Spread the Gospel - Plant the Word

The sower sows the word. Mark 4:14

I love to pluck up dried dandelions – the ones that hold the white seedlings set in the form of a globe – and blow. It was a favorite pastime as a child. I would watch the wind escort these seedlings to faraway places. My father discouraged me from doing this, so I practiced this pastime away from our own yard.

I didn’t realize when I blew these seeds into the atmosphere, I was acting out a principle of the word of God. Jesus said, “The sower sows the word.” Like farmers, we are to scatter the seed of God’s word all around us. We are to tell others about the goodness of God.

Each of us has a story to tell about how we received Christ into our hearts. Directly or indirectly, someone sowed the word of God into each of our lives to bring about the miracle of salvation within us.

When I was a new believer, I would look at a crowd of people and feel guilty because I was not reaching them for Christ. Now, I am more grounded in God’s love for me and I realize I cannot reach everyone with the gospel — but I can do my part.

I’ve created my own tracts to minister. I pass them out at restaurants and places of business. I simply hand them out with a smile and say, “I’d like to give you this. It is something I have written and I believe it will be an encouragement to you.” 90% of the time they receive it gladly.

Jesus told us to go and preach the gospel to all creation. He wants us to be encouraged in the unique ways that He has made us. We each have gifts and talents that God wants us to use to win the unsaved.

Pray and ask God to show you what your part is in the Great Commission. He is waiting for you to draw near to Him. He desires to use you to scatter the seed of God’s word within your sphere of influence. Who knows, He may even use you to reach those in far away places.

Tom Toya lives with his wife Lou and his Maltese Muy-Muy in Carol Stream, IL. He has been writing for several years and is a graduate of the Christian Writers Guild. He has written articles that were published in magazines and newspapers. You can read more from him through his blog at                                www.sendme-tomandlou.blogspot.com.

Read Tom’s devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Gossip Burns like a Wildfire

In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. James 3:5-6 NLT

Wildfire! It’s a frightening word in the Southwest before the summer rains start. One Sunday afternoon my husband and I watched a small fire to the south of our home, causing smoke in the mountains. It was miles away but the following Sunday we were staying with friends– evacuated from our home just four days after the fire started.

For twenty-four hours we had no idea if our home was gone, damaged, or still standing. We knew several homes had been destroyed a few miles west of us. Emergency shelters filled with evacuees and pets while firefighters battled high winds with tinder dry conditions. The fire raged, threatening the city limits where we stayed.

Whatever started the massive fire was small in the beginning. It might have been coals from a campfire, a cigarette tossed into the brush, or an intentional act. It’s the same with our speech. A careless word can ruin a reputation in a short time.

I’ve been the victim of such careless gossip and it hurts. Sometimes gossip is piously mentioned by couching it as a “prayer request.” Other times we do it to ourselves. Before you know it, a reputation is ruined. A life is set on fire.

A fire is easy to start, but hard to put out once it has fuel. It’s the same once we have a reputation as a gossip, a liar, or a big talker. It took firefighters nine days to get any amount of containment, but it had already destroyed thousands of acres of beautiful mountain woodlands, over fifty homes, and several businesses. Our favorite hiking places won’t recover for years but by God’s grace, our home and neighborhood were safe. Lives were changed dramatically because of the fire. Some will never be the same.

Before you make that sarcastic comment about someone, keep truth as your focus and your tongue in check. Think about the wildfire.  Don’t start a fire of ruin for yourself and others.

Laurinda Wallace lives in the beautiful high desert of southeast Arizona with her husband David. Besides being the office manager for her church, she is a freelance writer and has published numerous magazine articles and devotionals. She is currently working on a mystery series set in her hometown area of Western New York. Laurinda and her husband have two grown daughters and twin grandsons, who are amazing miracles of God’s grace.
Read Laurinda’s devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Give to Those in Need

Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.    Matthew 5:42

I have a confession. When I’m asked for money by people on the street, I generally ignore them. They’d just spend what I give them on drugs and booze, right? I am doing them a favor to withhold a handout. They should seek out social service organizations that can give them real help.

One day I was talking with my son Sheridan, a young musician. He makes ends meet with a variety of teaching and performing gigs. He rarely buys new clothes. His cell phone and computer are veritable antiques. He can’t afford to waste a dime.

The subject of the homeless came up. I made my usual comments to justify my closed mouth and closed purse on city streets.

