Bill and Beryl soon to be together again!

Posted by Bill on December 4, 2012

Bill & Beryl Joukhadar The time is now right for Beryl and me to be together once again, early in the new year!

On January 8, Beryl will return to Western Australia with me after we enjoy our Christmas break at home on the east coast of Australia. She has already booked her flight – and we will be seated together!

The company I am employed with has offered Beryl a full time job. She and I will be able to set up home in one of the company-managed homes. Wow … it’s been a long time without my queen. Thank You, Lord, for making this happen, and keeping us strong and steady in our faith.

So, CCI administration will soon be based at Port Hedland. I must tell you: The Lord has been doing a whole bunch of amazing things here through His aged servant – He’s far from being finished with this worn-thin wineskin. I have enjoyed a continual sense of the Lord’s presence, and have enjoyed His power at work in and through my life. I am significantly involved with small groups development, relational evangelism, and discipleship at the South Hedland Baptist Church. I am working closely with SEVEN fired-up Timothy-type successors! The vineyard here abounds with fruitful opportunities.

How’s your patience?

Posted by Bill on February 11, 2012

About 10 days ago, during my interview for a position with a local company as a funeral consultant, I was asked if I could share with them any known weaknesses. After a short time of self-examination I said … “Well, I would say that I still have far to go before I graduate from the Lord’s school of patience.” (In this school I’m in good company with many, many other believers.)

Impatience is a big problem for all of us. Not only are we impatient with ourselves, and others, but also with the Lord. In Psalm 13 (v 1-2) we hear David express impatience with the Lord:

How long will You forget me? Forever?
How long will You look the other way?
How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will the enemy have the upper hand?

Four times David cried out, “How long?” We are so time-conscious today. We have watches that show us split seconds! We squeeze, shove and push to save a few minutes here and there in traffic, then we squander ½ an hour when we get home.

We expect the Lord to do things in ‘our’ time schedule. The Lord, however, has His own plan and time schedule … He holds the stopwatch:

Abraham had to wait 25 years for the birth of his promised son, Isaac.
Isaac had to wait 20 years for his children to be born.
Joseph had to wait 13 years before he was set free from injustice.
Moses had to wait 80 years before he was called and commissioned by God.
David had to wait 14 years to be crowned King of Israel (after he was anointed by the Prophet Nathan at the age of 16).

When the Lord heard that His good friend Lazarus was dying, He purposefully delayed coming to his aid. The Lord’s delayed timing brought a greater miracle which meant a greater blessing to mankind and greater glory to God. Our impatience is a reflection of our sin nature … ‘self’. The Lord is the Universal Time Keeper. He owns and directs all time. When we are impatient we are questioning the Lord … JUST LIKE DAVID IN THIS PSALM.

Dear friends, how important is our “waiting on the Lord”? Well, as we practice patience in our lives and ministry, we actually make significant progress in our journey with Him.

Remember: THE LORD’S TIMING IS ALWAYS PERFECT!

Wait or Wane?

Posted by Bill on September 30, 2011

Jesus seldom ministered to the “needy” apart from His small group of disciples. His strategy for reaching out to a lost world was through His band of twelve. Wherever they went, there was always much work to be done, and, from the perspective of His disciples there was not enough time in the day to finish the work. At the end of each day the disciples could see so much more that could be done – more of which they were glad to do! If left to the disciples to “call the shots” they would have pushed on, well into the night, until, eventually they would have been overtaken by emotional and physical exhaustion.

At the end of each exciting and eventful day of ministry Jesus would call “time-out”, leading His disciples away from the high demands of their unfinished work to a place where they could rest, refresh, and renew for the new day ahead.

Burning-out for Jesus is not the way to please God and expect to earn His “well done, good and faithful servant” commendation. The Lord doesn’t want us to live our lives sprinting all the way to the finish line, jeopardizing our health and wellbeing. Allowing ourselves to become worn-out in our lives costs us His joy, peace and power, and leaves us staggering toward the finish line.

The Lord is not about weighing us down with things to do for Him, but wants us to slow down, lighten-up and learn the importance of “waiting” on Him so that He may do more in and through us. Isaiah says,

“He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; He offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (40:29-31 NLT).

So, in our Christian service to the Lord, we have a choice to make – to “wait or wane”.

Have patience!

Posted by Bill on September 2, 2011

One of the tendencies of our sin-nature is “impatience”. Our “natural” default in life on earth is that we would like to see things corrected in our lives, yesterday! We anxiously wait for the Lord to answer our prayer requests or give us directions that will lead us out of the unpleasant circumstances that surround us.

If that’s not a problem with you, praise the Lord. However, if this topic touches a raw nerve then meditating on the following should bring some comfort and encouragement to you:

The Lord is never in a hurry … He never operates according to our timetable. He took 25 years to come good with His promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah!
The Lord operates in a “time-less” state. He says, “A thousand years on earth is but one day to Me.”
Three thousand years ago, the Lord said to His disciples, “I will return!” Many believers have died while waiting for His return. He is yet to return. How much more time will pass by before He returns? We don’t know, and, He will never tell us.

Friends, let the Lord do what He wants to do in His time. Pray … “Lord, give me enough patience so that time will never be an disturbing issue in my faith journey with You. Go ahead. Do whatever You purpose to do in my life, and through me, according to your perfect plan and timing. Amen.”

Bill

From peanuts to plantations!

Posted by Bill on March 16, 2011

Recently, my dear friend Bob Brown shared news with me of a small group in his church that had multiplied to two groups. I wrote back to him and pressured him for a short testimony of this exciting development. He responded with surprise that what he had considered to be “peanut-sized” news would be worthy enough for broadcasting on our website. Friends, from the Lord’s perspective, plantations result from peanuts. Zechariah says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin … (Zechariah 4:10)”

Anyway, at the end, Bob came quietly like a lamb to the slaughter … here’s his story:

Hi Bill.

Thank you for praying for us. Last October after your visit to Central Queensland, we wrote asking for prayer support as we began the transition from a conservative older church to becoming a Cells Church. We are seeing God’s hand on us for good.

We have been praying for the ‘E’ emphasis of the LIFE acronym (Living In Fellowship to Evangelise) to impact our people and become a catalyst. We desire church growth to take place in new cell groups. Our small beginnings have moved from one to two groups and we are gaining momentum. That’s progress, huh?

For some weeks we have considered the full armour of God each Sunday morning, and some in the congregation have learnt the Ephesians passage off by heart. God is good!
There is an excitement among our people. They want to see God do great things among us.
We called an all-day prayer vigil last week, seeking God’s direction for future days and we rejoiced as people kept turning up at all hours to pray. God is good!
Some recent testimonies have been wonderful. We have been blessed with new attendees and we have contact with some Sudanese. Thank you, Lord!

Bill, your leadership and encouragement is greatly appreciated. Keep us on your radar. You are a great friend.

In Him.

Bob Brown and his wife Margaret are pastoring Bundaberg West Baptist Church in Queensland

Please pray for Bob and his church family to live and serve the Lord, believing that He can take them from their “peanut-sized” small beginnings and grow them into a flourishing plantation.

Bill

PS ~ click on the image at the top of this page to open a map to show you how to find Bob & Margaret’s church in Bundy!