Ministry Update December 4, 2008
Praise the Lord of Hosts. For the Lord is good. For His mercy endures forever.”
Jeremiah 33:11
Some days seem easier to praise the Lord of Hosts than others. When the concerns of daily living or inward battles drown out the attitude of praise we have to fight all the harder to maintain the desire to praise our Lord of Hosts. I continue to be amazed at how God becomes our strength in our weakness when we honestly admit our struggle and choose to rest in Him.
Such was my case last night as I drove to Mechanicsburg Brethren In Christ to speak with the youth there. I felt weak, drained, and questioned in my mind my ability to serve Him with any effectiveness. But the Lord is good and his mercies endure forever and so he had arranged for support ahead of time through the volunteer that went with me, Rita Simmons, and the youth staff and leadership of the church. As they gathered around me in prayer before the evening started I could thank God that when I am weak then he is strong. And the beauty of feeling weak is that fact of what Paul knew to be true, “Therefore I will boast in my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” His power, praise his Name, was over my weakness, and I could stand before this precious group of youth and proclaim God’s desire for them to know Him.
When I returned home late last night there was already a message for me through face book from one of the youth:
"Hi Anita, I was at McBic tonight where you spoke and was really blessed by your words. I can't wait to start the 21 day challenge tomorrow! Thanks for taking the time to come speak."
One of the youth leaders sent a message as well saying how JoyShop Ministries has impacted her marriage:
I pray blessings over your life and ministry and family! Thank you for pushing through, for fighting the good fight of faith! My marriage has also been blessed by your journal!
So praise God for his mercy over the ministry time at Mechanicsburg BIC church. Pray for all the people that will be starting the 21 DC today. Pray that they will become more hungry for God and in that hunger discover how much God truly loves them.
Update on November ministry
November 7 Ignite Young Adult gathering
Praise God for the good turn out. There were close to 80 or more students in attendance. What a privilege to pray with the leadership there before the event began. God blessed our time together and I know that many lives were impacted. One young lady sent me the following message the next day:
“I did exactly what you said this morning. I woke up and I really didn't want to get out of bed. But my friend and I last night promised we would, like you said "milk" this thing out as long as we could. So I threw off my covers and did it. You're right, it really makes a difference. I'm awake and ready to start my day. Thank you again Anita!”
On November 12 I had a group of about 15 young teenage girls and 2 hours to share the message of JSM and I trust God that He accomplished what was needed with that group.
My time at Mount Olivet United Brethren In Church went well on November 23. Paul and my parents traveled with me. It was a small congregation of 25 people! I was truly blessed to be able to serve them and was thrilled to receive a message from the only teenager that was there thanking me for coming! She said she read my book that afternoon.
One unexpected blessing I had this month was to visit my birth daughter, Twila, and her family in Florida. I think the picture attached to this post speaks for itself!
Two last testimonials I want to share have to do with the lasting impact of our message of seeking God first. We received a donation for the ministry and a note from a previous JoyShop attender years ago:
“Taking your JoyShop class has changed my devotional time, to be more meaningful for me. Thanks for all your work in helping fellow Christians to get into the Word of God and to know Him better.”
Recently I ran into a man who had attended a JoyShop two years ago and he commented, "I am still going strong with my daily quiet time. It has strengthened my relationship with my wife and children. God has become my friend through out my day." Yahoo!!! Praise the Name of Jesus!
Friends of the ministry, this should totally bring JOY to your heart. I pray that the Lord allows this work of His to continue and that we can be faithful to complete the work He has called us to. Please use these ministry updates as a reminder to pray for the lives being impacted by the ministry of God’s Word. God is calling forth the Bride of Christ to rise up into a deeper level of intimacy with Him so that we can show that we are His disciples by the love we demonstrate to those around us and the unity we walk in as brothers and sisters of Christ.
Prayer Requests:
Please pray for an anointing over our time at Youth Quest December 27-30, in Washington, DC. We are looking forward to this opportunity to serve the youth of the Brethren In Christ. Pray that God will be preparing the hearts for our message and that His Holy Spirit would supernaturally draw the youth who need our message the most to our workshop. It is one of many workshops that they can choose to attend.
Next week I will be interviewed over the phone for a future article in the Brethren In Christ quarterly magazine, “In Part.” This opportunity came about as a result of our time of ministry at the BIC headquarters in October. Pray that I will be able to adequately exalt His Name and His Word not JoyShop Ministries. In my zeal and passion for the call God has placed on my life I can unintentionally forget the true purpose I and this ministry exist for - HIM! So please continue to cover me in prayers. I never want to do anything that would dishonor His Name or His word.
Thank you for your partnership in this ministry! May God’s blessings overflow in your life today. From my home to yours – MERRY CHRISTMAS
With Love
Anita
Additional story if you want to take the time to read it
Last night after I was done speaking I had the opportunity to speak with a young woman who is an exchange student from Honduras. She told me she has devotions every morning but she struggles with staying awake. Did I have any suggestions to help her? I tried to comfort her with the fact that God is pleased to see her heart in wanting to spend time with Him first thing in the morning and that it was okay if she falls asleep now and then. As we talked further I discovered why she battled sleep so much…she was trying to have her devotions in bed! I couldn’t help but laugh with her and tell her it is no wonder she falls asleep during her quiet time! The solution is to get out of bed. She said it is so hard to get out from under her warm blankets. I gave her a verse to help her from Hebrews 12:1, in which Paul says, “…let us through off everything that hinders…” I told her for many Christians the blanket on our bed is what hinders them from getting out of bed to meet with God. Throw it off!!! She thanked me for that word and said she thinks she knows the place where she can go in the morning to have her quiet time. I still smile thinking about our conversation!
