If You Just Believe

DOWNLOAD TO YOUR iPOD FOR $1
(And support the Moringa projects in Uganda and Haiti)

“For the mountains may move and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
My covenant of blessing will never be broken,
says the Lord, who has mercy on you. (Isaiah 54:10, NLT)

Words, music and vocal by Hephzibah-Ene Anderson.

ABOUT THE SONG - Hephzibah says:

I just sense so much anointing anytime I open my mouth to sing this song.

The more I sing it the more I feel the draw to God more.
The story of this song has something to do with it. I was having a conversation with God and deep within me, I was overwhelmed by the situations that surrounded me during that season. Fear began to set before me. Then I heard this voice in my spirit talking to me, I broke down on my knees and heard the words of this songs flowing through me. The only way for me to remember that conversation was to put music to it and place it in my heart for remembrance anytime circumstances arise to bring doubts and unbelief.Thank you Jeanette. I hope this song will bless many who are going through tough times. I want them to know that God cares and he never forgets them and his promises never fail. It might delay but that does not mean it wont come to pass. Just believe in God, for all things are possible in Him.

Jehovah, You are the Most High

DOWNLOAD TO YOUR iPOD FOR $1
(And support the Moringa projects in Uganda and Haiti)

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
For the Lord Most High is AWESOME;
He is a great King over all the earth.
(Psa. 47:1-2)

Words, music and vocal by Hephzibah-Ene Anderson.

Time and Seasons!

DOWNLOAD TO YOUR iPOD FOR $1

(And support the Moringa projects in Uganda and Haiti)

This song is especially dedication to our loved ones who are in heaven.

As you watch this, I’m sure you will remember someone who was special to you. Let us thank God for those who have touched our lives, even if it may have only been for a short time. We may often question why God would take someone who is still so young. But remember that even though we may be sad, they are not. So I pray that as you watch and listen, the Lord will touch your heart, comfort and encourage you.

The lady who sings and wrote this has become a wonderful friend to me in recent months. I am blessed to have Hephzibah’s friendship. Last year she headed a team that introduced their first Moringa project in Haiti. The minisitry is called Global Passion Mission. And today, her dear ones there are under such horrific hardship since the earthquake hit last week.

We are very thankful to God to learn that all in the orphanage (children and staff) are safe. We thank God for the many who are supporting at this time. But as the weeks and months roll on, please don’t forget them as they rebuild their lives. The moringa project will continue there. And at the same time, the project will be launched in Uganda. You can see more on the website – www.globalpassionmission.org.

If you like this song, you can download the MP4 file for your iPod or MP3 player, or just play on you computer for just $1 USD.  And the good news is that as you do you will be supporting these projects, and helping change lives and lifestyles for God.

It only takes a few clicks and $1 for you to do so.

Be blessed and be a blessing!!!

NEW YEAR OF PROMISE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!

May 2010 be filled with the love of God, and many blessings!!  And may you have the abundant life that only Jesus gives.

One Extraordinary Tree.

It may look pretty ordinary, but it is amazing how God can use the ordinary to do extraordinary things. The tree is called Moringa oleifera, and it is transforming lives and communties around the developing world. God has given us many plants for our well-being and healing, and this is one of them. And this one is being used to combat malnutrition, especially among infants and nursing.

Wikipedia says:”It is considered one of the world’s most useful trees, as almost every part of the Moringa tree can be used for food or has some other beneficial property.”

And if you don’t want to read all that article, you can watch this 10 min video about the Miracle Tree.

As you may know, this year has taken me, online, to places in the developing world. In particular, Africa, and especially Uganda! And target that a bit more to one town and district, Mbarara, in the south west of Uganda. I would have over a dozen contacts in that area, pastors, evangelists, students, etc. It is amazing how God brings all this together. I feel truly blessed to have these people as my friends. Most of these are young leaders in their twenties and on so fire for God. These are leaders of the upcoming generation.

And here is something you may not know – 50% of Uganda’s population is under 15 years old. They are just babes as a nation, and need much nurturing. They also need to taught how to mature and become self-sufficient. This is where the Moringa tree comes in.

