Why it’s worth it: A Go Now Missions story

by Guest Author on July 7, 2021 in Collegiate Ministry; posted on Texas Baptists online magazine

This story was written by Hugh Ells, a Trinity County College student who is serving as a Go Now Missions missionary in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Go Now Missions is a mission sending agency that mobilizes Texas university students to share the love of Christ across the world.

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you are doing what you’re doing? Why do you continue to pursue something? What makes this so worth your while that you give up your time? Your energy? Sometimes even money? I have asked myself this question quite a bit. I’m going into ministry because that’s where I feel called, I have lots of people ask me “why ministry?” It doesn’t pay well. It’s hard to support a family in ministry. There’s so little opportunity at times. Well, let me share a story of why this makes it all worth it.

I’m currently serving as a Go Now missionary at a church in Oregon. I’ve had different opportunities to lead worship and to invest in students. But most recently I got the opportunity to teach some students. We just recently had our VBS. We spent so much time in prayer, in preparation, and decorating. We wrote the lessons and music. We put in late nights and early mornings. In the midst of that we did not cease to pray about this event we planned.

We were planning for around ninety kids. And we ended up with an average of one hundred and thirty kids a day! So, God is already doing amazing things. But the story does not end there. As I mentioned earlier, I got the opportunity to teach these kids. I’ve never taught before, and my biggest worry was whether I was going to be able to teach these kids in a way they would understand. But God made sure to give me the right words. So, I gave a gospel presentation to these one hundred and thirty kids. And while on stage I asked a rhetorical question of “who wants to be a part of God’s family?” And as these kids took it literally, and what felt like half the room raised their hand without hesitation. I was speechless and overwhelmed with joy.

We sat down with the kids and made sure they understood the gospel and asked them if they wanted to do that with their life. We had a total of 43 kids come to salvation in one day! As we talked about how we were going to follow up with 43 kids, my mind was still processing that God just saved all those souls. All that could go through my head was, the best problem possible is figuring out how we make sure these kids get discipled.

This is what makes it worth it. Just one soul makes it worth it. But Jesus likes to do the unthinkable and instead of one or 20, he decided to do 43. And now we are trying to disciple these kids so that they understand what being a follower of Christ truly looks like. God is so good to produce fruit when we are faithful. He promises to use us, and it’s not us that saves them it’s God. I feel so blessed that he chose to use me as a tool to reach those kids.

To learn more about Go Now Missions, go to gonowmissions.com.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for placing a calling on the lives of Your children. We lift up those in our number who have not yet taken the leap of faith necessary to answer the calling You have placed in our lives. Father, we ask that you continue to guide us and teach us in how to be better followers of Your Word. In your most precious Son, Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

The Kingdom's Open Door

As posted on InTouch Ministries daily devotional

Matthew 24:1-14

John the Baptist and Jesus Both preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2; Matt. 4:17). And though the nation of Israel rejected Christ as their king, His kingdom was not thwarted.

When an idea recurs in Scripture, we are wise to study it well—and the Bible contains more than 30 references to the “kingdom of heaven.” The term refers to the realm where God reigns in absolute sovereignty. We understand this in a spiritual sense today, but it will become a physical reality in the future when Christ returns to establish His rule on earth. At that point, Satan will be defeated, God’s enemies will be destroyed, and only the righteous will enter the kingdom He sets up here (Matt. 25:31-46).

For those of us who have trusted Christ as our personal Savior, a place in the kingdom is already secured, but what about unbelievers? Today the invitation remains open to all who will repent and receive Christ as Lord.

The kingdom of heaven is still at hand. Nobody knows how long the window of opportunity will stay open. So under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, make the most of every chance to deliver God’s invitation.

Pursuit

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

All the kids were ready and anxiously awaiting the last week of June. I was ready with all the extra things I was bringing for our kiddos. Camp was right around the corner when I got the call on that Saturday that our session week had been canceled due to a Covid outbreak with their staff.  I was completely devastated and had to relay the bad news to 42 other kiddos and sponsors who I knew would be just as disappointed.  I think all of us lamented pretty heavily after hearing the news – I know I did.

But God has a plan. He always has a plan. Meeting with some of our youth leaders – the Urbina’s and Sanchez’s, we put our collective minds and resources together and within hours – we had formulated a plan to take the kiddos on a mission trip to Corpus to help out a needy church. They had suffered a huge loss with the horrible freeze in March and needed help painting and putting put back together their buildings after rebuilding/renovating. We also came up with a fun day at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and a short stop at the Riverwalk in San Antonio before coming home.

For our devotional time – I used the camp’s verse and theme of “Pursuit” – Matt 6:33 – about “seeking first the kingdom of God.” It seemed to fit perfectly with what we were pursuing in our mission/road trip. 

In Matthew 6:33 – Jesus is saying rather than being like the pagans who are concerned about their physical needs, the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven should be concerned about and seek after the things of God.

Seek first His kingdom - He does not say seek for the kingdom, which is what Jesus would have said if He was addressing this command to unbelievers. He wasn’t saying to seek for the kingdom to get into it but instead He was speaking to those who are kingdom citizens to make the interests of God's kingdom their priority.

Our kiddos are “kingdom citizens” and I tasked them to ponder, "Is what I am going to say or do going to advance God's kingdom and glory?" I challenged all our kiddos to do just that during our 3-day trip – to make sure that what ever they said or did – would only help to advance God’s kingdom. I certainly saw evidence of that over and over again. Our kiddos were great with how they pitched in with serving that small Baptist church and helping them get their sanctuary and fellowship hall back to a usable condition. I saw them demonstrate it at Fiesta TX when they were waiting in the lines or walking around the park. I saw it on the bus as our group of kiddos bonded closer together as one body of Christ.

