Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11
In our current Western culture, we esteem men and women of accomplishment - athletes, actors, scientists, musicians and even businessmen. Individuals who achieve greatness in his/her field or discipline are showered with fame, fortune and power by our individual constant desire to have everything they seem to have. We erect statues, construct buildings, and even pave streets in the name of those to whom we direct our adoration. Sports halls of fame, celebrity walks of fame, award shows by the dozens - all evidence of a society’s feeble attempt at becoming something greater.
As followers of Christ, our only real source of inspiration, the object of our adoration, the author and finisher of our faith is to be the Lord Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 12:2) Our own Scripture has a hall of fame, or perhaps more appropriately a Hall of Faith. Each verse of Hebrews 11 reads like an inscription on a display case in God’s Hall of Faith. I can almost see the first glass window, verse 4 is the inscription below a photo of Abel and a shepherd’s staff. His testimony of faith living on for God’s glory.
Through this Advent season, let us remember just what it means to be a Christian. Things of this world will pass away, that includes the esteem of men. May we aspire to live a Christ-like life and hold a place in God’s Hall of Faith; that even after we’ve passed on from this world, we may leave a testimony of faith that points to Him.
Prayer
Dear Lord, may You be the object of our affections.
Help me to recognize every day that the attractive things
of this world will pass away. May it be my desire to
live a life that points to You. Amen.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Christmas Blessings
Greetings friends,
We are currently being blanketed with a healthy coating of snow, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to update everyone on how things are here.
It has been a very interesting month, the Lord has continued to bless us far beyond what we could have imagined. As you know I was layed off recently from the general labour and landscaping work that I'd been doing. I had thought that I'd found work doing insulation for a local company, but it seems that may not work out. I've worked one day with them so far, but have not had opportunity to again since, the work will be available in the coming weeks, but not in Windsor as I had been led to believe. I've found this time to have given me opportunity to practically learn what it means to depend on the Lord - and He has been so faithful. Our needs have been met and new opportunities are arising for employment while we continue to prepare to move to Cumberland Bay and work with the mission full time. These days have given me the chance to do some more of the things around the house that have needed done, so Lord willing we'll be listing the house with a realtor in the coming weeks.
We've had some difficulties with the car the past week or so as well, nothing too serious as it turned out, but again the Lord has it all well in hand. Elizabeth's brother is our very generous and skilled mechanic, he has us back on the roads safe and sound.
We are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas with family and a very exciting new year. This past year has certainly brought us to a place we would never have imagined, but we are so pleased to be standing at the edge of a new year in the palm of the Lord's hand. Thank you all so very much for your notes of encouragement, we hope to be able to visit with many of you in person over the coming months.
Merry Christmas and God Bless,
Grant & Liz
A view from our front stoop.
We are currently being blanketed with a healthy coating of snow, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to update everyone on how things are here.
It has been a very interesting month, the Lord has continued to bless us far beyond what we could have imagined. As you know I was layed off recently from the general labour and landscaping work that I'd been doing. I had thought that I'd found work doing insulation for a local company, but it seems that may not work out. I've worked one day with them so far, but have not had opportunity to again since, the work will be available in the coming weeks, but not in Windsor as I had been led to believe. I've found this time to have given me opportunity to practically learn what it means to depend on the Lord - and He has been so faithful. Our needs have been met and new opportunities are arising for employment while we continue to prepare to move to Cumberland Bay and work with the mission full time. These days have given me the chance to do some more of the things around the house that have needed done, so Lord willing we'll be listing the house with a realtor in the coming weeks.
We've had some difficulties with the car the past week or so as well, nothing too serious as it turned out, but again the Lord has it all well in hand. Elizabeth's brother is our very generous and skilled mechanic, he has us back on the roads safe and sound.
We are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas with family and a very exciting new year. This past year has certainly brought us to a place we would never have imagined, but we are so pleased to be standing at the edge of a new year in the palm of the Lord's hand. Thank you all so very much for your notes of encouragement, we hope to be able to visit with many of you in person over the coming months.