REPEMU International

Among my contacts are a pastor and his wife, whom Phil and I have been supporting and praying for. It started from my designing a website and helping set up a network for them, and has blossomed into a wonderful friendship. Then just after we met this couple entered into a season of much trials and tribulation. Paul says about the troubles he went through when he talked about tribulations, needs, distresses, stripes, imprisonments, tumults, labours, sleeplessness, fastings, and then slander, evil reports, and destitution. (See 2 Cor 6.) Well, without going into the details, they faced nearly all that for the sake of the gospel. Oh, and there was a riot and a church fire in the middle of it all.

But we have proved what the Bible says in Romans 8 where it says:

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

And out of the ash heap new life has sprung. The culmination of the year has been the discovery of the Moringa tree. The ministry had just started arranging for a farming project when we were put in touch with a lady who had started a Moringa planting project in Haiti and Hawaii, and was looking to set up something in Uganda. It seems that God was a few steps ahead of us, and now He has brought all this together.

We have hired 13 hectares of land for the season (only about $350 AUD) on which we will grow a number of crops, but the most important will be the cultivation of Moringa, and then the production of Moringa products. Imagine the impact this will have on the community and potentially the nation.

Anyhow, this project has only started this month, and we need some financial help to get things happening. The ministry is called REPEMU International which is headed by Prs Atukwatse Onesmus and Bashabe Gorette. Go here to read about the farming project.

You can also read about the prison ministry that Bashabe has been doing. Within the first 2 weeks 243 inmates gave their lives to Christ. They desperately need Bibles, both in English and the native language.

Click here to find out more about the ministry including the Divine Future Care Ministry orphanage.

MORINGA – WHERE TO GET IT:

Here is another ministry that is
working in conjunction with us.
That is Global Passion Mission.
Check out the project they have conducted
in Haiti and now in Hawaii.

Also, for Maringa products and other info,
check out MARINGA MAMA page on FACEBOOK
Website: www.moringamama.com (coming soon).

WHAT I WANT FOR THIS YEAR.

As I’ve just shared, the potential blessings for our Ugandan, and other African friends are wonderful. However many of our friends there, especially pastors in the poor rural regions, need a hand to get started towards a self-sufficient lifestyle.

So my new year wish is to bless our brothers and sisters in Uganda and also in Kenya. If you would like to help me help them, just click on the link below.

PAYPAL DONATION

JESUS LOVES POOR FOLK!!

SCRIPTURE: (Luke 4:18-19, NKJ)

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

TEXT: (v.18)
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor.”

As I read this passage that phrase jumped out at me. Didn’t Jesus come to preach the good news to everyone? Why does the prophet Isaiah only mention the poor? Don’t we all need good news?

And then another question. Who are these poor that Jesus preached to?

Well, I learned that there are two types of poverty mentioned in the New Testament. In the Greek they are:

• Penes – those poor who can help themselves through their own labour; and
• Ptochos – those in abject poverty, who have no other means of support than to beg – the ones who need someone else to lift them.

And it is interesting that it was to this second group that this prophecy was addressed. These are the poor that we see images of in third world countries. These are those who do not seem to have any hope. This is to whom Jesus came to preach good news. Oh, how He loves poor people, and how He wants to deliver them! Our natural reaction would be to turn a blind eye as those images we see are far too disturbing. But let us stop and look. See them as Jesus did.

So what is it that causes one to be in this sorry state? If we look at the following verses and we notice four different groups of people.  They are the abused, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed.

And what did Jesus come to do for these people? Did He come with government hand-outs and relief aid? Did He come with oodles of money to pay their debts? No!! Those are only band-aid solutions.

INSTEAD, Jesus came with ANSWERS!! He came to heal broken hearts, to proclaim liberty from bondage, to bring recovery of sight, and to set the oppressed free.

Here is how He did it:

“Though He was rich, He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”  (2 Cor. 8:9, NKJ)

Yes!! He became destitute, as poor as a beggar, so that we might become rich. This is the GOOD NEWS!! Jesus went to the cross, stripped of all so that He would be OUR ALL.

So that is why He came with good news for the poor beggars. They were desperate. They are the ones who recognized their need and most willing to receive.

For those of us who have some wealth or substance, and even for the battlers, we can depend on our own resources. We do not have the same desperate need of a Saviour. Well, we don’t see it. But all that outward wealth can camouflage our real need, and that is, without Christ we are in dire need spiritually. That is why Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Each one of us needs to come to the point of recognizing that spiritually we are like a poor beggar. We need to cast aside our independence and call on Him for mercy and favour.

