WAVE International Gala

The Power of a Passport

Join us on Monday, April 26, 2010, 6:45 - 9:00 pm at Valley View Alliance Church for an evening filled with sights, sounds and tastes from around the world

• Explore and shop in the Market Square
• Be entertained at the World Culture Stage
• Enjoy dessert and coffee in the International Cafe
• Be inspired by the personal journeys of our Guest Speakers

Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Proceeds from the ticket sales and the Market Square will go to "Second Chances" in Quito, Ecuador.

Does Anyone Memorize Scripture?

This winter I had the opportunity to attend a quizzing competition at Bayview Glen church in Toronto. Groups of youth from across Ontario were particpating in a contest to see who had done the best job of memorizing an entire book of the bible. I was amazed with the discipline it must have taken for them to learn what they knew. I was amazed with the mental gymnastics they seemed to go through to recall what had been enscribed in their brains. But most of all I was amazed with the impact I knew it would have throughout their lives because they could not possibly have meditated on the scriptures that long without taking some of their meaning to heart. I immediately tried to recall a portion of scripture that I had memorized about 20 years ago when I first became a Christian and I was completely surprised to find that I still remembered most of it! I've started working on it again and I find it to be a very engaging way to meditate on God's Word when I have a quiet moment throughout the day. I was just wondering if anyone else has memorized scripture or if anyone else would like to try it. Maybe we could quiz one another and have some fun while learning more from God's Word.

Chatting With God

Did anyone notice the beautiful sunshine this morning? It is March 2 and with it came magnificent blue sky and bright sunshine. I was travelling down the highway, radio tuned into praise songs, mind full of many different thoughts, when all of a sudden I clued into this phenomenon; sunshine! "Wow God...what a beautiful morning!" Clicking the radio off, I began just thanking Him for the gift of sunshine. Sometimes we forget how much 'sunshine' lifts our spirits. From there my conversation went to thanking God for different people that have been placed in my life, asking Him to meet their needs this day. "Bless them with sunshine in their lives today Lord." As the concerns of my day started to envelop my mind, I was reminded of various promises from God's word. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path".
My 25 minute journey, with the beautiful sunshine pouring in through the windshield, was a wonderful opportunity to just 'chat with God'. An opportunity to praise Him for the gift of a sunny day; give thanks for my wonderful friends & family; lay my anxieties at His feet; listen to God himself, reminding me of promises from His word.
Try just chatting with God.....let the Son shine in!

Share a verse

Just recently when I was on a holiday I was introduced to a couple who had lost their son...he committed suicide almost 2 years ago. This couple, particularly the mother is still distraught and suffering from all the unanswered questions. Why did he do it? Could we have done something to help him? There are so many questions and really so few answers even from their son's widow. The couple are christians and they have had loving support from their church family and friends, but still the questions remain and they may never be answered this side of heaven. As I listened to their story, I silently prayed and asked God to help me give them a verse, any verse. What could I possibly say? My heart just breaks for their grief. How many times have I searched for a verse that would give me answers? Instead of explaining why things happen the way they do, God gives us PEACE in our hearts. He gives us assurance of His love, His grace, His strength and His soverienty over every situation that comes our way. The verse that sprang to my mind was Zephaniah 3:17 which states: The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save, He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Sometimes our words just miss the target, but God's word always brings peace and comfort to our soul.