Mid-Week Message - Carrying on His Mission

"This is my commandment:  Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command."  John 15:12-14 (NLT) 

When my daughter was in junior high school, she encountered a group of girls who were less than kind to her.  Although these girls had been together for several years in a small Christian school, when puberty hit, suddenly these young ladies began comparing themselves to one another and found the need to find someone to elevate themselves over.  Unfortunately it was my child they chose.   She handled it fairly well until one of her closest friends joined with the bullies.  That was simply more than she could handle.  She felt totally isolated and her self esteem fell to the point that her comment to me was, "I'd rather die than go to school."  

Friends have great power in our lives.  Who we choose to align ourselves with will influence our thoughts, our choices and how we see ourselves and others.  That is why it is so important to choose wisely.  So many lives have tumbled out of control by "getting in with the wrong crowd."  

Jesus laid down His life for us.  His command to us is that we love each other the way He loved us.  As He reached out to us with the love of the Father, so we are to reach out to others.  He says we are His "friends" if we do what He commands.  In other words, He wishes for us to align ourselves with His purpose, His mission to bring salvation to the world.  He wishes for us to spend our lives sharing His love and honoring the Lord.  The greatest friend we can be to someone else is by sharing the gospel message and by living our lives for Him rather than blending in with the depravity of this world.  In order accomplish this, we must be willing to allow Him to change us from the innermost parts of ourselves, to call out sin when we see it in ourselves and others, and to speak truth as it is revealed in God's Word.  This will definitely not make us popular with the world but if others are able to see Jesus in us and make a decision to follow Him, then that is the greatest gift we can give.  

My daughter's heart was troubled that she was not part of the "popular" circle.  We may experience the same feelings when we are scorned for seeking to live our lives for Jesus.  We live in a time in this country when more and more people are moving away from churches and are developing their own ideas of spirituality and what they want to have faith in.  False religions are becoming more prevalent and the idea that "all paths lead to Heaven" is becoming more acceptable.  Scripture tells us that the only way to the Father is through His Son.  That is the ultimate truth.  We are to be the messengers that boldly carry that message in a time when it is not popular.  This is one way that we "lay down our lives" for our friends.  We will be laughed at.  We will be argued with.  Many will call us crazy and tell us that we are believing in fairy tales.  However, we must not lose heart.  Too much is at stake if we give up.  

I know that what I have spoken about today is difficult.  None of us want others to turn their backs on us or slam doors in our faces.  Sometimes we tend to think that loving others means that we stay quiet about what we know is sin.  Jesus did not do that.  He loved, but He was truthful.  When we consider though that by not speaking truth we are aiding and abetting sinful choices, then we know that we are not truly being loving at all.  The greatest love is the love of God and it is honest and convicting and life changing.  I pray that we all examine our hearts, that we repent of the sin in our own lives and ask the Lord to help us fulfill His desire for us to carry out the mission He has laid before us.  With sincerity of heart, God bless. 

Mid-Week Message - A Worthy Struggle

"I want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:10-14 (NIV)  

I appreciate the life that Paul led and the letters that he left behind so that we could know how dear the Lord was to him and how everything he did was done with Heaven in mind.  Of course we know the story that previous to meeting Jesus, Paul, or rather Saul, was a persecutor of Christians.  But when he met the Savior, everything changed.  His life was spent spreading the Good News, for which he endured unspeakable suffering.  But he didn't give up and he found joy in the struggles he encountered because he knew that there was a reward awaiting him that would be greater than he could imagine.  

I wonder how many of us are able to keep that in mind as we encounter the difficulties of daily life.  I have many friends in full-time Christian service and it isn't an easy life.  Moreover, I hear and read stories of missionaries in foreign lands who endure great hardship, including the threat of torture and even death.  They chose to leave behind the conveniences and comfort of their lives here in order to carry Christ's love to those who haven't had the chance to hear that there is a Redeemer who laid down His own life so that we on earth could have an everlasting future with Him.  

Several times a day I utter the words, "I'm tired."  And I am.  My body doesn't work the way it used to and just going through whatever the day requires of me is tedious at best.  Some days, my pain level makes me want to sleep the day away because when I am asleep is the only time that I am truly pain free.  Yet, if I give in to that desire then I am unable to focus on what is more important.  If I am sleeping, I am not praying for the many on my prayer list.  If I am sleeping then I am not reaching out to others that I know need encouragement.  And I am reminded that my life is not my own, but belongs to the One who paid an enormous price to redeem it and therefore deserves for it to be used for His glory.  

Paul set an example for each of us to follow.  No matter what he encountered, whether it be shipwrecks, beatings, illnesses, imprisonment or attempts on his life, he kept praising the Lord and sharing His message with everyone that was around him.  He didn't give in to pain or let exhaustion cease his efforts.  He knew that his time on this planet was temporary and that he had a limited amount of time to accomplish as much as he could for Jesus.  He seized every moment handed to him to make an eternal difference.  I'm sure he had moments of discouragement, moments of saying, "I'm tired."  But then he put them aside and continued on what he knew to be the better path.  

We have a finite time upon this orb.  Our days are limited.  If we do not fill our days with Heavenly purpose, then we are missing the mark.  God has us planted us where we are for reasons we may not be aware of.  Our response should be to take hold of the resources and opportunities that come our way and use them for His glory.  We each have a mission field.  We just have to realize it, and, with our hands firmly in His, go forth and boldly represent Him.  If we need a guide to show us how to take each step then we can read about Paul and, as he did, press forward toward the goal to win the prize that is waiting for us when we are called home.  It will be worth any struggle we encounter, no matter how tired we may get.  God bless.

Mid-Week Message - Go and Tell!

