Bye For Now

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the commandment of the eternal God, has been known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.” Romans 16:25-27

Paul ends the most amazing letter to both Jewish and Gentile believers with this thought: The Truth had been kept a secret from the beginning by those who were jealous and competitive to keep it to themselves; yet God always has a plan to ensure the Truth is shared, even to the most remote parts of the world and our own households!

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Continue to pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, now has an infection; Isaias, missionary in Philippines - very ill, Barb to find work; Reg & Bev on their trip. Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Laughlin, getting better, but tired. Michael & Diane for travelling mercies. God’s grace on USA. Billy & Michelle for recovery. Wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Peaceful Crushing

“For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good, and innocent in what is evil. And the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feed. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” Romans 16:19-21

It is said we create God in our own image...most of the time that is a sweet, indulgent God, a white-haired, most times forgetful grandfather God. Yet, here we see the clear contrast to a God of peace who will crush Satan. He’s not a God who doesn’t care about how we represent Him, He surely cares

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, now has an infection; Isaias, on mission field in Philippines - very ill, Barb to find work; Reg & Bev on their trip. Answers: Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Laughlin, getting better, but tired; Michael & Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Billy & Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Applicable Not Adaptable

“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ, greet you. Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eyes on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites, and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Romans 16:16-18

“’Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:19-20

Francis Schaeffer warned of the dangers of mixing real world and His world to “take advantage of modern thinking” for a paradigm for the Church of today. God’s Word and model for the lives of His people is applicable for all times but it is not so flexible to be so adaptable it resembles the world.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the Truth, and will turn aside to myths.” II Timothy 4:3-4

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, now has an infection; Isaias, on mission field in Philippines - very ill, Barb to find work; Reg & Bev on their trip. Answers: Tim & Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Laughlin, now home and back to school in a wheelchair; Michael & Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Billy & Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Pray for...

“Now I urge you brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may proved acceptable to the saints; so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.” Romans 15:30-33

Some are called to go into remote and dangerous mission fields, and some remain behind with a different call. A call to pray. No matter where we are the prayers of others strengthens us. If you find yourself drawn to a mission field, pray for those who are there, knowing His plan is perfect and He loves to hear the thoughts of His children about others. And all of His children need to be supported by prayer.

“’Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.’” Matthew 7:7-8

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, now has an infection; and Isaias, on the mission field in Philippines and very ill, Barb to find work; Reg and Bev on their trip. Answers: Tim and Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Laughlin, now home and back to school in a wheelchair; Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Resting Plan

“For this reason I have often been hindered from coming to you; but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you whenever I go to Spain – for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while--” Romans 15:22-24

For those of us who have answered the call of the Father’s hand to go out, onto the far “mission field”, we wait to be called home or Home knowing His plans are perfect. I think of my friend Isaias in the Philippines right now who is so ill and determined to serve where he is called to. I pray now that he listens closely to the Father’s leading and rests – because rest is also part of the Father’s plan for us and sometimes it is knowing God’s plan IS working out, even when we think He may be missing some of the “local” details. He knows!

“’Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.’” Matthew 11:28-30

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, now has an infection; and Isaias, on the mission field in Philippines and very ill, Barb to find work; Reg and Bev on their trip. Answers: Tim and Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Laughlin, now home and back to school in a wheelchair; Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Where To Build

“And thus I aspire to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man’s foundation; but as it is written, ‘They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand.’” Romans 15:20-21

Paul Heard, a musician had a most confronting song about missions work and where God would have us. I always wanted to go be a missionary in Uganda or Malawi because it represented what I thought missionaries did. Then I was called to a missions work with Campus Crusade for Christ, called, “I Found It!” Where we organised and mobilised to share the “Four Spiritual Laws” with every person in Atlanta Georgia (where I lived at the time) and we did. Somehow it seems easier to go to Malawi than to the neighbour next door. One thing I have learned is you need to listen to His leading and know He has a plan for everyone to hear and understand His message of amazing grace. Just keep listening!

