Bible Verses Quotes (NIV)
Acts 20:20 ...You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
Matthew 25:23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Eph. 4: 11-12 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
Heb. 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Isaiah 58 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
James 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
1 Cor. 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
BCM Prayer of Agreement Prayer
Father, I thank you that You have heard me, and that You always hear me(Jo. 11:41). Thank you for caring for me (1Pet. 5:7).Thank you forgiving me richly all things to enjoy (1 Tim. 6:17). I bless you at all times, your praise is continually in my mouth (Psa 34:1). My soul and all that is within me blesses Your Holy Name (Ps. 103:1). Thank you for supplying all of our needs according to Your riches and glory in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19). Thank you for blessing the ministries You have raised up. Thank you for opening windows of heaven for Baja Christian Ministries (BCM) and pouring out a blessing upon them that overflows (Mal. 3:10), so they may always have all sufficiency in everything and an abundance for every good deed (2Cor. 9:8-9). Thank You God for pouring into BCM's lap a good measure of continuous funding, pressed down, shaken together, and running over (Luke 6:38).
Father, thank You for bringing dreams and divine nudges to many of Your people worldwide to stand in support of BCM. Thank you for orchestrating divine arrangements and appointments to connect partners in support of BCM. Thank You for attracting choice servants to love andf und them. Thank You for filling their mailbox and coffer’s with monetary gifts. Thank you for the abundance of generous people and provision you have decreed.
Thank you for prospering, protecting,and blessing everyon ewho prays for and gives to BCM. Thank you for returning back upon each person, full circle, extravagant blessings, through prayers being offered up for them and thanks giving being brought to You, Father, as a result of their generous giving and prayers(2Cor 9:11-15). Thank you for prospering BCM and doin gexceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think through your power that works within us.To you be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen (Eph 3:20-21-NKJV). Father God, we love You, thank You and praise You!
Poems
It Makes a Difference to This One!
(Poem by Bob Sanders—based upon the Starfish Story which he has retold and further enhanced)
A young man was strolling along the beach
Suddenly he caught view
and compassionately saw through
further than his eye or heart could reach
helpless starfish washed upon the beach
endless scores spewed upon the shore
As the waves then calmed and the tide receded
multitudes of hopeless starfish were left behind
craving that helping hand so badly needed
unsaved ones left upon that rugged shoreline
What else could the young man do--
but GO for the rescue?
No more out of sight, out of mind
Not this time...
So without regret or remorse
he passionately pursued his heartfelt course
conscience confirming his actions to be right and good
a goal to save as many as he could
His will and determination were now resigned
To save one at a time
Until building in the multiplier would become more clearly defined
when compassionate partners would link up and align
a team... like “one man” standing steadfast holding the line
empowered by the Captain of their Salvation
through His divine orchestration
that would weave a working net created by heavenly design
that would sweep every tribe, every tongue, every nation...
Meantime.... With as corning glance
an old man watched from a distance
in unbelief and ridicule
he judged the young man to be a fool
for this old man also took a stance
the way of Cain
a path of self-interest and self-gain
while ignoring another's need and pain
Across that gulf of indifference he glared
Perplexed that this young man could really care
He crossed, approached the young man, and said,
Are you out of your head?
"get a clue, what's the matter with you?
Why go? Don't you know...
there are miles and miles, thousands upon thousands-
starfish innumerable on these endless coast lands?
Your dream is a waste!
You must know... these lives are mere throwaway's!
It's a crime to squander your valuable time--
You're alive, build your bank account, and thrive
Does it really matter if they survive?
Awake oh sleeper
Only a fool would be his brother’s keeper!
Can't you see...
They are not your responsibility!
Come back to reality!
Reset your priorities!
It’s time to awake!
And though it really doesn't matter anyway
I still need to know, what's your take?
What Possible Difference Can You Make?”
Then the young man picked up a starfish and said,
It Makes A Difference To This One!
And then cast that starfish over his head
And into the sea...
Where it could now finally breathe
Another Victory...
Each "One" Precious Indeed!
One more life freed from the sands of fatality
Then suddenly...
the young man imagined that starfish to be...
