Journey Through The Bible e-letter

The kingdom building ministry of Pastor Charles J. Williams, Jr., M.Div., promoting five Christian disciplines; obedience, prayer, reading and studying the Bible, ministry service, and personal evangelism.  This newsletter version represents the prayerful hope that you will grow closer to God and live the abundant life which only comes through Jesus Christ.

Monday, May 24, 1999

 From God's Word:

  Lessons from the Life of David, Part 2 of 4: David Became Famous

 

"And David became famous after he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt." (2 Sam 8:13)

 

Worldly fame may come to some believers but such is no guarantee.  Our fame, or obscurity for that matter, rests not on whether God has blessed us or not.  In fact, our scripture today clearly tells us David's fame was based not on God's blessing but on his successful military campaign.  His fame here is likened to that of General H. Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War and other military heroes.  Their widespread fame is largely based on military victories.

    Clearly, David's worldly success, and ours, should not be our goal in life.  A healthy, well balanced relationship with God should.  Such is not earned or inherited, it is first and foremost granted unto us by grace through faith.  And a devoted life of self-denial and commitment to following Jesus.  Begin like Jesus is all the fame one should ever need or desire.

 

Blessed Heavenly Father, thou knows my heart.   Search me, O Lord, and purge me, that I may be like You in every respect.   Forgive that which You find which does not conform to Your good, perfect, and pleasing image.  Grant unto me, O Glorious Savior, a Christ-like witness that others may see and respond.  Let this be my fame and Your glory.  Amen.

Together We Pray

For graduates everywhere!  May they seek God's gracious leading in all they do and wherever life takes them.  May they learn to rely on prayer and the Holy Bible when making life's difficult decisions.  May they be fruitful in all God calls them to do.

    In gratitude for the recovery of a young father involved in serious car accident last week; this young man was taken to Charleston for specialized surgical treatment but is home now and doing much better -- his   pregnant wife and two small boys escaped unharmed.

    For the wife of a public official who has taken a sudden turn for the worse and is not expected to live long; please remember the entire family during this very difficult period.

    In gratitude for a wife and mother who has been ill but is feeling much better.

    For a couple in Fairfax, Virginia who are trying to have a baby -- may God grant them a child by this time next year.

    In great gratitude for a couple who was in the process of a divorce -- God granted them the help they needed . . . they are back together!!

    In great gratitude for a young mother who was confined to bed during the last weeks of her pregnancy -- she gave birth last week to a healthy 7lb baby girl!

    For those in Oklahoma who are recovering from their great losses.

    For ongoing Kosovo and Oklahoma relief efforts.

    For our Father in Heaven . . . Amen.

Click here to share your prayer concerns and/or updates!

Living By Faith:

Prayer Saved Them

Their plane went down in the Pacific Ocean -- no small body of water.  The survivors, however, relied on prayer to survive.  Three Australians, a Swede, and others prayed with a minister as they tried to swim for shore.  "I called out to people, 'if any of you have faith in God, I would like to pray with you.'  So we actually had a prayer in the water," Australian minister Neil Watts said.  After six hours of swimming in the dark, through jellyfish infested waters, through heavy rain, and against a strong current, the men came ashore in Port Vila.  Seven others are still missing in the crash of the Twin Otter Aircraft. (Religion Today, Tuesday, May 11, 1999)

How has God helped you?  Where have you seen God at work?  Share your story today!

Ministry Needs . . .

Oklahoma . . .  Oklahoma Relief Operations Enter New Phase

By James Dotson & Art Toalston

OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) -- Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers have prepared more than 115,000 meals and begun scaling down feeding operations as of May 13 in areas of Oklahoma and neighboring states devastated by tornadoes May 3.  Relief efforts have now begun moving into a new phase as chainsaw-bearing crews from across the South began arriving to assist with massive cleanup operations.

    In Oklahoma, where tornadoes claimed 44 lives, units from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas conventions had prepared 78,730 meals at four locations.  An Oklahoma unit at First Baptist church of Moore had closed operations and moved to Graceway Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, where an Arkansas unit was returning home May 14.  Other feeding units from Texas and Louisiana remain active.  Cleanup and recovery teams arrived throughout the week from Arkansas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas.  Also, a specially equipped trailer with multiple showers had arrived from North Carolina to supplement another NAMB-owned shower unit from Albany, Ga. . . . (( Read the entire story on line! ))

 

Kosovo . . .  An effort is now underway to help the needy in Kosovo with an item overlooked at present -- underwear.  It's not something we often talk about but it is very much in need right now.

    Operation Save the Children, in conjunction with Southern Baptists and other churches in South Carolina, are collecting undergarments for both sexes and all sizes.  Diapers are not being asked for but one may contribute such if your heart desires.  If you are interested in helping, please buy NEW undergarments and contact your Operation Save the Children or contact me and I will make arrangements to receive your donation.  Other relief organizations are collecting other items and, of course, monetary contributions.  Our Journey Through the Bible web site has more details.

 

Click here to discover ways you can get involved. . .

 

Internet Corner

 

The NEW Old Farmer's Almanac!   I found a good one for you this week. A few weeks ago I was wondering what the weather would be like for our scheduled Vacation Bible School. I then remembered that as a boy, my neighbor, "Mr. Bill," always kept a copy of "The Farmer's Almanac" in his barn. I recall flipping through it's pages more than once with the wide eyes and boundless interest of a young man. The Almanac's pages fascinated me for they were famous for accurately forecasting the weather -- at least that's what Mr. Bill said.

    The Farmer's Almanac continues to intrigue me -- and today, it is doing it online at www.almanac.com.

    Visitors to The Old Farmer's Almanac will find something of interest regardless of age. Senior adults will enjoy a walk down memory lane with it's quaint graphics and the personalized way the site provides weather forecasts for your area. Younger visitors will much enjoy the warmth and variety of activities and articles available. In short, you are going to love it!

    They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I believe that to be true. So check it out for yourself . . . it's some of the good stuff on the Internet.

 

Have you an idea for "Internet Corner"?  Write us.

For other interesting web sites, check out our list of links on the Journey Through the Bible web site.

Want More?

e-mail us at jttb@oocities.com or visit us on the World Wide Web at www.oocities.org/~jttb for the latest updates on Service/Ministry opportunities, the complete one year Bible reading plan, links to web sites that help you grow in Christ, e-letter back issues, biographical data on Pastor Williams, and much more.

God loves you!  (cf John 3:16)

(c) 1999 Charles J. Williams, Jr., M.Div.  All rights reserved.

Preview subscribers will automatically become subscribers unless we hear from you otherwise.  Send an e-mail to Journey Through the Bible to unsubscribe from this free ministry.  Submitted testimonies and prayer requests are subject to editing by Pastor Williams for length and content.  Bible readings alternate between Old and New Testament selections so as to journey the reader through the Bible in one year.  Reflection verses are suggestions for daily spiritual growth.  When reflecting, ask yourself: "What is God saying to 'me' in the this passage?"  Then ask "What will I say to God in response?"