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age."   Matthew 28:19-20 (AMP)

I have told the story before of Betty Allen, the lovely lady that took me to church for the first time and introduced me to the Lord.  From that time on, I have felt the need and desire to include Him in my life.  In fact, there is a song by Big Daddy Weave called "My Story" that says, "To tell you my story is to tell of Him."  I cannot talk about my life, or really much else either, without speaking of Jesus.  It just doesn't seem natural to me to live or speak without including Him because He has been, is now, and will always be, the most important person and my greatest influence.  It amazes me that it isn't that way for everyone.  

I can remember a time in my childhood when I told my best friend about the importance of having Jesus as her personal Savior.  She told her family and her family replied that one's relationship with God is to be kept private.  That happened again during my teenage years.  I took part in a city-wide campaign to share the gospel.  One night I sat in my front yard and witnessed to my neighbor who was a couple of years younger than I was.  He prayed to accept Jesus and I was so excited.  However, when he told his parents, they were angry and said the same thing "one's relationship with the Lord is to be kept private."  I was flabbergasted!  I couldn't understand how someone could have a relationship with the Living God and not want to share it with everyone around.  

I have learned a lot through the years.  I have watched as this nation has declared sharing the gospel something to be cautious of, and at times even ashamed of.  Sharing the "Good News" is becoming more and more frowned upon.  I fear that the day is coming when it will be outlawed as it is in some other countries.  However, this wouldn't be the first, nor the last time that the enemy has attempted to silence the Truth.  And, just as it has never worked in the past, it will not work in the future.  

During the Olympic games in China, the scriptures were transported into the country even though it was illegal to do so.  Believers would download them onto memory sticks and leave them in bathrooms and other places where they were sure to be found.  There will always be those who are dedicated to sharing His story and will find a way to do so, no matter what, even if that means going to prison or losing their own lives.  

One's relationship with Almighty God is not something that is to be kept private.  Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all nations, and that includes everyone.  That relationship is one to shout from the rooftops, to allow to gush forth. Not everyone will want to hear it but it has to be told.  Even though America is traditionally a Christian nation, there are millions that do not know Jesus.  My challenge for everyone this week is to examine how we each share how He has worked in our own lives and how we obey the command to tell that story.  God bless you.

Mid-Week Message - Standing for the Truth

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16  (NIV) 

I am about to say something that is becoming more and more unpopular.  I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the one and only God, that He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on a cruel cross for the atonement of our sins and was resurrected on the third day.  He is alive and interceding for us before the Father in Heaven and one day, hopefully not too far in the future, He will return again and take those who belong to Him back with Him and they will have eternal life.  

I also believe that the Christian Bible is God's Word, His love letter to us.  Because it is His Word, I believe it is true and that He is incapable of lying.  I don't question things like how much time it actually took to create the earth because whether it took six days or six million years, He still created it.  It is enough for me to know that He could have created it in six actual days because He certainly has the power to do so.  

I am alarmed by what I am hearing from many of those in leadership in this nation and the world.  Christians in the United States are beginning to see that persecution is coming.  Already we are belittled by those who claim that we are believing in a fairy tale.  When the COVID crisis came, one of the first things that were shut down were the churches, while liquor stores, tattoo parlors and marijuana stores were allowed to remain open.  Although it improved after awhile in some areas, in many states churches that tried to reopen faced reprisals from their city governments.  The claim was that churches were not "essential businesses."  

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is time for us to boldly proclaim the Truth.  Sooner or later, whether it be next week or the next decade, our freedom of speech will be taken from us.  While we are still able to openly preach the Gospel, we must do so.  All of us must do so.  We can no longer sit back and yield the responsibility to our preachers and teachers only.  Each of us has been called to carry God's Word to others.  

I know it isn't easy.  We will face rejection.  There may be those who get in our faces and ridicule or yell at us.  That's okay.  They did the same to the Savior.  Find an avenue for sharing that works for you.  Utilize social media as long as you are allowed to.  Hand out Bible tracts.  Strike up conversations in the line in the grocery store.  Write a blog, make videos.  Any way that you can share with others is good.  Jesus loved us so much that He allowed Himself to be crucified.  How important is He to us?  

May I also suggest one more thing?  Christian owned businesses are already facing persecution.  We need to support them with our business when we can and encourage them.  Even writing letters to thank them for adhering to their beliefs would be appreciated.  Also, we need to contact those who profess to be Christians who are serving in any leadership capacity and encourage them to stand up for their beliefs and what they know is right even if they are the only ones who do.  

I am so grateful that we do not have to fear the future because we know that the Lord remains in control.  He will guide us as we begin to share His love with those we encounter.  We just need to trust Him and to love Him enough to take the first steps.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Christmas is Near

"And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas is rapidly approaching. My, how quickly this year has flown! As we approach this festive time, let's be mindful of the true reason we celebrate. Although it was probably not the actual date of the birth of Jesus, it is the day that has been chosen to commemorate it, therefore it is a holy time. It is up to us as followers of Christ to be bold about telling His story and to train up our children to do the same.

Each year there is a debate about whether to use the words "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." I have my personal preference, however, I have to wonder if it really matters. Does "Merry Christmas" evoke thoughts about Jesus? That is the argument that is used. "Keep Christ in Christmas!" "Remember the reason for the season!" Amen! I agree wholeheartedly. This season should honor Him.

So, how do we accomplish that? It is through our joy and willingness to share Him. We don't have to set ourselves up so that those around us think we are religious weirdos. We don't have to shy away from enjoying the holiday in our own homes. But we do need to be willing to be openly honest about the reason why we are celebrating.

Jesus left His majestic throne in Heaven to be born as a human infant. His purpose for doing so was ultimately to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. And He did it out of love. Should it matter that He was not born on that day? No, because we should hold each and every day as a day to rejoice over His birth. Every day should be Christmas in our hearts.

