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: 9 Published: 24 Dec 2001
WHERE DOES LOVE COME FROM?
Yes, next Monday will be Christmas Eve and another year will be just one week away from its conclusion! A scary thought!Right now we, or at least those of us who live in the West, are caught up in the 'fat fellow fever' that has surreptitiously surrounded and seconded the season, claiming it as its own. A superficial 'love sleigh' driven by money motivated entrepreneurial joviality. Hotly pursued through costly creations of enduring affection that crinkle and crease like the compelling (once upon a time you could have said 'gay' - would have been a nice alliteration!) gift wrap which is desperately discarded in our eagerness to get to the glittering gifts enclosed. Most of us do enjoy it though!
If only love could be so easily manufactured. Oh, that joy and love could be extruded from a 'happy machine'! But it is simply not so - no matter how much the world tries to convince us otherwise. While there are some people who seem to be naturally 'love-ly' it is readily apparent to the vast majority of us that love, other than that of self, is not one of the major ingredients of our personal makeup.
For the Bible is quite clear that one true source of love, is God. He proved that by sending His only son Jesus, to live, die and be raised again so that we might re-establish an eternal, loving relationship with Him, an intimacy lost at the time that sin entered the world. The proof that we have truly accepted His free gift of love is that we love others in the same way He loves us. And not just the nice ones, but in particular, those who are 'un-love-ly'! So succinct, so simple, so sage, so sensational!
It is up to us to firstly live it, then to let out our secret to others. Santa beware! There is a better way!
Find out more about us on ...
THE MYSTERY OF GIVING AND RECEIVING
Sometimes life seems just so much simpler to live in the world, than in the Lord!Giving and receiving are classic examples of this. It is nice to give, when it suits, to make oneself or a loved one feel good; but it is a greater pleasure to receive. Most often the gift is all important, while the giver tends to be easily forgotten in ones preoccupation with the present itself. Often too, one gives in order to receive, whether it is material pleasures, or love and affection. For like it or not, 'self' is the primary motivator of the (our!) human spirit.
Pauls quoting of Jesus in Acts 20:35, "It is more blessed to give than to receive", if we are honest, is one of the most difficult 'Godly Principles' to build into our lives. For it has never been more true than it is today that:
'How we spend our money and time clearly reveals where we are at in God.'
Like all of us, I have struggled in this area too, for it is so easy to slip into the ways of the world, those traps and trappings of my old human nature. Yet the majority of those in ministry have received this amazing 'giving revelation' - for very few are in it for the money! What money, do I hear! The Lord greatly appreciates you.
To be blessed in giving - that is a well proven mystery of the Scriptures. A mystery that we need to remember and share at this Christmas time.
By the way - if anyone has a spare Formula One racing car, a $100 million to run it, and can give me the miracle of skill, courage and reaction time of a long lost youth to drive it, I would be interested!!! Just joking! Have a happy, giving Christmas.
Find out more about us on...
FROM THE WORD
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)
"We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:19-21)
See some interesting God and Bible facts on ...
DAVID'S DOODLINGS
"A foolish man denies God; the wise man acknowledges God, but the godly man experiences his God.""Jesus turns our human ‘LESS - ness’ into His ‘FULL - ness’."
For more David sayings check out…
TAPE OF THE WEEK
In association with Inspirational Tapes Ministriesinspirational.org.nz
we are pleased to offer you this inspirational tape - absolutely free of charge!
THE EVANGELIST AS A SERVANT LEADER
By Dr Victor Hamm
Dr Hamm has been the Russian Regional Director for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for the past 10 years. Viktor's message was most highly appreciated at the worldwide gathering of evangelists at Amsterdam 2000. This superb address too, is a 'must hear' for all Christian leaders.
Order your free tape today at...
LIFE'S A LAUGH ***NEW PAGE***
Most of the best humour comes from real life situations. Many times the choice is to laugh or cry at ourselves in the situations we get into!MAINLY FOR THE MUMS ...
