Home Daily Bible Readings

, March 16... Matthew 12:38-42

March 17... John 3:14-17

March 18... Matthew 25:31-40

March 19.. Mark 7:24-30

March 20.. Mark 7:31-37

March 21.. Matthew 5:13-16

March 22.. ...Matthew 28:16-20

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MARCIA KAY THOMSON is a missionary with the Central Africa Missionworking inZimbabwe. After graduating from Ozark Christian College in1963,she went to Africa and has worked at Mashoko Mission, Chiredzi, Masvingo,and Harare. Bom in Lamar, Missouri, she was raised in Mount Vemon, Illinois, where she wasa member ofthe CentralChristianChurch.

CHRISTIAN STANDARD

WE are inclined to say that everyone desires to be whole. But as weread the Scriptxires, we notice thatfew people cameto Jesus for healing.Manyofthosehealedwere brought tothe Master. Perhaps the same is trueofour spiritual ailmentstoday. Manydo not goto Jesus to be healed, eitherbecause they donot realize they needhealing or they do not know thatJesiis make them whole.

As we read Mark 7, let us examineourselves. Are we whole? Are we possessed by sin? Do we turn a deaf earto those in need and almost neverspeakofJesus to others? Perlfaps weshould bring those who need healingto Jesus so He can touch them andmake them whole.

If we fervently pray for people andreach out to bring them to Jesus, wecan be like those who were overwhelmed with ama2ement, telling everyone, "He has done everythingwell."

Possession-Who or what controls ordominates you? My dictionary givesseveral uses of possession:

1, State of possessing^ ownership; control. 2. The thing possessed. 3. State ofbeing dominated by an extraneous personality, a demon, passion, idea or thelike. 4. State of being under one's owncontrol; self-possession.

When growing up in Illinois I readthe accounts of demon possession inthe Bible and believed that they werea thing of the past. Since coming toAfrica I hear many present-day accounts of the control demons haveover areas and individuals.

Witchcraft and ancestor worshipare based on fear. People give theirchildren to the spirits much as

TheSTROHG SOK

RESTORATION

TO

WHOLENESS

By MARCIA KAY THOMSON

Bible-school Lesson for March 22*

ofGodHealing sought-Jesus was stilltraveling outsideofGalilee. Matthewindicates that He healed many, butMark tells us in detail about one.Some people brought a deaf man toJesus. Jesus took him away from thecrowd and put His fingers into theman's ears; then He spit and touchedthe man's tongue. When He spokethe word, the man was healed.

Owner8hii>-We are God's. He madeus and He bought us with the bloodof Jesus. He invites \is to follow Himand demands that we give Him ourall. However, He always leaves achoice for us to make, as He did withthe twelve (John 6:67).

The Scriptures never say "possessed by" the Holy Spirit. They usethe expression "led bythe Spirit" and"filled with the Spirit," but not possessed by the Spirit. Romans 8:26tells us that the Spirit helps us in ourweakness. He "put his Spirit in ourhearts as a deposit, guaranteeingwhat is to come" (2 Corinthians 1:22).

Paul did not go to Corinth. Thereason in verse 24 of that chapter is"not that we lord it over your faith,but we work with you for your joy,because it is by faith you stand firm."We have freedom in Christ. If we arebeing compelled instead of encouraged,we shouldquestionthe source.

Restoration to wholeness-Weneed to be whole and to help othersto be whole. This must be done by letting Jesus break the control thatSatan has over us (1 John 4:4). Thenwe must hear God's Word with ourheart, as well as our ears. We mustspeakplainlyHis words to others.

'Scripture quotationsare from New International Version.

Samuel was given to EH. Grown children, awayfrom home, are requestedto return to pay homage to the spirits. Time, energy, and money arespent to appease the ancestors anddemons. What a contrast to Christianity!

Today we also hear of cults thathold people against their will. Although they enter willingly, they arenot free to leave. We praise God currently for the news ofpolitical bondsthat have been broken in many countries.

Freedom requested-As we look toMark 7:24 we see how Jesus responds. Most of His ministry was tothe children of Israel. But on this tripHe left their country and went intoGentile territory. He was in thehouse, but a Syrophoenician womanfound Him. She fell at His feet to askthat Jesus drive the demon out of herdaughter. She acknowledged that asa Gentile she could be compared tothe dogs that eat scraps under thetable. After this expression of humility Jesus granted her request. Hesimply spoke the word and she wasfree.

Lesson text: Mark 7:24-37. Printed text: Mark 7:24-37. Memory text: Mark 7:37.•LeasOT based onIntomaeonal Sunday School Lessons. ®1988 by the Lesson Committee.

(233) 17for March 15.1992

Dear Christian Friends,

MARCIA KAY THOMSONP.O. Box H-96Hatfield, HarareZimbabwe, Africa

March 1992

Forwarding Agents:Central Africa MissionMr. & Mrs. Wilford LeasureRoute 1, Box 46West Union, IL 62477217-279-3366

Thank you for your prayers and support of the Lord's work here in Zimbabwe. Thank you forthe letters, birthday cards, Christmas cards and gifts that you sent. In looking over my incomefor 1991 Ican see how the Lord has supplied my needs through your generosity. Some of yougive faithfully each month, some every other month or every third month and some annually.Some of you give through the church and some as individuals. For 1991 my income averaged$1548.56 per month. Thank you again for your part in the work here. Continue to pray forwisdom that the right decisions will be made concerning the work here.

