Building the church

Have you ever played Jenga?  Players take turns removing one block at a time from a tower constructed of 54 blocks. Each block removed is then placed on top of the tower, creating a progressively more unstable structure. The game ends when any portion of the tower collapses, caused by either the removal of a block or its new placement. The last player to complete a turn before the collapse is the winner.

This game is another illustration of why the foundation of a building is so important!

Last Sunday I began a four week series entitled:  “We are Living Stones”, based on the scripture 1Peter 2: 4-9.  Peter tells us we are to build our lives upon a firm foundation, and Peter tell us who that is. We are to build our lives on Jesus, the Living Stone — the precious and chosen cornerstone.

Peter also reminds us that we, like living stones are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God”.  And like living stones, God wants to fit us together living stone by living stone to build God’s church.

That’s who we are in the sight of God. That’s who we are, fundamentally, as believers. We are living stones! What a wonderful reminder as we celebrate Amberlea’s 40th year together.

If you were at Amberlea last Sunday you would have received a stone, (if you weren’t be sure to pick up one this week!).  I pray as you hold that stone in your hand you are reminded of God’s complete and unconditional love for you.  I pray that you are reminded that God has a purpose and plan for your life and a purpose and plan for the life and work of Amberlea Presbyterian Church.  I continue to be excited to see how God will fit us together to build the Church.

God is as God was

This past week we have been talking a lot about giving thanks, not surprisingly because in Canada we just celebrated Thanksgiving.

David writes in Psalm 9 verse one,

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

What’s interesting is that David writes later in verse 13 of this same Psalm how he is facing affliction and yet what is he doing?  He is worshiping God.

Many of us know that when a season is difficult, worshipping God may be the last thing we want to do.  I have certainly experienced that in my own life.

And yet, history has taught me that if I worship God in the midst, things in my heart begin to shift. Rather than solely focusing on me (“oh woe is me”), when my attention is shifted to God, my heart overflows with praise.

Our God is all that we need and worship points to that fact and fuels our faith.

And like David said it must be whole hearted.  He says, I will give you thanks, with my whole heart. Not part, not the part that is focused on relationships idols and the world, no. God isn’t satisfied with part of our heart.  God wants all of it.

I will give you thanks, Lord, with my whole heart.

So the question is,  are we worshipping God with our whole heart?

You, like me, can probably pinpoint a thousand moments when God has provided for you but think about one.  Think about the most prolific one and remember this:  God is now, as God was then.  God’s faithfulness never changes.  God never changes.

In the midst of a difficult time or whatever the season looks like, God always has been and God always will be.

So trust God today…worship God with all your heart and let that overflow because our God is worthy to be praised.

Give thanks anywhere and all the time!

This coming Sunday is Thanksgiving!  Is anyone else surprised that we are in October already?  And as I write this, there are only 82 day until Christmas. Yikes!  We will talk about Christmas another time, today I hope you take time to stop and just take it all in. Take in the beauty of the landscape as the thick green leaves break way to brilliant hues of yellow, orange and red.  It is truly breathtaking. Also take time to give thanks for the blessings of the past year.

When you look in the Bible, it says:

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good. God’s love endures forever. (Psalm 118:1 NIV)

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what God has done. (1 Chronicles 16:8 NIV)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 NIV)

One day hardly seems enough to thank an amazing God for God’s incredible goodness. And yet it’s so easy to get distracted with the stuff of life isn’t it? How many times do we experience God’s blessings in our life, but then look at some other situation and start complaining instead of praising and thanking God? It happens all too often.

Perhaps this week, with friends and family or in a moment of solitude, list all the blessings with an attitude of gratitude. This year let’s not our thankfulness begin and end at the dinner table. God is good every day, not just on the second Monday in October —but all the time!

So give thanks - anywhere and all the time.