MOTHERING MANY

This month the Christian Writers are sharing thoughts about the theme “nurture” in honor of Mother’s Day. Please click on their links to the right on the appropriate days.

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Last December, Mom turned 90. She still looks beautiful even though the hair on her head is now synthetic. 

She’s still coherent, even though the stories this week are the same ones she told last week. 

She’s still my mom, even though I’m the one now buying her diapers and paying her bills.

God organizes us into families. He gives us the earthly mother He desires for us. Whether she met our physical, emotional and spiritual needs or not, does not negate the fact that the mother we had was the one intended for us.

Stewardship

But God does not simply organize families. He desires us women to give godly mothering to other people He has placed in our lives. Godly mothering at its core has to do with stewardship.

The Apostle Peter says:

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4: 8-10

The straight-up definition of stewardship is: the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving.

Worth caring for

The very first person God assigned us to be good stewards of was ourselves. He expects us to take care of these one and only bodies He gave us. How are we doing? If we were our own mothers, would we have to nag ourselves to eat our veggies and stand up straight? How can we be God’s hands and feet if they are weak and tired?

We are responsible for overseeing and protecting ourselves. These bodies, our hearts, our minds and our souls are worth caring for and preserving.

So are the other people God has placed in our lives. One of Cain’s sins was suggesting to God that he was not responsible for his brother.

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9)


Cain's suggestion didn't win any brownie points with God. Rather, Peter got it right. We are to be faithful stewards of others; loving and serving God's family.

Characteristics of a Godly Mother

God clearly intends us to care for each other; to love others with a sacrificial, stewardly love—as a godly mother would, by:

• Providing for basic needs of others
• Loving and nurturing others
• Strengthening and encouraging others
• Helping others grow in a healthy way
• Helping others make the world a better place
• Raising up others to know Jesus

We can take an inventory of the people in our lives. Who do I have legal stewardship over—people the law requires I care for? Children? A husband? Aging parents? How do they each need to be loved?

Who do I have stewardship over in my job? Students in my classroom? Employees or co-workers I oversee? Clients or customers in my store? They too are worth caring for. Their lives too are worthy of protection. How can I nurture and encourage them today?

Who has God placed in my life to watch over? Neighbors? Friends? Church members? How can I share Jesus with them right now? How can I help them make the world better?

Even if we are not anyone’s physical birth mother, God has placed people in our lives for us to care for; to protect; to nurture and encourage. These people are worth caring for and protecting. They are in need of mothering.

Mother to many

As we consider mothering, it’s easy to limit our thinking to blood ties or relational structures established by society. Yet, we are all part of God’s family. Mother Teresa was not an earthly mother to anyone. Yet she was a godly mother to many. So can we be.

Next week when I visit Mom, I’ll be looking around the retirement community to see who needs mothering. I won’t be surprised if the answer is “everyone.”


PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for families and for the mother you gave us, whether she was perfect or imperfect in her mothering of us. Please show us ways to nurture the people you place in our lives today. Let it be for your glory! Amen.


WHAT ABOUT YOU? Who may you need to nurture today?

This post is a revision of an article that ran in www.WeUsed2BU.com

EVERY DAY IS MEMORIAL DAY

On Memorial Day we Americans hang our flag, wear red shirts and blue shorts and remember our military men and women who have sacrificed for our country. That is a good thing to do.

Memorial Day is a patriotic holiday. It is also a time to remember others who have died; not just military folk; but all people whose lives have made this world; this country; this town; this family a better place to live.

Of course, the one we should most remember on Memorial Day and every day is the One who gave his life not only for our country and for our lives but for every person in every country in every age for our eternal lives. Jesus.

Happy Memorial Day to you all.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we humans so love to celebrate and find ways to remember important people and events. In all things, remind us that you so loved the world that you gave your only Son, Jesus, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Any special holiday plans?

MORE PRAYING NAMES

Every month I create prayers based on the names of people we love. This ongoing list of names and prayers can be found at the top of this blog, on the tab titled, “PRAYING NAMES.”

