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: 62 Published: 06 Jan 2003
GOD'S 'NEW YEAR'
Each year most of us choose 'New Year' as the time to make 'New Year resolutions' or set goals for the year ahead. Unfortunately, these 'promises' or 'goals' sadly remain just that, rarely becoming realities. Why is this?Maybe our goals are set too high, or perhaps they are merely 'wishful thinking', something we would very much like but simply are not really committed to. Know the feeling? For nearly all are fundamentally 'our' own resolutions, centred in self. Although likely well intended, these undertakings are not initiated by God.
God's seasons in our lives do not follow mans 'annualised' system. Yes, frustratingly for us, God lives outside of time. And very often, the time He chooses to reveal His plans to and for us, is when we least expect it! Such an event has happened to me today, 2 days early or 363 days late, depending upon your perspective of the glass of water - half full or half empty! It is not something I am looking forward to, for I am very comfortable in my present situation. So, of course, I will need plenty of confirmation! Funny that! But I suspect this will be forthcoming and I will need to be obedient to His will.
For the guidance is not what I would have expected or desired, certainly not what I would have personally chosen as a 'New Year's resolution'! A very good indication that it really is of God!
So rather than make our own resolutions this year, perhaps we should ask our God for His advice on what goals we should set for 2003. When He tells us, in His time, we have a much greater chance of long term success!
Find out more about us on ...
FROM THE WORD
"Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)"You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?" (Galations 3:1-5)
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
*** The lips of a foolish man blaspheme God, those of a wise man honour God, but a godly man’s lips glorify his God.*** Unfortunately, there are many more people in life who would rather see you fly low than high. They want company!
*** It's only the unsuccessful who have the secret of 'easy success'!
There are now over 430 David sayings for you to view at ...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Why do pigs like to wallow in mud?ANSWER: It's not because they're dirty animals or like being dirty. Pigs don't perspire and wallowing in mud helps to cool them off.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Who wrote the first detective novel?
Answer Next Week.
SOME FUN FACTS
'PEER-SING'
Young songbirds appear to learn singing from their parents or adult birds of the same species. If separated from their species at a young age, the birds do not develop normal song patterns and may simply produce odd warbles. (Fortunately I didn't learn my singing from my father.)
IN THE VEE
Migrating geese fly in a "V" pattern to conserve energy. When flying, the bird's wings churn the air and leave an air current behind. By flying in a "V" pattern, each goose is positioned to get a lift from the air current left by the bird in front of him. 'V'ery clever.
BIRD CALLS
Birds can learn the songs of other birds and when they do, they can pass the "foreign" songs onto their offspring. Conbirds!
A PUZZLE FOR YOU!
NEFRIENDED
Answer at the end of A David Musing
175 fun facts and trivial trivia now found at ...
ALTERNATIVE ANSWER TO LAST WEEKS PUZZLE
LAST WEEK'S PUZZLE:give give give give &
get get get get
ANSWER: Forgive and forget.
An alternative answer supplied by Jim and Lois Patrick.
ENJOYED THE PUZZLE TODAY – ANOTHER SOLUTION ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF YEAR –
“ PUT GIVING ABOVE GETTING! â€
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused***A late Christmas yarn...
THE 4 STAGES OF MAN
He believes in Santa Claus.
He doesn't believe in Santa Claus.
He is Santa Claus.
but don't forget the 4th stage....
He LOOKS like Santa Claus.
Now over 150 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
IF YOU HAVE TIME YOU MIGHT LIKE TO TAKE A LOOK AT...
TO BEARD OR NOT TO BEARD?A fun look at the 'challenge' of growing whiskers. Something not so serious for the end of the year!
Find out all about it at...
A DAVID MUSING
Some years are watershed years in your life, while in others, the main highlight seems to be that you are 1 year older! The first applies to my year. For I could never have guessed before the year started, that after May, I would spend more time out of the country than in it. God is full of surprises!What will next year bring? Something different to what I expected just a few hours ago, I suspect. Life is never dull in the Tait household!
Kathy and I take this opportunity to thank you for your support throughout the past year and to wish you an abundance of God's grace and blessing in 2003.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's Word Puzzle Answer: Friend in need.
CHANGING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?
Each week we lose up to 1% of our readers when they change email addresses without letting us know. If you are about to change your address, please advise us of both your old and new addresses here at enquiries@wwj.org.nz and we will happily change our records to ensure ongoing delivery. Thanks.LINKS
If you would like to link your web site to ours, and ours to yours, please advise us onlinks@wwj.org.nz
DID THIS EMAIL HAVE A BLUE BACKGROUND AND RED HEADINGS?
YES - Great!NO - Your web browser needs to be set to 'Rich Text'. If you have an older 'Text Only' browser, this email may also be viewed on our web site at ...
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 website wwj.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