Tuesday, May 14, 2002
The height of stupidity is recognizing that God is bigger and more powerful than you and still trying to fight Him!
-Ps 108:4 NIV
For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
God’s love is bigger than our loftiest dreams, strong enough to lift our heaviest load, patient enough to wait for us, sweet enough to satisfy all of our cravings and fast enough to rescue the perishing!
-Rom 8:37-39 NIV
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Monday, April 29, 2002
Recently I met with a man who had spent a good share of his life on drugs and alcohol. After several arrests he finally ended up with a lengthy prison sentence. When he got out of prison he immediately went to get help to start a new life. Although it has taken several years, with God’s help he has rebuilt his life. Soon he will be married and they are planning a family. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to visit with someone who saw their need, sought the help they needed and was committed to the time it took to get his life back together. Too often people think they are ready to take on life in a very few short days, weeks or months after major difficulties in their lives.
I am also reminded that God is still in the business of changing lives. It is so easy to focus on the struggles that we have or those around us that we forget, God really can change lives! So if you or someone you know really needs changing in their life, don’t give up. Go will never give up on you or anyone else who seeks a closer walk with Him and a Spirit lead life! Keep praying for change.
-James 4:7-10 NIV
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Friday, April 26, 2002
Dear Friend,
We live in a world of constant change and ministry is no exception. After conferring with my board of directors, I have made some hard decisions. I am also in prayer about the future of the ChurchMouse Chronicles including its purpose and effectiveness.
Starting immediately, the “Thought For The Day” will be emailed to you Monday through Friday. This will eliminate Saturday and Sundays from the schedule. The reason for this is to allow me more time and energy to produce personal income. Frankly, there is enough work to do in this ministry to take all of my time and energy but the income generated from the gifts of our readers does not even cover the maintenance cost of the website. Recently we received a financial gift that we had expected for several months from another ministry who desired to support us. This gift would have enabled us to take the next step in the vision of this ministry. Unfortunately, because of their circumstances, they were only able to give a fraction of what we anticipated.
The ChurchMouse Chronicles has never been self-funding and has not received adequate funding to carry on the vision. I truly believe that when God is in a ministry that He provides the needed funding for it to exist and maintain its financial integrity. Although this ministry has no outstanding debt of any kind, the discipline of cutting back is in order. Perhaps at some point in time, with God’s help, we can create a financial base that will enable us to hire staff to expand the ministry.
Also, in an effort to keep myself physically, emotionally and spiritually fresh to maintain this ministry, sometime in the next month I will be announcing that I will be taking a sabbatical from this ministry for several weeks. During that time we may use guest writers or we may just be dormant giving you a break as well.
Since October of 1997 I have written the “Thought For The Day” daily with rare exceptions. But after nearly five years I believe it is time to seek God as to the benefit to our readers, the vision of the ministry and it’s future. Your continued prayers for this ministry are appreciated.
Have a great weekend!
Lyn Sahr
Prov 3:13
Thursday, April 25, 2002
At a Wal-Mart Store yesterday I saw a small boy run up to an elderly gentleman with long gray hair and a full gray beard and began to discuss with him what he wanted for Christmas next year. The elderly gentleman was extremely kind and patient seeming to enjoy the case of mistaken identity.
Like the small boy, there are people in this world who struggle with mistaken identity as to who God is. They place their faith in everything and everybody looking for a god in their lives. To identify who God is, read the Bible where He is clearly described.
-Jer 29:13-14 NIV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Wednesday, April 24, 2002
Yesterday I read an article written in a major Christian magazine about the moral failure of a pastor. It was quite explicit. In fact, I think too explicit. The writer chose to hold nothing back in describing his sinful behavior. Although what she said he did was truly disgusting, despicable and almost unbelievable, it was without compassion for him, his family or the family of the other party involved. I am deeply troubled by his sin but I am also pricked by a highly regarded Christian magazine’s decision to be so explicit when we all understand words like depraved, illicit, immoral, or other words that describe sick sexual behavior.
This man was a respected pastor in his denomination and his community. It was never mentioned. He pastored the same church for over 20 years. It was never mentioned. He wrote articles for his denominational publications. It was never mentioned. He was highly respected by everyone who knew him. It was never mentioned. Neither were all of the people that he helped over the years, the countless hours he spent making hospital calls, visiting the sick or comforting those who mourned. None of his accomplishments, his good traits or his years of faithful ministry was mentioned. All of the good things evaporated before people’s eyes when his sin was brought to light.
