Dear friend, I want to welcome you back to our 22nd Good News Magazine Edition. We have so much to share with you; not only sharing, but sharing the wonderful message of salvation. Isn’t it wonderful to know that despite all the setbacks in life, God is still watching over us? Well, I am here today to tell you that all along, we have been in God’s mind and thoughts. In this edition our title will be, ‘Having God’s Best’. I know each one of us wants the best. Let’s get started. Romans 8:37, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Sometime back, I heard someone say that life had no meaning; that all he ever had was only problems after problems. But this isn’t true. As human beings we often tend to look on negative parts and forget the positive parts. It's like what we see as news in our media today, is always heartbreaking. It's very rare to talk of the best things in our lives, as we are so consumed at times dwelling on negative things day after day. This eventually becomes a trend in our daily lives making it be part of life, it becomes a habit… but eh, God wants us to change our
mindset. There are levels and processes that God wants us to go through in our lives. The processes
These definitions only define the expression of the wonderful emotion. They fail to consider the causes of joy, the circumstances in which it is expressed or its longevity. In these areas, the Bible presents a much more complex virtue than these definitions indicate. The Bible takes a dim view of mirth or laughter, showing much laughter as having its roots in scorn or folly. Many in this world find enjoyment in other people's discomfort, stupidity or even embarrassment, laughing uproariously at its exposure. God admonishes in Proverbs 24:17-18:
HAVING GOD'S BEST are meant to shape us to become better believers. But sometimes we may feel those processes are too hard to go through. It could be that your family is in a big mess and you have no way out. But did you know that our heavenly Father has prepared a victorious end for us? Yes, God's plan for us is to have a victorious life despite the fierce battles we encounter each day. His plans for us are always good. His intents toward us are pure. (continued on page 2)
Your Very Own Treasure Map ! By Jerry & Debbie Senese It is crucial to our daily walk with Jesus, that we understand the true meaning of the joy of the Lord. Looking in a secular dictionary, the definition of the word, joy is as follows: (as a verb.) rejoice, delight, be happy (as a noun) happiness, high spirits, great pleasure, bliss, delight; source of happiness or pleasure.
TheGoodNewsMagazine.blogspot.com
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. (Continued on pg 3) Issue #22 November 2015 wsprog.com/gnm/gnm1522.pdf
Having God's Best (cont) Your Own Treasure Map (cont) God's Will For You! (cont) Heaven's Computer Connect The Goat's Milk Gospel! We're On Our Way Home !! Final Words Puzzle Partners = = =
2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8
[email protected]
©2015 The Good News Magazine Kenya, USA
Issue 22 h
November
Page 1 of 8
Having God's Best By Justus Ondieki (continued) Now from the opening scripture, Apostle Paul simply says that no matter what we go through, we still are more than conquerors! Yes, victory is on our side. We will always triumph over the enemy as long as we fix our eyes on Jesus. God is willing to fight the battle for us who believe in Him. He wants us to be conquerors like Jesus. John 10:10 says, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Do you need to hear more? Well, this is having more than enough, to have God’s best in our lives! We know who the thief is, and we know what he intends to steal from us. The thief wants to steal love from us so that we can hate our brethren. The devil wants to steal our peace from us, if he hasn't already. It's no wonder we hear of wars in some parts of the world. The enemy knows that if he steals joy from us we will be sad hence we will be weak without strength. For he knows very well, the joy of the Lord is our strength…but the devil is a liar, he is the father of all lies. He’s sowing seeds of discord amongst the brethren. It is not the will of God for us to be divided; but be united. God sees the best in us; He wants us to live in peace and unity with each other. We have to believe these powerful words of our Lord: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Who else could offer us such promises of love, except
Jesus; who wants the best for us? God has given us life, not only life, but life in abundance. Isn’t that the best we can ever receive from our Lord? We can only receive this by accepting God’s best gift to us, Jesus. When we receive the Lord Jesus in our hearts and confess Him with our mouths that He is Lord and believe, then we shall be saved. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. John 16:33 says, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world... Oh, how I love Jesus’ words! I know the Lord thinks good about us. His thoughts toward us are peace, and not of evil. He goes ahead to comfort us.
