Valerie Rae Hanneman
“Should’ve” Easter Series #2
Luke 23:4-5a "Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man." But they insisted,........”
Matthew 27:22-24 (NIV)"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!”
When I came back to Jesus about 10 years ago, I really didn’t know how to live a life in Him. But I had made a commitment to Him, “If You will forgive me for leaving You, I will never leave You again.” It is a promise I intend to keep. I have had varying degrees of success in keeping my promise. I remember this one occasion when I had been in my renewed relationship with Jesus for less than a year. I was out with some friends from work. One of the people made a teasing remark about “one of staff has gotten religion - going to church every Sonday!” She was referring to me - but not by name. One of the attorneys went off on Christianity. He is a brilliant man and very articulate, so his comments were well-thought out, pointed and highly insulting to the God I serve. And I just sat there.
Pilate woke up that morning to just another day in this Hades he was assigned to. Governorship of Judea was not the plum assignment in the Roman empire - quite the opposite. It was the arm-pit assignment. These contentious people with their single God were a constant thorn in Rome’s side. Every time you turned around, there was another “messiah” and another plot to overthrow Rome. “Keep them quiet - keep them contained - don’t care how you do it - but keep them out of our hair!” was Rome’s edict. That was easy for them to say - they weren’t stuck here in this mess. Judea was the last stop on a downward slide for Pilate. He succeeded here - or else......... “Or else” was not an option that Pilate cared to consider. As he walked down a corridor a soldier approaches. “There’s a crowd from the Temple in the courtyard demanding to see you - they have a prisoner.”. “Oh for Zeus’ sake!” Pilate almost shouts, “Can’t a man even lie down to breakfast in peace without being bombarded by those bags of hot air and righteous fal-da-rah!” The soldier shrugs and rolls his eyes in sympathy. “Well, who have they got?” Pilate asks. “I think it is Jesus of Nazareth” the soldier answers. “Jesus of Nazareth? Isn’t He the one that they were all shouting about last week? I though the people loved Him - why do the priests have Him?” Again, the soldier shrugs, “What do I tell them?” “I should have you tell them to go take a long swim in the River Styx - but tell them I will be there.” A few minutes later Pilate walks into the courtyard. The soldier hadn’t been exaggerating - it was a crowd and they were not happy. Pilate glances over at Jesus and their eyes met. Startled, Pilate looks away then glances back. ‘What is it about this guy - He is not what I expected - there’s something about Him...’ As Pilate listens to the priest’s accusations, he looks at Jesus again. As their eyes meet, Pilate knows that what the priests are accusing Jesus of is a pile of manure. “I don’t find any fault in Him” Pilate says. The accusations get wilder, and in them Pilate sees a way out of this mess. “He’s a Galilean? Then take Him to Herod for judgement” He thought he had gotten himself out of that one - but in just a few hours they are back. Again Pilate listens to the crowd. Again he thinks he has a solution to the problem. He says, “I find no fault in Him. I am going to punish Him and release Him.” The crowd reacts violently to this news and Pilate was shocked. “Great Diana! What has this Man done to make them hate Him so?” Again Pilate looks at Jesus, knowing that this Man should not be crucified, knowing that he was caught in the middle of doing what was right or keeping the priests - and thereby the populace - happy. Again, Pilate comes up with a plan to get himself out of this mess. It’s Passover - tradition says he can pardon a prisoner. He will give these nutcakes a choice between Jesus and that cursed Barabbas. No way would they chose Barabbas to be set free. But they did. Pilate gave up and washed his hands of the whole thing. He had Jesus flogged then handed Him over to be crucified.
Pilate was the final authority in Judea. The priests, the religious leaders, could petition for the death sentence. Herod, the titular king of Judea, could concur with a death sentence. But only Pilate could impose it. The Gospels are clear that Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent of any crime Matthew states that Pilate knew that the priests hated Jesus out of envy. But as Pilate looked out that morning at the crowd screaming for Jesus’ death, when he thought about that “or else” hanging over his head, Pilate chose the easy way out and allowed Jesus to be crucified.
The attorney who was mocking my God and all who believed in Him had a reputation for being capricious and a vindictive towards those who disagreed with him. He could not fire me, but he could make me sorry that I had challenged what he was saying. So I took the easy way out - and I sat there. I was miserable, but I sat there and let him go on. At the very least, I should have gotten up and left - even if I didn’t say anything, But I didn’t even make that much of a stand for what was right. Just like Pilate, I knew what was right, but I chose what was easy.
We are faced with Pilate’s choice everyday. We have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy. Sometimes it is on our jobsite, sometimes it is when the cashier gives us too much change, sometimes it is our taxes, or it is the language we use. Whatever the choice is, it is usually made in front of a world that is watching to see if we, as Christians, are any different from anybody else.
Unfortunately what is right is never what is easy. When we chose what is right then, unlike Pilate, we chose Jesus over what is easy, and we make a stand in this world for Him that the world sees. If we are like Pilate, and chose what is easy over what is right, then we still make a stand, but it is not for Jesus. The attorney who spoke against my God did not know I was the Christian - but my friend did. What do you suppose that she thought of my witness - my stand for Christ?
LORD God, help me to be strong enough to chose what is right over what is easy. Remind me that when I chose what is right then before the world I declare that I chose You first before all else. I chose You first and only in my thoughts, my words and my actions.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Note from Valerie: Our beloved Ann Mead wrote this poem. She sent it to me after reading my comments in our weekly e-Bible Reading about Rahab. Ann is a superb organist, bicyclist beyond compare and a writer of wonderful poetry - is there no end to her gifts? Praise God, she uses all of them to His glory!
RAHAB
by Ann Reed-Mead
Rahab, the harlot, member of a heathen race
Gave two Israeli spies a hiding place.
Then helped them escape with a promise that they
Would spare her and her family on the day
They returned to Jericho to take the land.
She was told to hang a scarlet band
In her window so they would see
And, in turn, would grant her amnesty.
Rahab listened to what they said and believed.
Because of her faith, she later received
A gift of grace from One divine -
A place of honor in God’s great design.
Joshua 2 1414 B.C
* Ruth was the great, great grandmother of David
It is no use saying that we are born two thousand years too late to give room to Christ. Nor will those who live at the end of the world have been born too late. Christ is always with us, always asking for room in our hearts. -Dorothy Day
I am requesting prayer for a new friend of mine, Sarah. Sarah is a young woman with lots of challenges and lots of questions about God. Please pray that her heart will be open to His love.
Please pray for Toma & Wendy, the daughters of Ramona McDonald’s friend. They both have had surgery to remove their stomach due to stomach cancer.
Evelyn Touchstone is back in the hospital with congestive heart failure. She may have been released by now. Please keep the Touchstone family in prayer.
Ellen Burton, my sister’s ex-sister-in-law, is in a lot of pain from the breast and bone cancer.
Stan Reed is cancer free! What an immense praise to our glorious God!
Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan, who was on trial for converting to Christianity, has been released. Depending on which news source you are looking at he was released because he is not mentally competent to stand trial - or - there wasn’t enough evidence against him. (I guess that if he is nuts, they can’t use his confession for Christ as evidence) He is currently in Italy to try and protect him from Muslim extremists.
Please keep Biana Grogg in prayer as we will be sending her off to Nigeria right after Easter. In my mind I imagine Father showing Biana the AIDs crisis in Nigeria and saying to her “Who shall I send?” and Biana answering “Here I am, LORD, send me.” And now she is about to go.
We continue to pray for the following: Lois Chestnutt & breast cancer, Bobbie Ronsley & lupus, Aunt Pat & cancer, Katie Arizon, Ruth Rush & family as they grieve Merle’s passing, Carol Robertshaw and a broken foot, Ann Mead & surgery on April 17th, the young man that Dan & Edie are mentoring, Evelyn Touchstone, Bob McDonough & heart problems, Ellen Burton & breast cancer, Karen with a possible liver transplant, Rachelle Taylor & a large infection, Uncle Dale & chemo, Jim Pombe & heart problems, Joe Barty & throat cancer, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Mike Joos & recovery from radiation treatment, George Martin & cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, John Rodgers with cancer, Stan Reed & cancer
Pray for our missionaries - SeaFM in Southeast Asia, Dr. George Pe Myat in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel For Asia, The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, and all the missionaries worldwide. Just as a note - our Laos mission team will be showing pictures and talking about the trip to Laos on Sonday, March 28
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
God of Wonders,
We have been anticipating being in Your presence. We lift our hands to You in joy. You take our hands and draw us closer to You. You bring us into Your throne room, to Your very throne itself and bid us to stay awhile with You. You tell us that You have been anticipating this time as well. We rest our spirits within You and feel Your peace surround and fill us.