If you would like me to create a prayer based on a specific name, please leave a comment below. I’ll research the name and include it in a future month.

Ann; Anne: Gracious; God has favored me

Heavenly Father, I pray that Ann will live her name. I pray that she will accept God’s favor and receive his grace. I pray that she will live a life filled with grace to others and that she will share her love of God with others throughout her life. Amen.

Christine, Christina, Kristen, Kirsten: Follower of Christ

Heavenly Father, I pray that Christine will live her name. I pray that she will follow Jesus all of her life and that she will be an example of your life and love for all of us to those around her. Amen.

Tracy, Traci: Descendent of the fierce one; warlike

Heavenly Father, I pray that Tracy will live her name. I pray that she will have a fierce love for you and that her passion for what breaks your heart will drive her to love you more and seek to tell others of your love for them. I pray that she will be warlike in defense of her faith all the days of her life. Amen.

Sheila, Celia: Heavenly

Heavenly Father, I pray that Sheila will live her name. I pray that she will be reminded daily that her ultimate home is in heaven with you. I pray that she will spread that understanding to others in her life so that many people will glorify your name because of her. I pray that she will help spread your heavenly love here on earth with those she meets. Amen.

I TESTIFY: CREATING YOUR TESTIMONY

This month the Christian Writers are sharing thoughts about the theme “nurture” in honor of Mother’s Day. Please click on their links to the right on the appropriate days.

I’ve chosen to write today about evangelism—in order to encourage and nurture other believers in their ability to evangelize and to encourage and nurture people to accept Christ as a result. If you missed my previous post about evangelism, you can go here to read it.

Remember Jesus’ Great Commission?

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

It means that although people’s salvation is up to Jesus, he still wants me to share my testimony with other people. Jesus wants me to share what he means to me—to hold a microphone up to people’s hearts so they can hear Jesus knocking.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)

But what is my testimony?  How do I make one?

I like to write things out. It makes it easy to change, rearrange and improve them. It lets me read and reread so I can feel comfortable saying my testimony out loud.

Creating a testimony also solidifies in my mind and in my heart what God has done for me. It’s not only a testimony to others; it’s also a testimony to myself of how Jesus has been at work—and still is.

You might consider writing up your own testimony. Keep it simple. Keep it personal. Skip the theology. Don’t worry about quoting scripture or spouting church doctrine. Just talk about Jesus. Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Talk about what your life was like—what you were like—before you knew Jesus.

What was your main problem? What was your attitude toward others? What types of things did you do? And how did that make you feel? How did others react to you? How did you try to live life on your own strength? What were you trying to do? What wasn’t working right? What was causing you trouble, friction or pain?

Try to focus on your emotions in order to empower your testimony. If you can, relive those emotions and share them. Were you angry? Hopeless? Empty? Insecure? Unloved?

2. Then share how you came to learn about Jesus.

Was there a specific point in time or specific circumstances that pointed you to Christ? Or was it a long journey? Share it.

Was there a specific person who led you to Christ? Or a specific person who caused you to need to search for Christ? What were you going through at the time?

3. Then share how knowing Jesus has changed things.

How has it changed you? How has it changed your attitude, your thoughts, your outlook, your relationships? How has being forgiven made you feel? What does it mean to have a relationship with Jesus? What is Jesus doing in your life now? How is he changing you?

Focus on the emotions you feel now: hopeful, secure, loved, compassionate, encouraged.

4. Keep it real—your emotions, your language and your attitude.

Avoid words that unbelievers might not understand. Instead use words and phrases that are clear:

Instead of “saved,” say: knowing Jesus has given me hope of how to live a better way

Instead of “reborn,” say: Jesus has renewed my spirit

Instead of “Gospel,” say: good news that Jesus came to show us God’s love

Instead of “sin,” say: disobedience to how God wants us to live

If you’ve ever had to look up a Christian-ese word in a dictionary—don’t use it in your testimony. You’re not trying to impress people with your big words. You’re trying to impress them with your big God.

