What did the angels sing?

I love to sing. I know that sometimes I lose my pitch and my voice goes flat. I didn’t say I was a skilled or accomplished singer. Just that I love to sing nonetheless! I especially like to sing songs that declare the greatness of God and what He has done for me. How about you?

I think a lot of people at our church enjoy it too! PPT is known as a singing and worshipping church that ushers in the presence of God in such a powerful way! That’s why our tagline is Come and experience the presence of God! Christianity is a singing faith!

Hark The Herald Angels Sing is the one of the most loved and sung carols at Christmas time. The words to this song are loaded with powerful truth and theology about Jesus. In tomorrow’s Carols Devotional you will read all about it. Plan to sing this carol to yourself throughout your day to prepare your spirit for worship and the Word this Sunday as we explore the question: What did the angels sing?

The angels announced the birth of Jesus in song. They sang about who Christ was. They declared in worship what He had come to do. This magnificent Christmas carol builds into a crescendo of glorious theology about Jesus! It speaks about what He has done, that only He could do, for us. It’s incredibly good news!

By the time service ends and we gather around the Communion table, we hope you will have learned to ‘Hark’ and ‘Hail’ Jesus as the Saviour and Lord of your life and your Christmas. Harken to His voice as He would speak to you. “Hail the heaven born prince of peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness!” Give Jesus the Worship He is due. The One who brings us Light, Life, Healing, and Eternal Salvation.

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Do you ever wonder what Mary actually knew?

One of the most powerful Christmas songs to be recorded is Mary Did You Know? The song poses a number of questions to Mary, the mother of Jesus:

Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God

Mary, did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the great I am

Lots of questions. Do you ever wonder what Mary really knew and understood about what she had been chosen to do, in becoming the mother of Jesus?

Did she understand who Jesus really was and what He would do?

Did she have any clue where this journey with God would take her?

Join us online this Sunday as we explore these questions. The answers will speak to us about being chosen by God for a very unique task that will lead us to be amazed on where our journey with God will take us!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

From Troubled to Trust

Are you troubled by what you see around you today? Are you grieved in your spirit feeling so helpless in the middle of all that is going on around you? Well I want you to know that there is an answer to the troubled and grieving feelings we have.

This Sunday I will be bringing the message From Troubled to Trust. I know this message will be an encouragement to you. One of the reasons why people are feeling so troubled is that today we live in a world where people are finding it so hard to trust. The Media doesn’t always tell the truth, some of our family and friends are maybe just as confused themselves as to who or what to trust, and so many of our trusted institutions have been letting us down.

So the question arises, who can we trust? I believe the answer to who we can trust is found in the word of God. So join us online this Sunday as we move From Troubled to Trust.

God bless you,

Pastor Wayne Russell
Associate Pastor

Are you overwhelmed or overflowing?

Are you feeling overwhelmed these days? What do you want, hope and believe God will do through this current crisis? How can we move from feeling overwhelmed by life’s circumstances to experience the overflow of God’s presence and provision?

Our answer to these questions reveals our level of anticipation and faith. This theme of faith and anticipation weaves its way through all of Scripture. Faith led Noah to build an ark for 120 years. Faith caused Abraham to be willing to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice. The faith of a Roman Centurion anticipated that if Jesus just uttered the word, his son would be healed.

The Bible declares that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). So what is it about “faith” that makes God smile? Our faith, no matter the size, puts the wheels of heaven into motion. Jesus reminds us, “what is impossible with men is possible with God.” Faith requires us to look beyond ourselves to God for the answers.

And it’s anticipation that drives us to look to God and place our hope and trust in Him. Anticipation is a great word. It is a cousin to expectation, excitement, faith, and suspense. The dictionary defines anticipation as “a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen; the act of preparing for something.” Faith pleases God because it creates an opportunity to reveal His power.

What are you trusting God for? We need to practice the spiritual discipline of anticipation. Would you dare to still believe the Word of God, Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20, NLT). God honours faith and He smiles when we have a spirit of anticipation.

So this Sunday, we want you to do something special to prepare for our service. Find yourself some sort of jar in your home and bring it with you as you join us for our online service. Get your whole family involved. Everyone needs to have a jar! And be sure to come with anticipation and faith in your heart too!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Are you preparing for the Day of the Lord?

