Does Anyone See Me?

You walk right by me without a word.

Don’t you see me?

My heart is broken. My life in chaos. My husband is having an affair.

Can you see me?    
                
My wife lost her job and we can’t pay the bills. We are afraid we may loose the house and end up on the street.

Can you see me?

I just got out of prison. I have no place to go. The shelters are full. If I go home I will end up in the same life. I want to change.

Can you help me?

I am lonely. Lost. Depressed. I don’t know if I can handle one more crisis in my life. I don't want to live anymore.

Does anyone see me?

I live a life on the street. I get by the best I can. But it’s hard and I want out of this life, but I don’t know how.

Can you help me?

I am tired, weary and frustrated with this life. Is there more to life? Is there really a God?

Could you tell me?

We walk past people everyday who are hurting inside. They are at work, in our schools, in our churches and on the street.

But do we really see them? Do we care about them? Do we love them? Do we see, care and love them enough to do something or is our life just too busy.

Maybe we are afraid. After all it could get messy. It might cost me my time, money, and energy. Is it safe? What if I get taken advantage of? I wonder if these things crossed the mind of Jesus? Somehow I don’t think so. He came for the sick, the lost, the hurting and the invisible.

As His child I am called to help fight for those who can’t fight. I am to love them. Serve them. Preach the Gospel.

I am to show them Jesus. To let them see that Jesus sees them.

Yes, Jesus sees. He sees those who are hurting and lost. He sees those who walk on by. If I am a follower of Jesus then I must choose to see them too, but not just see them, I need to help them when I can.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. James 4:17

Oh Jesus I fail in this area so often. Sometimes I do see but chose to not get involved. Forgive me. I claim busyness or some other excuse, but honestly there are no excuses. Please open my eyes and my heart so that I might see those who need you. Help me to see those who need encouragement, love, help, hope, life! Help me to choose to make a difference in the life of those who are hurting. Take my eyes off me and what I might think is important and help me to set my heart upon total surrender to reaching those who need your touch. Jesus I can be so totally self centered, forgive me. Help me to be others centered. I just want to be your humble servant, to give a hug, a smile, a word or whatever is needed that is in my abilities to give. But I know my flesh and I need You working in and through me. Thank you for your grace in my life. Help me to offer it to others. Amen.

Live AND Preach the Gospel

There is a quote that has often bothered me. It just didn’t quite sit right in my heart. The quote is often attributed to Francis of Assisi and says Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.

Quite honestly it just doesn’t make sense to me.  I mean if my neighbor sees me living my life in service to others and being a good neighbor, loving those I meet, all he will think is that I'm a nice person. He won't come to know the content of the gospel by watching me live my life. Shouldn’t  I also speak the gospel so that he will know?

So, I sat down today to do some research on the quote. I wanted to know the context of the quote. Maybe the context had been distorted over the years. Interestingly enough what I found was that Francis of Assisi never said it. Read more here.

Mark Galli of Christianity Today say’s this about the quote, “First, no biography written within the first 200 years of his death contains the saying. It's not likely that a pithy quote like this would have been missed by his earliest disciples. Second, in his day, Francis was known as much for his preaching as for his lifestyle.”¹

I love what Jeremy Carr writes about the quote on his blog One Thing, “ While it commends us to live out the Gospel through our life, it falls short of what it means to preach the Gospel and it actually makes no sense at all. I recently heard D. A. Carson comment that it would be like telling a news reporter to "Give the news and if necessary use words." After all Gospel means good news. News is something you tell people.”

Some might say who cares who said it, after all it’s still a good statement. Maybe,  but I wouldn’t want someone to say I said something when I didn’t, or take something I said and misquote it. Would you?  I imagine not. So it is import to understand that Francis of Assisi did not say this.

Now to the point of whether it’s a good quote. I really struggle with that in light of what scripture says. God’s word is very clear that we are to live out the gospel and we are to preach the gospel.

