A Weekly World Wide Word of Encouragement to those in the Ministry
PRAISE GOD IT’S MONDAY!
A WEEKLY ‘WWW (world-wide word) OF ENCOURAGEMENT’
TO THOSE IN MINISTRY
A FREE service, currently connecting with Christian leaders from 3,000 denominations and ministries, in 70 countries.
Issue No: 54 Published: 11 Nov 2002
WHEN BAD THINGS ARE GOOD
There is a man, I do know,Who in God, desires to grow,
When something bad in life, does come along,
He's not now sad, for it makes him strong.
When satan tries to destroy his day,
He can now tell him to go away,
Has learned that, when doing God's will,
Satan will run you, through his mill.
He will accuse you of being blind,
And put evil thoughts in your mind,
A mighty battle now does take place,
Before you go on to win the race.
While satan's antics seem so real,
They're an illusion designed to steal
God's vision and purpose from our life,
Continually forcing us into strife.
The time to worry I have found,
Is when the devil is not around.
For when we proceed on our own way,
He takes time off to go and play.
He'll try his tricks on another one,
As our God, he tries to outgun.
So bad things are good, when we're in God's design.
Defeated satan - you have no power, us to decline!
David Tait 3 November 2002
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FROM THE WORD
"I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." (Romans 16:17-20)"If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes." (2 Corinthians 2:10-11)
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.†Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
^^^ Time heals, love heals better, but only forgiveness will heals totally.^^^ God's love is bigger than any human hurt.
^^^ The bigger the problem, the bigger we can discover our God is.
There are now over 430 David sayings for you to view at ...
TAPE (MP3) OF THE WEEK
Because of a tripling in mailing costs, due to our envelopes being recategorised in the postal system, we are no longer able to provide free tapes as in the past. We will however, complete all outstanding orders this week. We apologise that it has taken an extra week.From next week, we will again be offering free MP3 downloads.
We're sorry that we can't continue, but would encourage those who have not yet ventured into the world of digital downloads to master the technology. It isn't too difficult and the potential benefits are enormous.
Try it out on Inspirational Tapes MP3 Downloads page now at ...
http://www.inspirational.org.nz/cat.php?cid=A&displayMP3=true
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Is it true that it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile?ANSWER: Yes. Seventeen muscles to smile and 43 to frown is an oft-repeated figure, especially all over the Internet (and, yes, at university-related sites) and in the popular press. But it's *nowhere* to be found in any text devoted to anatomy (especially of the head), surgery (esp. maxillofacial or reconstructive), neurology, or the analysis of human facial expressions.
In fact, Paul Ekman -- an authority on human facial expression tells me that he has no idea where this notion originated. It takes as few as two muscles to produce a universally-recognizable smile and as few as three to produce a frown. There is no confirmation of the "it takes 17 muscles to smile and 43 to frown" in any medical text.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How long was the world's longest prayer meeting?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS
!!! THEORY AND PRACTISE
The 1982 National Father's Day Association's 'Father of the Year' went to jail for failing to pay child support. (A sad dad.)
!!! FAITHFULNESS
A Florida wedding reception was interrupted when the bride threw macaroni salad at the groom and he responded with gunfire. At the hospital, the wounded bride insisted on checking in under her new married name. (Begin as you mean to continue!)
!!! TOO CLEAN
A women in Royal Oak, Michigan, USA, was arrested, handcuffed, and jailed for putting her
garbage cans out too early. (Was the cell clean?)
A QUESTION FOR YOU!
Why do Christians say 'amen' and not 'awomen'?
Answer at the end of A David Musing
25 NEW fun facts and trivial trivia this week at ...
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU
There once was a rich man who was near death. He was very grieved because he had worked so hard for his money and he wanted to be able to take it with him to heaven. So he began to pray that he might be able to take some of his wealth with him.
An angel hears his plea and appears to him. "Sorry, but you can't take your wealth with you." The man implores the angel to speak to God to see if He might bend the rules.
The man continues to pray that his wealth could follow him. The angel reappears and informs the man that God has decided to allow him to take one suitcase with him. Overjoyed, the man gathers his largest suitcase and fills it with pure gold bars and places it beside his bed.
Soon afterward the man dies and shows up at the Gates of Heaven to greet St. Peter. St. Peter seeing the suitcase says, "Hold on, you can't bring that in here!"
