June 2010
Book Selection
"Why Smart People Make Dumb Choices"
by Deborah Smith Pegues & Ricky Temple Cost: $ 11.00
To purchase a copy, please contact:
Jacques McNeil at
jacques@witnessbookclub.com
or
310-671-4966
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JUNE MEETING DETAILS
Date: Friday, June 25 2010
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Thompson Wealth Management
400 Corporate Pointe, Ste 595
Culver City, CA
Host: Jacques McNeil
Telephone: 310-671-4966
Menu Theme:
Please contact us with the menu item that you will be bringing ASAP
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Will You Answer His Call?
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND
W.I.T.N.E.S.S. Book Club Ministry | Intercessory Prayer Conference Call
PRAYER WITHOUT WALLS
MONDAY, June 21, 2010
Time: 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-0800
Participant Access Code: 206418#
Send Prayer Requests and Praise Reports Via E-Mail: prayer@witnessbookclub.com Kimberley Thompson
Intercessory Prayer Leader
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If you are interested in becoming a member of W.I.T.N.E.S.S. Book Club, or supporting our ministry by sowing a seed please visit our website at www.witnessbookclub.com ---------------------------------
If you are interested in advertising your business in our newsletter, please contact Jacques McNeil at 310-671-4966
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REGISTER TODAY!
WBC will be celebrating our 15th Anniversary and hosting a 2010 "Victorious Living Women's Conference ~ Healthy Mind, Body and Spirit."
Join us at the beautiful Manhattan Beach Marriott on Saturday, September 25, 2010.
Early Bird Registration ends July 20th, so don't delay. For more details and to register, visit www.witnessbookclub.com
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Launch Out into the Deep
Launch Out into the Deep
by Jacques McNeil
Luke 5:4 & 5 "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch. But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."
Those who the Lord calls to work in His vineyard are often called upon to complete a task that will stretch you far beyond your level of comfort. One might ask, "is this really necessary, or how is this going to prove beneficial"? 1 Corinthians 1:25 says, "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." The request may actually seem absurd at best, but God always has a plan.
In Luke 5:1-9, Jesus is in the process of selecting disciples, while preaching a sermon. Simon Peter, a master fisherman was in the vicinity because he had been fishing all night long, without catching a single fish. During the time that Jesus was preaching to the multitudes, Peter and the other fishermen were cleaning their nets, in preparation for yet another night at sea. After Jesus preached his sermon, He spoke to Simon Peter and said, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets, for a catch." Peter's immediate response was, "excuse me, we toiled/struggled/battled all night long "Mr. Carpenter" and we didn't catch anything." You see, Peter was an experienced fisherman and Jesus was an experienced carpenter and what could he know about fishing? Peter was well aware of the fact that the best time to fish was at night time when the fish would come near the surface. During the day time, fish would customarily go down to cooler waters, deep in the lake making it virtually impossible to catch fish during that time of the day.
Even though Peter felt that this action would prove to be futile, he exercised faith and obeyed Jesus' command. As a result of his faith and obedience, so many fish were caught that day, that it nearly broke their nets, and it required them to call for help from another boat. This miraculous act was humbling for Peter and it jolted him into recognizing Jesus as Lord.
You may feel as if the Lord is asking you to "launch out into the deep", and you're contemplating if you should do it. You may even be wondering what others will think of you if you actually did it? I would encourage you to take the leap of faith, even though you don't see the "big picture." Exercise your faith and choose to walk in obedience. Don't allow disobedience to stand between you and your miracle.
I challenge you today to "Launch Out into the Deep" and watch the Lord move miraculously on YOUR behalf. The experiential knowledge that you will receive will enable you to trust that father knows best.
© 2010 Jacques McNeil |
Radical Faith|Using Fear and Doubt as a Catalyst
Radical Faith | Using Fear and Doubt as a Catalyst by Kimberley Thompson
Is faith without fear or doubt; possible? Fear and doubt are often viewed as the opposite of faith and courage. When we are walking by faith our natural response is to view them as barriers to our faith. Contrary to this belief these two diversions can be a catalyst that leads us to trust in God versus smashing your faith to smithereens.
The truth is we can not hope without faith. Our walk of faith is a dynamic journey; there are going to be times when we will find ourselves questioning (How will God work this out?), uncertain (What will God do next?) and perplexed (When will this situation be settled?). We need to go directly to the source that can provide the answers (James 1:5). God is big enough and understanding to accept our doubts. He knows our capacity and is able to persuade us and assure us of His character and His sufficiency to bring us along to strengthen our faith.
The scripture instructs us to have faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthews 17:20), we tend to supersize it and our focus therefore shifts to our inadequacies and lack of ability to make it happen. Our hope needs to be not on the something but on the Him that is able to do immeasurably more (Ephesians 3:20-22), Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). Next time when you encounter fear and doubt use it as an opportunity to serve you.
Living Your Prayer Life:
o Pray and ask God to help you to remain depended upon him and the Holy Spirit as you embark on the journey
o Pray and ask God to help you trust Him even when you don't see the bigger picture
o Pray and ask God to help you stay committed until the end.
Father, I come before your throne of grace and I bring you all my fears and doubts concerning the situation that I am facing. You said in your Word that you will keep me from all harm and watch over my comings and goings (Psalms 121: 7-8). I am dependent upon your for guidance and truth. I ask that you will keep me safe during this time of uncertainty and lead me to a path of certainty and confidence. Thank you for strengthening my faith and being with me always.
CS Lewis: "if ours is an examined faith, we should be unafraid to doubt. If doubt is eventually justified, we were believing what clearly was not worth believing. But if doubt is answered, our faith has grown stronger. It knows more certainly and it can enjoy God more deeply."
© 2010 Kimberley Thompson |
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Quote of the Month
"Faith and obedience are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God; and he that trusts God obeys God. He that is without faith is without works; and he that is without works is without faith."
Charles H. Spurgeon
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