Converting the Heart

I have often wondered what the best way to witness is..? 

I have seen different methods work, and I have seen some methods fail. 

How do you determine the best way to present the Gospel to someone 

who may not know the Lord, or even you?.. 

How do you know if "true conversion" or "true repentance" has taken place? 

Some say FEAR. "Fear is the best way to change the heart."

They say it will last and give true results.

Some say PATIENCE. "Patience allows the Lord to work in His time."

To be honest, there is no one way to witness.

We as missionaries need to trust that the Lord will guide our hand.

If we rush in, not waiting on the Lord, we trip.

If we don't take the opportunities presented to us, we disobey.

We all are gifted according to will of the Father.

Revealed to us through the Spirit who guides and teaches us.

Matters of the heart are sometimes extremely personal. 

Many times judging creeps in and we decide for someone 

if they are truly saved or repentant. 

Only the Lord knows the heart. Only He is worthy to judge. 

Our job is to be obedient to Him, spread the word of what He has done for us! 

The Lord takes our obedience and multiplies it according to His will! 

Go out, have a conversation with someone. See what the Lord will do.

May His will rule in your life and mine! Don't judge.... Love. 

That is how they will know we are Christians.... By our Love!

Just as I am...... Still?

How can this be?

What's going on inside of me?

My thoughts, My actions...

The love I once had...
Where did it go?

The dedication, the Drive..

I never felt I had to hide.

But,

Now my heart hurts.

My life burns before my eyes!

I'm tired... I'm worn...

The questions, the doubt,
it all floods my mind.

I cannot see the end this time.

You reached down for me once,

In the dirt,
                   muck,
                              and strife,

you restored my life.

Are you still there?

Do you still hear my prayer?

Am I one of the many... Who seem to be fooled?

Or am I one of the few who are equipped and tooled?

One who stays true,

Wholly devoted to you?
Unwavering, relentless in study,

Constant in prayer?

When I knock, will You open the Door?

Will I be allowed in?
Despite all that knocks me to the floor?

Will you still pick me up now that I've fallen again?
Where do I start? I know not where to begin..

I'm here now... Is that a start?
I wish to give you my heart!
May I walk with you?
Or sit here by your side?
My heart longs to be close, and I wish not to hide.

In my tears I can hear you speaking to me.
Come closer my child, My grace is sufficient for thee!
Trust Me now, come take my hand.
I wont let you go. In My strength.. You can stand!

A Patterned String

A Patterned String

Is it possible to have a life reflect a string of loving acts?

A life wholly devoted to never ending loving deeds?

What would someone look like who was so devoted?

It can be argued that people who are wholly devoted

to the Lord will reflect Him. So much so that all

those around can easily see that Christ is central to their life.

John 13: 34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: 

just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

By this all people will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another."(ESV)

In verse 35 the word "love" means

affection or benevolence; a love feast; feast of charity,

 brotherly love, affection, good will, benevolence

It is a word by definition, requiring action.

So let's clarify... One act of love is great!

It can mend a broken heart, give hope,

and make you feel pretty good.

But the type of love described here is a repeating love.

Our lives need to be a pattern of loving acts

done consistently all throughout our lives.

Would someone say you were a reflection of Christ

when you did only one act of love in your life?

Of course not!

Christ's life here on earth was a daily sacrifice, and giving

of Himself in love to all those around Him.

Daily, Consistently, Sacrificially, and Purposefully.

We must love like He loved.

If we don't, the reflection will be of ourselves.

Be a reflection of Christ, Love, daily.

So that all those around will see you are 

a Disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Let your actions be like the string of Bleeding Hearts above.

I truly believe, the Lord has given us a picture of His

Love in creation.

One act after another, stringing a life together so that all those 

around have no doubt who you reflect.

Let our hearts bleed love, over and over our whole life through!

A World of Love

A World of Love

Have you ever said the world needs more Love?

No matter which way we go in life,

we find trouble caused from selfish ambition

and absence of caring.

We have all heard the famous saying,

"Love is patient, Love is kind."

Some know not where it comes from.
Something that good could only come from God!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast;

it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way;

it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,

but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things. (ESV)

I would like to concentrate on one particular part.

