Weekly Message / Prayer Request

Acts 2:42 Men’s Fellowship

“The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.” Deuteronomy 11:10-12 NIV

I cannot believe we are at the end of 2008. It has been an incredibly fast year, probably the fastest year on record for me. When you have children, this is what happens I am told. And according to these same sources, life does not slow down either. Instead time continues to move faster as you get older. So I guess I should hold on…

As we approach the end of the year, I wanted to pass on some thoughts about how the calendar year can also be a measuring of God’s providence. Because as these verses point out, God continually had His eyes on the land His chosen people were going to inhabit from “the beginning of the year to its end”.

This is very important to consider during these last days of the year. For many people, this year has been one of many challenges and people are hopeful for the New Year. For others, people may be anxious about the New Year and may not be so hopeful. The calendar year therefore becomes this dividing mark in our lives.

But I just love the lessons that we can learn from these verses because God clearly said that the land He was giving His chosen people was not like the land they knew. It was completely foreign and required people to understand that all of the life giving water was given from heaven above, not through irrigation by man. They were essentially instructed to trust in God.

Also, by making mention of the calendar year, He includes all of the seasons under his watchful eye. This is important to remember because throughout any given year there will time of plenty and a time of need. The harvest only occurs during a particular time of the year while other parts of the year may be marked by drought or famine. Yet God is in control at all times, even when it does not seem like it.

So as we begin to look toward the New Year, let us realize the new year may be a “land” that is unlike the one we all have been a part of this past year or maybe even this past decade. We may be entering a “land” which is not irrigated at all, but instead one that “drinks rain from heaven”. Nothing we do may be enough to sustain us (which is the truth already but may become quite obvious in the days ahead).

Yet we should not fear because God’s eyes are upon us regardless if it is the beginning of the year or its end. He is watchful always and there is no moment which slips past the providence of God.

Jesus instructed us to keep this understanding and not to worry regardless on how it may look:

“So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:31-33 NIV

There is a great deal of uncertainty which exists in our lives or the lives of people we know; but God desires us to trust completely in Him. This is why He probably led the Israelites into a land which could not be irrigated by man. And this may be a reason why we may be entering such a season as well…

Yet, I continue to pray that we can share a ‘culture of faith’ in our community, at our place of work, and throughout the Church well into the New Year. That Matthew 6 can become an integral part of who we are and can be demonstrated in everything we do as a fellowship of men.

Let us continue to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness always and know that all things necessary to life will be given to us, just like we have been promised…

Prayer requests

Greg – pray that he will continue to spot the temptations the enemy tries to put in his way and fight through them with Christ

Calvin – pray that the men of this church will become energized for God, pray for his brother which is dealing with a difficult custody battle

Richard – pray for this fellowship of men and that it can continue to make an impact on others for Christ

Kelcy – pray for all the pastors and leaders within the Church

Ernie – pray for wife who is having some health problems and is not feeling well, pray for granddaughter who is having some financial problems

Carmine – pray for the troops which are serving overseas and for their financial health and security

Dick – praise for a new job, pray that he may make it back from Arizona safely and without incident

Tim D – pray that he will be able to continue doing devotions with his children

Mark – pray that this fellowship of men can continue to make an impact on men for Christ, pray for financial discernment as we continue to make ends meet, pray for the meaning of the Christmas season to be revealed in the hearts of all of us

***Pray that Northshore can continue to make an impact in the local community for our Lord Jesus Christ


Continued prayer needs

Paul – pray that God will guide him during the moving process and allow everything to go smooth, pray that His purpose will be made clear over in Prosser

Stephen G – pray for strength in teaching kids at school so they may learn and become better students

Steve S – pray that he will be able to trust more in God

Brett S – pray that he will be able to stay strong in the Word and continue to come back to this fellowship

Nelson – pray for the President-elect that he will be a man of God, pray for his brother Bob

Tim W – pray for wife who is going to Germany to visit parents who may not be doing well, pray that a great deal of success came from the auction which happened on Saturday night

Bill M – praise God that everything has been healed from his prostate surgery, pray that he will continue to remain healthy and return to the group next year

Ramon – pray that God will continue to heal his wife Tina and give her strength in the coming days

Larry Miller – pray that he will be able to find work, pray that he will be able to strengthen the marriage ministry at Northshore

Vince – pray that he can be a Godly example to others

Sky – pray that the move to Bellingham will be smooth and he will be able to attend school up there to pursue some of his goals

Kevin – pray for his youngest daughter and her boyfriend that they make smart choices, pray for exwife

David – pray that he will be able to serve in the children’s ministry and make a difference in the lives of kids

Ralph – pray that he will be able to surrender to God in everything

Tim H – pray for his wife to find her ministry

Gary – pray for strength as he works through all the various stresses of life, pray for the health of his wife

Craig – pray that he will become more diligent in joining with others in fellowship, pray God will comfort him during times of loneliness

Joe – pray for all the military members who are in harms way for their safety and quick return

Brent – pray that he will find clarity and guidance for finding the right person to marry

Keith – pray that their youngest daughter will be able to do well in college

Chad – pray for continued seeking of purity in his life


Future Meetings

**** Wednesday, January 7th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church in room C214 at Northshore Christian CHurch

Wednesday, January 14th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church – Start of the study of Ephesians

**** Wednesday, January 21st, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church

Wednesday, January 28th, 7:00-9:00 pm, regular meeting at Northshore Christian Church

**** Wednesday, February 4th, 7:00-9:00 pm, meeting with Tim Dresler at Northshore Christian Church


Group Happenings

Coming January 14th, 2009… “Ephesians: The Wealth of God in us”—A study through the book of Ephesians, verse by verse, chapter by chapter, so we can discover all we have been given by God…

As the world continues to tell all of us all what we do not have and what we are lacking; as each one of us continue to struggle through tough economic times; as the Church continues to face new challenges; I believe there is no better time then to truly discover all we do have as Christians. We have been blessed beyond measure through our Lord Jesus Christ and by Him have access to all of God's promises.

By studying all the topics covered in the book of Ephesians together in this fellowship of men, my prayer is that all of us will truly come to understand that we have "The wealth of God in us".

Pray that this study will be a tremendous blessing to each one of us, a blessing to the Church, and an opportunity for the Acts 2:42 Men's Fellowship to continue the calling God has placed on all of our hearts...

I invite you to invite others so that through this study, we can minister unto others and share the love of God.

God bless and I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

In Christ,
Mark


Memory Verse

“But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” 2 Chronicles 15:7 NKJV