Intentional Investments

Ecclesiastes 11:1 (MSG) advises "Be generous: Invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns."

Now when it comes to investments, I'm no skilled financialist. However, years of ministry experiences has taught me this ~ it definitely pays to invest in the lives of God's people. Rewarding ministry is about sharing the spiritual journey with people from all walks of life, and when we intentionally invest our time and talents into their lives, God gives the increase all the time.

Are you investing into the lives of others that God might give the spiritual increase?

TODAY'S PRAYER FOCUS
Major Winsome Mason ~ serving God in the United Kingdom

Happy New Year

2008...new year... new opportunities...new blog layout!

While bringing in the New Year with close friends, discussion arose about New Year's resolutions. Now I'm not an 'agenda and action plan'-type person, however, I did awake this morning with a new year's resolution on my heart and mind.

So here it is...

Less of me and more of Christ

A new me ~ spiritually and physically ~ I'm going to pursue it whole-heartedly!

TODAY'S PRAYER FOCUS

Lieutenant Kevin Meredith and Captain Sugunama ~ serving in Myanmar

God's Blessing

At our New Year's Eve BBQ and Praise Service following, we gave honour and glory to God for the many blessings experienced during 2007 and, in a spirit of anticipated thanksgiving, entrusted the yet unexplored opportunities and untapped possibilities of the New Year into God's hands.

In 2007, God provided ~ so we can be certain that throughout 2008 we will be well guided. As you 'open the gate on 2008', consider this biblical principle of God's personal blessing.

Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) ~ This is God's Word on the subject:
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out ~ plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

May our Lord bless you more richly still!

Silent Witness

While waiting to meet friends at Forest Hill Chase this afternoon, Dabak and I sat around a table still dresssed in our uniforms from the morning's worship service. It goes without saying, that we were less than conspicuous.

Should we, then, have been surprised at the number of people who stopped and offered a word of appreciation to the Salvos? Or amazed at the many nearby who engaged us in a friendly chat? Certainly not!

The high regard with which the Army is held by the public of Australia is so evident.
Is this because they know we care?
Is this because they trust us to be "people of action"?
Is this because they value the work we do?

Perhaps it is! But I hope and pray that it is more a reflection of the fact that we demonstrate the love of God in action as we serve suffering humanity offering Christian understanding and hope.

Consider this ~ Uniform itself isn't the witness, it is always the one who wears it!

2 Corinthians 3:2 (MSG) ~ "Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it ~ not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives ~ and we publish it."

Prayer Plea For Pakistan

Majors Geoff and Kalie Webb ~ Australian officers serving in Pakistan with their daughter, Khelsi ~ raise several urgent prayer points for our attention.

• Please pray for Pakistan. Some newspaper analysts in the country are predicting civil war; pray for calm in the country.
• Please pray for the many people mourning Benazir’s death.
• Please pray for leadership within the country – of all political parties – to show statesman-like behaviour and call for calm and a measure of unity.
• Please pray for our Salvationists, who have had to deal with the death of our Army leader Bo Brekke on 27th September, and now with the death of one of our political leaders Benazir Bhutto on 27th December.
• Please also pray for our Chief Secretary, Lieut-Colonel Yousaf Ghulam, and his wife, Lieut-Colonel Rebecca Yousaf, who – as well as trying to lead our territory until our new territorial leaders arrive – are also faced with a major illness of their adult daughter Shahzia – married only in the last twelve months and now very ill in hospital.

Your faithfulness in prayer on behalf of the Webbs and the people of Pakistan is greatly valued.

"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of" Lord Alfred Tennyson

The Day After

Boxing Day is a traditional celebration, dating back to the middle ages, and consisted of the practice of giving out gifts to employees, the poor, or to people in a lower social class.

With this practice no longer practiced, perhaps it would be best to rename the day after Christmas.

Personally, it's been a 'boxing day' of sorts for me. For I've been returning to my boxed Christmas gifts time and again this morning to consult (and reconsult) the reference guide and service instructions for my newest [and most helpful] 'guy gadget'. Thanks to my darling wife, TimTim now owns his own TomTom. Another male reason not to have to ask for directions!

Sharing As Family

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

We were reminded this morning that "Christmas Is A Time To Share". This proved true even before the service commenced as our spiritual family met joyously together and, to our surprising joy, members of our extended Lynn family arrived to worship.

The Lynn family is like liquorice ~ we consist of 'all-sorts'. Our paths tend to seldom cross throughout the course of each year, so when we meet annually at our Christmas evening family dinner it is a 'quality' occasion. It's an opportunity to share each other's journeys and offer encouragement to one another.

Contemplate God's filial message of Love to the world ~ and be personally encouraged.

Micah 5:2-4 (MSG) ~ "But you, Bethlehem, David's country, the runt of the litter ~ from you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel.He'll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished... He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God's strength, centered in the majesty of God-Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home, for the whole world will hold him in respect ~ Peacemaker of the world!"