March 2018 – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for March 31, 2018 – What now?

Isaiah 25:8
The Lord All-Powerful
will destroy the power of death
and wipe away all tears.
No longer will his people
be insulted everywhere.
The Lord has spoken!

This is the “what now?” day of Holy Week. If you’ve ever lost a loved one, you probably know what I mean. In the first 24 hours or so, you come to terms with the fact that the person you love is gone. You are left to wonder, “What now?” You ask, “Where do we go from here? What do we do next? How do we go on? What on earth do we DO?”

For me, the answer is usually to “get busy”. It’s not hard, with arrangements to make, people to greet, and business affairs to handle. When my cousin called last summer shortly before midnight to tell me that his brother was gone, I got up and folded laundry that was in the clothes dryer. I know it sounds ridiculous, but at that moment, I just had to DO SOMETHING!

I realize that not everyone is like this. Some people retreat and do nothing. I honestly believe that God wants us to get busy…but maybe not in the way I have described. Yes, we know that Jesus didn’t stay in the tomb…that tomorrow we will celebrate the fact that He rose after three days and lives in our hearts today and forever. But this is not the case with our mortal loved ones. We know that they are not returning to this earth…and this knowledge hurts – deeply, profoundly, and always.

God understands our grief and sadness…our heartache and emptiness. And He is telling us to “fill it”. When Jesus came back to the disciples after He rose from the grave, He told them to go and share the Good News with others. He said to tell everyone about Him…to heal the sick and feed the needy in His name. The disciples and followers of Christ were naturally grieved and heartbroken – twice…once by His death, and then again when Jesus told them that He was leaving for Heaven.

But Jesus gave them assignments…and those are our assignments, as well. Will “busyness” alleviate our grief and heal our broken hearts? Not completely. Serving God is not meant to be a substitute for loving someone dearly and feeling their absence. But it does give us purpose. And in serving God, we say, “Jesus matters! What He did for each of us has great significance, and we should want to honor Him by serving others as He did. We should want to share His message with the world and glorify His sacrifice on the cross for our sins.”

So…what now? Where are you today? Are you stuck somewhere in the grief and angst of whatever is happening around you? Are you wondering where to go next or trying to figure out what lies ahead? Or have you jumped in with both feet and gotten busy serving Jesus…wherever and however He leads you? This can be a day of confusion – or one of great purpose. Which one will you choose?

Daily Devotional for March 30, 2018 – What’s go good about “Good” Friday?

Mark 15:25-39
They nailed him up at nine o’clock in the morning. The charge against him—THE KING OF THE JEWS—was printed on a poster. Along with him, they crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”

The high priests, along with the religion scholars, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—but he can’t save himself! Messiah, is he? King of Israel? Then let him climb down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then!” Even the men crucified alongside him joined in the mockery.

At noon the sky became extremely dark. The darkness lasted three hours. At three o’clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Some of the bystanders who heard him said, “Listen, he’s calling for Elijah.” Someone ran off, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath. At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle. When the Roman captain standing guard in front of him saw that he had quit breathing, he said, “This has to be the Son of God!”

At first glance, there is absolutely nothing good about “Good” Friday. The only One who could have changed what happened that day…didn’t. And aren’t we glad?! I’ll be honest…it’s a mixed bag for me. Maybe it’s because I have seen others die. I’ve been with them when they drew their last breath…when “life” literally left their bodies. I’ve felt the mix of relief that their suffering was over – and the knowledge that Eternal Life could begin. I’ve experienced the anguish of knowing that this was “it”…that they were gone from this earth forever, and we would somehow have to carry on without them.

So when I think of Jesus…brutalized, mutilated, hanging there above his mother and others who loved him so dearly, and giving His last breath, I have that same sense of anguish. I feel relieved that His suffering came to an end. But I feel empty, heartbroken, and a little overwhelmed that He is no longer on this earth…and I have to figure out how to carry on without Him.

Here’s where the “good” comes into Good Friday. We often question why a loved one is taken from us. We do not understand their death, and we deeply grieve their absence – sometimes for the rest of our lives. But we know why Jesus did this. It was all for us. Had Jesus stepped away from the cross, I don’t want to think about where you and I would be. We certainly would have no hope of Heaven – no promise of Eternal Life in His presence. We would likely be scrambling every minute to figure out how to get out of a scrape – or to atone for our latest sin(s).

