Obeying the Nudge – Home Baking & A Coffee

have you ever felt a nudge, to do something, speak to someone, say something… like a compelling

today i did

i felt a nudge, a compelling, to give the 50+ year old man fixing our bath some of the baking i was making and a cup of coffee. 

simple gesture.

nice. hospitable.

he then surprised me by saying he hasn’t had home baking since he was 12.

yes TWELVE.

about 2 hours later we’re sitting down over another cuppa talking about God, me telling him my story and him talking about where he is at.

baking opens doors.

obeying the nudge of the Holy Spirit opens doors and hearts.

yay God.

so go on… no matter how random, or simple, or insignificant that nudge may feel… step out and do it…

take the opportunity, and see an opportunity open

Praying at the Petrol Station

this morning i took our gas heater bottle to the petrol station to refill.  there are 2 options for refilling.  swap and go or refill.  i noticed a lady getting 3 gas bottles refilled. swap and go would have been the faster option.  but i chose to refill.  i stood in the freezing temps waiting for her bottles to be filled and started a conversation.  about the weather naturally.  after a few minutes i thought to myself THIS IS MY MOMENT.  on sunday our youth pastor challenged us to step out of the boat and get into the world and talk to people in our lives about jesus.  that includes strangers.  THIS WAS MY MOMENT. so i stepped out of the boat.  i waited for a conversation transition.  she mentioned that her daughter was sick and her asthma was flaring up badly.  i stepped out of the boat.  “this may sound random, but i’m a christian and believe God is real and that He can heal us.  can i pray for you and your daughter?”  she turned, kind of amazed, and said “i’m a christian too, and yes please” i helped her load her 3 gas bottles into the boot of her car and as another customer and the petrol man watched i put my hand on her shoulder and prayed.  i prayed for God’s blessing and for Him to heal her daughter.  at the end she was like “wow” and asked for my number and name and gave me her business card.  thanks Jesus for such a positive encounter. i love talking to strangers about jesus.  and i love praying for God to demonstrate His reality to anyone. 

As You Step Out

some of us are naturally wired to connect and talk with strangers and friends about what God is doing in our lives.  but others of us are not so comfortable stepping out and sharing.  regardless of who we are and how we work and are wired we are called to be witnesses and to share the gospel, with our lives and actions and with words.  the awesome thing is that it is GOD THAT SAVES and the HOLY SPIRIT THAT DRAWS AND REVEALS but we are the SEED PLANTERS.  we are called to share and witness and be ambassadors for Christ.  and God has lots and lots and LOTS of promises that can give us confidence that as we step out His power ENCOMPASES US and STEPS OUT with us to ACCOMPLISH great things.  when you step out His power is available and He empowers us.  when we step out He can give us the right words to say.  These promises are for stepping out.  they come into effect when we step out.  you get my point. 

so be confident.  be secure.  be encouraged.  be inspired. 

God’s is ready and willing to empower you to tell the Good News of His love and grace.

 

50 things God promises you as you step out in evangelism today (a very partial list):

1. He will go with you, sustain you, and strengthen you. (Psalm 89:21, 22)
2. You are His beloved, He believes in you. (Rom. 1:7)
3. He will be your confidence. (Prov. 3:21, 26)
4. He has set you apart from the world. (Psalm 4:3) 
5. He will deliver you—no matter what. (Psalm 18:19)
6. He will increase you mightily. (Deut. 6:3)
7. He will hear you if you ask for help today. (Prov. 3:21)
8. Even if chaos abounds, you will experience perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3)
9. The waters may rise; but they won’t overtake you. (Isaiah 43:2)
10. You do not labor in vain. (Isaiah 65:23)
11. He will reward you. (Psalm 18:20)
12. If you are called to wait on Him, you’re gonna be okay there. (Isaiah 30:18)
13. He will fill you when you need it—just like He always has. (Psalm 81:10)
14. Your barn is going to bust open with blessing. (Prov. 3:9-10)
15. You can’t imagine the mercy ahead. (Psalm 18:25)
16. You will have the things you need. (Psalm 34:9)
17. God will restore your soul. (Psalm 23:3)
18. You will keep going and not grow weary. (Isaiah 40:13)
19. Your words will extinguish anger. (Prov. 15:1)
20. You will find happiness as you share. (Prov. 14:21)
21. Your reward beyond today is heaven—wow! (Psalm 23:6)
22. If you mess up, He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)
23. If you are wise, you will win souls. (Prov. 11:30)
24. You’ve got blessings waiting around the corner. (Psalm 24:4-5)
25. He’ll guide you through the rough spots and help you do the right thing. (Psalm 25:9)
26. Your soul will be at ease amid the storm. (Psalm 25:12-13)
27. You’re stronger than you think—because He will strengthen your heart. (Psalm 27:14)
28. Angels are encamped around you. (Psalm 34:7)
29. The troubles of this day can’t stand up to His power. (Psalm 34:17)
30. You will experience supernatural peace. (Psalm 37:11)
31. He will be the order that covers your disorder. (Psalms 37:23-24)
32. He will deliver you from wicked, conspiring people around you. (Psalm 37:40)
33. His Spirit will teach you and fill your gaps. (John 14:26)
34. He will bless those who declare His name. (Psalm 89:15)
35. He will hold all the pieces of your life together. (Psalm 46:1)
36. He will keep you safe under His mighty wings. (Psalm 91:1)
37. Nothing needs to offend you today. His Spirit in you is bigger than all of that. (Psalm 119:165)
38. Carry on through sadness. He will replace your tears with joy. (Psalm 126:5)
39. He’s going to tame your doubt and fulfill that dream in your heart. (Psalm 37:4)
40. He will provide everything—He’s your need-filler. (Psalm 23:1)
41. Have confidence. He will make His words known to you. (Prov. 1:23)
42. Surrender your view of things and people—He will give you spiritual eyes. (Psalm 146:8)
43. If you seek Him, you will find Him. (2 Chronicles 15:2)
44. With each day, you are growing stronger and stronger. (Job 17:9)
45. He will pour out His Spirit on you. (Prov. 1:23
46. God will put a new song in your mouth—and many will put their trust in Him.  (Psalm 40:3)
47. He’s got wisdom ready for you to use. (Prov. 2:7)
48. You will lay down tonight and have sweet sleep. (Prov. 3:21)
49. He loves you to eternity and back. (Psalm 146:8)
50. His covenant of Love to you will never, ever fail. (Psalm 89:28)

