Challenges

Whew!

Boy oh boy! It has been a jam packed 2 weeks. Missions conferences, family pictures and my sister and brother in law visiting fresh off their survey trip to Mongolia! What a few weeks it's been!

I love church meetings, especially Missions Conferences and this year we were blessed to have Brother Mike Fluech and his family here. They are missionaries to Malawi and South Africa. There is just something about getting away from life and the world and work and getting together night after night with your church family, singing sweet soul-stirring songs and hearing some good preaching from the Word of God. Special things happen during special meetings. Lives are changed and decisions are made during these meetings.

God challenged me during this conference. Each night the sermon was different yet there was one idea that kept pricking at me each night. They preached about not sitting on the bench, just go out and try doing something for God, don't put boundaries around God, He can do anything and He just might want to do something special through you.

Then yesterday we had Brother Adrian Dominguez here. He didn't know what Brother Fluech preached on but he preached about Christians not giving excuses and to use the talents that God has given you, don't focus on what talents others may have but focus and use those talents He has given you.

Well, after sitting under that preaching (consistent preaching) and God continually tugging on my heart, I have no other choice but to lay this talent on His alter. I have to give it to Him.

I know my limitations, my short-comings, my capabilities but God knows all those too and yet, He is stilling tugging away at my heart and always bringing up this challenge...telling me to do it...just try it.

I don't want to give God boundaries. I want to do something great for Him. Heck, I just want to do something for Him, anything for Him...and pray that it may bring Him glory.

So, Christian or reader of this here blog, I ask that you please pray for me as I lay this challenge down and give it to God and see what He would like me to do with it. I also ask that you pray for yourself, take at look at the talent or talents that He has given you. Don't waste them, Christian. Use them for His glory! Don't put God in a box! Don't limit God! He's surprise you! Let Him do great things for you, all you have to do is be willing.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 2:13

Silent Christians

Another month rolls around and I find myself feeling obligated to apologize for the lack of posts on this site. I wouldn't be surprised if no one reads these anymore as it seems like forever since my last post. I could blame it on the busyness of my recent schedule, or the writer's block that grips my fingers when I log in and have a staring contest with the blank white screen. But let's be honest here, any excuse is just that: an excuse.

But tonight, I have something to write about. I can't seem to shake this thought that God gave me tonight.

Tonight was the opening service of my church's annual Missions Conference. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this kind of event, we set aside a few days out of the week (Wed - Sunday) and have church services every night. Yes, you read that correctly, EVERY night. The guest speakers are missionaries. Men, women and families who at one point in time, sat in a pew each week too but then God decided to use them, take them to a foreign country to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people who may have never before heard of his name.

This year we are blessed to have the Fleuchs with us. They serve God in Malawi and South Africa. Brother Fleuch was preaching about how missions is basically soul-winning and then he continued to talk about great soul winners throughout history. He then began to narrow it down to the greatest soul winner of all time : Satan.

He talked about "wide is the gate that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go therein" and how Satan has blinded the lost, how he has blinded people from seeing their need for Jesus Christ. Then he talked about how we (Christians) help the Devil with this. We help by not saying anything. We help by not giving out a gospel tract to the barista who fill our coffee mug every morning, or the attendant at the gas station we fill up at once a week or even our own uncle, or dad or brother.

That's when I got this haunting thought:

The road to Hell is lined with silent Christians.

I wonder, Christian, if we will be silent. If we will be silent on that day of judgment, as we stand and watch our loved ones, our co-workers, our best friends stand before God only to realize that they - just like everyone else (myself included) have come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Will we be silent as they are carried away, away from His presence, led to the edge and then tossed into the lake of fire and ever- lasting torment. Will we be silent, Christian, as they scream while falling deeper and deeper into the flames and torturing heat?

If we wouldn't be silent then, why should we be silent now? Now is when there is time to change their destination! Now is the appointed time! Now is not too late!

"Awake to righteousness and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." 1 Corinthians 15:34

Get up, Christian! Speak out! Seize the day for the Lord! Carpe Diem Domino!

If you are reading this and are unsure of where you would spend eternity if you died TODAY, then please think about it. Send me an email or call me and I would be more than happy to show you out of the Word of God about how you can know for sure (yes, that is a 100% guarantee!) that you will go to Heaven when you die or click on the FREE GIFT page of this site. If you have any questions though, please contact me. It's your soul. It's eternity. it's important.

Christian, don't be a silent Christian, standing on the sideline, allowing lost souls to enter into Hell while you have duct tape over mouth. Get out there, tell the world about Jesus and what He has done for you! Is He not worthy?

Is He enough for you?

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9a

My grace is sufficient for thee.

Do we really believe that?

If you desire to be a parent and yet, God has not yet brought you a child, is He enough for you?

If you desire to be married and He has not yet brought you a spouse, or even if His will is for you to remain single, is He enough for you?

If you are married and your spouse is taken from you, will He be enough for you? If He decides to take one of your children, whom you have loved and cared for since their very conception, is He enough for you?

