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Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   Heaven, All Can Come… Choose Jesus Today’ Day 1: John 3:16 – “For this is how God loved the world: He gave[ his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Day 2: Matthew 25:34 – “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.’” Day 3: Isaiah 25:8, 9 – “He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken! In that day the people will proclaim, ‘This is our God! We trusted in him, and he saved us! This is the Lord, in whom we trusted. Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!’” Day 4: Philippians 3:20, 21 – “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” Day 5: John 14:2-4 – “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” Day 6: Revelations 7:9, 10 – “After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, ‘Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!’” Day 7: Revelations 7:15-16 – “That is why they stand in front of God’s throne and serve him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will give them shelter. They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Today, I was asked about an event that was scheduled to happen. The question was regarding the temperature and the chance of snow. You see, we got a bit of a dump overnight and the temperature was going to get down to about –8 C tonight. I am all about safety while travelling and all that and am very appreciative that my advice was sought concerning this. My response was quite quick in this regard because I have been on social media and texting our family in Nova Scotia who, in some cases, are having trouble getting out of their homes because the snow is two thirds the way up their doors. I saw a picture from my niece where the snow was two feet over her head after the sidewalk was cleaned. For the record, I have been there when we got hit with that much of a dump not once, not twice but rather three times in one week. Temperature-wise, they are not in a deep freeze like we were a few weeks ago (-46 without the windchill is very cold). In making my quick decision, the weather events in Nova Scotia helped me to realize that, from a safety standpoint, we were just fine.  Perspective is a very individual thing. There are some who do not feel there is a Heaven and that is okay, it is their perspective. I can take time to chat them up with His message and pray the seeds take root, but, in the end, it is their choice. There are some who think they can get to Heaven by being a good person but without that heart and soul commitment to Christ, being good will get you a bunch of friends and that could be about it when it comes to eternity in Glory.  “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 NLT   Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” John 14:6-7   Now, I know I am coming from a perspective of a follower of Christ and I trust that His promise is solid. My life both here and into Glory is based on my faith in a living God who died for me and for all. Even within the faith family, there are numerous perspectives that can cause some angst between denominations, and they can affect the relationship amongst us all even affecting our own perception of another group but in the end, Jesus Saves.  This week, Pastor Todd brings talks about the blessings from God. Our service is at 10:30 AM both online and in person. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.      Blessings,        www.mainavefellowship.ca       Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘How to Have Joy’ Day 1: Romans 15:13 – “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Day 2: John 15:10-12 – “When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” Day 3: Psalm 16:11 – “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Day 4: Proverbs 8:32-35 – “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.” Day 5: Psalm 16:8, 9 – “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.” Day 6: Acts 2:28 – “You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.” Day 7: Jeremiah 15:16 – “When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I know a person who is NEVER wrong. This person does everything perfectly and will be sure to let me know when I have messed up. Over the years, I have been on the “corrective side” of some learning moments, and, in many cases, I have learned some new ways. Here is the problem, this person does not want to be reprimanded or given any advice. You see the tried-and-true ways are proven to work flawlessly – until they don’t. There have been a couple opportunities to apply constructive input, but the concept has always been met with “that’s nice but we will do it this way.” I have given up trying to help as I feel rather stupid when I try to assist.   I have learned something by this. There was a young lad who thought he knew it all but when he made a mistake, he would ask me how I would fix it or do it differently or he would ask my opinion on a new idea and, in the end, we both learned and grew. Now you must understand, this all happened many, many years ago and I am certain this guy is still doing it the same as always but the young lad I was working with is a very successful contractor.   This has happened in the past and I am afraid it still happens today in the faith community. There are those who are steadfast in their ways to the point of harm to self, but Jesus told the Pharisee that they may not know everything, and in fact, they were very wrong about the Messiah, the one they were trying to not only challenge but also destroy.   Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:31-32 NLT   If they were able to understand the message He was giving them, they would have realized that it was their own preferences not being in harmony with Christ’s Word that was making them sick. They did not realize that they were trying to cut down the tree of life and would not cease because they were right, and the Master was completely wrong. While they thought themselves righteous, they were actually sinning against the Creator. Here is the hope, the hope for all.   For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:23-24 NLT   I do not hold any ill-will towards the person who is always right but instead pray that God’s wisdom and grace take root within them, and they come to realize that He has set them free. Pride is a terrible master; our Saviour is far greater though – praise God for that blessing.   This week we welcome Pastor Eryn Austin-Bergen and celebrate with her as she receives her local minister’s license. Our service is at 10:30 AM both online and in person. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.   Blessings,     www.mainavefellowship.ca    Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