Get started! Then share it with us—and the world.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you have done so much for us; have made such a difference in our lives; have saved our eternal lives! Show us ways; give us the words to share your love with the world. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Have you written your testimony? 

This post was revised from an article I wrote for www.WeUsed2BU.com.

BUILDING BOOKSHELVES

I recently joined Goodreads. Creating my cyber “book shelf” on Goodreads made me think about building real bookshelves.

The first bookshelf my husband ever built was three pieces of shelving and nine cinder blocks. It was functional and portable and held our books just fine. But beautiful? Not so much. It also required no tools to build.

The second bookshelf he built from a kit. Nicer, sturdier and even looked like furniture. It required one screwdriver. Philips. And several of his manly muscles.

The third bookshelf he designed himself. He used fine wood, routed the edges, joined sections with jigs and dowels, stained and finished it all to a fine sheen. It required an electric skill saw, jig, router, dowels, wood biscuits, wood glue, orbital sander, fine sandpaper, stain, paintbrush, muslin cloth, zero aught stainless steel, and varnish. 

By then he had studied furniture building and had filled his bulging toolbox with tools he knew how to use well.

That last bookshelf stands in my office, overflowing with books. A few of those books I have written. A few are well-worn books about writing. The rest were written by authors I love. All of them have been part of my process of learning to use tools for my craft. 

At a recent children’s writing conference Lin Oliver (founder and director of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) gave us the advice that for every book we write, we should read 500 in that genre.

Her advice reminded me of the many wise proverbs and sage pieces of advice we’ve all heard: practice makes perfect; study hard; keep trying; mastery requires 10,000 hours. The advice can be applied to everything you do. In essence: if you’re going to do something, you might as well do it well. 

Even better, do everything as for the Lord. (Colossians 3:23)

My bookshelf doesn’t contain 500 books yet. But after Lin’s advice, it wouldn’t hurt to get hubby started on another bookshelf. I know it will be gorgeous!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help us do everything we do as  if we are doing it for you. Show us ways to glorify you in our obedience, our attitude, our work ethic, the process and the outcome. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Is there one thing that stands out above everything else you do, that you seek to do for the Lord?

CAROL'S GEMS: TREASURE HUNTING

“Carol’s Gems” is a glitter-loving gal’s way to find a place on a geologists’ blog site. This begins a year-long series that focuses on the birth stone for each month of the calendar and how they remind us of Jesus. It is a cross-posting with my Christian Writer colleague, Chris Vonada. Please visit him at: www.ChrisVonada.com

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When God created Earth, He filled it with beauty. Mountains, plains, oceans, lakes, rivers, creeks, ponds and puddles. The cloud-filled sky. The grass, trees, flowers, critters. All reflect God’s beauty.

But when God finished covering the Earth's surface with beauty, He still had lots of beauty left. So He hid some deep inside the earth.

Mankind digs into God's rich soil. Underneath the beauty at the surface of our earth, past the wiggly worms, gnarly roots and crumbly dirt, are sparkling, glittering treasures. We dig them up, dust them off and hold them to the light, exclaiming, "Beautiful!"

And we call them "precious."

We name those treasures diamond, sapphire, emerald, ruby. They are a reflection of God's glorious, excessive beauty.

Matthew 13:44 recounts Jesus' parable of the man who found a treasure in the ground. The man covered it back up and sold everything he owned. He then bought the land so the treasure could be his.

The treasure in Jesus’ parable was the Gospel, the priceless good news of our salvation through Christ.  

When I think of gemstones, I am reminded that God has placed His beauty all around me. It is in nature, in people, in God’s Word. Sometimes, His beauty requires us to dig. But when we find it, it is a sparkling, glittering, precious delight. And it is worth the seeking.

Hidden treasures also remind us that God has placed a sparkling, precious delight inside each of us. With God’s help we can dig through the dirt, past the worms and the roots and find it—our desire to know and love Him. And to become the people He means us to be.

