"Are You Waiting to be Called?"

Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed.

When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist's counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office. The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in.

Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn't heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.

Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled."

The other applicants began grumbling to each  other, and one spoke up saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"

The employer said, "I'm sorry, but the last several minutes while you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his."

We are so busy living in a world that is full of noise and clatter, like that office. People are distracted and unable to hear the still, small voice of God as He speaks in creation, in the Scriptures, and in the life and work of Jesus Christ.

So I ask you, as I ask myself, "Are you listening, or are you waiting to be called? Do you hear the Lord when He speaks to you?"

Submitted by Sharon Beougher

--Author Unknown

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

--Author: God

Received Grace

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, ² which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, ³ concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, ⁴ who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, ⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, ⁶ among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;⁷ to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ because I have RECEIVED GRACE. When God came into my life, He changed me. He changed my desires, wants, outlook, goals and perspective. He showed me that He loved me and had a plan for my life. I was an insecure child who never lived up to the expectations of those around me. It seems that there was no hope and that I would never please anybody or amount to anything. I understood myself to be stupid and unworthy. I was a complete disappointment to those who knew me. When I began to seek this God of hope, He came to me. He showed Himself to me. My friends and I used to wonder how He could find us in the hills of Tennessee, but He did! God helped me see that Jesus loved me and that with His help, I would always be received in the eyes of the Father. With His love, I would be received for ever and ever. Through the death of His Son Jesus, I received grace and am forever His! He is proud of me! Though the world many wonder why I'm here, God never wondered why He created me. He knew what He was doing and in fact, was pleased. How could one who has RECEIVED GRACE ever be ashamed of the gospel? I do not know!

Today, celebrate with me that I am not ashamed of the gospel because I have RECEIVED GRACE from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Not only is He risen, but He is risen in me!

I pray that you have RECEIVED GRACE as well. If not, His grace is available for you!

lavished love

"I exalt You, my God the King, and praise Your name forever and ever…I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty and Your wonderful works. They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They will give a testimony of Your great goodness and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness" (Psalm 144:1, 5-7). 

Last weekend, I was in a wedding of one of my best friends from college and her husband. One of my favorite moments was at the rehearsal dinner when people gave toasts to wish the couple well. This was especially neat, since my friend has the love language of words of affirmation. Her now husband gave the last speech, and it was neat to see how he could go on and on about his soon bride-to-be. The whole weekend, in fact, the couple could be found showering compliments on each other.

One thing that I want to do this Easter is seek this deeper relationship with God where I just overflow in praise to Him. I think there is something powerful in thanking Him not only for blessings like family and friends, but also for who He is. It reminds us of how great He is, and it also gives worship and honor to Him. It can also be a witness to others that His people are comforted in His presence.

Kelli Martin

Let the memories and praise of Him resonate within you. It can do something within us and also can be such a witness to others to see how our Savior comforts us and refreshes us like cool springs. He loves us not just in mind - He loves us in action, words and truth, as we see when we remember the cross He sacrificed on for us. Yes, He loves us directly.

What are some reasons you have found peace in Him? What do His names mean? Praise Him for who He is. If you are going through a tough time, praise Him in advance. Let this love spill out and let others see that our Savior is here through the tough times and the good. He is always here to speak to us.

Let's remember the love that He lavishes on us, and let's lavish our Savior in love. He is risen! He is risen indeed.

Check out this song by All Sons and Daughters on YouTube: "Hear the Sound"

Let Us Love One Another

“But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-leased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (I Thessalonians 2:7-8).

My parents did a good job making sure that my sisters and I were raised by making God and church a priority in our lives. However, in my high school years, I realized that I as just going through the motions of attending church and other activities, all the while thinking that I was a Christian. I was very willing to go to church, I was a pretty good person, did not get mad easily, and usually had a fairly good disposition. After all, that is what a Christian is….right??? WRONG!

During my high school years, I started babysitting regularly for a couple down the street from my house in Charlotte, North Carolina. As I babysat, every Wednesday night they would come home with joy and excitement about this new church they were helping to start. I was puzzled about the fact that they thought it was fun. They invited me numerous times to visit, and I finally decided to go. I was struck at once by the warmth and friendliness of the people at the little mission church (by the way, it was called Sharon Baptist Mission). I could see joy and genuine interest in God’s Word through the members. I went back a few times and then went to a very small Bible Study with the youth (which happened to be just two other people). They asked me if I had ever invited Christ to come into my life to forgive me for my sin and to be the Lord and Savior of my life. Though I had been through classes and had been to church, I never had made this personal decision. I prayed with them that night and then knew for certain that I was a Christian. I was filled with peace and also with a desire to read my Bible.

The friendliness, warmth and genuine concern that people had for me at that little church was what attracted me to go back to the church. Then the Lord used the teaching there and the personal interaction in Bible study to bring me into a relationship with Him.

