The Legacy of A Servant of God

We recently lost a very dear friend, woman of God and member of our Church.  Jane, who by God's grace, survived being crushed by a tree many years ago, finally went home to be with the Lord after an extended illness.  She was a mother of 8 boys and 1 girl, a wife, a grandmother and great grandmother; but mostly, she was a believer and servant of the Most High God.

I met Jane about 8 years ago, a short time after my husband and I moved to Maryland from Philadelphia.  We had just joined a small group and Jane was a member of that group as well.  We were soon to find out that Jane had been a member of several small groups and visited all of them regularly.  I also observed that she was a passionate witness of the Gospel, leading many to faith in Jesus Christ just about wherever she went.  Whenever we had an opportunity to host/court the Presence of God at our Church, Jane was there.  Though she was 80 something years old and walked with a walker, she never missed a beat:  volunteering at Church, coming to prayer or just being in fellowship with other Christians.  That was Jane. 

When I heard the news of her passing, the first thing I said was, "Well you know, Jane served God right up to the end.  She served God faithfully and always shared Jesus Christ.  Her life was well spent for God."  WOW!  What a legacy!  I thought, I want people to say that about me! 

What would people say if something were to happen to you today or tomorrow?  Are these the thoughts that would immediately come to mind when people hear of your passing?  Well, you can't go back and change the past, but you can most certainly affect how your story ends from this point on. 

We have all sinned and fallen short of what pleases God, and the wages (the reward) of our sin is death (spiritual death).  The good news is, you don't have to try to "get right" or "fix" anything.  God shows His love for you in that, while you were still living in sin, He sent His Son to die for you.  All you have to do is REPENT: Stop and turn away from sin and follow Jesus Christ.  If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 9).  Beloved, God loves you so very much!  He stands at the door of your heart, knocking. Invite Him in!

God so loved you (and the world), that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16  You can have eternal life right now!  Right now, you can secure your today and all your tomorrows in Him.  You don't have to live apart from Him anymore. Like Jane, you can leave a legacy that is well pleasing to God!

Just pray this simple prayer:

"Father, I know I'm a sinner.  I acknowledge that I've lived my life apart from You.  Please forgive me of my sins.  I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is your Son, and I confess with my mouth that You raised Him from the dead.  Come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior; make me the person You want me to be.  Thank you for saving me and making me a new creature; old things are passed away - behold all things are become new! Amen!" 

Congratulations!  Welcome to the family of God! 

Lifestyle Evangelism - Walking as Children of Light

Eph. 5:1-11; 15-16   Way Makers fulfill their call under the anointing of the evangelist.  In these last days, those who are lost and dying are looking for authenticity - the real thing.  In this passage of scripture, we are first admonished to imitators of God as well beloved children imitate their father (vs. 1).  One of the primary ways of doing that is to love one another and esteem one another just as Christ loved us (vs. 2).  Jesus said they will know that you are my disciples by your love for one another. 

Paul further urges us to put off the deeds of darkness and walk as children of light (vs. 8).  Our conduct speaks more about who we are than our words.  If we continue in disobedience, we'll have no inheritance in the Kingdom and the wrath of God will be upon us (vs. 5-6).  "For the fruit of the light, or the Spirit, consists in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life." (vs.9)  Our lives should always exhibit conduct that is pleasing and acceptable to God (vs. 10).  And when we do this, we prepare the way of the Lord to convict of sin, righteousness and judgement.  "...let your lives be so in contrast as to expose, and reprove and convict them." (vs. 11)    

So then, "look carefully then how you walk.  Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise, sensible people, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil." (vs. 15-16).  This is when we are to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  God will open doors for us to bear witness to the truth and saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is what lifestyle evangelism is all about!   

Way Makers this is your hour to let your lights so shine, that men might see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven!  Amen!

Witness in the Workplace

The scriptures say that we are to always be ready to give an answer for what we believe.  Well, I had just such an opportunity the other day when a young co-worker, whom I believe God is wooing to Himself, asked me how she should feel and/or respond when she sees a person who is mean and callous of heart, yet prospering:  always having money, no signs of struggle, living a carefree life.  She was comparing this individual to herself, whom when she had plenty was always willing to lend to those less fortunate.  And yet, here she is having to struggle to make ends meet and the person who has plenty is so mean and stingy and unwilling to share or to help anyone else. 

Well, I knew that this was a moment for God to shine.  The Holy Spirit immediately brought to my mind Psalm 37:1-19:

    Of David.
 ¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil
   or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
   like green plants they will soon die away.
 ³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun.
 ⁷ Be still before the LORD
   and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
   when they carry out their wicked schemes.
 ⁸ Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
   do not fret—it leads only to evil.
⁹ For those who are evil will be destroyed,
   but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
 ¹⁰ A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
   though you look for them, they will not be found.
¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land
   and enjoy peace and prosperity.
 ¹² The wicked plot against the righteous
   and gnash their teeth at them;
¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
   for he knows their day is coming.
 ¹⁴ The wicked draw the sword
   and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
   to slay those whose ways are upright.
¹⁵ But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
   and their bows will be broken.
 ¹⁶ Better the little that the righteous have
   than the wealth of many wicked;
¹⁷ for the power of the wicked will be broken,
   but the LORD upholds the righteous.
 ¹⁸ The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care,
   and their inheritance will endure forever.
¹⁹ In times of disaster they will not wither;
   in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

After sharing this passage of scripture, the Lord gave me a practical illustration:  She is a young, single mother of 2 and I proposed that one of her daughters was behaving well, while the other was misbehaving.  The well behaved child might feel that her mother should punish her sister in one manner, while she (the mother) may choose another form of discipline.  Then I asked, "Who determines whether to discipline the child and who decides what that discipline will be?"  Her answer was, of course, "Me."  I continued, "In the same way your Heavenly Father is the one who determines who to discipline and what discipline is appropriate and when to administer it.  In this passage, God is saying, look I got this; the wicked will get theirs.  Our job is to "fret not."  We can spend so much time looking at someone else's flaws, that we miss what God wants to do in our own lives.  I went on to share some Godly wisdom with her about the danger of comparing ourselves to others, judging others and how important it is to keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and developer of our faith. 

I wrote the scripture down on a piece of paper and encouraged her to read it everytime she felt discouraged and frustrated or had resentful or judgmental thoughts.  I closed with encouraging her with Paul's words:  "This one thing I do:  forgetting those things which are behind, and pressing on towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus." 
Phil. 3:13-14

Perhaps God wants to use you in your workplace.  Be open and available, always ready to give an answer for what you believe.  When you do, you prepare the way of the Lord in someone's life. 

Be a Way Maker in your workplace today!