Faith

Remembering his-story

October 18, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

All this week I’ve been cleaning and tidying what I call the book room. It’s where the predominance of our books are kept, it is now also my husbands office. It’s taken a lot of work to get it to be serviceable but it’s pretty good right now. 🙂 Anyways, that’s not the point of this post eh? As I was cleaning and rearranging books I kept running into biographies of people. I was reminded of my lad’s current reading project. He’s reading through the stories of peope who have gone on before. Folks of faith like Amy Carmichael, Gladys (oh her last name is escaping me), and William Carey. He is enjoying these books so I was glad to find a few more he’ll be able to dig into. (as long as I remember where I put them!).

Today’s devotional from the Faith-Shaped Life has Mr. Hamilton reminding us of God’s call upon us to remember our history. To remember the things that God has done. We need to be about remembering his-story.

Remembering his-story Share on X

We need to remember those who have gone on before, faithful men and women who have given up their lives in order to stay true to God and his word.

Mr. Hamilton raises the question, but what do those deaths, those martyrdoms have to do with us today? We live in a society where we aren’t going to be killed for our faith. The question arises though… what does our faith call us to give up? When Christian bakers lose their livelihoods because they hold to the gospel, when businesses are threatened because of their faith stance, and so forth. Do we go with the post-modern times we live in, or … do we remember those who have gone on before and stand true to the word of God? THIS is where remembering our history and how God upholds his people matters. It helps us also to stand firm.

This ability to stand firm is what helps turn the hearts of non-believers to the Lord. When they see our faith in action, it helps them to think through what they are doing, and just maybe, to turn to the Lord. Weak-willed Christians won’t do that. Faith-filled ones will.

Action Point

Take time to know your history, study the lives of missionaries, learn the stories of faith from your own family, tell and retell the stories of when you have seen God at work. The cause of the gospel is not forwarded by the faint of heart. It is forwarded by those who know they serve of God of action. See that action, be aware of it throughout the passage of time, and keep spreading it forward.

Let us then “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.” I Corthinthians 15:58

A New Commandment

October 16, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Yesterday, betrayal, today a New Commandment in John 13:31-35.

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I have to tell you this, I’m getting tired as the day is hastening on, but I just wanted to spend some time with the Lord before I went to bed. Bear with me if I’m brief though. 🙂

Judas has left, he’s the betrayer of Christ. Jesus lets him go.

He doesn’t just ignore the rest of the disciples though, heart-sore or not. He goes on to tell them “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Yeah I know… lots in this passage eh?

First off, the Son of man is glorified, but not only that.. God is glorified in him. And, if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify that Son of Man IN HIM. It goes both ways you see? I know.. took me a bit to read that too. But glory is happening that’s the big thing I get from these two verses.

Jesus calls the disciples little children… I don’t know why, but tonight that just makes me smile. Did you know I used to struggle with being able to discern God’s voice from Satan’s? It took me a while and I felt dumb you know? After all, scripture tells us that the sheep know the sound of the shepherds voice and here I was struggling. It took me some time but then I realized something, GOD was the only one to ever say “listen child, hear me child”. Satan doesn’t do that. He never calls me child. So seeing Jesus calling the disciples children… just makes me smile. 🙂

Anyways, moving forward. He goes on to tell them that he won’t be with them forever. He’s with them for just “a little while“. He knows they will look for him, but just as he told the Jews he tells them now, where he is going, they can’t tag along.

Tonight in our Heidelberg study one of the questions was “why did Jesus go to hell?”. We can’t go there with him, we are in him now, but when Christ went there we couldn’t go with him. We just can’t. He went there though, so that even in our darkest moments, we know we can’t go there. Jesus keeps us from that.

But Jesus leaves them with a new rule to follow: Love each other. Love like Jesus has loved them. THIS love, oh, this love will show others that they are truly Jesus’ disciples. Jesus was so known for his love and we should be too.

Let us then show out our love for each other eh? Showing Christ’s love for the world. Even when we are pressed and hurried and ever so busy. Let us remember, show love.

Troubled in his Spirit

October 15, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Last week we saw the Jesus wasn’t surprised, he knew that one of the 12 would betray him, he also knew which of his people were his own. Today we learn more in John 13:21-30.

21 After saying these things, Jesus was troubled in his spirit, and testified, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he spoke. 23 One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus’ side, 24 so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25 So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 Then after he had taken the morsel, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30 So, after receiving the morsel of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

Do you remember that Jesus said one of those that ate bread with him would betray him? After he finished talking he was upset. “Troubled in his spirit” we read.

Jesus was fully human. Imagine investing your life in 12 men. Spending all your time with them, teaching them, showing them a new way to be, and then having one of them totally reject you. It would be like when a parent raises a child, pouring their love into them, showing them how to be a good citizen and having that child turn their back on you and all you’ve taught them. Wouldn’t that upset you? As much as Jesus knows his people, as much as he knew that Judas would betray him, it’s still a hard thing to take.

