Missionary Report ~ POWER in the Little Things ~ RESURRECTION Season Meditation

Embracing the REALITY of Mission Work 

A YOUNG MISSIONARY'S JOURNEY

" I always play Easter music --- loud --- on Easter morning ! " wrote our friend, a young woman who works for the Kingdom of GOD in South Dakota. “ So, I played the HALLELUJAH Chorus ! ”

" Our Sunrise Service was beautiful out here ... and I imagine it was the ONLY Sunrise service in the country attended by drunks!  But thankfully, they did not cause a problem."

Our friend, Shanna, teaches in a small Christian School in South Dakota under the auspices of Olive Branch Mennonite Missions.

Her REAL work, however, is evangelizing the youngsters and adults she meets in this bleak, out-of-the-way place, among the Native Peoples of the Lakota-Sioux tribes on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.

Here is her recent report about her experiences.

" GOD is faithful!  That is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about the months I have lived in South Dakota.  I do love it here, the rugged, wild hills... the town with its dear but hurting people... and the many opportunities we have to share CHRIST Who+ is Life.

I can't say it has all been easy.  I have had struggles along the way. But those are what The LORD is using to stretch me and show me that I can't do it on my own.  Since being here, I have seen greater than ever my need of depending completely on HIM+ for wisdom, for strength, for even enthusiasm and love.

I recall one day when I was feeling weary of ministering to people and was frustrated with myself.  I was struggling to even have a love for the girls that I work with in the evening.  Going for a walk, I was headed out of town, but somehow my steps found me turning to climb a hill where some children were sledding.

Soon, I was enjoying being with these youngsters who were doing the best they could with the sledding material they had.  Some were using cardboard and broken sled pieces.

Suddenly... one of the girls couldn't find her glasses.  She had put them in her pocket and went for a slide down the hill and now they were gone. Lost. Probably covered over with the white snow. 

I could tell she was distressed, so I started helping her look for them. As we went up and down the hill, I was feeling less and less confident that we would find the glasses.  I prayed quietly to myself, but a persistent thought told me I should stop and PRAY OUT LOUD with the girl. 

I found my faith wavering under fear. 

What if... 

GOD didn't answer with a "Yes " ?

Then what ?

Finally, I told the sad girl we should pray about it, so I stopped and prayed out loud as I was led to do, asking The LORD to help us find the glasses.

The search continued.  Then I heard a glad cry near the bottom of the hill. The lost was found ! 

NOW I prayed ALOUD to thank The LORD for answering this prayer!   As I left the hill that afternoon, my heart rejoiced ! HE+ had showed Himself+ mighty once again, even in the small things. HE+ cares.

As a teacher, I spend a lot of my time with just a small group of children.  This has its own challenges, but it's also a great opportunity for impact.  I was reminded of this when I found a note scribbled to me in a student's text / workbook:  " I am watching you, Shanna."

Though this student likely did not intend the note to mean what it did to me, I was sobered by it.  

I am being watched by many pairs of eyes. 

What I say, how I respond,

what I laugh at ---

--- all my choices are being observed.

Oh, I long for CHRIST and His+ Kingdom to be exalted here!

~  ~  ~

Shanna teaches grades 2-8 through the day in the Mission's Christian school and in the evening, works with the neighbors she meets in this small town... all for the love of JESUS CHRIST .  She has left the comfort of her family home to minister JESUS to these “dear but hurting” people in far away South Dakota. May The LORD reward her faithfulness to Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, as she shares HIM+, in season and out , by both Word and by example. 

+  +  +

 Matthew 9: 35-38

And  JESUS went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

But when HE+ saw the multitudes, HE+ was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Then saith HE+ unto His+ disciples, 

The harvest truly is plenteous, 

but the laborers are few;

Pray ye therefore the LORD of the harvest, that HE will send forth laborers into his harvest.

+  +  +

RESURRECTION POWER ! Active and Alive in Nepal ~ Report by Asia Harvest.org

Generic photo of a  Nepalese young mother and child.

RESURRECTION POWER !

TESTIMONY CORNER
from Nepal 
 

“I was born into a Hindu family. We prayed to many idols and also worshipped nature. I had heard about Christianity but didn’t understand why it was any different from other religions.

My wife and I had a son. While I was away working as a driver he fell sick and was admitted to hospital. I rushed back home but by the time I arrived my beloved son had died.

Two evangelists heard the sad news and visited us. In her desperation, my wife asked them to pray for our son so that their GOD might raise him back to life.

