COWBOY CHURCH
On the fourth Friday of every month, Sherwood Park Evangelical Free Church has
its "Cowboy Church" meeting. That means there is a meeting tomorrow at 7:30 PM.
To find out more about the cowboy church, simply follow this link. We'd love to see you out.
AFRICA PHOTOS
There are some more photographs of our Africa trip up on the website
- Margate shanty town
- Wildlife The wildlife photos are a little heavy on rhinoceros, as there was a mother
there with a baby and it was too adorable to pass up on watching and photographing.
Issue #1,163 August 26,2004 Deeds
While in South Africa, we met some people who exemplify what Christianity is
supposed to be about. They don't have their acts fully together and are far from
perfect (just like the rest of us) but they demonstrate the love of Jesus in wonderful
ways.
Let me share an example. I'm not going to use the couple's name, I'll just refer
to them as "the couple". The couple live on a small rural holding of about ten
acres. Like many people from South Africa, their home has been burgled more than
once. He has been robbed at gunpoint numerous times. They have every reason to
be fearful and to turn their backs on their neighbors, yet they don't.
The couple knows that their caretaker/gardener was involved with at least one
of the burglaries. He has admitted it in a less than sober moment. Yet the couple
still keeps him on and cares for him and his family. Why?
The couple recognizes the intense pressure in the squatter's camps. The gangs
in the camps threaten those who hold jobs like our gardener friend. If they don't
cooperate, the gang will do bodily harm to, or even kill the employee or members
of their family. It's no idle threat, the gangs do kill those who don't cooperate.
The couple have a part time maid. In many ways it's far more work to have the
maid around than to do the work themselves, so why do they bother? It provides
a small income for the maid and helps make ends meet for her.
The couple provide water and other necessities to a black man working on an adjacent
parcel of land. He has a shack there and is working for the owner to clear the
land and put in a roadway. There isn't any water on the property so this man must
walk miles to fill his water jugs. Giving him water might seem a small thing,
but to this man it's a huge deal.
The couple often take in two children whose parents live in the squatter's camp
nearby. They have no obligation to do so nor any legal rights to the children.
Yet the children know they can come for a place of safety, a hot meal and a comfortable
bed. When the children go back into the camps, it breaks the heart of the couple,
yet they continue to do it over and over again.
They do these things and many more. Their work is unheralded and is invisible
to most people. Their stories will never be front page news and other than the
people involved most people will never know what the couple does. Nor do they
want everyone to know, that's why I've left their names out of the story.
Why do they keep on giving? They give because they love Jesus and He tells us
to give, and to love (even our enemies).
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus
had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is
the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord
our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is
this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one
and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your
understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself
is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Mark 12:28-33 NIV
Our couple knows that part of loving God is putting that love into action with
others. They know that works don't provide salvation, only grace does that, but
I believe they would also agree with James when he said.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 2:26 NIV
When you see the lives this couple leads, you can see evidence of their faith
every day. If someone looks at your life, will they see the same? I know after
spending some time with this couple that I recognized there is much more I can
be doing.
Until next time, may your love for our Lord manifest itself in practical love
for others.
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
Good works are an important thing for everyone, Christian or not. The problem
with good deeds is that people think its a way to get to heaven. It's not! There
is only one way and that's through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
You can start that relationship today simply by inviting Him into your life. Will
you?
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
SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY
Gleanings From The Word is distributed free of charge, six days a week to readers
in more than 180 countries. It reaches into homes, hospitals, care centers, prisons
and many other places. People comment regularly on how God has used Gleanings
to change their lives, bring them to know Christ or brought them through difficult
times.
While we offer Gleanings free to anyone who asks, that does not mean it is without
cost to produce. We request that you prayerfully consider supporting us in prayer
and with your finances. While we are unable to provide tax receipts at this time,
we are registered as a non-profit corporation. Please know that your gift of any
amount is appreciated and will pay eternal dividends.
Please make cheques payable to: Gleanings From The Word Ministries International
and send them to 114 Oak St, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8A 0V8
Thank You.
BACK ISSUES Looking for a previous issue of Gleanings From The Word? Selected back issues are available on our website
Looking for a previous issue of Gleanings From The Word?
SHARING GLEANINGS
If you enjoyed this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety,
to a friend. Better still, get their permission and sign them up for their own subscription,
after all it's free.
We do not rent, sell, trade or share our mailing list with anyone. Your email
address is kept completely confidential. We also send no forms of unsolicited
email.
For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations
please visit the permissions page on our website.
CONTACT US
To share your questions, comments, thoughts, prayer concerns and praise reports:
you can email us
Or you can write to us at
Gleanings From The Word Ministries International
114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8
© 2001-2004 Gleanings From The Word Ministries International - All Rights Reserved
