Thursday Writings......6/9/16

Good morning...
      Tonight a group of women and I met for a "WFM Praise and Prayer Night."  We have these evenings once a month. Jody led us in praise which included a song she had written to music that was from the composer, Vangelis. He is the musician who wrote the music for the movie, Chariots of Fire. Jody's wording was beautiful. After the praise time we prayed for each other. We were blessed to be there.

Hope Thursday is a great day for all of you. 

God bless from
Corinne

The Devotional component in the Thursday Writings of Women's Focus Ministries is titled, "Where Is The Shepherd." It is a cooperative writing by Brother Thomas Ukwute and Jody Ward. The theme of the writing is taken from Matthew 9:36. which tells how the crowds Jesus saw were lost like sheep without a shepherd. Here is a quote from the devotional, "May the Lord open our eyes the see the suffering and need of those around us and the field of harvest in our communities, our places of work and our neighborhood."

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  Today's Devotional   

"Where Is The Shepherd"

co-written by

 Brother Thomas Ukwute 

      and Jody Ward

When He saw the crowds, He was moved with heavenly compassion and mercy. His heart broke and He was sorry for them because they were distressed and weary, troubled and confused. And what pity He felt for the crowds that came, so faint and cast aside, so confused and helpless.

He was filled with sympathy and kindness because their problems were so great that they didn’t know what to do and could not help themselves. There were scattered like sheep without a shepherd and dispirited like lambs with no one to care for them.

Brother Thomas Ukwute

Matthew 9.36

Passion begins with how we view what is in front of us.

We cannot lead with passion if we do not see the suffering, the needs and the depravity of those living without Jesus. And we cannot lead with fervency if we do not envision the ultimate end of those who have not given their lives to Christ.

If all we think about is what we are getting from the people we are called to lead to Jesus, and disciple, we cannot use our passion for them effectively and our efforts will be futile.

Remember that the way of the shepherd, for all believers, is to work for the ultimate good of the sheep. May the Lord open our eyes the see the suffering and need of those around us and the field of harvest in our communities, our places of work and our neighborhood.

We must not forget that our perception of the work that God places in our hands is dependent on how we respond to it. 

Jody Ward

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  Christian Humor for a Laugh Today   

Good News / Bad News
For A Pastor

Good News: You baptised seven people today in the river.
Bad News: You lost two of them in the swift current.

Good News: The women's group voted to send you a get-well card.
Bad News: The vote passed by 31-30.

Good News: The pastor-parish relations committee accepted your job description the way you wrote it.

Bad News: They were so inspired by it that they asked the bishop to send a new minister capable of filling the position.

Good News: The trustees finally voted to add more church parking.
Bad News: They are going to blacktop the front lawn of the parsonage.

Good News: Church attendance rose dramatically the last three weeks.
Bad News: You were on vacation.

Good News: Your biggest critic just left your community.
Bad News: He has been appointed as your conference bishop.

Good News: The youth of the church came to your house for a visit.
Bad News: It was in the middle of the night and they were armed with toilet paper and shaving cream.

Good News: The Church Council has agreed to send you to the Holy Land for study.
Bad News: They are waiting for war to break out before sending you.

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   Today's Inspiring Graphic  

I read this somewhere...

"Be yourself...everyone else is taken.

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.

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