Merry Christmas and God Bless,
Grant & Liz
A view from our front stoop.Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Great Adventure
Greetings Friends,
This is it - my last week of work for Just Perfect Solitude. I've always known that it was a temporary job, but I had no idea that it would be extended this far into the year - I've been with Bob for 4 months now. It has been a bit scary for me not knowing just what is around the bend - having had steady employ for a decade has given me an over inflated sense of self confidence. These few months have certainly been training me to put my trust in the Lord - and He has been providing for us in unexpected ways. As far as I know right now I will be starting work with an insulation company in the next week or so, this job should carry us through until we are prepared to move to Cumberland Bay and work full time with Kevin and Marcia!
I was talking to Kevin this past week, and they have begun thinking about next summers camps already. It's all very exciting and the Strouts have some awesome ideas for this years ministry. We plan to do some team building work with Kevin and Marcia in January and are looking very forward to that as well. Just now we have completed all of our booked speaking engagements, but are optimistic about opportunites that will arise in the new year. As a point of praise, our car is running well and we have been blessed with a new set of winter tires.
We look forward to visiting with family and friends over the Holidays, it's without a doubt my favourite time of year.
Blessings to you,
Grant
This is it - my last week of work for Just Perfect Solitude. I've always known that it was a temporary job, but I had no idea that it would be extended this far into the year - I've been with Bob for 4 months now. It has been a bit scary for me not knowing just what is around the bend - having had steady employ for a decade has given me an over inflated sense of self confidence. These few months have certainly been training me to put my trust in the Lord - and He has been providing for us in unexpected ways. As far as I know right now I will be starting work with an insulation company in the next week or so, this job should carry us through until we are prepared to move to Cumberland Bay and work full time with Kevin and Marcia!
I was talking to Kevin this past week, and they have begun thinking about next summers camps already. It's all very exciting and the Strouts have some awesome ideas for this years ministry. We plan to do some team building work with Kevin and Marcia in January and are looking very forward to that as well. Just now we have completed all of our booked speaking engagements, but are optimistic about opportunites that will arise in the new year. As a point of praise, our car is running well and we have been blessed with a new set of winter tires.
We look forward to visiting with family and friends over the Holidays, it's without a doubt my favourite time of year.
Blessings to you,
Grant
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Advent Devotional
At our church every Advent, the congregation takes part in writing an Advent devotional booklet to read during the season of Advent. I thought that I'd share with you the devotion that I wrote for Wednesday, December 10th.
Scripture Reading - Mark 12:28-31
Christmas is the season when most of us are given cause to remember to be charitable to those who are in need. Many of us give to the food banks, Operation Christmas Child, the telethon…there are many charitable organisations in need at this time of year. It's so very important that we do what we can for our neighbours around us, regardless of their needs. Many people would say that this is the true meaning of Christmas. We read in Mark that there are two commandments greater than all others: Love God, and Love your neighbour. By this, to love our neighbour is to love God, in that we are expressing the Love of God to them, and obeying Him by it. Truly, Christ is the reason for the season, but think carefully what that implies. We have a picture of the nativity that is warm and happy and safe, and we often forget how very great the sacrifice that has been made in the birth of baby Jesus. To be born a man, our Saviour came to live among us. This act alone was a great sacrifice, to culminate with the ultimate sacrifice of His death and resurrection. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ began at His birth, which we celebrate at Christmas.
So often we get caught up in the business of Christmas, in seeking desperately to achieve that warm fuzzy feeling. Christmas is a celebration of Christ and should serve as a reminder to each of us that we too, as followers of Christ, are to sacrifice every day to His glory. Loving our neighbours and selflessly seeking to share the light and love of Christ. Let's make this Christmas more about love and less about wrapping gifts. Don't miss out on the opportunity to share true Christmas Spirit.
Prayer
Dear Lord, this year help me to keep from getting caught up in the selfish Christmas of the world. May this be the Season of Christian love in Your name. Amen.
Scripture Reading - Mark 12:28-31
Christmas is the season when most of us are given cause to remember to be charitable to those who are in need. Many of us give to the food banks, Operation Christmas Child, the telethon…there are many charitable organisations in need at this time of year. It's so very important that we do what we can for our neighbours around us, regardless of their needs. Many people would say that this is the true meaning of Christmas. We read in Mark that there are two commandments greater than all others: Love God, and Love your neighbour. By this, to love our neighbour is to love God, in that we are expressing the Love of God to them, and obeying Him by it. Truly, Christ is the reason for the season, but think carefully what that implies. We have a picture of the nativity that is warm and happy and safe, and we often forget how very great the sacrifice that has been made in the birth of baby Jesus. To be born a man, our Saviour came to live among us. This act alone was a great sacrifice, to culminate with the ultimate sacrifice of His death and resurrection. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ began at His birth, which we celebrate at Christmas.
