July, 2022 Greetings

"Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee, I will help thee, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

Dear Friends,

The Old Testament tells the story of Elijah and his tremendous victory over the 450 prophets of Baal, but it does not hide the fact that he became discouraged and ran away when queen Jezebel swore to kill him. In our human weakness and helplessness it is understandable to turn to human agencies for help or even to just give up and retreat. But scripture reminds us that as believers it is precisely at such times that our gracious Lord is just waiting for us to come to Him so that He can encourage, strengthen, and help us. Thankfully, He is very patient and sometimes He encourages us through people we already know or through seemingly ordinary everyday things. For the prophet Elijah the Lord provided a brook and some ravens to bring him food in a place where he could rest and think. For our co-workers still in Ukraine the Lord has used their many contacts among believers to give them an opportunity to do something for others and make a difference where they are. May the Lord encourage you today as you read their news and stories. - Heather Renton