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....the birds of the air can perch in its shade. Mark 4: 30-32
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Greeting from Mark Halla
"Hello" and "Thank You" for subscribing to our e-newsletter!
You may have noticed that most of my greetings mention my relationship with Christ in some fashion...this one is no different! Someone asked me the other day, "Why do Christians always try to spread their beliefs to others? Why can't they just leave everyone else alone?"
This is a great question and it deserves an answer...
There are several reasons a Christian is intentionally vocal (or should be) about their faith in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world:
First and foremost, sharing our faith in the one true God is why we were created in the first place! In Isaiah 43:7 and Colossians 1:16, we read that God is the Creator and that we are created for His glory. In John 14:6, Christ Himself makes it clear that salvation is through Him alone. The penalty for sin is death and every one of us is a sinner, so, without accepting Christ's sacrifice on our behalf, we will endure everlasting separation from God...eternity in Hell! We all have a very specific and shared purpose for our life; to bring honor and glory to God by loving God and loving others. If we truly love God, then we must truly love others. If we truly love others, then we must tell them about God's saving grace through Christ!
I took a course called "Perspectives" a few year ago and God's purpose is described in this way: "For His glory in global worship, God purposes to overcome evil by redeeming a people who will love and obey Him within every people." There are three directions to His purpose; toward God, for people, and against evil. God desires all nations to worship Him; therefore, world evangelization is ultimately for God. God intends to bring a redemptive blessing, through Christ, to all people, nations, tribes and tongues. God has already defeated evil (sin, death and Satan) through Christ, but He will fully destroy evil in the end times and then His Kingdom will fully reign forever.
God intends to accomplish His mission of reaching all the nations through us! Genesis 12:1-3, Psalm 67, Isaiah 49:6, Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20, all speak of our role in ushering in the fullness of the Kingdom of God by sharing Him with the world. Matthew 24:14 clearly tells us that Christ will not return again until world evangelization occurs. Obviously, no one accepts God but by the power of the Holy Spirit; we plant and nurture seeds of faith, but only God makes them grow! I think Romans 10:11-15 coupled with Isaiah 52:7 provide a nice backdrop for world evangelization; we share the truth of God for Him, for His glory, to proclaim His Kingdom, and, in doing so, we also show compassion and love for others by sharing the way of salvation through Jesus!
As believers, God has mandated that we participate in world evangelization!!! We are His ambassadors, His witnesses, His servants, and a part of His method to bring ultimate honor and glory to Himself, to usher in the fullness of His everlasting Kingdom, and to bring salvation to the ends of the earth...We are His Church! I love the way Tim Dearborn sums it up: "It is insufficient to proclaim that the Church of God has a mission in the world. Rather, the God of mission has a Church in the world."
Authentic Christians must share the One True God with all the nations because we are commanded to, entrusted to, and blessed with the responsibility of doing so, by God Himself. We have been blessed to be a blessing, so that God will receive glory and honor from our lives, so that His reputation will be increased by our existence, so that others may accept Him and be saved from hell, so that Christ will return to reign in everlasting justice; we share because we love God and His love for us has compelled us to love others. As I am writing this, I can't help but reflect on Revelation 3:14-16 and ask myself
As I have written this, I have been forced to ask myself, "Am I really a Christian?", "If so, am I a lukewarm Christian (see Rev:3:14-16) or am I on fire for the Lord?", How about you?
May the Lord Bless you with wisdom and insight as you ponder Him afresh and may He make the garden of your heart bloom with salvation for your soul!!!
With his love,
Mark D. Halla
Steward
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IN SEASON
Retaining Walls: Making spaces useable
Ideas for retaining walls are abundant. Create a raised vegetable garden. Develop a terraced landscape. Or retain your entire backyard. We can help or do the whole thing for you.
Properly designed and constructed retaining walls effectively and aesthetically enhance your property's slopes and grade changes and can make your outdoor space more useable. Walls can be constructed out of a variety of materials: fieldstone boulders, flagstone, decorative concrete block and more. And, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Natural stone is more expensive. Man-made products are sometimes less expensive but they almost always look artificial. Whatever your choice, we can build it. You can see examples of our work here.
We would be happy to help create more living space for you in your yard and landscaped areas, call 952-445-6555 today!
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TRENDING NOW
Go wild over herbs
 More people than ever are discovering the fun of growing herbs. As the University of Minnesota Extension program explains on its website, herbs offer great versatility for the gardening enthusiast.
Many culinary herbs grown in Minnesota are members of two plant families--Mint & Carrot.
The mint family includes basil, oregano, marjoram and catnip. Plus, rosemary, thyme, lavender, summer savory and sage, are all grown for their aromatic leaves. Hardy perennials in this family can become invasive, especially mints. These plants tend to be bushy, and most have some tolerance of excessive heat and dry soil. The carrot family includes dill, parsley, chervil, cilantro (also known as coriander), fennel and lovage. They are all grown for foliage, and some for seeds as well. These plants have a more upright, leggy habit, and require somewhat moister conditions, and deeper, looser soil.
Common culinary herbs from other plant families include chives, borage, tarragon and sorrel.
Come out to The Mustard Seed and discover the world of herbs! See coupon below.
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EMPLOYEE PROFILE  Name: Heidi Lunderberg Family info: My son Cyrus is turning 10 this summer! I have a cat, a dog, a foster cat, and a 55-gallon fish tank too. Position with company: Assistant Manager Hobbies: Composting with worms, growing my own vegetables, reading and cooking. Favorite Food: Popcorn (with lots of butter!) Goal This Year: Learn more about chemicals to better answer customers' questions. Why I Love My Job: Working outside, and working with customers who are (generally) happy because they love plants as much as I do! Also, no two days are the same :) because variety is the spice of life! |
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Special Savings for Newsletter Readers Only!
We appreciate that you've signed up for and read our e-newsletter. So, we want to thank you with this special offer for Newsletter Readers Only: 
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The Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center
6055 Hwy 212, Chaska, MN 55318
952-361-9954
The Mustard Seed Landscaping and Garden Center at Halla Nursery
10,000 Great Plains Blvd.
(Pioneer Trail & Hwy 101, Chanhassen)
Now Open!
952-445-6555
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__________"Rooted in integrity and founded on faith..."__________ | |
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