Let's Make Poverty History...

Great news is always welcome and especially at a time when good news is seldom heard. Some days you really have to search to find good news. I did stumble on to good news in the last week in several different places as the United Nation's World Health Organization (WHO) report was released on May 10th.

Fewer Children are dying and the estimated percentage of underweight children under five years of age has dropped, according to WHO. New HIV infections have declined, existing cases of tuberculosis are declining, and the world is on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on access to safe drinking water.

The MDGs were set in 2000 by 189 heads of state in the United Nations (U.N.) The MDGs are eight international development goals that all 192 U.N. member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to acheive by the year 2015.

Although the plan appears to be on target and ahead in a couple areas, we can not let up. In Joshua 1:14-15 it says, "You are to help your brothers until the LORD gives them rest." We should be motivated by the great progress and strive to reach these goals before the target date, which is five years away.

It is great to know that progress is being made, but did you know that extreme poverty could be wiped out sooner. In a Compassion International Blog written by Becky Giovagnoni and published on May 12th it states....

"The annual income of the Christian American churchgoers is $5.2 trillion. The amount of money needed to end global poverty is about $74 billion a year. Only one percent our annual income a year is what is needed to end extreme poverty."

God's holy word says, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow" — when you now have it with you." Proverbs 3:27-28.

In 1John 3:17-18 God tells us, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

Let's Make Poverty History!

Rick Hawbaker
'Serving a living God'

Brothers And Sisters...Don't Lose The Excitement Of What God Has Done For You!

Brothers and sisters in the Lord ... Don't lose the excitement of what God has done for you. We are way too quick to forget the many things he has done for us. "Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." (Psalm 145:3)

Wouldn't it be neat to see a crowd gathering at your neighbor's home. And when you went over to see just what is going on, you find out it is a party. A party celebrating the miracle that God was with the surgeon, guiding his hands as he removed cancer from someone's body four years ago. Why not remember and celebrate the miracles and all GREAT things God has done for us? Give God the glory!

The cancer was a BIG thing in your life. How could you forget it? Why don't you celebrate God's gift of healing? Share the great news of how God is still working today. It is not all gloom for everyone all the time. Unless you want it to be. Not me! I have a great provider and he does provide and I recognize it daily. Take a minute to look around. Hey, he provides for you too!

Maybe God has taken you out of a terrible job situation. A job where you were micro managed to near death. Seriously, a job where you worked 60 to 70 hours a week or more. A job where you could not take the pressure and gave in to cigarettes, sleeping pills, energy drinks, antidepressants, alcohol or worse. A job where you couldn't sleep when you were off and your stomach was eating you up inside. Celebrate the victory! God has saved you from the oppression of a bad boss and horrible job situation.

Give some thought today about some of the great things God has done for you. Make plans to celebrate with others. Have you really thanked God for getting you through those college math classes so you could graduate, for putting your marriage back together after a lot of rocky days upon days, or for opening the doors to land the job you have been wanting or really need?

We all have lots to be thankful for beside "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) God left his heavenly throne, walked the earth as a man in Jesus and died on a cross in our place, that we might be saved. Thank you Jesus! But that is just a start of what he has done.

By praising our great Father, we are reminding ourselves and others of the greatness of God! "Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant." Psalm 135:3. Thank him for the BIG things and for the little things he does. Have you thanked him for the parking space right next to the front door at the grocery store the night you were on the run picking up last minute things for the family gathering at your home within the next hour?

"Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts." (1 Chronicles 16:8-9) O.K, you don't need to throw a party for the parking space or for the last package of ground beef at the store you were able to grab before someone else got it as the last snow storm moved in. No party is necessary, but a thank you would be great!

Surprise God today and have a praise party in his honor for the great things he has done in your life. This isn't a one time deal. Do it often. Give the praise and glory to our deserving Sovereign Lord. Praise him with your heart, mind and soul, and with your praise worthy acts. Pray together with friends, sing together, clap hands and jump up and down. Praise God!

Give the King of Kings the praise and glory and he will be revealed to you in power, love and grace. Tell the world what God has done! "Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands." (Psalm 63:3-4)

Don't lose the excitement of what he has done for YOU!

Rick Hawbaker
'Praising God'

Keep Showing His Love...

Sometimes we feel like our work for the Lord goes unnoticed and unrewarded? We become discouraged when we think God has forgotten all we have done for Him. But, that is NOT the way it is!

We are told in Hebrews, "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10 (NIV).

Our labor of love for our Lord's Kingdom may be forgotten by His people, but don't be discouraged. God hasn't forgotten you and he is the one you want to please. If he would forget, then he would be unjust and God is NOT unjust! It's crazy to think that our God would forget something. Then he wouldn't be God.

Our Sovereign Lord sees all and remembers all as he sits on his mighty throne in heaven. What is done on earth in the love and the name of Jesus shall be written in the eternal record of the good things we have done. Continue to help your brothers and sisters in Christ.

