Monthly Archives: April 2021

Ambassador for Christ

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Christian dads generally have “full plates” providing for their families, in addition to responding to family, home, and church responsibilities. My guess is most are not looking for more things to do. Yet, the Lord’s parting command was very clear that we are to be making disciples (Matthew 28:19). In addition to purposeful discipling of our children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), how can busy dads do that? 

Instead of adding one more thing “to” your life, make this the very essence “of” your life.Have the mindset of being an ambassador for Christ all day, everyday, everywhere you go and with everyone you meet. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Deep genuine love for our Lord and our neighbor is our motive. Daily prayer prepares our hearts and seeks God’s grace. Be salty due to your time in the Word and your walk with the Lord Jesus so when you engage someone they will thirst for more (Matthew 5:13). “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). May we make the most of every opportunity.

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Who Are You Praying For?

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Our natural tendency is pray for our needs, but what about praying for those headed for hell? May we search our hearts as to how concerned we are for our lost neighbors, relatives, workmates, and acquaintances. God didn’t save us so we can have “fire insurance,” but He saved us to bring Him glory and reach the lost.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

I have a wonderful way to pray for the lost by using a “prayer board.” This is a “whiteboard” where I list people to pray for daily. I use a fine-tipped, dry erase marker and have different areas on my board for family, believers, and then the lost. Even though the whiteboard is fairly large (15 x 24 inches) by writing small, I can list many on it. It is in my office in a place where no one else sees it.

I am outgrowing my current prayer board, but the Lord provided my next one. One morning while Teri and I were walking, I noticed a large picture out for the trash. I carried it home. When I need it, I will remove the back and existing print, and spray paint one side of the glass white. Then it is ready to go.

May we be found faithful. 

Loving Whom or What

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Fear is often the reason why people don’t share Christ (I’ve had first hand experience.). However, the compelling, overcoming force in our sharing are the greatest commandments which are to love our God and neighbor (Mark 12:30-31). Our relationship and love drives us to obey our Savior. This is so important that in each of the four gospels we are commanded to tell others. 

  1. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). 
  2. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). 
  3. “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). 
  4. “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). 

If we haven’t been sent elsewhere, we are to go to those in the locality we are living. The “why” is terribly important. It is because we love the One Who died for us, AND we love our neighbor. 

If you are lacking love, likely that is a problem of either not saved, or love of self, and/or love of the world. That means something is broken. 

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). 

Busy Moms Can Read the Bible

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We regularly discuss in Mom’s Corners the necessity and value of busy moms reading their Bibles. Sadly, it is easy for anyone, and the busier, perhaps the easier, to declare she is just too busy to be in the Word. The excuse is that God understands. But I wonder. The God of the Universe says our desire for the sincere milk of the Word was to be as if we were newborn babies. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). That means we crave the Word if we want to grow, and time is not even to be a consideration (babies have lots of time).

An Example of a Busy Mom Who Reads Her Bible

I had lunch the other day with a friend, who recently moved from across the country and now lives just 45 minutes from me. She’s a busy, homeschool mom, like many of you are or were. In 2007, she started reading her Bible daily. At that time, she only had two children. Now she has five. Her life has only gotten busier since she started daily, Bible reading. She has had every reason to say she didn’t have time, but she wanted to grow spiritually.

Fourteen years after that decision to daily spend time reading her Bible, she now has a beautiful, spiritual life along with thirteen lovely journals that document her faithful meetings each morning with her Savior, Jesus Christ. Back then, she grabbed hold of a simple, yet powerful, way to spend time in the Word. She reads, finds a verse that speaks to her heart from her reading, copies that verse into a notebook, and then journals about what that verse said or meant to her. She told me what an amazing blessing that time in the Word has been to her.

The Busy Mom’s Outcome When She Reads Her Bible

Her life shines with the spiritual fruit that comes from Bible reading. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

I observed that fruit in her life as we talked. Her life was not pressure-free. She had struggles and difficulties, but she radiated faith through them. She sparkled with joy in what God was doing in her life and her family’s life. She was filled with love for those she served. She demonstrated peace as she talked about the trials she faced. She lived out long-suffering as she told about physical problems that were ongoing. 

Jesus Says Not By Bread Alone

When Jesus faced Satan’s temptations in the desert, one of them was to command the stones to be turned to bread. After all, with forty days of fasting, Jesus was hungry. He did have a physical need. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Do we consider time in the Word to be even more important than our daily physical needs and duties? Or could it be that a little more sleep or the pressures of responsibilities push out time for the words God gave us in the Bible?

Mary Sits at Jesus’ Feet

We have another example in the New Testament that I believe we can relate to—the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. 

“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Nothing in my life compares with serving Jesus like Martha was serving Him by preparing food for Him and the disciples. Yet, Martha was rebuked for being burdened with her service, and Mary was commended for hearing Jesus’ words. Jesus said that Mary learning from Him was what was needed. 

Is It Worth Being Too Busy?

May I again implore you to set aside any “too busy” excuses for not spending time reading your Bible? Would you choose today to find a place in your busy life for God’s Word and then be faithful to meet Him there every day?

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105).

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word” (Psalms 119:114).

For more encouragement on this topic of our walk with the Lord and Bible time, check out Sweet Journey.

Fearful or Bold

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Many believers have recently been focused on the events prior to and including Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. Then attention typically turns to the disciples, hiding in fear for their lives. Their hopes and dreams of reigning with Jesus were likely exchanged for mental images of being crucified themselves. Have you ever imagined yourself in that position? What a blessing that most of us have not experienced persecution for our faith. 

I wonder how many of you are fearful to share your faith. Are you actively sharing your faith? “… as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). The question isn’t how many you have led to Christ, but are you sowing seeds? If we truly love the Lord Jesus and others, may we not miss any opportunity.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

(To be continued.)