Joe & Becky Cruse

Students have just completed their first quarter at ACA and IFTA and what a great start it has been! Superior grades, fantastic feedback, excellent student and parent morale—a wonderful indicator that the changes implemented over the summer have led to a campus full of happy students and teachers alike.

Students in both schools performed at our Fall Festival and did an outstanding job. On Wednesday, October 29th they will be performing for the Channel 8 Christmas taping that will be featured numerous times during the holiday season.

On Friday, November 7th, students will again be one of the main features at our 3rd annual Golf and Gala, held at the Barton Creek Resort here in Austin. This is the primary fundraiser for both schools and promises to be the best one yet. Our special guest speaker is well-known author and speaker, John Bevere, and possibly a few surprise mystery guests as well. If you haven’t gotten your tickets for the gala, or reserved your table, now is the time to do so. Tickets are selling fast and shortly, radio promotions begin on 102.3 the River. For questions or ticket information, contact Tressa Cruse @ tressacruse7@aol.com or call the school office @ 512 288 4883. Don’t delay—call today!

Our Fall Festival was a smashing success with upwards of 300 people who came out for food, fun and fellowship this past Friday night. It’s really amazing to see how many people we minister to in any given week. With four services on Sundays and two schools in session five days a week, we don’t see the full impact until everyone comes together for “family get-togethers”! WOW—it’s big and getting’ bigger! There were many people there I had never seen before which just makes it more exciting than ever.

In reflection of this past gathering, the thing that stands out in my mind is the opportunity for the church to “be the church”. Where else could you go on a Friday night these days and have free food, the great outdoors, live music, ole time hayride, a roaring campfire and Smores to boot? Did I mention, all for free? I believe we are going to have more and more opportunities to reach out and bless our community and there’s not a more beautiful place than the 26 acres God has given us!

Would you keep praying over the property? We know He has given it to us and we believe He will supernaturally provide finances to acquire it quickly.

If you’ve not had a chance to see or be on the land, join us on Wednesday nights as we have moved our Wednesday night Recharge Service to the property. We are praying and worshiping on the land and believe God will lead us forward. I share with you a verse the Lord gave us earlier–

Acts 16:26 And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes),
27 So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.

Blessings—Ps Joe and Becky

I have purposefully not written about the things stirring in my heart this week awaiting a fresh, new insight to what God is wanting to say and I must admit, I’m getting a little worried. I know when the Lord prompts me with thoughts, ideas, or scriptures, He usually follows with the understanding or interpretation of them–but not this week—not yet.

Isn’t is funny how we get so “comfortable” with the “norm” of how God speaks and when He changes, we wonder if we’ve missed something.

I’ve had 1 word and 3 passages of scripture swirling in my heart for days now and though I have prayed, studied, and waited…I can’t seem to get a clear understanding; however, I know it has to do with the times we find ourselves in and I know that God’s word is true and His timing for all things is perfect.

SCRIPTURE: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:25-28 NIV

THOUGHT: We can know that heaven is in control of world events and that things are right on course for the return of the Lord

SCRIPTURE: ‘Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the LORD, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’ “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Haggai 2:4-8 NIV

THOUGHT: OT Prophet Haggai saw into the future of what we are now seeing and reminds us of the covenant promise and that fear has no place in our lives in light of God’s ultimate purpose. EVERYTHING IS HIS!

SCRIPTURE: See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:25-29 NIV

THOUGHT: The writer of Hebrews tells us that God will shake everything and only that which remains is eternal. Therefore, we must worship from a place of gratitude for our God is Sovereign. His consuming fire will try all things!

I suppose it is really very simple. We, as a nation, as well as the worldwide Body of Christ, are in a serious time of “shaking” and only that which is advancing the kingdom of God will stand, and anything else will fall. So as we see these things happening …let us not fear. Heaven is right on course and we must lift up our heads for our redemption is coming to its full completion.

I close this writing with this: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy”.
1 Peter 1: 6-8 NIV

I mentioned in the last writing, given the current times we live in, the fear and uncertainty that people are living in. One of our faithful guys in the church told us this past Sunday that the software company he works for here in Austin is laying 600 people off very soon. We prayed with him and encouraged him in the Lord.

My heart was quickened by the Holy Spirit, and I was reminded of Psalm 91. I can’t think of a better passage of scripture to meditate on than this powerful psalm. Rather than paraphrase the referenced scripture, I thought I would include it in this week’s writing.Friends, I challenge you to wrap yourself in this passage and keep this word in your hearts and minds. Make the Lord your refuge and your strong tower! His promises are far better and pay richer dividends than any bank could ever guarantee!

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.

More later—Ps Becky