Measure not God's love and favor by your own feelings. The sun shines as clearly in the darkest day as it does in the brightest. -Richard Sibbes
Lu Lu Wall had already passed into the arms of Jesus when I reported last week that she was going into hospice. She simply chose a better place to be. Please keep Betty Arnold and family in prayer.
George Esparza is still not doing well and will be going to a specialist in San Francisco
Kathryn Aycock has been given a diagnosis of breast cancer. A hard thing for this young mother. Prognosis appears to be good and Kathryn has a great attitude of trust and dependance on Jesus.
Our new Sonday Children’s program kicks off this Sonday - pray for Kristin and all involved.
Please pray for the “Free Willie” team as we work on the grant proposal to the Lilly foundation. Willie has such an exciting project that I cannot imagine anybody not funding it (but I tend to be a little biased)!
We continue to pray for: Remo & Susan Paul and their pregnancy, Delaine’s friend at work, Lorraine Esparza’s daughter, Bianca & Stephanie, Kelli Hastings, Margaret Good & family, Eileen Betts, Tony McDonald, Sharlene Ferree, Ellen Burton, Care Fresno Kids klub, Dillon Joos, Pastor Glen, my friend at juvenile hall, Marty Clifton, Chuck & Georgette Bersani, Walt Couch, Anthony, Nancy Eland, and Michael Ferris.
Pray for our missionaries – Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, Laurie Bethall in Prague, 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, Papa,
When my son came home from Winter Camp my heart leaped to see him. I had not realized how much I had missed him, and love just bubbled up inside of me. Is that what you feel when we come to You in prayer? Do You reach for us as eagerly as we reach for You? We as humans love our children with an imperfect human love - how much more perfectly do You, as our perfect Father, love us? It is staggering.
LORD God, Your love is manifest to us all the time, but never more so than when one of our loved ones go home to You. Even as our sorrow over Lu Lu’s passing lasts for a night, we know that Your joy comes in the morning because we know - WE KNOW - that she is with You.
Great Physician, we lift up George before You and ask that you touch him with healing. Gift his doctors with wisdom to help Your child who serves You so wholeheartedly.
Holy Spirit, great is Your name and greatly are You to be praised. Even in the midst of her troubles, this is the song that Kathryn’s soul sings to You. Be with her during this time, Jehovah Shalom, and give her peace and healing.
LORD of the Harvest, we lift up Kristin and all who will be leading our new Children’s program. Grant them a harvest - not of numbers, LORD of All, but of souls.
To have our names written in Your Book of Life is our joy, our comfort, our shout of Hallelujah.
Be with all of those who continue to be on our prayer sheet, LORD Jesus. Be for each of them the comfort and the grace that they need.
Breath of Life, breathe a new vision on those who serve You around the world.
Be with our beloved pastors, Elohim, guide them in Your steps as they point us to You. We pray for Mitzi Aycock, our office manager, and thank You Father, for her incredible heart of service to you. We thank You for her attitude that is not only willing to go the extra mile, but to go even one step further than that!
Bless our ministries, Spirit, and help us to keep them focused on sharing the Good News of Jesus.
Life on plant Earth is not easy, LORD Jesus, but we have You to help us every day. Your name is our shout of praise when all is well. Your name is our prayer of hope when the storm clouds fill our lives. Your name is a song that our hearts, our souls and our lips sing for eternity. We choose You over all else. We love You so much that it bubbles within us.
Valerie Rae Hanneman
1 Samuel 17:48-49 (The Message) “That roused the Philistine, and he started toward David. David took off from the front line, running toward the Philistine. David reached into his pocket for a stone, slung it, and hit the Philistine hard in the forehead, embedding the stone deeply. The Philistine crashed, facedown in the dirt.”
I’ve been the lead volunteer for Care Fresno Kids Klub for 10 years now. I’ll tell you the truth - it is a hard ministry. Those kids drive me so crazy sometimes and I am truly wiped out when I leave Klub on Friday nights. But I cannot imagine my life without Kids Klub in it. These kids and this ministry hold a big chunk of my heart. In these past ten years I have gone from a woman who, when Jesus called me to this ministry, answered, “You cannot possibly be talking to me - I don’t even like kids” to a woman who has a better understanding of how much Jesus loves me because of how much I love these kids. This ministry has given me so much.
But it hasn’t always been that way. Kids Klub originally met on Mondays, but due to a number of circumstances, we changed our meeting date to Friday. The first year of Fridays was bad but the second year was horrible! Our top attendance that year was 12 - and that included the leaders. I was really bummed about it, wondering if it was worth the effort for so few kids. I was telling Jesus that there was a time to begin and a time to end for everything and if it was time for Kids Klub to end I would accept that. We closed Kids Klub for the summer, and I was trying to find the right time to tell Willie that I was done with it, that if they wanted Kids Klub to continue in the Fall, they had to find a new leader.
Then on a Friday Movie Night, little Rachel came running up to me and jumped into my lap. “Guess what, Ms. Valerie!” “What, baby?” “I am old enough to come to Care Fresno now!” Little Rachel’s older brothers came to Kids Klub. Rachel would come with her mom and she had wanted so much to stay with her brothers but she was too young. Now finally, she was old enough and she was so excited. Only, there wasn’t going to be a Kids Klub that Fall for Rachel.
It felt like I’d been mule-kicked. I went on my face before Jesus. “You know where my heart is, LORD. I’m tired and I’m just spinning my wheels in this ministry. I keep telling You that it is okay if You want to close Kids Klub. But I haven’t asked You what You want. Speak to me, tell me what You want me to do.” I wish that I could tell you that the skies parted and my bedroom was filled with golden light as Jesus told me what He wanted. But that didn’t happen. It was a struggle. In the end, Jesus made it clear. He had called me to that ministry and I wasn’t done until He said I was done. I needed to change my focus from whether or not I was spinning my wheels and onto serving Him. I needed to quit retreating in the ministry and start going forward.
