The Reason We Do What We Do

Many people ask us: Why do you help the homeless? How can you be around those people? We hear statements like: They smell bad. They drink, take drugs and live on the street. They need to solve their own problems. They are ruining the neighborhood. They are in trouble with the law.

I thought I would share why we are working with the homeless and why it does not bother us to be around them. Yes most of them smell bad. Yes some of them are alcoholics, drug addicts, even prostitutes. Yes they have issues in their lives. And some of them are in trouble with the law. The truth is God created all of them in the same image as you and I. He loves them the same as He loves you and me. Jesus hung on the cross for them as much as He did for you and me.

We all have problems in our lives. No one is perfect or has it all together. The poor lifestyle these people are living is a result of bad decisions and unforeseen events. The problems they are dealing with are out in the open and more evident than many other people. But they are still loved by God!

As a Christian it is our responsibility to reach out to whomever God places in our life. For this moment God has given us the street people in Portsmouth. As Pastor Eric’s sermon on Jonah demonstrated that it is not about us, it is about God’s plan for someone else. God wants to involve us in His plan to reach out to people and bring God’s love, peace and mercy to them. I look at them as wounded, broken and in need of repair. I cannot fix all of their problems. I can tell them about God. I can allow God’s love in my life to overflow into their lives. How can I look down at them when God looks at them in the same way he looks at me?

There is no magic formula or credentials required to reach out to people. The only thing required is our willingness to ask God to use us and allow Him to direct us. We must be obedient when God gives us a direction to go, even if we feel uncomfortable or unprepared. God already knows our strengths and weaknesses so when He asks us to do something He will take care of the details. So for this time in our life God has given us the street people in Portsmouth. This is our Nineveh. What is your Nineveh?

(Email excerpt from Living It small group member – Tina Jones)

You Pick Winners for October

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Daily Insight: God’s Heart is Love

Jonah 4:10-11 “But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”

God’s heart breaks with love for those who have chosen a path of self-destruction.  His invitation to be with Him connects us to His love and mercy and restores our joy as we watch Him work.

Eternal Father, Your heart is filled with love for me and for every other person who has chosen a path of self-destruction.  Forgive me Lord for being overly focused on my own ‘issues’ and neglecting Your mission.  Rescue me from self-desctruction and deliver me into Your hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: Learning about God and Ourselves

Jonah 4:9 “But God said to Jonah, “Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?” “I do,” he said. “I am angry enough to die.”

God never accuses us, but He does lead us to a place where we can be restored. Even in times when our shortcomings are glaringly obvious to Him and others, God never leaves us to fend for ourselves.

Loving Father, You know me – when I sit, when I walk and when I fall.  Because of Your amazing love You long for me to find hope in You and with You in Your mission. Cover me with Your love and forgive me of my faults. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Jonah Part 3 – Eric Watt

Listen to the Message

Study the PowerPoint

Re-capturing His Day

The headlines have bombarded us this week with news of bailouts, bombings and the debate.  On Friday night at 9 pm I was in a noisy airport waiting room filled with travellers trying to get home (I had gone for the day to meet with friends who were committed to help my friend Ramesh in Nepal).

When the debate between Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain came on the room fell silent and all eyes turned toward the television. No one moved unless it was time for their plane depart.  We all wanted to see what their answers were.

I was struck by the reality that no one admitted to ask God what His answers were for the situation we are in.  That is why we need Sunday.  It is a chance to pull back, to listen and to align ourselves to His answers and to walk forward into our week confident that the One who created the earth is still in control.

Can’t wait to worship today with our family!

Daily Insight: God Loves Even when We do not

Jonah 4:7-8 “But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

God knows us at the core of our being. There is nothing that we can hide from Him.  Out of His great love for us God gently and consistently removes obstacles that keep us from joining Him on His great mission of redemption.

Gracious Father, You are good.  You know when my heart recoils from Your love and choose a self-destructive path.  I ask today that You would remove obstacles from my path so that I can fully love You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Insight: God Cares

Jonah 4:6 “Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the vine.”

God cares for us in every moment of our lives.  His nature is to provide comfort and care in the hopes that the lavishing of His goodness will lead us back to Him. (Romans 2:4)

Loving and Caring Father,  How gracious You are to me each and every day. You see when I am filled with hope and when the cares of this world drown out my joy.  Today I turn to You as the one who begins and sustains all the good that comes my way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praise Report from our PEACE missionary

Below is an excerpt from an email sent from Tom Adleta. Thank you to all who prayed for our PEACE missionary. Continue to lift Tom, Liz and the whole Adleta family up to Him!

Pastor Curtis

 

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Friends and Family, Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Greetings from South Africa,                            

First of all a praise report. Thanks to your prayers I got my VISA Tuesday.I had not received it on Monday and it would have been impossible to get it since the visa have to come from Khartoum, Sudan, only. However, we went to the Embassy here in Pretoria at 11am on Tuesday and walked out at 1pm with the visa. A miracle, Keep praying. God answers Prayer. In addition, I received the remaining bags as well!

We need a high level of intercessory prayer over the next two months, please keep us lifted up and pray whatever the Holy Spirit brings you to do. Love each of you and thanks for you supporting prayers.

Blessings,
Rev Tom Adleta

Daily Insight: God is the Judge

Jonah 4:5 “Jonah went out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.”

God is faithful to complete what He begins.  Since He can be depended on in every situation our joy and fulfillment comes in participating with Him in His work – not sitting as a judge on the sidelines.

Eternal Father, You alone are the judge of good and evil and You desire that all people find true hope and purpose by living life for You.  Forgive me for pretending that I am the judge of others, for stepping back and watching rather than joining in Your great work.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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