Way Of The Lord. . .Our Journey

I Need Your Email Addresses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-16T16:01:00.003-05:00

Two weeks ago our laptop died and we lost everyone's email info. If you follow this blog, please send us your email address so we can update our contacts.

We've Moved!!!!!

2009-03-16T15:59:00.000-05:00

Check out our new blog at www.roadtobukavu.blogspot.com

10 Days!!!!!!!!!

2008-10-21T12:31:00.002-05:00

Well we've only got 10 days to go until we leave for the Congo. We are getting really excited about this trip and what God is going to do through us while we are there. But before we go I have one personnel prayer request. The devil has really began attacking us, he really doesn't want us to go. I am flat out with back problems. These problems started again two weeks ago. At times I can be stubborn and pigheaded which is why I am off work until the beginning of next week. I kept working and trying to push through the pain. Through this time I've been questioning God as to why I am not seeing healing for my back. After I went to the doctor yesterday I realized the Lord had been trying to get something across to me for the last couple of weeks, but I did not listen. I realize now what it is He was saying. I took it upon myself to push through the pain so I could continue to provide for my family, forgetting who my provider is. The Lord made it clear yesterday that I need to slow down, rest and leave the providing up to Him. He needs me to be effective in Africa which means I need to be able to walk!!!! The awesome thing is that my manager at work is supportive of all I am doing (he is not a believer) and to wants me to be healthy for this trip. He has made it possible for me to take the time to rest from work and still be covered financially for the days missed. I thank God for this!!!!! Pray that my back will heal and that I would be ready to go by the beginning of next week. Pray for the group as we prepare to leave in ten days.

22 Days And Counting . . .

2008-10-08T17:41:00.002-05:00

I can't believe that in 22 days we will be on our way to Bukavu. We are getting pretty excited and can hardly wait to go, but first we just want to say thanks to all of you who unselfishly supported us so that we can serve God in the Congo. We will be your hands and feet as we walk and talk with the Congolese people. We have reached our mark financially but would still like to raise more finances towards the work in the Congo. God has been truly good, He always is and always will be. . .

This Is Cool. . .

2008-09-18T18:08:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5HA5m0xyNs

Follow this link to take a small glimpse of a mission team in Bukavu, Congo.

2008-09-10T18:37:00.002-05:00

50 DAYS AND COUNTING. . .

SUPPORT THE CONGO. . .

Send Donations to:

New Life Assembly

Box 1564

Killarney, MB

R0K 1G0

Getting Closer. . .

2008-08-21T16:48:00.002-05:00

We have tomorrow and next week to reach our fundraising goal for the Congo. . .right now we are staying in faith, believing that the Lord will continue to provide towards this opportunity.

Yesterday we spent the day getting things done. . .passports and shots. We both received our yellow fever shots and tomorrow we will begin our Twin Rex shots. With every step we take, the reality of the Congo becomes more clear. We are looking forward to working with the people of the Congo. . .even though we know it will be hard to see the life that they live. If we can bring them some joy and put smiles on their faces, we know we will have accomplished much.

God is so good and we are honored to serve Him and do His work. . .

2008-08-07T20:55:00.003-05:00

“Not Women Anymore”
The Congo’s rape survivors face pain, shame and AIDS
By Stephanie Nolen
It took Thérèse Mwandeko a year to save the money. She knew she could walk the first 40 kilometres of her journey, but would need to pay for a lift for the last 20. So she traded bananas and peanuts until she’d saved $1.50 in Congolese francs, then set out for Bukavu. She walked with balled-up fabric clenched between her thighs, to soak up blood that had been oozing from her vagina for two years, since she had been gang-raped by Rwandan militia soldiers who plundered her village in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Finally, she arrived at Panzi Hospital. Here, Thérèse takes her place in line, along with 80 women, waiting for surgery to rebuild her vagina. Dr. Denis Mukwege, Panzi’s sole gynaecologist and one of two doctors in the eastern Congo who can perform such reconstructive surgeries, can repair only five women a week. The air is thick with flies. It reeks from women with fistula: rips in the vaginal wall where rape tore out chunks of flesh separating the bladder and rectum from the vagina. Yet Thérèse, 47, is happier than she’s been in years. “Until I came here, I had no hope I could be helped,” she says.
Part of a Featured article from the spring 2005 edition of
Ms. MagazineCongo Facts

- Since 1994 the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC; formerly called Zaire) has been rent by ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees from the fighting in Rwanda and Burundi.
- A cease-fire was signed on 10 July 1999, but sporadic fighting continued.
- The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is arguably the world’s most deadly crisis since World War II and the death toll far exceeds those of other recent and more prominent crises, including those in Bosnia, Rwanda, Iraq, Afghanistan and Darfur.
- Today, in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, rape is taking place on a scale that is almost unimaginable.
- In the last ten years, hundreds of thousands of women and girls have been raped - but their suffering goes unacknowledged. Instead, they are invisible, shamed and mute.
- According to a new survey (click for more) released by the International Rescue Committee, an estimated 5.4 million people have died as a consequence of the war and its lingering effects since 1998. Survey Conducted: January 2006–April 2007
- 5.4 million people have died since 1998
- 45,000 people continue to die every month
- National mortality rate is nearly 60 percent higher than sub-Saharan average
- Most deaths are from malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition and other preventable diseases.

Bringing Hope To Those Who Have Lost Hope. . .

2008-08-07T20:46:00.004-05:00

This past week has been exciting and draining. On Monday we made the decision to join a ministry team from our church who will be going to the Congo in November. This short term trip has been in the works for quite sometime, yet we have been so focused on our long term plans that we didn't see what the Lord was planning for us short term. He made that apparent to us on Sunday. . .and we knew that we had to join this team. So what's next for the Harder's? We need to raise all of our support by August 30. . .impossible? With God all things are possible. We know He wants us to go. . .He will provide. For those of you who are reading this. . .our support letter is on the way. Please keep us in your prayers over the next few weeks and thank you for your support.

We Are Home!!!!

2008-08-04T15:42:00.003-05:00

We made it home late Saturday evening. It was sure nice to see our son again!!!!! Well, what can I say. . .what an awesome week we had in Toronto. It was so nice to get away and connect with different people. We were truly refreshed, though it was tough going back to work today. I didn't miss all the negativity and swearing!!!!

So what's next for our family? My wife and I were challenged to do a short term missions trip. It so happens that there is one coming this fall which we know the Lord wants us to be a part of. I threw the idea of being gone for a couple of weeks to my boss and he said, "That should work." Alright, step number one is done!!! Now our focus is turned to the financial side of it all. God will provide the way for us, some how or another, He will supply the way. My wife and I both feel God wants us to do this, to get our feet wet in the mission field. Pray for us as we trust God in this situation.

Last but not least, it is official. . .I have received Ministry Credentials!!!! One more hurdle overcome. . .

Blessings

Last Day. . .

2008-08-01T21:15:00.002-05:00

Well tomorrow is our last day in Toronto. We will be flying out in the afternoon (pray for my wife who really doesn't like to fly.) It has been a good week. . .even though we've been left slightly drained. God is definitely working in the lives of the people here and I pray for His richest blessings to be bestowed upon them all. It has all become so real this week. . .learning about the calling God has on our lives. To see how others around us share the same passion as we do is overwhelming, yet we rejoice in knowing that we will all make an impact wherever we are. God is so good and it is so awesome to be doing His work.

Tomorrow will be a day to rejoice yet it will be a day of temporary sadness. Going our separate ways as families, back to our homes and our lives. We have made some awesome friends over the last week, the type of friends who share our passion. These are good and solid friendships. We praise God that through technology we can keep in touch with those we care so much about.

So. . .where do we go from here? Well for us it's all about God's timing. He knows us and He knows when we will be ready for the field. It will take time. . .it will definitely take patience. . .but we are ready for what lies ahead. And for those of you who we met this week, we love you and pray that God will bless your families in ways you could have never imagined.

I'm Back. . .This Time For Good!!!!

2008-07-30T23:04:00.002-05:00

This week has been an awesome week here at "Transitions" in Toronto. It's awesome to touch base with those who have the same passion to serve the lost overseas as we do. My wife and I are so fortunate to have met a group of absolutely awesome people. Even though there is quite a distance between where our families currently live, our prayer is that we will be able to stay in touch with them, so that we can continue to support there ministries through prayer.

God has blessed our children, and the new relationships which they have developed over the past week. Our children all share one thing in common:

They are all going to end up overseas in the next year or two!!!!! In different locations, but they will all be there. This has given the children an opportunity to connect with other children who are moving overseas. I truly believe in my heart that their ministry will be just as powerful as ours. . .needless to say how much this excites me!!!!

I must apologize for being so slack in updating our site. I am committing to getting back to updating this site weekly if not even daily. God Bless and we continue to thank you for your prayers.

The End Of May. . .

2008-05-31T21:41:00.002-05:00

It seems like when it warms up, the days and weeks go by faster!!! Winter seems to drag. . .yet summer quickly passes us by. Oh well, gotta make sure we enjoy the nice weather. I just wanted to thank you all for your prayers over the last while. I recently started with Hytek Pigs for the second time around. After the dealership I was at announced they were closing, I was offered this position. Was it my first choice? Definitely not, but the Lord has led me into this position for a reason and I will serve Him through it. At least this is where my knowledge is so it made the transition a lot easier. God has positioned me here for a reason and as we continue to prepare for the field, we ask that you would not cease praying for us. We will continue to keep you updated with our journey.

It's Been A While. . .

