Does Ministry ever take a rest? I hope not!! Since returning from our mission trip to Rochester, NY I am learning so much about Ministry. Not necessarily to the unsaved, but Discipleship, ministering to the believers. I'm not the one go out and randomly pray with people, or even stand at the alter and pray with someone just because they come and would like prayer. Not sure why I'm not all that comfortable doing that, but we all have stuff we need to work on.
I really enjoy encouraging believers and challenging them with the truths of the Word. Not that I am a Bible Scholar, but I like to take the Word and teach not only what the Bible says, but also what it doesn't say. Do you remember James and John asking Jesus if he wanted them to call down fire and destroy a Samaritan village(luke 9:54). Jesus kinda gave them a scolding. But think of the Faith of James and John.....what confidence!!! Almost as if they have done it before. Then only a few verses before those events, John saw someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus, and he wasn't an Apostle....John was offended, but Jesus said, "do not stop him". So you don't have to be anyone special, just a follower and lover of Jesus Christ, love Him and others, have compassion like Jesus, and the Holy Spirit gives you the same power the Apostles had. Jesus even tells us in the book of John (14:12) that we are to do even greater things than He did because we have the power of the Holy Spirit. Wow.....how do you grasp that. See the things that are said, and the things unsaid both match. Scripture is amazing.
I believe that the Biblical events build our faith, but we can't see them as Bible Stories, but Historical Events, Biblical Events. Stories are for children and society has changed the meaning of a story. Seems most stories we hear about are fiction. But the only thing fictional in the Bible are the Parables that Jesus tells. We have to take the word of God serious, what it says and what it also implies. Makes reading the Bible so much more interesting.
I have been leading a small group of Youth through discipleship material, basic Bible Doctrine. It is so much fun. Hearing all those crazy questions that nobody has the answers for. We have some amazing kids in our church, and I'm sure you do in yours as well. Get involved in their lives, give them space and respect and love them, and you'll be amazed how they trust you. Discipleship is Mentoring, just a "Church word". We mentor by building relationship and loving, and living, and watch your influence grow. They listen, and actually apply what they are being taught when it makes sense.
Privileged To Be In His Service,
Todd Smith
Monday, October 28, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
In The Field at Home
It has taken me some time to get back and finish up my blog about our Mission Trip to Rochester, NY. but here I am better late than never.
I titled this post "In the Field at Home" because so many wonder why we take missions teams overseas when there is so much that needs to be done here "at home". So as a review of our trip you will get a glance at Miracles happening in the field whither overseas or at home. First I want to tell you that a Missions trip is a war, a spiritual war is a fierce battle before, during and after the trip. We have seen this over the years, watching the enemy attach the adults and youth alike, watching them walk away from the church seemingly convinced they have done their good deed for life, now they can do as they please.
I want to start by Praising the Lord for our team, the Lord gave us a group willing to work, and willing to be mentored. We had young and older that working together, all learning as they go. Nobody was better than the other. We trusted each other, prayed with each other, and when the enemy was attacking we would pray. We got text messages in the middle of the night, and we prayed and watch the enemy flee.
Like I wrote about in our previous blog, the Lord gave us scriptures about doing Great things in His name, and prophetic words from our prayer partners that "Signs and Wonders" would follow us as we served. This was a confirmation of what the Lord had been teaching us, but did cause some fear of the unknown. But also some excitement to see the Lord use us for great things. I would love to go day by day, but instead I want to focus on two days that kinda cover everything that happened.
The day we went to the beach and handed out balloons was a first for us. Everyone had an opportunity to share "Encouragement Balloons" with many strangers. This gave us the opportunity to share what and why we were doing this for others. The balloons had paper tags that had encouraging words written on them. We had 7 new salvations that afternoon, and actually had a young lady rededicate her life because of the words on the paper. These encouraging words were the answer to things she had been praying about. God was confirming His love for her through these words. We had two boys from our team lead others to the Lord that had never lead anyone to salvation before. That is exciting! We planted seed in the lives of many, from many different backgrounds and faith ideas. This was really a day that created excitement and removed fear for the days to come. We worshipped on the beach for the remainder of the evening, praying, and sharing our experiences. You could see a light in their eyes that was shinning directly from their hearts.
