a spark on an ordinary, dark night

"The shepherds began saying to one another, 'Let us go straight back to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.' 

So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as he lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child…

The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told to them" (Luke 2:15b-17, 20, NASB). 

Aisles and aisles of red, green and white was all I could see for a while. My shopping cart was popping out with the same colors as I emerged from this sea and approached the check-out line. Then - in the middle of this busy day - a man at the check-out begun talking with me about Christmastime and church. And there it was - a glimmer in the middle of the day of Christ, our Savior, who was part of God's plan to sacrificd Himself as a ransom for all. This message is for all people. Even on the seemingly most normal of days, God is at work to spread this message, to save us and  to draw us all closer to Him.

That night, I was reminded of the shepherds' reactions in Luke 2, the night of Christ's birth:

• First, they were terrified by the angel that visited them in the fields (v. 9). Who wouldn't be? A heavenly creature appeared during their work shift and in the dark.
• They went to see what the angel had told them (vv. 15-16). After hearing the angel's message that the Savior was born in Bethlehem, they decided to check it out. They were filled with joy to see that what the angels had told them about Jesus was so accurate.
• They praised God and told others what the angels had told them about the Child (vv. 17-18, 20). And they brought glory to God.

I pray that God helps us see each day - no matter how ordinary or how unusual it seems - as a time that He can move and bring light along with His love. I pray He gives us His heart, along with the words to share what He has shown us about Him, this good news for all people, that our Savior is here.

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord'" (Luke 2:10-11). 

Opportunities To Share Jesus Are Flying By!

On a recent airplane trip to Louisville, Kentucky to team teach HeartCall and Gifted2Go with Jaye, God gave me an opportunity to share Jesus, at the airport I was traveling from, and on the airplane I was flying on...

As I missed my first flight, God used all the details of my second flight to build a quick relationship with the airline representative, we will call her Sally.  As I shared a "HeartTalk" witnessing booklet with Sally, then saw her again right before I boarded my flight, she expressed to me that she was going to go home after work and do exactly what she just read in "HeartTalk."  Sally expressed those words to me with tears in her eyes while God whispered in my heart that He took my missed flight and used that experience to share Jesus with Sally, Praise The Lord!

Tracy Jones

As I settled into the the final leg of my flight, a group of more than 30 women that were very friendly boarded my flight.  God placed one of them next to me and we became fast friends, we will call her Jane!  As I got to know my new fast friend, God gave me the opportunity to share with Jane about HeartCall, Gifted2Go as I shared a "HeartTalk" witnessing booklet with her.  Jane took the time right away to read her HeartTalk booklet and, as we were about to get off the plane, she shared with me that she was going to go to her hotel room and do exactly what she had just read in "HeartTalk"!

My heart was bursting with joy for the privilege of sharing Jesus with these 2 precious women!  All around us there are people to share Jesus with as God gives us these opportunities and God gives us the words to share!  God is so amazing to pour into our lives what He desires to pour out of our lives as we look for those "opportunities that are flying by" as we GO!!!

Do you have some witnessing booklets everyday everywhere you go?  That is one way that God equips you to be Gifted2Go!  Please put some booklets in your pocket, in your purse, in your car, at your desk, at the door of your home, everywhere you spend time!  You are Gifted2Go Share Jesus as you are Go-ing!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYvUym9E_nQ&playnext=1&list=PLCcSRKFsRpIfpCMfJaXMrb_sdQzEQl1dX  Each One Reach One!!  (Babbie Mason)

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 for the words to say

"'Do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.'" -Luke 12:11b-12 (New American Standard Bible)

With the U.S. presidential elections approaching, I remembered an old video clip I saw once in high school with presidential bloopers. You can find a similar, more updated video at www.youtube.com - presidential bloopers video. Even our nation's leaders, who speak so often, can make mistakes in their speech. 

God asks believers to share Him and spread His good news, as we can read from Matthew 28:19-20, but sometimes we can wonder what exactly we would say. When God asked Moses to speak to Pharaoh, Moses was pretty raw in expressing his doubt that he was the man for the job. God pointed out that He is the Creator of all things - He made the mouth, and He gives people the ability to speak. He said, "'Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and teach you what you are to say'" (Exodus 4:12, New American Standard Bible).

