Note from Valerie: Char Cole, Faye Lowes, I and whomever else is around meet with Terrie Purgason every Friday just before Care Fresno Kids Klub for a time of prayer over the Klub meeting. Terrie usually shares a SOAP that she has written with us. I just loved this one about getting a grip on ourselves and asked her if I could share it with you. Thank you, Terrie!
GET A GRIP ON YOURSELF
Acts 26:24b - 25a
S = Festus said, “Paul, you’re crazy. You’ve read too many books, spent too much time staring off into space! Get a grip on yourself; get back in the real world.”
O = Paul’s story is Paul’s story. It’s real. God spoke to him. He intruded on his life in a spectacular way and this supernatural work of God changed Paul forever. When God called Paul to a life that was just the opposite of what he was living, his whole world was turned upside down.
Festus thought Paul was crazy and told him so. When he said to Paul, “Get a grip on yourself; get back to the real world!” -- in essence he was saying to him, “Paul, live up to my expectations of who you should be. Fit into my worldview (which of course is the real one).”
But Paul stood his ground! As he had said earlier, “What else could I do?” When God calls, God calls. Look at the wisdom in how he responded to the expectations of his accusers, those who were trying to fit him into their own mold. He said, “With all respect. . . I’m both accurate and sane in what I’m saying. . . .”
A = “Getting a grip on yourself” is not a bad thing. It means to come to terms with who you are whose you are and why you are. Many times those opposing us will challenge our story as being wrong! They do not understand that God’s grip on us leads us into a personal encounter with Jesus who ushers us into new life. Then, with our grip on Jesus, we can stand firm – and -- in respect of others, remain steadfast in who we are and why we’re here.
Each one of our stories is unique. And when God calls, God calls. It may not seem spectacular, but God does speak to us. How does He do this?
Here are some of the ways:
1. God invites us into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
2. God speaks through Scripture.
3. God speaks through teachers, leaders, friends, children, parents, spouses, the world ...
4. God speaks to our hearts through worship.
5. God speaks through a conviction of right and wrong.
6. God speaks by giving us strong urges and promptings to pray for or encourage someone.
7. God speaks through our circumstances.
What does God have to do to get us to listen to Him? He had to blind Paul in order for him to see.
Are we paying attention to God? Do we really believe that He speaks to us?
After reviewing the 7 ways He might be speaking, how can I be more intentional about listening to Him?
To listen to God is to be gripped by the reality of new life in Christ, and it may turn our world upside down.
What are we gripping on to? Or better yet, Who are we gripping on to? If it’s Jesus, we can stand firm – with wisdom -- to face those in opposition to us with boldness and respect.
P = Father,
I believe you are confirming the vision you’ve given me for your church, your body, your bride – to see her become everything you designed, salt and light – ambassadors of reconciliation, transforming the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The opposition to women doing what I do (from both men and women) is an on-going reality. Many want me to get a grip on their theology, worldview and/or practices. But in obedience to you and respect to them, I must stand firm and be who you’ve called me to be. As Paul said, “How can I do anything else?”
I don’t need to argue my case. I know who I am, whose I am, and why I am. So, I just need to tell my story and “put my know into my go!” You’ve opened doors for me that no one can shut. May I courageously and boldly move forward into all that you’ve designed -- by “getting a grip on myself” and following Jesus.
One of the greatest gifts we can give people is the hope that their death is nothing to fear--you know, not that it has no fear in it, but the promise of scripture is that God will lead us through the valley of the shadow of death. Max Lucado
We are now in one of my favorite times of the year - Christmas. I have already teared up several times as I have listened to Christmas carols proclaiming the birth of the Son of God. As we get so busy during this holiday - let’s not forget that Jesus is the reason.
Please continue to pray for a colleague of mine, Kris. She has been able to come home from the hospital but still has a long road to recovery.
Please pray for another co-worker of mine - Nora. The little 2 year old girl who was killed last night by the bus was her granddaughter. Please keep the whole family in prayer.
Please keep Hal and Char Cole in prayer as they travel back from the Chico area after attending their friend, Larry Reynold’s funeral. Please continue to pray for the family.
Samee Myers was in services this past Sonday and she looked GREAT! Even better - she feels that way too!
On Thursday, December 7th, we have the most exciting opportunity to share in the joy of St.Rest Missionary Baptist Church as they install their new pastor. We are invited to join them for an installation service that will begin at 7:00 pm. I am not sure of how - but I think a number of our church’s members are involved in the services. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. I will send out the address next week. (P.S. I am looking for someone to car pool with)
We continue to pray for: Hank Michalk, Floyd Willis, my friend down at Juvenile Hall, Sylvia Eland, Tony McDonald, Sharleen Ferree, Michael Ferris, Lance Corp. Eric Hamilton & Jacob Filpala in Iraq, Dorothy Wajckus, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries – The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Megan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, 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.
El Hai, Living God,
We were made to worship You. Your love for us is relentless - nothing can ever stop You from loving us. In the face of this extraordinary love, what else can we do but fall before You in worship - surrendering all that we are to You.
Spirit of Light, we pray for Your continued mercies and healing touch to be on Kris.