He teaches us, that since He overcame the world, we will also overcome the world, through Jesus Christ who strengthens us! It is not our power, but His. He gives us His very best. He gave us all the power and authority. We are to reign with Him. For us to receive His very best we must see ourselves in God's perspective. In other words, we have to see ourselves the way God sees us. God sees in us - people of a strong heart, people who never give up, people who lean on Him, people who trust and have faith in Him. No one ever thought that
TheGoodNewsMagazine.blogspot.com
David was a king in the making. 1 Samuel 16 tells us how he was anointed by Samuel the prophet. David had elder brothers, who in the eyes of men fit the shape of kings. Even the prophet Samuel was distracted by their heights and statures, but God disagreed with him. God doesn’t choose as men do. The difference between us and God is that He looks deep into our hearts. Some of us may look down at ourselves and think we are nothing at all, but Ephesians 2:10 says that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. Yes, we are God's masterpiece. We were created to fulfill our specific purposes from God. Oh, how great is God’s goodness! How thankful I am for His special grace and favor upon us. Indeed I can say He who called us is faithful to see us through! When I think of the blessings of grace laid up in God's heart; in His thoughts and purposes, from everlasting to everlasting, I can only be grateful. This I know is also another of God’s best for us to have and most of all, Jesus, in whom the fullness of all grace dwells. He was loaded with the blessings of goodness, and His people were blessed in Him with all spiritual blessings, and had all grace given them in Him before the world was. Oh, how we wait eagerly for the eternal glory which is the hope and crown of righteousness laid up in heaven for us who believe! Did I tell you that heaven is full of goodness, great treasures, riches of grace, and riches of glory? It sure is! Look what the scripture says in Psalm 31:19-20 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear
[email protected]
©2015 The Good News Magazine Kenya, USA
Issue 22 h
November
Page 2 of 8
thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. I wish the Lord could open up our inner eyes and see what He has laid up in reserve for us! He has so much in store for us beyond all count. The Lord will always provide for all the needs we have according to His Word. Phil. 4:19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. The Lord's favor upon us is astounding. God’s mercies are new every morning. His deeds are a marvel unto us. His kindness to us is unexplainable! His love to us is matchless! His beauty is overwhelming. We serve a good Master. Our faith will receive a reward if not now, then when He comes for us. He will wipe away our tears and invite us into His banquet. Go into your Father’s rest, good and faithful servant. Would those promising words be said of you? Would you love to have God’s best? Start by letting our Lord Jesus Christ in your heart to be Lord and your Savior. It is SIMPLE as this: BELIEVE. ===
Your Very Own Treasure Map ! By Jerry & Debbie Senese (continued) When looking at the word “Joy” in a Bible dictionary, the definition is a bit different. Complete Bible Word Study
Dictionary (p. 937) gives a more comprehensive definition: [[Blessed, possessing the favor of God, that state of being marked by fullness from God. It indicates the state of the believer in Christ, . . . said of one who becomes a partaker of God's nature through faith in Christ. The believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit because of Christ and as a result should be fully satisfied, contended & confident no matter the circumstances.]] This “satisfaction”…no matter the circumstances is not “happiness”, but rather confidence! His joy is not based on any circumstance or emotion, but in the unfailing knowledge that God, our Before we proceed, you'll want to get a pen, paper, and your Bible to make your treasure map. There are 13 numbered underlined locations to check for God's Treasure of Joy, for you. Put your descriptions of each location is the Bible, on your paper that becomes a map of joy you'll want to share with others. You can even help them to make their own treasure map. Father is in control… of EVERYTHING that happens in our life. That understanding…that application to our everyday lives, should give us freedom to trust Him completely with our lives, while walking in joy ( assurance & confidence) that we are His! We live in a sad world--a world of despair, depression, lack of fulfillment, and dissatisfaction. Man defines happiness as an attitude of satisfaction and delight
based upon present circumstances. He relates happiness to happenings and happenstance. It is something that can't be planned or programed. Biblical joy consists of the deep and abiding confidence that all is well regardless of circumstance and difficulty. It is something very different from worldly happiness. Biblical joy is always related to God and belongs only to those in Christ. It is the permanent possession of every believer--not a whimsical delight that comes and goes as chance offers it opportunity. A good definition of joy is this: it's the flag that flies on the castle of the heart when the King is in residence. Only Christians can know true and lasting joy. A Christian's joy is a gift from God to those who believe the gospel, being produced in them by the Holy Spirit as they receive and obey the Word, being mixed with trials with a hope set on future glory. Let’s take a look at some Biblical sources of Joy. 1. Psalm 4:7-8 ~ 2. Psalm 16:11 ~ Seeing what our source of joy is, lets look at the Biblical “Reception of Joy”…or how we as Believers “receive” joy from the Lord. 3. Luke 2:10-11 ~ 4. John 15:11 ~ We know that the source of our Joy and how we receive Joy both come from the Lord. But there is also a “product” of our Joy. 5. Romans 14:17 ~ 6. Galatians 5:22 From everything we’ve learned above, there is something else the
Download this full document at: wsprog.com/gnm/gnm1522.pdf Hashtag: #TheGoodNewsMagazine, Twitter: @TGNMagazine respectively
TheGoodNewsMagazine.blogspot.com
[email protected]
©2015 The Good News Magazine Kenya, USA
Issue 22 h
November
Page 3 of 8
Lord has to teach us about Joy… and that it comes with obedience! 7. Jeremiah 15:16 ~ 8. Luke 24:32 ~ 9. 1 John 1:4 ~ As I had stated earlier, we live in a sad world--a world of despair, depression, lack of fulfillment, and dissatisfaction. From a purely human standpoint, all the above tends to take its toll on us emotionally…especially as women. Women are the more emotional beings which tend to take and even “personalize” not only our own pain, but even the pain of others. Because of this, we need to look at examples of joy even in the midst of trials, troubles and heartaches. Joy is a gift from God that is mixed with trials. In fact, joy is most clearly evident in the midst of trials. A believer's joy remains in spite of sadness, sorrow, or difficulty…not necessarily as an “emotion”, but as a “confidence”.
