Greetings again my
Brethren. As we behold His glory more
and more we will be able to come into a greater communion with God and as we do,
our relationship with the Father will manifest in our earthly relationships. This
critical ability to commune with God ensures spiritual maturity, shuts our
flesh down by closing our mouth. When we think of communion we often think of
prayer, well communion with God has little to do with prayer. The word “prayer”
is translated six ways in the Bible and most often (from Greek) as “direct
communication with God.” Prayer is communication (talking) not communion. Now
we must maintain our communication (talking) with the Father so that He can
teach us His ways and reveal His will for our lives, not to get things from Him.
Oddly enough some of my best prayers have no words. All I could do was just groan. “True”
communion has no words and is of the Spirit of God. This is how we are to keep the love feast
(see April’s BHG) with God and man, in communion and by His Spirit. When we do things by the Spirit words seemingly
become unless, there is a reaching into an unseen realm not made by moral hands,
but by the Spirit of God and we connect our heart and spirit with God’s and out
of this connection flows a stillness, a knowing, a wisdom, an establishment,
and even the life of God to us.
I try to start every day off in this place of communion with God. I plan a time and place to quiet my heart and
spirit from the throes of this earthly life and steal away before God. My mouth is quiet and still (no communication,
no praying), my thoughts are directed toward God for who He is, for His love
and faithfulness to me and my family, and within my spirit there is an upward ascent
of praise and honor rushing up and out of me, springing forth like a well of
water gushing upward to God, no words spoken just thought and spirit moving
together, oh sweet communion. After
awhile I will communicate with the Father for some time, on the behalf of
others needs, and then read the Bible.
This is why I rise early in the morning, to fast sleep for time spent
with God in communion. Remember, the definition of fasting is sacrificing one
hunger for another.
As I travel in ministry thoughts of my family and especially Karen “my
sweetheart” are ever before me. The long
nights and lonely days, even thought being surrounded by many wonderful people,
is painfully crushing but deep within me there grows a longing to see them with
each passing day. This longing grows
until there is an expectation birthed within me to endure and preserve until
the end and I return home. With Karen this expectation grows, but there is also
something else that accompanies this expectation. It is a desire for communion.
Now my friends that is holy. You see I
know at the end of my journey I will see my sweet and beautiful wife waiting
for me at baggage claim. Our eyes will lock on to each other’s, my step will
grow larger and quicker, and I will rush to meet her awaiting arms, there will
be no words spoken, none are needed. I
will pull her to my breast and I will feel our hearts beat as one. There will not be any communication needed at
this time for we will be having communion. So to it is with our Heavenly
Father, how He longs how He desires for us, by His Spirit, to rush to His arms
and allow Him to press us up against Him
and feel our hearts beat as one. No communication, just sweet communion, oh
sweet communion. What a place of
holiness and spiritual growth were we can kept our mouth shut not needing to
know everything, not needing God to do and give us things, but to just reach
out with our spirit and touch Him. Oh sweet communion. More next month on this and other
topics.
ARTICLE REVIEW:
The Revealing of God’s Glory
By
David Stahl
Paul shared these words with
the Church at
I think one of the greatest
sufferings we endure today is the process of our physical bodies falling into
the ground as we grow older. The older
I get the more I see and understand just how precious my life really is. The
older I get the more I see my death before me, I see my mortality and I see it
coming closer and closer with each passing day.
With each new pain and ache I see some day my physical body will be no
more. But that’s okay. We should not fear death for death too is
God’s plan for our lives. Paul also
shared this point with the Church at
And yet I see this process
of dying play out before my eyes in the lives of my parents. I see the “glory” of God that is being
revealed in them. My Dad is 80 and my
Mom is almost 75 and yet I see the “glory” God is still producing, in
them, as they grow older and older. I
see their generosity, forgiveness, and the love God has been able to produce in
them. As a child I always saw my father
a dedicated, hard working, strong military figure. I was and still am very
proud of him. I remember the morning in
1967, when he departed for Viet-Nam. We all were standing at the train station
in Cumberland , MD Hollywood movie star. Her mind was sharp
as a tack. But now she does not stand so
tall and life has added a few wrinkles.
And her short-term memory is not what it use to be, but she will always
be a movie star to me. Together health
wise they do not make one well person, but that’s okay there is a greater work
of “glory” that is being produced in them. Over the years I have watched my parents
fall into the ground together health wise, but at the same time I have watched
them grow together more and more in love.
