Chosen - Choosing - Choice

You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to Me, He gives you. John 14:16 The Message

I hope you enjoy reading the 2004 edition of The Forecast many times. Share the adventures with your family and friends. These are your stories, and I hope you realize daily the increase in your Kingdom account balance! Together, we stand as His chosen. Sowing seeds, bearing fruit, traveling and telling others of Christ alive – His Kingdom coming soon. We fight the good fight, keep the faith, and we will finish the race.

They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. Romans 11:6

The newsletter opened with a photo, one of Michelangelo’s nonfiniti (unfinished sculptures):

Michelangelo's theory that sculpture is an "art that takes away superfluous material." The great master saw a true sculpture as something that was already inherent in the stone, and all it needed was a skilled chisel to free it from the extraneous rock… no matter what the sculptor's intentions, it is remarkable, a symbol of the master's great art and personal views on craft as his Slaves struggle to break free of their chipped stone prisons. SOURCE: Frommer’s Tuscany & Umbria, 4th Edition from the internet site www.frommers.com

I look back over the year of ministry and struggle with things left undone and the things I have left to do. Next month (October) I travel to China, to visit children trapped within stone walls of orphanages. I struggle with the suffering here on earth so many must endure. I wrote the poem Chosen as a reminder of the Creator’s steady hand upon my life, chiseling away the unnecessary “superfluous”, and His intention to make each of His chosen more Christlike. We pray to reflect His strength in times of hardship, His grace in days of discomfort, His mercy in place of judgment, His love for those hard to embrace, His gentleness in the midst of chaos, His patience when the rope’s end flies out of reach, and His peace when frightened.

We are in need of substantial donations to cover the upcoming outreach in China, and for our year-end overhead costs. Please pray for this ministry God has given us.

So, friends, confirm God's invitation to you, His choice of you. Don't put it off; do it now. Do this, and you'll have your life on a firm footing 1 Peter 1:10

Let us face the day as His chosen, choosing to live a life that will bring honor and glory to Him. Today, make the choice and make a difference - somehow to someone somewhere!