Some of you may have been noticing that I have been doing a number of blog posts about answering the call from God. Pastor Ray usually will include in his prayers on Sunday that we should open our hearts and clear our minds. The reason he does that is because we need to be paying attention to what God is calling us to do. I will be the first to admit that I get very distracted during church. My mind is always thinking about what it is that God wants me to do.
God has put on my heart to get off the pew and reach out to other people. As I look around to those sitting in the pews at church, I often wonder how many of those sitting there has been called to “make a difference.”My heart has been on missions since I was little. I was set on going to third world countries and do whatever it was that God wants me to do.
That dream was dashed when I came down with Guillian Barre Syndrome. Well, at the time it did. I was extremely disappointed that I couldn’t do that. Since Jesus went out and seeked people, which would include me, then I should be doing the same thing. I had to trust God and God has never failed me.
A couple of weeks ago I was told that it is going to do no good to try to reach out to the students at Dixie State University. They went on to say that my church is full of old cranky people and how some doesn’t even know how to smile. This person came to my church as a guest. Usually I try to listen to people who are new to the area and to our church. When they said this about how it will never work to get students, there is nothing for them. Well!!! That pretty much made me want to dummy slap them, but I didn’t. How dare he judge my church in just an hour. I could imagine the headlines on St. George’s News page, “Christian Woman Arrested Because She Smacked Down Grumpy Man.” What I did consider when he said that is that He wasn’t shown the loving and friendly church. He was honest when asked how he liked the service.
This person motivated me to seek God’s Word and to put the wheels into motion. We all can make a difference in someone’s life by introducing them to Christ. God has made it apparent to me that I can make a difference to others in my own city. Each and everyone that is a Christian should be on a mission to serve God and to serve others. How awesome is it that we can make a difference to others by sharing the GOOD NEWS that they can live forever and that Jesus Christ died for them.
- 1 Corinthians 3:5-9
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed,Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service;you are God’s field, God’s building.
I have no doubt that this ministry will be difficult, but I know that God is at work and I am hoping people join in. I am excited to see new faces. When I consider the obstacles that are ahead of me and the ministry team, I realize that if we give of ourselves we will be a witness to something much bigger at world. Without a doubt God is working n all of us, through us all we will be impacting the lives of people by sharing the love and truth of Jesus Christ.
As I continue to seek Gods advice on what direction is the best when it comes to Dixie State University students and the families that surround our church. I will be praying for the students, families and young adults to come to the realization of what God has done for them because Christ died for them.
When I was the Young Adult and Youth leader we started with just my daughters. Each and every week we came prepared. Within a few months we had about 15 students, families and children. Our church became the church where they didn’t feel like they were discarded and hopeless. A couple of the ladies each week served hot meals to the students. Many of the young adults, college students and so on had home lives that broke them down. As friendships formed they felt safe. God told me by putting it on my heart that we need to do something. Not just we or someone else, but I also need to do this. Each and every person can be used by God. All you have to do is say “YES.”
When we reach out to those who are seeking, hurting, lost and has pretty much given up. This may be something new to you or out of your comfort zone. You make a difference because God is making a difference in you.
There was many people in my life who helped me learn about God. There is a song called, “Thank You” that pretty much sums up what a difference each of us can make. God is speaking to us and it is our responsibility to make a difference in someone elses life. God put many people in my life and they weren’t telling God to send someone else. They stepped up to the plate and because of that my life was given to Jesus Christ. I will also be one of those people who will say, “YES I WiLL!” We can’t keep expecting everyone else to say something needs to be done. Well, if God put in on your heat, that someone becomes you and I.
We humans waste a ton of time because we are fulfilling our own desires. I would hope that I fill my days serving others and loving God. If we were to our time and energy helping others and serving God, could you imagine how awesome that would be?
There was a movie that came out eons ago. It was where people had to defend their lives in order to go on. It was like a trial to see if you are worthy to go to a much better place or you were punished for not living your life. The show was kinda out there, but what I remembered about it is that when I look back and review my life, I would love to know that I made a difference and impacted someones life.
Discussion Questions
- If God asked you to give up everything and follow him, would you?
- Do you believe there is opportunities to reach people where you live?
- Have you ever had a chance to make a difference to someone else? If so what happened?
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10
In closing I just want to say that I can’t save those who I reach out to, Jesus is the only who can save. It doesn’t take very much to reach out to people. Even if it is out of your comfort zone it is something we need to do. I have chosen to make myself available to God. He can use me in whatever capacity he desires. Here are some ways you can serve others in your community.
- Smile
- Pray for a person
- Visit someone homebound
- Share a meal
- Hold someones hand that is hurting
- Listen
Keep your eyes open today to seek people whom Jesus can touch through you. Be willing to be right there when He wants to use you.
Senseless Ramblings of the Mindless 