Our children need to witness the grown ups around them loving and praising Jesus. They need to hear us praying. They need to see us reading the Bible and know that we believe what it says and that we obey it. We teach best by modeling behavior that we want them to emulate. I pray that as you begin your preparations for the holy day ahead, that you will include your young ones in the "whys" of the season. God bless you!  

Mid-Week Message - More Like Jesus

"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."  John 3:30  (NLT)

Social media is everywhere.  It seems that almost everyone has an account on a site where they can share what's going on in their lives.  Selfies, pictures of the food that is being served, families posing together, babies, home decor and the list goes on.  But there is one thing that is most notable about these sites.  They provide a place for us to indulge our egos.  

I will admit that there have been times when I have posted something and then checked again and again to see who is "liking" or "loving" what I have posted.  I had to get over that because if it was something really dear to me, like a picture of my child, then I was upset if I either didn't get a lot of responses or if more people only "liked" rather than "loved."  My ego was hurt.  Why?  Because my purpose in sharing was all about me. 

If we stay within ourselves, if we keep our focus inward, then how can we reach out to anyone else?  If we are more concerned with all things personal rather than spending our time in concern for what those around us need, then not only will we miss a lot of joy, but we will also be sinning.  

Philippians 2:3-4 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Our goal, as Christians, is to be like Christ.  If we study His life, how often do we see Him more worried about Himself than He is those around Him or those in the crowds that came to hear Him?  Granted, He was fully God and fully human and we are only fully human.  We aren't perfect as He was perfect, however, through His grace and mercy, if we spend more time learning about Him and walking with Him, then He will begin to change our hearts and teach us how be more like Him.

Simply put, it needs to be more and more about Jesus and less and less about ourselves.  Rather than posting attention getting selfies, we can use our social media time to honor our Savior.  It is far greater to have His approval than that of man. 

There are so many opportunities to show His love.  Many people need prayers and encouragement.  It costs nothing more than a little bit of time to reach out and be supportive. 

This week my challenge is that we all take inventory of how we represent ourselves and the Lord in any of our interactions with others.  What is our focus?   Are we seeking personal approval or are we pointing the way to the One who loves us more than any person on earth ever will?  God bless. 

Mid-Week Message - No More Compromising

 "Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.'"  John 14:6  (NLT) 

When my daughter was still in high school, one of her classmates invited her to an outreach that his church was having.  Directed toward young people, the hope was that those who were unchurched would be attracted enough to begin attending regularly.  After the event, I picked them up and as I was taking the classmate home, I began asking how everything went.  As it turns out, the night was comprised of performances by "Christian" rock bands, most of which were playing heavy metal music.  Apparently, the music, coupled with the mosh pit, afforded an evening full of fun. 

I would have been interested to know how many of those who attended this event actually came back for a church service.  I still fail to understand how people can be drawn to Christ by being enticed through imitations of what the world offers.  I have no problem with different genres of Christian music, but I do believe it is necessary to at least hear and understand the words that are being sung.   And a mosh pit and body surfing?  How is Jesus presented through that? 

Across this nation, churches are being abandoned and boarded up.  Many of those that remain open claim that attendance has been dropping.  Fewer Americans believe that this country is a "Christian" nation.  Jesus has become the punchline of jokes and those who choose to worship Him are touted as believing in fairy tales.  By giving in to the demands for coffee bars and tickling the ears of attendees with "feel good" messages, we have lost our focus on our mission.  

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives this charge to His disciples, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  

When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are to share Him with others.  The Lord has gifted each of us with abilities and talents that will assist us in doing so.  If you sing, worship Him in song.  If you are an artist, then honor Him with your art.  If you have the gift of hospitality, then open your home and share the Gospel with your visitors.  If you can do public speaking, then openly declare Him.  Maybe you have a deep love for children.  Children are ready learners.  Their hearts are open to the stories of the Bible.  

We need to return to solid Bible teaching.  I love listening to men of God speak the truth.  It is rare these days to hear the honest rebuking of sin from the pulpit.  Too many church leaders are afraid that people will be offended and leave the congregation.  But if the true need for Jesus is exchanged for warm and fuzzy messages, then we fail to offer the need for forgiveness.  

We are watching frightening changes in this country and around the world.  The enemy must sit back and laugh as evil increases and fear grips the followers of Jesus.  This must not continue.  Christians need to be in earnest prayer and we need to stand up for what is right and true.  The Gospel is desperately needed and we are the ones that hold it.  But we need to be ready to speak it in truth which means that the world will likely not appreciate what we have to say.  No more compromising.  We have Jesus to show the way.  God bless.

Mid-Week Message - Seeing Clearly

 "If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."  2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NLT)

When I was in the first grade, my family lived in a small two bedroom house.  I shared a room with my older brother and my baby sister had a small bed in my parents' room.  I still have fond memories of that little house, except for one occurrence.  One day my brother and I, whose beds were in opposite corners of the room, were tossing one of my dolls back and forth.  This doll was made of hard plastic and dressed like a bride.  Being somewhat competitive, we were both trying to throw her harder each time.  On his last throw, my brother sent her sailing through the air feet first.  I wasn't quite quick enough and those feet hit me hard in the eyes.  I saw nothing for awhile after that except for whirling colors.  I started screaming that I couldn't see and my poor brother ran and told my parents that he had blinded me.  After a few frightening moments and some cold cloths, my vision returned but I can still remember the horrible feeling of being without sight.  

We live in a nation that has been blessed with religious freedom and founded on Christian principles.  Our right to worship is protected my law.  Churches of all denominations are spread throughout the country.  The Word of God is available for all who are interested in obtaining it.  Believers are tasked by God to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world.  I know many Christians who take that task to heart and speak openly with all they come in contact with.  Then I know many others who assume everyone already knows the truth, therefore there is no reason to offend anyone by forcing their beliefs upon them.  

