Being Kind....

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. 
1 Peter 2:13-15 (NIV)

Have you ever thought about this...... when you or I get a ticket or do something wrong and the authorities step in to give us a consequence... HOW we handle things could change THEIR lives. Wonder what would happen this week, in the Greater Montgomery area, if we have ANY interactions with "those in authority" that we act toward them in a way that would "stop them in their tracks" and SEE Jesus? The next time we get a ticket, WE could be a link to THAT officer becoming a believer. The next time we hear or see a politician ranting about something unbibilical, why not write that person a letter expressing our concern in a kind way. What if our words could change one person in authorities life???
You and I can plant seeds of god's kindness and respect to those "in charge" of our city, our state and our country.
This week.....let's challenge each other to see our city, state and national leaders the way God sees them..HIS wonderful, beautiful creation who NEEDS to be reconciled to the Father. In fact, seeing EVERY human being that way ALWAYS changes the way we relate to them.
".....by doing(and saying good things)we silence those who are not for God's way".......hmmmmmmmmmm!!!

"Ephesians 4:32 " Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ"

PRAY FOR the GREATER MONTGOMERY area!!

Praying For Our World

Did you know that in the MBA Conversational English School that meets at First Baptist Church has over 50 countries represented each year? Over 200 students come to our school to learn English and they are from ALL OVER the world. Each time I see some news story from Israel, Gaza or Ukraine, I think about our students who might be from there. When Japan had their big tsunami, we have several students who were affected. When North Korea made threats toward South Korea, many of our Korean students who were from South Korea were worried about friends and family.
We don't always realize that there are people right in our midst who get upset, worried or frightened when world conflict goes on. They are far away from home and are concerned about their family and friends. We forget what that might feel like to be far away, knowing there is not much you can do for those you love.

In our area, we have the great privilege to minister as we meet them at work, at school, at church or in our community. We can offer a listening ear, we can give a hug or just tell them we are praying for peace and for their families.We have the opportunity to DEMONSTRATE Jesus' love right here where we live.

THIS WEEK:
1. Pray for the opportunity to minister to someone from another country who is in the Montgomery area for this time. Pray that God's love will be demonstrated to them through our words and actions.
2. Look around your daily routine and see if there is someone from somewhere else who you have contact with on a daily basis. Ask the Lord for an open door to invest in them and love them to Jesus.
3. Pray for our world. Many things are happening right now that are very destructive and devastating to average, common people, just like you and me. Pray that there will be peace in the heart of those who are being affected....which really includes all of us in this world but especially those directly affected.
4. Pray for peace in our world today. It starts with us.........

Psalm 46:9-10 Good News Translation (GNT)
9 He stops wars all over the world;
he breaks bows, destroys spears,
and sets shields on fire.
10 “Stop fighting,” he says, “and know that I am God,
supreme among the nations,
supreme over the world.”

If you would be interested in doing some direct ministry to internationals, contact Lisa Rose at 334-271-6794 or lrose@mgmbaptist.org

POVERTY: A Vicious Cycle/Giving By Encouraging

I continue to be amazed at how vicious the cycle of poverty is here in Montgomery and how very hard it is to get out. Have been working with a woman that has finally begun to get on her feet and has gotten a good job. She is still living in the shady hotel that is just one of the most awful places to be. It is a community that is heartbreaking to God, I am sure.

The reason many people stay there is because the cost per day is very low. This woman is trying her best to get out of there and make some better changes in her life.For the last two weeks, she has had to scrape together money (until she got paid)to pay her rent at the hotel, get some work shoes, get a bus pass and eat. We forget that when someone starts a job, they don't get paid for a few weeks. We forget that there are some necessities that they have to have when they are starting a new job, a new life.

I think with support, this young woman can make a difference in her future and the future of her family IF she has support. Without support, she will fall right back into the same situation she was in before. Easily, she could get overwhelmed with having to "beg" for rent money, stop going to work because she does not have a bus pass....well...just give up.

The Lord brought her to me and I feel that the best thing I can give her is encouragement, support and if needed, a little helping hand. I pray over every decision I make to help her because I don't want her to be "dependent" yet, she needs support. Interestingly, she has asked me for very little...when she calls me, it is to ask me to pray for her to get through the day, or remind her of the good things that have happened to her. We had prayed over her getting together some rent money and not too long after that, she talked to the hotel manager and he was willing to wait til she got paid. I had the opportunity to show her she could trust in the Lord.

What can we do to help this woman and folks like her? Here is the challenge for us today:
1. Pray and ask the Lord if you need to be a support to someone like this woman who is starting fresh and needs encouragement. When you find out who it is you need to support, be an encourager---don't do it FOR them, help them to do it themselves and believe in them.
2. Pray for the resources they need to become available so that they can stay on their feet once they get on them.
Pray for our city...there are a lot of people like this young woman, struggling to get out of the poverty lifestyle they grew up in and needing support along the way. Support does not always mean money, it really means time, encouragement and prayer.

"You, Lord God, bless everyone who cares for the poor, and you rescue those people in times of trouble". Psalm 41:1