by George | Oct 12, 2021 | Community News, Newsletter
October Community Church Ministry Newsletter
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Are you tired? I am…
Yes, I know it’s only Tuesday.
We can all relate to being physically tired. These days, I think we all are emotionally tired as well.
The ongoing Covid crisis, the division of our country, and the uncertainty of our times are big factors in this.
I’m glad Jesus recognized that as humans, we get weary sometimes.
Let’s continue to abide in Jesus and the rest he offers for our souls.
It’s not a bad idea to get some physical rest as well. We were not designed to keep going for 24 hours without a break.
This month, Community Church Ministry is taking a break from doing our community dinners. It’s not because we are tired, but it’s because of the rise in Covid cases. We are prayerfully planning to do to-go plates in November.
Meanwhile, we are continuing to deliver non-perishable groceries to 4 neighborhoods.
Also, we are buying supplies for our Christmas outreach and continuing to pay for the children’s hoodies.
Special thanks to those who have donated to make this possible.
If you haven’t given, please consider it.
Also, please continue to pray for our ministry, for an end to Covid, and for revival in America.
Thanks! May God bless you richly!
by George | Oct 7, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
After These Acts of Faithfulness…
“After these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.”
2 Chronicles 32:1
You did your best, but it didn’t seem to matter. In spite of your efforts, your forward progress, opposition and difficulties came. Disappointment sets in.
Hezekiah followed God. He led a “revival” in the land, helping to turn the hearts of many to the LORD. Hezekiah got rid of the foreign gods, organizing temple priests, singers and helpers, leading people to worship the one true God.
2 Chronicles 31:20-21 offers a summary:
“Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.”
Everything looked pretty bright and positive, right?
Yes…. Then the opposition came.
“After these acts of faithfulness Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and besieged the fortified cities, and thought to break into them for himself.”
2 Chronicles 32:1
What did Hezekiah do?
He didn’t give up. Instead, he, along with the prophet Isaiah, went to God in prayer.
“But King Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed about this and cried out to heaven.”
2 Chronicles 32:20
God answered in a miraculous way!
“And the Lord sent an angel who destroyed every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned in shame to his own land. And when he had entered the temple of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.”
2 Chronicles 32:21
So, keep on serving the Lord! When setbacks occur, talk to the Lord about it, and don’t give up.
Don’t ever give up!
“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
Chuck Swindoll
by George | Sep 23, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Pray, Don’t Panic
“The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.”
Exodus 14:15-16
Moses was in trouble. Pharaoh and his army were coming closer, intending to kill anyone who would resist them.
Not only that, an angry mob of his own people was yelling at him.
“Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”
Exodus 14:11-12
Things looked really bleak. The children of Israel had no weapons and no artillery. How were they going to stand before Pharaoh’s army?
Moses didn’t give in. As far as we know, he didn’t panic. He tried to reassure the people.
“And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
Exodus 14:13-14
Then, Moses prayed. His words are not recorded, but I imagine it was pretty intense, because God said:
“And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.”
Exodus 14:15
God said: “Why do you cry to Me?” It wasn’t that God didn’t want to hear Moses’
prayer, because He definitely heard his plea, his cry for help.
The time had come to move forward.
“Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. ”
Exodus 14:15-16
God was going to do His part. Moses and the children of Israel had to do their part. Move forward by faith.
They did this, and God responded. Boy, did He ever! To summarize:
“So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.”
Exodus 14:30
Sometimes we find ourselves in seemingly impossible situations. Look to the left… Enemies charging toward you. Look to the right… Folks reminding you that the situation is hopeless.
So, what do you do?
Look up, and pray. The psalmist said:
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”
Psalms 121:1-2
God is going to answer, at just the right time.
Pray, and don’t panic.
