In the 19th century, Maltbie Davenport Babcock, a Presbyterian pastor from upstate New York would often go for walks on the Niagara Escarpment overlooking Lake Ontario. Many times he would tell his wife that he “was going out to see the Father’s world.” Babcock’s words from his poem This is my Father’s world can give each of us hope and assurance.
Have you ever felt like God was taking too long? Like His promises were delayed, and you were left waiting in the silence? Joseph’s story is a profound reminder that God’s timing is never late but always perfect. From the time Joseph dreamed of leadership to the moment he stood before Pharaoh as Egypt’s second-in-command, there were long, painful years of waiting. Those years must have felt confusing—betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and unjustly imprisoned. Yet, in all those moments, God was working.
With the American presidential inauguration, it may well be that Canada will find itself with 25% tariffs on our U.S. exports. This has many concerned on both sides of the border.
Last week as we fasted and prayed for our nation, I was led to Genesis 26 where we find the story of Isaac and his relationship with the Philistine King, Abimelek. It was a difficult time, a time of famine, but two neighbours: Issac with his wealthy family, and Abimelek, made a peaceful treaty that resulted in blessing. As I read this, it seemed to me that this passage had similarities to U.S./Canadian history and indicated God’s intention for the future.
The message of Christmas is that the Saviour born to the world came to rule and reign in justice. His rule means victory over sickness and death, and freedom from oppression and injustice. And He invites us as co-labourers to join Him as He does this. This past Sunday Beula gave us practical ways we can do this as she preached from the well-known scripture Matt 18:18. We can understand this scripture in a new light
As Christmas passes and we survey the new year, in our reflections as Christians looking ahead, we often ask, “What do I want to do in the church this year?” Buckminster Fuller, the creator of the geodesic dome for Expo 67 and a solid Christian, suggested that a better question would be, “What does God want done?” In posing that question we move from the finite into the infinite. It causes us to sit with it, marinate with it, meditate on it, before hazarding an answer.
At church last Sunday I was given a book of sermons published in 1901. What a wonderful gift! I will read it and look for some gems in it, but more than that, I sense a message in the gift. Many years ago, I was taught that often God speaks to us through the gifts we are given, that we should pay close attention to them, particularly to those that may seem unusual.
In the church that I grew up in, most Sundays our pastor would have an object lesson for the children before dismissing them. My dad would often say that he got more from the children’s lesson than the long-winded sermons! Jesus communicated in parables: object lessons. Prophets would often act out the messages that they were to give. (Think of Ezekiel laying on his side for 430 days, and Agabus binding Paul’s hands.) This past Sunday, the Lord had a message for our church and brought an object lesson to us. We saw acted out what the Lord is doing.
