Making the most of our days

As we come to the end of another year, what are your plans for next year? I am not one that tries to make resolutions for each new year because for most people these resolutions only last about one week before they are forgotten! I am not recommending any resolutions here, but what I am encouraging is for you to refocus on your purpose as a Christian. Ultimately, what is your purpose in Christ? Your purpose is to give glory to Jesus and to make His name known. As the pandemic drags on from one month to the next, I want to encourage you to think about the opportunity God has given you rather than dwelling on the things that you have lost due to the pandemic.

We are entering into a new year, but our purpose as Christians remains exactly the same. The world around us might look like a chaotic mess, and yet, we should have an eternal hope in Jesus that is worth telling people about. I want to encourage you to look at this year with optimism. Do not wait until the pandemic is over to live your life for Jesus. I want to encourage you to enter this new year with a passion, fervor, and devotion for Jesus. As Christians, God has placed us on this planet for a limited time before He calls us home to live with Him in eternity.

Why? Have you ever asked the question why? God has sent us to be a light in the darkness. We are ambassadors of the kingdom of God to a lost and dying world. Are you making the most of your days? What will the summary of your life be when you stand in the presence of our holy and perfect God?

Thankfully tomorrow is a new day. In Christ we are no longer defined by the mistakes of yesterday. Instead we are defined by the ongoing transformation that Christ is performing in our lives. Lamentations 3:22-24 says, “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I have hope in Him.’” I pray we all find value in living each day of this new year for Jesus. We may never understand why God allowed the pandemic to happen the way it has, but maybe God has placed you here for such a time as this. I pray that your life would constantly display Christ in 2022 and for eternity to come.

In Christ, Nick, Amanda, and Julia Gagnon

Freedom in Christ

In the midst of the current lockdown in Slovakia, you may find yourself regularly thinking about the freedom that the future will hold. None of us like to feel trapped in our current circumstances. Our world is facing a perpetually shifting challenge associated with this worldwide pandemic during a time in history where the world is more connected than it ever has been before. This has created a historically unique circumstance that is very difficult for our world to cope with. As wave after wave of the pandemic seems to keep coming, we may begin to wonder when or if this will ever end. How do we rightly apply our faith to times such as this? Thankfully the main content of the Bible is written from a standpoint that transcends circumstances. The Bible speaks into our lives regardless of our circumstances around us. We have recently finished studies through both Philippians and Ruth where both books showed a trust in God’s sovereign plan even when the circumstances did not make sense. Paul was writing from prison about being content in every circumstance. Ruth committed to following the ways of God even when it almost surely meant a life of poverty and widowhood. In both books, we noticed how God worked in their circumstances to accomplish His sovereign will. Today, I want to encourage you to consider what freedom in Christ looks like even in the midst of a national lockdown. Our circumstances no longer define us if we are found in Christ. What do I mean when I say that? In most cases, our circumstances will not just simply go away. Instead, I want to challenge us to refocus our attention not on our circumstances but on the One that we place our hope in. If you are a true disciple of Jesus, you are part of God’s eternal kingdom, His eternal family, His eternal righteousness, His perfect presence, and His unending faithfulness. So how do we find freedom during a lockdown? Freedom is connecting more and more to the eternal nature of God through Jesus. Christ gives us freedom from sin, shame, depression, loneliness, and the list could go on and on. I pray that you would find a greater degree of freedom in Christ, during this time of lockdown, than you have ever known. While Satan may hope to use this time to tempt you to question God and His goodness, I pray God uses this time in your life to solidify and clarify the trustworthiness of His promises He has accomplished through Jesus. Imagine with me for a moment what unbelievers around you would think if they found a community of believers that talked about experiencing true freedom even during a lockdown. This is the kind of hope that changes the world, and God wants to use you to display this hope. We may be in lockdown, but we can find hope in Paul’s words in Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” In Christ, Nick, Amanda, and Julia Gagnon

Waiting

Do you enjoy waiting? You know, waiting in traffic, waiting in line, or waiting for a response to an important question. The truth is very few people enjoy waiting, but waiting is a normal part of life. In many of my recent conversations, numerous people in our church are waiting on something. Maybe you are waiting on a job, or you are waiting for this pandemic to be over. Most of the time waiting is not an enjoyable aspect of life, but my question to you is this: Will you allow God to teach you through the waiting? Do you view waiting as an opportunity for growth? 