So often we get caught up in the business of Christmas, in seeking desperately to achieve that warm fuzzy feeling. Christmas is a celebration of Christ and should serve as a reminder to each of us that we too, as followers of Christ, are to sacrifice every day to His glory. Loving our neighbours and selflessly seeking to share the light and love of Christ. Let's make this Christmas more about love and less about wrapping gifts. Don't miss out on the opportunity to share true Christmas Spirit.
Prayer
Dear Lord, this year help me to keep from getting caught up in the selfish Christmas of the world. May this be the Season of Christian love in Your name. Amen.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Windsor United Baptist Church
Howdy all,
It's been a busy week or two - Liz and I had the opportunity to share at our home church, Windsor Baptist, just yesterday. We have been very much looking forward to sharing with our friends and church family. It was very exciting for us to be able to finally answer everyone's questions about just what it is we're up to.
Liz had the opportunity to share with the kids during the childrens' story. She talked about what it means to be a missionary and how we can all be missionaries every day. When we spoke later in the service, we each shared our personal testimonies and talked about how the Lord shook us up and called us to attention of Him. We were able to spend a long time chatting with people after the service. People are excited about the ministry and that is exciting for us. We've been moved by the support and encouragement that we've received from our Church family.
And for those of you who have been on tender-hooks waiting for our next prayer letter... the second edition has just been put in the mail - so you should be receiving that in the next week or two. If you're not receiving our prayer letter and would like to - we'd be happy to send it along, just drop us a line.
We're both still busy working, anticipating the time when we will be able to move to Cumberland Bay and get settled in. I have a line on a possible new job - my current job will be ending on December 5th. This had been a great concern for me initially, but there is a strong possibility of a job doing insulating work for a few months over Christmas and possibly until we move. So Praise the Lord for his provision once again!!
Liz talked with the kids during the Children's Story about what it means to be a missionary.
We shared together for the message portion of the service... and may have run long by a few minutes... oops.
As our new partners in mission, our friends at WUBC
took the opportunity to commission us in prayer.
It's been a busy week or two - Liz and I had the opportunity to share at our home church, Windsor Baptist, just yesterday. We have been very much looking forward to sharing with our friends and church family. It was very exciting for us to be able to finally answer everyone's questions about just what it is we're up to.
Liz had the opportunity to share with the kids during the childrens' story. She talked about what it means to be a missionary and how we can all be missionaries every day. When we spoke later in the service, we each shared our personal testimonies and talked about how the Lord shook us up and called us to attention of Him. We were able to spend a long time chatting with people after the service. People are excited about the ministry and that is exciting for us. We've been moved by the support and encouragement that we've received from our Church family.
And for those of you who have been on tender-hooks waiting for our next prayer letter... the second edition has just been put in the mail - so you should be receiving that in the next week or two. If you're not receiving our prayer letter and would like to - we'd be happy to send it along, just drop us a line.
We're both still busy working, anticipating the time when we will be able to move to Cumberland Bay and get settled in. I have a line on a possible new job - my current job will be ending on December 5th. This had been a great concern for me initially, but there is a strong possibility of a job doing insulating work for a few months over Christmas and possibly until we move. So Praise the Lord for his provision once again!!
Liz talked with the kids during the Children's Story about what it means to be a missionary.
We shared together for the message portion of the service... and may have run long by a few minutes... oops.
As our new partners in mission, our friends at WUBCtook the opportunity to commission us in prayer.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Fairview
Hi all, The journey continues :0)
This past Saturday evening Liz and I enjoyed sharing in Halifax with our friends Nick and Bev Philips and some of the believers at Fairview. It was a blessing for us to have the opportunity to give our testimonies and share about our call to ministry as well as to chat with some folks after the service. Later in the evening was youth group - and we were invited to hang out for a while... and for some reason there was an inordinate amount of surplus candy floating around...