All of the years of faithful service, ministry and personal faith didn’t save him from falling into an unbelievably sick sexual relationship. And it most certainly didn’t excuse him. It should serve as a warning to all of us to remain guarded against temptation and use the shield of faith as protection against the enemy (What did you think it was for?). It should also serve as a reminder to us that all the things that we hold dear can be taken from us. And that all the good that we may have done can be erased in peoples minds in can instant if we entertain evil and fail to resist temptation.
So why did I write about or even notice this article? Because I know the pastor. We met him when I was in Bible College. He was pastoring the same church in 1979 that he was eighteen months ago. He was taking some classes for a month of summer school and I was a regular student. Because we were both from Minnesota we struck up a friendship. Because he was there by himself we invited him over for numerous meals during that month and we spent some time poolside at the apartment complex we lived at. I learned a lot from him during those conversations. Later our family held a concert at his church in Minnesota. I spoke there and we spent the night at their home. He has a wonderful wife and family. From a distance I followed his ministry over the years. God has used him in wonderful ways. This is an example of the tragedy of sin and the pain that it causes for him, his family, the other woman and her family, a denomination, colleagues, a community whose trust has been violated and a church that may take generations to recover.
The problem is most of us aren’t very good with numbers and we fail to count the people who will be hurt by the sin we commit. Some are so foolish as to believe that their sin only affects themselves. The next time you are tempted to sin start writing done the names of everyone you love, everyone you know and everyone you’ve ever met. That will take you a few days and hopefully by then you will realize that your sin affects all of them and you will care enough to resist it.
Perhaps prayer for those mention in the last sentence of the paragraph before last would be good at this time.
-James 4:7-10 NIV
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Tuesday, April 23, 2002
At this very moment, as I write, the sun is rising over the trees, glistening off the water here on Seekers Bay. There is a sense that nothing can stop another day from starting. This day, like all days, is going to exist whether we like it or not. And it is a gift from God. Therefore, I choose that today is going to be a great day! I suggest that you do likewise.
-Ps 118:24 NIV
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Monday, April 22, 2002
Yesterday I attended a huge church. The service was somewhat traditional with a touch of contemporary worship. The musicians played with zeal and the pastor obviously loves the people. He started the service by saying, “God is Good” and the congregation answered, “All the Time!” And they said it a second time with even more enthusiasm. The people obviously were glad to be there and they cared for each other. When it was time to share prayer requests and praises it became a little lengthy as people began to stand and praise God, acknowledge answered prayer and request prayer from the congregation. But the part that impressed me was the thankfulness they expressed toward each other during this time. Yes, this church has something special and it is huge!
By the way, I counted 37 in attendance!
My definition of a huge church, “A church that is meaningful and meeting the needs of the people who attend there!”
-1 John 4:7-12 NIV
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Sunday, April 21, 2002
Last night I went to a Ray Boltz concert in Minneapolis. He sang some of his most powerful songs including “Thank You, For Giving To The Lord,” I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb” and others. But I was especially moved by the words to a new song that he is recording on his new album, “God will never let you fall any further than your knees!” What a great thought for Today!
-Ps 20:6-8 NIV
Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.
Saturday, April 20, 2002
God won’t ask what kind of car you drove, but He’ll ask how many people
you drove who didn’t have transportation.
God won’t ask the square footage of your house, but He’ll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
God won’t ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He’ll ask how many others you clothed.
God won’t ask about your social class, but He’ll ask what kind of class you displayed.
God won’t ask how many material possessions you had, but He’ll ask if they dictated your life.
God won’t ask what your highest salary was, but He’ll ask if you compromised your principles to obtain it.
God won’t ask how much money you spent on yourself, but He’ll ask how much you gave back to Him.
God won’t ask how much overtime you worked, but He’ll ask if your overtime was for yourself or for your family.
God won’t ask how many promotions you received, but He’ll ask how you promoted others.
God won’t ask what your job title was, but He’ ll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
God won’t ask what you did to help yourself, but He’ll ask what you did to help others.
God won’t ask how many friends you had, but He’ll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.
God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights, but He’ll ask what you did to protect the rights of others.
God won’t ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He’ll ask how you treated your neighbors.
God won’t ask about the color of your skin, but He’ll ask about the content of your character.