So now can we understand why the gospel is flourishing in poor countries, while in the west we are in spiritual famine? Really, who are the rich and who are the poor?

“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5, NKJ)

“The blessing of the Lord make one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22, NKJ)

So let us come to His feet and sing with the hymn writer:

Jesus see me at Your feet,
Nothing but the blood can save me;
You alone my need shall meet,
Nothing but the blood can save me.

No, no, nothing do I bring,
But by faith I’m clinging
To the cross, O, Lamb of God,
Nothing but the blood can save me.

The photos are from a crusade in Uganda that Evangelist Evard was involved in just before Christmas.  He preached about Jesus who came as the Light of the World, and that people no longer need to grope in the darkness of despair.  Many received Christ!  We thank God!!

You can visit and/or join his network, “God’s Mercy to the World Ministry“.  You will see more photos there, and can contribute to the work of this ministry by clicking on the PAYPAL button in the right-hand column.  You will be helping him to preach the GOOD NEWS to the poor.

A Heart of Compassion

Here is a prayer from a Ugandan pastor. I love his zeal and conviction.  May we catch it!

Lord, take a look at my hand.
Take a look at my heart.
Mold it and refine it and set me apart.
I want to run to Your altar to catch the fire,
to stand in the gap for the lost world.

Give me a heart of compassion for the world without vision.
Then I will make a difference giving to the world
the vision that drives me.

My heart, my cry, my prayer, my passion
is to see nations bow down and worship God,
that with one mighty voice, every knee must bow down,
and every tongue must confess that Jesus is LORD,
to the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

By Pastor Atukwatse Onesmus
(REPEMU International)

PRINTABLE CARD AND BOOKMARK

As I read, I thought that this prayer needed keeping!

So, using this image, I have made a printable card and bookmark in PDF format. You can download it, then print, laminate (bookmark), fold (card), cut and trim. The file includes the card in 2 sizes (1 medium and 2 small), and 4 bookmarks on an A4.

Print them as many times as you like and share with friends. (Instructions are included with the download.)

Also, if you have a fundraising cause, you could make multiple copies and sell them for your cause.

PAY WHAT IT IS WORTH TO YOU.

You will find this file in REPEMU’s Lulu shop.

Instead of charging for the download and have to pay commission on the sale, we have chosen to provide it free with a donation. That way, all the funds go to the cause, and you can pay what it is worth to you.

VIEW & DOWNLOAD
PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS
DONATION VIA PAYPAL

The funds will go towards REPEMU’s Farming Project.
We need to start planting in December.
Thank you for your support. God bless you!

YOU CHART THE PATH AHEAD OF ME…

.. AND TELL ME WHERE TO STOP AND REST.

Yesterday, I thinking how perfectly God fits things together, and I remembered a phrase that I’d read in the Living Bible years ago…

“You chart the path ahead of me…”

I managed to find a Living Bible on my shelf and looked it up. In Psalm 139:1-7 it says:

“O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
You know when I sit or stand.
When far away you know my every thought.
You chart the path ahead of me,
and tell me where to stop and rest.
Every moment, you know where I am.
You know what I am going to say before I even say it.
You both precede and follow me,
and place your hand of blessing on my head.

“This is TOO glorious, too wonderful to believe!!
I can never be lost to your Spirit!
I can never get away from my God!!”

Amen!!

May I say SELAH!!! Let’s stop a moment and think about that!!!
Reread those verses and let them sink into your spirit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay…..

Now today, in my morning (or afternoon – I slept in) reading of Luke’s gospel, I was reading chapter 2. How awesome is our God? Look, He is there charting the path ahead of our Lord before He was born. He was preparing the right circumstances for Joseph and Mary so that the birth of Jesus would fit in with prophecy.

I want you to imagine Joseph and Mary there in Nazareth. They knew that within Mary’s womb was the Saviour of the world… the promised Messiah. They also would have known the prophecies given about the coming Messiah. One of those was that He would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David. But they were in Nazareth.

Maybe they could have thought about this and tried to figure out how to get to Bethlehem so that the prophecy would be fulfilled? I know I may have done that. I possibly would have done some enquiring about travel and accommodation, and made sure that everything was in place. Sometimes we think we have to help God to get organised.