I can be a worrier and pretty anxious before a trip. I like to prep and get everything ready with little or no surprises when the trip starts. I operate better that way. So the second part of those two verses - 34“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself, really hit home for me. God was telling me to not be anxious about the little things. Not be anxious about them - the lower or little things, but seek the Kingdom in them. 

What does that mean? Dress for the Kingdom of GOD. Eat for the Kingdom of GOD. Pursue behaviors that glorify God. What we all do on this trip, what we say, how we act - let it be to glorify God.

Trust all our worries and needs to the Father. God knows what is needed. God knows who’s heart needs healing, or whose life needs changing. God knows and cares.  And so do I and all our parent/sponsors.  So let’s glorify and honor God with what we say and do this week!  

Prayer:

Thank you God for being the faithful loving God that you are all the time. Help me to see that even when I am feeling my lowest or disappointed about something in my life. Your love and grace conquers all! May everything I do this week glorify and honor You.  In Jesus’ name – Amen!

Disney Devotional: Hollywood Studios

These Disney Devotionals were written by Pastor Ray for his family on their vacation. You don’t have to go to Disney to get something out of them, but if you do go, invite Pastor Ray.

John 3:16-17

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

This morning, my cousin Michael and I got up early, tested our internet speed and, thanks to hours of preparation, practice, internet speed, and prayer, we were one of the few ones who earned spots on Disney’s Star Wars, Rise of the Resistance. The portal opens at 7 am in the morning and is full for the day by 7:01 am.

Many people will be upset they didn’t earn a spot. Some didn’t practice like we did. Some didn’t have fast internet. Some thought the virtual queue would still be available after 7:01 am. No matter what the reason, only some people will be able to get on the ride and have a great experience. Those are the rules. 

Similarly, many people get upset when they find out not everyone will spend eternity in heaven with God. Some won’t have attended church like we did. Maybe some couldn’t find Bible passages as fast as us. Others may not have prayed as much as we did. Unlike the Star Wars ride, faith in Jesus is the only way to take part in His eternal glory. Those are the rules.

There is nothing we can do to earn our way to heaven. No amount of practice, internet speed, strength, good deeds, church attendance, prayer or knowledge can get us there. But Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. One day Jesus is coming again to redeem all of creation. If you believe that, Jesus has earned a spot in heaven for you. But that is not the end of the story. If you really believe in Jesus, your job is to take part in His great redemption story to and tell everyone else about what he has done in your life so that they can have the same great experience!

Dear God,

Thank you that we get to get on the Star Wars Ride. More importantly, thank you for Jesus. Help us to live into His great story of love and redemption. Help us to share the Good News and tell others about Him!

When Joy Feels so Very Unrealistic

LYSA TERKEURST

Lee en español

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (NIV)

There’s no part of me that wants sorrow to be included in your journey or mine. And honestly, there isn’t any plan God could present where I would willingly agree to heartbreak and pain. But the longer I walk with the Lord, the more I see that picking and choosing what gets to be part of our stories would keep us from the ultimate good God has in mind. If that seems hard to fathom in the midst of your own difficult circumstance today, I want to share some verses found in James that have helped me in my hardest seasons. I have to warn you: It might not feel good at first glance. But as we dig in together, I think you’ll see that it’s better to wrestle with Truth than to stay stuck in turmoil.

James 1:2-4 reminds us, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (NIV).

I confess I like these verses. Until I don’t. These words are easy to pull out when your worst issue is the drive-thru coffee joint got your order wrong. They frappéed your latte and waylaid the start of your workday. But what about those other things we walk through? The ones that hurt too long? Or disappoint too deeply? Or feel devastatingly permanent? To slap some “we should be joyful about this” platitudes on top of the hard things feels cruel. Like a bad joke about something excruciatingly painful. It’s just too soon for that kind of nonsense. That’s why I’m glad these verses don’t say “feel the joy” but instead “consider where some glimpses of joy might be even in the midst of all the hurt.”

Our understanding of joy rises and falls on whether we truly trust God in the middle of what our human minds can’t see as good at all. It’s hard. So I like to think of it in terms of baking. Imagine if we decided to make a cake from scratch today. After going to the store, we set out all the ingredients: the flour, butter, sugar, vanilla, eggs, baking powder and a pinch of salt. But then maybe we felt too tired to mix it all together and make the cake. Instead, we thought we could just enjoy the cake one ingredient at a time. The thing is we don’t like some of the individual ingredients, so we’d rather leave them out. The flour is too dry — leave it out. The sugar, butter and vanilla are all good — leave them in! The eggs are just gross when raw — definitely leave those out! And then our cake would never be made “… mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4, NIV).

