March 12-13 is Faith Promise Weekend with Mission Directors Scott and Rhonda Tustin of Northern Europe. Missions are so much a part of the Church of Jesus Christ, in the making of disciples of all nations as commanded by Jesus of His church. The church is to be reaching out to our brothers and sisters locally and globally, both across the street and across the Atlantic. Disciples are to be made in all nations says Matthew 28:19. Our response to God is to be acted upon by faith. Hebrews 10:38 "..my righteous ones will live by faith." Hebrews 11:6 "...without faith it is impossible to please God,..." Please pray for this inspiring weekend, that by faith, we may please the Lord.

March 12th our District Church children will be gathering at Newport Nazarene for District Bible Quiz finals. These children memorize long sections of the Bible. The purpose is for our young children to know the Word of God so the Word will live in them. Please pray that they will come to understand the meaning of the truth and not merely the text and where it may be found. Pray for safe travel for all the children of our District and that the light of God's Word would shine.

Ministry Quote of the Day #1

“Each of us has a mission in life…We seldom fully realize that we are sent to fulfill God-given tasks. We act as if we were simply dropped down in creation and have to entertain ourselves until we die. But we were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was.”: - Henri J. M. Nouwen

Evangelism Quote of the Day #4

“It is only by a total death to self we can be lost in God.” --Jeanne Guyon

Evangelism Quote of the Day #3

“Knowing that we are fulfilling God's purpose is the only thing that really gives rest to the restless human heart.” --Chuck Colson

Please read Galatians 5:16-25. Verse #16 "Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.", puts a positive-negative spin upon the life lived by the influence of the Holy Spirit. But verses 22-25 speak of the positive influence the Holy Spirit can have upon our lives. The fruit of our lives are to yield love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
I did a little self examination after considering the thought; "How often do I walk in mediocrity? Meaning, are my thoughts and and inclinations offered to the the Spirit before being shared with others or moved into action? I find we can be infiltrated by the world and it's offerings, like; "What I said was the truth!" While that sounds right, the truth can be said in damaging and slanderous ways. And the truth should not always be said. Our Lord looks to the intentions of our heart and the Holy Spirit can examine them if we give Him the opportunity.
A young man met with me after the passing of his mother, who was such a faithful servant of the Lord, and shared this thought with me. He said, "I think of my mother every day. She taught all of our siblings to 'Take the high road'". In the issues of life especially with others, choose the high road, choose love and forgiveness and kindness. They were to choose the road less traveled, and so am I.

Evangelism Quote of the Day #2

“Lord, shine in me and so be in me that all with whom I come in contact may know thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus.”
– John Henry Newman

Evangelism Quote of the Day #1

“The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. This means that to be a follower of Jesus you must renounce comfort as the ultimate value of your life.” -- John Ortberg

Discipleship Quote of the Day #4

“ We must assess our thoughts and beliefs and reckon whether they are moving us closer to conformity to Christ or farther away from it.” --John Ortberg

Discipleship Quote of the Day #3

“Let this be thy whole endeavor, this thy prayer, this thy desire,--that thou mayest be stripped of all selfishness, and with entire simplicity follow Jesus only.” -Thomas à Kempis

Discipleship Quote of the Day #2

“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

After reading Luke 9, I had a light bulb moment through verses 1-3. (Jesus, called His disciples and then empowered them with authority to share the gospel.) He told them to "take nothing for the journey" and then spelled out the no, nos. But they were to take faith and His authority. I rendered this to mean; take nothing with you but FAITH. They were to trust that God would provide all they needed.

I recall a faith lesson as a fledgling believer. Lorretta experienced a heart flutter which took us to one of the best cardiac units on the west coast, said a nation wide publication. Tests in the hospital indicated she had a heart blockage and her heart was out of rhythm. Her room mate age 73, was facing 5 by pass surgery. The room mates sister from southern Cal. had arrived and the family was escorted to a consultation room. Soon they returned and I stepped out in the hall to find the young sister against the corridor wall looking quite feint. I asked if she need a doctor and she said no. She explained that the surgeon had just told the family her loved one faced an 80% chance of death during or following the surgery.

I was startled at the words that I said to the sister and the authority with which I said them. "God is not impressed with man's statistics or percentages. Your sister is going to be fine, because we are going to pray." Upon saying those words,
I felt a little feint myself. Who am I to speak for God! The surgery was successful and the woman was out of ICU within hours eating hospital toast. The doctors were amazed at her progress.

Months later we received a letter from the sister saying she had been a believer for many years and had fallen away from her faith. But God had used the circumstances to restore her faith and she was serving her Lord once again.

Lorretta's heart returned to rhythm and the doctor couldn't explain how the blockage was gone without causing a blockage elsewhere. We concluded the "journey" to the hospital was not just about us, though the Lord used it in our own growth process. For your journey, take nothing but faith with you.

Discipleship Quote of the Day #1

“A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.” – Martin Luther

Stewardship Quote of the Day #3

“If one first gives himself to the Lord, all other giving is easy.” – Robert E. Harris

Stewardship Quote of the Day #2

Stewardship Quote of the Day #2
“There is that which we hold in our hands, of possessions and influence, which are to be no longer held as unto ourselves or so to revolve around ourselves; they are to be melted into our life’s devotement unto Jesus Christ.”
- P. F. Breese

Ephesians 6:18 urges that we pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers, ...... for all the saints. Something that most church leaders consistently ask for in their ministry, is prayer! Missionaries, Pastors, and teachers alike ask others to pray. They have learned the difference between doing their service to the Lord in their own strength, or with the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer makes the difference.
There are some service opportunities this month where prayer could make the difference. Please pray for the Junior High Winter Retreat at Hyatt Lake February 18-20. Pray for life transformations of our youth, as the Word of God goes forth. Please pray for the Children's Bible Quiz Meet, February 26. Pray the Word of God will reach the hearts of the children who attend. Please pray for your Sunday School teacher and Lay Pastor of your small group.

Stewardship Quote of the Day #1

“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”
- Winston Churchill