God won’t ask how many times your deeds matched your words, but He’ll ask how many times they didn’t.
God won’t ask if His Son loved you, but He’ll ask if you loved His Son.
-contributed by John Roe
Friday, April 19, 2002
Last night we attended North Heights Lutheran Church’s “Passion Play” in the Twin Cities. They are to be commended for the excellence they bring to this wonderful ministry, complete with an invitation at the end of the performance for people to accept Christ. We can learn from them because excellence is a word that is often neglected in our churches.
When people ask me what some of the critical steps are for a church to re-birth when they have declined in attendance one of the first things I tell them is to cut all the programs other than morning worship. Then concentrate on doing an excellent worship service and then and only then do the other programs that you have quality volunteers who are committed and gifted in the area of the program you want to do. In other words, set the level of excellence in your worship service and then carry that same excellence in everything else you do.
This concept also holds true for people in our churches. Don’t let a well-intentioned pastor get you to do ministry that is not even remotely your gift. For excellence to reign in our churches people must use their gifts and not waste their precious time on things they do not do well.
But, after saying all of this, please remember that none of this matters if we miss the most excellent things in our church, to love one another!
1 Cor 12:31-13:8
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
Thursday, April 18, 2002
Everyone is worried about his or her earnings these days. Earning power has become a major topic in the educational world. Many college students are choosing their careers based upon what that career pays. Unfortunately, how gifted they are in another area that may not pay as well does not enter into the decision. “Earning power” has become the battle cry of the young career minded person taking on the world.
Although there have always been those who choose careers because of the size of the paycheck, there was a time when more people felt a calling to a particular work that they were gifted in. Personal satisfaction from the job was more important to them than to be unhappy at something that paid more. As a result, we have many people in careers today that are unhappy and unfulfilled. Therefore we have companies with disillusioned management with disillusioned employees creating miserable work places.
This same thing has carried over into our churches. Instead of people voluntarily doing the things in the church they are gifted at, they move toward doing nothing unless it pays monetarily.
Finding fulfillment in your labor is still a gift from God and can be found by using your gifts!
-Eccl 3:9-13 NIV
What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God.
Wednesday, April 17, 2002
It is easy to get disillusioned with people. Pastors leave their churches and some even leave the ministry disillusioned with people. And church members leave their churches and sometimes never attend church regularly again for many years or even a lifetime, disillusioned with people. The tragedy is that it does not need to be. Mostly, it is a lack of understanding of people.
People are human, laced with human tendencies. They are not perfect and, in this lifetime, never will be. Yet we, the church (Christians), continue to expect great and marvelous perfection from people who are just not able to deliver. We are all “shortfallers” and we must come to grips with the reality that people are not perfect.
Perhaps we could take some lessons from God. I haven’t noticed Him giving up on the church lately!
-Rom 3:23 NIV
… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, …
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
Did you forget? Those are words that make us cringe, especially when it is something quite important.
In the first church I pastored I was told of a pastor who spaced out a funeral service and never showed up. The people were all waiting but no pastor. It sends fearful emotional tremors to just think about it. Almost every funeral service I do I think of that and I check and double-check everything.
In the world we live today it is easy to forget things. We have our hand held computers to input our schedules like we were all robots, our lives directed by computers. Why? So we don’t forget.
People forget but God does not. God will always remember us in our times of needs. Unlike the pastor who forgot, God is always there when we need him the most.
-Ps 100:5 NIV
For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Monday, April 15, 2002
Today is the day that millions of Americans pay their taxes or at least file their taxes. For many it is a day of high emotions, short tempers and lighter wallets. Like most people, Americans resent paying taxes and too often fail to place a high value on freedom. Let us hold dear to our Godly heritage and cheerfully support the authority that He has placed in our leaders. Today, instead of being resentful be thankful!
-Rom 13:1-2 NIV
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Sunday, April 14, 2002
In the great plan that God has for our lives, it includes spending private time with Him. We call it devotions. But what does the word “devotions” mean? In this sense it means time that we have set aside time to be devoted to God. This special time is part of God’s plan for our lives. But it is up to us to make sure it is included in our plan for our lives.
-Ezek 33:30-32 NIV
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
Saturday, April 13, 2002
God loves you! God loves you! God loves you! God loves you! God loves you! G O D L O V E S Y O U!
We can never read it, hear it, or say it too much. The love of God is a wonderful! Today, just focus on the simple truth that God loves you. It is my prayer for you that you will experience God’s love today in a very special way.
