The New Zealand Herald is the “NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR”  and on page  A 11 (The New Zealand Herald, Monday, September 12, 2011) the “Top 10 Stories” are listed:

Number 1 “Tornado  strikes Auckland suburb”

This is the first paragraph of  “Tornado rips quake couple’s home” :

“A family which fled Christchurch after the 7,1 magnitude earthquake took the brunt  of a tornado that tore through the  Auckland suburb of Avondale yesterday.”

Number 2  “Vet quits SPCA after stray shot dead”

WHAT IS MY TOP STORY?

WHAT IS YOUR TOP STORY?

My Top Story is that the Lord Jesus Christ loves me.

In Ephesians 1:4 I read:  “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world….”

Read also John 3:16!

People who are running a business appreciating loyal customers. Businessmen and businesswomen are looking for faithful customers. They are even willing to do something for them. You join their Loyalty Club and you get their merchandise and their services cheaper.(There are also Coffee Cards and Valued Customer Cards available.)

The Lord Jesus Christ is also looking for faithful people. In Second Chronicles 16:9 we read:

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those  whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

What are people saying about us? What is the Lord saying about us?

In the Bible we read what God himself said about Moses, the great Hebrew leader. The Lord called him his servant and said about him, “…..; he is faithful in all my house.” (Numbers 12:7)

The apostle Paul thanks Christ Jesus that he has considered him faithful. (First Timothy 1:12)

Who does not like to hear about faithful people and be together with them?

Tychicus , a messenger of Paul, was faithful. The apostle Paul says about him not only that he is a dear brother in the Lord, but also a faithful  servant in the Lord. He calls him also a fellow servant in the Lord and faithful minister in the Lord. (Ephesians 6:21 and Colossians 4:7)

Epaphras  is a dear fellow servant of  Paul  and he is also a faithful minister of Christ. (Colossians 1:7)

Onesimus is also a dear and faithful brother of the apostle Paul. (Colossians 4:9)

Silas (Silvanus) helped Paul to write Second Peter and at the end Paul says that he regards him as a faithful brother. (First Peter 5:12)

Gaius is also a friend of Paul and in a letter to his friend Gaius he says that Gaius is faithful in what he is and in what he is doing for the brothers who are strangers. (Third John, verse 5; there is only one chapter!)

We need the strength of the LORD. Let us be committed to HIM!

GIVEAWAY

To be in to win a copy of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, tell us who inspires you from Church history.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon inspires me from Church history. He lived from 1834-1892.

His book Morning and Evening (Daily Reading) is on my bookshelf beside the Bible.

On September 10, Evening, he is writing about the “Wolves at dusk.” – Habakkuk 1:8:

“False teachers who craftily and industriously hunt for the precious life, devouring us with their lies, are as dangerous and detestable as wolves at dusk. Darkness is their element, deceit is their character, destruction is their end. We are most in danger from them when they wear sheepskins. Blessed is he who is kept from them, for thousands are made the prey of grievous wolves that enter within the fold of the church.”

“Let God’s promises shine on your problems.” – Corrie Ten Boom

I did not know about the guest speaker at the SALVATION ARMY today – but the Lord knew.

And HE led me today to listen to the guest speaker there from – KOREA!

At the local library I picked up publications produced by the MINISTRY OF HEALTH and the MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION OF NEW ZEALAND.

The names of the brochures are:  “Coping with financial stress”, “Having suicidal thoughts?”, “Suicide Prevention Information New Zealand”, Postnatal Depression, “Retirement”, and “Anxiety and how to handle it”.

People with financial stress are pointed to Helplines ( Depression helpline, Lifeline, Healthline, Family Violence Information Line ) and Money and budget advice services  ( Budgeting services, Sorted, Citizens Advice Bureaux).

Those with suicidal thoughts are pointed to information about suicide risk ( www.spinz.org.nz; www.headspace.org.nz ) and they are told where general support advice can be found ( www.youthline.co.nz; www.depression.org.nz). Those with Postnatal Depression are pointed to the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand where they can purchase or loan books and videos on depression.

In the Bible we read that John  is pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 1:29 we read:

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'”