We live the gospel when we love one another. What if the body of Christ so loved one another that they actually did 1 Thess 5:11-13 and encouraged, built up, showed appreciation, encouraged the fainthearted, help the weak, was patient, and sought what was good for one another. Wouldn’t that speak volumes to the world if they saw the church living out the gospel in such a way? So yes,  we absolutely must live out the gospel before the world.

We are also told to preach the gospel. Jesus tells the disciple to “go preach the gospel.” (Mark 16:15) and Paul says “for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” (1 Cor 9:16) In fact was I searched scripture (but did not do an in-depth study) it seems that the New Testament writers often preached the gospel to those outside of the body. They did not leave it up to the idea that “if I just live right before them they will know I am a believer”. No they PREACHED Jesus! (2 Cor 10:16; Rom 15:20; Mark 15:15)

A quick look at 1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” John is telling us that if we speak love only with words and no actions it is not love. When taking the gospel to a dark world we need to both live and preach the gospel. It’s not one or the other. We are called to live and love as Jesus did. He IS our example.

My dear beloved, Jesus both lived and spoke the gospel. His life both showed and spoke the love of the Father. We should go and do likewise.

¹ http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/mayweb-only/120-42.0.html

Living as Light

“for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord ; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” Eph 5:8-9

Do you live in such a way that exposes the darkness around you? Does the life you live expose sin?  Are your thoughts and actions too often that of the dark?

I love to make lists. It makes life easier to handle. It helps me see clearer. It’s no different in the word of God. I like to list things, not in a dogmatic, legalistic way, but in a way that helps me consider how I am living. It helps me see those area’s I need to work on. It helps me to understand.

Ephesians Chapter 5:1-21 is one of those passages I like to look at to see how I am doing in my spiritual walk. This passage helps me to discern the differences of one who lives in the Light compared to the one who lives in darkness.

A person who lives in the Light of Jesus Christ will be imitators of God. They will walk in love.  Their actions will show goodness, righteousness and truth. They will want to know what pleases the Lord. They will expose the darkness by the life they live.

A person of Light will be wise. They will make the most of there time. They will understand  the Lord’s will. They will not be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit. Their heart will be filled with hymns, songs and singing for the Lord. They will always give thanks to God for all things.

Children of the Light (those who are follower’s of Christ) will not walk in darkness. They will not do the things those in the darkness do. Those in darkness are immoral, impure, and greedy. Their speech is filthy and they tell dirty jokes. Their words are empty and filled with lies. They are unwise and disobedient.

Those living in darkness will face the wrath of God. Those living in the Light will be a fragrant aroma just as Christ was to the Father when He gave Himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice.

Light and darkness. Black and white. There is no gray in the above. We are told to walk as children of the Light. We are not to even speak of those things of the darkness.

We want there to be gray in the above but there isn’t, although there is grace…

God’s grace living through us as Children of the Light.

In my own heart there are too many times I see darkness. I forget that I have The Light of Christ in me which overpowers all the dark. This day I pray that my Lord will help me walk in the Light. A Light that others see and in which darkness must flee.

What is Love Anyway?

I’ve been thinking about love lately.  Wondering if I really love those around me. Do I tell them? Do I show it?

Today love means so many different things. It’s thrown around so casually. If you believed the words you would think everyone loves everyone. Yet our actions so something so different.

Have we lost the true meaning of love? Have I lost the meaning of what it truly means to love? To love my brother’s and sister’s in Christ? To love my enemies?

They (whoever they are) say that love is an action. It’s a verb. We show love by how we treat one another. Really? Is that true? Id love is shown by action then lately I haven’t felt very loved. And quite honestly as I search my own heart I am not so sure I show love the way I should.

If I go to the Word and am reminded of what love is to look like. I must search my heart. My attitude. Is this the way I treat my brothers and sisters in the Lord? All of them? Even the ones who I might not agree with? Even the ones who have hurt me?

