In John chapter 1:14 it says that Jesus was "full of grace and truth." It's a journey to grow in grace - what does it mean and what does the Word say about actively pursuing this? That's what this blog will be about - our journey of growing in grace to be like Jesus.
As we begin the summer, we want to keep our eyes open to the opportunities God makes available to us to share His love and heart with others - and do the things that Jesus did - talk about and do the things of the Kingdom: share the Good News of Jesus, walk in the power of the Spirit, pray for the sick (& see healing), and be used to meet needs in the lives of people. We are agents on assignment.
The challenge is being issued to ask the Lord to "interrupt" your daily lives in order to be used by Him. As He opens your eyes to opportunities and you say "yes" I want to hear your stories about being used by God. Each week at our services, we'll share some of those stories and be encouraged by God at work in us and through us. Are you ready? Let's pray.
"Father, I want to be used by You. I don't want to miss any of the opportunities You will give me to demonstrate Your love and heart to others. I ask You to open my eyes to see where You are at work and strengthen my spirit to join You in Your work. Thank You for the opportunity to be connected to You and be used to help others connect with You. In the matchless name of Jesus and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, I go forward. Amen."
Today I was out gold panning in the mountains with our daughter and her family. My 8 year old grandson was busy pouring concentrate into the sluice box and out of nowhere looked up at me and asked where bad words come from. I thought for a moment and then told him when someone uses bad words it is the devil at work - that the devil likes it when people do wrong but that Jesus wants us to do things right and to not use bad words. He told me that when the earth ends those who do things right will go to heaven to be with Jesus and those who do things wrong will go down with the devil. He assured me that he knows he will be with Jesus. His innocent and matter of fact attitude was truly inspirational to me and I was touched that he asked me the question. As soon as I told my husband this story he reminded me that I needed to post it on the blog. I hadn't considered it as one of my "secret agent" experiences but it truly was. Thank you, Carol Best
ReplyDeleteWhat a great assignment! Thank You, Lord, for husbands who see us differently than we see ourselves. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteThis is a great idea! Looking forward to seeing what others do also!
ReplyDeleteRichard Yetter reported on an assignment he encountered on Sunday afternoon. Normally he finishes ministry at the jail by 5pm but this week the jailers asked if he could stay a little longer so that the final "pod" could attend services (opportunity). He agreed to stay (made himself available) and 5 men received Jesus as their Savior as a result. Thank you, Jesus, and way to go "agent" Richard!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to being available at the men's retreat (I mean advancement) this weekend and joining God in His work!
ReplyDeleteAn Anonymous write says:
ReplyDelete"I work with a treatment program and this week before the study began I said, 'I want to say something t-h-i-s b-i-g in this amount of time. It's important that we begin the day alone with God, just enjoying Him and receiving His love, realizing He delights in us. I like a time just between Him and me. It feeds my spirit and gets me through the day and through my life. I can make it through the mine fields if I start with Him." Then a woman responded with a confirmation of how she starts the day with Him. I decided to skip the study and take time out as one woman after another talked about her personal time with God. Then a woman asked what the sinner's prayer was, and I explained and also said there was no formal "sinner's prayer" in the Bible. By the time the meeting ended, a woman led everyone in repeating her own "sinner's" prayer. This is the third week in a row where I showed up thinking I had nothing to give and asked God to just TAKE OVER!
My husband was working on the church last weekend and heard a woman and man intensely arguing outside the man had left and the woman was crying – he went outside to talk to her and asked her if she was okay…she said that she was okay and that she would be fine. He then offered her a ride somewhere or asked if she needed to call someone or a drink. She said she could walk to where ever she was going but she did take the water he offered her. He was pressed to tell her that no woman needed to be treated badly or abused in any way he asked her again if he could take her somewhere and she said “I have nowhere else to go” he told her there are plenty of places that she could go and he would make sure she had a place if she wanted…..she collected herself and said “thank you” she seemed much better and said that she really is okay and then she left. He allowed God to interrupt his work and bring some peace to a stressful situation and show a basic human need for compassion as well as a drink of water.
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Last thursday my best friend had a bad migraine and could not pick up her son after his half day at HHS. When I picked him up he began to tell me all the things he had going on in his life. After I listened to what he had to say I said to him "you have lost your joy. After you were saved you had joy in you and told me about all the things in your life with enthusiastic joy. Now you've quit men's group and going to church. All I hear is that you've lost your joy. Your spirit is starving and you need your spiritual food." Praise God for the opportunity to be His Agent that day. I am still praying that this young come back and be fed.
ReplyDeleteThis came in from one of our EVFC sisters...
ReplyDelete"I like this idea that we are secret agents of the Holy Spirit on assignment. I had a special experience today. Not sure if it qualifies as an assignment but wanted to share it. I attend my husband's Lutheran church with him on Sundays. His pastor's sermon was from the passage in Mark 3 that talked about the people saying Jesus was crazy, being led by Satan. He also talked about disciples of Jesus being called crazy as well, then and now, challenging us to be "crazy for Jesus." I was amazed at what I was hearing! After the service I told his pastor how much I liked his message and that I was a woman who is "crazy for Jesus." He smiled and seemed very pleased by what I was saying. I have been praying for him, his family and that church for over a year now. I think it has been part of my earthly assignment! And I plan on continuing with this assignment."
