November 18, 2006

 

Dear Precious Servant(s) of Christ:

 

Hello to our dear friends and family of God.  In Chronicles 16:8, it commands us to “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done.”  Standing In The Gap (SITG) was going to communicate with you after Thanksgiving.  However, there was a sense of urgency in my spirit to do it now.  Perhaps the next letter you receive from us, we will be able to share with you why the sense of urgency!  Walking by faith is being obedient when we don’t always understand.  Our Word tells us that “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” ~ Hebrews 11:6.  Man plans but God commands!

 

A note from our sister and board member, Marsha:  Since I have signed on to serve the Lord in SITG, God has been so merciful to feed me the meat of our faith.  I am seeing God’s need for righteous servants who won’t bow to temptation, which then misrepresents who our God is.  Our Counselor is telling us to help each other stand firm, loving each other to repentance and righteousness.  On that note, here are some gems of encouragement.  Grace is not about God’s forgiveness alone since our nature is to take that for granted and return to our own selfish wills.  Grace is not about receiving the will of the Father to meet His perfect standard, wallowing in shame while He forgives us over and over again!  Grace, my fellow servants, is putting on our new robe of Righteousness, which is Christ, and melding wills into One Holy purpose.  Only then can we rest in His service.  Am I saying that my will has been obliterated because I am dead to self?  Brothers and sisters, God does not want dead children!  You and I are precious individuals with very-much-alive desires, who need Abba…, who desperately need each other.  Whether giver or receiver this season, it is in our neediness that we find such joy and peace, a season of the heart.  Not only do we find that we DO want what He wants but we can believe and trust that our sweet Jesus wants what we want.  “Peace on Earth, Good will towards men.”  Dear Lord, let us be there for someone, for each other…for You.

 

We continue to be active in reaching lives with the love of Christ through anonymous gifts to those we are made aware of in the name of Jesus Christ.  Examples:  a woman called me who was and continues to live with excruciating pain and was ready to give up and take her life ~ you sent her flowers with the words “Because Jesus lives, you can face tomorrow” on the note.  Today, I saw this woman and she was shining when telling me how she had asked Jesus to have a parking spot ready for her when she arrived at an appointment and there it was for her(!); you encouraged a young lady with a vision to fight for the life of babies in a positive way by helping her create a large vinyl poster to place out in the public arena presenting how wonderful motherhood is; you helped a young, Christian couple with small children to alleviate some financial stress; a woman who almost lost her life as a result of being allergic to medication and hasn’t been able to work ever since; supplies to help renovate Teen Challenge; toothpaste and toothbrushes for the homeless and orphans; and helping several single mothers with their struggles.   

 

In addition to our anonymous giving, God has us involved in other areas.  Bethlehem Haven ~ The outreach to homeless women starting over in Pittsburgh continues.  These women have nothing except a few clothes if that.  God, in His miraculous way, has orchestrated circumstances to provide through you some of their basic needs:   a bed and linens, chair or couch for living room, kitchen table and chairs, and household items.  As they see an apartment transformed from empty to liveable, they are moved and their hearts are receptive to God’s message of forgiveness, hope and a new way of living.  We have continuous follow-up with these women through cards, phone calls, and additional contact because of the current needs they have.  A few weeks ago, leadership from Bethlehem Haven called and wanted to meet us for lunch.  Thinking it was to thank SITG for the help, you can imagine the excitement we experienced when they informed us that they are piloting a new program to mentor women leaving the facility and want SITG to do the mentoring.  My friends, when we obey, things happen!  I was thinking 20 women to mentor 20 women one on one.  So when I asked, “How many women are you thinking ~ twenty or so to train?” they were delighted.  They were hoping for eight!  We must think big!  Teen Challenge ~ Elaine continues to renovate the facilities in West Alexander, PA.  The boys are being encouraged because “their place” is beginning to look and feel like a home.  One of the men in particular is being lifted up because Elaine is helping him find some of his identity and self-esteem through doing oil painting.  One painting with Jesus holding a man in His arms will hang in the living room at Teen Challenge when he completes it.  Elaine is looking for a long, low, wooden buffet server or credenza to put in the dining room for storage and serving of meals.    Elderly Homes ~ While visiting a local home this week, Virginia, alone and desperate, gave her heart to Jesus Christ and wept. Also, seven-year old Emily was visiting her Papa and ran up to us in the hallway and wanted to know what book we were reading.  It was the Bible!  We took her to John 3:16 and she asked Jesus Christ to be her Savior.  You sent her a Children’s Bible and she has been invited to church to learn more about our precious Redeemer.  There is a need for people to hug, hold hands, and kiss these hurting people.  They are literally starving for a human touch in our own backyard.  Are you interested in helping in any of these areas?  Let us know.

 

Recently, while reading in a section regarding “investing our time in people”, in the book, The Name, by Franklin Graham, this portion stuck out.  “Are the unsaved of the world on your heart?  God is very interested in our hearts’ motives.  It is in the heart where compassion for the lost and hurting grows.”  Together with you, we will push on for lost souls here in the Pittsburgh area as well as ministering to those who are God’s children that are hurting one person or family at a time in Christ’s name.  Continue to give as you are led, and we will continue to give as He leads.  God is Awesome!!!!

 

                                                                        Because our Savior cares, lives and gives,