His power.

So, now the rest is up to us. We have God’s promise that He is with us always. He sent His son Jesus to die for us, out of love. We cannot ask any more than that from a loving Father. Now we must do our part. Let’s replace self-pity with self-worthy. Replace that void in your life with the giver of life, Jesus. Do this, and tomorrow you will say, yes, today Satan lost.

Mike Shindruk

Master’s Hand Ministry

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Equality in the Master’s Eyes – The Sacrifice

If you have the strength and fortitude to be totally truthful with yourself, answer this question. If everything you own, homes, cars, boats, fancy toys, money, stocks, everything, if it were all to become absolutely and completely worthless, how would you feel? Now be honest because the only person you are fooling in this exercise will be yourself! If every piece of paper that is assigned a particular value of trade, every rock or metal that is considered to be a prized commodity or a liquid that is thought to be precious because of its rarity were to suddenly become of no value whatsoever, how would that effect your life? Once again, be perfectly honest.

The day you were born you were rich beyond belief. You had a gift that will be with you for the rest of your life and that gift is love. The day my son was born, I was forever bonded to him. He will always be my son and I will always love him more than my own life. If it were a choice to give up absolutely everything I own so that he would go on I would not even hesitate. There was, however, a time when the pursuit of riches and things overshadowed my relationships and I almost lost sight of that which was most important – relationship.

Before the final supper, Judas went to the priests and sold his relationship with Christ for thirty pieces of silver. He sat with Christ at the meal and even shared in the same bowl with Him. After the great betrayal, Judas understood that he had sold his relationship with the Master for thirty pieces of silver and he was filled with remorse. When did the relationship change? In God’s realm, gold is simply paving material and all homes will be mansions because they are just dwellings built for building relationships and not for idle grandiosity. The treasure is in the relationship and the love. When you and I were first conceived, we were loved instantly and infinitely by God.

I in them and You in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. John 17:23

Do not sell your relationship with God for the riches of mankind. We do need funds to live but remember that a relationship with the Father is of utmost importance and your relationship with friends and family is also for life. He loves each of us for who we are and not what we own.

This week we continue to delve into the equality of us all in God’s eyes. Hope to see you here. BTW, this may be the week that we broadcast the service live on Facebook so look us up and like us.

Shalom

Pastor Todd 

Week at a Glance

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Monday

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Tuesday - Friday

Church Office Closed      - Saturday

Church Service                - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday

Special Events

Quad Fellowship                          - Call Pastor Todd for details

Safety Meeting at

Little Country Cappuccino          - 9:00 AM Wednesday

Lady’s Bible Study                      - 1:00 PM Wednesday

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose   - 2:00 PM Wednesday

Men’s Leadership Study              - 8:00 AM Thursday

Men’s Coffee Fellowship             - 8:00 AM Thursday

Church Service                             - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday

Care Home Services - MVSH      - None this week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents.

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘Can I be Forgiven?’

Day 1: 1 John 1:9 – “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

Day 2: Acts 3:19 – “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away."

Day 3: Ephesians 1:7 – “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”

Day 4: Daniel 9:9 – “But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him.”

Day 5: Psalms 103:12 – “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

Day 6: Micah 7:18, 19 – “Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!”

Day 7: Colossians 1:13, 14 – “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Believing Is Seeing

A few days ago, I asked for prayers for my son Chris, who injured his back at work and was in the hospital. The response on social media was immediate, and overwhelming. Many wrote things like, praying, prayers for healing, and some actually wrote out the prayer they were sharing. This touched our son deeply, and it quite humbled and warmed my heart. I was not surprised, but am truly amazed at the care and love shown for our son. What really touched me was that many of the people have never seen or met Chris, and know him only through knowing me. I have received the same response when asking for prayers for our other son, and our daughter.

It got me thinking, wondering, and asking this question. Why is it so easy to share a prayer on social media for someone we have never seen or met, yet so difficult for our world to show the same attitude of love for Jesus, whom we’ve never seen or met? Is it because there are no photographs of Him on Face Book? Is it because we have no proven living blood relative to reference Him to? Perhaps it’s because our world has deluged us with so many distractions, and attractions that we are now talking to a computer for answers, instead of connecting with those who believe in, and know Jesus through others that walk in His shadow.

