It's Our Duty.

Once upon a time, a dear friend, Chassidy Rogers, had a facebook status that she stole from some guy named Mark Devers.  It said, "You may conclude that evangelism is not your gift, but it is still your duty."  

But God works regardless of us. We gave Him our hands and feet and He put us to work. 

We started off our week in excitement. Tom came to church and heard Paul's prayer in Ephesians chapter 3. The preacher reminded us that Christ is meant to be deeply rooted in our hearts and that His love knows no boundaries. That was exactly what Tom needed to hear and Satan, knowing that Christ gives life and life abundantly, swept in like a roaring lion seeking to devour. Two days later we waited on Tom at a park, but he didn't show. When we called, he told us that he had taken some pills that he shouldn't have taken...he'd be recovering for a few days. We know it is hard for him to come out of the darkness that surrounds him, but there is power in prayer. We pray for him daily and he knows it. He asked us over the phone if we had been praying for him. He said he feels it...we wont stop. 

Tom has three boys. His oldest one is following in the footsteps of his parents. We are praying that as God rescues Tom, He  will also grab hold of his family. We've been able to get to know Jacob, his five year old. He's full of life and joy as most five year olds are, but he is being exposed to far more than God ever intended. We know that he longs for a father who can love him deeper than he's ever been loved before. He needs a heavenly father as well as an earthly father. 

Well...we figured with the busies, we would meet them where they were at....i.e. we would throw some Jesus through their windows as they were driving by. We passed out 50 CDs mixed with Jesus songs, podcasts, and scripture. We stood at the busy intersection, held signs, and responded to people's curiously cracked windows. So that on their way to wherever, God is flowing through their speakers. 

Once we were out of CDs, we turned our attention to the Walmart shoppers. We walked the parking lot putting up buggies, meeting people at their vehicles, and offering to help with their groceries. Often met with a polite decline or a confused acceptance, we let Jesus shine through our eyes. With God leading our hearts, we asked about their lives...who they are, what they are going through. As Mark Yates always said, "Its crazy what people will tell you when you ask them how they can be prayed for." 

We met Joenette, she needs prayer for a job.  This old precious lady said that she had just lost her husband recently. Josh was a youngish guy.  He needed prayer because His dad would be having a serious heart surgery this weekend.  When we told him about Jesus, and how, through prayer He will do anything we ask of him, he responded with, "You have given me a new perspective on things." We gave them each a bible and committed to pray for them all. 

Our football guys...love em.  They had games tonight.  The little bity guys lost and the bigger ones lost. But the middle aged...like 8-9ish year olds...they won :)  All of our friends from the park were there...we do not fit in the crowd, but they love us the same. Last practice we brought the older boys some gatorade and the coach let us share a word with em.  Jenna spoke to them about how God wants to be their best friend. She quoted Jesus and told them that there is no greater love than that a man would lay down his life for his friends. Stacie told em that He has been chasing them down since day one....that he wants to tackle them...and tell them that He loves them. We prayed over and gave them each a bible.   

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians that he did not claim to know anything but Christ, and Him crucified. Likewise, we did not come into Baton Rouge claiming to know anything about evangelism...we just know that Christ was crucified...and that the world needs to know. Psalm 51 says "Restore in me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit." Although we spent the majority of the first week in confusion, this week God broke down walls.  He showed us that all that we are in need of is a willing spirit.  Our duty to spread his fame can be accomplished, and upheld, through our willingness to do whatever he asks of us. Evangelism is not our gift, but we are stretching outside of our comfort zones in order to obey the commission of Jesus Christ...it is our duty and our deepest desire.