Shine Out His Light!!

"Let Your Light Shine Before Men, That They May See Your Good Deeds And Praise The Father In Heaven"! Matthew 5:16




Jesus Said, "I Am The Light Of The World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life "! John 8:12

Today is 10/31/12...This is the day The Lord has made!! What are some evangelistic ideas that you can share with others on how to make trick or treating, fall festivals, hay rides, pumpkin carving, and parties full of Sharing The Good News of Jesus? Please share "Your Evangelistic Good Deeds" ideas!!



Below is one idea, please join us by sharing one of your ideas that will encourage and equip one another!! Thanks!!!

• When you hand out candy at your door, at a fall festival or carnival, please include a child's version of The Good News about Jesus & How To Accept Him As Savior!! Don't forget about the adults because I personally accected Jesus by reading "The ABC's to Jesus" Children's Version:-) and I was a 22 years old mom! You can find age appropriate witnessing booklets, that do not cost much at all, at your local Christian Bookstore!! ♥Shine Out THE LIGHT!!♥

Please share at least 1 idea that you have!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVqR6kTu8lE

GO LIGHT YOUR WORLD!!!

We pray they grow in the Lord

"Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude" (Colossians 2:6-7, New American Standard Bible).

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh" (Jude 20-23, NASB).

Praise for a firm foundation. When someone we know comes to receive Christ and be a follower of Him, they have a firm foundation to keep going because they are rooted in who God is. As believers, we have access to talk with Him and pray with Him because of Christ's sacrifice, and we can depend on Him to receive us with mercy. Let us pray thanks and celebrate that this new believer has Christ as their firm foundation!

Prayer for perseverance. Also, we can pray this person looks to keep following Christ's lead and growing in their faith in who God is. Hebrews 9:28 reads, "so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him" (NASB). We can pray that even as this person falls into sin again, we can remember we are all human and pray this person sees they still need God. Thank God that when we sin, God does not wish to destroy or to banish His children. It's His desire to win us back, forgive us for our sins and lead us into lives of repentance. So for this new believing brother or sister, we can pray they continue to love and follow God.

Lord, thank You that this new believer has a faith devoted to trusting in You. Help their faith grow and help them persevere in following You.

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

See music video by David Barnes, "Carry Me Through" on www.youtube.com

We pray a seed is firmly planted

"When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road" (Matthew 13:19, New American Standard Bible).

The grace found because of Jesus' sacrifice may be widespread news, but Jesus explained that not everyone who hears His message will receive it as true. Many will reject it. The verse is a part of Jesus' parable of the sower (see Matthew 13:1-23 to read more of this parable). Some people hear the message of Christ, but they do not understand it. The devil snatches away the Word of God that was sown.

Do you remember when someone first shared God's word with you? What about when you first received His message as true? When we share our faith, we may not know whether God's message will be received. We may not be able to see fruit immediately afterward. However, we can faithfully share God's word when given opportunity and pray people understand and embrace God's word as true.

Lord, we ask that, for the people we witness to, that You plant the seed of Christ firmly in their hearts. Amen.

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from a film posted on www.videojug.com film, about how to sow lupin seeds.
Do you know what a lupin seed is? I had no idea. You can find out more here.

Passionate Aim

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only on receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:24-27, New American Standard Bible).

What is your target? Where is your aim? What is your passion?

Aligning our passion with our aim contributes to meeting a goal. In a Christian's life, how does God fit into the picture?  The article "Passionate Aim" by Jaye Martin discusses these things and this verse on www.christianity.com. You can find it by clicking here.

Photo from discoverarchery.org.

We pray they believe and confess Jesus as Savior and Lord

"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation" (Romans 10:9-10, New American Standard Bible).

Do you know anyone who has been adopted? In the past few years, I have gotten close to a few families who have adopted children. It has been inspiring and a joy to see people love each other as family, even when they are not family by blood.

Adoption is a great reflection of how God loves those who receive His call to be a part of His family. God already loves us, His creation. Do we know someone who has not yet received His invitation to lead us as the good and loving Father God?