Friday - Vacation Bible School was over and we had planned a free afternoon/evening at the beach. The enemy also had his plan. The youth went to the Mall, and then we were meeting at the beach. Kris and I had to make a trip to a few stores to buy supplies for the Family Carnival the next day. So when we finally meet at the beach, discouragement had set in. The beach was closed, it was windy and not many people hanging out at the beach. So I decided that we would go and try to find a different beach. Amanda was driving the van with all the kids (experience she will never forget), and they were getting hungry and discouraged. They couldn't find the beach and just wanted to get out. So we pulled over and I got in the van and drove and we took a different road toward the Lake and found a very small beach near a small peer. There were a couple restaurants right there so we decided "this is it" we are stopping and making the best of it. We walked out to the beach and a few of us went into the water and played frisbee, while other kinda scattered along the peer and other got a bite to eat. Some talking with each other, others spending time alone, and still others just observing. Discouragement was rampant, but God was aligning a master plan.
To make a really long story "shorter", a Chinese girl was following and teasing one of the girls on our team, and they started a friendly game. Then Kris started talking with them and they began to talk about Jesus. She was a Christian, but she was scared because her family were not. So as they were talking the family came and a rather lengthly discussion took place and the entire family received Jesus as their savior. The young girl spoke english fluently, but the family spoke only a few common words. So the young girls translated the entire conversation, But when they prayed the prayer of salvation with a young girl from our team, they prayed in Fluent English, and then again in Chinese. Did you see that , Fluent English. That was super exciting for everyone involved. The discouragement was lifting. As we regrouped and were discussing everything we started talking about Baptism. Three of our team members said, "I want Baptized, Now". We sat as a team and started to worship and pray, and a powerful time of prayer began to unravel. Chains were being broken, and hearts were being healed. We explained about Baptism with water and Baptism with the Holy Spirit, and out to the water we went. I still had my swim suit and T-shirt, others just their clothes, but one at a time we Baptized them. Then as we were standing there together close excited about their decisions, we told them that the Biblical example is Salvation, Water Baptism, and Baptism of the Holy Spirit. They immediately all said we want that too. So we talked a little and I explained to them how this happened for me, and how it happened for others I know. Then we prayed......Pray in tongues, and in own language.....first one, then the other, then the other began speaking in other tongues. Each one crying with the biggest smile on their faces I have ever seen. The coolest thing was when we were praying in a big huddle we didn't notice anything around us, but when we started towards the shore we saw that the peer was full of people that had come out to watch the sunset on Lake Ontario. Immediately my mind went to the book of Acts, when Peter had to explain when the tongues of fire fell on the disciples. Then preaching to all the bystanders. We all continued to worship and watch the sunset. As the sun was setting, the Chinese family walks down the peer waving, excited, but sad to go, as never to see us again. Simply humbled, and amazed at how the Lord changed the day from a discouragement to a HUGE memory for everyone. That was a Cornerstone for each of our lives, and our trip, but it wasn't over.
Family fun day was great....watched a young boy leave his Crutches behind as the youth prayed for him, and went away to play. Three Salvations. Lots of fun, and encouragement for the congregation and the community. Lots of games, candy and over 200 hotdogs for the kid in each of us.
Sunday morning arrived too early for most of us, but through the preaching of the word and the prayer with many in the team we had many healings. Our intercepter gave a testimony of a healing that took place in her leg and back from a few nights prior. She had her first full nights sleep in years. We had one lady receive Jesus as savior, and others healed from stomach issues. (We got email confirmation from one of those women telling us how good she feels.) Then is was time to pack up and head home.
Heading home you can't drive by Niagara Falls without stopping. So we spent a couple hours at the falls. As we were preparing to get dinner a man approached the group asking for something. We couldn't understand. He was deaf. One of our team members knows how to sign language pretty good so she came over and we had a really cool conversation with this man. He had never had hearing without hearing aides. With the aides he could only hear noise and it was soft. So they talked and he was a christian, so we asked him about his faith and if he believed Jesus could heal his hearing. So 16 people huddled around this man in the parking lot at Niagara Falls, praying in the Spirit then we asked him, "can you hear? " Nothing, so testing the Lord, we asked him to remove his hearing aides, and we prayed again. The parking lot blew up in prayer and praying Gods word about healing. After Kris started singing softly and he could hear a mumbling singing. First time every hearing anything without the hearing aides. So we prayed one more time and praised the Lord for being faithful, and watching the kids eyes of faith open bigger than they have ever been before.
