by George | Jun 8, 2022 | Community News, Newsletter
June Community Church Ministry Newsletter
“Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:35-38
We generally only quote the verse “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” We forget about the context.
Jesus was very busy. He was
“… going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”
As He saw the people, He had compassion on them. “…because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
At that point, He instructs His disciples to “beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
As we minister to the precious folks we shepherd, let us have the compassion of Christ…
Please ask the Lord to send laborers for Community Church Ministry.
In July, we have the opportunity to do back-to-school events in several more places. We give away basic school supplies.
We need groups and individuals to go with us “into the harvest.”
Please pray for no rain and for resources.
Meanwhile, we are doing several community dinners in June.
June community dinner schedule.
6:30 pm starting time each night.
Thursday, June 2
Darlington MHP
Thursday, June 9
Dutch Gardens MHP
Monday, June 13
Callier Forest Apts
Tuesday, June 14
Graham Homes
Thursday, June 16
Pine Village MHP
Monday, June 20
Swan Lake MHP
by George | Jun 6, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Having Fun Getting It Done
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24
The late Harvey Palmer was a friend of mine. He was a Methodist minister and leader. I met him years ago when I worked at Chick-fil-A. He would come in for breakfast with a group of Methodist ministers.
One day I visited his office. He had a plaque that said:
“HAVING FUN GETTING IT DONE.”
We all have a lot to do in our jobs, but do we truly enjoy our vocation?
Sometimes we get bogged down in the details and the mundane tasks.
But what if we could look beyond the drudgery and find joy as we work?
Certainly, it helps to remember who we are working for. Not man, but God.
“Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”
Colossians 3:23-24
God hasn’t forgotten your work…
“For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having served and by still serving the saints.” Hebrews 6:10
I can truly say I enjoy the work I do as a chaplain and Pastor.
I think it helps to remember “why” you do what you do.
In your vocation, what aspects of the job do you enjoy? As a chaplain, I enjoy hearing the stories of the people I minister to. Sometimes they apologize for talking so long.
I tell them not to apologize, their stories are like gold…
What is the “gold” of your vocation?
Take time to look for it… It’s there!
Remember, your labor is not in vain!
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
by George | May 30, 2022 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Praying Like Jesus
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’
Matthew 6:9-13
Who do you put more stock in, someone who tells you what to do, and doesn’t do it, or someone who DOES what he tells you to do?
When it comes to prayer, Jesus put into practice what He preached.
“The words “prayer” and “pray” are used at least twenty-five times in connection with Him, and there are many instances in which the fact of His praying is mentioned where the words do not occur. His praying is mentioned by each of the four evangelists. The life of Christ had many marked characteristics, but nothing is more marked than His prayerfulness.” (Whatthebibleteaches.com)
In the “Lord’s prayer” Jesus taught us how to pray. When did Jesus pray?
- Often: “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” Luke 5:16
- Early in the morning:
“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”
Mark 1:35
Early in the morning, it’s dark and cold… I don’t want to get up, I would rather sleep in. But, Jesus didn’t yield to that temptation.
Jesus modeled the way to begin your day.
- All night prayer:
“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them, He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:”
Luke 6:12-13
Important decisions? Sometimes it takes an all-night prayer.
- After work: “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23 When Jesus finished teaching and healing, He took time to pray.
When is the best time to pray? All the time!
“pray without ceasing;”
1 Thessalonians 5:17
May we all strive to pray like the Master!