Good Shepherd, we ask that You open Sarah’s heart so that she can hear You speak to her.
We pray Jehovah-Jirah, Our Provider, that You touch the lives and the bodies of Toma, Wendy, Evelyn and Ellen as they face their health challenges.
We pray, God-Who-Protects, that You set a wall of protection around Abdul and keep him safe from those who would harm him. We pray for Your children around the world who face persecution because they claim Your name.
Jesu Mapru, we pray that You continue to bless and provide for Biana as she gets ready to follow Your call to Nigeria.
With willing hearts, Abba, we open ourselves up to You completely. We surrender all that we are to Your touch. We glory in the love You pour into us. We exalt You above any and every created thing. We pledge our lives on earth to You, as You have pledged life in eternity to us. Our souls sing of You.
Holy God of Israel, we pray for those who continue to be on our prayer chain. We lift up our pastors before You and ask that You keep them strong with a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit. Bless our ministries and those that work in them. Keep our focus on serving You through serving others. Holy Spirit, move gently and fill Your missionaries with new hope and new grace as they serve You so far from home.
Jesus, Savior, Messiah, King of kings and LORD of lords, help us to see opportunities to share You with others. Guide the words that we speak, the thoughts that we think and the actions that we take so that we bring You honor and glory in all that we do. You reign supreme over eternity, reign in us as strongly is our plea. We love You, LORD - You are our prayer.
there is so much in Joshua to get excited about! In Chapter 2 we are introduced to Rahab, the harlot who was the only one in all of Jericho to recognize that God was with Israel and Jericho was doomed. Because of her faith, only she and her family escaped the destruction that came to Jericho. Rahab shows up again in Matthew - in the earthly lineage of Jesus. The grace of God just astounds me - that a harlot’s faith was part of the birth of Messiah! Chapter 5 tells of how the Israelites were circumcised, had Passover and started eating from the crops of the Promised Land. Once they started eating the produce of the land - the manna stopped. I think it is so cool to see how one part of God’s plan ends as another part begins And then the fall of Jericho - can you imagine the shock that went through the countryside at the news that Jericho fell flat - and without a single weapon being drawn? I think God got His point across rather effectively!
I Corinthians lead us on a study of how the Body of Christ - the Church - is supposed to behave. Paul is clear that although we are not to avoid the “company” of the world - we are not to shun those who are not Christian - but in the same breath - we are not to act like them - we are not to accept their morals as our own. Gosh, I think he was talking to us today, too!
This week we finish out Joshua and go into the Judges. Judges is a simply fascinating study of Israel’s constant unfaithfulness to God, but God’s continual faithfulness to Israel. In Judges we will see God’s words of warning in Dueteronomy be fulfilled. But not for the only time - it continues on through the history is Israel. On April 1st we will start into 2 Corinthians - I wonder if Paul’s second letter shows that there has been an improvement in the Corinth Church?
Sonday, March 26................Joshua 23-24, Psalm 44, 1 Cor. 11
Monday, March 27...............Judges 1-3, I Cor. 12
Tuesday, March 28..............Judges 4-5, Psalm 39 & 41, I Cor 13 (my favorite!)
Wednesday, March 29.........Judges 6-7, Psalm 52, 1 Cor. 14
Thursday, March 30............Judges 8, Psalm 42, 1 Corinth 15
Friday, March 31.................Judges 9-10, Psalm 49, 1 Cor 16
Saturday, April 1.................Judges 11-12. Psalm 50, 2 Cor 1
Note from Valerie: This was written by Dr. Ron Martin. He is a member of FFBC's Christian Writer Group. He shared this at our last meeting - it was one of three great pieces that he wrote.
THE PRICE MUST BE PAID
"I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him." But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to
grant their demand." Luke 23:22,23, NIV
The crowd demanded with such forceful malice that their proclaimed King be executed that the Roman governor Pilate ordered what they demanded. Perhaps the crowd displaced their hatred of their Roman oppressors onto Jesus, who they may have believed goaded the Romans into tormenting them
more harshly. Evildoing demands punishment.
As a substitute teacher each day I see disruptive behavior such as paper-wad fights in defiance of my directives. Knowing that this is against my rule, the
students cleverly throw the paper only after I look away. When I follow the wads' trajectories backward toward the throwers, they insistently demand that I ignore it, saying, "You didn't see anything!" "All right," I agree, "but stop
this throwing!" Then as soon as I look away and back, I see more paper wads flying through the air. Only after calling campus security, who takes out suspected paper throwers and begins to arrange for consequences of their actions, suspension and expulsion, does the paper throwing stop.
Wrongdoing requires punishment. Order demands it. Law demands it. The crowd demanded that Jesus be executed for His part in the Roman duress. God also required that Jesus be punished, His Only Begotten Son, for *our* wrongdoing. Holy Week brings before us again God's exaction of punishment--for *us*, for *our* wrongdoing. Praise God that He attributes Jesus' righteousness to us!
Prayer: Dear God, our Rescuer, we praise you for your righteousness. We thank you for your taking the consequences for our sin upon Yourself. We adore you for including us in your Kingdom of love. Amen
Valerie Rae Hanneman
“Should’ve” Easter Series #1
Luke 22:61 (NLT) “At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny Me three times."
When I was 20 I got married for all the wrong reasons. I married the first man who paid attention to me because I was afraid of being an old maid, I lacked self-esteem so I didn’t think that anybody could really love me, and I was in love with the thought of somebody loving me forever. He said he loved me, I said that I loved him and a quick marriage seemed sensible so we could be together forever. Unfortunately I quickly discovered the truth of the old saying, “Marry in haste, Repent in leisure” He wasn’t exactly who he had pretended to be. When I went to my pastor for advice about my husband’s drug use, smoking, and his inability to hold a job, my pastor’s advice was “You married him so you are stuck with him.” Not exactly what I was hoping to hear, but my pastor said it - so it must have come directly from God. I was trying to make the best of it. I was working at a sandwich stand, pulling double shifts whenever I could because my husband wasn’t working (again). One night my boss came in and sent me home because he said that I looked so exhausted that people wouldn’t want to buy sandwiches. I arrived home about 2 hours early to a dark apartment and music from the bedroom. Either my husband had gone to bed early or he was out partying with his friends again and had left the radio on. I went into the bedroom, turned the lights on and discovered I was wrong on both counts. He was in bed, but he wasn’t sleeping and neither was the girl he was with. Even thirty years later I still remember the pain that ripped though me. He betrayed his vows, he betrayed the love he said he had for me, he betrayed me. At that moment I hated him more than I thought was possible to hate anybody and I am sure that my hatred was reflected in my eyes. Pastor’s advice - or no pastor’s advice - that was the end of our relationship.
On the surface, Peter appeared to be the disciple’s disciple. From his first encounter with Jesus on his boat, Peter’s faith was so strong. He was the first to declare that Jesus is Messiah, the very Son of God. That was when Jesus called him “Peter, the rock” Then there was that storm when Jesus called Peter out of the boat to walk with Him on the water. And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water - for awhile anyway. Jesus was wildly popular for most of His ministry, but when the free food stopped and the going got tough, the crowds started to fall away. Jesus asked His disciples, “Will you leave Me too?” Listen to Peter’s response - “To whom would we go, LORD? You have the Words of Eternal Life.” There was no plan B for Peter. There was only Jesus. Then in the Upper Room Jesus tells them that they will all fall away from Him. Shocked to his core by this statement, Peter says that nope, that was not going to happen. Then Jesus got into the details, “Before the rooster crows you will deny Me three times.” Even more shocked by this unbelievable statement, Peter responds vehemently, “I will DIE first!” If there was anybody that should’ve stood strong for Jesus - it was Peter.
But then, in the courtyard of the High Priest, Peter did deny Jesus - just as vehemently as he had declared his intention to die for Jesus. He should’ve stood for Jesus - but he didn’t. At the moment after his third denial, Peter looked up, Jesus turned, their eyes met and the rooster crowed. For a frozen moment in time, everything - the courtyard, the soldiers, the priests, the people - faded away as they looked at each other. Then time resumed. The soldiers grabbed Jesus to drag Him away and Peter ran into the night, weeping bitterly.