Wiped out, we headed home with so many memories, and we were able to say, The Lord fulfilled the words form our prayer partner, "Signs and Wonders" did follow the ministry of our team. We observed the book of Acts first hand.
So Miracles still happen today, and some things you can't explain without seeing first hand.
Praise the Lord..........Lord Send us Again Soon
Now we are being diligent, working with the team, encouraging them so they don't fall as we have seen so many before.
Thanks for you interest in Crossing the Jordan Ministries, and remember God's word is truth, and if it worked then it will work today.......if you Believe!!
In His Service,
Todd
I titled this post "In the Field at Home" because so many wonder why we take missions teams overseas when there is so much that needs to be done here "at home". So as a review of our trip you will get a glance at Miracles happening in the field whither overseas or at home. First I want to tell you that a Missions trip is a war, a spiritual war is a fierce battle before, during and after the trip. We have seen this over the years, watching the enemy attach the adults and youth alike, watching them walk away from the church seemingly convinced they have done their good deed for life, now they can do as they please.
I want to start by Praising the Lord for our team, the Lord gave us a group willing to work, and willing to be mentored. We had young and older that working together, all learning as they go. Nobody was better than the other. We trusted each other, prayed with each other, and when the enemy was attacking we would pray. We got text messages in the middle of the night, and we prayed and watch the enemy flee.
Like I wrote about in our previous blog, the Lord gave us scriptures about doing Great things in His name, and prophetic words from our prayer partners that "Signs and Wonders" would follow us as we served. This was a confirmation of what the Lord had been teaching us, but did cause some fear of the unknown. But also some excitement to see the Lord use us for great things. I would love to go day by day, but instead I want to focus on two days that kinda cover everything that happened.
The day we went to the beach and handed out balloons was a first for us. Everyone had an opportunity to share "Encouragement Balloons" with many strangers. This gave us the opportunity to share what and why we were doing this for others. The balloons had paper tags that had encouraging words written on them. We had 7 new salvations that afternoon, and actually had a young lady rededicate her life because of the words on the paper. These encouraging words were the answer to things she had been praying about. God was confirming His love for her through these words. We had two boys from our team lead others to the Lord that had never lead anyone to salvation before. That is exciting! We planted seed in the lives of many, from many different backgrounds and faith ideas. This was really a day that created excitement and removed fear for the days to come. We worshipped on the beach for the remainder of the evening, praying, and sharing our experiences. You could see a light in their eyes that was shinning directly from their hearts.
Friday - Vacation Bible School was over and we had planned a free afternoon/evening at the beach. The enemy also had his plan. The youth went to the Mall, and then we were meeting at the beach. Kris and I had to make a trip to a few stores to buy supplies for the Family Carnival the next day. So when we finally meet at the beach, discouragement had set in. The beach was closed, it was windy and not many people hanging out at the beach. So I decided that we would go and try to find a different beach. Amanda was driving the van with all the kids (experience she will never forget), and they were getting hungry and discouraged. They couldn't find the beach and just wanted to get out. So we pulled over and I got in the van and drove and we took a different road toward the Lake and found a very small beach near a small peer. There were a couple restaurants right there so we decided "this is it" we are stopping and making the best of it. We walked out to the beach and a few of us went into the water and played frisbee, while other kinda scattered along the peer and other got a bite to eat. Some talking with each other, others spending time alone, and still others just observing. Discouragement was rampant, but God was aligning a master plan.
