Do The Work Of An Evangelist

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5 (NIV) 

  

Billy Graham was a once-in-a-lifetime Evangelist. The Holy Spirit powerfully flowed from his words and presence. Reverend Graham brought multitudes of people across the world to Jesus Christ. While there was only one Billy Graham, like him, we too are called to present Jesus to the world around us. 

  

That great Evangelist presented the simple message that we are sinners in need of a Savior. He told millions of people that God sent Jesus Christ to die on a cross so that we can be saved and spend eternity with Jesus. Billy Graham is now with the Lord he presented to so many others. He is in the wonderful place called heaven that he told the multitudes about. 

  

We may look around us and think we will never accomplish great things. We can feel useless when we consider others who have accomplished so much in their life. Physical weakness, disability, lack of strength and resources can leave us floundering in discouragement. Yet every believer has a testimony. Each of us has a story of how we found the Lord and what He has done for us. 

  

What have you survived? What has the Lord brought you through? What has Jesus done for you and your family? There are people everywhere who are sick, hurting, suffering loneliness and trials. They all need Jesus, and despite our inabilities, we can always share the gospel message with those who are in need of our Lord. 

  

Without Jesus I would never have survived so many trials and afflictions in my life. I would have died years ago. Physical ailments, mental and emotional afflictions, and diseases have arisen to knock me off of my feet, threatening to put me six feet under. Yet Jesus has been with me time and again to heal, deliver, restore, and strengthen me through my many trials. I could never have them survived alone without His help. God has been good to me; can you say the same? Why not tell someone about the goodness of the Savior who saved you? 

  

Prayer: Dear Lord, at times we feel useless, and helpless to do anything good on this earth. Let us never forget the many times You have delivered us. We have a story to tell. Enable us to be evangelists in this world as we share how much you have blessed us and how often You delivered us. Amen. 

  

  

  

Just Breathe

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 (NIV) 

    I recently found myself at an Urgent Care facility due to an asthma episode that I was unable to overcome with my daily medications. When a rescue inhaler will not open up your lungs and allow you to comfortably breathe you quickly understand just how precious a single breath of air can be. 

    When I see people hooked up to oxygen, my heart goes out to them. I remember those like my step-grandfather who had emphysema and was always hunched forward in his chair fighting for a breath of air. 

    If you have ever had something essential taken away from you, and then returned, your appreciation of that thing soars. As I recline in my chair and write this devotion while breathing freely without restraint upon my lungs, I find a full breath of air a wonderful gift from God.  

   Frequently I have sensed the Holy Spirit telling me to “just breathe”. I immediately understand the point He is trying to get across to me. He tells me to stop and breathe during times when I am in duress, need to calm down, to quiet my mind, and get back to the essentials. 

     

    "Sometimes the Lord rides out the storm with us and other times He calms the restless sea around us. Most of all, He calms the storm inside us in our deepest inner soul." — Lloyd John Ogilvie 

    Consider the saying: Just Breathe. What does it mean to you? Are you willing to stop, or at least slow down, and enjoy the pleasure of a fresh breath of air? Why not drop your anxieties, concerns, and worries for a moment, and just take in a long deep breath of air while giving thanks to God for His many blessings, large and small? 

    Prayer: Dear Lord, we take so much for granted that others would give almost anything for, including a free, clean breath of air. Help us to be mindful to take time to breathe and appreciate the numerous blessings You give us each day. Amen. 

Karlton Douglas  

Copyright 2018 

It Is Faith That Moves Us Forward

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) 

  

  Those of us with constant illnesses and disease have the added challenge of not giving in to discouragement as our afflictions weigh us down and drive our thoughts into negativity. 

  We look around us and see cheerful, healthy, active people who take their good health for granted and we are expected to appear happy and join the club despite our pain and suffering.  

  We begin to wonder why so many people are healthy, and we are left with disability, in wheelchairs, bed-ridden, and generally unable to join the tasks of life at the same level as everyone else. 

  Could it be that God expects more of us? Is God trusting us with afflictions to make us stronger, or to make use wiser, or otherwise help us to grow? 

  

"God does not waste an ounce of our pain or a drop of our tears; suffering doesn't come our way for no reason, and He seems especially efficient at using what we endure to mold our character. If we are malleable, He takes our bumps and bruises and shapes them into something beautiful." — Frank Peretti 

  

  One thing is certain: No matter what your affliction or disability if you are a Christian God expects you to be faithful to Him. You are to use the gift of faith He has given you to not only survive but thrive in the best way you can with His help. Faith at its bare essentials is simply trusting God with your fate no matter the circumstances. 

  When we bring our frustrations, health issues, and troubles to the Lord, we are committing an act of faith. You would have no one to go to with your prayers if you did not first believe that God exists, that He hears your prayers, and He meets your needs. 

  Sometimes our greatest need is to merely survive our particular affliction. With God’s help you can do so. It begins by lifting your voice in prayer and praise to the One who can do something about our suffering. It begins with faith. 

  Prayer: Dear Lord, our faith often seems small when we consider how little strength we have. Please strengthen our faith and help us to not only survive but thrive as we place our trust in You. Amen. 

  

  

Reading From Both Books Of God

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Did you know there are two books that reveal God to us? The first book is obvious to all Christians. It is of course the Holy Bible. The second book of God is His Creation.

Every person who loves the outdoors has been inspired and blessed by considering God’s Creation. From the most lovely little birds to fierce alligators, we see something of God in everything around us. The bright stars above declare His glory, as does the glowing sunrise and yellow-gold sunset. Tall green trees in all their majesty, and multicolored flowers under our feet (Luke 12:27) are arrayed in beauty both awe-inspiring and revealing of God’s glory.

The swift trout darting in a cold stream and the noble eagle looking down upon God’s handiwork teach us about a wise, thoughtful, glorious Intelligence that makes and controls a magnificent world spinning throughout the greater universe.

One must be void of any poetry in their soul to look upon the beautiful world around us and fail to recognize that it has a wonderful and magnificent Creator intricately involved in everything that has been made, including you and I.

When the suffering Job was looking for answers about God and from God the Holy One pointed Job toward the Creation. He wanted Job to stop and consider the world around him and to find answers from God in His handiwork. We too need to read from the second book of God, considering our Creator and His sovereignty through the visible world.

The Apostle Paul pointed out that even pagans who knew nothing of the saving grace of God had no excuse for rejecting God because they could recognize Him through His Creation:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20 NIV)

Whenever possible allow your life and its challenges to be put into perspective by looking at the glory of God’s Creation around you, from the soft grass under your feet to the azure sky above you. Read the book of Creation as well as the Holy Bible. You will find blessings by reading both of the great books of God.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to walk through life with eyes wide open, having a heart and mind filled with praise. You are all around us as we read from both of the great books You have given to us. Amen.

Karlton Douglas

copyright 2018