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The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Truth - Why We Need a Saviour’ Day 1: Romans 5:12 – “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.” Day 2: Isaiah 64;6 – “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” Day 3: Romans 6:23 – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Day 4: Romans 3:23 – “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Day 5: Romans 3:10-12 – “As the Scriptures say, ‘No one is righteous - not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.’” Day 6: Jeremiah 17:9 – “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” Day 7: Romans 5:20 – “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

I talk about this often because I feel it is important to understand the significance of the birth of Christ. At the time of His birth, the Jewish nation was being supressed on so many levels. They were a conquered nation and the Romans ruled with an iron fist. They held power over the king of the Jewish nation who, himself, was a hard taskmaster. If that were not enough, the priestly order who not only controlled the Temple but also the numerous rules of the faith, held power over the spiritual aspects of the people. There was also a caste system so to speak where privilege either elevated or the lack thereof relegated to a lower level. So, if your family was rich enough and so long as you lived in harmony with your siblings and such, you wanted for little. If you were the son of a shepherd, chances are you and your kids would all be shepherds. Oppressed on so many levels, taken advantage of by several levels of bureaucracy and living day to day with very little hope. Regardless of your status in the community, all learned the Holy Message and would know well the prophecies. In this was their only hope. Isaiah 9: 2, 4, 6-7 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine… For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian… For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! For many, this was a promise that one day, the house of David would once again claim the throne and those who were oppressing the Jewish nation would pay a great price. The Messiah would come and drive the Romans out of the Holy Land, the great Herodian kingship would cease and a perfect peace would reign supreme. The Prince of Peace was coming to break the yoke of slavery, break rods and destroy the enemy. I am guessing they envisioned a glorious figure of a warrior with a great golden crown and riding in on a white stallion with legions of heavenly warriors ready to consume the enemy in a Holy fire. They missed something, however – For a child is born to us, a son given to us. The Son of God rode into town on a donkey inside His mother. He was born in a quiet stable, a cave, to simple parents and was wrapped in rags, simple strips of cloth. His bed was a hollowed-out stone that held hay for the animals when they were indoors, His attendants were the animals that were not in the fields and shepherds who came into town to witness what the angel of the Lord had declared. Some may argue that there were three wisemen in attendance, but they would have still been a long way off in the east and could have taken almost two years to get to Bethlehem. By the way, there were three gifts, the number of magi was not specified. All were looking for the warrior, Jesus came to live, love and build relationship with the people. He came to save through love and grace, not condemn and destroy. For those expecting a warrior there was disappointment but for those who were looking for peace and grace, Hope was born that day. This Sunday, December 25, will celebrate the birth of the Christ child, our Saviour. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

Do you ever wonder why some of the biggest hurts in life come from our family members? Why is it that some of the harshest arguments or the deepest pains come from family disputes? Kirsty Moseley stated “Unfortunately, sometimes we hurt the ones we love the most.” When we allow those into that very vulnerable area where love and trust are so intertwined, there is that chance that we might use their disadvantage against them. Years ago, a friend of mine called me for a time of counsel and support as he had just been taken down by a trusted friend, someone whom he trusted and loved. They had an argument and the trusted friend had decided to push a button that was hidden behind the trust panel. As the words were coming out of the trusted friend’s mouth, a little voice inside the orator’s mouth was screaming “shut up, shut up!” They both just stood there in silence wondering what had just happened and the crowd around them just went silent. Damage done, relationship changed. It took a moment to break trust, the question is this; did the love survive? Those who knew Christ understood He was the Prince of peace yet they wanted Him to be so much more. He came to the world as an infant, grew up amongst us all and built some pretty strong relationships. He loved His family and would do anything for them, including die but they wanted more. They would test His patience and His love. They would ask for healing and when He did so, others would taunt Him or declare Him a fake and demand His death. The thief on the cross even taunted Christ to show off His divinity but the other thief saw the love in the Christ and did not push His buttons but rather asked to be remembered. I personally think the greatest declaration of love He had for us all is in the simple statement “forgive them Father, for they know not what they do”. Jesus spent His entire life being persecuted from the time King Herod wanted Him killed sometime before His second birthday right up to Caiaphas demanding Jesus be crucified by the ruling Romans. Yet through it all, Christ came to earth, lived with us, taught us and, in the end, died for us so that we could be forgiven. He proved His divinity by returning from the grave and yet, the world still doubts. Through it all, His love for us reigns and this love is perfect, transparent and eternal so quit doubting and embrace His love. This Sunday, Pastor Todd will explore the beauty of the love of Christ and what it truly means for us all. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘When I Lean on God’ Day 1: Psalm 73:23-25 – “Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth.” Day 2: Psalm 27:13, 14 – “Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Day 3: Psalm 56:3, 4 – “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” Day 4: 1 Peter 5:6, 7 – “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” Day 5: Psalm 121:2 – “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” Day 6: Psalm 55:22 – “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Day 7: Psalm 37:39, 40 – “The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

One of my sisters was visiting us and enjoying a cup of tea the other day. Our conversation got around to us getting my mom’s Christmas tree up, lit and decorated. She brought an envelope from my mom, which contained a Christmas gift for our daughter and son in law out West. My sister mentioned that mom had a stack of envelopes for all us siblings, our kids, grand kids, and great grand kids, but needed help with all the names. Now as I thought of this, the number was staggering to us. Every year momma makes sure that no one is missed. She may not remember the names, but never forgets that they are there. She is eighty-six, and my wife’s mom is ninety, yet they both make sure that all in their family are remembered at Christmas. Both of their memories are fading and sometimes they don’t remember a visit or what they ate the previous day. Yet when it comes to Christmas and birthdays, well that’s different. We can’t blame them for forgetting names of family members, after all our numbers are high, and they are old. Like most families, time, life, and circumstances lead to grand children and great grand children not visiting their nannies as much as they would like. On top of this, we have pretty much lost the last couple of years due to the “pandemic”. It’s an uncomfortable fact of life that many elders remain with memories of days gone by, as the days slowly pass by. Our mom’s, like many others wait patiently for someone to drop in for a cup of tea, a chat, and a hug. They watch out their windows for vehicles coming up the driveway, and light up when someone comes to sit a while just to get caught up on what’s going on. With family spread out, and may working long hours, it’s just a fact that regular visits don’t happen. Even if they can’t see or hear very well, they are overjoyed that someone came to spend a little time with them. As I thought about our mom’s, I couldn’t help but see the similarity of God and grandmothers. He too, remembers each and every one of our names, birthdays and yes, what He will gift us with at Christmas. Inside His envelopes for every one of us is His personal invitation to visit. It also has His promise that He will never leave us, nor forsake us. Each one has our name on the outside, and I can imagine they are unsealed, making it easier to look inside. He also, sits waiting ever so patiently for us to visit. Unlike the human side, He overcomes a fracture in a family, His time is longer than ours, and as busy as life gets for us, He still makes a space to give us His undivided attention. Unlike our elderly mom’s, His eyesight, hearing, and memory are not failing. His hearing is so acute that He can hear what you are thinking. His eyesight is so sharp, He can see your future, because He has designed it. His memory is so good that the only thing He forgets, is our past. Our mom’s will eventually be a memory to us so it’s important to close in with them as much as we can. Their sight, hearing and memory will be restored when they join Him and our dad’s in the Heavens, which is what His card to them reads. The day will come when we replace our mom’s, waiting for that loving visit by our children and grand children. This circle of life will be repeated over and over until we’re all together in eternity. This Christmas I encourage everyone to take stock of their lives, and family and visit with each other. Make and take time to visit the nannies and grampies so they can see your face and hear your voice. It’s a powerful gift that will hopefully be with them for a long time. Make a commitment to open the envelope from God and read what He has written for you and your future. Reflect on the gift of the birth of His son, Jesus, given to each one of us. Visit with Him more than just at Christmas time. Sit and have a chat and I guarantee that you will find that God and grandmother’s have more to offer you than you could ever imagine. Mike Shindruk Master’s Hand Ministry

