An Evangelism Experience

                    “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and

                        mighty things, which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

My friend, Lacy, shared with me how she had prayed for ten years for an old  family friend named “Bob.”  He was a very gruff man who always treated people harshly.  He came to Louisville on business a year ago and he agreed to go to church with Lacy and her husband, but she could not find an opportunity to share the gospel with him.

Lacy prayed to the Lord and told Him that if he were EVER in Louisville again, or she were ever in the same city as him, that she would share the plan of salvation with him. 

Sharon Beougher

Last week he was back in town.  Lacy remembered her promise to God and, though she was nervous, she was determined to fulfill her commitment to the Lord.   She asked to meet him for breakfast the next morning, telling him that she wanted to share what Jesus meant to her.  Not hesitating, he said, “Yes.”  It turns out he had been diagnosed with cancer and he said he had taken care of all his business except his religion.

The next morning Lacy was able to go through whole plan of salvation with him and he prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.  Lacy was obedient to share the gospel and God answered a ten year prayer!  May we all be faithful to pray, keep praying, and be obedient to share!



More of Jesus 2012!

"And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and people" Luke 2:52 (HCSB)

2012 A Year To Increase In JESUS! That is one of the deepest prayers of my heart for the New Year...that Jesus will Increase in my life so that I will keep growing in wisdom, stature, and favor with God to reach others for Jesus!

Back 2 School Praying!

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it" Proverbs 22:6 ESV
"Point your kids in the right direction—when they're old they won't be lost." Proverbs 22:6 msg




"Whose child is this?" I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile
"Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
......To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?" I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in
"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile
"Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school"

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door
"Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the child
"Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever."

~Author Unknown~

Thanking God for Gifted2Go Moms In Touch = Praying For Students of All Ages and Their Teachers!! Praying With You All for a Blessed School Year!! ♥Jer.29:11-13♥

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I33ga28Kqxk (See You At The Pole 2011)

The Call To Prayer!

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men/women to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly as I should be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:2-6

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him/her, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he/she should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him/her. But when he/she asks he/she must believe and not doubt, because he/she who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man/woman will not think he/she will receive from the Lord." James 1:5-7

Would you please pray the following prayer today for yourself?!!:

"Dear God, I am devoting myself to pray (Col.4:2). I ask you to forgive me of any sin I have committed against anyone (Mark 11:25, 1 John 1:9). I want to be holy so that those I know may come to know You by seeing Jesus in me (Hebrews 12:14). Please give me Christ's servant attitude and give me Your wisdom and guidance (Philippians 2:3-5). I ask that these words and my attitude be gentle and respectful (1 Peter 3:15). I pray that You will give me wisdom as I share with others about You (James 1:5-7). I know You will send The Holy Spirit to guide me and speak through me (John 15:13). I will look for opportunities to witness. Please help me see your opportunities (Colossians 4:5-6). I pray that You will give me the perfect words to say (Luke 12:11b-12, Exodus 4:12). I pray for boldness as I share about Your Son, JESUS, because I am NOT ashamed of the Gospel (Acts 4:29)! ♥IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY, AMEN♥

"After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with The Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God BOLDLY." Acts 4:31

As we pray for ourselves and most of all PRAY FOR OTHERS, you are making a HUGE difference for Christ through your Gifted2Go Call To Prayer!!

One specific prayer request that I would please ask you to PRAY for RIGHT NOW is the "W - Women of The Word" Conference and the entire W Team! The "W" conference is November 19-20 and you can click on the "W" on the right side bar to learn more about it as we ask God for specific ways that He would have us to PRAY!!! God Answers His Call To Pray!!!

(all of the above scripture and specific prayer is taken from "HeartCall-Women Sharing God's Heart" written by Jaye Martin copyright 1999, North American Mission Board of the SBC)

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

Without Ceasing!

http://www.ndptf.org/

Tomorrow is The National Day of Prayer! The First Thursday Every May!!

Joining You In Prayer for our World, Nation, Communities, Neighborhoods, Family, Friends, and Ourselves as People Come to Know Jesus~Share Jesus~Help Others Do The Same!!

"Where two or more are gathered....." Matthew 18:20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDDcCdRkldI (When God's People Pray!)

http://www.youtube.comwatch/?v=gkaFDI7J1gE (America~US National Day of Prayer Theme Song!)

Let God Use Our Heads!