John 1:12 explains, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (New American Standard Bible). God, most holy and righteous, sent His Son to die a death we deserve to die. If we receive His invitation by turning to Him and trusting in Him, then we are invited into His family, His protection, and His presence. His love and mercy draws us to Him and puts us in awe.

Lord, this person on our mind who does not know You, please help them believe in You and Your Son, Jesus. Help them believe in You and confess their sins, so they can have a mended relationship with You. We pray they confess and believe, so they, too, will be a part of Your family.

More verses on this: Matthew 10:32, John 5:24, John 20:31, Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32
Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo from stlfamilylife.com.

We pray God sends someone

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest'" (Matthew 9:37-38, New American Standards Bible).

"How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!'" (Romans 10:14-15, NASB).

I love the farmer's markets in the fall, filled with produce like pumpkins and sweet potatoes. When Jesus talked about a harvest in Matthew 9:37-38, He was trying to explain how there are many people who still haven't heard the good news yet. Just like farmers hire workers to work the land, Jesus asks His followers to share who Christ is with others. He encourages us to pray, asking God to send out people to share His message of saving grace.

As believers, God entrusts His message with us to pass along to someone else. Can you remember how much it meant when someone explained God's Word to you? Maybe someone in your life now is helping you understand the Bible.

Is there someone on your mind who doesn't have a redeemed relationship with Christ yet? Whether it be us or someone else, let's pray God will send someone to speak and explain the good news with them.

Lord, please send people to speak Your good news to unbelievers on our minds today.

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

We pray they believe in God's Word

"For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13, New American Standard Bible).

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17, NASB).

What do you believe in? I believe tomorrow the sun will rise and may wake me up before my alarm goes off and that my neighbor will walk her dog around the same time I go for a run. Yet, there is more to believe in, of course.

In the book of 1 Thessalonians, we can read how the Thessalonians received God's Word. They not only heard it, but also believed it as true. God's Word brought a revolution in their lives and community.

As believers in His Word, we believe in who God is and accept the sacrifice Christ made and the forgiveness God offers. Believing in the Word of God can save us from the damage of sin, and God transforms us as we are in a good relationship with Him. We are saved by God's grace, as we respond to His Word by having faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8).

Is there someone on your mind who does not believe in God's Word?

Lord, help this person on our mind believe in You and receive Your Word as true. Help us to continue to learn from and trust in Your Word. Let us experience the positive transformation that comes from believing in You and allowing You to work within us.

"Let the word of Christ dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Colossians 3:16, NASB).

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
Photo of Amish Oak Bible Stand from www.dutchcrafters.com.

God Is Always There For You!

"In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old."  Isaiah 63:9 NASB

God knows your affliction.  He feels your pain.  The Lord promises to carry you through!  You are either in the middle of pain, coming out of pain, or about to experience pain...pain and affliction are a part of life until we see Jesus face to face! 

Someone Needs HOPE!  Often people turn to the Lord in the middle of a crisis of pain and affliction.  God Cares!  God is always there for you and those that He has strategically placed in your life that are experiencing situations where they need the Hope that comes from Him!

What are some simple ways you can share HOPE?

H - Share examples from your life when you received Hope from the Lord that helped you through your pain or afflictions?  Share Him & the Hope He has given you!  Jeremiah 29:11-13 says it best! "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." (NASB)

O - Share examples from your life when you Opened your life up to the Lord and asked Him to save you!  Share some examples of how He has helped you with your pain or afflictions?  Share Your Testimony With Others!  John 3:16 says it best! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (NASB)

P - Share examples from your life about how the Lord has answered your Prayers & Pray for those that are experiencing pain or afflictions!  Romans 10:9-10, 13 says it best!  "if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed....for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (NASB)

E - Share examples from your life that will Encourage someone that is experiencing pain or afflictions with the encouragement God has given you?  Share God's Promises with those that are hurting!  Here are several promises from God's Word that say it best!; Isaiah 35:3 "Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble." - Romans 15:5 "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing." - 1 Thessalonians 5:14 "We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone." & 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20cor%201:3-7&version=NASB (NASB)

Also, when we share songs that are full of Hope, God often uses His Praise & Worship to minister to those that are experiencing pain or afflictions!  He inhabits the Praise of His People = God Is Always There For You!! 

