The Light in the Darkness | Nelson Mburu

There once was a nation where everything was dark, where life was bleak, and hope was a thing of fairy tales. Not only was there physical darkness all around but the citizens who inhabited this land were filled with a darkness within themselves, the kind of darkness that caused them pain to varying degrees, some of the citizens tried to suppress this pain, while others were reminded of it daily, some even were so aware of it that it becomes unbearable and so they desperately tried to search for any relief and any light. 

Now you would think that the citizens would complain to their leaders and demand some form of change and solution to their constant problem, but unfortunately, the citizens of this nation didn’t really know or understand who ruled them, and they didn’t know that the ones who ruled them intended for them to go about life in this way. Their rulers did give them some pleasures, they give them just enough fun so that the citizens could be distracted from their pitiful state, and they told their subjects all the right lies so that those who did want change would end up at a dead end. 

This nation had been functioning like this for so long that its people couldn’t remember any other way of life, darkness had oppressed them, and it seemed like nothing would ever change, but there came a day when a King from a country that was infinitely superior to this nation decided to help these poor citizens. This King came from a land that was full of light because He was its light source, He was a being unlike any other, and His subjects enjoyed a way of life that could not even compare to the way the people of this nation were living, the people who lived in that dark land had a way of death, not life. However everything changed for the citizens when the foreign King decided to go to their country and show them a better way. 

***

In this short story, I tried to capture what kind of world Jesus was entering into when He came to earth. The world Jesus was entering was a world that was dominated by sin, death, and Satan. Sin provided a temporary distraction and pleasure from the reality of the world’s decay, but if people really looked around them they would have realized that was not the way things were supposed to be. To a certain extent they did realize this but they were like people moving in a dark world stumbling and tripping, all the while trying to find answers and solutions to their internal and external problems. 

John 1:4-5 says, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 

Jesus is life.  Our lives outside Him can’t even really be called life. Jesus is the only true light that came down and illuminated the dark world around us. He is the light that showed us that we were living far below God’s plan for us - He showed us what it meant to be grounded in God’s deep love. His light showed us what it meant to no longer be slaves to our sin, slaves to the corruption within, and He showed us what it meant to walk in the freedom of grace. Jesus didn’t have to come and do this. He left a world full of glory, love, and beauty in order to bring that same goodness down to us. 

Jesus wants His light to shine in us, on earth as it is in heaven. In Him we can let go of our past darkness and, if we will trust Him, He will make us into lamps that carry His light, His goodness, and His love in this dark world! So why not say yes to Him and step into the light!

Be blessed!

Fully Alive | Cassie Fulford

One of my quarentine routines has been going on two walks per day: one on my own, for some alone time with Jesus, and one with my husband, Johnny (one of our quarantine date ideas). The other day, on my solo walk, I found myself crumpling under some pain and sadness that I had been trying to solve, cover up, and deal with on my own.

A few minutes into the walk, Hillsong’s “Whole Heart” playing in my headphones, I had the most visceral encounter with Jesus that I have had in many years. I literally felt His hand in mine, and when I looked over, saw His smiling face. My reaction was instant bawling. And, in one of the handful of times in my life, I heard His voice as audibly as I hear my own: “Cassie. I know even this pain. Let me carry the burden.”

I had somehow, up to that point, believed that what I was feeling was “too silly” for God to care about. And I hadn’t even asked Him to come, or been praying anything in particular, when He showed up. I was overcome, not by human emotions or anything of myself, but by the Holy Spirit. I believe Jesus used that encounter to change, shape, and challenge me for His good and glory. 

Now, this isn’t necessarily what everyday in Christ looks like. God doesn’t only operate in the miraculous, but equally in the mundane. But you know something? I haven’t always been in relationship with Jesus and experienced the Holy Spirit’s presence in this way. In fact, I was dead until I was 17 years old. Yes, existing for 17 years before that, certainly, but I was not truly living, because I hadn’t accepted the Holy Spirit of Jesus into my heart. I wasn’t born again. 


In John chapter 3, Jesus teaches Nicodemus, a pharisee (or in other words, a strictly religious person), the meaning of being born again. Nicodemus asks “How can someone be born when they are old?... Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” (John 3:4). Even though he was "religious", he didn't get it yet. Jesus answers him by saying, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5). 
 
What does this mean? 