Troubled in his spirit he repeated “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”

Can’t you just see the confusion this would cause among his disciples, those who loved him. They’d be wondering just who Jesus was talking about, knowing it wasn’t them. Peter (at the behest of the disciples) asked the question : “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus was clear in his answer “It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.”

Betrayal

He gave it directly to Judas. Telling him “what you are going to do, do quickly.” That’s just what Judas did.

His quick departure raised questions which surprised me. Jesus had literally just said that the one he gave the bread to would betray him, so why would they think Jesus sent him off to buy bread or give to the poor. That some thought that boggles my mind!

Not only that “No one at the table knew why he said this“. I suppose it came as a surprise to them later that Judas betrayed the Lord. They would have figured that he was one of them completely and then to have the pieces fall into place later. They would have then been thinking “Ah, see Jesus knew. He even told us!”

I feel sad

I read this passage and I just feel so sad you know?

Sad because Jesus was upset knowing he would be betrayed. Upset that the disciples didn’t get it. Sad that they would have understood afterwards, when it was too late, so they would (I’m supposing here) be questioning themselves as to why they didn’t understand it, or notice it. Sad because Judas spent so much time right with Jesus and he still turned away. And horrified in a way, that as soon as Jesus gave the bread to Judas, SATAN entered into Judas. Can you imagine that? Having that darkness in you?

And so my heart is troubled. Knowing all this, knowing Jesus lived with this knowledge inside of him.

Yet, he willingly went. He struggled yes. But he allowed events to unfold.

Why?

Because of his love for us. Due to his love for me. In light of his love for the Father.

Be Exalted O God

October 14, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

We sang this chorus in Church this morning so I thought I would share it with you. It’s rather a nice song. Simple in details, deep in wisdom if you take time to ponder it.

A native of New Zealand, Brent Chambers is the author of this lovely song. Working as an independent paint-contractor, this Bible college graduate has written more than 500 songs.

Lyrics

I will give thanks to Thee
O Lord, among the people
I will sing praises to Thee
Among the nations
For Thy steadfast love is great
Is great to the heavens
And Thy faithfulness
Thy faithfulness to the clouds

CHORUS:
Be exalted, O God
Above the heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth
Be exalted, O God
Above the heavens
Let Thy glory be over all the earth

Praise Him!

October 12, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Today was a bit of a busy day. We had co-op this morning, visit with a friend, funeral, and a community dinner. It felt like I was on the go all day long.. which is retrospect I was.

As often happens on busy days, and I’ve managed to get myself a tad over-wrought, as introverted me craves quietness and down time when life is busy, I started to think of all the hard things in my life. BUT, and this is an important but… I recently did a devotional where I was challenged to see things from a different perspective. To see my relationship with God from HIS vantage point.

This had a spill over effect where I started to think of all the things that I can praise God for.

Brazilian Student

I have a Brazilian student living with me. YES, it has it challenges since his English is very poor making communication difficult, along with figuring out how to live with each other when we are all used to different ways of being. For instance he ALWAYS shuts the bathroom door whether anyone is in it or not and we always leave it open. He is used to washing his clothes in the shower, we would rather use the washing machine. BUT I am blessed with google translate, pen and paper, images, the ability to move around and point and rephrase, and learn. We figure out how to live with each other and make life good. He has a ready laugh, a willingness almost akin to my lad to just help out, and a willingness to learn. He takes such pride in learning new words it’s a joy to see.

Hubby

A hubby who works. YES, he works hard, he’s an older fellow working a physically demanding job (as opposed to a mentally demanding job) which brings different stressors into the household. He’s often mentally not here as his body pains overtake him often leaving him going “meh, I don’t want to”. As folks are prone to do when feeling not up to par, he can get a bit self-centred. BUT…. I am blessed with the ability to be patient, I have folks who will listen, I am learning new skills (caulking anyone?), I have a son willing to learn along side me, and a Brazilian student who knows things I don’t and has been surprisingly helpful! He grew up helping his dad on a farm so knows things I didn’t expect. 🙂 I’ve managed to surprise myself when I got a door to work that was causing some big issues for us.

My Son

My son. Oh.. The other day a mom stopped me and she said “Annette, I have to tell you what a joy your son is. He is so helpful and kind and willing to try. He is a total pleasure to have in my class.” Isn’t that just a lovely thing to hear? He’s a good lad my boy and it’s lovely to raise him up. YES, he has his things that are a struggle… a little perfectionist who hasn’t yet learning grace in his corrections. BUT his quick grin, his willingness to lend a hand, to do his studies without being bossed, and to teach me what he’s learning. It’s the best, you know?

Signs of Love

Food, shelter, volunteer opportunities, a welcoming public school/highschool, and thrift shops just to name a few. Along with movies, restaurants, rabbits, cats, blinds, TV, shoes, clothes, and literally so much more. God has so richly blessed me.