CHmSTIAN STANDARD

This letter is a little earlier than in other years because Iknow that some of you would be upsetif you were not notified in advance of my lesson's appearance. It should be in the March 22,1992, issue of"Christian Standard." When Iwas asked to write the lesson the title "Restorationto Wholeness" and the text Mark 7:24-37 were supplied.

ZIMBABWE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

At the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the College, Jack Pennington resigned asPrincipal of ZCC but will continue to teach. Dave Altman was asked to be the Principalbecause of the many years experience he has had in administration. At the same meeting itwas announced that Jayne Linda Free would be resigning in May. In the next few months weneed to have the work permits extended for Dave Altman and Lewis Captain, the AcademicDean.

COMPUTERITIS

Because Iplan to move to Masvingo at the end of 1992 and work at CAMELS Print Shop it willbe necessary for me to know how to use the computer. Each year the print shop is closeddown at Christmas time so all the employees can take a vacation. Ihad CAMELS' Macintoshcomputer atmy house for four weeks. In the past Ihave made remarks about people thatspend so much time at the computer but during these four weeks Ihad trouble leaving it evento eat meals and go to bed at a reasonable time. Now that it Is gone Ihave recovered and amacting more nearly normal. Ispent most of the time learning to use PageMaker and even hadsome things ready to be printed when the presses started running in January.

HARARE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Martin Laurence began an interim ministry with the English speaking church in January.Besides preaching and teaching Sunday School he is working with the high school youngpdople on Friday nights. The young people like him and attendance has been increasinq. HeIS part time as he also teaches at ZCC.

None of the houses being built near the church were occupied in December but now they saypeople will start getting possession in March. Phase 1 has 325 houses and people havestarted signing up for Phase 2. Several families from the church have signed up for a house

for our Thursday night home prayer meeting and Bible study runs around 12 adults.PRAYER

Perhaps vou have noticed in the above news some of the answers todles ansZ us as we seek to do His will. Let us continue to ask H,m for His blessing.In Christian Love,

Marcia Kay Thomson"|Od IS^Ild

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Zimbabwe Christian College Students and Staff, 1992

Marcia Kay ThomsonP.O. Box 231

MasvingoZimbabwe, AfricaPhone 011-263-39-62285

Forwarding Agents:Mr. & Mrs. Wilford LeasureCentral Africa MissionRoute 1, Box 46West Union, IL 62477-9715

November 1992

Dear Christian Friends,

Greetings from HOT Zimbabwe!! Some people say that it must get hot before we have agood rainy season whichwe certainly need this year. The country is on water rationing which is more severe in some areas than in others

electricity ^a^oning. Part of this is caused by Lake Kariba being so low that the hydroelectric plantas cut back production for both Zambia and Zimbabwe. Most of the water for Lake Kariba comes from Zaire and

northern Angola, so you can see that the whole of southern Africa needs rain.

In areas severely affected by last year's drought there are various feeding programs. Many of these families willhave trouble raising crops this year even if It rains because the animals that they used for plowing have died IDESfrfn^T r people that Christiansin u.o.A. care tor them.

The county has Imported food, primarily corn, so people that have money can buy food. Fresh fruits and veqetables

hdusWpfhaeverything keep going up and unemployment is also rising. Someindustries ° ^ because they do not have any work. This includes the cotton and sugar

ZItvlBABWE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE - -

incTudpi'̂ ^lorl^n' training preachers at ZCC. We have 34 resident students at the present time. ThisrorrptnLHl Students (Kenya, Sudan, Malawi, Botswana). We also have 600 students In the BibleammiTH m ® '̂"'̂ ents are taking turns going to Chidamoyo Hospital to getacquainted with their program for AIDS patients and learning how to counsel them. We have several graduates

at Chidamoyo Most of the third-year students are also doing practice teaching in the nearby governmentschools. This class will finish their courses in April, 1993. ca uy yuvBriimem

zrr wliflfi'̂ hi!?®®Captains, Morrises and Hurlburts are supposed to be here to teach in January,so ZCC will be able to carry on without Jill Shaw and me.

loITheto zrr"® Pprh '̂ ®'® '® 3"eed in Masvingo. How canwe cm Hh^P =, infi could come to teach on ashort or along term basis. With more regular supportwe could hire a local person to do secretarial work and bookkeeping.

housing for our cooks and gardener and it would be helpful to have housing for marriedstudents. We have room for more buildings on our property but getting them built is the next thing.

C.A.M.E.LS.

in December Iplan to move to Masvingo to begin working with CAMELS print shop. Be^au^nnounced this earlier,many Se think Iam already there, it is now time to change your address list. As managerOf the print shop 1will let you know what is happening after Imove.Have agrateful Thanksgiving, ahappy Christmas and afruitful New Year.

Yours in Christian Love,

Marcia Kay Thomson

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