Sharing Your Faith With Those You Love

After His resurrection and before His ascension, Jesus commissioned the disciples for an important job.

“‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:19–20). Coupled with this commission is the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day, according to the Scriptures. (See 1 Corinthians 15:1–6.) Also, that eternal life is a gift and heaven is a sure destiny. Can it get any better than that? So, why do some people, especially those closest to us sometimes resist believing?

Jesus experienced rejection. “For even His brothers did not believe in Him” (John 7:5). People of His own town of Nazareth were astonished by His teachings. But some were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him. Jesus responded by saying that a prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family. (See Matthew 13: 53–58.) Even in His adopted hometown of Capernaum, many heard and rejected His teachings. How is that possible when the speaker is the Savior Himself? What Jesus and many of us experience illustrates the old adage that “familiarity breeds contempt.”  So we shouldn’t be too surprised that our witness is not gladly accepted by those close to us. Scripture would remind us that individuals can’t get saved unless God gives them to Jesus. (See John 6: 59–65.) You can preach and plead all you want, but it’s the Lord who draws people to Himself for salvation (John 6:44).

Be confident that the Lord will answer in His time and His way.

So get rid of the idea that you alone are responsible for the salvation of those close to you. Here’s a shocker: Jesus said He came to bring all kinds of division in family relationships (Matthew 10:34–39). Imagine that, the gospel message causes dissension, even in close family units. It can be severe, like an Islamist who accepts Jesus is usually is targeted for death. In some Jewish homes, funeral services are held for family members who accept Jesus as Messiah. In most cases it’s rejection and ridicule. It’s all to be expected. Here is comfort: We are not alone. All who knew the Lord and sought to witness and live godly have been persecuted. “My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience” (James 5:10). So we are not to be discouraged. We are just God’s spokesmen in word and in lifestyle to His love and mercy. “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8,9), and “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).

Experience is a great teacher. Here are some general considerations in witnessing. Be normal. If you come on preachy, critical or negative that will be a turn off. What usually happens is that those who are close to you will feel threatened and get defensive, thinking that you think you know more than they. Remember your position in the family unit. Stay involved. If you avoid contact, you and your faith would appear cultic. Seek to live a consistent Christian life. That will speak volumes and will open doors. Believe and practice fervent prayer. Sometimes you just have to back off. Be confident that the Lord will answer in His time and His way. Be patient. Unique opportunities will open, just be ready. The Bible states, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient” (2 Timothy 2:24). Remember that it’s God’s desire that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). So be positive and trust in the Lord. What the Lord requires is obedience, leaving the results in His hands. Persevere, one step at a time. Sharing your faith with friends and family can be scary but remember, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

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When No One Cares

There’s a small South Florida city nestled on the shores of a large, beautiful lake in the midst of citrus groves and cattle ranches.

George Sebring, who dreamed of a place where people could come to relax and be refreshed, founded it. He often invited famous preachers and servants of the Lord to enjoy the warm sunshine, white beaches, and crystal waters in order to rest and reignite their passion for Christ.

One such guest was a well-known traveling evangelist and songwriter, Charles Weigle. Even though his revivals were well attended and God was at work, his wife and in-laws scoffed at his itinerant ministry. In an attempt to escape the enticements pulling his family apart, he moved from California to Florida.

The turmoil didn’t stop and Charles’s wife finally told him, “I don’t want to live the life you are living. I want to go the other way—to the bright lights.” She took their daughter and left. Months later, he found her in Los Angeles where she boasted of her worldly liberties. His reputation was tarnished and his ministry passion was lost in grief. Disheartened and overwhelmed, he contemplated ending it all. Like David in Psalm 142:4, he felt as if no one cared for his soul.

The darkness lingered for years. Yet, one day, sitting in his home in Sebring, the Lord opened Charles’s broken heart and the words began to flow. As he sat at the piano overlooking the beauty of Lake Jackson, a new hymn poured from his weary soul. God’s grace and loving kindness were embracing his lonely heart.

No one ever cared for me like Jesus,
There’s no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me—
O how much He cared for me!

Almost 90 years later, hardly a day goes by that the words of that hymn don’t come to my mind as I walk the shores of that lake or pass the house where Charles Weigle lived. At times I’ve poured out my own fears and troubles to the Lord. Other times I think of those who are facing seasons of discouragement, heartache, and doubt. I often ache for those struggling with life-threatening illnesses. Sometimes, I grieve for fellow servants of God who left their ministries, broken and alone, and I pray for those who are on the front lines of ministry, serving in a broken world and a church under attack. I lay them all at the feet of the God who hears and cares.