Or maybe Joseph and Mary didn’t think too much about it. All those prophecies were too confusing, so why bother to figure it out? And then they get this letter in the mail saying there was to be a census.  Caesar Augustus had decreed that all the world should be registered, and that everyone had to travel to their home town to be registered.  Here is Mary about 8 months pregnant and they are expected to travel, all over taxes!! I think many of us would have done a lot of complaining about the government of the day, and their unrealistic expectations.

BUT….

… let’s get our eyes off the natural circumstances, annoying as they may be. And let us look at what God was up to.

YES!! Here He is charting the path ahead of the Messiah to be born in the RIGHT place and according to prophecy. How awesome!! God used the everyday and frustrating circumstances to bring about His plan.

So then, let us remember that in our day-to-day life!

Dear Lord, may we not complain when things don’t go as we’d like them to.  May we not complain when people try and frustrate our plans.  Lord, may we trust you and know that You are working all things together for our good.  We praise You, Lord, that Your ways are PERFECT!!

“As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
(Psalm 18:30, NKJ)

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans
8:28, NKJ)

A NEW MINISTRY BIRTHED OUT OF ADVERSITY!!

MAY GOD BE GLORIFIED AS YOU READ THIS STORY! BE ENCOURAGED!!

“All things work together for good to those that love God and are called according to His purpose.”

And someone has said that the more bitter the battle, the sweeter is the victory. This has definitely been the case for my friend, Pastor Atukwatse Onesmus, over the past 3 months. He has walked through this dark valley of adversity and despair.

I thank you for all the support you’ve given to Pastor Onesmus during this time. But praise God, He has used this experience for His glory. The Apostle James says,

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”

I thank the Lord that He has placed me in a position to witness all this firsthand.

I first met Pastor Onesmus and his wife Bashabe back at the start of May. On one Ning network he shared his testimony with me. He wrote:

God met me at a time I was a wasted creature, lost in the world of sorcery, witchcraft, drug addiction, sexual perversion, one without purpose for life. In fact the Lord God met me at a time i was going to commit suicide after leaving a prison as an exconvict of attempted rape, a crime for which i served 3 years sentence to hard labor in prison.

As I was still thinking about committing suicide, i went to a cafe. On opening, a friend had forwarded a link to me which i opened and behold, these were the Campus Crusade online gospel preachers. I was convicted in my heart and I gave my life to Christ. It wasn’t easy for me to be emotionally healed, but God used the online correspondent I was given to teach me and help me overcome all the habits, find purpose in life, and understand the word of God .

She went ahead and sponsored me to join a bible school after God had called me into his service, three years after an encounter with him, and for the last 17 years, the Lord has used me and my experience to reach out to many degenerate people. That is why i have a crushing burden for people who have lost hope and purpose in life, God is calling me upon to begin internet ministry. As soon as i get a computer and a network modem, i will embark on that.

Practical gospel helped me become who I am. That is why I believe in preaching practical gospel of love to the most unfortunate societies.

Since that first meeting, I have been supporting this pastor and his work, and so has my husband. I administer “Power in the Word” Ning network with him, and I’ve helped him get a web/blog site together. Their ministry is call REPEMU International. Please check out his sites when you have the time.

So now, I want to share with you the journey the Lord has had us embark on this past 3 months, and for Pr Onesmus that has been one of terrible affliction.

One Friday night at the end of May, Onesmus comes on the chats and tells me that his 10yo son, Ian, had been involved in a bad bicycle accident, and that he was in the hospital in a coma. This had happened when they were away from their home town. We prayed, and for 6 weeks he was in the coma… and they battled to get funds to pay for the operation and for medication. Then after the 6 weeks, the Lord woke Ian up, and now he is “extremely well” (as Onesmus says), and we rejoice.

But still there was one problem. The hospital wouldn’t discharge him until the bill was paid. But for some reason, even after appealing for people to help, the money didn’t come through. This made we wonder what God was up to. Why did He have them stuck at this hospital, away from their home and their other children?

Well, two weeks ago (Aug 24), something remarkable happened. Pastor Onesmus received a phone call from a young lass who had just joined the network. She and a few student friends had joined. While Onesmus talked to her on the phone, they realised that they were only a few block away from each other. Of course, Onesmus was able to meet up with her in person. Onesmus was able to minister to her. But that’s not all! That evening, she took him to the college to introduce him to the other students. They shared together and Pr Onesmus ministered to them for some time.