10. 1 Thessalonians 1:6 ~ 11. 2 Corinthians 6:10 ~ 12. James 1:2 ~ 13. Peter 1:6 ~ The theme of Philippians is the believer's joy. Paul wrote to a church He loved and who loved him. The deep and special love of Paul for the Philippians can be seen in that while Paul was a prisoner in Rome, he wrote a letter out of concern for their sorrow for him. They were anxious about his circumstances, sad because of his deprivations, and distressed by the possibility that he might be executed. So he wrote with the message that he was still able to rejoice in spite of his circumstances…because his joy was not in “earthly emotions” but was a confidence in his God…that He was in control of what was
happening to him, and didn’t want the Philippians to do any less! So, as we experience life… its hard times, trials, pain & heartaches…we’re not to be “unnaturally happy” through it all, but if we have the Biblical joy that the Lord tells us is a gift that He has given us, we can have that allknowing confidence that He is indeed in control of every aspect of our life, trust Him with it, and be “relieved” that all things of our life are in His very capable hands. Indeed, we can have “JOY” … down deep in our hearts…even during difficulties. ===
God's Will For You May Be: COOL IT! By Classroom of the Heart Reaching out to others has a whole lot to do with timing; acting when God gives you the green light, pausing when you see the caution signal and having a 'time-out' when you only see God's stop light or an 'opportunity door' God has marked 'not now'. God's best for you, at this moment, may not be that answer to your prayer, in the next breath you take. Besides killing a bear, a lion, and a giant, David was also a musician who played well enough to soothe King Saul. In the Bible, the Book of Psalms is a book of songs. In his songs, quite often David included small “hold-its” or pauses. You see them each time you read the word “Selah”. Bible scholars all agree that Selah also means to pause or wait just a bit. It is used as something like a musical pause. Time and timing seem to be woven into the whole fabric of our existence.
