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Newsletter
I JANUARY 2008
NEVER GIVES US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE
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When a certain airline trains their pilots, they first seek to prove them by use of a simulator. The simulator is designed to present the pilot with a variety of potential problems so that he will be able to handle any emergency in the future. First, the pilot is tested with simple challenges, which eventually build up to the catastrophic situations. The pilots are given more difficult problems only after they have mastered the previous ones. The result is that when the pilots have completed their course, they are prepared to handle any problem that comes their way. This is similar to God's method of working with us. God teaches us how to handle the problems of life, but never gives us more than we can handle. He teaches us through each situation so that we can be fully prepared and mature people, ready to handle any challenge in life that might come our way.
Psalm 23:2
“ He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”
Phillip Keller, once a shepherd himself, in his book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, relates that the strange thing about sheep is that because of their very makeup, it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met. First, due to their timidity, they must be free from all fear. Next, because of their sociability, they must be free from friction with others of their kind. Third, they must be free from flies or parasites if they are to relax. Lastly, they will not lie down unless free from hunger. It is only the shepherd who can provide release from all these anxieties. As our Good Shepherd, the Lord meets all these needs for us, so that we can “lie down in green pastures,” with our souls restored by His care. |
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ALL THAT I HOPED FOR
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I asked for strength that I might achieve;
He made me weak that I might obey.
I asked for health that I might do great things;
He gave me grace that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
He gave me poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
He gave me weakness that I might feel a need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
He gave me life that I might enjoy all things.
I received nothing I had asked for;
He gave me all that I hoped for.
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LETTER FROM THE ISF DIRECTORS
Dear International Friend,
Happy New Year Greetings from International Student Fellowship!
As we start a new year our prayer for you is that you will find God's presence in your life day by day as you meet new challenges. We do not know what another year has in store, but we are confident that God sees the future and will help us if we allow Him to.
We enjoyed seeing so many of you at the Christmas Banquet. We had an enjoyable evening. It is always a special event to have so many old and new friends share this special occasion with us. Of course, we think of those who have gone back home or have moved to another part of the country. You are in our thoughts as we think back over the years and many wonderful memories come to our mind.
For those of you who are in the Pittsburgh area we hope that you will be able to take part in our gatherings throughout the year. We encourage you to invite a friend. This is a good time to be with old friends and to extend the invitation of friendship to someone new.
--Terry & Pam Tiberio, ISF Directors
January 11th ISF Gathering
We would like to invite you to our first ISF Gathering of 2008. There's no better way to start the new year than to come into the warm fellowship of this monthly gathering.
This gathering will be on Friday, January 11th at 7:30 PM in the Ballroom of the William Pitt Union. The William Pitt Union is located in Oakland on the corner of Bigelow and Fifth Avenue. To get to the Ballroom, use the entrance on Fifth Avenue and go to your right
At this gathering Byron & Melissa Manners will be the speakers. Many of you have met this young couple. They have been living in Kaohsiung, Taiwan for a number of years and are home for a few months. So we wanted to have them come to speak to us.
We hope you will come and please especially invite your friends. Of course there will be music, a wonderful meal, and warm fellowship. Also, there will be special children's activities in the Kurtzman room. We hope to see you and remember that it's all free!
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ISF CHRISTMAS GATHERING (December 7th, 2007)
600 present, from 14 countries: Afghanistan, Bosnia, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Macedonia, Morocco, Russia, South Korea, St. Croix, Taiwan, Zimbabwe, USA.
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