Category: 2014 Posts

Posted on in 2014 Posts

Whose Job Is It, Anyway?

pointer pointing at sunHave you ever thought about what your purpose is in life?  I’ve had so many jobs in my life that I often joke…I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up!  One thing is for sure…I am passionate about leaving a legacy for my kids, grandkids, and their kids, etc.  I am not talking about leaving millions of dollars for them when I leave this earth.  Rather, I’m more concerned about leaving them truths.  Truths, that if embraced, can change their lives for eternity.  I want them to know Jesus like I do and live a life that reflects His presence in their lives.  There is no greater joy on this earth that I know than to know your children have accepted Christ into their lives and are living for Him.

Jim and I were quite blessed a few months back to be invited to my son and daughter-in-law’s church to hear them sing.  It brought such joy to my soul to sit there on the front pew and hear them sing from the heart.  The song they were singing said, “I want to be more like You, Jesus…”    I was so blessed to see them serving in the church and using their talents for God.  Really.  There is no greater joy.

When I go to speak for Stonecroft Ministries, I share my testimony and offer others the gift of salvation by praying a salvation prayer with the group.  A few weeks ago, after I spoke, a lady in the audience came up to me and told me everything she does for God.  She worked in several homeless ministries, food pantries and the like.  In fact, she had a ministry for practically every day as she told me her busy schedule of serving.   Although I was hearing about a lot of service, I wasn’t hearing about her relationship with God.

I asked her, “So when did you make the decision to follow Christ?”

She said, “Well, you know, when I go to my Al-Anon meetings and they talk about a higher power.”

I then asked again, “So at what point did you decide to follow Christ?”  She couldn’t answer.

I engaged a little longer in conversation with her until I gave up on how to reach her.  I walked away that day feeling as though I had lost.  I just couldn’t help her to see that she could be serving every day and every hour but if she didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, it wasn’t going to get her into heaven.  Maybe she did, but I didn’t come away from the conversation assured of that.

That same day on my way to speaking, I stopped at Panera to get an ice tea.  When I left, I went to my car and went to pull out my phone to catch up on any messages I may have missed during the last couple of hours when I was driving.  However, it was nowhere to be found.  Hurriedly, I ran back into the restaurant thinking that I might have left it on the drink counter where I put my straw into my cup.  It was not there, so I asked the restaurant workers if anyone had turned it in.  One employee even made a long distance phone call to it for me to see if it would ring for us to figure out where it was.  I left defeated, once again.  No phone.  I left Jim’s phone number in case it showed up and headed for my car.  Opening the door, to my shock, there was my cell phone lying on my dashboard!  Oops!

I laughed the rest of the way there that I thought someone had stolen my phone and had everyone looking for it as it lay on my dashboard!   I really had no one to blame but myself.  No one had stolen my phone as I first thought.  It was my responsibility to keep track of it and I had failed.

I think God allowed this scenario to play out to show me that each one of us has been entrusted to our destiny and the legacy that we leave behind.  We all have free will to choose God and live for Him or not choose Him.  It is not my responsibility for others to be saved.  It is up to them to accept Christ into their lives.  Yes, I believe I am called to share the gospel with others, but I am not responsible for them if they don’t embrace it.  I can share, lead and even pray for those I encounter along the way in my travels, but ultimately, I am not responsible if they say no.

I love that God doesn’t allow me to be discouraged for long as I minister.  He gently shows me that it’s not about me.  It’s all about them and their personal relationship they choose to have with Him.  By sharing my testimony and explaining the gift of salvation, I might have done more than anyone else in their life has ever done.  I have to trust that the seeds were planted and someday they will realize that serving isn’t going to get them to heaven, but accepting God into their lives will.  I love my Boss!  He’s such a joy to serve!

Do you have someone in your life that you’ve been trying to witness to and they just don’t get it?  Don’t be discouraged.  You have been the seed-planter.  It’s really not about you.  God is calling them and speaking to them daily, as well as putting others in their lives to come behind you.  It’s not your job…it’s His.  Rest assured; He’s got this!

