Just the mention of it we wince. We don’t pray it comes to us but it does. Why is there pain? Why do well-meaning, God-loving followers of Christ suffer? C.S. Lewis had a great answer for that. “Why not?” he said. “They’re the only ones who can handle it.”
Suffering was interwoven into the life of Paul, and he knew the right way to handle it. In Acts 13-14, Paul suffered opposition and slander from the Jews in Antioch and Iconium. When they found him at Lystra, they stoned him, dragged him out of the city, and left him for dead. Paul was doing God’s will when this happened. It would have been very easy to question God’s love and God’s calling on his life. But how did Paul interpret these experiences?
Look at 2 Corinthians 1:8-92 Corinthians 1:8-9 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV 8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: sentence: or, answer
WP-Bible plugin. “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.” Paul is saying, “Yes, it was bad, but it caused me to trust God as I never had before.”
Paul talks about his sufferings throughout 2 Corinthians, and he even boasts about it because of what it taught him. What do you do with pain? You shouldn’t apply some quick-fix, false theology to it: “I bind all pain and all suffering in Jesus’ name.” You should pray for an end to your pain, but you should also pray, “Let me not waste this time.” You should ask God, “What are you trying to teach me? What lesson should I be learning?”
For Paul, that lesson was summed up in 2 Corinthians 12:9-102 Corinthians 12:9-10 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
WP-Bible plugin. The Lord told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” And Paul concluded that he would take pleasure in his infirmities, and in the persecutions he suffered. He knew that his true strength came from God: “when I am weak, then I am strong” (v. 10).
Are you in some kind of pain today? I pray that you and I would learn what God is trying to teach us, even in the midst of pain. And rest your heart in the fact that His grace is sufficient for you!
Of course, it’s only a replica of the Biblical Ark, built by Dutch creationist Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.
Reckoning by the old Biblical measurements, Johan’s fully functional ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That’s two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.
Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
Huibers says he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where church attendance has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.
Replica of Noah’s Ark built by a Dutch contractor.
It was built approximately to scale, however is 1/2 the length and 1/3 the width of the Biblical dimensions. It was built to show the world how massive the Ark was and how so many animals could have been housed for a long time.
There have been several comments on the improbability of getting 2 of every animal on board the Ark: Take a look at this website Bible Study.org .
Briefly… The Ark had the same capacity as more than 500 train boxcars. Remember, not all animals needed to be full grown, not every variation of every genus. Also remember that not every variant of every genus was required onboard as their variant species would be produced over the years.
Also, check out Answers In Genesis. Consider all the facts, the 1.5million cubic feet of space on the ark, 40,000 animals, and it makes a lot more sense than the little 4-animal arks you see in pictures and toys. This thing was massive and amazingly effective as a safe haven for thousands of plants and animals.
Also, for more information you can go to the ark’s official website Arkvannoach.com .
You can’t answer the question, “Where are you from?”
The vast majority of your clothes are hand-me-downs.
You speak two languages but can’t spell either.
You embarrass yourself by asking what swear words mean.
You read National Geographic and recognize someone.
You have a time zone map next to your telephone.
You would rather eat ‘kinilaw’ (raw fish with vinegar) than cafeteria food.
You consider a city 500 km away to be ‘very close’.
You watch nature documentaries and think about how good that animal would taste if it were fried.
You can cut grass with a machete but can’t start a lawn mower.
You speak with authority on the subject of airline travel.
You read the international section before the comics.
Strangers say they can remember you when you were ‘this tall’.
You have friends from or in 29 different countries.
You do your devotions in another language.
You sort your friends by continent.
You realize that furlough is not a vacation.
You wince when people mispronounce foreign words.
You’ve spoken in dozens of churches but aren’t a pastor.
The majority of your friends don’t speak English.
Someone brings up the name of a team and you get the sport wrong.
You like everything from Reggae to Japanese rap.
You never take anything for granted.
You watch a movie set in a foreign country, and you know what the nationals are REALLY saying into the camera.
You know how to pack.
Fitting 15 or more people into a car seems normal.
You refer gravel roads to highways.
