Mike Deasy Newsletter - April 2003

Dear Friends:

I pray this letter finds you in health and prospering, that you and yours are filled with power, love and soundness of mind in the Holy Spirit. I pray that God will supply everything you need to accomplish every dream that He has placed in your heart. In the book of Ephesians, chapter five, verso one, it says for us to be "imitators of God"...amazing..."imitators of God". Say it, "I'm an imitator of God"..of all the things we say, do we ever say this? It should be one of the filters between our ear and our brain, between our brain and our heart and a filter between every thought and action. We can, should and will ask the question, "does what I'm about to do imitate God?" Is what I'm about to say "imitate God?" Is what I feel "imitate God?" Is what I'm thinking an imitation of God? If it isn't, then let's change it.

THE HOW:
In the same chapter of Ephesians, five, verse one, the "how" is right there..."as well beloved children imitate their father" that is the how. Just as we copied our natural father, so do we copy our heavenly Father. We watched, we listened, we tried and failed and asked for help and got up and tried again until we grew into success. We put on our dad's big shoes and clomped around the house, tripping and falling. He helped us up, he steadied us, lifted us, carried us, fed us, clothed us and disciplined us, for the father that loves his child guides and teaches him and corrects his path. God does no less. That He would not be just a lofty "spirit in the sky", He came to the earth and was tempted as we are tempted, suffered and died that we should have a living example to follow.

MORE HOW:
In the book of II Timothy, chapter one, verse 13, Paul tells us to "hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching which you have heard from me..." "hold fast..." grab hold, be determined that is our part once we wee the pattern, the road to follow, "hold fast", can be even stubborn about choosing to imitate God and this is how we must "hold fast" to the pattern. Life is like water, it takes the shape and form of the vessel it's put into. You put water in a glass and it takes the shape of the glass, you put it into a bottle, and it takes the shape of the bottle. Our life is that same, whatever pattern we follow is the shape our life will take. The world is always giving us a shape, form or road to take, a pattern to follow. The road to Dallas is not the road to New York, the road we choose and follow and "hold fast to" will determine where we go. Does the path I have chosen "imitate God?" Where does it lead? To keep traveling the same road and expect a different destination is insanity, and insanity is not an imitation of God. Amen.

Back to the scripture, "Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching which you have heard from Me, in all the faith and love which are for us in Christ Jesus." So the action words and keys "faith and love" we have these. These are the vehicle that carries us down our chosen road to our destination. You chose the road, be determined, "hold fast" and faith and love will get you there. Faith is the substance, and comes by hearing. What we hear and see is the pattern we follow. What we love where we spend our time. Any words we listen to and follow we put faith in. The words of the songs, the words of the TV, the words of fear. The words of worry or the words of peace, the words of sorrow or the words of joy. You choose. As for me and my house, I choose God. He is my Father and as a beloved child, I imitate my Father, I cry out to Him for help for His peace, His joy and when I fall, He picks me up and sets me in His lap and comforts me and then sends me out to try again. Chapter fourteen says to "Guard and keep the precious and excellently adapted truth which has been entrusted to you by the help of the Holy Spirit who makes His home in us." You are not alone. You need help. ONce you make the decision to "hold fast" and you choose to follow the pattern of God's Word and to "imitate God." The Holy Spirit will help you to stand guard, for there will be attacks in your mind from your past, patterns trying to remain, but we are detemined to succeed and the Holy Spirit within us will stand guard and help. Thank you, Jesus.

This Memorial Day we are doing Beach Reach and will take the tractor trailer and put it on the beach and music will draw and the gospel will save. Just as we did at Mardi Gra, the side of the truck will fold down, the band will play the electric guitar will electrify and the hearts of young people will be pierced with the love of Jesus. Thank you for your prayers and your giving. Together we reach the unreachable.

Here is our prayer:

Father, in Jesus name, I cry out to you as your child. I ask for Your mercy and Your grace, to be my way. I thank You, Father, for the presence of your Holy Spirit inside me to guard and guide me in the path of life. Help me, God, to imitate You in: all I do, all that I say, all that I am, this day and forever.

Praise You, Jesus, amen.

I remain your servant in Christ,

Mike Deasy