Peter betrayed the vow he had made to Jesus, he betrayed the love he had for Jesus, he betrayed Jesus. When their eyes met and that rooster crowed, Peter dropped his eyes for a moment in shame. When he looked back up at Jesus he was expecting to see something in Jesus’ eyes that would reflect what he himself felt. Maybe he expected to see “Told you so!” Maybe he expected to see anger, disgust, hatred, unforgiveness. It was what he deserved for his betrayal of Jesus. But that was not what was in Jesus’ eyes.
What was in Jesus’ eyes was compassion, forgiveness, and the same deep love that Jesus had had for Peter on the day that Peter declared Him to be Messiah. Jesus’ love for Peter did not change one iota when Peter betrayed Him. Not one iota!
When the women came early in the morning to finish preparing Jesus’ body they found an empty grave and a couple of angels. The angels had a message from Jesus, “Go tell His disciples and Peter that He will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Why did Jesus mention Peter by name in the message? Because he wanted Peter to know that their relationship was not broken and that what Peter had seen in Jesus’ eyes on that ghastly night was still true - compassion, forgiveness and love in spite of everything.
On the night that my husband betrayed me it ended our relationship. All that was left was the pain, anger and hatred I felt towards him. On the night that Peter betrayed Jesus it did not end their relationship. In spite of the pain that Peter’s betrayal brought to Him, Jesus had only love for Peter.
I am so glad that Peter’s betrayal could not stop Jesus from loving him. It means that when I betray my vows to Jesus, when I betray my love for Him, and when I betray Him, that He will not turn away from me either. He is going to continue to love me when I deny Him as much as He does when I sing my praise to Him.
When Peter saw Jesus again, he threw himself out of the boat that the disciples were fishing from and swam to Jesus - he wanted to get to Jesus so badly. He was seeking Christ’s forgiveness for his betrayal. When I betray Jesus and I seek His forgiveness, I know that I will find it - and I will find it in full measure - because Peter did.
My LORD and God, there are so many times that I have denied You, betrayed You, turned away from You. But even when I betray You, You love me with a relentless love. Thank You for the depth of Your love,
Contact Valerie or sign up to the e-ministry of Fresno First at valerie@fresnofirst.org
The optimist says the cup is half full. The pessimist says the cup is half empty.
The child of God says, "My cup runneth over." -Unknown
Pastor Willie was honored by the local chapter of the NAACP this past Saturday as “Clergy of the Year” It is good to see that others are beginning to catch on to what we have always known about Willie. He is keeping this real low-key - but that is so Willie - he is much more interested in blowing a trumpet for Jesus than blowing his own horn. But I take a wee bit different view - when they honor Willie, they honor the One he serves so wholeheartedly.
I received a message from the social worker that indicated that my application is just waiting for a final supervisor approval then Joanne & Jesse will be placed with me. The supervisor is out this week for a training (of course!) but hopefully she will sign it on her return!
Merle Rush went home this past weekend after a long illness due to a stroke. His Celebration of Life is scheduled for 2:00 Friday at FFBC. Please keep Ruth and the family in prayer.
Georganne McCormick is requesting prayer for her friend, Lois Chestnutt. She has just been diagnosed with breast cancer & is trying to decide between a mastectomy & a lump removal with radiation to follow.
Our precious Katie Arizon went down to LA for some further tests to determine the cause of the seizures that she was having a couple weeks back. Please keep our Katie in prayer.
Mitzi’s Aunt Pat has gotten the results of her tests, and she does have cancer. Please keep aunt Pat in prayer as she faces this challenge.
Bobbi Ronsley, the daughter of a co-worker, had a procedure that has greatly aided with the lupus in her brain.
Please pray for Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan who is on trial for converting to Christianity 16 years ago. The judge for his trial states “We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law. It is an attack on Islam.” If he is found guilty of converting to Christianity - and if he continues to refuse to renounce his faith in Jesus - Abdul faces the death penalty. The prosecutor of his case is trying to get him declared incompetent to stand trial - they are trying to find a way to keep the Muslim conservatives - and the world (that is very disapproving of this!)- happy.
Please continue to keep Biana Grogg in prayer as we will be sending her off sending her off to Nigeria in about a month. Our youth are readying for their Mexico Mission trip during Easter break - stock sales continue this Sonday.
We continue to pray for the following: Carol Robertshaw and a broken foot, Ann Mead & surgery on April 17th, the young man that Dan & Edie are mentoring, Evelyn Touchstone, Bob McDonough & heart problems, Ellen Burton & breast cancer, Karen with a possible liver transplant, Rachelle Taylor & a large infection, Uncle Dale & chemo, Jim Pombe & heart problems, Joe Barty & throat cancer, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Mike Joos & recovery from radiation treatment, George Martin & cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, John Rodgers with cancer, Stan Reed & cancer
Pray for our missionaries - SeaFM in Southeast Asia, Dr. George Pe Myat in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel For Asia, The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, and all the missionaries worldwide. Just as a note - our Laos mission team will be showing pictures and talking about the trip to Laos on Sonday, March 28
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
LORD of All Creation,
We struggle to fully express how much we love You. Words are inadequate to tell You how totally we depend on You, love You and need You. Everything that is within us strains towards You.
Father, we ask Your blessings on Lois, Katie and Aunt Pat as they face these health challenges.
We lift up Ruth and her family as they grieve Merle’s passing and ask that You bring peace and comfort to them. LORD, we rejoice because we know he’s with You and that we will see him soon, but we miss him. Tell him “hi!” for us.
Mighty Warrior God, we lift our brother Abdul before You and we praise You that he would rather face death than deny You. We ask that You build a stronghold of protection around him so that he continues to be strong for You. Bring him through this situation.
We pray Your abundance on Biana, LORD God, as she makes this faith-commitment to You. Bless her, LORD, with Your peace. We lift up our mission team to Mexico and ask that the funds needed for this trip will be raised.
We cry out to You, Jesus, knowing that You everlasting love abounds for us. All that this world has to offer is just not enough. We want everything - we want You. Because of You, our cup of life truly does runneth over.
We pray that Your grace and mercy will be on all who are on our prayer chain, Spirit of Life.
Abba God, with humble hearts we lift up the leaders You have set to serve You around the world. We lift up Your missionaries who have taken the great commission to the ends of the earth. We lift up our beloved pastors that You have placed to lead us. We call out for our ministry leaders and all of the ministries that serve You. Keep us focused on You.
We ask that You open our eyes and our hearts to see the opportunities that You give us to share Your Good News with others.
Holy God, we pray for our country, that You bring healing to her. Guide our leaders in their decisions. We pray for the safety of all who serve our country in the military.
LORD Jesus, You are who our hearts are longing for. There is not a day that goes by when I do not imagine what it is going to be like to bow at Your feet, I imagine my tears of joy, love and gratitude as I see You, I imagine my hand trembling in anticipation as I reach to touch Your feet. In this imagining is where my hope lies, it is knowing that I am going to see You that gives me the strength to face my days. And as glorious as my imaginings are - I know that the reality of You will be far, far more than I have ever dreamed. We love You, LORD. We just want to be with You.
Bible Reading - March 19 - 25, 2006
Dueteronomy 28 - the curse God would put on the Israelites if they abandoned God - was enough to scare the tar out of me - and I am reading it several thousand years after it was given! And yet, Israel strayed time and time again! As we continue to read through His Word, we will see the places in Israel’s history when this curse was brought to pass.
The first three chapters of 1 Corinthians seem to express Paul’s frustrations with the divisions within the Corinth church - and my-oh-my, the names have changes but division within the church remains. I really liked the last section of Chapter 1 where Paul talks about none of the Corinth church being among the brightest and best of society and how God chose people that the culture overlooks, exploits and abuses. I really, really liked the last verse where Paul says that if we are going to blow a horn - blow a trumpet for God. My prayer for you and for me this week is that we are the Louie Armstrong’s of trumpet blowing for God.
This week we continue in Joshua - an exciting adventure of claiming the promised land, and we stay in 1st Corinthians.
Sonday, March 19......................Joshua 3-6, I Cor 4
Monday, March 20....................Joshua 7-8, Psalm 69, I Cor 5
Tuesday, March 21....................Joshua 9-11, 1 Cor 6
Wednesday, March 22...............Joshua 12-14, I Cor 7
Thursday, March 23...................Joshua 15-17; 1 Cor 8
Friday, March 24........................Joshua 18-20; I Cor 9
Saturday, March 25....................Joshua 21-22, Psalm 47, I Cor 10
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Genesis 16: 1-2 (MSG) “Sarai, Abram's wife, hadn't yet produced a child. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, "GOD has not seen fit to let me have a child. Sleep with my maid. Maybe I can get a family from her." Abram agreed to do what Sarai said.”
