When the Spirit is involved, we will be moved in ways we cannot always easily explain. If this were not true, why would Simeon have wandered into the temple on this particular day? What moved him to take the child Jesus into his arms, embracing Him as the Promise that was given him many years before? Why would Mary and Joseph allow their child to be taken up by a strange man in the first place? What compelled Anna to praise God and tell everyone about the Christ child? Why was Luke compelled to take down this story as an historical record for generations to come? It is because the Spirit of God propelled the movement of each of their hearts so that His Son’s purpose on earth would be rightfully presented to the world.


The Spirit of God is always available to us, but this beautiful depiction of the way in which He orchestrates a coming together of all the right people, at just the right time, for a righteous purpose, is no accident. It is the result of Relationship. Joseph and Mary had an intimate relationship with God even before they were given Him as their child. Simeon, it says, was “righteous and devout”. Anna prayed and fasted in the temple night and day—and you can be sure that with this level of relational fidelity, God will respond.


The Holy Spirit is wild and untamed—completely unpredictable by our own limited perception. We may ask Him to move, and not perceive His movement. Other times, without even asking, we may perceive His movement swiftly and profoundly. The one thing that is certain: He is always moving.


I prayed, some time ago, that God would send help to see a vision He gave me of a women’s ministry come to life. Six months later, a woman came to me, tentatively, because she had a vision for a women’s ministry, and the Spirit of God placed my name on her heart. She didn’t know my story, but God did. Another eight months passed, and through the prayer of more women, a date for a gathering in His name was borne. During this time of sharing, prayer, and praise, the Spirit moved, healed, and inspired hearts. And mine was moved possibly greater than most. I didn’t know when the Spirit first moved in me that the outcome would see housefulls of women gathered together in search of something more. If I had known, I may have jumped ship at the outset. But He called the right people, at the right time, and for a righteous purpose. And I could never hope to explain how He orchestrated this beautiful plan.


He is the divine conductor, moving within and between us in waves and strokes, and drawing us ever nearer to His Son. His presentation may be elaborate or discreet, but if we receive the grace to perceive Him, and we follow where He leads, He will surprise and renew us every time.


I pray that you, like Simeon, will draw near to God as He is presented to you each day, and that He will stir within you an understanding of your completeness in His presence.




​Lori MacDonald

Who wants to talk about suffering?
Nobody, that’s who!
Suffering is bad.
Suffering is painful.
Suffering should be avoided at all costs.


In this scripture passage from Hebrews we hear that, “It is fitting that God… should make the source of their salvation perfect through suffering.” (Hebrews 2:10)


Jesus, the source of our salvation, is made perfect through suffering. Suffering came into the world through sin. Jesus suffered to defeat sin.


A student came in to my office one day and said, ”How can we believe in God when there is so much suffering in this world?” After a lengthy discussion that went back and forth between theology, sociology, and psychology, there was really no definite answer. In the end I said, “You know I don’t really understand it but I do know that most of the testimonies that I have heard in my life of people encountering Jesus and giving their life to Him have come out of their suffering.” If Jesus is made perfect through suffering then wouldn’t it make sense that we, the Body of Christ, would also be made perfect through suffering?

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I have heard many stories about suffering and I don’t pretend to understand what others go through. In my own story, the suffering has been painful, hard, and unwelcome. Until, that is, I am on the other side looking back. It’s then that I see how God used my suffering to bring me closer to holiness, and I would be willing to go through it all again if it means I gain Jesus.


So when I put suffering into perspective it isn’t always bad or to be avoided. Sometimes it’s exactly what I need.

Let us Pray:
O my Jesus, who suffered more than anyone on this earth, strengthen me in my suffering so that I can grow in holiness and be united with You. Amen.




MaxIne Brown

Glory: magnificence or great beauty: a thing that is beautiful, impressive, or worthy of praise: the splendour and bliss of heaven: images of Christ in glory: praise, worship, and thanksgiving offered to a deity: a luminous ring or halo, especially as depicted around the head of Christ or a saint. (Google dictionary)


Lift up your heads, O gates!
    and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
    that the King of glory may come in.


Time to celebrate people of Israel. You are the chosen ones. Lift and open every entrance that has been closed to the Lord God, the Great I AM. And now for us, Jesus is the King of Glory; we open our minds and hearts to You.

Who is the King of glory?
    The Lord, strong and mighty,
    the Lord, mighty in battle.


But what kind of battle? Yes, Yahweh called His people to physical battle but the new King of Glory calls us to love our enemies, to forgive and not give up. Our battles are for the hearts, minds, and souls of those who do not know, or even in knowing do not honour the King of Glory! In our weakness, He is our strength.

Lift up your heads, O gates!
    and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
    that the King of glory may come in.
Who is this King of glory?
    The Lord of hosts,
    he is the King of glory.
​

The psalmist repeats it again… Open the way for the Lord. The Word is Glory and Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! Praise Him without ceasing, in every way possible. Keep the word Glory, speak it aloud, repeat it over and over again, sing it, shout it. ​




​Judy Savoy

I have always been drawn to the prophecy of Simeon from the gospel of Luke, which is the gospel reading for this, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. I very much appreciate the connection between this reading from Malachi and in particular, Luke 2:35, when Simeon says to Mary, “… the inner thoughts of many will be revealed…”


I used to be unaware of my inner thoughts; the thoughts of my heart. I always knew that I felt a certain way, that my heart was telling me something, but I never paid much attention to the thoughts behind why my heart did what it did. Still now, I am not always conscious of the secret motivations of my heart unless I sit in God’s presence and talk to Him bravely, honestly, and with a desire for growth and learning. I can convince myself pretty easily that my motivations are pure and selfless, but if I’m honest I can just as easily (perhaps more so) talk myself out of noble endeavours and the pursuit of virtue based on all kinds of ‘reasonable’ justifications.


Whenever I sit in His presence, He refines me — He shines light on my assumptions, turns anger and frustration into gratitude, gives me the courage to be wrong and to ask for respect. He gives me the strength to work hard and to accomplish more than I could on my own. His love — the source of all love — is the best love, the purest love, the love that allows us to fail and still be valued and desired. From His love flows our love, and the more we are refined, the more beautifully we are able to love. To love with the kind of love that casts out fear, that has no need to control, that shines truth like a beacon and has a strength like no other.

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I know that today, I would not stand if He appeared. But I also know that in my trials, in the things that challenge me, in my suffering, in my weakness, and ultimately in my desire to draw closer to Him, He is refining me. Knowing this is such a comfort, because it gives meaning to my struggles and my rogue thoughts and feelings, and I’m reminded once again that I need not fear. “Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:7). He only desires that we keep returning. ​




Lindsay Elford