To make a really long story "shorter", a Chinese girl was following and teasing one of the girls on our team, and they started a friendly game. Then Kris started talking with them and they began to talk about Jesus. She was a Christian, but she was scared because her family were not. So as they were talking the family came and a rather lengthly discussion took place and the entire family received Jesus as their savior. The young girl spoke english fluently, but the family spoke only a few common words. So the young girls translated the entire conversation, But when they prayed the prayer of salvation with a young girl from our team, they prayed in Fluent English, and then again in Chinese. Did you see that , Fluent English. That was super exciting for everyone involved. The discouragement was lifting. As we regrouped and were discussing everything we started talking about Baptism. Three of our team members said, "I want Baptized, Now". We sat as a team and started to worship and pray, and a powerful time of prayer began to unravel. Chains were being broken, and hearts were being healed. We explained about Baptism with water and Baptism with the Holy Spirit, and out to the water we went. I still had my swim suit and T-shirt, others just their clothes, but one at a time we Baptized them. Then as we were standing there together close excited about their decisions, we told them that the Biblical example is Salvation, Water Baptism, and Baptism of the Holy Spirit. They immediately all said we want that too. So we talked a little and I explained to them how this happened for me, and how it happened for others I know. Then we prayed......Pray in tongues, and in own language.....first one, then the other, then the other began speaking in other tongues. Each one crying with the biggest smile on their faces I have ever seen. The coolest thing was when we were praying in a big huddle we didn't notice anything around us, but when we started towards the shore we saw that the peer was full of people that had come out to watch the sunset on Lake Ontario. Immediately my mind went to the book of Acts, when Peter had to explain when the tongues of fire fell on the disciples. Then preaching to all the bystanders. We all continued to worship and watch the sunset. As the sun was setting, the Chinese family walks down the peer waving, excited, but sad to go, as never to see us again. Simply humbled, and amazed at how the Lord changed the day from a discouragement to a HUGE memory for everyone. That was a Cornerstone for each of our lives, and our trip, but it wasn't over.
Family fun day was great....watched a young boy leave his Crutches behind as the youth prayed for him, and went away to play. Three Salvations. Lots of fun, and encouragement for the congregation and the community. Lots of games, candy and over 200 hotdogs for the kid in each of us.
Sunday morning arrived too early for most of us, but through the preaching of the word and the prayer with many in the team we had many healings. Our intercepter gave a testimony of a healing that took place in her leg and back from a few nights prior. She had her first full nights sleep in years. We had one lady receive Jesus as savior, and others healed from stomach issues. (We got email confirmation from one of those women telling us how good she feels.) Then is was time to pack up and head home.
Heading home you can't drive by Niagara Falls without stopping. So we spent a couple hours at the falls. As we were preparing to get dinner a man approached the group asking for something. We couldn't understand. He was deaf. One of our team members knows how to sign language pretty good so she came over and we had a really cool conversation with this man. He had never had hearing without hearing aides. With the aides he could only hear noise and it was soft. So they talked and he was a christian, so we asked him about his faith and if he believed Jesus could heal his hearing. So 16 people huddled around this man in the parking lot at Niagara Falls, praying in the Spirit then we asked him, "can you hear? " Nothing, so testing the Lord, we asked him to remove his hearing aides, and we prayed again. The parking lot blew up in prayer and praying Gods word about healing. After Kris started singing softly and he could hear a mumbling singing. First time every hearing anything without the hearing aides. So we prayed one more time and praised the Lord for being faithful, and watching the kids eyes of faith open bigger than they have ever been before.
Wiped out, we headed home with so many memories, and we were able to say, The Lord fulfilled the words form our prayer partner, "Signs and Wonders" did follow the ministry of our team. We observed the book of Acts first hand.
So Miracles still happen today, and some things you can't explain without seeing first hand.
Praise the Lord..........Lord Send us Again Soon
Now we are being diligent, working with the team, encouraging them so they don't fall as we have seen so many before.
Thanks for you interest in Crossing the Jordan Ministries, and remember God's word is truth, and if it worked then it will work today.......if you Believe!!
In His Service,
Todd
Thursday, August 15, 2013
It's in the Preparation!!!
Mission Rochester, NY - August 5th-11th.
Inglesia Santidad Pentecostal - Pastor Josè Marrero
Well I know this is after the fact, our trip is over, and we are starting back to work. But "Preparation" was the key!! All sixteen of our team did an AWESOME job. As I look back and see our team before the trip, and look at them now, I see 16 different people. The team has grown spiritually by leaps and bounds, and like I stated, it was in the preparation.
We started this missions journey with the intention of helping my daughter lead a small missions team to an inner city and do street evangelism. Well, after looking for potential destinations we decided to work with a church in our conference. This is a Hispanic church (as you can tell by the name above) and my daughter is studying education with a spanish minor, and I have been self teaching myself spanish for a few years. So we started making the budget and praying for the Lord to direct us toward who should be apart of the trip. All of us being very Youth Ministry Minded we decided to take a small College age group. Then it turned into some younger high school kids. So we ended with mix of 3 - 40 somethings, 5 - 20 somethings, and 8 - teenagers. We wanted to serve the church and community somehow, and in talking with the Pastor, he requested a Vacation Bible School. So we made the plans and looked at our team......PERFECT!!! Everyone fit a position perfectly. Next!
