“Dois also shows us that it is never to late in life to take on something big for God.” – Chuck Colson

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12)

As you contemplate on the God who hung on the cross, what is possible for God to do through you for the remainder of your life?

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20 in most years, but March 21 in others). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.
 
Here’s the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see!  Here are the facts:
 
1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so only people 95 or older were around for that!).

2) Easter can never be more than one day earlier than it is this year. The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

What is the significance of this early Easter in God’s master plan? What does this mean for 2008? Well, for one thing, the Global Day of Prayer, which takes place on Pentecost Sunday (50 days after Easter), will be the earliest (May 11, 2008) any of us will ever see. More about that and Loudoun Awakening 2008 later this week.

Let me share a moving story from yesterday afternoon. As I was walking in my neighborhood, I saw Robby Yeaman driving the family pickup truck to his parent’s back yard loaded with tree branches. That prompted me to ask Robby for help in cleaning up my yard – dead branches on the ground and a large tree that had fallen over. Robby gladly volunteered and came over later with his pick up truck and chain saw.

While working with Robby, I learned that he went on a 9 day mission trip to Peru in January with International Cooperating Ministries. Robbie told me about Dois Rosser, the founder of that ministry, and he gave me a book titled “The God Who Hung on the Cross.”

Dois committed his life to Christ as a youngster and prospered greatly in the marketplace by applying the principles of Jesus. At the age of 66, Dois was ready to retire, so he asked God wanted He wanted him to do in the remainder of his life. God told him to build church buildings.

Dois is now 87 years old and still working 50 hours/week as a missionary leader. In the past 21 years, International Cooperating Ministries has built 3,000 church buildings in 25+ nations of the world. Following each church dedication, congregations then honor their agreement to plant five daughter congregations over a three year period. Thus, their close work with the national partners generates exponential church growth, with past results showing an average thirty-fold return for donor contributions.  That’s a principle of multiplication that most of us can learn from.

Prayer Power
Most gracious and loving Father, on this Easter day we celebrate and say thank You for the greatest gift of all time – Your Son. Thank You for the gift of salvation available to all those who believe in Jesus. Thank You for the Yeaman family, Dois Rosser, and International Cooperating Ministries. Bless them greatly. Inspire those who read this message to be willing to take on something big for You. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

Link of the Day
International Cooperating Ministries – Nurturing believers and assisting Church growth worldwide 

Blessing for the courage, faith, and commitment to take on something big for God!