Easter

Good day everyone!

I have really enjoyed 'The Easter Experience'...it has helped me to take the opportunity to settle my heart down during this very important season.

As I have shared around a number of messages surrounding the cross, I now find myself wondering who I best resemble.

• Am I like the Soldiers who mocked and spit on him as they scorned him.
• Perhaps like the disciples who deserted Christ in his time of need.
• How about the Jews who rejected Him because he wasn't the Messiah they wanted
• Perhaps Mary and John who stood there watching there son and friend die.

Regardless of where we find ourselves today, I want to encourage you to ponder the story of Easter and make the coming week(tradition calls it the Passion Week), and think about the many blessings we have in Christ.

Thanks so much for reading,

PB

Thoughts about Mom Holbrough

I came across these verses and thought about my mother in law, Mom Holbrough.

Psalm 119:73-76...

⁷³ Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.

⁷⁴ May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.

⁷⁵ I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

⁷⁶ May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant.

The words, in faithfulness you have afflicted me, stood out today.

Here are my thoughts...Perspective brings pain. Gratefully, God is in the midst of our pain. We don't always understand the things that happen around us, but we can be assured of God's love...his unfailing love brings us comfort at the right time. I know God's love is with Mom Holbrough and he will bring the comfort to get through this next season. God understands our limits...he understands our hearts...he understands our afflictions.

So today, if you are struggling, remember, He created you, He loves you and He will see you to the very end.

I love you Mom Holbrough and remember, God can....

Peace

PB

Happy New Year!

Psalm 20:7 says, Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

What a great passage of scripture.

We can find ourselves to trust in allot of things, people and sometimes the government. But today, I want to encourage all of us to trust in the name of the Lord.

None of us don't know what 2010 may hold, but God does....who know what may take place...we may come into a huge amount of money...maybe you might be blessed with a better job...how about this one, your kids may surprise you with a trip to Florida in the middle of this cold winter!

It is great to dream and wonder what is going to happen. But I want to encourage you today, trust God beyond your circumstances. We can get discouraged so quickly when we believe only what our eyes see.

So, today, let's make it our goal to trust in the Lord beyond what we may not see in the horizon this 2010.

Happy New Year Abundant Life!

We love you!

PB

Merry Christmas

Wow, can you believe that another year has gone by?

7 years ago, a little family was invited to come and Pastor a great church in London called Abundant Life Community Church. We were from a small town. The anticipation was large. All of didn't know what we were in for.

Yet, now 7 years later...

• we have 3 grown children with 3 wonderful spouses!
• God has blessed us with two incredibly cute grand children!
• ALCC has become a place where people can safely grow in the things of God!
• the earmark of our little church is changed lives!
• We are so thankful that God brought us to LONDON!

At times, it is overwhelming with everything that is going on, around us. But, we are so grateful, in how God has used all of us to see changes which are healthy for so many people.

This Christmas, spend a little time and thank the Lord for what He has done in your life. God is up to something for all of us as we peak around the corner into 2010!

I am convinced, that 2010, is going to be filled with more God Encounters! I hope that you are ready, I sure am.

In the meantime, from my family to yours...

Merry Christmas!

PB

Christmas is Coming!

Wow, in 28 days we will be sitting down with family and friends to celebrate one of my favorite times of the year. But I was giving some thought to this...why is this one of my favorite times of the year? Certainly we know that for some for a variety of reasons, don't particularly like Christmas...

For me...

• I loved my mom's baking...she made special cookies and treats!
• The gifts were always a hi-light, my dad worked hard to blessed his four children!
• Certainly being together was always a good thing because my dad was so busy with work, that sometimes, we didn't see much of him. Not complaining, just missed him.

Now some of you are going to wonder, what about the times with Church. Well growing up, we didn't go to church. Very few memories. But later in my teen years, I do remember going on Christmas Eve to what became my home Church. Pastor Stewart would lead in Carols, bring a strong message and it was like family. To this day, I have Christmas Eve Service because of the profound effect of Pastor Stewart. Good memory of my Pastor growing up.

So, this season, I hope that you will be blessed by all the activities that surround the season and make a new memory with God.

He loves you!

Merry Christmas everyone!

PB

Remembering...

Today my daughter asked me, if we had anyone who fought in any of the two World Wars. I was proud to say, yes, my grand father battled in the First World War. Secondly, I am very proud of my grandfather who fought in the war by farming and providing food. The story goes, as my farming Grandpa went to the recruiting centre, he was told, go home and grow food, we need you more in that field than oversees.

My dad tells me, he was saddened by the rejection but understood. His role was very important as well as my other grandpa who fought overseas.

Friends, each of them had a vital role to play. So do we, when it comes to church. When we all do our part, it is amazing how much more is accomplished for the Kingdom. But when we don't all do our part, we don't live up to the potential that God has given us.

Can I encourage you to consider your role carefully. If you doing your part, then keep going strong. If not, then consider what you think would be a good place to start. Pray and ask God, he is always looking for people that will serve him in a variety of capacities. You may be surprised at the outcome.

I Corinthians 12:18, 'But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he want them to be.'

We all have a part to play...may God continue to arrange us as He see's fit!

I hope that on this day of remembrance, you took the time to honor those in your heart that gave of themselves for our freedom...lest we forget...lest we forget!

Blessings,

PB

Great View

I read a great statement from the book, the dark side of the soul...it reads..

“It’s not about turning away from the pain but learning to rest in it."

What a great thought....how often do we find ourselves trying to resist the pain in our lives when God wants us to embrace it. I am rediscovering how God is there in the midst of our darkness. He is actually much closer then we may realize.

The psalms is a great place to read when we are in pain. David and other writers were not afraid to idenitify the pain of there own hearts. There walk with God allowed them the opportunity to be vulnerable and open about there hurts, habits and hang ups.

May we all find that place where we can rest with our pain, knowing that God is there in our darkest moments.

How freeing is that?

PB