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Confession is the Way’ Day 1: James 4:8 – “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.” Day 2: Romans 10:9 – “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Day 3: 1 Timothy 6:12 – “Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.” Day 4: Acts 3:19 – “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Day 5: Psalm 32:5 – “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude” Day 6: Proverbs 28:13 – “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.” Day 7: 1 John 1:9 – “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Have you ever been so overjoyed that your eyes sweat? I’m not talking about laughing so hard that the tears flow but rather so completely overjoyed and you can’t explain to those around you the reason for it. As the overwhelming joy completely encompasses, others come to understand and also succumb to the emotional overload. Have you ever lived through such a time of indescribable joy? If you have, can you fully explain the emotions you went through at the time? The day my son was born, I was completely overcome with emotion, and I will admit this, I cried profusely with joy when I heard him cry out for the first time. Moments later, they placed a beautiful boy wrapped in a receiving blanket into my arms and said, “here you go daddy”. I do not remember a single thing after that, but I can recall seeing him, through tears, his wonderful face looking up at me. In one moment, life changed completely for the best. This is only one example of what I would consider unfathomable joy. Consider this. A group of shepherds in a field, another day another few baubles to keep food on the table. The only hope they had was a chance to be employed and warm for the upcoming winter and to maintain their cleanliness, so they did not find themselves on the outside looking in. Suddenly an angel came to them, lowly shepherds, to proclaim the birth of the King of kings, their long sought-after Saviour. That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:8-15 Can I ask this question; when the shepherds came to fully realize the magnificence of this announcement, did they fall to their knees, overcome with the joy to the point of tears? Were they speechless and so filled with awe that they could not contain the best news to just themselves? When you heard the fabulous news that you were forgiven, that in Christ you are saved and through Him you will know glory, were you overcome with joy? Do you still feel that way and celebrate it daily? This Sunday, Pastor Todd will explore the joy of the birth of Christ and the anticipation as it was first reported hundreds of years before. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘Times of Refreshing’ Day 1: Acts 3:19-21 – “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Day 2: Psalm 19:7 – “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” Day 3: Psalm 23:1-3 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” Day 4: Jeremiah 31:25 – “‘For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.’” Day 5: Isaiah 58:11 – “The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.” Day 6: Proverbs 3:7,8 – “Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.” Day 7: Proverbs 11:25 – “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Forgive me for daring to take liberties with such an iconic phrase but it just came to me while I was waiting for my breakfast at the Backwoods Bakery and Café this morning. For those of you familiar with Sundre, this wonderful little café is so welcoming and peaceful. As I walked in the door, it felt like I was being wrapped in a warm blanket of memories. There was the smell of fresh baking and of soup simmering on the stove. There was soft music playing in the background, conversational murmurings all around and a true sense of peace. I wish I could bottle that feeling and share it around, a wonderful peace to be sure. Peace, the final frontier. As we venture through life, such encounters with these comforting moments seem to be fleeting. I can remember a time long ago when peace was laying back on a hillside on a summer afternoon, the sound of birds and crickets filling the air, the warm sun and the smell of the grass all around calmed one to their very soul. Today, you can have those moments but they need to be scheduled in and the peace is not complete because the watch on one’s arm is always reminding this is only temporary. Sorry to be a downer but it is true. Holidays end, vacations are short, and the time between work and sleeping seems to be getting shorter and shorter. Mornings like this are truly refreshing and much needed at times. Peace, the final frontier. Think about this for just a moment. God worked on His creation for six days and on the seventh He rested. He told His creation to rest on the Sabbath because this was a day to rest and be blessed in what He created for us all. Jesus spent much of His day ministering to others, pouring out all He could for those who needed whether they knew it or not. In the evening, He retired to pray and meditate, to rejuvenate from the day and wrap Himself in the peace of the Father. As I think of this, `all I can think of is the prophecy of Isaiah. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT There is a time coming when peace will reign for all and the thoughts of war and conflict will be long forgotten. In my memory, the thoughts of those precious moments of peace where time was not important, the issues of the world did not matter are, for me, fading with time only to be brought back to the forefront on special occasions. I look forward to the day when it is the perfect peace that dominates and conflict, wars, disease and negativity are long forgotten. What a wonderful thought this beautiful morning. Lord, Prince of Peace, be with us all. This Sunday, Pastor Todd will once again be digging into the Epistle of Paul to the Church in Philippi. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

