ministry Archives – Sonshine's Journal

February 8, 2016

Are You Called To Serve?

acts 5 called to servea2 From the outset, Jesus had to deal with 12 unruly men who argued and passionately desired to be the greatest, but when the Holy Spirit came and indwelt them, all of that changed. Their desire now was to study, pray and impart wisdom to the new fledgling church.

But just as the church is growing and becoming a strong witness, Satan’s ears perk up and he thinks he is invited to enter not to encourage but to distract. The church then and the church now encounters his orchestrated problems. Some are caused by us; some are caused by circumstances beyond our control such as widowhood. In the early church, widows were in need financially and in prayer support just as the widows we read about in the Book of Ruth.

God cares for the orphans and widows and He always has a plan. God is never “a day late and a dollar short” to overrule Satan’s plans. This new fledgling NT church became the source of help to teach us the following principles: “Honor widows who are truly in need.”[ 1Ti 5:3] “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their adversity.”[Jam 1:27]

The apostles could have stopped their ministry to help. Instead, they chose to include others in the solution thus teaching the church the principle that we are a body with many gifts. “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another” [1Pe 4:10] Today our churches employ this same principle.

Where are employing your gift to serve others in the Body of Christ?

This will be posted here on Feb 9th. Come and join us as we read through the NT/Ps and Proverbs each day.

February 27, 2014

Feb 27th Acts 20 “Footprints”

Today we mark the celebration of a precious friend who is now sitting at the feet of Jesus. Her life was marked by a sweetness that only comes from spending time in the Word and serving Jesus moment by moment and she left her footprints in our lives and others with her ministry to the shut ins along with her card ministry to those who celebrated their special days. She lived in one home for many years and served in her home church and community in that time frame as well. As we celebrate today we will hear the words of those who knew her for many years and they will recollect and will share their memories. Acts 20 is like a celebration of memories as Paul who was “always on the go” and lived out of a suitcase was once again leaving. He will leave his footprints where he ministered for several years but God was calling him to Jerusalem even though the Spirit has told him that with that persecution awaits. Our special friend and Paul alike left us “instructions” which included:

Remain steadfast.
Raise up faithful men and women to pass the torch on to others.
Recall memories of sweet fellowship: Paul ministered with humility, tears and trials and therefore we should seek to serve in likewise manner.
Remember your calling: do not consider your life worth just a moment in time but consider that you have a task to finish which is to testify to the good news of God’s grace.
Renew the charge: now I entrust you to God and to the message of his grace. This message is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Yes, they were especially saddened by what he had said that they were not going to see him again. Yet they were encouraged that although they would remain in Ephesus and Paul would be “on the go” once again, the ministry would go forward and the book of Revelation reveals to us how that actually took place as the Apostle John recalls their footprints. Twice John noted that they labored steadfastly, endured and did tolerate evil. They even put to the test those who referred to themselves as apostles (but were not), when they discovered that they were false. This was the footprint they left for us…even though later Jesus notes that they had left their first love.

Beloved, whether you live in one place from birth to death or are like Paul, living out of a suitcase always on the go from place to place, you are leaving your footprint in the sands of time. Be encouraged to remain steadfast, enduring to the end that one day you may hear from the Savior: You have been faithful to the end, enter into my joy and my kingdom!

July 22, 2013

A Day in the Life of Jesus.

Ever wonder what a day was like for Jesus? Matthew 14 gives us a glimpse. First he received some news that caused him to change plans and move on across the Sea of Galilee due to Herod’s suspicions regarding Him. Also, Jesus needed time to grieve at hearing the news of John’s death. But, then a crowd of the hurting called for an impromptu picnic lunch for just a few—5000+ courtesy of a little boy whose Mama prepared a paper sack of fishes and loaves of bread. He willingly shared what he had and there were 12 baskets left over! Imagine his story when he returned home! Sensing the people wished to make him the “bread king” Jesus sends the disciples away and climbs the near mountain to converse with His Father. On the 4^th watch, between 3 and 6 a.m., Jesus descends the mountain and walks on the water to his disciples who are rowing for their life and getting nowhere. As he arrives near the boat their fears surface and they think they have seen a ghost. Impetuous Peter’s faith is tested and Jesus rescues him from the stormy sea. And lastly, Jesus goes to Gennesaret and his healing ministry resumes.

When I look at my day and His day I wonder where he got the energy to meet each and every need!

Jesus used every opportunity in His day to meet the needs of others, and through each one teaches us important biblical principles. Jesus was teaching his disciples and us to see every interruption as a divine opportunity to serve others and in turn serve God. Think of every interruption as God’s test to see if we are ready, willing and able to do His work. Being alone with God teaches us that if Jesus needed to spend time in prayer we need to do it all the more! Also, Jesus was teaching the disciples that faith overcomes fear therefore we should be stop being afraid, He has promised to be with us and never to leave us.

Guess I need to get busy…what is next on Your agenda for me Jesus?