January Partner Letter 2017

Dear Partners,

As we begin another year together, we want to stir you up again in the power of the Spirit of God to do all that the Lord is leading you to do.  As in Zechariah 4, the angel of the Lord returned again and ‘woke up’ Zechariah – as if he had been sleeping – to look at the vision of the Lord, and said:

“It is not by might, (of thy own) nor by power, (authority from others) but by my Spirit – the providence, authority, power, and energy of the Most High. In this way shall my temple be built; in this way shall my Church be raised and preserved. No secular arm, no human prudence, no earthly policy, no suits at law, shall ever be used for the founding, extension, and preservation of my Church!” (Clark’s Commentary – Zech 4:6)

Did you know that one of the first steamboats took 32 hours to chug its way from New York to Albany, a distance of only 150 miles?  …Or that Wilbur and Orville Wright’s first airplane flight lasted only 12 seconds?  …Or that the first automobiles traveled just 2 to 4 miles per hour and broke down often?  Horse-drawn carriages would often pass them with their passengers shouting, “Get a horse!”

When the Wright brothers took that flight in 1903, the motorized machine, which they called ‘The Flyer’, had been plagued by problems – a fickle engine and a cracked propeller.  But they were persistent.  The Flyer’s first flight not only lasted just 12 seconds, it covered a distance of only 120 feet – but this was the beginning of modern flight.  Since then, many barriers have been broken, including the sound barrier in 1947, and the first nonstop, jet powered transcontinental flight in 1959.

Look again at Zechariah 4, as God continues to speak a word of power to someone who was dealing with great difficulties and obstacles:  “‘So, big mountain, who do you think you are? Next to Zerubbabel you’re nothing but a molehill. He’ll proceed to set the Cornerstone in place, accompanied by cheers: Yes! Yes! Do it!’” (The Message)

Then, when the comparison of what others had finished seemed so much greater than his work:
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin”  (Zech. 4:10, NLT)

Did you get that?  From the moment he began the work, God was cheering!   It’s like the little cloud the size of a man’s hand in 1 Kings 18.  It didn’t seem like much, but it was the beginning of a deluge that ended a three-year drought.  The anointing was so great, it caused Elijah to out-run the fastest horses in the land!  In other words, God’s power was moving through Elijah and there was nothing that could out-do what God was doing!!

Our expectation is in the Lord for 2017.  We must continue to “wake up and stir up” the Church of Jesus Christ, For we know it won’t be long until we will all be “caught up”!  Glory, Glory!

‘Till He comes again,
Cindy, Lois & Ray