Acts 2:21 (NIV)  …Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:13 (NIV)  Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

In closing…I find it interesting that the exact same sentence shows up twice in the Bible.  It appears that God felt the need to emphasize that salvation is open to EVERYONE who calls on His name!  It demonstrates the need for each one to take action, not for someone else to do it for them.  Isn’t God cool?  Have a great week and don’t forget to be a blessing!

Posted on in 2014 Posts

A Cinderella Adventure!

Cinderella adventure with infoThose of you who regularly follow my blog are probably wondering where I have been lately.  I am sorry if I have let you down without a weekly inspiration, but I assure you, I will be back soon!  A couple of months ago, my pastor’s wife asked me to pray about doing something to help grow our women’s ministry at our church–perhaps do a retreat.

Although I am actively speaking with Stonecroft Ministries, I have felt the burden recently to expand my speaking ministry.  This invitation seemed to be the perfect reason for me to focus on some new material and find new avenues for ministry.  So although you may not see me here for a few more weeks, rest assured, I am still walking the walk.  I miss my writing but only have so much time. For now, I am focusing on the speaking part of my ministry.

I would ask all of you who are prayer warriors to lift this event up in your prayers.  We can plan, organize and invite all day and night.  However, if we don’t ask for God’s blessings upon our efforts, it will all be for not.  Thank you in advance for praying for us!

If you live nearby and would like to join us for our retreat on May 17, it is open to anyone looking for more of God.  It should be a fun-filled day full of God’s special blessings for each woman who comes expecting.  Reservations must be made by May 4, so don’t delay if you want to come!  Thanks for your understanding!  See you soon!

P.S.  If you’d like to RSVP to the event, find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/seekveritas.  If you don’t attend our church, we will send you an address to send your check so that your place is held for that day!  It’s going to be so much fun!  Don’t miss it!

Posted on in 2014 Posts

Will Winter Ever End?

snow sunsetThis has been the big question of many all across the United States this year.    We have had way more snow than ever not to mention the sub-zero temperatures here in Ohio.  After several times of shoveling the driveway out, it was a relief to have someone knock on our door and ask if they could do it for us?  We negotiated a price that was suitable for all and away they went to dig us out.  It worked well the first couple of times.  However, last week, we had a deeper and heavier snow than usual.

Jim was working from home that day and I had been out.  When I pulled up, there was a young lady in her pajama pants scraping at the ice and snow on our driveway.  It appeared this was the first time she’d ever shoveled snow.  I called Jim on the phone from the road and asked, “Did you hire someone different to do the shoveling today?   This isn’t the same person that I remember.”  It had been the same person who came to our door, but instead of two strapping men, we got the lady in her p.j’s.

As I got out of the car, she was complaining that her  job was really hard.  She asked if we could pay her more money this time because it was going to take her forever to get it done.  I agreed to give her more and actually gave her more than she was asking for when she was done.  However, I should have looked closer before I paid her.  We found out the next day when we tried to get out to go to work, she had only shoveled half of the driveway outside the garage.  We had to maneuver several times in order to get out of the garage without hitting a four-foot wall of snow!  It was miraculous that we were even able to get out.

I’ve heard so many people complaining about winter.  I have been included in that conversation from time to time.  It’s like going through a trial.  When it starts out, we’re motivated to make it through. As Christians, we are taught in the Bible that we should rejoice always…even in times of trial.   At first we optimistically pray to God that He will come dig us out of our mess.  Then after a while of seeing God at work, clearing the way for us, more struggles seem to fall on us again.  Then the whining begins again.  Some days we just want to stay in our pajamas and cry, “Woe is me!”

Before you know it, the ice starts forming and we lose hope.  I don’t think I’ll ever get out of this mess!  We get discouraged, stop reading our Bible, stop praying and continue to whine.  The walls start closing in on us to where we feel trapped.  We might not get out of this one!

But then the sun comes out.  It shines down on the mess we have and begins to warm our world and melt away our problems.  When the next storm hits in your life, will you be one that whines and sees no way out?  When the skies are grey and there’s no sun to be seen, do you feel that God isn’t there?  It’s those that are willing to keep shoveling…to the very edges…that get through the storms. Don’t give up!  God will clear your paths and lead you to Him!  Don’t look at your circumstances.  Rather, trust in Him who stands by to dig you out.

Psalm 107:28-29 (NIV) Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.   He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

God can do it for you, too!