02 November 2020 - Acts e-Newsletter

Acts e-Newsletter (November 2020 Issue)

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

View this email in your browser

In Bible times, shepherds had a unique way of displaying their victories in life. As part of the passage of manhood, each young shepherd was given his own staff. He used that staff not only to shepherd sheep, but also to chronicle his testimonies. Beginning at the bottom of the staff, the shepherd would make carvings to remind him of pivotal moments.

At night, shepherds would gather and pass the time telling stories around the fire. Their staffs became a central point for their conversations. Pointing to a particular carving on another’s staff, the staff’s owner would be asked to tell the story behind the carving.

Often enough, every victory carving carried a story preceded by struggle and surrender. The staff in a shepherd’s hand became a symbol of his testimony. Being always on the move and with surroundings constantly changing, these testimonies remained consistent and provided a stabilising force in a shepherd’s nomadic life.

(Excerpt adapted from Mentoring from the Mountaintop by Rick Clendenen)

What are the markings on your staff thus far?

Here’s an activity for you to reflect, remember and recount God’s faithfulness in your life.

Here’s what you can do:

Download and print out this activity sheet.
Take some time to reflect and “mark your staff”.
Take a deep breath and say a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

Note: You can also do this fun activity with your child too!

Click here to download the “Mark Your Staff” activity sheet.

When we face challenges in our daily lives, we often find ourselves crippled by fear… causing us to be stuck, frozen, and unable to move forward.

“When you see a shadow of death, what do you do? You keep walking!”
– Pastor Kenneth Chin

The key is to keep walking.

Click here to order the full message!