When I think of David being 14, I imagine him looking like my Steven did at that age. Just starting to get his height with pipestem arms and legs, a skinny, gangly body, and a voice that he could not keep from cracking. No longer a boy - but not quite a man either.
Goliath - on the other hand - was a full-grown,9 ft, battle hardened, fully-armored man. For 40 days he had come out and challenged the Israeli soldiers to one-on-one combat. For 40 days Goliath mocked Israel and mocked the Most High God. For 40 days the Israeli soldiers had retreated, trembling, into their tents. Even King Saul was in full retreat. Then 14 year old David showed up. He heard Goliath’s challenge. “Who does that uncircumcised dog of a Philistine think he is talking about our God like that? Whose gonna be the one to knock him flat on his keister?” David looked at the soldiers of Israel and saw that they were terrified. So David went out to face the 9 ft seasoned warrior with nothing but 5 stones and a slingshot. Goliath thought that David was the biggest joke he’d seen. But David didn’t even blink. “You’ve made a big mistake, mister!”, he called out to Goliath, “You have blasphemed the Most High God, and because of that I am going to kill you and I am going to cut off your head.” That did not impress Goliath and Goliath started towards David. David did not retreat back to the camp, nor did he stand and wait for Goliath. He ran at Goliath, then he killed Goliath, and then he cut off Goliath’s head - just as he said he would.
The stone did not kill Goliath, David did not kill Goliath, David’s faith killed Goliath. Goliath was as good as dead the instant that David started running towards the giant, sure in the knowledge that God would give him the victory.
We, as Christ followers, are called into battle and sometimes we are called on to battle giants. Sometimes the giants are of the world. But sometimes the giants are within us. The giants of discouragement, of feeling that you are spinning your wheels, of wondering if you make a difference. Regardless of where they come from, we are not called by God to retreat before them. We are called to run at them sure in the knowledge that God will give us victory.
Care Fresno Kids Klub started that Fall and there was indeed a new leader. Oh, she looked the same as she had for the past several years, but within her was a new heart - a heart that was focused on serving Jesus first. A heart that had vowed, “no retreat - no surrender” And Care Fresno Kids Klub has prospered - not because of anything I have done - but because of my faith in what God can do.
LORD Jesus, my God and my King, my vow to You remains the same. For Jesus - No reserve, No retreat. I will run at my giants knowing that because of You they are already defeated.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org.
Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: You don't give up.
-Anne Lamott
Anne Lamott
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anne Lamott (born 10 April 1954, in San Francisco) is an author of several novels and works of non-fiction. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, her non-fiction works are largely autobiographical, with strong doses of self-deprecating humor and covering such subjects as alcoholism, single motherhood, and Christianity. She appeals to many fans because of her sense of humor, her deeply felt insights, and her outspoken views on topics such as her left-of-center politics and her unconventional Christian faith. She is a graduate of Drew College Preparatory School in San Francisco, California. Her father, Kenneth Lamott, was also a writer and was the basis of her first novel “Hard Laughter”
Quotes
"Laughter is carbonated holiness." (Plan B)
"When you're conscious and writing from a place of insight and simplicity and real caring about the truth, you have the ability to throw the lights on for your reader." (Bird by Bird)
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
Please remember Delaine’s friend at work who has been told that she has lymphoma. The friend is believing that the worst (only if you don’t know Jesus) is going to happen and that she is going to die.
My friend from India, Remo Paul, is in Eugene, Oregon. He called me at work today - I was so excited to talk to him! He sounds just like I thought he would. His wife, Susan, is doing well with the pregnancy and their baby is due in July.
Lorraine Esparza’s daughter is moving back to Fresno with her four children. She has found a place to rent right across the street from the church - hum-m-m - I sense new kids for Awana and Care Fresno!
Dillon Joos is doing great with the reduction of his meds! Thank You, Abba!
Tony McDonald underwent back surgery last Friday to try and relieve the constant pain he is suffering after his doctor accidentally clipped a nerve in his back.
Lula Wall, Betty Arnold’s mom, entered a hospice on January 19th in this final stage of her earthy life, and the opening of her real life in Jesus’ presence.
Eileen Betts has surgery yesterday in Santa Clara. Please pray for complete recovery.
Please pray for the mother of one of our Care Fresno kids. Bianca has been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Her prognosis is good. Keep her daughter, Stephanie in prayer.
One month old Nathaniel Good, Margaret Good’s great grandson ran home to the arms of Jesus on December 22nd. Please pray for those he left behind.
Kelli Hastings tests have come back as inconclusive and two new lumps have been found.
We continue to pray for: Sharlene Ferree, Ellen Burton, George Esparza, Care Fresno Kids klub, Dillon Joos, Pastor Glen, my friend at juvenile hall, Marty Clifton, Chuck & Georgette Bersani, Walt Couch, Anthony, Nancy Eland, Michael Ferris, and Kris Baiz.
Pray for our missionaries – Laurie Bethall in Prague, Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, 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 Sali, The LORD our Rock,
We thank You and praise You that You are not like the false gods that others worship. You do not change, You are not capricious in Your moods. You are truly our solid rock and the firm foundation of our lives.
We lift up our sisters and brothers who are facing health challenges and ask You LORD of All, to heal them and restore them to full health. We call out for Kelli Hastings, Delaine’s friend, Dillon, Tony McDonald, Eileen Betts and Bianca.
We ask that You comfort those who have lost a loved one or are facing the loss of a loved one. We pray Your presence, Holy Spirit, on Margaret Good and her family, and for Betty Arnold and her family.
Grant that Lorraine’s daughter has a smooth transition in her move to Fresno. LORD, you know that situation and You will reign sovereign in it.