THE CLOUD The Bible is comprised of 66 books, written over a period of about 1500 years. But similar to a treatise written by a single author, it contains themes which extend throughout all its pages. One such, which extends from Genesis through to Revelation, is that of ‘the cloud’. After the flood, when the rain had stopped, Noah and his family left the ark and made a sacrifice to the Lord. In turn, God made a covenant with Noah and as a token of this said: “I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.” (Genesis 9:13) And since then, God has often been associated with a cloud. In Exodus, when the Hebrews were leaving Egypt, it is said that: …the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way… (Exodus 13:21) Later on it says that: …the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. (Exodus 16:10) When Moses later went up to the mount to meet with God… …a thick cloud covered the mount. (Exodus 24:15, KJV) The Lord said to Moses: “Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud that the people may hear…and believe you forever.” (Exodus 19:9) Later on, when Moses entered the tabernacle… …the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. (Exodus 33:9) Still later on, …Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle…because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:35) In Kings, the Bible states that:…when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.(1 Kings 8:10-11) And that: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.” (1 Kings 8:12) Job, speaking of the majesty of God, said: He covers the face of His throne, And spreads His cloud over it.(Job 26:9) And it is not only in the Old Testament that we hear of God being in the cloud. At the time of Jesus’ transfiguration, Mark relates that:…a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”(Mark 9:7) When Luke talks about the coming of the Son of Man, he states: Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. (Luke 21:27) Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Acts 1:9) And it ends in Revelation with this:…behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man…and in His hand a sharp sickle… So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.(Revelation 14:14&16) And so God is associated with a cloud from the book of Genesis right through to the book of Revelation. It shows in another way how the Bible is unified from beginning to end, even though it is composed of many books written over a long period of time. And it is in such context that we should think about it. Dr. Barclay

If I were to ask “How do you define hope?” I am sure I would get a myriad of answers. For a starving person, hope could be defined as an anticipation of a great feast that never ends. In the case of a person wracked by a painful and incurable disease, hope could be defined as an expectation of a cure or even just a relief from the pain. For someone waiting for a loved one to come back from a military tour overseas, this could be seen as a hopefulness that they come home safe and sound and life can resume some sense of normalcy. Hope has, over the past, been seen as something temporary or even a pipe dream because so often our hope has been in the things of the world. Yes, this may sound harsh but, if we are to be truly honest with ourselves, to put our hope in a person is not a perfect scenario. Think about this for a moment. I love my wife beyond all understanding but there have been times when she has placed her hope in something I promised and I was unable to deliver. It is not that I did not want to fulfill her hopes but I am fallible. There is not a single one of us who can claim perfection and if anyone says they have never had their hopes dashed because of another, I say think a little harder. You see there is only One who is perfect and you can place your hope in Him because He has never failed any one of us. Consider this, His hope is that all shall come to know His love and joy and embrace His promise of life eternal in Glory but there are so many out there who have been hurt by placing their hope in people, and yes I will go so far to say in the church, only to be disappointed but I offer this; God has not let us down, not even once, it is the people who falter and this tests our faith, our hope. For many, they have walked away yet Jesus remains committed to everyone of us, for you see “God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” Rom 5:8-9. This is where we should look for our perfect hope. This is the perfect promise that is already paid for, is already waiting for all of us to claim and embrace. This Sunday, we are celebrating perfect hope, a hope in a Messiah who came for one and all. God sent His Son so that we would all have access to the perfect hope of Glory. Christ loves us so much that He came to take our sins upon Himself so that we may embrace the promise of Glory and therein lies our hope. We can put our hope in our brothers and sisters but our ultimate fulfillment will come from our Saviour. This Sunday, Pastor Todd will once again be digging into the Epistle of Paul to the Church in Philippi. We would love for you to join us either in person or online Sunday at 10:30 AM MST. Facebook Live - Main Ave Fellowship YouTube Live – You Tube We look forward to seeing you this Sunday. Blessings, Pastor Todd www.mainavefellowship.ca Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks ‘The Goodness of God’ Day 1: Psalm 107:8, 9 – “Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Day 2: Psalm 100:4, 5 – “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Day 3: Psalm 33:5 – “He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.” Day 4: Psalm 69:16 – “Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.” Day 5: Nahum 1:7 – “The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” Day 6: Psalm 145:5-7 – “I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.” Day 7: 1 Chronicles 16:34 – “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” ** Verses taken from the New Living Translation