MINISTERS MATTER

HAPPY HANUKKAH!

From the heart of a Christian, who loves Jewish people, and is in awe of how God has preserved both the Jews through the centuries and the holy scriptures, I want to wish you a Happy Hanukkah.

The light of truth has come into my life and I will always be in debt to the Jewish scriptures, including the law, prophets, psalms and the gospels of course for revealing the promises of a coming Jewish Messiah. Everything I enjoy today has come to me by way of the Jews through Yeshua.

AT THE WESTERN WALL

Standing with my Jewish guide a few years ago by the Western Wall he said, "What would be your first question if Messiah came today?" I thought about it and said, "I would not ask any questions, I would just prostrate myself before Him." He smiled and said to me, "I would ask Him if this is His first visit or second?" And therein lies the difference between Jews and Christians. That difference does not stop me from loving all things Jewish including the Holidays and Feasts.

Chanukah is about fighting, cleansing, and rededicating yourself and all that you have authority over back to God.

Yeshua teaches us that we are to be like a light on a lampstand which is meant to reveal the mysteries and secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven to those who do not see and hear (Mark 4). As soon as He says this, however, He follows up with an important caution, "Take care what you listen to...For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." (Mark 4: 24-25)

Yeshua is speaking about Truth. The more we pursue Truth, in all aspects of our lives, the more Truth we will gain. We must love Truth; let it fill us in order for us to reveal it to the world.

We need to take time this Chanukah to ask some hard questions and to evaluate the condition of our "soil" according to the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4. Is it prepared to receive Truth? Has the enemy of your soul come to steal your seed? Is your heart full of rocky places so that you cannot receive God's Word with any depth? Have you let thorns grow around your heart which are causing you to be worried about earthly matters or are you being deceived by your consumption of material things? Are you putting other things first before seeking the Kingdom of God?

My blessing for us all this Chanukah is that as we light the candles of the Chanukiah, and bless the Holy One who has been the source of all provision and miracles, is now and will be forevermore, that we be filled with His light for all to see. That the Truth of God's Word abound in our lives, confusion and distraction be far from us, that we become more dedicated to His service and bear fruit for the Servant King, Yeshua, who is the light of Lights in our world. Amen.

I have adapted this from an article by Jeisyn Murphy of Austin, Texas.

May God bless you and your family this holiday season as you enjoy Him who is the light of the world.

Love never fails!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

History and Origin of Canadian Thanksgiving

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Unlike the American tradition of remembering Pilgrims and settling in the New World, Canadians give thanks for a successful harvest. The harvest season falls earlier in Canada compared to the United States due to the simple fact that Canada is further north.

The history of Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to an English explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Orient. He did not succeed but he did establish a settlement in Northern America.

In the year 1578, he held a formal ceremony, in what is now called Newfoundland, to give thanks for surviving the long journey. This is considered the first Canadian Thanksgiving. Other settlers arrived and continued these ceremonies. He was later knighted and had an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean in northern Canada named after him - Frobisher Bay.

At the same time, French settlers, having crossed the ocean and arrived in Canada with explorer Samuel de Champlain, also held huge feasts of thanks. They even formed 'The Order of Good Cheer' and gladly shared their food with their Indian neighbours.



After the Seven Year's War ended in 1763, the citizens of Halifax held a special day of Thanksgiving. 

During the American Revolution, Americans who remained loyal to England moved to Canada where they brought the customs and practices of the American Thanksgiving to Canada.

There are many similarities between the two Thanksgivings such as the cornucopia and the pumpkin pie.

Eventually in 1879, Parliament declared November 6th a day of Thanksgiving and a national holiday.

Over the years many dates were used for Thanksgiving, the most popular was the 3rd Monday in October. After World War I, both Armistice Day and Thanksgiving were celebrated on the Monday of the week in which November 11th occurred. Ten years later, in 1931, the two days became separate holidays and Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day.



Finally, on January 31st, 1957, Parliament proclaimed...

"A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed  ... to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October.