Weekly Devo - "Press on, Messengers!" - 4/13/15

Press on, Messengers!

from Lenae, GEM Training Manager

At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!” (Luke 13:31-33)

Nothing distracted or deterred Jesus from His mission. No amount of . . .

• Unbelief
• Rejection
• Opposition
• Threats to His life, or
• Lies and temptations from the enemy

. . . kept Him from reaching His goal. He would press on and fulfill His mission to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners, sight for the blind, release for the oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19). 

And although He never lost sight of His mission, what He did see broke His heart. The ones He came to save wanted to stone Him. The people He longed to enfold like a hen that gathers her chicks under her wings were not willing to come. He was despised and rejected by mankind . . . like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised . . . (Isaiah 53:3).

And while the ones He loved spewed spit on and slapped His face, and His own Father turned His face away from His Son, Jesus set His face on the cross. Because He so loved the world, He pressed on and humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).  

As His messengers, do we get stalled when people don’t respond in the ways we had hoped? Do we get sidelined in sharing the good news when things don’t go the way we had prayed?

Grieve for the lost, but do not give up! Weep for those who are separated from Christ, but do not abandon your mission. Press on, dear messengers! Compelled by Jesus’ love and eyes fixed full on His wonderful face, keep bringing the message!

Send Me: Does your heart break for the lost? If not, pray for it. Then press on and share the good news with a world desperate for Jesus.

If Christ cried out and wept over Jerusalem, can we not cry out and weep over our families, friends, streets, neighborhoods, towns, and cities? Christ and those closest to Him in spirit and character are grieved when the gospel is preached and sinners are not saved. — Jeremy Walker re 

Have You Ever Wondered? - Weekly Devo - 4/6/15

Have you ever wondered?
 

 from Lenae GEMS Training Manager

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:27).

The women wondered. When Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome ran to Jesus’ tomb and found it empty, they were alarmed and wondered.

Peter wondered. Although the women told the apostles that Jesus is risen the men thought the message sounded like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened (v. 12).

The men on the Road to Emmaus wondered. On that same day Cleopas and his friend were on their way to a village called Emmaus. As they walked, they talked about all that had happened. They wondered what this was all about? They had hoped Jesus would redeem Israel, and now this. He’s crucified and dead!

Then Jesus came up, and walked with them. He entered the discussion with a question, rebuked their unbelief, and explained all the Scriptures said about Himself. He clarified their confusion by word and deed. First with the unfolding of Scripture, then at the table—thanking the Father and breaking bread.

On this day after Easter are there people near you who are wondering? Are there children wondering about the connection of Easter bunnies and the cross? Are there Christians wondering why their Easter joy so quickly dissipates within the first waking hours of their Monday morning? Are there colleagues and neighbors who had a nice weekend, but neither experienced nor cared that it had no connection to Christ?

As people wonder, will you walk with them, ask pointed questions, and bring the message?

Send Me: Ask people about their Easter weekend and then really listen. If they express confusion, disappointment, or wonderings, share the Good News.

Helping others notice and name their inner hopes, longings and aspirations is a great gift to them. You have helped them move from a vague sense of disquiet and wondering to awareness that what they long for is God. — Richard Peace 

God-Sightings - Weekly Devo - 3/30/15

God-Sightings

by Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
 

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her (John 20:18).

It’s not what she expected to see. Spices in hand, Mary Magdalene and the other women came to anoint Jesus’ body. But the stone was rolled away, and there was no body. What Mary saw multiplied her grief and ignited more tears.

“Woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked.

“Woman, why are you crying?” the gardener, who really wasn’t a gardener at all, asked.

And when Jesus got personal and spoke her name, she cried again. In Aramaic she cried out, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

Mary Magdalene saw the Lord! She saw Jesus who . . .Healed her
Forgave her
Knew her by name
Laid down His life for her, and
Rose for her!

What she saw became her sending and her message! When Jesus told her to tell the others, she did. There was no stopping this messenger. She ran to the disciples with the best news ever. Jesus is alive!

Messengers God can use actively and constantly watch for what God is doing in their lives and in the world. Some people call this seeking God, noticing God in the ordinary, going on a God Hunt, or God-sightings. No matter what you call it, it’s a daily habit of being on watch for God.

To be a witness is to share what we see. That’s what Mary Magdalene did. When she saw Jesus, she ran and told the others. Do we?

Send Me: Where have you seen God today? Who can you tell?

People who have glimpsed God's glory want to tell others about Him. Unexcited about telling others = haven't really seen Jesus. Phil Moore

Weekly Devotion - " Will You Follow? " - 3/23/15

Will You Follow?

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager

So they called Rebekah and asked her, “Will you go with this man?”