Lord, help us to remember the fact that you love us and accept us unconditionally. Help us to do the same as we seek to love and accept those who come into our life. Help us point people to you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Sharon Beougher

HeartCall - A Helpful Tool to Seminary Student Wives

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and he Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

Seminary Wives Institute is a program for student wives at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. Founded by the president's wife, Mrs. Mary Mohler, it is designed to equip ministers' wives to be better prepared when they leave seminary with their husbands to go to a place of ministry. The three year program consists of 4 six-week course segments of twelve instructional hours per year as well as opportunities for condensed classes. Courses vary from Discipleship, Old and New Testament Survey courses and Worldviews to courses in Hospitality, Marriage and Family, Parenting, etc.

One of the courses I have the privilege of teaching is Leaderhip I--which is actually women and evangelism. Over the years I have used HeartCall as part of the curriculum for this and was able to add Gifted2Go along with it this year. The feedback I got from the 35 students in it this term was that it was a simple method that gave them a tool to use in sharing the gospel. Many in the class had never memorized Scripture in their lives and said they were glad to have been trained in it, especially memorizing the verses to go along with Hope Believe Turn and Call!

The students memorized the verses to go along with the simple diagram, were given two HeartCall tracts to give away during the six weeks and were given a HeartCall Bible to give away as well. If you have not looked carefully at these materials, take a good look. This is one tool to help us all be obedient to carrying out the Great Commission!

Sharon Beougher

Not Ashamed: 16 reasons from Romans 1-16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16, NASB

I've been listening to Dr. Ed Young's sermon podcasts on Romans and reminded of how much this book of the New Testament has to offer. So when Nancy Taylor asked if I'd teach her Life Bible Study class at Houston's First Baptist Church, I was thrilled to hear that they had also been studying Romans. Yesterday, I was blessed to meet this great group of ladies and share with them not only the HeartCall way to present the gospel, but teach them 16 truths (one from each chapter) from Romans on why we are NOT ASHAMED of the gospel of Jesus Christ!

In the months to come, on this blog, I will be posting 16 reasons we are not ashamed and I encourage you to begin reading in Romans and looking for the answer to the question, "Why are we not ashamed of the gospel?"

It's a bit hard to define not ashamed, but the idea here is that because of what Christ did for us, we are not to hide what we believe and why we believe it. If we really know that Christ is alive, we want to tell it. In Romans 1, Paul tells us that we are set apart for the purpose of the gospel (good news of Christ). Because of Christ, we want to tell others! Especially during this Easter season, let's look for ways to get to know people and share with them the difference that Christ makes in our lives!

Start reading Romans and see what you find. I'd love to hear so post it on our Facebook page at Jaye Martin Ministries or send us an email through our website, www.jayemartin.com/contact.

Happy Easter season! He is Risen!

who is this king of glory?

"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
-Psalm 18:2

With the new film "Captain America" coming out in theaters soon, I was reminded of heroes. There are many tales of knights, crusaders, warriors, kings and the underdogs who came out to win victoriously. What is your favorite story of a hero? Maybe the people who housed escaping Jews from the Holocaust? This thing that stands out among heroes - what is it about them? Bravery? Valor? Honor? Strength?

What stands out most to me is their passion that they have for living for more than just themselves. That makes them heroes to me. And you know, I have most found this hero in Jesus Christ. He is God who came to earth to not just show us the way to go but to rescue us.

• He came, not ostentatiously but humbly in a manger. 
• He came, not only to love just those who were thought of as well-respected in community or those in power, but also to love the weak, the brokenhearted, the widows and the children. 
• He came, not at a yell but with a message filled with hope, forgiveness and God's plan to redeem, rescue and guide a weary world.

We can so easily fall into the siren tune of turning away from our Creator and Savior, and yet - and yet, He sees us fully and wants us back. He wants us back enough to sacrifice for us. In fact, He is the sort of God Father to run to us with open arms like the prodigal son's father. He wants us to believe in Him - to trust in Him and to ask for His help because He is wise and good.

Knowing this hero is monumental.

Who is this King of glory?

I think Third Day's lyrics below and the words in this link - "King of Glory" sung live by Third Day - capture Him well.

"Who is this King of glory that pursues me with his love
And haunts me with hearing His softly spoken words
My conscience, a reminder, of forgiveness that I need
Who is this king of glory who offers it to me?

Who is this King of angels, oh blessed Prince of Peace
Revealing things of heaven and all its mysteries
My spirit's ever longing for His grace in which to stand
Who is this King of glory, Son of God and son of man

His name is Jesus, precious Jesus
The Lord Almighty, King of my heart
The King of glory

Who is this King of glory with strength and majesty
And wisdom beyond measure, the gracious King of Kings
The Lord of earth and heaven, the Creator of all things?
He is the King of glory, He's everything to me"

How will we respond to such love, such bravery and such sacrifice? Will we trust Him with our lives?

sound teaching?

