We all are on the mission field

Luke 8:15 (ESV)

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

An official of a mission board, who knew it takes more than just desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate for the mission field. He told the young man to be at his house at six o'clock in the morning. The young man complied and arrived a six o'clock sharp. The examiner kept him sitting alone in the room until ten. Then he finally came in and said abruptly, " Young man, can you write your name? A little taken aback by the simplicity of his question, the man paused. Before he could get a word out, the examiner blurted, "What, you don't know what it is?" The mission board official put him through a series of questions of that nature and then went to report to the mission board.

"Okay," he said, "he will do." I tried his patience for hours and hours and he did not break down; Then I insulted him and he did not lose his temper. This candidate answered with patience, fortitude, and gentleness. His faith was vindicated by the very quality of his character. He will make a good missionary."

Whether we realize it or not -- we all are on the mission field. Our patience is bound to be tested in ways we've never imagined and we'll most likely find it unfair and unkind at times. But standing strong in the Lord in the face of offensive treatment and enduring seasons of long-suffering is a testimony in and of itself -- and that will win souls!

Are you weary from the walk? Get your second wind! Count it all joy! You have endured much and you will see victory! Not only here on earth but when we meet the Lord!

Dear Lord, help us to be patient with all that comes our way. Help us respond in a manner that is pleasing to You.  In the Nam eof Jesus, Amen. 

His timing is PERFECT!

Proverbs 3:5 (ESV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

A king was seated in a garden, and one of his counselors was speaking of the wonderful works of God. "Show me a sign," said the king, "and I will believe." "Here are four acorns," said the counselor, "will you, Majesty, plant them in the ground, and then stoop down for a moment and look into this clear pool of water?" The king did so, "Now," said the other, "look up." The king looked up and saw four oak-trees where he had planted the acorns. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed, "This is indeed the work of God." "How long were you looking into the water?" asked the counselor.  "Only a second," said the king. "Eighty years have passed as a second," said the other. The king looked at his garments; they were threadbare. He looked at his reflection in the water; he had become an old man. "There is no miracle here, then," he said angrily. "Yes," said the other, "it is God's work, whether he did it in one second or in eighty years.

Some of us are in need of answers today. We've been crying out for the Lord and feel like He's not listening. But He is! And He has a plan far greater than any of us could ask or think!

Be encouraged! Let's choose to trust that God has great plans for us in the making, regardless of whether we can see them right now. His timing is PERFECT!

Dear Lord, help our trust be in You knowing that Your timing is perfect and You will bring Your perfect will at the perfect time. IN the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

An ax... and two 38's

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

An elderly woman returned to her home from an evening of Church services when she was startled by an intruder. She had caught a man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables. "Stop!" she yelled, "Acts 2:38!" (Repent and be baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven).

The burglar stopped dead in his tracks and froze while the woman calmly called the police and explained the situation. As the officer was cuffing him, he asked the burglar, "Just out of curiosity, why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture at you." "Scripture?!" gasped the burglar. "She said she had an ax... and two 38's!!"

I hope it made you laugh, but on a serious note -- I think we often underestimate the power of the Word of God! We have the source so very close -- its right at our fingertips and should be right on our lips! Yet, we neglect to declare it over our circumstances, that we may see the victory!

Let's make it a point to start spending regular time in the Word, learning it and speaking it over our lives again and again! We need to be a walking testimony of His power and victory.

Dear Lord, help us to get in Your Word everyday so we can be ready for what the world throws at us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Let's do His business

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Wiersbes, Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, quotes: "Millions of surveys which we have helped to take around the world indicate that approximately 98 percent of the Christians do not regularly introduce others to the Savior."

In a survey given to those attending training sessions for a Billy Graham crusade in Detroit, attendees were asked to answer this question by checking one of the following answers. "What is your greatest hindrance in witnessing?" 0% said they don't care. 9% said they were too busy to remember to do it. 12% said their own lives were not speaking as they should. 28% felt the lack of real information to share and 51% feared the reactions of those with whom they might share.

If we truly believe that Jesus is the only way to eternal life, why aren't we spreading the word? Hmmmm. Maybe we don't really believe that. I guess no one thought to include that reason on Billy's survey.

