Tuesday, December 28, 2010

2011 Challenge




So 2011 is upon us and we want to start the new year on the right track. Do you want to loose weight? Eat healthy? How about a New Year's resolution that will last beyond 2011? Would you like to read the Bible in a year? Maybe you tried it before and did not finish, or maybe you've never read the whole Bible. This time it will be different. We will be doing it together. Starting Jan 1st 2011, we will begin with the New Testament and end with the Old Testament. So are you up to the Challenge?
If you are, follow this link and there will be a list of the readings for each day.


You don't even have to own a Bible. Click on the link for each day and you will be directed to an online Bible. The above link is for the NIV Bible, starting from the New to the Old Testament.

If you want a different version visit this link


On the weekends we can discuss what we read. It will be great reading the Word together as a group. If you are in, click on the comments link below and post a message to let us know.

2011 looks like it will be a good year!

God Bless
Andrew and Natasha

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Day-Why JESUS?

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:6-8

There are many New Age movements and alternate belief systems pulling at the core of who we are as Christians. They are seductive, enticing us to believe in ourselves, in our own ability and inner powers. After all, they argue that if we are made in God's image and likeness, then God is in us and we are gods. They start off with a kernel of truth but then grow into a deceptive lie, with the purpose of redirecting our worship. Yet, we are not left without warnings:

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- having a form of godliness but denying its power." 2 Timothy 3:1-5

I am writing this on December 25th, Christmas day, and I ask myself the question, WHY JESUS?
Then, I am struck with the reality of who I am without Him. Let me be honest, I am unkind, selfish and proud. The list, truly, is endless. Of course, I could compare myself to a notorious criminal and convince myself that I am a 'good person' because I am not as bad as...or I can list all my good deeds and feel great about who I am as a human being. Yet I would be deceiving myself. We are a sinful people. Out of our hearts come sinful thoughts, selfish ambition, pride and many other attributes of darkness that we would just as well ignore. The truth is, JESUS transforms us, mind, soul and spirit. JESUS came because He knows our base nature, that we will fall, that we will repeatedly stand accused by the enemy of our souls, hence His BLOOD on Calvary's cross. Forgiveness and renewal are offered to us and GRACE truly is amazing. The Apostle Paul reminds us:

"For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

"For GOD was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross." Colossians 1:19-29

And remember, JESUS is waiting right there for you, knocking on the door of your heart. Let Him in and He will be the best dinner guest you have ever had.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Talk Tuesday - Isaac

Eleven years ago around this same time I was asked by God to sacrifice my Isaac, Natasha, my wife. Without getting into the details, I was tested by God to see if I would give up my then girlfriend for God. Like Abraham, I prayed a long time for my Isaac. I finally found the one I was to marry and God asked me to give her up. I did choose God and God gave her back to me. It was one of the hardest things I ever went through. When you read Genisis 22:1-19 you see Abraham trusting God even with his most precious son. Has God asked you to sacrafice your Isaac? Do you have a dream that you are waiting for? Do you need to give it to God? Are you waiting for kids? What is God speaking to you about? Share with us and let us encourage one another. It is hard to give up your Isaac. Let us help one another.

"Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Genesis 22:2

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”


“Here I am,” he replied.


 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”


Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram[a] caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.  So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.” Genesis 22:9-14

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Talk Tuesday - Trust like a child

The other day I went to dinner with my family. We were having such a great time with my niece. She was all over the place, having fun and making lots of noise. Tash made a comment that it would be nice to be care free like my niece-no worries and full of hope and joy. Then God spoke to my heart. I told Tash my niece doesn't worry about anything because she trusts that her parents will provide for her every need. She knows that her parents will give her food, shelter and love. That is how we should be with our heavenly Father. We have to believe that we serve a good God and that He will provide for our every need. My niece doesn't worry about her next meal because she knows that her parents will have something for her to eat. Why do we worry? God is our heavenly Father...


“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:22-26

We have to trust God like a child trusts their parents. Are you worrying about something today? Your future? Your children? Your job? Put your faith in Jesus. Like a good parent, He will never disappointment you. He will always be there for you. Lay your troubles at the foot of the Cross and trust Him like a child.

Sunday, December 5, 2010



Share what God is speaking to you. Give a word of encouragement. Bless someone today. It's time to Share.

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Prayer Wall - December



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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Talk Tuesday-Why Pray?

There is power in prayer. Last week we shared that PRAYER is an act of FAITH based on our TRUST in the LORD. So why pray even when it seems hopeless? Prayer draws us closer to GOD, allows us to commune with Him and brings revelation of His grace in our lives.

The day of my first surgery was filled with many surprises. For one, I didn't know what to expect and neither did my family. I was blessed by the many, many family members who turned up to show their support and to pray. The surgery lasted 8 1/2 hours and throughout the length of the day, my mother and aunt met a lady whose daughter had been in the ICU on life support for quite some time. The doctors had told the mother that her daughter's case was hopeless, that she should disconnect her from the machine and prepare for the worst. My aunt decided to visit the young lady and begun to pray in the name of JESUS. She prayed in faith for the young woman to rise to live and not to die. She prayed fervently. The young lady rose to live. I received a call from her this summer and our families have kept in touch.

In Acts Chapter 12 the church is once again under persecution. Herod the king has already killed James the brother of John, and imprisoned Peter. The Bible says that, "Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church,"Acts 12:5. Peter was bound in two chains between two soldiers, with guards keeping watch before the prison door. An angel of the Lord was sent by God to deliver Peter from prison and set him free. When he appeared to the church members who had been praying for him, they were in disbelief. "But motioning to them with his hand to keep silent, he declared to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison," Acts 12:17. Prayer changes things.

The Bible exhorts us to pray always:

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." James 5:16

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people." Ephesians 6:18

Please share with us what prayer means to you and how GOD has acted on your behalf. Click on the comments link below to add your comments. We know that sometimes our prayers are answered based on what we want and sometimes they are answered differently to how we prayed, yet one truth remains:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28