Greetings again my Brethren. One thing for sure the longer we go in God the greater chance we will get discouraged. What a wonderful thought. They say they will build our memorial statue of us from the stones they throw at us. But discouragement in an internal emotion of the heart we get when we get disappointed at maybe ourself, people, and even in God. I do not think any of us are above discouragement we all will face it time and time again. Like most things in God the discouragement is not the end of the world for us, but what is, is how we handle it. Do we dismiss our part in the discouragement and look for someone to blame or turn it inwardly and use it as an opportunity for self-reflection? Most often other people are blamed and we learn little about ourselves and what God wants to do in areas in our lives that needs to get better. Karen and I just came back from Mombasa, Kenya, what a wonderful time we had with Bishop Jospeh Gatimu and the good folks at Jesus Victory Temple. WOW how they took great care of us from start to finish. I really know God wants to do some new and great things with Bishop Joe and his church. I am sure more to come on this. But when we returned, we were riding high, but I got call from Bishop Joe that brought me down to reality. Apparently, there was a big misunderstanding from some folks in the States that caused our joy to be deflated and discouragement filled my heart. Again, it was not the discouragement that was a big deal, but how I handled the situation. Not going to mention names, but I told someone something, and they told someone, who told someone else, well you know how that games goes. When it got back me, well I got upset, because I know it was NOT true. So, I did the spiritual thing (not really) and jumped the person who started the rumour. Here is where I dropped the ball. You know you can tell anyone anything as long as you tell them in a nice way. Now, I do not regret what I said, but how I said it. I was not nice, but sharp and even maybe angry at times. I did ask the person’s forgiveness before we hug up and texted them my forgiveness after we hung up and they said “no problem,” but it was, that still does not excuse me of my reaction. Make no mistake my friend discouragement can really be a mirror in our lives if we allow God to use it so. In 1 Kings 19, we find Elijah in a similar situation. You know I always find it strange how discouragement comes our way usually after a great time of victory. For us it was a great time of sacrifice and a great time of ministry in Mombasa. I mean just getting there it took: eight hours of flying, a five hour layover in Amsterdam (tired of running for flights), a nine hour flight to Nairobi, a planned four hour layover (that was really only 60 minutes to where we had to run after our next flight), and a one hour flight to Mombasa. Did I mention it was hot? The average temperature was around 90 degrees, then the sun would come up. The older you get the more you despise that word sacrifice, but not so in God. All and in all Bishop Joe and God was very good to us for this we were very thankful. But Brother Elijah, well, he did not react well to his discouragement. After a great victory over 450 men prophets o Baal (see 1 Kings 18:17-36) Elijah says, “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. 38Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
40And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.” (1 Kings 18:36-40) The great victory was complete, the enemy was vanquished, and God was glorified, but in the beginning of the very next chapter we find Elijah discouraged, scared, fearful of Jezebel and on the run. “And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. (1 Kings 19:1-4) WOW! What happened to Elijah? The same thing that can happened to us we get disappointed even in God as Elijah, which leads to discouragement and then we will do things we thought we would never do or even say things we thought we would never say. We must guard our heart against discouragement by realizing this can happen to us if not careful, never getting over-confident in our abilities and strengths, and meditate on God’s word, both written and spoken, and keep in mind and our heart past victories where He has brought us from possible defeat to victory. In 1 Samuel 30:6, “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” The distress and stones are coming your way.