We are so quick to judge the quality of our lives and the reliability of God based on individual events rather than on the eventual good God is working together. We must know that, just like the master baker has reasons to allow the flour and eggs in right measure into the recipe, Jesus, “the author and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2, NASB 1995), will do the same with dry times and hard times. And yes, we may have to go through some chaos in the mixing and some heat in the baking, but soon we will rise and live lives that are a sweet offering of hope, grace, peace and comfort to others. That’s how we can consider it pure joy today. We can also make peace with the fact that sorrow and celebration can quite authentically coexist together in a heart. Mixing them together is part of the recipe of life. We can sit with and tend to all that still needs to be healed and at the same time laugh, plan for great things ahead and declare this a glorious day. To have both sorrow and celebration in our heart isn’t denial. It’s deeming life a gift — even if it looks nothing like we thought it would right now. Our sorrows make our hearts more tender and allow us to grieve. Our celebrations tend to our heart’s need to recognize what is beautiful about our life, get back up and go on. Let’s embrace the mix of all that’s worthy of celebration while fully allowing sorrow to add what it brings as well — knowing we can trust Jesus’ recipe of purpose in both the pain and the joy.

Father God, when joy feels so very unrealistic, help me consider where glimpses of joy might be found throughout my day today. Help me bring the perspective of both sorrow and celebration to my circumstances, and keep reminding me that Your plans for me are still good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer for When You Need Help

By Tiffany Thibault

I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. - Psalm 118:13

There are so many situations that cross our paths, that intrude into our lives, which so quickly throw us off balance.  When those difficult, unexpected things happen, we feel as though we are falling. Relationship issues, job loss, illness. No person is exempt from difficult times. 

Sometimes we can be strong enough to keep on moving through the situation, keeping our chin up, hoping that tomorrow will be a better day. 

Then there are other times when we walk through seasons of struggles that causes us to drop to our knees as we emotionally stumble, crawl or drag ourselves through, hanging on it seems for dear life. 

Seasons of hard circumstances and difficult relationships leave us exhausted emotionally and mentally discouraged. Seasons of job future outlooks and unknowns leave us worried and deprive us of our sleep. Seasons of grieving the loss of a child, spouse or parent leave our souls raw and empty. 

There are times when too many struggles and difficult moments leave us gasping for breath, leaving us feeling as though the very ground has collapsed beneath us and we are falling, falling into a pit and cannot see the end of the fall.

Have faith though! Just as David, the author of this verse wrote: I was pushed hard, so that I was falling. He had many difficult situations in his life that he had to walk through, but he kept his eyes on the Lord through them all. His faith allowed him to not only endure but to grow tremendous faith through them all.

For us, it is while we are walking through the hardest moments of our lives, that usually find us pouring our fears and pain out to the Lord for His help. We can beg Him for mercy in this situation. We can plead with Him for some relief as we journey through. Even when we are falling, we can allow peace to flood our souls. Through it all, we can fully rely on His strength and grow our faith as we journey faithfully through our difficulties.

This verse encourages us to remember that the Lord is there to help us. There is no situation or circumstance that He cannot help us through. 

As we continue through our lives, we can live a life of faith. We can walk boldly through each new circumstance, because we can trust God to be there. We can trust God to help us. As we remember how He helped us in the past, we can step forward in faith, in confidence, knowing that He will also see us through each new difficulty that enters into our life. We can boldly declare in faith, over all our circumstances and say: “The Lord helped me.” 

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for your faithfulness to me in the past as you helped me through difficult times. Thank you that there is no situation or circumstance that is too difficult for you. Lord, you promise here in your word, that you will help me. I need your help desperately right now. This situation is too much for me. I am overwhelmed and feel like I am falling. There is no one else who can help get me through this except you. Thank you Lord that you are near, that you hold my past, present and future in your hands.   I walk in faith, thanking you Lord, that you will get me through this.

In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Tiffany Thibault enjoys living life with her husband, two teenage daughters and one very large dog. She homeschools her girls, and loves to write and speak about Jesus. She loves long walks, coffee and anything chocolate. You can find her over at www.TiffanyThibault.com.

Obedience Will Open Doors You Never Thought Possible

NICHOLE KIRK

Lee en español

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (ESV)

“I feel like God is telling me to take a huge leap of faith, and although it seems really uncertain right now … I think we should do it.”

These words were scary coming from my mouth as I sat in our living room with my husband. I was 35 weeks pregnant with our firstborn, talking about leaving my well-paying job to jump into the dream of building a business with the mission to create more conversations about Jesus. My husband was on a teaching salary, which didn’t quite cover all of our expenses each month. But he grabbed my hand, smiled at me and said, “Let’s do it.” As we prayed together, the Holy Spirit made it so clear that this was the path that He had for us. How would we make it financially? We weren’t sure. The only things we were certain about were that God was leading us and that we would listen.

God calls each of us to do big and sometimes scary things. Taking that first step of obedience might look like:

• Moving to a new place God is calling you to.

• Speaking up in a situation the Holy Spirit placed on your heart.

• Starting your own small group to lead others to Jesus.

Our key verse, James 1:22, is at the beginning of a passage about being people of action and not just listeners:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:22-25, ESV).

The Greek translation of “do” in this passage is “poieo,” which means to “do well.” So don’t just sit idly by and listen to His Word — do what it says and do it well. Don’t just listen to the sermon, walk out the door and forget. Be encouraged — go out into the world and do the hard things! Hold close your relationship with Jesus and walk with Him through your day. The more you do this, the easier it will be to hear what He wants you to go out and do. We are each given a job while we are here on this earth, and if we don’t listen closely to what God is speaking to us, we just might miss it. Most of the time, it’s going to be outside of your comfort zone. I remember being so scared the first time I felt the nudge to go pray over a stranger. Who? Me? I’m not good with words and have never felt “qualified” for things like that, but I had been in a habit of saying “yes” and couldn’t stop now. The result? The Holy Spirit took over and I have a memory I will never forget. The journey of obedience hasn’t been easy, and I am far from perfect, but I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. Each nudge has made me bolder. Each “yes” has changed lives. Following Jesus doesn’t result in life being easy and prosperous; Jesus tells us this in John 16:33. But I can tell you that, with each step of obedience you take, doors will open, and amazing things will happen.

