Archive for the ‘Devotional’ Category

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

One of my students sent me this and it tugged on the old heartstrings. It is a great example of the fact that our God is in the business of bringing hope, restoration, new life, and ultimately eternal life. How has God changed your life? What is your cardboard testimony?

This was a powerful message brought to us on Friday night at Midland Ministries Super C Camp this weekend. It is so relevant. Please take the time to listen not just with your ears but with your heart! Be blessed!

I thought I would share with you, my brothers ans sisters in Christ, what God has been teaching me the last few months and weeks. God has opened my eyes and spoke to my heart in a life changing way!

As a minister of the Gospel, I was sort of finding myself in my own personal “comfort zone”! As I’ve been very busy going about my organized and structured areas of ministry, I found myself sort of too tired or too distracted by all these areas of ministry to really care about the people out in the world. I know that the “ministry” things that I have been working hard at have been really beneficial to the youth of our city and to our community. But I’ve been finding myself caring less and less about random people that I meet in the community.

I used to be the type of person that just loved witnessing one on one to any random person that would listen. Many times over the years I have taken groups of youth to go to large malls and pass out Gospel tracts and just spend time sharing with people. I have witnessed to people on airplanes, teenagers, parents of our teens, waitresses at restaurants, and random people at Wal-mart or wherever. But honestly it has been months since I have stopped and taken the time to witness to someone in the community who wasn’t part of the ministry that I work for. I have been feeling kind of complacent in my walk because of this!

After coming to Christ 7 years ago I was so on fire for God and so thankful to know JESUS! Then receiving God’s call to be a full time youth minister I grew in Christ so fast and got so busy in the ministry which I love so dearly. But what think I have done is that I “have forsaken my first love” (Revelation 2:4). Jesus goes on to say to “Remember the height to which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

So that is what I did this Sunday. I set my pride aside and stepped out from the pew that occupy each Sunday morning and walked to the front of the church and repented at the altar. I told God that I was truly sorry for being “too much like Martha and not enough like Mary”. I asked God to renew my love and zeal for witnessing to all people, not just girls in my Bible study, kids at camp, or the people on short term mission trips!

It was at camp a few weeks ago when my friend and the amazing camp speaker, Jack Hager, talked about “a plethora of good things that can keep us from the best things”. He also talked about those who look so forward to short term missions trips but ignore the mission field all around us. I could relate to that because I am working hard to raise the money to go to Panama for 10 days to minister to the Kuna Indians yet I hadn’t been in much of a mood to witness to people here in this community, outside my circle of regular ministry that is. I knew it wasn’t fair for me to think that one of the people in Panama deserved to be reached out to more than say the single mom/cashier at Wal-mart.

Lord knows that there is organized religion and ministry of all types going on all over the place. This country is not at a loss at all for churches, Christian music and concerts, Christian conferences, retreats, camps, and short term mission trips. But God help us if we lose sight of those people who are on the outside of these “seemingly good things”. Many people in this country will not set foot in the doors of a church if they are not reached out to with the love of Christ. I think what the American Church and what our nation is at a loss for, is people who genuinely love Christ enough to put aside their busy “Christian lives” long enough to share about the great Christ that they are supposed to be living for.

How dare I get so spoiled in the “comforts of faith” that I would ignore the spiritual needs of those who know NO faith at all!!!!

That reminds me of a book I once read by Mark Cahill called “One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven”. Of course the one thing we won’t be able to do in Heaven is to reach out to lost people. There won’t be any lost ones there. So I guess some of us need to spend a whole lot less time worshiping God at retreats, conferences, and concerts and start worshiping God by sharing Christ with people who don’t know Him yet. Out of the comfort zone…..YES…..but W.W.J.D.????

I am curious to hear your thoughts as well….?

Every day our faith is tested. I am tired of being crippled by fear and doubt. We must trust in the One who is mighty to save, the one who can move the mountains, the Creator and Sustainer, the One who always was and always will be!I love this video! I saw it several years ago at a youth retreat where I was a counselor and I remember God saying “Jodi, stop whining about what you can’t do and start trusting me!”

To find out more about this story go here http://www.teamhoyt.com/ .

This song challenged hundreds of Christian adults and students at Bible Quiz Nationals last year and the Spirit led 75 to the altar and me to tears of conviction. It must be relevant that in our weak faith, at best, we feel as if we are all alone. Many times we live like we are all alone. We must believe and trust and know that He is with us! I hope you will take the time to watch this video in its entirety as it shares the courageous story of Martin Luther King. It encourages and inspires my heart every time I see it. Jason Upton sings this amazing song leading into a powerful time of worship!!

Coffey has a great testimony and ministry and I appreciate his songs. I especially like this one!

Tonight at SQ632, our outreach event for 7th through 12th graders, we watched parts of Passion of the Christ. Whenever I see this movie or the parts where Jesus is being mutilated, I am tempted to turn my eyes away at the gruesome parts. But fighting back the tears I force myself to watch it. I have to force myself to watch it so that I can remember just how incredibly awful it was for Jesus and what a huge price it was that He paid for me and for you because of our sin. That way maybe it will leave a lasting enough impression in my mind to truly be thankful and humble to the one true God, who UNDERSTANDS and has experienced the very worst pain and suffering.

After SQ632 is over there is always a chance for students to respond to God and pray with a counselor. Tonight 2 out of the 47 kids responded in prayer. I was so blessed to pray with a 7th grader named Destiny. She goes to church fairly regularly but for the first time was understanding the magnitude of the sacrifice that Jesus made and that her life was not where it should be and so she prayed for this Jesus to be her Lord. I am looking forward to building a friendship with Destiny and keeping in touch with her. I see her every Monday and Tuesday at her school when I volunteer there and then she comes to SQ632 on Monday nights. Please pray for her!

If you have forgotten how great the love of God is you might pick up a copy of the movie “Passion of the Christ” if you don’t already have it and watch it especially now with Easter coming. Then spend a little time in prayer afterwards. Watch it and REMEMBER Jesus!!! Remember the sacrifice, remember how God hates sin, remember the cost, and most importantly remember the LOVE of GOD!!!!

A quote form Peter Kuzmic…

“Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future; faith is having the courage to dance to it today.”

I like this one a lot! (Thanks Jack!)

Question to ponder…..Are we merely hoping in Jesus or do we have FAITH in Him…faith to dance today, right now, for Him???

Let’s DANCE….by faith…in obedience….because of love…..for the glory of God….through the atoning sacrifice and resurrection power of Jesus Christ!!!!!

Paul Washer is one of my favorite preachers. His messages are sure to offend many for the sake of Christ. It is also clear that he speaks the truth out of a genuine love for the “Church” of Jesus Christ! Please watch this 11 minute sermon piece and consider the message. I also recommend the Paul Washer sermon called “Shocking Message” which can be found at Godtube.com or on my facebook profile.