We always want to go to the streets prepared. So we picked a drama or two and started having practices. Those practices started turning into worship and prayer meetings. This was exactly what the team needed. This was building unity much better than any practice ever could. Hearts were softened, and the Lord was teaching us about Faith, and how real faith works. The Lord gave us Scriptures each practice that challenged our faith, and we had to ask ourselves if we really believed the Bible. All of the Bible!! If God said it, and you believe it then we must act on it. Then the Lord reminded us of this scripture.
John 14: "12Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."
How is this possible. We had prayer partners that were telling us that Signs and wonders would follow our trip....What???? They knew nothing about our meetings and worship and the Word the Lord was giving us. We would pray for the team members by name and declare the impossible things in their lives healed. We would pray and believe, not because we understand, but because we were testing our faith. We believed the word, but we needed the Holy Spirit to help us with our unbelief.
So as preparation winded down and we started to take action, our faith was building and our hearts were growing more tender toward the Lord. We started to see the hearts of some of the team, some swelling with excitement and others swelling with pain. Pain that their own life and family have brought them. So again and again we put our faith to the test, and reminded the Lord of His word (like he needs reminded) but prayed His own words back to Him. Accepting the healing and believing for restoration.
What happened in the field???? You'll have to wait for the next blog....Maybe next week. Come back and check it out!!
In His Service,
Todd Smith
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Todd, my daughter and I are preparing a missions trip in Aug. to go to Rochester, NewYork with 13 other people. As I was thinking about our trip and what God is wanting us to do I read several different scriptures. My main focus was on Ephesians 1:18-21 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may KNOW the hope to which HE has Called YOU, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, vs.19 and HIS INCOMPARABLY great POWER for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms vs. 21 far ABOVE all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given not only int he present age but also in the one to come. ( PRAISE THE LORD) Friends... what incredible power God has placed with you. It is like a mighty power that raised Christ from the dead ( Eph 1:19-20) This is overwhelming! We must Realize this! God's power is immediately available to you. Question is are we using it? We have all been given an assignment; bring healing to the wounded and hurting ( Mt.10:8), offer freedom to those in spiritual bondage ( Isa 42:6-7) and spread the gospel, which is the power of God for salvation ( Ro 1:16, 1 Co 1:18) We are not capable of doing these things on our own we are only able to do them in the power of God. So my question for you? Is your power and authority limited? Yes it is, however by God's will just as Jesus power was Jn 5:19. The degree to which God can use us is determined by his discernment of his will. We must line up our will with his and ask according to his will. 1Jn 5:14. We can discern Gods will in order to effectively use the power and authority God has given us. We must develop a close, intimate relationship with the father. If we lack the power necessary to live out the assignment God has given us then follow the example of Jesus and his disciples: We must ask for and wait for the Holy Spirit power and develop an intimate relationship with God in order to discern his will and move out in faith, NOT human wisdom the flesh. Remember our faith plays an important role in regard to power. It is God's power in us, but it is appropriated through your faith. So lets ask God to fill us with power through his Spirit. Pray for his wisdom. Pray for the faith to go out and be his disciple. Then Go! One more time! Reflect on this! vs.19 and HIS INCOMPARABLY great POWER for us who believe. WOW! By Kris Smith
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
In the Heat of the Moment
The Lord showed this to me this morning during my quiet time: I pray this will help you along with your journey with God:
Why is it, that when we give something over to God for God to handle we then take it back within a day, week or month.. The Lord wants us to depend on him with all things. Prov. 3:4&6 How quick the devil comes to steal our dreams or steal the freedom that God has put into us. The Freedom of trusting God and letting go of our selfish pride and trying to figure things out our own way. Isn't God the Potter and we are the Clay? Yes! The scriptures do not say... God is the Clay and we are the Potter. But Dang... We sure have a habit of switching the scriptures around to fit our own benefit. Does that Help you but doing that? NO! God's word is our protection. God's word is our Guide!