Before praying, they asked us to close our eyes. I did not believe, so I kept my eyes open. To my surprise, I saw the two Christians pray very intensely.

When they finished their prayer, my son sat up.

He was alive! My heart leapt with joy to see this great miracle. I left my sins behind and became a lover of JESUS CHRIST.

I committed my life to Him+ and received His+ wonderful salvation. I am now burdened to tell other unreached people what GOD has done in my life.” 

+  +  +

Surendra is one of hundreds of Asian evangelists we support through the Asian Workers' Fund. We have dozens needing support right now. We invite you to join us as we help them.

Asia Harvest Newsletter #135, April 2016, pg. 9...an exciting newsletter to read ! It is available online.  Look for Newsletter Archives , April  2016 #135. 

Asia Harvest is an out-reach ministry which works with and helps supply Bibles and other materials to house churches in China, Southeast Asian countries and people-groups of Asia.  

Asia Harvest also supports humanitarian aid programs that are ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL.

Their newest out-reach is very exciting, called “Bless the Children.”  It focuses on reaching the children in the more than one million rural villages of India who are OPEN to the GOSPEL.    

 In India, the population is 40 % children, according to the information in the Newsletter. 

 

More details of this out-reach at :  www.asiaharvest.org

NORTH AMERICA:

353 Jonestown Rd #320, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, USA

AUSTRALIA:

36 Nelson Street, Stepney, South Australia 5069

NEW ZEALAND:

P.O.Box 1757, Queenstown 9348

EUROPE:

Stiftung SALZ, Johannes-Kepler-Str. 6, 71083 Herrenberg, Germany

MALAYSIA:

STAMP Bhd., P.O.Box 8036, Pejabat Pos Kelana Jaya,

46780 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

SINGAPORE:

Clementi Central P.O.Box 119, Sinagpore 911204

UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND:

AsiaLink, Mill Farm, Fleetwood Road,

Wesham PR4 3HD, England

RESURRECTION ! Season ~ Day 10 Meditations ~ John 20:17

I+ have not yet ASCENDED to My+ FATHER

RESURRECTION SEASON 

~ Day 10, Meditations

[ The Resurrection Season was not limited to Resurrection Sunday. It lasted until Ascension Day.  This Resurrection "season" was the 40 days and 40 nights the Resurrected LORD JESUS CHRIST  spent with His+ disciples--- in His+ glorified body ---, teaching them things and opening their understanding unto the Scriptures  which told about HIM+. 

These Scriptures, of course, were the Prophets and Patriarchs and Psalms found in the Old Covenant because ... the New had not yet been written. ]

John 20:17

JESUS said unto her [ Mary Magdalene ],

Touch ME+ not;

for I+ am not yet ascended

to My+ FATHER:

but go to My+ brethren,

and say unto them,

I+ ascend

unto My+ FATHER,

and your FATHER;

and to My+ GOD,

and your GOD.

+  +  +

MEDITATION

There was a lot of movement ... A LOT of movement... going on between earth and Heaven during the days of His+ immediate Resurrection.

In this passage, we see the Resurrected JESUS meeting one of the Sisters of their company who came to the tomb bringing spices for His+ proper burial. 

She was over-joyed to see HIM+ ! 

We will be too.

However, notice what HE+ told her: 

"... I+ have

NOT YET ASCENDED

to My+ FATHER ... "

So, Our LORD JESUS had just arrived --- supernaturally --- from Hades / Sheol  back to the grave and supernaturally re-entered His+ Body --- now glorified via Power from on High --- and was en route to the Heavenly realm to present Himself+ to His+ Heavenly FATHER ! 

HE+ had not yet returned unto His+ Heavenly FATHER when HE+ encountered this Christian sister outside of the tomb.

Notice this: The Apostle John's account focuses only on one of the three women who went early to the tomb to bring spices. THIS WOMAN, Mary Magdelene, was told "not to touch HIM+. "   

The account in Matthew 28:1-9 mentions only two women ( Mary Magdelene and the other Mary )... and when HE+ met THEM, THEY ( notice the plural ) held HIM+ by the feet !

In Luke 24:10, three women are mentioned by name. This account has Joanna included in the women who followed HIM+ from Galilee. 

In The Apostle John's account, HE+ gave her an obedience to perform: she was to carry a message to the disciples, an IMPORTANT message.

 HE+ called them BRETHREN. HE+ told them HE+ was ascending to their FATHER and GOD... which was HIS+ FATHER and GOD ! 