In one of my rare moments of domesticity I decided that I wanted to learn a certain type of needlepoint. That it was probably the most difficult style didn’t deter me - I was going to learn. A friend offered to teach it to me, so I went bought a kit. My friend was taking (in my opinion) too much time to get around to teaching me so I decided that I would read the instructions in the kit and teach myself to do it. So needle in hand, I took the first stitch. My first one looked just like the illustration, so I boldly took the second stitch, the third one and the fourth one. The fourth one wasn’t in the right place, so I pulled it out and redid it. Now there was a little hole in the material - but that would probably go away. I placed another series of stitches then noticed that some of them were loose and some of them were tight, so I had to pull out a bunch of them and make them the same. The material was pretty holey now in that area so I switched over to a different section - and a different stitch. I tried to learn the new stitch, It was some sort of a knot and I had to take it out so many times an even larger hole was formed. Then to make matters worse, I jabbed myself with the needle and ended up bleeding all over the material. In disgust I threw out the kit - and never did learn to do that needlepoint.
God had promised Abram a son, and had told him that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars. This was a pretty incredible promise because Sarai, Abram’s wife, was barren. A little bit of time passed and Sarai decides that God needs a little help. She gave Abram her maid, Hagar, to get pregnant for her. Abram agreed (apparently Hagar had little if any choice) and Hagar got pregnant. Troubles started immediately as a jealous Sarai and a snotty Hagar started to clash. Shortly thereafter, Ishmael was born. When Ishmael was about 11 God came to Abram again, changed his name to Abraham, changed Sarai’s name to Sarah and repeated the promise of a son. Abraham started talking about Ishmael, and God responded that Ishmael was not the one - that the promise would be fulfilled through Sarah’s son. God then promised that Ishmael would be the father of 12 rulers (Genesis 17:20). About a year later Isaac was born and trouble erupted again. Jealousies caused Sarah to demand that Hagar and Ishmael be put out of the camp. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain for Abraham. When my daughter went into Americorps and was sent to other side of the country I thought I was going to cry until she came back - and I did cry a lot during that year from missing her so much. How much worse it must have been for Abraham to send his son away from him forever. (The next time that Ishmael & Abraham are shown in the same place is at Abraham’s funeral)
I took matters into my own hands with the needlepoint instead of waiting for the person who knew what they were doing to come and show me what I needed to know. I ended up with a great big mess that I ended up throwing away and I never did learn to do the needlepoint.
Sarah knew that God had promised Abraham a son. But when that son did not appear fast enough for her she took matters into her own hands - with Abraham’s willing participation. And when Hagar was pregnant peace departed for good from Abraham’s home. The rivalry between Sarah and Hagar was so intense that Hagar ran away. Although the Word doesn’t say so - is there much doubt that after Ishmael’s birth the rivalry continued? I wonder how Sarah reacted when Abraham spent his time with that son of a slave woman. When Abraham played baseball with Ishmael, did Hagar shoot Sarah a niener-miener-niener look? How many times did Abraham try to maintain the peace between them? How successful do you think he was?
The when Ishmael was thirteen the child of promise, Isaac, was born. The problems escalated to the point where Sarah demanded that Ishmael be sent away with his mother. And that is what happened. But even with Ishmael’s absence peace did not come back to Abraham. He loved Ishmael - how often did he grieve for him? How often did he look at his wife and feel anger at her over her jealousy. How often did he see people approaching his camp and his heart would leap with the hope that they had news of Ishmael.
All of this pain, discontent and jealousy because Sarah and Abraham could not wait for the One who knew what He was doing to act in His own time. They took matters into their own hands and a lifetime of chaos, pain and grief were what they got for it.
And the chaos, pain and grief did not end. In Genesis 37:25-27, Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. The Ishmaelites bought him and took him to Egypt. Ishmael was the father of twelve rulers (or tribes). Jacob, Isaac’s son, was also the father of twelve tribes. Jacob’s sons, the grandchildren of Isaac, the child of promise, established the nation of Israel. Ishmael’s sons established the nations of the Arab world. The anger and hatred between Abraham’s son, Ishmael and Abraham’s son, Isaac, that destroyed the peace of Abraham’s camp, continues to destroy the peace in the Middle East today.
I wonder how different the world would be today if Abraham and Sarah had not taken matters into their own hands.
God’s job is to reign over the universe and to reign over eternity. He has control of everything, and He is doing a great job of it. We don’t need to interfere with His job.
Our job is to worship Him, serve Him and grow within Him. I bet He wishes we would do more of our job and less of His.
Father, You are God. You don’t need my help in running anything. When I start to take matters into my own hands - remind me to mind my own business - which is to worship, serve and grow.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the FFBC e-Ministries at valerie@fresnofirst.org
e-Praise & Prayers - March 15, 2006
Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray
from the depths of my heart. -Martin Luther
Ray Callahan is one of the final applicants for a Fleet Supervisor position. Please keep him in prayer as his interview is this Friday at 8:30.
Mitzi Aycock’s Aunt Pat is having a biopsy for colon cancer. Aunt Pat is the care giver for her son Brett who is paralyzed so she is worried about who will care for him if she has to undergo cancer treatments.
Chris and Jon Aycocks great-uncle Glen was accidentally killed by a car in the parking lot of the church he was preaching at on last Wednesday. Please keep the family in prayer.
Our little Katie Arrizon was briefly hospitalized at Valley Childrens for seizures caused by panic attacks. She is home now, but is having to use a walker to help her get around without falling.
Joyce Metzer, Lill Wilson’s mom, broke her right wrist & will be in a cast for 4 weeks.
Please continue to keep Biana Grogg in prayer as her fund-raising for her time in Nigeria continues. Our youth are readying for their Mexico Mission trip during Easter break - stock sales continue this Sonday.
We continue to pray for the following: Carol Robertshaw and a broken foot, Ann Mead & surgery on April 17th, the young man that Dan & Edie are mentoring, Evelyn Touchstone, Bob McDonough & heart problems, Ellen Burton & breast cancer, Karen with a possible liver transplant, Rachelle Taylor & a large infection, Uncle Dale & chemo, Bobbi Ronsley & lupus, Jim Pombe & heart problems, Joe Barty & throat cancer, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Lois Thompson & recovery from a stroke, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Mike Joos & recovery from radiation treatment, George Martin & cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, Merle Rush & recovery from a stroke, John Rodgers with cancer, Stan Reed & cancer
Pray for our missionaries - SeaFM in Southeast Asia, Dr. George Pe Myat in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel For Asia, The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, and all the missionaries worldwide. Just as a note - our Laos mission team will be showing pictures and talking about the trip to Laos on Sonday, March 28
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Great and Marvelous God,
How our hearts sing to be in Your presence. How our souls leap with joy at the sound of Your name! How our bodies dance within Your radiance! How our minds find comfort in Your nearness. You are our God - there is none beside You!
LORD Jesus, we pray for Ray as he interviews for this new position. Keep his spirit calm so that he interviews well. Use him on his job site to spread the Good News of Jesus.
We pray, Spirit of Light, for Aunt Pat as she undergoes this biopsy. We pray that all goes well, but if that is not the path she is to walk, then we pray that You will surround her with those willing to help her with her son.
We pray for the extended Aycock family as they grieve the loss of Uncle Glen. Let them find peace in knowing that Uncle Glen is with You. Right now Uncle Glen is happier, healthier and better than he ever was on earth.
Abba, we lift Katie up before You. Katie gives the best hugs in the world because she hugs from the heart out. Guard over this precious child of Yours. Grant her the inner strength she needs.
We pray for Lill’s Mom, Joyce, that You knit her bones back together and restore her health.
Holy Spirit, move in the hearts of Your people as Biana fund raises. Help us to help her in her desire to be Your witness in Nigeria. We pray for our Mexico Mission team as they sell stock in their mission trip.
You are our God Who always was, You are our God Who always is, You are our God Who always will be. Blessed be the name of our LORD. You knew us before the foundations of the earth we laid - and You loved us then with an everlasting love.
Holy Father, be with all who are on our prayer chain. Each of them is a beloved child of Yours. Each of them desires that they bring glory to Your name. Continue to move in their lives.