Hello PPT family and friends,

As you all probably know, Peel Region is under the highest COVID-19 alert level short of a lockdown as Ontario shifts to a tiered and colour-coded system for managing pandemic measures.

A week ago the Medical Officer of Health for Peel added some additional restrictions to our region and has asked churches to voluntarily cooperate by holding our services virtually online or by restricting ourselves to 30% capacity to a maximum of 50 people.

Current reports indicate that our region’s hospitals are being overwhelmed and frontline health care workers face a daunting task.

Scripture tell us two major commands that are to guide our lives:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, your mind and strength and love your neighbour as your yourself.

So, in consultation with our church board, staff and other spiritual leaders in our fellowship, we feel the best way to love our neighbours and to provide a positive Christian witness to our community is to voluntarily restrict ourselves and move our Sunday Services online only for the time being. We have done this before very successfully and by God’s grace, we can do it again!

We will watch closely what unfolds in our region, monitoring the progress and directives from Peel’s Medical Officer of Health and respond accordingly in the days ahead. So watch for further notices.

As I mentioned last Sunday after service, I am asking our church family to engage even more fervently in prayer and together let’s believe for a breakthrough in this pandemic. We look forward to your presence with us this Sunday for our online service at 10:30 am.

My message about the Day of the Lord refers to when the Lord Jesus comes to rapture His people and God pours out His wrath on the ungodly. It will be a time when the Lord will begin to pour out His judgments during seven years called the Great Tribulation. Unfortunately, many people will not be prepared. Will you be prepared? Find out how to be this Sunday in my message, Preparing for the Day of the Lord. We look forward to seeing you online!

Every blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Encourage each other with these words

Do you want to know what’s going to happen? Are things unfolding in a way that you did not expect? Are you overwhelmed with questions?

Dark days come to us all. Discouragement is an ever-present danger, and sorrow is the stalker of us all. Like the new Christians at Thessalonica, sometimes our hopes fade and doubts rise. But there is a prescription for those dark days. There are three strong words of encouragement that we all need to hear. See if you can find them in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.

Did you find them? These three strong words will focus your heart and mind, and comfort you along life’s journey.

Join us this Sunday to discover what they are and hear more about them, as we celebrate Communion together!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Standing Firm In Your Faith

In her book, God Uses Cracked Pots, author Patsy Clairmont describes the day she sent her seven-year old son to school. A little while later a knock came to the door and when she opened the door, there stood her little boy. She said, “Jason, what are you doing here?” He replied, “I’ve quit school!” She asked, “Why have you quit school?” He said, “It was too long, it was too hard, and it was too boring.” His mother responded, “Jason, you have just described life, get back on the bus!”

Well life can sure feel that way sometimes! It can feel long, hard, and boring, but that is no reason to quit. Bible tells us, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12, NLT). Testing and trials are a normal part of life, so how do you stand strong in midst of those trials? How do you remain steadfast in times of affliction? How do you persevere in face of persecution?

That was Paul’s concern for Thessalonian believers. Just a couple of weeks after they became believers, an angry mob went on a rampage and chased Paul out of town. As he gets down the road to Athens, he begins to wonder about new believers he left behind in Thessalonica. Is their faith still strong despite persecution? Are they holding up under pressure? Or have they succumbed to affliction and given up their faith? Paul expresses his concern in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8:

But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

This has certainly been a trying year. But we can stand strong in the face of adversity by practicing three things Paul mentions in this chapter. So read the chapter and see if you can discover what they are. Then join us this Sunday and discover how you can find yourself standing firm in your faith!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Seek to be Genuine Imitators

An imitator is a person who copies the behaviour or actions of another. It is amazing how quickly young children learn by imitation of what they hear and see. Kids can see an action or hear a word or a sound only a few times before they are able to imitate it.

As believers, the Bible calls us to be imitators of Jesus in much the same way. Paul called the Thessalonian believers to be followers of Jesus Christ by following his example, the Word of God and other genuine followers of Christ:

You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:10-13 (NKJV)

We often hear the word hypocrite used to describe a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs and principles that he or she does not actually possess. Their actions belie their stated beliefs. To the contrary, God has called us to be genuine imitators of Jesus Christ.

