Come In For Coffee and a Testimony

Welcome to my home!  Pull up a chair - can I get you something to drink?  I have coffee, tea, and lemonade.  How are you today?  It is a lovely sunny day here, with pleasant breezes carrying a hint of autumn.  Early this morning my boys and I enjoyed peeking out our window to watch a little woodpecker pecking away on our playhouse out back.  I've spent all morning cleaning out a closet full of clothes my boys have grown out of.  I look forward to sharing them with my friends who have tiny boys. Thanks for coming by!  It's a good excuse for a relaxing break.



When I first sensed God directing me to create Women On God's Mission, I knew the most important thing to share right away was my salvation testimony - how God has forgiven me through Jesus' sacrifice in my place.  My life isn't about me - it's about everything God has done for me, in me, and (when I live surrendered to Him) through me.   HE is my mission.  And HE daily gives me a mission to serve Him by serving others. 



[If you are interested in reading my salvation testimony, it is listed under "Labels" (to your right - "My Testimony."]



Are you certain of your position in Christ?  Or are you haunted with doubts and fears about your future?  If you are unsure where you stand with God, you can find the answers you've been hoping for.  A great place to begin is by clicking on the link below.

What does God have to do with me?

 

" . . . if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:9-10

If you believe in Jesus, God's living Word, and confess Him as your Savior, would you please share?   May I refill your cup?   How about an ooey, gooey, low-cal muffin to go with your drink? :) I am eagerly awaiting your testimony. 



If you are unsure how to share your testimony, see *below.  I realize many testimonies are lengthy, so if you just want to share a favorite verse and when/where you chose to answer God's call, that will be perfectly fine. If you've never left a comment before, it's simple. Just go down to the bottom of this post and click on "comments." You can leave one anonymously if you don't want anyone to know your name. 



Looking forward to hearing how God wooed you to Himself. Your testimony will be an encouragement to me and all our sisters around the world. Thank you for visiting today! :)  I hope you come back again soon.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;" I Peter 3:15

 

 . . . . .

 of faith." So, it is telling others what you have seen and heard about God, and what you believe about

*Have you ever been asked to share your salvation testimony in front of a group of people? Maybe you want to tell a family member or your new roommate what God has done for you, but you don't know where to begin. Are you scared? It takes preparation and practice, but soon you will feel comfortable and anticipate chances to tell your story. Click below to find some excellent helpful hints for how to prepare to share.

How to give your testimony to a friend, a stranger, or to an entire group

Just God and Me

"Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16

On Saturday I listened to an inspiring Christian woman speaking about godly priorities while cleaning my room.  Later that same day, while I was folding underwear and sorting socks, I heard another famous woman interviewed on a highly revered Christian website.  As her voice streamed through my laptop, my hopes for a meaty message quickly faded.  I was left feeling parched.  Yes, she mentioned God, spoke about prayer as well as other true and good things, but never communicated God's own words.  Most of her words were about her. 



More than any other time in human history, we have countless opportunities to hear and learn from God's Word: radio, television, internet, books, church, CDs, Sunday school, small groups, conferences, magazines, DVDs, blogs, YouTube, email, Facebook, etc.  Certainly there are messages and interviews worth hearing that point us to God.  It takes some work, but we can wade through fluff and find solid biblical teaching.



My concern, as I get to know myself better and listen to others around me, is that we too easily depend on the testimonies of other humans.  Before realizing it, my own quality time with God slips away.  Unless the words of others springboard me toward further personal study in my Bible, munching from the crumbs of other people's spiritual meals soon leaves me depleted, hungry. 

"And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'" John 6:35

If I allow this spiritual malnutrition to continue, my starved self turns to my husband and children, friends and pastor, to feed me, to fill me.  I open my refrigerator, go shopping, listen to music.  My emptiness echoes in my soul, and when women come to me for counsel I give them my helpful opinions and good ideas instead of God's.  At times my family feels the brunt of my ugliness.  I've allowed the potential fruit of the Spirit to wilt and rot.  Then finally, after the damage has been done, I end up where I should've been in the beginning: on my knees and in His Word.

Do you have a daily quiet time with God alone?  I understand, it can feel nearly impossible at times with the busyness of life.  Do you enjoy listening to Christian radio but sometimes let that take place of your quiet time?  What about church - do you tank up on the sermon and small group lesson, hoping it will carry you through your stressful week? 



Dear sister, we need "just God and me" time.  If it means getting up earlier, staying up later, shutting down the computer, getting away from the house for awhile, turning on a good video for our kids, declining an invitation from a friend, hiring a baby sitter . . . we will only be PEACEFUL and USEFUL when we spend time with God.  Alone.

"His (her!) delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he (she!) meditates day and night.  He (she!) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he (she!) does shall prosper." Psalm 1:2-3

Stay tuned for ideas to help you develop a quality daily meeting with God.



Special thanks to The Narrow Gate for the picture above.