God can dust this treasure off and hold it up to the light. Our obedience is a delight to Him. Our faith is a sparkling, faceted radiance, shining God's glory to the world.

It is worth the digging.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for your glory and for the reminders of your beauty around us. Please work in us so that we are a delight to you. Help us seek your treasure above all else. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What treasures in your life do you see as God's sparkling delights?

The series, “Carol’s Gems” begins next month with the June birthstone: the pearl and how it reminds us of Jesus.

TRUSTING GOD WITH THE BIG THINGS

This month the Christian Writers are sharing thoughts about the theme “nurture” in honor of Mother’s Day. Please click on their links to the right on the appropriate days.

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Tragedy. Heartbreak. Confusion. Direction.

Those are big, tough things in our lives.

How do you trust God with the big things when they feel so big you can’t even lift them high enough to hand them over? You start by trusting God with the little things.

Contemporary Christian music was one of God’s greatest creations. And some of the trance remixes are even better. I love the idea that, like David, I can lift my hands in praise and dance in God’s presence. I’m nearly as bad a dancer as David was. God still loves my dancing as much as He loved David’s; regardless of how graceful I am not.

Let’s face it though; it’s pretty hard to dance to the old hymns my parents loved. But some of those good old hymns had some pretty good messages. I often find myself singing the hymn, “My Faith is Built.” The part I like best is:

My faith is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.


There’s a lot in those two lines about Jesus’ sacrifice and the perfect life he lived. But, what speaks to me is the recognition that our faith is built. Once we accept Jesus’ gift of salvation, we don’t suddenly have all the faith we’ll ever have, or ever need.


Rather, our faith is built.

Christ is the foundation, but our faith builds over time. Each time we trust God with one more little thing, another solid brick is mortared into place in our solid wall of trusting Him. Made stronger for the times it needs to hold us up higher and more securely.

Remember what Paul told his friends in Corinth? “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it”. (1 Corinthians 3:2) Peter also used milk to indicate our growth in faith: “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good”. (1 Peter 2: 2-3)

Paul and Peter both had personal encounters with Jesus. But even they recognized that our faith is built, by learning to surrender and trust God first with little things, and over time to trust Him with more and more. God is trustworthy and worthy of our trust. Allow God to show how to trust by:

• asking God to show you His glory
• praising Him for the beauty you see
• whispering moment-by-moment prayers of “stay with me, Jesus” and releasing one stressful second to Him at a time
• understanding that faith doesn’t mean having all the answers to all your questions right now
• building your faith happens a little bit at a time.

Our faith is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

PRAYER: Jesus please help us stop dancing on our own. Help us remember to take your hand and let you lead us in the dancing--even during the spins and dips of life. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? What's your favorite hymn?

This is a reposting from www.WeUsed2BU.com 9/8/2011

THE 10 + 1 BUILDING BLOCKS OF RELATIONSHIPS

Today I welcome my Christian writer colleague, Chris Vonada. Chris begins a monthly post here at From Carol's Quill. I'm looking forward to reading what he has to share about relationships. I know you'll enjoy it, too.

A couple of years ago our small group at church talked about the top 10 relational needs. These needs, or building blocks to relationships, seem to be fundamental to any relationship... be it a marriage, friendship, or even within your family or work environment. Here's the list we were provided...


Top 10 Relational Needs:

• Acceptance:
• Affection: 
• Appreciation: 
• Approval: 
• Attention: 
• Comfort (Empathy): 
• Encouragement: 
• Respect: 
• Security: 
• Support:

I added one more to the list (a surprise that I'm saving for the end...) and Carol graciously offered to let me do this gig over the next year (one per month) here at "From Carol's Quill."


I hope you'll pray with me as I ask God to lead me in this endeavor of sharing our thoughts together on the meaning of each of these essential building blocks...