Being born again means that His life is actually and literally residing in you, making you constantly aware of His purposes, His will, and His reign. It means that you receive His Word as Truth, that you are aware of the spiritual battle, and that you have constant, otherworldly joy, even in the midst of deep suffering or tragedy. 

It isn’t about just being “religious”, “spiritual” or even a “nominal Christian”. It means that you resemble and apprentice Christ Jesus. He must become greater and we must become less (John 3:30). 

It is in this very interaction with Nicodemus that we get one of the most memorized and recited verses ever:

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 
I pray that you simply know THIS: the God who created you and formed you in His image is calling you home - to live with purpose and submission, fully awake and fully alive. We cannot earn this love, for it was already bought with a price when Jesus died for all of our sins over 2000 years ago. He just asks you to respond to this radical love, and accept His Holy Spirit into your heart. 

So, my friend… what is your story of being born again? Are you eager to share it? If you would like to learn about my own story of recognizing my own weakness, and need to be hidden in Christ, check out my blog post on it here.

Wake Up, Wake Up! | Kristann Domm

John 1:29;34
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”(v.29) …“I have seen and testify that this is God’s Chosen One”(v.34).  

Pause for a second.

Are you distracted? Are you feeling tired, frustrated, stressed, or just 'meh'? Ask yourself: “Have I been present lately? Have I been present to what the Spirit of God is doing in this season? Or have I been numbed by all the chaos and uncertainty?” 
 

I need to ask myself the same questions during this time. When I read John chapter one, I am both inspired and convicted by how certain John the Baptist was of who Jesus is! We know that many of the Jewish leaders did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but John was so confident. John 1 says, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’”(v.29)…“I have seen and testify that this is God’s Chosen One”(v.34).  
 

Do we recognize Jesus? Are we aware of what the Lord is doing in our midst, and in the world right now? To be aware we must be spiritually awake! Yes, this can be a time of rest for us, but remember: when we rest in the world’s ways we become apathetic sleepwalkers, but when we rest in God we become more awake than ever! 

Heavenly Father, awaken my heart to You today.

The enemy wants to fill us with “seemingly harmless" distractions that deter our awareness of God. In our distracted state we may end up sleepwalking even in the light of day. When we spiritually sleepwalk, we become fixated on our own ways (*cough*cough* like the Pharisees!*) and neglect to notice Jesus and His ways. Are we so fixated on our current circumstances, that we have forgotten that the Spirit is doing a new thing?

Heavenly Father, I turn away from insignificant distractions. I lay down my agenda of how I think You should move and work. I want to be more consumed with Your ways than my ways.

I believe John the Baptist did not simply know who Jesus was because he was chosen by God to testify of Jesus (Jn 1:7), but I believe John was aware because he had been preparing his mind, soul & spirit for the coming of the One. John had been fasting in the wilderness, constantly submitting his will and ways to the Lord. John had not become complacent or self-focused in the waiting, but he had been aligning himself to what God was doing and therefore lived with eyes wide and with great expectation. 

Heavenly Father, teach me how to be prepared to see You with great expectation.

How amazing is it that …

…The King of the universe wants His Bride to know what He’s doing in the world right now. 

Pray and ask Him to show you what He is doing in the world.

…He is not limited to the scary news, because He is the Good News.

Pray and ask Him what His Good News means for you, your city, nation and world. 

…He longs to do a new thing in your heart.

Pray and ask Him what this new thing is. 

 …He wants to show us His power and glory.

Give Him glory by surrendering to Him as His loving, living sacrifice. 

Heavenly Father, thank you that You are inviting me into Your plans and purposes here on earth. You are always doing a new thing—what an adventure it is with You! Give me great expectation like John the Baptist, so I may always recognize Your presence, Your voice, and Your ways. I love You.

You Are Not In Control

Well before the world was overwhelmed with the Coronavirus, I found myself overwhelmed with fear that God would not provide for me. My need to control financial security and my own provisioning has become an idol in my life – an idol I have blatantly refused to lay down on the altar before Jesus. 
 
And now, in light of the turmoil the world is currently facing, I've found it even more difficult to trust God with my job, finances, and future. It all sounds so cliche, but maybe you feel the same way?
 
In my reading of Psalm 23, I found the opening line to be quite compelling. Take a look at it in a few different translations.  
 
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing" (NIV)
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need" (NLT)
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (ESV)
 
This verse, regardless of translation, reveals something really important: you are not in control. You are not your own shepherd.  Do you actually believe in your heart that the Lord is your Shepherd and that you will have all that you need, lacking nothing, without want for more? 
 