We lift up Nora and her family, Father God, and pray that You surround them with Your comfort during this time of unspeakable pain and loss.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - I will fear no evil - for You are with me. Thank You for Your promises, LORD of All
Holy Spirit, be with Hal and Char as they travel home to us. The weather is not so good, and their trip is long. Cover them with Your wings and keep them safe.
Words cannot express, Abba, how grateful I am that Samee is doing so well.
LORD Jesus, what an exciting time it is when a young man surrenders his life to Your service. We pray Your guidance and power be on this new pastor at St. Rest’s. We thank You for the great opportunity we have to share this time of celebration with our brothers and sister’s at St. Rest’s.
Oh God of my Salvation, Let every word we speak, every move of our bodies and thought of our minds be a song of praise and love to You. We love You, LORD.
Yahweh Ropheha, The LORD Who heals, we call out on behalf of all those who remain on our prayer chain and ask that You continue to move in their lives.
God of Might, thank You for Pastor Nolte, for his leadership and for the love he has for us. We ask that You be with him and his family this week and that You bless them in abundance. We pray for all of our pastors, LORD Jesus, and ask that Your hand of blessing be on them. Help us to show them how much we love and support them.
Bless our communities of faith, the ministries that exist solely to serve You and the leaders that You have placed in their positions. Show us, Shepherd, new opportunities and ways to share Your love with others.
Your promise is that when we pray in agreement, You will honor our prayers. We pray in agreement for the missionaries who serve You around the world and ask that You keep them safe.
God of the Angel Armies, bless our country and those who serve her.
You are so beautiful to us. Your love has turned our lives around and has given us a purpose - to live for You. You are not a collection of stories and fables in a dusty book on the shelf - You are life, breath and heartbeat of our souls. You are everything to us.
Just a little something to start our day with and to put it in perspective:
O LORD, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim!
You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth.
You alone created the heavens and the earth.
2 Kings 19:15, NLT
I have been reading this year in Eugene Peterson’s “The Message” Reading the Beatitudes as he interprets them is really different from what I am used to. Maybe because we were raised on “Blessed are the poor in spirit.....” so that when we read “You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope” in the Message it gives a pause. But that was what I have been praying for this year as we have journeyed together - for lots of pauses when we stop to consider something new. The Beatitudes - in fact the entire Sermon on the Mount - as translated in the Message is really good. If you would like to check it out in the Message go to www.biblegateway.com, then type in Matthew 5 in the search box just above “Search The Bible” then in the box where it says New International Version use the pull down menu then select The Message. Click on the “Search The Bible” and it will take you to that chapter of Matthew. Use the arrows at the bottom of the passage to go to the next chapter.
Because we are only reading in the Newer Testament now we are reading much more at a single setting - but don’t let that stop you from reading slowly and savoring the reading of these well-known and beloved stories of our Jesus.
This week’s readings:
Sonday, Nov 26…....Matthew 23-25
Monday, Nov 27…...Matthew 26-27, Psalm 125
Tuesday, Nov 28…..Matthew 28, 1 Thessalonians 1-3
Wed. Nov 29…...…1 Th 4-5; 2 Th 1-3
Thurs, Nov 30…..…Romans 1-4
Friday, Dec1……Romans 5-8
Sat. Dec 2……...…Romans 9-12
When I say good morning I mean:
G -od
O -ffers us His
O -utstanding
D -evotion to
M -ake us
O -bedient &
R -eady for a
N -ew day with Him.
I -nspire others and
N -ever forget
G -od loves you!
Valerie Rae Hanneman
1 Peter 5:8-9 ( Message) “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world.”
Psalm 118:24 (King James Version) “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
I am involved with the ministry “Walk to Emmaus” I took my Walk as a pilgrim a year ago and I can say with great joy that my Walk changed my life, changed my relationship with God and changed how I view ministry. That’s what Emmaus does it changes the lives of Christians.
I recently worked an Emmaus weekend. I have worked two Walks and there have been “challenges” on both of them. I love that term “challenges.” It is such a polite way to say “disasters.” On the first Walk that I worked the food truck showed up a day late. On this second weekend the oven at the church broke. By God’s grace, one of our team members attends a nearby church so we were taking the food down to that other church, baking it, and bringing it back, trying to keep it warm until it could be served. That was our greatest challenge but there were plenty of other challenges as well.
We go into the Walks knowing that there are going to be challenges. We all know from personal experience just how life changing these weekends are for the participants and how they change the Kingdom of God, so we also know that the last thing that satan is going to do on one of these weekends is to roll over and play dead. On the contrary, he is sharpening his claws and coming after us with everything that he’s got. Because that is what he does. He tries to destroy the Kingdom of God. That is his mission statement, his motto, his goal and his plan. There nothing else for him, 24/07/365 he lives, breathes and exists only to destroy the Kingdom.
satan doesn’t care about the lost, they are already his. he keeps an eye on the pew-potatoes, just in case they realize that serving Jesus goes beyond showing up and staying awake for an hour on Sonday - but as long as they are ineffective he doesn’t do much about them either. His attention is on the Christ-followers who make a difference in the Kingdom. If you are serving Jesus you can count on it - you are in satan’s cross-hairs and he is coming for you. In another version of today’s verse Peter says that satan prowls the earth like a lion seeking whom he can devour. Beloved of Christ, he is actively seeking to destroy us.
