Daily Treasure

“And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth” (Mark 5:39).
In Mark’s account of the raising of Jairus’ daughter we find Jesus with Peter, James and John going into Jairus’ home.  Do you remember Matthew’s account of the scene? Jesus asked, “Why make ye this ado, and weep?”   Jesus told them all,  “The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”  Jesus had to ignore all the scorn of those who found His words hilarious. 

Christ should not have had to prove anything. However,  He used His infinite power to glorify His Father. Where were the scoffers now? They were standing there totally astonished.

Don’t doubt the power of God.  Always take Him at His Word.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Today begins the WNAC PreThanksgiving Week of Prayer. Throughout this week we will focus on “The Future: praying for the next generation of missionaries in North America.” Each day we will feature a multigenerational missions family.

Today’s prayer focus is Future Believers.
Pray that God would raise up men with a missionary vision and passion for souls.

Mark Thomas family: inset includes Mark’s parents, Roy and Pat Thomas.

Mark Thomas, home missionary to Pueblo, Colorado, writes: “For 10 years my parents served in Denver, Colorado, to pioneer the first Free Will Baptist church in the state. My first memories of church involved a ballet studio we rented for worship. We had to pick up beer cans and cigarettes left by the Saturday night party crowd to get the place ready for Sunday morning. It had mirrors on every wall, and I could see my dad preaching in any direction I looked.
After years of observing my parents’  love for the Lord and His work, seeing many souls saved, and watching a mission work become a strong church, my sister and I caught the church planting vision. Today it is a joy to serve the Lord as a home missionary and continue the vision and labors of my parents.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

I think the reason some people have given up on church or even grown weary in life is because they have stopped  “looking for that blessed hope.” They’ve lost the expectancy of Christ’s return.  However, for those who can hardly wait to see Christ come in all His glory, this will be an awesome event.
I would like to close this week with the chorus of the song, “The Next Time He Comes.”
But the next time He comes
 He won’t have to die for me—
 The next time He comes, there won’t be a Calvary
The next time He comes, we’ll begin eternity—
For when He comes again, He’ll be coming for me.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for WNAC Executive Committee members and staff as they prepare materials and messages for next spring’s women’s ministry training retreats in Central Asia.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

When I read the words of today’s verse, I visualize people from every tribe and nation standing before the throne of God chanting these words over and over again.

In Revelation 5:12 we see the words, “worthy is the Lamb that was slain…”  He is worthy of glory and honor. One day soon we’ll see Him face to face and we will thank Him for His matchless grace.  I love the song, “I Can Only Imagine.”  We may all respond differently, but there will be one thing we will have in common.  We will sing the song of the redeemed and give Him glory for all eternity. When you start to feel battle-weary, don’t lose hope. One day soon Christ will appear in all His glory.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for those suffering such tragic losses in the Philippines. Pray for Samaritan’s Purse, one Christian organization heavily involved in relief efforts, and for other Christian groups providing medical care and contributing financial aid for victims.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).

As I poured over commentaries about today’s verses, my heart was blessed to know I have hope for the future.  The NIV Study Bible notes:

“In spite of the frequent…persecution mentioned in Peter’s letter, hope is such a key thought in it that it may be called a letter of hope in the midst of suffering. In the Bible, hope is not wishful thinking but a firm conviction, much like faith that is directed toward the future. The resurrection of Christ secures for His people their new birth and the hope that they will be resurrected just as He was.  Believers are born again not only to a hope but also to the inheritance that is the substance of the hope. The inheritance is eternal—in its essence (it is not subject to decay) and in its preservation (it is divinely kept for us).”

    Giving up is not an option. There is “too much to gain to lose.”  Claim the “lively hope.”
First Corinthians 2:9 tells us “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for those in your congregation who are battling chronic illnesses. Ask God to give them strength and peace for this day.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,and of the Holy Ghose:Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”  (Matthew 28:19-20).

As we learned yesterday, we are created for God’s glory.  We give Him glory when we obey His commands.  We may be familiar with today’s verses, but, are we obeying His final command?  Believing the promise attached to this command should help us carry out His will.

We may not be called to go across the seas to a foreign land. However, we are called to go across the street to a neighbor who may be from a foreign land.  Be bold in your witness, following God’s command with promise.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Give God praise along with the Donnie Burke family, home missionaries to Castle Rock, CO, for the purchase of land for their future building.  Pray that God will enable them to accomplish their plans to pay off the purchase amount within a year.

“Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him”  (Isaiah 43:7).

I love the key thought for this week’s study:”When our plans get interrupted, or we can’t make sense of our situation, we can trust God’s timing and purposes. Remembering He created us for His glory, we realize greater glory through these circumstances.”  If you ever wonder why on earth you are here, our verse answers your question.
Don’t you thrill to know God knows your name?  He is your Creator and Redeemer. You are His original.  You are on this earth to bring Him glory. Yes, we may face overwhelming circumstances. But I have found calm in the storm, knowing I belong to God.  He brings sweet peace when I stop to praise Him in spite of my trials.

People are watching how we live our Christian life.  They look to see how we handle adversity. Do they see that we belong to Christ?

Meditate today on this chorus from the old song, “Born to Serve the Lord.”
I was made in His likeness
Created in His Image
For I was born to serve the Lord
I will not deny Him
I will always walk beside Him
For I was born to serve the Lord.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Robert Bryan, missionary to France, as he ministers through November 24 in Zimbabwe as a trainer in a Leadership Matters training course. Pray for safety, effective training, and eager learners (source: FWBIM).

“While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:35-36).

Jesus had just uttered words that gave a diseased woman the name Complete, when news came of Jairus’ daughter’s death. Skeptics asked, “Why troublest thou the Master any further?”  Obviously, Jairus was pretty shaken with the news of his daughter’s death.  We see the compassion of Christ as He speaks the comforting words, “Be not afraid, only believe.”

Maybe you find yourself in a dire physical or spiritual need. Your future looks dim. Sometimes you don’t know how to pray.  Jesus knows your every need.  You need not fear, just trust Him.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for continued and consistent support for the WNAC offices.