Charles Weigle’s wife never returned. Christ’s love doesn’t promise to take away all our troubles in this life, but it does overcome the darkness of doubt and fear with strength and hope by opening our eyes to an everlasting purpose and an eternal Paradise built by His love.

“Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6–7).

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Great Is Thy Faithfulness

I have vivid memories of singing in church as a child.

When the piano and organ began the introduction to a song I would try to guess the song before the music minister told us what page in the hymnal to turn. Laying my hymnal on the back of the pew bench to prop it up, I would follow the notes on the page if the song wasn’t a familiar one and if it was, I would try to sound out the harmony with my limited knowledge of music. (Sorry mom and dad for not diligently practicing my piano as a child, you’re right I do regret it.)

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

As a child singing those words, I didn’t fully understand the depth and meaning of the hymn’s lyrics. But isn’t that how it is? The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.” As a child we can’t truly understand our depravity as humans. And if we can’t understand our depravity then we certainly can’t fully grasp the work that Jesus did for us on the cross. And that’s okay because as a middle-aged Christian I am still learning both of those valuable truths.

But as a child I knew the basics. I knew that God was faithful. I saw it in my family. My father is a pastor and the first few years of my life were full of the fervent prayers of my parents asking God to provide food as they gave their tithe and offering to the Lord. They knew we wouldn’t have enough to eat but they also trusted that God would provide. And He did. It wasn’t always how we envisioned it. There wasn’t a large raise or bonus from the congregation, but there was an occasional wedding or funeral that needed a minister present that ended with a “thank you” check. There was the random bag of groceries left on the porch or cash stuffed into an envelope.

Great is Thy faithfulness. We saw it played out. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.

And now as a mom to a one-year-old, I too am trying to teach my son about the One who provides. I see him clasp his hands together before we eat, ready to thank God for the food in front of us. The simple stopping to acknowledge that it is not because of his mommy and daddy that we are able to eat but God who provides our needs. I am not in the same position financially as my parents when it comes to where my next meal might come from but I am in the same position spiritually and it’s my responsibility to teach and lead my little one to see his need for a Savior in the simple and the complex.

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As we all reflect on our thankfulness this season, do not forget the position our hearts are in without the saving work that was done for us on the cross by our Messiah, Jesus. He provides for our every need. From the food on our plate to the work of a new life in Him.

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

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Aging Godly and Gracefully

Many people don’t like to think about aging. In fact, one television commercial said it like this: “I will fight [aging] every step of the way!” But the reality is that each day we live, we age.

As David said in Psalm 37:25, “I have been young and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread” (emphasis added).

The aging process begins the moment of conception. As sand in an hourglass drops one grain at a time, so our lives move one second at a time.

The Bible provides several examples of people from whom we can gain practical life lessons on aging gracefully. From godly figures in Genesis to the apostle Paul, God gives us examples of those who lived life to the fullest at all stages of life.

One of the most unique people in Genesis was Enoch, who walked with God before God suddenly took him to be with Him. The Bible simply says, “He [Enoch] was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24).

It was after the birth of Enoch’s son Methuselah that he began to walk with God, which shows that as Enoch aged, he grew in godliness. The greatest legacy we can leave our family isn’t financial or material, but spiritual. It is the legacy of faith.

Too many look at retirement as an end and never plan to do anything afterward. Moses, for 120 years, kept pursuing goals and seeking the Lord. So should we if we are to age godly and gracefully.

King Solomon said, “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him” (Prov. 20:7). Enoch’s life should remind us to live with integrity, consistency, and dependability.

Abraham serves as another example of aging in a godly way. Called “the friend of God,” he left an amazing legacy and died as “an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people” (Gen. 25:8).

Abraham, which means “father of many,” lived up to his name’s meaning by pursuing God’s will for his life. He indeed became the father of a multitude.

Abraham’s life teaches us the key to having a personal relationship with God: faith. We should likewise pursue a genuine, faith-filled relationship with God. That relationship must begin at salvation, when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. Then we can begin to live godly lives.

Moses’ life provides another life lesson for aging. His story teaches us we must have life goals. His goal was to lead the children of Israel.

Moses’ life of 120 years divides into three 40-year parts: his birth to his departure from Egypt (Ex. 2:15); his time in Midian, where he gets married, has two sons, and encounters God at a burning bush; and his journey leading the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt to the Promised Land.

Though Moses aged and faced many challenges throughout his life, he continued to serve the Lord. Too many look at retirement as an end and never plan to do anything afterward. Moses, for 120 years, kept pursuing goals and seeking the Lord. So should we if we are to age godly and gracefully.