Kari Shirley's testimony...
ReplyDelete"The joints in my hands had become swollen and very painful. Last Sunday after church, I asked one of the elders to pray for me (according to James 5). I received prayer and she also shared with me about her experience using the artificial sweetener "aspartame" - that it caused her joint pain. She encouraged me to ask the Lord about it. I did and then Chris looked it up on the internet and sure enough, I was experiencing the side effects that were mentioned. I stopped using aspartame and as of today, I have no pain! I received healing through prayer and obedience ministered through a "secret agent" at church! I've also shared this with my dad who has a lot of health issues and he has stopped using aspartame and is beginning to feel better. Thank You, Jesus!!!
Today at work a customer was telling me and an employee about his grandpa just barely hanging on to life. His grandpa has suffered from a variety of cancers. He currently has a baseball size tumor in his brain and they can't operate. The Lord said YOU NEED TO PRAY with this young man. I have never had the urge to pray at work for anyone like I did this morning. I asked my employee to finish another customers order so I could step outside and pray with this young man. I prayed for peace in his heart and that his grandpa's last memories of his grandchildren and great grandchildern would be ones of love and affection. I prayed for a safe journey for the young man and his sister as they travel to Great Falls to maybe see him for the last time. I asked God to bless what might be their last time together. Thank you Jesus for allowing me to be the vessel you need me to be!
ReplyDeleteYesterday I had an opportunity to talk of Jesus' forgiveness to my grandson. He had a altercation with his sister and became very angry. We talked about what he had learned in Faith Kidz a few weeks earlier, to always give other a second chance, even his sister. I told him that not only were we to give others a second chance, but the Lord tells us to forgive 7 x 70. His eyes lit up at the realization that that was a whole bunch of forgiving! I told him that if he wanted all of Jesus like he said on Sunday, then he would have to practice being like Jesus to others, especially to his sister. Hmmm, made a whole lot of sense to him and he was off playing again. It is so easy to apply what we learn from the Lord if we choose to do it.
ReplyDeleteSaturday night about 3:00am my 6 year old woke me up because he had a bad thought. I must admit I was less than compassionate & loving, so I told him that he knew what to do with bad thoughts & to take care of it. As I laid there trying to go back to sleep, I heard from across the hall "Satan, shut up & leave me alone! I am NOT afraid of the dark & Jesus always protects me! So Satan- shut up! Amen." I didn't hear another peep from him the rest of the night. Even though I can't say that I was a very good secret agent in that moment, I did get to see & hear that the things we've been teaching about spiritual warfare have sunk into his heart & his mind, thank you Jesus!!
ReplyDeleteThe other day, my husband, baby and I were cleaning our car outside of our garage when we noticed our neighbor lady was walking by our place from taking out the trash. We engaged her in conversation and as it continued, she had expressed that her life had taken some difficult and unexpected turns, and that she and her husband of 20+ years had split up this last year and their divorce was finalized this last spring.
ReplyDeleteThe "picture perfect" life she had so desperately tried to portray to everyone. . . her kids, her family and to the church. . . was finally on display that it had been destroyed. And at a time when she needed God the most, some of her greatest wounds were from some of His people who left her feeling condemned, alone and judged. As much as she had fought to maintain the sanctity of their marriage, she was left to admit that she had done all she could but could not force her husband to do likewise. And as a result, their marriage had failed. Failed- thats how she felt. . . a failure. Although she was finally to a place where she could have some good days, she had spent most of the previous day in tears.
So, as we were talking, my little one needed to be put to bed so I took him inside to take a nap. As I came back outside to continue the conversation, I found my husband praying for her. I joined in, and I watched what God was doing and how her body language completely changed and became more at peace.
After she had left, it was obvious that God had alot more in store for her that day- not only was He going to take out her trash, He was going to remove the garbage lies that she had been hearing. . . And that He desires her to know that she is not forgotten nor forsaken and deeply loved.
A few evenings ago a friend called wanting to talk.... it came down to she was a bit lonely... so I asked if we could make a date for coffee the following day... yes. When we met we decided that a different place might be better for a meal and decided on a place I had been to once, she not at all. Upon arrival I saw a friend from another church. My friend and I were eating as the other lady got up to leave. She came by our table, we hugged and had some small talk and then she began engaging my meal mate in a conversation about something that is heavy on her heart.... something I had been praying that God would help her find an answer to.... they talked for about 20 minutes, exchanged phone numbers and made an appointment with each other for next week. When the friend from the other church left, we talked about how odd it was that we had decided to change our meeting place and come to this place, of all places. And how amazing that God would put someone there that had this wonderful advice and friendship for my first friend.... our God is amazing. He hears our prayers. He knows our hearts. He honors our faith. (I don't know that He used me so much as allowed me to watch it all unfold.)
