Waiting with Faithful Hope

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him.

He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised.  I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people.  He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of your people Israel.”

Luke 2:25; 28-32

 

As I travel around during the summer, I’ll sometimes see children lined up waiting to get into the church or school gym for VBS. The air is filled with excitement and anticipation about what they’re going to do, what games they’ll play or crafts they’ll construct and the songs they’ll sing. 

At one program, as a mother dropped off her children, she commented that they had been waiting for this for weeks and were so excited. Before the week is even up, kids will be asking our volunteers “When are you coming back?”, already waiting for next year.

Fuel Pumps and Forest Fires

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

Every year, there’s always at least one challenge that we need to deal with when it comes to flying. Last year, it was fuel availability. Just before I departed for Thompson for the summer, I learned that the one truck at the Thompson airport they had to fuel aircraft with aviation gasoline had broken down. “How long could it take to fix a truck?”, I thought. Apparently, about six weeks. To make matters worse, halfway though the summer, the only refinery in Western Canada that produces Avgas had to be unexpectedly shut down for repairs, causing a shortage all across the prairies.

Thankfully, as is so often the case, God, being sufficient in all things, provided and we were able to make it through the summer regardless of these challenges. This year, fuel availability hasn’t been a problem, but we’ve had other difficulties to overcome.

In Full Accord

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:1-5

I first met Elma some thirteen years ago. In fact, she was actually one of the first people I met, on my first trip into a northern community with LAMP when I flew into Pelican Narrows, SK. At the time, Elma and her husband ran the Northern grocery store there. 

However, she was originally from Red Sucker Lake, in Manitoba, where she first became familiar with LAMP when we started sending a VBS team to her community 40+ years ago. Her mother really helped take the young couple, John and Sue, that were volunteering with LAMP under her wing and Elma’s children attended LAMP’s VBS. Her children have since gone on to become leaders in their community, churches, and surrounding area with a deep and lasting faith in Jesus Christ.

Persevering Through Fire

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.    

James 1:12

 


A few weeks ago, shortly after we had put Ethan down for the night, I heard someone faintly yelling and banging on a door at a house nearby. I went to check to see what the commotion was. As I approached the front door, I saw what was happening: our neighbour’s house across the street was engulfed in flames. 

Thankfully, everyone was able to get out of the house safely and within a couple of minutes, the fire department was there with about four trucks and a dozen plus firefighters putting out the flames. 

Answered Prayer

 

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

 

Matthew 19:13-15

 

It was lunch time on Monday and the Cadet Center, a large warehouse-like building in Cross Lake, MB, was all ready.  That’s where we would be holding the first LAMP VBS of the year.  The 11 team members had made the long trip, all the way from Indianola, Iowa for the first time and were brimming with excitement in their matching shirts. 

Swords into Plowshares

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 

Isaiah 2:4

It didn't take long after the Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903 for airplanes to be used militarily. The first world war began just over ten years later when aircraft started to be used in the war effort. World War 2 drove many of the major advances in aviation technology, helping to usher in the jet age and modern aircraft as we know them today.

Isaiah prophesized in the above verse that in the last days nations will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. That is, they would take instruments of war and turn them into instruments of peace.

I’ve always somewhat thought of the work that we do in that way. When MAF started shortly after the second world war, aviation had, for the most part of its history, been used for death and destruction. The first MAF pilots took what had been instruments of war and used them to help bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

LAMP’s Cessna 182, GODX, takes off from Cooking Lake Airport in Alberta

Obviously, the planes we use on the mission field today are not the same as the planes that are used in the military.  The plane needs to be suited for the job and it’s critical that the right aircraft is used for the right mission.

Little is Much

 

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:8-14

 

I sometimes wonder what the shepherds thought when they arrived at the manger. Having just been visited by a host of angels, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah, a Saviour, a new born king! Did they arrive at the manger and think, “Is this it?” A baby, humbly born in a stable; He wasn’t born in some  great palace to a powerful and wealthy family, somebody that could obviously influence and change things. How could this child possibly change the world?