The sad truth is that, even in this nation where Bibles and churches abound, countless precious souls have been spiritually blinded by the enemy.  Opposing beliefs, or the belief in no Creator at all, have become pervasive and are growing each and every day.  As followers of Christ, we must stop worrying about how we are going to be received and understand that we just might be the one and only person that will approach any specific person with the love and saving knowledge of Jesus.  I know it's hard.  But how will they hear unless someone tells them?  Satan uses lies to blind and deafen.  But we have the power of Almighty God and do not have to let him steal our voices. 

I will be forever grateful for the person that cared enough about me to introduce me to my Savior. Because of her, and wonderful teachers and preachers throughout my life, I have the assurance of eternal life in the presence of the Lord.  That is a treasure that I want to share which is why I write these messages each week.  If even just one person finds something meaningful in the words strung together then there is cause for rejoicing.  Each week I pray that it will be used to encourage believers and touch the hearts of those who are searching for the truth.  Oh, Lord, please embolden our hearts and give us the words to share with those around us and give sight to the spiritually blind so that they may see You clearly and be set free by the truth of Jesus.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Share So They Can See

 "If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing. Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."  2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NLT)

When I was in the first grade, my family lived in a small two bedroom house.  I shared a room with my older brother and my baby sister had a small bed in my parents' room.  I still have fond memories of that little house, except for one occurrence.  One day my brother and I, whose beds were in opposite corners of the room, were tossing one of my dolls back and forth.  This doll was made of hard plastic and dressed like a bride.  Being somewhat competitive, we were both trying to throw her harder each time.  On his last throw, my brother sent her sailing through the air feet first.  I wasn't quite quick enough and those feet hit me hard in the eyes.  I saw nothing for awhile after that except for whirling colors.  I started screaming that I couldn't see and my poor brother ran and told my parents that he had blinded me.  After a few frightening moments and some cold cloths, my vision returned but I can still remember the horrible feeling of being without sight.  

We live in a nation that has been blessed with religious freedom and founded on Christian principles.  Our right to worship is protected my law.  Churches of all denominations are spread throughout the country.  The Word of God is available for all who are interested in obtaining it.  Believers are tasked by God to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world.  I know many Christians who take that task to heart and speak openly with all they come in contact with.  Then I know many others who assume everyone already knows the truth, therefore there is no reason to offend anyone by forcing their beliefs upon them.  

The sad truth is that, even in this nation where Bibles and churches abound, countless precious souls have been spiritually blinded by the enemy.  Opposing beliefs, or the belief in no Creator at all, have become pervasive and are growing each and every day.  As followers of Christ, we must stop worrying about how we are going to be received and understand that we just might be the one and only person that will approach any specific person with the love and saving knowledge of Jesus.  I know it's hard.  But how will they hear unless someone tells them?  Satan uses lies to blind and deafen.  But we have the power of Almighty God and do not have to let him steal our voices. 

I will be forever grateful for the person that cared enough about me to introduce me to my Savior. Because of her, and wonderful teachers and preachers throughout my life, I have the assurance of eternal life in the presence of the Lord.  That is a treasure that I want to share which is why I write these messages each week.  If even just one person finds something meaningful in the words strung together then there is cause for rejoicing.  Each week I pray that it will be used to encourage believers and touch the hearts of those who are searching for the truth.  Oh, Lord, please embolden our hearts and give us the words to share with those around us and give sight to the spiritually blind so that they may see You clearly and be set free by the truth of Jesus.  God bless.

Mid-Week Message - Regarding Our Divisions

"So in Christ you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."  Galatians 3:26-28  (NIV)  

Siblings can be brutal with each other.  If you have brothers or sisters then you know what I mean.  They fight like cats and dogs, say horrible things to each other, call each other names and occasionally pull a few punches.  But, let someone outside of the family try to same thing and those same siblings stick up for each other.  There is a oneness shared by family that isn't easily intruded upon.  

I bring up this topic because of something I saw on social media a couple of days ago.  We know of the Supreme Court decisions that have created a stir in this country and the division in opinions that is raging.  I saw a meme that asked this, "Do you really love Jesus or just the republican Jesus?"  

I haven't been able to get that off my mind.  The reason it has stuck with me is that Jesus cannot be identified by earthly designations.  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He is far beyond any labels that we use with each other. 

So how do we fit our relationship with Him into our mindsets and opinions?  Simply put, we don't.  We cannot measure Him by what is happening on earth.  Rather, we must weigh what is happening here on earth by what is taught in the Word of God.  Any opinion or viewpoint that we have that has not been bathed in the truth and teachings of our Savior should never leave our mouths.  Only insomuch as the Holy Spirit leads can we dare offer our thoughts as aligned with Him.  

We have become a nation divided, segmented into so many little groups that it is hard to know where we stand anymore.  The two greatest commandments, as taught by Jesus in Luke 10:27 were to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your strength and with all your mind; and love your neighbor as yourself." 

Because of my relationship with the Lord and because of what I read in His Word, I have very firm beliefs regarding some of the discussions and uproar in this land of ours and I will be vocal and active when I feel led by the Spirit to do so.  But it must be done through His love so as to not alienate anyone from Him.  The goal must always be to share the Gospel.  Only in doing so will others realize their need for Jesus.  

Those who have been adopted into the family of God misrepresent Him when we battle with each other.  Rather than allowing ourselves to be divided by the world, we need to come together as one in Christ Jesus so that He will be honored and the world might seek His will.  

May your week be showered in His grace and mercy.  God bless.  

