A Letter from my dear wife, Betty

Dear Friends,

May God’s blessing and guidance accompany you throughout this New Year 2009.

Just being into the third week of the year much has happened, we have seen the overwhelming crowd of people weeping and rejoicing while witnessing the inauguration of the New President of the United States.

Then in the other side of the World we saw the pictures of people in utter despair seeing their loved ones die and their home destroyed by war in Gaza. The future is unknown to all of us, will be rejoicing or shedding tears of grieve?

While we live from day to day in this New Year may our life not be like a monopoly game where we strive to be the winner and then take it all, only to realize that our life (like in the game) when over, all is put into the box. We have no more than all others.

May we realize that today Life is an opportunity given to us by God to SHARE our resources whether they are physical, mental, spiritual and monetary. Great examples in this life are Jimmy Carter and the many volunteers building the Habitat houses for the poor. Then there are also the many community and church volunteers. Let us, you and I, join these people.

“Therefore as we have opportunity, let us Do Good to All people”    Galatians 6:10.

Paul and I are looking forward to our ministry in Europe this year. In March and April we plan to be in Germany, Poland and Russia. We will be focused on teaching the Word to the pastors, leaders and congregations. We thank you for making this ministry possible through your prayers and financial support.

Here are exerts from a letter meant for all our donors who make this possible; received from Bible school students whom we are supporting:

“Dear Paul,
Thank you for your support in our studying at the Bible school. All of the sessions are a great opportunity to be grounded in the Word and prepare us for service. These studies are made much easier by the support you give us. We are so grateful to you for these blessings. Best wishes from; Lukasz, Marek, Jarek and Bartek”

God bless you

Paul and Betty Weresch

How Is Your Prayer Life?

As a brand new Christian, many years ago, I struggled with prayer. Since then, I have heard many Christians say the same thing. It always seemed so formal … so stilted. Most of us were familiar with the Bible in language penned in 1611. Speech from that time seemed a bit formal to our ears.

Then I remembered a story related by my Pastor at the time. His son had built a house next door to his own. It became a habit for his pre-school grandson to walk over, enter the house and go for the refrigerator. The pastor confronted this little intruder one day and asked him, “Why do you think you can just come in here when you want, young man!?” The little tyke replied, “Cause you’re my grandpa.”

I then had the same revelation that Martin Luther had in the sixteenth century as he read Galatians 4:4-7, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”

The term "Abba" is felt to convey a sense of affection and intimacy that is perceived to be very much lacking in the far more formal term "father." Abba is actually an Aramaic word, which most scholars feel is the language that our Lord Jesus Christ spoke during His human existence upon this earth.

As expositor, W. E. Vine wrote, "'Abba' is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; 'father' expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child."

Though our God, the Creator of the entire universe and everything in it, is deserving of the highest honor and respect, He is also our “father” … our “daddy”. He loves us as little children

I remember my father as a man bigger than life … however, I also remember the warmth of his strong arms and the love that radiated from his instruction. And, I want to face my heavenly Father on the same terms.

So, if you are having trouble with prayer … in either the frequency of it or the formality of it … just try to envision yourself snuggling up to your “daddy” and telling Him how your day has been.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15-16

Larry Abele - Editorial Team

This Could Be Your Year!

First let me wish a Happy 2009 to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ! May this coming year continue to reveal in you the wonderful Grace of our Almighty God ... Bless you all!

To those who have not yet decided to accept Christ’s freely given invitation to everlasting life … THIS COULD BE YOUR YEAR! We will pray that it is a new beginning for you.

To those who will be making new year’s resolutions. Bless you … and more power to you if you mean to keep them. However, in most cases these resolutions … made in the fit of starting over … dissolve into failure as time passes.

Would you like to make one resolution that cannot fail! Resolve to FOLLOW GOD WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

If you resolve to quit smoking, that cigarette will not help you quit. If you resolve to lose weight that extra helping of dessert is not going to help. If you resolve to love that grouchy neighbor you certainly wont get any help from him.

But, if you resolve to follow God wholeheartedly … God is going to step in and help with that resolution. And you know what, my friends? He is also going to help with the smoking, the dieting and with loving your neighbor!

What does it mean to follow God wholeheartedly? Be committed even though you might be a minority in your office, in your school or even in your own home. Be willing to accept the sovereign choices of God even though they might not be your choices. Be ready and willing to act upon God’s promises given through His Word. Be willing to go out and tackle the world for God … you don’t have to go to Africa or Europe … just across the street. And, be willing to stick to it for life … being a wholehearted follower of God is not a sprint but a marathon.

David … “a man after God’s own heart” said it best in Psalm 37 when he sang,

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture, Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”

David FOLLOWED THE LORD WHOLEHEARTEDLY and so could you. Make that resolution … this could be your year!

Larry Abele – Editorial Team