Two aren’t enough

Riding an hour on muddy, pothole-filled roads—that’s how you get to the Maninka village in western Africa.  Two families just got back after visiting family in the United States for nine months. The family members are tired, but they are VERY excited to see their Maninka friends.  The villagers greet everyone enthusiastically. They are so happy that God has brought them back.

The families will travel all over the country of Guinea and visit as many Maninka villages as they can. But still, two families aren’t enough.  They can’t reach everyone.  It is important to have helpers who will go and share the love of Jesus.  Please pray for volunteers from conventions and churches in the U.S. who can go and help tell the Maninka people about Jesus.

Prayer Requests from Missionary Kids

Pray for my family and pray for our friends.  Please pray for the people in our village to accept Jesus.  MICAH, age 7 (American peoples)

Please pray for a stronger and healthier bond between God and me.  I want to develop a good understanding of God and how He works.  I also wish to listen more and be able to understand what He wants me to do. J.L, age 13 (East Asian Peoples)

Please pray for our family as we are trying to decide where to go next.  CALEB, age 12 (Sub-Saharan African peoples)

Please help the African people become Christian.  Lance, age 10 (Northern African and Middle Eastern peoples)

I need prayer for my family. My grandparents are having a hard time right now.  My great-grandmother lives with them and is having plenty of health issues.  My grandmother is having medical issues of her own, so she doesn’t have much energy to help with my great-grandmother. MG, age 13 (Central Asian peoples)

I pray that my friend will have a safe trip to China.  I also pray that I have a fun time in America.  STEPHEN, age 6 (Southeast Asian peoples)
HOW TO GIVE ADVICE

The wife was busy frying eggs, when her husband came home. He walked into the kitchen and immediately started yelling. “CAREFUL!!!  CAREFUL!  MORE OIL!  TURN THEM!  TURN THEM NOW!  WE NEED MORE OIL!  THEY ARE GOING TO STICK!  CAREFUL!  CAREFUL!  TURN THEM!  TURN THEM!!!  HURRY UP!  ARE YOU CRAZY!  THE OIL IS GOING TO SPILL!  USE MORE SALT!  THE SALT!!”

The wife was very upset, “What is wrong with you?  Why are you yelling like this?  Do you think I don’t know how to fry an egg?”

The husband calmly replied, “I just wanted you to know what it’s like for me when I am driving the car and you’re sitting next to me.”

Without making specific judgments about wives giving advice to their husbands while driving (or about husbands giving advice to their wives while cooking!), let me simply say that we all need to be conscious of how we give advice to others.  The author of the book of Proverbs has much to say on the subject.  In fact, the words “tongue”, “mouth”, “lips” and “words” are mentioned in Proverbs almost 150 times!

Consider these words of advice about giving advice:

Know all the facts before you give advice – “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.” (Prov. 18:13)

Give advice in a calm manner – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Prov. 15:1)

Be careful about giving unsolicited advice – “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” (Prov. 10:19)

But when advice is needed, be prepared to give godly advice – “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” (Prov. 15:28)

Above all, give advice out of a sincere love for your friend – “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed.  Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” (Prov. 27:5-6)

When you give advice, may it be “a word fitly spoken” (Prov. 25:11) because “a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (Prov. 15:23)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Have a great Lord’s Day!

Anna Lee