December 2019

Guided

For many years, I taught high school English, and one of my students (let’s call her Ava) once wrote about a personal experience she had. Ava’s story was unforgettable, and had such an impact on me, that I feel compelled to share it with you.

Ava had been trying to learn to ski for three days and was ready to give up. She collapsed onto the slushy snow and resigned herself to enviously watch the professional skiers and snowboarders effortlessly glide by. The sun beamed down out of the cloudless, blue sky, tossing sunbeams onto the sparkling snow. Although the weather outside was perfect, her spirits were gloomy.

“Come on, you can do it!” her mother kept coaxing.

Ava was just about to begin the struggle of balancing on the slippery slope again when, out of the corner of her eye, she saw a different kind of skier glide around the corner. Her eyes widened in astonishment as she stared at the bright, bold letters written on the back of the man’s vest: BLIND.

How does he do it?! she wondered, amazed. Another skier closely followed the first. Both men were wearing headphones, and she realized that this was how the guide could give him directions.

That takes a lot of trust, she thought. The blind man had no idea what the slope looked like or who or what might be obstructing his path. He had to completely rely on the instructions his guide gave him through the headphones.

Through her story, I realized that we are all just like that man; we are all blind to what lies ahead. We cannot see what we will encounter tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. We, too, need a Guide.

Jesus promises: “When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13 NIV). Isaiah 30:21 says, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand, or whenever you turn to the left.” God has promised to give you directions, and if you choose to listen to Him and trust Him, you will be safe.

At this time of year, spirits tend to be high because Christmas is when family and friends gather to celebrate the birth of our Saviour and LORD, Jesus the Messiah. Hearts are warmed by the love of Jesus, who “toiled with persistent, earnest, untiring effort for the salvation of lost mankind. From the manger to Calvary He followed the path of self-denial” (Steps to Christ, pg. 78).

However, there are many in our country who feel alone and isolated. For these people, the Christmas season can be very difficult. Many people, like Ava, are ready to give up and need to have their hearts warmed with the love of Jesus. As a media ministry, It Is Written Canada seeks to work hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit. Each week we invite countless people into a closer relationship with Jesus through our television programing aired all across the nation on CTV. In this way, we are able to reach into people’s homes and meet them right where they are.

Buying airtime is no small thing, but the continued loyalty of donors just like you keeps the gospel on the air in Canada. Our commitment to spreading the gospel means that we will do everything we can to maximize the impact of your financial gift. We are so grateful and would love to do more!

For just $150, you could get an episode of our show into 1,500 additional households across the nation. With $250, you could send a personal, heart-changing Bible lesson to 125 individuals who want to learn more about the gospel message. Your generosity, amplified by the Holy Spirit, has the power to change lives!

All across Canada, there are people searching for a guide. Join with us today by going online and making a donation that will help spread the gospel message. Together, we can help them find The Guide they can trust!

By the way, Ava was so inspired that she learned how to ski, and today she enjoys skiing with her family and friends.

~ Mike Lemon