But Jesus stayed on the cross – for us. And His death was not the end. Jesus did not leave us. His Holy Spirit continues to dwell within our hearts. He is walking right beside us each and every minute of the day and night. I honestly do not know if the spirits of our departed loved ones linger with us. It’s a comforting thought…but I just cannot be positive this is the case. But I know for certain that Jesus is with us…that He never leaves our side…that He is preparing a mansion in Heaven for you and me and all who believe in Him. And I know that none of this would have been possible without the cross – and “Good” Friday.

So today is indeed Good Friday. It is a great day to stop and humbly reflect on what Jesus did for each of us…and to thank Him for this incomparable, incredible gift. We know what is coming. We know that death could not conquer Jesus…that He rose from the grave and lives today. We know that the darkness of this day will be broken by the light of Easter Sunday. I don’t know about you, but I can more than live with that.

Daily Devotional for March 29, 2018 – In need of a good foot washing…

John 13:1-9
Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?”

Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.”

Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!”

Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.”

“Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!”

We recently learned that our Associate Pastor, Jonathan, will be leaving our church in July to become senior pastor at a church in northwest Arkansas. Tonight, the staff at our church will wash the feet of attendees at a Maundy Thursday service. Jonathan wrote on Facebook that this will be one of the bittersweet “last moments” for him in our church. He added that, by comparison, he couldn’t even begin to comprehend the “last moments” for Jesus on what we now observe as “Holy Week”.

When we frame Jesus’ last acts on earth before the crucifixion in terms of them being his “last days”, they seem to take on a more profound significance. Imagine knowing that you only had days left to live. What would you do? How would you spend your time? Do you think you would call your closest friends and family members together and “wash their feet” or offer some other gesture of love and service? If you told these people that “I only have a few days left to live,” don’t you think that they would busy themselves trying to reach out to you instead?

And yet, Jesus explained to Peter that, “Unless I do this for you, it will be impossible for you to come with me.” These words held a deeper meaning beyond foot washing. Surely, the disciples must have wanted Jesus to put a stop to what was about to happen – and we all know that Jesus was more than able to do this. But Jesus knew that He had to lay down His life for ours. He knew that He had to model complete surrender to the will of God, so that we would have His perfect example to follow in our own missions and ministries.

So now it is our turn. Like Peter, we should be crying out to Jesus to not only “wash our feet”…but to wash us clean from head to toe! We should be humbly asking on a daily basis…”Where will You send me? What do You wish to accomplish through me today? Who needs their feet washed in Your name?”

There may be days when God calls you to do things that are daunting and difficult. He may ask you to demonstrate incredible faith and courage in the face of great heartache or struggle. There may be days when He wants you to spend some time in prayer and meditation. There may be days when He sends you to physically assist someone in need…to literally serve with your hands and feet. Whatever, wherever, and however God calls on us to serve…we must be willing to follow the model of Jesus and “wash feet”.

Today is the perfect time to recommit ourselves to this level of discipleship. Are you ready to do this with me?

Daily Devotional for March 28, 2018 – Are you able to handle “the cup and the baptism”?

Mark 10:35-40
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, will you do us a favor?”

Jesus asked them what they wanted, and they answered, “When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left.”

Jesus told them, “You don’t really know what you’re asking! Are you able to drink from the cup that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?”

“Yes, we are!” James and John answered.

Then Jesus replied, “You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! But it isn’t for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for God to decide.”

Greg and I bought ukuleles for all three children. They love them and so want to play them perfectly. But you don’t just pick up an instrument and instantly begin to play melodious tunes. I’ve shown the children how to strum a few chords. But clearly, they are going to need lessons and lots of practice in order to play well and fully enjoy this experience.

As we think about Jesus’ sacrifices on behalf of us…His ridicule and abuse at the hands of those who didn’t like His message…we must consider that the crucifixion and the resurrection were not the end…they were really just the beginning. You and I have work to do as redeemed believers in Jesus Christ!

We may never be confronted with suffering and sacrifice of the same magnitude as Jesus (though some Christians HAVE been abused and even killed for their faith). But we will face challenges. We may experience heartaches and suffering that will test our faith, obedience, and devotion to our Master. There may be unbelievers who try to “take us down” in a myriad of ways…those who actually become angry – and even violent – because of our stance on certain tenets…and many who will distance themselves from us because of our loyalty to Jesus. Are we up to the challenge?

