Thanksgiving and Christmas are two times when the majority of people think of getting together with loved ones and friends. We’re willing to suffer many inconveniences and costs to make that happen. Hopefully you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. And I trust your Christmas will be joyful and fulfilling. I got to go to Atlanta with Tammi and Bill for Thanksgiving. And I’ll be flying to Chicago to see Greg and Jeff and as many of their families as possible. I was reading in Hebrews 12 this morning. It talks about running the race with perseverance marked out for us. The writer reminds us, to do that effectively, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured.” Be sure to make time for this during this season.
This Sunday I will be leading our Vesper service here at Countryside. Thanks for praying.
I am sharing one of my books with everyone here at Countryside. Pray it will encourage and enlighten each recipient.
I am working quite hard on finishing my book on Serendipitous Encounters. Pray that I can finish it before the end of the year.
Starting January 1, I will encourage all my radio listeners to commit to reading through the Bible in the next two years, and teaching on my daily radio program from the Bible potions being read. If you have never read through the Bible, or not in the recent past, let me encourage you to take up this challenge. If you go to my website, www.gettinggodsmessage.org, you can subscribe to receiving my podcast scripts and/or audio.
Here are a couple of Serendipitous Encounters as received by email:
Greetings from Nebraska. I have some exciting news to share with you. I have been listening to ‘Getting God’s Message’ for several months. Your ministry is a real blessing in my life. After a recent program I knew it was time to get serious about my faith. I got down on my knees, confessed my sins, repented, and asked Jesus to be part of my life. You showed me His grace, mercy and most of all His love. I am a new Christian because of your efforts…God loves and cares about you, and so do I. I am very grateful that you led me to the Lord. You are a blessing and encouragement to me. Take care. Roger
Here is an excerpt from a letter written by a 60-year-old prisoner in Chesapeake
I love and look forward to listening to your radio program when we prisoners get outside of our cells for some recreation. Your program really helps me. Because of your sound doctrinal teaching I refuse to allow my wicked past to define my glorious future! I entered prison in April 2015. I got a Bible and read it from cover to cover in three months, the very best thing that has happened to me, “my spiritual boot-camp.” Prison is “God’s potter’s house. I’m being chastened, corrected, disciplined and groomed for good works.”
I can only get a good radio reception outside, weather permitting, when we go for morning outdoors recreation. I only have time for two programs, Getting God’s Message, being one of them. I long for and thirst for growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Your ministry is very inspiring, encouraging, informative, illuminating and illustrative. Those two minutes, on the mornings I’m blessed to listen to your program are like Christmas morning unwrapping gifts!!! Prayerfully yours, “a humble servant and slave for Christ Jesus.” Everett.
Please pray for these two men and for radio listeners around the world, in English, Spanish, Chinese and Russian.