So what does it look like for me now after doing the scary thing? I’ve been stepping out in faith and listening so closely for His whispers, and amazing things have happened. Through the business my husband and I launched, we are creating conversations about Jesus all over the world — across the United States and 25 other countries. And it’s no longer just me; five incredible women have joined us in keeping our mission moving. I still have to surrender financial worries daily, but there is so much freedom in surrendering everything to Him. He has always taken care of us as we have followed His lead. God is always nudging us to do uncomfortable things. Always whispering plans in our ears. And we listen because we know He has a reason behind every little thing even if we can’t see it yet. When you feel that nudge on your heart to do something uncomfortable, or maybe even a little crazy, will you act on it? Will you let down your guard, step out and do the scary thing? I can tell you right now, there isn’t anything too big or too scary for our God. He’s writing your story … just let Him take the lead.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to hear from You and for encouraging me toward the beautiful life You have for me. Please give me boldness to pursue the things You’ve placed on my heart, and comfort me when they feel like too much for me. I know that, with You, anything is possible. Help me be a doer of Your Word and not just a hearer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

A Prayer for When Life Gets You Down

By Carrie Lowrance, as written for and posted on Your Daily Prayer daily devotional
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without fault and it will be given to you.” -James 1:5

Sometimes it’s hard to know how to pray and even what to pray when life gets you down. In my own experience, I always pray for three things: wisdom, discernment and for God’s will to be done.

1. Pray for Wisdom

When we are in the midst of a storm and have to make heavy decisions that seem to have no answers, it can seem like wisdom is eluding us. It is always wise to first ask God for wisdom in order to make decisions. We must not lean on our own knowledge and understanding. According to Proverbs 4:7, wisdom and good judgment are some of the most important things to acquire.

2. Pray for Discernment

It is crucial to pray for the ability to discern God’s voice, for it to be amplified beyond a doubt. We all discern His voice in different ways, from hearing His voice in our head to a feeling of utter peace and stillness. For some of us he speaks very loud and clear. Regardless, praying for discernment helps your spirit weed out the deceiver from a spiritually sound answer.

3. Pray for God's Will

We sometimes get caught up in how we want things to work out or how we think things should go. It’s part of being human. When you realize you’re doing this, stop and pray and ask God for his will to be done. Give Him the praise and the glory because you know you are exactly where He wants you in order to teach you something or for you to grow.

Are things so hard right now that you don’t even know what to pray? Let these words be your cry.

Dear Lord, times are really hard right now and life has really got me down. I don’t know what to do. I ask that You bestow Your wisdom upon me. I don’t want to lean on my own knowledge anymore, because it has let me down so many times. I need to hear Your voice. Give me the discernment to hear Your voice and Your voice alone. Speak to me in the way You know I will hear you best. I also pray for Your Will, Lord. I give You the praise and the glory in my circumstances because I know that I am exactly where You want me. I know this is to teach me something or to help me to grow. No matter what, I trust you and ask You to show what is best in this situation. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen.

The Words I Want To Speak

NICKI KOZIARZ, as written for Proverbs 31 Ministries and posted on Encouragement for Today daily devotional

Lee en español

“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” James 3:11(NIV)

At some point, our children make decisions that leave us feeling puzzled and possibly paranoid that the next wrong decision is around the corner. And that’s what I felt like I was facing that particular night as I found myself in a huge argument with two of my teenage daughters. We were having some boundary issues. And as a mom, I was trying to figure out what my nonnegotiables were with boundaries and what things I didn’t need to hold so tightly. It was messy. My thoughts throughout that day had led me in a downward pattern of disbelief, and unfortunately, the words flying out of my mouth began to flow from my internal worries. In this moment of conflict with my girls, I felt a deep conviction as the Holy Spiritwhispered, “Are you speaking blessing or burden over them?” If I’m honest, it was burden.

James 3:11 asks a self-examination question: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”

A basic science class would teach us that fresh water and salt water cannot come from the same spring. But James isn’t really speaking about water here; he’s talking about the soul. And what is deep within us is normally what starts to flow from us. When James was writing this, he was most likely trying to paint a vivid picture of the mineral springs in the Jordan Valley near the Dead Sea. Something the original audience for this text would have been able to identify with. But isn’t it so fascinating how this text connects just as much today as it did all those yesterdays?

The words I want to speak over conflict are life-giving.
The words I want to speak over my children’s decisions I don’t agree with are wise but not forceful.
The words I want to speak over my family are blessings, not burdens.

But if I want to speak those types of words, then I have to deal with some of the destruction deep in my soul. The source of many salty words. That place deep within us that James is referring to. The place where no one really goes except us and the Holy Spirit. Feeling convicted to change and actually changing are two very different things. I have found that after we experience conviction, what we aren’t changing we are choosing. The best part of this struggle and all our human struggles is God never commands perfection from us. He has an unlimited supply of principles and grace for our process with Him.

