February 19, 2007

 

Dear Precious Servant(s) of Christ:

 

Communication is one of the keys to success.  Thus, it is time to get a newsletter out to all of our faithful, fellow sisters and brothers in Christ.  Time has a way of getting away from us but thank God He still works in our lives anyways!

 

By the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Internal Revenue Service determined that we are exempt from Federal income tax and that contributions to Standing In The Gap, Inc. are tax deductible.  This status with the government allows us to go forward with the work that God has called SITG to do here in Pittsburgh in a greater way.  Praise His holy name!

 

Since we last communicated, you have touched the lives of many anonymously whenever possible in the name of Jesus Christ.  You helped a family with two small children whose house burned down.  We were able to help them with furniture, bedding, household items, etc.;  A woman whose husband left her with six children was blessed with a gift card for groceries.  She and her husband are back together and they are attending church together learning God’s way to live!  Other examples:  helping a single man struggling with alcohol; supplying coats to homeless men and flowers sent to several individuals who needed to be encouraged spiritually and mentally.  Because it was the Christmas season, several single women were able to thank God for His kindness to them through gift cards to bless their children.  One woman’s husband is in drug rehab and the gift was timely to help with bills that were due.  Elaine walked into her bank two days before “angel tree” gifts were to be supplied and the cashiers were dismayed because there were still 18 children whose names were still on the tree.   While Elaine shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with the cashiers, she took the 18 tags off of the tree and your giving brought those children gifts.  When she took the gifts to the bank for delivery, the cashiers cried.  A young, college student wanted to commit suicide.  You purchased a phone card for her to contact her family that is out-of-state.  We have supplied meals to families that needed them emotionally and financially.  You continue to minister to the boys at Teen Challenge through supplies and a better environment.  Because of you, two teenage girls who financially were hurting attended a Christ-centered leadership seminar.  God is pleased with you ~ His people.

 

Bethlehem Haven ~ Five women were trained at Bethlehem Haven to mentor five women starting over.  It has been exciting to see how God ordained this mentoring program to touch more women for Him.  We are making a one-year commitment to these women.  If you think you would like to do this, let us know.  We believe it is going to be very fruitful for our Savior.

 

Standing In The Gap has moved four women since November.  This is basically a miracle!  The Lord Jesus has provided furniture and household items from just about everywhere!!  For example, SITG was blessed with a house and an apartment of furniture from two elderly women moving into assisted-living facilities.  We only had to purchase a very limited amount of household items to get these women started.  A special thank you to Rand and Laura Batchelder for their God-anointed van!  Thanks to Bob, Curt, Larry, Art, Nathan, Rand, Cory and Andy for their muscles!  God’s kingdom is powerful when we work together!  If you feel called to help with some of these moves, let us know.

 

Last Friday evening after moving one of the women, I was taking a woman living at BH who had helped us back to BH in the God-anointed van.  She was sharing how she knew there was a reason why she came to Pittsburgh from Florida but didn’t know what it was.  Of course, this was a chance to tell her the gospel of Jesus Christ!  When she got out of the van, she said she was going to read the Book of John.  I told her to read it until she knows who Jesus is!  While all of this was going on, my mind was thinking about how I didn’t even know where I was in the city, who was this woman I was with, and how do I drive the van in the snow, etc.  Talk about feeling nervous and inadequate!  It was then that God reminded me of a devotion by Max Lucado that had been read earlier in the week.   The Voice of Adventure ~ “Those who try to keep their lives will lose them.  But those who give up their lives will save them.” (Luke 17:33)  There is a rawness and a wonder to life.  Pursue it.  Hunt for it.  Sell out to get it.  Don’t listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won’t feel guilty.  Your goal is not to live long; it’s to live.  Jesus says the options are clear.  On one side there is the voice of safety. You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe…  Or you can hear the voice of adventure – God’s adventure.  Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart.  Follow God’s impulses.  Adopt the child.  Move overseas.  Teach the class.  Change careers.  Run for office.  Make a difference. Sure it isn’t safe, but what is?   

 

We are in this together.  May we continue to praise, worship, adore, and serve our Savior, Jesus Christ.  “Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” ~

Psalm 34:8.

                                                                        Because our Savior cares, gives and lives,