It's Your Turn

Statistics show that the top 10 countries with people who enjoy reading Women On God's Mission are the following (in this order):

• USA


• Russia


• Canada


• Germany


• Netherlands


• South Korea


• United Kingdom


• Brazil


• Philippines


• Australia

Oh how I wish I could meet each one of you!  I hope I am going to get to know a few of my readers this weekend, because

Now it's YOUR turn!  :) 

And I am going to be giving away

Two free books!! 

I would like to send two of my fellow women on God's mission a copy of one of my favorite books: Martha To the Max .  To be eligible for this drawing, share a comment on my blog this weekend.  Introduce yourself and tell what country you live in.  You may use your initials instead of your entire name, if you wish.  Also, please share something about yourself - about the mission God has given to you right now. On Monday morning I will draw two names and announce the winners. 

If you have time, I highly recommend this message by Barbara Rainey.  I am listening to it right now as I clean my house . . . Three Essentials For the Married Woman.  One thing that has stood out so far is:  "Wimpy theology makes wimpy women!" - John Piper . . . the importance of knowing God personally - studying God's Word for ourselves and not just reading what others have learned and written about Him!



Have a great day, and I look forward to hearing from you!

My husband Tim and me - taken by our son at the Creation Museum in July

Good Soil Evangelism Overview

Last weekend I was privileged to take part in a Good Soil Evangelism training seminar. Having grown up in a Christian home, Bible teaching churches, a Christian school, and two Bible colleges, I have heard much about evangelism.  So, I was happily surprised to be challenged in my thinking.  The training I received made me stop and reconsider my audience and how better to communicate with them.



Here are a few points that stood out to me:



1.  Most of us are familiar with the Romans Road.  Where does it usually begin?  Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  What is that presuming?  That my audience understands "sin" and "falling short," as well as their belief in God's existance.  Three chapters precede chapter three verse twenty-three, building a foundation to prepare the hearer to learn he is a sinner in need.  So, why do we usually start with Romans 3:23?  It may be perfect for someone with a Bible background, but this is becoming less and less common. 



2.  What about the question, "If you were to die today and stand before God, why should He let you into heaven?"  This presumes people believe in God, heaven and hell.  Again, to the typical adult, confusing.



3.  Sin.  Most people don't know what it is. We laughingly discussed "sinfully delicious desserts" as sadly the most common use of the word "sin" in our society.  Or they may think of Bible beaters - people who condemn others with prideful self-absorbtion, yelling and pulpit pounding.



4.  They presented a useful overview to help us understand where people are spiritually and where to being helping them in their relationship with God.  Evangelism-Discipleship Scale



5.  We studied John 1 (where I have normally suggested people begin reading their Bible) from the eyes of someone with no knowledge of the Old Testament.  Shocking.



6.  We watched the following video about the Mauk Tribe of Papua New Guinea.  They had never heard of Jesus; they didn't even know where they were in the world.  A missionary couple, who was discouraged by most because of their age, family size, and health problems, felt called to to PNG to share the truth.  I learned a lot from how they presented the Bible to this people which had no background in God's Word.  All of us sat their and wept, realizing how blessed we are to know God's Word!

7.  Also available is a book to help new believers:  The Way To Joy

Both The Story of Hope and The Way To Joy are available in several languages.  This program isn't just another Evangelism Explosion.  It would be extremely beneficial in any church or small group in teaching Biblical evangelism.  Teacher instruction manuals are downloadable for free on their website.  I highly recommend Good Soil Evangelism. Click here to find out more:  Good Soil Evangelism

International Giveaway 2012

                                 

Imagine moving to a different country and all you have is what is in your suitcase. Incoming students from around the world have little with which to set up a new household. We want to help these students in their time of need and let them know they have friends here in the USA! We count it a privilege to welcome students, not just with our words, but also with our actions.

It is undoubtedly one of my favorite days of the year.  Every August our church invites all new international students to come chose from a variety of household goods and furniture to set up their new American homes.

Since this is our eleventh year reaching out to students in this way, we have learned a lot about organizing and working together.  There was a spirit of calm and joy amongst the workers, which included several church members and many from nearby churches.  At the staff meeting beforehand, our youth pastor set the tone for the day.  He encouraged us to keep our eyes on Jesus and the Gospel.  If we keep our eyes on Him and what He's done for us, it's hard to be afraid of or intimidated by people.  By 1:30 the auditorium was packed, 213 students in all, with several students left standing.  There were 23 countries represented:

• Brazil


• Canada


• China


• Columbia


• Costa Rica


• Dominican Republic


• Eritrea


• India


• Iran


• Ireland


• Jamaica


• Japan


• Kenya


• Korea


• Nepal


• Philippines


• Romania


• Singapore


• Slovenia


• Sudan


• Taiwan


• Togo


• Venezuela

 

I met people from Sudan, Romania, China, Taiwan, Togo, and Eritrea.  A Romania girl seemed flustered as she waited for her ride home.  When I asked if I could help her, she said she wanted to say thank you to everyone, but she didn't know how she could do so.  Several students were speechless, never having witnessed something like this before. 

We are not doing this because we are nice people.  God has given so much to us, so we are thrilled to share God's blessings with others.  It's all about God working through us, and we pray that He shines through, so they see Him, not us!