But the responsibility is ours for the taking. So that day, I let the Holy Spirit reveal something to me about my own experiences as a teenager and about the words spoken to me in the midst of conflict that still sting from time to time. I don’t want my teenagers to feel that from me. And I’m trying to make the decision to speak blessing, not burden, over every hard conflict that comes my way, whether it’s in parenting or just with people in general. I’m not getting it right all the time, but I’m making some right steps. The words we speak matter. But what our words reveal matters just as much. The entire chapter of James 3 offers us wisdom about our words. But may we hold closely our key verse today, reminding ourselves that when we take care of what is deep within us, something beneficial will flow from us. No matter what our words have sounded like in the past, today is a day we can decide to be different from this point forward. This acknowledgement and this place of humility is where healing begins both internally and externally.

God, thank You that we can say, “From this point forward, it will be different.” Thank You for the strength within us to move our words to a place of blessing no matter what the situation. Help us to get there today. Guide our words. Let what’s deep within be challenged so that what flows from us is good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Wisdom of Waiting on God

As written for and posted on InTouch Ministries Daily Devotional

Psalm 130

During hard times, it’s easy to wonder why the Lord is taking so long to bring relief. Like the psalmist, we cry to God “out of the depths” for help (Psalm 130:1), but as time drags on, we may be tempted to take matters into our own hands. Believers, however, are not to operate as the world does, determining a course of action based on human reasoning or the example of others. Instead, our guidance is to come from God, and our hope is to be in His Word (Psalm 130:5-6).

It’s important that we cooperate with Him so the time spent waiting will prove productive and beneficial. God can use such “holding patterns” to reveal sinful behaviors or thinking and to develop new heart attitudes. Waiting can also provide an opportunity to deepen our trust and dependence on Him. And when we follow God’s timetable, He gives us the grace to endure difficult situations with confidence and peace. It’s a blessing to know we’re where God wants us and He’s promised to take care of us.

If you’re in God’s waiting room, remember that He is your hope—and in His time He will move you forward.

A Prayer for the Unkind Person in Your Life

By Nylse Esahc, as written and posted on Your Daily Prayer daily devotional

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” –  Ephesians 4:32

Hurt happens. It happens to all of us, often when we do not anticipate it. It happens in families, it happens in friendships, it happens with co-workers, and we even hurt ourselves. The most confusing kind of hurt, though, is the hurt that happens for seemingly no reason. Maybe for you, it's the customer service person who's supposed to be helping you out but keeps making everything more difficult with their attitude. This scenario rubs you the wrong way every time. You assume that kindness is a part of their job description without considering why they may be behaving rudely in the moment.

Or maybe you're dealing with an acquaintance who is constantly inconsiderate of your kind gestures. They disregard your feelings when you express them and say that you are "sensitive" without trying to hear you out. You do not understand their lack of effort to change, especially since you've vulnerably expressed your concerns. As we interact with people in relationships we expect them to be as invested as we are in the relationship without considering that they might not value the relationship in the same sense that we do.

We label people unkind by our own justifications. As humans, when we judge others harshly we simultaneously cover ourselves with a lot of grace. The moment we experience negativity, we assume that the other party must be the source of that negativity without any understanding of who they really are. By looking at our situations with our eyes and not God's heart (1 Sam 16:7) we miss the opportunity to see the value that God has designed. We miss God's sovereignty when we dismiss people because of our hurt.

Let’s pray now for that unkind person in your life, asking God to bring healing to them and to you.

Lord, you know how my heart is hurting over ____________’s actions toward me. I’m so frustrated and weary of dealing with the hurt she is causing me. Lord, I know you know her heart. And I know that every time I judge her or get frustrated with her, I condemn myself, because I’m not perfectly kind either. Oh Lord, forgive me! Help me to see my sin too. Help me be kind to her even when she is unkind to me. Help me treat her with hospitality and consideration. Help me see her the way you see her, Lord. And Father, will you convict her heart too? Will you transform her more and more into your likeness? Will you help her see how her actions wound? I surrender this relationship to you now, Lord. Take my hurt and hold it close, and help me not need her kindness to be kind in return. In your name I pray, amen.

This devotional was taken in part from 10 Ways to Respond to the Unkind Person in Your Life. You can read that piece in full here.

Grateful That God Is Patient

by Mary A. Kassian, from Growing Grateful

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The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love. — Psalm 145:8

Have you ever witnessed road rage? Once, a burly man in a truck started angrily gesturing and screaming at me. I’m not even sure what I did to rouse his fury. Perhaps I cut him off.

Or perhaps I did something else wrong. But his behavior left no doubt in my mind as to how he felt. Then, as if obscene gestures and expletives weren’t enough, he began to aggressively tailgate me. It wasn’t until I turned into the parking lot of a nearby police station that he stopped his enraged pursuit. 

I’m glad that God is not like that angry, impatient man.

Scripture repeatedly affirms that He is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6; Nehemiah 9:17). When it comes to being provoked, He’s extremely tolerant and puts up with a lot.

That’s not to say that wrongdoers will forever go unpunished (Nahum 1:3). Rather, He gives people ample opportunity to avoid this fate. Peter explained, 

The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. — 2 Peter 3:9

The patience of God ought to give you great comfort and confidence. If you do something wrong, He won’t respond like that hothead in the truck. He will be patient with you.

You can run toward Him rather than away from Him. You can draw near without fear, knowing that He will not respond in anger but with mercy and grace (Hebrews 4:16).

MEDITATION 

Do you think of God as being angry and impatient or as patient and even tempered? Where do you think you got this concept of God? How do you feel knowing that God is patient with wrongdoers? How do you feel knowing that God is patient with you? 

GROW GRATEFUL 

Thank God that He is patient and slow to anger. 