...And I know what is to come. If we go way back in my life to the days of chaos and stupidity, I was not a joy to live with. My father worked his tail off trying to get me to stay on the straight and narrow and, when it really went sideways, he was still watching over me. Both of my parents saw such potential and tried to get me to see it, but I was having none of that. I know better than anyone and you can’t tell me anything. Interesting thing, the older I get, the smarter my parents become. Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Matt 6:9-10 NLT There was a moment when I was at the fork in the road, continue the road I was on and possibly end up in jail or call for help. I knew exactly who to call and I knew just where to find him. You may be thinking I called on Jesus, but you would be wrong, I called my dad. Even though we did not see eye to eye, he was there to gather me up within twenty minutes, he took me back in, gave me a place and, yes, gave me the talk. “You are more than welcome to come home but you are expected to get a job, finish school and change your ways.” I knew exactly where my father was, and I knew he would be there if needed. He also made sure I knew there was a standard to keep and wanted only what was best for me. Decades later, I came to understand that my Father in Heaven is also right there, all the time. My Father is in Heaven and His name is Holy. To call upon the name of the Lord, to call out for HIs help, is to ask for His guidance is not a sign of weakness but rather a nod to wisdom. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James1:5-6 NLT This Sunday, we continue the series on the “Will of God”. Our service is at 10:30 AM both online and in person. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.  Blessings,    www.mainavefellowship.ca   Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘We Need Each Other’ Day 1: Colossians 3:16 – “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” Day 2: Galatians 6:10 – “Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone - especially to those in the family of faith.” Day 3: 1 Corinthians 12:12 – “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” Day 4: 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 15 – “Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.” Day 5: Colossians 2:2 – “I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.” Day 6: Hebrews 10:24, 25 – “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Day 7: Philippians 2:1-4 – “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘Exam Time’ Day 1: Lamentations 3:40 – “Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the Lord.” Day 2: Galatians 6:3-5 – “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.” Day 3: Psalm 119:59 – “I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.” Day 4: Romans 12:2, 3 – “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Day 5: Psalm 4:4 – “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. Interlude” Day 6: 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 – “That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” Day 7: 1 John 1:9 – “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Over the years, I have heard the argument that God created evil and have heard some compelling arguments but, truth be told, the arguments fall short of the truth. Take a read through Genesis at the very beginning and you will see that when God created, it was followed with “and it was good”. In fact, when God had finished creating everything, He stated in Genesis 1:31 (NLT) “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good”. God was pleased because that which He had created was perfect. We do not know when evil slithered its way into the Garden, we don’t know how it even existed in the Garden but we do know this for a fact, the first temptation in the Garden was cast by means of doubt. The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” The temptation went even further and finally the doubt got the better of Eve and she succumbed to the temptation to know it all. The rest is history (read Genesis 3). There is the example of falling to temptation and it is not the last in scripture. Today, the temptation is even more powerful and it is not so secretive, in fact advertising companies thrive on developing it. “If you buy this, you will never have another issue for the rest of your life”. Temptation to the dark side is always there and the powers of evil want you to focus on the doubt, focus on the desires, focus on self, and not on the perfect answer. You see, the devil wants you to be distracted because he knows that we have an unlimited source of power to repel evil intentions through the Holy Spirit. We need only to remember God’s prayer from Matthew 6:13 NLT: And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. When you are feeling tempted by the devil, visit the Lord’s prayer and claim the power of the Holy Spirit over the evils of temptation. Get thee behind me Satan, your power is nothing compared to my Lord and Saviour. Don’t let evil fool you into doubting God and turning to the darkness, God loves you so much that He will give you the strength. This Sunday, Pastor Todd continues the series on the “Will of God” by looking at temptation. Our service is at 10:30 AM both online and in person. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.  Blessings,    www.mainavefellowship.ca   Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘God Never Has to Say Oops, My Mistake’ Day 1: Psalm 33:11, 12 – “But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.” Day 2: Psalm 18:30-32 – “God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock? God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.” Day 3: Isaiah 55:8, 9 – “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’” Day 4: Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” Day 5: Psalm 19:7-9 – “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.” Day 6: Deuteronomy 32:4 – “He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” Day 7: Psalm 119:137, 138 – “O Lord, you are righteous, and your regulations are fair. Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