“I never turn anyone away who asks me for money. I like to buy them coffee and sit on the curb with them for awhile. Mom, they have amazing stories. I really think it’s the talking they need the most,” Sheridan responded.

Who is right?

Jesus makes it very clear. Sheridan is right. We are to give to those who ask of us and never ignore those who would borrow from us—even when it’s clear there can never be repayment. The poor do have amazing stories–heartbreaking stories of financial reverses and losses, overwhelming medical bills, mental illness. They swallow their pride to ask for a dollar or two, and endure the parade of no’s from people like me. Does some of the money fuel bad habits? Probably. But who are we to judge? Most importantly, these hard-luck brothers and sisters need a friend. A curbside chat. A chance to be treated as human beings.

Christ puts no conditions on giving. He sees into every heart, including our own. Maybe it’s us who need the transaction the most—to be the giver of a moment’s respite — a moment of light on a dark, dark day.

In the end, it’s only money. And when money stands between His children, Jesus demands we break down the barrier and level the playing field… even the tiniest bit.

Try it, next time you’re approached on a city street. Just give what you can — especially the gifts of your time and listening heart. Count on our Lord to do the rest.

Elise Seyfried is the Director of Spiritual Formation at a suburban Philadelphia Lutheran church, actress, writer, wife, and mother of five. She is the author of the book Unhaling: On God, Grace and a Perfectly Imperfect Life. Her work has appeared in such diverse places as The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Lutheran Digest, Simul: Lutheran Voices in Poetry, Guideposts Magazine and theWittenburg Door. She was lyricist for the Stanley Drama award-winning musical Flight, and is co-author (with her husband Steve) of fifteen plays for children.

Read Elise’s devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Read Elise’s devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Read Anna’s devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

What is the Cost?

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?  Luke 14:28

Taking my eyes off God’s plan is quite foolish and costly.

Several years ago, we purchased some rental homes without looking at them close enough. We figured we could make a profit on them if we fixed them up and resold them.

First God chided me about buying something we hadn’t truly checked out thoroughly. Should you buy something without figuring the cost? What I couldn’t really see was how much it would truly cost to fix them. And we went into the deal with our son Joel, who really couldn’t afford these properties any more than we could. Finding ourselves and Joel struggling with the costs and backbreaking work, I saw I should have listened to God’s chiding spirit.

As we have worked and remodeled a great portion of the houses, we’re finding God’s greatest lessons.

Making mistakes, whether it be finances, faithfulness, or a myriad of other mistakes, teaches me. I find that the more difficult the task — the more it costs me and the harder I struggle to put things right to keep our heads above water —  the more it teaches me . . . far more than all the things I get right.

Sometimes it is difficult to pay what must be paid. We’re trying to work our way out of the disaster so we might retire. At times, it is taxing, yet, it is a joy to fix up old houses, give them new life, seeing what they can be. For the moment, it also gives our sons a place to live.
At times, our new knowledge has exacted an awful price. Jesus knows that good things cost. After all, He paid the highest price anyone could pay. That is one lesson He has taught me well.

How can I not praise him for that gift? Praise God through your mistakes, for He teaches His children by them.

Anna Gregory lives in Macon, Illinois with her husband Dennis. She is the mother of five sons and fourteen grandchildren plus two. She is a devotional writer having written for the Secret Place, Pathways to God, Upper Room and Haven. She is the author of Searching for Charlie.

Read Anna’s devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

We are Broken

The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all… Psalm 34: 17-19 (NIV)

“Broke,” my grandson Drew said as he held up his red Matchbox car in one hand and a set of wheels in another. I watched as a frown furrowed Drew’s forehead while he turned the car over and tried to snap the wheels back into place.

With all of the manual dexterity of a two-year-old, Drew worked to replace the wheels on the underside of his small car. But it soon became evident, even to Drew, that this problem was too difficult for him. I expected Drew to become frustrated, perhaps cry or maybe even throw his toy down, but he walked over and calmly placed it on the coffee table; looked over at his mama, and said, “Da-Da fix it.” Drew left his broken car on the table and turned around to play with something else.

“Whenever something breaks,” Amy said, “Drew just puts it down and says, ‘Da-Da fix it.’ He thinks his daddy can fix anything.”

I have many things in life that I hold up and say, “Broke.” Relationships, finances, health – “broke.” A frown furrows my forehead while I try to put the pieces of my life back together.

