Good News For Us

Jesus said

“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Luke 10:2

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15

His disciples’ hands were not yet dry from their fishing nets when Jesus first sent them out. Their eyes were barely dry from mourning tears when the risen Jesus commissioned them to go out into the world, to teach, baptize and heal. “Go!” was His very last command to them before He ascended into heaven.

Jesus only defined the goers, the harvesters, the ones to spread His Good News, as “workers”. Who are these “workers”? Jesus never used the words “missionaries, clergy, trained, certified, educated” or “graduated”. So who are these “workers”? Got a mirror handy? It’s you and me! We are all God’s workers - His hands, His feet and His voice in the world. Are you a follower of Jesus? You’re a sent out worker! Do you believe the words written in the Bible? You’re a commissioned disciple! Do you love God more than anyone or anything?  Well then you, my friend, are a missionary!

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When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:13-15

After the disciples told Jesus the collective thoughts of the people of his time, Jesus asked His disciples -

“But what about you?…Who do you say I am?”

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“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”

Rebecca- age 8

“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

Billy - age 4

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”

Terri - age 4

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

Bobby - age 7 

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threshold

when life’s undone
it’s all undone
just think what
GOD’s about to do

when you’re unsure
you’re so unsure
look to the ONE
who’s seen you through

when you are weak
you’re feeling weak
that is the time
HE is most strong

HE’s all that’s right
GOD shines HIS light

on every lie

and all that’s wrong

when you are down
you’re so far down
you know that you
are surely out

HE steps on in
GOD steps right in
HE steals away
your every doubt

when you give up
you’re giving up
GOD brings you strength
for one more try

when you can’t walk
you just can’t walk
HE gives you wings
so you can fly

GOD calls to you
HE cries to you
I’ve called your name
and you are MINE

when you feel lost
so very lost
just think what
I’M about to find

Mary Graver

 What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. Revelation 3:7

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Nearly every time I turn into our friends’ long gravel driveway, I run into goats. Well, I don’t actually run into them, I come across them in various places on their way to various other places. At the risk of setting you to an all day hum of “High on a hill was a lonely goatherd Layee odl, layee odl layee-oo”, I will tell you that there is no goatherd for these wandering little beasts, so they are nearly always where they should not be, traveling to dangerous places where they are neither welcome nor safe.

The largest goats can be found on their hind legs eating the leaves of the tallow tree, a snack of an invasive weed that no other animal or insect even cares to eat. None of the goats appear to have a lick of sense from the baby to the eldest, but they are for the most part in this thing together, with a few small stragglers in their big foolish family.

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I clearly remember the happy day my eye doctor told me that I would need to wear eyeglasses. I was nine years old and all my friends were getting glasses. You could say I was a bit more concerned about eyewear cool factor than any vision improvement. I also wanted braces like most of my friends had, but was cursed with straight teeth and a good bite! These glasses would be my only corrective appliance victory. Click to continue →

It is the number you should know and the number the world wants to know of you. It is often all they want to know of you. It is the three digits your financial life hinges on, insurance rates are adjusted to, and many judge you by. It can be nicked with a mere look. It is the only reason some pay their bills on time. It is judgmental, unforgiving and non-receptive to explanations. It is a number that is difficult to change when incorrect and time-consuming to improve when accurately low.

Do you want to know your credit score with God? Do you wonder what it is, but often feel you do not know? Do you think your eternal life hinges on it and that God will judge you by it? Are His benefits adjusted to it? Is it the reason for your good deeds, the impetus of your morality and character? Is it judgemental and unforgiving, difficult to change, and time-consuming to correct? What is your credit score with God? Click to continue →

 Hurricane Katrina made landfall and there was no possibility to evacuate the over 4000 animals at Global Wildlife Center, a free roaming preserve in Folsom, Louisiana. The staff prayed and hoped the animals would survive.

Staff members rushed out to the preserve after the storm to see how the animals made out. As they drove up the road to the visitor’s center, they did not see one animal. They feared that many had not made it through the storm and that the survivors had fled to nearby forests. They were prepared to go on a search and rescue mission.

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Watchman Nee writes -

“Sitting describes our position with Christ in the heavenlies. Walking is the practical outworking of that heavenly position here on earth.”

The Christian’s secret is his rest in Christ. His power derives from his God-given position. All who sit can walk…We sit forever with Christ that we may walk continuously before men.”  Watchman Nee

How are we to walk in Christ?

Paul writes the Ephesians -

…Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2

Jesus said -

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.  John 13:35

By this all will know…

The following is a true story that happened while my husband, Matt, was on his first mission trip to Louisiana two weeks after Katrina hit.  It was told to Matt by a fellow chainsaw crew member who experienced it firsthand.

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Jesus said to His followers -

…”Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 
Mark 6:31

Do you have a place to sit and rest with God? Do you carve out a time? (And in this world that takes a hefty knife!) Do you set the alarm early, so you can be alone with God, not simply going for that last minute you can keep your eyes shut before your kids, your spouse, your work, your — fill in the blank — is there, demanding your time and attention?

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