Although this has been a intense refining fire seaon, it has also been a special season of rest and preparing for the new year as a family. Last week seemed like a shift from the battle to enter into rest. The past couple of months we found a landing strip near Hamilton, Ontario at Transformation Centre with Eagleworld ministries. https://fb.watch/hptrZlYEgP/
We had our plan but God had His plan which has been hard to discern in this seaon of testing.
We were blessed to rent out a basement suite from a special elderly couple from their congregation that they connected us with. These guys haved truly washed our feet and lifted our hands like Aaron and Hurr did for Moses. Exodus 17:12-13 New Living Translation (NLT) We transitioned from Quebec/Ottawa, Ontario area October 5th, packed our van, said goodbye to the precious young airbnb family that took us in as family and Catch the Fire Ottawa Church family who blessed us beyond words, which we will always be grateful for. We were impacted as we were able to worship with them also for a couple of services where God was moving so sweetly. Below is a link of a worship service with Catch the Fire.
At first when we began to enter into this purification, breaking season my heart felt like it was on overload. I cried out to the Lord these battles seems so intense God! His reply was something like this, “Surrender your all to me Catherine and enter into the joy of dying to self and the Life of Christ.”
Hebrews 12: 2-3
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
It is complete death to selfish ways.
I just want to share my Devotion that I have been doing with some friends that has been inspiring this Christmas season. I have cut and pasted it for your reading enjoyment below.
“The Shepherds:
Shepherds were the lowest of the low class. In fact, shepherds were deemed so untrustworthy by society, they could not even serve as a witness in court.
So if angels were going to appear to announce the birth of the Savior, why would God choose to send them to untrustworthy shepherds? Wouldn’t a group of priests seem logically like a better choice?
But purpose trumps logic. From the very beginning, Jesus came to “save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11 NASB).
Seriously. It’s just so exciting to serve a God who is so intentional in the details.
First, the shepherds ran to Jesus. Then, they shared with others what they had experienced, and people paid attention. There must have been a drastic difference in these outcasts of society after they encountered Jesus.
The Christian life is inconvenient, full of detours, and rarely simple. In fact, Dave Earley’s definition of ministry is my favorite. He says, “Ministry is getting dirty to make others clean.”
In other words, genuine service is rooted in what we do for others, not what others can do for us.
So let’s ask ourselves this:
What have I done lately that serves another where I did not get anything in return?
After all, it’s not really serving to serve only those who can serve us in return.
Just as the lives of those shepherds changed forever that night, we have the same opportunity with those whom God puts in our path to serve.
As Christ-followers, we have the opportunity to be radically different in the work world. Let everyone else boast in their paychecks, fancy lifestyles, and crazy accomplishments. We get to show up every day and serve the one, true God.
Let’s be more about what we give than what we get. “
“God, You came to seek and to save those who were lost, and to help us to do the same. It’s so easy to get caught up in the “business” way of life. But God, protect us from that. Give us Your eyes to see those who need You and Your heart to serve them. Use us as Your hands and feet. We love You. Amen. “
This Devotional really inspired me to do an update this morning . We also got to celebrate little Olivia Kate Joy turning 1 years old! ❤️ I can’t believe how the time has flown!