You haggle with the checkout clerk for a lower price.
You get upset when people don’t finish their food and feel worse when they scrape it into the trash.
You don’t think that two hours is a long sermon.
You never have a special meal on Sunday, since it is your busiest day.
You don’t do well in job interviews because you were taught to be modest.
You think nothing of straddling white lines to pass between trucks or buses traveling side by side, because “There was plenty of room, officer. Honest! At least 15 cm clearance.”
Someone in your passport country has to explain to you that the double yellow lines mean ONLY oncoming traffic can drive on that side of the road, even when there ISN’T any oncoming traffic…and you don’t understand why.
You feel odd being in the ethnic majority.
You go to the local Filipino restaurant just to listen to the conversation.
You have to have five hot sauces on a Big Mac.
You really do enjoy Oriental folk music.
You marvel at the cleanliness of gas station bathrooms.
Your last memories of your parents’ families are twenty years old.
You think you’ve died and gone to heaven when you go into a foreign grocery store.
You have a name in at least two different languages, and it is not the same one.
You miss the sub-titles when you see the latest movies.
You feel you need to move after you’ve lived in the same place for a month.
Your idea of a good night is a Japanese cartoon and ‘Cup Noodles’.
You cruise the internet looking for fonts that support your ‘native’ language’s alphabet.
You think a ‘foreign school’ conducts classes in English.
You try to get onto a military base by showing your passport.
Your carry-on luggage weighs more than you do.
Does your life seem boring and dull after reading the list above? Maybe a Missionary’s life is for you. Pray about it. Start packing your bags and go where our Lord leads you…
Then maybe we can add on the list (for Filipino Missionaries only):
You go camping in the wilderness just so you can satisfy your craving for your favorite Filipino food. Finally, you get to cook and eat your beloved ‘bulad’ (very smelly dried fish) - aaahhhh yuuummmy ...
peek into the very heart of God, in this intimate conversation between the Son and the Father…
Have you ever eavesdropped on someone when they pray? In John 17, we have the opportunity to eavesdrop on Jesus as He prays to His Father. It’s the longest prayer of Jesus recorded in the New Testament, and what makes John 17 so wonderful is that you get to see what’s important to Jesus. In this chapter the veil is pulled aside and you get to peek into the very heart of God, in this intimate conversation between the Son and the Father.
Jesus meant for us to eavesdrop on Him. He spoke this prayer out loud so that people could hear it, and so that it would be recorded for all history. And we should pay close attention to it, because these were the things that were on Jesus’ heart to pray for; these were His priorities. After praying for Himself and the disciples, in the last verses Jesus prays for “those who will believe in Me through their word” (v. 20). That’s us, you and me. Jesus had you in mind when He was speaking to His Father. Can you imagine that — Jesus putting you on His prayer list? Does that excite you? Jesus Christ loved you enough to pray for you and He’s still praying for you, even today (see Romans 8:34Romans 8:34 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Because Jesus prayed for the things in John 17, it means that this is the basic will of God for our lives. When we cooperate with the very things we read about here, when we pray for the same things, we are lining ourselves up with His will. The secret of prayer is to find out what He wants, and pray that. When you pray for the will of God, you will see results, and you’ll see joy and power in your life. 1 John 5:14-151 John 5:14-15 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: in: or, concerning
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
WP-Bible plugin says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
John 17 is the greatest prayer ever prayed, and it’s wonderful that Jesus allowed us to eavesdrop on Him. Read it over, study it, and become conformed to what Jesus expresses to His Father. You can’t go wrong that way!
Please pray for our YOUTHCAMP this week: that God will pour out His Spirit upon our young people and be transformed to be the kind of young men and women God intends them to be! (Note: Talent Night will be Friday, May 29 at 7 pm)
Change of Schedule: COVENANTKEEPERS fellowship will be moved to next Sunday, May 31 at 6:30 pm here at CCD. Inviting all couples for a time of fun, fellowship, and instruction!
Volunteers needed for Children’s Ministry at PNP every Saturdays at 3 pm. If interested please approach Baby Jambora or Janice.