Here’s what I believe we need to ponder this day of Holy Week. We have been given the most incredible gift ever…and it’s a “two-parter”! Salvation by the blood of Jesus Christ frees us from our sins and provides us with the forever companionship of the Holy Spirit in this lifetime. And then, we are promised a mansion in Heaven for all of Eternity…a seat at the Father’s table…paradise in the presence of God Almighty!

But we have work to do. Just as one must practice in order to play an instrument well, we must “practice” our faith. I can tell you from personal experience that there have been times when I was ready to smash my guitar in frustration…days when the strings cut into my fingers and made them raw and sore. There have been times when I thought I’d rather be anywhere than sitting on a piano bench playing the same passage over and over to get it just right. And there will be days when our discipleship is difficult, painful, challenging…or even boring or frustrating! But it’s not about us…or what makes us “feel good”. And it’s also not about our “position” in God’s Kingdom.

We may be called to be a “solo performer” for God…or simply a “member of the choir”. But it shouldn’t matter. We should be so grateful to be part of the body of believers that we are ready, willing, and able to do whatever God calls us to do…to serve Jesus always – in all ways. We should be willing to “take the cup” and be “baptized” in trials and tribulations. Because we know how this ends. We know what lies ahead for as redeemed sons and daughters of the King of Kings – and it is glorious!

Just as we would like to be able to pick up an instrument and play anything and everything perfectly, many of us would love to just “skip to the end” and bask in the blessings and glory of Heaven – both in this lifetime and for all Eternity. But that’s just not how this goes. We have to do the work…GOD’s work. We must serve Jesus by serving others – and honor Him with every breath, until He calls us Home.

This is the perfect day to recommit ourselves to “the cup and the baptism” as Christ’s disciples. Are you ready to go “all in” for Jesus? Is this the day you’ll get started?

Daily Devotional for March 27, 2018 – Pondering the cost…and accepting the sacrifice

Mark 10:32-34
Now they were on the way to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking along ahead; and as the disciples were following they were filled with terror and dread.Taking them aside, Jesus once more began describing all that was going to happen to him when they arrived at Jerusalem.

“When we get there,” he told them, “I, the Messiah, will be arrested and taken before the chief priests and the Jewish leaders, who will sentence me to die and hand me over to the Romans to be killed. They will mock me and spit on me and flog me with their whips and kill me; but after three days I will come back to life again.”

Sometimes we simply refuse to believe what we are told…even when we know in our hearts that it’s the truth. As I reflect on events of the fall of 2015, I see that my mother subtly tried to tell me that her cancer was far more advanced than we wanted to believe. When the doctors told us in early January that she only had days left on this earth, some continued to believe that Mother would gain strength and be well again. But my mother knew what she was up against…and in the end, we had to accept this news, as well.

As we focus on Holy Week and the events between Palm Sunday and Easter, we all know how this goes. We know that everything Jesus told the disciples would happen in the coming days was completely accurate. And I have to tell you, even today when I read these words in scripture, I don’t want to accept them.

I don’t want to think about someone mistreating Jesus. I do not want to imagine his suffering and indignity…the horrific words that were hurled at him…the torn flesh and the anguish of the metal spikes being hammered into His hands and feet. I don’t want to think about how Jesus was spit upon…how He hung from that wooden cross as the blood flowed from His body and He grew dehydrated and unbelievably thirsty and exhausted.

I don’t want to picture Mary, Jesus’ brothers and the disciples standing at His feet and watching Him die. And I especially don’t want to admit that He did this all for me…and for you. I do not want to imagine that anyone would ever treat my Jesus like this…and yet, I have to accept that this was the case. Yes, everything happened as it had to in order for you and me to be absolved of our sins and given the promise of Eternity in Heaven. But still, it grieves me to think of it…and it should!

This week, many of us are preparing for Easter Sunday. We are looking ahead to egg hunts, new spring frocks, and delicious Sunday dinners. But I am also thinking about Jesus and what this week held for Him…and I am humbled – and incredibly grateful. This is not what I want to hear – or comprehend. But I must if I want to understand how much Jesus loves me and the lengths to which He was willing to go to claim me for His own forever and ever. What about you? Will you think about Jesus this week and the incredible sacrifice He made for your salvation – and your Eternal Life?

Will you allow yourself to be at least a little bit uncomfortable in the next few days as we ponder what it cost for Jesus to redeem us? Remember…Easter isn’t about the bunny…it’s about the Lamb. Won’t you take some time to think about Him this week?

