Marshall Ministry Newsletter: January 2008

Hello again friends,

I'm sorry I have taken so long in writing to you. It has been so hectic over the holidays and several things have happened. My grandson Caden is really growing and is trying to sit up now. He has discovered he can make noises and is noticing things around him. He is so precious. I have had an opportunity to move to Nashville, TN and decided to make the move. I made the move January 5, 2008. My two daughters, Eddie, and my good friend Matt Throgmorton helped me move. I am renting a small studio apartment for now until another door opens. My new address is: P.O. Box 293068, Nashville, TN 37229. I still have the same phone number: 618-384-8107. I am patiently waiting on God and what He has in store.

If you've looked at my website lately, you'll notice that I have finished the brand new CD The Psalmist and hopefully it will be able to be shipped out later this week. I start a 3-week tour in Florida starting Feb. 2, in Miami with the Heritage Singers. I'll do the one date with them, then they go on a Caribbean cruise for a week "without me." But I'll travel on over to Bradenton, Orlando, and Avon Park for some concerts of my own.

I have recently purchased a small used motor home to travel in. I want to thank my friend in Lincoln, NE, Glenn Yurth, who stayed on the internet long hours to help me find a motor home that would be suitable for my needs. I called Glenn to ask his advice one day, and he made it a mission to assist me in this venture. I thank God for friends such as he. I am asking all of you to keep Glenn and his wife Shirley in your prayers. They have a need; pray for their health.

I am looking forward to a wonderful and blessed year in this ministry. I don't know what lies ahead but I know Who is preparing the way. Keep praying with me and never stop praying for me that I may continue to travel and tell the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord. Thank you for your financial support, as it gets tougher every day. May God richly bless you in all that you do. Remember I am praying for you.

--Darrell

From The Desk Of...

Pastor Mike Meyer

Let me start off by saying that I truly love and appreciate Darrell Marshall. I met Darrell when I was a pastor in Carmi a few years ago and he was then a member of the singing group One Voice. As you all know, Darrell has a definite ministry and calling on his life. When I have him come to my church, he never fails to minister God’s graces to the people. He seems to have spiritual insight into what people are going through, even though he has never met many of them. This can only be explained as a gift that God has given to him to relate to people whom God is trying to reach. I am one of those people. Thanks Darrell! I would recommend him to any church or group looking for someone who cares.

How far will you go and what will you bring?
Matthew 2:1-12

In light of the Christmas season just past I would like to talk about the wise men. My question to you is How far will you go and what will you bring? The first people who took notice of the newborn babe were the shepherds, then Simeon and Anna. Both made known the news abroad. You would think that the people of Judah and Jerusalem would have taken notice and embraced with open arms this long-awaited Messiah. But after nearly two years and virtually no response from the people, along come the wise men.

I believe that nothing can awaken those who are resolved to be otherwise. But the wise men are different. They want to know. So they come to Jerusalem and inquire. These wise men coming from the east are actually magicians. They dealt in the unlawful arts: fortune telling and the like. The same term is used of Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8:9-11 and Elymas the sorcerer in Acts 13:6. This is the only way Scripture uses this term. They were men who did things that we would consider occult like. Evil things. Soothsaying, magic potions, etc. They were, maybe without knowing it, leading men astray. So we can see that these men, who we might reject, were in definite need of a Savior!

They were also Gentiles. The Jews would not acknowledge Jesus, but these wise men came from afar to find Him. There are many times that those who are nearest to the means are farthest from the end.

Consider Matthew 8:10-12:
10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. 11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

So just what would induce these men to travel from so far away? Their country was in the east. They suddenly saw a star. Not an ordinary star, though. It must have been a very unusual, extraordinary star, such as they had never seen before. It was so different from anything they had ever seen before that they took it to mean something important was happening. It’s almost as if they knew someone of great importance had been born, and that in the land of Judah where the star was hovering and leading them. To the Jewish shepherds the birth of Christ was revealed by an angel, to the Gentile Magi by a star. To both God spoke in the language and in a way that they understood. And He speaks to us in the same way today. In a way we will understand. This great candle in the sky became their light to the Savior. Thus the stars that had been misused by the wise men, came to be put to right use, leading men to the Savior!

The wise men come and inquire of the baby. They didn't ask if He was born, but where was He born. They have every confidence that what they had seen was true. They were so excited to meet Him and be better acquainted with Him that they took a long journey on purpose to find Him and inquire of Him. People who truly desire to know Christ and find Him will not regard pains or perils in seeking after Him. And they ask “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” because they know little of Christ but coveted to know more of Him. How much of Christ do you know and do you covet to know more of Him?

They might have come expecting to find all of Jerusalem bowing at His feet and worshipping Him. But no one could give them an answer as to where or Who He was. There seems to be more ignorance in the world and in the church, too, than we are aware of. There are many people who we think should direct us to Christ, but are themselves strangers to Him.

Well they finally find Him. The star they saw in the east came back to guide them further still. Darkness, then light. Verse 10 tells us that when they saw the star again they greatly rejoiced. When we go as far as we can God will direct and enable us to do that which we cannot do of ourselves. But they went alone. No one went with them. We have to go it alone even if others fail to go with us.

The gifts:
Gold-to help Joseph take care of his young family-we must give to God of what He has first given us
Frankincense-the smoke of incense for the sacrifices-our worship and our lives are a sweet fragrance to God
Myrrh-for His embalming-we have to die with Him

Lastly, in verse 12 God warns them to return another way. God has also shown us another way.

How far will you go and what will you bring?

Go. Find out for yourself. Inquire. Follow the light while it is still day. You will find what you are seeking for only in God.