For Christians, we are all waiting on something very important. We are waiting for the Lord’s return to consummate His eternal kingdom. How will we live while we wait? God wants to use the time between now and then to teach us to look to Him and to trust Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 says, “²³Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

I pray that we find purpose and value in each day while we wait (either for short-term answers or for eternal solutions). May we learn that God is sanctifying us through this time while we wait, and may the God of peace be with you as you wait. 

Often we are so focused on the result of waiting that we may miss the lesson God wants to teach us through the waiting. Whatever you are waiting on, be reminded that God is with you if you are in Christ. You are not waiting alone, and God wants to use even the difficult times in your life to grow you closer to Him. While our hearts may say like Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:22, “Maranatha” (Our Lord Come), I pray that we live each day as an opportunity to know God more regardless of our circumstances.   

In Christ,

Nick, Amanda, and Julia Gagnon

Stepping into the Unknown

Does the unknown scare you? Sometimes the shadows of the future can feel worrisome. As we look to a winter that is a bit unpredictable in regards to the way COVID will affect our lives, I pray we will feel the freedom to step into the unknown. How can we even consider stepping into the unknown? We look to our God and Father that knows all and sees all. Matthew 10:29-31 says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” 

Does this mean that we live recklessly? Definitely not! When tempted to throw Himself down so that the angels will catch Him, Jesus said, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matthew 4:7). We are called to live cautiously in the midst of a world pandemic, but we also daily hand the unknown to God who controls all that we see and do. 

Years ago, I memorized portions of Psalm 139, and this Psalm has proven to be a great pillar of hope when I look into the unknown. May it be the same to you. I encourage you to look at the whole Psalm in the coming days. Here are a few verses: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of dawn, if I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me and the light around me be as night,’ even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day” (Psalm 139:7-12a). 

I pray we be reminded of the God that we serve today. In the words of Paul to the men of Athens, “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needs anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:24-25). God is not surprised by current events, and we look to Him regardless of the circumstances around us. I pray we would step into the unknown today looking to Jesus for direction and hope. 

In Christ,

Nick, Amanda, and Julia Gagnon

Joy in the Storm

Where do you go when the unexpected happens? Do you hide, argue, or run? Do you blame others or blame yourself? We rarely expect the unexpected so we often have to process pain and trauma in real time. We usually do not get the opportunity to mentally prepare for the many challenges we face, and unfortunately, trials often bring out the worst in us. In the midst of the unexpected, we often say and do things that we regret. As Christians, how are we to respond when trials and tribulations come?

James offers us a very clear reminder of how to respond when the unexpected happens. James 1:1-4 says, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” It is easy to understand what James is saying here, but this passage is drastically harder to put into practice. What does James mean when he says to “consider it all joy” when we face trials? Does this mean that we should always smile and never experience sadness? I think not. Jesus wept, and Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Joy does not always mean we are filled with happy emotions. Joy is a gift from God. Joy is not always an emotion or a feeling. Instead, we choose to find joy in the object of our faith, Jesus Christ. Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Though we may not understand the unexpected, I pray we run to and find joy in Jesus Christ, our source of hope.

Due to the pandemic, the past two years have been a bit unexpected. In addition to the pandemic, each of us have faced other unexpected circumstances. Many of us have not stopped long enough to think about how Christians should respond to such unusual times. I encourage you to find some time this month to process the past two years. Think about your response to the unexpected. Repent if you have responded incorrectly at different points. Apologize to people that you may have hurt. Turn to Jesus and find joy in the storm.

Jesus is the one that calmed the storm, woke the dead, and opened the eyes of the blind. Jesus is no stranger to difficulties and challenges, but where we failed, Jesus was blameless and perfect. Jesus did not tell us that we will not face the unexpected in this world. Instead Jesus says in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” May we find hope, joy, and courage in Jesus today. He has overcome the sin, brokenness, and death of this world. Jesus has promised Christians an eternal hope in Him. When the unexpected comes, may we find our joy in Him!

