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“This is the kind of fast day I‘m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I‘m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You‘ll call out for help and I‘ll say, ’Here am I.” (Isaiah 58, Message Bible)
A parable is told of a man journeying on a winter‘s day through the deep drifted snow. The man becomes overwhelmed by the cold, which almost unnoticeably steals away his vital powers. And as he nearly becomes chilled to death by the embrace of the frost king, and about to give up the struggle for life, he hears the moans of a brother traveler, who is perishing with cold just as he is. His compassion is aroused to rescue him. He scrapes the ice-clad limbs of the unfortunate man, and after considerable effort, raises him to his feet; and as he cannot stand, he bears him in sympathizing arms, through the very drifts he had thought he could never succeed in getting through alone. And when he carries his fellow traveler to the place of safety, the truth flashes home to him that in saving his neighbor he has saved himself also. His earnest efforts to save another quickened the load, which was freezing in his own veins, and created healthful warmth in the extremities of the body. (EGW - Testimonies vol. 4, pp 319-320)
“As we seek to comfort others with the comfort wherewith we are comforted, the blessing comes back to us. Let the burden of your own weakness and sorrow and pain be cast upon the compassionate Saviour. Open your heart to His love, and let it flow out to others. Remember that all have trials hard to bear, temptations hard to resist, and you may do something to lighten these burdens. Express gratitude for the blessings you have; show appreciation of the attentions you receive. Keep the heart full of the precious promises of God, that you may bring forth from this treasure, words that will be a comfort and strength to others. This will surround you with an atmosphere that will be helpful and uplifting. Let it be your aim to bless those around you, and you will find ways of being helpful, both to the members of your own family and to others.” (EGW, Ministry of Healing, p 256-257)

As we follow Jesus Christ this week, may we use whatever gifts we have individually received to faithfully serve others. May we notice those who are overwhelmed with sorrow and pain and enter into their sorrows to help carry their burdens. And in doing so, may we sense Jesus lifting our own burdens up and may we receive His healing in our own lives.

Lara Melashenko

Greetings Chinook Family,
     In Deuteronomy 8:18 it says  “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."
   As we come towards another Remembrance Day we are all called to stop, pay respect, remember and thank the men and women who have served our beautiful country Canada.  Because of their faithful service and sacrifice we as Christians today in Canada are able to worship our God without fear.   
   The word of God is full of texts that remind us to REMEMBER, to pause, to thank and worship the One who never forgets but has come to this world, to rescue, redeem, save, give hope and peace.   
   As we celebrate Remembrance Day in Canada, let us also remember and celebrate our Saviour‘s sacrifice – because of which we are assured Salvation, and a ticket to a new country that will not be like the one we are in now.    
    Praise be His name for ALL He is!   
 
Your Brother in Christ,
Paul