News from Johnny's NationaLight Office
Have you had a struggle in life with a weight problem? I imagine many have faced the battle with the old waist line. However there is another problem I see, which is probably a greater battle than our w-e-I-g-h-t.
That is the W-A-I-T problem.
This struggle begins early with the human. The Doctor told the young expecting Mother. She would have a boy! She can hardly wait for the baby to be born! The young Father can hardly wait for the baby to grow up to play baseball. The young boy can hardly wait to turn sixteen to get his drivers license. The older parents can hardly wait until the war is over and their son returns. The son can hardly wait to his sweetheart says yes to his proposal, and newlyweds can hardly wait to start their new family.
Our impatience has been capitalized upon by those who recognize this human problem, hence, fast food, express lines, a quick fix of every kind. The major problem with this is of course being, this behavior carries over into our spiritual lives.
Before we become Christians, we are challenged by the preacher not to wait, for today is the day of salvation. As the scripture says:
"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord." (Ac 22:16).
This is great! He has told us everything for our salvation has been done for us. All we need to do now is receive the Lord, and our name will be written in the Lambs book of life. This is too good to be true. This fits our style wonderfully. Ready to go, easy to put on, and a life time guarantee.
Then off to church, where again, everything has been prepared before hand. The songs have been selected, the sermon has been ready, there is even a nursery provided. How easy is this?
Then it happens. The bomb is dropped! The fine print is enlarged and now here comes the rest of the story.
This is one of the churches favorite verses.
Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Some one put this verse to music. I like to sing it but living it is not as popular with me. On the other hand, I identify with this verse better.
Ps. 69:3 - I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Does this sound more like what we go through? Please muse on these next few verses.
James 1: 3-6: Please, try to understand this. That the testing of your faith works in you patience.
4. by allowing patience to finish her work in your life, the results are spiritual maturity resulting in a true since of fulfillment and completeness.
5. By the way, if any of you lack wisdom to understand this process, let him pray, ask of God to give you this wisdom, for He is the source of wisdom. To any person who asks Him, for this wisdom, it is written that He gives to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; He guarantees it shall be given him when you ask in faith.
6. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. (THE TRANSLATION IS THE JOHNNY MAYS TRANSLATION)
What does this mean? Here it is! As a Christian our life is no longer our own. Before receiving the Lord as our Savior, we were making our own plans for our lives. However as a Christian, there is a plan, it is God’s plan. His plan can be attained and the success that God has planned for you can be realized. However, for this plan to come to pass there is a very important rule.
The W-A-I-T Rule!
This means waiting for, His direction. We cannot continue until we have received, His instructions. Now this can get a bit confusing to some. Because when the Bible says wait, it does not mean to stand idly by. While we are waiting we also must allow ourselves to be led of the Lord. That is, we must follow the Lord. God has already given to all of us specific directions. The Bible is very clear in so many areas with instruction to love, to forgive, to pray, to give, and to WAIT.
The wait aspect has to do with specifics. While we are waiting for those specifics to be revealed to us, we are still living. We are still doing. Whatever we find to do for the Lord we do it.
The Bible teaches us to stay busy. Do you remember these verses?
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. LIKE 19:13
The word here, occupy, means to do business. Here we discover that as God distributes to each of us according to our abilities we are to use the resources which, He has given to us, and to use them to the utmost. This we are to do while we continue to seek the Lord and wait for further instructions.
Very often it has been asked me, John how do you know what to do, and when to do it? This is not easy to answer, except to reiterate what I have said. I will say this God is faithful. He will give to each of us the wisdom we need if we as Him. Do you remember these words?
3…..the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
4. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
5. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. John10:3-5
Have faith in the Lord, this is good, as you wait he will lead you and you shall find new pastures:
Remember Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3.He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
I hope you were blessed ny the teaching. If so please read carefully the remainder of the newsletter.
My wife Judy and I and all my NationaLight teams are sincere and dedicated to do all we can to reach the world with the gospel in our life time. I need you to help. Please continue to pray for our travels and the travels of our team members. This year is very needful. Also needful is the continued support you have offered. For without your help it is very burdensome. Please don’t forget us when you pray and don’t forget to ask God how you can help me financially.
Some of you could help greatly! This journey across the globe I am preparing to make, will take me many thousands of miles and will cost a lot of money. Hundreds of dollars are needed for air travel, train travel, expenses and expenses at home. I cannot give you a figure because as you know prices change every day. As many of you are aware, I always travel the cheapest way possible. But travel is not cheap. Besides these things, there are needs I would like to meet for some of our foreign ministers. Please send your best gift to our NationaLight Office.
The address is:
NationaLight Ministries International
PO Box 5
Thorp, WA 98946
We must all, Occupy until we see. Him . . . God Bless you all!
In His Service,
Johnny Mays
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