Newsletter September 2005 (If you wish to receive an e-mailed Eagles Glide Newsletter, please request one at this address: babette4egim@yahoo.com )
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Hello, Dear Friends and Partners!
This has been a season of transition, of walking the extra mile, and going to the next level - a time of preparation, settling and order.
We transitioned from country dwelling to city living, and now live in the older area of Riverview in Tulsa, OK. The area has an eclectic group of friendly people and large rambling houses. Our street is lined with lush green oaks, not far from the river walk/bicycle path. Eagles Glide ministry offices are upstairs, our new business offices occupy the lower level, and of course, we live in between! Smart Art was recently established and will soon be having an Open House. Jonathan has done a brilliant job designing our new web page for Smart Art . Go see it at: www.smartart.name. We're reaching and serving businesses in the market place, as well as serving ministers needing marketing of their various ministries and/or churches. If you have any web design or book publishing needs, please contact us.
Life is a continuous journey; let's make the most of it. Live this journey to the fullest daily without being seduced into a passive attitude. Let's keep Christ in the center of all we do. As we run this race, we need to keep the vision that God has given us foremost as we reach for it. Hebrew 6: 9-12 says, "... minister to the saints, show diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish..." Hope defined is, "A reliance on God's blessings and provision; the expectation of future good." "Hope deferred makes the heart sick (weary)." (Proverbs 13:12.) Be expectant, keep hope alive and remember, "Christ in us is our hope of glory" (Col.1: 27b). Press into the future and live for Jesus today!
Fingers in many pies: How often do we find ourselves in a place where we are doing many "things," keeping busy, yet not really seeing or achieving the results we were hoping to achieve? A season of change is upon us; let's grasp it! We heard T.D. Jakes recently mentioned a season of versatility - of going beyond old mindsets - a time to have 'fingers in many pies". These words have impacted our lives, especially since we've taken the next step to increase in our own lives, and will continue to reach out and place our fingers in more pies. It's good to have a central focus, and for those who have many God-given talents, using them allows for more productivity and greater fulfillment holistically. It is God who gives vision, talents, and the strategies with which to fulfill His mandates.
A YEAR OF STRATAGIES AND ORDER
Going To the Next Level: Seek the presence of the Lord; find His leading, guidance, and strategies to take every aspect of your life to the next level of fulfillment. We can keep on the same old road-well-traveled and not gain any ground or grow. Sometimes we feel it's okay to keep repeating old patterns. After all, they feel comfortable and safe and seem to work, but with the Lord, there is no stagnation or lack of growth. "A stagnant pond is poison, but a river that runs consistently brings fresh, new life, cleansing and renewal." He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in us. (Phil. 1:6.) Can we be found faithful to trust, obey and not become passive in our everyday walk? Jesus came to give life, and that more abundantly. (John 10:10.) Be careful not to become too comfortable in old patterns and thereby miss the abundance that God has in store for us. Faith without works is dead (James 2:26). Let us be faithful in our works. (Col 1:10.) He never sleeps nor slumbers, and is always seeking to increase us and grow us up into Christ.
Whatever we have to do in our lives, we can do it better through Christ Jesus, not seeking man's approval, but God's. His way is always a wiser, more productive way to complete a task. We can learn better time management and have greater order through using God's strategies and principles. Consistent discipline brings more fruit and greater successful productivity for the glory of the Lord. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10.)
Jesus cursed the unfruitful fig tree when He was hungry, and cut off unproductive branches from the vine. (Mk 11:12-14, 20-26/ John 15:4-6.) God is patient. He watches and waits for us to ask for His intervention while we sometimes fiddle around doing things our way. Often it's fear that keeps us in an unproductive holding pattern. Christ comes to set free. He says if we seek Him, we will find Him, if we search for Him with ALL OF OUR HEART. (Jer. 29:13.)
Have Courage: Change always costs something and takes great courage. Just look at how difficult it is to lose weight, or have a daily exercise routine. When we let go of our old paradigm, which includes mindset patterns, confusion, frustration, comfort zones, fears of all kinds, then we can move forward to fresh, inspirational ways of doing things. This release and increase will bring much joy, productivity, fruitfulness and success. So take up your hoe and rake and "break up your fallow ground..." (Jer. 4:3; Hosea 10:12.)
