"How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news." Romans 10:15b

Used with permission from Today in the Word.
Today In The Word from Aug. 24, 2000          Read: Haggai 1:1-11

    According to the program AD 2000 and Beyond, there are about 260 people groups in the world that still need to hear the gospel. There are also 1,120 people groups that don't have a church of 100 or more members among them.
    God's people still have plenty of work to do when it comes to obeying Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission. And we have been reminded this month that one of the reasons God wants us to work is to be able to support His work. Speaking through the prophet Haggai, God warned Israel not to forget His work as they went about their own tasks.
    Today's devotional begins the fifth section of the study on work, a five-day series on precautions for workers. The Bible teaches us how to keep several clear priorities in mind as we work, and then how to use the income and other benefits work provides. These precautions are easy to forget or set aside when life gets busy, but each one is too important to neglect.
    God's message to His people through Haggai is a good example of this. Haggai was the first prophet to speak to Israel after the people returned from exile in Babylon. Rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem was high on God's priority list. After a good start on the temple, however, the exiles became preoccupied with building their own houses. Work on the temple stopped for about fifteen years.
    But this was not what God intended. The temple was central to Israel's worship, the place where God came to live among His people. By neglecting the temple the people were not only being disobedient. Their lack of concern reflected a deeper problem of spiritual apathy.
    God had tried to get their attention in the most dramatic ways possible. He had withdrawn His blessing on their work in the fields and the vineyards, so that they got little return for their efforts. And even when they did earn a wage, God cut holes in the bottom of their pockets.
    We can't afford to neglect God's work by failing to provide for it through our work. When we honor God, He can make what we have go farther than we ever imagined.

Today Along The Way
    One obvious way to take care of God's work is through our giving, which includes our money, our time, and our abilities.
    At the same time, let's make sure we aren't overlooking some other ways to share in God's work. One possibility is to get involved yourself, or as a family, in the life of a missionary. You'll learn specific ways to pray for the missionary's work, and find out needs on that field you may be able to meet. You'll also share in the blessing of seeing God at work.

---

If you feel God's leading to be a part of this ministry there are several ways you can help.

• Take a vacation with a difference. 
• Many of the lives that are changed here are a direct result of short term team involvement. There are several opportunities to use whatever skills and gifts you have to make a difference in someone else's life even if only on a 2 week trip. You would be amazed at the response of the children from the villages to a VBS, AWANA program or Evangelistic English Language Camp. The adults and elderly are so grateful for people who invest a small part of their lives in helping them or teaching them while sharing the Gospel. Whatever God has blessed you with can be used in some way here in Romania. So if you would like to take a couple of weeks to make a difference in someone's life contact International Messengers about being a part of a short term team.
  
• Send a team from your church.
• If, for some reason, you are not able to travel you may know of someone else who does want to go but lacks the means. You can be a part of that person or team's ministry by helping them gain support for the mission. Take a part in the fund raising and encourage them as they follow God's leading to bring His word to others. No overseas ministry would take place without the help, prayer and support of those at home.
  
• Pray for this ministry.
• Above all else is prayer. We can do nothing by our own power but only through the power of God Almighty. This ministry exists because of the prayers of many others and can only continue to function with faithful prayer.
  
• Help us financially.
• We sincerely appreciate any financial help we receive and we know that God gives some people the gift of wealth in order that they might use it in accomplishing His will. If you feel that God is leading you to help us financially we thank you and praise God for His provision through you. You may send tax deductible gifts to:
  
                              International Messengers            
                              PO Box 618
                              Clear Lake, IA 50428
Please make checks out to International Messengers and include a note on a separate piece of paper stating that the gift is for the Mayberrys' ministry. Thank you so much.

If you would prefer to donate through an automated electronic transfer, please contact Paul Schmidt, IM Home Office, at jpaul@internatioanlmessengers.org or call 1-800-243-6763.

---