A Note From Tom: January 20th, 2012
Hey, everyone!
Hope you’re having an awesome week! In fact a verse from the Gospel of Luke I just read and an email I got recently both told me that you may be having a better week than you could even imagine!
What verse? Well, it’s kinda different but it says, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16.9)
It means, among other things, use your money to help people get in the kingdom so in heaven, you’ll have friends that are glad to meet you and happy you’re there!
I’ve been thinking about this more these days because of the New Year… time passing…another year closer to the “Return of the King”…every day closer, feeling my heart turn towards Home…
I know some don’t EVER think about being ready ‘til the two minute warning (even tho’ the Mayans apparently have some folks freaked out!)…. Reminded me of the two ladies who were talking in their lifeboat after the Titanic hit the iceberg and one of them said, "If I'd known this was going to happen, I'd have had the chocolate pecan pie!"
If you know something about what's ahead, it helps with choices you need to make.
Seriously, one of the people they pulled out of the water when the Titanic sank, was John Jacob Astor. He was frozen and so were his gold watch, his gold and diamond cuff links, his diamond ring with three stones, his $2440 in frozen bills, the £5 in gold, his ten franc pieces, and his gold pencil. If he knew what was coming, he might have made different choices!
We can’t really be sure about whether or not Jesus is coming sooner rather than later, but y’all at Triple C are helping us make wise choices in the light of what’s ahead!
As we were figuring out the budget for CCC for the next year (which we’ll share with y’all this Sunday in Community group time), we calculated that our church has been able to give away 24% of our budget last year to missionaries we support! Your giving helped you make some friends you’ve never even met…but when you get to heaven, they’ll be glad you’re there!
Oh, the email I got? I almost forgot!
It was from Paul and Karen Davis! They are sharing Jesus in a town in southeast France. They’ve been in France forever doing this and they’ve started a new thing in this town where folks have never had the opportunity to hear about the One Who “makes all things new” in a world where some things are really getting old! Before the most recent email, they were talking in the one from November about all that had happened in this last year.
Check it…
“November 29, 2011 -- This week marks our one-year anniversary in Pontcharra. …
* Last year we were the new arrivals in the neighborhood. Now we are involved in multiple community activities and feel at home!
* Last year we hardly new anyone in Pontcharra. Now we have lots of contacts and people know why we are here!
* Last year a few believers in Pontcharra were meeting together irregularly. Now we have two home groups meeting regularly for Bible study and prayer!
* Last year the believers in Pontcharra expressed their desire to have worship services in their city. Now we have monthly worship services in Pontcharra!...”
Then after Christmas, we got this…
“Our family of believers in Pontcharra got together on December 17 for a special Christmas worship service . We reviewed the scene in Bethlehem with the sad news that their was no room for Joseph & Mary in the Inn. We asked, "Is there room for Jesus in our hearts today?" We are so thankful for our spiritual family in Pontcharra!...”
If that just blew by you, take a sec to reflect…
A town where almost no one knows Jesus.
Almost everyone is without God.
Lost.
Dead in the heart.
Yuck.
Add…
Two people.
Plus one year.
Plus God working invisibly.
Result?
People worshipping Jesus! Folks reading the Holy Scriptures! Men and women and kids asking themselves, “Am I that inn keeper? Why don’t I have room for Him? Maybe I can!”
Sacre Bleu! It’s amazing!
Next monthly worship time for the folks in Pontcharra, France who love Jesus, together with those who are learning more about Him?
Tomorrow!
Seeing how it’s budget time, I just wanted to say…Thank you so much for giving to all God is doing at Triple C! God is soooo faithful! Through your generous hearts, He met all of our needs at Christ Community in 2011 and your giving was to Him was “like a sweet-smelling sacrifice…filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus!” (Philippians 4. 18-21)
And whether you know it or not…or better, whether you know them or not…around the world…in Spain, Kenya, Italy, Morocco, India, Missouri, Chicago, Anderson Co., TN, and in Pontcharra, France… you and your generosity have made new friends who’ve come into the kingdom! What could possibly be better…or wiser…than that!?
Won’t it be awesome when we get finally Home with Him and those you’ve never met call out your name?
“Hey! There you are!!!”