Prayer:

Father God – we can let our tempers get the best of us sometimes and that leads to us saying or doing something out of anger. You are a patient God who loves us. Thank you for never changing who you are to us. Help us to find more patience in our lives and to seek ways to help others and shine the light of Christ.  In His Holy Name – Amen! 

Disney Devotionals: Magic Kingdom

These Disney Devotionals were written by Pastor Ray for his family on their vacation. You don’t have to go to Disney to get something out of them, but if you do go, invite Pastor Ray.

Romans 8:14-18

14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 

Devotional

Today we will go to the “Happiest Place on Earth” where we can forget about the “real world” and all its problems. Sure, we may have to wait in long lines, find solace in air conditioning in the middle of the scorching heat, and be completely exhausted by the end of the day; but hopefully the fun we have will dwarf any of those “problems” and we will long for the day when we can return again!

That may be a little how our Christian walk is. Even in the middle of the joy of following God, there will be difficulties in life. There will be times when it seems like we have to wait for God to work in our lives, times when we find solace in God’s peace in the middle of scorching trials, and plenty of times where we will be exhausted by the prospect of serving him in a fallen world. But We are God’s children and He is not just taking us to Disney World: He is preparing a place for us where we will one day share in His eternal glory! 

So today, and everyday, when you suffer through the trials of this world, remember that they are nothing compared to the Glory we have in Christ!

Dear God,

Thank you that we have been adopted into your family. Help us to remember that your glory will exceed any suffering we go through here on earth.

Amen

Why does Simone Biles wear a goat on her leotard?: Defining greatness in sports and in life

By Minni Elkins, as written and posted on The Denison Forum

Simone Biles waits her turn to compete on the balance beam during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, Friday, June 4, 2021, in Fort Worth, Texas. Biles wore a goat laced into her leotard during the competition. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

There is little doubt that gymnast Simone Biles is the best in her field. With more than two dozen Olympic and World Championship medals, she is the most decorated American gymnast in history and is widely considered the best in the world.  

She has won every all-around competition she has entered since 2013. She is expected to win a spot on the USA team at trials beginning tomorrow in St. Louis, qualifying her for the Olympics being held next month in Tokyo, Japan.    

During the U.S. Gymnastics Championships earlier this month, Biles, twenty-four, picked up her seventh national title—more than any other female gymnast. While competing, she wore custom leotards decorated with silver rhinestones in the shape of a goat head, a reference to the athlete being dubbed by many as “the G.O.A.T.,” an acronym for “greatest of all time.” 

What seems at first to be an act of arrogance is actually a statement for “haters.”

Why Simone Biles wears a goat 

“I don’t think of myself as the G.O.A.T. and that’s not why I wear the goat on my leo. It was kind of a joke in the beginning. I wore one in 2019 and it was just funny because the haters were so upset,” she told People in an interview.  

She said the haters “were joking like, ‘I swear, if she put a goat on her leo, blah, blah, blah.’ That would make them so angry. And then I was like, ‘Oh, that’s actually a good idea.’ And so that’s exactly what we did and why we did it.” 

Biles hopes to inspire aspiring young athletes to embrace their talents with no regrets. 

“I just hope that kids growing up watching this don’t or aren’t ashamed of being good at whatever they do. And that’s my problem: when people kind of harp on other people that are good at something,” she continued. “It’s like, everybody can say you’re good, but once you acknowledge it, it’s not cool anymore. And I want kids to learn that, yes, it’s okay to acknowledge that you’re good or even great at something.” 

The five-time Olympic medalist is documenting her journey toward the Tokyo Olympics in her new Facebook Watch docuseries Simone vs. Herself, which debuted June 15.  

“I feel like most of the expectations that are on me are from myself,” she said. “I’ve tried not to let anybody else’s expectations impact how I go into a meet or my mindset. I still do the sport because I find joy and it’s what I love.”

What does it mean to be great?

I am glad to know that Simone Biles was not wearing the bejeweled goat as a statement of greatness. I can remember in the 1960s when the most famous boxer of all time caused controversy with his statement, “I am the greatest.” 

Muhammad Ali spoke the words with arrogance before his fight with Sonny Liston. He also said, “Humble people, I found, don’t get far.” And he took his “greatest” statement further: “I’m not the greatest. I’m the double greatest. . . . I’m the boldest, the prettiest, the most superior, most scientific, most skillfullest fighter in the ring today.” 

When the disciples asked Jesus about greatness, he pulled a child to him and said, “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4). 

A child doesn’t rely on his own abilities but is dependent on others for direction, help, and resources.  

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned about building on the temporary and said that when we do, “there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). 

When we become self-reliant and self-confident in our abilities, we are less dependent upon God. We do not see the need for his direction and resources. We redefine and repurpose greatness for our benefit and to please society.  

But that type of greatness is fleeting. Looks fade. Disease spreads. Bones break. When our foundation for greatness is built on the temporary, we cannot count on it.  

The prophet tells us about a greatness that is never fleeting: “There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might” (Jeremiah 10:6).  

And, in 1 Chronicles, we see God’s glory in greatness: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all” (29:11). 

We can all watch Simone Biles perform this weekend with a dazzling goat on her leotard. But one day, we will see another dazzling display. 

The true Greatest of All Time will have a name emblazed on his robe and his thigh: “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16).  

And everyone will acknowledge his greatness: “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).  

That is greatness that “has no end” (Luke 1:33). 

