Student Discipleship

Hello again from the ol' man up in the attic.  Someone (actually hundreds) invested in my spiritual walk.  The Holy Spirit teaches and leads us to do the same with others of all ages,education, economic and geographic location.  The Apostle Paul looked out not only for his own interest but also the interests of others.  When Nehemiah heard that the city walls of God's city were in ruins and the people were in shame etc it broke his heart.  He began to pray for them and God's power, provision and purpose, in the situation.

Please begin now to pray for the needs of those in your;  family, church and community.

http://www.amazon.com/Project-Nehemiah-loving-through-others/dp/1500369934/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428585309&sr=1-7

Gone to be a blessing

                                            Spend quiet time with God.  Then go live out loud!

Life is a Trip.

We send a post card with a great picture and write:" Wish you were here."  (I really don't wish they were here. that's why we didn't bring them with us). 

Paul had desires, dreams and prayers for those Christians he wrote to.  He prayed, encouraged and taught the churches that they might not stay where they were but experience spiritual growth.

Actually Paul wrote Timothy a letter saying wish you were here, and "Please come before Winter."

Preach the Word

                    In season and out.  Always be ready to share, from the platform to the shopping aisle.

KEEP IN TOUCH

When two or more people desire to stay in contact or connected they say "Keep in touch."  Staying in contact is not always easy.  Many reasons and excuses are given as to why we were distracted.  If we are going to have/be friends, we need to stay in a common frame of mind and space. We connect and keep in touch as Christ's followers because of love and concern for community and relationship.

Out of touch with the real world
Sadly with time, a disconnect happens between leadership and work force/congregation.   The vision and mission statement suffer and one segment of  "The village" loses touch with the other.  

 keep in touch with society by building community relationships.
We as a church kept in touch with:
                      - residents scared to answer door. We blanketed homes with  info bags on doorknobs.
                      -with those that need help,can help or are helping the local community.
                      -with the shelters for seniors, homeless and abused.
                      -Boys/Girls club
                      -The police
                      -Salvation Army
                      -God with Prayer
                      -church sick/surgery in hospital.

                                                     Keep growing and keep in touch. 

                        

You are light to the World

Whether at home, school, work or store, let this be the season, you warm someones heart through showing and telling the good news of Jesus Christ!

Make your plans now.

The saying goes: "You don't know what you have til it is gone."   Make the most of what you have now.    

Enjoy.

"What is your Problem?"

Remember the time you went into a job interview and the manager asked: "What are your strengths?"  You were ready for that one. He began to nod off as you went on and on, painting the beautiful self portrait.
You waxed eloquently, sharing your powerful characteristics and benefits to mankind.

"What are your weaknesses?"
"What?"

I can't tell this person my weaknesses and short comings.  They would never hire me.   You might be the one that doesn't know what your weaknesses are. "I... I'm sure I have some..," 

Whether it is a; career, friendship, dating, church, we might keep our distance.  "If they knew me and my : history, fears, laugh, finances, education, anger!   they would not like me. We then keep others far from  reach.

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Billions of those even in a serious relationship and considering marriage, put there best foot forward.  They put the cap back on the toothpaste, have a clean apartment, and what a sense of humor!  When the "Honeymoon is over,"  on the way to the bathroom you trip over weeks of dirty clothes,  finding a sink filled with toothpaste and DNA,  Looking up into the bathroom mirror you can hear plates rattling from the kitchen and the spouse yelling something about how they as a young adult, had been mistreated by their mother. It would have been nice if they had told you and been truthful about these issues, they couldn't,  "You might not have married me." 

The answer is not a questionnaire for friends or marriage.  The solution is to "Know thyself."  No, not everyone will like us, or accept us.  There is a possibility that living truthfully and sharing what issues and circumstances, we might be experiencing, could connect you to the spouse or lifelong friend, even counsel, that God knows you need.