Next month we will continue to look at other diverse objects God can use to communicate with us as we look at how God used a prosecutor. Are you there my friend? In tough situations and circumstances? Have you heard His voice? Listen closely and you will. Written by David Stahl
ARTICLE REVIEW:
Press the Moment
As odd as this may sound sometimes I like to just sit at my home computer and watch the screen saver scroll. I catch dinner guests doing the same out of the corner of their eye. The pictures come in waves of family events like birthdays, weddings, funerals, trips we have been on overseas, and other odds and ends. As I look at each picture (knowing there in a few seconds of time before the scroll will move on) I looked hard and try to remember the time this picture was captured for history. With each picture my mind went back to the time and the occasion the picture was taken. You know there is NO such thing as the past or the future. We often project things (we call it planning for the future) that will happen in what we call the future, but in reality the present is all we really have and what we call the future is a hope and a dream. Same as the future there is no past. All we have is the now. The past is no more. Memories, failures, victories, and the like all ring in our thoughts, but in reality they are finished in our lives. I hear people (even Christians) say, “I remember the good ole days (for some they were not so good),” but in reality we are in the place in God we find our self-based on the actions and decisions we made in the past. Our future (or what we call the future) is based not on the future, but on the things we do for God (or not do for God) in the now. The now is all we really have. Paul told the Body of Christ at Corinth, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 2(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2) Now, the salvation Paul was talking about was much more than salvation from their sins. They were already saved of their sins, but needed saved from themselves. Strife, hatred, ambition, offense, greed, and so much more (maybe sounds like us today) filled their hearts and the Body of Christ. And Paul says, “now is the day of salvation” for all of these things (and yes even our besetting sins) to be removed so that the LORD could have His place on the throne of our hearts. God can never take His place on the throne of our heart if we do not give Him leave. I wonder why we always go toward removing sin in our lives and leave our character flaws to fester? Paul also tells us, “we all have sinned and come short (our character flaws) of the glory of God.’ (Romans 3:23) I would think it is those character flaws (and not so much sin) in our lives that prevents God from moving as He desires in us. After all sin was gloriously dealt with on the cross. In Ephesians Paul tells us, “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times (which is always now) he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: ” (Ephesians 1:8-10) This “dispensation of fulness of times” can stretch out across the span of years, but at the same time it can be defined in a moment, in an event, in smile, and in one act of kindness. We can see this truth play out knowing God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, yet He is the same in a moment of time. The “fulness” here really captured my thoughts. How long, how big, how small, how full is “fulness” with God? To be honest I am not sure if God can be measured in such terms. In Solomon’s prayer of thanksgiving to God for the Temple he said, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27) I do not believe God can be measured with earthly instruments, oh no God must be measured in what is “gathered together in one all things in Christ” and that brings me back to my pictures on the scroll on my desk top computer. As I look at them the events and actions have been captured, “gathered together in one all things in Christ.” The people, the meals, the preaching and teaching, everything that has been recorded in picture format for me to remember and think about. Now we have covered much ground so far, but here is my point has God’s “fulness” been accomplished in the picture? Have you ever had a conversation with someone and later said to yourself, “I wished I would have said this or that?” I am sure we all have well my pictures are kind of like that. I look at the pictures now on the scroll and remember the event, location, setting all of the details, and wonder if I have done all that I could do to maximize the moment for the glory of God? I look and imagine what could I have done different or was what I did all that could be done? The memories are great, but the relationship in the pictures are greater. In the end I seem to always come back to the same conclusion what was done is done. In most cases it is too late to take back words or deeds. What we did is gain and what we did not do really does not matter. At the end of the day we must give what we do to God’s good graces and capable hands. I was traveling with a friend overseas and I asked him, “how about the people who do not respond, those who do not hear and heed our words?” He said, “there must come a time in our walk with the LORD where we give the people over to God.” Our job is to speak the word and the people’s job is to respond. All we can do is what we feel what the LORD is saying. I believe Paul had this or a simpler thought. In Philippians Paul tells us, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) In verse 13 Paul says he forgets those things he has done, “which are behind” so he can “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.” You know unless we forget what happened in the past we will never be able to “press toward the mark.” It is a casting or taking off things in our lives (our job here) so we can put on things. Paul helps here again, “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12) We will never walk in the light of Christ Jesus unless we allow God to work in our lives (through His dealings and judgments) so we can learn to cast off the darkness that causes us to stumble and fall out of the way God has for us to go. My brothers and sisters Paul was saying we must press the moment while in the moment. We must achieve the greatest good for God in the time He has made available for us to be His arms and hands on earth. The prize is not some crown, a wreath, some reward we may get “when we all get to heaven,” or even Christ Jesus Himself, but just the opportunity to be of service to our brothers and sisters. What else could we want? What better prize in God than to be a word of strong encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, or even a word of rebuke? I could go on all night, you fill in the blank. When in the moment of need we press forward and are there to hit the mark for our brothers and sisters, the mark that eases the pain and anguish of loss, confusion, and despair. Moments are fleeting in the lives and affairs of men, but in these moments we must press the moment for God’s best. Written by David Stahl
THOUGHTS FROM KAREN:
Think You’re Good??
