Ten years of summer camps and the kids would come and they would go home again, week after week. I remember Michael Smith, that kid could encourage the most down in the dumps person. And the list goes on and on as Diane, our family and I were blessed to be used of the God who loves loving each and everyone of us.
We aren't going to make it easy on Sam, we can't, we just miss her too much. So we will do a string of pictures of a few of her great times and experiences as she blessed the socks off us and hopefully drew closed to the God of all creation. We really mean it Sam, you are so special and a gifted woman of God. We know He will use you in a mighty way no matter where you are.
Soon Juli will also leave us for this year as her mother is here from Snow Lake Man. to take her home again. Not only did she get to spend a great summer at the ranch, she also got to spend time with her father. Tomorrow she will help us with the horses as the ferrier will be out there doing whatever he does best. So we need to get Dusty back in the round pen and the other horses ready also.
The ranch is loaded with unique rocks and we have been picking them all summer and with the help of our diamond cutter we engrave a cross into them and bless everyone possible with these as a reminder of how much God loves each of us. I stopped in to pick up some papers at a business the other day and shared a cross rock with the person helping me and before I could leave the other folks in the office wanted one of the rock crosses. God opens doors and opportunities every day as we walk and talk of his love to the world we live in. The world was drawn to Him when he walked this earth and they still are drawn to him through those that live for him and not the world. Hmm Go figure!!!
Intercessory prayer is something that God commands us to do. " Pray for each other." James 5:16 As missionaries, we depend upon the prayers of family and friends to get us through times of difficulty and to rejoice with us in praises!
James 5:16 (NIV)
16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
We are all so unique and special to God that our lives should daily be waiting in anticipation of God plan for us. But we do need to be ready and prepared cause,
1 Corinthians 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" —
Probably the most misunderstood situation ever to occur is that each and everyone of us has a history. A history that includes the goodness of a God, a God that loved us so much that He gave His one and only Son to take away the sin of the world, and he is waiting to take you back. Yet so many today choose or have in the past chosen to walk away and trust in whatever feels good at the moment, or trusting in themselves and their own strength or trust in nothing at all and then to wonder why there seems to be no hope. A life without hope is like a motorcycle without a battery and spark. It's a lot of work to push that bike everywhere, you look good with that bike beside you but the only way to look good is by a lot of work to push that bike every where. Why not put a battery in and and ride that machine the way it was made to be ridden and get places that it can get you. That's like our lives with out God, we try everything but never get anywhere, the brakes always seem to be on, that could also be called pride and ego and when God isn't invited into our lives we will never find the purpose we were created to be. With out knowing the purpose of a life, that life flounders like a boat lost at sea, tossed and thrown everywhere and goes into eternity never knowing what it's purpose was.
Right now if you feel lost and without hope there is someone out there that will spend time with you and listen, someone that won't betray you or laugh at you, but will be a true friend a friend like you never knew before. You probably know who it is already but you have been afraid to take that step or make the call.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
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.
Our Gracious Father,
Hear our prayer and teach Your church, and each of us, what is the glory, what is the blessing, what is the all prevailing power of intercession.
We pray that You will give us the vision of what intercession means to You, so that we might carry out Your blessed purpose - what it means to ourselves as the exercise of our royal priesthood, and what it will mean to Your church, and to perishing men, in the bringing down of the Spirit in power - for Jesus' sake.
Amen
TO DONATE :
If you are able to and would like to make a very needed and appreciated donation to this worthy project that is changing lives now and forever PLEASE consider making a donation to:CROSSMAN MINISTRIES / BRRC
Box 11403
Lloydminster, Ab.
T9V 3B7
As a registered charity your tax deductable receipts will be sent out at the end of the year.
Once again we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for considering The Battle River Ranch Camp a life skills and trades introduction opportunity, as a option to support financially, an option that is making a differance in the lives of our young men and women right here at home in Canada.
God Bless You and Your Family!!!
Harold & diane Stephan and
Board of Directors of the Battle River Ranch Camp
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US AT 1-3O6-825-7734 OR
haroldstephan@hotmail.com
WHY WE PRAY AND HOPE THAT
YOU WILL GIVE JESUS A CHANCE
#1
Because you have a past
You can't go back, but He can. The Bible says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) He can walk into those places of sin, failure and hopelessness, wipe the slate clean and give you a new beginning. A beginning with a real and lasting future, full of hope.
#2
Because you need a friend
Jesus knows the worst about you, yet he believes the best. Why? Because He sees you not as you are, but as you will be when He gets through with you. What a friend!
#3
Because He holds the future
Who else are you going to trust? In his hands you are safe and secure - today, tomorrow and for eternity. His word says, "For I know the plans I have for you ...plans for good and not evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen". (Jeremiah 29:11-13 TLB)
If you'd like to start over, with a new beginning with Jesus today, Diane, I, the board of directors, volunteers and supporters of Crossman Ministries and the Battle River Ranch Camp would ask you, if you are looking for a new beginning to please pray this prayer:
LORD JESUS CHRIST
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask Your forgiveness and now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank You for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.
If you have made this commitment and would like to make contact, please call us. We'd love to talk to you and help in any way we can.
We are praying for all of you reading the blog every day.
No comments:
Post a Comment