Are you treating God as if He were a "divine bellhop" - someone who is here to do your bidding?  Prayer is not a magic wand for satisfying our own wishes, but it is an opportunity to work with the Lord in accomplishing His purposes.

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    Somehow we have picked up the false notion that we can have Jesus as Savior without having Him as Lord. (Bob Gass)

   How many of you, like me, are saying "ouch" to these thoughts?  Hmmm...

SATAN SAVED!

     Can you imagine a newspaper headline like that?!  Did you know that unknowingly many "Christians" are essentially saying that Satan is "saved"?  That's right, saved.  One of the most commonly cited scriptures in the Bible is John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (NKJV)  According to Webster's dictionary, the word 'believe' means "to agree with" or "acknowledge" that something exists.  Satan agrees and acknowledges that Jesus Christ exists.  For that matter, many people "believe" that Jesus exists (or at least existed)!  If you use a standard dictionary to define the word 'believe' then, by definition, almost everybody is "saved".  Just dig a little deeper and look up the word 'believe' in a concordance and you will find that the original Greek word that we translate into "believe" is "pisteuo" meaning "to adhere to, trust in, rely on".  Ahhh!  Now we see where many who think that they are saved (or "all set") are not! How many people who profess to be Christian truly put their trust in Jesus and rely on Him?  Do you just agree that Jesus was a real person or are you putting your trust in Him and relying on Him?  If you have not fully put your trust in Him yet, DO IT NOW!  (Tomorrow may be too late.)  Study His word and know it's REAL meaning!

     We, at Step by Step, put all our trust in Him and rely on Him.  Won't you?  He has provided, is providing, and will provide all our NEEDS!  Won't you be a part of His provision?

     We pray for blessings upon all who read these words and special blessings upon those who support this ministry in whatever form they may choose.  God bless you all!


GOD'S WORD: For God so greatly and dearly prized the world that He even gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.  John 3:16 Amplified Bible

     

We are the salt of this earth...

     "You are the salt of the earth..." (Matthew 5:13).  In 2 Kings 2:19-22 we read: 'Then the men of the city said to Elisha, "Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground is barren."'  As we read on, Elisha tells the people of the city to bring him a new bowl with salt in it.  Elisha then went out to the source of the water and cast the salt into the water saying "Thus says the Lord: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness."  Verse 22 goes on to say that that water remains healed to this day.

     Salt has many qualities.  As a seasoning it can be made to bring out flavors in food.  It has medicinal and healing qualities such as when used as a mouth rinse for sore throats and mouth sores.  It can be used as a scouring agent when cleaning things.  It can be used as a preservative as well.  It is one of the oldest preservatives known!  Man has been preserving fish and meats for centuries!  But, salt can also ruin good things such as using too much salt as a seasoning on foods.  Also, if left on metals it will also rapidly increase the rate it deteriorates, as in rust. So, as it is with many things, too much of a good thing can be quite harmful.

     As we are the "salt of the earth", we are also the healers of this world.  We, the church (the people that make up the church), are the solution to the problems of this world.  Keith Green once said that if the church was doing it's job, there would be no need for welfare.

     What is your part in this world?  What are you called to "season", "heal", "scour", or "preserve" in this world?  Find a quiet place.  Stop.  Listen.  What is God telling you?  He speaks to all of us.  We just have to learn to listen.  We can't hear his voice if we are doing all the talking.  Again, what is God telling you to do? Now?  In the future?  When are you going to step out and obey that voice?

     Step By Step Worldwide Ministries has many needs as we look to open the the doors for the orphaned children.  Beds, books, kitchen items (including appliances), generator, etc. (for a full list of the current needs go to the "Projects" page and look under Abuakwa, Kumasi campus).  Perhaps you could make a donation. There are multiple ways this can be accomplished - see the red "Donate" button on our homepage!  There are missions trips that are put together to support the people of Ghana as well as a "Quilts of Love for Orphans" page in which one can donate materials and/or quilts for the children as they come to live at the orphanage. What is your place in this world?  Matthew 5:14 also says that "You are the light of the world."  Let your light so shine!

   

Be Still and Know...
   So many times lately I have read or heard the messages of listening and hearing.  Psalm 46:10-11 says "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!   The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."  We NEED to be STILL.  In quietness.  Listening.  Not only listening, but HEARING.  To me there is a difference.  Hearing implies that one is actually absorbing what they are listening to.  That still small voice that speaks to us.  If you truly hear, then action is required.  Know the voice that you are listening to.  In my morning "time with the Lord" I saw someplace that "If the Lord takes you someplace, He will lead you through it\"  What is the Lord leading you to?  Trust Him, He will lead you through whatever it may be.  Are you listening to His voice?  Are you hearing his voice?  Taking action according to what He is saying?

