Encouragement

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 (NIV) The windshield was cracked. Not just a hairline fracture, but a “spider web” shatter that had the potential to make Spiderman sit up and take notice! So, I got it changed. Such a difference — from the gravel-battered glass of yesterday, to the clear drivability that I could now experience. It reminded me of how God’s Word talks about His forgiveness. Then came […]

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV) My life was out of control. Drugs and drinking had taken over and ruled my life. I was headed for a party on my motorbike. There were three of us riding on it, but we never made it. We ended up in an accident, and I was taken to jail in handcuffs. I woke up in jail the next morning, and it was there that the Holy Spirit brought to my memory a […]

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7 (NIV) We always look to things in the world for hope. It seems that those things are always changing from day to day, and they never give us lasting hope. If we would only remember that Jesus came to live with humankind to teach us God’s ways — so we will know that true Hope is only in Him. Hebrews 13:5b says, “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (NIV). He gave us salvation, the forgiveness of sins, when […]

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1; “My times are in y our hands.” Psalm 31:15 (NIV) Experts agree that a staggering amount of time is consumed each day by interruptions. Whether at work or at home, a phone call or an unexpected visit can distract us from what we feel is our main purpose. God has given each of us exactly the same amount of time in a day. The question is: how do we spend that time? We hear a lot of expressions like: “Time sure flies” . . […]

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) The late Ed Wood, a former Indian Life Board member, was one who believed in realizing potential. I’ll tell the story as it was told to me — the un-stretched version! Yup . . . read on. Ed’s teenage daughter had just graduated from high school and wanted to go to college in Phoenix, Arizona . . . a long way from their Winnipeg home. Ed believed in […]

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.” 1 Samuel 16:13 (ESV) David’s anointing is a pivotal moment in Israelite history. God will promise David that the throne will stay in his house (lineage). David would eventually be king over all Israel, and just over a thousand years later a descendant of his — Jesus Christ — would be born in the same town David was anointed. Jesus Christ would be […]