Go Into All The World

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15

United States

196

Russia

21

Poland

19

Germany

11

Portugal

5

Spain

4

Ireland

4

India

3

Ukraine

3

Bahrain

2

The above statistics are copied from my blogger stats site and they represent page views in various countries for my devotion on blogger. Pretty amazing. These are not people signed up to get blogger necessarily but someone in a search ended up looking at my devotion.  Kind of exciting to think people in all these countries got to see what God gave me to write. I don't take this responsibility lightly. 

You as an individual may not have an opportunity to go on a foreign mission trip but you can be a missionary of sorts wherever you are and whatever you do. It is not necessary to be a preacher or priest or theological seminary graduate to share the love of Christ and good news with others. Before personal computers, when I was in college,  you could sign up to get a pen pal from a foreign country. A friend of mine did and recently heard from her and even got to meet her. Yes people wrote actual letters with a stamp. 

People need to hear about Jesus. Don't put on a Christian tee shirt or Christian magnet on your car unless you are prepared to truly shine His love and light to people in your path. There are hurting people everywhere such as a grumpy waitress, irritable bank teller, lonely nursing home resident, those guys and girls in orange jumpsuits picking up trash on the highways nationwide to name a few. What can you do today to improve someone's life? Stop judging and start loving. 

PRAYER: Each day there are opportunities to not just be into myself but to really seek and save the lost. Give me opportunities and give me courage. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Some Indeed Gave All

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13

Today we in the United States observe Memorial Day, a day set aside to pay respects and tribute to those brave men and women who paid the ultimate price on the battlefields worldwide in order that we can enjoy the freedoms we have here today. Never get to the point you take this freedom for granted or it could be lost. Some of it is trickling away today and we need to be alert and vigilant so the sacrifice these soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines paid was not in vain. 

Our nation has been one blessed by God because we have followed His word. The blessings could easily be removed when we start snubbing God and His words and law. Modern man may think they are just fine without a hope of Heaven but in the end every person will give account to Jesus. 

On this Memorial Day while you are at the lake, cooking out, or whatever you are doing, stop for a moment and give thanks for those who serve today and ask God to watch over them and guide them. Pray for tyranny to be eradicated from this great land before freedom is unrecognizable. If you live near a National Cemetery why not go visit it and pay your respects. 

PRAYER: I am ever so grateful to have the freedom I enjoy in the USA. Lord help us not be lazy about protecting that freedom. Protect us oh Lord from terrorism within our own land and be with those who currently are on active duty and protect them. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Real People, Real Issues

Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? James 2:15-16

How many reading this are prepared to go out into the battlefield of hurting and lost souls when there is a need?  It is quite easy to stay in your Holy huddle comfort zone and not get your hands dirty but alas there are needs to be met and we are called to meet them. 

An acquaintance calls you scared he may have cancer and needs prayer. A neighbor is alone after a death in the family. A widow needs help moving. A family needs money to buy a new refrigerator as theirs broke. A family needs a car temporarily and you have an extra one. A person needs a babysitter for an emergency that came up. Missionaries are in town and need a place to sleep overnight. Or the really harder ones that take true commitment, an orphan needs a family. 

As you think about the meaning of walking with the Lord remember you are not on this earth solo, but you are here to share the love of Christ in tangible ways not just go hide and read your Bible. Something to think about. 

PRAYER: Prepare me Lord to open my heart to legitimate needs around me. Give me selflessness and courage and love. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Stormy Times.....But God.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not destroyed.  2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Storms of life press in on us but God will not let us be overwhelmed. Right now I think of our American society and many things being forced upon us. It is hard to recognize it as a democracy anymore in many respects.Christians are not to run and hide but we are to stay engaged in our society or freedom as we know it will cease to exist. 

Spiritual warfare is for sure in progress. Ephesians 6:12reminds us our struggles are not against flesh and blood even though it would seem so, but instead against evil in high places. Satanic warfare to the max. Yes there indeed is a Satan and for sure He hates Christian nations and what we stand for. He works overtime to confuse and lie to people to get them trapped by his schemes. Don't be caught.

How do you stay on guard and protected? You get into the word of God which is your guide. Within its' pages are verses of comfort and verses to let you know God is always with you. Be strong. We are in a battle but we will not lose.

PRAYER: Lord I confess I become so distraught and discouraged at times when I hear reports of wrong and immoral things being shoved on our country. I will seek you and seek peace and pursue it. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

In The Desert?

How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him in the desert!Psalm 78:40

I am not sure if any of you have ever lived in the desert. I have two times both being in Phoenix, Arizona. This is not the world's hottest, driest, or sandiest desert, but a desert never the less. 

In the Bible we read of many times in the desert when people complained to God what they were going through. Things like, "why are you leaving us out here to die" and on the complaining went. Many of us in life may have our desert experiences or know of someone going through one whether this person is aware of it or not. 

When things seem dry and you feel like, where is God, you do feel like you are in the middle of a desert. Doesn't God care? Where is he? Why can't He fix this? You may just want things to hurry along and get you to that refreshing spring of healing and peace. A desert experience may be when a person is doing their own thing and it is something God would not be pleased with. So if you are a prayer warrior for this individual, you continue to pray and have faith for God to walk them out of this desert experience and bring them to a spiritual healing oasis. God hears you and he cares. 

PRAYER: Thank you Lord for the good and bad in life for it is in hard times that I grow. Give me courage to press on and not complain. In Jesus' name. Amen.

You Got Problems? Really?

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. 2 Corinthians 4:8

One day yours truly the Christian devotion writer and author was stewing over a glitch in my first ever book. Mind you, most people were raving about the accomplishment of publishing and very few noticed. So I got it fixed by publisher. Not! My editor found two more glitches I failed to catch. One of my best friends told me the book was wonderful. So back to my own advice and lessons I go. 

In the big scheme of things this is not a huge earth shattering problem. It is nothing to lose sleep over. It is not going to send me to jail or anything. It is just inconvenient and embarrassing. Many people around the globe face major issues daily. Lack of fresh water. Dying of diseases. Getting fired or losing a job. Wrecking your car. And a minor issue will pass. Everything in life needs to be kept in perspective. Someone once told me you will always find someone worse off than you and how true that is.

Are the problems you are facing now really so major that you can't rest and have peace? There is also a saying "this too shall pass". I know sometimes we think we are stuck in a problem forever it seems but when it is just a memory we wonder what was the big issue. So give worry a break and trust in God. 

PRAYER: Forgive me when I have not stopped and taken a deep breath and instead get into the worry mode. I know you don't want me to. Give me peace and help me remember to always pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Surrender

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. Romans 6:13

When watching war movies such as the 2015 release of the true story 'Unbroken', as prisoners are captured they put their hands in the air in the form of surrender. When a person lifts their hands to Jesus in praise or worship he or she signifies that they too are surrendering to His Lordship and guidance. How many have sung the song 'I Surrender All' then walk out of church and take back their life and don't follow God the rest of their week? Something to ponder.

Are there areas of your life that you have not totally surrendered to God? Work, play, raising family, your words and thoughts, social activities, social media, making friendships. You can probably think of a few more to add to this list. In the Bing online dictionary the word surrender means "To cease resistance to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority."

 Today is the day to surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Not just when you feel like it but 24/7. Satan will try to derail your efforts and obedience to Christ but you are not unaware of his schemes to stop him
.

PRAYER: I give you my ambitions,my dreams, my hopes, and my prayers Lord. Your ways are higher than my ways. I trust you Lord for the perfect plan for my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.