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September 2016

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Conflict or Combat?

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I listened to a podcast recently in which the speaker, Dr. Gary Smalley, made a statement that grabbed my attention. “Conflict is not the problem; combat is.” 

  • How you deal with the situations of life will be the testing of genuine character.
  • Conflict, if dealt with properly leads to constructive bonding and growing.

I heard of a couple that used the term “growth opportunity” for challenging times in their relationship. This way of approaching life situations reveals the expected outcome – growth.

  • One of the primary causes of conflict is misunderstanding and miscommunication.
  • Each of us interpret situations through our own emotions, past experiences, perspectives, belief systems, personality, knowledge, and individual perceptions.
One kindergartener I teach is learning the letter “R” this week. For one of his art projects, we went outside and picked up some rocks. I took the opportunity to point out how each rock looked different and likened that fact to us as people.
Conflict is inevitable where there is two different people. Yet, it doesn’t have to lead to combat. What we need most in dealing with conflict is humility, the denial of “My Rights”. Humility will put us in the place where we can receive God’s abundant grace.

 

 “Yea, all of you be subject one to another , and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 
I Peter 5:5

 

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Alaskan Update – 9/25/16

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We are coming today with a more lengthy update. Thank you for taking these needs upon your heart.

 

Julie sent me a picture yesterday of a lady that I had shared about in our last Newsletter of how God’s love had transformed her life. Before I had left in March, she had a place to live and was very excited about it. She came back to the shelter Sunday night because the bills became too much where she could no longer afford her own place to live. I had the opportunity to talk to her over the phone. What she shared was most heartbreaking. She told me that her youngest son died three weeks ago in jail. He was a heroin addict and was also suicidal. The jail was told to put him on lockdown and watch over him very closely. For some reason, those instructions were not followed. The officials will not disclose the information as to whether he died from drying out too fast from the heroin or from suicide. As you could imagine, this precious mother is heartbroken. She kept telling me, “I just don’t know what to do!” Please pray for Mary*.

 

There was 52 attendance for church and 60 for lunch this Sunday. Bro Martin preached a message aboutThomas who was “Won Over by Jesus’ Wounds”. Bro Martin used the image of the Question Mark (?) to illustrate the twisted, distorted, and doubtful thinking that prevails when our focus is earthly and downward; whereas if we will direct our hearts to God & look up to Him, He will straighten out our thinking and we will be characterized by the Exclamation Mark (!)

 

Bro Martin shares, “Many responded to the invitation: I asked all those who purposed to look to God for their answers to lift both hands up to Him and cry out to Him. What a sight! Many (about 20) were standing, with hands lifted, crying out to God! Of those, three came forward for special prayer: One was having extreme pain from arthritis (She told me in the van when I was taking them back to shelter that almost all pain was gone! Praise the Lord!) There was also a young native mother who has lost rights to her two children and tearfully asked for prayer for them. Furthermore, there was Native lady whose aunt had just died that day in one of the remote villages and was grieving deeply. It was so refreshing to see God touch these hearts.

 

The long hours of daylight is dwindling. Bro. Martin has been working hard to get some projects finished up around the house before winter settles in. Julie shared with me how they are expecting a “GOOD” winter, which in Alaskan terminology means frigid temps with much snow and ice. The family has shared that many of their neighbors have been working hard to finish projects on their homes too. I’m reminded of the words of Jesus “Work while it is day, for the night cometh when no man can work.” The end is upon us; therefore, we must view every soul through the lens of eternity and be motivated to do ALL WE CAN WHILE WE CAN!

 

May God bless you!

 

*Name changed to protect privacy

A Praise Report from the Women’s Shelter

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Julie Martin shares of her experience at the Women’s Shelter today:

“Casey* came to me this morning and was crying. She said she has been drinking every day and wants to change but does not see a way out of drinking! She wanted me to pray for her! I talked to her and told her that she has to make a choice to turn to God for her help and not to beer! As I began to pray for her, I felt God keep on telling her through me that she is a overcomer of whatever life brings her way and that He wants to heal the hurts and pain from the past and present!! When we got done praying she kept on saying to herself, “I am a overcomer, I am a overcomer!” I am so very thankful for my job that I can pray with the ladies openly and give devotions Monday–Friday!!! God is so good!”

Please rejoice with us in how God is working in Casey’s* life and please continue to pray for her and for Julie who is reaching out to these ladies on a daily basis. Thank you for partnering with us through your prayers! We appreciate you!

