Easter Sunday

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. As special as Resurrection Sunday already is to us, yesterday was even more special! Our whole church planting team headed off to Oakville, Ontario to attend our parent church's Easter Sunday service because we were being commissioned for the ministry that is ahead of us here in the Durham Region as a body of Christ! It was definitely a significant moment in the young life of this church plant. After the service, all 40+ of us invaded a local Swiss Chalet for lunch...so much fun! All in all, it was a GREAT day!

Although this was a 'corporate' event, God made sure He made it personally significant for me and my family as well. In my mind, this commissioning service marked the 'formal' beginning of this church plant. But the 'official' beginning for us really happened a few months back on New Year's Eve/New Year's Day when, after months of seeking God's will, everything culminated with God pointing us towards a specific direction. At that point, God made it crystal clear to hubby and me that we were to leave our home church and join this church planting team.

Here's what blew me away --- Acts 2:45-47 was one of the main passages of scripture that yesterday's sermon was based upon. On New Year's Eve, this is what God spoke to us about as a family unit during our yearend family devotion time. Coincidence? I think not! God wanted to show us a connection between the 'formal' beginning and the 'official' beginning of this church plant.

Wait, there's more! During the actual commissioning prayer, the verses from Joshua 1:6-9 were quoted and prayed over us. Now, take a look here --- these are the very same verses God gave to me on New Year's Day during my personal devotion time! Again, coincidence? I think not! Yet another connection between the 'formal' start and the 'official' start of this church plant! I couldn't believe my ears when I heard those two scripture passages being quoted yesterday.

My God is indeed awesome!!! What a great way to 'formally' start our ministry in the Durham Region with The Sanctuary Pickering. I am excited to see what God has in store for us in this leg of the journey through life. I think it's going to be a WILD RIDE!!!

Joshua 1:5b-6, 8-9 (NIV) --- "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV) --- "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."