LORD in heaven! What do we do?
One thing we need to do is realize that we can’t do it. We are too weak to stand against a lion by ourselves. If we try to we are going to be shredded meat. So we don’t go on our power. Jesus says “In your weakness, I am strong” so we give Jesus our weakness and go forward on His power. And we find our power on our knees
Teamwork is another key. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (MSG) says, “By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped.” By ourselves, we are toast, but with Jesus we can overcome. And with close friends to stand with us we are even stronger.
But do you know what is even more important? Determination. I have been facing some “challenges” at my job recently. I was driving to work repeating “Today is the day that the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.”and thinking that my attitude is my choice. I could chose to rejoice in spite of everything. Then I realized that I was not getting it! This verse doesn’t say that I will chose to rejoice and be glad in it. It says I WILL rejoice and be glad in it. That’s determination. A determination that says no matter what - I WILL! We must be determined to stand firm in our faith. We can call on Jesus and we can surround ourselves with friends, but if our determination to stand is as firm as Jell-O we are going to be jiggling all over the place. Our determination to stand must be as firm as an oak tree whose roots are sunk deep into God’s love. satan is coming against us. If we say “I WILL”, if we call on Jesus’ strength, if we work together as a team then we are going to discover the truth. And that is that satan is as dangerous as the Cowardly Lion. he is declawed, defanged and powerless because He Who is with us is mightier than he who is against us.
When the oven at Emmaus broke we gathered together as a team, we prayed to Jesus for His power and guidance in the situation. But we determined long before we arrived for the weekend that we would stand firm when satan came against us. Because of our determination, prayer and teamwork, the pilgrims never knew that anything had gone wrong. They experienced God as they were intended to and the Kingdom of God was strengthened.
I WILL stand firm, I WILL depend on Jesus, and I WILL depend on a support team. And I WILL rejoice.
LORD Jesus, help me to daily strengthen my determination to stand firm for You and to serve You first and foremost with my life.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministries of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Happy Thanksgiving from NIgeria!
I wanted to send you all an email "thank you" as we are remembering friends and family who maybe far away but feel very close to my heart.
Thank you all for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement.
It may be hard to believe, but I actually miss the cold, foggy Fresno Thanksgivings! It is very warm and dry here.
We will be having a somewhat traditional dinner tonight - turkey I cooked at Mercy's house, 2 chickens we roasted at my house, sweet potatoes & green beans we cooked at Lisa's house, fresh dinner rolls from Afri-One (internet cafe/bakery), and french apple pies I made early this morning. Cranberries of any kind were no where to be found, no canned pumpkin, and some very strange looking, very expensive pumpkin like things that we decided to pass on. Maybe a little different, but plenty to be thankful for. There will be about 15 Nigerian friends gathering at our place to eat with us and thank the Lord together for all of His blessings in our lives. And I do feel abundantly blessed today!
Looking forward to seeing many of you around the Christmas holidays!
God's blessings be with you!
Biana
The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you. -Robert Louis Stevenson
Judi Wright was recently in a car accident. She is pretty bumped and bruised but otherwise okay. Her car unfortunately was totaled. Keep Judi in prayer as she heals and makes decisions on what to do now.
Please pray for a colleague of mine, Kris Baiz. She was hospitalized on Monday for a suspected heart attack.
Great big major praise on Ilene Luna. Our magician beautician went in Monday for an angiogram and they found ZERO blockage of her major arteries!
Please keep the family of Larry Reynolds in prayer, as they mourn his passing. Larry Reynolds was Hal and Char Cole’s close friend.
Has anybody heard how Samee Myers is following her knee surgery?
We continue to pray for: Samee Myers, Hank Michalk, Floyd Willis, my friend down at Juvenile Hall, Sylvia Eland, Tony McDonald, Sharleen Ferree, Richard Massie, Dallis, Michael Ferris, Bob Molander, Lance Corp. Eric Hamilton in Iraq, Jacob Filpala in Iraq, Willie in Iraq, Dorothy Wajckus, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries –Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Megan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center 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.
El Rahum, Our Merciful God,
If we could only thank You for one thing during this season of Thanksgiving, it would be for our personal relationship with You. Everything that we are, think, do, strive for, dream of - our families, our jobs, our future, everything that we have to be thankful for flows from that relationship with You. And what we have in You is as sweet as honey on our lips, as tender as a mother with her child and as necessary as the next breath that we take.
We lift up our beloved sister, Judi, and ask Abba, that You continue to heal her body and guide her in the decisions she needs to make.
I pray for Kris Baiz, Spirit of Life, and ask that You move in her body and move in her spirit. She needs a complete healing from You, LORD. Only You can help her.
Great and mighty are Your works, Oh God. Greatly is Your name to be praised! And we do praise You and thank You for the way that You have cared for Ilene and for the great news on her heart. Continue to keep her strong.
We pray for Marylee and the family as they mourn the passing of Larry. Bring comfort to them, Holy Spirit, during this time.
