365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 276

I really liked what our pastor said in his sermon yesterday. He said Jesus had a mission statement: Seek and save what is lost. As followers of Christ, we have this as our mission statement as well. Our pastor is leading our church to really take the gospel out of the church and to where the people are. A church can't wait around for people to come to it. You have to go out and be where the people are and communicate in a way that they will be responsive to. It's exciting to see our church breaking free from the church of our past that hasn't been working and really work at doing what Christ wants us to do. Jesus didn't wait for people to come to him. He traveled all over going to the people. I am thankful to our pastor who will help lead this church to take the gospel to the people.

Ezekiel 24:12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 167

Yesterday at my job, I had the challenge of talking to an alarm company that thought they knew the law. The man was pretty adamant that he did not need to be paying just because, in his mind, no other alarm company was paying. I had to lead him to the truth in the kindest but firmest way I knew by simply stating over and over again, it's part of the ordinance. What I really wanted to do was yell at him and say look it's the law so just pay it. However, I need to keep my job... So, I kept on with kindness and firmness and ultimately the guy said can I pay with a credit card. I just chuckle about it now but in the moment, I was sweating it out dealing with this adversity to the truth. It makes me think of how difficult people probably are towards hearing the truth of the gospel. Their walls are up and their life experiences have cemented in their beliefs but we need to be persistent like God is with us. Never give up, never, ever. I think we can take down those walls people build up around themselves brick by brick with our kindness, our example, our conviction and commitment. Do you have someone who doesn't want to believe in Jesus? Doesn't want to hear the truth? Keep at them and let God work through you to take down the wall so they can see the light.
1 Timothy 2: 3-4 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.