TheGoodNewsMagazine.blogspot.com
Many believe Selah also means to “pause and reflect” or “pause and retaste”; what came before. This would be like smacking your lips after having eaten a tasty morsel. I believe it is fitting and consistent with scripture to assume God wants us to “taste again” His printed words of truth. We should ask ourselves, “What have I just read? What is the deeper meaning of the words I’ve just heard preached?” This fundamental truth, to be learned early on, is that waiting long or short periods has very profound purposes. Waiting on God is far from just sitting on one’s hands and shifting the brain out of gear. David gives us the simple process in Psalms 37:7: Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. To rest, wait patiently, and fret not requires that we acknowledge that someone has the power and authority to control our circumstances. Further, that we acknowledge that someone knows and cares about our needs. Well, there is, and He does. Have you remembered the previous topic teaching us that God cares and controls? Do you see God's best for us is ALWAYS ON TIME! Read that ‘Rest in the Lord…’ verse again and “Selah” on the words “Rest”, “wait patiently”, and “fret not.” That verse is a perfect one for placing over the kitchen sink, on the refrigerator, above your desk,
[email protected]
©2015 The Good News Magazine Kenya, USA
Issue 22 h
November
Page 4 of 8
inside your toolbox, or near your speedometer. Little by Little. Here we are still working on timing i.e. God’s timing. There is a sweet wonderful truth about waiting on God that surrounds three little words. The words are “little and little”. These are the equivalent of our “little by little.” By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. Exodus 23:30 And the LORD thy God will put out those nations before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. Deuteronomy 7:22 These verses are used to describe the slow, orderly timetable God uses. This was just the right timing for the Israelites to capture their idolatrous enemies and to seize the land that God had promised them. God could have snapped his fingers and all of the enemy nations would have instantly been dead. Some of the reasons why He did not are ones we need to internalize, and maybe even apply to our own lives. =1) One reason why He did not is in the word Selah, which we have just learned about. After each and every battle God wanted the people to stop and reflect (Selah) on how God had delivered the enemy into their hands in times past. He also wanted Israel to reflect on what happens to people who worship idols. =2) The verses refer to the wild beasts that would flourish uncontrollably upon the countless corpses that Israel could not have buried fast enough. =3) Because God purposely did not destroy all the enemy nations
all at once, fields would still be planted and tilled. The cattle would also be maintained also. Can you see the result is that God is blessing us mightily by having others begin the work we are to continue? He shows us step-by-step, little and little, that He hears and wants to answer our every prayer to be victorious in His name. And He wants us to savor and share every morsel of His blessings with those souls He has placed in our harvest field. ===
Heaven's Computer Connection by Gramps NO COMPUTER CAN DO IT ! If you asked the most powerful computer ever made by man, your 'best' question, it'd probably destroy itself, never to work again. The 'best' question would be worded something like, “What is the Bible verse that speaks the best thing about our Savior, Jesus Christ?” I have to admit the computer He has put between my ears, now covered by lots of silver hair, would struggle answering that
one also. What we've just touched on, frames the majesty of our mighty and most loving merciful God. I can't even state the best part of His sacrifice of Himself on Calvary, for sinful me. I can tell
TheGoodNewsMagazine.blogspot.com
you one of His gifts to me, is that He listens to me and my feeble prayers of praise and petitions to Him. It's like talking on the phone, knowing there is someone on the other end that is intently listening to me. But even richer than that, is knowing He listens to the deepest thoughts of my heart. Listening, I mean REALLY listening, is the ongoing message of Heaven's Computer Connection. No, my computer can't connect with my heart, hopes, and hurts. So what are we helping the church family to understand here. This might clarify: An old junk computer sat on the table between Gramps and 13 yr old Charlie. Charlie said the other kids call him “Rags” because of the tattered shirt, pants, and shoes Charlie wore. At one point, Gramps had to walk over to the window, away from Rags, when the boy said he felt just as worthless as this old trash computer between them. Gramps and Rags started taking the main part of the computer apart; the box that had all the little mysterious electrical parts and wires inside. Gramps struggled with all his might, to hold back the tears, as Rags told about his homelife that was in the same condition as this ol' computer box. Gramps and Rags, neither one, had any idea what all the electrical thingies did. Rags was asked to lay down the screwdriver 'cuz here was an important computer truth. “Rags, you and I don't know which part in this computer is the most important, and that's ok.” “But Gramps, I bet somebody figured every one of these parts was important; maybe just as important as those little guys.”
