will you help?

 

It has been a full and good week already.  Today I would like to share with you just a little of the overflow.

In one week I will be headed back to Cuba where I get to serve once again with the FCA sports ministry.  Please pray for this important ministry as the Cuban leaders are making a great impact on the lives of athletes, coaches and their families.  The doors are open for the work and for the churches connected to the ministry seeing God work.

I ask you to do three specific things.  First, please pray for the ministry and those doing the ministry.  Pray for the team members traveling with me on this trip (team members are from Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Minnesota and Costa Rica). Pray for the staff of the sports ministry in Cuba and their families.  Second, please consider going on a mission trip with me in the future.  Get your passport and let me know you are interested.  And third, please give to help this ministry.  A gift of any size is helpful.  Money goes to help with travel, to purchase sports equipment, to build and maintain sports fields and equipment and to help with special projects.  Gifts can be given through our church or given to me directly.

Thank you ahead of time for joining me in being on mission to see God radically change lives in Virginia, in Cuba and in other places.  Together we are stronger.

Colossians 3:4  NLT  

And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Finally in this devotion I am going to share some of my takeaways from the pastors meeting I have attended the last two days.  Some of these are huge.  All have encouraged me to keep on doing what God called me to.  Read on…

• We cannot move forward without establishing trust.  

• Build unity among leaders by spending time together and changing the culture of your organization.

• Jesus knew we would need each other.  He calls us to be with Him so that He can teach us and send us out.

• When you share the Gospel, expect spiritual warfare to happen.

• We are all one decision away from a stupid decision. 

• More people are saved when the church is scattered and sharing the Gospel than when the church is gathered.

• When the culture seems to be against us, we have to keep living with Christ and great character.

• There was a time when culture helped build character and supported the church.  Now the culture is doing everything to harm the church and what we stand for.

• Churches that teach dads to fight for their kids and for their families will survive in the future.

• Even people who do not know God or love His church know that something is wrong.  Families need to be built and supported.  Even non christians know that something needs to change.

• A disciple making culture is like a sports team.  All participants need to be a part.

• There are many things we can do, but Jesus said there is one thing we must do.  Make disciples.

• We are not the hero, but we are to point people to the hero.

• You haven’t made a disciple until your disciple makes a disciple.  

• People who do not rest are disobedient to God.  We need to rest to be at our best.  

• Take your sabbath on a regular basis or your sabbath will take you.

• Passion for ministry should never out pace our passion for the Lord.

• Disappointments will come.  But do not give up.

• Isaiah 53 says that Jesus took our sin AND our sadness upon Him so he can wipe away every tear.

• Don’t bargain with God.  Don’t bookkeep with God.  Don’t blame God.  Believe God.  God is trustworthy and will always do what is right.

• God notices those who are forgotten and those who are missed.

• Superiority is not the key in God’s kingdom.  Servanthood is.

I know that is a lot.  But those are so good.  I pray God uses one or two of these statements to get you thinking about His kingdom and helps you trust Him even more!