There was a time where I was teased and bullied because I was different or annoying or just not cool enough. There were days where I would race home from school taking all the back routes so I wouldn’t get beat up...again. I tried to disappear during gym class so I didn’t get targeted during the sports activities and rarely, if ever, joined organized sports. You see I was not the biggest kid in school, in fact I did not really grow much until after I left school. There were times I would dream about what I would do if I were bigger. I had some great plans for those bullies should I ever meet up with them again. Someone was going to pay big time for all my pain and suffering. Then the words of my Grandma MacDonald rang in my ears and it still does to this day: Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us Matt 6:12 NLT As God has forgiven, we/I should forgive. There are those out there who did me harm not only as a kid but also as an adult that have no clue how much they have been forgiven. I will admit, there are those who did me wrong that I did get my revenge when I was younger and if I could ask their forgiveness to their face today, I would. As I grew up, I realized retaliation only leads to more reprisals and the cycle continues. Look again at the passage from Matthew 6 “Forgive us as we forgive others”. We have been forgiven perfectly and completely without any note of a return to the sin for further review in the future. Just recently, someone did something to me that could have escalated very easily and I will admit this, we were both in the wrong. I was truly apologetic regarding the event because I did mess up, but I will say this, I was furious about the actions of the other person and was looking at ways to get that person back – big time. I held the higher ground and strategically, I was in the favourable position. This was going to get ugly but then Matthew 6:12 came to me and I reached out for forgiveness for my error and noted that I forgave that person as well. There was a great deal of joy that came from that because I found out that person’s response was delivered in haste and in anger. What could have been a very difficult situation was avoided and we chat quite regularly now. How many more issues in this world could be alleviated if we forgave rather than escalated tensions? This Sunday, Pastor Todd continues the series on the “Will of God” by looking at forgiveness and forgetfulness. Our service is at 10:30 AM both online and in person. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.   Blessings,     www.mainavefellowship.ca    Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks   ‘God Never Stops Working’ Day 1: Philippians 2:12-15 – “Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Day 2: John 5:19, 20 – “So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished.” Day 3: 1 Corinthians 12:6 – “God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” Day 4: Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Day 5: Psalm 77:12-14 – “They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works. O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.” Day 6: Philippians 1:6 – “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Day 7: 2 Corinthians 3:18 – “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Warning, contents might be rather unsettling for some. Discretion is advised.  There are times when I wonder about the future of our society as the trends of the world become more and more self-centred. There are a multitude of perspectives out there that, for the individual, could be found offensive or go against their own beliefs but here is the thing, I may not agree with their perspective, so who is right? I am going to try this social experiment knowing full well there will be some out there who will start a discussion regarding their views on this simple topic.   Three people sitting around at a coffee shop talking about cars (you can change this to whatever you wish). One is a die-hard Chevy supporter, has the bow tie light in the garage, a poster of the latest muscle car that will soon be sitting in the garage and has a ton of Chevy bling everywhere. The second person has the “Built Ford Tough” jacket, drives the new Ford F350 with all the bells and whistles and defends the beloved name brand to the point of heated arguments about the company that built America. The banter goes back and forth for what seems like an hour. People in the coffee shop are both amused and concerned as the conversation does, at time, become rather heated. The third person at the table is listening intently but not participating too much in the discussion. The two notice this and one asks “well, what side are you on?” and without batting an eye, the reply was “I chose the one that is paid for.”   This is only one discussion/argument/debate that happens every second of the day and, for some, it can cause irreparable damage. I have seen families torn apart over the simplest of differences. There are disputes about lifestyles, religions, political views, race and the list goes on and on. So many can get so angry with one another that the division between sides grows over just about everything once the ball gets rolling. Have you ever seen where a simple argument over butter or margarine becomes so bad that everything one person says, the other automatically counters and it grows to include the whole family? There has to be common ground, the eye of the storm as it were, where peace reigns despite the division. You see, while everyone thinks they have all the answers and their answers are the only one that counts, it is all a matter of perspective, and it should be examined next to the something that is foundational to all.   In Matthew 6, Jesus was teaching us how to pray and one thing that makes me take pause is in verse 10.   May Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. NLT  Take this back to the car discussion. Ford, Chevy, Dodge, import, domestic, electric, hybrid, diesel, gasoline—who cares. Does it take me from point “A” to point “B” in relative comfort and is it paid for? Baptist, Presbyterian, Nazarene, Pentecostal—who cares? Is Christ the center of the teaching and has the price been paid? There is really nothing on this planet that cannot be simplified to lowest common denominator, and, at that point, the argument becomes rather mute. Consider the prayer “may Your will be done” not my will, not the will of a particular denomination or religious group but rather the will of God. May this be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Do you think there are arguments, strife, backstabbing, wars or fighting in Glory? Of course not. Love God with absolutely every ounce of your being and love each other as yourself. I would say enemy, but you know what, there will be no enemies in Heaven, plain and simple. What would Jesus do? He loves perfectly and forgives abundantly. If that were done on earth as it is in Heaven, would there be wars or worldwide strife?  This Sunday, Pastor Todd starts a new series on the “Will of God”. Our service is at 10:30 AM both online and in person. The service will be broadcast online on our website ( https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms ), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.    Blessings,     www.mainavefellowship.ca     Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”