For all those of you who receive our prayer letter, this week we will be preparing and sending out our next issue - you should receive that in the next couple of weeks. If you aren't receiving our prayer letter and would like to - just drop us a line - we'd love to add you to our mailing list.
Our brand new NCEM and Arrowhead materials table.
We had the opportunity to share some pictures and video from this past years summer camps.
This past Saturday evening Liz and I enjoyed sharing in Halifax with our friends Nick and Bev Philips and some of the believers at Fairview. It was a blessing for us to have the opportunity to give our testimonies and share about our call to ministry as well as to chat with some folks after the service. Later in the evening was youth group - and we were invited to hang out for a while... and for some reason there was an inordinate amount of surplus candy floating around...
For all those of you who receive our prayer letter, this week we will be preparing and sending out our next issue - you should receive that in the next couple of weeks. If you aren't receiving our prayer letter and would like to - just drop us a line - we'd love to add you to our mailing list.
Our brand new NCEM and Arrowhead materials table.
We had the opportunity to share some pictures and video from this past years summer camps.Monday, October 27, 2008
October Update
Greetings friends,
I just wanted to take the opportunity to update you on the happenings in our home. We continue to work daily at our current jobs as we prepare for the ministry. The Lord has been providing for our needs in marvelous ways - we are always humbled when in times of need we lose hope and yet He is there to care and provide for us - as He always does!
In preparing the house to sell - I spent Saturday putting up some moulding in the living room, we have yet to paint the spare bedroom and do a small bit of dry-walling in the basement, otherwise it's ready to live in... we will just have to trust in the Lord to take care of finding a new family to live in our little house.
I found out recently that my job has been extended and I will have employment doing labour work until December 5th. Praise the Lord. We trust that by that time we will have our home on the market for sale and have enough support to go full time with NCEM.
We are preparing to speak this weekend at Fairview in Halifax. Please pray for us as we travel and share once again the outreach of this wonderful ministry that God has called us to.
I'll be working on a couple of brochures and a poster for Arrowhead this week as well - it's nice to be able to use my training as a designer whenever possible. We have a couple of exciting print projects that we'd like to do for Arrowhead over the next few months, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if anyone would like to have information about the camp or NCEM, just let us know and we'd be happy to pass it along.
We're looking forward to a progressive dinner tomorrow night with our Bible Study group, Carpenter's Hands. The fellowship and times of prayer and devotion that we have with our friends are a true blessing to us and we enjoy them a great deal. We'll be hosting the 'soup or salad' portion of the dinner at our place - so Liz is busily preparing some tasty smelling soups tonight... so perhaps I should go and see if I can get in the way...
Blessings for tonight,
Grant
I just wanted to take the opportunity to update you on the happenings in our home. We continue to work daily at our current jobs as we prepare for the ministry. The Lord has been providing for our needs in marvelous ways - we are always humbled when in times of need we lose hope and yet He is there to care and provide for us - as He always does!
In preparing the house to sell - I spent Saturday putting up some moulding in the living room, we have yet to paint the spare bedroom and do a small bit of dry-walling in the basement, otherwise it's ready to live in... we will just have to trust in the Lord to take care of finding a new family to live in our little house.
I found out recently that my job has been extended and I will have employment doing labour work until December 5th. Praise the Lord. We trust that by that time we will have our home on the market for sale and have enough support to go full time with NCEM.
We are preparing to speak this weekend at Fairview in Halifax. Please pray for us as we travel and share once again the outreach of this wonderful ministry that God has called us to.
I'll be working on a couple of brochures and a poster for Arrowhead this week as well - it's nice to be able to use my training as a designer whenever possible. We have a couple of exciting print projects that we'd like to do for Arrowhead over the next few months, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if anyone would like to have information about the camp or NCEM, just let us know and we'd be happy to pass it along.
We're looking forward to a progressive dinner tomorrow night with our Bible Study group, Carpenter's Hands. The fellowship and times of prayer and devotion that we have with our friends are a true blessing to us and we enjoy them a great deal. We'll be hosting the 'soup or salad' portion of the dinner at our place - so Liz is busily preparing some tasty smelling soups tonight... so perhaps I should go and see if I can get in the way...
Blessings for tonight,
Grant
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