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Archive for May, 2009

the Thread | GOD’s Ways or HIS Face?

May 27th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized

Hey Tapestry Folks,

I am sharing this wonderful post by Henry Blackaby in the wake of an amazing Prophecy Seminar at the Tapestry. The reason I am sharing it is because we all have an amazing opportunity right now to make a decision. Do we want to be satisified simply knowing about GOD and HIS ways or do you want more? Are you one of those few out there that are not content simply watching the Red Sea part…

Do you want to go into the tent of meeting?

I don’t know about you, but I do….

Blessings!

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God’s Ways

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. (Psalms 103:7)

Are you satisfied with merely knowing the acts of God, or do you also want to know His ways? There is a difference. This difference is illustrated in the lives of the children of Israel as compared to Moses. The Israelites witnessed the miracles God performed; they walked across the dry Red Sea just as Moses did. They ate the manna and quail from heaven even as Moses did. They were content to receive God’s provision without ever knowing God Himself. Yet Moses saw beyond the provision of God to the person of God. Others, such as the Egyptian magicians, might perform miraculous acts, but no one else did things the way God did (Exod. 7:11–12). The way God acted provided a window into His nature. If Moses had been content with only God’s power, he could have accepted the presence of an angel and been victorious in his efforts (Exod. 33:15). But Moses wanted to experience more. He wanted to experience God Himself, not just God’s activity.

Some today, like the Israelites, are content to experience God’s activity without ever coming to know God. They are the recipients of answered prayer, yet they never come to know the Provider. They are blessed by God’s providential care over their families, their homes, and their jobs, yet they are satisfied not knowing the One from whom the blessings come. They benefit from God’s protection, yet they never become acquainted with the Protector.

Have you come to know God more personally as a result of your experiences with Him? As you observe the acts of God, look beyond them to the revelation of His character (Gen. 22:14; John 6:35).

Dustin Hedrick

Head Pastor

The Tapestry Vineyard Church

PO Box 2394

Kensington, MD 20891

Phone 301-251-4082 x13

Fax 240-206-3244

Email dustinhedrick@tapestrychurch.com

Web www.tapestrychurch.com

x10 Children’s Ministry

x11 Youth Ministry

x12 Events And Info

x13 Pastor Dustin

x14 Prayer Line

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CYPRUS | Message from the Rudolph’s

May 20th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized

Dear Friends,

Summer has finally arrived to Cyprus. It felt like we were never going to get out of winter! Matthew and I love the warm weather so we are enjoying it thoroughly. Tomorrow, we leave to go to Ethiopia for 4 weeks. We’ll be leading a team of 40 to our most favorite destination. We’ll be working in orphanages, feeding centers, prisons, churches and homes for the dying. This is the students ending outreach where they get to do all of the things they have been trained for. They are all extremely excited to reach out to this precious nation and people. Please pray for us while we are there. It takes a lot of work and effort to lead a team this large but we love doing it and feel privileged to be able to live out our dreams. This year has been full of God’s goodness.

Speaking of dreams, Matthew and I are beginning the process of adopting from Ethiopia! We came to this decision many months ago and feel like we have the “green light” from above to start this venture. Our hearts are given to help the poor and the needy and we know it is our destiny to bring in orphans and give them a loving family. We are so excited about this and feel God’s hand leading us every step of the way! We are just now beginning the process and have quite a long way to go so please remember us in your prayers. It is more complicated to adopt living abroad, but we know God will make a way. If you are interested to hear more, we would be happy to share with you on how you can pray and practically help us.

A couple of weeks ago, Matthew and I were in a cafe and saw two young Ethiopian women cleaning off one of the tables nearby. They were shocked when Matthew started speaking Amharic to them! We shared with them of our deep love for their nation and you could tell how much it meant to them. Just today, we went to one of their homes to talk and pray together. We were able to share the Lord with them. One of them is a true believer and the other is a Jehovah Witness. We found out that there are between 400-500 Ethiopians working in Cyprus! I was shocked to hear this because in the 10 years we have lived here, I have only met one other Ethiopian. Unfortunately, domestic workers are not treated justly in Cyprus and are often treated as second class citizens. After leaving their home, I received a text message from one of the girls thanking Matthew and I “for spending time and respecting them”. This touched me deeply and if I can only give them love and respect, then that is what I want to give! I hope and believe this is a start to a beautiful friendship. I can only imagine what God has in store!

Please pray for our trip from May 20-June 15:

1. Wisdom, strength and grace as leaders to these amazing young people.
2. Salvation, healing and deliverance for the people we come into contact with.
3. That God would expand the hearts of the students for the poor.

Thank you for standing with us! We love you deeply!

Matthew and Serah

Personal correspondence:

Matthew and Serah Rudolph
PO Box 54516
Limassol, CY 3725
Cyprus

Financial giving:

Gateways Beyond International
PO Box 155101
Ft. Worth, TX 76155

or for secure, on-line donations: http://www.gatewaysbeyond.org/donate.php

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Some Encouragement and Food For Thought!

May 08th, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized

Friday, May 08, 2009

That You May Marvel

Day-by-Day

"The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel." (John 5:19-20)

Jesus, realizing that His role was that of a servant, never sought to initiate activity for the Father (Matt. 20:28). The servant never sets the agenda—the master does. The servant must be so alert to what the master is doing that whenever the master begins to move in a direction the servant quickly joins him. Even the Son of God did not assume He knew the best thing to do in a situation. Instead, He looked to see the Father’s activity and then joined Him. Jesus knew His Father so well that He was keenly sensitive to divine activity around Him, immediately recognizing His Father at work.

It is possible for us to be so busy trying to bring God into our activity that we don’t even notice Him at work around us. He seeks to redirect our attention so that we might join Him, but we tend to be self-centered, evaluating everything by how it affects us. We must learn to view events around us from God’s perspective. Then we will see our world very differently. When God brings someone across our path, we will look to see if God is convicting that person of his need for salvation. Perhaps God is comforting someone in her sorrow. God might be encouraging your friend as she faces a challenge. We will then adjust our lives to join God as He works in that person’s life. We ought to live each day with tremendous anticipation as we look to see where God is working around us. As our eyes are opened to His activity, we will marvel at His great works.

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I just thought that this was appropriate for the day!

Enjoy guys!