Yahweh Misgabi, The LORD, Our High Tower, we pray for those who continue to be on our prayer chain and ask that You call them to come to Your place of safety and comfort.
LORD Jesus, ruler of heaven and earth, we pray for the missionaries who serve You so faithfully, and much to often at the peril of their lives. Regardless of the circumstances they are in - NOTHING can take them from Your hand. Keep them safe, LORD of All.
We praise You from the depths of our spirits, Holy One, for the pastors that You have set within our churches. During this busy, busy time of the year, grant them times of refreshing, grant them a spirit of peace.
We pray, God of the Angel Armies, that You show us opportunities to share You with the world around us. Remind us that our first and best witness is the silent witness of how we live our lives with integrity before You.
Bless our country, LORD God. Grant our leaders wisdom to lead us on the path You would have us go. Bless the men and women who serve our country in the military.
We look at our lives, Father, and see how much You have given us. We are rich in Your abundance. We could lose it all in this moment, including our lives, and we have lost nothing because we will still have You. Nothing can separate us from You. We love You so much. Help us to serve You as much as we love You.
"Mighty God! Far beyond our reach! Unsurpassable in power and justice! It's unthinkable that He'd treat anyone unfairly.So bow to Him in deep reverence, one and all! If you're wise, you'll most certainly worship Him." (Job 27:23-24) Right after Elihu speaks these words God speaks to Job from the eye of a violent storm (A hurricane?) And pretty basically says “Who do you think you are? And where were you when I created everything?” Then in Job 40, Job answers God by saying that he is in awe of God, and that he had talked too much and was ready to shut up and listen. God loves it when I say that to Him, that I am finally ready to be quiet and listen to Him. It takes my focus off of me and my foolishness and back on Him where it belongs. I found it real telling in Chapter 42 when God tells Job’s three friends to sacrifice to Him and get Job to pray for them because God would accept Job’s prayers. And then at the end of his tribulations, Job is restored by God with double of what he had had. On the surface it looks like Job had had the same number of children as before - but we have to remember that God thinks in the eternal picture and He was saying that Job’s children were doubled because He was counting the ones that were in heaven.
2 Corinthians 4:14-15 “We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God's glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!” 2 Corinthians is another great book - Paul covers so many aspects of our life - forgiveness and restoration towards a fallen brother, standing true to the Message, and most of all - knowing that our lives should be a reflection of Christ. I can’t hardly wait to meet Paul when I get home, and hear him talk about how small his vision of heaven was when he wrote this book as compared to how glorious heaven really is!
.
This week’s readings:
Sonday, Nov 19…....Matthew 1-4
Monday, Nov 20…...Matthew 5-7
Tuesday, Nov 21…..Matthew 8-10
Wed. Nov 22…...…Matthew 11-13
Thurs, Nov 23…..…Matthew 14-16
Friday, Nov 24……Matthew 17-19
Sat. Nov25……...…Matthew 20-22
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Matthew 6:24a (The Message)"You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other.”
I have undergone so many changes in the last eleven years. I think about the woman I was when I first walked into Fresno First Baptist and she is a stranger to me. Father has changed me so much that I have very little in common with that once-upon-a-time woman (Thank-You, Abba!). Sometimes Father has changed me with a gentle turning of thoughts, a pointing to a different direction. Sometimes I have acted like a stubborn ol’ mule when Father is trying to change me and Father has treated me like a stubborn ol’ mule and used a 2x4 to get my attention.
I am a passionate Dallas Cowboy fan. I have been a fan since I was 20 - longer than some of you have been alive! They are the only football team that I have ever supported. I have jewelry, clothes, banners, scarves, cups, dishes, etc all adorned with the Cowboy Star. I even have a life-size cut out of Troy Aikman. My involvement was not restricted to Sonday football games, I debated, discussed, argued and praised every move the Cowboys made while dissin’ all the other teams as inferior. I was Dallas Cowboy blue & silver through and through.
When I started attending FFBC I was attending services every other Sonday. I only attended if the Dallas Cowboys were playing an afternoon game. If the ‘Boys were playing a morning game, then I was curled up in my recliner cheering for my team. At first that didn’t bother me, then I got this sort of whisper in my head that said “Shouldn’t you be in church?” I justified my emphatic “No!” by reminding the whisperer that I was splitting my time 50/50 between church and football – and considering the last 16 years of my life - that was a radical change all by itself. I promised I would attend church more regularly when football season was over.
One Sonday, I settled in to hear the preacher. I really liked his preaching and had a lot of respect for him.(That he was a 49’er fan was a major flaw in him but I was mostly dealing with that.) On this Sonday, using baptism as an example, he preached about priorities. He told a story about the Roman soldiers who would hold their sword arm out of the water when they were baptized. They were willing to give everything to Jesus – except the arm that they made their living with. There was a wave of laughter, then Willie said, “We laugh at them but how many of us are holding something out of the water?” He went on to give various examples – our jobs, our wallets, our this, that and the other. Then he paused for just a second then said, “And some of us are holding football helmets out of the water.” He wasn’t looking at me but I knew he was talking to me! Talk about a deer-in-the-headlights look! My facial expression was fixed, but my mind was swirling! How did he know that?!? I hadn’t told anybody (particularly not him!) that I was skipping church to watch Dallas play football! I was so blown away that the rest of the sermon was a blur. And here is the funny thing – when I shook his hand as I was leaving there was nothing in his expression that indicated that he knew I was the one he had been talking to. For the next week I couldn’t get his words out of my mind.