It simply blows my mind when I stop and think about all I have to praise God for. It certainly helps to put it all in perspective doesn’t it? When you see all the blessings in your life, how many ways God pauses to show his love for me (and for you). It’s amazingly awesome don’t you think?

Five Minute Friday is up again with Miss Kate. This week’s word is Praise. I hope you come to join us. It’s a quick free-write filled with people of encouragement. 🙂

Highest Privilege

October 11, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— ²the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— ³that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3 ESV

See those words in verse 3 eh? Life was made manifest to us so that we might have fellowship with God. This is our highest privilege. Jesus came to make this a possibility for us.

So the question is this…. do we act like it?

Seriously now… I know when I am faced up to this, I often don’t really act like spending time with God is my highest priority. For instance, take the blog. My desire is to spend time learning of God a minimum of four days a week and share that time with you as part of an accountability to myself AND you. But this week.. Twice. Seriously..how is THAT showing that spending time with God is my highest priority?

I find myself so busy lately… cleaning the yard, helping a lad learn how to caulk a window, teaching two boys how to clean out an eavestrough, cleaning a rabbitry, making meals and …. (you know the list can go on and on). I manage to have devotions with the boys at supper time but why does the physical press so hard when the spiritual should come first?

I honestly don’t know the answer. Do you?

AH… but I read further into this chapter by Ian Hamilton. He pointed out this important fact. Too often we see our relationship only from OUR point of view. We see only our failures (like me above eh?) and we don’t actually look at our relationship with God from HIS point of view. Failing to see God’s unfailing love.

It’s an interesting thing I’ve seen in my own life. When I see/feel my husbands strong love for me… I find myself wanting to do anything I can to make his life better or easier or to just show him how much I love him back. Thinking about this for a minute I stop and think about how marriage is supposed to show (in part) God’s relationship with the church. If feeling my hubby’s love for me causes me to respond in love to him, how so would feeling/understanding/knowing the depth of God’s love for me change my priorities in life?

Would seeing our relationship from HIS point of view, help alter my commitment levels? Or actions? Oh, that I might, that we might, fully understand God’s undying, never ending love for us. God holds a DEAR love for us his people. Understanding and seeing and feeling that love changes us inexplicably.

Let us stop being so self-centred in our relationship with God and see more clearly HIS relationship with us. A dearly loved child, that Christ came to earth to reconnect with his Father, sacrificing himself on our behalf, giving up everything for us. Remember… God loves us in a never ending, deep manner.

Oh… be changed by it! 🙂

Jesus Knew

October 9, 2018 By Annette1 Leave a Comment

Oh heavens but I am tired today. I worked hard all day! BUT I wanted to spend time with God today yet, so we are. We’ve finished off John 12 and now move on to John 13, the first 20 verses.

13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Last time we talked, Jesus was talking to the people that were gathering for the Passover. It is still pre-Passover feast, and Jesus knows that his hour has come. He would soon leave this world to go to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Tonight we were reading from our catechism and it talked about the suffering of Jesus… from the very moment he came to earth, leaving his infinite life for a finite one with all the cares and concerns that brings. But he came and in his coming is LOVED this own who are in this world. He loved them until the end.

See what Jesus does in the love that he has for his own. He knows that Judas Iscariot is going to betray him, he knows what the future holds for him. He holds these things that he knows. See what he does. He takes up a towel, ties it around his waist and takes up a basin and fills it with water.

Can you imagine what the disciples must have thought?

The Shock

Peter tells us plainly. “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

When I read these lines, especially with the follow up… It’s like shock and horror mixed together. How could Jesus do this? Jesus was not a servant, he was a leader, a teacher, a master. Servants wash feet.

Jesus attempted to reassure Peter (and ergo the rest of the disciples). “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

Peter rejects that idea. The idea of his master washing his feet! I DON”T THINK SO! Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”

But watch Peter’s response to Jesus’ answer, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Oh, that eagerness makes me smile! Peter is so in love with Jesus, and he simply won’t risk not being part of him. He immediately back tracks.

I love Jesus’ response. I can almost see him smiling as he responds to Peter’s enthusiasm. 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” Jesus makes it clear though that he knows that not all of those present are good folk.

Jesus’ Explanation

Jesus went all to explain what he did. He gave them “legs” on the table he had set. 12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Jesus is clear though… his words are not for everyone. They are for those who has chosen. He is telling them now so when it comes time for them to know and understand, they will understand. He tells them that one of them among them has lifted his hand against him. (This is a fulfillment of scripture).

17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”.

I wonder if that was a comfort to them. Afterwards, to know that Jesus wasn’t surprised by the betrayal of Judas. Followed by the reassurance about the reciprocity of receiving Christ is receiving God and vice versa. Judas wasn’t chosen, other disciples were, and Jesus knows the difference between the two.

Did you notice though? Jesus washed the feet of all the disciples, not just the clean ones.

Faith