I just had a nice long conversation with an older gentleman I met this afternoon at Paradise Cafe in Greenwood, In.

I was walking back to my table from getting a refill of sweet tea, and heard a voice behind me say, “I like your shirt.” He had noticed my Jesus Loves Greenwood t-shirt that was from a sermon series at my church earlier this year.

I was about to reply, “Thanks!” and walk back to my table, but then he wanted to know which church I attended. When I told him Greenwood Christian Church, he knew exactly which church I was referring to and asked, “do they still play volleyball there”? Well since I play volleyball there every Wednesday night (except for the weeks I’m playing in the worship team) I of course had to say yes.

That answer sparked a conversation that lasted nearly an hour…

At first I was kind of annoyed because this guy I didn’t know was talking to me about random stuff, when all I wanted to do was finish my lunch. And boy could he talk. I was standing there with my sweet tea in hand and glancing over at the table where my California Turkey sandwich with avocado (I’m from San Diego, you can’t forget the avocado) was sitting just waiting to be devoured.

And while he was talking, the whole time I was thinking of a way to end the conversation. But how? Do I interrupt the guy and say, “it was nice talking to you”, and just walk back to my table? I couldn’t do that.

But then he started talking about the love of Jesus, and it was just as if God had smacked me in the back of my head and said “listen to him”! And it dawned on me I was wearing a shirt that said “Jesus Loves Greenwood” on it, but I wasn’t displaying the love of Jesus through my thoughts.

It was clear that all this guy really wanted was someone to talk to him about the Love of Jesus, so taking a sip of my tea, that’s what I did…

We talked about how he used to play volleyball at GCC, and asked if I knew other people who he used to play with and if they still played there. We also talked about worship music and about different Christian bands out there. But what I remember the most is how his face lit up when he talked about the love of Jesus and the grace of God in his own life.

He also told me that although he had been a believer for most of his life, he had never really got plugged into a church. He would just church hop from time to time, but couldn’t seem to make a connection.

I could really relate to him at that moment. Since I’m new to Greenwood Christian Church, and even though I got involved in the worship ministry almost from the time I first started attending, I really haven’t built any real relationships yet. It’s hard to be in a place where you don’t know anyone and try to fit in. So I can definitely understand where he’s coming from. It’s easy to get lost in the mix at churches the size of GCC who has almost 2000 members.

So God presented me the opportunity to invite him to church, and by the end of our conversation he said he would try to come next Sunday. If he really will, I don’t know, but at least this way he has an invitation and will know at least one person that goes there.

I’m reminded of numerous times in the past when I had opportunities just to sit down with people I didn’t know and simply share the Gospel with them or invite them to church but failed to take the time to do so because of other things I “had to do”. How easy it is to get our priorities mixed up.

Jesus, when asked what the greatest commandment was, replied:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Mark 12:30-31

Jesus knew how to love. And he practiced it with his life, and even more so when he laid down his life. Sometimes I wonder why it’s so hard to share the love of Jesus with others. I sometimes think because His love is so sweet, that we just want to keep it all to ourselves, but like the lyrics of a song that Michael W. Smith wrote years ago: “Love isn’t love till you give it away”.

Love is meant to be shared with others, and in this case, love was just being a listening ear.

When I finally allowed myself to listen, it was evident that this man, who God put in my life today, just needed someone to talk to. But, looking back, I now wonder if it was really so much him who was in need or if it was I who needed to be convicted, so I could realize that I need to learn to be more loving of my neighbors but more importantly to share the love of Jesus.

I never know what God is going to bring my way, but all I can say is I better be ready when it gets here…

My Prayer:

Lord Jesus,

Thank you for being the ultimate example of what love is. Help me to be more loving of the people around me, and make the most of every opportunity to share it with others, so they can see your love and partake in it.

In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed”. Isaiah 53:5

Working on this illustration really made me start think about the importance of what Jesus did for me. It also convicted me a little bit, and I started examining my life.

On Sunday, we always take the Lord’s Supper at church as a memorial of Christ’s death, burrial and ressurection. We partake in the two emblems: the unlevened bread which symbolizes Christ’s body beaten and broken, and the fruit of the vine which is a symbol for Christ’s blood that was shed on the cross.

It always reminds me of God’s love for me, and the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. The pain and agony he had to endure with the intensity I can’t even begin to imagine, and yet he went through it without one complaint.

And the amazing part is, he did it for me. For my sins; my shortcomings. For every lie I’ve ever told, and each time I cheated on a test. He even did it for the times I did something hurtful to someone, and everytime I’ve commited sexual immorality in my heart. In spite of all the sin in my life, Jesus died anyway, taking the punishment that should have been mine.

How blessed I truly am to know forgiveness and grace; to know a God who loves me so much he would die for me just so I could live with him forever in heaven, and share in the inheritence with his son, Jesus. And the best part is, he offers it free of charge. Now that just blows my mind.

My Prayer: Holy Father in heaven, thank you for demonstrating your love for me, that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. I’m in awe how you could offer salvation to me freely, but I am thankful that you do. I accept it with a grateful heart.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

It’s hard to believe I’ve been out of work for about 4 months now. I’m not really sure how I’ve survived this long, other that it’s by the grace of God! And how good He is, even in troubled times. Knowing that is actually what keeps me going. I just know he is preparing the perfect job for me right now, and I just wait and pray.

Somehow he’s still providing for my needs, and has been ever since this fiasco started. So who am I to doubt him.

I am reminded of Job’s life as he had his whole life stripped from him; his family, his wealth and his health, all gone in a single day. I can’t even imagine!

But even Job in the midst of all his trials, he would not curse God, even though the voice of his peers would try to convince him to do so. Instead he fell on his knees and offered worship to God.

Sometimes I think about questioning God and yelling at the top of my lungs with complaint: “Why me, God”? But I look around and see people in worse shape than I’m in, and realize God has a bigger plan. And who am I to question the almighty God?

I may be going through trials now, and I’m always encouraged by what James 1:2-3 says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

What I’m going through now will only make me stronger, but I know it’s not by my own strength, but God’s who provides all things.

My Prayer: Gracious Father in heaven, provider of all things, in the midst of trials I fall on my knees and worship my God who gives me the strength to persevere. And in these struggles may I remain faithful to the one who never fails me! In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—” Jude 24

So far the book of Jude is the only book in the bible I have completely memorized. Every time I quote verse 24, I am encouraged by the thoughts behind the verse:

“To him who is able to keep you from falling…” I don’t know about you, but I’m constantly slipping and falling flat on my face when it comes to my relationship with God, but this verse somehow just brings me hope. When I think there is a God who has the power to keep me on my feet and not only that but is able to present me faultless in his sight, I am convinced that it isn’t about me, it’s about the one who is able to do all these things. Which brings me to the last verse of the book:

“to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”