House Church Talk - Body Life in Montana

[goodwordusa at att.net]

Thanks, Bruce and Paul, for those good words of encouragement.

I believe it is fitting for us to pray earnestly for our town/area, that 
God's hand will move mightily among His own children, for the sake of all the 
people there.  I get this idea, in part, from Paul's admonition to pray for 
all men (1 Tim 2:1-4), and from Jeremiah's exhortation from the Lord to the 
captives in Babylon (Jer 29:7) where the Lord tells the people to pray for 
the shalom of the city where they lived, for in the shalom of that city was 
their shalom.

Jeremiah 29:7 -- "And seek the [shalom] of the city where I have caused you 
to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its [shalom] 
you will have [shalom].

And shalom means more than our English word for peace -- it is the peace + 
health + prosperity that comes from God Himself.  And the prosperity we need 
in our cities, our areas, is not more money, but the true riches of Jesus 
Christ that are given to all the saints of God by the Spirit and the Word.

Those first captives, by the way, were the people that God was watching over 
(as opposed to those left behind) (see Jer 24:1-10).  They were the future of 
Israel, the ones that the Lord had tucked away for safe-keeping until He 
should restore and bless Israel.  

I mention this because even though we who trust in Jesus may seem to be a 
scattered lot, and we must concern ourselves each day with mundane things and 
the business of life, we are nonetheless the people of the Lord's keeping and 
love.  He delights to bless and enrich us with heavenly things -- both now 
and forever.

And we know that every good thing comes down to us from the Father through 
Jesus Christ our Lord.  All praise and glory belong to Him forever and ever.  
Amen.

Jim
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of 
[shalom] and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call 
upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek 
Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."  Jer 29:11-13

Bruce Woodford wrote:
> Your assessment of the church in Billings (100,000) is very much the same 
as 
> our assessment of the church here in Norwich, Ontario (about 2,000).
> 
> Also your heart's desire for body life and ministery to be experienced by 
> the saints in your community is also our heart's desire here!
> 
> Thanks so much for sharing!
> 
> Your brother in Christ,
> Bruce


Paul Cox wrote:
> Thanks so much for sharing with us.  I had a real sense of being there
> as I read your letter.  I think there is in every true believer this
> desire for body life.  Unfortunately in most cases, that feeling has
> been covered over. 
> 
> May the Lord honor your burden for all the believers in Billings to
> interact more and to do things together in the city for the glory of
> God.  We stand with you, brother.
> 
> Yours in Christ
> Paul
> 
> ps   My wife, kids and I lived in Houston for most of the eighties -
> Sharpstown II.