CORRECTION: Please check our website at http://ccdumaguete.com. Our new church email is ccdgte@gmail.com.
A colorful rainbow brings to light the interconnected nature of one of the world’s most familiar books.
The Bible’s 1,189 chapters are plotted along the horizontal axis at the bottom of the image, with each bar’s length determined by the number of verses.
“It almost looks like one monolithic volume,” said Carnegie Mellon’s Chris Harrison, who — along with Christoph Romhild of North Elbian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hamburg, Germany — won an honorable mention for illustrations in the 2008 International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge.
Additional Information:
This diagram arose from a collaboration between a Carnegie-Mellon Ph.D student and a Lutheran pastor to create a grand map of Biblical cross-references: “We wanted something that honored and revealed the complexity of the data at every level –- as one leans in, smaller details should become visible. This ultimately led us to the multi-colored arc diagram… The bar graph that runs along the bottom represents all of the chapters in the Bible. Books alternate in color between white and light gray. The length of each bar denotes the number of verses in the chapter. Each of the 63,779he 63,779 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV Izbrano poglavje ne obstaja!
WP-Bible plugin cross references found in the Bible is depicted by a single arc - the color corresponds to the distance between the two chapters, creating a rainbow-like effect.”
“Although the Bible is made up of 66 individual book written by several different people, a scientific graph of the intersection of the content shows it to be so united that it appears to virtually be the work of one hand. Just another proof of the veracity of the Word.” - Ed Hodge
Take a look and see why his promising career as a lifeguard did not flourish…
Smile and have a blessed day with our Lord and Savior!
Moses did not make it as a lifeguard, he failed! He also had his own share of run-ins on several very serious setbacks. Read the following post about how God gave Moses second chances. If you’re experiencing failures like Moses did, there too, is hope for you:
If you have anything that we can use for “Things that Make You Smile and Think”, please give us the link or email us at calvarychapel.dgt@gmail.com (this is the CCD email address exclusively for website matters), and we will post it here with the name of the contributor…We however, reserve the right to edit and choose which contributions will finally be published.
Have you ever wondered, “Where will I spend eternity?” God’s Word gives only two ultimate destinations for all humans. The first one is called hell and the Bible describes another ultimate destination called Heaven.
The question may at first make you smile…”“How will you spend eternity-Smoking or Non-smoking?” But seriously, think for a moment and ask yourself the question…
Philippians 4:6-7Philippians 4:6-7 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.
The attitude of gratitude. The healthiest human emotion is the attitude of gratitude, having a grateful heart, being thankful. It actually increases your immunities. It is a physical benefit to express the attitude of gratitude. If you’re depressed, make a list of fifty things you can be grateful for. When you’re grateful, it gets the focus off your problems and gets the focus on the benefits in your life. We have so much that we take for granted. Develop the attitude of gratitude and watch the stress level in your life go down.
People try pills, fads, drugs, therapy, rock crystals, stress reduction seminars and listen to tapes, books — anything to give just a little peace of mind. Paul says God’s peace is a gift to you. It is a gift that cannot be explained, duplicated, fabricated or understood. It is the sense of peace that comes over your life. THANKTHELORDFORHISPEACETODAY!
No, I’m not talking about evolution’s missing link…there’s no missing link - that’s why it’s still missing! Read on. God offers instruction, but then it’s our move. We must accept His instruction and apply it to our lives. Then, and only then, can we expect to cash in on the benefits of His instruction. So you see, application is the essential link between instruction and change.
Imagine, if you will, that you work for a company whose president found it necessary to travel out of the country and spend an extended period of time abroad. So he says to you and the other trusted employees, “Look, I’m going to leave. And while I’m gone, I want you to pay close attention to the business. You manage things while I’m away. I will write you regularly. When I do, I will instruct you in what you should do from now until I return from this trip.”
Everyone agrees. He leaves and stays gone for a couple of years. During that time he writes often, communicating his desires and concerns. Finally he returns. He walks up to the front door of the company and immediately discovers everything is in a mess — -weeds flourishing in the flower beds, windows broken across the front of the building, the lady at the front desk dozing, loud music roaring from several offices, two or three people engaged in horseplay in the back room. Instead of making a profit, the business has suffered a great loss.