Heavenly Father, you are so gracious and loving and for that I am eternally thankful. Lord, I pray to you today that you will bless and lead our thoughts and conversation in building up your presence in our lives through these 10 + 1 building blocks of relationships, that you will guide us in your amazing and beautiful way. Thank you Lord, Amen.

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This is a guest post from Chris Vonada. Chris is an aspiring author and professional geologist, and also enjoys reading, running, anything outdoors, travel, family, friends, music and life! He writes about his passions at I’m Just Thinkin’ (http://chrisvonada.com).

SEEDS OF FAITH

One day back when Mom was Mommy, a golden chain winked at me from the corner of her jewelry box. As I lifted it into the air, a glass locket, set free from the velvet cushion came to rest in my small hand. A tiny yellow seed rested inside, so out of place nestled amid my mother’s sparkling treasures.

“What is this?” I asked.

Mom took me onto her knee, sharing the locket between our hands. “It’s a mustard seed.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Like in the big yellow bottle?”

Mother laughed. “Grandma gave me this necklace to remind me of Jesus. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds,” she said. “But it becomes one of the largest plants in a garden.”

My eyes widened.

“Jesus said that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed,” Mom continued, “we can tell the mountain to move and it will.”

That seemed like a lot of power in a little faith.

The necklace has been lost. But my mother brought Jesus’ parable to life that day. Even when my faith feels small, it is enough.

…if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20)

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please take my seed of faith and grow it into a great big plant with branches, leaves, fruit and deep, deep roots. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? How can you nourish your seed of faith today?

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This month the Christian Writers are sharing thoughts about the theme “nurture” in honor of Mother’s Day. Please click on their links to the right on the appropriate days and read what they have to say.

I wrote this post to honor my mother and the way her faith has nurtured my own.

NURTURE: TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE

 

As mentioned Monday, last weekend hubby and I helped our daughter and her new husband move to Reno. They’ll spend the next 12 months there while our son-in-law completes his rotations for his final year of Pharmacy College. It’s an exciting time for them as Kyle sees the culmination of his education and the beginning of his career.

It’s also a little scary—having to move away from friends and everything familiar. Everything is new. Everything is unknown. Everything has yet to be unveiled.

I can’t help but feel selfish as I relish in the opportunity to have them closer. Two hours away instead of 12. A quick jaunt up the hill. It feels like they’re practically up the street.

The effort on my behalf will be to remember my role as mother has changed. The part of nurturing that means upbringing, training, education was over years ago.

But the part that means supporting and encouragement remains. Forever.

Not just as a mother. But as a Christian and a citizen of this world. To support and encourage others. To nurture.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the people you have placed in my life. Thank you for the people who support and encourage me. Please show me ways today to nurture others in your name. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Who are you nurturing? Who do you think needs nurturing? How can you nurture them today?

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This month the Christian Writers are sharing thoughts about the theme “nurture” in honor of Mother’s Day. Please click on their links to the right on the appropriate days and read what they have to say.

MOVING TO THE MUSIC

This past weekend hubby and I traveled to Idaho and helped baby girl and her husband move to Reno. Our son-in-law’s year-long pharmacy residency begins. A long stretch for him. A transitional year for them both.

A lovely gift for us that they’re now 2 hours away instead of 12.

Yep. The aches from the past weekend are well worth it. Each moan and groan is a “thank you, Jesus” in disguise.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for families and for new opportunities and experiences you place us in. Bless us in the doing and turn our groans into songs of praise. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have family members for whom your heart aches to be near?

IN THE VALLEY

Just as every month has a birthstone, every month also has a birth flower. The flower for May is the lily of the valley. And it reminds me of Jesus.

Lilies 

Jesus said: “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” (Luke 12:27)

Tiny, delicate lilies of the valley often grow wild. It’s just like Jesus to focus on the small things we might otherwise not pay attention to—such as mustard seeds, children, sparrows, tiny lilies.

When looked at up close, the beauty of the lily of the valley is undeniable. They are dressed in splendor. By God. 

