Compassionate Evangelism

Dr. Tim Beougher, in his booklet Overcoming Walls of Witnessing, shares a true story about a pastor in the 1800's in Boston named John Vassar.  He was going door to door to invite people to church.  When he went up to the house right across the street from the church and knocked on the door, the lady of the house angrily opened the door and told him not to ever come to her house to talk about religion.  Vassar was so heart-broken at the woman's hard heart that he just wept on her front door steps.

Sharon Beougher

The next Sunday this same lady walked into the church and sat at the back.  After the service, Vassar went up to her and said he was glad, but surprised to see her at church.  He asked her what had changed her mind.  She said, "It was your tears. I had never seen anyone weep for me before."

Wow!  When was the last time you wept over a unbelieving family member, much less a stranger who was lost?  I am convicted by that!

Seeing the people, He felt compassin for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).

Lord, please develop in us hearts of compassion so that we may urgently share the Good News to a generation who is in desperate need of hearing Your message of hope!

A New Heart: Compassion

"Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36, New American Standard Bible).

As an old saying goes, cream rises to the top. I love this, because it means that baristas can create unique designs known as "latte art." These days, there are even competitions on latte art designs and talents.

One characteristic that rises to the top about God, to me, is compassion. In Matthew, chapters 5-9, we can read how Jesus was teaching, preaching and healing. In 9:36, the verse above, Jesus explains that He is the Good Shepherd who is concerned about the livelihood of His sheep. He is referenced as the "Lord GOD," the same way He is mentioned in Ezekiel 34. This Lord GOD is mighty and rules over all, yet He has this stand-out compassion that is more than any I have seen a human have. He sent His Son to die for our sins, as a sacrifice in our place, on the cross. He suffered so we could know Him on an intimate level, so sin wouldn't get in the way with us getting to know God.

This great compassion is seen in how God sees our sins clearly, but He loves us anyway. As His followers, He lives inside of us through the Holy Spirit, and He can help us also have compassion. We may see others' sin, but we realize we've sinned as well. Others need God just as much as we do, and God has the power to transform us from the inside out. God has gone above and beyond to reveal His compassion for us over time.

God can work in our hearts and help us show compassion to those around us. Unbelievers may not know what Jesus is like, and believers may forget form time to time. Let us pray that we will show compassion to others, just like our Savior showed us.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).

A New Heart

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12, New American Standard Bible).

Did you get to see the Golden Globes a week or so ago? I admit that I love watching for the clothes that are new and that show a certain style. Most clothes fit the tone of the star studded, glamorous event.

What life style fits just right for followers of Christ? The books of Colossians and Galatians talk about those things. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, He not only forgives us but also continues working in us. He is able to give us the strength to live out who He first made us to be.

The Spirit helps us have hearts more like Christ, filled with:

• Compassion
• Kindness
• Humility
• Gentleness
• Patience

I think I need help in all of those areas. That is completely okay, though - God has grace and is still working in me. Let's pray He continues to work in our hearts in the ways this verse described, now that we have been made new in Christ and have the Holy Spirit as our guide.

Lord, thanks for Your forgiveness and taking the old ways out of us. Grow us in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help us overflow with Your Spirit to others around us. Amen.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB). 

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from www.skiptomylou.org.

Happy Daddy's Day, LORD!

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;" Psalm 103:13

God loves you, and as His child, He has compassion on those who respect with awe His Holiness!

Who do we know that needs compassion from their "Abba, Daddy" GOD HIMSELF!?

There is no one like God and no love like His Love & Mercy that is New every morning!

As Father's Day is celebrated this coming weekend, join me thanking and celebrating our heavenly Father and His forever unconditional love that someone needs today!!

What are some ways that we can share God's Unconditional Love & Compassion with others that need Him?

They will know we are Christians by HIS ♥LOVE♥

Ways To Support Our Troops For The Summer

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs - he wants to please his commanding officer." 2 Timothy 2:1-4 (NIV)

Summer is here and we are all making summer plans that may include some new adventures and some needed vacation time. As we all make our plans, would you be able to join us in supporting our troops that are serving at home and away?

