by Pam Konnerup

As we enter into the year 2019, I’d like to share a few thoughts with you from I Thessalonians 1:2-3:

“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.”

Another year has come and gone.  We have a new year to remember how God has blessed us.  A new year to thank God for all the things He will do. I want to start off this New Year thanking my fellow laborers in the harvest field.  Thank you first of all-

For your work of faith—being in the ministry as a single missionary or a missionary wife, is a work of faith—Heb. 11:1 tells us—faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  We have a lot of things in ministry that we hope for, that we do not see yet.  We thank you for your faith as you work in your chosen field, fulfilling the Great Commission.  I’d like to share with you a prayer from the book  “Savor This Moment” by Karla Dornacher,

“Dear Father,

Open my eyes that I might see,

The opportunities you give to me…

To be your hands, Your heart, I pray,

And touch all those I see today…

With words of love and affirmation,

To fill their hearts with confirmation…

That they might know Your love is true

And how very special they are to you!”

(Savor This Moment by Karla Dornacher, p. 19)

This year, continue to ask God to let you see the opportunities He has for you where you are serving.  Ask for opportunities to encourage children and young people to consider serving as missionaries and become involved in ministry.

For your labor of love—thank you for the love you have shown to those of us here in the Mission Office and to the people that pass through the doors of your churches.  We hear the wonderful reports of the good things that are happening on the mission field, and how needs are being met, people are being saved and encouraged, and we thank you for your part in that. Rom. 5:5 tells us that God has shed abroad his love in our hearts.  We thank you for sharing that love with others. I’d like to share a poem about God’s love, again from the same book,  “Savor This Moment”:

“God’s love in you weeps when others are hurting and rejoices when others are blessed.

It humbly looks for opportunities to serve others and thinks of others’ needs before your own.

It is courteous and considerate even when others are not, and kind and compassionate even during difficult times.

It empowers you to say you’re sorry when you’re wrong and enables you to forgive those who do wrong against you.

It accepts others for who they are today and believes the best for who they can become tomorrow.”

(Savor This Moment by Karla Dornacher, p. 11)

For your patience of hope—so many times it takes a lot of patience to see our hope fulfilled. Those of us in ministry often start with hopes, dreams, and sometimes expectations that are just too high.  We end up disappointed, but when we put our hope in the Lord Jesus Christ we know that we will not ultimately be disappointed. We will see our desire accomplished, in his sight—in the way that he wants and from his point of view.  I’d like to share one more thought from “Savor This Moment”:

“Are you patiently waiting on the Lord?  Or has your faith begun to waver?  Be encouraged, my friend, to persevere, finding rest and peace in God’s favor.

Don’t wish upon a shining star or put your trust in another, but daily place the cares of your heart in the hands of your Heavenly Father.

For He has heard your prayers and He knows your heart, and His answer’s a whisper away.

So don’t give up, don’t doubt His love, but hold on in faith one more day.

And while you wait, keep your eyes on Jesus, let your hope be in Him alone.

Let His Word give light to encourage your soul

And His Spirit give your heart a home.”

“The Word of God gives birth to faith.  Faith gives wings to hope.  Hope soars high on the promises of God and gives joy to the soul.”

(Savor This Moment by Karla Dornacher, p. 42-43)

Ladies, thank you for serving with a heart like Jesus, for your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope. Remember the end of these verses tells us, “in the sight of God and our Father.” No matter what we are going through, God knows and sees us!  We are not alone!  Praying you have a blessed and fruitful year of 2019!