Looking to Jesus

 "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." - Acts 4:20

This scripture come from a chapter in Acts where the religious leaders of the time were telling the apostles to be quiet. They were not ready to here the good news of Jesus Christ and neither did they want others from their synagogue to hear the message. Status, control, and politics had clouded their vision. 

What about us today? What clouds our vision to the good news of Jesus Christ? 

Daily worries and concerns? The current state of our world? The fear of how it will all end? 

Our minds can quickly find a multitude of dilemmas and problems to dwell on instead of finding "the peace that passes all understanding." 

Let us "fix our eyes upon the Author and Finisher of our faith." Let us "run with patience the race that is set before is." (Hebrews 12:1&2) Let us boldly walk forward, claiming our position, inheritance, acceptance, and safety in Jesus Christ our All in All. 

Keep courage brothers and sisters! Our redemption draweth nigh! 

Beautiful...

 "AND I JOHN SAW THE HOLY CITY, NEW JERUSALEM, COMING DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF HEAVEN, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND.

AND I HEARD A GREAT VOICE OUT OF HEAVEN SAYING, BEHOLD THE TABERNACLE OF GOD IS WITH MEN, AND HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM AND THEY SHALL BE HIS PEOPLE, AND GOD HIMSELF SHALL BE WITH THEM, AND BE THEIR GOD.

AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES; AND THERE SHALL BE NO MORE DEATH, NEITHER SORROW, NOR CRYING, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE ANYMORE PAIN: FOR THE FORMER THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY.

AND HE THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE SAID, BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, WRITE: FOR THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE."  - Revelation 21:2-5

Isn't that absolutely BEAUTIFUL?

No more pain, no more crying, no more doubting, no more anger, no more sinful human nature. All will be peace, and joy, and love. I don't know about you but these verses bring so much joy, hope, and peace to my heart. These may be troubled times but God is here. He has a plan and will see it through to the end. As His children we can rest in it. Amen. 

Where Are You?

As a Mennonite woman, one of my greatest burdens is for the Mennonite churches of today to be strong in vision and passion for the kingdom of God. It saddens my heart when I see people more concerned with their immaculate homes, souped-up vehicles, popularity status, and good reputation than loving God with all their heart and telling other people about Him. We are to shine as lights in this dark world yet, if we smudge our lives with the activities of this world, we will gradually melt into the same inky blackness that they are floundering in. My plea to the current Mennonite churches is this. Rise up! Search your hearts and see where you stand. It is fully possible to be a Mennonite without being a Christian. What gets you excited? What motivates you? What gets most of your ambition? Truly, what are you living for?


Will you leave all your treasures
Your fun and your things,
To serve in Christ's kingdom
For heavenly themes?

Will you drop all your friendships
If Christ bids you go?
The call for His kingdom
Is worth more you know.


Do you care for your money
Or people's lost souls?
Do you live for each dollar
When saved lives are gold?

Where is your vision
Where is your heart turned?
To pride, sin, and pleasure
Or saving the world?

Christ calls disciples,
Who give up their lives.
Who suffer so gladly
To share how He died.

Just where are you living?
Take note of your place.
In Christ's blessed kingdom,
Or your selfish ways?

Shipwrecked Lives

I was reading Acts 27 this morning where it details the account of Paul the Apostle, travelling on a ship from Caesarea to Italy. As it turns out, the ship runs into a hellish storm and they are shipwrecked on the island of Melita. Paul, who had originally advised the sailors to abandon the entire trip, encourages them through the storm and tells them that God has revealed that no lives will be lost on this journey.

When I reached the end of the chapter I asked in a half-spoken tone. "Lord, what shall I learn from this?" Immediately the verse "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved," (Acts 16:31) popped into my mind. As I contemplated this verse, an old poem I had penned when I was fifteen years old played in my memory.

The Lighthouse

It stood alone on the dark dismal shore,
Waiting for its owner's return.
Suddenly it heard a ship crash on the rocks,
And it tried to make its silent light burn.

