PRAISE

Let the redeemed of the Lord say so …” (Psalms 107:2)

Power, Redemption, Affirmation, Inspiration, Sanctification, Exaltation

  Volume 5 Issue 3                                                                                                December 2004

THE ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

The Servant Team – Leaders:

Tom Meadows, Ruth Johnson, Ivan Pope, Delois Maddox, Ralph Brown, Roy Campbell and Jackie Hager

Richard Hatcher, Emeritus

The Twelve Disciples – Prayer Team

George Foreman, Ivan Pope, Janet Taylor, Juanita Langley, Margie Jasper, Denise Warren, Tom Meadows, Karen Page, Pam Barden, Ronnie Waddell, Deedre Dickerson and Tee Williams,

Love Fund Coordinator:

Mary Tinnell

Newsletter Staff:

Sandra Witherspoon and Mona Eno

Inside This Issue

1

One More Year of Service and Thanks

2

Prayer Ministry

2

Meetings

3

Missions at Work

3

The Light Update

4

Weed & Seed

4

Holding Patterns

5

For A Reason

If you would like a copy of this newsletter, contact Tom Meadows and give him your home and/or e-mail address.

 

The Newsletter staff is always looking for roving reporters, writers and publishers.  Anyone interested in serving God through this publication, please contact Sandra Witherspoon, 274-3097 or Mona Eno 274-3508

FROM THE SERVANT STAFF:

 

PRAISE the Lord!!

Tom Meadows

Serving in 2005 – God Has A People

One More Year of Service and Thanks 

 

As we close out our fifth year of ministry in serving the Lord on the job at Philip Morris, it is one that I share with mixed emotions.  The year 2005 marks the beginning of the end of my leadership of Hands Up Ministry as an active employee of the company.  Due to the closure of my location and what I see as an open door that has been set before me, then I will probably retire in March of 2006.  This means a couple of things.  Number one:  Someone has to be raised up by the Lord to take the main leadership role of this ministry.  It seems that role was and has been my divine lot not because I am anything more than another but because God was in control and not me.  Number two:  I hope this will be a continuation of the dream of the Healing House as God continues to break me and show me what He wants for a glorious church where He is the head shepherd and not a man or woman.  A church where miracles are the normal and not the exception.  A church where those that lead it are unpaid servants committed to serving the King and the body of Christ not for filthy lucre but because of His love in them.

“The shepherd must be willing to die for the sheep.”  Sounds like a crazy mentality but one that is needed for the glory to fall.

As we close out 2004 we are preparing to provide Christmas for five needy families that otherwise would not enjoy what some of us take for granted.  We are also finalizing plans to go to the mission field in the Dominican Republic for the second time as we help finance another church building.  God has been more than faithful to this ministry.  In 2005 I feel our battle cry should be “Serving in 2005 – God Has A People”

We need to take this cry to heart and increase our commitment to the Lord’s ministry on our job.  If all of our 130 plus members would do and give 10% more effort in 2005, God will move mightily among the lost.  Pray for God to raise up His people to do battle in 2005.  As I was reminded today God is Jehovahnissi, our banner.  His banner at Philip Morris is Hands Up Ministry and it will only be as effective as you allow Him to use you for His purposes and not our own Holy ideas.

 

Song of Solomon 2:4 - He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

 

Isaiah 13:2 - Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.

Prayer Ministry

 

 

The one thing that holds this ministry and our work together is our prayer ministry headed up by Karen Page and Margie Jasper.   Did you know that we hold a noon prayer meeting every

Wednesday at the location of the weekly Thursday meeting.  Did you know that our prayer register has over 260 requests to date?  Each of the names is called out to the Lord everyday not just on Wednesday.  It is a humbling thing to call out 260 plus names to the Lord knowing that you need as much prayer as any of these names.  Many people will be touch by the Lord through Hands Up Ministry who otherwise might never attend church.

 

 

Behold I make all things new.

HATYILYTILYAJLY

 

Has anyone told you

I love you

today

I love you

and

Jesus loves you

 

If you need prayer contact Karen Page and Margie Jasper or any member of the Twelve Disciples or the Servant Team

 

 

Are You Available?

 

Hands Up Meetings

Tuesdays: United Christians of Alleghany Warehouse Company:  12:45 PM – 1 PM  

“The Light” at Park 500:  12 PM – 1 PM

Wednesdays: M/C “C” Shift:  2 AM – 3 AM

M/C “B” Shift:  7 PM – 8 PM

Thursdays (Noon – 1:00 PM): Alternates between Operations Center, Finance Center and Manufacturing Center

January 6th – Manufacturing Center

January 13th  – Manufacturing Cente

January 19th  – Operations Center

Gateway Center

Still Praying:  Hands Up Ministry Corporate Office, Cabarrus and Help Desk.  For this to happen God has to raise up leaders.  Pray, and then pray some more.  The nucleus of these group have been moved into place by the Hand of God.  The people have to hear the call and sense the need.

 

PRAISE THE LORD     

People need the Lord.  At the end of broken dreams

He is the open door.  We are the light of the world

 and we possess living waters so that no man or

woman should walk in darkness or be thirsty for spiritual life.