LORD of Life, we have friends and family for whom we have offered prayer for a long time. We ask that You continue to work in their lives and grant them peace of mind.
Glorious Jesus, the Great I AM, we thank You for the many pastors and leaders that You have placed in Your eternal Church. Help us to lift them up and support them. Abba, I thank You so much for Kristin Nolte and her service to You and to our Children’s ministry. She is young in years, but wise in Your ways. Thank You for her enthusiasm and dedication. Show her what direction You would have our children’s ministry go in - and help us to support her as she leads us in that direction.
Bless Your missionaries, LORD God. Show us ways to support them through our prayers, our thoughts and our actions. Jehovah Jireh, The LORD who provides, provide for them.
Triune, Perfect God, we were made to worship You. To worship You is the joy - the purpose- the center of our lives. Help us to worship You with more than our songs or our lifted hands. Help us to worship You with our attitude when the alarm clock goes off. Help us to worship you with our words during rush hour traffic. Help us to worship You with how we reflect You in our workplace. Help us to worship You with hands that reach out to others, with ears that listen to the hurting, with our smiles that light a dark room with Your glory. With everything we are and ever will be, we worship You, we love You, we exalt You. You are our God we are Your people.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."
"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.
Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its richness and savored its aroma.
The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water. Each reacted differently.
The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"
Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get even better and change the situation around you.
When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Valerie Rae Hanneman
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (The Message) “You take over. I'm about to die, my life an offering on God's altar. This is the only race worth running. I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that's left now is the shouting—God's applause! Depend on it, He's an honest judge. He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for His coming.”
When my son, Steven, was in the fourth grade (back when he was still my little Stevie) he joined the cross country team. He practiced and practiced and practiced. Then came his first meet. When the starter gun went off so did Stevie. As they went around the back turn I was so excited because Stevie was in first place! But when he came over the finish line he was almost in last place and so winded and shaky legged that I thought he was going to pass out! That next week he came home from practice and told me that his coach had told him that in a long race it was important not to run as fast as you can in the beginning - you had to have something in reserve. At his next meet he did better, finishing in the middle of the pack - not winded and no shaky legs. I felt better about it - but Stevie didn’t. He came home from practice that week and told me that his coach had said that Stevie needed a reserve going towards the finish line but he better not have anything in reserve when he went over the finish line. Of course, the perfect ending to this would be to say that Stevie took first place from then on. He didn’t. Not even once. But during his season he continued to improve and he learned how to give his very best.
Being a Christ follower is a lot like running in a cross country race. You need to run the race that has been set before you the best that you can, you need to know how to pace yourself, and you need to know how not to leave any reserve when you cross the finish line. Paul was a gung-ho Christian. He is the epitome of “on fire for the LORD.” But I don’t find any evidence in his epistles that he overdid it. I looked up “exhaust’ in several different versions of Paul’s epistles. In The Message he talked about not getting exhausted by the little details of life and for us to reach out to the exhausted. In several versions I read him talking about working hard for Christ. And I am positive that, like all of us, he had days when he could barely move he was so tired. But it wasn’t a habit. I bet that you have known a Christian (or two) who are so on fire for the LORD that it is like a raging wildfire. They are involved in every ministry that they can get their heart around. They are involved in so much that half the congregation thinks that they are paid staff. But they don’t last long. Soon they are not only dropping out of their ministries, they are dropping out of the church. They start falling behind in their race because they don’t have any reserve for the long haul. They had a great beginning, but when it comes time to cross that finish line they are so winded and shaky legged that they can barely stumble in.
Paul ran his race hard until the very end. The Romans had imprisoned his body but they could not imprison his heart or his mind. All of his epistles written in prison continue to emphasis all that he had taught to the people and churches when he had been with them. In this epistle to Timothy, Paul’s young apprentice, he continues to teach Timothy (and us) how to follow Christ, even as he knows that soon his life will be over. He had run his race as hard as he could, he had paced himself and had not used up all of his reserve but Paul had no intention of having anything in reserve when he crossed that finish line. Do you know of any Christians who are living on big tanks of reserve? They dabble in this ministry, touch that ministry but never really commit to any ministry. Or they are involved in a ministry but never strive to grow past that ministry and into something new. Or they are pew-potatoes whose greatest act of service to Jesus is showing up and staying awake not) for exactly one hour and fifteen minutes every Sonday? These Christians will stroll across their finish line, not even breathing heavy.
Jesus knew about these reserve-Christians. He told a parable (Matthew 25) of the Master who left for a far country leaving his servants in charge of differing amounts of money. When he returned he called in the servants for an accounting of what they had done with the money. When he got to the last servant, the servant had a lot of excuses but the bottom line was that he had taken what the Master had given him and he sat on it. The master was furious! He called the servant lazy and worthless and said that the least the servant could have done was put it in the bank so it would earn interest. The money was taken from the lazy servant and given to the servant who had invested and used what the Master had given him.
Jesus has given us all gifts to use in service for Him. They are meant to last for our whole race. He does not want us to exhaust them and ourselves nor does He want us to sit on them - reserve them - until we cross the finish line then try to give them back to Him.
He loves us so much, He has given us so much and He wants us to use what He has given us to do so much for His kingdom.
My Jesus, You love me with an everlasting love. You have given me gifts to use in serving You. I don’t want to burn out before I get to my finish line. I don’t want to stroll over my finish line with all my gifts unused, and every hair in place. I want to slide in sideways over that line, with my Bible in one hand, my prayer journal in the other and with my reserve tank just clicking on empty, shouting with joy, “Whew! What a ride!” For You Jesus - No Reserve.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministries of FFBC at valerie@fresnofirst.org
In WWII there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people
who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one
minute to collectively pray for the safety of England , its people and
peace.
There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America.
If you would like to participate: Each evening at 9:00 pm Eastern Time
8:00 PM Central) (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend
one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our
citizens, and for a Godly nation.