We are living in days that call for real, genuine and sincere believers to stand up and live out their lives based on the truth of God’s Word. This happens as we are transformed by the truth of God’s Word and follow the example of Christ while He walked this earth. There are also many other faithful believers who can be helpful witnesses of the life we are called to live. Being genuine imitators of Christ brings glory to God, attracts people to the kingdom of God and sets an example for others.

Plan to join us this Sunday to experience the manifest presence of God in worship. Together we will be challenged and encouraged by God’s Word to be genuine imitators of our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Keep Busy Waiting

As a child of God, what should we be doing during this Covid pandemic that has changed the routine of our lives in so many ways? Is there any end in sight as we wait?

We need to keep busy waiting. Now, a phrase like that might seem a bit contradictory. Are we to keep busy or should we hold steady and wait? If we are to keep busy, what should we be doing? If we should be just waiting, what are we waiting for? We actually are to do both.

It is like a woman in the final days of her pregnancy. She finds ways to keep busy in her life while she waits in anticipation and expectation for the arrival of her baby.

We are called as believers to practice a similar posture. Once we turn to God in faith believing, we are called to keep busy loving God and faithfully seeking to serve Him and others, while we wait with great anticipation for the return of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul states it this way, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, (1 Thessalonians 1:2,3)

Faith, love and hope are the distinguishing virtues of a child of God and the church. They are the attributes for living in the kingdom of God. Interestingly, Paul later on in this same chapter describes these three virtues as turning, serving and waiting.

For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9,10)

Join us this Sunday as we gather to worship the Lord and hear the word to Keep Busy Waiting!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Let's give thanks together!

Thanksgiving weekend has arrived. It is important for us to come together and thank God for who He is, for what He has done, and for his goodness in our lives. Parliament officially declares Thanksgiving as “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”

It is just as important, if not more important, to thank Him in the midst of trials. As scriptures command, we need to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

This has certainly been a year of trials. A defining characteristic of a Christian is how he or she responds to trials. It is God’s will that we offer thanksgiving to Him, because in spite of trials “we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28)

By finding the good in the bad and giving thanks despite the negative circumstances, Christians set themselves apart from the rest of the world while simultaneously lifting their own spirits by fixing their eyes on God instead of the world.

This Thanksgiving Sunday, we will lift our eyes to Jesus as we share Communion together. We will celebrate with grateful hearts what Jesus has provided for us through His death on the cross. Together we will examine what empowered Him to endure such agony on our behalf, and the secret to enduring the trials in our own lives.

We encourage you to make a special effort to join us this holiday weekend if you have not yet come to an in-person gathering. We have implemented good safety protocols and are providing a proven, safe environment for worshipping together. You will experience something powerful when worshipping in person versus watching online. So plan to join us this holiday weekend with your family and let’s worship and celebrate communion together! Happy Thanksgiving!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Who is with you?

There is no mistaking the fact that so far 2020 has been one of the most tumultuous years in our lives. The multitude of shifts and changes that we have experienced in our daily lives has been enormous. What the future holds seems to be so uncertain too. It begs the question, who is with you to help provide a solid foundation for your life? Who is helping to lead, guide and protect you as we move forward into an unknown future?

There are seven feasts that the Lord gave to the nation of Israel as a way for them to commemorate His love story with them, as well as provide a blueprint of His plan of salvation and redemption for all mankind.

Today marks the beginning of another feast and week of Jewish celebrations, known as the Feast of Tabernacles (Oct 2-9). The Feast of Tabernacles is called Sukkot. Sukkot means “shelters”, “booths”, or “tabernacles”. So this feast picks up on the redemptive story, as God tabernacled with the children of Israel as they made their way through the desert from Egypt to the Promised Land. It commemorates God’s guiding and protecting presence with His people as He led them with a cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.

In this final message of our series, Time To Return: Who is with you?, we will discover the important significance of this one feast in our lives today and in the future. Interestingly this is the one and only feast mentioned in Scripture that will be celebrated by all nations in the days to come.

If we will commit our lives to following Christ, we have the promise of His presence with us, to guide and protect us throughout our lives and through all the challenges life brings. And the ultimate reality is God will literally dwell with us and we will dwell with Him, in the not so distant future! What a cause for rejoicing!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

We are living in Days of Awe.