A Prayer for When You Feel Like a Bad Parent

By Keneesha Saunders-Liddie

Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.  – Deuteronomy 4:9

There is no manual for the children God gives us to raise. There is no one-size-fits-all rulebook. All we can do is our best. My daughter was amazingly low maintenance until she reached 20 months. But now, she is so inquisitive that I have to watch her every move. What has really surprised me, however, is the temper tantrums. They seemed to come out of nowhere. She isn’t two, and yet and she’s saying “no” and throwing things. My daughter can throw many tantrums in a day. Sometimes, I am so surprised by the anger that bubbles up inside of me. At times I get extremely frustrated and I can’t help but compare my reaction to God, our loving father. Unlike me, he is so patient with us and he truly forgives us whenever we mess up.

When we don’t know what to do as parents, we can turn to the Word of God and see what his relationship with us is like. God tells us what we should do with the little ones he has entrusted in our care. As we live out our Christian lives in front of our children, let us be mindful that they are watching us. His Word reminds us to be careful and watch ourselves so that we can be a godly example before our children and our grandchildren. Give yourself grace; you are not God. As you grow in your walk as a parent, realize that God has chosen you, specifically you, for the amazing children he has given to you. He will and is already equipping you for whatever parenting battles you face. As 1 Thessalonians 5:24 tells us, “He who has called you is faithful, he will surely do it.”

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the way you love and constantly provide for me. You have blessed me bountifully with the children I truly love. I can never ever love them more than you do, and so I surrender my desire for control into your loving hands. I ask that you would do the work that only you can do in their lives. I thank you for your provision for the family you have blessed me with. I want to relax and be the parent you want me to be. Lord, although I feel like I’m not doing a good job, help me to do my very best. What may work for my child might not work for someone else, so help me to be confident and at peace that you will equip me for the children I have. I want to teach my children about your love and goodness and all about you so they may grow up to love and serve you.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

When We Say Yes to God

Luke 5:1-7

Teaching people to swim begins with a simple lesson—they must put their face in the water. That first little step helps a person get comfortable in the water and is critical for all swimming skills. In the same way, following God begins with a small act of obedience. It may seem insignificant or unrelated to the task at hand, but that’s where God wants us to start.

When Jesus asked to borrow a fishing boat, it must have seemed like just an ordinary request. Peter had no idea it would open the door to ministry and a remarkable adventure with the Lord. Saying yes to God in the small things is essential to discovering His purpose for us, and what’s more, our obedience will also often cause others to benefit. Peter’s compliance with Jesus’ next small request—to let down his nets one more time—resulted in two boatloads of fish, which was more than enough for all those with him.

Obedience to God may appear unreasonable at times—like a carpenter asking a professional fisherman to try once more, even though he had been fishing without success all night. But obeying the Lord can lead to divinely ordained opportunities and blessings for us and others. How do you respond to God’s requests? Does the word “yes” come quickly?

A Prayer for Using Our Gifts to Glorify God

By: Chelsey DeMatteis , as written and posted on Your Daily Prayer daily devotional

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

I’ll never forget the year I served at VBS as a young adult. I was given a group of 6 incredibly busy boys. Our theme for the week was: God Gives Good Gifts, and I'm here to tell you today, yes He does! These words still linger in my heart to this day, and I pray those boys who are now young men remember it too.

Paul shares with us in 1 Corinthians 12 that out of God's deep love, grace, and mercy for us He gave us good gifts. I'm not talking about the gits of His blessing that we get to experience on this side of heaven, I'm talking about the gift of Spiritual gifts. These are the gifts that are different for all of us in Christ but from the same Spirit, all different services but from the same Lord, and all shown differently but it’s always the same God who empowers them. God gives good gifts, doesn't He? This is incredibly good news! God handpick specific giftings for you and me.

This brings me such deep joy and peace. Why? Because I can see the very things in my heart that I know were knit by God's wondrous hands. Over the last almost decade of having Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I've gotten to watch the giftings He's given me flourish and from season to season. I vividly remember closing the chapter of my small business, as I walked into the season of motherhood. My husband and I both felt called for me to stay at home and I got to see firsthand through that experience that our giftings don't stop when we transition into new seasons, they just continue in the new place God has us.

I want to wrap up with Paul finishing this portion of scripture about Spiritual giftings, "For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills." 

This is a beautiful reminder about the heart of God. He knit you and me perfectly and intricately. He made each of us with specific good gifts that will always draw us back to the heart of who He is and bring His glory. I pray that you’ll find yourself thinking today about the specific gifts God’s given you and how you can use those right where He has you.

Pray with me...

Lord, thank you for the giftings you've given me, I pray that as I continue growing in my faith that I will always seek your heart and desire to serve you with the incredible giftings you knit within me. Lord, help me see the ways I can use my gifts in the season you have me in and I pray for a heart that is attentive to your leading.

In Jesus's name,

Amen.

Faith, Hope and Science

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NIV)

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4 NIV)

I’ve had some challenging conversations recently with close friends and family concerning faith and the nature of the Christian experience. I love conversations like these because I get to spend time with people I care about and talk about the reality of God’s work in the world around us. Since the age of enlightenment, the scientific method of questioning has seemingly put religion and science at odds with one another. But most theologians contend simply that religion and science seek to do different things entirely. Science seeks to explain our natural world using observable information. Religion by its very nature seeks to explain the part of the world that is unobservable. In fact, the definition of faith is “strong belief in God...based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.” 