2008-05-19T22:10:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I last posted anything on our site. . .so here it goes. The last few weeks have simply been a roller coaster ride of emotions. It all started with my opportunity to preach in our church which went very well. The next day I went into work and found out that the dealership I'm at is closing its doors. I went from being on a high to hitting a low in just under 24 hours!!!! Thankfully God is good and He has supplied me with something else. I won't get into details right now but its something I've done in the past, only this time I have a different outlook on life. As for the calling God has on our lives, we are patiently working towards our goal to serve in a foreign nation. This is where our hearts are. . .and we praise God as He continues to prepare us for our future. God is so good yet we so often seem to forget how wonderful He is. . .take time this week to seek Him, to really hear His voice. . .

The Goodness Of God. . .

2008-05-01T07:38:00.003-05:00

God is so good and we thank Him for revealing to us where He wants us to serve. We have prayed and patiently waited to hear His voice, and as usual, He replied!!!! Once again we have learn't something. . .we need to be listening for His voice. . .if we all just listened for God's voice we would truly see His goodness. All to often we give up. . .all too often we push Him aside. . .all to often we don't have the patience to hear from God. My challenge to you. . . seek Him and listen for His voice. God has revelation for all of us. . .we just need to listen!!!

Please be in prayer for me this Sunday. . .I've been given the opportunity to preach in our church. . .pray that it will be effective and that those who are there will be receptive. . .

Canada. . .A Blessed Nation

2008-04-19T19:15:00.002-05:00

Some days I have a lot of time to think . . .which can both be beneficial and un beneficial!!! What I want to write about today is beneficial. We live in a blessed nation. . .we live in freedom. We can walk where we want, dress how we want, eat what we want, work where we want, and most important we are free to worship when and where we want. Are we in danger when we go to church? Are we in great danger when we spread the word? We have this freedom yet we still quiver at the thought of showing Christ or sharing Christ outside of a church building. . .outside of our comfort zone. I think of the disciples and how they moved out of their comfort zones to follow Jesus and spread the gospel. I'm sure there were many times they wished they could just stay back or avoid any situation where the love of God was spread, but they didn't. They remained faithful to Jesus and continued to follow His footsteps. God is still moving and we need to continue to follow. . .whether it be in a nation like Canada or a nation where Christianity is looked down on. I believe God wants every nation to be a blessed nation. . .and I believe that this will happen as men and women of faith follow the footsteps laid out before them by the Father. Never take for granted the nation we live in. . .but at the same time, be in prayer for the nations that need Him.

Thank You. . .

2008-04-16T20:45:00.002-05:00

We just wanted to thank those of you who were praying for us yesterday as we were in the city planning for our future!!!! We had a wonderful and informative afternoon. . .which left us with a lot to think about and a lot to look forward to. Even though satan tried to keep us away (our van broke down), the Lord provided a different way for us to get to where we needed to be. God continues to speak to us, He continues to lead us. We are honored to have this opportunity to serve Him in this way. What really gets me excited is knowing that God is with us here. . .and God will be with us there. Though everything around us will change. . .our Heavenly Father will remain the same.

Spring Has Sprung. . .

2008-04-06T08:50:00.002-05:00

With the change of weather from winter to spring, it brings into perspective new life. All around us the trees are beginning to bud and the grass is beginning to come back to life. This reminds me of something so amazing. . .the healing touch of the Lord. This morning in church we will be showing a short DVD of our nephew Noah and all that he has been through. Too many believers think that we are supposed to be battling with sickness and disease. Too many believers think its God's will for them. In a country like ours where we truly experience the four seasons, we know that everything is ALWAYS restored and that everything ALWAYS comes back to life. This is how its been for Noah. . .his seasons change but he ALWAYS comes back with new life!!!! This really frustrates the devil, who continues to try and steal this life. The devil has forgotten one thing, Noah is protected under the shadow of the Almighty. . .

Time Flies. . .

2008-03-25T17:39:00.003-05:00

WOW does time ever fly. . .I last posted an update on March 9. Things are progressing slowly towards the day we leave this country for another. My wife is currently filling out another application and we continue to talk back and forth via email with the person who is journeying with us. As for now, I am enjoying the job that the Lord has blessed me with. I have taken in a lot of information which has caused me to slack off on posting daily blogs. God is so good and I give Him praise for all He has given us. I am so thankful that the God we serve in Canada is the same God that we will serve when we are over seas. I am so thankful that God our protector will be our protector in a foreign country. As for now we will continue to be patient and wait for the day to come. . .I promise I will try a keep my blog up to date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Back To Reality. . .

2008-03-09T09:07:00.002-05:00

This week I came back to reality. . .I started working again!!! Yeah, once again I'm a working man. After a long week of training it's been nice to have a couple of days off. As for the missions front, things are moving at a snails pace but we knew this was going to happen. We are just so thankful that the Lord has blessed me with a good job while we wait to here more news about our future in the mission field. In time all will be sorted out and we will move forward!!! My goal for this week is to post more entries on my blog. . .thank you for your continued prayers and support.

The God Of Organization. . .

2008-02-28T16:07:00.003-06:00

Last week I talked about how a job opportunity fell through for me, as a friend of mine got the position. Naturally I was discouraged yet I moved on, knowing that I need to work while we are still here. Since day one when I went for the interview, the Lord has told me, "It's yours." Even when the job fell through He continued to tell me, "It's yours." I knew something was mine but I really wasn't ready for what was about to happen next. God is a God of organization, and He had to get things organized so that He could bless both my friend and I. In doing this, the Lord provided my friend with a better opportunity elsewhere in the community. He took the job leaving me with the job the Lord had been telling me was mine!!!! Through all of this, we both learned more about patience, faithfulness, and brotherly love. We need to remember that God wants the best for us, though sometimes it takes time, God wants the best for us. So you can pray for me as I start my job on March 3. Also pray for my friend who starts his job on March 10. It is so comforting to know that we have God's peace in our lives as we ultimately strive to serve Him in the mission field.

Life Is Fun. . .

2008-02-27T15:16:00.002-06:00

I chose this title simply because. . . life is fun!!!! Everyday is a new day which means everyday we get to see God work in another awesome and amazing way. As we continue to make plans for our eventual move to the mission field, God continues to provide us with His peace, a peace not obtainable anywhere but through Him. Knowing that He is already working in the lives of those who we will come in contact with has been so comforting. To be honest with you, we don't know when we are going. One thing we do know is that when the Lord is done preparing the way, He will lead us into the lives of these people. We have walked around the desert for years, lost and never knowing God's will for our lives. I believe we will be stepping into a promised land; a land full of men and women who are hungering to hear about hope and peace. A land where other gods rule and reign. . .a land unreached. Why do I call this the "Promised Land?" I see a lot of promise in the people of this land and know in my heart that the gospel has the chance to spread like wild fire. God is so good and His Spirit continues to move and we are excited to begin our new life amongst the lost souls of this world.

Rollin' Out Of The Station. . .

2008-02-21T21:48:00.002-06:00

We had a meeting this evening with a friend (a new friend) who will be walking along with us as we journey towards our destination. Things are beginning to move. . .we are rollin' out of the station, heading down the track towards our ultimate goal. God continues to affirm us, He continues to give us His peace.

Disrupting The Call. . .

2008-02-19T17:11:00.002-06:00

The god of this world. . .what is he out to do? Kill, steal, and destroy. . .trying to make life miserable for the believer. Lately I've found that he is trying to disrupt the call on our lives to serve, to fulfill the great commission. When you think about it, he is disrupting the call of every Christian in this world. We are all called to fulfill the great commission, whether here at home or overseas. If we were all doing what the Lord has asked of us to do, people would be turning to the Lord at a rapid rate. We've become to passive, allowing satan to disrupt the call on our lives. Where has He called you to serve? At work. . .school. . .next door. . .down the street. . .or in a distant land. I challenge you today to ask the Lord where He wants you to serve. He may surprise you so don't be alarmed!!! Chances are it won't be in your comfort zone, but in His. Lay it all down at His feet and ask, "Where do you want me to serve?"

Our God The Healer. . .

2008-02-17T00:25:00.002-06:00

On Friday we took our youngest daughter to an ear, nose, and throat specialist in Winnipeg. She has been battling ear infections for a couple of years, though they seem to have cleared up over the last week or so. We have been praying and believing for her healing for quite some time and we saw the result of this when the doctor told us that there were no problems and everything seems to have cleared up. What an answer to prayer. . .
On a dissappointing note, I didn't get the job I was waiting to here about. It bothered me for a couple of days but the Lord reminded me that He is my provider. . .and I need to trust in Him. He's got something better in store for me!!!! Pray for us as we try and figure out what our next step should be. . .pray that we stay patient with my job search and as we prepare to go overseas. God is not a God of let downs; He is a God of more than enough.

Moving On. . .

2008-02-12T10:43:00.000-06:00

Please pray for us over the next two weeks as we meet with different people concerning our missions applications and so on. Involved in this is an interview with the district sometime this month or in early March. You can also pray for me as I await to hear about a job I was interviewed for last week. As for now we move on towards moving out of this country and into a country of need. Thank you for your prayers as we prepare for our future in the field.

I Love The Lord. . .

2008-02-09T22:22:00.000-06:00

I love the Lord for all He has done for me, and all that He is going to do for me. Tonight I saw a familiar face. . .someone I haven't seen for about eleven years. My wife and I ran into our youth pastor and his wife from when we were in high school. This made my day. . .this made my weekend!!!! In a short time I was able to share my testimoney and our calling with them. It was so cool and I just want to wish them the best as they minister to the lost and build up the believers around them. How great is our God!!!!

2008-02-08T23:44:00.000-06:00

Shepherd

You are my shepherd

What more could I need

Now that the Lord of creation

Is carefully Fathering me

God of all comfort, covenant grace

All of my fears are removed

As I gaze at the love in Your face

You are the Lord of my life

Lovingly covering me

Your gracious favor is all that I ever will need

You are my shepherd

Son of the highest

You shepherd my soul

And I am ever in awe

As I graciously dwell in Your fold

Perfect in wisdom, unveiling the way

Your fortress of righteousness guarding my heart, as I trust and obey

Lord of Heaven, Lord of earth

Leads and shepherds me

God of glory is Fathering me

Lover of my soul

(Written By Craig Smith)

Great White Throne Judgement. . .

