vine and branches we are like pencil

““Do not neglect the gift you have, Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophetic which was given you by prophetic

utterance when the council of utterance when the council of elders laid their hands upon you. “elders laid their hands upon you. “

1 Timothy 4:14 1 Timothy 4:14

"What does it profit, my brethren, "What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has if a man says he has faith but has

not works? Can his faith save not works? Can his faith save him?" (James. 2:14). him?" (James. 2:14).

What do we do with the gifts of What do we do with the gifts of the Holy Spirit?the Holy Spirit?

"So faith by itself, if it has no "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead“ works, is dead“

James. 2:17)James. 2:17)

"You see that a man is justified "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone“ by works and not by faith alone“

James. 2:24James. 2:24

What do we do with the gifts of What do we do with the gifts of the Holy Spirit?the Holy Spirit?

“If it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let

him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it

cheerfully.”Romans 12:8

What do we do with the gifts of What do we do with the gifts of the Holy Spirit?the Holy Spirit?

 "There are five things you need to know before I send

you out into the world. Always remember them and

you will become the best pencil you can be."

 "There are five things you need to know before I send

you out into the world. Always remember them and

you will become the best pencil you can be."

In the beginning, In the beginning, the Pencil Maker the Pencil Maker

spoke to the pencil spoke to the pencil saying, saying,

In the beginning, In the beginning, the Pencil Maker the Pencil Maker

spoke to the pencil spoke to the pencil saying, saying,

You will be You will be able to do able to do

many great many great things, but things, but only if you only if you

allow allow yourself to yourself to be held in be held in Someone's Someone's

hand. hand.

You will be You will be able to do able to do

many great many great things, but things, but only if you only if you

allow allow yourself to yourself to be held in be held in Someone's Someone's

hand. hand.

You will experience a You will experience a painful sharpening painful sharpening from time to time, from time to time,

but this is required if but this is required if you want to become you want to become

a better pencil. a better pencil.

You will experience a You will experience a painful sharpening painful sharpening from time to time, from time to time,

but this is required if but this is required if you want to become you want to become

a better pencil. a better pencil.

You have You have the ability the ability to correct to correct

any any mistakes mistakes you might you might

make. make.

You have You have the ability the ability to correct to correct

any any mistakes mistakes you might you might

make. make.

  The most The most important part important part

of you will of you will always be always be

what's inside.what's inside.

  The most The most important part important part

of you will of you will always be always be

what's inside.what's inside.

No matter what the No matter what the condition, you must condition, you must

continue to write. You continue to write. You must always leave a clear, must always leave a clear,

legible mark no matter legible mark no matter how difficult the situation. how difficult the situation.

No matter what the No matter what the condition, you must condition, you must

continue to write. You continue to write. You must always leave a clear, must always leave a clear,

legible mark no matter legible mark no matter how difficult the situation. how difficult the situation.

The pencil understood, promising to remember, and

went into the box fully understanding its

Maker's purpose.  

Now replacing the pencil with yourself; always

remember these rules and never forget them, in this way you will become the person you want to be.

The pencil understood, promising to remember, and

went into the box fully understanding its

Maker's purpose.  

Now replacing the pencil with yourself; always

remember these rules and never forget them, in this way you will become the person you want to be.

You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow  through

them.

You will be able to correct mistakes you might make or grow  through

them.

On every surface you

walk, you must leave your mark. No

matter what the situation,

you must continue to serve God in everything.

On every surface you

walk, you must leave your mark. No

matter what the situation,

you must continue to serve God in everything.

Everyone is like a pencil...created by the Maker for a unique

and special purpose.  

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with

our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart

and a  relationship with God daily.

Everyone is like a pencil...created by the Maker for a unique

and special purpose.  

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with

our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart

and a  relationship with God daily.

MOTHER TERESAMOTHER TERESAIN HER OWN WORDSIN HER OWN WORDS

“I am only a little pencil in the Hand of God writing a love letter to the world.”

“I am only a little pencil in the Hand of God writing a love letter to the world.”

Mother Teresa taught us by her sample what it

really means to ‘live’ the Gospel.

