The Salvation Army Church, Belleville
290 Bridge Street W K8P 5L6 Belleville, ON, Canada

Sally Ann Street Crew - a small team of volunteers from our Church went to a nearby neighbourhood and helped make the area cleaner and safer! Love of Jesus in ACTION!

Scripture Today ..... Numbers 13:27,28 "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there."... Oh, dear, there are giants in the land! Yes, the land was flowing with milk and honey, as God had said, but He forgot to tell them about the giants! "We look like grasshoppers to them!" they said. And, yes, the land is lush and fertile, but their cities are walled, great in size and fortified. Oh, my goodness, how can we overcome that? When we are afraid or have a lapse in faith, our difficulties and problems seem to magnify. For some reason, they become insurmountable. Have you ever noticed that? Even on a day when I don't feel 'perky' every problem seems greater than it is. You probably have those days too? Does it mean we don't have our problems? No! But we can face them, when we surrender them, to the One who can help us through them. The fact is, that is what happened when ten of the twelve spies failed to do just that. They left out one part of the equation .... God! For one plus God is all you need. Remember David when he faced the giant? Goliath was almost insulted when they sent an unarmed boy to do battle with him. But who won! Not the giant! When we are walking in faith, even though struggles may present themselves, we seem better able to cope with them when we put them at the foot of the Cross. And, my goodness, we are all struggling now through daily unforeseen circumstances due to Covid 19, but praying and "leaving" those circumstances with Jesus is the best antidote ever to conquering what we face. All we need to do is 'surrender' them to Him. Hope I remember to do that the next time I face one of my daily 'giants.' Praying you can too.

Scripture Today ..... Numbers 12:1,2 "Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his cushite wife..."Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn't he also spoken through us?" And the Lord heard this."... In chapter 12 of Numbers, we are caught in the middle of a family conflict. It seems that Miriam led Aaron to oppose their little brother and used his marriage as a means through which to criticize Moses' leadership. Apparently, the sins of jealousy and envy were being nurtured in Miriam's heart, and she desired to have the same recognition, and incited Aaron to think the same. But... the Lord heard. Isn't that interesting that the Lord included that little tag-on: 'He heard.' I think He wanted us to know that. He not only sees what we do, what we say, and what we harbour in our hearts; so He is making us aware of that fact. Nothing goes unnoticed by the Lord. God also decided to make a notation within His Word in regard to Moses character: "(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth)." (12:3) The Lord was drawing a contrast between these three siblings, for it is He who chooses the prophets, not man. It is stated of both Moses and of our Lord Jesus that they were meek. But in saying that we have to remember that meekness is not weakness. Meekness is being obedient to God and doing His will, which is certainly not in line with the rebellion that Miriam inciting. She had been foolish, and the Lord's severe judgement fell upon her for she became leprous. Aaron begged Moses to intercede, and in his forgiving, gracious spirit Moses prayed for his sister. His prayer was answered, but the Lord directed that she be set outside the camp in disgrace for seven days. It is a touching story from which God has provided for our learning. The words we speak, and the things we do all have consequences, if they are not done in love. Through the prophet Micah, we are told what the Lord requires of each of us: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8) Thank you Lord for reminding us where we need to be in our relationship to you and to one another.

Scripture Today ..... Exodus 1:8 "Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt."... The book of Genesis concludes with the death of Joseph. Now, Exodus 1:6 tells us that Joseph, all of his brethren and all that generaltion have passed on. By the time we come to this verse some three and a half centuries have passed, and the new Pharoah on the throne of Egypt never heard of Joseph. You have to wonder why because the Egyptians mumified their dead and revered them? Many scholars believe the Pharoah on the throne during Joseph's day was one of the Hyksos kings. The Hyksos were not native Egyptians, but were originally part of the Bedouin tribes from the Arabian Desert. They were a nomadic group, and for a period of time they came in and took over the throne of Egypt. If this is true, the Pharoah then was closer in nationality to Joseph than to the Egyptians, and this gave him confidence in Joseph. In all probability it would have been difficult for him to find someone loyal to them amongst the native populace, and faithfulness was one of Joseph's keen characteristics. Now, by the time we come to the book of Exodus, the Hyksos kings have long been expelled from Egypt, and there was likely more animosity towards the Israelites than anything of kinship. Isn't it interesting when you come to know the background of someone, how much more you come to a greater understanding of them. That is true for us too for how many times do we judge someone without knowing their background or circumstances. Empathy for one another comes from understanding each other, and knowing how much we all might be walking a difficult road. May that be something we think about, dear Lord, as we reflect upon those struggling today.

