Well Excuse Me!

 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

From the moment I saw them, I wondered what they were up to. It is not unusual when we go downtown to see different people on the corner holding signs about what they stand for. Usually, I can walk on by them which is good because I usually have children with me.

This particular Saturday though it was just my husband and me. As we began our walk to where we were heading I hear a lady asking others, "Do you know Jesus?" I thought, "I sure do." So I was prepared if she or anyone else asked me. Because she wasn't alone. There was a problem though, even if the person she asked said, "Thank you, I'm good." She would continue to walk with who she asked for about 50 feet handing papers, hounding this person, and to me that's a problem.

We made it past the first group and then arrived at the corner where we needed to cross the street. We saw a man in the center, he was different. He had a microphone and was preaching to those going by. Every scripture he read, I knew. Then there was the man with the sign "Repent and Believe." He immediately began, "Do you know Jesus?"

"Yes, I'm good."

Then he began to walk with and keep hounding us, where my husband shared, "Listen, I am a pastor."

"Why are you against us then?"

What?

Against them, we weren't against them just the way they were going about sharing Jesus. Hounding and being right there in people's personal space is not exactly the way God wants us to make disciples. Not sure how many are really saved by their approach. 

The couple who was joining us, who already believe just prayed the prayer again to not be harassed. How many others did the same?

How do we make disciples?

By how we live, living in such a way that other's crave to know what makes you different. Sharing God's love with others by making friends and being their friend. Sharing your story of how Jesus has changed your life.

God wants each of us to know He sent His son, He died for each of us for all of our mistakes, and He rose again. If we believe, ask forgiveness, and ask Jesus to be with us then we can be saved.

Pretty sure those on the corner yelling and hounding "Repent & Believe", need a better way to share God's love. 

Walking in Darkness

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Standing there in the dark cave I couldn't see my hand in front of my face and for a few moments it was alright, still I was craving the light. The temptation to pull out my phone and find the flashlight was crossing my mind. The guide though assured us that if we waited it would be worth it, also while explaining to us that if we stayed in the darkness for too long we would actually go crazy.

So I waited and yes, when he began to turn the lights on it was worth it. It was a simple projector that displayed little lights in the cave, but it was spectacular view. It was like twinkling stars in the sky.

I don't know about you, but I do not like the dark. There is a reason I have a night light in every room of the house. It maybe because my little brother liked to tease me, by hiding around the corner in the dark just so he could jump out and scare me. Walking in the darkness, is no joking matter.

There was a time in my life I walked in partial darkness. I accepted Jesus as a young teen and I knew He was there, but I didn't let Him into all the places of my life into the dark corners. Have you ever noticed that when you do turn on a light in the room, that there is still some places the light doesn't reach?

I had not let the light of the world into all the places of my life. Sure the light guided me, there were times when I was faced with decisions between right and wrong and most of the time I chose to walk in the light. But I still didn't trust completely in the light.

But to have a daily time to read the word and study what the light was trying to say to me, there just wasn't time for that. A simple "Now I lay me down to sleep...God Bless..." was a good enough prayer, right? Still the light was in my life, even when there were dark times.

The day came though that the light needed to get into the corners. My money decisions were leading us to ruin. My husband trusted me and yet I had failed. Could it really be that the world's way of spending our money wasn't the right way? Was maxing out our credit cards and not paying our mortgage not the right way? There was only one way to bring light into the darkness, to surrender to the light.

Now I do not walk in darkness, I walk with the light of life. Will you let the light come in? Will you let the light drive out the darkness? Can Jesus come into all the corners and crevices of your life?