Are you not awestruck at times at the things you see unfolding before your very eyes in our world? A global pandemic, economic upheaval, and lawlessness, are on a scale and speed that is unparalleled in history. We are surely living in days of awe.

On the traditional Jewish calendar, this week is known as the “Days of Awe.” It’s the 10-day period between Rosh HaShanah (Yom Teruah – Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. This ten period of reflection, introspection and repentance begins with the blowing of the shofar as religious Jews, prepare their hearts before God the Judge.

Figuratively, as we live in the days of awe, it is very apparent that we are moving rapidly towards the next major event in God’s prophetic timeline. We need to be ready and prepared for the coming of Jesus as our world races towards days of judgment that are about to come upon the earth.

This Sunday, in our third message of our series, Time To Return, we will examine the days of awe that we are living in now and how we need to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Let’s join the Jewish people in the spirit of this season, by reflecting on our own lives. And particularly about the paths that we have chosen and where they have led and continue to lead us.

May we hear the words of the prophet Joel that are so applicable to this moment:

That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse …” 
— Joel 2:12-14 (NLT)

If there was ever a time that people need to turn to the Lord, it is now. For those who once followed God, it is also time to repent and return to following Him. May the Lord get our personal and the collective attention. May we turn to Him with all our hearts and lives. It’s time to pray that God will send an unparalleled move of His Spirit upon our lives and our land. God's mercy is our only hope.

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Which path will you choose?

Today marks the beginning of Rosh Hashana, a significant time for Israel and the Jewish people. It literally means Head of the Year and is the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Traditionally, it is marked by the blowing of the shofar, proclaiming God as King of the Universe. The sound of the shofar is also a call to repentance—to wake up and examine their lives, their commitment to God and to correct their ways.

Thus begins ten days of great introspection, soul-searching and self-examination that ends on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur’s central theme is repentance and is commonly observed by fasting, praying in the synagogue, and making amends with those whom one has wronged in the past year.

This Sunday, in our second message of the series, Time To Return we will be challenged by the prophet Jeremiah’s message to the nation of Israel and to all believers:

This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’”
— Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)

Let’s join the Jewish people in the spirit of this season, by reflecting on our lives. And particularly about the paths that we have chosen this past year and where they have led and are leading us.

We stand at a crossroads today. There are many paths that lie before us which are being promoted as the way to go. The daily decision to follow Christ has never been more urgent and important.

Which path will you choose? Your choice will determine your destiny. One path will lead to rest and peace, but all others to turmoil and destruction. It’s time to return to the only sure path. The pathway of God’s truth and God’s ways. Join us this Sunday!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

It's time to return.

The Fall Season is upon us. The time when students are returning to school and to their studies. Much has changed and continues to change in our world, and for some that now even includes their theology.

The word "theology" comes from two Greek words that combined mean "the study of God." Christian theology is simply an attempt to understand God as He is revealed in the Bible. When we do this, we come to know Him as Saviour, Lord, Creator of all things, Sustainer of all things, and Judge of all things. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end of all things. Proper, biblical theology is a good thing; it is the teaching of God's Word.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
— 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)

To study theology is to meet and know God, so we may glorify Him through our love and obedience. As a by-product, our lives are immeasurably enriched by the comfort and hope He imparts to those who know, love, and obey Him. Poor theology and a superficial, inaccurate understanding of God will only make our lives worse instead of bringing the comfort and hope we long for. Knowing God is crucially important.

We are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing God. Reject theology and you doom yourself to life with no sense of direction. Without theology, we waste our lives and lose our souls. All Christians should be consumed with theology "the intense, personal study of God" in order to know, love, and obey the One with whom we will joyfully spend eternity.

So we encourage you to avail yourselves of all the online ministries we are offering this Fall for children, youth, young adults and adults in your pursuit of the biblical study of God.

Join us this Sunday for a new message series: Time To Return. As much changes in our world, our theology cannot. A recent survey indicated that Christians are drifting in their theology. It’s time to return to our study of God as He is revealed in the Bible, our only trustworthy source of understanding who God is and our call to serve Him. We will address the theological question of whether Jesus was just a man, a myth or truly the Messiah in my message, Who do you say I am? and then celebrate the truth by sharing Communion together. We look forward to your presence with us in person or online!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Coming out of your cave

What do you think about caves? For some people exploring caves is an exciting adventure that they thoroughly enjoy. For others, not so much. They find them too cold, dark and claustrophobic for their liking. Several years ago, twelve members of junior football team led by their assistant coach embarked on the exciting experience of cave exploration in Thailand after a football practice. Shortly afterwards, heavy rains partially flooded the cave, blocking their way out. Thus began an widely publicized cave rescue that we watched for days until they were all rescued by an international team, though not without incident.