ReplyDeleteOn June 23rd a close friend and I went on a rafting trip. She had never rowed a boat but had paddled plenty. She wanted to learn to row. We were both on personal pontoon rafts, less than 1 minute into the float it looked like she was headed straight into a bridge pylon. I rowed very hard to get to her it looked then like she was going to make it, but I rammed her anyway to make sure she cleared.She did but I did not I hit the pylon and flipped upside down instantly. I couldn't surface, I kept hitting my head on something. I eventually surfaced and the Lord had my pontoon upside down but in front of me and in easy reaching distance. Because of the strong current, over 10,000 cfs, and very cold water I lost all strength trying to swim to shore. Then, like a veteran, my friend rowed 20 or so yards upstream to my rescue. Being able to hold her pontoon and mine i felt safe again. Then, like a veteran rower, she rowed us to the safety of the shore. Before this float began, in my vehicle, I prayed for the Lord to watch over us. he did in so many ways. he placed the pontoon directly in front of me to grab. He partnered me with a very strong and very capable friend, that mustered months of rowing experience in seconds. My very dear friend Karla was the secret agent and the Lord chose her, a very capable lady, to work through.
ReplyDeleteThere is a young lady at my office who is getting married this summer and doesn't have many friends or family in the area. A co-worker and I decided to plan a Bridal Shower for her at work. A journal was sent around so that everyone could write words of encouragement or tips for her upcoming marriage. Since I have never been married I decided to write words of encouragement. I wrote that although I have never been married I had two very good examples to watch growing up. Both my parents and my grandparents have had amazing marriages. I learned that a good marriage takes work and when you fight or have arguments working them out and talking them through will help in the long run. I said even though I didn't know her faith I thought the verse in 1 Corinthians about love was something that I thought was a great guide.
ReplyDeleteIn her thank you card she said that the verse I wrote down was an amazing encouragement to her and that she would return to it when she needed more.
Good Job! Let your light shine!
DeleteTo catch up on a few since the annoncement of this blog...
ReplyDeleteThe first week after the blog started I had two joyous assignments 1. I get news that my sister is moving back to town after 5 years or so of being away, she has a place VERY fitting for her to rent, she gets hired on the spot at a preveiouse job at higher pay then what she is leaving, so many little things lined up and her and my mom who as far as I know are not saved YET say God is lining this up isn't He!!! The other VERY humbeling part as that in conversation about them having to go on their adventures they called me a beacon!! Let your light sooooo shine before man that they may see your good works and praise your Father in heaven!!
#2 Next day, I connect with a cousin on Facebook I haven't visisted with in several years and she shares with me her struggle with mental health, co-dependancy in relationships, and all that she is trying to do to stay healthy oh and she is schooling for mortuary science, wow. At one point in our conversation I mentioned that I remember having a hole in my heart and filling it with stuff/relationships and told her the funny thing is that it is a relationship with the BEST man ever that fills that hole, she said she knew who I was talking about and at some point she will need to let that happen, she lives in UT and was raised with morman religion. Lord set her FREE to know YOU!! I should have been getting ready for a game when this conversation was happening but instead God had this in mind. Interupt me Lord!!
I shared this next "story" with P. Jeff and he confirmend that I should share this here soooo, Last weekend at church during "music" time and with the comment of becoming more aware of how ALIVE God is, the Lord shared with me a vision of Him walking among us in the congregation walking through the isles laying hands on people and just being with us!!! He also said "My power is in My love" how much love have we received to walk in the power of Him=God is Love
Well have to share this one too, I was a recipient of an assignment too :-) I had locked a friend and I out of the van last night and we don't have a spare key YET, sooo I was texting friends and posting on facebook looking for what door God had open waiting for us to find, meanwhile enjoying peace from Him and laughter with friends, another group of friends stayed with us. They where also on assignment, (one of them decided to go to church tonight) One brother mentioned another brother to me who works at the police academy :-) I think we all could figure who that is :-) He was closing down is shop (10pm) and made time to rescue us!! (I have tears as I write this) When he arrived it was GREAT and as I gave him a sisterly hug Jesus used him to give me a DADDY hug!!! Have you ever had one of those mom or dad hugs from Jesus, they are PRECIOUSE!! THANK YOU MY DADDY IN JESUS, I hope his kids don't mind sharing :-) I LOVE that whole family!! May the Lord bless him and keep him may the Lord make his face shine upon him!!
ReplyDeleteWhile playing some bluegrass gospel with my friend Bo this past weekend, he invited a older non believer banjo to join us. After a rousing version of "AreYou Washed in the Blood" our banjo playing friend commented that he did not understand the words. In fact he found them gruesome. Well, we both jumped at the chance to clarify the meaning of the lyrics, and explain what the "Washing" signified. It didn't scare him off and he continued to sit in and finish out our "Gospel" set.
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