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By Rhema Stevenson

Writing.

Don’t like it.

Not a fan.

You can certainly say it’s one of the reasons why I decided to become an engineer. The thought of having to spend my years in university writing essays and reports would make me froth at the mouth. Give me the complexity of numbers and equations any day. I can honestly say I even freaked out a bit when they began introducing letters to mathematical equations.

For as long as I could remember, I was never one for writing notes during a sermon. Every week I would lean in and try to absorb everything that was being said, and every week I would forget. Sermons are often so full of Scripture and developed thought that I found it hard to retain everything by simply sitting and listening. This compelled me to begin taking notes. Even if I had no intentions to file the note for future reference, writing down key thoughts helped burn them into my memory much more effectively. It helped make the sermon an interactive, relational experience instead of simply a passive one.

Through writing, I have greatly improved at listening, learning, studying and memorizing God’s word, and it offers me another avenue to hear Him speak to me personally. It’s a helpful, tangible testimony to God’s grace to look back and see his Word preached throughout my life. It has helped me to see promptings in my soul that were worked out over a period of time to later bear fruit.

So let me ask you: how is your listening? We come to Church to get our marching orders from God, through his Word, through the preacher. What good is it to us if we simply show up on Sunday and have the message leave our minds as we leave the Church? We want to walk out each time knowing who God is, and how He wants us to respond. That is why we sit there fully engaged. That is why we listen. All the way through we are to be actively engaged, not by speaking, but by listening, and then planning out our obedience.

I challenge you to examine yourself on Sunday, as I examined myself, and make changes so that you are not simply a spectator, but a participant. How do you best listen so that you are able to apply what you hear and grow in your understanding of Him?

For me it’s most definitely writing.

I’ve learned to like it.

I’m now a fan.

By Paul Greenham

Dan’s recent sermon on Genesis 22 (from July 25) touches on what I consider to be some major themes in the Christian life. What stands out to me most clearly is the nature of Abraham’s faith, which was not at all blind, but rather banked on God’s proven character. What also stands out is the gravity of God’s command to Abraham and testing the degree of his faith by asking him to let go of the one thing most likely to be an idol: his son.

It seems to me that so much of life as a Christian is a battle for the affections for the heart. I’m often tempted to judge my progress or spiritual state according to what I do or don’t do (regretting sins, or being pleased with my righteous actions). But our actions only function at the symptomatic level; while they are helpful ways to consider what may be happening in the heart, they do not entirely reveal the battle for the heart. Why else would Jesus summarize all the law and the prophets with the command to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and mind? I consider the process of sanctification to be one of constant change in our affections towards God and away from idols.

I am often confronted with a desire for something to fill me or to help me escape and to take away my feelings of loneliness, meaninglessness or fear. This desire is frequently connected to my emotional state, and hence my affections. I’ve heard many excellent sermons about idolatry (Dan’s included), and it keeps coming back to this: I try to make a functional saviour out of almost anything. I exhaust all my options, and only after pushing and straining to find my hope in every activity and entertainment and yet continuing to feel the hunger, emptiness and uselessness of looking to anything other than God, for more than those things are designed to give, or capable of giving do I run to Him and find that for which I’ve been searching all along.

We not only need the gospel at the beginning of the Christian walk; we need it at every single point – and largely to remind ourselves continually that the battle is for our own hearts: for where and to whom we turn in the trials of life.

I believe God was reminding Abraham of Isaac’s status in his life. Isaac was most certainly a very beloved and cared for child, and the very proof of God’s fulfilled promise and his desire to bless Abraham, but in the end he was a gift, not the giver. Abraham’s faith that God’s promise of blessing through Isaac was not negated by God’s command to sacrifice Isaac and it demonstrated an amazing reliance on God’s faithfulness to his own promise Abraham showed faith in the consistency of God’s character and his ultimate substitutionary provision in the coming Lamb, as Dan explained in his sermon (you can find the sermon here: http://www.gracetoronto.ca/resources/sermons/?sermon_id=75) I am amazed by Abraham’s love for God. The affections of his heart were directed toward God and were based on his knowledge of, and belief in, God’s consistent character.