Here is an example of one of those songs of encouragement that is based on the Poem "Footprints in the Sand" & goes so beautifully with Isaiah 63:9 NASB  "In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBLkbBEfjcc  (Footprints in the Sand - Leona Lewis)

We pray they seek God

"But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul" (Deuteronomy 4:29, New American Standard Bible).

"That they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:27, NASB).

Even in exile, God told His people if you seek me, then you will find me. God has been faithful to keep His covenant of extending mercy over time. This is great news for us, since we desperately need Him.

In Deuteronomy, the Lord kept His promise in giving grace to Israel. He helped the Israelites believe, repent, and return to Him (Romans 11:25-36). In Acts, Paul and Barnabas explained how God revealed Himself even in nature and by providing food for them. God addressed the idols in these peoples' lives. Even today, He seeks to bring light to His grace and glory that is worthy to be celebrated.

Is there something you honor more than God? Do you put someone or something as more important than Him? Let us pray for ourselves and for others, that we may seek to put God first. It is amazing, God's love, because the relationship He wishes to have with us is not based on what we have done. Instead, it is based on who God is and the forgiveness He offers.

Lord, we pray for an unbeliever on our mind today. Help them seek You with all their heart. Give them the desire to learn more about You and to put You first in their life, so one day they may be a part of Your covenant of grace.

"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13, NASB).

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999)
Photo of opera glasses from www.opticsplanet.com

What is the book of John about?

"So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, I am the door of the sheep...I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep'" (John 10:7, 11, New American Standard Bible).

The book of John has revolutionary truths about who Christ is, how He lived on earth and how God saved us through His sacrifice. A couple months ago, a video tool was released by BibleStudyTools.com and www.godtube.com of Jaye Martin describing concepts we can learn about Jesus in the book of John. We recommend checking out more videos released continuing the study of the same subject. You can find these videos by going to www.godtube.com and searching "Jaye Martin," or you can follow this link: Video Tools - "What is the book of John about?".

Photo above of a shepherd in Ireland found on vancouversun.com.

We pray that minds be opened

"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45, New American Standard Bible).

The look of worn out pages, the smell of years of storage, the way a story draws you in and won't let you go until the end - there is something I love about books. Yet, it is the story that sticks with me most. It can open my mind to another world, to another perspective I haven't seen, or to a truth I haven't remembered in a while. The beauty of the Bible is that it is God's story on how He came to save us, and it speaks truth to us about who God is.

A great story comes before the verse mentioned above, Luke 24:45, in Luke 24:13-35. Not long after Christ had been crucified on the cross, two men were traveling on foot to Emmaus. They were discussing the news they had heard, that Christ rose from the dead after His death and burial (vv. 14-24). On their journey, Jesus came alongside them and started to talk with them. I assume they were probably baffled as Jesus started explaining how the prophecies from the Old Testament were fulfilled in Christ to prove that He was the Messiah (vv. 25-27, 31-32).

Today, let us pray for someone on our mind who does not yet see the truth in God's Word and what it says about Christ. We pray God brings clarity to an unbeliever so they can understand and have a relationship with our Savior King.

Lord, this person on our mind, please open their mind so they understand your Word. Help them see Christ as true, and help them hear Your call to be a part of Your salvation story.

"And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20, NASB).

Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999)
Photo of Trinity Library in Dublin, Ireland from fromeuropewithlove.tumblr.com

Christianity is a Team Sport!

"Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?  But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.  If they were all one part, where would the body be?  As it is, there are many parts, but one body.


