Have you visited places recently that you saw when you were young that brought back memories of seeing them before? Recently, I have been in several places that I had not visited for many years and remembered what they were like. One of those places is Bethel Baptist Church in the borough of Saint-Laurent on the island of Montreal. Karen attended a breakfast there a couple of weeks ago with our oldest daughter. Located across the street from Place Vertu (a shopping centre), the church building looks the same from the front as it did when it was built. However, the rear of the building is different than before, as it was extended in an expansion of the facility. You can see a photo of the building and learn more about this church at: https://bethelbaptistmontreal.com/
One of the former pastors of Bethel Baptist Church is Rev. David Trafford, who officiated at our wedding in 1981. We have wonderful memories of Pastor Trafford and his wife and family. We were blessed by their love for the Lord and their compassion for others. In recent years, we were glad to learn that Catherine and Sharon co-founded Jabez Blanket Ministry International, which provides orphans and other vulnerable children and youth around the world with blankets, teddy bears, and school supplies. Please visit http://www.jabezblanketministry.org to learn more about this vital ministry.
In his blog post today, Dr. David Jeremiah writes: “We occasionally hear of someone being referred to as an ‘eminent’ person in a given field or profession—perhaps scholarship, law, art, or clergy. But very rarely do we hear of someone referred to as the ‘preeminent’ leader in his or her field of endeavor. Preeminent means ‘the most eminent; above all others.’
Identifying the preeminent person in a worldly venue is perhaps a matter of opinion. But identifying Jesus Christ as having ‘the preeminence’ in ‘all things’ – that is a claim that is beyond challenge (Colossians 1:18). And it’s not up to man to agree or disagree. Christ’s preeminence is God’s own inspired estimation of His Son, ‘the firstborn from the dead.’ It is often the case that what is preeminent in someone’s life will be revealed in time through their actions and conversation. If Christ is preeminent in all things and He lives in us, should He not be the inspiration for our words and our works?
Monitor your words and works today. Are there times when anything takes precedence over Christ in your life? Let His preeminence in you be obvious to others.” May we heed the words of Scripture and exalt the Lord Jesus Christ in all that we say and do.
By His grace,
Steve