God asks us to trust Him and follow His lead. He will help us follow His will. As believers, God has given us the Holy Spirit to give us the words to say as we witness to who He is. So, there is no need to fear. When we are His, we are not walking alone. As we try to explain this relationship we have with Him to others, He will give us the words to say.

Lord, thanks for being Immanuel, God with us. Be with us as we explain who You are to others. Give us the words to say through Your Spirit. Amen.

Image - http://blog.keepstream.com

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

We pray that we be obedient

"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:18-19, NASB).

These verses make up the climax of Matthew's gospel. After Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection, Jesus, God in flesh, asked disciples to be the "through" - His instruments to tell the world of His great message. Instruments, like the guitars pictured, can help musicians communicate a sort of message. As believers, our message tells of how God's great love is demonstrated, in that He would die for and forgive sinners like us (Romans 5:8).

Jerry Rankin and Ed Stetzer wrote:

"We, just like Israel, are to be instruments of His mission
to make His way and His salvation known upon the earth
until all nations rejoice and sing His praise" (Spiritual Warfare and Missions, p. 21).

Together, with the power of the Holy Spirit, believers can make a beautiful symphony, as we worship our Lord and share who He is with others who don't know Him yet.

More reading on this: 1 Chronicles 16:7-36, Romans 6:12-14

Dear Lord, thank you for Your faithfulness and sacrifice. Please help us remember how much we need You and how much others need You, too.  Make us into your instruments in making disciples and helping others know You. Amen.

This devotion based on the guided prayer in HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart workbook (Jaye Martin, 1999).

Photo of Ibanez guitars from guitaristmaximus.com

a life like Lottie

"I am sending you there to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." -Acts 26:17b-18, NIV

Yesterday, I attended a forum at Southern Seminary about Lottie Moon. Her story inspires me. Charlotte Moon, known as "Lottie," devoted her life to helping the Chinese people find light. More about Lottie can be found at http://www.imb.org/main/give/page.asp?StoryID=5524&LanguageID=1709. Her fire for God, her impact with the Asian people, and her letters home shows how we can spread Christ's message to the world.

Jesus Christ is our supreme example of loving all of the people of the world. May we look to missionary leaders like Lottie and most importantly Jesus Christ for inspiration as we share the light that His message brings.

How can we make an impact like Lottie and Jesus today?
· Praying for those serving in missions, subscribing to monthly fliers and e-newsletters with updates and prayer requests, checking out daily prayers posted on http://www.imb.org/main/pray/prayerrequests/todaysprayer.asp
· Volunteering to serve individually or as a family (some programs for families are even six days - http://going.imb.org/volunteers/Step_1/family.asp)
· Giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, organizing bake sales to raise money, giving recyclables (like ink cartridges or plastics) to the city to receive funds for the offering
· Spreading the word by teaching Lottie Moon's story to our families and others, encouraging those that you lead to give, sending an e-mail to friends to ask if they would like to give

"Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples." -1 Chronicles 16:24, NIV

Photo above of people in China worshipping from http://www.imb.org/
Links to video clips:
IMB Missions Today: http://going.imb.org/defaultvid.asp

grass roots

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence indeed is the Lord. He will be like a tree planted by water: it sends its roots out toward a stream, it doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8, HCSB).

I believe that God's work is strengthened by grass roots movements. Jeremiah tells us that we are blessed when we trust in the Lord and place our confidence in Him. We are like trees planted by water that send our roots out to His stream and therefore, we don't fear when the heat comes. Our fruit and foliage remains green and we need not worry in case there is even a year-long dry spell.

In January 1985, I heard about the great awakenings and how individuals started them by praying for God to awaken His people. I heard someone tell a group about the difference that just one person who was fully committed to God could make. I told God that I wanted to be that person. Until recent years, I prayed daily for a great awakening. I don't care who starts it or how it happens but I want to go back on record that beginning today, I am praying for a great awakening.

I am praying for women (and anyone) who will join me in digging in and planting roots in Christ and in the ministry of helping women to be mobilized and leading people to Jesus. I believe that we need a grass roots movement of women who want to make a difference as they try to relate to a lost world. We need women who will pray for a great awakening among women. Let's pray that women will pray, arise, and go!

Will you join me?