As Caleb said, “Give me this mountain!” (Josh. 14:12), we too must continue climbing, striving, and pursuing our God-given dreams until the Lord takes us home. Someone once said, “I am retreating, not retiring.” May we never tire from serving Christ.

I knew a man who still played handball in his 70s. He was energetic, fit, and enthusiastic. I loved talking with him and hearing how he would play and defeat men much younger than him. Why could he do this? Because he had passion and purpose.

Paul and John in the New Testament also possessed passion and purpose. The possession of those two qualities will determine the quality of our lives as we age.

Paul called himself, “Paul the aged.” John, exiled on Patmos, received the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation. Both lived with heart, zeal, and vigor.

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Did they have their challenges? Of course. Paul wrote about some of his challenges in 2 Corinthians 11:23–29 and 2 Timothy 4:9–18. John suffered a sentence of death, and church tradition says he was burned in oil then exiled to Patmos after he survived.

We cannot change the physical and mental obstacles that enter our lives as we age. But we can change our attitudes. Like John and Paul, we must face our days with passion and purpose.

May we live each phase of our lives with the desire to grow in grace, faith, love, passion, and purpose. Then when we reach the end of our lives, we will be able to say like Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21).

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Does God Know You?

The Torah (Jewish Scriptures) teaches, “And the Lᴏʀᴅ God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being [i.e. soul]” (Genesis 2:7). God is the One who created you; and, yes, He knows everything about you.

Yes, I know that is a Wow! statement, but it is truth!

You say, “I don’t feel God. In fact, I don’t even sense His presence and never did. This talk about the possibility of a God seems so ethereal, metaphysical, out there somewhere, and very unreal to me.”

Yes, I know, because I use to think the same way!

You are probably thinking, “Well if there is a God out there why hasn’t He made Himself known to me, especially during difficult times when I really needed some comfort, help, and just a listening ear?”

Yes, I know, because I use to think just like you!

In fact, let me tell you something that will blow your mind and seem very unreal to you. Listen to this! God knew you long before you were ever formed in your mother’s womb.

Friend, you cannot pull the wool over God’s eyes in your everyday dealings in this world. God knows what you are thinking, planning, where you are going, and the way you will take to get what you want whether through lying or honesty.

David, the king of Israel, wrote in the Jewish Tanakh more than 3,000 years ago, “You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb . . . when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought . . .Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed” (Psalm 139:13, 15–16).

God knitted every cell of your body together in your mother’s womb. He sovereignly directed the natural process during gestation while you were being formed in your mother’s womb. He controlled the DNA and the gene selection, gave you a wonderful mind, personality, and brought you into this world to experience life and get to know Him.

Another Wow! for you to contemplate.

You are probably thinking, “Is this some fairytale you’re weaving together to hoodwink me? Where are you going with this God-talk? What are you trying to sell me? Do you think I am some fool born yesterday?”

No ulterior motive from my end, just trying to get you to see that the Jewish God really does know you.

Here is what David went on to say happens after your birth, “You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lᴏʀᴅ, you know it altogether” (Psalm 139:2–4). Put another way, God knows your every movement, every motive, and every moment.

Friend, you cannot pull the wool over God’s eyes in your everyday dealings in this world. God knows what you are thinking, planning, where you are going, and the way you will take to get what you want whether through lying or honesty. God knows you are trying to work your own mojo to get through life. God is acquainted with all your ways from birth until death. Oh yes, God knows the day you die as well! In fact, He calls it an appointment (Hebrews 9:27).

Talk about God’s memory—God never forgets a single nanosecond in your life. He has instant recall of every word you might think, or ever speak.

Well, what do you think about that, my friend? That is the biggest Wow! imaginable!

Yes, I know what you are probably thinking, “This is all scary stuff if it is true, but it cannot really be true.” Well, why can’t it?

Yes, it is true, and has stood the test of time, since King David wrote it 3,000 years ago.

Listen up! Don’t you think that a God this involved in your creation and day-to-day life would want you to find the meaning and fulfillment He has planned for your life? If you are really, I mean really, honest with yourself, you would not stonewall the question or try to wiggle out of the answer, but say yes to all King David wrote about God.

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Let me put it another way: It would only stand to reason that such a God would have a plan for your life that could only be realized through personal knowledge of Him. God said these wonderful words to our Jewish forefathers at a very difficult time in their history. Listen closely:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lᴏʀᴅ, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:11).

  • God has thoughts of peace toward you and not evil.
  • God wants to give you a future and hope with Him leading.
  • If you take God seriously He will listen when you talk to Him.
  • If you seriously seek God you will find Him.
  • The key is to SEARCH FOR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.