The picture in today's blog was taken by a photographer that is covering the college baseball team that our 23 year old son, Cody Jones, attends and plays for...this is a picture of the underside of his baseball cap that includes several inspirations in his life. Cody's inspirations: Phil 4:13 & Gal. 2:20 & C.M.T. (Coach Miller Time) Coach Miller was one of Cody's favorite High School coaches and Bible Study teachers from Hallsville High School-Coach Miller is in Heaven now from cancer...J.D. is in memory of Joe Daniel Brumble (our son's Marshall & Cody's favorite fishing and hunting buddy that is also in heaven from a tragic truck wreck)

Here is a testimony written by Cody about Coach Miller for one of his college classes:
"The bible says in James 1:12 “Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him”. I have endured many trials that I have gotten through by leaning on the Word of God. God has done many things in my life that I thought He could never do as I trust in Him and work at finishing strong in life. He has also shown me to thank the Lord for all of the blessings that he has blessed me with. It’s really awesome how the Lord works in the lives of people to draw them closer to Him. I had a coach in High School his name is Coach Miller. Coach Miller inspired me more than any other coach that I have had because he truly finished strong. A couple of years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and the doctors only gave him 6 months to live. Instead on lying down and giving up he went about everyday with a glow about him that I never understood. Coach Miller was one of the strongest Christians that I have ever meet and he lived it every day even knowing that he might not make it much longer. I went and saw coach 2 days before he passed away and I will never forget it. He could barely talk but he did not have to say anything. The look on his face said it all “Always trust in the Lord and everything is going to be alright” even though he passed away two days later he touched so many lives by the way he lived his life. Many athletes accepted Jesus through his witness on and off the field. Coach Miller finished his life as strong as anyone could and I will never forget him." (written by Cody Jones for one of his college classes about a movie they watched about perseverance!)

This picture of an evangelistic baseball cap is an encouraging inspiration about the power of a "non-verbal" witness...what are some other non-verbal witnessing tools that we can share? I will share 2 and would love for you to share some of your favorite:

1. Witnessing Booklet 2. Cross Necklace

Please share some ideas you have of non-verbal witnessing tools as we encourage one another to live an evangelistic lifestyle!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68q8y5nkdPo (Voice of Truth!! Casting Crowns)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vB59PkB0eQ (Facing The Giants!!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvrBQL8swLI (I Will Rise!! Chris Tomlin)

Please Turn Up The Heat!

“The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth." Revelation 3:14-16 (HCSB)

We have just experienced one of the coldest weeks in decades! Temperatures have not climbed above freezing for more than a week as we have all been under "a deep freeze warning" night after night. With the deep freeze warning there comes some specific instructions to "take extra care" of the "P's" in our lives...Pets, Plants, Pipes, People...

There are times in our Christian walk that God calls us to "take extra care" so that we will continue to have "Hot Hearts" for Him! Here we are after all of the "new year commitments" have been made and we begin to live out a New Year surrendered afresh and anew to all that God has called us to...and then comes the deep freeze season of life, WINTER... the enemy can even try and use the weather or the season of life that includes more darkness (Winter) to try and cause our lives to grow "cold".

I will never forget the time that we teamed up with His servants from all over North America and ministered to an almost unreached people group in of all places...Alaska. As we prepared for this special time of going and sharing Jesus, we learned so much about how the cold dark long Winter months can affect the people of Alaska. We learned that during the cold months, Alaska leads North America in the areas of; depression, alcoholism, unemployment, and tragic family issues, just to name a few of the real struggles that the cold can bring upon lives. Many women gave their lives to Christ in Alaska that week that was so full of Jesus and His Love that Warms the coldest heart! Today it was -57 as we keep praying for Alaska as God keeps doing His Work!!

As believers, the enemy will even try and use anything, even "the cold" months of Winter, to make our hearts grow cold inside when it comes to daily growing in The Lord and daily sharing Him with others! What are some possible steps we can take to "fan the FLAME" of The Holy Spirit in our lives for Jesus?

"Having A Hot Heart for Jesus in a Cold World"- Ideas (Please Turn Up The Heat!): Ask God for A Hot Heart = Pray; Clean out the Filter of our Heart = Confession; Put in some new fresh kindling that helps build a new fire in our heart = Begin A New Prayer Plan, Bible Study Plan, Retreat; Share The Warmth from the Fire that God has Built = Reach out to others, Share Jesus, Pray with Someone, Have an Accountability Praying Friend, Realize the ways that God is at Work in and through our Lives, Encourage (Fan The Flame) Others!

We can either be a thermometer that only reflects the temperature in the room or we can ask God to make us a THERMOSTAT that sets & reflects a Hot Heart for God that can warm cold hearts around us for the cause of Christ! We would love for you to share some of your simple steps that you have taken that "Fans the FLAME" as we ask God to Please Turn Up The Heat inside of our HEARTS because like it has been said "it only takes a spark to get a fire going"!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvUNkRbi5Rc - Lord I Give You My Heart!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnqb7Vn4AEE - Open The Eyes Of My Heart!

Thankful Fall Strategy for Prayer

A GIFT of Prayer!

Ephesians 6: 19-20 "Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

G od gives the words to share through prayer as you go! (v.19-20)

I nvite others to pray for you as you pray and go! (v.19-20)

F earlessly pray & go! (v.19-20)

T ake prayer with you as you go! (v.19-20)

A Thankful Fall Strategy for Evangelistic Prayer....Fall is a wonderful important time to focus on the importance and the power of prayer! A time to renew thankfulness and get "prayed up". As we share the Lord with others, our personal prayer life is so important! Prayer is simply talking to God, but the results are strategic! Prayerful lives are powerful Gifted2Go lives! There are thankful Fall strategic prayer opportunities are all around us, especially during the Thanksgiving season, below are a few ideas listed for you. We would invite you to share your simple summer strategy ideas of prayer too! God promises to teach us to pray! (Luke 11:1) One way He teaches us to pray is when simple strategic prayer plans are shared with others!!

