New Hospitality Ministry

So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.

Psalm 71:18

I was shocked to read not long ago that only 49 percent of college freshmen in America have a thought-out philosophy of life. That means over half of the young people entering college today don’t have a direction they’re heading, nor principles to guide them.

The same is true of young Christians, so many of whom don’t know what they believe. And then we wonder why, when the world’s pressure is turned on, they collapse.

Too many young Christians have never studied the Bible. They’ve never had someone mentor them in their faith. They've simply just come to church when it’s convenient, rather than build their lives upon the bedrock truths of the Word of God. That, to me, says it all. That's why so many leave the faith once they get into the world.

Older Christians must build into the next generation. If they don't, we risk an entire generation being lost to the ways of the world. So whether you're older or younger, find one person whom you can build into or who can build into you!

- Jack Graham

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WE ARE STARTING A NEW HOSPITALITY MINISTRY to share life skills with women of all ages. We will learn about homemaking, parenting, and survival skills for single, single again, and married women! If you would like to help with this ministry contact Barbara Parker at women@hillcrestbc.com.

POUR INTO THE NEXT GENERATION AND UNDER GIRD THEIR FAITH BY GROUNDING THEM IN THE WORD OF GOD

Prayer - By Jack Graham

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; 

 knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

Years ago I read about a lady down in Miami, Florida who wrote the editor of the Miami Herald, who had just published a study on how prayer helped heal sickness. In her letter, she talked about a hurricane that hit Miami recently. She had gotten word that the hurricane was coming and so, though she wasn’t a praying person, she tried prayer, asking God to keep the storm from hitting her home.
The clouds rolled in and the storm raged. And when it was over, it destroyed her house despite her prayers. So she asked the editor, “What do you think about that? What about this God who Christians say answers prayer? I prayed and He did nothing!”

The editor responded in his editorial, “Madam, I don’t know much about prayer either. And to tell you the truth, I’m not much of a praying man so I don’t know why God didn’t answer your prayer. But I’m wondering… could it be that He was spending time with some of His regular customers?!”
Many times, I find out that when people say, “I’ve been praying about this,” what they really mean is “I prayed once about this.” But God wants more than simply our lip service. He wants our trust and our lives. So pray often, talking to God about your needs on a regular basis and most importantly, giving Him control by submitting to His will.

GOD WANTS MORE THAN LIP SERVICE WHEN IT COMES TO PRAYER. 

 SO PRAY FAITHFULLY AND SUBMIT YOUR WILL TO HIS.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.2 Corinthians 5:6-7

I was reading an article not long ago about what scientists call ‘parallel realities.’ Essentially, it means an unseen reality that exists alongside something that is seen. You and I may not see it or fully experience it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not real.

You see, every person has his own perceived reality. But beyond that concept of reality there are also unseen realities. For example, a blind person has never seen a cloud, but that doesn’t mean clouds don’t exist. In fact, they’re just as real for the blind person as they are for someone who can walk outside and see them.

And certainly, this concept is true concerning faith as well. I’ve never personally seen God. In fact, the Bible says no one has (John 1:18). And I’ve never shaken hands with Jesus Christ. But I believe that God is more real than the words on this page.

I’ve heard people say that when it comes to faith, “Give me something of substance. Give me something real.” Well, faith is real! In fact, faith in God will be around long after this world is gone and finished.

So when it comes to your faith, get rid of any abstract ethereal concept of God because He is more real than anything you’ll ever experience!

No Lone Rangers

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:20-21

I remember reading a news story several years ago about an incident in Kansas. It was in the fall of the year, and a little toddler wandered out into a large field. Now, his parents did not miss him for several hours, and then realized, to their horror, that their little boy was missing. So they began to search the field.

There was tall wheat in the field and they couldn’t find him. They searched and searched until finally they called the local authorities and the word got out that this little boy was missing.

So all the people in the small town began to look and they were scattering about, just running here and there across that field. Until finally someone had an idea after several hours for all the people to join hands and make a human comb across the field.

But as they reached the edge of the field, they found that little boy’s lifeless body. He had died of exposure. The local newspaper had a picture on the front page showing a despairing and weeping father. They quoted him as saying, “If we had only joined hands sooner, perhaps we could have saved my boy.”

As you and I look at the decaying and dying world in which we live, we must realize that not one of us can live this life alone. Therefore, we must join hands. That’s why God has given us a church—a people of God to work side-by-side to expand his Kingdom and bring more people to life in Christ.

THERE ARE NO ‘LONE RANGERS’ IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. SO WORK ALONGSIDE OTHER BELIEVERS FOR GOD’S KINGDOM PURPOSES.

Let Your Light Shine

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

Have you ever noticed that when you’re in the dark, everything is confusing? Some things may look closer or farther away than they may be. And many things can’t be distinguished at all. That’s why, when you’re in the darkness, the most instinctive thing to want to do is turn on the light.

And you know, that’s the way so many people are living today in this dark world. They’re stumbling and falling and failing because they’re living in a dark and decaying world and barely managing to get around. And that’s exactly why Jesus told us as his people, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

Jesus has given his people the unique privilege of being his light in the world. But the light that we shine in the darkness is not our own. We, like the moon, reflect the light of a power much greater than ourselves.

As God’s people, you and I are to simply be reflections of God’s light to a dark world. So shine God’s light by living a Christ-filled life to a watching and waiting world. When you do that, you’ll make a significant impact for Christ on the people around you!

SHINE GOD’S LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD BY LETTING OTHERS SEE CHRIST’S CHARACTER IN YOU!

What? Manna Again!

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not…” Now the house of Israel called its name manna. It was like coriander seed, white, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.

Exodus 16:4, 31

A little Israelite boy wakes up one morning and says, “Mama what’s for breakfast?”

“Manna!”

“What’s for lunch?”

“Manna!”

“What’s for dinner.”

“Manna!”

God was with his people in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and he saw they were without provision. So God performed a miracle. Every day, he gave bread from heaven and laid it on the ground. And every day, they experienced this same miracle.

It was “manna in the morning, manna in the evening, and manna at the suppertime.” And this manna was a gift of God and proof of his provision. But they got tired of it. It was a miracle of God, placed in their lap day-by-day, but they despised the miracle.

Many Christians have that same attitude today, don’t they? They see God’s provision over and over again, yet they become so accustomed to it that they develop a sense of entitlement. And all of a sudden, God’s provision is no longer good enough for them!

Do you give thanks as you should for God’s provision in your life? Are you content with the direction he’s taking you? Or do you maybe think, “God, this is a little over your head. You better let me take over since I know what’s best.”

God is never in over his head. He knows everything you need to do and every blessing you need to do it. So trust in him to provide for you each day and be thankful when he comes through!