A Malaysian Opportunity

"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of  the opportunity" (Colossians 4:5)

The past two weeks my husband and I have been in Malaysia so that he could teach some classes.  In the area where we were, it is illegal to witness to Muslims.  If a native Malaysian witnessed to a Muslim, he or she would go to jail for three years.  If a visitor was founding witnessing to a Muslim, he or she would be kicked out of the country.  I passionately prayed that I would conduct myself with wisdom, but that I would also make the most of any opportunity.

We had four nights of relaxation before we went to the school.  I was reading by the pool (yes, it was wonderful!) and a lady from England plopped down next to me and said, "I just want to be friendly because this is our last day here."  I ended up talking to her for an hour and then moving over to where her husband and two teenage boys were sitting, where we talked for two more hours. It was natural to talk about the different religions in Malaysia by observing the many different kinds of dress and customs.  The conversation opened up easily to be able to share the gospel in depth and to show evidence of the truth of the Bible, who Jesus is and of His resurrection.



Sharon Beougher

They had not heard any of the things I told them.  No decision were made, but seeds were planted.  The wife came to her own conclusion that it would be better to believe than to sit on the fence just hoping she was doing the right thing.  As they left the hotel, the wife left me with her email address and asked me to stay in touch.  I left them with a HeartCall tract and another little booklet I had with me.  God answered my prayer!


A beam of light - Light up the night

"Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him" (1 John 1:5, HCSB). 

A couple weekends ago, I got to go camping with a group of friends in the Texas Hill Country. It was beautiful and a fun trip. One night, some of us walked away from our campsite to find an open space to look at stars. Sure enough, we found a great space where we found so many shining brightly. When we left to go back to our campsite, I was relieved that a few of us had bright flashlights to help us find our way. The stars had light of their own, but the flashlights were closer to us and beamed to guide us through the trees and back to our tents.

Kelli Martin

Do you remember a time you were lost in darkness? Maybe you can recall a time you were outside late one night, or maybe spiritually you remember being lost when God was not your guide.

God, our Creator wishes to draw us close to Him and to help us navigate through life. That's why Jesus, the light of the world, came to earth, to die in our place so we wouldn't have to live and remain in darkness. Sin separates us from God, but God is faithful to forgive our sins against Him out of His lovingkindness. He offers a beam of light, because He is light.

I pray we look to Him as our guide today. Let's share this light that brings hope with others, this light that can shine in the darkest of places.

Photo by Murfy Kristiadi. You can find it here: http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photos/1198727/

A few songs to YouTube music video links:
Light of the World / Here I Am to Worship - Tim Hughes .
Fuego - Lecrae feat. KB and Suzy Rock

More verses:
1 John 1:5-10, Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 20:27, John 8:12, John 12:46, 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Evangelism to a Post Modern Culture: Study People and Know God is at Work

 "Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects.  For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD'" (Acts 17:22-23).

Paul was a pioneer in Athens as they said among themselves that Paul was bringing "some strange things to our ears" (Acts 17:20).  Paul had observed and examined the culture around him.  He did not assume that they knew anything and he zeroed in on their spiritual hunger.  He said he noticed they had an altar to an unknown God.  Then he proceeds to tell them who that unknown God is.  As Paul zeroed in on their spiritual hunger, he spoke plain and simply to them.  Richard Baxter, a noted Puritan theologian, said:  "I have found it impossible to speak too plainly to people." 



Sharon Beougher

Though this was a pioneer area for the gospel, Paul took advantage of his opportunity.  God is at work in the world, so it should not surprise us that even in an area where the gospel has not preached, God has been at work.  God is drawing people to Himself.  That means He is at work right now and my job is to go and join Him in what He is already doing.  Paul Little, author of How to Give Away Your Faith said, "Every person I have known who has been used of God in personal evangelism has had an attitude of expectancy to discover interested people."

Do you expect that God is drawing people around You to Himself?  Do you trust that He is working in your family or your circle of influence?  Do you think He is powerful enough to make Himself known even without your help or my help?

Lord, help me be a better "observer" of people.  Help me be alert to the deep needs of those around me.  Give me the boldness to approach people and know that You are working in people's lives.  Help me to recognize Your work, trust You that You are softening hearts, and join in the work that You are doing.  Thank You for the privilege of letting me share Your precious message of salvation.