"It does not insist on its own way"

I truly believe if we remove our selves,

we will love others more!

We will fight less, care more, and endure.

If we are truly honest with our selves,

we should see the source of most issues is selfish ambition.

We want something and we are not getting it.
Countries go to war because they want something
the other country has, or has taken away.

What would a personal issue look like if you
removed self issues from it?
Take a look at the root of the problem,
admit the issue with the other person,
ask for forgiveness, and then listen to each other..
Real change is rooted in understanding.

I know from personal experience that I get defensive
when someone tells me I am wrong.
I selfishly want to defend and justify, instead of listening.
In these cases, I need to set myself aside
and listen to the other person.
Which I admit, is very difficult at times.

I do believe if we set aside our selves, and open our ears,
we will find ourselves being more patient and kind.
We would be more concerned about the other person,
and we would take better care of them.
And lets face it...
If we ALL thought more about the other person,
we would ALL be taking better care of each other.

Our world would be centered on LOVE!

And who wouldn't love that?!

Someday!

Someday!

As I walked through my life, where sin did exist.
I trusted my Savior, to make something of me.
Where daily I fail, His hand can be seen.
Guiding my moves and paving the way.
As I looked all around, His blessings did abound.

But,

Now my body lays silent, my spirit is moved,
A place of light, unlike the sun or the moon.

Where I am, I feel undone.
So much light, where can I run?

Witnesses all around, my secrets are told.
I fall to my knees, for the Father sits before,

Where no sin can hide, all can be seen.

The shame in my heart, revealing its weight,

A life deserving death, I cover my face.

One question He asks, the answer I cannot say.
Why? He asks again!
Why are you here?

No worldly act have you done,
To make you worthy before me!

His wrath is ready, I feel it now.
A feeling I cannot describe!

Not wrath, but calm,
Like a breath, Peace enters in!
 My Savior's hand I feel on my back.
As I look, in His arms is a book.
He opens it and takes a look.

Look here Father, We wrote down his name!
He trusted in me, and I took his shame.
Nothing more was said then,
The Father's wrath was held back.
He stood me up just as He did before.
 He wiped my tears, with a smile on His face.
Welcome home good servant, I've been expecting you!
 Your whole life through, I've guided your hand.

The praise from your lips, the love that you showed,
Gave praise to My Father, whom the world did not know.

But the end is the beginning,
Which rests only in Me.
Forever I will teach you.
Together, let us now walk.
A life now made new.
A body that lasts,
For eternity at best.
O, the things I will show you,
The things you will learn!
I have so much planned. Take now My hand.
Forever we will walk, My hand guiding you.
Let us start now, eternity awaits!
Sin is no more, death is now gone.

I see in your heart, your desire for Me.
Now see what is in store, what I saved up for you.
What you want, you will have.

To be next to Me.

Come sit with Me now,
A hug just for you!
I love you so much!
Forever I will be with you!

Courage and Obedience Required

Choices

Our lives are full of choices that need to be made.

People will say or do something that will 

push you into battle or retreat.

Daily as Christians we will make these choices,
and it will affect our walk with the Lord.

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,

against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present

darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (ESV)

Battle isn't always something you can see.
And it will come from places you least expect it.
Make your choice now. Choose to either fight the good fight
or choose to turn and walk away.
Just remember...

Obedience

Matthew 28: 19-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in 
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (ESV)

We as Christians are commanded to move!
The command is simple. And it provides so many choices.

What do you do when...
-Someone tells your child that there is no God.
-A friend is confused about what the Bible is saying.
-Someone asks who Jesus is and what He did for us.
-Someone is trash talking your Savior on social media.
-Someone threatens you with harm if you are not quiet.

The list is really never ending.
That is why Choices and Obedience go hand in hand.

A day is coming, a day of reckoning. A day when light
will shine on all things. Everything will be judged.
Will your activities prove you Obedient?
Will the Choices you made prove that you moved?

We cannot afford any longer to be silent.
We can no longer choose our battles.
For those who can see, the battle is against us!
It has already started!
Is it knocking you down?
Or
Are you fighting back?

We are equipped. Fully armored!

Ready? Set? MOVE!