In Christ,

Nick, Amanda, and Julia

Change

Does change excite you, or are you the type that tries to avoid change? We all have different ways that we deal with change. Some handle change really well, and some do not adapt to change so easily. We all have different seasons in our lives, and with each new season, we face new challenges and many changes. I know my family along with many others have been in a season of change, and our church has been going through a significant season of change as well.

As Christians, our lives have been eternally changed by the grace and mercy of Jesus. Daily, Christ is changing and transforming us into His own image (2 Corinthians 3:18). This transformation is both an internal and an external change. God made us to learn and grow, and He specifically made us to learn and grow in Him. Ever since I became a Christian, I have found that no place feels quite like home, and over the years, I have begun to realize that this world is not our home if we are in Christ. Instead my heart longs for my eternal home with Jesus. In this world we are “aliens and strangers” (1 Peter 2:11), and Hebrews 13:14 tells us, “For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” Thankfully Paul gives us some words of encouragement in Philippians 3:20-21 by saying, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” 

Change, growth, and transformation are unavoidable in this life, and yet, God seems to use each moment to teach us more about Him. When we became Christians, God in His sovereign wisdom chose to leave us here on this sinful earth to now be witnesses and ambassadors for Him to the unbelieving world. Each day, may we live our lives with that reality in our minds. I have found this mindset begins to dull the pain of change and growth. When we know we have been promised eternal glory in the presence of our holy and perfect God, we begin to see purpose in each day, each challenge, and each opportunity for growth. 

May our hearts cry out with the words of Paul in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.” As a by-product, we change, we grow, and we go as Christ leads us. “To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21).

In Christ,

Nick, Amanda, and Julia

Spinning our of control

Nobody could have predicted 18 months ago that we would be where are today. That’s just the nature of human knowledge – we cannot see into the future. My generation has had it relatively easy – no major world war, no world-wide pandemic, growing wealth, fairly comfortable lives. To some degree we’ve heard or experienced the odd localized case of illness, war, terrorism, and economic issues that threatened to impact our world, but none great enough to make us stop and reconsider our way of life. I guess we just took our privileges for granted.

It is therefore no wonder that COVID-19 has hit us hard, stopping all of us in our tracks. It often felt during this past year as if the world, our world, is spinning out of control. And just as we started thinking numbers are decreasing, with some countries seemingly getting on top of this thing, the miraculous quick development and availability of vaccines, we are all shocked to watch in horror how this virus and its impact is spinning out of control in India. It is a stark reminder that this thing is not over yet. As the expression goes: It ain’t over ’till it’s over.

As we continue to look for answers, pray for protection and ask question about why this is happening, it is hard to come up with answers for those who are really suffering. Being in lock-down in our relatively safe environment is no match for what others in the world of illness, death, suffering, hunger and yearning for peace and safety are experiencing.

Some Bible authors also ask hard questions. People like Job who suffered so much loss without knowing why it hit him “out of nowhere”. Some of the Psalmists also questioned God’s care, wondering about his apparent absence when they needed Him (“Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” – Ps 10:1). But almost in every single case we also see these people turning TO God, rather than turning away from Him, as seen in the same psalm (10:16): “The LORD is king forever and ever”.  This confession is based on the fact that they knew God is in control, even if and when it seems to be different in the short-term.

I am praying that, one day in the future, we’ll look back at how God used this history-making pandemic and its impact around the world to confirm what we already know and confess: Our God is in control!

Yours in the Lord’s service

Gerhard

Psalm 115:3 “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.”

Old dogs and new tricks!

I’d like to claim for myself the English expression “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, meaning: the older we get the harder it is to learn new things. This is true in many areas of life. Just think about trying to teach your granny to use the latest smart phone! And, I must admit, the world of technology around us develops so fast that it is hard to keep up. For an old dog like me, I think I may have just decided to let the younger generation get on with it, although I surprised myself during this lock-down era by learning to do worship services online, Zooming around on Sundays, Bible studies and meetings. Maybe old dogs can still do it…?

