We pray for Christ's attitude

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus." 
-Philippians 2:3-5 (New American Standard Bible)   

What does Christ's attitude look like?  In this chapter, we can read how Christ is the ultimate example of selfless love.  God came down to earth and walked along the streets of His creation.  He showed us how to love with humility, even suffering on the cross, so we wouldn't have to pay the price for our sins against Him.

How does that impact us?  We are changed, not because we are wise or perfect, but because of what God does with our lives when we ask for forgiveness and turn to Him.  God is the One who can transform us from the inside out.  When we receive Him into our lives, we let Him take the reins and lead.  As He works on our hearts, He heals us.

How does this impact our life?  Recently, my community group, friends and family chipped in, in different ways, to help me move from Louisville to Houston.  Moving can take so much time and can feel exhausting, and it was a blessing to have their help.  As we serve Christ, God is working through us.  Hopefully, as we serve Him, others will see more of who this God that we serve is, and want to know Him, too.

Lord, thanks for sending Your Son, Jesus, to sacrifice for us.  Help us see how to have an attitude of humility.  Please help us live out of a deep love for you and a desire to help others know You, too.  Amen.

A great video - YouTube music video "Be" by Selah

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29, NASB).

For more study: Philippians 2:1-18, Romans 15, Philippians 1:1, Galatians 1:10

The above study was based on the "Praying God's Heart" guide for study from HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Martin, 1999).
Photo from icaruscreative.org

Celebrate Freedom!

As we Celebrate Freedom and America's Birthday this 4th of July, while we are thanking God for those who have fought the good fight for nation and souls, who has God placed in our lives that needs to be free?  Who has God placed in our lives that needs us to share with them where freedom is found and how they can too be free?  Who has God placed in our lives that needs us to share with them the author and finisher of freedom, Jesus Christ?  In Jesus Christ we can be free from ANYTHING that trys to keep a strong hold on us and drag us down in the pits of life!!   

As we Celebrate Freedom this 4th of July, with every sparkler that sparks and with every firecracker that bursts with brilliance, let's be that kind of Freedom Follower as we share where our Spark and our Bursts of Light is found....Let's Celebrate Jesus and Share Him with those that God has placed in our lives as we remember what it felt like to be lost and we never get over what it feels to live in FREEDOM!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stwy45iitiY  This Is How It Feels To Be FREE!!  Phillips, Craig, and Dean

We pray for holiness

"Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification that without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14, New American Standard Bible).

With this verse, we can see how God calls us not only to turn to Him, but also to follow Him. As we seek to be holy, we seek to live lives that reflect Him. Now, it is easy for us to see how imperfect we are. Yet, we serve a God who is holy, so we pray to God for the strength to be more like Him, so that others may see the change He is making in us everyday.

The Israelites are a great example of how God loves His people. They would turn to God for direction, and God asked them to be a holy nation that lives differently since God is their leader. We can read how God blessed them and helped them see how to live lives that are different in a way that honors Him. They fell into sin, though, just like we have done. God sent them into exile, but He did not leave them. He taught them over time who He was and who He created them to be.

The neat thing is that now, we have been given Christ as an example of who God is and how we are to live on earth. He has given those who believe in and receive His call to turn to Him the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity, God three in one - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - are all a part of who God is. He is our Creator and He already loves us, but He can make us into more and more of a reflection of Him. There is the hope that the more we reflect God, our Savior and life-changer, that others will see God and want to know Him, too.

Lord, please make us more and more like You. Lead us in how we can be holy so others see You and the change You can make in a life. Thank You for Your word and Your sacrfice. Please help us live for You today. Amen.

The above devotion is based on the verse meant to be studied from HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (1999, Jaye Martin).

Praying God's HeartCall: We ask for forgiveness

"Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions." -Mark 11:25, New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God calls us to see His forgivness, to seek His forgiveness, and to live His forgiveness. When we learn more about who God is, forgiveness makes more sense. God is not only holy and just, but also slow to anger and rich in love (Psalm 103:8). This is great news, because this is where we can catch a glimpse of how we are forgiven and of who He is. God forgives us of sins we confess with a believing heart (see Mark 11:22-23). He lives this example of forgiveness.

 Also, He calls us to ask for forgiveness ourselves. 1 John 1:9 reads, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (NASB). This reconciliation between God and people comes about because of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who came to die for us while we were still lost in sin. As we turn to Him for help, seeking Him for freedom from sin and asking for forgiveness, He is faithful to forgive. This faithfulness puts me in awe when I think of some things I have done, but nevertheless, He can forgive us no matter what.

 So, His call is for us to turn to Him for forgivness and as our Guide. God not only teaches us, but also He can transform us more and more every day to be a people with more forgiving hearts (2 Corinthians 3:18). We can forgive others by His strength and because we have witnessed the same sort of forgivness He shows us (1 John 4:19).

Lord, thank you for Christ's sacrifice and example. Help us see your forgiving nature. Please forgive me of my sins against you and against others. Help us to forgive like you forgive. Amen.

