Relationship with God Archives - Page 2 of 5 - LIFETAB CHURCH

Is it Time for an Oil Change?

This object lesson was inspired by a long overdue oil change in my car. Without changing the oil, the engine cannot function properly which can lead to very costly damages. As I entered a gas station in a little town in the middle of northern BC, this is what I heard:

There are many types of oil in the world, I will highlight two, crude oil (unregenerated, destructive and likened to this world and our sinful past); and refined oil of the Holy Ghost – that’s Jesus in us – regenerated and renewed. (more…)

By lifetab, 9 yearsMarch 25, 2016 ago

Puzzling Isn’t It?

I sat beside a psychoanalyst on the plane on my way back from St. Louis and discussed the status of young people in our society and how they are affected by the condition of our world. She informed me that from her study and observation adolescents in our society today have not lost their desire or ambition to become a great contributor to society, but merely have become lost in the fragmented society in which we reside.

I got to thinking about this; it’s like a puzzle that doesn’t seem to want to work. All the pieces are on the table and yet it feels like there are still missing pieces. Have you ever looked for that missing puzzle piece? Ever finished a puzzle and still had a piece missing? That feeling of the puzzle not being complete can drive you crazy. (more…)

By lifetab, 9 years ago

Amazing Love

Recently a friend commented, “I wish someone would look at me, like some people look at menus.”

It was such an unusual and thought provoking statement that it stuck with me for days. I think at the core of this expression there is a longing that resonates in each of us to be known completely, desired, and loved unconditionally. Most of us long for this kind of unconditional love and search for it through human relationships. Hollywood often portrays the message that if you could just meet the right person, your soulmate, you would find this kind of a relationship. As I was pondering the almost universal longing in this statement, (more…)

By lifetab, 9 years ago

A Proper Perspective

“How beautiful are your tents, Jacob, your dwelling places, Israel! Like valleys they spread out, like gardens beside a river, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters. Numbers 24:5-6 NIV

What a beautiful picture this passage of scripture depicts. To hear the writer describe it, one would think it was a vacation destination in the tropics. Let’s go!

The truth is a little less exciting to our short sighted natures. This was the picture of Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40 years after they had sinned against God by refusing to believe and obey His commands. They were in a hot, barren wilderness waiting for all of those 20 years and over to die before God would give them another opportunity to enter into His promise. It sounds pretty bleak, but that’s not how God viewed it. Let’s consider three points of interest. (more…)

By lifetab, 9 yearsJanuary 2, 2016 ago

How to Have a Better Day

I’ve had the privilege of growing up going to church and I can say it is simply the greatest place to be.

There are many places and things to busy ourselves with. We find ourselves doing one thing or another, going to one place or another or perhaps your week has just bogged you down. It’s worth the effort and sacrifice to make ones way to church where you will find new strength.

(more…)

By lifetab, 9 yearsDecember 19, 2015 ago

Confidence to Endure the Storm

Everyone, no matter how perfect their lives may seem, has gone through a hard time, a storm. The intensity of the storm should not be judged, because each individual has a different threshold to endure their storm. Some storms will blow things around, and maybe stir up the dirt. Others will blow so hard that we feel like we can’t stand it. Then there are those storms that leave us seemingly without any power and perhaps some damage to our surroundings. Often in a storm, we bear down, close our eyes and try to “ride it out.” What if during these times instead of burying our head and hoping we get through it, we instead trust that we have done the preparation to come out safely and better than before. Those storms that leave us feeling powerless and torn apart, are instead opportunities to rebuild, to become stronger and better than we were before the storm.