June 16, 2006

 

Dear Precious Servant(s) of Christ:

 

In Philippians 1:2, Paul greets his fellow friends by saying  “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ.  So do we!  For those who are receiving our newsletter for the first time~it is our desire to be God’s ambassadors of love and encouragement to our brothers and sisters in the LORD and also to those still in darkness through acts of kindness anonymously whenever possible with the hope and gospel of Jesus Christ.  Currently, this is to people in the Pittsburgh area.

 

Standing In The Gap has the honor of bringing on board a longtime friend and confident of mine, Elaine Grant.  She is a godly woman who has a desire to live out her faith for the King of her heart~Jesus Christ.  She brings to us creativity, intelligence, competence, confidence, and an excitement about her role in “growing up” Standing In The Gap.  Elaine is a single mom who has adopted three children ~ Adam (23) from Guatamala, Isaac (16) from Mexico, and Rachel (6) from China.  Her heart and actions for the “least of these” gives Standing In The Gap someone who is truly “living out” God’s word.  Because she has adopted “around the world”, she sees the big picture and is a wonderful addition to carry out God’s will for Standing In The Gap.

 

In I John 2:4-6 it says, The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in him:  Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. (NIV)  Our Savior consecrated himself to do the task at hand that his Father had sent him to do.  That included an obedient, willing, committed, and tenacious spirit to get the job done.  Praise God for our Savior’s faithfulness!   Please pray that together with you we will “walk as Jesus did” and get the job done.

 

On that note, we are now incorporated as a non-profit domestic corporation in the state of Pennsylvania.  That allows us to go forward with the application for tax-exempt status with the Federal Government.  Our goal is to have the application completed and sent in to the government by the end of June.  Please pray the LORD will have favor towards us when they receive it.

Since our last letter, we have been able to impact the lives of two women who have gone through rehab at Bethlehem Haven (a shelter for homeless woman in Pittsburgh).  Through your giving of furniture, appliances, and gifts we have housed these women.  Because of this, one is now reading her bible on a regular basis getting to know her Savior better and the other one we prayed with and encouraged her to not give up.  Last Wednesday evening took us to Carrick to an elderly woman dying of pancreatic cancer and her distressed daughter.  By the end of the evening, both of them had given their lives to Jesus Christ!!  Yipee!  Please pray that they will “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6).  Your gifts have also impacted a young man endeavoring to become a musician for Jesus Christ; encouraged single, struggling mothers with gift cards for groceries, and occasionally paying a utility bill when needed; a woman who is housebound because of a chemical accident years ago (she has trouble breathing); a family struggling to buy diapers for their grandchild;  a woman who needed a boost because her husband is disabled and she is trying to hold her home together; a 35-year old daddy of three fighting for his life from cancer; and so on.

 

In a book by Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda, Prayer through the Eyes of Women of the Bible, they say, “We don’t have to travel halfway around the world to do something beautiful for God. (Although some of us are called to do that!)  Look for a way today to bring his light to those in your own household or community who are emotionally or materially impoverished, isolated, or ill.  Even the smallest gesture performed in love can become a gift for God.”  Jesus, help all of us to become a sweet-smelling fragrance to please you.

 

                                                                        Because our Savior cares, lives and gives,