I honestly find this a hard reality to accept simply because it seems too good to be true! But it isn’t too good to be true. The truth is that Psalm 23 reveals how God is so gracious towards us, despite how undeserving we are! He graciously invites us to rest in His provision and protection. We are invited to rest despite our disbelief, anxiety, and tendency to want to control our own situations. 
 
I encourage you to lay down your fears, let go of control, and pick up the rest He lays before us. Remember that His burden is easy and His yolk is light. May the looming earthly pandemic, sense of crisis, fear, and uncertain circumstances not cause us to be self-reliant and in turn, shy away from Jesus. But rather, may this season be an opportunity for us to press into the promises of God and His gift of rest. We are called to trust Him in the midst of it all. 
 
I lack nothing.
I have all that I need.
I shall not want.
 
-Allie

Don't Laugh it Off

Hey, Friend.  We’re aaaalllll in this together…

Anyone else get High School Musical vibes?
 
For real, though. We are. Each one of us as a C3KW church family, and most importantly, the body of Christ, are enduring the same trying time.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Holy Spirit was bringing up some of the same kind of thoughts, feelings, and convictions in each one of us. Why am I watching ANOTHER YouTube video instead of calling my grandmother? Why am I so focused on the house looking perfect and not on the face of Jesus? Why am I communicating ears off about COVID-19 news and not spending time in prayer and listening to the voice of God?

In my own prayer time this morning, the Holy Spirit brought me to one of my favourite passages in the book of Genesis. Let’s look at chapter 18, starting at verse 10: 
 

Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

I think it’s so easy for us to think that the God of Genesis was somehow a more physical, visible God than He is today. But, really, we can assume that God’s voice was just as clear to Sarah as it is to us; perhaps less clear. She didn’t have the Holy Spirit!

How often do we 'laugh off' what God says, not believing it to be true?

Do we believe – like, really truly believe – that,  “even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”, like we have been reading in Psalm 23?
 
2 Corinthians 1:10 says, “He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…” Do you believe that? If so, our response to God, when He calls upon us to move His mission forward in extraordinary ways, should not be like Sarah’s. Rather, our response should be one of bold action and commitment, all in the name of Jesus!

Are you poised today, moment by moment, to hear His voice? Are you ready to take action? Are you waking up each and every day expectant for God to be exactly who He says He is? Keep your eyes fixed on the Healer, and know Him more fully in this season, Friend.

I pray that when we are all reunited in flesh, we will find ourselves more united in Spirit than ever before!
 
- Cassie 

Bigger than the Dark

The dark.

Most of us have been afraid of it at one time or another. Can you relate?

Darkness was something I wanted no part of as a kid. If my mom told me to go turn off the lights in a room, I would do it as quickly as possible so I wouldn’t have to spend any more time than needed in the dark – and this often led to me running into things!

Have you ever wondered why we get so scared of the dark? The darkness itself isn't scary. I think what's scary is what the darkness may mask -  the unknown - and the vulnerability we feel in that uncertainty. 

Right now the world is in a form of darkness. We don’t know what the future may hold due to COVID 19. Some people have lost jobs, or may lose jobs, and so they worry about provision. Others may fear if they will even be around when all this is over. We are in a darkness and it feels like we are vulnerable. 

But there is HOPE in ALL of this. Why? Because there is one who walks with us in this darkness! 

Psalm 23:1-4
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing… 
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Here, the psalmist says that even if it is the darkest valley that he has to go through, even if there are many dangers and evils that he cannot see, he will not be afraid. Why? Because God is his shepherd, his personal leader and guide. I am glad to say God still sees in the darkness. He sees the dangers behind, around, and ahead of us, and He will not leave us alone! 

Here's the thing. God doesn’t promise to take us out of the dark valley, but He does promise to be there and guide us through it. 
 
So allow these verses to comfort for you. If you're in a dark valley - you aren’t sure about your future, your health, your finances - take courage and know that God has not left you and He sees and holds your future!
 
Much love,
 
Nelson 

Never Ever Alone

The other day I was talking with a good friend of mine who’s a nurse. She was disclosing her personal fears of her job during this pandemic. Even though she acknowledged that God was giving her more of His peace during this time (yay!), I couldn’t help but notice how often she said that she, and many healthcare workers, felt alone and unsupported (primarily by the hospital). 
 