Daily Devotional for March 26, 2018 – Finding your “Spiritual purpose” – and living it!

John 13:12-17
Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

Over the past 40 days, I have once again studied Pastor Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life*. I have been reminded that God created each of us with a specific purpose in mind. He designed us to study the teachings of Jesus – and learn from them. He planned for us to grow in our wisdom and faith…to develop a Spiritual “shape” that would equip us to share the Gospel with others…and to figure out who we are as disciples – and to fulfill that aim in our daily words and actions.

On the 40th day of study, we are encouraged to write a statement of purpose…to physically put pen to paper and try to declare why on earth we are here. What did God have in mind? What did He plan for you – and me? How did God intend for us to contribute to His Kingdom and serve Him by serving others? What is our mission – and our ministry?

These are all important questions to ask – and answer. They help us understand where we fit in the body of Christ. They also help us to understand that Jesus is not only our LORD and leader…He is our companion, our friend, and One who also served according to God’s purpose for His life. In Jesus, we find the perfect example for living out God’s purpose. We discover every reason to do this in our own lives.

As you think about God’s purpose for your life, consider the incomparable sacrifices of Jesus on behalf of each of us. Doesn’t it seem rather incomprehensible to consider offering anything less than our very best in return? As we celebrate Holy Week, I am always incredibly humbled – almost overwhelmed – to think of Jesus’ love for me…and the lengths to which He was willing to go to claim me as His for all Eternity. My quest to determine – and fulfill – my purpose is partly motivated by my astonishment that God finds me so precious and important…and also by the appreciation for His incredible dichotomy of strength and power – and grace and mercy.

God loves us more than we can ever begin to fathom. Everything about Jesus is proof of this…from His immaculate conception to His teachings and healings to His suffering, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to Heaven. Someday, I will meet Jesus face-to-face. I will be able to get a physical hug from Him anytime I want. I will be able to rest at His feet and hear His voice in person. I want to hear Him say…”You did it! You found the mission and ministry that our Father created for you…and you did all you could to see it through!”

I know that I will miss the mark quite often. But for every time I get it wrong, I am confident that God will help me get it right – if only I will pay attention and stay close to Him. My prayer this week is that we would each spend some time talking to God, studying His word, fellowshipping with other believers, and reflecting on Jesus. In doing so, our aim should be to better determine our Spiritual purpose. We should seek God’s guidance as we implement His will, and tell everyone we know that Jesus is LORD! He lives in and through us…and He wants us to show this to others so that they can find Him – and their purpose – as well.

*The Purpose Driven Life ~ http://purposedriven.com

Daily Devotional for March 25, 2018 – Are you “Spiritually balanced”?

2 Corinthians 13:5
Check up on yourselves. Are you really Christians? Do you pass the test? Do you feel Christ’s presence and power more and more within you? Or are you just pretending to be Christians when actually you aren’t at all?

Hebrews 2:1
So we must listen very carefully to the truths we have heard, or we may drift away from them.

Recently, my 14-year-old cousin Olivia came and looked through my fabric scraps and sewing patterns and supplies. Most of these materials went home with her! Osteoarthritis has made sewing so difficult and painful for me that I am “passing the torch”. I’m ready to help Olivia hone her sewing skills and create darling garments for her own wear, and for our younger cousins, family members and friends. I hope sewing provides her years of enjoyment and creativity.

Over the last several years, I’ve kept photos and notes about the garments I made for all of our little ones. They probably number in the hundreds…and I enjoyed every minute. There were times that I would sew non-stop for days…stopping only to prepare meals for us, shower and sleep! Yes, I loved sewing that much! The more I sewed, the better I got at it. I found that when other activities took me away from sewing for a while, there was always a short “learning curve” to get me back into the groove again.

This is part of why I like to do the 40-day study of The Purpose Driven Life* for Lent. It’s a way to refresh my spirit and remind myself of why God put me here and what He wants me to do. On this 39th day, the message is to strive for balance in our discipleship…loving God…serving others…sharing the Gospel and Good News of Jesus…spending time with fellow believers…and becoming more like Christ in everything we say and do. The time between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is a great time to reflect on how we are doing as Christians – and to evaluate whether we are on the right path.