   There is so much to do.  Step by Step.  That's all I can do.  Lead me on, Lord.  Lead me on.  Step by Step.

A couple days ago I was reading in "Our Daily Bread" an article written by Dennis Fisher.  In it he told of an Old Testament professor who made the Word come alive.  I, too, can say that our pastor, Dr. Gary Cote, from Merrimack Valley Church in Epsom, New Hampshire, has made the Old Testament come alive to me.   Having the Old Testament come alive like that also greatly enhances the truth of the New Testament.  You can listen to his teachings at www.KingdomQuestInternational.com.  God has truly blessed Dr. Cote with an extremely powerful gift of teaching.  Check him out today!

Even if you are not prepared to serve God, at least be wise and reverence Him.  Prayerfully seek him and his will for you in your life and for the strength and desire to do His will.  Some doors are open for you, some are closed.  Some may be unlocked for you, others you are not to enter.  God has all the keys and will unlock the doors you need to go through at the appropriate time.  Seek Him.  Seek his will.  He WILL answer!

"If you wait for the perfect moment when all is safe and assured... mountains will not be climbed, races won, or lasting happiness achieved."  Maurice Chevalier - French actor/singer

What can God do with a yielding heart?  Psalm 41:1&2 says "Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.  The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth;  You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies."  Psalm 37:3&4 states "Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land and feed on his faithfulness.  Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart."

What are you being called to do?  Listen quietly to your heart and for God's voice.  Feel that quickening within you? Go? Send? Pray? Give? Help?  What is God telling you?  Keep listening!  Act.

For a while God was telling me "not yet"...  now he is saying "pack your bags, sell, GO.  I am preparing the way for you."  Now is my time.  Kumasi, Ghana is the place.  When and where are you being called?

Listen... God loves you and will guide you... just ASK Him.

May God's love and blessings be with you all.

       Paul

Papa John and Tom Molinaro

 

 

Meet Tom Molinaro.  Tom went on his first mission trip last year.  I asked him what qualified him to go on a mission trip to Ghana?  ...or to anywhere, as a matter fact!  His answer: "I wasn't qualified at that time.  No qualifications."  I asked him "how long did it take you before you realized that God was leading you?"  His response: "It was months before God started speaking to me through other people.  Many small 'coincidences' that added up to confirmations of what I was beginning to feel deep down inside my heart.  These were confirmed through other peoples words."  Tom went to Ghana in September, 2012.  His life was changed forever!

 

Tom ministered to many people while in Ghana.  Here Tom was helping passing out medications and praying with Ghanaian people at one of the medical clinics that his team was involved with.   His cheery songs and attitude kept spirits high!  He has a deep love for the children and was constantly surrounded by them, giving and getting many hugs and so much love!

 

There are many ways in which one can help.  One of the simplest is to help us spread the word.  Tell people about our website: www.stepbystepworldwide.org.  Many are called... join us on our journey.



 



I’m ONLY ONE PERSON.  What can I do?  “I’m not qualified to go.”

 

Ask  almost anybody who has been on a mission trip anywhere in the world (including within the USA) what “qualified you to go” and a vast majority will tell you – “nothing qualified me to go”.  They just went!  Virtually everyone comes back with so much to report on their experiences.  Even just hugging someone.  Loving them.  Listening to them.  Ghanaians are no exception.  Americans are the ones that first brought the gospel to Ghana and the Ghanaian people receive us with open arms.  We are constantly running into people who have been on mission trips.  I’m sure you have too!  Next time you do, ask them about their experiences!  You will be amazed.  God asks “who will go?”  I said “I will.”  How about you?! 

Can’t go?  Help is needed in so many ways.  Financial support is a great need that even the smallest donation helps. We are currently purchasing furnishings for the first stage of the orphanage and are in the process of buying/building materials for the kitchen, beds, and living area for the temporary orphanage.  As with any ministry, financial support is always a major need – we are no exception!  Prayer is also essential.  Have a group or club that we can speak to?  Contact us for more information!  Can’t go or help financially?  Tell others about us and keep Step By Step in your prayers spread the word by telling people about our website… www.stepbystepworldwide.org.

 

If you want to know what God wants you to do –

Ask Him, and He will gladly tell you.

James 1:5

The Journey Begins....

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