Don’t forget to share His love with others!
-Zeph 3:17 NIV
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Friday, April 12, 2002
When the sun came up across Seekers Bay this morning it was a breathtaking experience. It broke through the heavy fog, glistened off the water and shadowed the chunks of ice breaking up from the spring thaw. The spring rains had damped the land and our spirits for the past two days and the sunrise was especially welcoming.
When our lives are like the weather here the past couple of days, overcast and dreary, God is able to bring the beauty of His Sunrise to refresh our souls. His faithfulness is new every morning.
Today is the new day we were yearning for yesterday. And tomorrow will be new day!
But those who live in the past cannot see the beauty of today or anticipate a lovely tomorrow! Therefore, cling to what God has done and is going to do and not to what you have done or didn’t do!
-Lam 3:19-24 NIV
19 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. 21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Thursday, April 11, 2002
It’s easy to look around the church and see the imperfections and the struggles of others. The following would not be so untypical in many congregations; Brother Jones has Parkinson’s disease, sister Smith has cancer and that young Anderson boy drinks and takes drugs. Billy Robinson went bankrupt and Susie Fritz is still dating that loser from the other side of town.
The point being that in every congregation at any given time there is plenty of trials and tribulations taking place among the people. Unfortunately, the world looks in and thinks that somehow God’s people are exempt from suffering and failure. Nothing could be further from the truth. God’s people still struggle, fail, make mistakes, and have broken hearts because God’s people are still people! When the church no longer has people attending then the church will be perfect!
Unfortunately, some churches are fast approaching perfection!
-1 Peter 1:3-9 NIV
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Wednesday, April 10, 2002
What is a good friend? That’s a question that is often misunderstood by young people and leads to many poor choices with devastating long range consequences. There are lots of things that make up good friendships but there is one thing that stands out in my mind, especially for young people. Good friends never ask you to compromise your physical, emotional or spiritual values or put them at risk! Understand this and you will have a much better understanding of who your friends are!
-3 John 11 NIV
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
Tuesday, April 9, 2002
As I walked upon the beach of Mexico in January I picked up seashells to bring home to my grandson. Although they were beautiful they were also lifeless. They were helpless to do anything and were at the disposal of the elements and people like myself who collected them at will and for my good pleasure. I thought about how many people’s lives are empty, void of purpose and tossed around by the waves of trends and unscrupulous people, only to be left parched on the beaches of life. God doesn’t work that way. Even if we end up on one of those beaches we will not be empty or alone. God is always there with us and for us in all of life’s trials.
The lives in which we live are only a shell without the love of God.
-1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Monday, April 8, 2002
My quilt
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles. An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn’t had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness, and death, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, “Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.”
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through.
-contributed by Jocylne Thompson
Sunday, April 7, 2002
Hate went to war against love. These were the groundrules.
Love had to love at all times, but hate could do anything it wanted. What was the result?
Hate accused love, and love said nothing. Hate scourged love, buffeted him, put a crown of thorns on his head, and led him away to be crucified.
And love answered: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Who won?
-contribute by Martin Wishnatsky
(We Won!)
Saturday, April 6, 2002
When our fear of failure is greater than our dreams, we have already failed!
Fear of failure is a major obstacle for all of us to overcome. There have been many church plants that never got off the ground because of the fear of failure. Many churches fail to expand, build or implement new programs because of the fear of failure. But the biggest failure of all is never allowing God to stretch us beyond what we can humanly do. Because that’s when God loves to work, when we are out of our “control zone!”
Too often people get “radically saved” only to become “radically afraid” of stepping out from their “control zone” into the “kingdom zone.” The “kingdom zone” is where God is in control and doing marvelous things through those who follow Him by blind faith.
Please understand that I am not suggesting that we abandon common sense and sound judgment but I am advocating a prioritizing of following where God is leading, letting Him make a way, even when it seems impossible.
When our fear of failure is greater than God’s dream for us, we have missed the blessing of a lifetime!
-Ps 118:22-29 NIV
22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Friday, April 5, 2002
As this week draws to a close I would ask that you spend a few moments now if you are able to prayer for some of the prayer requests that come to this ministry. Please pray for:
The Christian couple who wants to adopt a baby.
The youth minister whose car blew up and needs funding to repair or replace it.
A number of churches that are trying to heal after difficult situations.
