Amanda Charlebois

Have you ever experienced seasons when the moments, days and weeks seemed to slip away without noticing? If we are honest, most of us will say yes. Maybe we were consumed by the busyness of everyday routines or a difficult season when merely staying alive seemed like a challenge. Regardless, we often look back on these seasons with a great sense of regret and the feeling that moments were wasted. Time was wasted. The book of Psalms (a great place to start when you realize the shortfalls of our humanity and w[...]

It is easy to read the Bible and the principles established by God and think of God as some sort of intergalactic police officer, patrolling the world with the mission to enforce holy law. Yes, God is the author of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, “Do to others what you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31. But God is not standing over each of those commands with a lightning bolt in one hand, just waiting for us to “cross the line” so He can zap us. God is not mad at you, and God is not an[...]

This morning as you woke up, so did 'possibility.' It's constantly lingering in the air around you. What can I do today? Your 'possibility' is ready to enlarge your life. Possibility means you are aware of God, who is behind all things good and makes all things possible to those who believe. "And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26 Yet, the opposing possibility is the anxious and attention-seeking 'limitation.' Limitation[...]

This is a tricky question because three motivational thoughts usually guide the answer. I want it now, I want it my way, and I want it to be pleasurable. The idea that we have to wait or work for it is not pleasing to us and causes us to change our wants and adapt to easy, quick and satisfying things. The Bible is God's Word, and I love it because it is God's manual for us on how we are to live life. It reveals how to get the most out of life, what life will bring across your path and how to navigate through[...]

"Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20 (NIV). Isn't it interesting how misled the general population is on the importance of having an active church body in the community? There are truly a thousand things going on at Church that exist beyond the Sunday sermon, and all of them are benefiting the mental & physical well-being of members of our community. Think about the hundreds of homeless people in our province who have walked into a church to stay dry for an h[...]

The words printed on the t-shirt I am wearing as I write this are: Work Hard, Stay Humble. This is a biblical principle. The only thing that the Bible says, God exalts and lifts up, is humility. It is interesting that it's not talent, ability, good looks, popularity, or how much you earn or own. The one thing God exalts is humility. "…whoever humbles himself will be exalted" Matthew 23:12b "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." I Peter 5:5. To live in relationship with God means we have[...]

We live in this odd tension of ever-changing rhythms, rediscovered purposes, and many emotions. The good news is, God's view of us remains the same, and we are His beloved children. We need to remind ourselves of this truth and begin to treat God's creation (you) with the same love He has for you! A few things to remember. Be kind to yourself. Find moments to do things you enjoy and things that fill your heart. Practice positive thinking. The content of our hearts begins with what we think or believe in our[...]

If we decide to love as Christ loved us, it will look a lot like this: we would, Submit to one another, Forgive one another, Encourage one another, Restore one another as Christ did. Accept one another, Care for one another, Bear with one another, Carry one another's burdens as Christ did. This is the shortlist of all God, through Christ, has done for each of us. Jesus' new single command was designed to serve as the overarching ethic for his church. "Love one another, just as I have loved y[...]

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 ESV. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. I remember life before constant digital noise: no inbox pings, Twitter tweets or Instagram notifications. Because of the Covid-19 virus, our culture is pulled toward distractions like binging Netflix shows, scrolling through endless news feeds, checking every two minutes to see if we have a new notification. I’m[...]

As believers in Christ, we are called to be his disciples. That sounds scary and weird for some, but that's because we don't understand the meaning. To be a disciple means you are a follower, a learner, a student. See, Jesus called us to be his students and to learn from Him. But what was He teaching us?  John 13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." The reason why Jesus came to the earth was to teach us about God's uncondition[...]