GOD HAS LIVING REALTY - US!

Proof purely from the scriptures which is a legal document!
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,…
Psalm 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
Proverbs 9:1
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.
Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
Zechariah 10:4
From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler.
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
Luke 20:17
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone'?
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.
1 Corinthians 3:10
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.
1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:28
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
Ephesians 3:5
which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
Colossians 2:7
rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
1 Peter 2:6
For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
Revelation 21:14
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Love
Pastor Fern

MANY KINDS OF MOTHERS

Blessings to my mother Faith Steadman, my sister Velvet Steffen. The women in my life who have biologically, even adopted as I did (my beautiful Oji-Cree son Gabriel from birth), and raised many spiritual children. I am a spiritual grandmother, if you could hear my story, of a few nations for example.

In the spring of 1988 I wrote in the margins of my bible, dated and underlined this verse in Isaiah 54:1 I knew God was speaking directly to me. "Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD.

That brings to mind the life verse God gave me in 1988 when I was first miraculously called to Osnaburgh House First Nation (now known as Mishkeegogamang in NW Ontario as a missionary. I was a special ed teacher in Bowmanville High School at the time. Now may decades later I am in Eskasoni First Nation in Cape Breton Nova Scotia.

Love,
Pastor Fern

HUMILITY:

When I came across this photo I wanted to share a kingdom principle that came to me while I was praying this week: Humility is not thinking of yourself as being less than others. It is not focused upon how sinful you are. For that is false humility, which is introspective and based in shame. Rather it is thinking of yourself less often. Humility is hiding your identity in Christ's - it is believing and valuing who God says you are for His sake, which results naturally that it will be for the sake of others.

PROOF GOD IS AT WORK AMONG THE MI'KMAQ

Many wonderful stories of what Jesus has done since in 2015 for the people who consider themselves members of Eagles Landing have come to my ears and in our first Sunday of the year we wrote down 34 things. Then in our Bible study this week I started a journal for the people to write down their praise reports. Here is an example that made me weep and thank God that he is at work beneath all of our bumps and warts! Jesus says that we speak (and write I say) from out of the abundance of our heart (Luke 6:45). Here some examples from the journal alone in one night, as written by each person:
"He put a smile on my face. Because last year i was hurt and he put a smile on my face and keep it there. Jesus gave me happiness. He also made me believe in hope and to do better for myself"
"Jesus gave me a husband forever. Jesus, I love you forever. Amen"
"My Lord Jesus Healed my hand"
"Jesus helped me to help pastor with driving and gave me new way of looking at love..."
"Jesus has brought my daughter back in my life and in 2015 he brought my dad back to life too. He has shown me a lot and taught me more about him and his love"
"Jesus cured my cancer"
"God has heard my prayer for me to understand my husband..."
"Jesus took my tooth pain away because I prayed hard and cried to him"

Pastor Fern
Eagles Landing, Eskasoni First Nation,
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.

SEVEN THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT FACEBOOK

Facebook is a great tool to build up others and therefore glorify God if used with a little maturity and responsibility. But like all tools it comes with a warning label because it can also be utilized as a deadly weapon. It's not really for kids if you consider the seven points I thought of this morning. The power of life and death are in your tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Texting is a convenient substitute for the tongue in our world and even relationships across the world. We can hide behind a device and dodge speaking. It lies somewhere between the printed word and conversation.

But it is a VERY POOR form of proper communication for any kind of depth of character or relating. I have seen lives devastated by the effects of abusing FACE BOOK. Consider how we may be using it in childish ways and be victims unsuspecting:

SEVEN THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT FACEBOOK
(nope, not the techie kind of learning)

1. To abuse another directly or indirectly
2. To air one's personal dirty laundry and not be able to make amends or take it back
3. To manipulate others
4. It can offend easily because how we one would say something in person may come across in the opposite spirit the sender wrote it!
5. Then there is that pesky auto correct and bad spelling and grammar that may be confusing to the reader " LoL!"
6. Many are innocently unaware that their personal preferences, contacts and information, their texting and photos and posted links are all being tracked by advertisers and predators to start. It was not created FOR the consumer. It was created for business PROFIT!
7.It is addicting and can impact the moment you are in with the people who there for you in person. Scientific studies have proven that copious use of devices and the EFTs close to your body directly affect the health of your brain and heart etc -- most especially if you are young. We give those things to babies who are now addicted,

Lets remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:11
King James Version (KJV)
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man [grownup], I put away childish things."

Pastor Fern Chapman

TRUST IN GOD LEADS TO REWARD:

I am there now. I am urgently looking for a home for myself and the ministry. TRUST, in the God sense, is a product of real life and "down to the wire" faith in God. It can manifest in many ways in our lives. It is most easily seen on our faces usually heard in what we say in dire times.
The opposite of trust in faith matters is simply your way of thinking to God. What does God want you to do and think about it?. Living in your head and following your emotions without trusting God will get you in trouble. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
For example, a good friend reminded me today of something I already know and practice in everyday life. Although I am actively living victorious and hopeful through points 1 to 4, I told him that point 5 still needs work! I added a some things and want to share it with you. It is encouraging especially if you are a 'servant' in God's work and need to be encouraged through a difficult transition. It is about trust and reward.
WHAT A SPIRITUAL LEADER NEEDS TO REMEMBER IN TOUGH TIMES - Fern Chapman
1. God was not taken by surprise, and He already saw what would happen and sees what is ahead. Every little detail!
2. Your call is not to a house or a building or a piece of land or to a project, but to a people (family are people too). Who are the people God gave you to be responsible for. Understand "The Known Will of God" found in the Bible.
3. God purposes often emerge out of times of crises. Standing water gets stagnant. Birth pains must come before the baby can be born.
4. Stay focused on the reason you are there, and keep going forward. Be like Zerubbabel and don't stop building because of bad news. Trust what God told you to do and understand the tricks of the enemy to get you to stop.
5. Allow the people to help carry the burden of faith and prayer in moving forward. If you lead well and "faint not", eventually down the road, someone faithful will follow you, and then more will get their act together so many will see that there is indeed "a good work" to build and will join you in provision and "with a mind to work". Like Zerubbabel trusting God before the people. Read Nehemiah 6:3.
Look at the story of the homeless and impoverished grieving Ruth and her mother Orpah: "The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. Ruth 2:12"
I will share this in the Bible study tonight for my people, to encourage them.

GET UP AND KEEP GOING

"GET UP AND KEEP GOING" is the Word given to Elijah, in 1 King 19:3-8. It is the message God gave to Isaiah when the whole world was pressing in around him. He hid in a cave wanting the world to let him off at the next stop. That will be my sermon message at Eagles Landing tonight.

God's committed servants don't get to call the shots. God does! Even Jesus told us he did His Father's will -- not his own will. God does! How often we choose where to go and how much we are willing to do for Him and how we want to do it. Things don't go our way and we want to "quit" serving Jesus Lord or "give up" going to church. "But Pastor, God's way is too hard". Actually part time walking in God's way while clinging to our own old sinful way is much harder! It splits the Holy Spirit's work of joy in our personal lives and drags out the process of spiritual growth, making it out to be 'programs' and 'religion' only from our perspective. 

Maybe it is because like Elijah, threatened in the cave, prayer according to his fear instead of praying according to faith that agreed with what God said. Maybe it is because we lost His vision and gloried in our own. 

We need to ask God how much is our own agenda and what He wants. Then repent and apply it to real life. That will be my sermon message at Eagles Landing tonight.