Newsletter – December 2019 – Poured Out For the Nations

I started my day overlooking the Sea of Galilee with a concern regarding the parable of the sower. So many things from so many different directions tug and pull at our hearts and minds. Truly these things attempt to place us into one of the categories mentioned in this parable explained by Messiah Jesus. We should only pay attention to the heavenly things that draw us to the last category, the good ground.

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." (Matthew 13:18-23)

We see that the ground the seed falls on is the heart. The old saying is still true "The heart of the problem is the problem of the heart". What is at the center of everything and has control of my emotions and desires? These things have my heart, which is why we need to be very diligent over our hearts.

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
(Proverbs 4:23)

Certainly, the voice of the wicked one distracts us while he snatches up the words Messiah Jesus wants us to hear. Think of the joy we have experienced in the presence of the Holy Spirit blessing us with the love of our Savior sent by our Heavenly Father! But, His words of love wither in the heart of the stony ground hearer due to tribulation or persecution-the normal testing for those who follow His word. They stumble, and by grace I want to walk uprightly on the narrow path that leads to life!

And then the one that I have to check myself with regularly-the word that fell among thorns. I must admit that sometimes the cares of this world take too much of the center stage which makes it more difficult for the words of my Savior to sink down into my heart and mind.

We must also be very careful to not love money as the Bible teaches that riches take wings quickly and we find that we have invested in a temporal kingdom that is soon passing away. (1 Timothy 6:10, Proverbs 23:5) The greatest concern for this hearer should be that they are in danger of living unfruitful lives before the Savior who has called us to bear eternal fruit in this life. (John 15:16)

Yet, the good news is for the healthy hearted believer in our Lord Jesus! This one will bear eternal fruit exponentially! Guess what fruitfulness produces? - yes, fruit - but also more fruit! The more fruitful we are-the more fruitful we will become! Sorry for all the exclamation points-but this is truly exciting! Here is a good place to start today to make sure our hearts are prepared for the seed of the word of our Lord Jesus:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
(Psalm 51:10)

Look Back and Look Forward

In 2019 we saw many saved and discipled by our Savior Jesus through our missions outreach in Africa and Lord willing we'll see many more saved in 2020! Our Watch Therefore television program grew and is now in 200 countries reaching potentially into 200,000,000 (two hundred million) homes! May the Watch Therefore and Be Ready message make fruitful disciples with healthy hearts in 2020.

We supported monthly two very special African Pastors in 2019 and Lord willing, may our support continue to bear fruit through these special ones in 2020.

We have three special missions opportunities in 2020-please pray for us for Rwanda/Burundi (neighboring countries), Kenya, India, and an open door in Dubai in the UAE (United Arab Emirates).

For all those who prayerfully and financially supported us in 2019-we thank our Savior Jesus for you. And to you we say THANK YOU while we pray a Happy New Year for you in 2020!