The Gift of Cold Water & Continued Prayer

For a few years now, a righteous remnant of Jesus, The Nazarene, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, have set up a tent at the town of Buena Vista's Labor Day festivities to simply but profoundly give the gift of ice cold water to everyone who passes by. It is indeed a true labor of love and and as a witness of the event I can also say it is indeed a "Buena Vista" -- a "beautiful view".

My wife and I were humbled to partner with the Rockbridge remnant for a few hours on Labor Day 2010. We helped to keep the water cold and the troops encouraged. Pastor Kris and the local church family he shepherds came together in the name of Jesus to distribute some 100 cases of cold bottled water to those walking by. Yes, that's over 2,000 bottles of cool refreshment given free to the fainting souls of their neighbors.

In addition to free water, this year a table was set up in to a private corner outside the tent for people to write out prayer requests to place in the prayer box so that long after the physical water distribution was over for another year, the prayers of the people could continue to flow for the people throughout the year. All glory to God and all good for the people of Rockbridge County, Virginia.

A generous person will be enriched and he who gives water will get water. -- Proverbs 11:25 (NRSV)

I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in My name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
-- Words of Jesus, The Living Water, Mark 9:41 (NIV)

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

I recently heard a Nazarene minister from Haiti sharing an amazing testimony that was heard in the wake of the devastating earthquake of 2010. As a team from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries arrived to deliver food, shelter, and medical supplies in a certain village known for Voodoo, an amazing testimony came from the lips of none other than the village medicine man. Yes, with great passion, he turned his back on his own teachings by exclaiming for all to hear, "Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ could accomplish this!"

Isn't it amazing when medicine men are amazed by the Great Physician? For sure!

Mark 1:15 (NLT) -- Jesus announced, "The Kingdom of God is near! Turn from your sins and believe this Good News!"

IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful

Open, Not Closed. Project, Not Protect.

Today, my friend Drew who was raised in our local church and now pastors in Germany was our guest speaker for the last Sunday of 2009. He shared beautifully the Biblical passage in Luke 3, where John the Baptist is the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way for the Lamb of God -- Jesus the Nazarene!

As I listened to Drew preach, Luke 3:8-14 particularly spoke to my own heart: (8) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. (9) The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." (10) "What should we do then?" the crowd asked. (11) John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." (12) Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" (13) "Don’t collect any more than you are required to," he told them. (14) Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?" He replied, "Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay."

This is my prayer: Lord, in this New Year, like never before, I want my life to be open, not closed to the needs of others. Remind me moment-by-moment that Your mercy and grace is extended to me that I might also offer it to others. Produce in my life the fruit of repentance. Especially give me the mind of Christ and the eyes of Your Spirit so that my life will be undeniably God-owned and incredibly others-focused. Reign as Lord on the throne of my life in such a way that Your compassion flows from me to everyone I encounter. Let my life be marked by a fragrance of generosity that glorifies You. Let my focus be on giving, not getting, on projecting You, not protecting me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

ALL... JOY TO YOUR WORLD!
Grateful