We pray, Alpha & Omega, for safety and provision for all of Your missionaries who serve You around the world. We pray for our beloved pastors as they serve You. We pray for our ministries that they will always glorify You. Give us opportunities to be Your witnesses.
We pray for our country, her leaders and for all the men and women who serve in the military.
We thank You, LORD of All, for Your great love for us. When we are unfaithful to You, You remain faithful to us. When we turn from You, You never turn from us. When our love for You is weak - Your love for us remains strong. You are the source of our lives. We love You.
e-Praise & Prayers - March 15, 2006
Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray
from the depths of my heart. -Martin Luther
Ray Callahan is one of the final applicants for a Fleet Supervisor position. Please keep him in prayer as his interview is this Friday at 8:30.
Mitzi Aycock’s Aunt Pat is having a biopsy for colon cancer. Aunt Pat is the care giver for her son Brett who is paralyzed so she is worried about who will care for him if she has to undergo cancer treatments.
Chris and Jon Aycocks great-uncle Glen was accidentally killed by a car in the parking lot of the church he was preaching at on last Wednesday. Please keep the family in prayer.
Our little Katie Arrizon was briefly hospitalized at Valley Childrens for seizures caused by panic attacks. She is home now, but is having to use a walker to help her get around without falling.
Joyce Metzer, Lill Wilson’s mom, broke her right wrist & will be in a cast for 4 weeks.
Please continue to keep Biana Grogg in prayer as her fund-raising for her time in Nigeria continues. Our youth are readying for their Mexico Mission trip during Easter break - stock sales continue this Sonday.
We continue to pray for the following: Carol Robertshaw and a broken foot, Ann Mead & surgery on April 17th, the young man that Dan & Edie are mentoring, Evelyn Touchstone, Bob McDonough & heart problems, Ellen Burton & breast cancer, Karen with a possible liver transplant, Rachelle Taylor & a large infection, Uncle Dale & chemo, Bobbi Ronsley & lupus, Jim Pombe & heart problems, Joe Barty & throat cancer, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Lois Thompson & recovery from a stroke, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Mike Joos & recovery from radiation treatment, George Martin & cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, Merle Rush & recovery from a stroke, John Rodgers with cancer, Stan Reed & cancer
Pray for our missionaries - SeaFM in Southeast Asia, Dr. George Pe Myat in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel For Asia, The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, and all the missionaries worldwide. Just as a note - our Laos mission team will be showing pictures and talking about the trip to Laos on Sonday, March 28
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Great and Marvelous God,
How our hearts sing to be in Your presence. How our souls leap with joy at the sound of Your name! How our bodies dance within Your radiance! How our minds find comfort in Your nearness. You are our God - there is none beside You!
LORD Jesus, we pray for Ray as he interviews for this new position. Keep his spirit calm so that he interviews well. Use him on his job site to spread the Good News of Jesus.
We pray, Spirit of Light, for Aunt Pat as she undergoes this biopsy. We pray that all goes well, but if that is not the path she is to walk, then we pray that You will surround her with those willing to help her with her son.
We pray for the extended Aycock family as they grieve the loss of Uncle Glen. Let them find peace in knowing that Uncle Glen is with You. Right now Uncle Glen is happier, healthier and better than he ever was on earth.
Abba, we lift Katie up before You. Katie gives the best hugs in the world because she hugs from the heart out. Guard over this precious child of Yours. Grant her the inner strength she needs.
We pray for Lill’s Mom, Joyce, that You knit her bones back together and restore her health.
Holy Spirit, move in the hearts of Your people as Biana fund raises. Help us to help her in her desire to be Your witness in Nigeria. We pray for our Mexico Mission team as they sell stock in their mission trip.
You are our God Who always was, You are our God Who always is, You are our God Who always will be. Blessed be the name of our LORD. You knew us before the foundations of the earth we laid - and You loved us then with an everlasting love.
Holy Father, be with all who are on our prayer chain. Each of them is a beloved child of Yours. Each of them desires that they bring glory to Your name. Continue to move in their lives.
We pray, Alpha & Omega, for safety and provision for all of Your missionaries who serve You around the world. We pray for our beloved pastors as they serve You. We pray for our ministries that they will always glorify You. Give us opportunities to be Your witnesses.
We pray for our country, her leaders and for all the men and women who serve in the military.
We thank You, LORD of All, for Your great love for us. When we are unfaithful to You, You remain faithful to us. When we turn from You, You never turn from us. When our love for You is weak - Your love for us remains strong. You are the source of our lives. We love You.
I get a weekly devotional "Upwards" drawn from Max Lucado's writings. This one is so beautiful - such a precious picture of our Father - that I thought I would share the joy of it with you. - Valerie
IN THE BEGINNING - - -
by Max Lucado
The Father was dreaming. I could see it in His eyes- the sparkle. It was there again.
“What is it You see, my King?”
He didn’t turn, but kept His gaze fixed on the great emptiness- the massive, boundless, unending space. The more He looked, the more His eyes would dance. I knew He saw something.
I looked in the same direction. I leaned forward and stared intently. All I saw was emptiness. All I ever saw was emptiness.
I hadn’t seen the sphere that He had pulled out of the sky. “Where was that?” I asked as He began molding it in His hands.
“It was there,” He replied, looking outward. I looked and saw nothing. When I turned, He was smiling. He knew a seraph’s vision was too limited.
The same thing happened with the water. “Where did this come from?” I asked, touching the strange substance.
“I saw it, Michael.” He chuckled as He filled an ocean from His palm. “And when I saw it, I made it. I saw it near the stars.”
“The what?”
“The stars.” Out into the void He reached. When He pulled back His hand, He kept it closed as if to entice me to lean forward. I did. And just as my face was near, He opened His hand. A burst of light escaped, and I looked up just in time to see it illuminate His face, too. Once again, He was smiling.
“Watch how they sparkle,” He reveled. And with a flip of His wrist, the palmful of diamonds soared into the blackness until they found their destiny, and there they hung.
“Won’t the children love them?” the Maker said as together we watched the twinkling begin.
_____________________________
From In the Beginning
Copyright 2006, Max Lucado
Bible Reading - March 12 thru March 18
I noticed something interesting in Deuteronomy 1:37 when Moses is talking to the Children of Israel and tells them that the LORD was angry at him for their sakes and would not let Moses go into the promised land. Then again in Duet. 3:23-26 where he says that he begged God to let him go into the Promised Land - but that the LORD was angry at him on their account and would not listen to him. I think Moses was passing the buck on this one. If I remember right, the Israelites were indeed complaining (nothing new there - it seems like they complained every step of the way) and Father God gave Moses specific instructions on how to respond - but Moses - in his anger at them - did something different. God did not forbid Moses the Promised Land because of their sin of complaining, He denied Moses the Promised Land because Moses allowed his anger to rule his actions and he disobeyed God.
I loved reading the end of Mark - the crucifixion is always hard to read, but my spirit leaps with joy when I read of the resurrection because when Jesus rose from the dead He brought me with Him. We started Galatians this week - and I had to shake my head at Chapter 2 when I read of Peter and Paul's disagreement. I guess that church is church - whether you are in 60 AD or 2006 AD.
This week we move into Joshua and 1 Corinthians!
Here is this week's plan:
Sonday, March 12.........Deut 19-21, Gal 3
Monday, March 13.........Deut 22-24, Gal 4
Tuesday, March 14........Deut 25-27, Gal 5
Wed, March 15............Deut 28-29, Gal 6
Thurs, March 16..........Deut 30-31, Psalm 40, 1 Cor 1
Friday, March 17.........Deut 32-34, 1 Corinthians 2
Sat, March ..............Joshua 1-2, I Corinthians 3
March, 2006
Dear Partners in the Gospel,
Another month has past and we are grateful for God’s many blessings and for your partnership in the task set before us.
Last month we asked you to pray for Umphai and Niam in the Payameng Rai church - they and another Christian family have been kicked out of the community funeral fund and ostracized by village leaders for their commitment to Jesus. We visited the church a couple of weeks ago and were surprised to find not only the 2 original families in worship but another lady from their area as well. None of them seem to be overly perturbed by the situation saying that God’s grace is sufficient for them – we Praise Him for His faithfulness.
Saturday evenings now see us traveling to Ban Sra to share with Muana and Villy and some new believers in their village. It is exciting to be part of the teaching and discipling of new believers and we are doing some chronological story telling with them. Just last night I found out that they are also meeting on their own to review the stories and worship God.