If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along.
Someone said if Christians really understood the full extent of the power
we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are
the most powerful asset we have.
Together, we "CAN" make a difference!
Thank You, and God Bless America !
Between here and heaven, every minute that the Christian lives will be a minute of grace. C.H. Spurgeon
Georgette Bersani has had a relapse and is on antibiotics again.
Jo Murry is praising on two fronts! (Don’t you just love that Father gives us ample cause to praise Him?) Jo’s knee is doing much better and she is hoping for full mobility to return and she is thankful for the patience this situation has taught her. Her second praise is that her mom, Ruth Harlan, is sleeping through the night and getting some much needed rest.
Sharlene Ferree is at the hospital in San Francisco - I believe (but am not positive) that her operation was yesterday.
Please continue to keep Ellen Burton in prayer as she struggles with cancer. It is taking a terrible toll on her - it is physically difficult for her to get up in the mornings.
We continue to pray for: George Esparza, Care Fresno Kids klub, Remo, Susan, and soon-to-be Baby Paul, The family of Linda Mann, Dillon Joos, the two Care Fresno Kids Klub children who lost their father, Pastor Glen, my friend at juvenile hall, Marty Clifton, Chuck Bersani, Kelli Hastings, Walt Couch, Anthony, Nancy Eland, Tony McDonald, Michael Ferris, and Kris Baiz.
Pray for our missionaries – Gospel for Asia, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, 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.
God of Wonders,
Abba, when we are with You like this, when we feel Your presence enfold us, it feels like You are so close to us that we should be able to reach out and touch You with our hand. We can’t do that today, but the day is coming when time and space will no longer physically separate us. When we will stand around Your throne with every tribe, every tongue and every nation and together we will sing, Holy, Holy, Holy, LORD God Almighty, which was and is and is to come. Holy! Holy! Holy! How we long for that day to come.
El Nose, Forgiving God, forgive us for when we have failed to be an obedient people. Forgive us when we have failed to show Your love. Forgive us when we turn away from those You would have us reach out to. Help us to be more like You.
We lift us Georgette, Sharleen and Ellen, Merciful God, and ask that Your grace and mercy be upon them. Heal their bodies and heal their souls. Abba, in particular I lift up Ellen and ask that you ease her pain and call her into a relationship with You.
El Elohim, I love hearing the praises of Your people! Thank You for the great report from Jo. Continue to heal her knee and continue to bless her mother with sleep.
Jehovah Jirah, LORD God Who Provides, be with those who remain on our prayer chain and continue to provide for their needs.
LORD Jesus, thank You for the faithful servants that You have placed within our fellowship. Thank You for our pastors and all of our leaders. Bless them with peaceful minds. We thank You for Jessica Pittman and her heart to see Your Good News taken to the ends of the earth. We thank You for her leadership with the twenty-somethings of our church. Continue to bless Jessica and Nic, bless their marriage and bless their future.
Holy Spirit, our lives are full of ups and downs, but they really don’t matter. They are nothing but rocks on a riverbed. They are there, but they cannot stop the river of joy that You have put into our hearts.
God of the Angel Armies, we thank You and praise You for the courage and strength of those who serve You in countries that seem to become more and more hostile to You. We pray a stronghold of protection around Your missionaries.
We pray for our country, Father God. We are facing some challenges right now. Help those on both sides of the issues work together to find a common ground that will be the best way for our country to go. And in all things, Father, bring us closer to You.
I love the verse in Zepheniah 3:16 that says that You rejoice over us with singing. The thought of it gives me goose bumps. How I imagine the song that You sing over me! Sometimes I am sure that You are singing, “Bad girl, bad girl, what’cha gonna do?” But most of the time I imagine our voices in harmony singing to each other, “I love you so much! I love you so much.” And we do love You. You are our God
At 4:10 am, on April 29, 1903, seventy to eighty million tonnes of rock slid off the face of Turtle Mountain, killing approximately 75 people and trapping many in the little town of Frank, Alberta. Amongst those trapped by the Frank slide were 17 miners who took 12 hours to dig out of their entombment. The elation of reaching daylight was short lived as their eyes adjusted and the panorama of their devastated town came into focus. These men were the last of the survivors to be found - that is until Charlie was discovered.
About a month after that fateful day, and at the end of efforts to reopen the main entrance to the Frank mine, Charlie the mine horse was found alive. Dwelling in complete darkness, he had endured by drinking seepage water, eating the bark off of mine timbers, and by breathing air from the vertical escape shaft the 17 trapped miners had dug to escape that first day. If horses can experience elation, Charlie must have experienced it then - that is until he died the same day from an overdose of oats and brandy given to him by his rescuers. What testing could not take, celebration robbed from Charlie.
Sadly, Charlie's end is not unlike the experience of many Christians who have survived an episode of testing and darkness in life. They may have been in a workplace that sucked the joy out of making a living. Maybe they had an extended illness accompanied by tests and treatments worse than the disease itself. Or perhaps there was a long, lonely wait - infused with fear and anxiousness - to meet the love they'd always dreamt of. These depths, or others like them, gave rise to many cries to God during long hours of pitch-black waiting, spawned a hunger for deliverance that seepage and bark could never quench, and evoked declarations of lifelong trust and devotion if God answered.
And then, sudden rescue! Along came a new and better job, a clean bill of health after a last chance treatment, or Mr. or Mrs. Right moved in next door and dropped by to deliver misdirected mail. Glory to God! Hallelujah! Jubilation! And then. . . I can't be in church because I'm working overtime on Sunday to make a good impression for my new boss! No time to read my Bible because my flower garden didn't get planted when I was sick! It's ok that we are having sex because we love each other and this is the real thing and doesn't God want me to be happy anyway?
When darkness ends and God's deliverance arrives, go easy on the oats and brandy.
