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I am on a “Review Crew” for columnist, Gene Ruth Brumbach. She writes “Believer’s Arena”, a column for the Tahlequah Daily Press. Over the last year, she’s reviewed some past columns to see ministry growth, completed promises and answered prayers.  This caused me to pause, revisit, and think over similar results in past Ark Newsletters.

In February 2016, the message was Do We Have a Perfect Heart toward Him? This message touched my heart!

Halfway through our Anger Management Resolution and Domestic Violence Intervention course at the Ark, local pastor James McCracken began allowing us to use his “Demons of the Deep” Bible study series. The premise is that evil comes out of the heart at times and can manifest as a root of bitterness when NOT faced AND resolved.

The first paragraph of the February ’16 newsletter cites II Chronicles 16:9 in the American Standard Bible “…He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…”  The New International Version says it: “…to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him…” The Amplified Bible goes: “…those whose hearts are blameless toward Him…” The New American Standard 1977 version says: “…those who are devoted to Him wholeheartedly…”

The point is having a whole, complete, and thus, perfect heart toward God.

If we don’t forgive others, we can’t be forgiven! Thank God for the years of having done the anger and domestic violence classes. We have seen that Garry, Kevin Grober and I can help others face fears and use their own faith to overcome anger and violence and win the victory. We must learn to “die to self” (Luke 9:23), to give up our fleshly desires and completely surrender to His will.  As is written in Philippians 4:13 (NKJV), “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

At the Ark, we are teaching and training others to complete what we begin. It has become a daily focus through Jesus, and on Him. We understand it more clearly now than in past years.

 A recent example: A veteran came to me and said, “Sally, thank you for a ‘hand up instead of a handout’…” My tears came as he continued to express gratitude for years of encouragement. We go step by step, following and obeying Jesus so we can ‘recognize’ (Proverbs 7, GNB) His call and obey.  We must choose to hear, get up and go out with joy!  We can’t quit. We are called by God to discover our true worth and purpose.

When we are tempted to judge others, we need to first look at ourselves and measure the godliness of our own behavior. Thank you, Lord, for showing us how to develop a perfect heart for You.

To Jews and Gentiles alike, I give solemn warning that they should turn from their sins to God and believe in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:21, GNB)

After reading Acts 20:21 above please read verse 22 in your own Bible: “And now in obedience to the Holy Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.” Hmm… I go to the Ark of Faith daily, in obedience, not knowing “what will happen”! Where is Jesus asking you to go?

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit has warned me that prison and troubles wait for me.” (v.23)  

Garry and I take joy in knowing we are called to minister in prisons worldwide. I often say that we love going into the prisons, but hope we never have to stay.  We must be strictly legal and obey local, state, federal (or other countries’) rules.

Continuing in verse 24 the scripture says, “I reckon my own life to be nothing to me; I only want to complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the good news of the grace of God… among all of you preaching the Kingdom of God.”

We may be seen and heard by someone only one time. We are “not responsible (v. 26a)… for we have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God… so keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock which the Holy Spirit has placed in your care. Be shepherds of the church of God which he made through the blood of his son.” (v. 26b-28) [My emphasis.]

Our giftings are not all the same. You may not have been called to prison or deaf ministry like I was. You must obey God and finish the work that He calls you to start and to finish. I need my church, musicians, theater artists, teachers, lawyers, officers, firefighters, teenagers, babies and more. Without ALL, the entire village, I am not strengthened and encouraged to continue.

“Watch then, and remember that with many tears, day and night, I taught every one of you…” (Acts 20: 31, GNB) Whatever you do, you must do it until God says you are done. Recently, we had a coffeehouse featuring three generations sharing God through testimony and song. Father and mother, children, and grandchildren – it was encouraging to witness the years of fellowship and sharing good news by the grace of God.

At one point, the great-granddaughter (nearly 2-years old) went to the stage, reaching out and calling, “Daddy!” He bent over and picked her up. At the end of the family song, the little one grabbed the mic and started boldly singing “Jesus Loves Me” with great joy!

I was energized and declared, “I think I could work another 10 years if we each do our own job!” You see, in that moment, that family had been serving the Lord with the Ark through four generations. It was God showing all of us there how to continue in fulfilling our purpose.

Like Jesus, and following His example, Paul reported, “I have worked with these hands of mine to provide everything that my companions and I have needed. I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way, WE MUST HELP the weak, remembering that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.’” (vs. 34-35) [Emphasis mine.]Father, in Jesus’ name, strengthen and empower us with the Holy Spirit’s anointing to complete the work and purpose you called each of us to do!

In the same Hebrews 12:1 scripture, the Good News Bible says, “As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way and the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us.”

Only with our focus and eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) will our faith increase and help us complete our purpose and work. Daily, the words of Romans 8:28 mean more to me; God does use the good and bad together for a purpose.

His love for us and our love for Him are increasing daily! As children, we must “pay attention when the Lord corrects…and …not be discouraged when He rebukes…” (Hebrews 12:5b, GNB)

We are told in Proverbs 19:18 that if we don’t correct our children we don’t love them. In Hebrews 12: 6, we see again: “the Lord corrects everyone He loves, and punishes everyone He accepts as a child.” Thank you, Father, that in Your eyes I am still Your child, at 84 years old!

Thank You, Jesus, for always interceding for me to give me the determination and stamina to complete the race set before me. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for increasing my understanding, wisdom and revelation to move in faith to complete what the Father began in me… and in each of you readers, too!

Now, “My Christian friends, who also have been called by God, think of Jesus, who God sent to be High Priest of the faith we profess! He was faithful to God, who chose Him to do this work just as Moses was faithful in his work… as a servant, and he spoke of things that God would say in the future… Christ is faithful as the Son in charge of God’s house. We are His house if we keep up our courage and our confidence in what we hope for.” (Hebrews 3:1-6. GNB)

Please read Proverbs 29 (GNB). We must stop being stubborn (vs. 1). We must pray for righteous rulers and leaders (vs. 2). We desire leaders and rulers who seek justice (vs. 4). Not only our leaders need to be aware of rights of poor but each of us must do our part (vs. 7). We must do our part to keep things calm (vs. 8) and pray daily for peace and honest government.

We, like the sensible people (vs. 11), need to hold back words of anger and become more patient and kind. Once again, note vs. 15: “correction and discipline are good for children. If they have their own way, they will make their mothers ashamed of them.” Holy Spirit, lead us to pray for righteous government, for “when evil people are in power, crime increases. But the righteous will live to see the downfall of such people… and a nation without God’s guidance is a nation without order.” (vs. 16, 18)

Strengthen each of us to pray daily for order and justice for all, and to put our faith, hope and trust in the Lord. “Only from the Lord can you get justice.” (vs. 19) Come quickly, Lord Jesus… We need You!

In 1788, Charles Wesley encouraged us “by faith, to join hands with those who went before and greet the blood-redeemed bands…” Today, pray that people of all times will join together with patience to complete the work set before us in 2018. Help me to get on with it, Lord, in Jesus’ name.