As Chosen To Serve Ministries
Partner Update
December 2009
PASTOR LAYNE's LETTER
God bless you and we hope this finds you growing in the Lord. As this year ends with our country still at war and a horrible economy, which has affected many of us it's easy to get lulled into a sense of hopelessness. Especially if we believe all that, we hear on the nightly news listening to the “talking heads” on both sides of the political aisles. We seem doomed. It is a fact that many of our leaders have lost their moral compass. Yes the evangelical church is actually shrinking. However, we do have hope. The apostle Paul writes to young Titus and to us in; Titus 2: 13-15; looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself [His] own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. Titus known as the third pastoral epistle and Paul was encouraging and exhorting church leaders in Crete of the importance to live as if they are saved and to act as if they have hope. These instructions are not just for the elders but also for all Christians. The solution is simple. I believe if we read Gods Word daily and attend a church whose pastor exposits the whole counsel of Gods Word, then when we watch and listen to the news we will digest the information differently.
Lastly, forgive and you will be forgiven. Forgiving others is not a matter of choice; it is a direct command from our Lord. It is easy to ignore or rationalize away to whom we are to forgive. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Jesus tells us in Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. In Matthew 6:14 Jesus says, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Moreover, in Mark 11:25 Jesus instructs "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Make no mistake about it. Forgiving does not condone ones wrongdoing towards you. It does not mean to forget how we may have been wronged. It is to learn from it, drop it at the foot of the cross, and go on. I hope and pray we all have hearts to forgive one another. I believe that in order for any of us to have fulfilled lives in Christ we must learn to forgive. We must forgive those we feel have wronged us in order to be truly forgiven.
God bless you!
Pastor Layne
PRAISE REPORTS
Dear Layne, Kristy and Acts Team,
Just wanted to let you know we are praying for ACTS Tracts & your ministry. Your labor will not go unrewarded. In these days of difficult economic times, we rest on the knowledge that our Gods owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He will provide for all our needs.
It is His Word that you proclaim through faith, and He will provide. Be encouraged and know that we are lifting you up in prayer.
Nancy S. on behalf of the
Higher Grounds Calvary Chapel
Missions Team, Moreno Valley, CA
VOLUNTEER SPEAKS
Greeting The Season
The holiday season always starts, a rush of people with weary hearts,
A time ordered for season’s greetings, rushing all to family meetings.
While rushing to malls filled with holly, covered with commercial jolly,
Peoples searching far and near, to find some temporal holiday cheer.
They find festive noise is all around, as lights and ornaments abound,
And at the root, what is the cause; a jolly old man named Santa Claus.
Hiding Truth from girls and boys, using nothing but those simple toys,
Filling their hearts with temporal joys, in the midst of the festive noise.
The Christmas Truth people seldom lift, even though it was God’s gift,
The one gift from The Lord above; a special gift of The Father’s Love.
And unlike other gifts of the past, this one gift from God will truly last,
When all the other gifts cease to be, this one gift shall last for eternity.
That special Gift was God’s Only Son, that one gift sent for everyone,
God’s Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, sent to give all men New Life.
And this Gift was not under a tree, but nailed upon a cross on Calvary,
Where Christ himself paid the price, as He became for men a sacrifice.
God’s Gift will give you peace on earth, through His Gift of New Birth,
And Christ will forgive all your sin, if you would simply believe in Him,
To fill your heart with Heaven’s hush, even in this festive holiday rush,
So this season you’ll be gleaning, its true reason with God’s meaning.
(Copyright ©11/2007 Bob Gotti) / www. Poeticpulpit.com
Good Afternoon Kristy,
I want to thank you first for the very encouraging
comment, but, must say that all the praise does go to
Him and I am very Blessed just to be His Pen. Kristy,
you are more than welcome to use anything that you
may find on Poetic Pulpit for our Lord’s use to finish
our task together of Christ’s Great Commission.
Have a \\\|/// Blessed Day
(o o)
---oOO-(_)-OOo--- Bob Gotti
YOUR LETTERS!
§ Thank you! I attend Moody Church in Chicago, and am active with our 84 missionaries who work in ministries in the US and overseas. We at Moody Church have an angel tree program for children of inmates. Ralph gave me your names and email addresses, as he is so grateful for the tracts he uses in his ministry at 29 Palms, CA with the marines being deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. I've personally been there with Ralph, and saw how eagerly these wonderful young men and women embrace these, and the doors these materials open for conversation, prayer, and witnessing. Thank you! Ralph is hoping to start physical therapy soon, so he can get back to the 29 Palms base and return to distributing your tracts. He broke his leg going there, climbing the hill to the Warriors Club, with the Bibles and tracts. Blessings on your help and ministry, Layne. Linda A., Chicago, IL
§ Could you please send me some Big Question tracts in English and Spanish for adults and children? I have a ministry to Latin gangs in Norwalk and Artesia, California. I have seen some children and teens not in the gangs and work with a former 'One Way' gang member who now pastors a Norwalk church. We also give out free food in motels where some gang members live---drug addicts and alcoholics. I have been doing this since 2006. The Lord Jesus laid these gangs on my heart after I heard a friend of mine's 19 yr. old son gang member was killed Feb.2, 2006. I attend Calvary Chapel, Downey and worked with Arthur for 15 yrs. Thanks--a brother in Jesus. Michael O., Norwalk, CA
MINISTRY NEEDS
-- a storage container to place on the property.
-- Pray that our postage machine we have had for 8 years that stopped working either gets fixed or replaced.
-- We are still in need of several color drums for our digital printing press. They are $800.00 each. They will help to keep the cost of printing lower as they will enable us to produce more tracts and Scripture help cards.
-- Our paper supply is dangerously low we really need to buy a pallet of 20# white paper. The cost is $1200.00.
OPERATION LIGHT
It takes courage to make a difference, especially when you can't see a way to do it. When he was in Africa, David Livingstone received a letter saying, 'We want to send helpers. Have you found a good road into your area yet?' Livingstone wrote back, 'If they only want to come when there's a good road, don't send them. I want people who'll come when there's no road!'
Jesus said to Simon Peter a third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
John 21:15-17
PRAYER REQUESTS
-- Pray for the Haven Art Center that opened in Banning, CA. It will be an incredible outreach and presence in a revitalized downtown area. Pray that Christians will bring those who need to be lead to Christ.
-- Pray for the opportunities we each will have during the upcoming holiday season. This is a time of year depression sets in for millions of Americans regardless of their faith. Sunlight becomes less each day, loneliness intensifies, and oftentimes isolation becomes the result.
-- Pray for one another who supports the work of this ministry. For each of you that volunteers, prays, Gives financially and often sacrificially, and those using the witnessing materials to share the Good News. Thank you!
-- Pray for all the mission trips going on around the world. It’s humbling to minister to the lost and hurting in third world countries, also ask the Lord to touch the Americans that are making the trips. Let’s pray they are greatly impacted and return to their churches and communities with a servant heart and attitude.
-- Pray for our brothers and sisters suffering with physical problems.
-- Pray for our Nations leaders. Even though we may disagree with them both morally and politically, the only thing that will change them is the saving knowledge of Jesus.
-- Pray for Jeff & Jon, and other Christian businessmen who use their gifts to support and enable ministries to grow.
…And remember, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much”. James 5:16
www.actstracts.com
www.childrensbiblesociety.org
MAY OUR LORD AND
SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
BLESS YOU TODAY
AND EVERYDAY!
YOU can CHANGE lives FOREVER!
By supporting the work of this ministry on a regular basis you will share in the fruit from thousands who come to Christ every month. These materials are supplied freely to saints world-wide who use them in: Children’s Hospitals, school campuses, military bases, prisons, sporting events, etc. We truly are in “the last days, the end times”, we need your faithful financial support to reach more with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Please let us know how you will stand with us to deliver “light into a darkened world”.
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As Chosen To Serve Ministries ♦ 38754 Mojo Way ♦ Hemet, CA 92543-9302 ♦ www.actstracts.com ♦ www.childrensbiblesociety.org ♦ email – actstracts@gmail.com
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