October 2006 Volume 9 Number 10
Dearest Friends, Well we are fast approaching the holiday season again. Recently I was discussing with some friends about the affects of our celebrating holidays and whose kingdom is furthered. We agreed that to celebrate a wicked holiday furthers the kingdom of darkness. Then the question came up, "if we are celebrating a good holiday focused around family then why is there so much heartache that same time of year?" This is something I really put a lot of prayer into. I believe here in America most all holidays are man made and mostly man serving. And that is ok sometimes. It is good to serve and love your family and neighbors, but I think a responsibility comes with it. In the Old Testament God gave us holidays, or rather feasts for certain reasons. They were mostly to remind us of things He had done for His people. Yet after awhile they became routine and the people were no longer putting their heart into it. So the very things that God had told us to do became detestable on His sight. Which brings us back to the same message I share quite often. What is your motive? It is all about the heart. It isn’t really about what you do as much as why you do it.
Most of us can probably agree that for the most part Christmas does not have a whole lot to do with the all powerful risen savior that we serve. At best it is about a baby in a manger, and most likely that baby wasn’t even born in December. But since Paul said he became "all for all" and it does open the door to share about the Lord I say we take the opportunity and "run with it". But let’s not share about the babe in the manger. Let’s share about the One who takes away sin and guilt, the One who sets us free, the One who makes life worth living. I think that is where we as believers have been unfaithful. We say we celebrate the holiday that is about Jesus but then we get too busy to heed His voice. We get all focused on what WE want to do, and end up celebrating us instead of HIM. I challenge you to make this holiday season about Him, really about Him. I challenge you to find someone who needs His love and share it with them. Not sharing a bunch of toys that will make a lost child even more confused. But share His love. Share your time. Putting the name of Jesus on a holiday and then not making it His is what feeds the spirit of hopelessness that leads to all the suicide and heartache this time of year.
Last Sunday at our service at The Well April started worship with a song she wrote quite awhile back. It is called "Love That Chases". It is one of my favorites and I have heard it plenty of times but it is still never enough. It puts everything into perspective instantly. Have you ever had one of those experiences with Jesus where He is so close and all you want to do is cry and worship and cry and worship some more? Well that is where that song puts me. The Love of Jesus is enough and it is everything. It makes you forget all your heartaches. It heals all wounds. It brings instant forgiveness and makes you forget why you ever held a grudge anyway. It makes everything that is good possible, touchable and close. It is worth dying for, and that is exactly what it costs. It costs my life, it costs your life. That is our vision as a family and as a ministry, to share that love. And it is so simple, all we have to do is worship and it creates an atmosphere that attracts His presence. Please take a moment to just bask in His love. I have a recording of "Love that Chases" that was recorded live at Mike Baker’s funeral. The Lord’s presence was so thick I don’t know how April ever got through this song without crying, actually I think she was. That was Mike’s vision also, to share this love. You can here it hear it and read the lyrics here "LOVE THAT CHASES".
TRUE WORSHIP- April Raine
We went ahead and got it! But you can still be a part of it...
For those of you who gave towards April’s graduation gift of a new digital piano keyboard, we thank you so much! For anyone else who wants to get in on this here is the info to give online. www.awesomeglory.com/give. We have been working on some surprises for YOU! Coming soon!FAMILY GREETING! Here it is! The annual Raine Family greeting, click on the words family greeting to the left to take a look!
www.TheWellTN.com -is the site for our local church. The Well. We have been blessed to record some of our recent messages, we are working on putting them online ASAP.
The Well is located in downtown Mt Pleasant TN. Check the site for more details, or give us a call at 931-379-9244. If you are hungry for more of Jesus and within driving distance then this is the place to be! We meet Thursdays at 7 pm and Sundays at 3. We are seeing some really exciting things lately and have some testimonies from people who have attended the services. Jesus is moving in our small town and we are humbled to be part of what he is doing. If you want to read the testimonies go to the main page and then look for "happenings". One of these days hopefully I will finally get this site done!
MAURY COUNTY JAIL AND CLIFTON STATE PRISON- REVIVAL continues!! The same love I shared about here is what changes these men. Please ask the Lord to give you a heart to pray for them.RADIO TUES NIGHTS 6PM- WMRB 910 AM- Every tues evening. Always live, always exciting! Live from Columbia TN.
WWW.AWESOMEGLORY.COM- check often for new events and tracts, we appreciate it when you forward this to your friends, they can also subscribe at www.awesomeglory.com/subscribe
BLOGGING TO GET THE WORD OUT- I have now added a blog right at our site, you can see it here www.awesomeglory.com/blog and you can leave comments and ask questions. For some reason AOL subscribers have not been getting our newsletter recently, the ever-changing world of e-mail and somebody’s idea of making a buck I am sure. But we shall press on. Hopefully we can work on other avenues for those who have AOL addresses.
WWW.AWESOMEGLORY.COM/GIVE- your page for giving to Glorybound Ministries we try to make it real easy, if the link doesn’t work for you just let me know. And bless you for giving!IN CLOSING- I sure hope you enjoy the enclosed family greeting and picture, we really enjoy taking them for you. It has been a very busy and very productive year so far! Thank you so much for joining with us, we truly need and appreciate your support. We love you!
