Knock Knock
A young man eagerly went out witnessing for the first time. With tracts in hand, he knew exactly what he would ask when the first door he knocked upon was open. He knocked expecting to see what he knew would surely be an unsaved individual. The door was opened wide by a kind, older gentlemen who asked, “Yes, what can I do for you?” The young man somewhat caught off guard asked, “If I died today do you know I would go to heaven?’ The kind gentleman smiled and said, “Son, I don’t know but I certainly will pray that you join me there. “ Witnessing, sharing our faith in Jesus, doesn’t have to be lines we memorize from a printed tract. The best witnesses simply tell what they have seen and what they know to be true. This week share your faith by telling what you know to be true. Tell someone what you have seen Jesus do. Another great way to witness is simply to live your life in a way that those who witness it will want to join you in heaven someday.
Forget Your Fear Find Your Faith
Tornado Warning, move to a place of safety. As Christians we sometime feel heeding a tornado warning is giving into fear. Our God tells us to fear not. The story is told of a Christian who was urged by friends to take her babies into a closet during a recent storm. . She felt as if she were giving into fear that she had declared no longer existed, but did move into a dark hall closet. While in the closet she was reminded of things from the past. She found things she had been looking for, things she thought were gone forever. She found a banner she once made with a Bible verse from Isaiah. It was made when she first found her great faith in God. As she stood in the closet she found great peace and forgot all fear. She found the roots of her faith. Sometime God uses dark places, scary situations, and things form the past to remind us who He is. We should always remember the source of our faith who mercifully takes away all fear. We should always give God all honor and glory for all He gives and all He takes away.
Sufficiency of Grace
In II Corinthians Paul prays for the Lord to take something from him, a thorn in his flesh. The point of what the thorn was is often argued. It is not important what the thorn was. The importance is the answer that Paul received. How Paul was answered is also argued. Did Jesus appear to him again, or did Paul just hear a still small voice? The way Jesus chose to answer isn’t important. The answer received is what is important. God’s grace was sufficient for Paul. Grace is defined as a favor rendered by one who need not do so. Sufficient is defined as a close meeting of need. God’s grace, His favor, is sufficient, closely meets our every need. No matter what the thorn is, no matter how God chooses to appear to us we need to get the point. God’s grace is enough for us to handle any situation, any handicap, physical, spiritual or mental which hinders us from doing what we are supposed to do and being who we are supposed to be in Christ. If we rely on His grace we will be victorious.
Smart as a Fifth Grader
Do you know why Spring is called Spring?
Do you know why the days get longer and the weather gets warmer? The North Pole of the Earth is tilted toward the Sun, and the length of daylight hours increases for the Northern Hemisphere. The hemisphere begins to warm significantly, causing new plant growth to spring forth, giving the season its name, Spring. Most fifth graders know and understand Spring, what it means, and where it gets the name. Do you know why Christians are called Christians? What should Christians do this Spring? As the North Pole, which is in the center of the Earth tilts toward the Sun, it is a great time for each of us to tilt the center of our lives toward the Son. The light in our lives will increase. Time will be more meaningful to us. Our hearts will grow warmer .We will significantly warm the hearts of those around us. We will cause new growth in others and in ourselves. We will spring forth as we grow and become new and Christ like, giving us the name, Christians. Many fifth graders know and understand being a Christian, what it means, and where we get our name.