Do we truly believe in heaven? Do we believe without a shadow of a doubt that  Jesus is the only way to get there? If we do, how can we keep our mouths closed to a world of people who are headed for the agony of eternal burning?

Hee-nay-nee means "Here am I", in Hebrew. This should be our cry to the Lord today. Send me, Lord! Help me to open my mouth for you! Work through me Lord, for your sake Lord, and for the sake of those who don't know you!

Let's be about doing His business and commit ourselves to sharing the good news with the lost around us!

Dear Lord, help us be able to share Your love with those around us. Give us the courage to share the gospel. In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Don't take anyone's word but God's

Matthew 10:16 (ESV)

Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Nature provides us with an illustration that closely parallels the insidious tactics employed by our adversary. According to scientists, Arctic polar bears feed almost entirely on seals. To enjoy such a meal, they sometimes resort to a cunning bit of trickery. If the hole through which the seal gets his food is near the edge of the ice, the polar bear will take a deep breath and swim under water to its exact location. Remaining below the surface, he will then make a tiny scratching sound, imitating a fish. When the charmed seal hears this, he dives in for a quick supper, only to find himself suddenly entrapped in the huge, hungry embrace of his predator.

God has sent us forth as sheep among the wolves. There are so many theories disguising themselves as Godly. We're hungry for that meal -- but we must be wise enough to make sure it's not a trap! Keep reading and studying the Word of God! Pray and ask Him to reveal His truth.

The enemy loves to tempt us with a 'treat' so he can devour us! Don't take anyone's word but God's!

Dear Lord thank You for Your word. Help us to have a hunger for it so that we may be prepared for all that comes before us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

We must live a life of repentance

Revelation 3:19 (ESV)

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

One day, when Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his guilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, "That'll be ten dollars -- a dollar for every mile you went over the limit."

Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. "You have violated the law," he said. "The fine must be paid -- but I am going to pay it for you." He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! "That," said Billy Graham, "is how God treats repentant sinners!"

According to Merriam-Webster, the word "repent" means "to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one's life". Somehow, we've gotten to thinking that to repent, simply means to say "I'm sorry". No. Repentance means TURNING AWAY from our sin and striving to live a life of holiness.

Billy admitted his sin to the judge. He didn't try to hide it, he didn't rationalize it and I'm pretty sure didn't take this offense lightly. I'm certain he took it quite seriously and endeavored never to drive over the speed limit again.

We serve a mighty and gracious God. He wants to pay our debts and take us out for nice steak dinners. But we must live a life of repentance!

We can't be perfect. But we can walk in repentance daily. We need take our sin seriously. Let's dedicate our lives to the Lord once again today.

Dear Lord, help us to take our sin seriously.  When we do sin help us to repent of the sin.  In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The mule won

Psalm 4:6-8 (ESV)

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

7 You have put more joy in my heart

    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

    for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

I found an interesting story in an old copy of "Our Daily Bread": In 1883 in Allentown, New Jersey, a wooden Indian -- the kind that was seen in front of cigar stores -- was placed on the ballot for Justice of the Peace. The candidate was registered under the fictitious name of Abner Robbins. When the ballots were counted, Abner won over incumbent Sam Davis by 7 votes. A similar thing happened in 1938. The name Boston Curtis appeared on the ballot for Republican Committeeman from Wilton, Washington. Actually, Boston Curtis was a mule. The town's mayor sponsored the animal to demonstrate that people know very little about the candidates. He proved his point. The mule won!

Soon we will be voting for the President of our country. The politics here are very complicated, crazy and downright mean. On a serious note though, America is crying out today. "Who can show us any good?" "Who will help us to sleep in peace and to dwell in safety from all our enemies?" And really, there is only One who can -- and unfortunately, His Name does not appear on today's ballot.

God has called all of us who know Him to be watchmen. We must be praying for the USA -- that God would open her eyes to see the truth of His goodness and mercy, and most of all, His salvation. It’s time to pray for our country as we get ready to elect our next president.

Dear Lord, we pray that You will lead and guide us to vote for those that You would have to lead our country and bring us back to You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.