Missions

Matthew 28:18-20 says “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

This scripture is known as the “Great Commission.”  As God’s children, we have a wonderful opportunity to obey that command!

Matthew 24:14 says, “And this gospel of the Kkngdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Do you realize what that involves?  It means that God has chosen to use His people to tell others about Him…that’s missions!  He requires obedience as His people do His work all over the world.  He also depends on His people to pray and give to support missions.  If you are already involved in missions, thank you for your dedication.  If you are not yet involved, I encourage you to find a church or missions group that will help you determine your spiritual gifts from God, develop them, and use your uniqueness to obey Him and help others in His name!

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for choosing us to be Your children!  Give us the desire to tell Your story and to share in Your mission.  May that desire become a fire in us, fed only by Your love! Amen

Fully Rely On God

I had the precious privilege of watching a bird build a nest on my front porch this past spring.  As time went on, the bird laid eggs in the nest.  As the eggs hatched the momma bird worked very hard feeding these baby birds.   

I was really in awe of how many trips the momma bird made back and forth in order to provide for her babies.  (Did you know that a baby bird eats a worm whole?...Just a little something I learned as I watched!)

Watching these birds reminded me of scriptures about birds in the Bible.

Matthew 10:29-31

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  But the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  

Jesus assures His disciples that they can trust God's sovereignty in their lives.  In my research, I learned that sparrows were the cheapest commodity sold in the markets (as food for the poor). Yet as worthless as sparrows were to people, God watched over them. How much more can we be assured that nothing happens to us when God is not looking?  
Ps 121:4  assures us that “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

Matthew 6:26

“Look at the birds in the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not of more value than they?”

Here we are reminded once again that God provides for His children and we are to Fully Rely on God! (Remember those F.R.O.G. bracelets we use to wear?)

Mirror, Mirror - Part 2

I met my husband in June of 2001.  During that summer we had lots of fun playing on the river.  I knew immediately he was my “Mr. Right”.  He proposed 5 months later and we were married 3 months after that!  Dating him for 8 months before marriage, I thought I knew everything about him!  Needless to say, I didn’t.  The more time we spend together, the more I learn exactly what makes my husband tick.

For example…I NEVER use the phrase “you NEED to” instead I say “have you thought about”.  (You NEED to call your mother.  Vs  Have you thought about calling your mother?) “Need” seems like I am giving him a command.  “Have you thought” makes it sound like an idea.  It took a few years of marriage to learn this.

On the other hand…He has learned that when I say “Are you going to wear that?”  It really means you should wear something nicer!  HA!  Glad he figured that out!

Wow!  The more time you spend with someone, the more you learn about them.

It is the same with Christ.  There is no crash course on learning the character of God.  Unless we truly seek Him, striving to learn His every way, spending time with Him, we will have a distorted view of Him.  Only when we know Him can we reflect Him.  And let me promise you that once your relationship with Christ becomes extraordinary, you will never want it to go back to ordinary!  Do yourself a favor and passionately pursue the God who has the power to create the universe by His spoken words.