We are created to worship God. In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve He created them to be in relationship with Him. That was their purpose. That is our purpose. To worship is as much a part of our DNA as is the color of our eyes and the number of hairs on our big toe. When Adam and Eve sinned and all of creation fell because of that sin, our worship DNA fell also. The need to worship still burned like a flame within us but now we were choosing other things - the wrong things - to worship. Cain brought his offering and placed it on the altar to supposedly worship God. But that was not who he was worshiping. He knew what he was supposed to place on that altar in order to worship God but he chose to place what he wanted. His offering was worship of himself and what he had done not of God and what He wanted.
We are going to worship something. We cannot not worship. If we don’t consciously chose what we worship, then we will unconsciously chose it. When Joshua stood before the Children of Israel he said, “Chose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house - we will serve the LORD.” Joshua was telling them to make a conscious decision about who they would worship (serve). After great popularity among the people and after attracting many followers, Jesus’ ministry weakened as His followers began to desert Him unable to stand the pressures from the religious leaders. Jesus turned to the 12 core disciples and asked, “Will you leave me as well?” This was the time that they had to make a conscious decision to worship and stay with God. Peter answered and said, “Where would we go? Only You have the Words of Life.”
I had a pretty miserable week during which I realized that when I was telling myself that I was splitting Sondays 50/50 between church and football - I was lying to myself. I was watching the Dallas Cowboys every Sonday and giving them 100% of my worship. And God was getting the scraps off the altar. That week I had to determine who I was going to worship. That next Sonday, Dallas had a morning game. And I was seated in a pew at FFBC, able to look my pastor straight in the eye, because I had made my conscious decision of Who I was going to worship. My God is worthy of all my worship - there are not going to be any more altar scraps. Shortly after this I officially joined the church that my heart had already joined - and my life has never been the same. Hallelujah for that! There is not enough time in eternity to praise You, Father, for what You have done.
If we do not make a conscious decision to worship God, we are making an unconscious decision to worship something else. What is your decision?
Father God, my decision to worship You alone was one of the smartest things I have ever done. I have never regretted it and I never will. You are worthy and You are worth it. I love You, LORD.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist Church at valerie@fresnofirst.org
If we can understand that death is not the end but is really a transition into the next life, the great part of life, that frees us up into receiving God’s courage and his help.-Max Lucado
Hank Michalk has gone home from the hospital but has to go back daily in order to get antibiotic shots to fight a staph infection.
Floyd Willis has been under the weather with an infection in his lungs. The doctors have prescribed an antibiotic so hopefully Floyd will be back to his chipper self quickly.
Biana Grogg will be coming home in just about a month! She will be home for just a couple of days then will fly out to see family for Christmas. I can hardly wait to see her, hug her, and hear how Father used her servant’s heart in Jos.
My young friend down at Juvenile Hall is doing great and soon will be allowed some furlough time. I have been keeping in contact with her, writing letters, sending Bible passages to her and she is softening towards life in general. Please keep her and me in your prayers – that she will hear and I will say what needs to be said to bring her to Jesus.
We continue to pray for: Sylvia Eland, Tony McDonald, Sharleen Ferree, Richard Massie, Dallis, Michael Ferris, Bob Molander, Lance Corp. Eric Hamilton in Iraq, Jacob Filpala in Iraq, Willie in Iraq, Dorothy Wajckus, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries –Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Megan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, 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.
Yahweh Borei, The LORD, the Creator,
Once again we are watching the seasons change, Creator of Life. The leaves are turning colors, there is a nip in the evening air, and rain washes the sky. It is so beautiful, Father. Each season in it’s time, is a witness to You and to Your endless creativity. Thank You for the beauty You have surrounded us with. Help us stop our frenetic pace long enough to see You in this beauty.
God of Peace, We lift up Pauline Michalk before You and as that You grant her an extra measure of patience as Hank continues to recover. He has been an active, outdoor type of man his whole life and this being confined is wearing on him and he is wearing on her.
Father God, Floyd Willis is a man after Your own heart. His is a strong witness of faithful servant hood to You. Heal his body of this lung infection so that he can get back to doing what he loves to do.
El Neeman, Our Faithful God. You are faithful to us – much more than we are faithful to You. You will always keep Your promises. We rely upon You in every situation – in moments of doubt and anxiety we lift our hearts to You and know that You will never leave us or forsake us. You are faithful. Help us, LORD, to be faithful to You.
Biana is coming home. LORD! Thank You so much for protecting her in Nigeria and for using her as a mighty took in the Master Carpenter’s hand as You build Your kingdom. Bring her safely home to us. Guide her in what You would have her to do now.
Abba, with humbled heart I thank You for my young friend and for the softening of her heart. Keep me from repeating my mistakes with her. Give me Your words to say to her that will bring her home to You.