The Bible tells us that his grace is sufficient and that verse is commonly used to bring comfort to someone in a time of trouble but today, my friend I am going to give you other verses that highlight why He alone, He within Himself is sufficient and ought to be enough for each of us, no matter our circumstance or trial.

"O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens." Psalm 8:1

His name is excellent and his glory is above even the very heavens!

"I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons." Psalm 16:7

He gives me counsel.

"I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliver: my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." Psalm 18:1-2

When I am weak, He is my strength. He is my rock.

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1

He's my shepherd. He watches over me, looks out for me, protects me and provides for me. What more could I want?

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

I have no need to fear anything because I have Him! (what a comfort that is!)

"The voice of the Lord is powerful: the voice of the Lord is full of majesty." Psalm 29:4

His very voice is full of power and majesty. Who else gets that description?

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

When the storms of life are raging and you are unsure of where to go, the trials of this life are leaving you stuck in a downpour, how wonderful it is to cleave to Him...our refuge. Our protector. He is always there with us. Ready to help when we need it.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Just because He is GOD.

"For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." Psalm 47:7

He is KING.

"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times: ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah." Psalm 62:7-8

I can trust in Him. I can pour my heart out to Him. He will protect it.

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is." Psalm 63:1

He is my God. I ought to thirst and long for Him. (When was the last time you longed for Him?)

"For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth." Psalm 71:5

He is my hope. *sigh* So glad I can have my hope in Him. The One who has overcome the world and overcome death. I don't have to hope in a stock market or hope in myself. I can hope in Him.

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word." Psalm 119:114

We can hide ourselves in Him.

"and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God,The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6b

He is wonderful. He is mighty. He is our Father. He gives peace like no one else can. :)

"And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:16

WoooooHooooo!! That's MY God!! He's on MY side!

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Revelation 21:6

Everything begins with HIM. Everything ends with HIM. Yeah, that's enough for me. Seems to me that He's got it all covered.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Revelation 21:4

God can wipe away death, sorrow and pain.

A God that will even wipe the very tears from my eyes, yeah, pretty sure He is more than enough for me.

Is He enough for you?

We are family

There is no family, like God's family.

A couple years ago some good friends of mine had a son who was born with heart issues. He had to go through several surgeries and there were definitely some scary moments. A group was started online and God's people prayed. People all across the world, not just city, state or even country...no, all across the world people prayed for this family and for this little boy. It was amazing.

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16

I was fortunate enough to be able to see some of the results firsthand of those prayers that went up for Charlie Smith. God worked miraculously, for sure.

And it seems to be happening again.

Last week I heard of a girl, Katy Andresen, who found out she has stage 4 cancer and it is in her bones. I met Katy years ago when I went to Florida to visit my brother while he was in Bible school. I can't say that I know her all that well but I do know that she is one of those sweet people who leaves a great, lasting first impression.

It has been less than a week since I heard about Katy and this battle she is now faced with but within that week, a group started online to pray for her. I joined and invited others to do so as well and I will continue to pray for her and her friends and family. As I sent the link out to others though, I realized there were already hundreds of people in the group and I know that group is only a fraction of those actually praying for her but I realized how amazing it is that people all across the world are connected...through Him.

"Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2

It is such a priviledge to be able to "bear one another's burdens". It can be so comforting to know that there are people out there, talking to God (the one who created all!) and they are talking about you. It's something you can only get by being in God's family.

So please, pray for Katy. But also, look around and pray for those around you as well. Bear someone's burden with them today and when the time comes when your burden feels too heavy, before you know it, you'll have a brother or sister in Christ, come along side you and bear that burden with you in prayer.

I love being a part of His family. It's the best.

Just how He is...

I had a rough week last week. It started out good. I mean, any week that starts out with the Hokie Pokie and the Chicken Dance is bound to be a good week, right?

Well, it came to a screeching halt on Tuesday. It was just a regular day at the office. Actually, it was a really good day at the office. I had 2 compliment calls from customers - in the same day! However, for some reason, in the afternoon I just got hit with this overwhelming feeling that what I do is worthless.

I have so many desires to serve God, to fulfill the desires He's placed within me. I'd much rather spend my time writing or doing photography than sitting in a cubicle talking about health insurance, taking on every body else's problems. I was struggling. Struggling to be content. This has a tendency to be a domino effect...once I find discontentment in one are my life, all the other areas where discontentment could be found suddenly arise.

By Wednesday I had plenty on my list of things to be discontent about and I definitely let it effect me. I know better though. So I prayed that afternoon that God would help me to be content.

Well, guess what?! He answered that prayer.

Wednesday night I go to church and the preacher says, "Open your Bibles to 1 Timothy 6:6".

If you are not familiar with that verse, here it is: "But godliness with contentment is great gain."

Do you ever have those moments in church where as soon as something is said, you all of the sudden have a feeling that everyone else just left and you are the only person sitting there to get preached to?