Human nature being what it is, likes to think that we are better than our fellows here on earth. Well heck, I’m not as bad as __fill-in-the-blank__. Or well at least I don’t __fill-in-the-blank__. Yes sir, sometimes we can get smug in our self-righteousness or our we know better attitude. Well hang on partner the truth is on the way!! What does the Bible say about us being “good” people? In Romans we read “Even the righteousness of GOD which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of GOD; Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare his righteousness; that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? nay: but by the law of faith.” (Romans 3: 22-27) Did you get that my friend? IF, you’re a real Believer, and IF you love GOD, and try to live a holy and righteous life it’s just a matter of time before the Holy Spirit shakes you up with a good dose of reality and truth about yourself. Now to be honest, if you don’t want the truth or don’t want to deal with it, the Holy Spirit will let it go for now. But if we ignore and dispute the Holy Spirit we do so at our own peril. Best to agree and move forward. You see if GOD didn’t love you, He certainly wouldn’t take the time to try to correct us, would He? I will be the first to admit, I like the truth—but not the truth about myself. It’s awful, but if we want to have “Christ formed in us” (Hebrews 4:19) guess what—GOD is going to deal with our wretched heart condition. And we must let Him. That’s the hard part. Read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 4:22-32. He restates this same point in Colossians 3:8-10, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth Lie not one to another , seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him….” Paul encouraged the Church at Colossae to make Christ first in every area of their life and to put off the old things in their lives. Praise the Lord, easier said than done, but keep trying, don’t give up, everyday we get better and better and closer and closer to Him. GOD bless you all. Read your Bible! Written by Karen Stahl
NEEDS NOT WANTS:
1. In Dobrich, Bulgaria Pastor Niki Marsov and in Silistra Pastor(s) Yanko, and Marcho. Times are troubled in Bulgaria much prayer and support is needed.
2. Constanta, Romania Pastors Luke and Jacob at Bethel Church and in Agigea Brother John Vlad as the Director of the Romanian Center for Cross-cultural Studies Bible School.
3. Pastor S. J. Peter, Founder of DAWN Ministries in Hyderabad and Pastor Wilson and his son Pastor Julian at Gospel Assembly in Sankaraguptham, India.
4. Dan, Cathy, and members of Uskudar Son Buyruk Kilisesi in Istanbul, Turkey.
5. Pastor Elieti Msangi in Dar Es Salaam and Pastors Isreal Mutaitina and John Balone in Bukoba, Tanzania.
6. Pastor Tek Dahl at Gethsemane, Church (his church) and their radio station “Good News 105.1 FM” in Kathmandu, Nepal.
7. Bishop John, Samuel Kamanzi (from the Congo), and, Emmanuel Ndolimana in Ruhengeli, Rwanda.
8. Christian and Ina Kopjar Missionaries to the County of Liberia.
NEXT HOME GROUP MEETINGS:
17 June 25 at 7:00 pm
At 232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
7:00 pm please RSVP
(910) 382-9287
BEHOLDING HIS GLORY ON THE RADIO:
On WJCV Jacksonville, NC
“Pebbles of Truth”
1290 AM or 98.3 FM
Every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 7:30 am
FUTURE BHG SCHEDULE:
June: Projected Georgetown, Guyana
July: Local Ministry
August: Local Ministry
I am still available to share what God has given me at churches and/or home groups. If God moves on your heart to support BHG or other ministries we personally know we would be honored to serve as a go between. Remember, if we want a blessing from God the spiritual principle is we must bless others. Remember, God is to you what you are to God.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Address:
David and Karen Stahl
232 Everett Drive
Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Phone:
Mobile: (910) 382-9287
FAX: (910) 741-0489
Email:
Website:
Blog:
http://bhisglory.blogspot.com/
FREE OFFERS
Booklets on Spiritual Authority, Spiritual Leadership, Prayer, Body of Christ, and Righteous Living the Four Anchors of God are now available by contacting us and requesting one. You can see them on our home page. Get one now.
The Author House link below will lead you to our latest book, “Thoughts for Consideration.” Just copy it into your web browser and return. Also you can purchase two of our other books “Adventures with God.” and “God Still Performs Miracles: A Book of Personal Encouragement.”
http://www.authorhouse.com/AuthorCenter/Protected/BookHome.aspx?bookID=61464
Please take a minute and take a look, they all make for a great encouraging gift, giving hope and sharing God’s love through a deeper teaching that someone can enjoy again and again. All of our books can be purchased at all book stores like Barnes and Nobles, Borders, Book-A-Million, and etc., any Christian Book Store that orders, and all book ordering on-line companies like Amazon.com. Or if you are like me from the old school just contact us, we will let you know the price and then we will mail it out to your home address. Postage and handling is on a case by case basis.
If you know someone you think would enjoy receiving this newsletter or if you receive this newsletter and do not wish to please let me know. Contributions to this ministry is always appreciated and needed the more time continues. Please feel free to contact us with the above information.