Jehovah Jirah, LORD God Who Provides, continue to meet the needs of all those who remain on our prayer chain.
You are the Great and Glorious God, there is none beside You, You alone are God. We pray that You fill Your missionaries with Your glory and Your power as they serve You.
It amazes us how very much You love us. Help us to show that same agape love to those who do not know You. Show us opportunities to share our faith in You with our friends and family. Remind us that the very strongest witness we have is not the words we say but the life we live.
Bless our beloved pastors and their families. Let them feel Your presence in their lives. Guide them and give them the wisdom to follow You as they lead us.
Bless our country LORD God, in this time of change. Guide our leaders in their decisions. Protect our military men and women as they serve the cause of freedom.
You are our joy, our strength and our salvation. You are the uncreated One. We are the created ones, created to love You and to serve You. We embrace the purpose for which we are created – we love You, Lord and we serve You with gladness and singing
Job, in chapters 28-29 sure spoke the truth that too many of us have also had to learn the hard way. When you are on the top of the heap, firends gather around you and praise your name - but at the first sign of trouble they turn on you like vultures. He just said it a lor more poeticly than I did. In Chapter 30 we have a new player on the field. Elihu is the fourth man with them. He has kept quiet because he is the youngest - but now that the three older men have run out of things to say - he is going to put his two cents worth in! But even in his chapters of words - he also says some profound things - this comes from chapter 36: 26-30 “How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of His years is past finding out. He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how He spreads out the clouds, how He thunders from His pavilion? See how He scatters His lightning about Him, bathing the depths of the sea.”
We got to read Galatians this week. I love to read Paul’s testimony every time he writes it - as he does in the beginning of this book. Then the letter continues with the argument of law versus grace. There were those who had come to the Galatia churches preaching a gospel of works - that you had to be circumcised. Paul had to remind them that salvation is a gift with no strings attached and there is absolutely nothing that we can do to ear in. It is fascinating - and yet sad - to read that the things that were problems for the first church remain problems today. How many times have we heard “you must be saved and you must be???????? in order to go to heaven” But as Paul tells the Galatians - it just isn’t so. Nothing that we can do will earn us salvation. Salvation is a gift that we ask for and is given.
This week’s readings:
Sonday, Nov 12…....Job 37-38; 1 Cor 12
Monday, Nov 13…...Job 39-40, 1 cor 13-14
Tuesday, Nov 14…..Psalm 149; 1 cor 15-16
Wed. Nov 15…...…Job 41-42; 2 cor 1-3
Thurs, Nov 16…..…2 cor 3-6
Friday, Nov 17……2 Cor 7-10
Sat. Nov18……...…Psalm 124; 2 cor 11-13
Dear partners in ministry,
A lot has happened since we wrote last month, Larry has come back after a good trip in the states. While he was there he was able to renew contacts in a number of churches and be encouraged by them and spend some time with his Mother who at 85 is still fit and well. Thank you to all of you who gave to the 2006 World Mission Offering. It is all of us working together that makes God’s Kingdom come alive.
Jan was kept busy at home with different things, including some corn harvesting some extra classes at home and spending time with neighbors and the group of new believers at Ban Sra and their friends at a fishpond.
Larry returned in time for a team meeting and apart from house keeping business we were able to have a good discussion “how we can help others, without hurting” looking at ways we can show God’ s compassion without creating dependency.
Larry and I followed the team meeting with a week holiday, we spent 4 nights in a National park basically enjoying God’s creation through bird watching and hiking. The weather was perfect, cool but not cold and the rains of the previous week disappeared. In the time there we saw 50 different bird species, 22 of which were first time sightings for us.
The holiday is over and we came back home with 2 of the Interns from the Global Discipleship Training course, Sally and Megan. They were with us for a week and participated in a funeral of the father of two of our students, rice farming and a monk ordination. They also had fun teaching in a number of schools and in our home. Life is busy. They have returned to Chiang Mai having had a good slice of the “good life” in the country – complete with creepy crawlies.
As I am writing this Larry is preparing the teaching session for this week with the new believers at Ban Sra. The last few lessons have been on prayer and assurance, and this week we will look at part one of the story of the lost son. The concept of not having to earn forgiveness is very strange and Nuek said a couple of weeks back, that they have a lot to “unlearn”. Things that they have been taught all their lives are being challenged, by coming into relationship with our merciful and compassionate Father.
Our thanks again for your journeying with us, we pray that you too are enjoying the mercy and compassion of our Father in your lives.
With Love in Him
Jan and Larry
Prayer and Praise points.
Praise God for the way he led and protected Larry on his trip to the States.
Praise God for the wonderful break we had.
Pray for us as we prepare teaching materials that they will be relevant and easy to understand.
Pray for the new believers – for wisdom as they grow in their understanding and that they have a heart to share with their neighbors.
Pray for open hearts here in Ban Luang as we share with folk here.