 

Mid-Week Message - This Moment Matters

 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Colossians 3:17  (NIV)

This could be the last message I ever write.  That is a thought-provoking statement.  The truth is that I have no idea whether next Wednesday will ever arrive for me.  Or even the next hour.  God might call me home or Jesus may return.  Therefore, it is incumbent upon me to make the most of this very moment.  

Christians have read in the Bible, and been taught by our spiritual teachers, that our lives, and even this world, will eventually come to an end.  We witness death each day.  All we have to do is turn on the evening news or open the newspaper to see reports of people dying.  I venture to say that almost all of us have stood at the grave of a loved one.  Today, many woke up with plans on their minds that will never come to fruition.  

My point is that the only time we can count on in life is the moment we are in right now.  Because of that, everything we say and do needs to matter.  This may be the only minute in time that we get to encourage someone.  It may be the only time someone will be able to hear the Gospel.  It may be the last chance we have to soothe an aching heart, show kindness or even to lift our Savior's name in praise while we are on this earth.  

I have been becoming more aware of how often the Lord's name is used in less than appropriate ways.  The predominance of cuss words in our society has grown exponentially.   They even come from the mouths of the very young.  Unfortunately, this type of language has become accepted worldwide and even some who avow to be Christians use them without thinking.  

I wonder.....if the epitaphs on our tombstones were the last words we uttered, what kind of an impact would they leave?   If we wish to leave a legacy of hope that points to an Almighty God who provided a way for all of our sins to be forgiven then we need to choose our words carefully.  

Today's verse tells us that whatever we say or do we should do in the name of Jesus.  This may be our last chance to do that.  So, I encourage each of us to examine our words and deeds to ensure that they are pointing others toward Him.  

May He guide and teach us through His mercy and grace.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Here's Why I Do This

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  John 3:16-17  (NIV)  

I have been asked about why I began writing my weekly messages.  Actually, it was at the request of my husband.  Four years ago, the Lord laid on his heart to begin a blog to share His Word with all who would find it.  After considering it for awhile, he was obedient.  Each day several verses are shared and for Sundays and special days like Christmas Eve, he writes a message of his own.  Near the end of the first year of the blog, he asked me if I would contribute a message for the middle of the week.

For five years, before we moved to Georgia, we had partnered in a ministry in a retirement facility for those who were able to live independently.  During the Sunday services, we praised through music and song, my husband preached and I brought a word of encouragement.  Those dear ones so touched our lives that it was heart-wrenching to have to leave them.  During those years, we formed fast friendships, listened to life stories, sat with them when they were ill and performed several funeral services.  

No matter what I have done in my life, I have tried to be faithful in sharing God's love with those around me.  Eventually, He placed me in Christian schools where I had the opportunity to minister to children and their families.  So, when I was asked to write these messages, I saw it as a way to continue sharing hope, love and encouragement and prayed that whoever needed to see the messages would find them.  

Jesus told us to "go into all the world and share the Gospel".  It isn't to be treasured secretly in our own hearts, but to be shouted from the rooftops.  Our lives are short and our time to spread His story is limited.  Every moment matters for eternity.  Life is hard and people are suffering.  They need to hear the Good News about forgiveness and salvation.  They need to know that if they will only repent and believe in Him, they will live with Him forever.  

In the four years that we have been posting, our blog has been read by people all over the world.  Russian, the Ukraine, Sweden, Israel, various countries in Africa, Japan, and China are just some of the places that it has been seen.  This has been our way to reach out to the world.  We may never know how it has affected these dear people, but God knows and we trust Him to use our tiny little offering to change lives for His glory.  

My messages are brief each week, but it is a way for me, someone who is pretty much home-bound, to be able to share God's love with others.  There is always a way and if we ask the Father to show us that way, He will be faithful and do just that.  

My love and prayers are with all who are reading this and I pray that hearts are touched and that thoughts are directed toward Jesus and His great grace.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - More or Less

"He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less."  John 3:30  (NLT)

Social media is everywhere.  It seems that almost everyone has an account on a site where they can share what's going on in their lives.  Selfies, pictures of the food that is being served, families posing together, babies, home decor and the list goes on.  But there is one thing that is most notable about these sites.  They provide a place for us to indulge our egos.  

I will admit that there have been times when I have posted something and then checked again and again to see who is "liking" or "loving" what I have posted.  I had to get over that because if it was something really dear to me, like a picture of my child, then I was upset if I either didn't get a lot of response or if more people only "liked" rather than "loved."  My ego was hurt.  Why?  Because my purpose in sharing was all about me. 

If we stay within ourselves, if we keep our focus inward, then how can we reach out to anyone else?  If we are more concerned with all things personal rather than spending our time in concern for what those around us need, then not only will we miss a lot of joy, but we will also be sinning.  

Philippians 2:3-4 says, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Our goal, as Christians, is to be like Christ.  If we study His life, how often to do we see Him more worried about Himself than He is those around Him or those in the crowds that came to hear Him?  Granted, He was fully God and fully human and we are only fully human.  We aren't perfect as He was perfect, however, through His grace and mercy, if we spend more time learning about Him and walking with Him, then He will begin to change our hearts and teach us how be more like Him.

Simply put, it needs to be more and more about Jesus and less and less about ourselves.  Rather than posting attention getting selfies, we can use our social media time to honor our Savior.  It is far greater to have His approval than that of man. 

There are so many opportunities to show His love.  Many people need prayers and encouragement.  It costs nothing more than a little bit of time to reach out and be supportive. 

This week, my challenge is that we all take inventory of how we represent ourselves and the Lord in any of our interactions with others.  What is our focus?   Are we seeking personal approval or are we pointing the way to the One who loves us more than any person on earth ever will?  God bless.