Pastor Tim Davis, Copyright 2004 www.cybersalt.org
Valerie Rae Hanneman
John 6:3 (New International Version) “Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples”
There was a scientist that had had great success in cloning humans. Flushed with his ability he went outside and shouted up to God, “You are no longer the only creator!” God, of course, wasn’t going to take that lying down so He spoke to the scientist, “Let’s have a contest to see who can create the better man” “OK!” answered the scientist as he started sweeping up some dirt. “Wait!” said God, “Make your own dirt!”
I am not going to address the legal or ethical issues surrounding cloning because I am writing a devotion not a book. However there is one thing that I know for sure. I need to clone myself.
I am in awe of the history of our church. This year we celebrate 125 years of serving Jesus. On any Sonday you can see children on our campus whose parents, grandparents and sometimes, great-grandparents are in the Sanctuary continuing a long family tradition of worship and service. We also have a rich tradition of individual service to our LORD and God. Harley Sowell has been involved in one ministry or another at Fresno First for the last forty-seven years. That just blows my mind because Harley was involved in ministry at FFBC before I was in kindergarten. Harley is the rule and not the exception at Fresno First. Every Sonday our Sanctuary is full of saints who represent decades of personal service to God. It is extraordinary! Sometimes I feel like I should curtsy to them because – in my opinion – they are the royalty of the Kingdom.
Another long-held tradition of our church is cloning. Not cloning like the scientists do but cloning like Jesus does. Another word for this cloning would be mentoring. Jesus modeled mentoring while He was with us. Many times in the gospels we see Jesus teaching the crowds and then later that day when He was alone with the disciples, taking the time to teach them in more detail what He had taught that day. Jesus was not a “Do what I say – not what I do” type of mentor. His lifestyle fully support His words. Through His teachings and His lifestyle example, Jesus taught a group of fishermen and tax collectors who needed only His resurrection to transform them into world changers. Jesus made sure that when He had gone home there was someone to continue the work of spreading His good news. Christian cloning was also a practice of the early Church as seen by Apostle Paul’s letters to his young pastor Timothy. Paul made sure that when he was gone there was someone to continue the Kingdom work.
At the same meeting where I heard Harley talk about his years of ministry I also heard how the Bairds started attending FFBC when Norm was 7 years old (right about when he started driving bus for us!). It was gratifying – but not surprising - to hear Norm talk about he and Neil being mentored by Harley Sowell when they were young men and for Norm to give Harley the credit for where they are in ministry today. Norm and Neil are two of Harley’s Christian clones because Harley made it a priority to make sure that there was somebody to continue the Kingdom work. There is a young boy in Care Fresno who does not have a father in the home. He is a great kid with great potential, but he does not have an example in his life on how to be a Christian man. Recently Norm and Neil Baird have come along side this young man and have given him an example to look up to. He will be their Christian clone – one of many I am sure.
When I came back to Jesus eleven years ago I knew that I wanted to walk with Him. The first step was the decision to follow Him, but I didn’t know what the second step was supposed to be. Jesus sent me to an extraordinary woman - Samee Myers. She is my spiritual mom and I am her wild child. I call Samee my spiritual mom because she has taught me how to be a woman after God’s own heart. One Sonday Samee and I were talking when Ruth Rush came by. “If I am your spiritual mom,” Samee said, “Then Ruth is your spiritual grandma.” That was when I learned that Samee is Ruth’s clone.
I cannot imagine my life without Care Fresno Kids Klub in it. Kids Klub is the centerpiece of my service to Jesus. But if this ministry is all about Jesus, and if He is truly the focus of it, then I have to imagine Kids Klub without me in it. I need to make sure that when I am gone there is somebody to continue the kingdom work. I need to be mentoring the future of the Church.
Here is the great thing about Christian clones - they are not duplicates of the originals. Ruth Rush mentored Samee Myers, but Samee serves Jesus on a different path than the one Jesus chose for Ruth. Samee mentored me but I serve Jesus with a different style than she does. The person that I will mentor may serve in Care Fresno - but may also be chosen to serve elsewhere. When I mentor the next person in line I will not pass on the how-to of Care Fresno as much as I will pass on the how-to of serving Jesus. And all that is truly important for all of us - mentors and mentorees - is to chose service to Jesus as a lifestyle. We can leave the details of that service to Him.
The strength of our church - the strength of the Church - is the history of generations of families, it is the history of people serving Jesus as a lifestyle and it is the history of passing on that history and that knowledge to the next generation.
Jesus, Ruth taught Samee to live for You, Samee taught me. Show me who You want me to teach to live in this life-joy that is service to You.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of FFBC at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. A.J. Piper
George Esparza is home, but has been diagnosed with a kidney infection.
Chuck Bersani is doing so much better with his therapy that he’s been able to drive.
Please pray for Marty Clifton, the nephew of a friend of mine, Judi. Marty has Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and is gravely ill.
Danette Joos’ young son, Dillon, is being weaned off his anti-seizure medication. Please keep him in prayer for a successful transition..
Please pray for the family of Linda Mann. She went home to be with her LORD, leaving behind (for now) her husband Chuck , their children and grandchildren.
I received some disappointing and distressing news today. I have been in contact with Delta Ministries for the past two years trying to get to Reaching Hand Society in India. The e-mail that I received said that trips to Reaching Hand have been put on hold until safety concerns can be resolved. I am disappointed because I really do want to go to RHS. I am distressed because if it is unsafe for an American Christian to be there what is it like for the Indian Christians? Please pray for the safety of our brothers and sisters.
On a much lighter note from RHS - Remo and Susan Paul are expecting their first baby!
Pastor Glen Aycock is adjusting well to his new meds. Praise God!
My friend over at Juvenile Hall will be getting furloughs soon. I am intending to spend some quality time with her. Please pray for me, that Father will use me to reach her.