Job 20, Zophar’s second attack , was a subtle attack - a discription of what happens to the wicked (that just happens to sound a lot like what is happening to Job) but in Chapter 22 Elphaz doesn’t pull any punches in what he is calling Job! Boy, with friends like these - who needs enemies? In fact, in Job 26 that is practically what he says! In The Message Job says,"Well, you've certainly been a great help to a helpless man! You came to the rescue just in the nick of time!What wonderful advice you've given to a mixed-up man! What amazing insights you've provided!Where in the world did you learn all this? How did you become so inspired?” Can’t you just hear the sarcasm?
Reading Mark again after attending our classes in Mark with Dr. Tim Geddert is such a joy as I remember the amazing things I learned. For instance, in chapter 3 verse 7, Mark tells of how Jesus went to the sea to get away. I don’t know how many times I have read that, but after the classes I understand that Jesus was looking for a day off. He needed some down time. Jesus is so God to me, that I forget that He was also a man. These glimpses of Jesus the man intrigue me. Then in Mark 5 - the story of the madman. I have always wondered if the people who were at first in awe of the miracle Jesus, then ticked off at Him over the dead pigs - if it was a way for them not to have to deal with Who He was.
This week’s readings:
Sonday, Nov 5…....Job 28-29; Galatians 1-2
Monday, Nov 6…...Job 30, Psalm 120; Gal 3-4
Tuesday, Nov 7…..Job 31-32; Gal 5-6
Wed. Nov 8…...…Job 33; 1 Corinthians 1-3
Thurs, Nov 9…..…Job 34; 1 Cor 4-6
Friday, Nov 10……Job 35-36; 1 Cor 7-8
Sat. Nov11……...…Psalm 122; 1 Cor 9-11
Valerie Rae Hanneman
“God does not see the same way people see. People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.” II Samuel 16:7
When Samuel heard the Voice, he knew Who it was. “Yes, LORD?” “Saul is a loose cannon – I can’t keep him as king of Israel. I am going to choose a new king, a man who is focused on me, a man after my own heart. Go to Jesse’s place down in Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be the next king. I’ll tell you which one.” So Samuel heads down to Bethlehem. I am sure that when Samuel told Jesse what was going on, Jesse was all humble on the outside, but inside he was puffing up pretty big. ‘My son, the king! And why not! Look at my boys, tall and strong every one of them! They are smart, well liked and good-looking too, if those giggling girls down at the well are to be believed!” So Jesse brings forward his eldest son – his pride and joy – the best of the lot. “No” was Samuel’s response. Jesse is a little surprised. He brings forward his second son. “No.” “No? Are you sure?” Jesse couldn’t help but ask. “No” Samuel repeats for the second son – the third son – the fourth son- the fifth – the sixth and finally, the seventh son. Jesse looks at Samuel in confusion. “Jesse,” Samuel says gently, “Don’t you have eight sons?” “Well, yes,” Jesse sputters, “There is David – but he is the baby – he is just a boy! We have him out watching the sheep!” “Go and get him.” Samuel answered. And David, the runt, the youngest, the loser is God’s choice to be the greatest king of Israel.(Until Jesus takes the throne)
Moses lived in the royal palace of Egypt. As Pharaoh’s daughter’s adopted son, he had everything he wished for. But he lost it all in a moment of murderous anger. He ran for his life from the luxuries of Egypt to the harshness of the Middian desert. After 40 years of watching his father-in-law’s sheep he sees a burning bush and turns aside to get a closer look. Moses, the murderer, the loser, is God’s choice to free a nation.
Jonah heard God’s call – “Go to Nineveh and preach my Word to them.” Nineveh! Nineveh might be the most powerful city on the earth but it is also the most wicked. Their motto was “Kill’em all and let the god’s sort them out” Jonah ran in the opposite direction. He got on a ship and tried to get as far from Nineveh as he could. From deep within a fish’s belly, Jonah got his head on straight with the LORD. The fish vomited him up on dry land and Jonah went to Nineveh. Jonah, the disobedient, direction-challenged loser, is God’s choice to bring the greatest city in the world to repentance.
Peter is an out-there type a guy. The most impetuous of the disciples, it seems as if Jesus is always getting after Peter for something. And then, Peter betrayed Jesus, not once but three times. Then came the Day of Pentecost and Peter, the out-of-control betrayer of Jesus and loser, is God’s choice to preach the very first sermon of the new church.
Saul is a Pharisee of Pharisees. Although still young, he is an up-and-comer at the Temple. The stoning of Stephen inspires him to persecute as many Christians as he can get his hands on. When he can’t kill enough of them in Jerusalem, he gets letters from the High Priest so he can kill them in Damascus too! Saul, this persecutor of Jesus and loser is God’s choice to bring the message of Jesus to the Gentiles.
Valerie is a recovering drug addict, a survivor of childhood abuse and spousal abuse with two failed marriages. The theme song of her life is “If it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck at all!” She started attending church again and she loves going but she’s not really involved. On this day an associate pastor is talking about a new ministry outreach to the neighborhood children. When she hears God say, “This is for you,” she looks around to see whose call she accidentally intercepted. She doesn’t even like kids so there is no way that God is calling her to this ministry. This loser on multiple levels is God’s choice to be His hands and feet to the neighborhood.
