I have been independent and self sufficent since the age of 18.  Trusting in God to provide is very hard and  it does not come natural for me.  He is teaching me to rely on Him for all the necessary start-up funds and monthly support that I will need to minister in  Africa.

I am finding it hard to be in this position, but we grow the most when we are out of our comfort zone.  It is the place where we  find strength,  peace and comfort in God alone.  I know through this experience I will become a more mature Christian and so I Praise God for that !!!!!!!!!!

I presently  have 776 dollars in my start up fund and 235 in monthly support.  If you know of any individuals,  groups or churches that might be interested in an opportunity to share in this wonderful ministry that God has given me please let me know.  You can reach me at Catz12764@aol.com. If you would like to donate you can go to the ECM page on Network for Good .  Be sure to designate Catherine Hayes as your donation purpose .

In Christ love,

Catherine Hayes

As parents it is important that we put God first in our lives.  He is the archer, and we are the bow.  Without his hand on our life all of our efforts are for nothing.

3 Lo, children are a heritage of Jehovah

Our children are an inheritance from God.  They are a blessing, but along with an inheritance comes responsibility.  As parents our main responsibilities are threefold:

1,  Teach: Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah:5 and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be upon thy heart;7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

This is not a systematic kind of plan that comes from a static curriculum.  It is an everyday, on the go, kind of teaching.  It happens best during what I call teachable moments.  And it can only happen when we ourselves are so saturated with God that He just spills out.

2.  Train: Prov 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Training is being an example and role model to our children.  It is showing them how to do something by doing it.  We need to model Godly behavior and practices, such as regular church attendance, giving, serving, and evangelizing.  The statistics below show how powerful this can be.

Kids Who Become Active Christ-followers as Adults:

• • If mom and dad went to church: 72% of kids will as adults
  • If dad only went to church: 55% of kids will as adults.
  • If mom only went to church: 15% of kids will as adults.
  • If neither mom nor dad: 6% of kids will as adults.

3.  Equip: EPH 6:12.For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We have an enemy that is bent on destroying our children.  We must prepare them to face the battle by making sure they are equipped with the full ARMOR OF GOD (Eph 6: 10-17):

·   Helmet of Salvation – Leading our children to Christ is our first priority but it is only the beginning.  In battle the helmet was the primary piece of identification.  It marked who you were fighting for, and symbolized your devotion and loyalty to your King.  Teach your child to wear it proudly, and to understand that we are nothing without Him.

·   Breastplate of Righteousness – Our emotions often cloud our thinking, and lead us to make bad decisions.  We must teach our children to guard their hearts, and make good and wise decisions.  It’s their choices that will determine what path they follow.

·   Belt of Truth – Satan is the father of lies, in fact it is his native language.  He is always tempting our children to enjoy the pleasures of sin, but never reveals the consequences.  We must be diligent about teaching our children the consequences of sin.  Truth is what sets us free, and will keep our children from bondage.

·   Shoes of the Gospel – All dressed up and nowhere to go.  Why put on an armor if you’re not going to battle.  We need to teach our children to be doers, not just hearers.  Take them with you as you go out to battle,

·   Shield of Faith – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Satan knows that God exists, but he is always trying to get our children to doubt His goodness.  Teach your children to be thankful for the good times, and to persevere during the bad.  We are on the right side, and though we may lose a battle, we will win the war.

·   Sword of the Spirit – This is our only offensive weapon, and the only way to inflict damage on the enemy.  We must teach our children not only to know the Word of God, but how to rightly divide it.  They must know how to use the Sword.

4 As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them:

Arrows are especially designed to work best with specific bows.  God matches each child to the parents.  You and your child(ren) are a perfect fit.  God doesn’t make mistakes.  Let’s look at all the various parts of the bow and arrows for some deeper insight into parenting,

