BODYGUARD GOD - Meeting (Again) for the First Time, Part 1

July 10, 2017

It's once again that time of year where I take my annual hiatus from preaching. Every year we plan a fun guest speaker series at The Well and judging from part 1 yesterday, this year's series is going to be a good one!

It's called MEETING (again) FOR THE FIRST TIME. It's a follow up to our last series where we discussed some of the common myths about who God is. Each week, we'll look at one "false god" and try to figure out what the truth really is.

Week One: BODYGUARD GOD - isn't God supposed to protect from evil and harm?

Who Has the Better Plan: YOU or GOD?

June 7, 2017

Don’t answer too quickly. Of course we all know the “right” answer. We all know that God’s plan is better than our plan and that His ways are higher than ours, yadda yadda yadda. We know the right answer in our head, but let’s be honest – it’s not always easy to believe it, is it?

What happens when your plans get changed against your wishes? When the thing you planned for doesn’t happen the way you want it to or in the timing you need? What happens when your "perfect plan" is turned upside down against your wishes and the only one to blame is God? What then?

Weakness is Strength

January 27, 2017

Today's guest post comes from Youssef Iskander - a high school student living just outside Toronto, who has guest posted before. Despite being young in age, Youssef displays quite a bit of maturity as he writes about our need to embrace not just our strengths in life, but also our weaknesses. If you too are interested in guest posting on my blog, please visit my Guest Post guidelines for more info.

"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

I find that we constantly lament our weaknesses when we compare ourselves to others. "I wish I was that good at…." "I wish I was as smart as…."

In short, we despise our weaknesses.

The Mystery In Trials & Tribulations

October 28, 2016

There is a genuine and real joy in trials.

Genuine because it is an experience that involves the whole of your being - spirit, soul, and body. It is holistic, not partial. Full, not empty.

Joy - for the simple fact that there are myriad of gifts ready to be given, to those who endure to the end. There are revelations that He desires to reveal in the depth of your soul. About His Person, about who you are, and about your neighbor. To those who wait on the Lord and have there strength renewed.

It intensifies the intimacy between you and the bridegroom of your soul.

But many of us fail to discern this. If your eyes were opened to the working of our good God, you will begin to realize, as Father, He desires to continually give. Pour out. Think about it. If the Father of the Beloved has given us His Beloved, to be incarnate, die, rise, and ascend for you and me.

I'll Never Give You More than You Can Handle - THINGS JESUS NEVER SAID Part 2

May 16, 2016

We hear it all the time, but is it actually true? Did Jesus ever actually say it? Isn't it in the Bible somewhere? Or did we just make it up?

Week 2 of Things Jesus Never Said and this week we talked about a phrase that hear (and probably say) all the time: GOD WILL NEVER GIVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN HANDLE.

In this message, we talk about why God does allow us to endure trials and what the purpose of those trials might be. More importantly, we talk also talk about what our response to them should be. Enjoy!

I CAN'T, HE CAN - In The Waiting Room Part 3

December 22, 2014

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation” Philippians 4:12

Is that really possible? Can I really be "content" in every situation? Can I really find peace inside when there's chaos and turmoil and upheaval all around me? Is that possible and if so, how do I get there?

That's the topic of week 3 In The Waiting Room as we discuss the "secret of contentment". You may not believe it but St. Paul gives us a formula to unlock this mystery in our own lives. What is that formula? You have to listen to the message to see. But I'll give you a hint...

I CAN'T, HE CAN.

EMBRACING THE PAIN - In the Waiting Room Part 2

December 15, 2014

It's week 2 in our latest series, IN THE WAITING ROOM, and we're still trying to answer the question: what do you do when there's nothing you can do?

We all know someone who's done it - someone who's made it through the waiting room (those unchangeable/unalterable circumstances of life) and come out stronger than when they entered. How do they do it? What's their secret? What am I doing or not doing that stops me from reaching that point of peace/trust in my waiting room?

It all comes down to one decision - one choice that you can make in your waiting room - that will unleash God's power and grace/ in your waiting room in extraordinary ways.

Reflections at the Pond

November 8, 2013

At a beautiful site in the mountains, I sat at a pond meditating on the beauty of God’s creation as revealed in the majestic mountain, the trees, the farmland, and the farming animals. As I looked in the pond I saw a beautiful reflection of the tall trees and the mountain on the surface of the water. It was a splendid view of God’s creation reflected on the still water of the pond.

Suddenly, a wind blew on the surface of the water and the pond became wavy. The beautiful picture of the mountain and the trees became distorted and unclear as if it was no more there. After a while, the wind stopped, and the water became still again, and the beautiful picture of the trees and mountain appeared again reflected in a splendid view in the pond.

I meditated on this event and thought of what happens in our personal life. When we are still and at peace, and our hearts are pure, the image of God is reflected in our life and we can see God “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8). Also, others can see God reflected in our life: “So that I live, not I but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

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