Winter In Winnipeg, Manitoba

A Cold Crisp Afternoon!
But Spring is Coming!

How Often Does Your Soul And Spirit

feel like praising and rejoicing in the Lord God Almighty? If you are like the average follower of Christ this attitude is as changing as the rushing of the ocean tide. As she reflected on the great honour of becoming the mother of God's own Son, Mary, in her hymn of praise, indicated that she knew what it was like to rejoice "in God my Savior!” (Luke 1:47).

As Jesus grew up and she had to struggled with the insinuation that Jesus was illegitimate (John 8:41) and as later on she witnessed his crucifixion there must have been times when she found it virtually impossible to praise and rejoice in her God. The inspired words she spoke under the direction of the Holy Spirit at the time of the Lord's miraculous promise did not make her immune to such future struggles.

When thing are going great there is the tendency to be so focused on "what we have accomplished" that one often forgets to thank God and praise him for those wonderful and positive things that are taking place in our lives. It is easy to become incredibly self-satisfied and feel that God owes us whatever we personally desire. This kind of thinking will lead us into a similar trap that the disciples of Jesus' experienced.

One day James and John the sons of Zebedee brought their mother with them to make a request of Jesus. Simply put, their mum asked that her "two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left" (Matthew 17:21) when the Kingdom of God is established. The Scripture does not tell us who came up with the idea. However, one thing is certain the substance of the subject matter was unacceptable in the eyes of their fellow disciples and in the eyes of Jesus himself. Praise and rejoicing had been replaced by personal greed and pride.

The other disciples are described as being "indignant" about the self-centred request (Matthew 20:24). Most likely this was not a righteous indignation based on an attitude of selflessness but rather a response based on jealousy. Probably they had been secretly harbouring the same desires!

Jesus' two fold response was direct and to the point. First, "You don't know what you are asking" (Mat 20:22) and secondly "I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen" (Mat 20:23).

Remarkably, when things are not going well we often find it easier to praise God. Testing has its own way of opening our spiritual eyes and drawing us into a closer communion with God. In the book of Job we read about a man who was going through incredible suffering. His physical tribulations were so great that "he cursed the day of his birth" (Job 3:1) and wailed "Why wasn't I born dead? Why didn't I die as I came from the womb?" (Job 3:11).

However, in his distress, Job though struggling greatly proceeded to make one of the greatest statements of confidence and praise recorded in the Old Testament Scriptures. Responding to the critical comments of a man named Bildad Job stated "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!" (Job 19:25-27).

Our soul regularly needs to praise and rejoice in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We need to develop and maintain the attitude of thankfulness when things are going well. We also require the discipline to develop the affinity to rise above our troubles and give glory to God in times of bleakness. Unfortunately, neither of these disciplines come naturally to most people and therefore they need to be carefully cultivated within our lives.

Copyright. Bruce January 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

A Quiet Morning Moment

Peaceful Early Morning
Edam --- Netherlands

For Many, Life is a Series of "What If's"

or "What Could Have Beens." Have you ever asked yourself "what if" or "what could have been" questions? If you haven't you are quite unusual. Maybe at times you have wondered "what would my life have been like if my family had been more affluent?"

In times of contemplation you may have mulled over the thought "what if I had gone further in school or pursued a different major at the graduate level?" Occasionally, many are given over to considerations related to "what if I had made a different choice at one of the major cross-roads in my life?" It is also possible that you have even wondered what the impact on your life would have been if your ancestors had handled their lives differently.

This last question is one that Joseph the husband of Mary the "stepfather" of Jesus might have asked himself. He could track his ancestors right back to King David (Luke 3:23-32). How different his life might have been if the kings of Judah had been God-fearing men. The line of David may still have been sitting on the throne in Joseph's day experiencing the blessings of God. If that had been the case Joseph most likely would not have been a poor carpenter living in places such as Bethlehem, exile in Egypt and the disreputable town of Nazareth.

The decline and fall of Judah is recorded for us in the biblical account of 1st and 2nd Kings. During the reign of Jehoiakim, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded the land of Judah for the first of three times. He did the same thing during the times of King Jehoiachin and King Zedekiah (See 2 Kings chapter 24). In the end all the people of Judah except the poorest had been taken captive to Babylon (2 Kings 25:12). In Joseph's day Rome had replaced Babylon as the oppressor of the people.

But God had a special plan for Joseph. It was better than being a part of an earthly kingly family. He was entrusted along with Mary to raise in his household the one who would eventually become the "Lord of all lords and King of all kings" (Rev. 17:14). In Joseph's life the earthly "could have beens" was replaced with the divine "appointment".

There is nothing wrong in musing about the "what ifs" of life. However, it is more important to focus on and be sensitive to the leading of Jesus Christ in our lives through the working of the Holy Spirit. If we have had disappointments in life related to the "could have beens" we must be able to say like the Apostle Paul "...Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus is calling us" (Philippians 3:13-14). When this is the case we like Joseph can view the events of our lives as "divine appointments".

Copyright. Bruce January 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

Just As In the Days of James Herriot

Cows block a roadway in Yorkshire

Have You Ever Wondered What it Would Be Like

to have a perfect child? Joseph and Mary had such a child! Mary was the mother of Jesus and Joseph was the man God the Father entrusted to function as Jesus' earthly "stepfather".

Mary and Joseph realized from the very beginning that Jesus was an unusual child. Mary was told by an angel that she, while still a virgin, would have a child by the power of the Holy Spirit and that he would be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35).

On three separate occasions an angel spoke to Joseph. The first time was to advise him that he should "not be afraid to take Mary" as his wife because the child she was carrying had been conceived by the Holy Spirit (Mat 1:20-21). The second time was after the visit of the magi when he was told by an angel to "Get up! Flee to Egypt" because King Herod wants to kill the child (Mat. 2:13). The final time was when Herod had died and an angel told Joseph it was safe to return to Israel (Mat 2:19-21).

Then there were the words of the shepherds (Luke 2:16-20) followed by the prophecies of Simeon and Anna at the time Jesus was taken to the temple to be circumcised (Luke 2:25-39). All these things showed that the son that had entered into their family was no usual child.

It must have been quite something to have a child who came every time he was called, who did his homework without having to be constantly pushed and who was only too happy to do any chore promptly and without complaining. His brothers and sisters must have found these traits absolutely annoying.

At the same time much of his development would have been typical of other boys. He would have undoubtedly grown at a normal rate. Gradually, he would have developed his skills and abilities in the practical areas of life. It is fascinating to ponder how quickly he attained to a high level of competency as a carpenter.

As he became more knowledgeable in the various aspects of life his wisdom would have continued to develop. Similarly, as he became more familiar with the Scriptures his understanding of God would have grown deeper and richer.

We have no idea when he realized for the first time that he was the God-man. However, by the age of 12 he was able to state to his parents while in Jerusalem that "I must be in my Fathers house". Even though he realized his unique nature he continued to be subject to his parents while continuing to grow "in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and all the people" (Luke 2:49-52).

For a unique child like Jesus, his parents must have been quite unique themselves --- certainly one of kind! God would not have entrusted his son to just anyone!

Copyright. Bruce January 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

Copyright. Bruce January 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.

As the Snow Flies, Think Flowers

This winter has been a snap so far. Therefore it is easy to think of flowers and quaint European Cottages.