IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST 239-574-5683 Love And Compassion Ministries News Letter Volume 2, Issue 11 November 1, 2007 In The Year of Our This is a monthly publication produced and printed by Love And Compassion Ministries. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this publication! If you wish someone who is in jail or prison to receive a copy, call us for details. Inside this issue: I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12 NKJ Get into the Word each morning. It will help you all day long! LOVE AND COM- PASSION DO? 2 THANKSGIVING 3 FLU 4 CARROT EGG COFFEE 5 LORD S VOICE 6 LETTER FROM PRESIDENT 7 PRAYER REQUEST 8 Even the strongest and wisest among us have times when we do not have the answers and can t see our way forward. All we can do is look up and trust God to pull us through, and He always does! If you are in a tight spot today, don t let go of the hope you have in Jesus. If you have to, hang on by your teeth, trust in our Lord, and praise Him for all He has done and will continue to do in your life. Trust in the Lord as Paul writes about his trouble in Asia (II Corinthians 1:8-11) 8. For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9. But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10. Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11. Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. (KJ)
Volume 2, Issue 11 Page 2 WHAT CAN A LITTLE LOVE AND COMPASSION DO? It breaks my heart when I see a person on their death bed, dying from lung cancer, after smoking for fifty-three years. You can see the hurt in their eyes, knowing that there is nothing anyone can do and that they are going to die soon unless God performs a miracle in their life. As they take each breath, you start to realize that you are taking deeper breaths as if you were able to breathe for them. In a lot of the cases their family blames the one dying and, in some cases even God, for this tragic ending. It breaks my heart to hear that a couple has lost a child in an accident or to hear of a couple who can t have children for one reason or another. Many times it causes a rip in the fabric of their love. They blame others for their loss. They hurt to the point that they are sick of living. In many cases, divorce is a word spoken many times a day on both sides of the marriage. Instead of turning to God, they turn to an attorney. It breaks my heart to have a person serve in the armed services who comes home to no one. All our service personal should have someone there to show them love and compassion as soon as they get off the airplane. They need to feel love from Godly Christians. They need to know that they are special people who deserve special treatment, like a good home cooked meal, new clothes, a birthday cake, and friend who cares about them. It breaks my heart to see someone who has lost their family, house, job, clothing, pictures, all that they have to a tornado or hurricane. Many have no insurance, are in shock, feel they have no one to turn to, and no family to help them. Many go through the steps of everyday life with very little feeling of what is going on around them. As days turn to months and months turn to years, things seem to never get better. It breaks my heart to see a couple that have been married for sixty some years, and one dies without any warning. The loved one who is left is not only heart broken, but one-half of their existence is gone. Their long time friends depart and life is no longer as it was. Things are not as they used to be within the family. The partner that is left on this earth, in many cases, wishs it had been them that had died. It breaks my heart to see people living on the street and byways, living in the woods or under a bridge with nothing more than the clothes on their back. People should not have to worry about someone killing them for a can of beans, a can opener, or a jacket. People should be able to go to a place where they can get a shower, clean clothing, and food. People should be able to know that the people of the Church care enough about them to provide the items needed to survive. It breaks my heart to see a couple trying to cope when one of them has been committing adultery. They have lost all desire to be with their partner. They become very angry and unforgiveness sets in. All trust has evaporated. Satan has wedged a large slice of sin between two people who loved each other. In many cases both wish it had not happened, but have to decide if they can now live with the knowing that it did and could happen again. It breaks my heart to see a lady in her nineties get on her knees to pray for this ministry, when we have so many people who have been blessed by this ministry but will never pray for us. She has never asked for anything, but has given her all, many, many times, because she believes in what we are doing. She knows the power prayer has and is willing to pray even when it hurts to do so. It breaks my heart to hear a mother state that it is so nice to know that her son or daughter, who is involved in drugs, is in jail. It break my heart to hear the cry of happiness from a mother that could not sleep day or night be- (Continued on page 3)
Volume 2, Issue 11 Page 3 (Continued from page 2) cause she worried that her child was on the streets doing no telling what, with no telling who. Many mothers are continually praying that God will protect their child and knowing that jail is not a safe haven but is much better than being out on the streets. Jail is a place where God can get their attention. Jail is where they can wake up clean from drugs, alcohol, and so many other things of this world. In all these situations and so many more, Christians are needed to show love and compassion to the hurting. Will you be a blessing to someone today? Grow in love as you reach others for the Lord. Be obedient to God s directing. Let God use you to bring comfort, love, compassion, and kindness to someone hurting today. More than anything else, it breaks my heart when this ministry does not have the resources to help the hurting. Do something today to turn the tide of hate, anger, and abuse, to love and compassion. Help us by sending a tax deductible gift so that we may be able to reach the lost, the homeless, the imprisoned, and our youth. See how God will bless you! Amen! Remember November 22 is May we all thank for the many blessings that He has given! Love And Compassion Ministries is a ministry of hope because Jesus Christ is in everything we do! Please help us keep hope alive! GIVE! Your gift is tax deductible. Love And Compassion Ministries P.O. Box 152636 Cape Coral, Florida 33915-2636 Thank You
Volume 2, Issue 11 Page 4 Satan is after you. Run to GOD!