Care Fresno Kids Klub is having a bake sale on January 21st. Please donate baked goods if you can - and be sure to buy something also. If you prefer to resist temptation - I take cash! Please pray for this ministry to our neighborhood children. We have hit some bumps in the road lately.
Hold up in prayer two of my Care Fresno children. Their father died on New Year’s day of pneumonia. They are so young for this type of loss to touch them.
We continue to pray for: Kelli Hastings, Jo Murry, Walt Couch, Anthony, Cori Dorfmeier, Debbie Lemons, Sharleen Ferree, Nancy Eland, Tony McDonald, Michael Ferris, and Kris Baiz.
Pray for our missionaries – Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, 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.
Perfect One,
Thank You for the many ways that You have touched our lives. You are Who we reach for in the morning, You are the last thought in our minds as we slip into sleep. Storms cannot overwhelm us, despair cannot drown us, eternal death cannot touch us. Not even the gates of hell can prevail against us if we stand in Your shadow and in Your strength.
Help us to keep fervent in our love for You and our love for each other. The world will know that we are Yours because we love one another. Help us to love each other so much that there is no doubt in the world’s mind whose we are.
We lift up George, Pastor Glen, Dillon, Marty and Chuck and ask, Jehovah Jirah, that You provide for their health needs.
We thank You for the new life that Remo and Susan are expecting and pray that You keep them and all of our loved ones at RHS safe.
Jehovah Shalom, God of our peace, we pray for Linda’s family and for our two Care Fresno children who have lost their father. Comfort them and give them peace.
Abba, help me as I spend time with my friend. I don’t know what to do to help her except to do my best to show her how awesome You are. Help me not to mess this up.
Spirit of Life, we pray for Your presence to be on every life and in every situation of those we continue to pray for.
LORD Jesus, Help us to be a grateful people.
We lift up our pastors before You, Father, and ask that You bless them in new ways.. We thank You for Pastor Dan Gates and for his spirit that is so young and light and for his wonderful heart that is tuned into serving the seniors in our fellowship.
Father, it takes a special heart and a special person to serve in the mission fields. We thank You for the love that fills Your missionaries and ask that You protect them.
God, bless America, her leadership and all who serve in the military. Guide us Father.
We love You so much. To be called by Your name is our incomparable joy.
To Each His Own
I cannot change the way I am,
I never really try,
God made me different and unique,
I never ask him why.
If I appear peculiar,
There's nothing I can do,
You must accept me as I am,
As I've accepted you.
God made a casting of each life,
Then threw the old away,
Each child is different from the rest,
Unlike as night from day.
So often we will criticize,
The things that others do,
But, do you know, they do not think,
The same as me and you.
So God in all his wisdom,
Who knows us all by name,
He didn't want us to be bored,
That's why we're not the same
~Author Unknown~
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Hosea 1:2 “When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, "Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD."” (NIV)
I am sure that you have heard the saying, “Marry in haste, repent in leisure.” It’s true. When I was 20 I met this man. He did his best to impress me. He told me that I was the only woman he could ever love. I, being young and foolish, was swept down the garden path. Less than 9 months after I met him we were married. We promised to love, honor, forsake all others. But he had a funny idea of faithfulness. The first time I caught him with another woman he explained that it was just sex, I was the only one he loved and his heart was faithful to me. When I told him how his adultery hurt me he promised to never hurt me again. But he did. And then he did it again. Each time I forgave him because I loved him. One night I got off work early and went home to find him in bed – my bed – with a girl. That was that. I walked out and never looked back. I still loved him, but I had run out of forgiveness. I was done with him and his adultery.
God told Hosea to go and take an adulterous woman to be his wife. This was unheard of. Even in Jesus’ day, hundreds of years later, to be caught in adultery could end up as a death sentence by stoning. But in spite of the social stigma, Hosea married Gomer. When Hosea married Gomer she had a reputation as an adulteress. When Hosea married her it restored her to a socially acceptable position. He gave her a chance to be a faithful wife. God used Hosea and Gomer as a picture of His relationship with Israel. When Father called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans, He covenanted with Abraham that He would make a great nation out of Abraham’s descendants. He would be their faithful God, and they would be His faithful people. That was the nation of Israel – a nation that still impacts the world thousands of years later.
Gomer was faithful for awhile and then went back to her adulteries. The Book of Hosea seems to indicate that Hosea forgave her a number of times before the relationship was broken. But eventually Hosea ran out of forgiveness and the relationship ended. Israel was faithful to God for a time, about the time it took to get to Mt. Sinai. Then they built and worshiped a golden calf. They committed adultery against their God. He forgave them and restored them to Himself. When they were finally in the Promised Land, they continued their adultery by worshipping the Baals and Asherahs – false gods. God would bring punishment down on them to bring them back to Him. When they cried out to Him, He forgave them and restored them to Himself. Time and time and time and time again Israel turned away from God to the false gods. And just as many times, God forgave Israel and restored her to Himself. Then came the day when God broke the relationship with Israel. He still loved Israel, but left her to her adulteries. For four hundred years the voice of God was not heard in Israel.
The day came when God told Hosea to go and restore his relationship with Gomer. But Gomer had gotten herself into serious trouble. I am not sure if she was being sold as a slave or if Hosea had to pay a penalty equal to the price of a slave, but Hosea paid to redeem her and restore her to himself once again. The day came when God told His Son, Jesus, to go and restore the relationship with Israel and with the entire earth. Israel and the known world were in physical slavery to Imperial Rome, but even worse, all of humanity was in spiritual slavery to sin. Jesus paid a price – His own life – to redeem us from sin and restore us to God once again.
