Thứ Năm, tháng 11 30, 2006

JESUS LOVES YOU - ISSUE 168 - Nov 2006

JESUS LOVES YOU. ISSUE NO. 168
November 20th, 2006

JOHN 14:1-3 N.A.S. “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also.” ---Jesus

I PETER 5:7 AMP. “Casting the whole of your care [all of your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”

PSALM 121:2,7&8 NIV “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. … The Lord will keep you from all harm---He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 KJV "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Dear Friends,
Warm greetings to each of you from Emie and me, our family, and ministry team. “May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.” –Jude 2 We pray for God to grant you individualized blessings, which are tailor made specifically for your needs. God knows of needs we have, that we are not even aware of, and He is able to provide for us all in surprising ways and at just the right time.
We hope you had a good Thanksgiving Day and a good time of fellowship with family and friends. We will be spending Thanksgiving with a few other missionaries this Thursday afternoon. The prophet Joel wrote a Scripture that could apply to Thanksgiving Day; Joel 2:26a&b NIV: “You will have plenty to eat, until you are full… and then you will praise the name of the Lord your God, Who has worked wonders for you…”

Yesterday I drove 2 hours to a church we helped pioneer in Baybay, Leyte. I was the guest speaker for their church anniversary and their theme was based on the Scripture in Ephesians 5:20 which deals with giving thanks to God in all situations. I often remember my friend Rev. Jim Ripley sharing about the importance of “having an attitude of gratitude” towards God. God blesses people who are thankful to Him.
In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus healed 10 Lepers, yet only one of them came back to say “Thanks”, and Jesus said: But the nine, where are they?” God appreciates it when we thank Him and worship Him. In Acts 16:6-40, Paul and Silas felt directed by God to go to Macedonia and preach the gospel. Yet they had their cloths torn off, were beaten with rods, and thrown into the inner prison and their feet put in stocks. For many people that may not have seemed the time to have a praise and worship meeting, but Paul & Silas began to praise the Lord from the depths of their hearts. An earthquake shook the prison, the prison doors were opened, and the chains fell off. And then Paul & Silas had a revival meeting (so to speak) and led the jailer and his family to Jesus.
During the Baybay church service I mentioned to the congregation that sometimes people are not very grateful to God and can’t think of what to thank Him for. I asked the church members who were able, to take a deep breath with me and hold it until I signaled to breathe. I just put up one hand and began to lift my fingers 1,2,3,4,5 several times and after about 35 seconds, I took a deep breath and so did the other people who were able to hold their breath that long. I said: “It feels good to breathe doesn’t it?” And they heartily agreed. Truly, every breath we take and every beat of our heart is a gift from God. “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! And His mercy endures forever.”-- Psalm 107:1 God is truly good, and He has been kind and merciful to us all. He is so very worthy of our sincere praise, worship, and giving of thanks.
Two Sundays ago we were able to bless a young man who has been crippled from birth.
His name is Entoy and he became a Christian at a crusade a few months ago, he regularly attends church. He used a small homemade device to help him walk. We were able to recently find and purchase a high quality walker stand to give to him. He had been so happy to receive and use the new walker; it is probably the most valuable possession he has ever owned. Adoptive parents who we were told had found him as a baby, left in the garbage dump, raised him. His adoptive parents died a few years ago. We wish he would have received a miracle healing to walk normally, but he has already received the greatest miracle of all---He received Jesus as his Savior and Lord. And he right now thanks the Lord for his answered prayer for the new walker.

Emie would like to share a few words:
“Dear Friends,
Greetings to you in Jesus Name! It is my prayer that God will continue to bless you in every area of your life. The church of Tacloban City and all the pastors of Eternal Life Ministries International are also praying for you always. They are very grateful to God for all of you that have been a help to them for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
I would like to share the testimony about a lady who received the Lord just this last Sunday, November 19th, 2006. Her name is Salome. She is a court secretary, I have been sharing the word of God to her since 1996, and finally she received the Lord and came to our fellowship to worship the King. Another boy 14 years old, whose mother died 4 months ago, his name is Rex—he is very poor, living in a very small house—he is a very lonely lad. I visited him and was moved with compassion, I hugged him and assured him of the love of God. He also received the Lord last week, I am very happy to see these people crying before God as they received Jesus as their Savior and Lord. I believe they were tears of repentance and tears of joy.
I would also like to thank the Lord for our radio ministry; many people have been encouraged through the Word of God we shared on the air. We have 7 new members added to the church because of the radio ministry.
I would like to express my gratitude for making this ministry possible because people like you have a heart for the lost soul. You and I will receive the same reward according to the word of God. Thank-you very much for your partnership to reach people for Christ.
Love,
Emie
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“Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the heart consider it? He who keeps your soul, does he not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” ---Proverbs 24:11-12

“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How they shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach if they are not sent.” –Romans 10:13-15a

For 14&1/2 years Emie and I (in partnership with all of you who have helped “send” us) have been sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Several thousand people have come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord, thousands have been strengthened and encouraged in their faith, and the poor have been given help in the name of Jesus. I have said it before-----we are confident that you will one day meet many people in heaven who will come to you and say “Thank-you for being part of the team that helped me come to know Jesus as my Savor and Lord. You are one of the reasons I am in heaven today.”
On this Thanksgiving Day month in America, Emie and I would simply like to say “Thank-you so very much for your friendship, prayers, encouragement, and financial investments in God’s work through these ministry outreaches. Your partnership and help is greatly appreciated and is helping us lead people to Jesus.
In Christ’s love,
Gordon & Emie

P.S. (a). Please pray for God to grant us more wisdom, strength, very good health, powerful protection and abundant finances to do God’s work here in the Philippines and other nations He calls us to. (b). And please pray for God’s blessings on all the pastors, ministry workers, church members, and ministry partners. (c). And also for good health and protection for our children and all children represented of those in line b. (Thanks &God bless you.)