Throne of Grace

"Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:16

One of the great privileges of being a believer is the ability to take concerns, fears, joys, and sorrows before the Lord and trust Him to provide what is needed. One biblical passage that greatly encourages me in this is 1 Samuel 1, where Hannah, who is barren, goes to the temple to pray for a child. As she is praying, Eli the priest comes to her assuming she is drunk due to the intensity of her prayer. I love what Scripture describes following: 

But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I  have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord.... So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. (1 Samuel 1:15;18).

What Scripture doesn't say is "the Lord immediately granted her request so her face was no longer sad." Instead, it says after she had poured out her soul before the Lord and taken her requests to Him, she was no longer sad. The presence of the Lord was enough to satisfy Hannah and give her peace. As believers, we have the freedom to pour out our heart before the Lord and also can rest assured that He "causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28).

Today, may we be thankful for the incredible gift it is to approach the throne of grace with CONFIDENCE. May we praise the Lord for the mercy and grace He gives in our time of need, and trust that He will provide for us. May we find our greatest comfort, peace and satisfaction in His presence.

Lord find me faithful

¹⁹ “Now after a long time the master of those slaves *came and *settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ ²¹ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:19-21 (see whole parable in 25:14-30).

This week's blog comes in the form of a prayer request. This weekend, I was reminded again of the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25 and Luke 19. Many of you know that one of the keys to effective leadership is found in verse 21 of Matthew 25, be faithful in a few things and God will put you in charge of more. Throughout my life, I have found that when I am faithful in the few things that God gives me, he blesses and broadens my responsibility. It is amazing that even when doing the smallest tasks, God sees the faithfulness and He blesses it. As I have taken on the job of starting a full-blown ministry of my own, it has been the most blessed and yet the hardest thing I have ever done. People have invested in God's work and more than ever before, I desire to multiply what has been given - physically, financially and spiritually. I desire to once again be found faithful. Please pray that I am.

Happy 4th! A Call to Freedom

"For you were called to be free, brothers; only do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love" (Galatians 5:13, HCSB). 

What makes you feel free? In America, today is a day many take to reflect on the sacrifice our forefathers made years ago. Today, there are military and other people who work to protect our country and to help unite it. Our independence day brings hope and gratefulness to this country we are blessed to be a part of.

As believers in Christ, we have been given freedom in this life in Him, as we know that we are forever a part of God's family because of His free grace. We were once caught up in sin and suffered being apart from our Maker. Christ came to die for us, though, to set us free from living life apart from Him in darkness. His selfless love shines and caused Him to die on the cross in our place. He has the power to forgive us. He offers freedom, hope and renewal in this new life in a reconciled relationship with Him.

Kelli Martin

Let's "serve one another in love" out of awe of who God is. He has shown us how to love. Instead of getting caught up in a web of selfish desires, let's look for ways we can love others today and this weekend. We may get to share where we find light and where we have learned love.

Let's pray:

• Thanks - for God's grace
• For help - to practice selfless love 
• For open eyes - to see times to share how we find freedom because of Christ's sacrifice

"No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13, HCSB).

"We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

Happy fourth!

According to His Mercy

"So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous." Romans 6:18-19

Kari Beougher

My Dad is a pastor and professor and loves to use stories about his children as illustrations. Unfortunately, over the years I have frequently been used as his illustration for sin. When I was 15 months old, I was playing outside and walking toward the road. Concerned, my parents said, "Kari Michelle, don't you dare put one foot in that street." So I walked over to the road, bent down and put my two hands in the street. Though I obviously don't remember this, I have heard the story enough times to feel as though I do. My Dad's point is that they did not have to teach me how to sin or choose disobedience. Integral to our human nature is the propensity toward sin and the inability to choose righteousness. Left to ourselves, we are absolutely unable to live in a way that is pleasing to God.

The good news of the Gospel is "although you were formerly ALIENATED and HOSTILE in mind, ENGAGED in EVIL deeds, yet He has now RECONCILED you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him HOLY and BLAMELESS and BEYOND REPROACH- if indeed you CONTINUE in the faith firmly ESTABLISHED and STEADFAST, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel..." (Colossians 1:21-23).

While we were still ENGAGED in evil deeds, God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins and thus reconcile us to God. Now, we who were formerly unable to choose obedience are made righteous through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Titus 3:5 says, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but ACCORDING TO HIS MERCY."

Today, may we thank God for His incredible mercy and grace toward us. May we continue in our faith, not shifting from the hope of the Gospel.