What is it about the losers that God just loves? We all know that, by the world’s standards, there was a better son than David. There was a better leader than tongue-tied Moses. There was a prophet who was more obedient than Jonah. There was a disciple with better control than Peter. There was a Christian leader already serving Jesus, there was no need for Saul. There was a person who already loved children and was perfect for Care Fresno. But God chose the losers instead of the world’s “winners.”
It is because God wants us to remember where the power comes from. David was a leader of sheep, only God could make him the leader of a nation. Moses was a murderer, only God could make him a rescuer. Jonah ran away, only God could make him stand strong. Peter was out of control, only God could make him a pillar in the new church. Saul was stiff-necked and proud, only God could give him a heart for the lost. Valerie said, “no, not me” only God could make it her joy to say, “send me”
God says, “My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 Message) If God were to use the world’s “winners” then the world and the “winners” would think that they were responsible for the success. But when God uses a loser like me, it is a different story. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that any successes in Care Fresno can be laid directly at the feet of Jesus. They have come in spite of me - not because of me. And if you were to ask David, Moses, Jonah, Peter, Paul or any other of God’s loser’s - they will tell you the same thing.
Do you feel like the world thinks you are a loser? Remember, the world looks on the outside, God looks on the inside. He knows your heart, you are His winner and He has something special planned for you!
LORD Jesus, the world calls me a loser - but they only see my outside. You see my heart. Use my weaknesses to glorify Your strength.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.
God wants to be involved in our everyday life. We need to let God out of the Sunday morning box that we try to keep him in. Joyce Meyer
Jim Sullivan, who gave us quite a scare a couple of weeks ago, was in services on Sonday and at the Block Party last night. He is looking great! No update available on what the doctor’s say caused his dizziness – but Praise God for how He has already brought Jim back.
Please pray for Kelli Hasting’s roommate, Sandy, who has decided to not take chemo. Kelli could use some prayer as well.
Doris Rahn’s sister went swimming under water in Hawaii and has been having problems with her heart – surgery is scheduled.
An update from Bev Willis: “Thank you for prayers. I know they are helping - the sed rate is down to 50 now and I stay on 20 milligrams of prednisone for three weeks and then another sed rate to be taken. The pain in my neck is caused from having no cushions between the discs in several of them and it is bone on bone in several on them - snap, crackle, pop. Doctor doesn't recommend surgery on the neck though. God will take care of me I am sure
From Eve Dangaran: “Just an update on our 18 yr old granddaughter, Kelsey Grace Dangaran in Salem, Oregon - the daughter of our son Steven. Both Kelsey's feet were badly broken following an auto accident on Sept 15. Her healing is progressing, but it has been very painful process. The right cast was removed on Oct. 20. Surgery is planned in 10 days for the pins in the left foot to be partially removed - then that foot will be casted for 6 to 8 weeks. Therapy will follow. The dr. feels Kelsey is healing well and may be walking by the first of the year. Please pray with us that the pain level after this second surgery will not be as great as the first surgery and that she will be able to walk again soon. School and work have had to be put on hold for now, so we also ask for prayer that she will be able to get on track again soon. At times she has been very low in spirit because of pain and being so immobile.”
We continue to pray for the following: Mitch, Hank Michalk, Samee Myers, Sylvia Eland, Tony McDonald, Sharleen Ferree, Michael Ferris, Bob Molander, Lance Corp. Eric Hamilton in Iraq, Jacob Filpala in Iraq, Willie in Iraq, Dorothy Wajckus, my young friend down at juvenile hall, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries –Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Megan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, 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.
Abba,
I wish that my love for You was a diamond – the largest and purest ever seen – that I could give to You and say “This is my love”, or that my love were the finest perfumed oil that I could pour upon your feet, or that my love were a song more beautiful than any other written and my voice as pure as an angel’s so that I could sing a song of love to You. I wish that I could paint a picture of my love that would be so beautiful You would hang it in the halls of Your palace. But I don’t have a diamond, or perfumed oil, or the perfect song or the most beautiful painting. All that I have is me. I am not much, LORD, but what I am I freely lift to You – I give myself to You because I love You.
We praise You that Jim is feeling better and we ask that You guide his doctors as they try to discover what is bothering him.
Holy Father, we pray for Sandy as she faces this time and we ask You, LORD, to comfort her and hold her close to You. We pray for Kelli that You give her strength.
We also lift up Doris’ sister and her heart problems. Please keep her safe through the surgery.
With humble hearts we thank You, Jehovah Jirah, for providing for our beloved Bev and we thank You that she is getting better.
We pray for Kelsey Dangaran during this very difficult time in her life. We ask, El Hai, Living God, that You heal her feet quickly so that she can be about her life again. We ask that You use this time of inactivity for her to draw her closer to You.
LORD of All, we lift up those who remain on our prayer chain and ask that You continue to bless each situation. We pray for our missionaries around the world as they serve You faithfully. We pray for our pastors, leaders and ministries. Bless them with Your abundance.
Draw us closer to You and help us to be more effective witnesses for You.
Father God, we ask Your mercy be poured on our nation, that the divisions between us will not continue to divide our nation, but that we can use it to make us stronger.
We sing our praises and love to You, Holy God. We thank You for the joy that You have brought into our lives. We love You, LORD.