This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Joshua 1:8, ESV
God has called us to faithfulness, and He has given His help by His Holy Spirit and the Word – the Bible. We study the Word and the Spirit works it in and through us to faithfulness.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us
Hebrews 12:1, ESV
We have been called to faithfulness. God has shown us how He has been faithful to help someone many others remain faithful, so give Him all your sin, temptations, weaknesses, strengths, power, and goodness to see how He can help you, too
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24, ESV
We have been called to faithfulness. It is God’s grace that helps us remain faithful, especially to share the Gospel of grace to this world, even if it costs us our earthly lives. That was the cost for our grace from Jesus.
The family may be a pastors first ministry, but we must also remember Jesus’ words:
And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Luke 18:29-30, ESV
May we pray for balance and faithfulness for our pastors.
Daniel
For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Pray for your Pastor’s time with his family.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:12, ESV
We have been called to faithfulness. Thanks be to God that His faithfulness brings us eternal life and guides us in faithfulness. Trust Christ.
Firstly, thank you to all who prayed for our youth this past week (July 22-25). 5 churches were represented this week, about 140 students attending.
Here are some quick updates on this week:
Our 2 JH boys
One student confessed his pride struggles, and he showed the fruit over the next day we were at camp.
Several students committed to actively living their lives for serving Christ.
At least four students came forward to receive Christ!
James was praying someone would experience a miracle to help their faith grow deeper. He was born color blind (able to see black/white, grays, and brown (typically from red)). After about 30 minutes of praying for his fellow students, he opened his eyes to notice the stage lights looked different. This young man, praying someone else might experience a miracle, had his own! James is no longer color blind!
James is not from my congregation, but he was in my cabin. We did not get to bed until after 1:00 am, because he kept discovering new colors and shades
Immediately after the Wednesday night prayer time. James is surrounded by friends praising God.
It is always amazing to see the goodness of God. Please continue to pray for our new believers, students who had major breakthroughs, and for James and his new vision!
Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:12-14, NASB
To overcome the problems and difficulties of this life, we should focus on God and His Word, seeking His wisdom and helping each other to grow in Christlikeness and the peace of Christ.
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:11, NASB
Many of the difficulties we face in this life come from our own bad decisions, but God uses those difficulties to overcome them and to grow us in Christlikeness. It does not feel pleasant, but like Christ conquering death through His death and resurrection, we see the hope of peace on the other side, the righteousness of Christ that is made ours.
For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
Hebrews 12:10, NASB
Many of the problems and difficulties we face in this life are from our own bad decisions, but God uses those times to discipline us, to make us more Christ-like. The difficulties we face help us grow in holiness for God.
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Hebrews 12:7-8, NASB
Many of the problems we face in life come from our own bad decisions, but God uses those situations to help us overcome this world and grow in the likeness of Christ. This discipline should give us hope, knowing that it means we are His children through the blood of Christ.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!