Aches and Praise Three Hundred & Seventy Six

November 21, 2018
 
Dear friends,
 
It’s that time of year, when Canadians with family and friends in the United States of America have the wonderful opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving for the second time in two months. Since Karen and I are on our way south today, this edition of “Aches and Praise” is coming your way earlier in the week than usual.
 
Ten days ago, we were at Snowdon Baptist Church for a special evening of missionary reports. What an encouragement it was to meet such friendly saints who sang heartily and expressed their joy in the Lord in conversations with us after the service. We learned that a worship time is planned for tomorrow night at St. Jax in Montreal. For more information, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/houseofworshipmontreal/videos/590470681385932/
 
At our office this week, I found a book entitled “Trailblazers” compiled by Fred A. Vaughan. In this collection of stories by pastors and missionaries, Dr. Gordon Freeland, who was the pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in St. Laurent, when I joined the church in 1973, recounts how the Lord led him and his wife, Ruth. It was interesting timing that I found this book this month, as I talked with Doug Jarvis, who played for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1970s, earlier this month. I first met Doug when he joined some young adults of Bethel Baptist Church for an evening of roller skating in Laval. More than 40 years later, we met again in Laval, at a hockey game.
 
One of the reasons that I began writing this blog seven years ago was to share prayer requests. A family in our church is asking for prayer, as they are facing many challenges, including caring for a son with Tourette syndrome and a daughter, who is in my class in Children’s Church.
 
Scripture for the weekend: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (NASB)
 
Thought for the weekend: “I used to think I should close my Bible and pray for faith; but I came to see that it was in studying the Word that I was to get faith.” – D.L. Moody (quoted in “Bless You” by Warren W. Wiersbe).
 
By His grace,
 

Steve


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