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NWBC Student Conference
Apr 28-29
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Forgiveness Breakout at NWBC
Student Conference
Here's an unfortunate reality: you are going to be hurt by other people. When you get hurt, you will do something, but what? Some will do evil for evil, but God says do something else -- something that heals the wound!
This was the description for my Breakout Session titled,
"You Hurt Me! Now What?"
shared on Friday night and Saturday morning at the NWBC Student Conference on April 28 & 29. 74 students attended the breakout session. 7 expressed brokenness after the session and committed to forgive their "enemy."
When wounded, we can choose to return evil with evil or to love - just like Jesus loved - and forgive, returning evil with good. The path we choose rests on whether or not we will trust God and love beyond human limits by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Forgiveness is an act of obedience. When we are hurt and angry, we choose not to hold onto that anger, not to do evil or seek revenge, not to do "nothing." Rather, trusting in God, we choose to freely give grace and kindness, and to do good: to be a blessing to and to pray for the one who hurt or offended us.
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Sat. Breakout Session-Forgiveness
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But, what is the basis for forgiveness? Forgiveness is exten
ded first on the basis of the cross. If the person who wounded us is a Christian, his sin is already covered by the blood of Christ. We forgive on the basis of the work of Christ's death on the cross. If the person who wounded us is not a Christian, forgiveness is again extended on the basis of the cross as a demonstration of God's love for all sinners, with the hope that it may ultimately lead the lost person to repentance and faith in Christ. Then, in Christ, his sin, like our own, would be covered by the blood of Jesus. However, should the lost who wounded us not trust Christ, then we extend forgiveness and do good on the basis of the throne. We are trusting that on the Day of Judgment God Himself will punish his sin. Upon the basis of the cross and the throne, forgiveness does not minimize or justify sin. The true evil of sin against us is seen in light of its punishment in the death of Jesus Christ or on the Day of Judgment.
You Hurt Me! Now What? First, ask God to search your heart and reveal if you've returned evil for evil or evil with nothing. Confess the sin revealed. Scripture is clear: Leviticus 19:17-18 "'You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD." Second, trust God and express forgiveness to the person who hurt you. Choose to freely give grace, kindness, to do good, to be and speak a blessing, and to pray for the one who hurt or offended you.
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MOS Skype Connect - Testing for Fall Launch
Over the last couple of months, we have been conducting tests for connecting groups of men remotely to our weekly MOS meetings in Gresham, using Skype for Business. This type of connection allows us to have two-way communication and interaction between groups. Such a relational component is necessary in the discipleship and equipping process. Our friends in Spokane at North Addison Baptist Church have been helping with the tests. Please join us in prayer as we seek the Lord's direction regarding MOS Skype Connect as a possible means to expand the equipping and discipling of more men through MOS. If you have an interest in participating in this project this fall, please contact Mike.
Read More . . .
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Debbie and Mike Thibodeaux
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Thibodeauxs Celebrate 18 Years of
Marriage
According to Eph. 5:22-33, marriage is patterned after Christ's relationship to the church and the church's relationship to Christ. As such, it is to be a witness to the Gospel of Christ and should be held in high regard and honor. Nurture it and protect it. Invest in keeping your marriage strong and biblically healthy!
To that end, every year on our anniversary, Debbie and I plan a weekend away; no kids, just the two of us. When I asked Debbie to marry me, I committed then to
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Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park
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these romantic escapes. It was then, is now, and will continue
to be an investment in our marriage. I strongly encourage married couples not only to schedule regular date nights each month but to schedule an annual weekend away.
After I led and preached a revival in Rogue River Oregon in
March, Debbie and I decided to head there for our annual anniversary getaway. We spent a 4 day weekend there, with a day trip into northern California to see the Coastal Redwoods. We were amazed by these majestic giants. These trees are the tallest in the world.
As we drove out toward the redwood trees in Jedidiah
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Big tree left is 297ft high; 19ft diameter!
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Smith Redwoods State Park on Saturday morning, Debbie
shared her morning Psalm with me . . . .
1
Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
2
Praise Him, all His
angels; Praise Him, all His
hosts!
3
Praise Him, sun
and moon; Pra
ise Him, all stars of light!
4
Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens!
5
Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.
6
He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away.
7
Praise the LORD
from the earth, Sea monsters and all deeps;
8
Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
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Our 2006 Honda Odyssey is 6 1/2
feet wide
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9
Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees
and all cedars
;
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Beasts and all cattle; Creeping things and winged fowl;
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Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all
judges of the earth;
12
Both young men and virgins; Old men and children.
13
Let them praise the name of the
LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above
earth and heaven.
(Psalm 148:1-13)
We joined with all of these voices of creation to praise
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for our salvation and that of our kids, for 18 years of marriage, for three kids, for Debbie's health, for 16 years of ministry in the great Northwest and so much more!!!!
Don't wait! Husb
ands, ask your bride on a date and start planning your weekend away. - Mike
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Upcoming Ministry Events | Our Prayer List
- Mon - Gresham MOS each Monday - Gresham, OR
- Wed - Open Door MOS each Wednesday - Troutdale, OR
- Thurs - Lake Bible MOS every other Thursday - Lake Oswego, OR
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May 13 - Coulee Baptist Association MOS - Wenatchee & Moses Lake, WA
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May 14 - Quincy Baptist Church, Morning Worship Service - Quincy, WA
Visit our website for booking info and scheduling Mike to preach or equip at your next ministry event.
View Full Ministry Schedule
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New Recurring Donation Option
A number of our ministry partners have requested an easy way to set up a recurring monthly donation on a credit or debit card. Now you can set it up once and have the donation recur each month on the same day.
With the redesigned donation page on our ministry website, you will now see two giving options:
- The first button says "GIVE NOW-(ONE Time)" and will connect you to PayPal to make a one time donation.
- The second says "GIVE NOW-(RECURRING)" and will connect you to PayPal to make a donation that will be recurring monthly.
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Simplicity Ministries® | Mike Thibodeaux | 971-219-6964 | P.O. Box 388 Fairview, OR 97024 | www.simplicityministries.org
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