Dear Friends in Christ,
I hope this newsletter finds you spiritually well and focusing on our great Lord and Savior. The world needs to see and hear of the hope we have in Christ. As we pray for the many families enduring such unspeakable loss, we must pray that many will come to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not forget to pray earnestly for the men and women who are helping amid these great tragedies. They are encountering overwhelming difficulties as they witness the aftermath of these horrific events. Honestly, as one who knows about grieving the loss of loved ones, my heart goes out to those who do not have a personal relationship with the Lord. There is no hope apart from Him, but with Him, He is HOPE, LIGHT, AND LOVE. In these times, may the true church arise and be the dispensers of His grace, displayers of His love, sharing the gospel in love and deed.
True believers must faithfully live holy lives, loving one another and loving others enough to point them to Jesus, their only hope. He is alive, and He continues to change lives. Fellow servants of Christ, we must be about our Father’s business as long as we have breath. Hebrews 6:19 declares, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.” As the songwriter, Stuart Townsend sings, “There is a Hope’.
There is hope that burns within my heart,
that gives me strength for every passing day.
A glimpse of glory now revealed in meager part, yet drives all doubt away:
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiven; and Christ in me, the hope of heaven!
My highest calling and my deepest joy, to make His will my home.
There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
a consolation strong against despair,
that when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Savior there!
Through present sufferings, future’s fear, He whispers ‘courage’ in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms, and they will lead me home.
There is a hope that stands the test of time,
that lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
to see the matchless beauty of a day divine when I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die, and every long satisfied
Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul, for I am truly home.
Yes, dear ones, our hope is in Christ alone, our Rock, and our Salvation. For this reason, I again rejoice over your faithfulness to stand with this ministry that helps us share our blessed hope with others. For instance, I have just sent the quarterly support to our missionaries, church planters and pastors.
The reports I have received from these faithful servants are always a great reminder of how our sovereign King is working all things for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. His great mission is going forth. Many of these men are facing extreme battles while serving the Lord. Presently, several are encountering dangerous situations from government officials, from gang activities threatening their lives and their families. Alongside these struggles, there are daily challenges from adverse weather conditions, economic challenges, and numerous health issues. Like so many of us, they too face challenging family matters, rebellious children, and job loss. These men encounter church issues, such as all true churches combats.
However, our God is at work saving the lost and encouraging the saints. Lives are being changed one person at a time. Any place the true gospel is preached and God’s work is being carried out, we know the enemy is present, dogging their steps, attempting to infiltrate and damage God’s work. Like snakes, they slither in to cause as much damage as possible. But, our God is never overpowered by evil. Anything built on the Rock, will stand. Believers, always remember, we are on the winning side.
Precious friends, because of your love for the Lord and for the souls of others, you are a great encouragement to these faithful men. You are a vital part of helping them fulfill the work that God has given to them. This is how God has purposed His church to work. God is faithful, and He will build His church.
Update On Ministry Happenings
First, I would like to thank all of you who prayed for me as I traveled to Oklahoma. I had the privilege to share God’s word with a precious group of ladies from King’s Cross. A precious friend from one of my Bible classes in Mobile, years ago, Ruth Ann Hamilton, is now living in Oklahoma. Ruth Ann graciously extended this teaching invitation to minister to the women of her church. It was such a joy to spend time with her and her family. They are so dear to my family and have been a part of this ministry for many years.
The ladies were gracious, encouraging, and very receptive to God’s word. We covered Psalm 57 and a portion of John 15, focusing on ‘Living, Abiding, and Blossoming under the Shadow of His Wings’. I’ll share just a few comments I received from a couple of the ladies about this time together.
One lady expressed how the Lord was encouraging her about prayer. As we opened the scripture pointing to the importance of prayer concerning the lost around us, Dianne said, “We may be the answer to another mother’s prayers, who is asking God to send someone to their child. We should allow God to use us in this way, being bold to love and shine His light to those God has placed in our lives.” One lady commented on how we discussed that these things are to be lived out from the overflow of our love for God, which will spill over onto everything around us. In addition, one said, she was reminded that when trials arrive, we should not stay hidden inside the dark cave of doubt and confusion. We must walk toward the light that is shining from outside the cave, and breathe in fresh air of truth. Remember, outside the cave, the Psalmist could see the heavens were still in place and God remained on His throne. God was still at work in the midst of the trial.”
Teaching these truths is always a great reminder to me. I must be diligent to keep my eyes focused and my heart’s affection on Him. Often, when teaching ladies, I remind them to keep your “EYES UP”, for circumstances never alter God’s plans and purposes. He is working all things out for our good and His glory. Life’s situations and heartaches never hinder God’s plans; they are the road that He is on carrying out His work. So let us keep our ‘EYE’S UP, and FOLLOW HIM!’
Another special blessing of this trip was reuniting with precious friends we knew from New Orleans, who now live in that same area, Tim & Teresa Marler. We met them not long after Ed’s conversion. We quickly became close friends. Having known us as new believers, they were eyewitnesses to the transformational work of the Lord in our lives. Our families spent time together, ministered together, and prayed together. They have been co-laborers with this ministry from its inception. It was a joy to my heart to sit and reminisce about how the Lord has brought us through many valleys and mountaintops, growing our faith. Even though so many from those early days have been scattered around the states and even overseas, we have seen His hand working in it all.
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING
Exciting News! They have sent the audio version of the book. I now have to listen to it, note any errors and once that is edited; the audio book will be made available. Also, I am thrilled that my home church chose for our Community Groups to study this material this summer.
Moreover, since the book’s release, several churches have begun teaching Christ-Centered Evangelism. They have ordered the workbooks and then will use Ed’s videos of that teaching in the equipping of their people. As always, we are praying for fruit that remains.
Your prayers, love, and support of this ministry are a large portion of the Lord’s blessings. After reading the reports from the workers in the field, I am in awe that we get to join in with what the Lord is doing. So, thank you dear ones, for your faithfulness to co-labor in this ministry. You are loved and prayed for. Please continue to pray for me to have wisdom throughout these days of ministry. Also, please continue to pray for my family that the Lord will work in their lives throughout these days.
As I close, as I recently read Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, I also pray for you in like manner:
“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.”
My Hope is in Him,
Dianne Lacy
Ed Lacy Ministries