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: 85 Published: 16 Jun 2003
THE PAIN BEFORE THE GAIN
This week has seen my body subjected to three long days of hard manual labour which were both exhausting, yet at the same time exhilarating! With help from my family and some amazing, long suffering friends, and yes, even little old me - well not so old or little – we shifted my 'out of control' hobby of growing 11,000 succulents the 300km from Mount Maunganui to our new home, here in Napier. Succulents are easily grown plants that store water in their leaves and stems and make up round about a quarter of the world's plant species.Fortunately we live in days of smooth highways and large furniture trucks, so covering the distance was not a problem. However, most of my precious plants, still had to be taken from their trays and packed into the bountiful banana boxes I had acquired from the supermarket suppliers of our country's voracious banana eating addiction. Then carefully stacked in the truck, before being trundled sedately down the main highway, painfully slowly over the hills, my car racing days merely a distant memory, to their new home. Where the loading process had to be repeated in reverse.
Day one was undertaken full of enthusiasm, particularly as the Lord blessed us with fine weather in which to load up, after having driven through rain for most of the journey up to our collection point. Day one blended into day two before a hurried few hours sleep and a very early start to get the truck unloaded and returned within our 24 hour hireage period. Made it by 5 minutes! The muscles were telling me that I had already done a week's work in a day, but they still carried on with the unpacking, vigorously protesting against the slave mastery of my mind. Day three dawned a little before I did, but my weary body was again cajoled into action to finally finish the succulent shifting adventure. Goal accomplished! Mind happy, body much too tired to care!
But yesterday morning, when I woke up, my body felt so much better, not because the job was finished, but because it was starting to adapt to the greater level of physical activity I had subjected it too.
As I lay in bed relishing the fact that I only had to get up in time to go to church, the realization hit me that my natural experience equally applies in the spiritual. How we would love to 'click our fingers' and 'magically' reach the spiritual heights. Yet it simply doesn't work that way. To grow in our God we have to take time to get to know Him better. To go through trials and testings. To learn to submit to His will in our life. Upon reflection, I am really pleased that this is so, for this builds character into my life and yours, and helps us face up to and overcome with Him, the inevitable challenges that life brings.
So I am resolving this week, to be more committed to my God and His personalized spiritual training programme for my life. And you know, age is no barrier to God. He will respond equally to us all, both young and old. And unlike the natural, we can rest assured that gain will always follow the pain. The pain is temporary, the gain eternal! Thank you Lord!
Now does anyone want to buy 11,000 succulents? My body would be most grateful! My bank account too!
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FROM THE WORD
TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does...... Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." (James 1:2-8, 13-18)
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
+++ Man seeks the body beautiful, but God embraces a beautiful heart.+++ Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Man sees the body, God the heart.
+++ The world's finest cosmetics are produced by a beautiful heart.
+++ Time ravages the body but perfects a beautiful heart.
+++ In the "Beauty Stakes", 'The Body' makes the early running, but'Beautiful Spirit' always comes through to win the race.
+++ The body - memories, memories!
+++ The body performs better when lubricated by the oil of the Spirit.
+++ Youth and exuberance normally drifts into age and experience. But age with experience and exuberance - now there's a winning combination!
Please feel free to quote these quotes. Acknowledgement of David Tait as the author would be appreciated. There are now 530 David sayings for you to view at ...
FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK
In conjunction with Inspirational Tapesinspirational.org.nz we are pleased to offer you the opportunity to download the following message in MP3 format, free of charge. Inspirational Tapes offers a range of over 4,000 Audio Cassette Tapes, CD's and Videos to members worldwide, for hire, download or purchase.
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CHURCH HISTORY - AD400-1400
By: David Pawson
The Dark Ages is a period not well understood by most of us. Check it out with one of the world's most respected Bible teachers.
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LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused****** "Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others." ***
172. SYMPATHY
A minister joined a new acquaintance on the golf course, hoping to bring the subject around to church. The course adjoined a cemetery, and as they neared the next hole they observed a funeral procession coming down the road. As it passed their location the man stopped, solemnly removed his hat, and bowed his head till it passed. The minister, touched by his reverence, remarked, “I must say, friend. That was a most heart-warming display of sympathy. I’m touched by your show of respect.”
The golfer replaced his cap. “It’s the least I could do,” he said as he resumed rolling his golf bag to the green. “After all, she was my wife for 18 years.”
171. GEE, THANKS!
While working on a message the pastor heard a knock at his office door. "Come in," he invited.
A contrite-looking man in threadbare clothes came in, pulling a large pig on a rope.. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" asked the man with his hat in his hand. Wordlessly, the pastor indicated the chair and the man sat down in it gingerly. The pig proceeded to sniff around the office. With one eye on the animal and one on the man, the pastor folded his hands on his desk and leaned forward, curious to hear the fellow's story. "What can I do for you?"
