I read the blogs of every one that I know that is serving God some where in this world, but I really pay close attention to those that are from our church. Today I just read something so special from Kristen’s blog.
She is over seas serving in North Africa on a short term mission’s trip. She talks about her devotions and I wanted you to take the time to read it! The bold print was added by me for emphasis!
Things I’m learning…
This trip has been great in showing me ways that I can prepare for the future for life in another country. A few things I’m learning… Personal devotions and prayer life are probably the most important and essential in work away from home. I have heard this a million times back at home, but now I actually realize how important they are. When you go to another country, you see what your devotions and prayers really are. I am thankful for the way that God is showing me these things and causing me to grow in that area.
Not caring vs. Caring. There are things that I need to care about and things that I need to let go and not care about. Things to not care about: my things, my plans for my time, third-world-country things that come up, and the list could go on forever. Things to care about: the city full of Islamic people that have probably never heard the truth about Jesus and what he did for them.
The only thing that I would add is that your devotional life is just as important here as it is anywhere. How much time do you spend with the Lord Jesus in prayer and Bible reading every day?
I would also like to ask you what you are learning every day?
I would also like for you to ask yourself if you have learned what to care about and what not to care about!
Kristen, I am proud of you and the way that God is working in your life!
I gave you a couple of prayer requests earlier for Pastor McHoyt Moore. When I got up this morning I had an email from Josh Ewing saying that he had gone on to be with the Lord.
I don’t know anyone that loved God more than Pastor Moore so I am sure that he is quite happy right now but his wife and family need our prayers.
I am so glad that we had him come and preach for us just a few weeks ago. I want you to know the heroes of the faith. I want you to know the men that God has used to blaze a trail so that I could follow preaching God’s Word.
Please pray for this dear family and I ask that God allow each of us to live a life that so speaks like Pastor Moore’s even after we are gone.
The following letter came from one of our missionaries, Josh Ewing. Please read and pray.
Please pray for my former Pastor, McHoyt Moore. He is very sick in the ICU. He was Pastor of Old Suwanee Baptist Church in Buford, GA for over forty years.
this letter was from my mother in law. Thank you for praying, Josh Ewing.
Just want to tell you that Preacher Moore was hospitalized Friday night with Pancreatitis. We got a phone tree message yesterday morning about 11:30 from Pastor Campbell. He said they were going to keep him in the hospital and evaluate him to determine how to treat him.
Then today about 2:00pm (our time on Saturday) we got another
I called Robyn within 15 minutes of receiving the message. She and Doyle were headed for the hospital when I called her. She said that within the hour (since she had set out the message) that he had been put on the ventilator and that it did not look good for him.
She said Pastor Campbell had called them and said they needed to cancel whatever they had planned and go the hospital. She said she would let us know as soon as there was any change in his condition but it really doesn’t sound hopeful.
We will let you know as soon as we know any thing. We did not want to call you at 1:00am but will call you if we hear that he is worse.
WE just need to pray for God’s will and for wisdom for the doctors and hospital staff.
What you are to preach is determined by God, not by your own natural inclinations. Keep your soul steadfastly related to God, and remember that you are called not to bear testimony only, but to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify, but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of God’s hand on you, your life is in the grip of God for that one thing. How many of us are held like that?
Never water down the word of God, preach it in its undiluted sternness; there must be unflinching loyalty to the word of God; but when you come to personal dealing with your fellow men, remember who you are - not a special being made up in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.
I am not sure how many have heard but our friend Aaron that serves God in North Africa is back in the hospital. He has asked that you be praying.
It appears now that he may have a collapsed lung and will be dealing with that but I have no official word. Here are the notes that he has sent me recently:
This first one I think has been ruled out but you can see his attitude and what he is dealing with!
Looks like I have a Pleural Effussion which is a build up of
infectious fluid between my actual lung and the lining of the lung. I
will have to have a tube stuck in me to drain it and will be in the
hospital up to five days. I am sure that my Lord’s hand is in every
tiny detail of this and is growing my faith through this trial. If
this is as bad as it gets I still couldn’t hold a candle to how low
God has taken so many other men He has used greatly. So I’ll praise
Him in this storm.
earlier
I have had a fever the last three days and it looks like I have an infection. I am being admitted back into the hospital for another procedure to drain the fluid that has built up around my lung.