Does it get any better than this, dear friend? Yes, God knew you before you were ever conceived. Yes, God has a wonderful plan for your life, no matter how big a mess you have made of it. Yes, God stands waiting for you to make the first move towards Him. Yes, God has a listening ear ready to help you. Yes, God will unfold His wonderful plan for you, if you search for Him with all your heart. All you need do is have a heart-to-heart talk with God. Such knowledge could only be acquired through conformity with His will for your life.c

Well, it is very evident that out of 7.2 billion people on Earth God knows you personally. The question remains, do you know God personally?

You can know Him! Send us an email by clicking “Contact Us” on the top of this page, with any question that is on your heart, we are here to help.  Better yet, email us a phone number and we will call you. Let’s talk about it!

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From Where Does Your Mom-Strength Come?

The other day I saw a video of a woman who looked to be nine months pregnant dead-lifting heavy weights and running up and down hills without tumbling over (like I would).

Clearly she stayed fiercely dedicated to exercising throughout her entire pregnancy. I had to laugh, because currently at seven months pregnant with my fourth child, I can assure you that woman was not me. Simply climbing the steps to the top floor of my house has me gasping for air like someone who’s changed altitudes while climbing Mt. Everest.

The video does make you wonder is that hurdle-leaping mom stronger than other moms? Perhaps she is physically, but certainly her muscular ability is not the criteria for what makes moms strong. The strength of the strongest moms I know goes way beyond and way deeper than how active one is in the gym. (Phew!)

In fact, what mom-strength looks like is entirely different from family to family. Yet, if I’ve seen anything over the years, it’s that the strongest moms, no matter what their circumstances, share the same three godly characteristics: Faithfulness, Perseverance, and Hope.

Faithfulness to mother when you don’t feel like it. How many moms out there have days when they want to secretly Uber to the airport and hop on the next plane to Mexico? How many moms want to phone it in after hearing the painstaking crunch of dry Cheerios underfoot even though you asked your child to clean them up a hundred times? How many moms have a full-time job or struggling bank accounts that make it seem impossible to keep all the balls up in the air? Faithfulness is recognizing that raising children at times can be a thankless grind, yet still believing it’s an honor to mother your children by not giving up.

Perseverance when it’s really hard.  I can immediately think of 10 moms who are persevering through very difficult circumstances with their children. Like one mom whose son is undergoing chemo for 60 weeks. Or one whose daughter suffered a metabolic crisis and was told she would be a vegetable, yet the now thriving 4-year-old continues to prove the world wrong by overcoming enormous obstacles. Or one whose children’s father died and she’s trying to help them move forward through heartache. Or one who is struggling through infertility after having no trouble getting pregnant with her first. Or one whose daughter’s special needs have kept her advocating for her at every single step, assuring she not be left behind. Or one whose number of miscarriages far outweigh the number of children in her home. Or another strong mama who lost her baby boy after only seeing him face to face for 30 minutes, yet she continues to praise the Lord for his life.

This Mother’s Day, mamas, my prayer is that we would all start to see one another the way God sees us––as strong moms..

Not one of these strong mamas ran from her circumstances. In fact, each one pushed forward, relying on the Lord in the midst of her heartache and challenge. The pain of her reality is ever-present, yet she perseveres.

Hope in something greater than herself.  Another godly characteristic of a strong mom is her ability to have hope. The kind of hope found in Romans 8:18 that says, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” She holds onto a necessary hope in Christ, knowing she is not walking the walk alone and one day there will be peace.

When I think of strong moms, I’m reminded of Naomi in the book of Ruth. Her circumstances were grim. She lost her husband, the father of her children. Then she lost her two sons. She urged her daughters-in-law to go back to their families because her own bitterness was too great. She walked honestly through a time of great loss and sorrow. Yet, in time, God began to redeem her life through her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi persevered through her pain.

I’m reminded of Sarah when she laughed at being pregnant at 90 YEARS OLD. She remained faithful even when it seemed impossible.

I’m reminded of Mary, who had to accept that her Son, Jesus, was not really her own. That God’s plan was far greater than anything she could ever take responsibility for. She had to let go of her own plan and have hope in One far greater than herself.

This Mother’s Day, mamas, my prayer is that we would all start to see one another the way God sees us––as strong moms. Whether you’re benching 100 pounds or sweeping up Cheerios or anxiously awaiting your adoptive baby to arrive or praying the tumor goes away or wiping away tears from a lost child, this Mother’s Day, may Christ’s strength be the endless well from which you draw.  

You have not accidentally been given the wrong circumstances. You have been entrusted by a loving God with the child or children you have been given––and your role is to be their mom. May you find deep strength in believing that.

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