Sign Me Up – I’ll Campaign for Him

In my email box yesterday morning was the news that the Democrats' presidential primary debate (last night) was narrowed down to the top twelve who met the polling and fundraising criteria. Now the rest of the candidates who demanded a lot of media attention before, will be overlooked when it comes to presidential consideration this term..

Overlooked means “being unnoticed”. I know that there is someone reading this blog that feels overlooked today. Maybe it is because you aren’t outgoing and prefer it that way. Maybe you were overlooked on a job promotion or overlooked at school because you were the quiet, less-commanding-attention-one.

That’s why, in my blog yesterday and today, I’m campaigning for Jesus. There are many things I love about Him but the thing I notice and love Him for so much is He doesn't overlook anyone. He went out of His way to bring hope to the rejected and outcast. It didn’t matter what others thought. He paid attention to everyone.

Matthew 4:24 says “..and His fame went out”. The cause of His fame is seen in verse 23: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness." When He healed a man of leprosy in Luke 5, “the report about Him went abroad” and as a result more people came to hear Jesus’ message and be healed by Him! Jesus’ fame took Him from obscurity to rock star status. It took Him from being an undiscovered talent to being the most sought after Man in the entire Holy Land, all because people were spreading the news about what He had done for them.“. He didn't even need social media!

So here I am today – actually everyday – being a reporter of His powerful work in me. He made me a survivor. Along with all those in the Bible that He didn’t overlook – He didn’t overlook me. So I MUST spotlight Him.. Has God done anything for you in the past week? Have you told anyone about what He’s done? Who will you tell? Together, we can make Jesus famous.

The first place where you and I can start is in our own little worlds. When we read the Great Commission in the gospels, we are told to make Jesus famous…to all nations and to the entire world (Acts 1:8). But the starting point is Jerusalem, the very place where the disciples are located. He says first make Me famous right where you live. The places we live, learn, work, play, shop. We can make Jesus famous by serving/loving the people around us. We can make Jesus famous through prayer. We can make Jesus famous by relying on the Holy Spirit. And we can make Jesus famous by speaking of His greatness.

Seriously, the world has its eyes on you and me. What is it about those Christians who live out love and only speak about love? Let’s make Jesus famous by consistently shining a spotlight on Him through the lives we live and the people we love.

“It is Jesus we preach, warning every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. (Colossians1:28).

But the Greatest of These is Love

Day 303 of Photo Inspirations -- But the Greatest of These is Love
#TBT -- These are photo inspirations from the Belize trip and the missions that my husband and I supported, along with training the pastors there, for many years. Then a year ago, our team headed to Mexico to be a part of the beautiful ministries that are doing so much to restore and help the people there. Such sweet memories!  Missions has been in our DNA for a long time.

Of course, there are so many missions opportunities right here at home in the U.S. and if you can get involved with any of them, I promise you, you will go in with the good intentions to bless them, but in reality, you will be the recipient of so many blessings. Here's just a few of the reasons to reach out to those who are not as fortunate as we are:

1)   It opens our eyes to the blessings we have in our lives.
2)   It opens our eyes to the "little things" we take for granted.
3)   It opens our hearts to the needs of others -- so much so, that we just can't help it....we just HAVE to give.

4)   It causes a "culture" shock that awakens our hearts of compassion.
5)   It causes those hard, crusty, dissatisfied and grumpy attitudes that are so easily a part of our lives....to dwindle to softness and appreciation.
6)   It causes blinders being taken off to see the needs of others far greater than our own needs.

7)   It causes us to re-evaluate spending senseless dollars on gifts for friends and family members that you know will be tossed in a corner or a drawer or even trashed, within just a few minutes or hours of having received them.

8)   It causes the mindset of "Thanksgiving" as truly being thankful for every blessing that God has brought into our lives.
9)   It causes a hunger to help support the precious people and volunteers who do what they do.

10) It causes unmistakable and contagious joy.
11) It causes us to evaluate just WHY we are here on this earth at this time.

As we focus on God and His Great Commission, everything will be radically altered—including our thoughts about the world and those in need -- our prayer life, our eating habits (including what things we’re willing to “try”), our disciplines in health and fitness, our family’s stewardship of faith and finances. A missions mindset will impact -- for eternity — our focus on our future and their future.

Could it possibly be that God's been waiting on us to live with PURPOSE -- making a difference on a daily basis of the lives of others?

There is just nothing that can top -- GIVING. And God just can't help it -- He ALWAYS exceeds the GIVING BACK in so many ways. What we received in our hearts from the beautiful people and children of Belize and Mexico far exceeded anything that we could have given.

How Could I Complain About.....Anything?

So why have I posted so much about our missions trip? And, what is the big deal about going on a missions trip, or even being missions-minded? And why take children with us on a missions trip?

1) It opens our eyes to the blessings we have in our lives.

2) It opens our eyes to the "little things" we take for granted.

3) It opens our hearts to the needs of others -- so much so, that we just can't help it....we just HAVE to give.

4) It causes a "culture" shock that awakens our hearts of compassion.

5) It causes those hard, crusty, dissatisfied and grumpy attitudes that are so easily a part of our lives....to dwindle to softness and appreciation.

6) It causes blinders being taken off to see the needs of others far greater than our own needs.

7) It causes us to re-evaluate spending senseless dollars on gifts for friends and family members that you know will be tossed in a corner or a drawer or even trashed, within just a few minutes or hours of having received them.

8) It causes the mindset of "Thanksgiving" as truly being thankful for every blessing that God has brought into our lives.

9) It causes a hunger to help support the precious people and volunteers do what they do.

10) It causes unmistakable and contagious joy.

11) It causes us to evaluate just WHY we are here on this earth at this time.

I truly get it -- that as we focus on God and His Great Commission, everything will be radically altered—including our thoughts about the world and those in need -- our prayer life, our eating habits (including what things we’re willing to “try”), our disciplines in health and fitness, our family’s stewardship of faith and finances. A missions mindset will impact—for eternity—our focus on our future and their future.

Could it possibly be that God's been waiting on us to live with PURPOSE -- making a difference on a daily basis of other lives?