E-News from Tom: 01/15/10

Dear E-News Friends,

We start our new series “Wisdom Leads” this Sunday. I believe this is going to be one that helps many of us grow in wisdom. It is going to be packed with practical living advice straight from the teachings of God. Many of these have called out to me in a variety of ways. Some I have followed and reaped the benefits of, others I have ignored and paid the price. (A price I could have avoided! And so can you!) Young or old alike, we all need wisdom in every area of our lives. God offers wisdom to each of us. I pray that we follow His wisdom as it leads us in making better decisions in life!

I have been praying the past couple of days about how we can help the people of Haiti. My heart is breaking (I know yours is as well) for their sorrow and pain. This is a disaster that will have ripple effects for decades, not months, in the lives of the Haitian people. I am asking you to pray for a few things: Wise decisions by the leaders of the disaster relief teams. Hope to stay alive in the hearts of the surviving people. Extra amounts of love from the people in that area who will minister to the grief left behind in the aftermath of the earthquake. (Will you take a moment and pray for those three things right now.)

I have one more request of you. This Sunday we will take an offering to help a charity many of us support. It is “Compassion International.” (I went to Ecuador with them this past summer.) You will hear more about it this weekend, but in general they help children and families in third world countries. They sent out a request for help. They sponsor 65,000 children in Haiti with over 20,000 of them in Port-au-Prince area. Many of these children are currently unaccounted for. This organization is committed to the people of Haiti for the “long haul,” which will certainly be required. We are trying to raise $10,000 to send their way. I am asking each of you to give $20, skip a meal and remember all the people in Haiti who have and will miss many over the next days and weeks. Pray for them as you “fast” from a meal. Tonight is my dinner to skip and pray.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10

Let’s meet together this Sunday to grow in God’s wisdom and to share in His grace and love,

Tom