HE+ reminded His+ followers that they remained  His+ FAMILY.  HE+ had told them much earlier that those who obeyed were "in the Family."

Matthew 12:47-50 ( See also Mark 3:31-35 and Luke 8: 19-21 )

Then one said unto HIM+,

Behold, Thy+ mother and

Thy+ brethren stand without,

desiring to speak with THEE+.

But HE+ answered

and said unto him that told HIM+,

Who is My+ mother?

and who are My+ brethren?

And HE+ stretched forth

His+ Hand toward His+ disciples,

and said,

Behold

My+ mother and My+ brethren!

For whosoever shall do the Will

of My+ FATHER

WHO is in Heaven,

the same is

My+ brother,

and sister,

and mother.

+  +  +

  

From Tertullian*** ~ "Against Praxeas" ( See notes below the quote).

“   JESUS saith unto her,

“Touch ME+ not,

for I+ am not yet ascended to My+ FATHER;

but go to My+ brethren” ...

(and even in this HE+ proves Himself+ to be the SON+; for if HE+ had been The FATHER, HE+ would have called them His+ children, (instead of His+ brethren),

... “and say unto them,

I+ ascend unto

My+ FATHER and your FATHER,

and to My+ GOD and your GOD.”

Now, does this mean, I+ ascend as The FATHER to The FATHER, and as GOD to GOD?

Or as The SON+ to The FATHER, and as the WORD+ to GOD?

Wherefore also does this Gospel, at its very termination, intimate that these things were ever written, if it be not, to use its own words,

“that ye might believe

that JESUS CHRIST

is the SON+ of GOD?”

 ...   ...   ...

For these things certainly are NOT written that you may believe that JESUS CHRIST is The FATHER, but The SON+. ”

~ end of Tertullian’s quote.

+  +  +

*** Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3., Tertullian, Part Second, # 7 Against Praxeas, chapter 25, page 621, from the edition: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., Peabody, MA, 2nd printing, June 1995. 

***  Tertullian was a Christian apologist from Carthage, North Africa, c. 160-230. He wrote in Latin.

**** Praxeas taught the heresy that it was The FATHER Who descended into the virgin, was born and put to death, etc. , in an un-balanced effort to unify The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT, making the three as one person instead of one essence or substance.  See footnote #1, chapter 1, pg. 597. 

In contrast, the Early Christians said that The FATHER sent His+ Eternal WORD+, the SON+,  to become human flesh for the suffering of death in order to redeem the human race. The FATHER did not leave Heaven.

+  +  +

LET US PRAY...

HOLY FATHER of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST and of us... yes, Our dear, Heavenly FATHER also...

We come to THEE through the Victorious Name of Thy SON+ JESUS CHRIST, Who+ loved us and gave His+ Life for us. 

Thank YOU for the Resurrection Victory YOU gave as a commandment to YOUR SON+ JESUS in WHOM+ YOU were well pleased. YOU gave HIM+ the authority to lay down His+ Life and the authority to take IT+ again... as a commandment.

O LORD CHRIST, we have been born anew into Thy+ Royal Family.  Help us so to walk in obedience that we may REMAIN in Thy+ Family , both now and forever.

Increase our faith. Help us to trust that Resurrection Power is there to keep us when lay down our Self, our lives unto THEE+. Help us to trust that same Resurrection Power that promises we will NOT be destroyed if we walk as YOU+ walked on earth, as an obedient SON+.

Help us not to fear embracing meekness, humbleness, and lowliness, knowing that YOU+, O LORD, have walked the valley of humiliation first and came forth VICTORIOUS.

Help us to embrace the humility of heart that is required of Thy+ Brethren, O CHRIST.

Then, we will know Thy+ Peace, as Thy+ Resurrection Power descends upon the meek and lowly of heart.

Yes, LORD, we want to be called "Thy+ Brethren" ... both here and in the Heavenlies.

In the glorious Name of our Resurrected LORD JESUS CHRIST... Whom+ death could not conquer and hell could not hold... we pray. Amen.

+  +  +

The TERROR of the STORM ~ a Word from The LORD ~ 2 Thessalonians 2: 5-12

THE TERROR OF THE STORM

The wind howled. The trees bent and branches whipped wildly. The unmerciful rain poured in pounding sheets  on houses, plants, cars... people.  Hail started falling, growing larger as it fell. No-one was safe. Windows were popping in cars and vehicles, then buildings and homes.