What’s MI - Mission impossible? No it’s some kind of Myocardial Infraction . what’s that? A heart attack (I think). Our area has been visited by a team from WHO looking at health information systems. The last couple of days of February saw us helping with material preparation and extending our own English vocabulary in the medical realm. Then for the actual day being translators. It was a good time to spend with the public health people in relationship building and we feel happy that the community sees us as a resource they can tap for such events.
Schools will be closing down by the end of this month and we will have stopped teaching giving us more opportunities to visit and spend time with neighbors. Hannah and Fran have been excellent in the teaching department and have covered for us a few times when we have had other commitments. We will miss them when they leave in the middle of the month.
With Love in Christ,
Jan and Larry
Prayer points
Praise God for the way things are working out in Payameng Rai. We pray that as God blesses his people others will be drawn to Him in spite of adversity.
Pray for the new believers in Ban Sea that they will grow in their faith and that the materials we are preparing for them will be appropriate and easy to understand. We praise God for their desire to learn and fellowship.
Pray for Fran and Hannah as they finish their time up in Thailand and return to England. Before they go they are being joined by Emma and another Hannah and we will to do 3 English days at different schools on the 16th, 17th and 18th of March
We have a number of trips to Chiang Mai in the next couple of months.
On the 12th and 13th we are having a team meeting and TBMF our umbrella organization here is due for a revamp in it’s organizational structure – we are both on the committee for this and will need to travel to CM 3 times in the next 2 months for meetings.
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Psalm 103:17 (New International Version) “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children”
Psalm 123:7-8(NIV) “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.”
My son Steven is one of the most stubborn people that I know. When I tell my mom that Steven is as stubborn as his father, she just laughs - apparently she thinks that Steven gets it from me. (When she was younger - back in the day when she walked 12 miles through the snow to get to school and then back for lunch (uphill both directions), my mom was served liver for lunch. My mom didn’t like liver so she refused to eat it. My grandpa told her to sit at that table until she ate it. When he came home from work that night my mom was still sitting at that table, liver uneaten - so we know where I got it from, don’t we?) My mom likes to tell stories of how stubborn I am. When I was young and we were living in Utah my mom told me I was old enough to dress myself. I didn’t want to dress myself so she told me to sit on the sofa and not to move until I got myself dressed. When a neighbor stopped by later that day she commented on what a pretty doll my mom had sitting on the sofa. It wasn’t a doll - it was me - and I wasn’t moving. (Remember the liver?) Then there was the time when I was a little older - maybe in kindergarten - and my mom and I had a disagreement. I was really angry because she would not let me do what I wanted to do and I decided I wasn’t going to put up with that anymore. So I got my baby buggy and my favorite doll. I packed some of her clothes and some of mine, then snuck some food out of the kitchen and down the driveway I went. I was running away to show her that she wasn’t the boss of me. I got to the end of the driveway and the neighbor woman was out in her front lawn. She asked me where I was going and I explained that I was leaving home for good. She invited me into her house for some homemade cookies and a glass of milk. She was trying to talk some sense into me - but my stubborn little chin was up in the air - and I wasn’t listening. I think she was on the verge of giving up and calling my mother when an earthquake hit. It was a minor quake - particularly for the Los Angeles area - but it scared me. My neighbor leaned over and said, “Your mama is looking for you right now, and she is scared cause she can’t find you.” I burst into tears and, dragging my buggy behind me, ran home to my mother. She had been looking for me - but I don’t know if she ever knew that I had spent 20 minutes as a runaway.
In one instance of my stubbornness, I defied my mother to the best of my ability because I was intent on getting my own way. In the other instance my stubbornness caused me to run away from my mother - again because I was not getting my own way. In my anger I convinced myself that my mom didn’t really love me because if she did - she would let me have my way. And if she didn’t love me, I wasn’t going to love her anymore.
Did my mom quit loving me when I convinced myself that I did not love her? If she would have known that I had run away from her would she have disowned me and left me on my own? If she had known that I told the neighbor that she wasn’t my mother any more would she have responded that I was not her daughter any more? Of course not. My mother loved me. Her love for me was as much a part of her as the beat of her heart. Her commitment to me was as strong when I was defying her as when I was obeying her. Even years later, when I was breaking her heart through my drug use, her love was just as strong and committed to me as it was on the day that I marched up that driveway with my doll and my baby buggy. I didn’t deserve her love - but that didn’t seem to make a difference to her.
My mom’s love for me - in spite of how many times I denied her - is the reason that I know that Father loves me. Just as Mom’s love for me was committed and constant, Father’s love for me is committed and constant - in fact, His love for me is eternal. When I defy Him by choosing to do what I know grieves Him, He loves me. When I shook my fist in His face and told Him that I hated Him and I was not His child - He still called me His daughter. When I descended into the depths of the hell of drugs, His heart broke for me. When I was dying from the drugs and wanted to live, He reached into the sewer of my despair and fished me out.
Because He loves me.
Father is not a here-today-gone-tomorrow type of God. When we sing His name in praise on Sonday morning. He loves us. When we use His name as a curse on Monday, He loves us. His great love for us is not performance based. He doesn’t love us when we are making Him proud of us, then turn His back when we shame Him. His love for us is everlasting. He knew us and loved us before the foundations of the earth were laid. When the earth passes away into distant memory, His love will be just as strong. In Jeremiah, His promise is that “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” His love is as much a part of Him as the beat of His mighty heart.
Steven is so stubborn. He drives me to the edge as only a 17 year old boy/man can. Because of Steven, I understand why some animals eat their young. But it is impossible for me to tell you how much I love him. Sometimes he makes me so proud that it is surprising that my love for him doesn’t come bursting out of my chest. Sometimes he makes me so mad that my love is the only thing that keeps me from shooting him. But through all the highs and lows I love my son with everything I’ve got. And I always will.
Father’s love for us is just as strong - even stronger. We can depend on it.
Abba, I have denied You, I have defied You, I have run away from You and still You love me with an everlasting love. I don’t deserve Your love - but Your love is not based on how I behave or what I deserve. Thank You for your love for me. I depend on Your love in my life - and in my eternity.
Contact Valerie at valerie@fresnofirst.org
When you look at the life Jesus lived…
You don’t find Jesus distracted.
You don’t find Jesus rushed.
You don’t find Jesus worried.
You don’t find Jesus having to do it all.
You don’t find Jesus living with guilt. -Rob Bell
Dan and Lois Hansen asked my to pass along their heartfelt gratitude for all the prayers as they faced Dan’s job transition this past year. Dan has started his new job in security services and gets to do a bunch of traveling - he is loving it!
Ann Mead is finally scheduled for her hip replacement surgery on April 17th.
Carol Robertshaw has broken her ankle - she may be down for a month.
The two kids that I am trying to get as foster kids are doing well. One of our members has the same doctor as they do and ran into them. They told her that they are in a Christian home and they really like it there.
Please continue to keep Biana Grogg in prayer as we get closer and closer to sending her off to Nigeria. Please keep me in prayer as I continue to plan to go to the RHS in India. The group that I am working with on this has notified me that now they are looking at December for this mission trip. Our youth are readying for their Mexico Mission trip during Easter break - stock sales continue this Sonday.
We continue to pray for the following: the young man that Dan & Edie are mentoring, Evelyn Touchstone, Bob McDonaugh & heart problems, Ellen Burton & breast cancer, Karen with a possible liver transplant, Rachelle Taylor & a large infection, Uncle Dale & chemo, Bobbi Ronsley & lupus, Jim Pombe & heart problems, Joe Barty & throat cancer, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Lois Thompson & recovery from a stroke, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Mike Joos & recovery from radiation treatment, George Martin & cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, Merle Rush & recovery from a stroke, John Rodgers with cancer, Stan Reed & cancer
Pray for our missionaries - SeaFM in Southeast Asia, Dr. George Pe Myat in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel For Asia, The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, and all the missionaries worldwide. Just as a note - our Laos mission team will be showing pictures and talking about the trip to Laos on Sonday, March 28
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Father God,
You are God of Wonders. As spring once again bursts forth in its glorious display of color we praise You once again for Your creativity and Your eye for beauty. Thank You for surrounding us with this beauty.
Lord Who reigns on High, we lift our sister Ann before You and ask that You comfort her as she waits for this surgery. Be with her doctors as they prepare. We call out for Carol Robertshaw and ask that her ankle be healed quickly.
We lift Biana before You as she prepares for Nigeria. Jehovah-Jirah - provide for her needs. We thank You for the example of radical faith that she is living.