Without hesitation he calls everyone together and with a frown asks, “What happened? Didn’t you get my letters?” You say, “Oh, yeah, sure. We got all your letters. We’ve even bound them in a book. And some of us have memorized them. In fact, we have ‘letter study’ every Sunday. You know, those were really great letters.” I think the president would then ask, “But what did you do about my instructions?” And, no doubt, the employees would respond, “Do? Well, nothing. But we read every one!”
In the very same way, God has sent us His instruction. He has preserved every word of it in a Book, the Bible. It’s all there, just as He communicated it to us. When He returns for His own, He is not going to ask us how much we memorized or how often we met for study. No, He will want to know, “What did you do about my instructions?” Be NOT hearers only but DOERS of the Word (Jam.1:22). What instructions from the Lord that you’ve not been doing? Do it now…and change will surely come.
Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary. All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day! Feed your faith, and doubt will starve to death!
Please pray for our upcoming YOUTHCAMP! The DATE is changed to May 25-30 due to finals for summer classes. Registration forms is now available at the youth table at the back.
BEREANIBSCLASS will resume this Tuesday, May 5 at 7:15 pm starting with Level 2: Understanding and Applying Parables. This is open to anyone who has gone through the previous Getting Deeper Class.
The COLLEGECORE will meet at the Florendo’s residence at Habaña’s Subdivision this coming Wednesday, May 6 at 7:15 pm.
Change of schedule: MISSIONFELLOWSHIP meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at CCD, 5:00 pm. For those whose heart beats for Mission, come and join us!
If there’s one attitude families are guilty of more than any other when it comes to mothers, it’s presumption … taking them for granted … being nearly blind on occasion to the load moms carry. From a Mother’s Day Greeting card: “Forget the housework, Mom. It’s your day. Besides, you can always do double duty and catch up on Monday!”
Another one: On the front of the card was a beleaguered mother. Draped over her neck were three unmatched socks and at her feet was an enormous stack of unwashed clothes. On the stove was a hot skillet burning the food. A cold, stained coffee pot needed attention. The refrigerator door was ajar and milk had spilled in it. The dishes, naturally, looked like a homemade tower reaching out of the sink. Inside the card was scribbled: “Look, lady, nobody said it was gonna be a free ride!” But my favorite was a great big card that looked like a third-grader had printed it. On it was a little boy with a dirty face and torn pants pulling a wagonload of toys. On the front it read:“Mom, I remember the little prayer you used to say for me every day …” and inside, “God help you if you do that again!”
There’s an old song entitled “I Owe You.” In the song, a man is looking through his wallet and comes across a number of long-standing “I owe yous” to his mother … which he names one by one. Borrowing that idea, I suggest you who have been guilty of presumption unfold some of your own “I owe yous”. Consider the priceless value of the one woman who made your life possible—your mother. Think about her example, her support, her humor, her counsel, her humility, her hospitality, her insight, her patience, her sacrifices. Her faith. Her hope. Her love.
Somebody once said, “He is not poor who has had a godly mother.” Indebted, but not poor.
“If you don’t watch it, you’ll be planning lunch during the sermon (hahaha).”
Moms, on Mother’s Day Sunday we rise up and call you blessed. But knowing you, you’ll feel uneasy in the limelight. You’ll probably look for a place to hide. True servants are like that. If you don’t watch it, you’ll be planning lunch during the sermon (hahaha). But that would be a waste of time. Especially since you’re going to be taken out to lunch (which will add to our indebtedness!). But in all honesty, it won’t come anywhere near expressing our gratitude. So, live it up today. It’s all yours. My advice? Shake up the family for a change. Order your most favorite food and have an all-body massage!