*Name changed to protect privacy

 

Hope Church congregation

September 18, 2016 – Hope Church News

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We want to say thank you for staying tuned in and interested in seeing how God is working in Anchorage, Alaska.

 

Around 60 people came to Hope Church yesterday morning, which was the largest number yet. No doubt, the word is spreading through ones like the man we told you of last weekend. We praise God for each individual that is experiencing God’s presence in a special way. Bro Martin shared a message on God being the source of our strength from Isaiah 40:31. He gave the illustration from electrical wiring of how God’s strength/power flows through us. Joy said that it was the best message she had ever heard her Daddy preach! We are so thankful of the seeds planted in the hearts and trusting God to bring the increase.

Bro Martin preaching

We haven’t shared much about the meals the girls prepare for the people each week. For the first few weeks, they made a Taco Soup in large roaster ovens. Because the people eat soup most every day throughout the week, the girls are now branching out and preparing other things. They had a Penne Alfredo with green beans and coleslaw yesterday. Bro Martin says that the people especially liked the coleslaw with it being something they haven’t had much.

 

We really appreciate your prayers and support.
We pray God will bless you!
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Take God at His WORD – Devotional

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 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
I John 5:14-15

 

How would our worry levels decrease and our faith increase if we really took God’s Word as the final authority in every situation, no matter how big or small? 

 

Our family experienced God answering prayer one very memorable day while driving through Los Angeles, CA. At that time, we were riding in our 15 passenger van pulling our 39 foot bumper pull travel trailer. We had been advised to have sway bars in order to be safe. Some had said that one would be adequate, yet to be safer Daddy decided to get two. On this day, a very heavy crosswind rose up and I can still recall the feeling of panic as we could feel our trailer swaying back and forth to the place of no human ability to correct. We knew that it had to be God’s intervention or we were going to flip the trailer. We cried out to God in prayer and Momma called our praying Granny who would “travel along with us” with her finger on the map in her lap. Granny and Papa went to prayer immediately for us. Before long the wind calmed and we were able to make it safely to our destination. I wasn’t a disciple in the boat on the storm-tossed sea, but I know what its like for God to say, “Peace be still” to a crosswind in California.

 

 

“Thou art coming to a King,

Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and power are such,
None can ever ask too much;”
John Newton

 

Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Gen. 18:14)
A Glimpse of Alaska

September 11, 2016 – Ministry News Update

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We’re coming with a wonderful report from Anchorage, Alaska!

 

The Downtown Soup Kitchen allowed Bro. Martin to use their van to pick up people for church. They got it completely loaded and headed back to the church when a man in the van hollered emphatically, “STOP!” again and again. Bro Martin came to a stop to see what was going on with him. He then opened the door and hollered out of the van, “Hey cuz, you need to come on up here for church and they have really good food too!” After the van door was closed and they were on their way again, Bro Martin used this incident as a teaching tool for everyone else. He said, “We are having church because we have the Good News to share.” Bro Martin preached about “A Love that Deserves a Response.” He shared a story in memory of September 11, 2001 about a lady that was rescued from the World Trade Center. In response to the love that was shown her, she named the child that she gave birth to after the man that rescued her and her unborn child. Bro. Martin tied it into what our response should be to the love of God that has been shown to us. We praise the Lord for the response of these precious people to God’s amazing Love.

 

After church, Bro Martin went down to the hospital for about 3 1/2 hours. He visited patients and also ministered to the staff. There was one of the RN’s that especially opened up and shared some of her background in a foster home and how she was taken to a “holy-roller” church. Because of her raising in that type of a church, the other denominations didn’t suit her. We are trusting God for the seeds sown to bring forth a great harvest for the Glory of God.

 

Bro Martin and the family had the privilege of attending an ordination service for a faithful volunteer at the Downtown Soup Kitchen on Sunday night. This volunteer made mention in his speech that he was glad to have the  pastor at the Downtown Soup Kitchen, Pastor James, there. My baby sister, Joy, relayed this special honoring time to me. She thinks it is really neat to hear her Daddy referred to as a pastor, since he’s been a missionary/evangelist for her whole life.

 

Thank you for all who prayed for Susan* last week as she underwent surgery. She came through it good, and scheduled to be discharged from the hospital today. The Brother Francis shelter is allowing her to stay in a private room in order to recover away from the elements. We praise the Lord for this.

 

We greatly appreciate you agreeing with us in prayer for a mighty revival among the homeless in Anchorage, Alaska! May God bless you!