PARTS OF THE BOW

• Grip – This is where the Archer’s hand goes.  God must have His hand on our lives if we want to be effective.
• Sight Window – God gives parents specific insights into their children that others couldn’t possibly know.  It doesn’t pinpoint the target exactly but definitely narrows the field to help us better prepare them for the path that God has in mind.
• Arrow Rest – This is where the arrow lays on the front of the bow to help keep it straight until the archer is ready to shoot.  God wants us to cast our burdens on Him.  Life is tough, but it doesn’t have to overwhelming or crushing.  We need to provide a comfort zone, or a resting place for our children.  Sometimes as parents we need to take the blows.
• Serving – This is a thickened part of the string that defines the range of where the arrow could be placed and still be effective.  To me this represents the fact that God knows that we are not perfect.  He gives us a little leeway, a little breathing room.  We are bound to make some mistakes, but if we confess and make amends than we will be able to get things back on track.
• Nocking Point – This is a small piece that attaches to the serving and serves to prevent the arrow from sliding down the string as the Archer aims.  It can be moved up and down by the Archer on the serving to pinpoint the exact target.  String – The string is what the Archer uses to bend the bow.  As parents we all have to stretch and bend in the Master’s hand.  It’s not an easy job.  Some of us have to stretch further than others, but a bigger stretch means a farther reach for the arrow.

PARTS OF THE ARROW

• Nock – This is the slit in the back of the arrow that allows the arrow to attach to the string of the bow.  Children are designed to fit us.  They are not blank pages, for they are fearfully and wonderfully made.  But they are designed to bond, and learn, and trust their parents.  This puts a big responsibility on the parents.  We definitely have a big influence and effect on the direction their lives will take.
• Fletching – This is the feathers that provide balance & stability when the arrow flies.  Children need both of these in order to develop properly, and to someday hit their mark.
• Crest – This is the mark on the arrow, that identified the owner.  There are three types of crest that our children may have:

1.  Humanity: We are all part of the human race, and were created in the image of God, with intelligence, creativity, and the ability to choose.  This is what sets us apart from the animals.  But it also carries the mark of sin that comes from disobedience to God and is also part of our nature.

2.  Family: The genetic makeup of our family is passed on to our children.  They may have the eyes of their grandpa, or the temper of their Mom.  We leave a mark on our kids, and God uses our gene pool as part of his recipe for them.

3.  Children of God: Through surrender and repentance made possible by Jesus dying on the cross to pay for our sins, our children become part of the family of God.  This covers, but does not erase the sin nature.  That will happen when one day we meet Him face to face.

• Arrowhead – This is the custom part of the arrow that is designed according to its purpose.  God chooses this, but we have a part in shaping and sharpening it.

• Shaft – This the main part of the arrow.  Believe it or not an arrow bends as it leaves the bow.  Facing the world is not an easy task for any of our children, but it is something they must do.  The shaft is flexible and meant to take the force of shooting without breaking.  Some are designed to take even more force, but will have a farther reach.  We need to allow God to send them on the path He has chosen for them.

I would like to close this study with the last stanza of the poem On Children, by Kahlil Gibran:

You are the bows from which your children

as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might

that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies,

so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Life as a Missionary !!!!!!

As many of you already know I have had a desire to be a Missionary in Africa for many years and now the doors have been opened.  I have been officially accepted as a Long Term Missionary with Every Child Ministries.

Every Child Ministries is a Christian non- denominational organization which is emerging as one  of the leading Christian ministries offering hope for child slaves, orphans, street children and war-effected children in Africa.

The need is great!

For the past 20 years the rebel group called The Lord  Resistance Army has been terrorizing the region of Nothern Uganda.  The artrocities commited during raids on villages by the LRA forced 1.5million people to be displaced from their homes and placed in camps.  Among the victims were up to 50,000 children who have been abducted by the rebel army and forced to serve as children soldiers, sex slaves and laborers.  There is peace now in Northern Uganda, and those who have been displaced are moving into resettlement areas in Northern Uganda.

My calling is strong!

As a result of a short term Missionary trip with ECM in the summer of 2008, my heart has been drawn to the Achoil people who live in the town of Gulu in the northern part of Uganda.  Many of the children there suffer from malnutrition,  malaria,  diarrheal disease, pneumonia and tuberculosis.

I will be working as a Public Health Nurse, and overseeing the health of the children in the ECM sponsoring club.  I will also be serving children and teaching health and hygiene in the resettlement area called Tegot Village.

Be part of of this exciting work!

The need is great for a Nurse to be part of the Team at ECM and I am so grateful to God he has chosen me.  Tending to the health needs of a child or an adult is a great way to express and show the Love of God.

My start up fund to move to Africa  is $4,000 dollars.   This does not include the medical equipment which I will need to purchase.  My monthly support needs are $1609.

If you belong to a church or a christian organization please contact me at Catz12674@aol.com so we can arrange an opportunity for me to present my needs.  If you would like to make a donation please go to ECM’s donation page on Network for Good.  Be sure to designate Catherine Hayes as the purpose of your donation.

