Monday

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32:4

Let’s pray for Mrs. Faye Price to be a little better than she was yesterday. Small “steps” in the right direction would be very welcomed. I’ll post an update later.

Majel Dean’s sister and brother-in-law are both doing well. Thank-you for your prayers for them.

Pray for those who will attend the grief seminar Thursday. Pray each speaker has the right words for those who are listening. Continue to pray for the many who have experienced the loss of a loved one lately. If you need more information, please contact Jan Hammons or FBC.

Pray for the children of FBC as they prepare to present “Miracle on Main Street” next Sunday night at 6 P.M. “Main Street” arrived at church yesterday afternoon. Thanks to Peggy Alford and others who created the scenery. Thanks to Wendy A. Fowler and others who had worked with the children to prepare for next week’s presentation. You are invited to attend next Sunday at 6 P.M.

Deacons for the week: Jimmy Tolar and Lloyd Hayden

Now that the Week of Prayer for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is officially over, I thought I would share some information about various missions in different parts of the world. I hope you enjoy learning more about international missions. Each one is supported through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. 100% of the money given goes directly to missions.

Drive-thru missions
When people line up for the car ferry from Europe to North Africa, they often get more than a boat ride. They can get a copy of the New Testament. When these Bible portions at $3 each are multiplied enough for a mass distribution, the cost can run between $15,725 and $17,550. It’s a price paid in full by the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and from other participating agencies.

Behind the scenes, project volunteers from several countries form an assembly line, boxing up packets for distribution to motorists. Each packet contains a copy of the New Testament, which motorists can choose in one of four languages: French, Kabyle Berber, Arabic and Chawic [shaw-wee] Berber. A copy of the JESUS film and other materials complete the packet.

Given this drive-thru ordering system, it wouldn’t be too unusual for someone to say, “I’ll have a Kabyle Berber Bible to go, please.”

Even without the window, many such orders are filled. Motorists who take these materials into North Africa can read about Jesus’ love for them and thus satisfy their hunger and thirst after righteousness.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Monday, December 8, 2008

“Now Jesus has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26b, HCSB).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, praying with you for those who need to understand the true sacrifice.

Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice, is celebrated on December 8 (or when the new moon is sighted) this year. Also known as Korbani Eid, Bakra Eid, or Eid Kbir, every Muslim who is financially able will sacrifice their best sheep, goat, cow or camel in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son for Allah. The sacrificial ritual is followed closely because Muslims believe it will atone for the sins of the people in their household.

The meat is divided into three portions, two of which are shared with the poor, and their neighbors or relatives. It is very important to share with the poor so that no impoverished Muslim is left without sacrificial food during this holiday. The third portion is for the immediate family.

Eid al-Adha provides one of the greatest redemptive analogies in Muslim culture. Scripture tells us,”Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham . . . and said, ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. . . . And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command’” (Genesis 22:15-18, HCSB).

* Please pray for Muslims across Northern Africa and the Middle East, West Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Rim that their hearts will yearn for an explanation of true sacrifice.

* Ask God to open doors of opportunity for believers to explain that Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for their sins.

* Bow in gratitude to Jesus who removes our sin and brings us abundant joy.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING?

There’s a Hasidic story about a rabbi who crossed a village square every morning on his way to the temple to pray. One morning, a large Russian Cossack soldier, who happened to be in a vile mood, accosted him, saying, “Hey, rabbi, where are you going?”

The rabbi simply said, “I don’t know.”

This infuriated the soldier. “What do you mean, you don’t know? Every morning for twenty-five years you have crossed the village square and gone to the temple to pray. Don’t fool with me. Why are you telling me you don’t know?” He grabbed the old rabbi by the coat and dragged him off to jail.

Just as the Cossack was about to push him into the cell, the rabbi turned to him, and softly said, “You see, I didn’t know.”

James taught those of us who are Christians to live in such a way that “we don’t know where we are going”. He put it this way:

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:13-14)

There’s nothing wrong with making plans, but we need to remember that there is much that may happen in the future that we don’t know about right now, and things may happen that we don’t have much control over. We have only to look back over our lives to see how things in the past often turned out very much different than we thought they would.

What James says is true — death could come at any moment. Or Christ could return. Or any of a hundred other things — good or bad — could happen to us shortly. So where am I going? I don’t know. But as long as God is with me, it doesn’t really matter.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

This devotional thought was very thought provoking for someone who likes to plan the month, week, and day like me. My written schedule seems necessary to accomplish what I see as important. Pray I will be more open to what God has for me. Pray for others who seem to function best with a planned out schedule.

Have a marvelous Monday!
Anna Lee