You Are God’s Project

We went through fire and through water

But you brought us out to rich fulfillment

Psalm 66:12 (NKJV)

God allows us to go through hard places to refine us like fine silver. He continually works on us to form us into the image of Christ.

We have a disease. It’s called sin. God leads us through difficult times in order to purge us from sin. Purge means to rid of unwanted, harmful, or impure elements.

We are his workmanship. He is continually working on you. He will not leave us half done. He works toward finishing the job.

Why? Because He loves us.

Why suffering? 1 Peter 4: 1 says, “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Suffering drives out sin.

Do you want to be like Jesus? Then don’t resist Him. Don’t slow down the process by digging in your heels.

Thank Him for His purifying work. Thank Him, that He continues to work on you. Submitting to His correction is the wisest thing you can do.

A few decades ago, a new movement was born in a suburb of Chicago, called the Seeker movement. The idea was to make Christianity very attractive to the “Seeker.”

Emphasis was placed on the blessing of God to the believer, while hardship or suffering was pushed down to the bottom, nearly out of sight.

It didn’t work. It produced a generation of shallow followers. Some began to call it the “me movement.” Everything became about me, and how God can bless “me.”

Then, there was a ‘falling away” in the movement. Many decided Christianity was not as attractive as they were told, and they left.

In response to this movement, my very wise pastor said, “I think they feel they’ve been lied to.”

After a couple decades, the founder of the movement, Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church, sent out a letter of apology nationwide. In it he said that he was wrong. He also stated, “The only things that produce growth in a Christian is reading the Bible and prayer.

Bottom line: A gospel that has no suffering is a false gospel.

Suffering is a needed ingredient in your maturity process. Suffering drives out sin.

Take whatever comes your way and deal with it. What do I mean by “deal with it?”

Recognize that in order for hardship or suffering to come to you, it has to pass through the Father’s watchful eye. With every temptation, he provides a way of escape. He corrects you when you need correcting.

These things we often deem negative influences, are really tools to make you like Jesus. James says we should thank God for them.

There are both wonderful blessings and painful and sometimes sorrowful times that come to us in life. What ever comes, keep your head up, thank God always, and realize that sometimes it is necessary to “suffer hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Above all, realize that you are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, and know that God is always working on you . . . and He will complete the work.

Cooperate with God. Don’t dig in your heels and resist Him. If you cooperate, at the end of your journey, you will reach heaven’s gate a trophy of the abundant grace of God!

What’s Happening?

A very big thanks to all of you for your prayers and financial support during my prostate operation. I am recovering nicely, although I underestimated the recover time. The doctor did say that this was major surgery.

The operation, according to the doctor, went as good as it could have gone. They took material out of the center of the prostate as big as a fist. They thoroughly analyzed the material for cancer. The nurse said that they usually find a little bit of cancer somewhere, but in my case, they found no cancer!

We were six days in Sioux Falls and two days to return home (420 miles). Once returning home, the biggest thing was the healing of the six incisions across my abdomen.

Last Saturday was the first day I “felt like myself” in nearly three months. I am hoping to be able to again wear my jeans in a few days.

By the way . . . we prayed for good doctors and good facilities. The Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls was excellent and we found out that Dr. Hofer, who did the operation has been doing this for 17 years. He is surely one of the best, if not the best doctor in the area to perform this procedure.

We return to Sioux Falls on October 13 for the final the final check-up.

Children’s Ministry with Lorraine

I only spend a small time with the children during our Sunday service but I am always thinking about how to keep the children’s ministry interesting.

The children range in age from 2 to 10 years of age. I try to make a lesson that each one no matter what level of maturity they are at can get something out of the lesson.

I organize an activity or craft project for them to work on during the service after their lesson.

After George shares the message, I ask the children to bring up their craft project to share with the congregation what they have made. I want to make sure the children always feel loved.

A new school year has started and the children brought their backpacks and I blessed the children for this coming school year, showed off their new backpacks and we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance. I also had the children stand holding a small pennant flag that had the grade on it that they entered this year.

(Left to Right) Pre-school, 1st grade, 3rd grade and the three young ladies on the right are triplets and they started 5th grade.

I also invited our one school board member who attends church here to come forward to be prayed for and invited the children to lay hands on her as we prayed. Then they got a fun scarecrow foamie craft project they were excited about and then they wanted to color so I gave them some coloring pages and crayons. They were having lots of fun together.

Featured newsletter photograph was designed and taken by Lorraine

In His Service,

George and Lorraine Halama