Boldness

 

Bad plants bear bad fruit...what about us?

 

Ready to "go"?

 https://youtu.be/xnGrr7hMJ6Y

PR '24 . . . work day 1

“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Acts 13:47)

After an exciting day of prayer and praise in church yesterday and walking he neighborhood around the church visiting families, we now begin the hard labor. We never really know exactly what work we will be doing as we go out, but we do have a general idea. . . . painting scraping, moving, building. Above all else however, is our desire and God's desire to use us to share Christ and represent Him to others in need. 

Many in the community are suffering from various illness such as dementia and diabetes, some have suffered injuries, and some are living in fear of violence in their neighborhood. As we work, we take time to stop and talk to neighbors and then pray with them. Our desire is to bring comfort, hope and the love of Jesus Christ. 

Please pray with us today!

I bet you didn't know . . . Celebrating Black HIStory '24

Count this among the I bet you didn't know facts . . .

Christianity in Africa first arrived in Egypt in approximately 50 AD. By the end of the 2nd century it had reached the region around Carthage. In the 4th century, the Aksumite empire in modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea became one of the first regions in the world to adopt Christianity as its official religion. Important Africans who influenced the early development of Christianity and shaped the doctrines of Christianity include Tertullian, Perpetua, Felicity, Clement of Alexandria, Origen of Alexandria, Cyprian, Athanasius and Augustine of Hippo. A 2018 study by the Gordon–Conwell Theological Seminary discovered that more Christians live in Africa than any other continent, with 631 million Christians throughout the landmass.

How do we believe the Gospel traveled to Ethiopia?????

So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”) . . . .Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?”  Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. . . . When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:27-39)

Not simply a CHRISTmas verse . . .

It is not simply a CHRISTmas verse, but words we need to remember daily . . . God is with us, yes you and me, each and every day and all day. If we would only recognize it more often and bask in His presence. How would our daily lives be different?

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

For those if us who name the Name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, it is a comforting reminder that as the world is falling apart, God is still God! He is in control and he is present with us. No need to panic when we hear the news, No need to fear when threats arise. It should simply cause us to invite more and more into a relationship with the King od kings before it is too late.

Rest in Him today . . . knowing He is ever present . . . not just at CHRISTmas, but for eternity!

Reaching those not like me . . .

 So, as CHRISTians, how do we celebrate a day to honor our original peoples here in North America? It is simple to me, I can pray about how I can reach them and others not like me! 

On this day when we celebrate indigenous people groups her in America, we can "pray for God to lead you to those who deeply care about the spiritual condition of the Native people on your campus or in your area. Pray for common ground and to build trust with those of good reputation within the traditional Native community, as well as with Native believers". (https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/leadership-training/starting-a-ministry/launching/nations.html)

While on this day we celebrate a special people group, we should always be searching out others to win for Christ. If God's Word is truly to be honored, then we must be obedient to the Gospel call to go to all nations . . . all peoples.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . .(Matthew 28:19)and make earth look like heaven: After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9)

Now what?

 Now what?

Easter celebrations have ended. The fancy spring outfits are put away. Lent is over. Resurrection Day has come and gone. Now what?

The disciples of Christ were now awaiting the Holy Spirit to come. They were waiting as instructed. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

So what are we waiting for today? Those of us who are disciples of Christ have the Holy Spirit within us. What are we doing with Him?

God notices you!

God notices you.

Can I be transparent today?

As local missionaries, and even teachers, we seldom get noticed for what we do whether in public or behind the scenes. We are not world-wide travelers doing some great work in Africa, China, or some war-torn nation. In fact, many in our home church do not really know what we do or even consider us as ministry workers. As we enrolled our son in a CHRISTian college a few years ago, he could not receive the missionaries' child scholarship because we did not work overseas! It is a though we work under the sea! Even as teachers, we are not the Math, Science, or English instructors, nor do we make any impactful decisions for the schools. Yet I keep telling myself, "God notices you."

What about you? Feel invisible at times? Does your work go unnoticed? Don't worry. Don't seek the spotlight . . . it can do a lot more harm than good at times! Simply seek God and His attention. It will work out in the end!

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. (Matthew 6:1-4)