Caught or Taught?

There are many times that we have students in our home who come to study through international exchange programs. This year is no different. We have a sweet young lady from France who recently arrived. She is soft spoken, gentle, curious about all these new things she is being introduced to. Church, food, children, home learning….It is all so new and exciting for her! (and us too truth be told)

 

 

Today, to celebrate two of our children’s birthdays we headed to Green Bay; it was a day of riding amusement park rides, eating pizza and cotton candy and visiting with grandparents and great grandparents. Since we see them so seldom it is always a treat for the children to get to spend a day with them. Card games and cribbage and so much to talk about!

 

One of those things is Jesus. The great grandparents are not familiar with the joy of the Lord; they know nothing of this great life changing faith.  Nor do our exchange students most of the time. Often there are some awkward moments (mostly with my mother in law) who unfortunately (?) sees every encounter with others as an opportunity to tell them what they must do to be saved. While some may admire the way she “preaches to all” I fear it catches very few.

 

No doubt we are commanded to go and teach and preach boldly the message of the Gospel. Yet I ponder as I listened to her today telling our student and “unsaved” family about how they just dress and what they must do . .. Are we teaching or are we catching, for Jesus?

 

There is a difference. We are called to be fishers of men, We are called to teach. Certainly there are many out there who have a need. The question is, do they see this need? We can preach to every person we meet, every day, every place but if they do not see for themselves, this need for Christ…

 

Humility. It is humility that draws other to see a difference and to desire what we have. Certainly I do believe that we are to dress in a way that is pleasing to the Lord; I believe that there is a way to be saved and I have no doubt that we must be obedient to the commands of our Lord.

 

 

But what does it profit, to tell someone who does not even know Him, how they must be saved? We cannot preach modesty, spiritual gifts, salvation or any other, to those who do not yet desire the milk of the Word.

 

 

I jokingly said to someone that the difference between catching someone and teaching someone is that, when you catch them, they aren’t completely willing. Perhaps they sit and listen for a time; maybe they agree with some of what you say, but they are not seeking. They may be pacifying – seeking to keep peace – they do not feel invited though so much as they perhaps feel trapped.

 

 

Teaching on the other hand, is something that happens when someone is pursuing a curiosity. Those we meet, as we learn of them and they learn of us, we are teaching. They are teaching. We learn and share, gently, together. We show the humility of Jesus. It is our work to encourage and inspire them; just as he served so ought we to serve. In humility.

 

Perhaps there are times we believe we are being humble; we ought to be cautious though. Why are we speaking? Is it out of pride because we feel we know more? Do we speak in a way that makes our faith sound tiresome? I consider the times I have engaged in conversation about the things I do, the ways I do them … Was I glorifying Him or me?

 

 

 

Can we stop and consider if we are being gentle and patient. Let us not be as the Pharisees – telling others all that we do and seeking glory from man – let us rather show grace. To them and to one another. We all have so much to learn. As I read and study more and more about the meekness and humility of Christ, I am sure, that there is so much more I must learn. I have no doubt we must pray more and more for humility and for meekness, of Christ, within ourselves.

 

 

And so this is my prayer. I do not want to catch them. I want to walk with them. I do not want to be in a hurry. I do not want to be bothered by all that they “need” to know and to do. I want to know them, as He knows them. Learning of them as they learn of Him. Walking by faith in patience and in love. One step at a time. ❤

 

 

Galaxy Buck: Mission to Sector 9 ~ FlyBy Promotions Review

We love Veggies Tales! And we love What’s in the Bible? too!!  So I was so excited (my kids were too) to see this one!  As my oldest son said, “Its like Star Trek preaching to the galaxy which is what they should be doing! This is them doing what God wants.”  Great little mind 🙂

 

 

Galaxy Buck: Mission to Sector 9 is a must-see for all ages.  A great new video from VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer! My oldest son loved all of the Star Wars and Star Trek implications he found in this one. And what a wonderful way to share what really matters; the value of sharing the love and purpose God has given us, with others. Galaxy Buck is a fabulous way to share deep truths in a way that is simple for all ages to understand.

 

This is such a fun movie! My kids all watched this one, a few times, and every time the laughs just kept coming!  Buck and his fellow crew members travel through deep space, to Sector 9, and along the way they learn some amazing and powerful lessons. In a way that is just super exciting!!

 

https://player.vimeo.com/video/139391452?wmode=opaque

 

 

 

“In only 40 minutes your children get to travel the galaxy, into deep space. Share Buck Denver’s simple dream – to save the galaxy. As he works for the Galactic Mission Board, he dreams of carrying God’s love to every corner of the Milky Way! Except he doesn’t have a starship. Or a crew. Or even a captain’s license. He just needs a chance. But when that chance comes and Buck finds himself leading a real mission into deep space, things don’t go at ALL like he imagined! If he’s doing what God wants him to do, why is everything going wrong?