With all the spiritual maturity of my fifty-four years, I work to fix my problems until it becomes evident that they are too difficult for me. Unlike Drew, sometimes I do become frustrated, cry, and even throw up my hands in despair.

Yet the Lord tells us to give him our broken pieces; to place them at the foot of the cross, walk away, and have enough faith to say, “My Heavenly Father will fix it.”

I know He can fix anything.

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and hearing us when we cry out to You. Thank You for being close to us when we are brokenhearted. Thank You for the promise of delivering us from all our troubles. In the sweet name of Jesus, Amen.

Susan Shelton Dollyhigh is a freelance writer and columnist who won the Women of Faith Shine the Light Contest and three awards at the Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. She resides in Mount Airy, NC. www.inspirationfrommayberry.com

Read Susan’s devotions.
Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

Christian Devotions SPEAK UP!
May 15 – Gregg Bissonette
6:00 p.m. EST

Join us this week on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! when Scott McCausey is joined by world-class drummer Gregg Bissonette.

Gregg Bissonette has become known as one of the most versatile drummers in the business. His broad experience ranges from big band, blues, and rock, to Latin, fusion, and much more. Gregg’s warm, easy-going down-to-earth manner is refreshing from one of the top drummers in the world.

Gregg’s big break came in the summer of 1985 when David Lee Roth left Van Halen and started his own band. Gregg landed the gig playing drums with Steve Vai on guitar, Billy Sheehan on bass, and Brett Tuggle on keys. The band recorded the albums Eat ‘Em & Smile and Skyscraper, both of which went multi-platinum. Gregg’s brother Matt joined the band for the Skyscraper tour and the next studio album, A Little Ain’t Enough. The videos for Yankee Rose, Goin’ Crazy, Just like Paradise, Stand Up, and That’s Life got plenty of airtime on MTV.

Gregg now plays drums with Ringo Starr for the Ringo Starr All-Star Band and tours the country. But his passion is serving our Lord Jesus in a big way. Discover more about Gregg, his family, and living a life for Christ this Tuesday on Speak UP!

Christian Devotions Radio is a live call-in show. Call-in Number: (347) 884-9367

If you know someone who would be a great guest on Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! contact Scott@christiandevotions.us.

2012 Schedule  

May 22 – Steven James, Author

May 29 – Brenda Lancaster, Author & Boot Camp Graduate

June 5 – Lori Hunter, Author & Boot Camp Graduate

June 12 – Frank Zitzman, Healthy Living & Speaker 

Every Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern

The strength of support

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:10

My eighty-year-old mom passed out. As I cradled her bleeding head in my arms, my heart wrenched. When she finally came around, she spent the next few days in the hospital, recovering from a stroke. Mom fractured her paralyzed arm and had a hemorrhage on her brain, not to mention a nasty headache.

My parents came back to my house for a few days after her release from the hospital where I had the opportunity to serve and care for her. I learned a great life lesson through her care. I wanted to do everything for her. I wanted to make everything as easy as possible because she was weak and in pain. But as I watched, I realized I couldn’t do everything for her. It was hard—the things she had to do relearn were a struggle. A struggle to stand . . . to walk. A struggle to keep her balance. As much as I wanted to do more for Mom, I realized she had to struggle. She had to push herself up and walk. If not, she’d grow weaker . . . and weaker. She’d stand from the sofa and I’d walk alongside, holding her gently, making sure she kept her balance.

That’s when the picture of God’s presence came to me. God doesn’t do everything for us, making life simple and easy. He’s certainly able, yet He allows us to struggle because it is in that struggle where we grow strong . . . in Him. It is when we are weak that He walks patiently beside us, steadying us, helping us get where we need to go.

As you struggle in life, ask God to let you feel His loving arm wrapped around your waist—holding you close—supporting you when you’re unsteady. Lean into Him and grow strong. Mom did.

Mary Denman is an author and photographer and, in her words, an observer. She’s a homeschool mom of five kids. Mary’s keen eye through the camera has allowed her to capture much of God’s beauty in new and unique ways. You can visit Mary at http://marydenman.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html.

Read Mary’s devotions.

Receive a daily devotion on your Kindle!

*Photo by worradmu – used by permission FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Our Father who is in heaven… Matthew 6:9

My Father, who is in heaven. Can I ask? Will you tell me?

