Use Words If Necessary

Use Words If Necessary

Dear Champions,

 

The scripture is Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit but in humility count others better than yourself.  Let each of you look not only to your own interest but also to the interest of others.

 

My wife, Beth, and I often like to ask our waitress or waiter to tell us about their life. Usually they are shocked that we would even care.  In the last week three encounters stood out.  A middle aged waitress explained to us that she had recently run away from her husband who was abusing her.  Her adult son actually had to come and get out of that situation.  The neighbors had called him.  A young waitress at a different restaurant explained to us that she was separated and about to be divorced from her husband. He was spending all of their money on drugs.  At a perfume store the clerk broke down and cried.  She asked Beth to go to the corner of the store and pray for her.  

 

All three received a big hug.  They needed a word of encouragement and the knowledge that there are people out there that care.

 

Francis of Assisi said it best.  "Share the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words."

 

Champions, have a Merry Christmas!-David Vining

 

P.S.  The surgery for Elizabeth Meier lasted 6 hours.  They removed 10 blockages.  There was internal bleeding afterwards that was a setback.  They found no more cancer!  She was able to go home with her family on the 22^nd in time for Christmas.  They are hopeful that her bowels will start working again and that the scar tissue will not reform.

 

Prayers for Elizabeth Meier

Prayers for Elizabeth Meier

 

Dear Champions,

 

The short excerpt is from my friend Elizabeth Emmons Meier.  She is a wife and mother of 4 that is having surgery tomorrow (Wednesday, December 14) and requests prayer.  Below is an excerpt from her caring bridge journal.  It is applicable for us.

 

Living in Orange County has shown me that it's very easy to get wrapped up in the latest, the greatest and the best. Why is it when we have a lot, we still want more?  Lately, my life has been the opposite. I have found that when you are going through difficult times, you typically want just a few things. I know for me and my journey with cancer, my prayers have been simple; I want to live, I want the pain to stop and I want the cancer to leave and never return. When my sister was in town last week, she wanted to take me shopping for my birthday present. For the first time in my life, I had a hard time thinking of anything I really wanted other than healing. There have been times that the pain was so intense, all I could say in my prayers was, "Help"! Romans 8:26 states, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we are to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans". Even when we don't have the words to express our wants, God is there, fulfilling the desires of our hearts.

 

So, on this eve of my surgery, my wants are still rather simple - a successful surgery, no cancer and no pain. Matt 18:19 says, "if two or more of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven". This is why I ask you to pray for me. God promises us, your prayers of healing for me will be answered.

 

Champions, for those that pray for Elizabeth, thank you!-David Vining

Sacrifice Our Life?

Sacrifice Our Life?

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller, and the Scripture is Romans 12:1 Therefore,I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God which is your spiritual act of worship.  

June 30th 1859 Charles Blondin, the famous aerial French tightrope walker, stretched a rope across the Niagara Falls and walked across it with a crowd of 10,000 people watching.  He and his manager, Harry Colcord, promised them a bigger stunt every week.  The crowds grew, and one week he went across with a sack on his head.  Another week he bicycled across.  Another time he put in a stove with a fire in it in a wheelbarrow.  He took it out to the middle and he made himself an omelet and ate it and came back.  One time he stood on his head, and another time he did somersaults.

It was getting near the end of the summer, and he said that he had to do something to get the biggest crowd of all, so he came up with an idea.  I'll carry a man across on my back.  They announced that Blondin was going to carry a man across the Niagara Falls on his back, and 100,000 people came this last time.  First, however, they had to find someone who was willing to do it.  They advertised in the paper and said that $1000 would be paid to any man who will come and be recruited to go across.  $1000 was a lot of money and a lot of people showed up for the recruitment trial.  They had to find the ones that weren't too big, and finally they had a whole slew of them that they thought would be possible candidates.  Blundin went out on the rope and carried a 200-pound sack to prove that there was no problem with him doing this feat.  Then he came back and went down the line, and he asked this question to all of the candidates.  Do you believe that without a doubt that I can carry you across?  One after the other said, "Absolutely, no doubts."  Then he went down the line and asked, "Will you let me carry you across the Niagara Falls on the rope?"  Every one of them one by one said, "Not on your life!" 

Our problem is not just intellectual, but it is this.   Are we willing to sacrifice our life? 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining

Thy Will Be Done

Thy Will Be Done

 

The short excerpt is by Tim Keller and the scripture is Mark14:36  "Abba,Father," Jesus said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

 

If you believe that you are saved by works, you will say, "There is a minimum standard of life that God owes me.  God can let me have a few problems but not major problems.  I've paid my dues.  I go to church.  I just say no to all of these sexual impulses that I used to give into. Therefore, God owes me.  Saying "Thy Will Be Done" is impossible if you believe that you are saved by works.

 

Thy Will Be Done means, "I obey you no matter what.  I owe you everything, and you owe me nothing."  That statement is only logical if you are saved by grace.   God has the right to contradict and confront and the right to send things into my life that I don't understand.  He has the right to do that with no explanation, and I must submit to Him as gladly as I possibly can.

 

An awful lot of people today I meet are very interested in being spiritual, but here's one of the things that they always say.  "I want to meet God and be spiritual, but don't you tell me what's right and wrong.  I have to decide what's right and wrong for me."  You can't have a personal relationship with God unless you are willing to say, "Thy Will Be Done."  If you have a personal relationship with someone in good friendships or marriage you're constantly having to say, "Not my will but your will be done."  

 

In the garden of Gesemane Jesus wrestled with God.  Blood was coming out of His pores, and He finally said, "Thy Will Be Done."  This melts our hearts so that we can say, "Thy Will Be Done" too.  To say that we have to look at Someone who has wrestled more than we have until it melts our heart with love, joy and gratitude.  "Lord, if You said 'Thy Will Be Done' for me like that then I can say 'Thy Will Be Done for You.'"  

 

Champions, have a great week!-David Vining