No excuses!

Exodus 3:11

But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

Moses had his reasons for why he couldn't be used, and many would have agreed with him. Look at the list above. So many examples of people that the world would look at and say, "No, God can't use them... look at what they did" or "who they are." Peter denied Jesus 3 times and he thought things were over. He went back to fishing, but Jesus wasn't done with him. He restored Peter publicly in front of the other disciples at a breakfast on the beach. The apostle Paul was one who had killed Christians for their faith and Jesus shook him to the core and he became a mighty apostle who wrote half the New Testament and had an incredible missionary journey - and he suffered greatly for Christ, the same person he had persecuted before when he went after the church. Mary Magdelene was a prostitute and had been demon possessed and was delivered and followed Jesus to the cross when the disciples had fled - except John.

So who can God use? Anyone who is willing to be used, no matter their "station" in life, male or female, old or young, and no matter their race. As long as they bow the knee and declare Jesus as Lord, they can be used to do mighty things in His name.

I know, some people think, "Bu that person fell away from the faith and did so  many terrible things! Now that they're back, shouldn't they just sit back? They can't be used! They did so many wrong things. They don't deserve to be used now." Is that what God said? No. He forgives us, and is ready to use us again as long as we let Him. He won't force us. So are we ready to be used today?

No excuses! Just look at our list above! No excuses! :)

To Turn or Not To Turn The Other Cheek

Luke 6:29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Many take this verse to mean that they can't stand up for themselves ever, and many use this to try and put Christians down. In process many believers have become spiritual doormats from the wrong use of this verse. What it means is to not resist or to not retaliate in a physical way, but by no means does it mean you are to let people walk all over you. We see too many teaching that this verse means Jesus was teaching to let people use you like a rag. Not so. Jesus stood His ground without retaliating. We see this even when He was on "trial" then night He was arrested and eventually crucified. John 18:23

“If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?” See? He didn't strike back with violence, He simply asked a question as to why the soldier did what he did.

I think too many times Christians have been taught the wrong interpretation and have been subjected to harsh treatment as a result. If we are calm in our response, there is no harm in asking the question WHY the person who is attacking us is doing so. It just brings clarity to a tense situation. Hopefully it can open a dialogue so that restoration can be reached between us.

So think twice when someone attacks you the next time, remember it does not mean you have to sit there and be a literal "whipping boy," you can ask them why they felt the need to do what they're doing in a calm way. Not accusing. That would only stir the pot! God bless!

Dealing With Loss

My wife and I just found out this week that we were having a miscarriage, She was only about 4 -5 weeks in and yet the loss is still felt. We have two boys who are healthy and are 10 and 7, yet we have also had 3 other miscarriages over the years. How do you take comfort when you lose a child? I take comfort knowing that I will see them in heaven. I see the example given from...
 
2 Samuel 12:16 - 23 
¹⁶ David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground. ¹⁷ The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.
¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”
¹⁹ David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked.
“Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”
²⁰ Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
²¹ His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”
²² He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ ²³ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

So yes, I will see my unborn child one day, and I will know them. We have privately chosen a name for each child we have lost that way. We can take comfort from the passage yes, but as a good friend and pastor that I work with said, "It doesn't mean it doesn't suck." In times like these it can be easy to start to get angry, bitter, and start resenting asking why the child didn't make it. I found out the news just before going to do Ask The Pastor Monday night. So there I was driving into the studio and having an intense discussion with God over what had happened, and then I was to be happy on the air and minister to others. How did I get through that intense moment and night? By the grace of God is all I can say. Lots of prayer. Being a pastor doesn't mean I don't struggle with loss or other things, I just have to decide like others how to deal with it. 

I think of how if all our kids had been born, we would have 6 now (including the most recent miscarriage). I look forward to seeing them someday and embracing them for the first time as a dad. I thank the
Lord for the time we had with them. Thank you Jesus for Your strength that only You can give in times like these.

In Christ,

Pastor Andrew Robertson

REST!

^{Matthew 11:28 - 29, 
28} “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jesus often took time to rest from His ministry - and He was the Son of God! Why is it we pack our schedules so full we often forget to take time to just rest in His presence? Jesus set the example. We need to not be so busy that we don't have time for Him, and that we rest in Him and nothing else.

Easy to say, tough to do? I know, I've been there. Done that. I think if we all took time out to rest we might be better believers - resting in Him and taking time to be alone with God. Vacations are in fact necessary, otherwise we burn out and we're no good for our families, our friends, but most importantly if we are burnt out we are no good for God's Kingdom work.

So REST! :)

Family Day BLOG - Who are my family?

In honour of Family Day...

Family Day is Monday, and in honour of that, I thought I would ask the question... Who are my family? Jesus has an answer...

Matthew 12:47-49 (NIV-1984)

⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” ⁴⁸ He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Was Jesus being mean? No. He was making a point about the family of God. Yes our physical family is important down here, for sure, no doubt. Never neglect them. But where does family stop? According to Jesus our family extends to anyone who is a believer. Male or female. Old and young. Think about that, as believers we have a HUGE family to celebrate! The family of God! It's no coincidence that wherever we go in the world, as soon as two people find out they're Christians, they can relate in a way that no other people can - because they're family!

This Family Day, yes, by all means celebrate with your family. But for those who are distant from parents or kids or siblings, etc. Just remember, Family Day can be celebrated with anyone who is a believer! You don't have to be alone! We are part of the biggest family on Earth! In history! 

Have a great Family Day everyone! God bless!

May our Abba, our heavenly Daddy, be with you all!

God's Discipline = His love?

^{Hebrews 12:5 - 8 (NIV) says, 5} And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
⁶ because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
    and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”

⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

Sometimes there is a big debate over whether God disciplines or punished His children for their actions. Hebrews makes it clear that God will allow us to go so far but at some point God draws the line and if we cross it we end up under His discipline/punishment. There are times when God needs to reign us in as Galatians 6:7 (AMP) says, ⁷ Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked ^[a]by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) God won't allow His name to be mocked, especially by His kids! When we feel God's punishment for something we have done on a continual basis, just remember - God is showing His love by correcting us. Don't resent it.

The fact He does this shows we ARE His kids! We can take comfort from that, and take it as proof of our salvation when the enemy tries to plant seeds of doubt in our minds such as, "You can't be saved! Look what you've been doing!" We can remember this passage and say, "You're wrong, I am a child of God because He loved me enough to come after me!"

Do we sometimes need a donkey?

In Numbers 22 we see how the false prophet, Balaam, was used by God to show God's glory and protect the Israelites. Frustrated he set off on his donkey and three times the Angel of the Lord stood in the donkey's way, and after the third time Balaam started to beat his donkey not realizing what was happening. You have to love the dialogue:

²⁷ This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.

²⁸ Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam.

²⁹ “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”

³⁰ “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?”

“No,” Balaam admitted.

Now first of all, Balaam should have been shocked by his donkey talking to him in the first place, but that seemed to go right over his head because he was so steamed at the beast. The animal was only protecting his master. Sometimes we can get so frustrated with our lives that we can miss out on the miraculous and we need a donkey to get our attention. 

Hee-haw!