Mid-Week Message - The Bigger Mystery

 "If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing."  1 Corinthians 13:2  (MSG)

I enjoy a good mystery.  In fact, I almost titled this message, "Who Killed Hank Pittleman" because that is the question in the book I am now reading.  But the eternal mysteries, those that we don't have the ability to understand completely, are not of this world but of God, and I don't want to cast any earthly shadow over any of them.  

How can the human mind grasp fully that the Lord has no beginning and no end?  Everything in our world has a beginning and an end.  Even though we say the right words when asked about His existence, we can't really understand it.  

And how can three be one?  The Trinity consists of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  God in three persons, as the song says.  If Jesus is God, then how was God still in heaven while Jesus was on earth?  If Jesus is God, then why does Jesus pray to God the Father?  

How is He able to be everywhere at once?  With the billions of people on the earth, how can He hear us all at the same time?  

Mysteries.  And there are Bible scholars who can explain it all, up to a point.  

According to today's verse, all that knowledge is worthless if we don't have love.  And there are many who proclaim to be "Christians" who refuse to reach out to those who are hurting or lonely or hungry.  

There are some behind the pulpit who are terrific orators.  They can deliver a biblical message that will knock your socks off.  And some of those churches grow to unbelievable numbers.  However, one on one with some of these preachers will reveal that they actually take no interest in anything except the messages they preach.  They rely on assistant pastors to do all the "people" work because they take no interest in what their flock is going through.  

And that is the bigger mystery to me.  I don't worry about how God created the universes, or how He does any of what He does.  It is enough for me that He knows and I have placed my faith in Him and trust Him completely.  But I cannot figure out how someone could be filled with the Holy Spirit and not love their fellow human beings.  Which makes me wonder if they are truly Christians or not.  

This world is in pain.  A quick look at the news will reveal that no matter where we go, there are those who are crying out for someone to care.  If we are to be like our Savior, if we are to make any difference at all, then we must be willing to reach out with the love He has demonstrated and placed within us.  That is our purpose.  We bring glory to our Creator when we minister to those who are in need of His touch.  

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.  Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you did for me."  Matthew 25:35-40  (NIV)

Mid-Week Message - Simple Blessings

 "The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."  Proverbs 11:25 (NLT) 

I have written before about the ministry my husband and I had in Cedar Park, TX several years ago.  We had the honor of providing the Sunday worship service and the Wednesday evening Bible study for an independent living retirement facility.  We served there for a full five years and we will both tell you that it was a great privilege to get to know so many delightful people.  We learned about their younger lives, their careers, their children, and their life experiences.  We also walked with many of them through illnesses.  We literally held their hands as we sat by hospital beds, or as we listened as they told us of a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or cancer.  And, we provided several memorial and graveside services.  

We loved those folks, most of whom are gone now.  But what we learned from them and the memories we made will stay with us forever.  

I was reminiscing today about greeting each of them as they came into the theater room that we used for services.  Each Sunday morning I would stand at the back and hand out the bulletin for the week and hug them.  At some point, I kissed one of the men on the cheek and then went to wipe off the lipstick that I had left there, but he stopped me.  "No, no," he said.  "I want that to stay there."  Once one of them had a kiss mark, the others wanted one so I always made sure I wore a lipstick shade that was bright enough to be seen.  

As I was reliving those precious moments, I realized that walking around the building with that lipstick on their cheeks was a blessing for them.  It was an attention getter, a conversation starter and it made them feel special for a little while.  As I pondered that, I wondered about the little things that we can do that may not be anything much to us, but just might bring a smile or a bit of joy into someone else's life.  

The Lord has gifted each of us with various abilities.  Maybe you are one who likes to bake.  Perhaps, you are a good listener.  Some of us love to read and could possibly spend some time reading out loud to a dear one that has trouble seeing the words.  Are you an artist?  Could you do little drawing and include an encouraging scripture to cheer someone up?  

The older I get, the more I understand how much we need each other.  We weren't created to be isolated and alone.  And we weren't put on this earth to think only of ourselves.  When we use our talents and abilities to bless others, their lives are brightened but so are ours.  It is incredibly fulfilling to give the gifts of love and encouragement to another.  As today's verse tells us, "those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed."  

My heart warms when I think about those lipstick marks.  Such a little thing but it meant so much to those men, most of whom were widowers.  It cost me nothing but a dab of red from a tube.  And now that they are gone, I am the one carrying the joy of those smiles and I thank the Lord that He gave me such a joyous opportunity.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - The Most Important Thing

 "Look!  He comes with the clouds of heaven.  And everyone will see him - even those who pierced him.  And all the nations of the world will mourn for him.  Yes!  Amen!"  Revelation 1:7  (NLT)

If the Lord sent a message from Heaven that clued us in on when Jesus would return, how would we handle that news?  As Christians, we believe He is returning, but somehow that day always seems far off.  

So, I ask you, if that date were one hundred years from today, would anything change?  Almost all of us will have passed away from this earthly life by that time, and we know we will not live that long, so would we do anything different?  Would we seek out anyone to share the Good News?  Or would we think that the time is so far in the future that we have plenty of time?  No, we won't be alive by then but what about our grandchildren or great-grandchildren?  Is there anything that we would want to leave behind for them to find that would give testimony to our belief in Christ?  

One hundred years does seem far away, so suppose the time of His returning was fifty years from today?  Still, many of us will no longer be present here, but our children may.  Do we assume that we have set a good enough example for them to follow?  What do they see as they watch us navigating these days?  Are we truly living the faith we profess?  Would we make needed alterations in our lifestyles today or would we count on having plenty more years to do so?  Are we confident that there will be time before our deaths to seek forgiveness from those we have wronged and to reach out to those we know have not accepted Jesus as their Savior?  