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Pray for: Virgil (and all concerned) - see earlier emails, now has an infection; and Isaias, on the mission field in Philippines and very ill, Barb to find work; Reg and Bev on their trip. Answers: Tim and Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Laughlin, now home and back to school in a wheelchair; Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

White Fields

“For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.” Romans15:18-19

Ever think of being a missionary in a far away and difficult country? Most of us have. There’s something noble about going far away and living a bare existence to sacrifice our comfort for the cause of Christ. People even do little mini-mission tours with this in mind...yet, our mission field is where we are now, too.

“’Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest;? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal; that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not laboured; others have laboured and you have entered into their labour.’” John 4:35-38

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Pray for Virgil (and all concerned), (has been waiting for a liver transplant for years)– has had the procedure to directly implant chemo into the tumour. Laughlin, nine year old, recovering from serious hip surgery, may be going home Monday; Reg and Bev on their trip. Answers: Nancy and Ed are reconciling. Thank you for praying! Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim and Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

You Know This!

“And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able also to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you of some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God, to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest of the Gospel of God, that my offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:14-16

You know this stuff. I know this stuff. Every morning I read about this stuff and then write about this stuff. Yet, you know what I discover. I still have a lot to learn. I know the basics of loving others and remembering that God loves me and has a plan for His world...but there is a point where knowing must be transformed into action...the walking the talk.

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Please pray for Virgil (and all concerned), who has been waiting for a liver transplant for years– they have found an inoperable tumour in his liver and will do a procedure Tuesday, 18 August to try directly implanting chemo into the tumour. Laughlin, nine year old, recovering from serious hip surgery, may be going home Monday; Reg and Bev on their trip. Answers: Nancy and Ed are reconciling. Thank you for praying! Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim and Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Gentiles' Hope

“And again he says, ‘Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people.’ And again, ‘Praise the Lord all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise Him.’ And Again Isaiah says, ‘There shall come the root of Jesse and He who arises to rule over the Gentiles, in Him shall the Gentiles hope.’” Romans 15:11-12

“And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; -- And God blessed them;...And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.... ‘And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you ALL the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”Genesis 1:27-31 selections & 12:2-3

God’s plan was to save all and the only way He could do this in the face of men’s desire to have their own way was to sacrifice His only and beloved Son. Who else would have done such a thing for the likes of me, a Gentile with no hope?

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Please pray for Virgil (and all concerned), who has been waiting for a liver transplant for years– they have found an inoperable tumour in his liver and will do a procedure Tuesday, 18 August to try directly implanting chemo into the tumour. Laughlin, nine year old, recovering from serious hip surgery & in traction for another weeks; Reg and Bev on their trip. Answers: Nancy and Ed are reconciling. Thank you for praying! Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim and Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Inclusion - His Plan

“Wherefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God ton confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, ‘Therefore I will give praise to Thee among the Gentiles, and I will sing to Thy name.’” Romans 15:7-9

Roman is about inclusion to me. I always think of this letter as a record of Paul teaching to a room filled with both Jews and Greeks/Gentiles, believers and pre-believers. He turns from one group (I imagine they didn’t actually sit together) and shares a convicting message to them about the other group; then turns to the other group and shares a convicting message to them about the other group. Back and forth he teaches. You see God’s message was to all – not to Jews alone. And that had been missed. When Christ came He was the one that bridged the gap in misunderstanding.

“”For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.’” John 3:16-17

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: URGENT: Please pray for Virgil (and all concerned), who has been waiting for a liver transplant for years– they have found an inoperable tumour in his liver and will do a procedure Tuesday, 18 August to try directly implanting chemo into the tumour. Laughlin, nine year old, recovering from serious hip surgery & in traction for another weeks; Reg and Bev on their trip. Answers: Nancy and Ed are reconciling. Thank you for praying! Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim and Barb to be encouraged. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Two MORE Gifts !!

