Wimpy Evangelism…is Better Than None
One of the problems with reading the Bible as plain English is that sometimes the commands given are written….in plain English. What am I supposed to do with this?
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
It’s that whole whopper of a two letter word in there, following the action command of another two letter word: Go YE….
Me? No thanks, Lord. I’d rather just keep You all to myself and we could just interact and You could just bless me and hear my prayers and bring others to Yourself all by Yourself because isn’t that what You really do anyway with all that power so why do I have to be involved with telling anyone…?
I’ve yet to win an argument with God. Not that I don’t try. Just yesterday I tried to excuse the promptings God gave me to GO YE but when I followed up with peeking into the Bible, He greeted me out of the blue with:
Isaiah 63:7-8 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
I tweeted my friends what I was up to so that they could bug me about it later. Nothing like accountability, I say.
So, it was a beautiful day and my friend canceled my babysitting her children anyway so I couldn’t stay home (nice touch, there, Lord). I gathered up my tracts and my children to go on some errands and then head to a park, where, I hoped, I could talk with some other mothers about Jesus.
I will tell you that I have talked with others about the Lord, so it’s not foreign. It’s just never easy. It’s a whole lot of fishing into an agnostic post-modern pond, and no one gets up in the morning raring to gather rude comments or dirty looks. So, my typical tract tact is to just leave them in places. Like public restrooms. Or shopping carts. That sort of thing. Stealth evangelism. Safe.
Store number one. Forgot the tracts in the van. Oh well, I couldn’t go back to get them, could I? (Although….would I have gone back for my wallet?!)
Went through a drive through. Didn’t give them out to the rushing employees. Strike two.
And then…pretended I didn’t hear the Lord when I was in conversation with a mom at the park. Lalalalalala…oh look it’s time to go….
How wretched do you think I felt? I will tell you. PRETTY STINKING WRETCHED!!
And then……and then……my friend tweeted me on my cell phone. Something akin to “how many have you given out yet?”
I commenced imaginary multiple head bashing against the steering wheel.
“Ok, Jesus. I hear you. Let me get rid of the stack in my pocket before I get home. To REAL PEOPLE. Help me not be so stupid and weak.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(Yes, you too can have memorized Bible verses pop into your head in the middle of Costco at the most opportune times)
So, we sought out every sample lady we could find, sampled her sample and then gave her a “million dollar tip”. We gave the bagger at the check stand one, too. And you know what? All were gracious and happy to get them. They thought they were cool. And best of all, my pocket was empty when I got back into the car.
I don’t know if I’ll ever give out hundreds of tracts or lead another person to Christ. I hope I do! All I am sure of is that God’s commands are pretty clear, and that He saves others using weak folks and foolish preaching.
So, I say…teach me, Jesus, and grow in me a heart that sorrows more and more every day for the lost and perishing. Give me Your voice. And let me grow to love You enough to obey, and to love people enough to tell them about You.
Blessings,
Opening Day at the Farmer’s Market
Scripture Memorizing With Children
Psalms 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
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1. Have a plan.
2. Teach your expectations.
3. Offer incentives and rewards.
4. Enjoy!
Here’s an article about one reason to use the KJV for children, and why the KJV English is easier to memorize.
Here is the link to Scripture Memory Fellowship.
Here are some verses regarding remembering:
Deuteronomy 6:6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart…
1 Chronicles 16:12 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth…
Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
Psalms 63:6 When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
Psalms 77:11 I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
Psalms 78:35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Psalms 105:5 Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth…
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth…
Mark 8:18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Jude 1:17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
A Fear of Down Syndrome (et al)
Fear is debilitating. And that is the main purpose of fear. Whether it is staying in a marriage that is difficult, losing a source of income, or, as in the example above, having a baby after the age of 40, buying into fearfulness means that we believe God doesn’t notice when swallows fall anymore.
I’m just unsure why the collective *we* think we are due a life that is easy and enjoyable and fun and full of all of the people and things we want. And that when people disappoint us and things go awry, all we need to do is read up on more self-help books, get counseling, quit parenting, get divorced and give those annoying people (even mentally) the hand signs that mean, so to speak, “get lost.” Then there are those spirit-filled-with-what-kind-of-spirit-IS-that kind of people who preach and teach that all we need to do is WANT an easy life, and CALL one to ourselves, and CHOOSE to have one; that the reason things are hard are because the easiness isn’t getting “spoken into” existence or, perhaps, you need to just choose a different pet as your own personal spirit guide. And when the god you’ve made doesn’t suit you anymore, just trade he/she/it in for a different model. The world is full of people excusing and glorifying themselves. That is one reason why when hardship occurs, when the rug gets pulled out, the fruit is anger, resentment, bitterness, cynicism, and even more hatred of God. And fear. Lots of fear.
The truth is that our world has fallen. We’ve rebelled against a holy God who gave us our very breath. If our own hearts convict us (and we all have consciences), if our own homes are not the picture of heaven-on-earth (and we all have selfish selves in them), how might we expect the world at large to serve our own expectations? We can’t even meet our OWN expectations!
When those expectations clash with reality, faith really is the only way to turn. Faith in our own efforts and plans or faith in God’s sovereignty and goodness. Yes, go forth with those plans and efforts to correct the wrong (see a doctor when you’re ill) but don’t put all of your hope and trust in that doctor, and certainly do not sin in the midst of trying to “fix” a problem.
I’m glad I didn’t know that Ruby had Down Syndrome when I was pregnant. I know I’m weak-kneed and would have traded my peace and enjoyment of the pregnancy for fear of the unknown. And other than in my Bible, there are not a whole lot of places in the world that are telling me to “fear not”. Rather, there are multiple places blaming me for any fear I have.
And you know what? As much as I wish Ruby didn’t have Down Syndrome, I’m still glad she is here. I’m 40 now. I don’t know if I will have another baby, but I don’t fear having one. I don’t even know if the children I have right now will get through life unscathed by tragedy or illness or hardship, but I somehow doubt it.
All I know is that the peace of God in the midst of trials is very sweet, indeed. And so, sometimes, are the results of those trials. Fear not. God is bigger than the boogie man.
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