Some Fantastic Fall Strategies for Prayer: A Prayer Walk, A Prayer Retreat, A Prayer Garden, A Prayer Gram, A Prayer Journal, A Prayer Time...we left room for your prayer ideas!

Have A Wonderful Prayerful Day!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX49H0oHUh0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7LJEUcmtw8

Remember Your Christian Leaders!

"Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7 (HCSB)

"Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7 (NASB)

"Appreciate your leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn't change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he's always totally himself." Hebrews 13:7-8 (The Message)

Tomorrow, October 1st, begins a month of appreciation for ministers across our nation and world! Today my heart is gripped with an unending appreciation and thankfulness for all of the Christian leaders that have impacted my life, men of God and women of God, in countless ways! As a first-generation Christian God has been so incredibly generous and faithful to provide Christian role models in my life, and I NEVER get over the life-changing ways my life has been transformed by Him, His Word, & HIS LEADERS! Today, God has laid it on my heart to list my top five points of appreciation that are extended to every Christian leader that has impacted my life in order for my life to impact others for Christ Alone...I'd like to use God's Promises as each point as I challenge you to appreciate your Christian Leaders too!!!

1. You are APPRECIATED for how you study God's Word in order to be prepared and model preparedness in the ministry of The Lord! ~ "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 (HCSB)


2. You are APPRECIATED for how you follow God's Vision and share His Plans with a conviction of confidence in the ministry of The Lord! ~ "Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, “Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent." Acts 18:9 (HCSB)


3. You are APPRECIATED for how you model servant-hearted leadership in the ministry of the Lord! ~ "So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet." John 13:14 (HCSB)


4. You are APPRECIATED for how you model reality through a consistent praying heart that is quick to forgive and be forgiven through intense prayer in the ministry of the Lord! ~ "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful." James 5:16 (HCSB)


5. You are APPRECIATED for how you model evangelism in the ministry of the Lord with a "get up and go" consistent concern for others about where they will spend eternity! ~ "And Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark16:15 (HCSB) "The Lord replied, "But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of things you have seen, and things in which I will appear to you. I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." Acts 26:16-18 (HCSB)

God laid on my heart 3 worship songs to share as an appreciation tribute and prayer for all of the Christian Leaders in our lives!!! Click on these songs as we pray for and thank God that He created evangelistic leadership examples for our lives as we all follow Him as our greatest example and strive to be His example of servant-hearted leaders!! Please take this opportunity to thank the Christian leaders that are in your life during the month of October and throughout the entire year! A few ideas of ways to show appreciation: send a thank you card or express appreciation with your words, volunteer to serve in the ministry that they are leading, pray regularly for leaders and let them know you are praying, give a gift certificate, share something from your kitchen that you made just for them, babysit if they have small children so that your leader can enjoy a day or night out, ask how you can serve them.....please share your ideas of ways to show appreciation after you listen to these 2 worship songs!

Evangelistic Christian Leaders Are Making A Huge Difference For Jesus On The Frontlines & In The Trenches Of Ministry...THANK YOU For The Many Ways YOU Have Made An Impact In My Life For Jesus' Sake!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi-Mn5tRHvM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVqR6kTu8lE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmC44K0xQLE

Gifted in Faith Through Prayer

My parents were very faithful in taking me and my two sisters to church and activities my whole life, but I never knew that a person had to invite Jesus personally into his or her life to be Lord and Savior until I was fifteen years old. I visited a little church down the street as a result of an invitation from some neighbors for whom I babysat. The first Sunday I went I sensed a warmth and sweet atmosphere that I could not describe. I met the pastor's wife, Mrs. C. C. Warren, a godly lady in her seventies. I went to the youth Bible study, which consisted of two other youth; they asked me if I had ever been saved. I did not know what they were really saying, but they explained the plan of salvation and I personally invited Christ to my Lord and Savior. Two years later, I headed off to UNC to major in music and then on to seminary at Southwestern Baptist to get a master's in Christian Education. While in seminary I received a letter from Mrs. Warren telling me that she had started praying for me when she met me that first Sunday I visited her little church and that she had prayed for me every single day for the previous eight years! She told me she prayed that I would come to know Jesus and to follow His will for my life.

The realization of her commitment to prayer touched me then as well as now. Prayer is vital to evangelism. Mrs. Warren demonstrated to me God's power through prayer in evangelism as well as challenged me in my own prayer life to pray for lost people in my circle of influence to come to Christ. Someone once said Satan fears nothing from prayerless work, prayerless church services, prayerless activites, but he trembles when we pray. May we all learn a lesson from Mrs. Warren to PRAY that we would have the maximum amount of influence on the maximum amount of people around us and that they would come to a saving knowledge of Him who loved us and gave His life for us.