HINES SIGHT

     Our Lord knew it was time.  The purpose for which He was born 'the Salvation of mankind' was near to completion.  The time of His departure was at hand.  Luke records, 'And it came to pass, when the time was come that He should be received up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem' (Luke 9:51).  It seems like no one does anything 'steadfastly' anymore.  We do it as long as it suits us, or as long as it's convenient, or as long as it goes our way, or as long as nobody makes us mad.  This seems to be especially true in our work for the Lord.  I think about my nearly six years here at Washington, and I remember people who have come and gone for whatever reason.  It grieves me that many in our church and others never knew the joy of a task completed.  God places us in a church to do His will and we short-circuit His will because we get mad and upset and put that task aside.  There's nothing quite like the joy of seeing something completed.  Something that only you could do with the help of God.  I read in the Bible where faithful servants of God some day hear their Lord tell them, 'Well done thou good and faithful servant.'  Nowhere do I read of Him saying, 'Almost well done thou good and faithful servant.'  We're all tempted to quit.  There have been times when I have fallen short of God's goals for my life.  But there have also been times, thank the Lord, when, although I have been tempted to give up, I hung in there by His grace, and I saw a task completed.  Once you accomplish something for Him you will want to approach all your endeavors 'steadfastly.'  Remember: God rewards completed tasks.  Finish what you start.   I am thankful for your faithful service to our Lord.  Keep up the good work!!

                                                                                                             Your Pastor,   Drew Hines

A Prayer

 George Mueller was a great man of faith who lived in England in the 19th century.  Mueller founded a number of orphanages in England.  His legacy was that he led his ministry to these children strictly by relying on God to meet all the needs; he walked strictly by faith.  When asked how he discerned God's will, George Mueller said that he first of all made sure he had no will of his own.  In other words he 'crucified' his own personal desire so that it would not influence his praying and seeking God's perfect will in anything.  As the Nominating Committee begins it's all important work, we have met together to do the exact same thing; we have submitted the decisions for the church to Christ who is the head.  We will stand before the Lord in His Word and prayer, watching what is happening in the body so that He can reveal to us His will concerning Washington Baptist Church.  Our desires are not what matters.  Please pray for us.  But also, as you pray, ask God to reveal to you His will for you, remembering to first crucify your own personal desire.  We trust God to show us what to do, what adjustments to make, and then to obey.  The church is His, and He has told us that He will build His church: He will fit the body together to please and edify Him.  Let's commit to let Him and submit to Him!

                                                                                                             Pastor Joe Price