The police and "first-responders" were helpless to stop the raging weather. They could rescue no-one. Emergencies were happening. Radios and phones were jammed, those that were working. A terrible panic ensued. 

In the cities, people were trapped. Their buildings were not safe and it was impossible to flee by vehicle in the storm. All they could do was watch ... and pray. They huddled together, helpless to ward off the storm tide. It was bearing down upon them, their families, the children.

There were no storm-chasers.

This storm was chasing THEM. 

Some called it the wrath of GOD. A few knew they deserved it. Some blasphemed and cursed GOD in the storm... cursed GOD, the only ONE Who could help them.

Why didn't HE help them?

Maybe HE did not like the curses??

OR......

Maybe HE knew once the storm was lifted, they would not think about HIM seriously until the next storm. Maybe HE knew they would not be changed... once the storm had lifted.

They would be proud and arrogant and hard , as before, congratulating themselves on how tough and strong they were to weather such a storm. Their own "toughness" got them through, after all.

Why should HE answer their cries for help ?  Since they refused to acknowledge HIS almighty power when it was calm, why should HE deign to help them through the crisis? Undoubtedly, they would not acknowledge HIS almighty power when the storm ended.

Relentlessly, the raging storm continues as the “sons of belial” shake their fists in GOD'S face for "hindering" their lives ... the very lives which sprang from GOD, and were going back very soon to stand before HIM, at the Great Judgment of all the dead who rejected GOD'S offer of Love and Mercy.

Soon, too soon for their comfort, they will be standing before the Judge of the Whole Earth. This Judge+ of the Whole Earth will most assuredly DO RIGHT... just like HE did in ancient times in the five cities of Sodom and Gomorrah's region.

There is a COMING STORM, RAGING. Raging its way across the face of civilization...  the Western-most Civilization is included this time.

There is NO ESCAPING this storm; it is the fire-storm promised by GOD. Only HE is powerful enough to stop it. HE wills not to do that. HE is going to allow this high-tech society to reap what it has sown. Full-time. For decades, at the least, but being birthed hundreds of years ago. The harvest of evil is coming to maturity.

The demons who have been nurtured and promoted by the highest "civilization" on earth are soon to be given more authority than the authorities bargained for.  More authority than the basest of people --- both high-born and lowly --- ever thought possible when they flaunted their evil in the eyes of GOD.

How many babies have been slain, chopped apart for sorcery and to hide their mother-and-father's sin ? About 60 million ?  [ Numbers may be a bit off due to errors in the official records, but the Judge of the Whole Earth has a most accurate accounting system ... and HE does not miss one little scream from the Little Ones being slain in the womb. ]

"As your ears have been deaf to the cries of these Little Ones, so MY+ Ears are deaf to your cries in the STORM," saith The LORD.

"As your heart has hardened itself against calling evil "EVIL," so MY Heart will be hardened TO THE SAME DEGREE when the STORM erupts against you," saith The LORD.

There is nothing secret that will remain hidden.  The sweeping STORM will reveal it all.

You care only about your own life and how much pleasure you can extract from it. Self rules. Self is led by demons.

So... the rule of demons --- undisguised  --- will be your portion. You will see how much "pleasure" the demons will give your flesh. You will call for Death, but Death will not answer you.

You trample my People by every method you can use, so now it is your turn. Only this time, I will use the methods I CAN USE... and there is no escape.

2 Thessalonians 2:5 -12 warns us:

[ ESV ]

You cannot but remember that I told you this while I was still with you; you must now be aware of the Restraining Hand which ensures that he [ the wicked one ] shall be revealed only at the proper time.

For already the secret power of wickedness is at work, secret only for the present until the Restrainer disappears from the scene.  And then he will be revealed, that wicked man whom the LORD JESUS will destroy with the breath of his mouth, and annihilated by the radiance of his coming.

Even him,

whose coming

is after the working of satan

with all power

and signs and lying wonders,

And with all deceivableness

of unrighteousness

in them that perish;

because they received not

the love of the truth,

that they might be saved.

And for this cause

GOD shall send them strong delusion,

that they should believe a lie:

That they all might be damned

who believed not the truth,

but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

[ KJV]

^{Romans 8: 13-14}

For if ye live after the flesh,

ye shall die:

but if ye through the SPIRIT

do mortify ( put to death )

the deeds of the body,

ye shall live.

For as many as are led

by the SPIRIT of GOD,

they are the sons of GOD. 

+  +  +