Jesus is a Lily of the Valley 

Jesus is often referred to as the “Rose of Sharon.” This reference comes from the Song of Songs 2:1:

I am a rose of Sharon,

a lily of the valleys.

Although the context of Song of Songs is Solomon’s love for his wife, many biblical scholars believe the scripture represents Jesus’ words about himself and his desire for a love relationship with us. 

Valleys 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me… Psalm 23:4)

When was the last time you walked through a shadowed valley of despair, sorrow or crisis? When we do, I believe that those valleys are covered with lilies; filled with sweet-smelling reminders of God’s love and presence. 

Several Psalms begin with notations: to be sung to the tune of Lilies. (Psalm 45, Psalm 60; Psalm 69; Psalm 80) We don’t know what the tune sounds like, but it must have been beautiful to God and to men for its reference to have been preserved in scripture.

So too should our lives be beautiful to God; our songs to Him filled with praise and clothed in splendor.

A Lily Amid Thorns

The lily of the valley is described by botanists as a “hardy” plant, often grown amid thorns. Jesus was forced to wear a crown of thorns—taking us back again to Song of Songs 2:2 Like a lily among thorns…

…and reminding us of Jesus.

Happy birthday to everyone born in May.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving splendor to even the smallest plant. Thank you for loving even me. When we think of the delicate lily of the valley, please remind us that it is precious to you. As are we. Help us live lives that glorify the splendor that is you. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU:  Have you ever had the chance to see a real lily of the valley? And smell its delicate fragrance?

EVANGELIZE?

This month the Christian Writers are sharing thoughts about the theme “nurture” in honor of Mother’s Day. Please click on their links to the right on the appropriate days.

I’ve chosen to talk about evangelism—in order to nurture other believers in their ability to nurture nonbelievers to accept Christ. This is a revised post from www.WeUsed2BU.com 

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I used to break into a cold sweat when thinking about “The Great Commission” where Jesus told his disciples to go out into the world and evangelize.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

Me? Evangelize? Who was I to teach the Gospel? Yet, how could I not do something to encourage the salvation of people I loved?

I knew evangelism was an important responsibility. I just didn’t know how to do it. I was afraid to fail God. After all, souls were at stake. Eternal lives were in the balance.

I love reading the Bible. But ask me to debate theology and my lips lock up. I simply feel incapable to the task.

Then one day, verses started popping out, reminding me that God is the one who pursues people’s hearts. It’s my job to share the Gospel—but other people’s salvation doesn’t rest on anything I do.

It’s Jesus who stands at the door and knocks. If someone opens the door, it’s Jesus who comes in. (Revelation 3:20)

Jesus. Not me. Whew!

Sometimes God provides the perfect words and the debating skills to reach others. If that’s you—then debate away. Let God work through you to show the truth of Jesus to others.

But if God doesn’t provide you with oratorical eloquence (huh?), there are still things we can do. Sharing the Gospel means sharing the good news. And good news is always better when it is personal. Personal good news can be shared with more enthusiasm, feeling and meaning when it is told from personal experience—when it’s my good news. Or your good news.

In the courtroom, a testimony is a statement in support of fact. In Christianity, a testimony is a declaration of faith, supported by statements of fact. The facts of your life.

God doesn’t demand we prove the truth of the Gospel. That’s His job. We only have to share what it means to us; what it has done for us. What Jesus has done in our lives or in the lives of people we know.

That’s a testimony of faith. And it is more powerful when it is personal, spoken from a heart filled with gentleness, compassion and sincerity.

Jesus desires that none be lost, but it is not up to you to guarantee that. You may not be the one to lead a person to Jesus. Perhaps your testimony will be the first time or the only time the person hears the Gospel. Or perhaps your testimony will be the 22^nd time. Or the time that finally makes the person ready to open his heart to God’s knocking.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. (Revelation 3:20)

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please give me the words to share my testimony with others and please also give me the courage to share it boldly. Amen.

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Do you have a personal testimony? If not, I’ll be sharing some ideas toward the end of the month on how to create one.