For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Students are given the opportunity to sign up for English classes, conversational English partners, Bible studies, and they can request transportation to church services and activities.  Following the Giveaway, our assistant pastor informed us that 142 students requested a conversational English partner.  The Giveaway is just the beginning, and we rely on God to provide time and energy for our church members to develop friendships with all of the students opening their hearts to us. 

It is so exciting to see students who were new to our church a year or two ago now welcoming new students.  One of our Campus Bible Fellowship missionaries now has the privilege to minister to the second generation, children of students she worked with years ago.

One woman took me aside and confided, "I bought a Bible."  After she described it, with her eyes sparkling, I gave her my name and told her that I would love to be her conversational English partner.  I am so looking forward to getting to know this beautiful young woman, as well as others I met today.

We are extremely blessed by the gifts of God and want to share them with others!  It's all because of Jesus.

Cry Out to God

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Phil. 3:13-14

This morning I had a rare opportunity to read, pray and talk to God alone at a park.  A sweet friend had invited my boys over, and I savored every moment of God and me time.



I've felt drained lately, more so than usual.  The past two years, around this time, we were preparing for our exchange student daughters to come.  From the moment their planes touched down, we were off and running, seemingly non-stop, for two 10+ month intervals.

In June with my Ghanian daughter Ama, just a few days before she left

After two action-packed years, I feel my body and emotions wavering between shock and recovery mode.  And I am grateful for the good memories as I put my feet up, this time blissfully uninvolved with the local high school schedule.  Although, there is a tinge of boredom in the air . . . how do we go back to "normal" after ultra-activity?



God is using this time in my life to help me reevaluate.  As I was sitting at the park enjoying the amazing book Even God Rested: Why It's Okay For Women to Slow Down by Kim Thomas, I was curious when my heart was particularly alert during the chapter about anger.  I listened for God's Spirit to speak to me as I reviewed those who have wronged or misunderstood me: ____ = forgiven, ____= forgiven, and down the list I went.  Then a most unexpected turn of events - I sensed God was showing me that I had not forgiven myself!  And all this time I have been stewing about those other people. 



"Forgive yourself" possibly sounds like a talk-show diagnosis.  Challenged by a wise friend who asked me the biblical basis for this, perhaps it would be better to say I accept God's forgiveness and no longer condemn myself.  In case you are interested, here are some thoughts we discussed:

• Colossians 3:13 - "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye," . . . The Greek root word "heautou" (one another) refers not only to others, but also to ourselves.


• Berating myself for past failures and sins has only prevented me from living in God's forgiveness/being fully who God wants me to be. Living spiritually is seeing myself through God's eyes: Sinful, yet FORGIVEN. Therefore, it is my own pride and stubbornness not likewise to forgive what God has already forgiven.  


• Hebrews 9:14 - "...how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" 


• Ephesians 4:32 - "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."  Even though I am a sinner, God gives me the choice to forgive or not forgive other sinners.  Do you think Saul/Paul needed to stand with God forgiving himself for his violence against his new brothers and sisters in Christ? At least he probably had to remind himself, when nightmares plagued his conscience, "I stand forgiven in Christ, therefore I shall not live in the past, condemning myself."  I have the privilege of saying with Christ, "Sara, you are forgiven ... go on in God's grace." 


• Romans 8:1,33 - "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit . . . who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies."  GOD justifies - I cannot justify myself nor anyone.  Accepting His full and free forgiveness - it would be disrespectful of His sacrifice to continue to condemn my forgiven self. 


• In John 8:9-12 Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery that He nor any other man condemns her, and then a very important "Go and sin no more."  Why?  "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

It seems to me that holding onto the guilt is connected with pride . . . as if something I can DO will justify myself.  I am thankful that I do not have gigantic baggage - God protected me greatly.  And some of the things I have struggled with are sins of omission or the sad happenstance of not knowing that someone I love was being abused.  "If only I had known, I would've helped them!!" 



Another part is accepting God's sovereignty.  I am just not that big!  He works through our sins and mistakes for good in our lives and in the lives of others - He breathes life into dust and brings the dead to life.  Hallelujah!   



Tonight, while all this was soaking in, and right after I shared with Tim the release God gave me today, I was contacted by one of the people on my forgiven list.  It was like a bright cherry on top of a sundae, reminding me that God can open channels which once seemed impenetrable. Thank You, God, for working faithfully and patiently with Your children!



If you are in a place of exhaustion, confusion, or just plain needing a recharge, I highly recommend Kim's book.  And as soon as you can, cry out to God and go to a quiet place, prepared to listen to Him.  What you think may be the reason for your struggle may be completely opposite of what God is trying to teach you.



I'd like to close with something my wonderful friend Kay gave me yesterday: "Psalm 23:2. He doesn't LET us lie down in green pastures because we usually don't do that of our free will (we're too busy). So He makes us lie down. So thankful He does that for us. THEN, after He does that, He leads us to the quiet water and THEN He refreshes our soul. "