Scripture Today ..... Genesis 38:24 "About three months later Judah was told, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant." "Judah said, "Bring her out and have her burned to death."... Before closing the book of Genesis, you may have noticed that I 'skipped' chapter 38. It is not only one of the worst chapters in the Bible but, for some reason, it is plunked in right after chapter 37 that introduces the story of Joseph. I have no idea why they did that; it seems so odd, but no more so than the story itself. Judah, Jacob's fourth son, married a Canaanite woman by the name of Shua. Together they had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. When of age, Judah found a wife for Er by the name of Tamar, but Er was wicked, and the Lord put him to death. Now, Tamar is left as a young widow with no children. We are now introduced to what is known as the Jewish Levirate marriage. It is a type of marriage in which the brother of a deceased man is obliged to marry his brother's widow if she had bore him no children. Onan is next in line, but he knew a child through Tamar would not be regarded as his, so whenever he slept with his brothers wife, he spilled his semen on the ground. That again was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death also. The next son, Shelah, is still young, and so Judah says to her, "Live as a widow in your father's household until my son Shelah grows up." Years pass, and Judah's wife, Shua dies. Shelah, now of age, is not given to Tamar. She comes to the conclusion that Judah is not going to fulfill his obligation by giving Shelah as her husband. So Tamar takes things into her own hands. When her father-in-law leaves to shear his sheep, she takes off her widow's clothes, covers her face as was the custom of a harlot, and sits by the wayside waiting for Judah. Thinking she was a temple prostitute, Judah has sex with her, leaving with her his seal, cord and staff to substitute as payment. Three months pass, and the family learns she is pregnant. Judah is prepared to do away with her so the family is not disgraced. The fact of the matter is, he is quick to see the sin in someone else, but he can't see it in himself. Boy, now there is something to think about? How often do we point a finger in anyone's direction other than our own? The issue is resolved when Tamar shows Judah the articles of his pledge, and realizes his fault in not providing for her. It is amazing to think that the Lord Jesus Christ came through the family line of Judah and Tamar! When He came into the human family, He came in a sinful line. "God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the rightousness of God." (2 Cor. 5:21) How grateful we can be today to know that our loving Jesus did not turn His back on us. Matthew 1:3 "Judah, the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar."

Scripture Today ..... Genesis 47:28 "Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven."... Joseph's brothers returned to the land of Canaan to bring the good news to their father that his son Joseph lives, and that he will provide for them in the land of Egypt. Carts and provisions were sent by Joseph for their journey back to him. All was provided for. What a joy that must have been to a man who mourned for his son for some 30 years. Now, Jacob's nationality and occupatin were loathsome in the eyes of the Egyptians, so Pharoah provided them with the lush land of Goshen where they could live and attend their flocks. Seventeen years pass, and now Jacob (Israel) gathers his family around his bed to give his blessing to each son before he dies. Genesis 49:10 "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." This is one of the most remarkable prophecies in Scripture. "Until Shiloh" come - Shiloh is the ruler. That speaks of Christ. It is now confirmed to Judah that it is out of his line "He" (the Christ) will come. Not only is Christ Shiloh, but also He is the One who will hold the sceptre (the ruler's staff). The sceptre of this universe will be held in His nail-pierced hands. God has a program and He was moving in it that day as He still is today. Genesis 47:29 "When the time came for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favour in your eyes...show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt." Jacob has lived a long life and has grown steadily in his faith. As a young man he walked on is own two feet in his own strength and ability. Here, before his death , he is sitting on his bed and leaning on his staff - leaning on God. He ends in a final act of faith, looking forward to the day when he would be raised from the dead in the promised land of Canaan, according to the words spoken to him by the Lord. It is an act of faith, and he has Joseph promise him to return his bones to the land promised to him by God. The book of Genesis opened with God and man in the Garden of Eden and ends in a coffin in Egypt. The book recounts the entrnace of sin into the human family, but also relates the faithfulness of God in providing for man. In turn, dear Lord, may we too grow as we walk in faith before You.

November 15th Service - featuring Dawn Gonyea's testimony, and Major Catherine speaking of Esther in our 'MORE THAN SURVIVORS' sermon series. https://youtu.be/udm1gNF7qlU

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us - whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter - asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to d...estruction." In Acts 17, we are told that Paul journeyed to Thessalonica and was there for three Sabbaths. In that short period of time, he established and grounded a church, showered them with the Good News of Jesus Christ, taught them of the great doctrines of the Christian faith, of the Rapture that was to come (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and the End Times. Wow! Since Paul last saw them, he heard disturbing reports that others had come amongst them and asserted that the Day of the Lord had already come. Because they were having trouble, it was very easy for someone to say, "Well, this is the Great Tribulation that we are in. The Day of the Lord has come and we are in it." The people of Thessalonica were, needless to say, upset thinking they and their loved ones had missed the 'Rapture.' And so Paul writes to encourage them in their faith and to reassure them those days were yet to come. The study of the End Times can certainly be a difficult topic to cover and even within our Protestant faith there are many variables and viewpoints on the subject. Sometimes we can certainly get all hung up on which point is right, and like the church of Thessalonica we can become mightily confused. The bottom-line of our faith is wrapped around our conviction that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to take upon himself the sins of mankind. Our salvation is dependant upon coming to faith in Him. Sometimes we need to put aside that which divides us and focus on that which will bring us into the Kingdom of God. At times like these Romans 10:9 says it best: "If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." That is our great salvation message! Bible in a Year: 2 Thessalonians, chapters 1,2

