Funny Re-gifting Story

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)

Resource Thin?

Financial Resources are Thin

Biblical counseling is such a tough field to be in because the financial resources for our discipline are so very scarce since the WORLD does not embrace biblical counseling. In fact, many in the church world today do not embrace biblical counseling. It’s sad.

The world will support secular agencies. Government funds are allocated to secular agencies yet biblical counseling is ignored. Many in the secular counseling world do not even acknowledge biblical counseling as legitimate so we often do not get invited to have a “seat at the table” at various counseling events. However, we KNOW that biblical, compassionate, Christ-centered counseling that preaches the Gospel is the ONLY legitimate form of counseling where the Holy Spirit deals with the heart to bring real transformation!!!

Spiritual Resources are NOT Thin!

Biblical counseling, or intensive discipleship, is the most legitimate form of counseling that the world and the devil stole away from the church. We point people to Christ and lead them to a knowledge of the truth so that they can know Him.

We want people to know Christ Who is not resource thin! Our God owns the cattle on a thousand hills. In fact, He is the Owner of everything!

Please pray about how you can give to support TIL and other biblical counseling ministries that are willing to stand up for the all-sufficient truth of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit working to transform the hearts of people all over the world.

Are we financially resource thin in the worldly sense? Yes.

Are we spiritually resource thin? NEVER! We have the Lord’s resources and they are mighty to save!

We cherish your support both financially and prayerfully. We desperately need both.

-Mark (grateful for many of you who have given sacrificially to TIL)

P.S. Thank you again for your year-end donations to TIL that have already come in!

Who has the answers?

Where will transformation of Birmingham and our nation come from?

Politics? Not likely. Look at our current mayoral mess and the debt in Jefferson County.

Social organizations and civic groups? Not likely. Good hearts but they often do not point people to Christ.

Mental health? Not likely, it has not helped so far. Look at recent tragic events. Is secular mental health really effective? Debatable.

Here’s the only answer for transformation of hearts and families and marriages and the community: The church of the Lord Jesus Christ led by the Holy Spirit in obedience to the Word of God.

The church is the answer. Jesus said Himself in Matthew 16:18 that He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

So why do we send people to secular groups for help for addictions and send people to secular, mental health personnel for help when Christ and His GOSPEL is the answer and the church proclaims that message?

I speculate that we don’t really believe that the Gospel is the transforming message that the Holy Spirit uses to change hearts and lives PERMANENTLY.

There is no other answer. Christ alone. That’s the answer.

Do you believe the same Christ Who SAVES you is the SAME Christ Who sanctifies you?

That’s why I LOVE the church of our Lord Jesus Christ and I love Truth in Love Ministries because we are actively helping to STRENGTHEN churches by replicating disciples of Christ, counseling people using the Word of God, and lifting up Christ.

-Mark (praying that God’s people will continue to support Truth in Love with prayer and financial giving)

Stealing – 8th Commandment

The heart of God is giving. To me, that is Who God is – a Giver of life, a Giver of eternal life, a Giver of His love, a Giver in general. What can I give God that He has not first given me?

That’s why I think the 8th Commandment of not stealing is so dear to God’s heart. It is unloving to steal. It is taking rather than giving. It is taking what is not given to you and was given to someone else by the grace of God. In that sense, it is a TWOFOLD sin damaging yourself in your relationship with Christ and the person you stole from!

I love Ephesians 4:28 which gives us the antidote to stealing. The antidote is TWOFOLD: work and give to the needy.

We are to work and give to the needy. That’s why I love Truth in Love – we are a giving ministry. Most people cannot afford biblical counseling so we provide it for free thanks to your generous support of our ministry!

That’s why I also like working with Christ Health Center – they are a giving ministry providing healthcare to those in real need.

It’s a great partnership founded on the heart of God – GIVING to those in need. We all work together to give to those in need.

-Mark (God is an amazing GIVER)

Special Thanks to all of you who are called to TIL!

I want to thank all of you who have supported our ministry by giving your time to us in prayer, time in volunteering to work in the ministry, and investing in the Kingdom through financial gifts in 2008!!!

We are so glad that you are partnering with us and could NOT do this ministry without you! It is a total TEAM effort and it is fun to watch everyone use their God-given gifts for God’s glory in serving hurting souls.

Thank you for serving Christ with us in this new, upstart ministry!

-Mark (the best is yet to come – it will be an exciting 2009 as we watch our loving Savior work in the hearts of His people)

Are you living as if God truly exists?

What is a lukewarm Christian?

SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES IN GOD, BUT LIVES AS IF HE DOESN’T EXIST.

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.  I know
your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or
the other! So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out
of my mouth. Rev. 3:14-16

  

CHARACTERISTICS OF LUKEWARM CHRISTIANS

1) Crave acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.

2) Rarely share their faith in Christ.

3) Do whatever it takes to alleviate their guilt.

4) Think more about life on earth than eternity in heaven.

5) Gauge their morality by comparing to others.

6) Wants to be saved from the penalty of sin without changing their
lives.

7) Only turn to God when they are in a bind.

8) Give whenever it doesn’t hinder their standard of living.

9) Are not much different from the rest of the world.

10) Want the benefits of what Christ did without conforming to who He is.

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But
you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens
the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev 3:17, 20

  
WHEN YOU KNOW HIM…. YOU WILL:

Crave acceptance from Him!
Share him whenever and wherever possible!
Long to be with him eternally in heaven.
This world is not your home!
Give radically, generously, fanatically!
Seek God… faithfully!
Grieve over sinfulness
Different, set apart!

Discussion Questions

1) Are you more passionate about Christ this year than last year? Why or
why not?

2) Review the 10 qualities of lukewarm Christians. What is the biggest
one (if any) that applies to you?

  
3) What are you going to do about your answer to question 2?

 

 

 

  

 

–Jason  (Set on Fire for Him!)

 

 

**From Lifechurch.TV Message**

Request for Financial Help

TIL is currently ministering to a group of men and women in an addiction program called “The Popper’s House” that is run by Pastor Johnny Brown AND to a group of men for addiction at “The Village” that is run by Pastor Andy Jenkins. Theses ministry outreaches have been great and we are really seeing the Lord move in the hearts of His people there. There are approximately 60 people total at these two locations combined.

One way that we could improve the ministry to these two groups is to provide them with some biblical resources on addiction. We have given them some resources but our finances at TIL are extremely limited, also.

I have estimated that we could provide these men and women with books and workbooks for approximately $15.00 per person (that gives them a book and a workbook each).

Would you prayerfully consider giving to this need? You can sponsor one person for simply $15.00 and this would help them to grow in Christ for the next 3 months! That is a small $5.00 sacrifice for each person for each of the next 3 months, if you break it down individually and monthly.

Our total cost to help the entire group of people is $900.00.

We do the work of ministry efficiently and with excellence wherever we can. Please pray about partnering with us in this outreach!

Donations can be made online on the www.histruthinlove.org website OR by mailing a check to our PO Box at TIL, PO Box 367, Clay, AL 35048.

-Mark (thankful to the many who are giving to TIL in a variety of ways!)