As I read the below list I quickly realize just how impossible it is. I can not love like this. At least on my own. It is only through Christ that I am able.

My love would be is selfish apart from His love in me. My love is often not only selfish but can be needy and demanding.

So with a grieved heart I read through this list and realize, again, my love is not what it should be. When I read what God says about love I realize it has NOTHING to do with me.

His kind of love is all about others. Giving them honor. Willing to serve, not be served. Love is about dying to my wants, needs and expectations.

Oh Jesus help me to die to self. To my expectations, my selfish desires. Help me to die to ME!

Our Father wants us to be devoted to one another.
We are to honor others above ourselves.
We are to live in harmony with all regardless of their social status.
We should stop passing judgment on one another.
We are to bring praise to God by accepting one another.
We should be united in mind and though.
We should be willing to serve one another.
We need to be humble, gentle, and patient with one another.
Be kind, compassionate and forgiving toward our brothers and sisters.
We should have a willingness to submit.
We should be willing to teach and admonish one another.
Encourage one another and lift up those in your church family.
Love one another, deeply from the heart.
Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as family, be compassionate and humble.
Offer hospitality to one another without complaining.
Love one another....
Love one another....

(Rom 12:10,12:16,14:13; 1Co 1:10; Ga 5:13; Eph 4:2,4:32,5:21; Col 3:13,16; 1Th 5:11; Heb 10:25; 1Pe 1:22,3:8,4:9; 1Jo 3:11,4:12; 2Jo 1:5)

No More CHRISTmas

Each year I find my heart grows sadder during the Christmas season as I watch more and more of Christ being taken out of the celebrations.

Sadly I witness the true meaning of Christmas being buried and forgotten beneath holiday decorations, presents, Santa, elves, and anything else that man can think of in order to gain a profit and our enemy use to distract from the birth of our Lord.

This year, more than any other, I keep asking myself “where is Jesus?” Drive down the road and you see very few nativity scenes. Home after home there are many Santa’s and such. But where is Jesus?

I wonder if we are headed to a time, in the not so distance future, when people will actually forget it’s the birthday of the Christ. Already towns are being told to remove nativity scenes and Christmas crosses. It’s hard to find any retail store that will say Merry Christmas. Children can’t sing Christmas songs about Christ in school. It seems with each generation the babe that came to save us is pushed further away.

It’s true, none of this is completely surprising to me, as the enemy has done a good job of deceiving those who don’t believe in Christ anyway. But what does surprise me, what saddens my heart, is that even those who believe in Christ have either put Him in the background of their celebrations or practically removed Him from the holiday.

Christmas has become a celebration of Rudolph the Red nose Reindeer, and Dasher, and Dancer, Frosty the snowman and an elf you can adopt who will then report back to Santa if boys and girls are good or not. Apart from having nothing to do with Jesus are we saying it’s good parenting to teach our children that bribery is okay? Do we really want our children thinking the reason for good behavior is to get presents? What does this have to do with Christ and the need of a savior?

God doesn’t need elves, He sees everything. He knows that there is not one that is good, we have all sinned. Therefore we are in need of Jesus, not Santa.

Please understand there is nothing wrong with sharing the real story of St Nicholas who was a good saint, but why would Christians allow this man to become the center of the holiday? Why would believers in Christ buy into all the commercialism of the holiday and those things that draw us away from Christ? It’s not Nickmas, Elfmas,  or Santamas,  it is CHRISTmas right?

So if it’s still called Christmas, and it’s a celebration of Jesus coming to earth as a baby then why not make it about Jesus? Why not center our celebrations on the birth of One who would save us from our sins?

Just one last thought. If Christians do not celebrate the birth of Christ differently than the world how will we be a LIGHT? No wonder the world is walking away from the the true meaning and allowing Christ to be removed, why wouldn’t they if Christians are also forgetting the Babe who came to earth.