May 1- Labor Day, a day the Nation honors the laborers of the different sectors of society. Indeed they are to be recognized and commended, especially those who are diligent and honest, those who are devoted to their work. Without them there will be no progress. Same is true in the spiritual realm! Everyone involved in God’s work is to be recognized and commended (though that should not be the motive). Paul the Apostle, who once said that he forgot those whom he baptized (1 Cor.1:16), never forgot to mention those men and women who have labored with him one way or another. In Romans 16 and his other epistles, he mentioned by name and commended those wonderful believers. Like Paul, I greatly rejoice in the Lord for you who have been co-laboring with me in this work God has entrusted to us. God knows who you are. But there is so much work to be done; many lands to conquer, souls to save and disciple.
The harvest is great but the workers are few. What a contrast to the physical realm! In the physical, there are many workers but no jobs available (how many jobless Filipinos today?). But in the spiritual, there is a great work to be done but few workers! Jesus said, “Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field (Matt. 9:37-38Matt. 9:37-38 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
WP-Bible plugin).” Have you been asking? If so, then maybe you yourself are the answer to that prayer! Are you willing not just to pray, but to be the answer? Why not - when Jesus through His Spirit gave His church gifts? You are included. Every believer has a gift. You are to simply be humble and available, willing to do the humblest of things. And when you step out in faith He will enable and empower you to do that work.
Jesus is looking for open hearts to which He could conform to His and hands through which He could perform His task. What a privilege to be co-laborers with Christ! There’s no greater task to do than do those things that last — those things which have eternal value! Praise God for His unsearchable wisdom and grace that we are made worthy for such great a task!
“Please Lord, be with me when I’m fearful, to make me faithful. Be with me when I’m faithful, to make me fruitful. Be with me when I’m fruitful, to make me humble. For it is only by Your grace that I was chosen to serve You; only by Your strength that I am even able to serve; only by Your faithfulness that I am still serving You today. Amen.”
Please pray for our upcoming YOUTHCAMP! The DATE is changed to May 25-30 due to finals for summer classes. Registration forms is now available at the youth table at the back.
BEREANIBSCLASS will resume this Tuesday, May 5 at 7:15 pm starting with Level 2: Understanding and Applying Parables. This is open to anyone who has gone through the previous Getting Deeper Class.
The COLLEGECORE will meet at the Florendo’s residence at Habaña’s Subdivision this coming Wednesday, May 6 at 7:15 pm.
Change of schedule: MISSIONFELLOWSHIP meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at CCD, 5:00 pm. For those whose heart beats for Mission, come and join us!
Please pray for our upcoming YOUTHCAMP! The DATE is changed to May 25-30 due to finals for summer classes. In line with the camp we have YOUTHWORKDAYS scheduled in April and May as we go out and clean up our baranggay. If you wish to sponsor a youth for Youth Work Day, please approach Glen or Abba.
COVENANTKEEPERS will meet today at 6:30 pm for FILMSHOWING! Inviting couples in the church to come and join us. NOTE: Be on time.
MISSIONFELLOWSHIP meets every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month at CCD, 6:30 pm. For those whose heart beats for Mission, come and join us!
One word I can describe our recently concluded Senior Pastor and Wives Conference is this word, “Overflowing!” Spiritually, the messages were awesome, full, solid, encouraging, overflowing. And literally, the food was overflowing too! The fellowship and the fun – faith building! I remember what David wrote in Psalm 23:5Psalm 23:5 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. anointest: Heb. makest fat
WP-Bible plugin – “…You anoint my head with oil, my cup OVERFLOWS! God not only fills our life but overflows our life. The overflowing cup. What a beautiful apt description of the Christian life. Not just peace, peace that passes human understanding. Not just joy, joy indescribable and full of glory. In fact, our Lord gives us everything we could need and more. Paul expressed that thought in this way, “Now to him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to power that works within us.” (Ephesians 3:20Ephesians 3:20 English: King James Version (1611) - KJV 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Think about it: He is able to do…“Immeasurably more than” - This word carries with it the meaning of a river or lake with a water level that is above capacity, or at flood stage. The flood of God’s power is over and beyond all reasonable limits. It literally means, “Superabundantly, with more added to that.” God has enough power to do immeasurably more than we can ask or think with more added to that. In fact, in the original language…Paul uses a double compound word…he makes up his own word phrase. He is so caught up in the BIGNESS and AWESOMENESS of God, he creates a new word phrase to make his point…He stacks these words upon each other in an attempt to say how God is so immensely, infinitely big! Paul is saying that God is — Incredibly Incredible. Extravagantly Extravagant. Awesomely Awesome in His Awesomeness. Outrageously Outrageous. Fantastically Fantastical. Amazingly Amazing. Infinitely Infinite – all the time! There Ain’t no box Big enough – to hold our God! And His ability? Super able! God is Ably Able in His Ability. Our words cannot fully Express what we know and Feel. There’s no such word that can contain ALL of WHOHE is and ALL of what He can do. Our God is Indescribably indescribable. God Can! God is! God is Able to do! That would be enough to have our hearts beat with Confidence and Faith. Sure it’s impossible… Sure it’s outside of our power…Sure it seems hopeless… Sure it’s beyond our ability. BUTOHPRAISETHELORD… HEISABLE! Our God is Able to do FARMOREABUNDANTLYBEYONDALL!
