Blessed to be a Blessing
Apostle Paul says: “be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Cor. 1:4) According to Paul, we are comforted by God so that when we see others going through hardship we begin to imitate God and offer comfort. In a very short verse, God communicates his desire for all Christians; each of us need to experience the grace of God and become a blessing to others, so that, “when one member suffer, all the members suffer with it...” (1Cor 12:26) It is in this text that God shows us the key to human happiness so many seeks; in helping others we find our own happiness.
We live in a selfish world and it is difficult even for Christians to understand that our own happiness and fulfillment is tied up with the fate of others. We are not called to be the hermits of God but the people of God. The togetherness of the saints of God.
When in trouble many of us pray for deliverance from our afflictions. God answers our prayer, but goes beyond that, He also wants to bless the people around us through the comfort He extends to us. Through our own pain, He wants us to grow into God’s Grace Dispensing Agents (GDA). We are special people called to give out the same grace we ourselves so much enjoy when received.
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” (Heb 13:3)
Last Sunday together with my wife, we visited a very poor Romanian family with three children. The mother abandoned the family three years ago, the father is raising alone two girls and one boy. Martha (14) is one of the girls she is paralyzed since birth. She could move around on her own but she is lacking a wheel chair. Thus, she lives indoor most of her time. This family have no indoor plumbing; the father washes Martha’s body in a bucket. There is no heat in the whole house except a little cooking stove in the kitchen where the whole family is forced to live. As I was sitting there, listening to their story God was growing in my heart the desire to be His GDA for this family.
I asked myself what Jesus would do in this situation. I would not know I am so limited He is so limitless. Nevertheless, I know two things for sure. First, through Him and in partnership with you we are called “to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Second, that together we are called to extend God’s grace to people like Martha and her family. Thanks so much for your faithfulness in support and prayer.
In His service,
Cornel & Karen Bucur
Prayer Requests
Please pray for:
† Construction Project in Tinca: For funds to finish the church building that will be used for the Youth Ministry and for the Gypsy School of Ministry.
† Construction Project in Sabolciu: for funds to finish the new church building, build a water well for the Gypsy community in addition, a playground for the children.
† The children (33) in our Foster Care ministry.
† Orphans (22) abandoned at the Oradea Children’s Hospital.
† Orphan youth (120) at CP2.
† More partners to join our prayer and support team to be able to help Martha and families in need.
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them” (Heb 13:3, KJV)
“When one member suffer, all the members suffer with it...” (1Cor 12:26, KJV)
Apostle Paul says: “be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Cor. 1:4) According to Paul, we are comforted by God so that when we see others going through hardship we begin to imitate God and offer comfort. In a very short verse, God communicates his desire for all Christians; each of us need to experience the grace of God and become a blessing to others, so that, “when one member suffer, all the members suffer with it...” (1Cor 12:26) It is in this text that God shows us the key to human happiness so many seeks; in helping others we find our own happiness.
We live in a selfish world and it is difficult even for Christians to understand that our own happiness and fulfillment is tied up with the fate of others. We are not called to be the hermits of God but the people of God. The togetherness of the saints of God.
When in trouble many of us pray for deliverance from our afflictions. God answers our prayer, but goes beyond that, He also wants to bless the people around us through the comfort He extends to us. Through our own pain, He wants us to grow into God’s Grace Dispensing Agents (GDA). We are special people called to give out the same grace we ourselves so much enjoy when received.
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; [and] them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” (Heb 13:3)
Last Sunday together with my wife, we visited a very poor Romanian family with three children. The mother abandoned the family three years ago, the father is raising alone two girls and one boy. Martha (14) is one of the girls she is paralyzed since birth. She could move around on her own but she is lacking a wheel chair. Thus, she lives indoor most of her time. This family have no indoor plumbing; the father washes Martha’s body in a bucket. There is no heat in the whole house except a little cooking stove in the kitchen where the whole family is forced to live. As I was sitting there, listening to their story God was growing in my heart the desire to be His GDA for this family.
I asked myself what Jesus would do in this situation. I would not know I am so limited He is so limitless. Nevertheless, I know two things for sure. First, through Him and in partnership with you we are called “to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Second, that together we are called to extend God’s grace to people like Martha and her family. Thanks so much for your faithfulness in support and prayer.
In His service,
Cornel & Karen Bucur
Prayer Requests
Please pray for:
† Construction Project in Tinca: For funds to finish the church building that will be used for the Youth Ministry and for the Gypsy School of Ministry.
† Construction Project in Sabolciu: for funds to finish the new church building, build a water well for the Gypsy community in addition, a playground for the children.
† The children (33) in our Foster Care ministry.
† Orphans (22) abandoned at the Oradea Children’s Hospital.
† Orphan youth (120) at CP2.
† More partners to join our prayer and support team to be able to help Martha and families in need.
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them” (Heb 13:3, KJV)
“When one member suffer, all the members suffer with it...” (1Cor 12:26, KJV)
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