I am still processing…wondering…praying and asking. I just can’t seem to break the feeling that we are losing Christ in Christmas.

It’s Not Just About Me

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:3-11

It’s almost impossible to read this passage and ask myself "Do I love others MORE than myself?" "Do I look out the the interest of others or just my own interests?"

These are not easy questions. They are questions that cause us to look deep into the heart of our pride. And before you start thinking you don’t have a problem with pride may I remind you that even if a person has a "poor self image" she usually thinks about herself more than others.

If someone does not like themselves they still make sure they are fed, clothed and comfortable, right? If they are sick, they take care of themselves. If they are going through a tough time they call a friend for support and prayer. None of these are wrong, in fact they are things that are good to do for ourselves. But when self is all we think about then it has the risk of becoming pride.

Then I wondered..

What if I was going through a tough time and so was my friend? What if I called her to help me only to find she needed help? Would self be willing to die? Could I die to my needs in order to help her. Would I demand for my needs to come first? Am I willing to die to self and to my struggles so that I can help my friend?

What if she's not a friend? What if God sends someone into my life to help during a time that I am feeling rather helpless? Could I put my own needs aside to give to her? Could you? Would you?

But then, I kept thinking, "Christ emptied Himself." "He humbled Himself." If Jesus, being God, could do these things then doesn't He expect me also to empty myself and humbly serve others? And if His Spirit lives in me should I not submit and be obedient to the Spirit and allow Him to live and work through me? And should not the obedience to serve other be done regardless of what I am currently walking through.

Oh Jesus, I pray that you would show me how to be emptied of all of me and filled with your Spirit. Help me to die to self daily and lift others higher than myself. Jesus I so want to be like you, to serve you. In order to do that I know that I must humble myself before you and be willing to serve those you want me to serve. Help me to not get caught up in busyness and worldliness that keeps me from serving. Help me to remember that while on earth You came to serve and save the lost. Help me do the same with the same attitude.

Am I Alone in my Thinking?

 

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

For months, well maybe more like years,  I have noticed a change in my thinking. In the most recent months it’s just become a stronger way thinking. I believe it’s a good, but it’s definitely a hard change.

It’s a hard change because there are those who do not understand. It’s hard because I often find it difficult to live out in the day to day. And I don’t always know exactly how this new way of seeing this life is to be lived out practically.

I suppose some would say it’s living with an eternal perceptive. If that is true then why aren’t more true believers living with the same perceptive?

I find myself asking A LOT of questions of myself. Questions like, “what eternal value does this have?” “In light of my eternity with Jesus does this really matter?”  This in both questions meaning whatever I am dealing with at the moment. For example; In light of eternity with Jesus does it really matter if I have a new car, 50 pairs of shoes, expensive jewelry, a big house, the latest new gadget (and so on)?

Seriously. Does it matter? God has called His children for a purpose and that is to glorify Him and be a witness to His glory.

Our life is short. We only have so much time here on earth to fulfill God’s purpose then our life quickly blows away…

I am to follow after Jesus. While on earth Jesus did not chase after any version of “The American Dream” or any form of wealth and riches. (Please let me be clear here, I do not think I need to sale all I have and live on the street. But I do wonder if I am to live with far less material things than I do.)

I mean really, if I wasn’t so concerned about my own “comfort” and keeping up with what the world says I NEED wouldn’t I have more to give to the poor? Wouldn’t I have more resources to help out those who are orphaned or widowed? Couldn’t I then be free to help out my neighbor?

Imagine a world filled with Christ followers who only lived off what was absolutely necessary? What kind of example would we be to those around us who do not know Christ?

Some days I wonder if anyone else thinks like I do? I would love to know!

 

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 1 John 3:17

Do You Throw Stones or Love?

A mother has two daughters. She loves them both. One of the daughters has come “out”, she has chosen the way of a lesbian lifestyle. The other daughter is living with a man to whom she is not married. The mother, a believer, has rejected the one. The lesbian.