2008-02-06T19:29:00.000-06:00

"And I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades [the grave] gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:11-15

Why have I chosen this verse? As children of God we are to be taking the gospel and spreading it across the world. He has chosen us to get the gospel out to the lost. It is up to us to ensure that souls find eternal life in glory.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Coming Before God. . .

2008-02-03T16:11:00.000-06:00

"You need to make sure you are in the Word when you come before God - that you've read the Word, that the Word is in you, that you are obeying the Word. Otherwise, you will enter God's presence with your own ideas and attitudes. However, the Word will wash you so completely that it will change your heart and mind, even without your realizing it. In addition, things that you might not have thought were important, but were important to God, will be transformed within you. . ." Dr. Myles Munroe

Authority. . .

2008-01-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

I felt compelled to talk about the authority of the believer this morning. When God created man, He created him with the plan that man would take full authority in this world. His plan was for man to have dominion over every living creature and every living thing. Man then turned around and blew the opportunity and handed the authority over to satan. Thankfully the Father sent His Son to die for us to take that authority back. Jesus did so much more than give us salvation at the cross. He shed His blood in different ways so that we could have freedom from the curse. Some examples of this are:
1. He was whipped, and by His stripes we are healed (spiritually and physically). It says in Isaiah that He carried our sickness and bore our diseases.
2. He wore the crown of thorns which sets us free from poverty. In Deut. 28 it talks about the curse that came upon man after the fall of man. In that curse was thorns in the ground, amongst our crops. In the bible, thorns represent poverty.
These are just a couple of examples. The reason I chose these two were because it has been taught for so long that we are too suffer these things for Jesus sake. We have been taught that this is our cross, and we are too pick it up and follow Him. Let me remind you of something. . .God is not double minded nor is He a respecter of persons. He treats everyone the same. So you may ask, "Well then why am I sick? Why do I have cancer? Obviously that's God's will for my life. . ." God's will for your life is to live life in abundance (John 10:10). Why does God allow these things to manifest in our lives? It's not God. . .it's us who allow God to allow these things to happen in our lives. It is easy to point fingers at God and blame Him for allowing stuff instead of us taking a look at our own lives. We are to be imitators of Christ (Ephesians 5:1). We have been given the authority to walk as Jesus did. He was not a Divine being, He was a man like you and I. He could have given into temptation at anytime but He was so focused on His father and His purpose that He would not sway. If we took the time to pray as much as Jesus did (which He had to, to keep pure), and keep our focus on the Father, we will truly be able to imitate Him. As for authority, we have it. God wants us to take a stand and tell satan where to go. God wants us to stand up, come before Him and ask Him for things (such as healing). We don't want our children ever to suffer for our sake. . .so why would God want His children to suffer for His sake? Bottom line. . .we need to look at our walk. . .we need to look at our faith. Hey, I'm just as guilty as the rest. Right now our little girl has ear problems and she will be getting tubes put in her ears sometime in the near future. It breaks my heart to see how much pain she's in. Is this God's will for her? You figure it out. . .if it breaks my heart I guarantee that it breaks His. We now realize that we need to go to the Father first, which is what we've done and He has directed us to the right people so that our daughter can receive her healing. We as Christians are not supposed to sit back and let God do His thing. . .He wants us to stand up and ask Him, He wants us to exercise the authority He has given us.

Renewing Our Minds. . .

2008-01-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

This is one of the most important practices we as believers need to get into. We need to renew our minds on a daily basis. I know I've talked about this before, but I cannot stress enough the importance for us to keep the word in and the garbage out. I have to take the time to renew my mind everyday. . .by reading the word and talking with the Lord. I'm finding right now that satan wants my mind. The devil wants to get my mind off of our missions plans and back into the worlds ways. This is why it is so important for me to renew my mind, daily!!! There has been the odd day here and there that I have chosen not to do this, and I have been absolutely miserable. Right now satan knows that we are going to a place where he has a stronghold over millions of people. Of course he is going to try and get into my mind and back into my life. I must continue to renew my mind in order to defeat the evil in this world. We have authority over satan. . .he has nothing over us.

Prayer Is Not Just An Activity. . .

2008-01-24T07:00:00.000-06:00

"Prayer is not just an activity, a ritual, or an obligation. It is communion and communication that touches God's heart" Dr. Myles Munroe
I highly recommend the book "Understanding The Purpose And Power Of Prayer" by Dr. Myles Munroe. If our prayer life is unhealthy, our relationship with the Father is unhealthy.

Paper Work, Paper Work, Paper Work. . .

2008-01-23T07:00:00.000-06:00

Lots and lots of paper work involved in this process. Actually it seems as though our references seem to be doing just as much as we are. They are all good people who have taken time out of their schedules to help us fulfill our calling, and we thank each of you for your honesty and your willingness to do this for us. God is so good and he has brought so many awesome people into our lives. The support we have received in the decisions we have made has been absolutely amazing. It is so awesome to know that we will have such a strong group of Christians in this community backing us as we take the gospel to those who have never heard the word of God. God is so good and His love for us endures forever!!!!

The Daily News. . .

2008-01-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

I've made a vow with myself that I am not going to watch the news. . .especially the world news. The reason I am doing this is because of the "leftist" North American news channels. Did you know that the people overseas are also God's people? Yeah they may not be perfect. . .but neither are those in North America. I've decided if I want the local news from countries overseas, I will go online and here what there news casts and papers are saying about that particular country. We have such a misconception of people. Here in North America we care about ourselves. . .and not too much about others. I encourage you today to stay away from the leftist news groups. If you are going to watch the news, I encourage you to watch Fox News. They at least have some decency and morals. We should take the time we waste watching the news and use that time to pray for the lost. Don't get me wrong, the news is good to an extent. Hearing the same thing over and over. . .I believe will permeate your mind with fear and worry. As God for direction in this situation. Let Him lead you and guide you as what to do.

Under Construction. . .

2008-01-21T09:18:00.000-06:00

I am sorry for not posting much lately. Our blog is currently under construction. We are currently changing things up. There will still be studies posted every once and a while. The rest will be based on our journey to the mission field (at least what I can share with you) over the next 6-24 months as we prepare to fulfill God's call in our lives. Here's hoping we will be in operation soon. . .

Armchair Christians. . .

2008-01-16T07:00:00.000-06:00

We as Christians have become to laid back. . .we as Christians need to get off our butts. We have all been "Chosen" to spread the good news of Christ. Yeah, some of us are chosen to go into other nations where as others are chosen to spread the good news right here at home. The Lord didn't create our butts for us to sit on!!! He gave us legs (which we all know are attached to our butts) to walk with, to spread the word of God. The "Great Commission" is for us all. God didn't choose certain people to lead others to Christ. . .He has chosen us all. The Church has got too laid back. . .worrying about our own problems. Give your problems to the Lord, get off your butts and begin leading others into the Kingdom. Today's study is all about lighting a fire under the rear ends of Christians (myself included). It is time for us to do what we have been called to do. It is time for us to populate heaven. Don't be an armchair Christian, get out and do what the Lord has called you to do!!!!

Matthew 28:18-20

Laid Back Christians. . .

2008-01-15T16:44:00.000-06:00

Does this catch your eye? Come back tomorrow and see what it means. . .

FAITH!!!!!

2008-01-14T09:12:00.000-06:00

It is so easy for us to say we have faith, yet it seems so hard for us to put our faith to action. We are seeing this in our lives right now. We know what the Lord has in store for our future and as things continue to fall into place, we stand in faith knowing that His will is done. It's right now that's testing our patience and our faithfulness. I have been out of work for quite sometime and its beginning to get frustrating!!! I continue to apply for different positions, never hearing anything back. This is a true test of my faith and patience. I need to trust in my Provider who I know has something out there for me. We all know that nothing is impossible with God and He will provide for His children. He has done just that for our family in the last few months. Would you stand in faith with me today and commit to praying for the situation I am in? Thank you and God bless. . .I will keep you posted!!!!

We Are To Rule The Earth. . .

2008-01-10T10:34:00.000-06:00

I have recently been reading Myles Munroe's book on prayer when something amazing jumped out at me. He was talking about authority and dominion, which we as Christians have on this earth. He talked about Genesis 1:26 where the Lord says, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule (have dominion) over all the earth." We were created to have rule over the earth. . .unfortunately we've made satan the god of this world. Not only that, we've allowed satan to convince us that we as Christians have no authority or dominion here at all. Well I am here to set the record straight!!!!! We have dominion over the world and all of the fleshly desires which it offers. We are the offspring of God. . .in Psalm 82:6 God refers to us as "gods". Of course we will never be God, but He has given us the authority to walk as Jesus walked. The last thing God wants to see His children do is stand back and get beat up. He wants us to stand up and take authority and be the men and women of faith He wants us to be. We are to rule over the earth. . .stop letting satan have control!!!

Commit To The Lord. . .

2008-01-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

Do you have big plans and big dreams for your life? If you do, and these plans are edifying to the Lord, He will help them succeed. Isn't that exciting!!!!! For example, We have a calling in our lives for missions. We know that this will take a lot of work and money, yet we are not worried. I know that this venture will be beneficial to the Kingdom. I also know that this is God's will. The best part is knowing that it will be a success as long as our focus is always on God. The Lord wants us to dream big. He wants us to chase our dreams. He is a loving Father who wants to see His children succeed and have the best.

Scripture Reading Proverbs 16:3

How Great Is Our God. . .