Let me give you an example... A construction worker is out working in 98 degree heat. No clouds... This guy is so hot and he is covered with clothing for protection. So with this heat he starts to get weary thinking... ok Maybe if I take my shirt off I would feel cooler... (So he takes it off.).. Then he thinks Man I could just take these Hot boots off! My feet are so hot I would surely feel much better.. What would it hurt.. Just one time? Really fast... ( Again he is thinking with his own thinking) So he doesn't push through this heat and still gets weary and then takes the boots off! So what happens? His feet touches the Hot pavement and he actually burns them! You know kinda like taking your flip flops off at the beach because you want to walk gracefully on the sand and take in the beauty and scenery of the ocean in front of you? And when you take them off what happens?
OH MY STARS you start jumping around like a rabbit trying to get to the water. Your feet are on fire! Was it smart for that Construction worker to take his boots off? (NO)! Was it smart for that person to take their flip flops off? No... So see God says today... Stay faithful.. Don't waiver in your faith with me. Keep alert and stay strong until you have completed the race! If the Construction worker would have just pushed through his day and drank cool refreshing water and would have gotten through it. See his boots are his protection.
Just like God's words is our protection. If we do not hold onto God and are not being in the word of God daily we can loose sight of what God is doing in us and through us. We cannot go by our own emotions and feelings on how WE think things should be in our life or in a situation. We can be like that person at the beach and enjoy the things God has for us around us. The beauty, the warmth, the scenery... But be careful that you don't do things your own way or own thinking and take your flip flops off to soon. You will get burnt! Instead lets walk slowly with assurance of what God is doing in our life and in a situation and get to the end of the (beach) and then take our shoes off and step into the fresh cool water ( Which is God and what he has promised in doing for us) . We need to taste and see that the Lord is Good and wait on him and his perfect timing. 2 Cor 12: 9,10 , Phil 4:13. So how else can we do this? By doing what the scripture says: Col 3:2 set your mind on things above and not things of this earth! And we must daily Renew our mind! Eph 4:23
This is posted by Kris Smith... (Todd's Wife)
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Who's Hunting for You??
I was reading through the Bible a few years ago and came across a couple scriptures that were shockingly similar, yet worlds apart. I came across them again a few weeks ago skimming through my Bible reviewing my notes, recalling some of the intricate things the Lord showed me in His word. I came across 1 Peter 5:8 ".....Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I was sharing the following scriptures with a friend concerning resisting the devil, just encouraging him during a struggle he was going through. Noticing the scripture reference I wrote next to it and looking into the old testament at 2 Chronicles 16:9 - For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
Being a hunter, the Lord showed me that we are being hunted, like a wolf picking out the weak deer and pursuing it until it is too weak to resist. We are being hunted by two hunters, our Lord who Loves us and wants to strengthen us, and the enemy who wants to kill us. Anyone who has hunted much knows that when prey get scared they run to a safe place, for deer it's a thick peace of woods, a rabbit jumps in a hole, and squirrel run to the tops of the trees as far away from the predator as possible. This is what we should do also. Run to the Arms of the Lord. God is looking to strengthen those that are committed to him.
Are you committed to the Lord?? I know most of us think "Ya, I'm committed" I'm not like the other guy or gal, I'm not bad, I even serve in my church. But are you committed to the Lord or to your church? I have been there. I have been committed, I thought to the Lord, but in hind site I was committed to the Church and my Pastor, not to the Lord. I was weak, and easy prey for the enemy. I was too busy with my commitment to the church to see the devil prowling ready to devour. But then the Lord brought someone into my life that helped me see things the way God sees them, not man. I remembered that I used to see things that way........what happened? The enemy snuck in and was deceiving me, and working in my thoughts. I had become critical of others, and pride had shown it's dirty face. I was doing things for mans approval, ya I wanted God to accept it too, but so did Cain. He wanted God to accept his offering, but his motives were wrong, just like me.
After recognizing my sin, praying for forgiveness and returning to doing the things that I once did, I now felt as if the Lord had Strengthened me. I am thankful my Lord was Hunting for me, and pulled me out from under the snare of the enemy.
Have you been trapped in the snare of the the enemy? Run to the Lord, into his arms. Proverbs 16:3 says - Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Commit yourself to the Lord, for the first time, or for the 10th time. You see, Gods Love is not dependent on what we do for Him. Read Romans 8:28-39 - there is nothing that can separate us from the Love of Christ.......nothing we do can cause Him to stop loving us, or hunting us.
