Greetings Saints;
Remember that verse in Philippians 1:6, "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" ? I've been reflecting on this lately. Do you know what our Lord began in you or is the path your on one that circumstance, situations, people or something else has lead you into? How is God using you? Is He using you? Do you know? If you serve in a ministry, is it because you believe you should because its a good thing to do? Or perhaps its because no one else steps up to do it. But if you believe that God orders our steps, are you on the right path, road, lane? One way to know is to take note of the fruit, or lack thereof, in what your doing now. Is a difference being made? How do you know? Another way to know if your on the right path is that your work or calling in the Lord will be your greatest source of joy and sorrow. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans says in chapter 8:17 (paraphrase) we will share is Christ's glory is we share if His suffering. Ministry has brought me some of the most joyful and most hurtful times of my life. For Jesus there was the suffering of the cross and the glory of the Resurrection and Ascension. These kinds of experiences are signposts along the way that let us know if we're on the right path. The most joyful and reassuring aspect of it all is the promise that God will see it (in us) to completion. If we will but seek and trust Him, God will perform His promise to, for and through us. He will complete the work in us if we will surrender completely to Him.
Please continue to pray for our search for the next worship space for TMI-Atlanta. Our current space is filling fast and we will soon need to move. However, as I stated a blog or two ago, our desire is to be where God needs us to be and not just where we would like to be. So pray for us in our search as well as for the continued resources needed to minister and do out reach near and abroad. The entire congregation is going through leadership training, including the youth. It is required training for leaders but voluntary for all others. It was a great joy to see nearly everyone wanting the training. The affects are already being felt and demonstrated in how everyone serves. Pray that this kind of desire will only grow so that we all can become even more effective in advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth. Know that Pastor Gardenia and I love you all so much. Until next time, may our King continue to richly bless you.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD
Greetings TMI and AARON'S BEARD partners and friends;
In Luke 12:3, Jesus declares "what you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs" (NIV). Often when we hear such lessons taught by our Lord we are inclined to think that He is only speaking of the revealing or publicizing of our sin. At some level this may be true for the unrepentant, habitual sinner. However, we must not dismiss the fact that God is not interested in remembering and exposing our sin. Rather, His concern is for our deliverance from sin and its penalty. Perhaps this text is going beyond that discussion to let us know that who and what we are in private will show up in our public life. Our private thoughts, attitudes, imaginations, language and habits of the smallest detail will, in one form or another, show up in our public life. In the life of Christ we can rest assured that who He was in private, is who He was in public. Anything else is hypocrisy. All have sinned and therefore all have played the hypocritical role. However, spiritual growth and integrity demands our giving attention to those private details so they do not negatively reflect the Christ we serve publicly. In other words, the negative gossip or foul language used in private may never be spoken publicly but the attitude or mind set that spawned such talk will be revealed in spite of one's attempt to hide it. Private does not just imply time alone with someone else but includes when its you alone. The careless way someone may discard something clogging their nose when no one is around will be reflected in a callous disregard for others space in public. You get the picture. Who and what you are with your family, children, peers, handling of finances, etc., in private will be seen by others in public. Why was Jesus so powerful in teaching, preaching, miracles, healings in public? Because He spent significant time in prayer in private. Often He would leave the crowd, go to a solitary place to pray. Be consistent. Strive to improve yourself, not just in the big things like money, education, position and so on. But, even more so, strive for excellence of character in the small private things and the Lord in whose eyes day and night are the same, will exalt you in due season.
(adapted from "Whispers in the Night" by Dr. B. A. Beard, 2009)
In Luke 12:3, Jesus declares "what you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs" (NIV). Often when we hear such lessons taught by our Lord we are inclined to think that He is only speaking of the revealing or publicizing of our sin. At some level this may be true for the unrepentant, habitual sinner. However, we must not dismiss the fact that God is not interested in remembering and exposing our sin. Rather, His concern is for our deliverance from sin and its penalty. Perhaps this text is going beyond that discussion to let us know that who and what we are in private will show up in our public life. Our private thoughts, attitudes, imaginations, language and habits of the smallest detail will, in one form or another, show up in our public life. In the life of Christ we can rest assured that who He was in private, is who He was in public. Anything else is hypocrisy. All have sinned and therefore all have played the hypocritical role. However, spiritual growth and integrity demands our giving attention to those private details so they do not negatively reflect the Christ we serve publicly. In other words, the negative gossip or foul language used in private may never be spoken publicly but the attitude or mind set that spawned such talk will be revealed in spite of one's attempt to hide it. Private does not just imply time alone with someone else but includes when its you alone. The careless way someone may discard something clogging their nose when no one is around will be reflected in a callous disregard for others space in public. You get the picture. Who and what you are with your family, children, peers, handling of finances, etc., in private will be seen by others in public. Why was Jesus so powerful in teaching, preaching, miracles, healings in public? Because He spent significant time in prayer in private. Often He would leave the crowd, go to a solitary place to pray. Be consistent. Strive to improve yourself, not just in the big things like money, education, position and so on. But, even more so, strive for excellence of character in the small private things and the Lord in whose eyes day and night are the same, will exalt you in due season.