If we knew that in twenty years we would see Him return in the clouds, would we be willing to "go and make disciples of all nations?"  Could we find it within ourselves to leave comfort behind so that others might believe in Him and repent of their sins?  If we were not able to go to other lands, would we be willing to walk across the street?  Could we take a Bible and proclaim the Truth on the street corners?  Would twenty years investing in the lives around us feel like too much, or not enough?  

Ten years is a much shorter time than the hundred years we began with.  Even ten years can feel like a lengthy time when we have so many responsibilities and goals to accomplish.  How many of those ten years would we be willing to invest in sharing the Gospel?  How much more time would we spend with our families and friends to be sure they had a personal relationship with the Savior?  

If five years from today was the day that we would see Him face to face, how would we prepare?  Would we examine our lives and begin to remove from our surroundings those things that we would not want to be found with?  Would we stop listening to questionable music and watching movies that contained material that we would be embarrassed for Him to see us watching?  Would we begin to spend more time with our Bibles and less time discussing sports scores?  What would become most important?  

I'm sure we would all be making some big changes if we knew the date was only one year away.  We would definitely see the days counting down and begin to feel the urgency.  At least I hope we would.  

And what if that day was tomorrow?  Would you be ready?  Would you be trying to witness to everyone you could or would you hole up in your home with your family and just wait?  

I know that this message is different from what I usually write.  But, as Matthew 24:36 tells us, "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.  Only the Father knows."  So, in reality, He could return at any of these times or in ten minutes from now.  

What we do at this very moment needs to matter for eternity's sake.  While we may think we have plenty of time, we cannot know that for sure.  Not only might He return at any time, but our own lives might end at any time.  You cannot take for granted that everyone you know will lay their head upon a pillow tonight.  They need to hear about Jesus.  As do our neighbors, those who work for us, people we meet in public and even the poor homeless folks that we turn our heads away from when we see them on the street.  We are all made in the image of God and He loves us all.  The task He left us with was to tell everyone about Him.  No matter how much time we have left, that is the most important thing.  

Mid-Week Message - The Dash

 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8  (NIV)  

I take part in a number of pages on a particular social media site that are Christmas related.  With Christmas being my favorite holiday, I enjoy seeing the pictures all year round and sharing that enjoyment with others,  On one of those pages, in order to contribute, I have been researching the stories behind Christmas songs, and have found some pretty interesting facts about some of them.  

Just as every song has a story, so does every person.  We may, at times, forget that the person begging on the street, just like us, has a history that includes people that have loved them.  They had a childhood.  They went to school.  They had friendships, hopes and dreams.  There is a story behind how they ended up where they are now.  

When you look at a tombstone, generally you see at least three things.  One is the name that identifies the person buried there.  Accompanying the name are two dates.  One is the date of birth and the other is the date of death.  But in between those two dates there is usually a dash.  That dash signifies the period of time when that person was living and experiencing life.  

Here is the question of the day.  How are you spending your dash?  Hebrews 9:27 tells us that people are destined to die.  Although we are aware of that, it is so easy to assume that the day of our death is far in the future.  In truth, we have no idea how long our dash will be, and, as we grow older, our death grows nearer.  Is that scary?  I doesn't have to be.  

In John 10:9-10 Jesus tells us, "Yes, I am the gate.  Those who come in through me will be saved.  They will come and go freely and find good pastures.  The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."  

And in John 14:2-3 He says, "My Father's house has many rooms; if that we not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."  

From those two verses we gain assurance that Jesus will be with us during our lives and that we will be where He is after our deaths.  As we live through the dash years, our responsibility is to seek His guidance, through the Word of God, as to how to navigate our days.  Todays verse gives us some direction.  We are to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.  

Our days upon this earth will come to an end.  But we have this day, this moment, to make the most of the life the Lord has gifted us with.  That man or woman on the street, or in line at the grocery store, or showing road rage on the highway, may not know that Jesus gave His life to atone for their sins and was resurrected to conquer death and give them eternal life in heaven.  As believers, we have so much to share with them!  If there is an opportunity to share Christ with another person, we need to lay the fear of rejection aside and tell them.  We need to be praying for those around us and asking the Father to guide them through their dashes too.  Friend, stranger or enemy - everyone needs to hear the Gospel.  

This day is part of our dashes.  It is up to us how we spend it.  I hope we all make it count for eternity.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - From Dirty to Clean

 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  Isaiah 1:18  (KJV)

There are some things that just make me happy.  Though others may find it odd, one of those things is a new toothbrush.  When it is time to replace an old one, I get a sense of excitement at the cleanliness that I will feel in my mouth after I brush.  I'm sure it is just a perception tied to the fact that the brush is new, but, for whatever reason, I relish it.  

It is the same with a good shower or bath.  After the soap and water have done their job, I feel better physically, but also emotionally and mentally.  I'm sure you feel that way too.  When we are nice and clean we feel more acceptable.  More secure.  

I have always been entranced by the picture of the blood of Jesus washing away the sin from our lives.  I recently was listening to a street preacher who was asking a young man if he believed that people needed God in their lives.  When the answer unsure, the preacher asked the young man if he had ever done wrong things.  Had he ever told a lie?  Had he ever lusted after women?  Had he ever stolen anything?  The listener said yes. The preacher confessed that he himself had done some of these things as well.  Because of the sins each of them committed they would be found dirty and unacceptable to God.  

But then the good news.  Because of His great love, God sent His Son Jesus to take the punishment for the sins each of us commit.  When Jesus died on the cross, the blood that was shed had the power to wash all the sin from our lives and to make us clean and pure.  

He didn't ask the young man if he had ever read the Bible, he simply shared the Gospel with him.  When the young man left, he took with him a Bible and, with tears in his eyes, he said he wanted to know more.  