Israel was not the only Gomer. I am Gomer. I am in a relationship with God. I have promised to love Him with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, all my body and all my strength. I have made a vow of faithfulness to Him. But some mornings I am not even out my front door and I have broken my vow to Him. Israel committed adultery with false gods. So do I. My false gods are not named Baal or Asherah. They are named pride, control-freak, popularity, and on and on. Slowly and steadily they take over bits and pieces of me until I am worshipping these false gods and have turned away from God, the foundation and cornerstone of all that I am. Sometimes Jesus has to take action in my life to show me how I have strayed from Him. Some of those actions that I have caused Him to take have not been pleasant experiences. But they have been effective in causing me to cry out to Him for forgiveness and restoration.
His forgiveness has always been extended to me and the restoration of the joy of our relationship has always resulted. And it always will be.
God stepped away from Israel for four hundred years. The relationship was broken. Jesus’ death redeemed and restored the relationship with God for anybody who would call upon His name. Because it was Jesus, Son of God, Who redeemed us and restored us to God, the relationship is eternal. God will never break the relationship with those He has redeemed no matter how many times we turn away from Him.
I could not forgive my husband for his multiple adulteries; it broke the relationship and killed the love between us. God will not treat me that same way no matter how often I stray. In the face of His relentless, uncompromising love for me, I find that my greatest desire is to be more faithful to Him today than I was yesterday and to be even more faithful to Him tomorrow. I love Him because He first loved me.
LORD God, You are everything to me. Nothing compares to You. But sometimes I’m a Gomer. Do what is necessary to bring me back to You because this is where I want to be. Help me to be stronger and more faithful to You.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of FFBC at Valerie@fresnofirst.org
God actually likes you. He made you, and He’s got a beautiful purpose for your life.-Luis Palau
George Esparza is at St Agnes undergoing tests after he became ill on New Year’s day.
We continue to pray for: Kelli Hastings, Jo Murry, Walt Couch, Anthony, Cori Dorfmeier, Debbie Lemons, Sharleen Ferree, Lou Olsen, Char Cole, Pastor Glen Aycock, Jim Sullivan, Herbert Miller, Nathaniel Good, my friend down at Juvenile Hall, Nancy Eland, Tony McDonald, Michael Ferris, and Kris Baiz.
Pray for our missionaries – Yvonne Deel in Belize, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan in Jos Nigeria, 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.
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 Elyon, Most High God,
Another year has hurried past and even as I wonder where the time has gone, I am reminded that time does not touch You. You are God Who always was, always is and always will be. To measure You, one has to be able to measure eternity or to find the end of space, or write down the last number. It cannot be done, because, like eternity, like space, like numbers, You are immeasurable.
Jehovah Jirah, thank You for the infinite ways that You provide for us. You provide the rain and the sun that grow our food. You provide the songs of the birds, the beauty of the rose and the glory of the sunset to delight our senses. You provide the air that we breathe and the water that we drink. You are Jehovah Jirah, The God Who Provides.
El Gibor, You are our Protector and Defender. There is nothing that can come against us or defeat us because You are mighty. Your power knows no bounds, Your strength sustains the universe. You are El Gibor, the Mighty God.
El Hai, false gods come and go. Mohammed is dead, Buddha is dead, Confucius is dead, the Norse gods are dead, the Greek gods are dead and the Roman gods are dead and they remain dead. You were dead once but You didn’t stay dead. You rose again, bringing eternal life to us, defeating death and the grave forever. You are El Hai, the living God.
El Neeman, You are so faithful to us. Your Word is full of promises You have made and promises You have kept. From the beginning You promised a Redeemer and Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. You promised Abraham a son in his old age and Isaac was born. You are faithful to keep Your promises and because of Your faithfulness in ages past we trust Your promises for tomorrow. You are El Neeman, the Faithful God.
El Nose, You have forgiven us of our sins. When we fail to be faithful to You, when we turn aside from You, You forgive us when we come back to You. Thank You for loving us with a relentless love. You are El Nose, the Forgiving God.
Yahweh Shammah, because of You, I am never alone. My family may desert me, my friends may walk away from me but You never will. Your promise is that You will never leave me or forsake me. If we climb to the highest of heavens You will be there. If we descend into the pit of hell You are there. Wherever we go, wherever we are, there You are also. You are Yahweh Shammah, the LORD is there.
We love to call Your names in praise and thanksgiving because each of Your names is an expression of Who You are and how much You love us. You are El Hanun, the Gracious God, You are El Malke, God my King, You are Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End, You are El Gadol, the Great God, You are el Olam, the Everlasting God, You are El Rahum, the Merciful God, You are El Shaddai, God Almighty, , You are Elohay Koi Basar, the God of All Flesh, You are Emmanuel, God With Us, You are Jesus, our Savior, You are Elohim Ezer Li, God my Helper, You are Yahweh Borei, the LORD our Maker, You are Tov Yahweh, the Good LORD.
Of all Your names great and glorious that we will shout out in praise and worship for all eternity there is one that is closest to my heart. Abba, Daddy, speaks of an intimate and loving relationship with You Who are beyond our comprehension.
Abba, You know the names of those we love who are on our prayer chain, George, our pastors, leaders, missionaries. Our country, our military and our leaders. The list is long, Abba, but not one of them slips through the cracks or beyond You. Be sovereign in their lives, be sovereign in our lives.
We love You so much. Forgive us when we don’t act like it, Abba. Help us to be stronger for You every day.
Greetings in Jesus' Name.
Today is the 1st Jan 2007, as I sit and type this letter I really am at a loss of words as to where to start and where to end. The year 2006 was a great year with its share of joys and sorrows, triumphs and failures, with moments of lacking followed by God's amazing provision in the nick of time. RHS staff got married, children were born into the family and new opportunities for ministry were opened in villages and prisons in Koraput.