Indescribable Louie Giglio
There are No Limits to His Love. No Boundaries to His Blessing. No Fences withholding His Faithfulness. No Lines drawn separating us from His Salvation. No Guard Rails against His Grace. No Containers holding His Compassion. No Restrictions to Experiencing His Righteousness! God is Able to do far more and abundantly beyond ALL we ask or think. Aren’t you glad that God is not limited to what we ask or think? I’m glad that God is God and I’m not. I don’t get it - all the time and I don’t get it all – most of the time. I don’t know what God knows. I don’t see what God sees. I don’t understand what God understands. I’m not sure where God is… I’m OK with that. I’m OK with letting God be God – because I really don’t think I have a choice in that matter anyway. God is God and God is Able! My cup overflows! Beloved, O, may we overflow with His love, joy and peace in the midst of an empty, dry and troubled world!
Imagine, if you will, that you work for a company whose president found it necessary to travel out of the country and spend an extended period of time abroad. So he says to you and the other trusted employees, “Look, I’m going to leave. And while I’m gone, I want you to pay close attention to the business. You manage things while I’m away. I will write you regularly. When I do, I will instruct you in what you should do from now until I return from this trip.”
a frown asks, “What happened? Didn’t you get my letters?” You say, “Oh, yeah, sure. We got all your letters. We’ve even bound them in a book. And some of us have memorized them. In fact, we have ‘letter study’ every Sunday. You know, those were really great letters.” I think the president would then ask, “But what did you do about my instructions?” And, no doubt, the employees would respond, “Do? Well, nothing. But we read every one!”
If there’s one attitude families are guilty of more than any other when it comes to mothers, it’s presumption … taking them for granted … being nearly blind on occasion to the load moms carry. From a Mother’s Day Greeting card: “Forget the housework, Mom. It’s your day. Besides, you can always do double duty and catch up on Monday!”
May 1- Labor Day, a day the Nation honors the laborers of the different sectors of society. Indeed they are to be recognized and commended, especially those who are diligent and honest, those who are devoted to their work. Without them there will be no progress. Same is true in the spiritual realm! Everyone involved in God’s work is to be recognized and commended (though that should not be the motive). Paul the Apostle, who once said that he forgot those whom he baptized (1 Cor.1:16), never forgot to mention those men and women who have labored with him one way or another. In Romans 16 and his other epistles, he mentioned by name and commended those wonderful believers. Like Paul, I greatly rejoice in the Lord for you who have been co-laboring with me in this work God has entrusted to us. God knows who you are. But there is so much work to be done; many lands to conquer, souls to save and disciple.
to pray, but to be the answer? Why not - when Jesus through His Spirit gave His church gifts? You are included. Every believer has a gift. You are to simply be humble and available, willing to do the humblest of things. And when you step out in faith He will enable and empower you to do that work.
One word I can describe our recently concluded Senior Pastor and Wives Conference is this word, “Overflowing!” Spiritually, the messages were awesome, full, solid, encouraging, overflowing. And literally, the food was overflowing too! The fellowship and the fun – faith building! I remember what David wrote in 