Today is Palm Sunday. Holy Week is beginning. There is no better time to reflect on God’s purpose for our lives – and to ask ourselves if we are hitting the mark. This is the perfect time to humbly ponder all that Jesus did for us on the cross…to appreciate even more fully the amazing sacrifices He made for us – and how God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to live among us and die for our sins. More importantly, the resurrection reinforces the power and supremacy of Jesus, while driving home the point that we are incredibly privileged to be loved, pardoned, and welcomed into the open arms of our King of Kings!

A few weeks ago, I made t-shirts for the children that said, “Spoiler alert…the tomb was empty!” If you have made the choice to follow Jesus, consider your discipleship today. Give yourself a little “spiritual assessment” and see if you are hitting the mark and fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. If you have not surrendered to Jesus, ask yourself what is holding you back. If the One who could not be contained by death and the tomb wants to forgive your every sin…if He wants you to belong to His Kingdom forever and ever…what are you waiting for? It doesn’t get any better than this!

Perhaps you are like me and tend to allow one project to consume you for large chunks of time (like sewing for days on end). Maybe…just maybe, you also do this in your spiritual life…but in the manner of letting your discipleship “slide” at times or wane into mediocrity. This is the time to put things right – and to ask God to restore balance in your life. This is the perfect day to do a little self-check and see where you need to get things back in order.

This is the week to ask God to restore and renew your heart and mind, so that you can fulfill His purpose for your life on this earth. This is the time to lay the groundwork for your “Heavenly Homecoming” and God’s ultimate assessment of a “Job well done!” Are you ready to get your discipleship back in balance? Will this be the week that you begin?

Daily Devotional for March 24, 2018 – Have you found your “mission field”?

Colossians 1:6
The same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world and changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard it and understood about God’s great kindness to sinners.

When I was a child, the thought of ministering to people in foreign countries was exciting – but daunting…and mostly reserved for those who committed to permanently serving “on the mission field” in those areas. I knew that most “missionaries” spent months – even years – training for this…learning the language and studying the culture. A family from my community served in Manaus, Brazil. Every four years, they came home for twelve months of “furlough”. They would tell us of their experiences, the people they served, and how they shared the love of Jesus with them.

Today, short-term mission trips are a vital component of ministry for many church congregations. Our own church has “sponsored” groups who traveled to Mexico, Costa Rica, and most recently – Peru. Everyone I know who has ever gone on one of these one-to-two-week mission trips says it was eye-opening…and life changing.

On Day 38 of study in The Purpose Driven Life*, we are reminded that God’s ministry is not meant to be convenient, comfortable…or always in our own backyard. It is certainly not to be all about us and what we want or need! Pastor Rick Warren encourages every person to find a way to go on a short-term foreign mission trip. But let’s be honest…this is just not feasible for all of us – nor is it necessarily God’s calling upon our lives.

This doesn’t mean that you and I cannot make an impact for Christ around the world. For almost 12 years and counting, Greg and I have sponsored a young man in Ghana via Compassion International**. One Sunday morning, a display about Compassion was set up in our church lobby. There were packets of information about dozens of children throughout the world, and the face of a particular little 5-year-old boy spoke to us. Since 2006, we have sent a modest monthly payment to Compassion to help cover living expenses for Kojo and his family, textbooks and school supplies, and to support the Compassion center that ministers to this child and others in his community. We also send special monetary gifts at Christmas and on Kojo’s birthday.

More importantly, we have exchanged letters with Kojo. We have sent him photos, notes and cards to let him know how much we love him…that we are praying for him and his family…and that God loves him! We’ve tried to nurture and encourage this child, in the hopes that he will become a disciple of Christ in his native land. In this manner, we are participating in “foreign missions”.

I’ll admit…I don’t always know what to say to a now-17-year-old young man in Ghana! I know from his letters and photos that life is very different for him than what teens experience in America. To say the least, his way of life is “meager”, compared to that of his counterparts in other countries. But I know that the same God who loves me – and the children in my community – loves the children of Ghana just as much. They are equally entitled to the love, compassion, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus.

Jesus has a mansion in Heaven reserved for every person in this world…and He offers forgiveness of sins and salvation to each one in his/her earthly lifetime. It is our job to make sure that they know this. We are called to minister according to God’s directives…through prayer, monetary support of mission projects, direct involvement with programs like Compassion International – and in some cases, physical travel to foreign lands to personally minister in the name of Jesus.

I have no idea how God is planning to use you to further His Kingdom…but I know that this is His design. Have you spent some time in prayer and meditation to determine your “calling”? Isn’t it time you did?