Its attempts were in vain so it finally gave up,
Watching dismally as more ships came in.
As they tossed on the waves and crashed on the shore,
A sound rose above the loud din.

Those lovely notes were the Master's own voice,
Assurance and love ringing clear.
His hands deftly lit that dark silent light,
And it shone with a message of cheer.

And so like that lighthouse, our lives are today,
And without the kind Master's touch.
We'll flounder in darkness, lost in our sin, 
Lacking that life-giving touch.

But if we'll call out and answer his call,
He'll reach down and honour our cry.
And our lives will shine with the love that He gives,
Till we reach that grand home on high.

-Corrine Horst 


Perhaps your life is shipwrecked today. You may have fallen into sin or be bound in darkness having never experienced freedom, joy, and light from Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World. If that is the case and you would like to find hope, feel free to send me a comment via this blog or connect with a Christian close to you. Jesus truly is the Way, The Truth, and the Light. He can dispel all shadows of darkness and lift you to life and light.

When God is Silent...

When God is silent
I trust He is with me.
When God is silent
I know He is near.
When God is silent
I keep moving forward.
When God is silent
I trust He is here.
When God is silent
I give Him my future.
When God is silent
I trust in Him still.
When God is silent
I know He is able
When God is silent
I wait for His will.


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

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." ~ Isaiah 55:9 NIV

Choose You This Day...

It is time to begin anew. To release this poor, prodigal, blog from its low dormant position to new heights of life and inspiration. As the contemplative writer of Ecclesiastes writes, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. (3:1&4)

Recently I've been inspired by the ability and freedom our Creator has given us to make choices and  my ponderings have given way to this little blurb.

I am free. Free to choose. To decipher which way to take, which avenue to walk down, which road to take in life. I can choose my own way, another’s way, or the way of a Sovereign God. All these routes have consequences, all these ways serve a different god. I can choose to serve myself and live a comfortable life here on earth with nothing left to show at the end of it except the pleasure I experienced, or I can choose to serve God, give to others, endure hardship and receive an everlasting reward. The pull of my selfish flesh scares me. I realize how easy it would be to go my own way. To dismiss responsibility and self-discipline; to live merely for pleasure and self-gratification. The decision is real. "Choose you this day whom you will serve."

It amazes me at times how God has allowed us the freedom to choose. Even though He is fully aware of our humanity and knows we might choose wrongly He gives us this privilege. He knows that following His will and walking in fellowship with Him is the best route for us and will protect us from sin and the pain that comes with it. However, He gives us the choice. To me this proves how much God desires our allegiance and love. He would never force us to love Him yet He wants desperately for us to come to Him. So much so, that He sent His Son Jesus to repair the gap that our sin has left. He loves You my friend. More than You can imagine, more than You can comprehend.  Won't You say yes to Him? He's waiting with open arms.

Emptiness

Within us all there is an ache
An empty wanting more.
A hole so large it drives us hard
Pursuing something more.

So many souls strike out in search
To fill the void within.
They dabble deep in pride and self
And steep themselves in sin.

They seek fulfillment in their work
Or lose their heads in play.
Thinking they can fill the hole
That haunts them day by day.

Yet fear remains and truth obscured,
The gap is still the same.
The bitter sadness in their soul
Grips tightly with its pain.

They cry for hope and search for rest,
Yet peace eludes their soul.
The aching void within their heart
Is still a giant hole.

I long to tell them of God's love,
To bring them to His face.
For only He can fill the gap,
That begs His saving grace.

The hope they seek lies in my soul,
For Jesus' grace is there.
The blood He shed on Calvary
Is hope for my despair.

The bitter ache within my heart
Is filled with joy divine,
For He alone has set me free
His precious peace is mine.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
He'll be your Strength and Guide.
Embrace His truth and let Him lead
His joy and peace you'll find.

'Tis only He who brings new life
To every troubled soul,
And only Jesus Christ can fill
Your giant aching hole.

Corrine Horst
July 10, 2016