 

    MISSIONS AT WORK

Investment For An Eternity

By Tom Meadows, Sr.

 

Aguas Blancas - Project 2005

Hands Up Ministry in partnership with Chester Outreach Church of the Nazarene is sponsoring a mission trip scheduled for the spring of 2005 to the Dominican Republic to build a church.  If you would be interested in being a part of this team or helping sponsor a team member or contribute to the building fund please contact us as soon as possible.

Tentative dates are:

One-week trip is May 7-15 or two weeks from April 30 – May 15.  Air fares should be about the same but per diem and insurance will cost more for the two week trip.

We currently have raised $2663 in candy sales, contributions and pledges.  Our $6000 commitment will be paid by December 31, 2004.  As of this writing we have four HUM members, one spouse and one daughter committed to go and represent Hands Up Ministry.

Invest in the future and eternity for yourself and others by contributing to this church.

1 John 3:17  

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 Isaiah 6:8

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?  Then said I, here am I; send Me.

 

 Work & Witness 

We serve the one and only mighty God who can do anything but fail.  Hallelujah Thank You Jesus.  When the Lord speaks to you and you answer "yes", please let us know.  

 

Would you like to go on a mission trip? Is your church planning a mission trip that could use some more workers? 

 

“THE LIGHT” UPDATE 4th QUARTER 2004

An Outreach Ministry of Hands Up

 

 

 

FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT

Park 500

 

 

Since Ronnie Waddell moved to the OC The Light is being led by Rob McClenny

 

 

 

 

 

 

Covered

by

Mona Eno

 

Jesus before me

                                    

Jesus beside me

 

Jesus above me

 

Jesus behind  

 

Jesus, my Brother

 

Jesus, my Savior

 

Jesus, my Lord and God

 

Let Your light shine  

 

Your birth is the reason

 

For this blessed season

 

To save us from sin

 

Is the reason you came

 

To God be the glory

 

This beautiful story

 

Jesus, our Savior

 

Praise His holy name.  

Hands Up Ministry

Christmas Outreach

 through

 Weed & Seed of Richmond

Our Christmas Mother for 2004 is 

Zynobia "ZEE" Gibson

Since 2000 the first year of ministry HUM has adopted at least one family to provide for their Christmas needs.  Each year that commitment has grown one additional family with the ministry.  As we are completing our fifth year of ministry we are adopting five families through the Weed & Seed Program of Richmond.  In total with these five families we will have provided a Christmas celebration for fifteen families since 2000.  This is no small undertaking to sponsor five families and some may be questioning that vision but I believe that God will supply our every need to do this because it is about serving others.  Jesus came not to be served but to serve and should we be any less committed to the will of ourLord.  We are not doing this to bring attention to ourselves or to our company but to bring honor and glory to our Heavenly Father.  Each Christmas those members of HUM that go out on the distribution day get to see what their donations and sacrifices are doing for others.  We take time to pray God's blessing upon the family and their home and expect God to add the increase to the lives of the people that are touched by your acts of obedience and kindness.  God's word says obedience is better than sacrifice, so please pray and obey the Holy as to what your part will be in this effort.

For more information click here.

Weed & Seed History 

God's Promise Is His Word Confirmed

HOLDING PATTERNS

Many times God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in our life to "swallow us up ." This season in our spiritual growth is a holding pattern. We can't move to the left or the right.  All we can do is sit, like Jonah  sat in the belly of that great fish,  so God can have our undivided attention and speak to us.

God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his  heart.   Jonah was all alone.  There were no friends to call, no colleagues to drop by, no books to read, no food to eat, no interference's, and no interruptions.

He had plenty of time to sit, think, meditate, and pray. When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to us.  When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.

A. Few of God's Holding Patterns:

1.  When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed, but God has not healed you     yet, you are  in a holding pattern.

2.  When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on the altar, but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern.

3.  When you have been praying for the salvation of a loved one and they have not been saved  yet, you are in a holding pattern.

4.  When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God, but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.

5.  When the doors slam shut before you can knock on

them, you are in a holding pattern.

When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no interruptions. God has our undivided attention.  All we can do is sit, think, meditate, and pray.  We cannot run from God because there are no mountains that are high enough, valleys that are low enough, rivers that are  wide enough, rooms that are dark enough, or places that are hidden enough from Him.  We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting and  remember  three things:

1.  The pattern has a purpose.

2.  The pattern has a plan.

3.  The pattern has a process.

So stop struggling and start listening, praying and trusting. He'll keep you right where you are until you can clearly hear Him say, "I love you."

Prayer:  Father, forgive my unbelief.  I know you love me and will turn anything around to benefit me.  You have planned nothing for me but victories and I am ready to receive them regardless of how difficult the path.  Amen

The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.

FOR A REASON

By: Harry Updegraff, Jr.

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there…to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or help figure out who you are, or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be, but when you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.

And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower or heart.

Everything happens for a reason.  Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck.  Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul.

Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere.  Safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet affect your life.  The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from.  In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones.

 

 

(For A Reason...continued)

 

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.

If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things.

Make every day count.  Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people you have never talked to before, and actually listen.  Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high.  Hold your head up because you have every right.

Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you.  Create your own life and then go out and live it.

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:10/12 NIV

 

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