You can speak to God about your "secrets" after all, He knows all about you. You won't fool Him.  To have that true peace , we must have peace with God,  trusting in Christ as our only hope to spend eternity with God.  Will you have it all together then?  Maybe not, there are many people on their way to heaven, living hell on earth,  You obtain peace with God and then can receive the peace of God.  You can look into His word. It will transform you and it can maybe guide you to a place of yes,you helping others.

Face it. Let's be honest with ourselves. Your problem is;  we all have sinned and fallen short of Gods' standard.  The Bible says, if we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Before you even click to another site, begin to be truthful to Him right now. No, you may not be liked or accepted by him or her,  but God loves you and so do I !

Look into the Bible and please read the letter to the "Ephesians."

From Whom All Blessings Flow!

Where would we be if it hadn't been for the Lord. who is on our side?  Much of our financial status, health, education level, good or bad, are a result of choices we have made.  We still have the blessing of God's grace, mercy and divine favor.

Thank God for His divine appointments and sending people and opportunities in our direction.  I pray you and I will receive God's wisdom and discernment, concerning life's matters.  Remember your life matters.

We have to work in our careers, farms, art and ministry.  Let it  be accomplished; empowered  by God's Holy Spirit,  and to the Glory of God!  We work at job or home, looking to God from where our help comes.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son."

 Thank You Lord. as we go into this New Year for your indescribable gift!

Speaking at the Bride Church was "touching."

The Bride Church is brand spanking new (three yrs old) and moved into a large church building. I attend there and was as to share a sermon during a past service.  It was a crowd of around one hundred people.  People that were old friends of the pastor that came to hear him speak (oops). A portion of our group is also part of the surrounding community that the church is concerned about and some have responded  attending Worship that is held on Saturday nights.  Our young Pastor is very capable but asked me to speak and I was glad to.

The talk was about a leper that had come to Jesus for healing and of course Jesus reached down and touched him and said "I will. Be clean."

1.  Jesus Touches Lives
2.  We now are to touch lives
3.  Everyone can receive His touch right now.

We will not see (truly) improved  communities until there is a heart transformation, followed by life transformation.  More important than the Church going into the community to give food, love and education that Jesus commanded, is the showing and sharing, lovingly giving the neighborhood an opportunity to believe and receive a personal relationship with God through faith in Christ.

This should be an overflow from the Love of God to intentionally touching lives of the people God has placed in our circle of life.

There were the usual nice comments after the service.  Many had felt called and sent to go back to their families, work, even school and allow God to use their lives to touch lives, and that's very cool.

More From "Back to school" by Tim Flener

   “The ministry? You know I'll support you and pray with you. I thought you wanted to be an accountant or something.”

  “ Yeah, but Jasmine, I'm being drawn into this place of.. connecting with God and people in a special way. I can't explain it. I know your parents would frown against it maybe, but if it's to be, it just is. Besides, I plan to pray and get your input, my parent's and Pastor Will may have some words, I don't...”

  “Maybe we could go to school together. Do you know one? I can hear it now; “Here is the Reverend, and Mrs. Anderson now.”

“Reverend? Mrs?”

“You have a problem with that?”

“I don't, but you might, after a year or so. It would be Pastor, not Reverend. Besides, you should be Miss America, not with some pastor of a small church in anywhere USA.”

“Let's step back and pray about it.”

Before she went into the house, sitting in his car, she took his hand and this time, she led in prayer;

  “Dear God, We thank you again for your salvation and presence in our daily lives. Holy Spirit lead us as we go to school and bless our relationships with friends and family. We are in our senior year and we are facing, important life decisions. We ask for your ideas, will, power and love to carry them out. Dear Lord, we love you and each other. We want to live or walk according to your Spirit and not the flesh. We need your wisdom and discernment."  





 http://www.amazon.com/Back-School-Project-Nehemiah-rebooted/dp/1500850195/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452261384&sr=1-8