LORD God, there are a lot of things I doubt in this world sometimes. Most of them are centered in my own self-doubt. I doubt that I am good enough or strong enough for what lies ahead. I doubt in who I am, I doubt my sanity sometimes - but I never doubt Your incredible love for me.
We pray for healing of body, soul and spirit for all those who continue to be on our prayer chain.
We lift up our missionaries before You, Holy Spirit, and ask that You bind satan away from them, that they do not listen to his lies, that their hearts are guarded and their needs provided for.
Thank You for the incredible leaders that You have set before us. Help us to lift our pastors up before You in unceasing prayer. Help us to find new ways to show our love and support for them.
Give us opportunities this week to share Your Good News with the world. LORD Jesus, when we open our mouths to tell others of You, help us to make sure that our lifestyles back up our words.
Father, bless our country. Bless and guide our President and all of our leadership. Grant peace to our military men and women.
We love You so much, LORD God, we worship You and You alone, because You alone are worthy of our praise.
NEW LIFE
By Karen Musselman
What joy was born that first Easter Day,
Jesus Arose! He rose from the grave!
When Jesus died and rose again.
New Life, new hope was given to man.
Our sins are forgiven,
We’ve been set free.
There’s New Life in Jesus,
to all who believe.
Life has new meaning,
Death is not the end.
Because He Lives,
We shall live again.
Thank you Dear Father
for all that you’ve done.
You loved us so much
that you sent us your Son.
How awesome! How wonderful!
This was God’s plan.
The gift of New Life
freely given to man.
Note from Valerie: This beautiful poem was written by our own "Teacher Karen" She read it at our writers club and I asked her to send it to me so I could share it's beauty with you. In her e-mail she said that she wasn't a writer. When you see her this next Sonday - tell her that she is indeed a writer.
Bible Reading Plan - March 12- 18
We had some really interesting reading this week. Numbers chapter 21 started out with the story of the bronze snake - keep that snake in your memory because it will become important again during the Kings of Israel. And one of my favorite stories Balaam & his donkey. It is funny to me that Balaam was so angry at his donkey that he gets into an argument with her. She is talking to him - and all he can focus on is thelling the donkey - “If I had a sword in my hand - you would be dead!” And Mark - as are all of the Gospels - is just some of my favorite reading - I always seem to find something new. I found something I never really noticed before - I am planning to ask our professional Christian about it just as soon as I am done with my own research into it (which means that I am going to run a word search on the four gospels) Mark 7:34 tells the story of Jesus healing a deaf man with a speech impediment. It says “Looking up to heaven, He (Jesus) sighed.....” Why did Jesus sigh - and do the gospels record Him sighing any place else? If you have any thoughts about this - send them off to me!
Here is this weeks reading - we are out of numbers and into Deuteronomy. We leave Mark & go into Galatians.
Sonday, March 5.............Deut.1-2, Mark 12
Monday, March 6............Deut. 3-4, Psalm 36, Mark 13
Tuesday, March 7............Deut. 5-6, Psalm 43, Mark 14
Wed. March 8..................Deut 7-9, Mark 15
Thurs, March 9................Deut 10-12, Mark 16
Friday, March 10..............Deut 13-15, Gal. 1
Sat. March 11...................Deut 16-18, Psalm 38, Gal 2
Enjoy your reading! Congratulations on getting this far - if you have dropped behind or have stopped, start fresh with this week’s readings!
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
We Are Alive. Praise Him.
It is customary for me in the last 30 years to travel through the night and work through the day, though the path is a jungle area with all the snakes and the jungle animals and the Naxalites.
On the 27th I was returning from Chennai to Malkangiri via the jungle path as this saves me one full day than the regular Bus route. This time I had no peace of mind to drive through the Naxalite infested jungle are in the middle of the night so night halted at Badrachalam hoping to get a good sleep. But at 3:15 AM there was a police raid in the hotel where we were staying and I could not go to sleep again and so started to pray and then got ready around 8 AM. After about travelling for about 2 hours we were in the jungle area stopped by the Naxalites. I was frightened, started to pray and the Naxalite looked inside the jeep said nothing and let us pass.
After about an hour of travel, while nearing Konta we saw a huge crowd of over 100 people with weapons and rods in their hands standing across the road. Suddenly some ran toward our jeep and pulled open the door and were forcing me to get down. Our missionary Sopan who was driving the jeep, tried to move to the side of the road, took a sudden fast left turn into the jungle area and started to drive very fast in the jungle area and tried to go back to the road to take another route but the mob chased us on bikes and a jeep for about 10 minutes and caught us and forced open the door and we got down. They were mad and said that we disobeyed them and there has been a bomb blast and many killed. We knew they wanted our jeep for their use. They said we need to go back to the place where we were stopped to the huge crowd area. We had no options and so went back and here they forced us out and started to break the jeep and broke the rear window completely and when Sopan prevented this they started to beat him. I started to cry and shout and embraced Sopan from getting the beating shouting that Sopan is my staff and they should beat me before touching him. They pulled me off him and made me and Sopan's wife and 2 children and kept us in a hut and drove away with Sopan. This frightened me, and I went in the way the jeep went to look for Sopan. The mob kept shouting at me saying that they are going to kill me, But I kept crying and walking in search of the jeep. Fortunately I met 2 IMS missionaries of Konta area, Mr. Sebastian and Dr Xavier and they told me hurriedly that this is the mob that was to have gone in search of the Naxalites and to hold a rally to plan as to how to capture the naxlites and so the Naxalite bombed their trucks killed 26 of them and took around 250 people as hostages into the jungle and so the mob is angry and needed vehicles for their movements. After about an hour there was some calm, though the women in the village were crying and shouting at the loss of their family members. Finally we found the jeep near a police station with Sopan who was not harmed. Praise God.
After 3 hours when the road was cleared we left for Malkangiri driving through the jungle again and reached Malkangiri around 9 15 PM.
I did not lose my handbag, my mobile, computer and my passport. All our things were there as I had left them in the jeep. Praise God.
The mob was still shouting when we were leaving. This has been a very frightening experience, BUT I see the hand of God in preventing me from travelling through the night as then we would have landed in the area in the night when the Naxalites were setting the bombs in the middle of the road and we would have been sure dead by now. The Hand of the Lord protected us and we are safe in Malkangiri.
I have to travel again in 2 days taking the FC papers to Chennai to consult with Mr. Kandasami. I will appreciate your prayers. Though now I will take the 3 day long route to Chennai, still there is a jungle area which I will pass during the day time. Any way the Bomb blast by the Naxalite was around 10 AM in board daylight. So I will appreciate your prayers for protection for all of us we continue to work here.
Please remember that our missionaries Dilip Bhag, Niranjan and his wife Prabhati stay in Rabaguda to work, which is a Naxalite infested jungle area.
We NEED your prayers.
We are all alive by His grace Praise Him.
Iris
Valerie Rae Hanneman
John 13:8 (The Message) Peter persisted, "You're not going to wash my feet--ever!" Jesus said, "If I don't wash you, you can't be part of what I'm doing."
Recently we had a “Ministry Faire” at the church to highlight all the various ministries of the church and to promote involvement by our congregation in those ministries. I had originally planned on being at another church that morning but got called to sub in on the TV camera. Because I had not planned to be there I was not working a table for Kids Klub so I had the opportunity to just wander the faire. I waved at my friend, Ilene Luna, and she waved for me to come over to her. Now Ilene is not only the sister of my heart and my friend, Ilene is my “magician-beautician” So when she waved me over I paid attention. (Any woman will tell you that there are three people you don’t mess with. You don’t mess with your receptionist, your mechanic, or your hairdresser. Tick off your receptionist and she will start “accidentally” dropping all your important calls. Tick off your mechanic and you will be paying for repairs on engine parts you never heard of - like a “v” joint or getting your brakes greased. Tick off your hairdresser and your bad hair days may go on for months! So I got myself over to Ilene.) Along with working a booth, Ilene was washing feet and she wanted to wash my feet. I was dumbfounded at her request. That anybody would want to do that to me is surprising enough - but Ilene? If anybody should be washing anybody’s feet - I should be washing Ilene’s. And not because she does my hair, but because you don’t find too many hearts that are as Christ-focused as Ilene’s. When I got over my surprise, I refused. She persisted and I started giving excuses. (They were woman-to-woman excuses so for the peace of mind of the gentlemen who read this, I will not share them.) Ilene explained why it was important to her to wash my feet, and so I finally agreed to her request.