Please pray that my trip on the fundraising trail will be short, so I can get to the children in Africa as soon as possible.

God Bless You

Catherine Hayes

1. Build yourselves up:  This means we need to be ready to go into battle.  The best way to recognize error is to know truth.  Banks prepare their tellers to recognize counterfeit money by studying real money.  If we expect to hold our own against false teachers we better know God’s Word.
2. Pray:  The real battle is spiritual.  We are going to need all the help we can get.
3. Stay connected:  The best way to stay in God’s love is to surround ourselves with believers.  There is strength in numbers.
4. Patience:  Sometimes the battle is very rough and it is easy to give up.  It can be very disheartening to see the devil win and souls lost.  But God will return one day and set everything straight.  We need to be patient and not give up.
5. Show mercy:  It is an easy thing to be led astray by false teachers.  Sometimes all it takes is a little guidance, and a lot of love to bring someone into the light.  Many people respond well by emphasizing the positive.
6. Snatch them from the fire:  Some are in so deep, that their clothes are on fire.  They need to be shaken up.  They need to see the danger, so they can turn around and flee.  Fear is the motivating factor.
7. Hate sin:  It is important that we keep focus during the battle, and never let our guard down.  We can be defeated as easily as those we seek to rescue.
8. Praise: There is healing, and strength, and encouragement in praise.  To God be the glory always and forever.

• Grumblers
• Fault Finders
• Boast
• Flatter
• Scoffers
• Dividers
• Followers of natural instincts

1. Blemishes at your love feasts: Early Christians would often gather together for fellowship over food.  These feasts could become very hypocritical by showing bias to the rich.  False teachers would capitalize on this situation by sowing discord.  The word “blemishes” in the Greek actually means “hidden reef” A hidden reef was very dangerous to sailors and symbolizes deceit.
2. Shepherds who feed themselves: A shepherd is expected to give priority to the safety and well being of the sheep.  But false teachers take advantage of their flock, and really only care for themselves.
3. Clouds without rain: It must be very frustrating to a farmer who needs rain for his crops to get all excited about the promise of rain from a dark cloud that just passes on by.  This is a good description of the emptiness and disappointment that comes from following false teachers.
4. Uprooted fruit trees: Again one would expect a fruit tree to yield tasty treats but an empty tree that is uprooted not only brings immediate disappointment but gives no hope of future fulfillment.
5. Wild waves: Waves are strong, but uncontrollable and destructive.  Their power is wasted and brings no real benefit.
6. Wandering stars: In the past sailors were able to find their way by using the unmoving positions of certain stars as a reference point. A wandering star is totally useless for this type of navigation.  A sailor who tried to use a wandering star would only end up lost.

• JEALOUSY:  Cain was so jealous of his brother that he ended up killing him.  Like Cain many cults and false teachers refuse to follow the truth, but they still desire attention and praise.  Often they will emphasize good works, or demand respect, or worship.
• GREED:  Baalam knew that Israel was God’s chosen people and He desired to bless them.  Still he really wished that he could curse them so he could receive huge sums of money from their enemy.  This same type of greed motivates false teachers to exploit their followers.
• REBELLION:  Korah rebelled against Moses caused he resented that God had put him in authority.  Many false teachers are motivated by nothing more than pure rebellion against the truth.

1. DESTRUCTION for unbelievers:  Not all of the Israelites who escaped from slavery in Egypt were true believers.  Many were faithless, rebellious complaining idolaters. They faced judgment through fire, plagues, and wandering in the desert.
2. IMPRISONMENT for disobedience:  God has imprisoned angels in everlasting darkness for their disobedience during the days of Noah.
3. ETERNAL FIRE for immorality:  Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone for the sin of homosexuality.

All of these judgments describe HELL itself.  That is the fate of false teachers and anyone who follows them.  This is a very stern warning from God.  This is serious business, and not to be taken lightly.

• Jesus Christ is God.  He is not an angel.  He is not just a great teacher.  He is not only a prophet.  HE IS GOD.
• Salvation is by faith not by works.  There is nothing we can do to earn salvation.  Jesus did it all.  He paid for our sins by dying on the cross, and he conquered death by rising on the third day.  We need only agree with Him, and accept Him as our Lord.

I.      The Test: Jude 1-4

II.    Their Fate: Jude 5-7

III.  Their Motives: Jude 8-11

IV.   Empty Promises: Jude 12-13

V.     Their Tactics: Jude 14-19

VI.    The Defense: Jude 20-25