You remember Gayle don’t you? Of course, you do. You’re God. Do you recall how, when she was alive, she demanded that her sister carry her outside for a smoke? Remember how the snowflakes stuck to her oxygen tank and formed icicles as she inhaled one cigarette after another? And how she cursed you, saying it was your fault she got cancer. Well I heard from a friend that with those same nicotine-stained lips she called your name and said, “ I surrender. Take me Jesus. I want you to be my Lord.” Is Gayle there?

My Father, who is in heaven. What about that blond-haired boy who sat next to the preacher? The one who wore the white robe, lit the candle, and barely made it through confirmation class. Did he make it to heaven, Lord? Do you see him much? Or did those later years of binge drinking and promiscuity keep him from your throne? You know, God. Will you whisper his name in my ear? I need to know that boy made it.

My Father, who is in heaven. Do you see Dad? God, I hope so. Sorry, I didn’t mean to say it that way, but if Dad didn’t make it then I don’t know what I’ll do. Remember Dad? He goes by Raymond. Or did. You may have given him a new name. I hear that’s what happens when you get to your kingdom. Assuming he arrived. He promised me he gave his life to you, but really, how can I know? How can any of us know the heart of those we love?

My Father, who is in heaven. Do you see empty chairs beside my seat at your table? O Lord, I hope not. Please, tell me my family is there. Or will be. And that my friends have a reservation.

My Father, who is in heaven . . .

“Not enough, Eddie. Not enough.”

Who makes your joy complete? Introduce them to Christ.

________________________________________

For the Love of God – She Said

This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven…

Right there. The place where there’s nowhere else to look, but up. That’s the entrance to heaven, I’m sure of it.

When you scan across the ridge, your eyes catch a glimpse of the outstretched arms of the pine trees and the breeze carries the sweet fragrance of the Father. This is the opening of heaven. Here I wave, and here I wonder if He sees me.

Most little girls adore their dad. I’m no exception. As a child, I loved my father, but we weren’t close. His time was spent working at the local paper mill which left him tired and grumpy most of the time. In fact, Dad was a gentle man, but rarely friendly. So I stood at a distance and longed to know his heart.

Things changed when I became an adult. Dad met the Father and his demeanor changed from the inside out. We drew close—inseparable. Then Dad died. He left me.

When I sit on the mountaintop and gaze across the valley, there is no doubt in my heart Dad is there. As the clouds sift their way through the cliffs and down into the pass, I see them form the illusion of stairs climbing their way upward and vanishing into the depths of the blue ocean. That’s when I lean back and pray.

Our Father in heaven…my father is in heaven. Thirteen years after his death, I miss him the same as I did the day he left me.

I find my heavenly Father in the breath of the mountains. Maybe that’s why I love coming to the summit. It’s here I search. And like a little child, I find myself peering under bushes and pulling back limbs to see if He is, by some slim chance, hiding there. I can’t see Him physically either and that makes me lonely and hungry for His presence. Sometimes fear tells me my heavenly Father will leave me too. Even when I know He won’t.

So on the rare opportunities when I get to climb the face of the mountain, I sit there and pray. I rest assured that God is close. And though at times I feel lost and alone, sometimes abandoned…I know I’ve never really been left. He’s never very far away.

To pray the prayer of Jesus and know that it’s for His love, ever present in me, filling me—keeping me, tells me both of the Fathers I love completely are in heaven.

Eddie Jones and Cindy Sproles are friends and cofounders of ChristianDevotions.us. They cowrite the popular He Said, She Said devotions and host Blog Talk Radio’s Christian Devotions SPEAK UP! along with Scott McCausey. Eddie and Cindy travel and speak at conferences across the country and they are available to speak at your church or conference. Contact them at cindy@christiandevotions.us.

Do you sense something vital missing from you relationship with your spouse, children, and God? Try He Said, She Said: A Devotional Guide to Cultivating a Life of Passion. This compilation of 54 devotions includes scripture verses, space for journaling, individual prayers and words of wisdom from two of today’s funniest and insightful Christian authors. This heart-warming collection of stories will inspire you to reach for the true source of joy: a life lived for and through God. These deeply personal devotions offer biblical insights and spiritual truths from the perspective of one man and one woman.

Print version $9.95

Kindle eBook $4.95

NOOK eBook $4.95

Receive He Said, She Said on your Kindle!