 The devotion above is based off the verses used for study in HeartCall: A Call to Prayer (Jaye Martin, 1999), in the section "Praying God's HeartCall."
"Forgiven" painting by Colleen Shay, from fineartamerica.com

Prayer: A devoted + thankful heart

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”

-Colossians 4:2, New American Standard Bible (NASB)

What do you think of when you hear someone is devoted to something?  I think of an ongoing passion, like the persistence of a trail runner as they run across easy and challenging trails.  

How can we be devoted to prayer?  In Colossians 4:2, I see how we can have a dedication to talking with God and thanking Him throughout the day.  As we pray with devotion, our focus is drawn to depend more and more on Him.

How are you thankful today?  I have been thinking how I am thankful for God’s patience with me and His love for the world.  He had the creativity to make the world, plus the love to send His Son, Jesus, to sacrifice for the people He created.  Even though we are not perfect, this Creator and Lord still loves us and wants to save us and to be our guide.  I am thankful that God wants a relationship with us and that He’s able to renew our hearts and minds.

Will you pray with me?  Lord, please help us devote ourselves to prayer with thankful hearts.  Please help us remember your love that doesn’t end.  Thank you for the incomparable power you have to transform us and the world.   

The above study is based on HeartCall: A Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from the San Francisco Chronicle, taken by Penni Gladstone (http://www.sfgate.com).

CALL on the LORD for JM Leaders

 2 “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name, 3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’  (Jeremiah 33:2-3, NASB).

My apologies for the lack of communication lately. I am still alive! God is still at work and very soon, our team at JM Leaders will be meeting and getting down to serious business as we kick-off our new ministry! We promise to keep you informed and we certainly want your input! As we embark, our first task is to CALL on God! We have been doing that but together we will bow before the Father and formally call on the LORD of all, who made the earth, to answer us and to tell us mighty things that we know not of! Please be in prayer for us!

Our mission is to equip believers to share Christ and lead others

through resources, trainings, and networking parnerships.

Jaye Martin & Leaders Inc. is the legal corporate name. JM Leaders is the DBA (doing business as) name. There will be four facets of ministry:

The overall umbrella organization is JM Leaders. JM Leaders networks with churches and Christian entities to provide strategic leadership, speakers, trade books and resources.

The other three brands are HeartCall, Gifted2go, and eco market. HeartCall trains believers in sharing Christ, Gifted2go equips leaders to mobilize laity, and the eco market provides additional support to churches through marketplace studies.

We invite you to CALL on the LORD in our behalf. Our desire is to serve him wholeheartedly and to train leaders to reach their worlds for Christ. We'd love to have your prayers so feel free to post them here or on Facebook, or to email them to us at help@jmleaders.com.

Thanks for your prayers and we will keep you posted!

Jaye

 





The Joy of New Birth!

'Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”' John 3:3

Being born again, new birth by the Spirit of God is an unmistakable work of the Lord with joyful results! I recently had the joy and privilege of being at the birth of a precious newborn baby of some dear friends. As this joyful new birth was taking place in the delivery room, many joyful moments were also taking place in the waiting room. With each painful contraction the thoughts of the joyful new birth made the labor of love worth it all! Each loved one that was present was filled with great expectation as God was at work in all the details of bringing this precious new life into the world for a very special purpose!!

Isn’t that how it is when someone is born again by the Spirit of God!!! As we think about a new birth of a precious baby that is a miracle from the Lord, being born again by the Spirit of God includes some of the same miraculous moments. Think about some of the joys of the birth of a new baby and think about some of the joys of new birth in Jesus. The Joy of New Birth is a Miracle from God!!

As the special miracle of new birth of a precious baby was taking place, the Lord reminded me of some life-changing truths that take place when someone experiences new birth in Jesus Christ:

• Prayer! Lives full of prayer are lives full of God’s love and power. Never stop praying – Pray without ceasing! Keep praying for the one that needs the Lord to be “delivered” and experience new birth in Jesus Christ! I have personally prayed for over 20 years for specific people to experience new birth in Jesus Christ. Write down at least 3 names that you are praying for that need the Lord. Do not grow weary as you are praying always while remembering that God is lovingly in Control of every new birth!!

• Promises! Lives full of God’s promises are lives full of powerful Faith in the Lord. God Keeps His Promises! It is impossible for Him to break even one promise! Keep believing God as you walk by faith while trusting in His Word! Write down at least 3 promises from the Word of God for those that you are praying for that need new birth in Jesus Christ!!

• Perseverance! Lives full of perseverance in the Lord are lives that Finish Strong in the Lord. New Birth is just the beginning God’s plans and purpose as He who begins a work in you will bring it to completion! God gives you everything you need to persevere as it is built upon the solid rock of Prayer & Promises! God teaches you everything you need to share your testimony of your new birth in Jesus Christ with others as His persevering witness!! Write down at least 3 areas of your life in Christ that God is calling you to personally persevere as His follower and witness!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m_dP2n-5W8 (Born Again - Third Day)

John 3:1-21 English Standard Version (ESV) You Must Be Born Again

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God So Loved the World
John 3 16-21  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”