2008-01-03T16:16:00.001-06:00

Today's blog is being written pool side at the Holiday Inn here in Winnipeg. We have been blessed in so many different ways this Christmas season. So many people have given so much to us. Today until Sunday we will be able to spend some much needed "get away time" with the kids. So many different people gave us a helping hand over the Christmas season and we appreciate all that we have received. To us this is such a blessing. . .to us it is also seed that we can sow into others who need it so much more than we do. As for this weekend, we praise God for providing us a way to spend time away!!! God is a good God, a God of blessing. We praise Him as He carries us through the rough times and we praise Him as He carries us through the good times. As of next week I am committing to getting back into the routine of posting daily studies. Until then. . .God bless as you finish up the holiday season.

Happy New Year. . .

2007-12-31T21:49:00.000-06:00

Okay, I apologize for not blogging over the holidays. It's been a hectic couple of weeks, and it won't end until Sunday!!! Yes, we are off to the city again this weekend. This time it is to have some time just with our kids so were are looking forward to this "mini vacation." I will try and post a couple of studies this week. Until then, Happy New Year to you and your loved ones. . .

Merry Christmas. . .

2007-12-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to wish all of you a Merry Christmas. We will be gone for the next few days which means I don't know when I will get another study posted. May God bless you and your family during this time. We will be back during the holidays. . .

Keep Your Hands Clean. . .

2007-12-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

"Keep your hands clean." This is something we tell our children on a regular basis. Well, the same goes for our Heavenly Father. He wants us to keep our hands clean from all wrong. We are to use our hands to edify the Father in all we do. He even promises to bless the works of our hands. He will only bless them if they are clean. This is something I have struggled with in the past but have begun to correct now that I am living in the spirit. We need to start controlling what our hands do. For example, instead of flipping channels on the remote, flip page after page while you read the word. Instead of shaking your fist at someone in anger, place your hand on their shoulder and bless them. These are just a couple of many examples of what we can do as Christians to keep our hands clean. I challenge you this week to really focus on what you do with your hands. You will be surprised to see what pleases the Lord and what does not please the Lord.

Scripture Reading Job 17:9

You Shall Be Blessed. . .

2007-12-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

For those of you who were here last night and those of you who weren't, our family thanks you for the many gifts for our children and my wife and I. We are so thankful for our church body, but most important, for a God who wants the best for His children. As we continue to sow, as we continue to believe, He continues to provide. You shall be blessed and your storehouses will overflow. . .

Romans 10:13-15. . .

2007-12-18T11:08:00.000-06:00

"Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved." How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Technical Difficulties. . .

2007-12-17T17:31:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the lack of studies over the last few days. For some reason I have not been able to log onto the blogger server. Oh well, these things happen. . .
I will return tomorrow with a new study!!!!!!

God Love's A Cheerful Giver. . .

2007-12-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

You know that feeling you get when you give someone in need something that they could use? Whether it is a gift of some sort, money, or a meal; you always feel good after you've blessed someone. You are filled with joy and cheer. God wants us to be givers. He wants us to be cheerful givers. We should be excited about giving to others. I used to hate helping others out, but yet expected them to help me. Until you fully understand the joy of giving and receiving, this will continue to be a negative experience. What I'm saying is that when we as Christians give cheerfully, the Father will reward us abundantly. He will bless us for our good works. It is a simple concept. He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly. But he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully. That's what makes giving so much fun. It is a joy to give when you know that you will receive.

Scripture Reading 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

There Is No Need To Yell!!!!

2007-12-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

We often come across scriptures in the word that talk about crying out to God. What exactly does crying out mean? Here is what I don't think it means. I don't think it means that we have to scream and yell when we pray. God is always with us, He is right beside us. He hears you. If you have kids you how annoying it is when they are right beside you and yelling at you. We are God's children, so do you think it's different for Him? I believe when we cry out to God, it is the cry of our heart. The cry is something so strong and powerful that we need to bring to God in prayer. It says in Isaiah 30:19 that He will answer as soon as He hears. If He lives in you, He hears right away. Then it is up to us to listen for an answer. So next time you need to cry out to God, humble yourself before Him and speak to your Father. Treat Him with the same respect that you would expect your children to show you.

Scripture Reading Isaiah 30:19, Psalm 34:15, Jeremiah 33:3

Two Years Later. . .

2007-12-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

I realized today that it was two years ago on December 2 that I decided to let the Lord begin helping me. I gave up alcohol and turned to Him, which allowed Him to work in me. For two years I have become a stronger husband, father, and most importantly a stronger man of faith. Over time I began to realize there is a real misconception of God. It was never God's plan for my life to be filled with so many issues such as alcoholism. It was never God's plan for my marriage to fall to pieces. It was never God's plan that we lose a member of our family. It was never God's plan for us to be broke, busted and beat. But it has always been God's plan to love us. It has always been God's plan to bless us. It has always been God's plan to give us the abundant life. Sometimes we wonder why He moves us out of one situation into another. What we can take comfort in is that He will never move you out of something good into something bad. When God continues to position you, He continues to move you into better situations. I used to think to myself, "Why has God made me this way? Why has He made me a drunk?" He never made me that way. I was made in His image. The only problem was I chose to live in the world and not in the spirit (I guess you could say I was living in the spirits!!!) God sees our lives moving in two directions. He sees our life if we were to walk in the spirit, and He sees our life if we were to walk in the flesh. We have been given the choice to choose which way we are going to go. God can only bless those who follow Him. He has a will for all of our lives, but He has left it up to us to find out what the will for our lives may be. Once you step into His will for your life, He will begin to bless you and honor all of the promises that He has made for His children. My wife and I have finally come across God's will for our family. It is something we thought we would never do. I also believe its something that has crossed our minds and we've just ran from the very thought of such!!!! As for me, October 2006 was when the Lord challenged me to begin this blog under the name of "Way Of The Lord Ministries". We knew that this was just the beginning of something big. God continues to provide and position us where He wants us. God is the God of TOO MUCH!!!
". . .I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."
John 8:12

All I Know. . .

2007-12-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

Just wanted to share a song with you that a good friend gave my wife and I on Thursday evening. A song with powerful lyrics that I felt I would like to share with you this morning. If anyone knows who sings this song, could you please let me know so that we can find the music to it? This song truly explains where we are and the calling on our life. . .

Though I feel afraid,

Of territ'try unknown.

I know that I can say,

I do not stand alone.

For Jesus, You have promised,

Your presence in my heart.

I cannot see the ending,

But it's here that I must start

And all I know, is You have called me,

And that I will follow, is all I can say.

I will go, where You will send me,

And Your fire lights my way.

What lies across the waves,

May cause my heart to fear.

Will I survive the day?

Must I leave what's known and dear?

A ship that's in the harbour,

Is still and safe from harm.

But it was not built to be there,

It was made for wind and storm.

And all I know, is You have called me,

And that I will follow, is all I can say.

I will go, where You will send me,

And your fire lights my way.

We Are Blessed. . .

2007-12-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was one of those days when I was just down and out. Frustrated with not moving forward in different areas like opportunities for work and our finances. Unfortunately what I was doing was taking my focus off God and putting it on the world. Then I remembered something very important. . .God will take care of all of our needs. We live under the blessing which means we are blessed. When life sucks and gets us down, we need to remember that the Lord is positioning us for a better life. When it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, we need to stand in faith knowing that the Lord will provide for all of our needs. We need to stop blaming God for what we don't have and begin praising Him for all that we do have. God is not a taker; He's a giver. We are blessed when we go out and when we come in. We are the head and not the tail. We are blessed from the souls of our feet to the crown of head. If you live the life of faithfulness and obedience, you live the blessed life. For example, we have been praying for my daughter's deliverance from her allergies. Her medication is $100/month. With my wife being on maternity leave her benefits are no use to us. Our family doctor blessed us with seven and a half months worth of what she needs. That's $750 worth of medication sitting in our cabinet. We know her healing is coming, but until then we praise the Lord for blessing us with this miracle. God is great!!!!

Scripture Reading Philippians 4:10-19

Keep Our Eyes Upon The Lord. . .

2007-12-06T07:00:00.000-06:00

Here's a question for you. . .Why is it so easy for us to conform to the world yet so hard to conform to the ways of the Lord? Why is it when we are about to sin we push away that little voice inside of us which is telling us to stop? Why does God not get frustrated with us and just pull the plug? Your answer. . .God is love and we can have the love of God in us!!!! If we develop the love of God which is within us, we will be begin to move away from the world and begin to conform to Him. God is a God of EXTREME patience. God is the God of the second chance, and third chance, forth chance, and on and on. This doesn't mean we can practice sin just because we know He will forgive us. We need to practice righteousness and the sin will begin to disappear in our lives. We will still slip up here and there. This doesn't mean we are sinners (since we are not devoting our lives to practicing sin.) We are still the righteousness of Christ. So what keeps us the righteousness of Christ? The awesome promise of forgiveness which He has given us in 1 John 1:9. We need to all remember the importance of this verse. I need to be reminded of God's forgiveness as well, which is why I chose to write on this topic today. God is the God of the second chance!!!!
Scripture Reading 1 John 1:9

Your Prayers Are So Important. . .

2007-12-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

We have something very exciting developing in our ministry. For now I can not say much but it is really important that you continue to pray for us. It is so important for us as believers to support each other in prayer. It is so important for us as believers to stand in faith with one another. We thank you for the stand you've taken with us in our ministry. God is positioning us; It is up to us whether or not we move into position for Him.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

The Christmas Season. . .

2007-12-04T07:00:00.000-06:00

Before I get into today's study, I wanted to let you know that we are going to be taking a break from the series on Demonic Possession. The reason for this break is I need to do more personal studying on the topic before I can continue to write. Until that time, I will continue to write short daily studies.