Volume 2, Issue 11 Page 5 A Carrot, an Egg or a Coffee Bean? A young woman went to her mother and told her how hard her life was. She said she wanted to give up; she was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose. So, her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, Tell me what you see. Carrots, eggs, and coffee, she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, What does it mean, Mother? Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however; after they had been in the boiling water, they had changed the water. Which are you? she asked her daughter. When adversity or change knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Are you the carrot that seems strong? With change and adversity cause you to wilt and become soft and lose your strength? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Do you have a fluid spirit, but faced with a death, a break-up, financial hardship, or some other trial, do you become hardened and stiff? Does your shell look the same, but on the inside are you bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? The coffee bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and provide strength and happiness for those around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, can you elevate yourself to another level? As Of January 1, 2008 Love and Compassion Ministries Will Need Office Space Please Pray With Us That GOD Will Show Us Where HE Wants Us 239-574-5683
Volume 2, Issue 11 Page 6 OBEYING THE LORD'S VOICE A young man had gone to the Wednesday night Bible Study at his Church. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?" After the service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God, If you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey." As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. "Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased a gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street." This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will". He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in the semi commercial area of town. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark as though the people were already in bed. Again, he sensed some thing, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or already asleep. He started to open the car door and then sat back in the seat. "Lord, this is insane! Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid." Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the car door, "Okay God, if this is You, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something, but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here." He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk." His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?" The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God had spoken to him and that He still answers prayers. Can you be an angel? Author unknown!
Volume 2, Issue 11 Page 7 Dear Friends, There has been many thousands of dollars spent trying to figure out what to do with the homeless in this area. Many other cities and counties in other states have spent thousands of dollars to come up with a game plan to deal with them. Here in Lee County we are in the process of trying to get a true count of how many there are in this area, and whether they are male, female, or children. The truth is that we will never really get a true count until we decide to reach out to them in love and compassion. We must put resources in people s hands that care and love the people that are homeless. Yes they need housing, jobs, transportation, and food, but more than anything else they need the Lord. Today if we had a two hundred bed facility where the homeless could come, get their clothing washed, a clean bed to sleep in, a safe place where they could receive food for their bodies, and good old Bible teaching, we would still not be able to have a true count. We must have a collectively state of the art count system that will allow a true count from all Christian and Non-Christian organizations where people would be given a picture ID after submitting to a search, a health exam, and questionnaire. We never want to put ourselves or our clients endanger of a mad man, killer, or someone with a disease or lice that might spread to others. All this can happen, but only if people find it in their hearts to support such a project. We have good godly people in position to run such a place, but without money it will only be a dream. When people get a heart for the homeless, they will give, but until they are willing to do something about the problem they will have to deal with the homeless. Read what Jesus Christ s half brother said in James 2:14-26. 14. What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16. And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23. And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Please pray with me that Christians of all walks of life will come together and help us reach the lost, the homeless, the imprisoned, and the youth. In the Presence of our LORD, Love And Compassion Ministries Ron Willis Ron Willis, President Love and Compassion Ministries, Inc.
Love And Compassion Ministries, Inc. Stamp P.O. Box 152636 Cape Coral, Florida 33915 Phone: 239-574-5683 Fax: 239-574-8183 Email: GODLCM@AOL.COM We re on the Web! www.lovecompassion.com If you would like to be a part of our exciting prayer team, please send us your e-mail address and we will send you updates of people who need our prayers. The LORD is near to all who call upon HIM, to all who call upon HIM in truth. Psalm 145:18 NKJ It is a great privilege that we have, as sons and daughters of the KING, to be able to come into HIS presence with our needs, our hurts, and our cares. We know that we can leave them at HIS feet because HE cares for us and will always answer us in our time of need. Prayer requests are very important to us! We always need people who are caring and willing to personally pray for others needs. As we pray for their physical, moral, and spiritual needs, we must understand that because of JESUS CHRIST'S love for all of us, we are able to do this. CHRIST is the answer to every human's needs. As members of the Body of CHRIST, we have the privilege and responsibility to pray for our Churches, our missionaries, public officials, other ministries, and each other. It is so exciting to see prayers being answered. May we always give CHRIST the Glory!