August 1st, 2019
Dear friends, It’s a new month and if it is anything like today has been, I am eager to see what the rest of the month holds. Besides the ideal weather in southern Quebec – sunny and low humidity – I was blessed in several ways today. First, I enjoyed visiting friends that I’ve known for years, but haven’t time to be with that often. Although much of life revolves around family and work, spending time with friends helps us to share prayer concerns and sharpen each other spiritually. I am grateful for each person who reads this blog and prays for me, Karen, our family, our ministry and those who need our prayers.
While taking my mother to an appointment this morning, I learned that one of Karen’s former piano students is a doctor, practising in the same eye clinic where a lady from our church works. Looking at videos that explained eye features and infirmities, I couldn’t help but marvel at how intricately God made the human body.
Watching a popular reality television show yesterday, I heard the name of God being used by a young adult and the thought struck me that Americans are more likely to refer to God in public than are Canadians. A recent survey found that less than 30% of Quebecers polled said that they strongly agree with the statement “I believe in God.” Less than 10 per cent of Quebecers said they often attend religious services, with 25.9 per cent saying they never do. Francophones were less likely to strongly believe in God than Anglophones or Allophones. For the complete report, please go to: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebecers-less-likely-to-believe-in-god-than-other-canadians-survey 1.4528464.
Looking ahead, Karen and I will leave early Monday, Lord willing, to drive to Niagara-on-the-Lake to attend the 75th anniversary conference of Global Outreach Mission. In the 1940s, a young man named James Stewart left Scotland to share the gospel with the people of Eastern Europe, which was the beginning of the European Evangelistic Crusade, which became GOM in 1970. We are looking forward to seeing missionaries that we have known for many years, as well as meet many for the first time.
Scripture for the weekend: “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV)
Thought for the weekend: “Prayer is the slender nerve that moveth the muscles of omnipotence.” – Charles Spurgeon (quoted in “The Hour That Changes the World” by Dick Eastman)
By His grace,
Steve