Last weekend we had the opportunity to watch "The Nativity Story" which actually came out last Christmas. What an awesome movie which truly describes what Christmas is all about. Unfortunately the world we live in today has taken the "Christ" out of "Christmas". The whole world needs to watch this movie and remind themselves who this season is all about. We as Christians need to remember how important it was for God to send His Son for us. Jesus had to be born into this world so that He could deliver us from the things of this world. All that He went through, He went through for us so we would not have to suffer at the hands of the enemy. I challenge you this Christmas season to watch "The Nativity Story". I also encourage you to read the Christmas story in Luke 2. With the hussle and bussle of this season, let's remember to keep "Christ" in "Christmas".

Scripture Reading Luke 2

Life Is Busy. . .

2007-12-03T07:22:00.001-06:00

Wow life is busy around here. Yes, a third child does make a difference!!! With not knowing what our weekends will bring, I will be posting studies during the week only. I want to put a lot of thought into what I am doing which is why I've chosen to go this route. Seems like on weekends I rush to put things together. If I post on the weekends these will simply be prayer and praise reports. As for now, I am still receiving revelation on the topic which we are on. I will continue to post of this topic beginning Tuesday morning. Last but not least, thank you for all of your prayers concerning the posting on Friday. The Lord continues to reveal His plan for us. Thank you.

Positioning Us. . .To Serve His Kingdom

2007-11-30T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today we are going away from the study we've been on for the last couple of weeks. The reason behind this change (for today) is because we as a family and a ministry want to ask our partners to stand in faith with us. As you know we are in limbo with employment. We have also come to the understanding over that last couple of days that the Lord is positioning our family and our ministry. Last night at worship team practice, they prayed that my wife and I would wake up to see what the Lord has planned for us. The Lord has blessed our family with gifts which we know He wants us to use. We have a passion to serve Him, and only Him. We are passionate about moving out of the worlds ways and into His ways. We lay it all before Him, and ask for His guidance. This is where you come in. Please take time today to stand in faith with us that God will reveal His plan for our family and our ministry. Pray that we will be able to utilize our gifts in leading the lost to Christ. We are not passionate about the things of the world. Our passion lies within Christ and Christ alone. This is the day the Lord has made and we WILL REJOICE IN IT!!!!!

Mary Magdalene. . .

2007-11-29T07:00:00.000-06:00

Our scripture today is found in Mark 16:9. This is a simple passage which tells us that Jesus cast out seven demons from Mary Magdalene. Before I move any further, I want to make sure that you all know that my opinion is my opinion, not yours. Today's study is based on revelation I believe I received from the Father. Anyways, back to the study!!!

This is a short piece of scripture which simply talks about demon possession. . .in this case "multiple demon possession." What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you read this passage? The first thing I thought of was the disorder known as "mutiple personalities." In an earlier study we talked about the fact that demon possession is not a disease (Mark 1:32). I believe they can cause disease but they themselves are not a disease. So it got me thinking, demons are beings with personalities. After I thought about this for a while, I thought of Mary Magdalene. Seven demons, seven personalities. . .multiple personalities? I look back at yesterdays study about the man in the synagogue and how the demon spoke through him. That's what got me thinking about multiple demons speaking through someone. Multiple demons controlling one's life. Like I said earlier, these are my thoughts and opinions on the subject. Regardless, one demon or seven, we have the authority to cast these demons out. If you disagree with me, READ THE WORD!!!!

The Man In The Synagogue. . .

2007-11-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

Our scripture today is found in Mark 1:21-28. As Jesus teaches in the synagogue, a man with an "unclean spirit" begins to question Jesus. What I found interesting about this whole situation was that the evil spirit was talking to Jesus through the man. The demonic presence which was in this man had complete control of him. What makes this interesting to me is that there are many people today who question the Lord. I guess what I am saying is that the whole unsaved world continues to question and mock our Heavenly Father. There is obviously demon possession throughout this whole world. Now when I talk possession, I'm not talking about what "Hollywood" has made it out to be. Here's something for you to ponder. . .if you don't have the Holy Spirit working in your life, is it not safe to say that you have some form of evil spirit working in your life? The whole fleshly world is ran by evil spirits, which are also known as demons. Now, what does Jesus say in verse 25? "Be quiet, and come out of him!!!" We as Christians are involved in casting out demons every time we lead someone to the Lord. I believe one of the reasons you don't feel instant joy when you become saved is because it takes time for the new to get rid of the old. What I'm saying is that as the Holy Spirit begins to clean out the evil spirits in your life, there is going to be a war. The evil spirits will not leave without a fight. Look at verse 26 where it says, "And throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him." I'm sure the evil spirit could have just left quietly. It didn't; it chose to fight on it's way out causing the convulsions. So here's the good news!!! We have been given the authority in the name of Jesus to tell these demons to "Be quiet and come out of them!!!" We are continuing on the ministry of Jesus Christ and we to have the authority that was given to the 12 Apostles in Matthew 10:8. We are in the Lord's Army. . .and we shall leave no man behind.

Biblical Instances Of Demon Possession. . .

2007-11-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

Over the next few days I will be talking about instances of demon possession in the word of God. Everything from epilepsy, seizures, and multiple personalities. All that I write I will back up with scripture (I just wanted to make this clear!!!) As you read these studies, look for yourself at the different types of possession we will come across. So join me as we continue to study demons and their presence in this world.

I'm Back. . .

2007-11-26T09:33:00.000-06:00

I realized I didn't let my readers know that we were going to be gone for a few days. We were out in the bush where internet access was not available. For those of you who read this to criticize, sorry for not being around for the last few days!!!! Anyways, I will resume the daily studies beginning tomorrow morning.

Abilities Of Demons. . .Instigate Deceit

2007-11-22T07:00:00.000-06:00

Our text today comes from 1 Timothy 4:1-5, where Paul gives us the description of false teachers. Demons are the main factor behind deceit, and yes they love to be the instigators. As we get closer to the end, people will begin to fall away from the faith. They will begin to pay attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons. This is already happening in today's society. Even in today's church the spirit of alcohol, infidelity, and homosexuality are becoming acceptable. Church leaders turning away from what they've been taught by the Holy Spirit and trying to "fit into the world" and it's corrupt ways. The devil has lost and he will do whatever it takes to bury as many people as possible. We must remember that satan is the thief talked about in John 10:10. The devil and his men are trying to distort the gospel. The devil has way too many Christians believing that God allows things to happen to them. The reason God allows things to happen to us is because we allow things to happen to us. If you move out of the will of God, you are allowing the god of this world to attack you. It comes down to us and the choices we make. It comes down to "Are we going to let God help us or will we do it on our own." It has become so important for us as believer's to keep our focus on God. The devil is spreading lies about God and we need to remember who's side we are on. We need to allow God to do the work in our lives. . .not satan. We need to stop allowing satan to work in our lives and then blaming God, asking Him, "Why are you allowing this?" It's deceit, instigated by the god of this world and his evil spirits. Once again, I encourage you to read todays passage and let the Lord reveal to you His truth's.

Abilities Of Demons. . .Make Men Submit

2007-11-21T07:00:00.000-06:00

The text I am using today comes from 1 Corinthians 10:14-33. I had to read this passage over many times to get some revelation out of it. What I got out of reading this was that we either submit to God or we submit to satan. You can't have it both ways. Now, when I look at something like a disease or sickness (seizures fall in this category), these are things that overtake your body. You become submissive to their negative effects. If you are attacked by these things and turn to God for healing, you need to submit to God to receive what He has for you. No matter how strong you are in your faith, the devil and his demons will still try to attack you and take you down. If we allow this to happen, we are sacrificing ourselves to the darkness of this world. If we turn to God, we are offering up spiritual sacrifices to our Heavenly Father. Bottom line. . .you cannot serve the flesh and the spirit. I love what verse 31 says, "Whether, then you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God". Serving the darkness of this world will never bring glory to God. This is what was revealed to me as I read this passage. I would like to make it clear that this is my opinion and my belief. If you disagree with me I ask that you take the time to study this passage and let God reveal to you what is written in this portion of scripture.
"And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:4-5

Spreading Some Light. . .

2007-11-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

Some may say I'm crazy, or call me a lunatic. All I am doing is spreading some light in this world. With all of the garbage online, it's God's children that take the hit. I live in a country where I am allowed to have my beliefs and opinions. If you accept what I have to say, that's great!!! If not, go to the Lord and His word and seek revelation on whatever the subject may be. For those of you who continue to read what I write and it makes you mad, stop reading it. I mean if your not curious, you won't keep coming back to this blog. The convicting power of the Holy Spirit is very strong. I pray for those of you who are with me and I pray for those of you who are against me. We are living in a time of unrest as the end moves near. From what I understand in the news, there are ministries we partner with under great persecution. The world is scared and they are moving as far away as possible from God. Those who truly believe are drawing closer to God. We are here to carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ. We are here to bring the lost to Christ. The only opinion that I care about is that of my Heavenly Father. He has given me a job to do, and I will do it for Him. I am not ashamed of the gospel, nor am I ashamed of the One I love.

I Won't Back Down. . .

2007-11-19T07:00:00.000-06:00

I took the last two days to think about all that's happened in the past week. I realized that as Christians we are going to see persecution increase as we near the return of Jesus. I thought to myself, "Should I erase what I wrote? Should I apologize for what I wrote?" Forget it!!!!! I am not backing down from my beliefs and I am not backing down from my faith. I won't back down from anything, especially persecution from the enemy. I also have a lot more people with me then against me. I won't back down or will I ever turn my back on the Father.

Thank You. . .

2007-11-16T07:00:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to thank all of you who have emailed, left comments, and called me over the last two days. Thank you for standing with me during this time of persecution. Some may think I should be angry and sad, but I am full of the joy of the Lord. I may have lost my job, but the devil has not won!!!! The devil should know better than to mess with someone who is covered by the blood of Jesus. Things are looking up and as people of faith, my wife and I are moving forward because we know that the Lord has great plans for us. Thanks for praying!!!!

