Day 4 Vacation HAPPY NEW YEAR

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life." Revelation 21:1-6a

"You have one business on Earth - to save souls." -- John Wesley

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become." -- Henry Martyn, missionary to India and Persia

"Christ alone can save the world, but Christ cannot save the world alone." -- David Livingston

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light" -- John Keith Falconer

"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him" -- Hudson Taylor

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd

"We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving" -- Alexander Duff

"If I had 1,000 lives, I'd give them all for China" -- Hudson Taylor

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God" -- William Carey, who is called the father of modern missions

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" -- Jim Elliot, missionary martyr who lost his life in the late 1950's trying to reach the Auca Indians of Ecuador

The last quote that I printed here is the one that was on my heart as I woke up this morning. It comes from a book called Through Gates of Splendor by Elizabeth Elliot or In the Shadow of the Almighty which is Jim Elliot's journals. Then I started thinking about this text from Revelation as I went through my devotional time and I was struck by something. If Heaven is so great because God is going to be with us and the overflow of His presence with us is all of the benefits of life with pain, sorrow, tears etc. then why in the world wouldn't we want to have as many people experience that as possible?

I have been having a great time on vacation. God has been refreshing my heart so much. Time with my family (though my kids have vanished with their friends often LOL) and time sharing life with old friends in Christ and in the community has been absolutely fantastic. Hard at times because people are hurting BUT great because we get to share it together.

I have become more and more convinced this week of this simple fact...God wants us to truly go and love others. It isn't about "trying" or "planning" or "thinking about it". It is about going and DOING IT in His strength for His glory! I know that sounds simple and you know what? IT IS! You have so much to give already and remember this...even if you had nothing in yourself to give you have EVERYTHING IN CHRIST TO GIVE. Read the text again and ENJOY HIM! Have fun! MUCH LOVE! HAPPY NEW YEAR! LGLO, Pastor Peter