(adapted from "Whispers in the Night" by Dr. B. A. Beard, 2009)
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD
Greetings TMI & Aaron's Beard Partners and Friends,
Praise the Lord we are back from a most wonderful missions trip to Liberia, West Africa, sponsored by Dr. LaVern Stevens, founder of the Joseph Alliance. I don't have space in this blog to even begin to convey the lessons learned and the grace to have seen the hand of God move in such a wonderful way. Over the years I have been blessed to travel to several nations for missions work. Each have been unique in their own way. The world and it's many cultures and people, is an exciting and eye opening place in which to minister for Christ. Each time I go I believe I come back far more enriched than those with whom we seek to share our gifts. Liberia is a nation on the rebound after a fourteen year civil war and great fear and uncertainty for a number of years before the war. The people are wonderful but in need of much, especially education. Everywhere we found young people hungry for education. Much of the school system was damaged or destroyed by war. Praise God for the teachers who serve but there is a great need for many more trained teachers and administrators. Part of our team provided teacher training at the Lott Cary School in Monrovia. The presentations were excellent, practical and very well received. Future teacher training is being planned. A psychologist, Christopher Townsend, plans further study on the affects of the the trauma of war on the culture but particularly the youth. The clergy on our team provided pastoral and church leadership training. The church community is perhaps the strongest and most influential body in the nation. While they are very gifted and capable, they also desire additional training to be more effective in the great work to which God has called them in the context of very difficult times. Prices for everything is high, higher than most places in the U.S. The official unemployment rate is near 85%, although most are finding some way to put food on the table. And then there is the concern over what happens in three years when there will be a new presidential election. In the midst of it all, the church stands as a beacon of hope for the future of Liberia. We are developing partnerships through Transformation Ministries and Aaron's Beard (mentoring for clergy) with church's and pastors there. Pray for the beautiful children we met in two orphanages and pray for the young former rebels who had been forced into becoming child soldiers (killers). We were blessed to meet some like Tommy, who are now saved in Christ and desire education and a life in service of our Lord. Especially keep our Liberian host in your prayers, Rev. Emil Sam-Peal. A man who has made unimaginable sacrifices to bless the people of Liberia, particularly in the area of education and ministry. He was a most gracious and wonderful host who really took good care of us while there.
I will be completing a reflection paper in a few weeks once I have processed the experience in my own mind and spirit. I will make it available when complete, by request, at no cost. Requests can be made through the comment section of this blog or by going to Dr.B.A.Beard Ministries.com. Watch my blog for when it will be ready. Pray for Liberia and for how you may be able to help. Pray for Dr. Steven's and the great work she's doing through the Joseph Alliance and pray for Transformation Ministries International, that we will continue to be used by God to: Transform the Believer, to Transform the Church, to Transform the World.
May God bless each of you and I hope to hear from you soon.
Praise the Lord we are back from a most wonderful missions trip to Liberia, West Africa, sponsored by Dr. LaVern Stevens, founder of the Joseph Alliance. I don't have space in this blog to even begin to convey the lessons learned and the grace to have seen the hand of God move in such a wonderful way. Over the years I have been blessed to travel to several nations for missions work. Each have been unique in their own way. The world and it's many cultures and people, is an exciting and eye opening place in which to minister for Christ. Each time I go I believe I come back far more enriched than those with whom we seek to share our gifts. Liberia is a nation on the rebound after a fourteen year civil war and great fear and uncertainty for a number of years before the war. The people are wonderful but in need of much, especially education. Everywhere we found young people hungry for education. Much of the school system was damaged or destroyed by war. Praise God for the teachers who serve but there is a great need for many more trained teachers and administrators. Part of our team provided teacher training at the Lott Cary School in Monrovia. The presentations were excellent, practical and very well received. Future teacher training is being planned. A psychologist, Christopher Townsend, plans further study on the affects of the the trauma of war on the culture but particularly the youth. The clergy on our team provided pastoral and church leadership training. The church community is perhaps the strongest and most influential body in the nation. While they are very gifted and capable, they also desire additional training to be more effective in the great work to which God has called them in the context of very difficult times. Prices for everything is high, higher than most places in the U.S. The official unemployment rate is near 85%, although most are finding some way to put food on the table. And then there is the concern over what happens in three years when there will be a new presidential election. In the midst of it all, the church stands as a beacon of hope for the future of Liberia. We are developing partnerships through Transformation Ministries and Aaron's Beard (mentoring for clergy) with church's and pastors there. Pray for the beautiful children we met in two orphanages and pray for the young former rebels who had been forced into becoming child soldiers (killers). We were blessed to meet some like Tommy, who are now saved in Christ and desire education and a life in service of our Lord. Especially keep our Liberian host in your prayers, Rev. Emil Sam-Peal. A man who has made unimaginable sacrifices to bless the people of Liberia, particularly in the area of education and ministry. He was a most gracious and wonderful host who really took good care of us while there.
I will be completing a reflection paper in a few weeks once I have processed the experience in my own mind and spirit. I will make it available when complete, by request, at no cost. Requests can be made through the comment section of this blog or by going to Dr.B.A.Beard Ministries.com. Watch my blog for when it will be ready. Pray for Liberia and for how you may be able to help. Pray for Dr. Steven's and the great work she's doing through the Joseph Alliance and pray for Transformation Ministries International, that we will continue to be used by God to: Transform the Believer, to Transform the Church, to Transform the World.
May God bless each of you and I hope to hear from you soon.
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