Sharing a Sweet Homeward-Bound Moment

I share this homeward-bound moment to tell you that God is looking for messengers who are willing to be on assignment for Him. He is looking for the "whoevers" to step up and say "Pick me to help You carry out Your divine plans for this world. His plans for us were given to us by Jesus "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone." (Mark 16:15) And, what is that Good News? John told us in his exhortation from John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him, would not perish but have everlasting life." Now, that's Good News and it's also a homeward-bound reality!

Once upon a time, I felt pressured to share my faith. We handed out gospel tracts at events, street corners and even went door-to-door sharing the Good News. Though many were pros at it, It sure wasn’t my comfort zone. Now, my way is to be in the moment, being relaxed and waiting for the heaven-to-earth obvious timing -- an open door or an unquestionable nudge -- to be a light – God’s light to others.

Last week in Red River, NM, I blogged that a store owner had her Bible underneath a basket of crosses. She was overtly displaying her faith. Another store in that town was called “The Way” with a scripture message posted on their front window. They were overtly sharing their faith. I often wear a cross necklace or a t-shirt with a gospel message on it. Now, I wear my "Faith over Fear" face mask. It opened the door for conversation when someone said, "I like your face mask!" BTW, I got mine at Sam Moon's! Those are ways that we can plant a seed into someone’s life. I guarantee you – though many shun the Christian faith and Christian people, if those same folks come against hard times or illness – they search us out because they sense the God-factor in our lives.

What the world needs now is God’s love. How will others know unless they see or hear or feel that love from us? What if a grocery line, a doctor's office a nail or hair appointment became meeting places for divine appointments? I’ve become a listener to that “still small voice” for the opportunity to show God’s love or to speak of God's love. You see, I am overtly sharing the Good News every day in these blogs. I see many of you overtly sharing your faith, too, through your uplifting messages.

Did you know that we have the opportunity to be the answer to someone's prayer daily by simply staying aware of God's little nudges -- and being His voice and His hands extended to a hurting world that needs His love and peace?

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8.

The Darker the Night, the More Crucial our Light

At church on Sunday, during our public prayer petitions, we heard: “For the victims in the El Paso and Dayton, Ohio shootings, and for their families, we pray to the Lord”. I had not heard the news. I think: “Dear Lord, have mercy. More tragedy? More crazies with guns?”

I didn't watch the news, but I know gun laws are being debated again. No doubt, mental health is being analyzed again. And statements of remorse and promises of prayer are being offered. Coming up with solutions to keep us and our families safe is being considered. But where would that be? Especially since the El Paso shooting was at a Walmart and the Dayton shooting was at an outdoor food festival?

Most importantly, families are grieving the deaths of loved ones and those who were at the locations of the shootings will be wondering “What if I or my family were the victims?” Their lives have all been changed. And, what about us – where do we go where there isn’t a possibility that it could be us the next time?

But more important than analyzing, debating and trying to figure out the killers’ mental and spiritual health, gun control and keeping us safe in the future, what would Jesus do now? When Jesus encountered those who were suffering, his first reaction was not always to try and fix their problems. He typically started by listening to them, taking their hand, or simply weeping with them. He would get to the healing and bigger issues eventually but usually not before he’d taken the time to empathize with them and understand their pain. That’s who we should be for our friends, loved ones and even casual acquaintances. The darker the night, the more crucial our light.

I enjoy following the daily blogs of Dr. Jim Denison who brings spiritual insight and perspective to current events. He said this: “While society should obviously take all effective measures to protect itself, here’s my biblical point: Jesus can change any life He touches. He can heal any trauma. He can redeem any crisis. The God who turned a murdering Pharisee (Paul) into a missionary of grace can transform anyone.

The more secularized our culture becomes, the more evangelistic our churches must become. The more that people ridicule our prayers, the more they need our prayers. The more traumatized and victimized our society, the more vital our compassion. The greater the threat of violence, the more urgent our message. That’s why we must do all we can to reach the next shooters before they strike. We must use our influence to permeate our broken culture with biblical truth and grace. We must share God’s Word and love with everyone we can in every way we can.

One lesson of El Paso and Dayton is that every community is a mission field. As a result, every Christian is a missionary. Jesus is weeping beside twenty-nine graves today. He is calling us to join him with heartbroken compassion for the victims and their families and a renewed commitment to our gospel mandate. We are still the only “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). The darker the night, the more crucial our light.

This morning, I hear our Lord asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8). What is our answer to Him?”

Awareness of God is Possible 24/7

Being in Mexico with my kids for the last several days was a delight -- incredible food, birthday celebrations, playing in the surf on boogie boards, laying out on the beach under umbrellas (this very white girl stays covered for the most part), parasailing (you better believe this spring chicken didn't miss out on that thrill), jet ski riding (Brennan was the driver -- I held on tight to him shouting "Ride 'em cowboy" for which he shouted "Nana, you're like a 30-year old!" LOL! I'll take that. It really was a little piece of heaven on earth to spend such precious time with my family.

Flying home yesterday, I realized I had been out of sync with my normal prayer routines. That's okay, because I know I was in the moments of celebrating God's precious gift of family so, as a matter of fact, when we where speaking about God's blessings, about the beauty of His creation, about the love our family has for each other, about finding Braden's wedding ring that was temporarily lost in the ocean only to be found by a worker two days later, about the family times of prayer offering thanksgiving around the meal tables -- we were still in a prayer rhythm. I get that. When we're in love with the SOMEONE Who represents all of these blessings, we stay on a frequency of awareness of Him 24/7.

My flight from Zihuatanejo to Mexico City got me back into my prayer routine/rhythm. You see, for me, rather than setting specific times to pray, I do my best to lean into God throughout my day -- acknowledging Him and His love for me, so it's not surprising when He sets me up with divine appointments. Seems He surprises me quite often with special encounters -- only He could orchestrate. When I headed to my window seat on the airplane, a Mexican man in the aisle seat asked his wife on the other aisle seat to trade with him. She quickly told me he doesn't speak English and because she does, he thought it would be a good idea for her to sit by me. She was very conversational and asked about our vacation -- the usual "talk" between two tourists. When the talking subsided, I got out my devotional book and started to read, and then I started taking notes. She asked if I was a minister. I told her, if that means "Am I someone who loves to talk about God's love and faithfulness wherever I go, then "Yes, I'm a minister." She said she knew that by the way I talked -- and I had only used phrases like "so blessed", "so thankful", "beauty of God's creation". I loved that. She asked me to pray for her, and I didn't say, "Yes, I will." I said, "Let's pray now." After I prayed for her, her family, her heart's desire and for her to come to know Christ in a real and personal way, she prayed for me. Her prayer was that my life would continue to inspire people like I inspired her.

I share this sweet home-bound moment with you, my FB friends today, to let you know that God is looking for messengers who sincerely believe we are on assignment at this time, on this earth, to get involved with His plans and purposes.

Once upon a time, I felt pressured to share my faith. Now, it's a part of being in the moment, being relaxed and waiting for the obvious moment -- an open door -- to be a light -- His light to others. What if flights became God's meeting place for divine appointments? What if a grocery line, a doctor's waiting room, a nail or hair appointment became meeting places for divine appointments?

Did you know that we have the opportunity to be the answer to someone's prayer daily by simply staying aware of God's little nudges -- and being His voice and His hands extended to a hurting world that needs His love and peace?

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8.