*The Purpose Driven Life ~ http://purposedriven.com
**Compassion International ~ http://compassion.com

Daily Devotional for March 23, 2018 – Are you fulfilling your mission?

1 Peter 2:9-10
But you are not like that, for you have been chosen by God himself—you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own—all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were less than nothing; now you are God’s own. Once you knew very little of God’s kindness; now your very lives have been changed by it.

Have you ever known someone who you felt died without ever establishing a personal relationship with Jesus? How did that affect you? In my lifetime, this has happened a few times…and I can tell you, it grieved me greatly. Was there more that I could have done? Did my words and actions give them a clear view of who Jesus is and what He can do for each of us? Did I try hard enough to share the love of Christ with them – and encourage them to invite Him into their hearts?

You may think, “Who does she think she is to assume such responsibility for another person’s salvation?!” On Day 37 of study in The Purpose Driven Life*, we are reminded that one of the most important things we will do on this earth is to share Jesus Christ with others and encourage them to invite Him to be their Lord and Savior. This is our ultimate mission as Christ’s disciples.

I distinctly remember two older men to whom my mother witnessed continually. We both prayed that they would accept Jesus. Each man expressed interest in becoming a Christian…but there was also reluctance. One of them actually told my mother that he wanted to believe in Jesus…but he just wasn’t sure he could. I have to trust that Mother did everything she could to win these two – and surely countless others – to Jesus. And this is my message today…we have to try.

We are not God. We do not personally have the power to change another person’s heart and mind. But as Christians, we have the power of God flowing through us. When we operate within God’s directives and trust Him to do what we cannot, amazing things can happen. Most certainly, we must make sure that every one of our words and actions are Godly, kind and loving…because I can assure you that people.are.watching!

As I think about those I personally knew who may have died without a relationship with Jesus, I must trust that I did all I could to demonstrate my faith and the hope that Jesus gives me. Ultimately, this decision is up to each individual…but the opportunity to make a difference is ours. How are you representing Jesus and fulfilling your mission these days?

*The Purpose Driven Life ~ http://purposedriven.com

Daily Devotional for March 22, 2018 – Understanding your mission…

2 Corinthians 5:20
We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.

This morning, Greg and I took the children and Grandma E for a swim at our local Aquatic Center. We’ve been swimming a lot lately. I am determined that our children will be competent, confident swimmers by summertime. In my mind, when you live on a 40,000-acre lake, learning to swim is imperative!

It has been such a joy to watch each child blossom and find his/her confidence. The look on their faces when they actually swam the first time for a few feet – unattended and without a life jacket – was priceless. The confidence on my part that each child could actually save himself or herself in the water, if needed, is beyond description.

On Day 36 of study in The Purpose Driven Life*, we learn about our mission…to share Jesus with others. Everything else we do as Christians is secondary. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that others see Jesus in us…that they know who He is and what He did for all of us on the cross…and that they are given every opportunity to make Him their LORD and Savior, as well.

Pastor Rick Warren points out that you might be the only Christian another person ever encounters. What will you show them? How will you represent Jesus? Let’s be honest…these days, many people are giving the name “Christians” a pretty bad rap! I have people tell me all the time that they “don’t want anything Christians are peddling”, because the talk and actions are so distasteful and unloving…if not downright immoral! Have I mentioned that people are watching?!

As the children swim with us, we try to demonstrate that there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of…that swimming is fun…relaxing…and should become second nature. Occasionally, one of the kids will get water up his/her nose and cough/sputter…or there will be a momentary panic when they can’t touch bottom – or something startles them. But overall, they are learning to roll with the punches and find joy in learning the strokes, kicks and the absolute freedom of jumping into the water and rising back to the surface – or floating lazily on one’s back.

In my daily living, I try to show others what it means to me to trust in Jesus and serve Him continually. I miss the mark occasionally – and I “cough and sputter” a bit. Sometimes “life” kicks me in the gut…and I may not show others my best behavior. But overall, I am learning to delight in the rhythms and freedom of complete surrender to Jesus…and I hope that I consistently convey this to others through my words and actions.

As much as I want our children to learn to swim…I hope they learn to love Jesus even more. This is our ultimate mission…to share Jesus with others in a way that they can’t wait to serve Him for themselves. How well are you doing with your mission these days?

*The Purpose Driven Life ~ http://purposedriven.com

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