The Fellowship of the Saints

For a moment visualize 20 sunburned, exhausted, sweaty and concrete covered people trying to say good-bye after several days of working together in the hot Mexico sun. Even though we just met on Monday, it seemed like we had known each other for years. What can make total strangers bond together even though there is a cultural and language barrier? The simple answer is the "fellowship of the saints." God has placed the same Holy Spirit in all of us when we receive Him as Saviour. As His Spirit indwells us, the same fruit of the Holy Spirit develops in all the saints. After finishing our church construction project today, the greatest testimony to this idea of the "fellowship of the saints" was when the Mexican believers called us brothers and sisters instead of just friends. Get together this summer with some brothers and sisters and enjoy the "fellowship of the saints."

Passion for Ministry

I ate dinner tonight with a man with a passion for ministry. As our missions team of 13 sat with missionary Art Stoneking eating hot peppers and tacos, the miraculous stories began to flow from his lips. I looked around the tables and watched blessed Americans weep as this man of God inspired us with his total commitment to God and ministry in Mexico. He declared that he wants to live in a place of total dependance on God. This place of total dependance on God is fertile ground for miracles and for passion for ministry. I watched him love on a young peddler boy selling gum. How happy he was when we gave him food and brought all his gum. May God put us in the place of total dependance so we keep the fire of passion burning for ministry. Never forget that a passion for ministry is nothing more than loving God and loving people.

"Move the Mulch"

Yesterday was my needed day off. Mondays are a day for rest, relaxation and catching-up on things I can't get to during the rest of the week. One of things that had been waiting for me was a mound of bark mulch. Every year this tedious chore takes a few days to complete. I didn't have the ambition or the strength to move the mulch but my family had become tired off bumping into the mound as they turned cars around in the driveway. So, last evening I arose from my relaxation recliner and moved the mulch. Today it was so easy to turn around in our driveway without the mulch pile. I am glad I pushed myself, (actually my wife was the biggest pusher), and moved the mulch. Are there mulch piles in your life that you keep bumping into in the driveway of your life? Get up from your relaxation recliner and move the mulch. God is a big mulch mover! Ask Him to help you!