Christ -The Reese Source - SEPTEMBER 2008

“May you live in interesting times” is reputed to be the English translation of an ancient Chinese proverb and curse. Well, here we are…

The government is set to bail out financial institutions to the tune of almost a trillion (with a‘t’) dollars. We have thousands of troops overseas defending our freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. (Thank God for them!) We have Russian warships coming into the Caribbean, along with their bombers doing maneuvers in Venezuela. We have Iran and North Korea building nuclear arms. There have been devastating hurricanes hitting our shores. It is election time and politics as usual, with name-calling, glib generalities, and promises made that cannot be kept. The Dow Jones has seen a five hundred point drop followed by two consecutive 400 point gains followed by a four hundred point loss. Oil prices have seen a twenty-five percent increase in one day.

On a personal level, I cannot find a service station that has gas and when, and if I do, it will be well over four dollars a gallon. My retirement funds, scant as they may be, have shrunk (on paper at least) by a great deal. I have friends whose health is in decline. Other friends’ marriages are in trouble. Others have businesses that are having to layoff employees. Ministry funds are way down and what reserves we have are almost gone.

I would say we are definitely living in interesting times!

In the midst of all this, is there any stability in life? Is there something we can count on to not change? Where can I find peace in turbulent times?

“Jesus Christ…The same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) who said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) and "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart, for I have overcome the world.”(John 16:33)

Now, the question is, “Do you believe these biblical statements?” Where have you been looking for peace and contentment? Have those things truly given you peace? “Things have been really tough.” you say.” I am just trying to keep my head above water, so to speak.” “I am peddling as fast as I can!” “What do I have to do to find this peace?”

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4:6, 7)

“Humble yourself under God’s strong hand, and, in His own good time, He will lift you up.” (I Peter 5:6 J.B. Phillips translation). What does this verse mean? For some it will mean that you quit running away from God and turn to Him and cry out to Him, admit you need help in finding that peace that passes understanding. Were you close to Him at one time and now He seems distant? Guess who moved…
Turn around; He is standing there waiting for you, waiting to comfort you, to strengthen you, to lift you up. Let Him love.

MINISTRY NEEDS:

In these challenging economic times, Net Work Ministries is no different than anyone else. We expect to share in the hardships that our friends are suffering. I have friends who are business owners that have faced the difficult task of having to let some very faithful employees go so that the business can survive. I know how much it hurt them to do this. Everyone is making sacrifices. I would ask if you are in the midst of deciding how to allocate what giving you can still make that you direct those resources to the least and the lost. Please take care of those who are less fortunate than you or me.

May I suggest an organization that does a magnificent job of this in a most cost effective manner? It is The House of Hope Feeding Center in Guatemala. This project is near and dear to my heart. Our Friday Morning Group has been involved with assisting in their building program. I have seen first-hand their effectiveness. They are currently feeding and clothing 30 children in a small village outside Guatemala City. Our friends Mike and Kambria Robertson are heading up the project. Mike is from Marietta. They are in the process of building a brand new building that will feed and clothe ninety children. They provide school clothes and supplies to the children of the village so that they can attend public school. They feed them a meal after school and the have Bible classes. Each child must be sponsored. You can sponsor a child for twenty-five dollars a month. Another way you can be involved is to help complete the building. It is seventy-five percent complete. They need forty thousand dollars to finish the building. Please prayerfully consider this ministry for your giving. Contact me at 678-986-4814 or Marshall Dye at 770-560-9181.
“Whatever you do unto the least of these, you do it unto Me” (Matthew 25:40)