I have found in the times I do turn to God in earnest prayer for the fulfillment of my desires and needs (which I so often seek to be fulfilled by relationships, TV shows, or success), he really does give provide fulfillment. I long to go straight to him instead of running through the usual idols before laying my brokenness before him. Reflecting on Dan’s sermon, I have noticed a feedback loop in process, as the more we go to God up front, the more we learn to in his consistent faithfulness and ability to fulfill us and the more likely we are to seek him immediately in the future. This is the process of sanctification, as God changes the affections of our hearts to match the status he has already declared us to have in Christ.

By Ali Duyck

A personal reflection on prayer’s significance

I believe I am not alone in saying that there is a lot of “stuff” in my head that I deal with on a daily basis, some good, most not so good.  We live in a world that is constantly trying to persuade our thinking and when we are left to our own devices, fear, anxiety, envy, lust and pride, can set in.  Going to God in prayer is when we allow Him to change our thinking and help us to see things from His perspective. I have learned to view prayer as an opportunity to align my thoughts with God’s.  I am very thankful for the times I have started praying with an anxious heart and then have been blessed as my thoughts start transforming and I am praying for things I know could have only come from Him.

Some of the ways God has transformed my thoughts is in the ongoing battle in my head of comparing myself against others.  Others who are more beautiful, more “spiritual”, more capable, more athletic, more successful and the list goes on.  Only when I am alone with the Lord does He reveal that he has made me exactly as I am supposed to be and that in the midst of it, He is also transforming me to be more like Him.   When I go to Him in prayer, I believe I come to know myself deeper and accept the truth, as I see myself in light of Jesus.  I know I want everyone to believe that I’ve got things together and that my thoughts and intentions are pure and selfless, as they should be.  However, this facade becomes apparent when I am before God and I start to see how pride is at the root of my motives.  I am thankful that I can accept this about myself and trust that He is going to change my heart to be pure for His purpose, not my own.  I believe we are much more effective to serve Him here on earth when we come to a place of acceptance of who we are and hope for what He promises to do in us.

Although it is beneficial to us, we should also remember that prayer is for God’s glory. We glorify Him every time we humbly go before Him and submit our lives into His hands.  It is through this that we acknowledge that He is God, that He is Sovereign.  We glorify Him when we accept that His will be done in our lives, just as Jesus demonstrated through His words, saying to His Father, “not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42); and through His actions, when He went to the cross.

Ultimately, prayer is a gift that we have been given, a way to communicate with God.  I pray that God would bless each of us by revealing how prayer has changed us so far in our lives and to increase our desire to make it a part of our daily activities.

What better way to get to know each other than over food and a little friendly competition?

Launched this summer, the Connections Ministry introduced the ‘Grace Summer Games,’ as a way to provide an outlet for both existing friendships to deepen and new ones to form and develop.  Whether it’s been on a water-break, during the picnic after the game, or in the heat of the moment of catching the frisbee in an opponent’s face, we’ve been able to successfully see these friendships and new relationships taking place.  And that is what is really at the heart of the Connections Ministry…to see relationships form and then be further transformed by the Gospel impact of living life in community with one another.

Check out these pictures for a glimpse of the fun and action that took place at our first event, Ultimate Frisbee.

If you haven’t had the chance to come out yet, don’t worry it’s not too late!  Our last ‘Grace Summer Games’ of the summer is this Saturday, August 14th.  We’ll be playing a rousing game of Kickball (Soccer Baseball), followed by a ‘bring-your-own’ picnic in the park.   Location:  Christie Pits Park (Christie and Bloor)  Time:  Kickball Game 3-5p, Picnic 5-7p

For more information, click here.

