Interesting articles on growing and maturing in the Lord. Are you still standing in the water?
The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian,
but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman.
For I have accepted God's idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back
to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be.
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26 Guards
Here's a message that will bring you chills. Have you ever felt the
urge to pray for someone and then just put it on a list and said,
"I'll pray for them later?"
Or has anyone ever called you and said, "I need you to pray for me,
I have this need?"
Read the following story that was sent to me and may it change the
way that you may think about prayer and also the way you pray.
You will be blessed by this.
A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his
home church in Michigan.
"While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks
I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for
supplies. This was a journey of two days and required camping
overnight at the halfway point.
On one of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to
collect money from a bank, purchase medicine, and supplies, and then
begin my two-day journey back to the field hospital.
Upon arrival in the city, I observed two men fighting, one of whom
had been seriously injured. I treated him for his injuries and at
the same time talked to him about the Lord.
I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home
without incident.
Two weeks later I repeated my journey.
Upon arriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I had
treated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines.
He said, 'Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing
you would camp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money
and drugs.
But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that you
were surrounded by 26 armed guards.
At this, I laughed and said that I was certainly all alone in that
jungle camp site.
The young man pressed the point, however, and said, 'No, sir, I was
not the only person to see the guards, my friends also saw them, and
we all counted them. It was because of those guards that we were
afraid and left you alone.
At this point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation
jumped to his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he
could tell him the exact day this happened.
The missionary told the congregation the date, and the man who
interrupted told him this story:
"On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and I
was preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the
urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging of the Lord was so strong,
I called men in this church to meet with me here in the sanctuary to
pray for you. Would all of those men who met with me on that day
stand up?"
The men who had met together to pray that day stood up. The
missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he was too busy
counting how many men he saw.
There were 26.
This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lord
moves in mysterious ways. If you ever hear such prodding, go along
with it.
Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell.
If we all take it to heart, we can
turn this world toward God once
again. As the above true story
clearly illustrates, "with God all
things are possible."
More important is how God hears and
answers the prayers of the
faithful.
There are no insignificant ministries in the Body of Christ. Some are visible and some are behind the scenes, but all are valuable. Small or hidden ministries often make the biggest difference.
Let me illustrate it this way - in my home, the most important light is not the large chandelier in our dining room but the little night light that keeps me from stubbing my toe when I get up at night. There is no correlation between size and significance. Your ministry matters because it matters to God, and you are crucial to the Body of Christ because we're all dependent on each other.
Jesus taught that we should maintain an attitude of service no different from his own, for the Messiah "did not come to be served, but to serve and to give [his] life." Jesus came "to serve" and "to give" - and those two verbs should define your life on earth, too.
Jesus taught that spiritual maturity is never an end in itself, rather maturity is for ministry! In the same way, your position as pastor should never become an end in itself - as if you have arrived - rather it is a heavenly calling to wash the feet of those around you, serving those in your congregation and your community at large.
We grow up in Christ in order to give out. It is not enough to keep learning more and more about the Bible or the latest church growth technique - certainly these are good things - but we must act on what we know and practice what we claim to believe. Some of us know the streets of ancient Jerusalem better than we know the streets of our own hometown, and that's an indicator that we're out of balance when it comes to serving those around us.
Study without service leads to spiritual stagnation. The old comparison between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea is still true: Galilee is a lake full of life because it takes in water but also gives it out; in contrast, nothing lives in the Dead Sea because, with no outflow, the lake has stagnated. Can you see the logic of God's intent? If you want greater spiritual maturity and wisdom, you need to be pouring what you already know into the lives of others! Why would God pour more maturity and wisdom into a stagnate reservoir?
Following the same thought, the last thing many believers need is to go to another Bible study; they already know far more than they are putting into practice. What they need are opportunities to serve - where they can exercise their spiritual muscles. Your example will teach the members of your congregation to shift from an attitude of "serve us" to "service." You'll teach them to no longer say, "I want a church that meets my needs and blesses me." Instead, they'll learn to say, "I want a place to serve and be a blessing."
You are a blessing as you serve your congregation, and even though they may not see all the things you do, God does - and he is pleased to have you as his eyes, ears, hands, and heart.
"Don't Have Anything To Do In The Church?"
If you feel this way, then...
1. Mail a card to the sick members.
2. Read and study your bible diligently everyday.
3. Visit the aged, ill and shut-ins and bereaved of the congregation.
4. Tell your neighbors about Christ and invite them to church services.
5. Visit new members and newcomers and welcome them.
6. Provide transportation for those who need it.
7. Speak an encouraging word to those who serve: the elders, the preacher, the song leader etc.
8. Avoid making unjust criticism.
9. Restore the erring
10. Love your brethren fervently.
If after you have done all these things, you still don't have enough to do, ask for a special assignment!
"He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Mark 16:15
Thanks to Sunrise Church of Christ
Lubbock, Texas
A
Strange Creature
I
heard about a fellow who saw a small looking creature as he was walking
along a country road. Supposing that this varmint should be
destroyed, he picked up a stick and struck it across the back.
Immediately it doubled in size. The man grew
excited and
began to violently frail the little beast. The more he beat,
the
larger it grew. Finally, he threw down the stick and ran over
to the fence and brought a rail. Still, he was unable to
destroy
it. The more he thrashed it about, the more it grew, until
finally it filled the whole road and he had no way to pass.
Exhausted, he drew back to get his breath and to his
surprise,
when he stopped beating it, it began to get smaller. Soon it
had
shrunk until it was smaller than when he first saw it. Then
it
crept whimpering into a bush along the side of the road and vanished.
The creatures name??? RUMOR.
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The Holy Alphabet
Although
things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without his love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "camp complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and
yes some will be bad. But.......
Zion waits in glory.....where none are ever sad!
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Bible Q & A...
Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.
Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.
Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around the Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.
Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married?
A. Ruthless
Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Honda, because all the apostles were in one Accord.
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without his love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "camp complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xalting God most high
Yes, there'll be good times and
yes some will be bad. But.......
Zion waits in glory.....where none are ever sad!
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Bible Q & A...
Q. Who was the greatest financier in the Bible?
A. Noah. He was floating his stock while everyone else was in liquidation.
Q. What excuse did Adam give to his children as to why he no longer lived in Eden?
A. Your mother ate us out of house and home.
Q. Which area of Palestine was especially wealthy?
A. The area around the Jordan. The banks were always overflowing.
Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married?
A. Ruthless
Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?
A. Jehovah drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David's Triumph was heard throughout the land. Honda, because all the apostles were in one Accord.
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