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.