Transformed | Inspired | Called

When God Says NO

- by Craig Frere

God ALWAYS answers our prayers.  When I was growing up in church, that is one of the things I remember being taught in Sunday School or at youth group.  That conversation was then followed up with the qualifier that God doesn’t always answer them with a “yes”.  We would talk about how sometimes God answers with a “no” if my prayer is a selfish one or if it doesn’t line up with God’s plans and purposes.  We would also talk about how God sometimes answers our prayers with a “not yet” when our timeline doesn’t quite lineup with God’s.  While that answer is a bit simplistic, at the time, I still found it satisfying – and sometimes I still do. 

Transformed. Inspired. Called: An MCEC Devotional

Thanksgiving with Grateful Hearts, Faithful Hands

- by Yoel Masyawong

Have you ever noticed that we could receive 99 blessings and still complain about the one thing we don't have?

The Israelites did something similar. They had just experienced God's deliverance from Egypt and crossed the Red Sea. Yet, when they became hungry in the wilderness, they complained. Suddenly, they remembered Egypt as if it were a wonderful, delicious Thai restaurant with “pots of meat and full table of bread."

Transformed. Inspired. Called: An MCEC Devotional

Landscapes

- by Janet Bauman

Recently I had the opportunity to take part in two retreats in beautiful settings in the Canadian Shield. In both cases the landscape itself seemed like a participant. God spoke through coloured leaves, shimmering water, solid rocks, majestic trees, and the creatures of this landscape.

I was reminded of Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Horeb, in the form of a burning bush. God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then God said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground”  (Exodus 3:4-5).

Transformed. Inspired. Called: An MCEC Devotional

A People of Vision

- by Bill Wiebe

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…”  Proverbs 29:18

Every pursuit in this life requires two essential elements: vision and passion.  Each action or goal, any and all quests, no matter their depth or magnitude – all begin and are fueled by vision and passion.

Waking from a blissful slumber, we are seized by a need for caffeine: here is the vision.  We stumble/saunter to the nearest Keurig, undeterred by cold floors and treacherous Lego pieces: here is the passion.  It is the two working in tandem that achieves much.

Transformed. Inspired. Called: An MCEC Devotional