You or me,
a member of our family
a daughter...a son
a loved one in captivity
even a faceless one
one whom we might never see or ever meet
even one of the least of these...
saved by Word and Deed
rescued through generosity
and compassionate networking
Another Precious One...
Now found in the Arms of Christ's Heavenly Sea
To breathe Holy Spirit breath for all of eternity
Angels rejoicing...eternity singing
Another precious life rescued from shores of eternal agony
now secure in the Beauty and Glory of Christ's Glassy Sea--
Forever Refreshed in God’s Breathtaking Oceans of Eternity
Immersed in the Holy Spirit Presence of Jesus our King-
Another Beloved One now in training
Joyfully persevering these fleeting years of earthly suffering
in preparation fort he Greatest Feast of all time and eternity!
My King, I pray...
Help me to Make a Difference today!
Empower me to put that old man inside of me away!
Guide me into what You'd have me do and say!
Stir me to invest and plant the gifts and abilities
You have freely given tome
to multiply into bread and seed
to generously feed the multitudes in need
both spiritually and physically
to the glory of my King
Help me Build in the Multiplier and extend the boundaries
Multiply out my ministry exponentially...
That reality that is so clearly seen
in the latent potential of a single apple seed
which can easily grow into groves of fruitful apple trees
Therefore...let us then consider how to stir one another
into love and good deeds
bearing and multiplying good fruit ton to eternity
as a joyful offering to Jesus our precious King!
Starfish Poem by Bob Sanders--enhanced and revised 3/13/09
*Research reveals that the original Starfish Story is told by Loren Eisley
in his book "The Star Thrower
Setting Sail in Word and Deed
A poem by Bob Sanders
What is the balance between the process of equipping...
and the act of "going" and "doing"?
When do we graduate, when do we know?
Hasn't Christ's Church been equipped enough to go?
I believe scripture affirms it so!
Certainly there is an ebb and flow,
a time to equip and a time to go
Yet, Isaiah 58's healing and blessing
promises to spring forth in the doing!
As Christians we learn along the way!
It's always on the job training!
Princes and princesses of the king
being trained in worshiping and praying
but also, soldiers of our King on a mission
heeding the words of His great commission
Not given to be mere pew potatoes
But noble ones who grow as they go
Not only a church of the open door
Not only a church on the way
but a church on the way out the door
eager to obey
to reach the lost and serve the poor
Worship and fellowship
has prepared a Flagship
An action ship on the go
King and Captain on board
setting sail to disciple the lost and raise up the poor!
Knowing that a harbor is a safe place for a ship
but that's not what ships were built for,
sailors are ready to leave the harbor
and exit the safety of the beach
to set sail into the adventurous winds of outreach
and to become God's repairers of the breach
As His Spirit Wind blows, these souls willingly pursue
what their Captain has prepared in advance for them to do
Eager to break the chains of complacent retreat
to go into the hiways, biways, and nameless streets
to compassionately meet spiritual and material needs
to passionately move out in both word and deed
Trained enough to spread the good news
they march out of their comfortable pews
leaving brick and mortar and comfort zones
to tend and gather unreached living stones
amongst this world's faceless and worthless,
to help build His House on solid Biblical foundations
in precious lives from every tribe, tongue and nation
For years now we've received and heard plentifully
Equipped enough to sow in word and deed freely,
Ready to overcome apathy and complacency
to do good deeds and give generously
For water abundantly flowing in, yet not flowing out,
creates a dead sea of stagnation, fear and doubt
No longer cold, nor lukewarm, but hot!
we are Holy Spirit-hot-wired, a church on fire
knowing that to whom much is given much is required
We seek to please our King!
No longer a leaking cistern or Dead Sea
but rather a fountain in Christ our King
an unfailing spring, overflowing,
into the streets
filling the earth with heavenly blessing!
Making a difference
through the Holy Spirit's influence
like yeast does through bread
dispersing His life to rapidly spread
When we are in function the Oil flows
as we DO and GO
His Presence and Kingdom expands and grows
permeating nations with righteous leaven
His kingdom come, His will be done
on earth as it is in heaven!
The best is yet to come!
By Bob Sanders, revised 10/15/09
(Heb 10:24-25, Eph 2:10, Eph 4:11-13, Jer 2:13)