The family of a teenager who was accidentally shot and killed this week.
And a high school that mourns this loss, students, teachers and other staff.
A pastor seeking funding to start a new church.
A number of couples trying to conceive a baby.
A number of families who are mourning the losses of loved ones.
(I have personally attended two funerals, one visitation and officiated another funeral this week)
A dear friend of this ministry who has severe diabetes.
A dear couple that are both receiving chemotherapy for cancer at the same time.
A young couple scheduled to be married in a few weeks with many obstacles to overcome.
Several pastors with broken hearts.
A young missionary doing Bible translations in overseas.
And there are many more but I wanted to share with you these requests today. I would also ask that you would pray that God would provide the money to match the dream that He has given me for ministry.
And finally, one of the greatest failures of the modern church is the failure to pray for one another.
-James 5:13-16 NIV
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Thursday, April 4, 2002
We have had an unusual end to winter and start of spring. The weather can’t seem to decide which mode we are in. As a result there is a lot of mud everywhere. And people seem to be getting it on their shoes and tracking it everywhere they go. Recently I have seen a lot of people in public places finding a little corner somewhere to clean the mud off their shoes. Yesterday I saw a man cleaning of his shoes and talking to himself at the same time. Yes, most people want clean shoes.
But where do we go and what do we do when our lives are caught up in a little mud? Well, contrary to a lot of people’s opinions, Christians go to church! Most people don’t attend church because their lives are so upright. They attend church to worship the Lord, to talk to Him and get some of the mud off their lives that seem to collect on a regular basis.
The difference between getting mud off your feet and getting it off your life is that no one is usually going to help you get the mud off your feet but in the church you can get help getting mud off from your life. And you don’t have to talk to just yourself about your frustrations! That’s why we call it “the family of God.”
-1 John 1:2-4 NIV
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
Wednesday, April 3, 2002
People still look in the most unbelievable places to find the peace they need. Too often they find only more heartache and tears. Peace can only come through reconciliation with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. There is no other way. It leads to a life worth living and a joy that overflows within the hearts of believers. Let God fill your life not just touch your life!
-Acts 4:12 NIV
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
Tuesday, April 2, 2002
I was shopping yesterday for a used car for someone else and told the dealer I was looking for a good car with moderate mileage at a reasonable price. He said, “You and everybody else!” People are always looking for good deals and I am no different.
But the best deal in this world is still salvation through faith in Christ, to be forgiven of all your sins and spend eternity in heaven. Jesus paid the entire price so it is free. There is no better deal in this world than this. Why everyone doesn’t take this deal is beyond me. I know it sounds too good to be true but in this case… it is true! Don’t ever let anyone convince you differently.
-Rom 8:38-39 NIV
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Monday, April 1, 2002
Great news! The ChurchMouse Chronicles has just received a gift of four million dollars ($4,000,000) from an anonymous donor. This will enable us to build a new Church and Christian Schoolalong Interstate 35 to serve East Central Minnesota. It will be built on 20 acres of land donated in Rock Creek, Minnesota near the interchange of Hwy 70. It, Rock Creek Christian School, will be a K-12 school with a full athletic program and fine arts department. There will be a special missions emphasis at the school with numerous local, national and international short-term missions opportunities for students of all ages. The church, Rock Creek Community Church, will hold worship services in the gymnasium, which has a stage on one end. The Sunday school will meet in the classrooms that encircle the gymnasium. The church will begin holding services immediately in the city center and the school will be open in the fall of 2003. Being debt free the school and the church will be able to hire excellent staff to provide quality ministry and education. Because of other endowments and generous volunteers in the community, the school will be able to operate with minimal tuition costs so that it is affordable to everyone. And it will fill a void in the City of Rock Creek, a city of almost 400 families that presently has no church or school.
Wouldn’t it be great if this were true? Yes, but unfortunately it is not. Being April 1st I thought it would be a good day to let my dreams run wild!
Why God doesn’t do these kinds of things more often is a hard question. And yet sometimes He does. But most of the time God chooses to work with a lot of people doing a little. That’s why it is so important that you get involved in your local church and support it with your time, talents and financial resources. Without that involvement it usually doesn’t get done and leads to the declining church. Growing churches have everyone doing their part. So, if you want your church to be a vibrant, growing ministry, do what you can when you can with what you’ve got! And don’t ever wait for anyone else to do your part!
-Eph 1:18-23 NIV
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