We can find ourselves living in ‘spiritual caves’ in this journey in life. Caves of loss, loneliness, depression and isolation in our lives. Do you feel like you’re living in a cave today? The year 2020 has felt like a bit of a cave for so many of us.

The future King David lived in one for a season, and it wound up being the place where God did a great work of preparation in his life. This Sunday we will explore God’s purposes for allowing us to endure a season of cave-dwelling. We will discover what God builds in us while we are in the cave. But just as importantly, we need to hear the clear call to emerge from our cave experience to live out God’s purposes in our world.

We will be specifically praying in our service for our students, teachers and school administrators as they return to a new school experience this year. Be encouraged that God offers a ‘present grace’ to face the challenges that each season of life brings, including living and emerging from spiritual caves.

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Holding On

“Hold on tightly” or “Get a Grip” are phrases we hear very often when we are facing or about to face unexpected turbulence, a rough patch in the road or a wind blowing storm at sea. To what we hold on to and how we hold on, will determine our survival in any turbulence, or wind blowing storm.

The same is true in the spiritual realm. We are on a spiritual journey and we are often confronted by many opposing forces on our Christian walk. These forces can come in the form of persecution, trials, temptations and a changing culture which impacts our Christian faith. There are many believers who once boasted of their relationship with Jesus; but sadly, many are no longer part of the faith because they have “let go” of the confession of the hope they once professed.

In the message this Sunday we will not only see what or how we should be holding on, but we will find out that who is holding us is more important than anything else.

Join us in person or online this Sunday as we worship our king and declare that we will hold on tightly to Him. We will not let go regardless of the situations and circumstances that come our way. We will gain new strength as we stand together declaring the greatness of our God.

God bless you richly!

Pastor Wayne Russell
Associate Pastor

Worshipping the God of the Unexpected.

God certainly works in our very unexpected circumstances. As we seek the Lord in prayer regarding these situations, He often provides very unexpected answers that reveal He moves in some very unexpected ways. That’s what the book of Habakkuk teaches us about the plans and purposes of God.

Habakkuk cries out to God regarding the evil, violence, and injustice that he saw in his day and questions how long God is going to allow this to go on. God answers his complaint by describing how a foreign nation called Babylon would be used by God to discipline His people. Habbakuk questions that justice of God. The Lord makes it clear that His plan will be fair and well executed according to His perfect nature.

This revelation of God changes Habakkuk. His circumstances have not changed, but he has changed. He has had an encounter with God in a fuller and deeper way. He is now walking by faith instead of sight. He is living by God’s promises and not human reasoning. He is focused on God and His majestic glory.

He enters into a worship experience of God by holding on to what He knows about the Lord. He takes time to ponder and meditate on the awesome deeds of the Lord. This leads to a heartfelt, passionate request that God would send revival in the midst of the chaos. Then he catches a glimpse of God’s splendor, power, and victory which leads him to worship God with an incredible statement of faith. Because when we focus on God and not our circumstances, the result is worship!

Join us in person or online this Sunday and have your hope in God renewed, even if you feel like He is not doing anything; have your trust in God deepened even when you do not understand His ways. Together we will worship God by holding on to what we know about Him and catch a glimpse of His glory that will strengthen us in our journey and allow us to soar above our current circumstances! Come ready to rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in the God of your salvation.

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Not quite the answer you were expecting.

So you’ve got some questions for God. Some legitimate, soul-searching questions about the evil, violence and injustice you see in the world around you. So you go to God, laying out your concerns to Him in prayer and waiting for Him to answer. And lo and behold He does! But the answer God gives you completely blows your mind away. You can’t help but question the wisdom of God. How in the world can God justify this action plan? So you just have to inquire of the Lord further on the matter.

And it sounds like this second complaint that the prophet Habakkuk brings,

O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal—surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins. But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?

