♪A Note of Thanks ♪
A Word of Hope – The Lord is my salvation
“The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?...For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock…Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Verses from Psalm 27
Isn’t it wonderful today, this Wednesday, following Valentine’s Day, to experience the warmer weather, beautiful radiant sunshine and above all God’s love?
Sometimes during the course of winter I feel sunshine deprived and yearn for the days when we begin to see the first signs of Spring…the sun comes out; the jonquils pop up out of the ground; the camellias, Alabama’s state flower, are blooming; and the Lenten roses begin their season of budding and blossoming. Yet, it’s still February and Spring is not officially here until late March. But, it’s ok to ‘play-like’ as we said when we were children, that it’s Spring, and enjoy getting outside, shedding our heavy winter coats and taking a brisk walk each day to keep our heart healthy whilst we enjoy God’s nature.
I find myself contemplating and dreaming of the plants and seeds to be planted, cleaning up the garden and planning the growing season to come. So, that being said, how is it with your spiritual garden? Do you need to pick up the dead leaves and sticks of the past and put them on the mulch pile? Does your spiritual garden need some weeding, raking, pruning and cleaning up? Do you need to move forward and get out of the funk of your past knowing that God is with you, and that your friends are standing with you, able to help and assist you get beyond the past dreary season. God has something new and exciting in store for you, my friend.
I challenge you to take an inventory of your garden and plant some seeds of faith, bulbs of hope, cuttings of joy, sprigs of kindness, watered and fertilized by God’s love, all the while having patience, knowing that He will bring you to fruition. Yes, there are new beginnings, new seasons and new chapters of our lives still yet to come.
You can make it! You will overcome and be able to see the new growth appear in your life. Keep on keeping on! And, as Sir Winston Churchhill said, “Never, never, never, give up!”
May it be so, this day, and in the days to come! Amen.
Joyfully serving along-side you
Your friend
,
Mark David Jackson
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
A Word of Hope - Bloom Where You're Planted
“Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.” Jeremiah 17:7-8a (NIV)
Two of my dear friends, Louise Burt and Jane Boyer decided to plant a garden together. Between their two back yards that almost touch is a power line easement. They utilized all of this space so that their garden would be able to get the most of the sunshine available. They started most of the garden from seeds: peppers, corn, okra, several kinds of squash, and tomatoes. This was a group effort and a kind of modern day victory garden. Were they successful? Indeed they were. They were so successful with their acorn squash until they had a luncheon for some of their friends featuring different ways that squash could be prepared from entrees, vegetables and salads to desserts…neato…spiffy!! They still had so much squash that they were able to share it with others.
Our dear missionary friends Sanan (Rogers) and David Brazzeal heeded the call of God. They met while at Samford University. Following college they went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. They have served in Brazil, on an island in the French speaking Caribbean, and after more than ten years in Montreal, Quebec while ministering and reaching others for Christ in an urban setting, they heard God’s call. Now they are serving in Paris, France. David and Sanan have a special calling to artisans of Paris to reach them with the good news of Jesus Christ by building relationships through many different venues such as monthly gatherings where art is displayed, sharing a meal while live music is played as well as building upon these relationships where people are searching and need a touch from God. David has been instrumental in helping artists set up their own web sites. These people from a very unique culture would have not seen nor experienced God’s love had David and Sanan not responded to God’s call.
Now you may ask, what does raising a garden from seed in Roebuck Springs and being missionaries in Paris, France have in common? Well, in the separation of seedlings to be transplanted as they mature, God does the same with us many times. He calls us to do new things, to get out of our comfort zones, to do things that seem impossible, yet by His blessing and through His Grace there are great possibilities if we will take that step of faith.
So how is it with you today, my friend? Are you ready to be transplanted by the Master Gardener to do new tasks for Him? We have received three new families this week, transplanted from North Valley Church to South Roebuck Baptist Church for a quarter. They are coming to help us and thus make us stronger. It is a venture in faith. We are praying more, giving more, inviting our neighbors, friends and family to church. Keep up the good work, God is blessing!
As we continue the Legacy campaign, let us seize this moment, and remember what the Old Testament book of Esther says: “For such a time as this…” I am willing, are you?
Holy One, You are always more ready to speak than I am to hear. Open my mind and heart through the power of Your Holy Spirit that I might hear you call and with courage respond, “Hear I am, send me.” In His Holy Name. Amen.
I remain….your friend,
,Mark David Jackson
Two of my dear friends, Louise Burt and Jane Boyer decided to plant a garden together. Between their two back yards that almost touch is a power line easement. They utilized all of this space so that their garden would be able to get the most of the sunshine available. They started most of the garden from seeds: peppers, corn, okra, several kinds of squash, and tomatoes. This was a group effort and a kind of modern day victory garden. Were they successful? Indeed they were. They were so successful with their acorn squash until they had a luncheon for some of their friends featuring different ways that squash could be prepared from entrees, vegetables and salads to desserts…neato…spiffy!! They still had so much squash that they were able to share it with others.
Our dear missionary friends Sanan (Rogers) and David Brazzeal heeded the call of God. They met while at Samford University. Following college they went to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. They have served in Brazil, on an island in the French speaking Caribbean, and after more than ten years in Montreal, Quebec while ministering and reaching others for Christ in an urban setting, they heard God’s call. Now they are serving in Paris, France. David and Sanan have a special calling to artisans of Paris to reach them with the good news of Jesus Christ by building relationships through many different venues such as monthly gatherings where art is displayed, sharing a meal while live music is played as well as building upon these relationships where people are searching and need a touch from God. David has been instrumental in helping artists set up their own web sites. These people from a very unique culture would have not seen nor experienced God’s love had David and Sanan not responded to God’s call.
Now you may ask, what does raising a garden from seed in Roebuck Springs and being missionaries in Paris, France have in common? Well, in the separation of seedlings to be transplanted as they mature, God does the same with us many times. He calls us to do new things, to get out of our comfort zones, to do things that seem impossible, yet by His blessing and through His Grace there are great possibilities if we will take that step of faith.
So how is it with you today, my friend? Are you ready to be transplanted by the Master Gardener to do new tasks for Him? We have received three new families this week, transplanted from North Valley Church to South Roebuck Baptist Church for a quarter. They are coming to help us and thus make us stronger. It is a venture in faith. We are praying more, giving more, inviting our neighbors, friends and family to church. Keep up the good work, God is blessing!
As we continue the Legacy campaign, let us seize this moment, and remember what the Old Testament book of Esther says: “For such a time as this…” I am willing, are you?
Holy One, You are always more ready to speak than I am to hear. Open my mind and heart through the power of Your Holy Spirit that I might hear you call and with courage respond, “Hear I am, send me.” In His Holy Name. Amen.
I remain….your friend,
,Mark David Jackson
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