Issue #1,162 August 25,2004 Teamwork
The sun was setting, and dusk settling in as we stood on the deck looking up
and down the Sabi River for any signs of hippo. The place was called Hippo Hollow
and they assured us that hippos were a common sight. We had seen hippo droppings
and hippo tracks but nary a sign of a hippopotamus.
It was our last evening there and we were going to call it a night. As we turned
to go back in, I stopped because for just a moment I thought I heard something
upstream. Nothing! I guess my ears were playing tricks on me. Kathy lingered a
moment longer and whispered "There's one. Coming down the river." A moment later
she said "Look! There's two of them."
Sure enough, a mother hippo and her calf were making their way down the river.
From our vantage point 40 or 50 feet away, we watched them come down the river,
climb up on the rocks directly across the river from us and disappear into the
forest. It was a magical moment. A hippo and her calf, outside of a park or a
zoo. What a thrill! The whole thing took perhaps a minute or maybe two, but it's
etched into our minds forever.
If I hadn't heard the sound, Kathy would never have lingered and we would have
both missed out on something special. Without the involvement of both of us we
would never have been blessed. It works that way in the church as well.
For the church to work as God designed it requires the gifts and talents of ALL believers. Far too often I hear people say things like "I can worship elsewhere.
I don't need to go to church." Perhaps they can indeed worship outside the walls
of a local fellowship, but they miss out on one of the key components of being
a Christian.
We're called to meet together.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let
us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:25 NIV
We meet for more than meeting our own personal needs. We meet to help bear one
another's burdens, to minister to others, to pray together, to lift up God corporately
and to utilize the gifts and talents that God has given each one of us. When you
don't show, the whole body suffers because of it.
Your presence (or lack thereof) impacts everyone at the meeting. When you fail
to come, not only do you miss out, but your brothers and sisters are poorer because
of it.
Until next time, if you are in regular fellowship rejoice! If for some reason
you aren't, it's time to stop making excuses and get involved.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. You have
value in the eyes of God so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing
to the world. You are so precious to God that heaven will not be complete without
you.
HELP FOR THE HURTING
Maybe you feel you don't need church to know God. That's true, but to derive
the full benefit of everything He has in store for you requires your participation
in worship and service with other believers. If you've been out there on your
own, find a local fellowship you are comfortable in and start attending.
Perhaps you haven't been going because you don't know God. His heart is for all
people to be restored to Him and have a personal relationship with Him. He wants
to forgive you, bless you and give you eternal life with Him. All that's required
is for you to believe on Him and surrender control to Him. Will you do that today?
It's a choice you will never regret.
If you want to know how to do that simply email us and we'll send you some Bible
verses that will explain it to you.
You can simply begin the relationship by honestly and completely opening your
heart; admitting you need God's help; turning away from your sin and saying a
prayer along the lines of the one below. There isn't any "magic" in the prayer;
it's simply a way to open up to the gift that Jesus already bought for you with
His very life. You can't earn it. You don't deserve it. He freely offers it to
all who will accept it.
Jesus:
I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I have
sinned. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world
and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and
rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you
Lord.
Amen
If you pray this prayer for the first time let me know so I can rejoice with
you. It's not the end of the process. It is the beginning of a wonderful journey
to become more like Jesus. It's your starting point.
NEED PRAYER? GOT QUESTIONS?
If you're in need of prayer or answers to questions about the faith email us
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