One Day at a Time

One day at a time...that is how it has been for me lately. Today's quiz, today's ministry, today's time with the Lord. Normally I'm the type of person who likes to look way ahead and live for 20 years from now; but when this happens I neglect the importance of this moment, the once in a lifetime chance to make a difference today. And as I look over the past few days I see God's wonder, His blessings, and His merciful kindness to me. He has given me different verses throughout the semester for each day...

Sunday - Psalm 84:10 "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" Sunday is my day for Hospitality ministry which consist of me standing by a door at church; smiling and shaking hands with a bunch of people who are in a hurry to do their business, and would rather not stop to say hello. I became discouraged and had lost all energy and passion for this ministry. Then through a Sunday morning sermon God gave me this verse and revived my heart.

Monday - 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." College life can be a pain (especially since I have an exam on Monday) but this verse provokes me to keep trudging on.

Tuesday - 1 Chronicles 16:24-25 "Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvelous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods." Tuesday is door knocking night, and this is my personal commission from God for visitation. I am to declare His righteousness and His glory, and that HE is the one to whom we must all answer to on judgment day.

Wednesday - 1 Samuel 12:24 "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you." Wednesday night service is one of my favorites. I have no ministries, so after a long day of classes it is such a relief to just go to church, settle down, and dwell on the goodness and greatness of our Heavenly Father.

Thursday - Proverbs 15:15 "All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." Thursdays have to be my worst day. They are very long and tiresome, but God gave me this verse as a reminder of the joy that I have in Christ.

Friday - Acts 18:9-10 "Then spake the Lord to Paul in he night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city." Friday Night Street Evangelism!!! One of the highlights of my week. We are given an opportunity to go out on the streets of Down Town OKC and pass out tracts and give the Gospel! But more often than not I have that inkling of fear. But when we were assigned this verse to memorize God immediately brought Friday Evangelism to my mind, and it encourages me.

Saturday - Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Saturday is homework time, but to be truthful (which we always should be) I would rather spend it catching up on all the sleep I missed throughout the week. But I must remain focused, determined, and faithful to the work that God has called me to do.

I hope these verses were a blessing to you. And don't neglect what God might have for you to do today.

Textbook Analysis (The condensed version)

Recently for my Biblical Basis of Missions class we had to give a Textbook Analysis on "The Key to the Missionary Problem" by Andrew Murray. If you ever get the opportunity to read the book please do, Bro. Murray does a great job of showing the need for foreign missions. For this post I would like to give some of the highlights of my analysis...

"The Central idea about the volume is solving the missionary problem by first giving ourselves wholly to the service of God and following where He leads; whether that would be to go to the deepest jungles of Africa, or training, sending, and supporting those that have been called to go in our stead.

The five most important things that I have learned are that, first of all we as Christian have failed in recognizing the vastness of the missionary problem. We say to ourselves, 'Well, I gave to missions this month, I prayed for the missionary that was on the bulletin from church this week, and I even had the visiting missionary over to my house for supper! I am fulfilling the Great Commission!' "

(Is that all there is to missions?)

"Next, on page 73 this phrase jumped out at me, referring to Hudson Taylor, 'He would ask God to teach him at home how to walk in faith." So many missionaries never make it to the field, never make it through deputation, or never even surrender to the call to begin with because they do not know how to walk in faith...

...The chapter that is most significant for my life and ministry is chapter eight because it talks much of self-denial in the Christian life. On page 97 he quotes Hudson Taylor, 'If we are to simply pray as a pleasant and enjoyable exercise, and know nothing of watching in prayer, and weariness in prayer, we shall not draw down the available blessings. We shall not sustain our missionaries...we shall not even sufficiently sustain the spiritual life of our own souls.' I am a selfish person, and praying is very hard for the flesh. But the Lord has used this book to challenge me in that area; that I cannot expect to do great things for God without being willing to devote myself to the necessity of prayer....

...Many times we fail to see the children around us as the pastors, missionaries, and teachers of the future. But if we are to solve the missionary problem we must not neglect the next generation. I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to listen to God's call for their lives because we are all missionaries, some of us are called to the four year olds Junior Church, while others are called to Sri Lanka. Either way, we are all called to ministry. This book really drives home the ever present need of fulfilling the Great Commission, especially with the examples of real people...It is a wonderful challenge to the believer."

Serving the Lord in OKC

I'M BACK!

I know that is not the most exciting news you have heard today, but bear with me, this might get good!

I just returned from Tuesday Night Visitation. We had a few open doors but no real opportunity to go through God's salvation plan with anyone. But we did leave a tract and most every home (even leaving one in the crack in the garage door because a giant bush blocked the door). But I am very thankful that we did get to speak to a few, hopefully we planted a seed in their heart.

Visitation, for me, is like a espresso shot in the head! When we got off the bus I was trembling from excitement. I prayed that the Lord would give me a passion and eagerness to tell people about their need and God's solution to that need, and He did!

I am ADDICTED to the ministries that I am privileged to be a part of.

Where is our passion? Where is our drive to see people come to Christ?
Sure, I have problems, but when I step onto that bus I leave my cares on campus and focus on the countless soul's who have never heard that they were a sinner and that their sin separates them from their Creator.

God please help us to serve You, and love people!