What a difference a day makes…

What was bad news yesterday is good news today.
It is all about perspective and surrendering to the Lord.

After sleeping on it… and praying and talking to my wife about it today I have a deep peace. I know that God is in control and that He actually spared me of something. God is good. So good.

The Fear of Bad News

Psalm 112:7 (NIV) reads:

He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

I just received some bad news. An opportunity that I thought was a ‘dream opportunity’ closed due to a misunderstanding. What I considered the chance of a lifetime just disappeared before my very own eyes. It is terribly difficult to see it slip through my fingers and not be able to do anything about it. It is that feeling of powerlessness that as humans we find so frustrating.

Let me be honest with you… it hurts. And it hurts deeply. I had set my heart and my eyes upon this. Perhaps to such a degree that I took my eyes and my heart off the Lord? Not even sure what to think. It has only been an hour since this door for which I was so excited closed on me. Actually, it did not even close – it was slammed on my face and I am still in shock.

I look at what prompted it and I wish I could take back an email that I quickly and carelessly sent out this morning while doing 5 other things. What if…

And yet although I am so powerless I do know one thing. That the Lord doesn’t sleep… He hasn’t stopped taking care of me. My life is still in His hands. My present and my future belong to Him. Had He wanted this door to remain open, it would still be open right now.

But it is still sad.
And it still hurts.

I will think about the what-ifs for a while… but hopefully my heart will not linger on them.

Ohhh that my heart would only rest on Him! It’s the only place worthwhile…

So even though this piece of bad news saddens me… I do not fear it. Because my life is in His hands! (said he with tears welling up in his eyes)

The entire Psalm below for your edification and encouragement from Biblegateway.

Psalm 112 (New International Version)

1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.
2 His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.
7 He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Happy Canada Day!

Those of you not based in Canada will not see today’s Google Doodle. I am sharing it here for you and to wish you all a Happy Canada Day!

Press on!

Posted from Press On

Write The Future

The World Cup begins today. In fact as I write this Mexico and South Africa closed the opener with a 1-1 draw. Although I don’t necessarily want to give Nike free publicity on this blog, the video below is what I will be using for the intro to tonight’s sermon. Throughout the World Cup at Emmanuel Church we will be sharing about God’s team. Tonight I will speak to the youth and children about the opportunity to make into God’s team. Are they part of the team? Are they in the game? When the call comes will they be ready? Will they be willing? Will they be available?

Nike – Write The Future

Some others I may be use … or try and fit into the sermon (actually more like an object lesson)…

This other one is for the sound effects for the opening skit… this blog is a good to place to keep it.

African Lion Safari 2009

This is just me testing a new video service… Of course since I was just testing I could only use the free version. But I will probably switch over to the paid version in a few weeks.

We are fans of the African Lion Safari and season pass holders… it’s just fun and it actually feels good to see ‘most’ of the animals roaming freely. I say most because I hate to see the birds in cages.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Books of the Bible Song

Was thinking of doing something with this at church this evening. We want to encourage all of our kids to memorize and know the books of the Bible and this could be used for the launch.

Love Words

Surrendering…

What does it really mean to surrender?
It is not about giving up … or quitting. It is more and less than that. Certainly different.
It means acknowledging that in our own strength we will not get there.

The problem with surrendering is that often times we say we are … but then we don’t. We continue as we were.

If I know that God is asking for something… and I want to give it to Him… how do I do this? How do I do this without taking it up on my strength a few days later?

How do we give it all up and not look back?

(These are just some thoughts for now… thinking out loud).

Iglesia Emmanuel

Bueno… por fin y después de mucho tiempo hoy lanzamos nuestra pagina de internet.  Muchas gracias por visitar nuestra pagina.

Por fin hemos lanzado nuestra pagina de la iglesia. Es solo una pagina provisional pero sirve nuestro proposito de tener una presencia en el internet.

Si llegas aqui y estas buscando una iglesia en Mississauga, Ontario te invito a que visites nuestra pagina – http://iglesiaemmanuel.ca

Posted from Pensando En Voz Alta

God Is Light

If God is light – which I know and believe to be true – then how does it affect our daily living? Our choices and behaviour?

If God is light and there is NO darkness in Him – how are we to behave? How are we to behave in the midst of all the darkness?

As He did.

Posted from Press On