"He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done." Proverbs 19:17. (NIV)

Jesus spoke of giving hospitality and showing kindness to God's people. He said in Matthew 10:42 (NIV), "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Don't let a need go ignored. Keep Showing the love of Christ!

Rick Hawbaker
'The King's Kid'

Oh, What A Great Time To Have Lived...

Can you even imagine living at a time when all the believers were in one heart and one mind? The bible tells us there was such a time in the early church and it involved 5,000 people. Scripture says the people believed that none of their possessions were their own, but they shared everything they had.

"All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." (Acts 4:32-35 NIV)

This kind of living could only exist if you had a HUGE amount of trust. That kind of trust is only available in a true conversion to Christ. The Holy Spirit held these people together like glue as they enjoyed a divine unity. They regarded people more important than things and recognized God's ownership of everything.

The believers knew everything belonged to God and His people. They were in perfect friendship and there was no kind of dissension among them. God smiled down from heaven upon them with great grace and favor.

If only we could recapture the sharing heart of the early church. No one took advantage of another and "there were no needy persons among them." They put God first, people second and material things a distant third.

Oh, what a great time to have lived!

Rick Hawbaker
'Born To Love'　
　
　
　

Wonderful Promise...

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:13-14)


God gave this promise to Israel and the same promise is available to us. We can turn to our loving God no matter what our circumstances. Our Sovereign Lord knows all and sees all from his glorious throne. He still reigns in heaven and still responds to humble praying people.


Christians don't think about the need to humble themselves, but that is first thing on God's list to us in this passage from his holy scripture. Getting serious about praying to your Lord and Savior shows you are humble as you are admitting you can not solve your problems by yourself.


Take the four steps given to us in the promise and become closer to God. Humble yourself, pray, seek His face, and turn from your sin. Your reward will be God hearing you, forgiving you and healing your land.



No matter how far we have gone down the wrong road, we can turn to God and receive his grace.


"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield." Psalm 33:20


Rick Hawbaker
'King's Son'

Love Your Enemy - Soon You'll Like Them

Avoiding the person at work that pushes your buttons is not how God wants us to live. Sure you can go most of the day without making eye contact with that person that you just can't seem to get along with. You can get to your office taking three flights of stairs in the back of the building and never pass the desk of the guy you just can't stand. But is that what God wants you to do?

All of us come from different situations and it is hard not to let the problems we are facing overcome us. No matter how hard we try it is difficult not to wear our problems on our sleeves or face. It is just a result of us dog-paddling in our sea of problems. Then our attitude deteriorates and so does our relationship with others.

Jesus told his disciples in John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Showing love to people who are not nice to you is a hard thing to do. But give it a try. You can smile at someone and put forth a good effort to try to become friends with them. Talk to them and find out something about them. Show a genuine concern for others. You just might be the only person all day that tries to make contact with them.

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compasionate and humble. Do not repay evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:8-9

Christians should resemble their brother Jesus. Make a special effort to get along with everyone. React to those who are not nice to you as you think Jesus would react. Be slow to become angry and if there is a personality conflict, it should not linger. Conflicts and arguments should be kept small and be short-lived.

Put a bandage over the wounds and build a bridge over the battle field to have peace. God knows that if you try to love your enemies that soon you won't have enemies. You will have new friends.

Love your enemy and you will eventually like them.

Rick Hawbaker

He Alone Can Lead You...

Whatever stage in your life that you are currently going through, the truths taught in the bible are very useful for you. No matter what your age or gender, there is much wisdom to be found. The uncertain future staring us in the face often overwhelms us. Unfortunely, we get too much advise from earthly friends. We should be going to our best resource for living...God.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowlege Him, and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

'Trusting in the Lord' is directing your life to the unknown. Putting your faith in the invisible. 'With all of your heart' is going to Him as you make all big decisions. The marriage and career decisions. Give it all up to Him. 'Lean not on your own understanding' as you are not wise enough to be your own guide. 'In all your ways acknowlege Him and he shall direct your paths' as he is always with you ready to help you at those challenging times.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Have faith in Him because he knows all unlike yourself. He is sitting on the throne seeing all and knowing all. Give him the honor and praise he deserves and he will bless you and get you through the storms in your life.

All power and strength can be found in the LORD. His unending love, grace and mercy can help us through the dark in times of affliction and temptation. Be ever mindful of God. Serve Him with a willing and faithful heart. Connect with him many times thoughout the day. He alone can lead you!

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever." (1 Chronicles 28:9)

God is a superbeing for all seasons. Jesus hung out with twelve ordinary men as he walked on earth. He is alive today and still hangs out with ordinary people. You and me. Ask Him to help you today.

Rick Hawbaker
'Christ Seeker'