Since I have been meditating on Psalm 23 lately, all that could feel rise up in me were these words: “Even when you’re treating a patient with COVID, He is with you. You’re never alone– and that’s simply the best thing!”
 

Let’s pause and read Psalm 23: 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, 
 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely Your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
 

I love David’s deep revelation of the nearness of God. Not only does David proclaim: “I will not fear, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME,” but I can also see God’s faithful presence as the theme throughout this entire passage!
 
I am in a time where I have to dig my heels into His faithfulness and closeness or I will grow weary, burdened, and lonely in all of this social isolation. I pray that you will also experience this deep revelation! It is in times like these that I especially think of people like my grandparents, who are not allowed to have visitors. I pray that they will experience the nearness and comfort of God. Can you think of anyone in your life who needs this prayer? 
 
Church, let’s be a family that intercedes for those who desperately need to experience the closeness of our Heavenly Father in this season – the sick, the exhausted, the lost, the strained, the downtrodden, the anxious, the lonely… and the list goes on. 
 
Let’s pray against the enemy’s weapon of loneliness. The enemy wants to deceive us to think that Netflix, Instagram, eating, cleaning, keeping busy, Facetiming, etc. is the cure to loneliness. Lies! Let Psalm 23 remind you that the Lord is our Shepherd, our comforter, our protector, and most of all – He is near! 
 
Here are a few things you can do this week: 
 

1. Meditate on Psalm 23 over and over again. Etch it into your heart. 

2. Intercede. Pray Psalm 23 over someone who really needs it right now.

3. Have fun. Use your imagination and envision the table God has set before you (v. 5). Imagine your Heavenly Father there with you. Imagine His loving eyes and kind smile. In silence and solitude, feel the closeness of the Holy Spirit through this exercise. 

 
Psalm 23 is not only beautiful, but it is our anthem for victory during this time. It is my anthem, your anthem, and the anthem we need to sing over our world. 

Love, 

Kristann
 

Hustle Culture and Forced Rest

“It’s a good thing they told everyone to work from home, because some people will go into the office no matter what, just to prove they can.” 

This comment was made by a good friend of mine from university who had just visited one of our mutual friends in Silicon Valley, the tech hub of America.
 
If you know anything about Silicon Valley, you know it’s a culture of work for the sake of work - where “hustle” is a means of finding one’s identity, and productivity is the sole metric that determines a person’s value.  The little bit of spirituality that does exist there is mostly yoga and meditation as a tool for “recharging,” because even in Silicon Valley, people realize they have limits.
 
I bring this up because we live in Kitchener-Waterloo, a city often touted as “Silicon Valley of the North.”  It’s a city full of established tech giants, startups, and brilliant students looking to forge their paths.

Here, we allow ourselves to believe many of the same stories, the ones that tell us that a full schedule is normal, that you’re as important as your job title, and as valuable as your yearly salary.  We even chase productivity in our leisure time! We fill our evenings working on “side hustles,” go to the gym to pursue our fitness goals, or go to networking events to advance our careers.
 
I’m as guilty of this as anyone else - I fill my schedule with so many commitments and always feel frustrated that I don’t really have time to do all of them, let alone rest.
 
But right now, I don’t have a choice in the matter.  Right now, I feel like I understand Psalm 23 more fully.

Let's look at verses 2 & 3: 

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. 

Just as a shepherd guides their sheep to the place that will provide them safety and nourishment, God instructs us to rest for our own good.  It’s why he instituted the Sabbath and instructed us to keep it Holy. We need time and space to pray, to meditate on God’s word, to reflect deeply on our lives, and to intentionally cultivate habits that are good for our soul.  We need to give our bodies the sleep and nourishment that they need to be healthy. We need to love, serve, and spend time with those that God has placed in our lives.
 
If you are like me and finding yourself facing forced rest,  I want to encourage you to first and foremost...

...receive it!

Be grateful for the "green pastures" God promises us and see it as a time for God to interrupt the false stories that our busy lives tell us. 

When we don’t make space for rest, for the word, and for prayer, we don’t allow room for God’s voice to speak.  We often allow ourselves to be swept along by the busy current of our lives, but God graciously invites us to lie down in the safety of a green pasture and find refreshment in Him.  If we don’t carve out space for Jesus, how can we be led in the paths of righteousness?
 
