November, the month of Thanksgiving. We need to be thankful all year, but it’s nice to have a month to really focus on giving thanks. Our staff has so much to be thankful for! We are thankful for Jesus who died for our sins so that we and anyone else who chooses to accept Him can have eternal life. He did all this even though none of us deserve it. We are thankful that God called us to work full time for His Kingdom; we know this is a privilege. We are thankful for our supporters – each one of you, with your prayers, financial gifts, and willingness to work hard alongside us; you mean so much to us. We are thankful for each other. Though this year brought many challenges, we cannot deny that His presence, peace, joy, love, and everything good that He is, was always with us. We are thankful for His promise of this in Matthew 28:20 “…I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Praise God from whom all blessings flow! | | "What Does Christmas Mean to You?"
We will hear many different answers if we ask people that question today. But, let me share with you what I found and what The Holy Spirit showed me. I have been meditating on this and I want to pass it along to you.
An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:9-11
Yes! Without question, this is the best good news that has ever been given to man. Why don’t we accept it? As Mary and Joseph were knocking on doors asking for a room in the inn, the answer was “No, there is no room.” More than 2000 years later, Jesus is still knocking on doors. As it says in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me .” Unfortunately, today many people are not opening the door for Him. I will say the real Christmas is when you take a few minutes and mediate on this … “Yes Jesus, there is room in my heart for You.”
The purpose of Christmas can be found in Galatians 4:18-19, “It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.”
James Wallingford says “Christmas is not a season. It is a condition in the heart of man. If we love ourselves, we will better love our neighbors. If in our riches we are poor in spirit, we would be better to be rich and merciful. When our brother is asking for bread, we can give ourselves every day trying to find opportunities to serve others and to glorify the Name of Jesus.”
If we can do this, we can enjoy a little Christmas every day . | | FUTURE PASTOR
This is Otto. We met Otto a few years ago when a friend of his invited him to Zona Cero. He is on fire for the Lord, there is no doubt about that. Last year while at Zona Cero, he pulled Pastor Luis aside and confided that he felt God calling him to pastor a church. He had just graduated High School and didn’t know what the next step was in his life. Pastor Luis told him about the Pastor’s Seminar which met once a month and how that would be a great way for Otto to learn more about the Bible and know if this calling was truly from God. Otto started attending the seminars. When the Pastor’s Seminar turned into the Bible Institute, Otto was one of the youngest to sign up, and he invited two other friends who had been praying about going to a seminary. The three of them have not missed a single class since they started.
For the last few months Pastor Luis has been encouraging Otto. He’s told Otto that he does see the potential Otto has to be a Pastor and that Otto need not be scared to obey and follow the calling he was feeling. Otto has been apprehensive and has been putting it off; however, last week he came to the Bible Institute and told Pastor Luis that he was ready. Otto said his dad gave him his inheritance – a small piece of land – and Otto is ready to use that land to further the Kingdom! Please join us in praying for Otto. Pray that God will lead him and he will listen to God’s voice. Pray that he will continue to study and know God more so that he can go, teach, and make disciples.
It’s humbling as well as a great honor to see a young man, whom we met through Zona Cero, start preparing to fulfill the call to be a Pastor. To God be all the glory! | | WE NEED YOUR HELP!
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Thank you! | | When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 | | | WANT TO STAY IN TOUCH? check our website or e-mail us for more information. | | | | SUPPORT OUR MINISTRY Support Impacto by shopping consciously through AmazonSmile. | | | | | | | | |