I Will Not Be Knocked Down, Nor Will I Be Defeated. . .

2007-11-15T07:00:00.000-06:00

Today was a hard day. As you may recall I was given revelation by the Holy Spirit to study on the topic of demons. I have been faithfully doing this over the last week and will continue in this study. Over the last couple of days someone read what I wrote (especially the part where I talked about the guys I worked with), and had issues with my opinions and beliefs. I have never tried to force my beliefs on anyone. As it turns out my blog entries were read by certain people and my position at work was terminated. At no time did I ever force anything on anyone. I've always been taught that we have our own opinions and beliefs. . . at least that's what I thought. I've followed the Lord's direction on all that I have written and would not take any of it back. At first I was somewhat hesitant about doing this study on my blog. The Lord made it clear to me that I had to write about this topic to shed some light on it for others. So where does Way Of The Lord Ministries stand right now? We will not be knocked down, nor will we be defeated. Trust me, the Lord has better things out there for us. As for now, I will be removing all pictures and personal information from this blog.

Abilities Of Demons. . .They Recognize Christ

2007-11-14T07:00:00.000-06:00

The first ability which demons possess is the fact that they recognize Christ and they recognize the name of Jesus. Even though they have the ability to recognize Christ, demons will still attack. When Jesus gave authority to His disciples to go out and cast out demons, we received that authority as well. Like the disciples we need to understand what it is that makes demons run. The only way the disciples could cast out demons was in the name of Jesus. It doesn't matter who you are, the only way you are going to cast demons out is by using the name of Jesus. They recognize Christ and they know that even they are subject to His name. What I find really exciting about all of this is that demons can't touch us unless we allow them to. We are covered by the blood of Jesus and have the authority to kick these little devils back to hell. Don't allow demons any authority in your life. They are just there to steal from you, kill you, and destroy you. Trust me, you don't want any part of this. Take joy in knowing that you walk with Jesus and demons must flee when you command them to go. God has given us the authority to cast these devils down. In order to win souls, we need to get rid of the demons!!!

Scripture Reading Mark 1:23-26

The Nature Of The Demon. . .

2007-11-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

As I was studying last night, I decided that I should look at the nature of demons before I went any further. I came up with five characteristics of a demon. I will give you these characteristics and where they are found in the word. You can look these scriptures up and see for yourself how the word of God describes these evil spirits.

1. Demons are evil - Luke 10:17-18 - As with all that is evil, demons are subject to the name of Jesus Christ. Demons want nothing to do with anything good. That is why when you use the name of Jesus against them, they will flee.

2. Demons are powerful - Luke 8:29 - They will stop at nothing (except at the name of Jesus). When they attack, they come in full force. Unless you are prepared for them, you will have no chance against them.

3. Demons are unclean - Matthew 10:1 - Since demons are evil, they are considered unclean spirits. I look at it this way, the Holy Spirit is a clean spirit whereas demonic spirits are unclean spirits.

4. Demons are under satan's control - Matthew 12:24-30 - They can't be driven out by satan. They can only be driven out by the name of Jesus. What I found interesting in this passage is that satan will not send out his demons so that he can cast them out. When he sends out his demons, he sends them with a purpose to kill, steal, and destroy. The devil will not become divided against himself. It is the same with the Father. He will not make you sick or give you disease just so he can heal you. That too would be a house divided. The devil is into making you sick whereas the Lord is into healing the sick.

5. Demons are numerous - Mark 5:8-9 - I believe that many demons can attack at one time. While studying this topic I began to think about people who have "multiple personalities." We have been created to have one personality, not many personalities. When I see someone who is struggling with multiple personalities, I see someone who is home to more than one demon. Its like there is one demon behind every personality.

I hope this has shed some light on the characteristics and the nature of demons. I encourage you to check out the above scriptures during your time of study to help paint a picture of the lengths satan will go to destroy you and I. Over the next few days I want to move into the abilities of demons. Until then, stand in the name of Jesus. Let no demon take authority in your life!!!

Demon Hunters. . .

2007-11-12T07:00:00.000-06:00

I think it is safe to say that most Christians would like to avoid the topic of demons and demon possession. I for one think we need to pay attention to this topic. The god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) has blinded many people; and he has used his demons in this process. This may be a bold statement, but we as Christians need to to engage in battle against the demons and evil forces of this world. It wasn't only the disciples who were given the authority to cast out demons, it was us as well (Mark 9:46-50). Demon possession is recognized as not being insanity (Matthew 4:24) nor is it a disease (Mark 1:32). We need to be demon hunters. We need to exercise our authority in the name of Jesus and cast these devils back to hell. Now I'm not saying we need to go out of our way to hunt demons; no I can pretty much guarantee that we will find them wherever we turn. Not in our lives, but in the lives of others. See satan is not like God. God is everywhere whereas satan needs helpers to kill, steal, and destroy. These helpers being his demons, his evil spirits. Over the next week I would like to go into the word and look at different circumstances where Jesus or His disciples cast out demons. I would like to look at each situation of demon possession and find the similarities and the differences in each case. I think we need to do this in order to recognize how demons work. I pray that we will also see the effects that demons have on a person. God is good and all that is good comes from God. Sickness, disease, sin, destruction, death, etc. are from the enemy (all that is bad). I believe demonic possession is involved in all that is bad; in all that is from the devil. So bare with me as I share the revelation God has given me on this topic. We need to know what to look for and we need to know how to cast these devils down.

Scripture Reading - I challenge you to read all of the above scriptures. Also, we live under the blessing which means we have been delivered from the curse. I challenge you this week to read Deut. 28 and take a close look at what all falls under the curse.

2007-11-11T08:52:00.000-06:00

Demons and Demonic Possession. . .

2007-11-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

Over the last week I've been trying to get myself organized and keep my blog up to date. Obviously this isn't working, so I've decided to post daily studies based on my personal studies. I love to write when I study, so I figured this would be a good way to share the revelation the Lord has given me. So here we go. . .

Since I began my job, I have developed a relationship with a couple of developmentally handicapped guys. These guys really have no control over their lives. These are guys who suffer from scary attacks such as seizures. As I observe and study the behavior of these guys, I truly believe that there is demonic possession involved with the situation these guys are in. With this being in mind, I went to the Lord and asked for direction on this subject. You know what I love about the Lord? He answers and He directs!!!! As I began to read and study the word, things really began to jump out at me. In the the New American Standard Bible, demonic attacks are described as "one who is being seized." First thing that came to mind was "seizures". Just an example of what I have discovered in the word (I will touch on this more in the coming days.) Let's face it, there are demons in this world. God is good, and all things that come from God are good. This world is full of evil; evil which is being spread by demonic spirits. We have been given the authority; the authority to cast out these demons. We need to tell the devil and his buddies where to go. We can do this. . .in the name of Jesus!!!!

Scripture Reading Luke 9:46-50

There Is Only 1 God. . .

2007-11-07T07:00:00.000-06:00

"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3

There are a lot of Christians who take this verse to mean "idols". What God is talking about here is not only idols, but all the other things that we choose to put before Him. For example, many people put money, their jobs, addictions, and what they do with spare time before God. I was guilty of this for years. So what did I do? I learn't to give Him my first fruits in the morning before I leave for work; in the afternoon when I arrive home from work; and in the evening before I go to sleep. This doesn't include when I just pick up the word to read.
Another example is faith. We live by faith knowing that the Lord will always help us. In faith we are giving Him our undivided attention. If we are not in faith but in doubt, we are putting doubt and worry before the Father. In a way, doubt and worry could be considered "gods".
Seperate yourselves from the god's of this world and give the Father your full, undivided attention. He will supply all your needs!!!!!!

Scripture Reading Exodus 20:3-6

The Joy Of Life!!!!

2007-11-06T16:16:00.000-06:00

Just thought I would give you an update on how things are going around the Harder household. Maddy and Livvy and doing good and still help with Judah every chance they get. As for Judah, he's getting chubby!!!! This seems to happen to all of our kids at this stage of their lives. Hey, their babies, the flab is still cute. Laura is enjoying her time at home with Judah (especially the time off from work). As for me, my job is going great. There is nothing better than helping others, which is what I now do for a living. Anyways, I will keep posting studies with the odd update thrown in here and there.

Are You Lukewarm?

2007-11-05T07:00:00.000-06:00

How is your Christian walk? Are you hot? Maybe your cold. Or are you like to many other Christians, lukewarm? Jesus makes it very clear that He would rather see you hot or cold, not lukewarm. He goes on to say that if you are lukewarm, He will spit you out. OUCH!!!! Those are pretty strong words coming from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He would rather see His followers give their whole lives to Him then just part of their lives. You are better off being cold and having nothing to do with God at all, then being lukewarm and only giving God a portion. Don't even give yourself the option. Set you eyes on the Lord, submit your WHOLE life to the Him. Do not live a lukewarm spiritual life.

Scripture Reading Revelation 3:15-16

Everlasting Love. . .

2007-11-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

I was sitting around one evening jotting down some stuff from the Lord when He gave me these words. . .

To know your name

To feel your glory

Brings me down

To my knees

I hear your voice

Rock the heavens

And feel your grace

Fall down on me

We cry out to

The Lion of Judah

The Lamb of God

The Prince of Peace, my salvation

He's our everlasting love

Lord we praise you

Cast our burdens down before you

Our salvation

He's our everlasting love

Through all the times of trouble

I will seek your face

In the Almighty's shadow

I've found a safe place. . .

Just some revelation I received from the Lord that I thought I would share with you. God is love, and His love is everlasting. . .

He Wore The Flesh. . .