Being a hunter, the Lord showed me that we are being hunted, like a wolf picking out the weak deer and pursuing it until it is too weak to resist. We are being hunted by two hunters, our Lord who Loves us and wants to strengthen us, and the enemy who wants to kill us. Anyone who has hunted much knows that when prey get scared they run to a safe place, for deer it's a thick peace of woods, a rabbit jumps in a hole, and squirrel run to the tops of the trees as far away from the predator as possible. This is what we should do also. Run to the Arms of the Lord. God is looking to strengthen those that are committed to him.
Are you committed to the Lord?? I know most of us think "Ya, I'm committed" I'm not like the other guy or gal, I'm not bad, I even serve in my church. But are you committed to the Lord or to your church? I have been there. I have been committed, I thought to the Lord, but in hind site I was committed to the Church and my Pastor, not to the Lord. I was weak, and easy prey for the enemy. I was too busy with my commitment to the church to see the devil prowling ready to devour. But then the Lord brought someone into my life that helped me see things the way God sees them, not man. I remembered that I used to see things that way........what happened? The enemy snuck in and was deceiving me, and working in my thoughts. I had become critical of others, and pride had shown it's dirty face. I was doing things for mans approval, ya I wanted God to accept it too, but so did Cain. He wanted God to accept his offering, but his motives were wrong, just like me.
After recognizing my sin, praying for forgiveness and returning to doing the things that I once did, I now felt as if the Lord had Strengthened me. I am thankful my Lord was Hunting for me, and pulled me out from under the snare of the enemy.
Have you been trapped in the snare of the the enemy? Run to the Lord, into his arms. Proverbs 16:3 says - Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Commit yourself to the Lord, for the first time, or for the 10th time. You see, Gods Love is not dependent on what we do for Him. Read Romans 8:28-39 - there is nothing that can separate us from the Love of Christ.......nothing we do can cause Him to stop loving us, or hunting us.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Dwell (by Aaron Keyes, In the Living Room)
Remember No weapons form against will prosper! Be Blessed friends!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Missions
Tonight we had our MIssions Practice. What a great night! 14 young adults plugged into learning the Drama "Life House!" This is defiantly going to be a stretch in many of our lives to share the gospel in Rochester NY. Our team consist of 16 people. The ages range from 14-26 years of age. Ok.. Not including Todd and I lol. We are very excited to see the group that God has knitted together for our team! Each person is gifted in so many ways! We have scheduled MANY prayer, Dance, Dramas etc.. for this next month! We would appreciate prayer for this outreach! We will be heading to Rochester on Aug 5-11th to do a VBS and Street Evangelism. Our hope is in the Lord that many will come to know who Jesus is as their Savior! Remember friends : We all have an assignment from God! What is yours? So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people. GALATIANS 6:10
God Bless,
Kris
God Bless,
Kris
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Our Divine Missionary
Hello World, My wife and I have decided to start a Blog page with the strong prompting from a young man that sees things in us that we only see in part. We believe that God places people in our lives for a purpose, and we believe this is a divine connection that will push us further than we have ever been
God often uses the young to teach the older (cause we aren't old yet), and we gladly accept him as part of our family. We will be serving the Lord together as often as possible. Soon we will be serving on a missions trip together with a group of various ages trying to move them from a simple "Surviving" relationship with the Lord to a "Thriving" relationship. This is our Mission. To help convince others that it is better to be outside the boat walking on water than sitting in the boat telling others how impossible it is to walk on water. Many people see their dreams and desires just as impossible as walking on water, but the Bible says, with Christ All things are possible.
So come back often and enjoy an encouraging word and maybe we can help you to walk on water.
In His Service,
Todd and Kris Smith
God often uses the young to teach the older (cause we aren't old yet), and we gladly accept him as part of our family. We will be serving the Lord together as often as possible. Soon we will be serving on a missions trip together with a group of various ages trying to move them from a simple "Surviving" relationship with the Lord to a "Thriving" relationship. This is our Mission. To help convince others that it is better to be outside the boat walking on water than sitting in the boat telling others how impossible it is to walk on water. Many people see their dreams and desires just as impossible as walking on water, but the Bible says, with Christ All things are possible.
So come back often and enjoy an encouraging word and maybe we can help you to walk on water.
In His Service,
Todd and Kris Smith
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