 

 

From VeggieTales® and What’s in the Bible? creator Phil Vischer, Galaxy Buck: Mission to Sector 9 is a wild, galactic adventure that teaches kids a powerful lesson about trusting God with everything – even our dreams!”

 

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Sharing the love of God and the truth of His love for us makes everything that we do, no matter how small, bigger than we can ever imagine!  When we trust in God and follow Him everything that we do is BIG! ❤

Who Don’t you Love?

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26-27).

So great should be our love for Jesus, that every other relationship falls to a distant second in importance. We must be willing to sacrifice everything, lose everything, forfeit everything in this life for the furtherance of the gospel and His Kingdom. We must be willing to bear that cross and live by the two greatest commandments: love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-40). Its sacrificial love (John 15:13). Whatever we are unwilling to give up in obedience to and for Jesus Christ (even relationships) it is an idol. And idolatry is a sin against God.

If we refuse to share the gospel with a friend or family member because we fear we will lose our relationship with them, we are saying we love ourselves more than we love them. We are saying that our relationship is more important than their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Unsaved family and friends need to hear the truth; we cannot withhold what we are charged with by the Lord himself. Do we not want to see our unsaved family and friends get saved, before it is too late? We cannot be indifferent, and refuse to share the gospel, EVERY WORD OF IT, for in that we are not truly loving others. And many who believe they are sharing in a “friendship evangelism” only show that they care more about their relationships than they care for the eternal souls of those who do not have the only one that really matters.

If we truly love them we will do all we can to snatch them from the fire; let us go:

Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. (Acts 28:31)

 

Gimme a Break

For the last few weeks I have been stressing. Over everything. Many things out of my control. I have not been faithful. I have not done all that I could, nor as I should, as His follower

We are told:1Thes.5[17] Pray without ceasing.

As that scripture came to mind, I was truly led to so much more, confirming that our salvation, our life as children of God, does not cease just because we are tired. Or irritable. Or in need of a break. Consider these with me; ponder their words if you will.

Rom.1[9] For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

Do I always? Without ceasing? That menas there should be no “break” in doing so. It should be constant; someting consistent in our life.

2Tim.1[3] I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

Do I have a pure conscience? DO I remember? sigh
So often I have to admit I forget – I get focused on what I do not have, on what isn’t rather than lookig to Him and all that is. We need to be thankful – for ALL things – He knows and it all makes sense when the storm has passed. When the seasons change.

Gal.4[18] But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

Let me always be – on fire- zealously in love and sharing Him with others. That others may see, in the zeal I exhibit, how amazing He is. And how great the need is.

Eph.6[18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Praying always ~ throughout my day – little verses here and there. Sweet reminds. I have posted, continue to post to remind me of all I do have to be grateful for. A reminder that being His does not mean life is easy but it does mean that life is “worth it”.

Without ceasing. So many times in His word we are told to do one thing or another. The way we live; the words we speak ad the steps we take should mirror that of our Lord and Saviour. Always. Without ceasing.

1Pet.3[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

When you are asked, what shall you answer? Let us give Him our day; before our feet even hit the floor – while we are still in bed. Let us gve our minutes, seconds and hours to Him for His glory. That we have that answer. And that our answer be zealous – )

I Need a Pedicure ….

“And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15).

My feet don’t hurt today. Usually I can feel an ache in my feet; not today. Perhaps thats a good thing.

I don’t usually look at feet – typically thy are the last thing that matters to me. I own a couple pairs of shoes, mostly boots, they are worn and if you look close…the soles are almost gone. So close to nothing….Almost …. they are weary and worn ,… like me

What about those feet though? Those feet IN the boots? Are they as worn, as torn up? They are safe, mostly protected from cold and wet and muddiness…..Safe in those boots (makes me think of us out in this nasty, mudy world – yet still wearing Him, safe with Him)

I need a pedicure. To take the ache from my feet. I need a pedicure to get me up and off my feet. Don’t you know….feet are lovely. ovely when they are sharing the gospel. Lovely when they are serving those who are “the least of these…”

Where have my feet taken me lately? I haven’t been out and about much – mostly in my garden; tending seeds and plants and berry bushes, apple trees……Wait, my little ones have been with me. My feet have been with them – teaching them, showing them the glory of God’s creation – the beauty and the power in these things He created, for us! For us to enjoy and tend to 🙂

Where have my feet been? They have been preaching to an aunt who is ill – Alzheimers and cancer – its a sickness only He can cure. She needs a pedicure.

We all need a pedicure some days. To clean our feet up; to brush them off – or mayve to get them dirty. I think maybe getting them dirty speaks more than having clean, pretty feet. What do you think?

All I know is I want people to see the Gospel in me; when I am out and about – my feet, let them show Him. Let them guide other to Him.

I think maybe…..just maybe…I can skip that pedicure…and go for a mudbath! Getting my feet dirty…..for HIs glory! 🙂