Ephesians 3:16-19 "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, togethr with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of ...God." I love the book of Ephesians. I find it so uplifting, and as many times as I have read it, the above verses really spoke to my heart this morning. I think we can read and re-read God's Word, and every time we do, it will speak to us anew. Paul is praying that the Holy Spirit will ignite a transforming power within the soul of each of God's holy people in Ephesus. He is encouraging them to keep the faith, and 'to know' beyond measure - how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ for each one of them. That message is for us today too. How many times I have prayed, for those attending my Bible classes, that they could grasp the depth and love of Christ in every passage we studied. Gods' Word is like a river that floods the soul, convicting and bringing new life to each and every one. The power of that love for each of us could never be measured. King David spoke of this love when he wrote Psalm 103:11,12: "For as high as the heavens are above the earh, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." May the conviction of Christ's love for you shine in your heart, and may you always know His love for you will never, never change. Blessings to all today. Bible in a Year: Ephesians, chapters 1-3

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." The apostle Paul wrote that believers should "be thankful in all circumstances." In teaching us to be thankful for everything, Paul was not telling us to be thankful for personal sin or for the evil in the world, but rather we should thank God 'in' every situation.... No matter what goes wrong in our lives or the things that happen which we just do not understand, we can still be thankful to God for his presence and help through the struggles we face. We have his promise that "God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them." (Romans 8:28) Yesterday was the anniversary of my last chemo treatment. I am so thankful to have those days behind me, but am I concerned with the fact that I will continue to live with cancer? Yes! BUT, I can honestly say I am so very grateful that the Lord has walked with me through it all, and that today, though I struggle with the side effects of those treatments, it has halted my cancer and I am having, for the most part, good days. And so this journey that I am on, and whatever is your journey, we can all keep in mind God's goodness and the blessings He provides us with every day. We all have so many reasons to be thankful - for God, for the joys He brings, for the Son He gave, and for the spiritual growth He can bring to each of us as we face our trials. Dear Lord: With humble gratitude, we lift up our hearts to you today. In whatever circumstance we are facing, whether joy or sorry, may you come and gather us in your loving arms today, that we may feel your presence and know that your love abounds for each one of us. Thank you Lord. Amen Bible in a Year: 1 Thessalonians, chapters 4,5

Galatians 5:13,14 "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh, rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is the real-life story of a man who inspired the legend of 'Johnny Appleseed.' His name was John Chapman. For forty years he traveled across western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana sowing apple seeds. Undoubte...dly, many people benefited from the fruits of his labour. The apostle Paul also spent much of his adult life sowing seeds. In his letter to the Galatians he is teaching them how to distinguish between fruit produced by evil and fruit produced by the Holy Spirit. Later, in verses 19-21, he explains that the fruit produced by evil deeds are: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry, and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkeness, orgies, and the like." Wow! That is quite a list! One, that I have to admit, I haven't perfected. Well, where does that leave me, and probably all of us, because Paul goes on to say ..... "that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." I am grateful to J. Vernon McGee who, in his commentary explains, "After we are saved by grace, can we live in sin? "God forbid!" You can't live in sin and be a Christian. Now, you may fall into sin, but you will get out of it. The Prodicgal Son can get in the pig pen, but he won't settle down there - the pig pen won't be his forwarding address. He will leave it." As Christians, through the Holy Spirit that works in us, we recognize our mistakes, we repent, and by the Grace of God we move on. And what do we move on to? Sowing those seeds of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. They are them by which God touches us so we in turn can touch others for the kingdom. May the Lord help us to do that every day. Praise His Name! Bible in a Year: Galatians, chapters 5,6

Lest We Forget - as the ANAF Padre, today our Corps Officer Major Wil Brown-Ratcliffe had the privilege of laying the wreath at the Cenotaph, as well saying the prayers, reading the Scriptures, and offering a brief devotional.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-8a "You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you .... for your faith in God has become known everywhere." When the Thessalonian Christians turned to Christ they were dramatically changed. They gave up their idols, began serving God, and eagerly awaite...d Christ's return. Those changes became so evident that news about them spread. No one could dispute the fact that they had become believers in Jesus Christ, because everyone could see their faith and their changed lives. What was true then is also true now: if God is at work in your life, people will notice, not that you want them to notice you, but hopefully your witness will help to influence them for the faith you now bear. Do not underestimate what you do and how, even the smallest things, can make a difference for the Kingdom and for others. People notice when it is real, and if you serve Christ Jesus, others who see God's goodness in you will be encouraged to serve Christ too. May your service be a blessing to many. "Give me a holy life, Spotless and free, Cleansed by the crystal flow Coming from thee. Purge the dark halls of thought, Here let thy work be wrought, Each wish and feeling brought Captive to thee. Now is my will resigned, Struggles are quelled; Clay on the wheel am I, Nothing withheld. Master, I yield to thee, Crumble, then fashion me Flawless, and fit to be Indwelt by thee." Bible in a Year: 1 Thessalonians, chapters 1-3

As difficult as the decision has been to close our Thrift Store, we are so grateful for the dedication of our staff and volunteers, as well as the friendly rapport established through the years with our patrons and supporters. God bless you each!