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.
My son, do not reject the [d]discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof, For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:11-12, NASB
We face problems and difficulties in this life, many of which come from our own bad decisions. Oftentimes, God uses our circumstances to teach us through consequences. If we are wise, we listen to His Word before we suffer, but He offers His correction through the Word and consequences because He loves us and wants us to grow in wisdom and overcome this world.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Proverbs 3:5-7, NASB
Many of the problems we face in this life come from bad decisions we have made, thinking we know better than God or that God might not care enough to bother with us.
We can overcome the problems in this life as we turn our focus on Christ and living according to God’s will through the power of the Holy Spirit. He cares for every part of our lives, and He has given us guidance through His Word and by His Spirit.
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!