 

*Name changed to protect privacy
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The Eternal God – Devotional

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The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:…” Deut. 33:27

 

This verse has been such a strength during trials. Taking the first three words of this verse “The eternal God”, we see the truth that God has forever been. On bus route visitation today, my husband and I began talking to a young man who was full of questions about God. We were so thankful to see how God had been touching his heart. One of the questions he asked was how God was created. Derek answered first of all with the description of God as eternal.

 

  • We can trust a God that was not created with human hands, but has forever been and will forever be.
  • To take it a step further, it’s who God is to me and you that makes this of such significance – He is our refuge, habitation, or dwelling place.
  • Our Heavenly Father want us to know Him as the One who will always be there (in the truest form) for us.
  • Furthermore, God has chosen to place His everlasting arms underneath us to show us His love and care for us.
On this point, I felt like sharing a story that my precious Grandma Martin shared before she went on to her reward. She said there was a lady in their church while they were pastoring that was going through so much. Grandma had been really burdened for this lady and prayed much for her. One night, Grandma had a dream and she saw this lady’s head out in the boisterous waters, but she saw a big hand underneath her chin. God spoke to my Grandma, “She’s just as safe here as she would be out on the shore.”

 

My dear friend, no matter what you are going through right now, put your trust in the eternal God that is your refuge and allow His love for you to secure and protect you. 

Hope Church and Beyond

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Since the family returned to Alaska in July, they have had the privilege of several people visiting from the Lower 48. Pastor & Mrs Randy Perry, Pastor Patrick Stone (COG Depew, OK), and Bro Boyd Smith and son, Denali (Kellyville, OK) came to look over the Downtown Soup Kitchen on Friday. Rev. & Mrs. Larry Landress along with Bro & Sis Bradley Cottrell, their son, Kyler, and Sis Cottrell’s mom came up this past weekend to be in service. Hope Church was blessed by their ministry on Sunday. They ministered through song and message and there was a great response in the altars. Praise the Lord!

 

Julie has just finished up her first week as a full-time employee at the Women’s Shelter. When her alarm goes off in the middle of the night, she has to be reminded of why she is doing it in the first place: to be a vessel of God’s love to these precious ladies. She also has the responsibility of organizing the volunteer list for each night. There has been some challenging moments, but God continues to be her strength.

 

Bro Martin was asked by a faithful member of Hope Church to come and see her in the hospital yesterday. Susan* is scheduled for an 8-12 hour surgery today. While Bro Martin was there, a Catholic chaplain came in to visit Susan*. While he was going out in order to give them some time, Bro Martin overheard Susan* telling the chaplain that he was her pastor and she went to Hope Church. Just 6 weeks of Hope Church being established and these precious people are feeling identified with the family and church. To God be all the Glory! If you think of Susan* today, please pray she will experience the peace and love of God in a special way.

 

We want you to know on a regular basis how we appreciate your faithful support of Hope for the Home Ministries.
May God richly bless you!

*Name changed to protect privacy

{Monday’s update is a day late due to family activities and delay in collecting information. Thank you for your understanding.}

James Martin family 2005

How Character Effects Actions

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Do you desire your “doing” to be different? Whether it’s organization and consistency in your daily schedule, reactions to unpleasant circumstances, training children, ways to use your time, or a slew of other things: we find ourselves desiring to do differently than we actually achieve.

 

Just as the success of the crop rests upon the health of the soil, so the outer expressions of our lives are dependent on who we are on the inside. We see this truth addressed in the words of Jesus in Luke 6:45: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth for the that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of this heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

 

In “Habits of a Healthy Home”, author Bill Carmichael gives the analogy of our homes being the soil where children, like seeds, are planted. He said, “Healthy homes that produce good ground are the result not so much of how we parent but of who we are as parents, as families.”

 

On a personal level: much of what molded my mindset and character was the consistent daily example my precious Momma & Daddy lived before me. Yes, I received discipline and lengthy lectures, but their lifestyle was the primary teaching tool in my life. They taught me to pray by their prayer life; they taught me to work by their work ethic; they taught me to be faithful by their faithfulness, and the list could go on and on. I know my parents would be the first ones to tell you that they weren’t perfect, but I can say that the character my parents allowed God to build in them made their training efforts effective.

 

Are you living the life you want others to follow? Let’s all ask God to cleanse the inside of our lives that the outside would be clean as well (Matt. 23:26).