The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”  On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."  1 Corinthians 12:15-26 NIV

As a first-generation Christian, I was not raised in a Christian home or ever heard the name of Jesus until I was 22 years old.  But at the age of 22, Praise the Lord, someone shared John 3:16 with me and I RAN TO JESUS and gave Him my LIFE and accepted ETERNAL LIFE!♥  My life has NEVER been the same since that day 7/21/85! 

Before I gave my life to Jesus, there were little gods in my life, lost people look like lost people and they fill the voids of their lives up with whatever they can to find temporary fulfillment.  One of my gods, growing up as a lost person, was sports.  I searched for fulfillment & purpose through the involvement in sports.  I saturated my life in one sport after another, therefore I clearly remember the process of becoming a part of a team.  I remember how teammates were picked, usually the most popular or strongest athlete was chosen first and then the process would continue until all the people going out for that specific team sport was placed on a team.  The saddest thing to me was the people that remained unchosen or unpicked until the very end of the team building process.  I remember how I felt about the process of choosing a team.  Those that were left out until the end were often looking down, with an ashamed downcast look on their face.  I felt sorry for those left out.

Today, as a growing Christian that is striving to know God, share Him, and lead others to do the same, God has brought many women to cross my path that have shared with me their feelings of being left out, looked over, or are still waiting to be chosen to be a part of a team at church/the body of Christ/Christianity.  This should never be!  There should be a plan in place so that everyone has the opportunity to be a part of God's Team because as we read above from 1 Corinthians 12:15-26, there is not one member of the body of Christ that we can say to them, "you are not needed"! 

Being a Christian is a Team Sport, everyone is needed, and there is no "I" in the word TEAM.  Being a Christian is a Team Sport and there should not be a spirit of competition between Teammates.  Today's encouragement is to remind us all that everyone is a special, unique, and important part of the body of Christ!  When anyone is left out or looked over, the body of Christ, is not complete and there will be dysfunction because God has a special plan and purpose for every believer!  When the same people are chosen over and over it sends the wrong message to those that are hoping to be included!

• Look for those that are Left Out!  Open your circle to new members! 
• Look out to those that are Left Out!  Come alongside of those that need to be included!
• Look for ways to include those that are Left Out!  Create a plan of action to do away with rejection!
• Look for opportunities to serve the Lord on a growing Team so that no one is Left Out! 

There are many people all around us that need the Lord.  They are seaching for belonging, purpose, and a team/family that is forever.  As Christians, we have the answer to what they are searching for, and His name is Jesus!  What a joy and privilege it is to share Jesus with those that need Him, it is the passion and purpose of my life!  HeartCall and Gifted2Go are some of the powerful evangelistic tools that have been created to help us share Jesus with those that need Him!  As His evangelistic leaders, we are here to encourage you and equip you as you share Jesus with others.  Please always feel free to message us or e-mail us with any questions you may have or encouragement you may need as you follow God's Plan for your life.  As Christians, we are all on His Team and everyone is needed!
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAWeHo8E70E  (If We Are The Body-Casting Crowns)

Gifted2Go Opportunities 2 Pray 4!

God is doing amazing things in the lives of women all across our nation!!  You can attend this awesome conference by saying yes to the opportunity to PRAY!!  You are Gifted2Go Pray for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's Women's Conference & Gifted2Go creator leader Jaye Martin!!

What’s the buzz about the NOBTS Women’s Conference?

The Gifted 2 Go NOBTS Women’s Conference, to be held in the Cafeteria, begins this Friday, October 5 at 6:30 p.m. and continues Saturday, October 6 at 8:30 a.m. We’ll wrap up by noon. Tickets are on sale through 10/3/12 for $5 in the Dean of Students office (Hardin Student Center) from 8 to 5 daily. You may also reserve a spot by emailing HYPERLINK "mailto:nobtswomen@nobts.edu" nobtswomen@nobts.edu. This is for NOBTS Women: students, wives, staff, faculty, and anyone else they want to bring with them. We don’t turn anyone away. Expect a time of instruction from the Word, connection with your peers, and inspiration to press on.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

http://www.nobtsgatekeeper.com/p/announcements.html#!/p/nobts-womens-ministry.html