By Kyle Hackmann

Genesis 16 presents us with a story of the complications that come about when God’s people do not trust his promises. Instead of waiting for God to intervene into human history, Sarai grows impatient with her infertility. She takes her Egyptian servant Hagar and gives her to her husband (Much like Eve took the forbidden fruit and gave it to her husband in Gen. 3:6). Following this decision, strife infects Abram’s house. Sarai is harsh with her now pregnant servant Hagar. This complication from sin becomes a crisis and Hagar is forced to flee to her homeland of Egypt.

While on the road to Egypt an Angel of the Lord finds Hagar by a spring of water and asks her “Where are you going?” This question reminds the reader of God’s previous questions to people like Adam (Where are you?) and Cain (Where is your brother?). Unlike Adam and Cain, Hagar responds honestly. The angel tells her to return and submit to her master. Hagar responds with obedience.

In the midst of God’s people’s unfaithfulness and disobedience, Hagar is presented as the righteous servant who is obedient to the voice of God and to her earthly master. Though Hagar is not a descendent of Abram and the promised descendents will not come through her, the God of Abram communicates with her and blesses her. She is the only woman in the Old Testament that God addresses by name, and she is also the only woman in the Old Testament to confer a name upon God (“The God of Seeing”).

Later, Sarai’s children will suffer at the hands of Hagar’s people. Hagar will be an example to the people of God as they suffer. In the same way that God rescues Hagar as she fled oppressive slavery, God will rescue his people from their slavery in Egypt. In the same way that the Angel of the Lord finds Hagar wandering in the wilderness outside of Egypt (Gen. 16:7), an Angel of the Lord will direct God’s people in the wilderness after they leave Egypt (Ex. 14:19).Just as the God of seeing (Gen. 16:13) sees Hagar in her suffering, God will see Sarai’s children suffering (Ex. 3:7). God’s actions toward Hagar become blueprints of his actions toward his creation.

God’s grace is bigger than mankind’s mistakes. No matter how far in rebellion or disobedience one may be, the God of the Scriptures is relentlessly faithful to bring grace to a graceless situation. God sees his people oppressed by their own poor decisions, and he sees his people rebelling and wandering from his way, and yet he graciously intervenes. Before we even cry out to him, he is the God who sees us in need and provides a way. As God was gracious to Hagar, so also he continues to be gracious to those who least expect it.

What does it mean to be a church ‘in the city, for the city?’

We say that all the time around Grace Toronto Church, almost every week actually, but what does it really mean?

Does it mean we love everything about the city? Or does it mean that we love certain aspects of urban culture but look down on the parts that don’t fit with our churchy outlook? Or maybe it means we live our lives to fight for social justice and feed the homeless?

“Imprint” – a new magazine project from Grace Toronto aims to explore all of those questions and to find some answers about what those six words really mean to our church, to our friends and neighbours, to our lives.
But it’s more than that too. In these pages you’ll find neighbourhood profiles, music reviews, short stories, poetry, even photo essays and original illustrations – all by talented, creative people living in this big city.

We think you’re gonna love it, so pick up a copy this Sunday for $4 while we still got ‘em.
(Or order one online)

By Matt Wills

A couple weekends ago, a few of us travelled to Chicago to help a new staff member and his family move to Toronto.The weekend was a great success, and we had a lot of fun while travelling. One particular event clearly showed how God softened people’s hearts and aided us in our travels. Our biggest concern with travelling was getting back into Canada. Kyle, our new staff, needed to get a work permit for Canada and we weren’t sure that the border guards would issue one. To complicate matters, all of Kyle’s possessions were loaded up into a truck, and ready to cross with him. If the border guards were being strict, we might not have been able to cross the border, or there could have been a load of import taxes applied to the stuff in our truck.

We waited for about 30 minutes in our truck, inching along the bridge in Sarnia, waiting for our turn to talk to the customs official. When we finally got to the front of the line we met a customer official who asked a lot of questions about Grace – about our location, the size of the congregation, whether we needed an assistant pastor, what denomination we belonged to, and so forth. We were a little shocked at the depth of her questions, and at times it felt like we were being interrogated. Eventually, she was satisfied, and we were sent inside to talk with an agent.