When we see the picture “The Last Supper” we see Jesus and His disciples seated around a table but they actually reclined around their meal tables. Because they walked dusty roads in sandals, eating with your feet at face level to your neighbor could cause a problem. They took care of that by having a slave whose job was to wash the feet of the diners. On the totem pole of slaves, the foot-washer was at the very bottom. When the disciples started to arrive at the upper room that last time they saw that the bowl was there, the pitcher was there, the towel was there. The foot-washer was not. After a moment of consternation, they hurry past the bowl, anxious to get the spot closest to Jesus. After a few minutes Jesus gets up and starts to wash His disciples feet as if He - the Glory of Heaven - were the lowest of the lowest. We only have Peter’s reaction to this situation - but don’t you wonder how the rest of them reacted? And how about Judas? As Jesus washed his feet - did their eyes meet? How did Judas feel with his betrayal-guilt naked in his eyes to look into Jesus’ eyes and see His love for Judas naked in His eyes? But Peter - we know Peter’s response. He watched in shock as Jesus got closer and closer - the water getting grayer and grayer. Then Jesus kneels before him, and Peter reacts as he often did - explosively. He didn’t understand what Jesus was teaching, and he wasn’t willing to take Jesus’ place - but he knew that in the scheme of things the Messiah did not go washing a fisherman’s feet. He was unwilling to allow Jesus to serve him because he knew that he should be serving Jesus. I believe that as unwilling as Peter was to have Jesus wash his feet, he would have been more than willing to wash Jesus’ feet. He was willing to serve - but not to be served.
Before renewing my life in Christ I was like most of the world. Proud and stiff-necked - I was out for me first. The thought of serving another with no gain to myself was as alien as an afternoon stroll on the sun. Even when I acted like I was serving another - on the inside I was always looking for the angle. When I came back to Christ it took awhile for me to find the joy of serving another. I responded to Jesus’ call to the Care Fresno Kids ministry not because I wanted to serve but because obeying His call was better than being swallowed by some fish. Over the years I have made a 180 degree change in that attitude. I love to serve. I serve Jesus first, then my family and my community of faith. People tell me that they don’t understand how I do all that I do at the church. They don’t know that what I am given the privilege of doing in Jesus’ name isn’t tiring - it is exhilarating! Life holds no greater joy than to serve in Jesus’ name.
But when it comes to being served - that is a different story. I - who am so willing to serve - have difficulty in being served. It is difficult for me to accept help when it is offered - and there is no way that I will ask for it. I was totally willing to wash Ilene’s feet - but not to have my feet washed. I was willing to wash her feet because Ilene is worthy of my serving her. I could go on and on and on about how worthy she is of my service.
Peter was willing to serve Jesus. Before the night was over he would declare his willingness to die for Him. But he was not willing to let Jesus serve him. He did not feel that he was worthy to be served by Jesus. I was willing to serve Ilene, but not for her to serve me. Was that because I did not feel that I was worthy to be served by her? I think that maybe that’s it.
Jesus told Peter that if he did not allow Jesus to wash his feet then he couldn’t be part of what He was doing. Jesus designed the Church to serve others and to be served. We, the Church, are the hands and feet of Jesus. As His hands and feet we are to serve Him by serving others. Conversely, He serves us though the service of others. It is though our service to each other that we most reflect His love.
I am willing to wash Ilene’s feet because I love her and honor her and because I love, honor and serve Jesus when I serve her. But when I was unwilling to have her wash my feet because I felt unworthy of her doing so - then not only did I deny her the chance to love and honor me and to love and honor Jesus through serving me but I also denied Jesus the chance to love and honor me through Ilene’s service. And in my refusal I chose to not be part of what He was doing. I was the only one who felt I was unworthy. Ilene felt I was worthy - and so did Jesus.
The foot washing was a unique experience - but the life changing experience was having Ilene look up at me with her love for Jesus - and for me - naked in her eyes. Ilene taught me that serving Jesus and others are the greatest joy - and so is being served by others and Jesus.
Jesus, LORD and Savior, I am only worthy to serve You and to be served because You make me worthy. Help me to accept being served as willingly as I serve.
I choose goodness...I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness. Max Lucado
The home visit from CPS was an amazing experience! All of the areas I was most worried about were not even an issue - I am hoping that I am on the downward slide of this process!
I am asking for prayer for a boy who has been attending Kids Klub. His behavior problems are just too much for me to allow him to be around the rest of our kids. Edie & Dan Gates mentor him - so please pray that they can make a difference in Jesus’ name for this young man.
Bob McDonough was taken to the hospital Wednesday with a heart attack. He is undergoing surgery at St Agnes today (Thursday).
Evelyn Touchstone is having some real health challenges - please remember her & her family
Rachelle Taylor, Libby Mietz’ granddaughter, has developed a large infection that will require surgery on her bone.
Fran Regier’s daughter, Karen, is in the hospital with liver failure & possibly needs a transplant.
Ann McBain is feeling under the weather with her own health challenges.
My sister, Cyndi, is requesting prayer for her sister-in-law, Ellen Burton. Ellen has been diagnosed with breast cancer and “dark spots” (probably cancer) on her bones.
Chris & Jon Aycock’s uncle Dale has had surgery for lymphoma and will soon start chemo.
Please pray for Reaching Hand Society in India - this is from a e-letter I received from Remo - “Earlier today while returning from Chennai the jeep of mummy was stopped by a mob that was protesting the killings of tribals by naxalites (extremists) and mummy and Sopon were pushed around (Sopon was beaten) and the window glass of the jeep was broken. The local police intervened and they are now safely in Malkangiri. Neither mummy nor Sopon are hurt. Will send you a detailed report as soon as I hear back from mummy. Will appreciate your prayers”
Please continue to keep Biana Grogg in prayer as we get closer and closer to sending her off to Nigeria. This is her last week at her job - what an amazing - but frightening - step of faith she is taking! Please keep me in prayer as I continue to plan to go to the RHS .in India. Our youth are readying for their Mexico Mission trip during Easter break - stock sales start this Sonday.
Norm Baird is one of the speakers at “Walk to Emmaus” this weekend. Please pray for him and all of the participants at this extraordinary weekend retreat.
We continue to pray for the following: Bobbi Ronsley & lupus, Jim Pombe & heart problems, Joe Barty & throat cancer, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Lois Thompson & recovery from a stroke, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Mike Joos & recovery from radiation treatment, George Martin & cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, Merle Rush & recovery from a stroke, John Rodgers with cancer, Stan Reed & cancer
Pray for our missionaries - The Reaching Hand Society in India, SeaFM in Southeast Asia, Dr. George Pe Myat in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel For Asia, The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors, our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Righteous Judge,
We know that there is in store for us the crown of righteousness that You, our LORD, our Righteous Judge, will award to us on that day and to all who have longed for Your appearing. LORD God, we long for Your appearing like a child who longs for their beloved parent. Our ears are constantly listening for that trumpet that marks the moment when You will call us home to You. Even so - Come, LORD Jesus!
LORD God, we pray for those who have health problems, Ellen, Karen, Rachelle, Ann, Evelyn, Bob and Dale. Place Your gentle hand of healing on them.
We pray for the Two Care Fresno children - let CPS move quickly and wisely. Be with Dan & Edie as they mentor this young man. Touch this boy’s heart and let him see You.
Jesu Mapru, we lift RHS before You and ask that Your protection surround them. We thank You that Dr. Iris & Sopon were not seriously harmed. We praise You for their courage.
Abba, Biana takes a big step towards You this week as she leaves the “security” of her job to step out in faith with You. We are not going to ask that You provide for her because that is a given. We ask that You calm her spirit. Your will be done on my going toIndia, Father. We ask for Your blessings on the Mexico Mission Trip.
Father, be with Norm this weekend. We know that he is going to make a difference in the lives of the men he will meet. We pray for these Emmaus Pilgrims, that they walk closer to You.
Adoni, Master, we pray for those who are on our prayer chain. Continue to work in hearts, lives and situations.
Jehovah Jirah, continue to be with our missionaries, pastors, leadership and ministries. May we always bring Glory to Your name.
God bless our country, her leaders and her military.
LORD Jesus, as we enter this lenten season give us opportunities to spend more time with You. To be in Your presence is to know our purpose. To hear You speak to us is to listen to the music of eternity. To see You move in our lives is to have peace and security. To know that we are loved by You is to have joy beyond imagining. We love You, LORD.