Comfort

Long day today because of the sleepless night. Ron Bowen encouraged me to not go to breakfast in the morning. I am taking his advice. We also cancelled the meeting we had tonight so I could rest. Lots of Calgary has the flu. We got word today that one of Emily's classmates dad was killed in a car accident, leaving behind a wife and 5 children, the oldest being Brooke in Em's class. Quite sobering. Not much to write. I did read the bible, but mostly just remembered the stories that I knew. A bride for Isaac, Jesus on the mount of transfiguration and feeding of the five thousand. Always I remember the last verse in Gen 24, "and Isaac was comforted in the death of his mother". That what Audrey is for me - a comfort in my mothers death. I pray that those living might be a comfort to each other in the Geortzen household. God help them I pray.

Kept From Sinning

Today is the day. 16 years ago my mom went to be with the Lord. I remember getting the phone call from Val about 7am, taking Dougie and Robyn to Auntie Maura's, and then going to the hospital. Funny how time changes things. It's been a long time since I associated the Foothills with my mom's death. I was recently at Chapel of the Bells and was very aware of my mom's passing, but not at the hospital at all. I not only miss her, I miss how things would have been different with her still here. But I still trust the Lord, and thank Him that this life is not the end. As dad said 16 years ago, we always knew this life was temporary. My heart still breaks for him, and especially for Val. Cheryl and Heather too. And the loss for my kids. And my Dree. And Cornerstone. Amazing how a life can touch so many.
I read today in Genesis about Abraham lying to the king about Sarah. The king defended himself saying he never knew that she was married. Even in that culture long ago, they recognized how sinful it is to take another mans wife. And sinful not only against the man, but how about the wife! She gets overlooked in all of this. She was taken, and her husband was okay with this. Ouch. But the Lord says to the king in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning lagainst Me." I love how God withheld him from sinning. I pray that God would do that for me, and for my Dree, and for my kids. Keep us from sinning O Lord.

Why Was She Crying?

It's amazing that you can read the Bible over and over and over again, and suddenly realize, that it appears someone slipped something in that wasn't there before. I've been reading in Luke's gospel, and it appears that he slipped something in his account that I have overlooked. The 'sinful' woman who anointed the feet of Jesus, approached him from behind. Luke records "and stood at His feet behind Him weeping...." Luke 7:38 She had heard that Jesus was there, and so she arrives with a gift of fragrant oil, and stands behind him weeping. Weeping in the presence of Jesus, bring a gift, and bowing down behind him. I know that she has always been wiping his feet with her hair, and washing them with her tears, but it has never occurred to me to question why she was crying. Luke is silent about this. However, she does leave forgiven. It doesn't appear that she is asking for forgiveness, but nevertheless, this intimate encounter with the feet of Jesus is transformational for all. Jesus says that what she has done will not be forgotten. Ever. Yet I wonder why she was crying. Probably the best place to cry is at the feet of Jesus. He can make it all better.

Belief: Trust and Obey

I was very glad to be at Cornerstone Church today. Shawn Rupchan led us very well into an awareness of the presence of God; both campuses. I spoke on Communion - the passover from Exodus 12 primarily. Then as we held the cracker and the juice, I asked the question "Why are you taking communion today?" I encouraged people to answer that question prior to partaking, and at the end of the service, asked them to tell someone else why they had communion. New people in Airdrie today - I hope we did a good job of making them feel welcome.
Douglas drove Abby to Edmonton. I was glad he could take her, but sad he missed another church service. Curtis Walker was in Calgary today - praise the Lord.
Genesis 15:6 says that Abram "believed in the Lord and He accounted it to him for righteousness. I think it is a righteous thing to believe in the Lord. May I too, take Him at His Word, and live a life of trust and obedience. Like the old hymn, Trust and Obey.

Making a Withdrawal

The word in italics is often. This means that it was not in the original Greek, but was inserted by the translators for clarity. The sentence reads this way: So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed - Luke 5:16. Even though the word was inserted for clarity, it is infact clear that Jesus did this very thing - often withdrew to pray. So many people wanting to be where Jesus was - where the action was. So many wanting to be healed. So many wanting to see the miraculous. So many needs. So little time. So much popularity. So little privacy. As it would appear, Jesus chose the priority of His private life. It's not that He didn't have a public life - that is obvious, but not to the neglect of His private life. In fact, His private prayer life. It's not that He was just needing a little 'me time', but rather communion with Father God. The challenge for me then is to discover how to often withdraw to prayer. I can easily figure out withdrawing from people, but should remember to leave my cell phone and ipad too. And to withdraw from some of the things that dominate my thoughts. It would also be good to think through the 'where' to withdraw to. Will any old place do? Do I simply find a place wherever I am? Do I make a place (headphones in Starbucks)? Or do I have a place, like the Hobbit Hole (and that means comfort!). However the details work out, I will begin the pattern of making withdrawals. I guess this is the time when making a withdrawal, is actually making an investment!

And his sons....

As I read today in Luke's gospel, Jesus was taken from the synagogue in Nazareth to a cliff to be thrown off. How amazing it was that I was at that cliff, overlooking the valley of Medigo. My trip to Israel certainly helps put the bible in perspective. I'm very thankful for the trip I was blessed with, and am looking forward to hopefully repeating that experience with Audrey.
I read today about the flood, and what took place after the flood, all the way to Abram. However, I stopped at a phrase that I was very thankful to read. Gen 9:1 reads "So God blessed Noah, and his sons...". I love that the blessing did not stop with Noah, but continued to his kids. That's my prayer - as God has so blessed me, may His blessing reach to my kids. May they walk in the favour and blessing of the Lord. And may they, like Noah, find grace in the eyes of the Lord, and live righteous and just lives in the midst of a wicked and violent generation.

Let God Close The Door

I had a very nice morning with David Walker at Timothy's. We certainly missed the other guys, but so nice to be with David. A great chance to catch up after Christmas and pray together. I am so thankful for him ~ he is a great example to me. I'm reminded again of how, as Moses entered the ark with all the animals, it is recorded that "the Lord shut him in". Genesis 7:16. What an amazing act of mercy. Noah did not have to live with the thought that he closed to door on people. I think that would be a terrible thing to live with. God was so gracious to Noah. May I never close the door on people.

Hiding In His Presence

January 2 ~ the beginning of a new year is now behind us. My sleep was elusive last night again, however I was able to remain in bed. I hope that work will now help, allowing me to give attention to the church things that are demanding my focus. Today I read how Adam and Eve hid themselves from the presence of the Lord (Gen 3:8), and Cain went out from the presence of the Lord (Gen 4:16). The Psalmist wrote "where can I go from Your presence?" I want to make sure that when I sin, I do not hide from the presence of the Lord, or somehow walk away from His presence. I need to be hidden in Him, and walk to Him, because of the amazing blood of Jesus that cleanses me and enables me to have continued relationship with God. There is now a way for sinful people to live in the presence of Holy God ~ justified, sanctified, declared righteous ~ all because of Jesus. Praise the Lord.

A New Year ~ The Consequences of Faith

It is a dangerous thing to doubt the Lord. Zacharias questioned Gabriel about the message from God. Gabriel answered "...you will be made mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did nit believe my words..." Luke 1:20
I wonder how much damage Zacharias could have done if he had been able to speak. When he came out of the temple, people noticed a difference. They believed he had seen a vision. His muteness was a sign for people because of his doubt, how much more could have his faith been a sign to glorify God. I want to demonstrate faith, and live on the consequences of faith, not the consequences of doubt.