Science will unfortunately never have the ability to “prove” religion. But when you are going through the deepest, darkest trials in your life; when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death; or when you look around the world and see the fallen broken state of humanity, does faith in science bring you comfort? Does the periodic table, the Big Bang theory or the Evolutionary theory bring you hope that everything is going to be ok? 

When I read, “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,” I am reminded that it is God who created and narrates the world. It is God who sent his son Jesus to become human flesh so he could really be there with us in our suffering. It is God who reached down from heaven to pull us out of the miry clay and set our feet on the solid rock of Christ (Psalm 40:2). It is God who stood before all of this, will stand after all of this passes away. It is God who invites us into a hopeful future where the old order of things will pass away and there will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain. For Christians, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Science can help us understand our physical world, but will never bring about the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Ray is the Pastor of Worship and Administration at FBC Weslaco. He has struggled with his own faith in relation to science but has found comfort in the word of God, the fellowship of the believers, study in seminary and the peace given by faith in Jesus that is beyond comprehension.

Our Father’s Care

By:  Elisa Morgan, as written and posted on Our Daily Bread daily devotional

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care Matthew 10:29

Today's Scripture & Insight: Matthew 10:16–20, 26–31

Thwack! I looked up and craned my ear toward the sound. Spotting a smudge on the windowpane, I peered out onto the deck and discovered the still-beating body of a bird. My heart hurt. I longed to help the fragile feathered being.

In Matthew 10, Jesus described His Father’s care for sparrows in order to comfort the disciples as He warned of upcoming dangers. He offered instructions to the twelve as He “gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” (v. 1). While the power to do such deeds might have seemed grand to the disciples, many would oppose them, including governing authorities, their own families, and the ensnaring grip of the evil one (vv. 16–28).

Then in 10:29–31, Jesus told them not to fear whatever they faced because they would never be out of their Father’s care. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?” He asked. “Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. . . . So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

I checked on the bird throughout the day, each time finding it alive but unmoved. Then, late into the evening, it was gone. I prayed it had survived. Surely, if I cared this much about the bird, God cared even more. Imagine how much He cares for you and me!

Reflect & Pray

How have you seen God care for you in the past? How can you gain courage for all you face by understanding that you’re never outside your Father’s care?

Dear Father, thank You for always watching over and caring for me.

A bear on a pole and a dog herding on a farm: Finding and fulfilling our mission

By Dr. Jim Denison, as written and posted on The Denison Forum Daily Article

A bear in Arizona became stuck on a utility pole this week. Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, a utility company in the southern Arizona city of Willcox, was notified Monday morning that a bear was tangled in power pole wires. A lineman disabled the power so the bear would not be electrocuted. He then went up in a bucket lift and used an eight-foot fiberglass stick to nudge the bear down. After grabbing and biting the stick, the bear eventually climbed down and ran off into the desert.

In other news from the animal kingdom, a dog ejected from a vehicle in a car accident was found two days later herding on a farm. Tilly and her family were driving along Idaho State Highway 41 on Sunday when they crashed into another car. The dog was launched through the rear window. Unharmed but stunned, it ran away. The family and six strangers began searching for Tilly without success. Her family then wrote a Facebook post including a picture of the two-year-old border collie and red heeler mix. More than three thousand people shared the post. A family recognized the dog in the photo as the same dog they saw on their family farm. “I think that dog was trying to herd,” one of them said. Tilly is now safely home.

The “single most important question” of life

Erika Bachiochi is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a Senior Fellow at the Abigail Adams Institute. She recently delivered a commencement speech at Montrose School in Medfield, MA, in which she suggested to graduates: to find your life’s mission, follow your questions. She described the questions that have animated her life: How can I help? How am I to live? How are we to live? And the “single most important question”: “What is my mission in life? What is the unique task that is mine alone?”

She quoted the great theologian John Henry Newman: “God has created me to do him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission . . . he has not created me for naught.” Bachiochi suggested that we find our mission by following our questions. Citing Frederick Buechner’s maxim that God calls us “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet,” she noted: “The world is deeply hungry right now, hungry for men and women of depth, insight, virtue, and faith to bring their deep gladness to bear on the world’s restlessness, divisiveness, and enmity.” She then applied our overarching questions to daily life: “We find our life’s mission not by seeking after some ‘castle in the air,’ but by fulfilling the very concrete duty of each moment, one moment at a time. And as the moments are woven together, and the questions are asked and answered, and the duties are fulfilled, and the love is given, we thereby become the persons prepared for our unique mission. Indeed, by being responsible for others in the here and now, we have begun to live out that mission already.”

Six questions to ask ourselves

Erika Bachiochi offered graduates advice that is deeply biblical.

Just as bears climb and border collies herd, people are made by God for a purpose that is uniquely ours. We each have spiritual gifts that equip and empower us for our kingdom calling. (To find yours, I invite you to take my online spiritual gift test here.) We each have a mission that enables us to love our Lord and love our neighbor uniquely and fully. In fact, God’s providence extends not only to where we are but to when we are. It is by his design that you and I were not alive two hundred years ago or two hundred years from now (if the Lord tarries). He has placed us where and when we are so we can most fully glorify him and lead others to do the same. To find or refine your calling, ask yourself questions. I suggest these:

• What causes me to experience Jesus most intimately?

• What do I do that seems to help others most significantly?

• What brings me the greatest joy?

• If I could do anything and money was no object, what would I do?

• What can I do that only I can do?

• What do the people I trust believe my life’s mission to be?

God did not make you because our planet of 7.6 billion people needed another person. He made you because he wants you to know him and make him known.

What steps will you take into your mission today?