We don't have to know everything there is about Jesus to accept what He did for us.  We will spend all of eternity learning at His feet.  Likewise, we don't have to know everything in the Bible to share the Gospel.  While we need to be spending time in the Word, we know the Gospel story.  We know why Jesus came, what He did, where He is now and why we need Him.  And we know that those around us may never hear about Him unless we tell them.  

I have no idea how much longer it will be before Jesus returns.  No one does.  But we need to live as if His return is imminent.  There are people in our lives who have not experienced His saving grace.  Maybe some in our own families.  If He were to return tonight or tomorrow, would any of us regret not taking the opportunity to summon up the courage to share Him with those folks?  

For all who are struggling or hurting right now, I want you to know that I love you, but more importantly that our Father in Heaven loves you and sees what you are going through and hears your cries.  My prayer is that He will enfold you in His holy arms and hold you so close that you will physically feel Him.  May His mercy and grace be with us all.  

Mid-Week Message - Last Chances

"How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?  Your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone."  James 4:14  (NLT)

It was a morning like any other.  My friend, Craig, got up and got ready for work, said goodbye to his wife, and was off for another day.  His habit was to take the Park and Ride into Seattle and that is what he would have done this day as well.  

Throughout the day, Janine called him, but always got his voicemail.  It was uncharacteristic for him not to return her calls, but she figured he was having a busy day.  As time went on, she called his co-workers and asked if he was really busy.  They said he wasn't at his desk but didn't hint at anything being wrong.  When she hadn't heard from him by time for him to arrive back home, she went to the Park and Ride to meet him.  Neither he nor his car was there.  She went to the next Park and Ride and he wasn't there either.  

By this time she was worried so she stopped in at the Sheriff's office and asked if there had been any accidents that day.  And that is how she found out that he had been killed early that morning when he hit black ice, lost control of the car, and went over an embankment into some trees.  

Although I spoke on this subject recently, the need is strong on my heart to do so again.  This world is rapidly changing in ways that I never thought I would see in my lifetime.  

With the advent of the virus has come isolation to the point that we are not even allowed to visit loved ones in the hospital if they get sick.  Though some facilities are beginning to allow family members in at crucial times. some are not even allowing anyone to be by the bedsides of dying loved ones to say their goodbyes.  

Anytime someone walks out our doors, we have no way of knowing for sure that they will return.  Life can end in the blink of an eye.  I know a family that were having a gathering (pre-COVID).  The father of the family stepped out to get the luggage out of the van.  When he didn't come back in right away, others went to see if he needed help.  What they found was their dad lying in the street dead.  His heart had just stopped.  No warning signs.  Here one minute and gone the next.  

Scripture is very clear that our lives are fragile.  We were not meant to be in this world eternally.  That is why it is so very important to share the Gospel with everyone we can and to tell people what they mean to us while they are still hear to listen.  There is a finite amount of time left to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  There will for sure come a time when it is too late.  

I remember standing by Craig's casket and talking about the memories I had of him and what he meant to me.  As I was doing so, I wished that I had told him personally, rather than telling the crowd that was there to grieve him.  But, the last chance I had to do that had come and gone without me even being aware.  

I wholeheartedly urge each of us to forego our shyness and fears and take advantage of today to express our love to our families and friends.  We also need to voice our gratitude to those who perform any service for us.  We have to start asking the Lord to help us share His story, no matter how it is received.  How will they hear if they are not told?

How many last chances have occurred in your life?  Every single time we are with someone might be the last.  Please don't take the days for granted.  Love now.  Appreciate now.  And love and appreciate enough to tell them about Jesus, while there is still time.     

Mid-Week Message - Be Transformed

 "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."  Romans 12:2  (NLT)  

There are so many things that my parents said to me that I will never forget.  Things like, "If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?"  Or, "I don't care what they are allowed to do, I'm not their mother!"  Which of us can't relate?  When we are young we want to do what we perceive  "everyone else" is doing, or have what "everyone else" has.  Thank the good Lord for wise parents!  

Especially when we are young, peer pressure is a mighty force.  Desiring friends, we attempt to dress the same way, act the way they do and speak the same language as those we want to be grouped with.  It is important to us to be seen with the right people so others will know that we belong.  Unfortunately, that desire often leads in the wrong direction and those we align ourselves with lead us into activities or lifestyles that we should never have been a part of.  

Good parents, knowing this, make every effort to instill in their children the knowledge that they are individuals with their own talents and gifts and that they should be true to who they know they are rather than compromising their principles just to be liked.  They get them involved in activities and groups that support the wishes they have for their child rather than abandoning them to find their own way. 

The verse today speaks of much the same thing.  Our Father in Heaven desires to transform us so that His good and pleasing and perfect will might be accomplished in and through us.  

I'm a reader and I love seeing how authors weave their stories.  Each character is different as is their purpose in the story.  When each of us was created, God had a purpose in mind.  Because of that, we were each given different personalities.  We like and dislike different things.  Some can play the violin, some can run fast, some are happiest when serving others.  His signature is on each soul and He is the One, if we allow Him to, who writes our individual stories.

But there is more than that.  Each of our stories is part of something greater.  Jesus was sent to atone for the sins of the world.  We are connected, you and I, through Him.  When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we become children of God and are one in Christ.  

As His children, we need to seek His will and allow Him to transform our minds through spending time with Him in His Word and in prayer.  While we are in this world that will pass away and where evil is rampant, we should remember that eternity with the Lord awaits us and He has a job for us.  While time remains, we need to make sure that we share the Gospel with all that we can so that they, too, might come to have a personal, eternal relationship with God the Father.  

My heart is heavy for this world as I see more and more people choosing to conform rather than allowing themselves to be transformed.  We have no promise for tomorrow so we never know when the last chance to accept Him will come.  My prayer is for urgency to be in the hearts of those who love Him and that many will hear the truth and reach for Jesus.  God bless!