While Kyle was being interviewed separately, I had some interesting interactions with other border agents. The customer official that had interrogated us came inside and said “do you go to Grace?”, and I told her that I did. She then asked if she could come to pub night*! As it turns out, she was asking these questions because she too went to a Presbyterian church and wanted to prove to her coworkers that young people still attend church!

While the agent was talking with Kyle, the customer official I talked to told the agent that Kyle “checked out”, and that seemed to speed up the process. In the end, we got everything we needed in record time!

God’s hand was evident throughout our travels, as in this story. It reminds me of Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.”

How can we trust God more in our daily life? Do you recognize all the ways that God walks with you?

*Editor’s Note: Pub Night is a regular event hosted by the Faith and Work Ministry of Grace Toronto. See http://www.gracetoronto.ca/ministry/faith-work/ for details on future events.

by Neil Peet

I work a lot. Ok, I admit it… I probably work too much. In the business world (and in general here in Toronto) we tend to wear our busyness as a badge of honour. It is almost a competition to see who works longer hours or has a more hectic schedule. How often have you felt the peace of God? When was the last time you truly rested: physically, emotionally, spiritually?

Jesus talked a lot about Peace and Rest:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”
~ Matthew 11:28-30

However, if we look at Jesus’ life, we do not necessarily see a man who appeared to be at peace as we define it today. He was constantly preaching and healing, surrounded by crowds of needy people who were desperate for his physical and spiritual presence. When he was not preaching and teaching, he was generally traveling to the next town in Israel. How did he deal with with all the public pressure to perform 24/7? In Luke 4 verses 38-40 we see an example of Jesus visiting Peter’s house in Capernaum after preaching all day long. The people of the town discovered he was there and did not even allow him to eat, demanding healing and teaching. Talk about not getting any rest! The next morning Jesus leaves early and goes out into a solitary place … to do what? To sleep, read a book, watch some TV, get some “me” time? No, throughout his ministry on earth, Jesus often leaves the crowds to go and connect with God, the source of his energy and peace. Notice how when he returns he immediately sets off to continue teaching and preaching to all of Israel.

If we want to truly experience the peace of God, I think this is something we can take to heart. Sometimes in the busyness of this world, the only peace we have is the inner peace which comes from being close to God. And the only way to maintain or recharge this peace is by taking a step away from our lives and reconnecting with the source of peace: God. Filling ourselves with self-indulgence, no matter how well-intentioned, is temporary and ultimately just won’t cut it or enable us to continue pouring ourselves out for others in this busy world.

When Elijah was called to meet God in 1 Kings 19:11-13 first he saw a powerful wind, an earthquake, and fire, but the Lord was not there. God came after in the gentle whisper, in the stillness. How often do we long for God to come into our lives with a powerful wind or an earthquake and just shake things up to make everything right? How often all we need is the gentle whisper, the abiding peace of God to fill our hearts.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
~ Philippians 4:7
I have included the following quotation from Paul Miller which can be found in his book, “A Praying Life” because it so wonderfully captures some of the implications of what I have been talking about.

“If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love . . . and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer. By spending time with our Father in prayer, we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives become more coherent. They feel calmer, more ordered, even in the midst of confusion and pressure.” Paul Miller, A Praying Life.

What things could you be challenged to do for God if you dwelt in His peace?

By Matt Wills

Dear brothers and sisters,

Recently, my parents visited our church for evening service. They are not Christians, and I suspect the thought of being in a church was a little nerve wracking for them. That night, I received a message from my mom:

“Thank you for sharing your church with me. I really felt comfortable and welcome and can see why you love it there. Everyone was very warm and several came and introduced themselves after the service. I had a good time.”

Your actions are special to me, not because they made my parents feel comfortable, but because this is the behavior I consistently witness day to day from you; your warmth, your willingness to serve and meet others and your volunteering efforts exhibit a dedication to serving God in a concrete manner.

I encourage you to continue building into this flock, “to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28b). I just wanted to say “thank you”.

Your brother,

Matt