list used with permission from @stickyjesus – 50 promises God gives you as step into the digital world today

The Mission

Jesus Christ is alive. Jesus is actually alive! Jesus died for sin and rose and that Jesus Christ can take away sin. People don’t need to go to hell. They can go to Heaven. They don’t need to be disconnected from God. They can be connected to God. They don’t need to live lives of sin. They can live lives of transforming grace. People don’t need to do anything to merit the love of God. “God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

The good news is that Jesus is alive and that he is seated on his thrown in Heaven. He’s ruling and reigning over all creation. That means that every nation and every city and every neighbourhood and every block and every suburban and rural area and every cul-de-sac and every coffee shop and every house is under the lordship of Jesus,

And there are people there that he loves.

There are people there that he’s willing to forgive.

There are people there that he’s willing to save.

There are people there that he’s willing to befriend.

There are people there that he’s willing to change.

There are people there that he’s willing to be with forever in the New Jerusalem, the great city that he’s created for us. So I urge you today: if you don’t know Jesus, give him your sin, receive his salvation, and get connected to Jesus.We implore you to be connected to Jesus’ mission.

“We nominate ourselves to love and serve the people here on behalf of the God who loves us so well.”

Mark Driscoll Mars Hill

 

 

What’s your One Thing?

“People were Jesus One Thing.   and they still are.  people who are sick.  people who are lonely.  people who are wandering, depressed and hopeless.  peple who have gotten themselves tangled up in suffocating habbits and destructive realtionships.”  Bill Hybels from Just Walk Across The Room

i love this quote.  i love this about Jesus.  i love how he loves people in the bible.  i love how he loves me.  i love how he saved me. and continues to save me in my life.

jesus doesnt ask us to be perfect when we come to him.  in fact he came to seek and save the lost and continues to do that.  and he uses us to help fulfill that mission.  as he died for us and died for the sins of the whole world to make us all acceptable to God and then he rose again and then asended to heaven – he gave his followers, his believers, his saved ones, the Holy Spirit to dwell within them and empower them to seek and introduce salvation (tell the good news – as it is God who saves, not us) to the lost.

know someone lonely?  know someone broken?  know someone depressed and hopeless?  know someone who smells?  know someone with a drinking problem?  know someone who failed?  know someone hurt?  know someone who needs Jesus?

remember, Jesus gave his life to save them.  they are lost.  Jesus has grace and compassion and love for them.  be part of the process.  plant a seed.  water seeds.  prepare ground.  share Jesus.  share the good news.  share what God has done in your life.

pray and ask Jesus to make his one thing our one thing.

i will do one thing today… love people and tell them the gospel…

Given To His Presence

“Jesus gave us a mandate to preach and demonstrate the Kingdom of God. In doing so, we re-present Jesus for who He is. Our heart’s cry is to become a people so given to His presence that we are able to live with the power and character that transforms cities and nations.” – Bill Johnson

For His glory

He must increase

I must decrease

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

Here am I, Send ME

People speak of "the call of the prophet" in Isaiah chapter six. But he never was called. He volunteered. Isaiah overheard God say "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us" as if addressing another partner in the Godhead. He did not say "Isaiah, will you go?" Isaiah realized God would send anybody willing. He ventured to offer himself. "Here I am. Send me". The Lord did not hesitate or ask Isaiah to submit his C.V. first. He just said, "Go!" Isaiah’s God is our God. Let’s go! Got it? REINHARD BONNKE

GO!

The disciples had the tremendous privilege and advantage of being pupils of the Master of all masters, Jesus. Yet long before he had finished their education he sent them out to do what he was doing. Actually, that was part of their training and always is. We learn by doing.

