Having The Final Word...

Has it really been that long since our last update?! God has been up to some amazing things here at Jaffrey Bible House, and testimonies of His faithfulness to His people are becoming par for the course (not that we're bored by them)!

Jesus Christ says in Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This isn't to be taken lightly! And check this out:

I will declare your name to my people;
   in the assembly I will praise you.
You who fear the LORD, praise him!
   All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
   Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
For he has not despised or scorned
   the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
   but has listened to his cry for help.
From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
   before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.
The poor will eat and be satisfied;
   those who seek the LORD will praise him—
   may your hearts live forever!
                                     -Psalm 22:22-26

Jaffrey Bible House really isn't that big, but we serve a huge God with plans that would blow our mind should we think upon them! We sell books and bibles and cards and music and things to share the Gospel and encourage discipleship in the Gospel and all that is well and good. God's desire is for His Word to go forth, and for all nations to hear of what He's done at the cross, and what He does in the hearts of men and women that turn to Him. It shouldn't surprise us, though, that some of the most exciting things that happen in the store happen during the times of prayer and praise and fellowship with new believers and veteran saints and eager seekers and anyone else who shows up! To this end we have two times to meet here for open prayer - Fridays at noon and Tuesdays at 6pm - and we routinely need more chairs!

What does God have planned for Jaffrey Bible House? We have no idea at all. We know that we love Him, we know we love to love Him, and we know we're not alone. We know that our heart is to see churches join together and be the Church, we know we want to see hearts and marriages restored and we know God doesn't believe in baby steps. We want to be senders, hosters and doers of His Holy Word; and this whole adventure is in obedience to what He laid on our hearts. He didn't give us footnotes on how to do this, or charts and graphs about how to optimize our inventory to make the most profit, or even some sort of warrantee about how long to try until we can give up. He just said to do it.

But listen to Isaiah 37:6 and 7. Previously king Sennacherib sent his envoy over to Jerusalem to talk about terms of surrender and everyone in the city hears about it. He takes fifteen verses to do this, and it worries king Hezekiah so he sends for word from Isaiah. What does God say about all this?

"Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."

That's less than two full verses, and in them God says "Don't worry, I got this." God is so awesome!

~~JBH