Can you hear how incredulous this sounds to Habakkuk. How in the world can God be just and perfect in all His ways by allowing His people to be disciplined at the hands of a foreign nation that was more wicked than the Israelites? Was God going to allow them to get away with this forever and allow their enemies to succeed forever in their heartless conquest of our nations and peoples?

God certainly moves in unexpected circumstances and replies with very unexpected answers to our questions and further more, His explanations reveal very unexpected ways that He carries out His plans.

Come and hear (in person or online) God’s second answer to the prophet’s second question. Together we will discover the wisdom and ways of the omnipotent Lord of all creation. We will grasp insight into His wisdom and catch a glimpse of his glory that will cause us all to stand in silence, awe and wonder of the one who declares Himself to be THE GREAT I AM!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

He is the God of the Unexpected

Life is filled with questions. But not all questions have easy or pretty answers.

Are you troubled by what you see unfolding in our society and our world? Do you wonder why there is so much violence, atrocities and evil in our times?

Do you wonder where God is and what He is doing in this moment? Have you sought God for those answers to life’s difficult questions? Have you heard His answers?

The prophet Habakkuk had similar concerns and cried out to God, “How long, O Lord must I call for help? But you do not listen! Violence! I cry, but you do not come to save.” (Habakkuk 1:2-3). He then goes on to describe what he sees happening in his world—sin, misery, destruction, violence; people who love to argue and fight; the law that has become paralyzed and useless; the lack of justice given in the courts; the fact that the wicked far outnumber the righteous; that justice is perverted with bribes and deceit. Sounds a lot like what’s happening in our times and it is upsetting to say the least.

God answers Habakkuk’s questions, but not with answers he expected. Are you maybe a bit less impressed or bewildered by some of your answered prayers? He is God of the unexpected. Unexpected answers done in unexpected ways. But He is the sovereign, all-powerful Lord of glory, who is in complete control. Perfect in His power and love, the Lord is carrying out His plan and fulfilling His purposes in our world, as unorthodox as it may seem to us.

Join us this Sunday, in person or online, as we explore this prophet’s complaints and God’s answers. It will help answer some of your ‘why’ questions and provide you with a new understanding of God’s power and love. You will get a glimpse into His ways and workings. Then you too can rejoice that the Lord is at work in the world and in your life!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor

Are you floundering or flourishing?

Like the four seasons of nature, there are spiritual seasons in our lives. “For everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NLT). Every season offers us the opportunity to respond and how we respond will determine if we flounder or flourish spiritually in that season.

Last Sunday, we spoke of the dry season which is no doubt, a tough season. It’s a time when God seems to be quiet, and you can’t hear His voice or sense His presence as you once did. In a dry season, God seems very distant. David the psalmist expressed it this way, O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water (Psalm 63:1, NLT). To flourish in this season, we must press through it. Draw close to God despite how far away He feels. Don’t wither up. Continue reading His Word. But also talk to Him in prayer, even though He’s quiet. Because He is there. He hasn’t left. He promised never to leave nor forsake you.

The waiting season can range from mildly annoying to maddening. Whether for a difficult circumstance to change, or for God to finally fulfill a promise, you need to pour your heart out to God and allow God to leverage this season for his glory and your good. He’s making you ready. He’s chiseling away what’s not needed for the next season in your life, so let Him work however long it takes. Keep the faith and don’t doubt God’s plans and goodness but rather wait with anticipation and expectation. David cried out to God in Psalm 5:3 (NLT): Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.

If you are in the spiritual warfare season, then gird up! If you are being spiritually attacked, you’re doing something right that Satan doesn’t like. The enemy will wage war against you. It comes with being a Christian. But don’t be afraid. This is a wonderful thing about being God’s child—He fights for you. You just lean into God and rely on Him by praying and reading His Word. He will take care of the rest. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12, NLT) Also, with this spiritual battle, we must put on our full spiritual armour.

This weekend we will share about three other seasons: the busy season, the test and trials season, and the happy season. If you examined your life right now, what season would you say you are currently experiencing? Are you flourishing or floundering in this current season of your life? Join us this Sunday, in person or online, as we learn the lessons each season brings, how to live fully for Christ during that season, and how to bear fruit in whatever season you are experiencing!

Every Blessing,

Pastor Barry Risto
Lead Pastor