“For whatever was written in earlier time was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus; that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:4-6

Just think about THAT! God gives us perseverance! He also gives us encouragement! Now those are amazing gifts. And those two on top of heaps of other gifts, including the most powerful and most profound of all – the life of Christ so we could live forever! SO MANY GIFTS !

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: For David's birthday! Laughlin, nine-year old recovering & in traction for another two weeks; pray for his healing; Reg on his trip. Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim and Barb to be encouraged. Nancy and Ed for peace and reconciliation. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Think So?

“I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. Therefore, do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:14-17

“’Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man;’” Matthew 15:17-20a

God said we should not call clean, unclean. Man makes judgements about all sorts of things because they “think” it is right or wrong. Yet it is the “health” of our heart that is more a concern of the Fathers. Many times we can hide what is in our heart from others, yet not from Him.

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: Laughlin, nine-year old had serious hip surgery, pray for his healing. Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim, Barb and Reg for encouragement. Nancy and Ed for peace and reconciliation. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

You, Not You

“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:10-12

“’Do not judge lest you be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.’” Matthew 7:1-2

Zig Ziglar, a Christian and business motivational speaker, always says that when you point at someone else, you need to look at your hand because you will find three fingers pointing back at you! How true the observation of our human nature to judge others!

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: Laughlin, nine-year old had serious hip surgery, pray for his healing. Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim, Barb and Reg for encouragement. Nancy and Ed for peace and reconciliation. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

Before & After

“For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” Romans 14:7-9

Before you come to Christ, your life is dead in sin and is planned by your loving Father to bring you to Him. After you are His, your life is planned to help you grow into the image of Christ, and by this to bring others to Him. It is up to you to learn of His will for your life through His Word and be careful not to just listen to others who have opinions about how you are to live your new life.

“But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of he Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” II Corinthians 3:18

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: Laughlin, nine-year old had serious hip surgery, pray for his healing. Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim, Barb and Reg for encouragement. Nancy and Ed for peace and reconciliation. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Gary, Adrian.

What's the Time?

“And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to use than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.” Romans 13:11-12

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

He will return. Yet there are still so many people to speak with....so little time....so many distractions.....hummm...

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: Laughlin, nine-year old had serious hip surgery, pray for his healing. Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim, Barb and Reg for encouragement. Nancy and Ed for peace and reconciliation. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Bill, Denny, Gary, Michael, Adrian.

Top Sins?

“Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. For this, ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet.’ And if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbour; love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.” Romans 13:8-10

Paul reminds us here that the Ten Commandments covers the range of sins that man “degrees” as better or worse to commit (i.e. murder versus coveting). However, Jesus died to save us from our natural desire to sin and spoke of the inward attitude of our heart – because sin starts in the heart. When we fall, we know He is there to catch us with His amazing love no matter how the world views sinful acts.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the Truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” I John 1:8-10

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: Laughlin, nine-year old had serious hip surgery Friday, pray for his healing. Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim, Barb and Reg for encouragement. Nancy and Ed for peace and reconciliation. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Bill, Denny, Gary, Michael, Adrian.

Black & White

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

“’Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’’” Matthew 6:9-13

The world you wander through is fraught with evil, overcome with temptation, filled with traps, flatteries and false expectations; yet, with all that as true, the Truth is that you do not walk alone. If God has granted you this day then there are lessons to learn from His hand. I pray we all do.

Take care to know God’s Word, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: New request: Laughlin, nine-year old had serious hip surgery Friday, pray for his healing. Praise for Rachael and Deborah for their sensitivity in prayer. Tim, Barb and Reg for encouragement. Nancy and Ed for peace and reconciliation. Ongoing Requests: Michael and Diane for travelling mercies; God’s grace on USA; Barb to find the new work God has for her; Billy and Michelle for recovery; wisdom for doctors caring for Doris, David, Poetry, Bill, Denny, Gary, Michael, Adrian.