Pastor McHoyt Moore preached for us at Vision not long ago. He has been my friend for over 21 years. He served with Macedonia World Baptist Missions for many years on their board of directors.
I just got a note from Tony Howeth saying that Pastor Moore is in the hospital and is not doing well. I wanted to ask you to pray for him. We understand that he is in a hospital in Duluth and dealing with pancreatic problems.
I will keep you informed as I hear things. There are missionaries all over the world that love and respect this man and will want to hear about this and pray. They were supported by him, went to school at the school he started, or were members of his church. So please pray and help me to pass the word along.
I feel a little bit like Thatcher and am unable to express my words. We are so thankful to have such a great church family. Neither Stephanie or I am are from Atlanta, but because of our great church family and friends we had over 50 visitors to come see little Thatcher. In the words of our nurses, “we are loved”.
We are blessed to have friends around the world. We were contacted by email by the “White House” (the White family missionaries in Bolivia), we had a video conversation with the Taube’s in China, I even spoke to Governor Sunny Perdue (which turned out to be our very own Steve Wallace with a horribly fake Georgian accent). Then, as you see in the picture below, one of my closest friends and mentor came to pray with us. I am so glad to have a pastor who loves his people so much. I am even more glad to have a pastor who loves the Word of God. If you love people, but do not study the Word you will be frustrated with your inablility to see lives changed. However, when you love the Bible and people you are in a great placed to be used by God.
We are so excited about raising our children around people like you. It is one the greatest joys in life to raise a child to honor God. He was created by God and for His glory. It is so exciting to have a “little glory maker” in our lives.
I looks like we will be here till about 5 pm tonight. Then we will get Thatcher and mommy home back to good ol’ Forsyth County. It is odd to me how much Cumming feels like home in such a short time. We moved here just over 2 years ago to get ready for the start of Vision Baptist Church. God has sent us wonderful friends in you guys. Thatcher will be at church a.s.a.p. to see you guys and to get under the preaching of the Word of God from our great pastor.
We must study the Word of God. We have to know what is right! If it is truth it is not your faith tradition but rather the very Word of God. Are you faithful to the services? Are you growing in grace? Do you know the Lord Jesus? Is church just something you do or is it real?
How can we train our girls to be godly? We must be godly. As mothers we need to seek and love our God with all our heart so that we can show our girls what it looks like to be godly. Here are a few things you can do with her to help accomplish this.
~Study these scriptures together. Discuss how they apply to you right now.
§ Proverbs 31:10-31
§ Galatians 5:22-23
§ Galatians 6:7-8
§ 1 Timothy 2:9-15
~Activities
§ Talk with other godly women in your life. What advice do they have about becoming a godly young lady?
§ Talk to other men (dad, grandfather, etc..) about what they admire or value most in the women in their life.
§ Proverbs 31:10 says, “A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.” Learn about rubies. What else in scripture is compared to rubies?
§ Study the lives of godly women in history. What traits did they have that set them apart from other women?
§ Read about some ungodly women in the Bible or history. What was the end result of their life
I stumbled across this today! As I prayed for our ladies and thought of our Home Improvement Sunday School class I thought you might enjoy this.!
by Dana Bailey
My mom has been an excellant example to me as how to love my husband. My parents just celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary and they are even crazier in love now than 39 years ago. I have learned a lot from my mom, not just through her wise council but by her example.
Here are a few things I have learned about loving my man;
Start your day in prayer for your man. Pray blessings of wisdom, discernment and protection on him. Ask God what your husband needs from you.
Tell him you love him everyday.
Tell him you are proud of him everyday.(this means as much if not more than “I love you”)
Hug & cuddle everyday. Don’t be afraid to hug & kiss in front of your kids. They need to see their parents love each other. Just don’t get carried away. My son often tells us, “Get a room!” when we kiss.
Kiss everyday
Walk him to his car in the morning when he is leaving for work.
Email him or call him to see how his day is going.
If you can, put on a clean shirt & comb your hair before he comes home. I try to change my shirt at least since I usually have spit up all over it. But many times my husband walks in before I am expecting him. That is always a great surprise.
Meet him at the door with a kiss & another hug…if possible. I have a hard time catching him.
Cook dinners that he likes as often as you can, not just for you & the kids. Lunch time is when I fix thing that the kids like since Scott is not there for lunch. Dinner is for him.
These are simple, not very time consuming and can make a difference.