BABIES FOR SALE
A New Mum took her baby daughter to the supermarket for the first time. She dressed her in pink from head to toe. At the store, she placed her in the shopping cart and put her purchases around her.
At the checkout line a small boy and his mother were ahead of them. The child was crying and begging for some special treat. He wants some candy or gum and his mother won't let him have any, she thought.
Then she heard his mother's reply. "No!" she said, looking in her direction. "You may not have a baby sister today. That lady got the last one!"
MAINLY FOR THE DADS ...
A WEIGHTY MATTER
Somewhat sceptical of his son's new found determination to become Charles Atlas, the father nevertheless followed the teenager over to the weight-lifting department, admiring a set of weights.
"Please, Dad," pleaded the boy, "I promise I'll use 'em every day."
"I don't know, Michael. It's really a commitment on your part," the father pointed out.
"Please, Dad?" the boy continued.
"They're not cheap either," the father came back.
"I'll use 'em Dad, I promise. You'll see."
Finally won over, the father paid for the equipment and headed for the door.
From the corner of the store he heard his son yelp, "What! You mean I have to carry them to the car?"
Visit our new page and share some of your own life experiences at ...
FACTS FOR FUN
LAST WEEK’S QUESTION: What happens to butterflies if their body temperature goes below 86 degrees Fahrenheit?ANSWER: They are unable to fly.
THIS WEEKS QUESTION: Which country has the lowest crime rate in the world? Is it Japan, Singapore, Togo, New Zealand or Canada? Answer next week.
DID YOU KNOW?
?!? 'KINGLY KARDS'
Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Spades - King David; Clubs - Alexander the Great; Hearts -Charlemagne; and Diamonds - Julius Caesar. (They all dug with spades, swung clubs, won hearts and collected diamonds!)
?!? TUNELESS!
About half the pianos in England are thought to be out of tune. (explains the quality of singing at their football matches!)
?!? A SHOW OF INDEPENDENCE?
Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later. (An independent spirit dies hard – look at America today!)
Another WORD PUZZLE for you.
S--T--O--R--Y>>>>>stry
Answer at the end of ‘A David Musing’
Many more Fun Facts at...
IF YOU HAVE TIME THIS BUSY CHRISTMAS WEEK ...
Take a look at the poem 'God is Good!' A story about my Father.It and many others can be found on ...
IF ONLY I'D THOUGHT OF IT!
*** Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?*** Everyone talks about apathy but nobody does anything about it.
*** Freedom of the press means no-iron clothes.
Many more quotable quotes on ...
LAUGHING AT OURSELVES
*** Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they will never cease to be amused. ***COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
A visitor once asked, "Does it ever rain in Arizona?"
The rancher thought about it a minute and then replied, "Yes it does. You remember in the Bible how it rained for 40 days and 40 nights during Noah’s flood. Well, we got 2 inches of that."
Much more Holy Humour at...
A DAVID MUSING
A musing from my book 'Eagles Fly High!' It was penned early on in the writing process, the book not being completed until the end of 2000. In recent months we have shifted to the beautiful seaside resort of Mount Maunganui, and yes, I have managed to lose a little weight since coming here...14 October 1999: I’ve been thinking again – and that is dangerous! Kathy made a comment this morning about one of our relations weighing himself daily. Well, I do that too! For I want to know when I am putting on weight. Not necessarily to do anything about it, but just to know where I’m at! When it reaches a critical point I take action. Kathy on the other hand is very different. She will deliberately not weigh herself when she thinks she is putting on weight. She makes a decision to do something about it, based on other reasons. Don’t ask me what they are though! I am only a mere male and therefore can’t understand such things! For we are all unique. Interestingly too, when each of us decides to lose weight, we go about it in different ways. I exercise a lot and cut down on food a little. Kathy exercises a little and cuts down on food a lot. Different logic, different methods, but achieving the same result. Neither is right or wrong, just different. For we are all made differently. Variety is the spice of life! Takes some adjusting to at times though!
His servant and yours
David Tait
Todays Word Puzzle Answer: Long story made short.
Find out more about 'Eagles Fly High!' on ...
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 & 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 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