When all of this is over, let’s not go back to “normal"! For many of us right now, our “normal” is an unhealthy, self-centered idolatry.  Let’s stop and learn to value the green pastures and still waters again, because it is there that God will build us up for His glory.

-Sam

#IStillHaveLegs and God's Refreshment

The other morning, I was driving and listening to worship music in my car (duh!). The song "Graves into Gardens" was blasting, my worship hands going HARD, my upper body was rocking out putting my lower body to shame. I happened to glance over at the car next to me stopped at the red light. The driver gave me a big grin and tossed up a ‘rock on’ gesture. As someone who has been “socially isolated” for what seems like an eternity, this little moment of human connection was literally the highlight of my day.
 
I don’t know about you but I have *felt* the gaping hole that time away from my community has left. And it hasn’t even been that long! Our souls crave human connection. We were literally created for it! I know in a season of “cancelled” things can quickly seem stale, stagnant, and unproductive. I can only hold conversations with my cat for so long, ya know?

Let’s pause and read Psalm 23:1-3 from The Message:        
 
God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing. 
You have bedded me down in lush meadows, 
you find me quiet pools to drink from. 
True to your word, 
you let me catch my breath
and you send me in the right direction. 
 
Isn’t that a beautiful reminder? The Lord is the one who refreshes my soul.
 

Yes, I desperately want to meet with my community in person. I want to hear my pastors bring the word from a stage, not a screen. I want to be reminded that my Connect Group girls exist as beings below their torsos… and still have legs! (#IStillHaveLegs, get it trending).

Don’t get me wrong, these are all good things that God uses to bring us closer to Him, but at the center of it all is God himself. He is the one who brings refreshment. He is the one who brings rest in the midst chaos. And He is the one who has charged himself with my eternal joy and current wellbeing. So, as a reminder to myself as much as to you...

...screen time won’t refresh your soul, spending time in the presence of Jesus will!

For the next season, let’s hold our hands wide open to God, anticipating the sweetness of the reunion of the saints. Can you imagine how good this will be!? Let’s position ourselves to receive God’s rest and refreshment while not missing the glorious opportunities we have to serve and love our neighbours today….like, right now!

- Leah

Memes & Psalm 23

Have you seen them? The memes about toilet paper hoarding, about the quarantine being every introvert’s dream? As a homeschool mom, my favourite meme is the one where Oprah is saying “You get to homeschool! And you get to homeschool! And everyone gets to homeschool!”. Can you imagine it? Ha! It gets me every time. All jokes aside, the world is in a weird place right now. Everything seems so uncertain. This will truly be a generational marker. You may find yourself feeling fearful, panicked or drowning in the noise of social media, the news, or your own worried and anxious thoughts. Stop – take a moment, and breath.

Inhale.... Exhale.

In the midst of chaos, let’s turn our eyes to the promises of God.
Take a moment to read Psalm 23 – let each word soak in:

The Lord is my shepherd, I have what I need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths
For his name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger, for you are with me;
your rod and staff – they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me, In the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.

This passage is a beautiful reminder of God’s love and faithfulness. We are yet again reminded that in the highs and the lows, He is our protector and provider. This hasn’t changed and will never change. But here is the most important reminder. What can change is our response. Will we choose to keep our eyes focused on King Jesus or shift our gaze to the uncertainty of the world? We have a choice. In his book “Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 21” Dallas Willard writes, “ ... when it comes to experiencing the sufficiency of God, we are not talking about what God can do; we are talking about what we need to do. And what we need to do is to turn our minds to God.”
This is my encouragement to you. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Use this time as a gift, a gift to deepen your love with Him. Here are three things you can do this week to deepen your walk with God:

1. Prayer journal – if you know anything about me, I advocate writing down your prayers all the time. You know why? Human beings are horribly forgetful. Prayer journaling allows you to look back and be reminded of God’s unrelenting faithfulness.

2. Practice silence – take time everyday to put your phone in a drawer, turn everything off, sit undistracted, in silence. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Meditate on Psalm 23... don’t let distractions sabotage a sweet moment with the Holy Spirit.

3. Practice gratitude – did you know that when you practice gratitude, something literally shifts in your brain? Dopamine and serotonin are released! What a great gift from our Creator! Take 15 minutes and let God know all that you are thankful for!

Remember to love deeply, worship fervently, and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

With Love,
-Meg

Leaders Blog

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