November 2023 Newsletter
Prayer request: As we approach this holiday season, pray for the Mission and leadership team as they serve those in need within our community. Ask God to give them the strength and resources they need to carry out their mission effectively.
If you have any questions about the Mission or how you can help, please call us. 432-337-8294
A Word From Our Director ~ Pastor Andrew Pistone
How Do I Really Get to Heaven?
If we took a survey of people on the street - and asked them if they are going to heaven when they die - we would get an assortment of responses. Some people say, “I've got my fingers crossed.” Others say, “Nobody can be certain, but I'm pretty sure I will - because I go to church as often as
I can.”
With confidence, many people say, “Yes. Of course, I'll go to heaven. I've never murdered anyone, and I've definitely done more good things than bad things in my life. I believe that God will treat me in a fair way.”
We live in a culture where lots of people assume that everybody goes to heaven – just because “God is a loving God” - but the problem is…that there's nothing in the Bible to support these man-made opinions about the way to get there.
Jesus said, “Broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) The Bible says that if we reject the gift of salvation, we will spend eternity separated from God. Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
During this season, when we spend extra time being thankful for our blessings, we think about the most important blessing - the priceless gift that's available to us – through the sacrifice that Jesus made. When we get to the end of our lives, we don't need to just hope that God will let us into heaven – based on how many “good” things we've done, and whether the good outweighs the “bad,” or not. If we have realized that we are sinners, repented of our sins, and by faith - trusted in the sacrifice that Jesus made when He paid the price for our sins…we'll want to live for Him. Because of our repentance and faith in Him, He'll take us to heaven to spend eternity with Him. Heaven will be our eternal address, and we can be sure of it.
When We're in Heaven
God said, “I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5). “No longer will there be any curse.” (Revelation 22:3) “There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) Revelation 21:27 says that nothing impure will ever enter heaven. The blood of Jesus covers our sins and can wash us whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)
By the way…The Bible doesn't say anything about sitting on a cloud and playing a harp. God has designed heaven to be exactly what your heart needs!
We can know a lot about heaven by thinking through some of the things that will not be there.
We won't have to put up with the following things any longer, because they will be gone.
The “No More” List…from A-Z (by Dave Stone)
In heaven, there'll be:
A - No more anxiety, addiction, Amber alerts, or arthritis.
B - No more bankruptcy, bad breath, bullying, Botox, or bruises.
C - No more courtrooms, child abuse, COVID, chemo, cancer, counting of calories, cable news, and no more colonoscopies.
D - No more death, disease, divorce, depression, drunk drivers, or dementia.
E - No more ego. No more earthquakes and no more elections.
F - No more fear, face masks, foreclosures, or funerals.
G - No more gossip or global warming. No more greed, grief, or graveyards.
H - No more humidity. No more hypocrisy or homelessness. No more hip replacements. No more heart attacks.
I - No more injustice or infertility. No more isolation
or incarceration.
J - No more jealousy or junk mail.
K - No more killjoys or kidney stones.
L - No more loneliness. No more legalism. No more long lines for ladies restrooms.
M - No more murders. No more mammograms.
No more miscarriages.
N - No more negativity. No more neonatal units.
No more nursing homes. No more nuclear war.
O - No more oppression, or orphanages, or obituaries.
P - No more prisons. No more pain. No more poverty. No more performance reviews. No more political parties, and no more pandemics.
Q - No more quitting. No more quarantines.
R - No more root canals. No more reorganizations. No more regret. No more racism or road rage. No more raisin cookies disguised as chocolate chip cookies.
S - No more six dollars for a gallon of gas. No more shame or starvation. No more satanic attacks or suicide. No more sexual assaults or school
shootings.
T - No more traffic jams. No more human trafficking or drug trafficking. No more taxes. No more tornadoes or tumors. No more terrorists. No more tiny caskets.
U - No more unexplained tragedies or unmet needs. No more unwanted children or unloved spouses. No more unbelieving skeptics.
V - No more vaccines or ventilators. No more violence or viruses.
W - No more wars. No more waiting rooms. No more wheelchairs or walkers.
X - No more Xanax.
Y - No more yelling from your spouse. No more yelling from your kids. No more yelling from your boss.
Z - And, Praise the Lord…No more Zoom calls.
These things just scratch the surface. Heaven is a place of unimaginable perfection, and, when this earthly life is over, I want to be ready. “No one knows the day or the hour.” (Matthew 24:36) Are you ready? Do you know for SURE that you're on your way to heaven? Our time on earth is uncertain, and the rapture of Christ's followers could be today.
I hope you enjoy a special season of Thanksgiving. This world is full of problems and challenges, but we have endless reasons to be thankful, and to have joy!
Pastor Andrew
Thrift Store
If you haven't had a chance to shop at our Thrift Store, we hope you will do that very soon. The proceeds from the store are a major source of our support. You will find thousands of quality items at incredible prices, and you can shop with confidence that your dollars are helping to change lives.
We are located at 1515 E. 8th Street, Odessa, TX Our hours for shopping are: Monday - Saturday from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
We continue to take ALL donations with grateful hearts. We could not do this without your help.
We will come to PICK UP any and all donations – just give us a call at 432-337-8294 to schedule a pickup. You can also drop off your donation at the Thrift Store,
Funds / Donations Needed
Your financial support will help us provide hot meals, a safe place to sleep and shower, and exposure to the truth of God's Word through Bible study and counseling to those who struggle with addictions. Many come to know Jesus as Savior because of the work God is doing here at the Mission.
There are a few ways you can give:
#1: PayPal Giving Fund:100% of what you give goes to the Mission. Paypal does not keep a processing fee when you use this service. If you would like to make a direct financial donation you can go to PayPal at the link below.
https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2432315
#2: Use our Website http://www.doorofhopemission.com/donate.html
#3: Mail a Check to Door of Hope Mission PO Box 1789, Odessa, TX 79760
#4: When you Shop at Amazon or Ebay, just add us as your preferred charity, and a portion of your purchase will go to the Door Of Hope Mission.
With Amazon: Visit Amazon Smile www.smile.amazon.com, then login to your account then you need to select Door Of Hope Mission Odessa TX so we will receive donations from eligible purchases when you shop.
With Ebay: You just need to add the Door Of Hope Mission to your favorites. Click the link this link to add us.
https://charity.ebay.com/charity/charity-name/2432315
If you have any questions please call us 432-337-8294.
The Door of Hope Mission is supported 100% by DONATIONS and our thrift store. We do not take money from the government because they would restrict us from preaching about the freeing power of Jesus to those we help.
All donations are tax-deductible.
DOOR OF HOPE THRIFT STORE UPDATE
We are in need of good furniture and antiques that you might want to donate to our ministry, and of course - we continue to take ALL donations with grateful hearts. We could not do this without your help.
We can also accept cars, trucks, RVs and boats.
If you have items you wish to donate, please drop them off at the store. If you need us to pick them up, please call the Mission at 432-337-8294.
We invite you to come and visit the Door of Hope Thrift Store. We are located at 1611 E. 8th Street, Odessa, TX 79761.
Our hours for shopping are Monday - Saturday from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
Please visit us on Facebook : www.Facebook.com/DoorOfHopeThriftStore
All donations are tax deductible.
Please check out our latest post and like our page at https://www.facebook.com/DoorOfHopeMissionTX
A CHRISTIAN MISSION