That would have been me on Wednesday night. The preacher talked about being covetous and he was speaking more in terms of monetary and materialistic coveting and although I may not always covet those things, there are still things that I covet and God commanded us not to covet...period. He didn't just give us a a list of things not to covet, He said don't covet.

As I drove home that night from church, I couldn't help but smile and chuckle. I was really thankful that God heard and answered my prayer. "Amy, you asked for help with being content? Okay then, go to church and listen up!"

Just like that.

That is just how He is...

He hears our prayers. He loves us. He cares for us. He provides for us. He thinks about us.

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with thee." Psalm 139:17-18

That is just how He is...

Commited?

Commitment:

1. responsibility: something that takes up time or energy, especially an obligation

2. loyalty: devotion or dedication, e.g. to a cause, person, or relationship

I made a commitment on Wednesday night. It was a commitment to God. While kneeling at the altar and discussing with the Lord the things He had stirred up within my heart during the preaching, I made a commitment to Him. He told me if I was serious about this commitment, I ought to mark it. Write it down so it can be a reminder.

Isn't that what we do with most commitments these days? If you decide to go to college and put forth the time and effort and money, the end result of that commitment is reflected and remembered with a diploma? When two people decide to get married and commit themselves to one another, don't they also sign a marriage certificate? When you purchase a cell phone, a car, or a house, you sign a contract, which documents your commitment, right?

Yeah, God gave me some pretty convincing reasons on why I should document this commitment. He had good foresight (as always) too, because today, I needed a reminder of not just the commitment I made with Him the night before, but also a reminder of how I felt when I made that commitment.

I have had trouble sleeping lately (and by lately I mean for the past few months...) but last night was glorious! I slept like a log. All night. I don't remember when or if my alarm even went off this morning. If it did, I managed to turn it off...and continued to sleep. Until 7:27 am. (I usually leave for work at 7:30.) So I woke up and went into panic/frenzy mode all morning - got to work (just in the nick of time). Whew. Spent all day answering questions and taking on everybody else's problems. The day seemed to drag by slower and slower.

The last thing I wanted to do was rush home, change clothes and go street preaching.

But I made a commitment. A commitment to stand in the gap. A commitment to tell them. A commitment to not be ashamed...to not be afraid. A commitment to really, fully , whole-heartedly do what I can to fulfill my responsibility of the great commission.

But I had a headache. Actually, my whole head was throbbing.

But I made a commitment.

Could I really not hold up my commitment for 24 hours?

Shameful.

That's why I am glad I wrote down my commitment. I didn't have a choice. Headache or no headache. Comfortable or not. No matter if I was tired or energized, worn out and drained or pumped and ready to go...I made a commitment.

I opened this post with the definition of commitment and I want to be sure to address my purpose for doing so. Many these days do not hold up their commitments (take divorce rates for one example). People back out of their commitments all the time.

People including Christians. I am sure I am not the only one who has ever gone forward during an invitation and have knelt down and prayed with God and committed something to Him only to let some time pass and before you know it, that commitment is broken.

My commitment to go street preaching tonight fit into the first definition of responsibility. I made a commitment to those in charge of it that I was going to be there (obligation) and it took my time and energy to go. I am glad I did. It was worth every moment of my time.

But the main reason I went tonight, in spite of the throbbing headache and empty stomach that growled, was definition #2: loyalty: devotion or dedication, e.g. to a cause, person, or relationship

I desire to be loyal....to Him. to be devoted....to Him. to be dedicated.....to Him.

His cause becomes my cause. He is the one person I did it for. We often do things to be an example to others, which is great and needful, but first and foremost HE needs to be the person we do anything and everything for. Thirdly, I have a relationship with Him and by serving Him tonight by standing on a street corner holding a sign with His words on it, well, that was time I got to spend with Him. It was time that offered an opportunity for growth in our relationship. That opportunity would have been lost had I decided to not go and run my errands instead.

His cause is worthy. He is worthy. My relationship with Him is worthy.

"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5

I want to be committed.

A good word

The other day I was encouraged when someone gave me a good word. It wasn't much. It didn't take much effort on their part. They simply were walking by, saw me, said a little sentence of encouragement and they went on their way.

But that one sentence meant something to me.

It meant they said something, when they didn't have to. They could have kept on walking and never said a word. It means that they meant what they said. They noticed something about me or something I had done and they remarked on it. They went out of their way, for just a moment.

That person may not even recall what they said to me, but I have thought about it numerous times in the past few days. It reminded me of a verse from Proverbs
"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad." Proverbs 12:25

We have the opportunity to take a heavy heart and make it glad...all it takes is a good word.

Who can you give a good word to this week? Do you know someone with heaviness in their heart?

My heart wasn't heavy at the moment of the conversation but I know it will be heavy at some point. It is at those moments when our "good words" come to mind. Good words that have been spoken to us and you know what, my heart does become glad when I think on and remember those good words.