missions is not a trip

And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How welcome are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things! - Rom 10:15

I am praying for the Lord of harvest to involve more people in His work this year. God has been working in the fields of harvest, and is inviting our church to join Him in His work.

God is opening our eyes to the mission field which within walking distance of our church. Our church and neighborhood has become a crossroads for the nations, and there are many opportunities to minister to people from all walks of life and from all over the world right where we live and worship together.

A missionary once said, God needs to put an ocean between us and our neighbor so that we will go and tell them about Jesus. That is probably true, we often think of missions as a trip to go on, instead of simply serving and telling others about the Savior.



I hope that God will open the eyes and heart of our church even more this year to missions. I believe that every member is called to be a minister and a missionary so that we might witness to our neighbors and to those around the world as God has commanded us to do.

Exciting and great things are happening right now in our neighborhood. Refugeess from many countries are moving into Phoenix, and Royal Palms can be a missionary church by responding to these mission fields.

Missions is not a plane trip. It is loving others and sharing Jesus with them.

good tsunami

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him." - Matthew 21:42-44



Timing is everything.

In surfing, too early or too late don't work out. It leads to wipe out.

That is also true with God. God's love came in person. The Son of God is God's revelation of Himself.

The wave is a good metaphor. Really big waves are powerful and dangerous.

God is powerful and that makes Him dangerous, but He is very good.

Wipe out on a big wave and its disaster. Reject Christ, total loss.

Remember God loves you. Don't miss it.

Forgiveness

Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you got to do is call
And I'll be there, yes I will.
You've got a friend.

1 John 4:7-8 Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God. The person who doesn't love doesn't know God, because God is love.

Got to see some old friends yesterday. I went to see one of them for the last time, but it was not because we burned a bridge. He is going home soon. He has very little physical strength left.

God is like that. Just call, you've got a friend. I love Him for that. And I love my old friends for that too. Friendship is one of God's great gifts.

How do you keep old friends? Each one has to learn forgiveness. Forgiveness is a very, very powerful thing. With it, you can change the future and let go of the past, no matter what happened. God's gift to us is forgiveness, and through He makes a friend for life.

Forgiveness is the key to friendships that last forever. We are sinners, and no matter how hard we try not to, we sin and hurt other people, even our friends. We do it to God all the time. It would seem to be the end, but its not.

In comes forgiveness, and then, the love grows even stronger and longer than it was before. God forgave my sins in Jesus' name. What a friend we have in Jesus. There is a friend that sticks closer than even a brother.

Open yourself up to God and to others. God's grace is like a river of living water. Everything can change. Friendship can come. Give it a try. You think about that. Amen.