But the man explains to St. Peter that he has permission and asks him to verify his story with the Lord. Sure enough, St. Peter checks and comes back saying, "You're right. You
are allowed one carry-on bag, but I'm supposed to check its contents before letting it through."
St. Peter opens the suitcase to inspect the worldly items that the man found too precious to leave behind and exclaims, "You brought pavement?!!!"
Now over 150 (25 new) sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
WHY?
Can you tell me...??? Why, when I wind up my watch, I start it; but when I wind up a project, I end it?
??? Does the reverse side also have a reverse side?
??? If a book on "Failure" doesn't sell, is it a success?
??? Does a bankruptcy lawyer expect to get paid?
??? Why does food with half the calories costs twice as much?
??? Why is it that the only vacant parking space is always on the other side of the street?
100 of life's most challenging questions can be found at...
IF YOU HAVE TIME YOU MIGHT LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT...
WITandWISDOM(tm)Is a free week-day e-zine featuring Wisdom, Inspiration, Humor and Trivia. Each issue includes practical and positive content. This WITandWISDOM(tm) web site features humor, trivia, quotes of wisdom, inspirational thoughts and stories. The web site includes an archive of past issues organized by date and by subject. The archive can be searched by key words.
Register on the web site...
IF YOU HAVE TIME YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE TO READ... (A PDF File Download)
UP THE MOUNTAINAn exciting yet challenging allegory of one man’s spiritual journey and his
participation in the fulfilment of God’s plan. Nearly every sentence has an underlying spiritual meaning. Sets you thinking about the future too.
Download the PDF file now at...
A DAVID MUSING
Life in God is not designed to be easy! I have found out that truth, as you dear reader, likely have too. Why then bother with all the trouble? Because, in the midst of our problems, we can find a peace and joy that is unlike any the world can provide.I have taken part in a classic experiment to prove this to myself - not deliberately I hasten to add! For you see David, the supposedly successful businessman has been declared bankrupt, not once, but twice! It is not an experience I recommend to anyone.
The first time was hell on earth for me. I fought and fought in my own strength to avoid it, sadly all to no avail. But through it, once I had come to the end of my tether, I gave my heart to Jesus. Yes, good does come out of bad.
This second time, I have had Jesus with me. And what a difference He has made! It is still not pleasant and I still have to pay for my mistakes. But He is beside me each and every day encouraging me that I am worthy in His eyes, even if not in the eyes of man. What a difference He has made! And in the time of my human misery, as I have come a little (a lot actually) nearer the end of myself, He is picking me and using me for His purposes in ministry round the world. When we become weak, then He will make us strong.
In a week's time, my friend and Associate Tony Richardson and I, will be off for a month of ministry in India. I believe that the Lord will pour out His Holy Spirit upon the people there, as He so graciously did in Africa. Please remember us in your prayers.
I never cease to be amazed how God works. How he takes the weak and makes them strong in Him. If only I could have learned and applied this truth without the pain. A slow learner I am! I do hope you can learn from my experience and mistakes, without having to make these, or others, for yourself.
May the Lord bless you as you seek Him this week.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Answer: Because we sing 'hymns', not 'hers'! (It's a joke, not theology!!)
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ABOUT US
WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. A ministry dedicated to developing discipleship, fostering unity amongst God’s people to achieve the Great Commission, and in doing so, preparing for Christ’s return. It is securely based upon the foundational principles of the Apostles Creed while recognising the wide and rich diversity of beliefs amongst Christians in other areas. In accordance with the Lord’s direction, materials produced by the ministry are available, free of charge, to genuine enquirers upon request. The ministry is solely funded by donations, as the Lord provides. A list of materials available (plus some fun!) is obtainable and freely downloadable from our websitewwj.org.nz or by contacting us as follows.
Walking With Jesus Ministries
P O Box 5160
Mount Maunganui
New Zealand
Phone: (07) 575-7164 International (0064) 7575-7164
Fax: (07) 575-7124 International (0064) 7575-7124
Email: enquiries@wwj.org.nz
Web: wwj.org.nz
Our role is to bless and encourage those in ministry while promoting co-operation and unity of direction amongst the body of Christ, as emphasised 3 times by Jesus in His longest prayer, immediately prior to His arrest and crucifixion. "… so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:12, 21, 23-4) Our website is currently being developed to encourage your participation one with another, to share resources, and to enable you to promote events and items of interest to the body as a whole – and have a smile while doing it!
For comments upon and contributions to this service, please contact
david@wwj.org.nz