This mother’s rejection of one sin and acceptance of the other’s sinful choices breaks my heart. Both daughters have chosen sin. Both need the saving power of Jesus Christ.

God says that ALL have sinned and ALL sin separate us from Him. (1 John 1:10; John 3:23)

While I know that there is some debate in some circles, including some “Christian” circles about what is sin and what is not, I believe firmly that God’s word is clear on the subject of the homosexual lifestyle. (Lev 18:22, 20:13; Rom 1:27, 1 Cor 6:9; 1 Tim 1:10) In saying that, God’s word is also very clear about the sin of fornication (to have sex with someone to whom one is not married). (ICor 6:9; Rom 13:13; Heb 13:4)

According to God, both lifestyles are sin. Both hold the same eternal consequences of eternal separation from God. God sent His son Jesus to die for the sins of both of these daughters. His heart mourns over both of these precious creations of His.

What this mother and let’s face it, many in the church of Christ have forgotten is that God loves them both. When we were not beloved, He called us Beloved. (Rom 9:25; Rom 5:8) John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”

God loves sinners. He hates sin. I think we often forget that. We forget that the heart of God desires that all His creation would come to understand that ALL have been born into sin. We were born into the slavery of sin and are condemned to death. We forget why God sent His son Jesus. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. (John 3:16)

I can’t help but wonder if this mother, if the church, if I would love both the homosexual and the fornicator (well really all sinners)  as God does would we have a greater opportunity to lead them to a saving knowledge of Jesus After all it is what God has called us to do. To love our neighbor as ourselves. (Luke 6:27-35 John 13:34; Rom 12:9 Rom 13:9-10).

1 Cor 13:1 reminds us that if we do not love all that we do is meaningless.

I guess what my heart is saying, FEELING, at this moment is we are called to love, not hate others. I have no right or authority to “stone” anyone for their sins. Our actions towards other’s should SHOUT the love of God not hate. We need to pray that God would help us LOVE the sinner and HATE the sin in the right way. In a way that brings glory and honor to His name. In a way that helps other see the Love of Jesus and causes them to want to know Him.

Do you love others as Christ does? He did not throw stones at the adulteress, He loved her. (John 8:1-11)

What about you? Do you throw stones by the way you treat sinners? Are your words, actions and thoughts toward the homosexual community like throwing stones? Do you judge this sin differently than others?

I pray for this mother, that she would be able to embrace both her daughters our of her love for Christ. Not in acceptance of either daughters sin but simply to love them with the love of Christ.

Instead of throwing stones at the sinners who are commenting sins we don’t like why not throw them some love? The love of Jesus.

Keys of the Kingdom

John 20:23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

 

Join others at

Encouraging Words Wednesday

There’s No Easy Button

I had a recent conversation with my brother where he shared with me that when I became a Christian I made it look so easy to live the Christian life. He knew I wasn’t perfect. I still sinned, still made wrong choices but I never walked away completely.

To him I made the Christian walk appear easy. I think often, as believers, we all tend to make it appear easy. But the Christian walk is far from being easy.

My mind has been reflecting on what my brother said to me. What I have seen is not so pretty. Far too often in the past I believed I needed to act a certain way, according to certain rules and laws. So I modified my behavior.

I behaved as a Christian. Of course this didn’t work so well most of the time. In my own strength good behavior can only last for so long.

You see I wanted to believe that there was an easy button to the Christian life.  I looked around at the lives of others they too seemed to make it look easy. I thought I could just clean up my act, do the right things, say the right things and I was “in”.

But it’s far from easy. To truly have a changed life, a life lived for Christ, there is the matter of dying. We don’t like to think about it, but the Christian life is about dying to my desires and following the desires of Christ.

I am not to seek my glory, but to seek His glory. I can no longer live as I please but must live as my Father in heaven pleases.

