Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

We are leaving Waco Texas this Friday then on to Magnolia, Texas and be close to Leslie and the family. We continue in prayer as to what the Lord wants us to do when we get there and we urge you to be in prayer with us.

We have heard from many of you who are facing trials and hurts we want you to know we are praying fervently for you.

From my today:

Down but Not Out by Dennis and Barbara Rainey 

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing. - 2 Corinthians 4:8 

Have you been through a period of life when everything looked bleak? When it seemed everything around you was coming unraveled? When you hoped the phone wouldn't ring for fear it would be more bad news?During seasons like that, I'm often reminded of this story:Karl, a Norwegian fisherman, had taken his two teenage sons out for a day of fishing. The morning had been beautiful when they started out, but the afternoon turned nasty--in a hurry--catching them too far at sea to beat the incoming storm to shore. The wind-whipped ocean began to work into a frenzy, until he and his sons were battling for their lives. As darkness fell on their frantic efforts, even the steady beacon of the seaside lighthouse was suddenly extinguished by a terrific bolt of lightning. Hope seemed lost.But things were actually worse than Karl knew. Lightning had also struck his home and the structure quickly erupted into a fireball. So when Karl and his sons finally staggered ashore, exhausted, he was met by his wife with the bad news.Strangely, Karl seemed unfazed, much to his wife's frustration. As he stroked her tear-lined face with his tough, leathery hands, he said, "Don't you understand, sweetheart? When the lighthouse went out, the glow on the horizon became my compass. The fire that destroyed our house guided us home."

LaVon and I have certainly gone through times when there were "fires" burning. But we've also discovered that during these times, these crises have guided us "home," because they've forced us to hunker down in faith, crying out in absolute dependence upon God. "Lord God, You know what You are doing! We don't know what You are up to, but we trust in You."

Discuss:
What is an example of a trial you've experienced that turned out to have a good consequence from an eternal perspective?

Pray:
Pray that you will face the fires together and that your faith in Christ will grow stronger as you go through them.

As we thank you for your prayerful and financial partnership with this ministry, we want to encourage your personal ministry as well. When you use your influence for the Kingdom, your witness in works and words touches people for eternity.  David Livingstone, famed missionary doctor said it well: "If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"

Have a great day, love you, pass it on.
Don

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

We are in Waco, Texas for the next week then on to Magnolia, Texas and be close to Leslie and the family. We continue in prayer as to what the Lord wants us to do and we urge you to be in prayer with us.

My reading today from David Jeremiah.

Sunlight Through Glass
This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

Writer F. W. Boreham told of taking lodgings in the home of Old Bessie, the widow of a local pastor. One morning he noticed some words etched into one of the windows: "This is the day!" At breakfast he asked Bessie about it.
"I have had a lot of trouble in my time," she explained. "Each morning when I woke up I felt as though I had the weight of the world upon me. Then one day when I was very upset about things, I sat down and read ... the 118th Psalm. When I came to the 24th verse, I stopped. ... It flashed upon me like a burst of sunshine on a gloomy day." With a glass-cutting tool from the kitchen, Bessie etched the words on the windowpane --This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

"There!" she thought. "Now I shall see that little bit of Bible there every morning when I draw up the blind."¹

Even biblical characters as courageous as Joshua needed to learn to keep a good attitude despite circumstances. So did Old Bessie. So do we! Today rejoice! Be glad in Him.

As we thank you for your prayerful and financial partnership with this ministry, we want to encourage your personal ministry as well. When you use your influence for the Kingdom, your witness in works and words touches people for eternity.  David Livingstone, famed missionary doctor said it well: "If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"

Have a great day, love you, pass it on.

Don

Sunday Is Coming!

Good Morning,

We have taken some time to warm up. We are in Waco, Texas for the next month then on to Magnolia, Texas and be close to Leslie and the family. We continue in prayer as to what the Lord wants us to do and we urge you to be in prayer with us. I also want to thank you for praying for us during our illness we are getting better.  PTL.

During my reading today, I really liked this from the Sower.

PRAYER: FORCE OR FOOLISHNESS

Prayer, for some, is a force that enables them to approach God in worship and wonder or in times of need for the necessities of life. For others, prayer is utter and complete foolishness because they believe it is foolish and a waste of time.
In the life of David, it was a powerful force. Whenever he was hurt by harmful words, received a wound from a battle or had a need that was beyond his limitations he turned to God in prayer. Listen carefully to his words: “I am a man of prayer.”
It is always interesting to listen carefully to someone introduce themselves: “I am a doctor...I am the CEO of...I am a sales representative at...I work for...I am the one who...I set a record by...I am the owner of.” We seem to want others to recognize us for what we have done not who we are.
But with all his power and prestige, wealth and wisdom, David wanted others to recognize him as someone who was completely dependent on God: “I am a man of prayer.”
Prayer was a force in the life of David. As we read his prayer in the Psalms we discover that he had no definite time of prayer, no specific place to pray, no particular position he assumed when he prayed and it seems as though most of the time when he prayed he was alone.
David realized that prayer was a force in his life. It brought forgiveness when he sinned, peace when he was anxious, and victory when he was embattled and constant joy.

Prayer: Father, may we see the need for prayer in our lives when we see the results of prayer in the life of others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 109:4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.

As we thank you for your prayerful and financial partnership with this ministry, we want to encourage your personal ministry as well. When you use your influence for the Kingdom, your witness in works and words touches people for eternity.  David Livingstone, famed missionary doctor said it well: "If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"


Have a great day, love you, pass it on.
Don

Post script:
Here is the main reason we are in the Waco area for a month.  Pop Wink Winklemann and I have been friends since the mid-70's. Recently, Pop's sweet wife, Dovie, went home to be with the Lord quite suddenly. Due to illness, we were not able to make it to her funeral and that grieved me greatly, so now God has allowed me to spend some quality time with Pop. His heart hurts, so a prayer for him would be greatly appreciated.