Isaiah 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
I joined Facebook about 12 years ago on the urging of my sister and because I found it was an easier way to find people while we were planning our 25 year class reunion. I see a lot of stuff on social media that I don’t like, but I love being able to connect with friends and family that I don’t get to see on a regular basis. I also love the memories part of Facebook. Each day, you can review what you posted on that day over the past years. I love seeing the memories, but I also am able to see spiritual growth through my posts. I’ve seen stuff I shared several years ago, and think, “man I shouldn’t have shared that.”
I’ve grown in my walk with Christ. I’m not the girl I want to be, but thank God I’m not the girl I used to be! I’m a work in progress. I’m sure God is up there shaking His head while He watches over me most days. I can be a bit of a challenge. But you know what? God apparently loves a good challenge because He has shown so much more love, grace, and mercy to this old gal over the years than I deserve! One thing that I know to be true, without a shadow of a doubt, is that God will meet you right where you are and take you to where you need to be. You only need to be willing to go and walk with Him!
On my Facebook memories today, I saw a picture that I shared of Bro. Billy Smith. He and his interpreter where sharing the gospel, having all out church, in the middle of a pile of garbage in a village called Las Brisas in Peru. That was during our mission trip on this day in 2016. Fourteen people gave their lives to Christ that day. It was NOT within the four walls of a beautifully adorned, perfectly decorated, nicely air conditioned church building. It was in the middle of a pile a garbage! People were sitting in plastic chairs or standing, as there was standing room only, with sweat pouring off of their bodies because it was HOT! Oh so HOT! It was NOT comfortable. It did NOT smell pretty. It did NOT look nice. But you know what? Those people showed up to hear from God, and He met them right where they were on a pile of garbage, and He saved 14 souls that day!! Over 50 gave their lives to Christ that week, and my heart was set on fire for missions.
I didn’t set out to be a Christian author. I already have a great job as a nurse practitioner. But God! Oh but God! He put a burning desire in my heart that week to tell people about Him, and I haven’t been able to put that fire out ever since. God met me right where I was that week too, and He is taking me where He needs me to be. He’s taken me to Peru, to the Dominican Republic, and to several mission out reaches in our state. He takes me to work as a nurse practitioner, and He gives me a new mission field each day. You don’t have to leave the country to share the gospel, you only have to leave your comfort zone. It’s really hard at first and kind of scary, but the Holy Spirit has never failed me. If my body is willing, the boldness and words always come at just the right time and in just the right way.
This world is ever changing, Peeps. I’m sure y’all are growing weary of my daily devotionals, but I just have so much to say and I can’t help but say it. There are still so many who are lost, and they can’t find their way. How can they believe if they haven’t heard. And how can they hear if someone doesn’t tell them? God will meet you right where you are and take you where you need to be too. If you are lost, you’re not too lost to be saved by our Father. He’ll meet you right where you are. If you’re saved, share the gospel. Don’t be scared. He’ll meet you right where you are. And oh the places you will go….you just have to be willing to go…
Inspirations from the Funny Farm 