His Arrival Is Just The Beginning

I was reading John chapter 11 and something really spoke to me and hope it blesses you...

As soon as Martha heard Jesus arrived in town, she didn't wait for Him to get to their house, but she went out to meet Him where He was.  This lady was bold.  She basically blamed His late arrival for her brother's death.  Not only that but she also turned this "problem" into His problem by stating that God the Father could do whatever He the Son asked for.  Her declaration of faith is the turning point in this miracle.

LIFE APPS

1. Don't settle for the small wins. 
If you see God starting to move onto the scene of your life, He's just arrived on the scene.  As in this story, the miracle didn't take place when He arrived.  Don't be satisfied with His arrival at the outskirts of town OR life but dare to get out of the comforts of your "home" and meet Him where He's at so that our entire life is transformed.  If we see Him answering one prayer request, don't rest on the laurels of that victory, and relax thinking He'll just take care of everything else in one shot.  Continue to seek Him out thru prayer, worship, and fellowship.

2. Be bold to tell Jesus what's in your heart. 
The hurts, pains, desires, crazy dreams, etc... He wants to hear it from you even though He knows everything already.  Dare to dream big dreams.  Dare to be different in living a godly life in obedience to Him so that He can answer us! 

3. The full miracle awaits your commitment to Him.
If you boldly go after Him consistently and continuously, the complete miracle will be seen in your life.  Your soul, health, mindset, relationships, finances, career, education, family, and all that makes up you will be a new creation of Jesus.  He will totally transform your life From The Inside Out: http://youtu.be/DP_Ry7yrYxY.  As it says, "My heart and my soul, I give You control.  Consume me from the inside out Lord."

Have a blessed week! 

Enjoy the Ride,

Cecil

New Service Plant's Missions Miracle

Couple of weeks off from writing ... Quick recap since last post:

Missions Possible Sunday @ Community Worship Service of First COG.  Let's just say it is a God-thing!

The ushers took the offering and quickly counted so we can inform the congregation of what they were able to do for missions.  We announced $2K or so immediately.  That was a great number for a new service plant's inaugural missions offering from a congregation of about 50 people.  But I guess God wasn't done.  The team went upstairs to do a more elaborate count and realized actually there was a lot more offered and pledged.  After the "recount", the new amount was $8000.  All of us sitting around the table counting the money and cards, just were in amazement.  "You've got to be kidding me!" is what I remember saying/thinking!  God is definitely moving in different ways!  And He isn't done yet, because more people has stated they will be supporting.  Thank God for everyone and all that He is doing!

The missions team had identified certain persons and project to support:
A) Ann Vadakottu - Missionary to Guatemala ... work with children at an orphanage.  She is a full-time missionary going for 1 year to Guatemala.  Her dream is to minister in India.

B) NF - - Serving in Middle East ... work with women and children.  She is going to serve for 3 years. 

C) Japan Disaster Relief - via Church of God World Missions.  Bring essential aide to the cities ravaged by the earthquake and tsunami.

Please keep these people and project and all in the missions field in your prayers!

Enjoy The Ride,

Cecil

WITNESS

Based on Acts 1:3-7 ...

Remember the ways and times God has proved His power in our lives. Don't doubt the work of God in our life. That's our story to share with the help of His Spirit to others!

If we are promised a new gift (Holy Spirit), why just settle for what we already have? Hold onto our salvation and public identification of a Christ-follower through baptism, but GO AFTER the new gift. Then share your story with others! As a witness, we must maintain our credibility as a witness in our daily walk of life out in the world. Don't give chance for Satan and the world to poke holes in our story!

Thank God ... the format of the service changed a bit yesterday. Started with a worship song and then the Word and closed with worship. The worship time was awesome, people were just enjoying the presence of God. Few people said they haven't experienced that before or in a long time. Praise God!

Found out afterwards that the last song was spur of the moment.  God touched our hearts!


Enjoy The Ride,

Cecil

Crumbs of Love

What do we do with the crumbs of food that fall to the tabletop or floor? We throw it away ... hopefully! Or maybe the dog comes walking by and licks it up for a quick snack. Something we have no use for or see as "crumbs" might be someone else's 1-course snack and dinner. I'm going to encourage you to read Matthew 15:21-28.

Are we like the foreigner woman that was restrained from getting to Jesus because she was seen as a "dog" in the minds of Jesus' disciples? She was being told by the so-called followers of Jesus that she had no right to be near Jesus.

Are we like the disciples thinking we can be selfish with Jesus by keeping Him to ourselves? What's really going on in our minds when a truly desperate soul is in search for hope and salvation? Do we label folks as they're not good enough to have "my" Jesus?

Jesus went to that lady's hometown not just to heal the lady's daughter but to teach his followers that He not only came for those of Israel but for people of all backgrounds. It didn't matter the race, ethnicity, class, gender, education level, etc... He came to seek and save the lost!

For those of us who have experienced His salvation have had the 5-course dinner because we have received His immense love. He gave it to us by dying on the cross for us and so we can be set free and have eternal life. Can we be generous enough to at least give some "crumbs" of love that we experienced to someone that we have in our life that needs some love in their life? The "crumb" that someone needs might be an encouraging word, a quick prayer, and listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a person to give them guidance. If those people can see that these crumbs are coming from the Master's table, it will give them faith, hope, deliverance, and healing all arenas of their life.

Let's make sure we're not holding the mindset of the "disciples" of Jesus. We are to be a WITNESS to all people!

Enjoy the Ride,

Cecil

You & The ABC's

The ABCs of Personal Involvement in the Great Commission

(Matthew 28:19 & 20)

A – Affirm urgency of Great Commission.
B – Believe in Holy Spirit enablement.
C – Confess Christ with biblical authority.
D – Develop skills to witness effectively.
E – Engage in forming receptive relationships.
F – Form faith to visualize transformation.
G – Gain respect with convincing dedication.
H – Hold firmly to spiritual values.
I – Inspire by demonstrating consistency.
J – Join forces with other believers.
K – Kneel prayerfully for impact opportunities.
L – Learn contagious ways to relate.
M – Magnify fruit of church life.
N – Nurture friendships for spiritual growth.
O – Offer assistance for special needs.
P – Partner with pastor in mission.
Q – Question hesitation to express faith.
R – Respond to questions and misunderstandings.
S – Spotlight the blessings of salvation.
T – Touch with acts of kindness.
U – Utilize every method of evangelism.
V – Volunteer for community service projects.
W – Witness with tact and wisdom.
X – X-press confidence in conversion results.
Y – Yield to Holy Spirit promptings.
Z – Zero in on positive outreach possibilities.

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© 2011 Church of God World Missions