³ As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, ⁴ nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. ⁵ But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ⁶ For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, ⁷ wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. 1 Timothy 1:3-7, NASB

In the last few weeks, it seems many discussions in my world have been about what God does and does not say about any given topic. It is sad that so few churches are teaching sound doctrine. In Paul's letter to Timothy, he begins with asking Timothy to remain in Ephesus so that he can instruct the church about God's teachings. It seems that the early church was chasing after strange things. Isn't it amazing that we are still doing the same? I challenge you to open the Word or click on this link to read the rest of 1 Timothy 1. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+timothy+1&version=NASB

When we don't know what God's Word says, we open ourselves to "fruitless discussion" (v.6). It is especially sad when this fruitless discussion is led by those "wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions" (v.7).

Lord, forgive us. Forgive us when we stand to teach and do not know what we are talking about. Forgive us when we engage in discussions and do not point others to your Word. Give us understanding for how you want us to live and help us to hold to the TRUTH of your Word, regardless of the consequences. And help us do this with love and respect.

Lord, give us Your Words and Your love.

Is His joy enough?

"What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— ² and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us— ³ what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete." 1 John 1:1-4, NASB

Isn't 1 John just wonderful? I always suggest that new believers read it first. Simply put, Jesus was there in the beginning of time. See John 1:1-5. He is the Word in flesh, the Word of Life. God sent Jesus so that we could see God. Jesus showed us how to live and how to die. "Who God is" is manifest in the person of Jesus. We know - we have seen and heard -  this truth. As a result of this, we have fellowship with God through Jesus Christ. When we have this truth in us, we have His joy, and thus our joy is complete in Him.

I ask you today what I am asking myself. "Is my joy complete in Him?" Am I looking for a great response to my actions? Am I looking for what I can do next? Am I looking for a sign that God is in my life and blessing my ministry? Unfortunately, the answer to all these (for me) is yes! Yes my joy is complete in Him but yes, I am looking for all the rest. Not good. My joy needs to be complete in Him. Period.

I ask you today, is your joy complete in Him? Is He enough for you? If so, help others see this great truth! It is not how many tweeter followers or facebook friends we have, nor it is how many books we write or places we go. Jesus is complete in Himself and we can be complete in Him. Let's choose His joy in us again today.

You know you are loved!

He is here - wherever you go

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9, NASB).

In the midst of me digging into one of my first new year resolutions, God keeps reminding me to rest in Him and to remember Him. He is here.

Where are you today? He, our God, is here for all of us. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). When we seek Him, we will find Him (Matt. 7:7, Rev. 3:20).

He
How would you describe God?
He is present (Psalm 139:7-10).
His character is constant, He is faithful (James 1:17, 2 Timothy 2:13).
He is bread and living water - He gives strength and nourishment (John 6:35, John 4:7-42).

Is
As a verb, "is" reminds me that God's love is active.
Let's praise Him with our voices and with our lives. Let's share Him with our testimonies and with our hearts. Let's pray for a more active faith, because our Redeemer lives.

Here
What situation are you in? Whom have you come across this week?
He is here:

• for our friend and for the foreigner
• for the executive and for the busboy
• for the person we serve in volunteer efforts and for the widow on our street

He is here - here to save the world, to draw close to a world in need for more of Him. 

Our God manages the world and yet He makes time - He wants time - with each person He created. 

Let's share "He is here" with our hearts that crave more of Him, and let's share "He is here" with others who don't know Him yet as Lord and Savior.

He is here - wherever you go. Amen.

Great songs: "Be Still My Soul" by Page CXVI and "How Deep the Father's Love" by Page CXVI

Great passage: Isaiah 61:1-4

Take the HeartCall SHARE Challenge

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36-39, NASB

February is almost here. Some of us love it; some of us hate it. Our perspective may be related to our season of life: happily or unhappily married, single or single again, unattached or widowed, and the list goes on. Let's turn February into a love fest. Instead of focusing on what we wish we had, let's focus on what we do have...God's love!

 

God's love is what we really live for. It is what gets us through the good and bad times. It is the reason we live and the joy of our lives. Let's live as though we believe that truth! Let's get our perspective straight and this season, let's share the love of the Lord!

 

God's great commandment (listed above) is to love God and love people. We share His love by showing it in every way - believing, giving, caring, sharing, helping, hoping, working, playing, etc. Let's look for ways to show our neighbors (and others) that we love God so much that we want to share His love with them!

 

The HeartCall SHARE Challenge is this: Share God's Love. Give the HeartCall Bible. Show love to others and share the Word with them. Even if you don't have the new HeartCall Bible (https://www.jayemartin.com/shop/heartcall-bible/31/), share the HeartCall message of hope!

If you do, share your story with us at www.facebook.com/JayeMartinMinistries or go to our SHARE page at www.jayemartin.com/share and submit your story on the form at the end of the page.

 

Let's turn February into a HeartCall month of God's love!

 

You know you are loved,

Jaye