A Word in Times of Trouble.

This week has been a tough time for some. Illnesses have returned and loved ones have been lost to death. Reading John 16:13 today for devotions I realized that we have in our hands "all truth," the Bible. Since we hold truth, then it is only fitting that this truth will provide comfort in our times of trouble. Below are some Bible passages that will comfort you during tough times.

Psalm 9:9; 18:2; 22:24; 23:1-6; 27:4-5; 30:5; 34:18; 37:39; 46:1-2; 48:14; 55:22; 71:20-21; 73:26; 138:7
Proverbs 14:32
Isaiah 25:8; 40:18-31; 49:14-16; 51:3; 54:10; 66:12-14
Lamentations 3:31-33
Hosea 13:14
Nahum 1:7
Matthew 5:4; 6:19-34; 11:25-30
John 6:39-40; 14:1-4; 14:27

There are even more that I will include in another post.

Overwhelmed with Life

As a believer in Christ it can be frustrating when I fail, when I sin. Because of that failure, and the frustration that comes with it, life can be overwhelming. To complicate matters I know that this response, allowing life to overwhelm, is in itself not right. There must be a better way to respond.

Last night Wakefield started their new small groups. Over the next 8 weeks we are using the Discipleship Explored curriculum. This material takes the group through a study of Philippians. Our first session focused on Philippians 1:6, the great promise that God will complete in you the good work He began upon salvation. We learned in Philippians 1:10-11 that this will be complete when Christ returns for the church and ultimately we will be filled with the fruits of Christ righteousness!

How then should this fact of perfect completion change my day-to-day existence? It should fill me with joy, relief, and of course confidence. I should understand that even in failure God is still working in me to complete His intended work in my life. I hope this week when you stumble and fall that you will allow Philippians 1:1-11 to pick you up and fill you with the confidence that God is still working in your life and bringing it to completion.

Another note, small groups started last night and we had a very good turn out. We had two strong groups in spite of the blizzard. Feel free next Sunday evening to join us and become a part of a group. We would love to have you.
-Mark

Life in Balance

In Ephesians 4:1 Paul exhorts us to walk worthy of our calling. What is meant by such an exhortation? For the past three chapters, Paul has spoken about this calling. For instance, Ephesians 1:1-5, blessed, chosen, holy, and predestined, are all a part of this calling. Later in Ephesians 1:13-14, we find that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment for eternal inheritance. Wow!

Now in 4:1 God asks us to walk worthy of this calling. The word "worthy" means equal weight. Hmm? That says to me that our walk should balance that of our calling. And we are to walk it as Christ walked, with lowliness, meekness, longsuffering, and forbearing one another in love.
How can I do such a thing? Only through and in Christ can I achieve such a balance.
So this week, take time and reread the first three chapters of Ephesians. Look closely at your calling. Then ask God to show you where you may need to work on your balance.

-Mark

Another Chance at Life

Last Friday night, I received a call that my mom was on life support and would soon die! The doctors removed the life support and a local priest gave her a last rites ceremony. Minutes later she began to respond and now, days later, is sitting up and looks healthier than she has in months?! When I finally arrived at the hospital and got the chance to talk with my mom, I told her that God had given her another chance at life.

Another chance at life?! Do you realize that every morning when you wake up, God has given you another chance at life. All of us are given this opportunity, like that of my mom, but we receive this chance everyday.

If, everyday, we are given another chance what should we do with it? Matthew 22:37 sets a bar of which we all fall short. However, what an opportunity, to devote each day to loving God with your whole heart.

Matthew 22:39 takes it another direction, to love your neighbor as yourself. This bar we possibly make and even surpass. (However, those that do so probably account for a small percentage of human.) What would your community look like if every believer in Christ put others to the same level of care and love of that of self?

Another chance at life? My mother has been given a gift. You, too, everyday receive a similar gift. Don't let it slip away. Wake up tomorrow and live a life loving God and loving others.

-Mark

2010 Requests

This past Sunday evening, a number of church members offered up prayer request for Wakefield during the 2010 year. They are as follows:
1. Greater love one for the other
2. The leadership continue to seek and follow Jesus' leading
3. A passion for the unsaved
4. Closer individual relationship with Jesus
5. An increased focus on discipleship
6. That Jesus would be the focus of our ministry
What if God answered yes to all of the above prayer requests? I believe the impact upon the church and the community would be profound. Therefore join us in the above prayer requests.
-Mark

Catching Up

Because of Christmas and computer problems, I am running behind in my posting. And that is part of the problem, Christmas, as we know it, is far from the true reason of the holiday. Check out Born to Set Us Free in the message window and follow along in Galatians 4:1-7.

God's Work in Benin

We were blessed this past Sunday to have Bill and Julie Harrison share of their ministry to the people of Benin, Africa. You can read about Benin at the Joshua Project. Also, I would encourage you to visit the Fellowship International Mission website for more information on the work that God has called Bill and Julie to perform.

Over the past two years the work of God has been dramatic in Benin. Well over 100 have trusted in Christ and many new churches have been planted. Bill has begun a Bible Institute, where he is training new pastors. You can check out Bill's message to Wakefield, titled Grace, Never Works.

-Mark