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         Andy & Jessie Clark

             Missionaries in

​           Autlan, Jalisco, Mexico      

Tecate Mission International

How teachable are you?

4/19/2018

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This is a question that needs to be asked no matter how old you are. It implies that you are not blinded by your own pride. Pride is so often what causes so many to feel there is no need for me to learn some thing new. Being teachable and correctable I think go hand-in-hand. Pride is what stops this from happening. When you are young growing into an adult you have the idea in your head "I can do what I want because I am an adult now." In some ways this is very true in other ways not at all true. The reason I bring this up is that I am leading a youth bible study now. There is a huge difference between one who is teachable and correctable and one who is full of pride. Instead leading by example there is a desire for recognition. This is the same old problem that caused the great tower of Babel. It was to make a name for themselves. It was also what Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the garden. "Don't you want to be like God?" In essence it is what is the driving force of our sin. Pride. I can do it by myself. I don't need anyone to help me. Yet no one can save themselves from sin and earn their salvation. 

Ephesians 2:1-10
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
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This verse are so clear. God rich in mercy ( Mercy=not getting what we deserve) ...... by grace (Grace= a gift that you don't deserve) you have been saved. Not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Our salvation is so different that all the other religions in the world. You have to please the '"god or gods" in order to find favor maybe having that god give you what your works deserve. Our GREAT GOD the FATHER who is rich in mercy loves us even when we don't deserve it and pours out his grace on us giving us our salvation based on what he has done through Jesus on the cross putting on him the cost of our sins. How amazing is this?!!! We can never do enough to pay for what our sins deserve. It is only through Jesus that we find reconciliation to the Father. What a gift. To spend eternity with Jesus and God the Father because we believe and receive the gift that God offers. May you receive much joy as you ponder and reflect of this great gift and ask Jesus to reveal pride that is in your heart. 
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Church at the water park

4/3/2018

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Easter came and went did it not? We had good Friday service at our house. It was a blessed time of fellowship. We spent time worshiping together with singing. Then we watched about of half an hour of the Jesus film from when Jesus entered Jerusalem until his death and resurrection. You may not be familiar with this particular film but it has been translated into hundreds of different languages. Before we watched it, I told everyone that this is according to the gospel of Luke. After we celebrated communion together reading from the gospel of Luke. It was almost word for word to the movie, which one of the reasons I felt we should watch it along with listening to it. I know that some of the younger people need more than just listening to scripture being read. The fact that the movie is almost 40 years old doesn't matter if it is right from the bible. After communion, we shared in a meal together. You could tell just being together was a blessing for everyone. Having time of fellowship and laughter leads me to believe how the disciples felt when they were eating together with Jesus. Such a sweetness to it. Oh how our fellowship will be blessed when we are in heaven together with Jesus!!!

On Sunday, we decided to spend the day at a local water park in celebration of Jesus resurrection from the dead. Why not celebrate together!!! It is for this reason we have victory over death through the precious blood of Jesus who willingly gave his life for us. Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

2 Corinthians 5: 17- 21 
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (ESV)

What a glorious truth we have in Jesus. Was it not him who took our sin and bore it on the cross. We are new creations in Christ Jesus. Is this not a time of celebration for those who have a new joy in life. To live is Christ and to die is gain!!!! 

Why can we not spend a day at a water park together in fellowship together? If we are the body of Jesus and we are all temples of the Holy Spirit can we not have a time of fellowship together anywhere? I would say yes. We are reconciled to God through Jesus. As he hung on the cross, the veil was torn from top to bottom giving us a way to the Father into the holy of holies. This is the reason we live and have our being to fellowship with the Father. If we look back to the very beginning when Adam and Eve sinned against God, while they were hiding in the garden. God said "Where are you?" The God of all creation asking his creation where are you. It demonstrates is love and affection for us his image bearers. What a joy that God wants to spend time with us. 

May you have the joy in your heart multiplied greatly during this season of celebration of Jesus death, burial and RESURRECTION!!! 
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