It made me think of what Jesus experienced during his earthly ministry. His message was new, refreshing, and different. He reached out to the poor, sick and lowly people, telling his disciples that the kingdom of God belongs to “children” who are willing to receive God’s love in child-like faith. Ordinary people loved Jesus’ teaching, but the learned “old dogs” of Judaism hated Him.

The biggest challenge He faced was trying to convince these “old dogs” that He was the Messiah, God’s Son, who came to die and be raised up in order to offer salvation to anyone in the world who believes in Him. They just could not get beyond their old dog understanding of a Jewish king on a throne in Jerusalem that would bless only Israel. And what Jesus came to do is precisely what we are celebrating this month during Easter. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is the Saviour of the world, and He brought about salvation in a way that no-one could have predicted.

Easter is a good reminder of the basis of our faith, summarized by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”

Let’s celebrate our Saviour and our salvation!

Hang in there!

For the title above I was actually tempted to use the well-known and commonly used Afrikaans expression “vasbyt”. Literally translated it means “bite tight”, meaning to hold on and not let go. This expression may have originated from seeing at how some dog breeds can lock their jaws on an item and, no matter how hard you kick, scream or beat, they simply will not let go. “Vasbyt” developed into a standard expression when we encourage one another to hang in there, don’t let go or to be patient. This is what I want to do here.

Many pictures come to mind when I think about not letting go, such as an athlete in a marathon race, a person enduring long-term illness, or the encouragement to remain hopeful during this COVID-19 time when life is no longer what it used to be and there just doesn’t seem to be an end in sight!

The Bible has much to say about “vasbyt”, both in examples and also in direct instructions. Just think about Moses’ life of 3 X 40 years (palace, desert and leading Israel during their wanderings), Joseph sold in slavery and ending up in prison in Egypt, David fleeing Saul for many years, and Paul enduring much persecution in simply wanting to share the message of the Gospel. But also, and very relevant for us during this month as we prepare for Easter, think about how Jesus endured much rejection, pain, suffering and ultimately death to redeem us for God.

The Bible is clear that the Christian life will include a lot of “vasbyt”. We are encouraged to hold on, be patient, wait and not lose faith. In this former believers (people of faith) and Jesus set the example, as we see in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

In other words: Hang in there! Don’t let the current lockdown, debates, loneliness, economic hardships and many other challenges take your focus away from the Lord.

May the Lord Jesus help us all

Conspiracies!

Dealing with fake news…

News spreads quickly these days. Just think about how quickly we know about the latest event via our phones, and sometimes watching live events on television, literally seeing how events unfold in real time. Every morning I can read the latest COVID statistics for the past 24 hours – it’s as quick as that!

Unfortunately, this is also true for false news, conspiracy theories, “solutions” to hard questions, guesses about why things happen in the world, and how the world will come to an end (end-time theories). These have been around for ages and there is no doubt in my mind that we will see more of it. The internet and cyber communication has made it so easy and quick to spread news … even false news, thoughts, ideas, interpretations, sermons and much more.

One of the big news items currently has to do with theories about where the Corona virus came from, how scientists or wealthy people (or companies) have designed and manipulated it, spread it, and now have the power to make money or rule the world, even suggesting a possible implant of some chip in all of us via the vaccines.

The question for us as Christians is: How do we deal with it?

Without trying to be too simplistic, let me highlight a few truths that will help us respond to all these theories and ideas.

• Prayerfully and carefully study the Word of God. Get to know more about God and give less attention to theories about the future and interpretations about events in the world.
• Make sure you believe and trust in God, and in God alone!
• Stay within the age-old, basic truths that the Church and solid Christian leaders have taught us – the faith we inherited.
• Seek wise counsel. Discuss any theory and your feelings with a trusted and wise person who can give you Biblical perspective.
• Test theories, “news” items, and any idea that starts spreading by seeing if there is truth in it. Use fact-check type websites to see where these viral stories came from and if there is any truth in it.
• Read 1 John 4:1-6 – focus on how to “test every spirit”!

If you need prayer, advice or just need to chat, please contact me.