Note: I started this posting about three hours ago, but got sidetracked with a research paper, preparing fruit for a watermelon basket for the On Missions Celebration, etc. I have had a lot on my mind lately. At least I remembered to come back to it later.
“This is what the Lord Almighty says:
Judge fairly and honestly,
and show mercy and kindness to one another.
Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people.
And do not make evil plans to harm each other.”
~Zechariah 7:9-10 (NLT)~
Dear Prayer Partners,
Just a note of follow-up on the meeting today with the mayor of Valeni. Ron returned very encouraged. God has heard our prayers for the people of Valeni and answered the water issue through the Mayor. Ron and the pastor found him to be open. He shared with them that he currently has the project written to take water to the people of Valeni, and it will be submitted the 20th of this month. He believes the project will be completed in 1 year or less.
The Turkish mayor was touched in that in his years as mayor, he has not had anyone come to him wanting to help the people of Valeni. He told Ron and the pastor about a project we could work together on to improve the current water supply until the big project is complete. We are currently researching the costs for this. Ron and the pastor were very encouraged by his response and openness.
Another praise from the trip today is that the husband of one of our persons of peace was home and agrees to meet with Ron and the pastor early next week. They found that the proclaimer ( a solar powered audio New Testament in Turkish) is already being used to hear the Word of God.
We give God the praise for the results of today’s visit! Please pray for the meeting with the men in the village next week. Please continue to pray that more opportunities will develop to touch people’s lives with the Word and love of Christ. As always, you have overwhelmed us with your response to pray, thank you. Until next time, we are……..
Kept by Him, Ron and Charlotte (Romania)
On Mission Celebration
FBC, Amite
This evening’s schedule:
- 4:30 – Meet missionaries and teate food from around the world
- 5:30 – Supper (no cost to you)
- 6:30 – Parade of flads,special music, and missionary speakers
KneEmail
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…” (Philippians 2:10).
Mike Benson, Editor
George Bush (the senior), who was always known for his dry wit, said this of his relationship with President Ronald Reagan…
“It’s important for a Vice president not to upstage his boss, and you don’t know how hard it has been to keep my charisma in check.”
Sometimes I worry that as humans we try to “upstage” God in worship. Who, after all, have we come to honor? Are we presenting ourselves to the community as the church with the “best” worship service? Are we trying to enliven the singing in order to keep our young people interested? Should this enterprise be considered successful if we all leave with a woosy feeling in our tummies?
“Sometimes these days it is hard to distinguish praise from ‘schmooze,'” notes one writer. “Real praise happens when God becomes God again for us. ‘Be God for us,’ we will cry, ‘Speak your word so strongly that we can’t hear anything else.'”
(Marva Dawn, Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down, page 89).
Of course God has always been God. He has always been great beyond our imagination. He has always been near to us. It’s just that we sometimes miss him because we are so busy trying to upstage the one who should be the focus and center of our worship.
Worship is conducted on his terms alone, or it is not worship. A service designed to honor anyone or anything less than God is not worship. It is flattery at best, and idolatry at worst, for nothing less than the God of all the earth warrants our worship.
After all, we came to honor God, not the church. This Sunday morning, don’t upstage the Boss. Allow his warmth and righteousness, his will and word be the lasting impression that is left on your heart. (Stan Mitchell)
Jesus said to him,
“Away from me, Satan,for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'”
~Matthew 4:10~
Have a wonderful, blessed weekend!
Anna Lee
The Prayer Link 