2007-10-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

For God to become like man, He had to send His son to live in the flesh. To live and walk on this earth as we do. I realized the other day while reading in Hebrews that there were many events that had to take place before the work of Jesus was done. The only way this could happen is if Jesus walked amongst us in the flesh. For example, Jesus died so we wouldn't have to; Jesus was tempted, which now allows Him to come to the aid of those being tempted; Jesus walked and used His hands, which gives us back dominion over where we walk and what we touch (which makes laying hands upon the sick so powerful); Jesus bore the crown of thorns (You may wonder where I am going now, but in Genesis it talks about the curse coming upon the earth, thorns and thistles rose from the ground to make working the land more difficult.) I truly believe in doing this, He won back our prosperity. He dealt with the thorns so we don't have to. He wants to bless the work of your hands, but you need to be faithful and obedient in all you do.
These are just a few examples of what I have found. That is why it was so important for Jesus to come in the flesh. For me, this was a whole new view of the Ministry of Jesus. This has really got me excited, and I hope it does the same for you as well!!!!!

Scripture Reading Genesis 3:8-24, Hebrews 2:14-18

We are Righteous!!

2007-10-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hi, everyone, it's Laura here. I've never done this before, but I just recently had something laid on my heart that I wanted to share with you. Today my daughter was to trying to memorize a verse of scripture that she was given at an after school activity. The verse was Romans 3:10...There is none righteous, not even one. She has memorized this verse in other Sunday school classes, but needed to do it again.
Why is this one of the first verses we make our kids memorize? Every time she learns it, I need to explain to her that we are righteous. This verse in Romans has been taken out of context. This verse is referring to people who were still living under the law. It is cross-referenced in my bible with Psalm 14, which is a description of people still living under the law.
I decided to look up the word righteous in my dictionary. It equates the word righteous with justification, which is defined as .."a judicial act of God, by which He pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ."
People living under the law could not be righteous, because they did not have Jesus to believe in...but we do!!!!
If we don't believe that we are righteous, then we don't believe that God forgave us of all our sins when we became born again.
Scripture is very clear that we have been forgiven of all our sins, and washed clean by the blood of the lamb.
Acts 13:38,39 says...So let it be clearly known and understood by you, brethren, that through this Man forgiveness and removal of sins is now proclaimed to you. And that through Him everyone who believes [who acknowledges Jesus as his Savior and devotes himself to Him] is absolved ( cleared and freed) from every charge from which he could not be justified and freed by the Law of Moses and given right standing with God.
Right standing with God is righteousness!
1John1:9 says...If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously]cleanse us from all unrighteousness[everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought and action].
Lets not confuse our kids. Yes, we are righteous!!

Seek The Goal. . .

2007-10-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have goals set for yourself? Something that you as an individual are striving for? The answer is pretty clear; I think we all have goals in our lives. As Christians we should all have one goal in common; developing our spiritual lives and leading others to Christ. We need to forget what is behind us and strive for what lies ahead. As we develop our spiritual lives, God will bless us. To me this is an awesome witness. People will want what you have. If we succeed in our walk, the rest of our success will fall into place.
Make seeking the Lord's will and His word your number one goal. Strive to succeed as a Christian in your ministry here on earth.

Scripture Reading Philippians 3:13-14

WOW. . .

2007-10-24T07:56:00.000-05:00

I have to apologize for the lack of studies this week. I can't believe it is already Wednesday!!!! This past week I started a new job with the same agency Laura works with. For now I am doing all over nights. Between that and having a new baby at home, my schedule and routine is pretty crazy. I'm loving being at home and for the first time in my life, I'm loving going to work. I didn't think that this line of work was for me, but I am seeing now that I should of started doing this a long time ago!!!! Hey, I get paid to sleep!!!!! Anyways, I'm working at getting some consistency back in my life. The Lord comes first in all I do. I need to trust in the Lord, and this blog will continue to teach and change lives. Thank you so much for your patience.

Authority Of The Believer. . .

2007-10-20T14:29:00.000-05:00

"I bind the strongman and I am able to rob his kingdom." Matthew 12:29

"As a disciple of Christ I have the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever I bind on earth is bound and whatever I loose is loosed." Matthew 16:19

"Jesus has all authority and power in heaven and in earth and whatever is His is also mine. He gives me authority to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:18-19

"I am a believer and these signs follow me; In Jesus' name I drive out demons; speak in new languages; pick up serpents (deal with demonic powers); and [even] if I drink anything deadly, it will not hurt me; I lay my hands on the sick, and they recover." Mark 16:17-18

"God has given me authority and power to trample upon serpents and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power of that the enemy [possesses]; and nothing shall in any way harm me." Luke 10:19

"Christ is seated in heavenly places and I am seated with Him. He is above all principalities and powers and all things are under His feet." Ephesians 1:20-22

"I submit myself to God, I resist the devil and He must flee." James 4:7

We will be attacked in our lives. We are spirits living in a fleshly body. We need to give God complete control of our spirit. The only way we can control the flesh is by renewing our minds and our spirits to God. The devil will attack our flesh, yet we can call upon the Lord and the devil must flee. God does not allow satan to attack us. We allow satan to attack us. When we allow satan to attack us, God cannot help us unless we ask Him to. God has given us the opportunity to come to know him. He has given us the opportunity to be under the blessing, and not under the curse (Deut. 28). He sent His son to die for us; and when He died He bore all of the curse upon Himself so that we wouldn't have to (Isaiah 53:4-5). We are seated in heavenly places with Him and all principalities and powers that are under His feet, are under our feet. We have authority and we do not have to be subject to the evils of this world. God doesn't want us to be pushed around; He wants us to stand up, call upon Him and exercise our authority against the powers of evil in this world. God is good, all the time, He is good!!!

Back It Up. . .

2007-10-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

I was left a comment on yesterdays study by an unknown source. In this study I talked about sin having no dominion over us. If you call yourself a sinner, you are a sinner. I know what I wrote is truth because it is backed up in the Word of God, and the Word of God is truth. Jesus died a horrible death so that we could be free. Free from what? Free from things such as sickness, disease, lack, poverty, and yes, sin. We have been made righteous!!! It is an insult to God when we say that we are still sinners. He has given us to opportunity to be free from sin. I agree, we will sin here and there. To accept this because we are human is a cop-out. This is what is known as cheap grace. Saying that your a sinner is not bringing glory to God. It is bringing glory to satan.

Romans 6:14 says, "For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the law but under grace."

1 John 3:4-10 says, "Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law. You know that Christ came to take away sins. He isn't sinful, and people who stay one in their hearts with him won't keep sinning. If they do keep on sinning, they don't know Christ, and they have never seen Him. Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ Himself. Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life giving power lives in them and makes them His children, so that they cannot keep on sinning. You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other."

Bottom line, if you believe you are still a sinner, this means you are practicing sin. If you believe you are righteous, you are practicing righteousness. God has assured us in 1 John 1:9 that if we as the righteousness of God sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins.
It is so important to back what we preach with the Word of God. The Word of God speaks truth, and it is this truth which has set us free.
I didn't write this to fire back at whoever it was who left the comment. I wrote this to back up what I said yesterday. It's that we as Christians begin imitating the Father (Ephesians 5:1), and we all know that there is no sin in the Father. If we continue to practice sin and use the excuse that we "are only human", we will not see glory. We have been made righteous, and it is time for us to act that way.

Sin Has No Dominion. . .

2007-10-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

We as Christians have no right to think that sin is still a part of our lives. If we even think for an instant that we cannot live a life completely free from sin, we are doubting what Jesus did for us. We are no longer under law, but under grace. You have probably heard the term "We are poor old sinners saved by grace." So what makes this statement wrong? We were poor old sinners, but since we have been saved by grace we are no longer sinners; we have been made righteous. That is why sin has no dominion over you. The devil will try and attack you, try and tempt you, but thanks to the promises of our Lord and Savior, God promises a way out. So remember this, you are no longer a sinner. You are the righteousness of God!!!!!

Scripture Reading 1 John 3:4-12, Romans 6:14

Pray For Our Community. . .

2007-10-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

While thinking about what I should write, the Lord reminded me that we need to pray for our community. As Christians we need to unite and pray for our community and the communities which surround us. Yesterday I found out that the mormons have begun a movement in Killarney. I was told that they held their first service was last Sunday at one of the local hotels. I was also told that they have been canvassing door to door. In Killarney we are used to this since we do have a large number of Jehovah's Witnesses living in the community. The god of this world is one the move. We need to stand our ground and become united as church's, as the body of Christ. We need to focus on our outreach, whether through the church or our personal outreach. Let's face it; these cults target desperate people. We all know that the only answer for desperate people is God the Father. We need to be praying for our communities as well as helping those in need. It is up to us to give them the truth. Let's not sit back and think, "Well there's plenty of other people out there to help these people. Outreach isn't really my thing." Guess what? God's chosen us to spread the gospel; to reach out to the lost. Trust in the Lord, and seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit. This is the most effective way of spreading the gospel to the lost sheep in your community.
Scripture Reading 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

I'm So Sorry. . .

2007-10-15T16:56:00.000-05:00

WOW. . .has the last week ever been crazy!!!! We are getting rest, but Judah likes to party some nights. I'm sorry that I haven't been keeping up with the studies. Seems like I just posted one and now it is Monday!!! Thanks for your patience as I get things back on track. As for our family, the girls have adjusted well and are enjoying their new little brother. Yesterday Olivia almost stepped on him, but he's fine!!!! Maddy has her own thing going on whereas Olivia has become quite the mother with Judah. She wants to be involved in everything, which is nice to see since we thought she wouldn't adjust well. As for Laura, you can pray for her as she continues to catch up on sleep and energy. Thanks for all of your prayers.

God Has A Plan For His Children. . .