Over the past few weeks, Pr Onesmus has met with the students a number of times. What is remarkable is that he would not have met the students if young Ian had been discharged from hospital as we’d hoped. Instead, this time of affliction has birthed a brand new ministry.

Last Sunday, Pr Onesmus preached to over 200 students. The students are really hungry for the Word of God, and they want Pastor to plant a church for them. They have been looking for a building they could hire and it seems they have found a suitable venue.

So, could you please pray that God will provide them the funds for the rent and that he will provide chairs and the sound equipment they need. They also desperately need Bibles.

I pray this story encourages you to press on even in the midst of trials.

God will make a way where there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way, He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness you lead me,
Rivers in the desert will I see;
Heaven and earth will fade,
but His Word will still remain;
And He will do something new today.

Bless ya!

My NEW MORNING!

Praise the Lord for this new day!! His mercies are new every morning.

Ahhhh!! We can start again, leaving yesterday’s hassles behind, and tackle the things that bothered us then with a new vigour and a fresh mind. Thank the Lord for a refreshing sleep.

And as I sit with Lord on our front verandah, enjoying my morning cuppa, I marvel in this day. For us it is the first of spring. As I soak up the warmth of the morning sun, I also soak up the warmth of my Lord’s love for me, and I sing:

“Whom have I in heaven but Thee; And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee; My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart, And my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25-26)

And then our two rainbow lorikeets (Lorry and Lulu) fly in and delight me with their presence. They are after their morning treat of bread and honey. They have been around again for the past few weeks, and it’s hard to believe that it is 3 years since their first visit. They are not perturbed by Sir Bassy, the cat, sprawled out on a pillow. He learned long ago that they are too quick for him.

“Blessed be the Lord who daily loads us with benefits, the God of my salvation.” (Psalm 68:19)

So, I rejoice in this new morning and praise my Creator who does all thing well. I can see that He has all things in control, so why should I fuss? I CAN trust Him with the tasks ahead of me this day.

“I roll my works upon the Lord. I commit and trust them wholly to Him. He will cause my thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall my plans be established and succeed.” (from Prov 3:16, Amp.)

SHINE ON!!

SHINE ON!!!!

Light is a pretty powerful thing!!

For instance, say you and your family have been out all day, and you don’t get home until dark. You didn’t plan to be away for so long, so you didn’t leave any lights on not even outside. So you rummage around trying to find the key to open the door. Eventually you succeed and open the door to pitch black. So now, what is the first thing you would do?? Of course you would turn on firstly one light, and then another. The family charge inside. And if your kids are anything like our kids, soon just about every light in the house is on. The place is shining like a lighthouse.

So is it not true, that the more lights you turn on, the less darkness there is. DUH!!! Pretty obvious, eh?

Well, shouldn’t that be the same for us believers in this dark world? The more believers who have their lamps burning brightly, the less darkness we would have. So then, why should the darkness, and the powers of darkness scare us?

We read of Jesus:

“His life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” (John 1:4a-5, NLT)

So, we too must shine, but how then are we to do it? Paul explains it very well for us…

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” (Phil 2:14-16)

And Jesus said:

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

“Do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season you will reap if you do not lose heart. Therefore, as you have opportunity, do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

(YES!!  We are also our brother’s keeper.)

So, may I encourage you, that as the Lord blesses you and your ministry, that you be a blessing to others?  As He said to Abraham:

“I will bless you… and you shall be a blessing.”

Please remember this:  We are channels for God’s grace; He doesn’t make us reservoirs.

And as Paul said to Timothy, so may I encourage you

“Don’t be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.  Do good … be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, and so store up for yourself a good foundation for the time to come, that you may hold on eternal life.” (1 Tim 6:17-19)

Also, be encouraged by this:

“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.” (Prov. 19:17)

“He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.” (Prov. 28:27)

We need to take what God said in Deuteronomy 15 to heart also:

“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.  Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you.  You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’”

Finally, as Paul encouraged the Corinthians:

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each onegive as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Cor 9:6-8)

“SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.” (Mat 6:33)

May God bless you and may His love shine out of you to those around.  May the world be a better place because you are in it, shining for Jesus!!!

Jeanette Burton

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POWER IN THE WORD

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