COG Moose Jaw

Like it or not, there are no guarantees in life. Yet followers of Jesus do have the guarantee of His ultimate win over sin, death, and the Enemy, and that He will finish the good work He started in each of us. It is to celebrate this amazing truth that Jude concludes his epistle with a doxology of praise, adoration, and exaltation. Through Christ, we shall be victorious - so let's contend for the faith!

There is a battle raging inside each one of us. Our animalistic cravings contend to break us down, and we need to constantly be walking in the power of the Holy Spirit to build us up. Jude's is an urgent message. False messages and evil influences abound, with the only way forward being a life obedient to Christ and remaining in His love. Let's contend for the faith!

As Christians, we have been given a mission - the mission of being God's ambassadors on earth working to reconcile people to Himself. Pastoral Intern Will Dmytrow unpacks what our true mission is and why it's so important to keep front of mind.

Have you ever gone into a room, only to forget why you went there? As we get older, we tend to become more forgetful. Regardless of age, forgetfulness is a serious human condition that makes us prone to make the same mistakes again and again. That's why there is tremendous value in studying history and remembering long past events - particularly those recorded in the Bible - as a means of warning us of the consequences of evil that's been allowed to grow inside the human heart. So let's read the stories again, read them to our children, and contend for the faith.

If life were a minefield, wouldn't you value knowing the truth of how to navigate through it safely? The short book of Jude calls its readers to remember the truth about who they are and to contend for the faith they were called into, so that those who come after them will know the truth, too.

Boxing Day is known for its sales, and for its returns. Yet Christmas offers us a gift we'll want to keep for life - Jesus. Through the gift of God's Son, we receive a new identity, a new source of power, and a new family. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

What does it mean to have joy? And how is it possible to follow the command to 'rejoice always'? The Bible teaches clearly that joy is not an emotion and doesn't come from ourselves. It's all about choosing to allow the Good News from Heaven to enter us personally.

The 'Magnificat' (also known as 'Mary's Song') is one of the most beloved and well-known songs of praise in the Bible. In it, Mary praises God for recognizing the humble in Israel (including herself) and lifting them up. Mary had a difficult road ahead - but instead she chose to praise.

Someone once said, "Time is an illusion. Timing is an art." We all understand that timing is everything, and yet we seldom like to wait for God's time. His timing is perfect, though, and while we're in God's 'waiting room' we're also in His 'operating room' and can rest assured He's using that time to work on our hearts and our character for His glory. We simply need to trust Him.

Do you struggle with feelings of loneliness? One major aspect of the hope-filled message of Christmas is Jesus coming as Immanuel - God with us. Even in our most isolated moments, we can rest in the assurance that God is with us, in us, and working through us to bring His tangible presence to others in this lonely world.