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Has Your "Straw" Been Taken
Away?
Before
Moses arrived back in Egypt to lead God’s people to the promised
land, the people of Israel were making bricks. This was hard,
hot, and tiring work! A new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph,
had risen to power. He realized the number and strength of God’s
people, so he imposed “taskmasters over them to afflict them
with heavy burdens.”
Exodus 1:11 ESV The Bible also states that “they
ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made
their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and
in all kinds of work in the field.”
Exodus 1:13-14 ESV
Think on these words:
taskmaster, afflict, heavy burdens, ruthlessly, bitter,
and hard service. To make matters worse, Moses comes into
the presence of Pharaoh, requesting their deliverance from this
hardship. The King of Egypt is upset, to say the least, and says
the following to the taskmasters:
“You shall no longer
give the people straw to make bricks…let them go and gather
straw for themselves…Go and get your straw yourselves
wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in
the least.”
Exodus 5:7,11 ESV
Not only was the work difficult and
extremely discouraging, but now an extra burden
was also added. The straw was taken away, but the
responsibility in work remained the same! That which
was necessary to make the “bricks” was taken away, but the work
and the demands are the same!
Has this happened to you? The
money is not there, but the bills remain! The physical strength
is not there, but the responsibilities remain! Your friends
have abandoned you, but the longing for help remains! The job is
gone, but the needs of the family abound! What is your
“straw?” What has been taken away from you that was
extremely necessary to complete the task or fulfill the
responsibility? It has been hard enough to work and live with
the “straw” provided, but now it is no longer available. You
might be saying, “What do I do now?” Your “taskmaster” says,
“The work will continue! Get going!” But your going has GONE!
But
there is HOPE! Read carefully:
“…and the people of
Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out
for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to
God. And God heard their groaning, And God
remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with
Jacob. God saw the people of Israel---and God knew. Exodus 2:23-25 ESV
God knows that your “straw” has been
taken away! He knows of your hurt! He knows of your fear! He
knows of your groaning! And not only does He know, He is
doing something about it right now! As He said to
Moses, He says to you, “…I know their sufferings and I have come
down to deliver them out … and to bring them up …
to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey…”
Exodus 3:7-8 ESV The
Deliverer is on the way - the deliverance is on the
way! Get ready to see the Hand of the Lord! He knows what you
have been facing and He is doing something about it!
In the meanwhile, pray like it all depends upon God, and work
like it all depends upon you. God will guide a moving vessel.
Move forward in the confidence that God knows! It is only a
matter of time before you will see the “salvation of the Lord!”
Divine Straw is coming your way for the needs and
responsibilities you face! You can count on it!
News to Use ...
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The new semester at Trinity College of Florida
has begun! Sixty-six new students have joined the
enrollment of the College in the Day program and
twenty-seven in TrinityQuest, our adult degree
completion program. |
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The 2010-2011 Faculty/Staff
Retreat was held at Idlewild Baptist Church. Their staff
provided lunch and a tour of the facilities. The theme
was Connection. It is imperative to have
the right connection with the Lord. Only He can make
things grow! This is the year to Connect. The
TLAs of Sowing were presented by the President
(Right Thinking, Living, and Acting),
along with presentations from Dr. Guy Sanders,
Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of New Port
Richey, and Rev. David Pletincks, Lead Pastor of Hope
Community Bible Church in Spring Hill. Each Vice
President met with their team in preparation for the new
year. (Pictures are on Trinity College of Florida’s
Facebook.) |
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New directional signs have
been installed on campus, and the dining area has been
repainted and floors refinished. |
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Rev. Al Depoutot, Vice
President for Student Development, led a three-day
orientation for our new students and their
parents/families. Each student has received a Trinity
College 2010-2011 Navigator datebook. Through
discussions with new students, the President learned
that the Big Three Connectors that God has used
for our enrollment are: Friends, Internet, and College
Preview weekends. Our appreciation to Mr. Mark Sawyer,
Director of Admissions, and his team, along with Dr.
John Zuch, Associate Dean for Adult Education, and his
TrinityQuest team for their efforts in securing
new students for the 2010-2011 collegiate year.
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A new ID process has
been initiated for students. |
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The College is once
again a voting precinct site. This provides additional
visibility for our College in the community. |
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The Trinity College of
Florida 2010 Annual Report is now online at
www.trinitycollege.edu for review.
Additional new information on College happenings and
dates can be found there as well. Alumni interest, plans
for the future, and online giving opportunities are also
available. |
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Auditors have finished their work on campus and will soon complete their
reports. |
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Convocation was
held August 27, 2010 in the Sid Williams Chapel with
faculty, staff, and students in attendance. The theme
throughout the year will be on Spiritual
Connection with our Lord. With all the
enhancements in education, technology, and techniques,
connection with the Lord is indispensable! In II
Chronicles 15, the people of God had all the right
“equipment,” but they literally had lost God!
Read the account. It is very significant. The easiest
place to backslide is in the Bible college or
seminary! |
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Convocation
Chapel 2010 |
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Convocation
Program 2010 |
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Prayer REQUEStS ...
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Pray for our faculty. Remember each one by
name:
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Mrs. Michelle Chauncey
Dr. Dennis Cox
Dr. Paul Fritz
Dr. Stu Parsons
Dr. Greg Strayer
Dr. Elizabeth Warfel
Dr. Tom Woodward |
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Please remember our adjuncts as they teach their classes:
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Rev. Joe
Allotta
Ms. Charissa Denham
Rev. Frank DiPronio
Rev. Greg Gunn
Mr. Lou Kaloger
Mr. Robert Loeffler
Mr. David McGee
Dr. Kathleen Mohr
Mr. Kevin O’Farrell
Mr. William Tsamis
Rev. Scott Welch |
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Rev.
Christopher Curtis
Mr. Matt Dinger
Mr. Fred Feliciano
Rev. William Gunter
Dr. Judith Lawson
Dr. Robert McDonald
Rev. Willard Mihuc
Ms. Nancy Newland
Mrs. Leslie Rewald
Mr. Brian Wagner
Rev. Solomon Whitten, III |
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Pray for our new student residence hall. All is
ready. Over 21 approvals have been achieved for
immediate construction. The funding of the project is
the last step. Significant work has been done on this
last remaining challenge. Examples of God’s provision
were shared with faculty and staff at the retreat. We
serve a God of the Miraculous! |
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Pray for the outpouring of God’s love and
felt Presence among us this year. May all of us sense
the “Touch of the Almighty.” |
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Pray for the students and their finances.
Many were unable to return because of financial
situations personally and within their families. |
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Pray for our Gift Income needs. Remember
Dr. Charlie Martin, Vice President for Advancement, Dr.
Ed Allen, Assistant to the President for Grant Writing,
and others as they assist in securing the funding for
the needs and mission of the College. |
Our God is the Great
Communicator and the Great Resourcer! He
continues to astonish all of us with His mercy, provisions,
and patience! It is unmatched! Trinity College of Florida is
God's College for His use. Rise with me on the challenge to
be all that we need to be to please the Master in this work
of His. Serving with you, |
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