It wasn’t until about 10 years after “accepting Christ” that I truly realized that it’s not about my outward behavior. The Christian life is about a changed heart, a new heart.

From that moment on I have been on a journey of dying to self. I wish it was a once and done thing, but it’s not. Everyday I wake up I must remind myself that while I am “a freed people I am NOT free.” I am not free to live as I please.

Jesus DID free me from the bondage of sin.

I am free from the power of death.

BUT…

I have been called into obedience to the will of my Father.

I have been called to die. Daily.

I will be refined as with fire.

I will suffer hardships of all kinds.

I am to surrender my will for that of the FATHER.

I am still learning. Learning how to live the life my Father has called me to live. I am trying to learn how to live without it “looking” like it’s easy.

I don’t have it all together. I have not “arrived”. Some days it’s so hard my flesh wants to give up. To give in to my own selfish desires. But I am reminded that I am no longer who I was, my Father in Heaven is creating in me something new.

So daily I choose to listen to His voice and be obedient to His calling. It’s not easy…but it is a daily choice.

Stay or Move? I Haven’t Got a Clue

My heart is burdened. It is broken. Some days I could just sit and cry. It’s not about me. It’s what I see. God is awakening my heart to see things I have never seen before. To notice those I’ve not noticed before and to love them.

I wish I could describe the ache in my heart. I wish I could share just how much my heart longs to go sit among the homeless, the broken, the prostitute, the modern day slaves of this earth and just love them.

I want them to know they are loved. I want to hold their hand and let them know someone cares. Oh how I desire to share my Jesus with them.

But I am afraid…

I am not afraid of what you might think. I do not fear for my safety, for I know that if God has called me He will protect me.

I do not fear their possible rejection of my love for them, my compassion for them, for I know that I too once rejected love that was shown me.

No, my fear is deeper and maybe a bit more complicated than that. It’s a fear of rejection of my brother’s and sister’s in Christ. A fear they won’t understand or even try to stop me, convince me I am not called. Or maybe…they won’t think I can…

Oh yes! How I understand the lies of the enemy… but I have made mistakes before. I have taken the wrong road, so this time I must be certain.

I must know it’s God calling…

As I was reflecting on this place I am in I heard the below song. While the song is more about someone losing their way and trying to find their way back home to God I still think it fits. My faith is not gone and I have not lost my way. At least where my relationship with God in concerned.

I do feel as if I have lost sight of the purposes that God has for my life.

I am at a place where I fear to step out and move in the direction that God is breaking my heart. Am I where He wants me? Do I stay..do I move?

The chorus so adequately shares the prayer of my heart.

“Give me a revelation
Show me what to do
'Cause I've been trying to find my way
I haven't got a clue
Tell me should I stay here
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I've got nothing without you
I've got nothing without you”

The Least of These

For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.'

"Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?'

And the King will tell them, 'I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

"Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his demons!  For I was hungry, and you didn't feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn't give me anything to drink. I was a stranger, and you didn't invite me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me no clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn't visit me.'

"Then they will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?'

And he will answer, 'I assure you, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'

Matt 24:35-45

Click Word filled Wednesday for more of God’s Word shared in pictures.

I Have Not Forgotten You

For most of my life I have struggled with times of great sadness. If I allow myself that sadness can lead to discouragement or even depression. In high school I was often referred to the character Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh. It did describe me well.

Well Monday was one of those days. It was what my husband sometimes refers to as an Eeyore day. Oh I spoke truth to myself, tried reminding myself of all the blessings in my life, I prayed and tried to focus on who I am in Christ. But the circumstances of my life at that moment seemed very overwhelming. So overwhelming I wanted to quit doing what I was doing - the task just seemed too big. I felt alone, isolated and found myself wondering if I really heard God right. Was I doing what He wanted?