A piano teacher can tell a pupil what to do, but the pupil has to sit at the keyboard doing it, putting in daily practice. That is how he gains the skill.

A key word in the Mark’s Gospel is “immediately,” or “straightway.” It occurs over 40 times. It is thought that Peter was behind Mark’s Gospel and Peter was himself an “immediate” man, impetuous. Jesus was the Man for Peter, for he was also a direct action personality. The Lord seemed so unhurried, with time for everybody, but he accomplished more in his brief ministry than any man in a lifetime. What a pattern to follow. REINHARD BONNKE

Todays Mission

so today i zoomed around and did some shopping and wasnt super looking for an opportunity to step and out talk to strangers about Jesus though i think at the same time i was hungry for the chance…

so at the end of my morning i had to go back to a shop to pick up my I AM A BUTTERFLY KILLER tshirt (i am sure i’ll post on that one day… until then you’ll just have to wonder!) and i saw an older woman sitting on a bench seat  by herself.  she was polynesian and in her late 50’s-maybe 60’s (i so am bad at guessing ages!)

i thought to myself, if she was younger, i’d go and talk to her…

and i had one of those d-ah moments.  d-ah just do it.  God sometimes speaks in the d-ah’s to me.

so i went over and said, excuse me, my name is claire, and then i begun to share that i like to talk to strangers and tell them God loves them and ask if there is anything i can pray for.  i EVEN told her that wee bit before, yip the d-ah moment and said how i felt from God that i should talk to her anyway! 

i asked her if she was christian, if she believes in Jesus.  and she said, oh yes.  and told me she goes to a catholic church but has had many friends become born again and tell her that catholic is no no… so i encouraged her, said that when you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord as the way to heaven, forgiver of our sins etc that THAT is what makes us born again on the inside… i think she really is a true believer.  so i encouraged her so.

asked her if there was anything i could pray for and she called her husband over who was coming out of a shop and told him what i was doing and he was like “wow okay” (but not in those words lol)

so she asked if i could pray for continued health, she is just recovering from breast cancer and also doesnt want to be worrying about health.

so i laid my hand on her shoulder, told her what i was doing and closed my eyes and prayed.

oh there was a beautiful sense of Holy Spirit there!

when i opened my eyes she had teared up.

Oh how HE loves us and reveals His love to us!

 

it was a beautiful moment.

thank you Jesus.

all glory to Him for His fames sake.

 

now if i can do this – go and do the same.  go and share and love and pray and learn.  i am doing it one step at a time and learning in each conversation.

On A Mission

something has stirred within me.

a desire to speak to the lost and to go out and just do it.

to pray for them.

to talk with them.

yesterday i dropped some books in at the library and it was just on my mind, i want to be like those who are OUT THERE talking and sharing and doing the work of an evangelist. 

in my heart i felt, JUST DO IT.  just do it. begin.

a young Polynesian man walked past.  cool hat.  lowriders.

just do it claire.  just do it.

“excuse me” i said.  he stopped and turned and a conversation begun.

i told him that i am a christian and believe God is supernaturally real and that He wanted me to stop him and talk to Him and encourage Him.  i asked if he was a christian.  “no” he said.  so we talked and then i asked if i could do something even more weirder, than just talking to him – that is to pray for him… i would just close my eyes and would pray.  it was okay so i did.  this young man was quite moved and “touched”/impressed/wow’d a bit that i would stop and talk to him and tell him God loves him and knows him…and that he can know Him too…

i left the conversation buzzed.  i did it!

i just did it!

and i learned – next time – ask the person what they need prayer for.  more gospel – the gospel isnt just God loves you, there is more and i MUST share it and tell it.

 

 

so last night, lying in bed, i asked God to lead me and that today i would go on a mission for him.

i felt led to go to Boardertown at botany and talk and pray for someone in a red jumper.  that was the instruction and leading.  it popped into my mind and so that was my mission.

now, get this – i didnt even know if there WAS a Boardertown at botany – our mall.  so i went there this morning after dropping the kids off to school and kindy and looked on the “shop location board” and sure enough – NO boardertown!  but i knew there must be, cos God told me… so i walked around and found it

i waited a minute and there she was. 

a red jumper – worn by a lovely looking young polynesian lady. with 2 friends.

“excuse me” i said.

i told them that i am a christian and believe God is supernaturally real and that i felt led to come and wait outside Boardertown for someone in a red jumper.
she was a christian so i felt led to encourage her that she is on His heart and then asked if there was anything i can pray for (what i learned from yesterdays mission – ASK THEM what God can do) and then prayed, all the time also talking and including her 2 non christian friends.

NEXT TIME i’ll ask to pray for the non christians who are with the person God led me too, and also more clearer gospel…

but it is a start.  though i know not really what i am doing i am doing it.  i am letting God lead the way and i trust that those people i talked to will be stirred and draw towards Him by Holy Spirit. 

 

mission impossible is totally mission possible with the boldness and love of God!

 

more Lord, come Holy Spirit, let there be harvest