Ready, Set, Go....

Happy New Year!! I love new beginnings, fresh starts, blank pages to be filled in. Our theme is the "Great Commission", the command from Jesus to all of us to GO into the world and TELL others about Him and the new chances, forgiveness, and eternal life He offers all who believe in Him.

Ready, set , go reminds me of this verse:
"...Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1b-2 (NIV)

In another translation, it says:
"...we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever, And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourself flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long list of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" (The Message)

I live in a household of runners. Two of my children made it to State in Cross Country, and both completed half and full marathons this year!! I have seen the effort it takes to focus on the finish and to keep running--no matter what! (I have tough kids--one ran Regional finals with the flu and couldn't even walk upstairs 4 hours before the race, another ran with a stress fracture in her pelvis) (They would tell you that was with God's help, of course!) They get up early to run. They run hills, run in cold and rainy, even snowy weather--they run when they don't feel like it, when people have made fun of them, when they would have preferred to do something else.
They kept the "finish line" in their sights and would not be led off course by distractions or discomfort. Runners know you have to endure many things to "win" the prize, just as Paul told us in the Bible.

Here's the thing: we all are in a race--to tell as many people as possible about Jesus and his saving grace. Just like runners who are trying to get to the finish line, we can not let the discomfort, pain, difficulty of the course, people's opinions, and our "busyness" keep us from running the race God puts before us. I love the parts in the verses above where we are told: "throw off every hindrance and sin that so easily entangles" (wanting our own comfort and way) and "strip down, start running-never quit! Keep your eyes on Jesus who began and finished this race we're in."

What things are "hindering" us? What keeps us from going and telling all about Jesus? For me, one would be "busyness" with things that aren't nearly as important, but that are comfortable. Others would be fear of rejection, people's opinions, and worry that I would mess up and drive people farther away than closer to Jesus! I am told to cast all these things aside, however, and trust that God, working through the Holy Spirit, will use my feeble attempts for His purposes.

My running kids, and my basketball player son had a reminder that they could persevere through whatever difficulties they encountered in their sports--a reminder to keep going. They all wrote this verse on their shoes, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."-Philippians 4:13
(We called this their shoe ministry!)

So there you have it--we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I have claimed this promise many times when called to do things I would have never dared otherwise! No more excuses! (Rats) My problem with the "Great Commission" verse has been a fear that God would tell me to put down my laundry basket and head to Africa. Maybe He will do that someday but actually there are a lot of things I can do right where I am to point others to Him.
(By the way, my daughter went on a mission trip to South Africa and absolutely loved it--she wants to go back)

I read an article once when my kids were young and I felt very housebound and encumbered. The title was "Ten Ways You Can Reach the World Without Leaving Home". (Talk about no more excuses!) It got me thinking about ways we all can tell of God's love and goodness, His redeeming grace and His Son right where we are. Even our work, done well, can be a testimony to our Creator. Here are some examples.

Go(or send) Locally-start in your church. Volunteer to help with VBS, Sunday School, or AWANA. Be a part of a bus ministry, host a Bible study and invite neighbors, attend a Christian concert or ladies' event and invite friends. (like a Lovely Branches event!) Send food to a hurting family. Send cards of encouragement to those who need a lift. Come along side those who are hurting. Help with community ministry opportunities-our town ministerial alliance has a food bank and a thrift store that needs workers .
For the world:
Support missionaries from your church who are called to serve in Africa! (or elsewhere)
Help send youth from your church on short term missions, go on a short-term mission trip yourself! Our family went together on a trip to an orphanage in Mexico--it was a great opportunity to work together and see what God is doing in other people's lives.
Sponsor a child or children through Christian relief organizations like Compassion, World Vision, Samaritan's purse. Children and their families receive aid and also the good news!! You can even write to your sponsored child and encourage your share faith in that way.
Sponsor a native minister. Gospellink is an orgaization that raises money to train and support people living in a country who already know the language and want to become ministers. Send support to those who translate the good news into other languages so that all may know--Wycliffe Bible Translators and other groups spend years studying languages so that the Bible can be given to more and more peoples.

(Show) andTell-If you shy away from going up to people and proclaiming the Good News, take heart--there are some other options. (However-we are still called to do this, so try baby steps first!)
You can share what God has done for you, your hope in God and His provision for your eternal life in these ways:
Facebook-many people have scripture quotes on their pages as a testimony. Sending e-mails of links that are meaningful(BUT-make sure they would be welcome, don't be sending random stuff to lots of people or become a nuisance!) Be winsome in conversations, get to know people and share how God has brought you through difficulties and provided your needs. Send verses of encouragement to people.
Be creative--I will always remember a sweet elderly lady who lived out in the country along a major highway. We passed her house on the way to Great Bend quite often. She tended a sign on her property out by the highway, changing the scriptures on it like a church way side pulpit, even adding seasonal touches with silk flowers. She's gone now, but I still remember her and how she did what she could, where she was, to spread the good news.
Music-playing Christian music gives others a chance to hear something new! Support your Christian Radio station and pray for their ministry.
Use whatever gift/talent you have to share God's love--cooking meals, giving financially, organizing donations or events, cleaning, landscaping, building and repairing, driving a car, shopping, designing church or event bulletins or artistic displays.
All these things, done with prayer and love in God's name can point people to Him and give you the chance to share more.

I gave my daughter (one of the runners) a book for Christmas called "Run Like a Girl" by Kathy Vick.(www.runlikeagirl.org)
Some of the page headings are : run with fierce conviction and resolute courage, run toward those who are hurting; run toward those who comfort you, run with forgiveness on your tongue, run with integrity, run for those who need a champion, run with kindness and compassion, and the heart of a true friend, run with your soul-full, run with a grateful spirit, run like you are brave, even if your knees are shaking, and run like the world depends on it, run toward the arms of God.
My prayer is that we all will "run like a girl" and spread the good news ...the world does depend on it!! So--grab your running shoes, cast off all hindrances and, as Nike says, Just Do It!