BENEDICTION
From the Northeast Region 2007-2009 Titus II's
Audrey Bigelow:
To our Dear PWOC Sisters,
My fellow Titus II sisters and I long to encourage each of you in person, but barring that, we want to spur you on with God’s promises in our final “Words of Wisdom”! This is my most favorite “sending-forth-to-serve” prayer, Ephesians 3: 16-21:
I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
Judy Rossi:
When I think of a Christian's day-to-day life and activity, there is no comparing it to another Christian's. In His sovereignty, God divinely ordains each of our paths--some much tougher than others'--for the purposes of "conforming us into the image of His Son." To some this may not make sense, or even seem cruel, but God promised in Romans 8:28-29 that "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."
Everything that happens in our lives matters to God, and He won't waste any of it if we trust Him, whether it's in the daily drudgeries or in a painful turn of events. When I can't seem to make sense of what's happening in my life, I know I must stay focused on the "bottom line"--glorifying God no matter what comes my way. That said, the Scripture that keeps me focused on that goal, (which is God's goal for every Christian) is 2 Peter 1:3. It encourages that "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness."
By His divine power I have whatever I need to face the tough stuff of life and can do so with godliness, which means in a manner that glorifies God. Embracing this truth gives me the strength to trust God through a tough circumstance, not only because He will work it for good, but because he will conform me just a little more into the likeness of His Son. And when I understand this, I am able to stop fighting what He's leading me through; I can stop whining about it; I can stop feeling victimized by it.
God's divine purpose is in every Christian's life, and no two lives will ever look the same, because each will require something different to conform him or her into the image of Jesus. That's how precious we are to Him. May you embrace this powerful reality as you walk with your Savior.
Sandy Troutman:
“And I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, ‘The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall far from one another. At whatever place you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there, Our God will fight for us,’” (Nehemiah 4:19, 20)
I love this part of the story of the wall being rebuilt around Jerusalem. People were working very hard to build back what the enemy had destroyed. On top of the hard work, new enemies had begun to attack the workers. Finally, Nehemiah comes up with a plan. “Rally to the place where you hear the cry of the trumpet and fight with us... because God will fight for us.”
As a PWOC body and in this Region we are often separated from one another. Many of us are far flung from family and even dear friends. The enemy continues to attack and is determined to keep us from building one another up or from building protective walls of ministry and places of worship. However, we are not alone. God calls us to “serve one another in love,” to “encourage one another” each day, and to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds.”
His promise is this: that when we rally to one another, God will fight for us! Do not forget to cry out when you are under attack, and do not forget to rally around those who are being attacked. Above all, remember that as we fight side by side, “God will fight for us.”
His word says that victory will prevail because “the battle belongs to the Lord.”
return to top
I greet you all in the name of Jesus Christ! The Messiah, Our crucified Savior, Our Risen Lord and our soon coming King! I pray that the Lord has shown HIMSELF nothing but, faithful to you.