I went to bed that night praying that the morning would be brighter - that my attitude would be aligned to that of Christ. The morning brought a very familiar cloud over my soul. A sadness of the soul I could not shake. Was it spiritual? Was this an attack of the enemy to get me to quit?

I prayed. All the way to work I cried out to God.

I know I have many things going against me physically at the moment that could cause this feeling of a cloud hanging over me, but I was also very aware it could be warfare!

I entered the office and there greeting me were flowers. At first I didn't think too much of it. I thought "how sweet!". They were beautiful. They were PINK and white. There were daisies! All my favorites!
Then I noticed a card. It read -

"To Sharon. With Love God" I sat down and wept. They were for ME! They were from GOD! The thought kept going through my mind -
Sharon, I have not forgotten you!
I don't know who was obedient to God and brought those flowers, but what I do know is my God has not forgotten me in this place.

He sees me and understands. He meets me where I am at. God spoke to me through their obedience. For that I am grateful! God could have just had someone bring flowers, but they were PINK and there were daises!! He wanted me to know - really know that He had not forgotten me and that He was with me.


I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." Gen 28:15,16

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Duet 31:8

Called to be a witness

When I was about 15 we got word that my grandfather was dying. My mother thought it important for us to see him while in the hospital before he died, so we traveled from VA to IN to visit him. I am so thankful that she did that, to see him and hear his last words to me have been a memory I have not forgotten. What he said isn't really important to anyone but me, but they are words that I have always remembered and cherished.

I shared that because I think many of us have similar experiences with loved ones last words. So I wondered...what about Jesus's last words. What were they? How have they effected my life? Have they effected my life? Do I remember and cherish them?

So what were His last words on earth? I'd like to share from several perspectives...

In Acts 1:8 we find"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

And in Luke 24:46-48 He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day,and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem."You are witnesses of these things."And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

John 15:26,27 "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Matt 28:19-20 And Jesus came up 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 the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always , even to the end of the age.

As I read these verses I am challenged by several things.

1)His words are to ME and all His followers, then and now.
2)He has not asked me to do that which He has not given me the power to do. We have the power of His Spirit in us. We have a Helper and are not on our own. Again, this is not something we must do in our own power.
3)I am to testify about JESUS
4)I am to be a witness to Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

Now that I've been challenged what do I do? I am a woman who tends to spend a lot of time with those in Jerusalem, because I spend a lot of time as a Women's Ministry Leader with those in the church. Although I would never assume that everyone in church has a personal relationship with Christ. And I'm not saying those in church ministry don't have an important job to encourage, and train up those within their sphere of ministry. But we are also called to go beyond Jerusalem. For me I believe God may be calling me to give time to those in prison. There are so many women who are lost and with out hope in our county prison. I can offer them hope in Christ-why wouldn't I? Because I'm scared, but God is working on my fear and I do believe He asking me to go. I continue to pray it through.

Judea and Samria will be different for everyone. Some will be called to go to Africa, China or the utter most parts of the earth. Some will be called to stay and be witnesses to their neighbors, co-workers, those in their cities etc... The important thing to remember is that we are CALLED to be witnesses. We are CALLED to proclaim HIS name! All His disciples are called to be witnesses, to proclaim His name and to share the gospel.

Today our pastor shared something that really stuck with me. While John Livingstone was a missionary it was said about him "Had I spent more time with him I might have BELIEVED, and he didn't even say a word." What did that mean? John Livingstone was a witness through his life, by the way he lived. He wasn't shouting in the street, he was just living his life so that others might see Jesus through him.

That spoke volumes to me. How do others see me? What kind of witness am I for the gospels sake. I never want to do anything that might dishonor His name or hinder another from knowing Christ. I want to live a life so that my Father's image might be seen through me. I want to be a witness for Him.

I then must constantly ask myself "how is my witness?" Am I a witness to my Judea and Samaria? I need to remember I have the power (all the power) of the SPIRIT living in me. There is no reason to fear, God is with me.

What about you?