“I will go,” she said. (Genesis 24:58)

On an ordinary walk to the spring to retrieve water, Rebekah became an answer to prayer. She came with a water jug, and left with a gold nose ring, bracelets, and houseguests.

The story unfolded over the evening meal with Rebekah’s family and Abraham’s servant. Clearly this was from the Lord. He was sending Rebekah to Isaac to be his wife.

The next morning Abraham’s servant was ready to go. Rebekah’s mother and brother wanted ten days or so to adjust to the sending. They decided to ask Rebekah about it.

“Will you go with this man?” they asked.

Without hesitation, procrastination, or delay she said, “I will go.” (Genesis 24)

What a difference a day makes! One day she’s fetching water for the family, the next day she’s leaving to start a new life! How did she adjust so quickly? When asked if she would go that very morning, isn’t the accepted spiritual response, “I need time to pray and think about it”?

The thing is, prayer had already taken place. God said, “Go!” So she did just that. She did what girls and GEMS counselors have been singing this year! “Where You go, I’ll go. Where You stay, I’ll stay. When You move, I’ll move. I will follow.” (“I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin)

Think about it. If we really mean what we sing, the pressure is off! God leads, we follow. Period.

Instead of manipulating timeframes for a sending, or hashing and rehashing best and worse case scenarios if we go or if we stay, we listen to our Father. And when we know where He is sending, we follow.

Messengers God can use keep things simple. They listen and then obey.

Send Me: Has He placed someone on your heart to bring the message to today? Don’t hesitate, procrastinate, or delay. Bring the message!

Before you go charging into someone with the Gospel, ask God, “What would you have me know about this person?” “What would you have me say or do here?” And follow what He says. — Regi Campbell

Weekly Devotion - "Walk Across the Room" - 3/16/15

Walk Across the Room

from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager 

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21).

Inspired by Bill Hybels’ book, Just Walk Across the Room, Miss Megan regularly asks our GEMS Club, “How many steps does it take to walk across the room?”

The girls shout, “Ten!”

It only takes ten steps to be a friend, to offer a helping hand, and give a word of encouragement. Whether at school, church, a grocery store, or an athletic event, it only takes ten steps and one smile, to share Jesus’ love.

Messengers God can use follow in Jesus’ steps. Notice the distinct pattern and gait to His walk.

He stepped toward the hated, outcasts, and condemned.

• He stepped toward Zacchaeus, looked up in the tree, and invited Himself to dinner.
• He stepped toward the Samaritan woman at the well, sat down, and poured living water for the entire town.
• He stepped toward the woman the religious leaders were ready to stone, kneeled, and offered her forgiveness and a new life.

His steps stopped for the blind and lame, and turned around for the woman subject to bleeding. Never were His steps rushed or hurried. Always He kept in step with the Spirit, and walked to the beat of His Father’s heart.

There are those who wear pedometers to count steps. This is good and healthy. Greater still are the steps of His messengers. They don’t count steps; they make steps count. Like Jesus, they step toward people and bring the message with their words and example.

Send Me: Think intentionally about your steps today. Each time you enter a room, stop and look around. Instead of going to the place that feels comfortable and safe, move toward the one who looks like they need a friend.

It was when we were helplessly in the throes of sin that Christ extracted Himself from the ultimate Circle of Comfort—Heaven itself—to step across time and space to rescue us. We take walks across rooms because He took the ultimate walk across the room—Bill Hybels

Why training?

It just takes one Leadership Training event through GEMS! Once you come, you'll be hooked! But don't take our word for it, hear what Tami has to say!  Click here!

Weekly Devotional - "Thank & Tell" - 3/2/2015

Thank & Tell

by Lenae, GEMS Training Manger

Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing (Exodus 15:20, ESV).

Even the ones among us with two left feet would’ve joined the song and dance on the other side of the shore. What started in panic and sheer terror, ended with rescue and relief! Sandwiched between the Red Sea and the enemy, God made a way. He saved them from the Egyptians and gave them a new life. Their slave-masters were dead and they were alive and set free!

Sound familiar? It should. It’s our story, too. Jesus made a way for our rescue. He saved us from death and won victory over the enemy! Sin is no longer our slave-master. We are alive and set free! In Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Like the Israelites who passed from death to life, do we do what saved people do? Do we break into song and dance? Do we thank God and tell His story? That’s what Moses, Miriam, and the Israelites did.

They looked back and thanked God for delivering them from their former life and death itself. They stood in the present and testified who He is—my strength, my salvation, and my God! And they looked ahead to what He will do. In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling (Exodus 15:13).

Past. Present. Future. He saved, saves, and will save. He loved, loves, and will always love. He made a way, is the way, and will make a way. To think on even a sliver of our salvation should move our feet to dance and bring the message.

Send Me: Think on your story: past, present, and future. Got something that sets your spirit into song and dance? Now thank and tell!