God is the INITIATOR

Dear Friends,

I was reminded by the Old Testament story of Elijah in I Kings 17 that if we give to God first then He will see to it that we will have all that we need. After Elijah asked the widow at Zarephath for a drink of water and a piece of bread, she responded by saying, “I only have a handful of flour and a little oil. It is barely enough to feed me and my son for one meal, let alone include you.” Elijah responded by saying, “First make a small cake of bread for me from what you have…then make something for yourself and your son. The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.” The widow did as Elijah had told her and there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

This was undoubtedly a miracle from the hand of God. The widow of Zarephath was applying the principle of obedience to her life and received blessing from her obedience. The Israelites were instructed by God in a similar way to bring their first grain of the harvest to the priest to be waved before the LORD. This was their firstfruit offering. (Leviticus 23:9-14) God then blessed them and the remainder of the harvest with providing them with all that they needed to be healthy and strong.

It appears from these two references that we are the initiators in this process of “having all that we need.” It is in this season that we are reminded that “before the foundations of the world the Lamb was slain for the redemption of all mankind.” God is indeed the INITIATOR. I Corinthians 15:20 tells us, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits…” And now we have everything we need for eternal life and health and strength (the forgiveness of our sins).

“We love God (and others) because He first loved us.” I John 4:19 God is the INITIATOR.

Thank you for giving first to God and seeing His provision for the rest of your life.

Please pray for these important dates coming in April.

April 2 Presentation of Global Missionary Ministries work at Cornerstone in Brighton

April 4-6 3 days of prayer and fasting for the mission of GMM (You are invited to join in this time of seeking God and His favor on the level in which He directs you.) We encourage you to pray the book of Ephesians and other passages of the Word over GMM and its work in central and eastern Europe.

April 12-14 Sandy and Kezia (and Debbe Barker) will be attending a conference on prayer and Israel at the IHOP in Kansas City (pray for safe journey and rich times of intercession and revelation from the Lord)

April 26-28 Garage Sale to raise “Scholarship funds for children from Kaliningrad, Russia” to attend Ostroda Camp, June 11-20

April 27-28 Sandy and Dave will be attending a Leadership Conference in Mississauga, Ontario (you are welcome to attend with us)

Please also pray for:
Our financial support (we are still seeking to raise an additional $2400/mo for next year)

Our summer schedule (four camps and three leadership training conferences in Poland and Belarus)

Our raising up a team for the Kaliningrad children’s camp (June 11-20)

Remember God first and He will take care of the rest. Let’s join together in this season to celebrate the Firstfruit, Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who has indeed been raised from the dead.

Dave and Sandy Hatfield