I have watched their individual strengths fade like grass that withers
away as they learn to lean on each other more and more. What a glorious
relationship. As a matter of fact I believe it is their weaknesses,
infirmities, and their disabilities that are bringing them more and more together. It is our infirmities and our weaknesses that
bring us to God. Paul taught this, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for
my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore
I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions,
in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) I see the “glory”
of God in their relationship that would cause each to care for the other. I
believe I understand Paul a little more when he talks about “sufferings”
and “death.” This understanding comes out of what I see in the lives of
my parents. The “glory” that is
being produced in them is coming out from their suffering and the slow process
they endure towards death and they too will, “But well all, with an open
face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same
image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians
3:18) Until one day they both will stand together in the glorious presence
of God. I realize one day my parents
will fall asleep and rest in God. I hope
when it is my turn I will be found at least half the man my father was and I
had at least half the Christ-like witness of both my parents.
Brethren let us not shun “the sufferings of this
present time.” For in the shunning
we also shun the “glory” of God.
Let us allow God to so work in our lives so that His glory can be
revealed in us. And, let us see death as
God sees it, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” Unless we see things God’s way we will not
allow Him to work in our lives to where His glory will be able to be revealed
us. Who would of thought suffering and death to be apart of God’s glory? Paul would because he always saw things from
God’s perspective, this is why he could “reckon” between suffering and
God’s glory. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Karen will not be adding
something this month. Many have shared how much they enjoy her writing as I do
also, now here is her secret for success she only add something when the Lord
gives her something to say. It was
Jesus’ secret also. All other things have no success. And remember, the best is
yet to come.
POETRY CORNER:
Believer’s Pledge - 2005
By Kothapally Jacob Rufus
Jesus Christ is my saviour,
all believers are my brothers and sisters
I love my Jesus and I am
proud of His rich love and compassion. I shall always strive to be worthy of
Him.
I shall give my parents,
teachers, and all elders respect, witness and treat everyone with courtesy.
To my Jesus and my people, I
pledge my devotion.
In their well being and
spiritual prosperity alone lies my happiness (RUFUS).
DEAR FRIENDS:
Our salvation is much more then just
having our sins forgiven. Oh how we limit God in so many areas. If we could ever begin to see things from
God’s prospective and what He wants to accomplish through us and His Church we
would really get busy and do His will. We often pray, “thy kingdom come,” but
in reality we do not mean it. Do we
really want His kingdom to come? How can
His kingdom come if we are trying to build our own kingdom? For His kingdom to come all of our plans,
desires, and even our dreams not of Him must be pulled down and placed in the
captivity of Christ Jesus. Oh we act like we want His kingdom to come, all
religious and pious, but we are only dedicated and committed to seeing His kingdom
come at the level of our discomfort and lack of worldly things. Oh how I need to keep my focus on eternal
things from above. And the profound truth about our salvation is, the more we
love Him, the more we experience His salvation. Our salvation is based on our
love for God not His love for us. Now God does love us,“We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John
Karen “my sweetheart” and the kids
send their love. Life is worth the
living the more we can see God as our source.
God has been so faithful to me and my family how can I not love Him the
more?
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In
Silistra,
2. In
3. In
4. Pastor
Joseph Mutua in
5. Pastor
Mike Olufemi in the north of
6. Pastor
S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor
Julian both near
7. Financial
support for the printing of: “God Still Performs Miracles Today: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
8. Pastor Metin Mintaz and the members of
Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in
9. Pastor
Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastor Isreal Mutaitina in
10. Major Rob McIntosh, Chaplin,
FUTURE SCHEDULE:
May:
June:
Local ministry
July:
China or Istanbul, Turkey with Pastor Metin
I am still available to share what God has given me at churches and/or home groups. Also, if God moves on your heart to bless the ministries I visit and share God’s love I would be honored to make it possible for God and you.
God told
Abram, “I will bless those who bless
you and curse those who curse you.” (Genesis 12:3) If you want a blessing, then bless someone Remember, God is to you what you are
to God.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address:
David and Karen Stahl
Jacksonville , NC 28546
Phone:
Home: (910) 346-1739
FAX: (910) 346-1739
Email:
dstahl@ec.rr.com
If you
know someone who would enjoy receiving this newsletter or if you receive this
newsletter and do not wish to please let me know. Also if you would like to contribute to this
ministry please feel free to contact me with the above information. Costs ever
increase.
PLEASE look within
your abilities to begin supporting or to increase your support to cover these
costs. The cost is great, but the cost for not supporting is even greater. And
remember, all donations are tax deductible.
