Do Not Be Afraid To Share The Good News!

Zeba Methodist Camp Meeting

at 7 pm, August. 5-9, 2019. The Worship space is a beautiful, peaceful 

place in the woods!

I will be sharing the Good News on Wed., August 7 this year. 

It is good to be back! Everyone is welcome to worship with us!

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. (Luke 10:1-3, 5-6 KJV)

I just can't do it! I cannot count the times that I've heard: "I can't do it! I can't go knocking on anyone's door!" I have heard these words while in both evangelism and stewardship committees. Now, while I am not into "programs" to grow the church or the bank account, I am into going out and inviting people to get to know Jesus.

Over the years I have knocked on many doors while my congregations (with a few exceptions) have totally rejected going out into the neighborhood to visit our neighbors and invite them to hear what Jesus has done for them and for all of us. 

Jesus sent seventy people out. They were not apostle's. They were ordinary people with extraordinary faith that instilled in them a sense of this is what they needed to do. I am convinced that many of them were a bit hesitant about their abilities and so he sent out two by two to support each other. Some of them may have even been afraid of who might be behind the doors they were knocking on. I have been warned on more than one occasion that it was too dangerous for me, a female, to be knocking on doors. But, I went anyway. 

I went blessing each house with peace as I stood at the door and knocked knowing that if there were not peaceful people within the house that the blessing would fall back on me. And, truth be told, I don't have a problem being blessed with peace! So, it was a win-win for me. Either I got to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God or I got blessed with the peace of God. 

No, I do not believe that "programs" work. They just feel too contrived. They feel way too man-made. But, I do believe that we need to go out and share the Good News. We do not need to be intimidated by the world around us as we go for the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Peace goes with us. 

The harvest is plenty and laborers are needed. Who will go? Who will say: "I will go. Send me." Now, I know you're probably not going to be knocking on too many doors. But, may the Spirit of Christ lead you to share the Good News of the Kingdom of God through Jesus with those whom you do encounter in your daily routines. This is not just your pastor's "job." It is yours.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Peaceful and Safe Deployment

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.  (Psalm 23 KJV)

Those still waters are awesome! I love being near the water; big or small waters. This morning my husband and I decided to attend the Beachside Community Church Worship Service on the beach in Flagler Beach. It would be the last time I would have the opportunity to worship with Pr. Christian Magnell before he is deployed. It was a beautiful morning and an inspiring service.

I would pray that God be with Pr. Chris on the deployment; but, I don't have to because I know that God will be with him. I pray though that he will know green pasture and still waters. I pray for goodness and mercy for him and his entire unit. May God grant them a peaceful and safe deployment.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Walls

And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the Lord had given him rest.

Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the Lord our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered." 
                                    2 Chron 14:6-7 KJV

Walls were built around the cities in the land that God had given the Israelites. They were for their protection and it worked. Of course there were gates and entrances so that people could come and go. But, these gates and entrances provided a way for people with legitimate purposes to do so. Those who stood watch knew who entered and who left the cities. There was very little sneaking in by people who had minds to harm the inhabitants.

I have always believed that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I prefer taking precautions so that there never has to be offensive or defensive actions. As I get older, I really appreciate not having to get involved in either offensive nor defensive actions. I like peace. I like rest.

A few months ago a permit was pulled for a fence around the property we live on. It is almost completed. I think it will be finished rather quickly after yesterday. We live out in the country, with no immediate neighbors. A couple of times over the last month, I woke up in the very wee hours of the morning to find that someone is parking by our side yard on what can be barely called a street as it has grass not gravel or pavement. It is wooded between the house and the street, yet, they managed to park in the only spot that you can see the house clearly from the road. Early last evening, as I was preparing to cook a birthday supper for a nine year old on the grill, I heard a gunshot. I looked up to see a black truck parked in that "bare spot" next to the side yard. My son was heading across the yard. Very few words were exchanged. The man jumped into the truck and took off. 

I do not know what the guy was aiming at or if he was even aiming at anything. I do know that you do not stand on the street in front of someone else's house and fire guns. It just doesn't get it...

I really like peace. I have been around for a good many years and I have been around way too many fights where knives or guns were present and even used on occasion. I don't get too excited about it any more. It is more like exhausted. It is tiring having to deal with irresponsible and disrespectful people. Most of the incidents I've witnessed had something to do with someone being under the influence of something. It has made me to be as close to a prohibitionist as you can be without actually being one. 

I am also an advocate of being prepared to defend yourself and others. A fence is a good first step in being prepared. Then comes rest... 

May God grant us all peace and rest...

God's Peace - Pr. J