GENERAL INFO AND FEEDBACK
As mentioned earlier, the family has relocated to the city of Tulsa and is enjoying the easier access that generally comes with city life. Elisha, our daughter, graduated high school ranking in the top ten of her class, with honors. As well as being the Student President, she was also given trophies, honor mentions and scholarships. She has worked hard to achieve her goals and has done outstandingly. God has been good to her and we are excited as she transitions into the next season of her life. She's working through this summer, and will begin her full-time studies in August. Aaron, our son, received his confirmation, and also passed grade 6 with honors and received an award for his sax playing. He started piano lessons, and to our amazement, he's already reading music and playing pieces. He has moved to a new school, and finding it the challenge he was expecting. I enjoyed the summer break and am now resuming my Masters studies. Within the next three years my goal is to complete my Doctoral Degree in Theology and Biblical Studies. Please keep me in your prayers, and if you desire to help financially with the costs of books please contact me. A testimony: by God's grace, the tuition to date has been paid in full, for which I am very grateful.
Eagles Glide International Ministries has its own small sunny office. A new desk was generously donated to us by Tracy English. We are now in need of a throw rug for the wooden floor. Jonathan built the shelves and Elisha and I painted them. They are now creaking with books and files. As a wonderful surprise, Jonathan and a neighbor painted the walls a lovely lamb's wool color while I was out preaching at a nearby church. We are now in need of a new computer and accounting and address programs. We will soon upgrade our web page and include some of my essays and writings. Please visit our site at: www.eaglesglide.com .
PLEASE KEEP THESE NEEDS IN YOUR PRAYERS
The ministry is looking for more volunteers to help with general office work, typing, sorting clothes and general distribution. If you feel called to volunteer portions of your time, please contact me on 918-599-8281.
1.) A new PC computer: $699.00, 2.) A throw carpet for the floor (old or new): $100, 3.) A new Car 4.) Car maintenance: $1000.
We would all like to welcome our newest Board Member and Secretary: Elisha Rabeka Biddlecombe. She has already been of tremendous assistance to us and believe will continue to be so.
Mentoring and Training : Since we ordained Rev. Irene from France, she and her family have purchased a ministry home, relocated and are in the process of renovating it. They have had many challenges along the way, while serving hurting and broken people in the area, and spreading the good news of the Gospel. They are also in need of volunteers. Please pray that the Lord will send them faithful, trustworthy people to work along side them in their ministry. They are now training and disciple the many new believers they have been reaching in France. We will continue to mentor and train from here, with the hope of traveling to France in 2006 to hold a Leadership Training and Evangelism Teaching Seminar. Please keep this in your prayers.
Ministering to the Ministers : Jonathan and I have been blessed with opportunities to encourage and support ministers while we help them take the next level in the marketing of their ministry. Please keep us in your prayers.
Taking action for our children : We have been very active in standing with the American Family Association, Focus On the Family, and other ministries fighting to improve the media for healthy viewing for our children. The research and action of letter writing and phone calls takes time, but the results and feedback have been tremendous. Companies have changed policies and some have even stopped advertising with unwholesome programs. Actions speak louder than words. If you would like to know more, email me at eaglesglideministries@yahoo.com or babette4egim@yahoo.com
South Africa: We continue to stand and support ministries in South Africa and appreciate all the support we can get while doing this. Prostitution amongst girls younger than 13-years old is on the increase, as are homeless children. Experts say that by the year 2010 there will be more than 2 million homeless small children because of parents dying from AIDS. Our vision is to open an orphanage, train local leaders to manage it, and train people in handy work to raise financial support.
We're also raising finances to send some much needed ministry materials in the way of teaching materials and books to the leaders over there, to encourage them. Drs Eddie and Sue Hyatt's books for women in ministry costs $20 and we plan to send one to each leader we are in communication with. The Hyatt's are a couple I studied under and are excellent teachers. The total cost with postage would be about $300. Please consider being part of this with your prayers and financial partnership.
Coat Drive and Other Needs: We will be participating in a coat drive with some other ministries within the next month. To all who have extra coats, please drop them off at my office, or contact me for more information.
We have clothed many needy women and children this year, as well as contributing children's clothing, toys and books to the Methodist church. Thank you, to all those who gave so generously to support this outreach.
We collected for a missionary working in Malawi, for specific needs, and received a healthy feed back, thank you to all those who partook in this drive.
Final Thoughts: We are looking for more dedicated intercessors and prayer warriors who are willing to pray for the Biddlecombe family and the ministry - please phone if you feel called to partner in prayer with us, or if you want to be put on the prayer chain email list at: babette4egim@yahoo.com
If you would like to give a one-time financial gift to this ministry or become a monthly partner, please send donations to Eagles Glide International Ministries, P.O. Box 167, Mounds, OK. 74047. Your prayerful support would be very appreciated and used to enhance this ministry. Thank you to all of you who have contributed finances, items, prayers and support to this ministry, and especially to the monthly financial partners who continue to faithfully stand by this ministry as it grows. God's blessings on you!
"Resist the pending attitude, the journey is the focus, not the destination." Bishop La Donna Osborn
Many blessings until next time,
Rev. Babette Du Plessis-Biddlecombe and The EGIM Team