Here are some possible ways that we can all be used by the Lord to support our troops for the summer:

• Pray
• Encourage
• Affirm
• Care
• Evangelize

As our troops serve to keep our Freedom we can be used by God as "PEACE-makers" as they serve! We can Pray for them and their families, Encourage them with supportive notes, words and actions of Affirmation, take time to Care, and ask the Lord for souls to be saved through the witness of Military Chaplains and Christian troops that God has place in strategic places across our world!

If you would like someone specific in the military to support for the summer, or even longer, please e-mail me and I would be glad to share the address of one that we know personally!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-dgz9Ykvo

Sowing in Tears ~ Reaping With Shouts of Joy!

"When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, our mouths were filled with laughter then, and our tongues with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord had done great things for us; we were joyful. Restore our fortunes. Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves."

Psalm 126 (HCSB)

Just yesterday tears were flowing from my eyes without my ability to control them...was it because I could not get Fall season memories of my mother, that is now with Jesus, off of my heart...was it because I had just been through a huge opportunity of trusting Jesus with all my heart...or was it because I had the joy of sharing my testimony with a nurse that was serving me that caused me to think about all of the people that are facing tough times and may be without Jesus in their life?

The truth is that the tears flowed from my eyes because of ALL of the above at the same time!! As I cried I was reminded of Psalm 126 (that I have written out above) and John 11:35 "Jesus Wept"! Through my tears I thanked God that He has given me the ability to cry out to Him when I need nurturing, when I am afraid, and when my heart breaks for the lost of our world that need Jesus!

What greater calling could we have than a season of tears that all lead back to "Jesus Wept"! We are in good company my friend when we have tender hearts that weep with those that weep and rejoice with those that rejoice. What greater opportunity we have as "The Lord's Gifted2Go Witness" to walk in the sensitivity and compassion of Jesus that cares about those that are needing Him! There is no greater JOY than to be willing to enter a lost person's world to share the HOPE that they are searching for desperately! Will You Go With Us?!

Weeping may last for a night (season) but Joy comes in the morning! Don't hold back or push down those tears that water the seeds that are sown for Jesus...water makes seeds GROW!!:-) As gifted2go witnesses for Christ keep sowing those seeds by faith and at times watering them with tears of sorrow or joy. Don't loose heart God will cause there to be a Joyful Harvest as we have the privilege of "carry His sheaves" because of the tears we have sown for His Glory!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlmYxZAgrGI (our life is in His Hands!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GsTKEPqe8Q (joy comes in the morning~choose Joy!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ervcj18qeyg (Psalm 23!)

"think pink!"

The month of October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I think it is inspiring to see how people unite across America to support breast cancer awareness, from mailing Yoplait yogurt lids to participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. According to www.breastcancer.org and www.cancer.org, about 13% women and 1% men in the United States have the disease.

What does the Bible say about how we can live like Him in the midst of these statistics?

>We can show COMPASSION to those who suffer: When Jesus learned that Lazarus died in John 11, we see that He was "deeply moved" (verse 33) and "wept" (verse 35).
>He asks us to have COURAGE: "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." –John 16:33 (HCSB)
>When we COME to and LEARN from Jesus, we will find REST: "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." –Matthew 11:28 (HCSB)

Do you have any verses that you would like to share to those who are going through struggles such as breast cancer?

"May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word."
-2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (HCSB)

the sound of music

My eyes were half open as I lunged with the bar. Halfway through a morning strength training class, I began to wonder why I had come. My instructor's words were encouraging, but her long intervals were definitely a challenge.

As I began to think about changing to a lower weight resistance, a familiar song on her playlist began to play. It is "Give Me Your Eyes," performed by Christian artist Brandon Heath.

As I listened, I began to pray to God, asking why this class was hard for me. I was reminded of the perseverance God loves to see in us. James explains it this way:

"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.
You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."
-James 5:11 (New International Version)

Music can have great power. It can attract, inspire a feeling, and send a message. I think, in life, what message do I show when I play music with friends in the car? How does it move me? How could it move others?

My new instructor has painted a picture of how we can inspire others. I pray that I can use music for God's glory to tell of His love. King David expressed his love for God this way:

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothe me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!"
-Psalm 30:11-12 (New Living Translation)