2007-10-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

God has plans for all of His children. What's even better is that His plans are GOOD!!!!! His plan for the faithful and obedient is to prosper, not suffer; to give you health and protection, not harm; to give us a hope and a future; not despair and short life. He wants to give His children what we want to give our children; THE BEST OF EVERYTHING!!!! This is my God, the loving, generous, considerate God. The God of TOO MUCH!!!! We so often dwell on the bad things (attacks of satan), and never dwell on the good (God's blessings.) I challenge you today to rejoice in all that is good in your lives. I recommend you do this. Why? Because it drives the devil absolutely crazy. With that being said, believe and receive the plans God has for your life.

Scripture Reading Jeremiah 29:11

Hello Again!!!!

2007-10-12T09:01:00.000-05:00

This has been a fun, yet tiring week. We are really enjoying spending time with the girls and their new little brother. With all that's been going on, I completely forgot about my blog. Starting tomorrow I will be back with daily studies and hopefully more pics of Judah. Once again we thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. I'll Be Back!!!!

Home Sweet Home. . .

2007-10-08T22:51:00.000-05:00

Judah seems to be adjusting well to his new surroundings. Right now we are trying to get him into a routine and it seems to be working. Anyways, feel free to call or drop by. Our home is open to all!!!!

And We Wait. . .

2007-10-05T12:54:00.000-05:00

Laura has been induced and we are currently sitting at her parents place waiting for contractions to begin. The hospital wasn't very busy so we got in right away. She is able to leave the hospital for six hours, which means we have to go back at 4:00 (unless contractions start or her water breaks.) They did a non stress test this morning and baby is very active and very healthy. Pray for us as we wait. When Adam and Eve sinned, the curse came upon man. Part of the curse talks about how there will be pain and agony in child birth. Well we are excited that we live under the blessing and that we can focus on God. God is a God of comfort; He is a God of peace which is why we are believing for a pain free, supernatural childbirth. It was never God's will for women to suffer during child birth. We ask you, men and women of faith to stand with us and believe with us that this will be an awesome experience for Laura. She is focused on God which is allowing her to block out all fear. She has found many scriptures that she wants me to read during labor, so she can keep her focus. This will be an awesome witness to all of those involved. I will continue to keep in touch.
(Need something to read? Check out Deut.28)

We Are Go For Launch. . .

2007-10-05T07:20:00.000-05:00

Pray for us and especially for Laura as we head to Brandon. I will keep in touch.

Applaude Her Effort. . .

2007-10-03T17:24:00.000-05:00

My wife wanted nothing more than to have this baby naturally. She did not want to be induced. As of yesterday she gave up this dream. At her appointment today the doctor said it was time, so he scheduled for induction on Friday morning. Pray that all goes well between now and then; pray that she doesn't get bumped Friday morning. If she gets bumped, then she has to wait until Tuesday of next week. As for the girls, we don't want them to miss school and I can't afford to miss any work next week. Tonight will be spent with our girls, since it will be the last time for just the four of us (Laura's parents are coming tomorrow to watch them for a few days.) Tomorrow will be a day of getting the house cleaned up and preparing for Friday. We really didn't think that J.D. was going to be a Thanksgiving baby, but what better time for the birth of our son. Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. I will keep you all posted on any developments.

The Children Have Given Up. . .

2007-10-02T11:02:00.000-05:00

Laura and I believe that our girls have given up on this pregnancy. They have come to grips that this baby is never coming, and they seem quite happy about it!!! Actually, they have been incredibly patient. So patient that their father could learn a lesson from them. We need to be like our children. I know this sounds silly but it's so true. Children seem to be able to cast down the worries of life. When junk comes their way, they have this ability to shrug their shoulders and move on. They don't worry and obsess about things like their parents do!! Anyways, the plan for now is to see how Laura does today and then tomorrow she will see her doctor again. A decision will have to be made about induction. If this is the case, we are praying that she will be able to get in Thursday or Friday. If that's the route the doctor chooses to go, we will just out in Brandon for the next couple of days. I guess it would only be right if he was born on Thursday, since Thursday is opening day for my beloved Oilers!!!!

Hunt For J.D. In October. . .

2007-10-01T11:41:00.000-05:00

Our son, J.D Harder. Has anyone seen him? Nine days over due and we wait. . .and we wait. . .and we wait. . .and we wait. . . I have decided this week to keep everyone up to date as we wait for our son. Next week I will get back into posting daily studies. Anyways, the child has to come eventually. He can't stay in there forever, right? Pray for us as we wait, especially for my wife who says she is "fed up" with being pregnant. She loves being pregnant but there comes a time when its time to become un-pregnant!!! Everyday we believe that this is the day. Today is the day!!!! Stand in faith with us and say, "Father, today is the day!!!!"

We Are Still Believing!!!!

2007-09-30T17:28:00.001-05:00

We are still believing for a September child. There's not much time left but we are still believing!!!! Patience, patience, patience. . .this is what we taught in Sunday school this morning. Funny how that works. Just when you begin to run out of patience you learn about patience. Our son is coming, he's just taking his sweet time. We need to enjoy this part, since he will grow up incredibly fast (like our daughters). Anyways, I thought I would let you know how things are going. Please pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who Are Your Treasures?

2007-09-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

A while back while reading in Matthew 19:16-26 when the Lord gave me some revelation on the whole topic of storing riches in heaven. So often I have heard that we need to suffer lack here on earth because our riches will be in heaven. Well, check this out. It says in verse 23 that it is hard for a rich man to enter heaven. What Jesus means by a rich man is a man who is hording his money for himself. The man who puts money before the Lord. The man who does not use his money to better the kingdom of God. The man who lives the worlds way, not God's way. Are you still with me? We are put here for one reason. We have been given the choice to answer the call of the ministry of Jesus Christ. It is God's will and desire for everyone who comes to know Him to minister to those who do not know Jesus. We are all chosen to minister to others and lead them to the Lord. Here is our reward for doing this:
A. Because of our faithfulness and obedience, we have answered the call. Since we have answered the call here on earth, we will enter through the gates of heaven. Heaven is the epitome of rich!!!!!!!! I mean the concrete that we will walk on is made of gold!!!!!
B. The other riches in heaven which we will see is those of the souls that we harvested for eternity here on earth. Praise God!!!!! When you walk through the gates of heaven; your earthly riches; those that you led to the Lord, will be standing there waiting for you. If you go before them, trust me, they will find you!!!!!!
God wants to prosper us. With that being said, God can only prosper you financially if you are walking in faithfulness and obedience. It says in verse 21 that we are supposed to sell our possessions and give to the poor. If we don't have money to give, how do we help the poor? The reason God will only prosper the faithful and obedient is because He trusts them; He knows that they will use their riches to better the Kingdom of Heaven. Glory to God I could go on for hours but I know you have things to do!!! If non believers see us broke, busted, and defeated Christians, do you really think they will want what we have? Or do you think they want the life of one who is blessed and can help others in need. We are to be like Jesus, and Jesus helped those in need.
Prosperity is not a get rich quick scheme. Prosperity is for the furthering of the kingdom.

Scripture Reading Matthew 19:16-26

Please Stand By. . .

2007-09-27T15:44:00.000-05:00

I'm trying to get back into the routine of writing daily bible studies. Right now it seems like everything is up in the air. Laura had an appointment today and everything is fine. So fine that our son feels he would rather stay on the inside than on the outside. The frustrating part of all this is that the doctor wants to see Laura every few days. It's a two hour round trip to go see the doctor!!!! Anyways, we remain patient and we continue to remind ourselves that the Lord will provide for us. A praise item which I would like to report is that I am going for an MRI on my back tomorrow (another trip to Brandon. . .ahhhhhhhh!!!!) We believe this is part of the healing process the Lord has planned for my back. The last thing I want to do is back out of this appointment. Anyways, I've come to the conclusion that no matter what is thrown your way; no matter how hectic life gets, we need to keep our focus on God. The devil wants nothing more than to drag us down. The devil wants you to walk in fear in worry. God wants us to walk in faith. Right now I am enduring a test on my faith and it is so easy to get mad and discouraged. It is imperative that we keep our focus on God, for only He can rescue us from the trials and tests of this world.

The Winds Of Change. . .

2007-09-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Yes the winds of change are blowin' around here!!!! We are waiting for the arrival of our son; we are waiting for Laura's maternity leave to take effect; and I am starting a new job with the same company my wife works for. Oh yeah, and the girls getting back into the routine of school. Right now we simply need prayer. Pray for us as we enter this time of transition in our lives. Pray that our girls will adapt to having a baby in the house. Pray that we will adapt to having a new baby in the house!!!!! Anyways, God WILL supply for our needs. This has been promised in His word. Thank you for your prayers

Discouraged. . .

2007-09-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

After the weekend it is safe to say my wife and I were both discouraged. We both thought Saturday was the day for our son to make his debut in this world. I guess he decided its not time yet. The whole situation got me thinking about how we get discouraged. Only the world can provide discouragement, whereas only God can provide peace and confidence. Just think about this; how many times to do we get discouraged about something and in the long run it works out anyways? Faith is knowing it is going to happen, where discouragement just shows that we have doubt in the situation. Which is why I came to this conclusion about my son, he will be here soon. My wife can't carry him forever!!!!!

Scripture Reading John 16:33

Are You A Water Walker?

2007-09-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Do you have water walking faith? The type of faith that will keep you afloat at all times? At times it is very hard to live this way. We enter into situations where we become scared and begin to doubt. This causes us to sink in our faith. When Peter walked on the water towards Jesus, he was okay as long as he kept his focus on Him. When he took his focus off Jesus, doubt and fear set in and he began to sink. With that being said, how is your faith? Do you have water walking faith? Or do you have the type of faith that will cause you to sink? I challenge you to stay focused on Jesus and continue to strengthen your faith in the Lord. I guarentee that your head will always be above the water.

Scripture Reading Matthew 14:22-33