Printer
Friendly page - click here
Living The Solution – Online Newsletter |
|
|
August 31, 2005 ISSUE |
read
past issues here or subscribe to
get it by email free>>>>
Opening Thoughts:
The Labor Day holiday weekend is in a few days. Normally
this is a time when the working people enjoy a final summer
holiday and some time away from work. We can be with friends
and family and reflect on our jobs and our lives.
This year the effects of Hurricane Katrina are fresh in
our minds. There was a lot of death and destruction, as
was predicted. The labor ahead will be intensive. As in
previous tragedies many workers will be engaged in selfless
acts of kindness and compassion. Others will wonder why
this trouble came upon them. There will be the cries out
to God of “why” and “help”.
God’s help is and will continue to be there. It will
be expressed in the “hands and feet” of a faith
community. No matter how stretched relief agencies get
somehow there will still be those who make sacrifices and
give of their time, money and possessions for those suffering.
We’ve seen it before, including four years ago about
this time on that fateful day in America, September 11th.
Our prayers are with all those who suffer, but know you
are not alone or without hope.
Peace and joy,
Tom Gilbert
|
IN THIS ISSUE
Feature Article: Where Were You…Where Was God?
In The Spotlight: Hurricane Relief
Daily Thoughts: Your Mission, Should You Decide to
Accept It
Prayer & Sharing Requests
Quotable: Having Christ |
|
| FEATURED
ARTICLE |
|
Where
Were You…Where Was God?
(Remembering 9/11)
Article by Tom Gilbert
(Note: We first published this article that came to us from
an email some months after 9/11/01. Time has passed
and healed some wounds. But tragedies still occur.
The most recent natural disaster in the United States
is Hurricane Katrina. The thoughts expressed in this
article apply to this situation and others where
trouble strikes and the question arises of “Where
is God in this?”)
There is one God, and one mediator between God and
humans, the person Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5).
If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear....
You say you will never forget where you were when you
heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor
in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say "Good-Bye." I
held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him the peace to say,
"
Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is
OK...I am ready to go."
I was with his wife
when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his words
and as she realized he wasn't coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell
of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help.
"
I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!" I said.
"
Of course I will show you the way home - only believe in Me now."
I was at the base of the building
with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes,
in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and
assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Kansas, London.
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me? I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me for
the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Read more here.
Discover more thought provoking articles
|
|
| IN THE SPOTLIGHT |
|
|
Hurricane
Relief
HURRICANE
KATRINA - NOAA
The destruction that Katrina
left in its wake is a call once again to help
those suffering. Sometimes it can seem overwhelming,
especially when there have been so many recent
natural disasters and other troubles. Relief
agencies are a blessing at times like this,
but the need is great.
Christians and believers in a loving God can put their faith into action. Christianity
Today has posted a page with links to various agencies and Churches responding
to the need.
| more
here |
See more at our Spotlight Specials page
Our Living the Solution online store
has resources to help you grow spiritually. It’s
secure, extensive with many great gift ideas!
Visit our
online store
There is something for everyone. When you shop with us,
you support our ministry – thank you!
|
|
|
DAILY THOUGHTS & REFLECTIONS |
|
Your
Mission, Should You Decide to Accept It
I'm not asking that you take them out
of the world but that you guard them from the Evil One. They are no more
defined by the world than I am defined by the world. Make them holy — consecrated-with
the truth; Your word is consecrating truth. In the same way that you gave
me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. (John 17:15-18 — The
Message)
We were never meant to be separated from
the world. We were never meant to remove ourselves from
the world and live in isolation. That was never God's design
or desire. He came and was in the world. He lived His life
here reaching out to those who were missing from the family
of God, reaching out to those whose hearts were broken and
wounded in an effort to restore and heal their hearts. That
was Jesus' mission: to heal the brokenhearted, set the captives
free, restore sight to the blind, and heal the sick. He
came offering them life to the fullest — life abundant,
life eternal. He could not have done those things if He
separated Himself from the world.
Just as Jesus was given a mission in and to the world, we too have been given
a mission. We have, in fact, been given the same mission to heal the brokenhearted,
set the captives free, restore sight to the blind, and heal the sick. We can
bring a message of life to the fullest, an abundant life, life eternal. We cannot
accomplish this mission if we isolate ourselves from the world. We must, like
Jesus, go out into the world and meet people where they are at; meet them on
their turf, as it were. Jesus was our example of how to accomplish this mission.
We are to live our lives as He lived His. He went to the people. He spent time
with the people, in their homes, their places of business; He lived life with
them. We must do the same.
Don't worry about what others might say, instead be concerned about what God
thinks about how you are living your life and how you are doing on fulfilling
your mission. And regarding the world and its ways, remember that Jesus has already
prayed for you that God, the Father, will protect you from the Evil One and He
continues to intercede on your behalf. Go and fulfill your mission. God has gone
before and will protect you, follow His lead.
Live it with Passion
Pete Reinbold
Get daily inspiration with a Scripture verse and commentary
at
Daily Thought
|
|
|
PRAYER REQUESTS & RESULTS |
|
Prayer works. It really does.Submit your prayer
requests and we will pray for them.
Of course, we keep your information confidential.
|
My thoughts are shared regularly on the pages of
our web site, especially on
the Journal pages.
We welcome and appreciate your feedback. If you would
like to submit an article please see our writer's
guidelines.
It is our hope that the content of Living The Solution will
stimulate you to deepen your faith. That is certainly a result for us in both
our writing and reading. If you would like to see articles on a particular topic
or you have comments please let us know.
Send an email
Quotable: Having Christ
"It is impossible for a man
to be a Christian without having Christ; and if he
has Christ he has at the same time all that is in Christ.”
—
Martin Luther
Copyright 2005 Living the Solution, all rights reserved.
Tom Gilbert
Editor/Web-servant
Living The Solution
www.livingthesolution.com
P O Box 25584
Albuquerque, NM 87125-5584
Toll free 1-800-399-2564 ext 105 (US only) or 505-247-3232
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We have
more than 120,000 Christian books,
bibles, music,gifts, video, software and
more!
It's easy to find what you're looking for by using our BROWSE
feature to search for your favorite type of
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
Recommended
Reading
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Travel" along
on our spiritual journey - visit our
Journal
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
 |