My sons, and my daughter are alive and well, with proof being their photographs and postings. They are in the hearts, lives and minds of those who know them, and know of them through my wife and me. Jesus is also alive and well. True, His physical body died, yet He lives. He lives in the hearts, lives, and minds of those of us who have never seen, yet believe. When He appeared to His followers after His resurrection, He said to Thomas in John 20:29” Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen, and yet they believed”. I give thanks and ask God’s blessing on all of those who have never seen or met my children, yet offer prayers and encouragement to them. I am also asking that those who have yet to invite Jesus into your life, and do not know Him, to do the same. Believe, and receive.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Equality In The Master’s Eyes

It is so funny how many times I have heard from others that I have God’s ear or that I have a special line to the “Big Guy”. So often people ask me to say a special prayer for their friend who is not well because, “you know, you are one of God’s guys…right?” Here is the 411 on these statements and so many more I have heard over the past 17 years of ministry; I have no more or less power than anyone else when it comes to prayer or the measure of God’s love.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:26-28 NIV

So, my question is this; have you prayed today? Have you prayed for that special friend who is in dire need of God’s healing touch? Have you prayed for that cousin who is in need of comfort from the Master? Have you helped someone to take time to pray for their own need? I am not saying that I will not pray for others but I do want others to know that we are all equal in God’s eyes.

I love the idea that God has no favourites. He loves Dr. Billy Graham just as much as He loves me, just as much as He loves Clint, the homeless guy in downtown Metrotown. Some suggest that because there are those who are better off than others, they are more blessed but we are judging God’s love by methods of mankind’s measure. God’s love is a pure and complete for we are all one in Christ. When I pray, my God, your God, is listening and when you pray, He is there, as perfectly and listening as intently as He is to anyone else. In Heaven there is no class, no first class or second class. God is there for all His children.

This Sunday we look at this and more. May you be blessed richly in His love and remember, keep on praying.

Pastor Todd

Week At A Glance – Mar 6 – Mar 12, 2017

Church Office Closed      - Monday

Church Office Open        - 9:00 PM – 1:00 PM Tuesday - Friday

Please note: Church office will be closed Wednesday until 2:15 due to meetings throughout the morning and early afternoon. Pastor Todd will be in after the GNP meeting.

Church Office Closed      - Saturday

Church Service                 - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sunday

Special Events

Monday Outdoor Adventure      - Will resume at a later date

Morning Prayer                          - 9:00 AM Tuesday

Safety Meeting at

Little Country Cappuccino        - Will resume next week

Ladies Bible Study                    - 1:00 PM Wednesday

Lady’s Craft for a Purpose        - 2:00 PM Wednesday

Alpha Program                          - 7:00 PM Wednesday (final night)

Men’s Bible Study                    - 8:00 AM Thursday

Men’s Coffee Fellowship          - 9:00 AM Thursday

Mountain View SH Services     - No Service this week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents. 

If God Says I Can…

Have you ever heard someone say this? I don’t go to church because I don’t have anything to offer, to give, to share, or that God would want. I can’t do anything. At one time or another we have all probably said or thought this. Now here’s the truth, you were wrong, well, mistaken. God is the business of enabling the willing. When you sit in the next church service,  take notice of the people around you. You will see ordinary people doing ordinary things that are extraordinary in God’s eyes. I would like to share my observations from our own Sunday services. We are a small ministry in Christ, yet we will have people who pick up our weekly bulletins, fold and present them. Others will greet at the door with a free smile. There are those who man the camera, and computer each week, and there are friends that unload and set up sound equipment for the musicians. Some help with communion, the offering, and lead pre-service prayer time.

All of these are ordinary people like you and I. I never dreamt that I would be writing this column, and the lady who is our pastor, never thought she would be one. But, God had a plan. When we say we cannot, He says “Oh yes My child, you can, and you will, because I will raise you up”. I have heard it said that He always equips the willing. This must be true, because I have seen many people transformed over the last few years. Those, including myself that said, oh I can’t, are now doing. That is the power of God. Please know that if you have a willing heart, He has a place and a purpose for you. He knows your name, your talents, and your capabilities. All He asks of you is to believe in His ability to transform you, and He will sweep in and take the wheel.

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV, says “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline”. This scripture should give all of us hope and reassurance that our place to help in God’s Kingdom is already there. We just have to step up, and step out. Perhaps now, you can say to yourself, if God says I can, then who am I to disagree?

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca