"....JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES A STORY...."

"One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up."  (Luke 18:1, NLT)

When I read our text this quarter, I had a thought.  What if a congregation came together on each of the Sunday mornings of a month and did nothing but pray, i.e., no music, no announcements, no offering, well, nothing which most congregations do in a typical Sunday morning service. 

Everyone would come to the altar, if they have one, or go to the front row of chairs and kneel down to pray.  Whatever, maybe it could be called a, "never give up," prayer meeting.  

Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray for a never-give-up heart.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"WHAT'S YOUR STORY?"

"Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like."  (Luke 6:47)

You know "the rest of the story."  I have been taking particular note this time through the Gospels as to just how much our Lord Jesus Christ used stories, aka, parables, to teach and preach, to communicate the, "The Good News of the Kingdom."  

Years ago I was in a conference of the organization which sponsored the underground seminary program in Eastern Europe during the communist era.  One of the participants said that he had been noticing how illustrative I was in communicating with others, i.e., stories, illustrations.  I remember later thinking of a few people in one of the congregations which I served years ago who did not like me using stories of my football career.  They thought I was just bragging.  Whatever, I have a renewed appreciation of story-telling-Kingdom-Life sharing.  Apparently, I'm in Good Company.  

Let me encourage you today to realize that testimonies are a form of story telling, parables, if you will.  There are so many around you who need your particular story, the Gospel "according to" you!  "What's your story?"  Tell a dying world.

Father, in Jesus' Name, help us all to follow Your example of story-telling.  Amen.

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I'm sending our latest contributions for the Ukrainian People this coming Monday.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the caIll to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"....MY EYES HAVE SEEN....."

"For my eyes have seen Your Salvation."  (Luke 2:30)

This is also a part of The Christmas Story, just eight days after the angels could have said, "....my eyes have seen Your Salvation."  The reason is that the shepherds and Simeon beheld the same Person, a Baby, Mary's Boy, "the carpenter's Son," and yes, "The Word of God," Who, "became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory...."

It is not the "plan of salvation."  It is The Person of Salvation.  Salvation is a beholding of the Babe in the manger, a beholding of the Eight Year Old in the Temple, and years later, John the Baptist would say, "Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world."

"Where meek souls will receive Him still, the Dear Christ enters in."

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You "enter[ed] in."  Amen. 

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

Hebrews 12:2