[email protected]
©2015 The Good News Magazine Kenya, USA
Issue 22 h
November
Page 5 of 8
Gramps thought to himself, “this young life in front of me has just begun a sermon; a truth probably only learned from junk computers, and ragged clothes.” The silver-haired friend to Rags admitted to himself this has got to be about the best job in the whole world, helping a young life realize that God designs computer stuff with big and small parts – each is equally important, all 'listening' to each other. But even better, is that heart and silver hair, listens to the heart of a tattered teen starving to have someone that cares; someone that listens; someone with tearful feelings. Gramps does, God does. do you? They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalms 126:5,6
===
My Testimony: Living By Faith In Uganda by Elisabeth Daniels “A friend loveth at all times” Prov. 17:17a It’s been my desire to help and work with children ever since I was young. I got saved when I was 10 years old and after that, I felt the burden for educating children. As a teenager, I used to tutor some of the kids on my town who struggled with subjects like Reading and Math. Having learning difficulties myself, I have always wanted to help others who struggle as I did. I attended around 15 different schools world wide including day school, boarding and home school in the US, Uganda and Kenya. I
knowledge I received in college is a great tool here on the field. I do intend to get an Post Graduate education certificate in the near future. While I’m here, working with Mom and Dad, we are building the children’s ministry. Mom and I as well as several of our children’s Sunday school teachers have taken training from C.E.F. (Child Evangelism Fellowship) to help us better teach Sunday school and Good News Clubs as an outreach to the children in our area. We have just recently finished a second training where we learned how to better teach lessons geared towards discipling children who have already gotten saved. The outcome of this effort has been amazing as children are getting saved, and some have started attending Sunday school at our church regularly. Mom and I have been working on different things to help
remember almost every school and I remember taking extra hours studying subjects like math and spelling trying to understand it. (I’m glad that we have calculators ;)) I graduated High School through A.C.E. School of Tomorrow. I found that A.C.E. was perfect for myself and after spending years of studying here in Uganda, I know that it will also be a step up to the education that children here receive, not only on the education level but also on the spiritual level, as most schools teach Catholicism or Islam. God cares so much for each and every one of his children, as is written in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts Thanks to the team of that I think toward The Good News Magazine – Global, you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, our ministry and not of evil. To Living By Faith in Uganda give you an expected has a website! wsprog.com/lbf/ end” They nicknamed it I have been The Goat's-Milk Gospel! working here in Uganda with my the Ugandan ladies and children in parents Russ and Sylvia in their our area. Mom’s vision is to have ministry as a Sunday school goats milk and eggs to give to the teacher after graduating in May of 2014, from Baptist Bible College. I children on Sunday mornings as many of the children don’t get graduated with a Bachelor of Arts anything to eat before church and in Missions and Bible and a minor sometimes even after. Our family in Biblical Counseling. I have has started a farm where we raise greatly enjoyed teaching the goats and are starting a chicken children here at Bwerenga Bible coup. We want to give the children Baptist Church. The Bible
TheGoodNewsMagazine.blogspot.com
[email protected]
©2015 The Good News Magazine Kenya, USA
Issue 22 h
November
Page 6 of 8
goats milk because it’s easy for them to digest as well as goat milk is readily available here. The eggs are to give the children good protein and boiled eggs are easy to make and transport and hand out. We have given boiled eggs in the past and the children love them and the parents are glad for the health benefits. I also plan to start the Living By Faith A.C.E. school here at the church property with the help of some of the ladies who are my friends and church members. We intend to continue feeding the children who come, with the goats milk and eggs, and we are praying and hoping to have a Manna Feeding Center for other meals. I don’t know how much we will be able to achieve but my dream is not only to start a school here in Bwerenga Uganda, but also in other countries in Africa so that the gospel can be spread and so that children will have a chance for a good education and make this world a better place. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it”=
==
WE'RE ON OUR WAY HOME !! And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Revelation 22: 1-6
--------- FINAL WORDS --------A powerhouse can sometimes come in a small package... say... just 3 chapters. The little book in the Old Testament, with the hard-to-spell name, is a great powerhouse for us. Habakkuk asks important questions; somewhat like yours and mine, and then includes God's answers. “Why does God seem to let increasing evil go unpunished?” Another one is, “Why does God punish His nation of Jews, using other nations more wicked than they are?” See what we mean?... a real powerhouse, in just those 3 chapters of Habakkuk. One of God's answers uses a phrase that just blows our mind, describing God's power. Check it out, in 1:5b: “...for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.” The team creating The Good News Magazine – Global, believes God is using our small magazine in powerful ways, inspired by the same loving God who Habakkuk worshiped and wrote for. We follow Habakkuk's directive given him by God: (2:2) “And the Lord answered me, and
TheGoodNewsMagazine.blogspot.com
said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” Even now, our magazine scratch that, YOUR magazine, goes to barber shops, beauty shops, pastors who are worried about their dwindling church attendance, nursing home residents more lonely and forsaken than being stranded on planet Mars. Oh, do we want our humble words, pointing to God's powerful words of scripture, to reach out to the tear-filled suffering Saints of God. At least one prisoner on 'death row' and those that censor his mail receive our pleas to listen, and trust God's written promises. With our prayers following all those who read these pages – run with its message of God's power, peace, purpose, and provision to those around you; that message spoken loudest on the bloody Cross of Calvary. Use our totally free magazine to share a word, a phrase, a paragraph, or even a puzzle that speaks to your own heart.... then speak to theirs. Don't put it off, run to their heart-cries. ===
[email protected]
©2015 The Good News Magazine Kenya, USA
Issue 22 h
November
Page 7 of 8
TheGoodNewsMagazine.blogspot.com
[email protected]
©2015 The Good News Magazine Kenya, USA
Issue 22 h
November
Page 8 of 8
