Bible Distribution Night—Wednesday, June 24
Please pray for Herb Presley & the team as they go out to the community to present ‘The Word.” If you would
like to volunteer in any way, please contact Herb.
‘Believe’ Festival 2009 in Drumheller - August 15
Hear the story. Capture your calling. Begin your future.
See the bulletin board or go to BELIEVEFEST.COM
WELCOMING THE WORLD/ Missions / Serving
The More than Gold Outreach in Vancouver/Whistler & Torch Relay Outreach—check out the pamphlets on the counter in the foyer, or go to bc.salvationarmy.ca
Pine Lake Camp Women’s Retreat: “ReNew You” October 2nd - 4th with Guest, Capt Barbara Stanley
Applications now available in the foyer
VERSE: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. —
THOUGHT: Have you looked at another person and wished you had some skill or ability that they had? If only I could sing like… or I wish I could cook like… or I’d love to write poetry like… or I wish I was as outgoing as… and so it goes. It’s easy to envy the gifts that others display, particularly those abilities that seem to shine in public. We all have gifts. God has equipped us each to accomplish specific things in His kingdom. Imagine if we were all preachers, who would love the lonely through hospitality? If all were healers, who would soothe the broken spirits of the abused? There are many gifts, but they come from the same God, through the same Spirit to build and support the Body on earth.
“And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but they do not mean that the end has come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places and there will be famines, but this is only the beginning of the sufferings…The gospel must first be preached to all nations…Everyone will hate you because of me. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” –Mark 13:7-8, 10, 13
Lord our God, Ruler over the world, whose longing is to see your thoughts and your will in all peoples, we come before you and ask that we may find strength in your Word and never cease to hope for the coming of your kingdom. Even when the world storms and rages, even when the kingdoms of men rise up against each other and everything seems dark, even then be present. Let your kingdom go quietly forward, to the honor of your name. Help us come closer to the goal Jesus has shown us, closer to the time we wait for, the day of his coming when all shall be made new and good through your power, through your Spirit. Amen
VERSE: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
THOUGHT: There are deadlines to meet. You have a list of to-dos to check off. And there places you have to be. It is easy to get caught up in –and overwhelmed by– our obligations. It is easy to feel separated from God, our refuge and fortress. God is always there, but we need to actively place ourselves in His care. The “secret place of the Most High” can be a sanctuary from pressures without and within. Let us put our trust in God.
VERSE: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.
THOUGHT: by Sundar Singh Once when I was in the Himalayas, I was sitting upon the bank of a river; I drew out of the water a beautiful, hard, round stone and smashed it. The inside was quite dry. The stone had been lying a long time in the water, but the water had not penetrated the stone. It is just like that with the “Christian” people of the West. They have for centuries been surrounded by Christianity, entirely steeped in its blessings, but the Master’s truth has not penetrated them. Christianity is not at fault; the reason lies rather in the hardness of their hearts. Materialism and intellectualism have made their hearts hard. So I am not surprised that many people in the West do not understand what Christianity really is.
VERSE: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. — Romans 8:26, 27
THOUGHT: Most of us face difficult circumstances in our lives. When it happens, we often feel our prayers just “bounce off the ceiling:“ the words empty and useless. We have difficulty expressing what is on our hearts. So what do we do? We trust the promise Paul gave to the Romans. Even when we don’t have words to say, we offer our hearts in prayer, knowing the Holy Spirit will take those thoughts, emotions, and inarticulate frustrations to God. The Spirit makes our hearts known to God, speaking for us according to God’s will.
