Quote from Forum Archives on March 22, 2001, 3:52 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

The weather and time constraints did not keep Larry Davies from
sending out his weekly message, nor will it prevent me from
passing it on to you. Just in case, I had something else ready;
I will share that with you tomorrow. But now, one of the
highlights of my devotional week - reading and sharing the
thoughts from my friend Larry. (Now don't let your head get too
big, pal!) 🙂

It turns out that the alternate message that I was preparing fits
in well with the theme of today's message. So let's look at what
my friend has to say today, then tomorrow, we will examine what
another person of faith has to say about how we can respond with
a passion for what we do.

Dear Lord,

I have great passions, but I want to channel my energies in ways
that are pleasing to You. Please help me guard my heart and my
mind, always thinking of Your ways, lest I be led astray by my
own thoughts instead of Your thoughts.

I thank You so much for the gentle way You lead me, even when I
have gone astray. My greatest passion today is to know You more
and to let others see why that has made such a difference in my
own life. I praise You for the opportunity to do that, and I
remain in Your love. Amen.

Brother Brian

From: "Sowing Seeds Ministry" <sowseeds@nesbeonline.com>
Subject: "The Harvest is Great: The Workers Few"
Sowing Seeds Devotion 3/22/2001

Bonnie Stephens has worked with me in singles ministry and now
has started her own web site for single adults. I
enthusiastically encourage you to check it out:
www.Network4Singles.com

Sowing Seeds of Faith

The Harvest is Great: The Workers Few
Larry Davies

My Uncle was the head of Parks and Recreation for one of the
largest cities in the country. Its a demanding job managing
thousands of employees. Several years ago, he asked the leaders
of his local church how he could become more involved. They asked
him to serve on the Pastor-Parish Relations committee, one of the
most important tasks in any church. He also served on the
building committee and even became a trustee. As he talked, I
noticed that the church never seemed very interested in the job
my Uncle managed most every day of his life: A job, which often
impacted several million people. My Uncle was asking for a
ministry and the church put him on a committee.

I also read of a grocery store checkout cashier who could read
peoples moods by their body language while standing in line. She
felt called by God to offer encouragement while bagging their
groceries. When is the last time you were offered a word of
encouragement at a grocery store check out line?

What about you? God has called you for a ministry. Do you know
what it is? How should the church help? Committee work is
important but there is so much more. As a minister, I emphasize
two themes:

1. Provide an atmosphere of encouragement and love for you to
improve your relationship with God through prayer, Bible study
and church participation.

2. Help you discover your unique gifts and talents and use them
toward a ministry of serving and helping others within your
family, at work, at church, in your community and around the
world.

The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them
ahead in pairs to all the towns and villages he planned to visit.
These were his instructions to them: The harvest is so great and
the workers are so few. Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the
harvest and ask Him to send out more workers for his fields. Go
now and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves.
Dont take along any money or a travelers bag or even an extra
pair of sandals. (Luke 10:1-4)

I found at least five major lessons in this passage:

1. The Lord chose: You dont just decide to serve God. You were
chosen long before you were born. The questions you should ask:
What task were you chosen for? Are you doing it?

2. Travel in pairs: God knows it is very difficult to work alone.
We all need encouragement either from a friend, a pastor, a
church group or family. Ministry always needs a partner.

3. Pray for more workers: Your life of prayer is just as
important as your willingness to work. Praying and asking for
Gods help is an important part of your ministry.

4. Lambs among wolves: You are receiving a divine warning to be
careful. Remember wolves see lambs as only one thing supper.
Serving God always involves risk. Be prepared.

5. Travel lite: The ad says, less filling tastes great! Too
much stuff, no matter how good can become a burden and weigh down
your ministry. Keep your message and your faith simple.

How are most churches doing with following these basic lessons:
Actually, not very good. A survey was taken among active
Christians. What they found was startling:

* 70% never or rarely encouraged someone to believe in God.

* 45% never or rarely talked about their faith.

* 64% rarely pray.

* 77% rarely read the Bible.

Why? There are many reasons. We are afraid of controversy.
Churches tend to seek members rather than disciples. Were busy
and preoccupied. We fear rejection. We face too many choices for
our time.

What can we do about it? Several months ago, a minister friend
suggested I read a little book by Bruce Wilkinson called The
Prayer of Jabez about an virtually unknown Bible character named
Jabez hidden in First Chronicles 4:9-10. Its one of the best
books Ive ever read, he declared.

He may be right. Using the prayer of Jabez on a regular basis can
change your life: Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge
my territory that your hand would be with me and that you would
keep me from evil. And God granted him his request. Next week,
Ill use this prayer to answer the question: What should we be
doing as disciples in Gods church? Until then pray this prayer
in faith.

If you would like to read about my own struggle with how to serve
God before I became a minister you can click here:
www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/elijah.htm

Sowing Seeds Ministry Prayer challenge for 2001: Prayer of Jabez
1 Chronicles 4:10

And Jabez called on the God Israel saying, "Oh, that You would
bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would
be with me, and that You would keep me from evil." So God granted
him what he requested.

Nearly 4,000 subscribers. <www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/home.htm>

Do you need prayer? www.sowingseedsoffaith.com/feedback.htm

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/
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