Let’s not forget “Christ” in this holiday!
It’s His birthday we are celebrating because He came to save us from our sins! Hallelujah! Peace between God and man!
-Mark (wishing you a very merry Christmas holiday!)
Jason gave me one of the greatest compliments ever and he meant it in a good way: “You are so ordinary.”
I love it because I am and Jason & Ronny are ordinary, too. We are just little guys with a big message (the Gospel must be proclaimed in counseling not the ideas of man to provide real care for hurting souls) and an enormous God. I think of David who knew his God and the power of His might to fight Goliath!
Join our TIL team of ordinary men and women who serve an Extraordinary God and watch Him transform lives right before your eyes!
-Mark (amazed at the enormity of God and that He would love us, His little children)
It’s Christmas time again, which can only mean one thing: RE-GIFTING.
Do you know what “re-gifting” is? Re-gifting is defined (by me) as “giving a gift that you were given & did not pay for - to someone else.” In other words, you get a gift you aren’t real crazy about and then you re-wrap it to give it away to someone else.
We got re-gifted recently! Has it ever happened to you?
Honestly, I must admit, sadly, that in the past, we have re-gifted to others – usually when we didn’t have a lot of money to spend. Gotta admit it!
But this year, we were re-gifted in a HILARIOUS way: we received the exact gift back that we gave to the exact same person in a previous year! We know it is what we gave out because it was an autographed copy! There was no mistaking it!
Isn’t that funny? We think it’s hilarious and did not tell the person but graciously accepted the gift back. We love it, actually, because we gave all of ours away! Now, we have one again!
Spiritually, we should always re-gift what God gives us because it glorifies Him. For example, when He gives you wisdom, re-gift it to others. When He gives you joy, re-gift it to others. When He gives you peace, re-gift it to others. Counselees who have been helped can become counselors who help others – that’s the ultimate spiritual re-gifting for the glory of God (II Cor. 1:3-4).
-Mark (enjoying the Lord’s sense of humor this year)
What was your favorite moment at our Christmas Celebration of Christ?
I have my Top Ten:
Genna K. and Don O. reminding us of the importance of biblical counseling and proclaiming Christ, not ourselves!I want to thank Sharon, Nancy, Shirley, J.D., and all of those who helped us set up at Bethel Baptist Church in Moody, AL. What a great set of leaders God has assembled at Bethel Baptist Church in Pastors Chris Burns, Brad Tollison, Worship Leader Rick Whitehead, Lay Leaders Don Olvey, Andy Austin, and Bill Dill! What a team! Praise the Lord!
-Mark (grateful for a great night where God was central and He alone was glorified)
God was glorified last night at our annual TIL Christmas Celebration of Christ!
What a great time we had playing “reindeer games,” hearing testimonies, listening to the vision for Kenya, eating great food, and singing about the Amazing Grace of God!
“Wow” is all I can say today! I think EVERYONE saw what the Lord is doing through this ministry. It was a milestone moment for Truth in Love Ministries.
Last night’s party demonstrated that when we are united about the message of proclaiming Christ and the sufficiency of His Word and the Holy Spirit in personal ministry to hurting souls, then we are strong in the power of His might.
Imagine what the Lord will do through us in 2010 as we seek Him and His righteousness to advance the kingdom of God in Birmingham, Kenya, and around the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).
Here are just some of the BIG messages to proclaim to the world through TIL:
-Mark (what a Mighty God we serve!)
2 Cor. 3:18 and Romans 12:2 use the word “transform” which is translated from the Greek word that we derive metamorphosis from!
Are you a metamorphosis? Are you a “new creation” in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)? Have old things passed away?
Or are you just the same old person you used to be?
In Christ, we are TRANSFORMED.
Transformation is a CONVERSION into something new. It looks nothing like a simple improvement or a recovery. You do not get your old self back. Instead, you get a new self who looks nothing like your old self.
In Christ, you are to be humble not less prideful day by day. In Christ, you are to be gentle not less harsh day by day.
In Christ, you are to be like Him and He looks nothing like you and I. He is different and we are to be hidden in Him (Col. 3:1-3). Our identity is lost in Him but what a wonderful loss that is!!!!
I want to be more like Christ everyday and I know the Lord is conforming me into His image (Rom. 8:29). Believe me when I say, I am a NEW CREATION in Christ. The old Mark has passed away, by God’s power and grace. Praise the Lord! I am a new creation. My wife will confirm it.
That’s the same transformation I want for addicts and everyone who struggles with an addiction! Christ wants it, too, and offers it freely when you surrender to His Spirit.
-Mark (transformed and continuing to grow daily)
I heard someone say recently, “Tiger had it all. Riches, power, success, a supermodel wife from Sweden, two kids, and played golf all day, the sport he loves…He had it all. I wish I had that life!”
In the world’s eyes, he had it all but it didn’t fulfill him because natural things do not satisfy us completely. All of us are seeking after more…just wait until the day AFTER Christmas when children start playing with their old toys again or some of their toys break. We are exactly like that – we enjoy things for a little while until we get the next thing!
But did Tiger really have it all?
I don’t know if he did, but IF he didn’t have Christ, he didn’t. When you have Christ, you have it all. Nothing more is to be gained. Mark 8:36 (ESV): “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?”
I hope Tiger looks to Christ through all of this. I hope his eyes are turned toward the Lord. If they are, then all of this will be worth it, even losing all of his riches, fame, and prestige. The things of this world are temporary not eternal. They do not last. Only life in Christ is eternal.
-Mark (hoping we all learn a lesson about what really matters and that Tiger comes to know Christ either for the first time or for a deeper relationship with Him if it already exists – let’s pray for Tiger!)