I will start with the message at the service last night. The speaker for the night spoke from the 3rd Chapter of Joshua, where the Israelites were faced with the river Jordan in front of them before their entry into the Promised Land. The lessons he drew from this chapter were
1. The year 2007 will have its share of problems
2. We need to move forward and step into the problem and then see how the Lord works
3. We need to look to God at all times and
4. We need to draw inspiration from the Word of God
In doing these we will see how the Lord leads us through new pastures despite the problems and trials that we will face in the year ahead.
Now it is difficult to look at Year 2007 as an year of problems, but what is reassuring is knowledge that the Lord will be there as we enter into the problem to walk as through as He did for the Israelites through Jordan.
Something very exciting happened in November 2006. I was in Singapore for an international youth planning meeting and from there I was able to make a side trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. I was there visiting Kent and Mang. Kent was a participant at the Advanced Missions Leadership Training in 2005 where I was facilitating a few sessions. Kent is from Nagaland and Mang is from Manipur. They are there as pioneering missionaries. This year and the most of next year they will spend learning the local language and also exploring the ministry opportunities. The two options that they are considering are
1. Work among the youth or
2. Start a business in the booming and thriving tourism industry in Siem Reap and be a witness through the business
Their assured monthly support is USD 100. They probably do get some gifts once in a while, but surviving on just USD 100 in a foreign land sure called for total trust in the Lord. Siem reap is a few hours by road to Vietnam, Thailand and Laos (all of these are no access countries). They are strategically placed to penetrate these countries (Cambodia is relatively open). As I spent time with them for a couple of days, I was very strongly reminded of early pioneering days of my parents in Malkangiri. It was an awesome experience.
Please join with me in praying as Kent and Mang labour for the Lord in a foreign land.
This trip has set my mind thinking as to whether we at RHS need to start thinking beyond the boundaries of India. Now I know that work here is not over and we have loads of issues unresolved here in India itself, but this visit has had a very compelling effect. I do not know as to what trials and problems this new horizon beyond India holds, but am sure that the Lord that enabled the Israelites to cross Jordan into the Promised Land will enable RHS to venture into this new horizon beyond India.
Our brothers Kent and Mang in Cambodia are desperately in need of a computer and a motorcycle and if you are interested to partner with this venture please do get in touch with me at remopaul@gmail.com
Now for some personal news:
Susan and I completed our first year of being married on the 29th Dec 2006. We are now expecting our first child in mid July 2007. Susan has just recovered from a sever bout of fever and laryngitis.
Mary has been able to complete here 1st semester in College with a first class and she enjoys her course.
David graduates in April 2007 and wants to start working.
Mano, Sangeetha and L'il Reuben are doing well and mummy is spending time with them taking care of Reuben.
Now some news from the various fields:
Mundiguda centre:
Praise God for
Sanayakguda, Guru Kamudi who was not keeping for a long time and Padma Kamudi used to visit and pray for him. And he was healed and now a Sunday prayer is being conducted in his house and also coming for the fasting prayer. Sanayakguda is 23 km west of Mundiguda center.
Hanna is completely healed from the injury that she was hurt when she fell down from the bike.
Padma Kamudi use to feel giddiness and eyes used to become red often, but now he is keeping well.
Pray for
Saita Hial healing from diabetes. Some time back she was not even able to see and recognize people but now she is able to see. She is the sister of our evangelist Sukhdevo Hial of village Sitapari and its 16 km north of Mundiguda center.
Mohan Anugulia of village Mecca to heal soon as he has been bed ridden for a long time. He is the father of Ananta Anugulia working in police department. He has been suffering from back pain and was in the bed for long time. His younger Son was very active in the youth committee in the village and has threatened Padma Kamudi not come to village for preaching, but now his younger son has called Padma and requested him to Pray for his father for his healing and has even told Padma that if his father heals, then they will become Christian.
Trinath Khora to accept Christ of village Khadimati. It is 16 Km from Mundiguda center. He has been not keeping well for a long time. So Evangelist Paul Mattam used to visit and pray for him. But now he has become well and wanted to become Christian. But as he has seen the earlier persecution of Balram Khora of the same village, that he should not be frighten.
Malkangiri Center:
Praise God for
Sanyasiguda Adult and Children are coming with great interest and are learning drama and action song for the Christmas Programme.
Sapan's son Emmanuel and Christian for having got good marks in the exam.
Malathy's health after delivery become very weak and is now improving well.
Jyoti's daughter Moon was having cough and now she is now well.
Narayanguda and Kadabal people are interested to do Christmas Programme in the their village. Narayanguda is 15 Km west of Malkangiri and Kadabal is 3 Km east of Malkangiri.
In Malkangiri Prison ladies are learning embroidery.
Pray for
The new ladies prisoner those have come to know about Christ and for Prison evangelism work to go well among the Bengali prisoners.
The finance to come in time for Christmas Programme.
Shanti's grandmother who is suffering from cancer and for Minothi's father who is ill
Rabaguda Center
Praise God for
The literacy Programme in Rabaguda and Masaguda is going on very well.
The door-to-door prayer is going on very well and we are sharing gospel to the people.
The protection from opposition.
Pray for
The Literacy class to continue well Rabaguda and Masaguda.
The Christmas Programme arrangement and Christmas celebration at Rabaguda.
The people of Rabaguda to accept Christ.
Thank you very much for your continued prayers and support in the year 2006 and we look forward to your continued support in the year 2007. Thank you very much for standing with us.
Wishing you a wonderful and Christ centred 2007.
With prayers
Remo and the RHS Team
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." -- Edith Lovejoy Pierce
"Another fresh new year is here . . .
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt, and fear,
To love and laugh and give!
This bright New Year is given me
To live each day with zest . . .
To daily grow and try to be
My highest and my best!
I have the opportunity
Once more to right some wrongs,
To pray for peace, to plant a tree,
And sing more joyful songs!"
-- William Arthur Ward
"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each New Year find you a better man." -- Benjamin Franklin
"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." -- Hal Borland
"Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past." -- Henry Ward Beecher