"My family is hungry," started the man. "So I stole this pig. But I feel that I have sinned. Would you please take it?"
"Certainly not," said the minister.
"Then what should I do with it?" asked the man.
"Give it back to the man you stole it from, of course!" the pastor explained.
"I offered it to him, but he refused to take it. Now what should I do?"
"In that case," the minister said, "It would be all right for you to keep it and feed your family."
That seemed to settle things as far as the man was concerned. "Thank you for your help, sir." With a lighter step, he walked out of the office, leading the pig on the rope behind him.
Later that afternoon when the minister returned home, he said to his wife as he walked in, "Have I got a story to tell you."
"I have something to tell you first," she exclaimed. "Someone has stolen your prize pig!"
Now one of the most comprehensive sources of Christian Humour on the Net with 500 sermon fillers for your entertainment and use at ...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEKS QUESTION: Why can't we see colour at night?ANSWER: A better (although similar) answer than mine:
Dear David,
The answer to why we cant see colour at night is:
The light from the moon is in black and white, whilst that from the sun is in colour.
Best Wishes
Joss Bray
UK
PS - Unfortunately the real answer is that we have 2 sorts of light receptors in our eyes - rods and cones. Cones work at high light levels and can detect in colour and rods work at low light levels and detect only black and white. Interestingly, the receptors in our central vision are cones, Therefore in the dark it is best to look just to one side of something i.e. a star to see it better, because the rods can then "see" the object.
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Answer Next Week. How come bright sunlight can make people sneeze?
SOME FUN FACTS
942. CLEAR CUT?
Most people think of diamonds as being white or clear, but they occur naturally in virtually every colour of the rainbow - blue, yellow, brown, pink, red, and even green or purple. The famous "Hope" diamond in the Smithsonian Institute is dark greyish blue. "Fancy coloured diamonds" are rare and expensive. (So are the clear ones to most of us.)
943. YOUR ETERNAL TURN
Comedian George Burns, who died less than two months after celebrating his 100th birthday in 1996, requested that he be buried beneath his wife and long time comedy-act partner, Gracie Allen, because he wanted her to have "top billing." (So he could look up to her forever?)
944. 'FORE!'
In 1971 NASA Astronaut Alan B. Shepard took a six-iron to the moon in his spacecraft, swinging at three golf balls upon his arrival on the surface. (In a desperate attempt to improve his distance! Results not recorded!)
A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU
Ci ii
Answer at the end of A David Musing.
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TABBY OR NOT TABBY
Q: What do cat actors say on stage ?A: Tabby or not tabby !
Q: How do you know if your cat has eaten a duckling ?
A: She's got that down in the mouth look !
Q: What do you get if cross a cat with a canary ?
A: Shredded tweet !
Q: What do you get if you cross a cat with a tree ?
A: cat-a-log !
Q: Why did the cat join the Red Cross ?
A: Because she wanted to be a first-aid kit !
Q: How do you know that cats are sensitive creatures?
A: They never cry over spilt milk!
Q: Why was the cat so small?
A: Because it only ate condensed milk!
Q: What does the lion say to his friends before they go out hunting for food?
A: 'Let us prey.'
Q: Why happened when the cat swallowed a coin?
A: There was some money in the kitty!
More pet humour on our 'Pets Rule' page to be found at...
CHURCH PLANTING IN DIFFERENT CULTURES AND NATIONS
Justin Kuek of New Horizons Ministries writes a monthly newsletter aimed at helping church planters and to stimulate thinking and the formulation of effective strategies to kingdom expansion through church planting. You can register for this extremely interesting, informative and challenging publication by sending an email to: church-planters-review-subscribe@strategicnetwork.orgFeel free to have a look at past issues at...
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ....
A unique look at what may have been like to visit the Tabernacle of Moses. Takes you 3,500 years back in time when one man took his choice lamb to the Tabernacle as a sacrifice for his sins. Download the PDF file to find out more about what happened at...A DAVID MUSING
As I sit here devoid of inspiration, possibly as a result of this week's perspiration, a strange thought has occurred to me! Why did God make the earth, sun, moon and stars 'round'? Why not square, oblong or even more aerodynamically elliptical?'What goes round, comes round' is not only true of history, and the repercussions of man's folly, (for the two are often the same) but is literally true for all practical purposes, of all the heavenly bodies. God works therefore, not only in 'threes', which provide many of the keys for understanding God and His plans for us, but also in 'rounds'. For what reason I have absolutely no idea. Perhaps you could give me some creative suggestions? A circuitous matter to muse upon! So, until next week, then.
His servant and yours
David Tait
Today's Word Puzzle Answer: Seeing eye to eye.
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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: (06) 878-9330 International (0064) 6878-9330
Fax: (06) 878-9330 International (0064) 6878-9330
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