Pastor Eric's December Encouragement:
Here we are in the Advent and Christmas season when personal and family life often takes on a life of its own as shopping, baking, excitement, emotions, memories, and stress take their toll. The reason for Christmas is routinely obscured by the secularized, commercialized, culturalized version of what we now call Christmas. Even so, many of us rather enjoy the food, the family times, the church activities, the gifts, the trees. I know I do.
This is a good time to give yourself permission to carve out some time in your busy life to rest, read, and reflect on God’s Word around the Incarnation – not just the historical birth of Jesus, but the bigger picture of God sending His Son to redeem the lost and what that means for you (and your identity) as God’s dear child; and what this means for each of us to share this Good News with others. A good place to start is Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1. As you do this, keep both advents of Jesus in view - His 1st Advent to Bethlehem’s manger, to the cross, and risen from the empty tomb; and His 2nd Advent (in the near future) as Messiah, King, Ruler, and Judge.
Charles Swindoll gives some thoughtful insights:
“Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value: Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, "I love you." Give something away--anonymously. Forgive someone who has treated you wrong. Turn away wrath with a soft answer. Visit someone in a nursing home. Apologize if you were wrong. Be especially kind to someone with whom you work. Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy.” (From his devotional, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life)
This is a good time to give yourself permission to carve out some time in your busy life to rest, read, and reflect on God’s Word around the Incarnation – not just the historical birth of Jesus, but the bigger picture of God sending His Son to redeem the lost and what that means for you (and your identity) as God’s dear child; and what this means for each of us to share this Good News with others. A good place to start is Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2, John 1. As you do this, keep both advents of Jesus in view - His 1st Advent to Bethlehem’s manger, to the cross, and risen from the empty tomb; and His 2nd Advent (in the near future) as Messiah, King, Ruler, and Judge.
Charles Swindoll gives some thoughtful insights:
“Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value: Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, "I love you." Give something away--anonymously. Forgive someone who has treated you wrong. Turn away wrath with a soft answer. Visit someone in a nursing home. Apologize if you were wrong. Be especially kind to someone with whom you work. Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy.” (From his devotional, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life)
Pastor Eric's October Encouragement:
This year October 10th is both Canadian Thanksgiving and the beginning of the week-long Biblical Feast of Tabernacles/Booths (Hebrew Sukkot; on the Biblical/Hebrew/Jewish calendar). Most of us don’t have to work too hard to find plenty to be full of gratitude for. Whether in a season of great peace, plenty, and prosperity or in periods of darkness, with seemingly insurmountable physical, mental, emotional, and/or relational challenges, we are able to count our many blessings. There’s both wisdom and humour in the saying, “If you have nothing for which to be thankful, make up your mind that there’s something wrong with you.” The Psalmist knew something about having a heart of thanksgiving that speaks to us:
Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 100:3-5 ESV).
The Biblical Feast of Tabernacles/Booths (Sukkot) is a far less understood date on the calendar. Biblical references include: Leviticus 23:34–43, Deuteronomy 16:13-16, Nehemiah 8:13-18, Zechariah 14:16-19, John 7:2, 37-39. The feast commemorates the forty-year wilderness wandering of the Children of Israel during the time of Moses (3500 years ago) with Gods presence and provision; discipline and direction. Small booths (sukkah) are constructed at this time each year to remind celebrants of the temporary and portable shelters the Israelites lived in during those forty years. It is a season of great rejoicing for the fall fruit harvest. It is a prophetic picture of the final harvest ingathering, Jesus’ return as Messiah, His kingdom reign, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The ceremony includes the four species - etrog/citron; date palm (lulav); myrtle (hadasim); willow (aravot) - being waved in the four compass directions. It also includes a water libation, lighting of the temple, and the Hosanna Psalms. See the article Sukkot—The Season of Our Joy https://www.bridgesforpeace.com/sukkot-the-season-of-our-joy-3/
Taken together, these special days give us great reason for thanksgiving and rejoicing no matter what our circumstances.
Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations (Psalm 100:3-5 ESV).
The Biblical Feast of Tabernacles/Booths (Sukkot) is a far less understood date on the calendar. Biblical references include: Leviticus 23:34–43, Deuteronomy 16:13-16, Nehemiah 8:13-18, Zechariah 14:16-19, John 7:2, 37-39. The feast commemorates the forty-year wilderness wandering of the Children of Israel during the time of Moses (3500 years ago) with Gods presence and provision; discipline and direction. Small booths (sukkah) are constructed at this time each year to remind celebrants of the temporary and portable shelters the Israelites lived in during those forty years. It is a season of great rejoicing for the fall fruit harvest. It is a prophetic picture of the final harvest ingathering, Jesus’ return as Messiah, His kingdom reign, and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The ceremony includes the four species - etrog/citron; date palm (lulav); myrtle (hadasim); willow (aravot) - being waved in the four compass directions. It also includes a water libation, lighting of the temple, and the Hosanna Psalms. See the article Sukkot—The Season of Our Joy https://www.bridgesforpeace.com/sukkot-the-season-of-our-joy-3/
Taken together, these special days give us great reason for thanksgiving and rejoicing no matter what our circumstances.
Pastor Eric's September Encouragement:
With all the challenges and uncertainty of the past couple years; plus the widespread damage, loss of power, and anxiety resulting from Hurricane Fiona (and other personal crises), I would like to give a word of hope that has helped my wife Rebecca and I over the years - “Sometimes God calms the storm…sometimes He let’s the storm rage and calms His child.”
For many folks the last few years have taken their toll; some have retreated into their own smaller world; some have questioned or left their faith in God; others have chosen to stop gathering with their church family.
I invite folks who are experiencing these (and other) personal challenges and choices to take renewed hope; allow God to revive your spiritual, emotional, and relational life.
We at Good Shepherd Church are among those who truly believe in the God revealed in the Bible - the God of hope who invites all who trust in Jesus into His abundant life. This invitation is for you!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13).
We would be happy to connect with you when you are ready. May the LORD bless and keep you as you reach out to Him.
For many folks the last few years have taken their toll; some have retreated into their own smaller world; some have questioned or left their faith in God; others have chosen to stop gathering with their church family.
I invite folks who are experiencing these (and other) personal challenges and choices to take renewed hope; allow God to revive your spiritual, emotional, and relational life.
We at Good Shepherd Church are among those who truly believe in the God revealed in the Bible - the God of hope who invites all who trust in Jesus into His abundant life. This invitation is for you!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13).
We would be happy to connect with you when you are ready. May the LORD bless and keep you as you reach out to Him.