Matthew 28:20
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (ESV)

Wrapped in Armor

The Wrap Up!

Well, it's taken a while to get through this! 

But here we are at the end!

We need to look at how all this fits together, 

and how we apply the Armor of God in our lives.

As we have looked deeper into each piece, we find 

the Armor, no matter what piece it is, is a gift from God!

Someone with the Helmet of Salvation can know

and understand all the other parts of armor!

Let's face it... The things of God are Spiritually discerned!

We cannot understand the wisdom of God or even apply

it in our lives without the understanding that the 

Spirit gives us once we are saved!

Our eyes are opened, and we move in the Spirit as 

we are directed to accomplish great things in battle!

We can live a righteous life protected by the Shield of Faith.

We can move forward with our feet protected by the 

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace.

We can pierce the darkness of this world with the 

Sword of Truth, the Word of God!

And we can expose anything false with the Belt of Truth.

A Christians life is filled with danger!

We fall into persecution and are mocked for what we believe.

But hold fast to your Salvation!

Be strong in the Lord.

Know and study His ways.

Be obedient to His calling for you.

If we can truly see all the gifts He gives in the armor provided,

we will appreciate and value every piece.

We will care for and learn to use each piece 

as if it were our very flesh!

When you look in the mirror, What do you see?

Do you see a vulnerable self, beaten down by the world?

Or do you see a Warrior ready to battle this evil world?

Don't let the world win!

We are more than conquerors!

Trust in the Lord, be strong in His might!

One day He is coming for His warriors!

Heaven awaits, and hugs that last for eternity are coming!

May God our Father protect and keep you,

bless you, and encourage you, all the days of your life!

Gifts from God: Part 7

Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:17

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (ESV)

In the previous part of this verse, we were told to take

the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword.

The two go hand in hand.

The knowledge of the one comes through the 

acceptance of the other.

True wisdom is from God, told to us in His Word.

Knowledge of the Word is revealed through

the Holy Spirit, who intercedes on our behalf.

John 16:7

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth:it is to your advantage that I go away,

for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.

But if I go, I will send him to you.(ESV)

So who is the Helper?

g3875. παράκλητος paraklētos; an intercessor, 

consoler:— advocate, comforter.

The Helper is only given to those who know the Lord

John 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, 

to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth,

whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him.

You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (ESV)

What does the Helper do?

John 14:26

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,

he will teach you all things

and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (ESV)

How does the Helper relate to the Sword?

1 Corinthians 2:14

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God,

for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand

them because they are spiritually discerned. (ESV)

The word of God is written and named, The Bible.

In it, we find true wisdom, revealed to us by the Spirit of God.

it is a two edged sword piercing through the soul.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than

any two- edged sword, piercing to the division of soul

and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and

discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (ESV)

With this Sword, we pierce into the darkness of this world,

and reveal truth and light, and the darkness cannot stand

against it. For the wisdom of man is folly!

What will you strike at the darkness with?

Will you battle with your own wisdom against the world?

We fall and are trampled unless we are

fully armored! 

Take up the Word, the Sword of the Spirit?

Cut through the darkness and be a light unto this world!

For the light of the world is Jesus!

For unto Him be all glory, honor, dominion, power, and might, 

forever and ever, Amen!

Gifts from God: Part 6

The Helmet of Salvation

Ephesians 6:17

and take the helmet of salvation (esv)

It may be short and sweet, but its cornerstone.

Without it, there is no hope

and most certainly, no future!

There is no question that salvation is truly a gift!

One gift that grants all promises,

opens all doors, and reveals worth!

We are told by Christ that His body is given for us:

Luke 22:19-20

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them,
saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 

"This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (esv)

Christ told us He was door. And through no other can we be saved!

John 10:9

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved 

and will go in and out and find pasture. (esv)

With this Salvation comes assurance, confidence,
forgiveness, eternal protection, and guidance.

There is a place for us in eternity!
Peace can be ours a midst trials and war.
Encouragement to move in and onward is ours!

Don't move into battle with the enemy of this
world without your helmet!
One hit without it will lay you on your back!
This protection can be yours if you accept
the free gift given by God through Jesus Christ.
Don't wait, move into life's battles with the proper protection!