Some people have a JOB Some people have a JOB in the church while in the church while

others involve others involve Themselves in aThemselves in a

MINISTRY. MINISTRY.

What is the difference?What is the difference?

JOB V MINISTRYJOB V MINISTRY

If you are doing it just because If you are doing it just because no one else will, it is a JOB.no one else will, it is a JOB.

If you are doing it to serve the If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it is a MINISTRY.Lord, it is a MINISTRY.

If you quit because somebody If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB.criticized you, it was a JOB.

If you keep on serving,If you keep on serving,

it is a MINISTRY.it is a MINISTRY.

JOB V MINISTRYJOB V MINISTRY

If you quit because no one If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you,praised you or thanked you,

it was a JOB.it was a JOB.

If you stay with it even though If you stay with it even though nobody recognizes your nobody recognizes your

efforts,efforts,

it is a MINISTRY.it is a MINISTRY.

JOB V MINISTRYJOB V MINISTRY

If your concern is success,

it is a JOB.

If your concern is faithfulness,

it is a MINISTRY.

JOB V MINISTRYJOB V MINISTRY

If you will do it as long as it does not interfere with your other

activities,

it is a JOB.

If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things,

it is a MINISTRY.

JOB V MINISTRYJOB V MINISTRY

It is hard to get excited about a JOB.

It is almost impossible not to get excited about a MINISTRY.

An average church is filled with people doing a JOB.

A great and growing church is filled with people involved in a

MINISTRY.

JOB V MINISTRYJOB V MINISTRY

Where do we fit in?

What about us?

If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don't treat it like a JOB.

If you have a JOB,

give it up And

find a MINISTRY.

JOB V MINISTRYJOB V MINISTRY

God does not want us feeling stuck with a

JOB,

but excited and faithful to

Him in a MINISTRY.

JOB V MINISTRYJOB V MINISTRY

Allow the Hand of God to continue holding you and

may the nip of your pencil leave a legible mark in the lives of

others as the love story is told to the world with

you being part of it !

““SEEK YEE FIRST SEEK YEE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF THE KINGDOM OF

GOD AND HIS GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL THESE AND ALL THESE

THINGS SHALL BE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO ADDED UNTO

YOU.”YOU.”

Matthew 6:33Matthew 6:33

MISSIONMISSION

THE GREAT FIATTHE GREAT FIAT

"Let it be done to me according to "Let it be done to me according to your word"your word"

(Luke 1:38) (Luke 1:38) 3434

Let us search our ways, and seek, and return to the Lord - Lamentations 3:40

Father,

How time flies. It seems that only yesterday I’d made a commitment to serve in Your vineyard and now the crucial time arises and again I come to you Lord to seek confirmation and affirmation from you. Glancing over these past few months, I view them with mixed feelings.

There were moments when my service was truly exceptional, exuberant and at times even flamboyant. Everything I touched turned to gold. They said I had the Midas touch. I saw how my little contribution touched the hearts of many, filled them with joy and understood truly that in giving to others, I had actually received more, much more.

It was during these moments of consolation that I experienced your hand working and giving me the strength and fortitude to persevere.

I wish to spend some time in recounting these periods of grace and give thanks to you for giving me the undeserved privilege of serving you and your people in the small ways that I have contributed

And Yes there were moments when…. (sigh), the thought of it alone makes me squirm. Countless occasions where the puzzle could never fit. Everything I did with well mannered intentions just wasn’t enough.,,, Oh the many harsh words that were thrown back and forth and constant objections just took the better of me.

It was easy for me to point the finger and shift the blame on others and worse still on the Devil as if he was not doing enough damage. And the more I complained to you, the more it persisted. What is wrong with these people I thought. Why can’t they listen to me? It was only when I looked within myself that the painful truth was revealed. It was me that you wanted to change. The old man had surfaced. With an inflated ego, Pride and false humility had crept in. How odd that my prayers were answered by the sending of these people to bring about what you wanted to ‘cut and prune’.

Truly YOU were also there too in the darkness. This time teaching and admonishing me through the people I work with. Broken and humbled, I was then ready to listen.

I will look to these specific incidents…….. Lord and ask for forgiveness and the graces necessary so as to be able to deal with these situations better should they recur.