Spring Means New Life!!

Today's blog starts with a post from Friday March 11th by Sharon...

BRRRRRRRREAKTHROUGH happened this morning!!! I was giddy about going to the Manor today, feeling in my Spirit that I was to expect BIG THINGS. Jack, Jen and I were able to connect with Brenda and Roger. Over two years there is now a lot of love & trust...they openly share about their life & hopes & concerns.
We then visited sweet Dave and he prayed to receive Jesus as his Lord & Saviour!!!!!!!!! We had such an amazing time with him...sharing, encouraging & teaching.
We popped in on Todd, and having just led Dave to the Lord...Sharon had the boldness to ask Todd whether he has said that same prayer...and he HAS!!!! He said that he prayed it in church one Sunday...but didn't tell anyone. I said "wow...you were really quiet about it"...lol...and he replied..."I'm a quiet guy"!!

It is so exciting to be alive in Christ!

Ephesians 2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Here is the realization that we were all the 'walking dead' before we came to Jesus and whether we want to admit it or not, we are either following the enemy, Satan and the building of His kingdom or we have been placed into the heavenly realms in Christ, a new kingdom, a new ruler, a new destiny as we see in the following verses.  It is a miraculous transformation!

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 

7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

It is undeserved and it is all about His incredible sacrifice on the cross.  

It has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Him, He made a way, but we have to accept it.  

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

It is really amazing to know that we have been created with purpose, with destiny.  It is incredible to also realize that God is the ultimate ‘set up’ MAN.  He has not only prepared us to do amazing works, but He has so designed our lives that He will line up events, situations and people to show His amazing love to.  It isn’t that we run around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to do a good deed.  It actually begins with listening and it can start with a simple prayer like, “God, who do you have lined up for me today to show Your love and compassion to?  Show me!’  It starts with listening to His still small voice and then looking through His eyes at the people around us.

Here are a few personal stories of being set up to do good works…

So, the other week, Sharon and I were with Addi and she was on her way to get blood work done.  As we were just about to turn off Gordon St., there was a lady bleeding from her head who fell on her bike after being hit by a car.  We immediately stopped and Sharon was there to hold her head while the emergency vehicles arrived.  As it turned out, this young lady had been training for the Boston Marathon and had just been off ‘crystal meth’ and had been turning her life around. 

Another time I was in Food Basics and the guy in front of me put his groceries through and then his card was declined.  As he was about to walk away, I felt God telling me, 'pay for his groceries'.  I didn't hesitate and proceeded to do it.  He was so appreciative and we would later connect by email where he did insist to pay me back, but it also opened the conversation to why and a great opportunity to connect with him.

 I have a neighbor who is hard to love.  Anytime we or our other neighbors get out in the street to play ball hockey or basketball she makes a point of calling the police to make sure we get off the street.  We have been also handed a list of city bylaws to reinforce the point.  So, there was a time one winter when she came out to shovel her driveway full of snow after I had just finished mine.  Everything in me wanted to hide beside my van and sneak my way back into our home, but the Spirit nudged me to go over there to help him.  It then turned into a conversation where I learned that she was dealing with cancer and an opportunity to pray for her.

It really all comes back to being sensitive to His small voice and by His leading we will do good works in His strength!


Pass DA Pasta fundraiser dinner NEWS...

We were thrilled to have sold out our fundraiser dinner on March 19th as we had a live jazz perform along with Carrie B. sharing her testimony with us.  It was a fantastic night as over $2700- was raised for Love In Motion that will support both Church at the Manor and UR Home, a ministry dedicated to support women coming out of sex trafficking.

Looking forward to doing the Love In Motion bike ride from Windsor to Midland in July with Josh!