I pray this post encourages you to stick with the ministries God has given you or to reach out to your Pastor and see how you can get involved! There is so much Joy and fulfillment in teaching and encouraging others to have a genuine relationship with God!
1 Peter 1:6-9 King James Version (KJV)
"6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
Children's Ministry
Early on this year I had a friend ask if I would be interested in switching ministries due to the change in availability. At that time I was running the children's class on Wednesday nights and I was ready for a change. I was very happy to find that I would have the opportunity to teach Sunday Morning Children's Church through switching. It has been an absolute Joy and answer to my prayers! There is something so special to me about the junior church. I think a lot of it has to do with how much I loved the junior church as a kid, but also with the children that ride the church van and come for their first time. Recently, my brother, Noah, took on the ministry as the van captain and God has used him to reach out to children. Noah is very dedicated and faithful to follow up with families. One family in particular sends their two kids to our church faithfully every Sunday morning. The second time they came they both raised their hand that they would like to ask Jesus into their hearts. Let me just tell you that so much Joy fills my heart with sharing the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ and His love for the whole world. To see children recognize their need for Christ for their first time is just something I can't describe..... You can just see the realization through their eyes as they understand what God did for them.
After we finished up prayer I asked if I could talk to them further about receiving Jesus. I explained again and asked the same questions just to confirm their understanding. They said they understood and both prayed and received Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour! Praise my wonderful Lord.
A few weeks later a mother visited our services interested in our children's program as well. Only to find out that the mother of the two children that received Christ told her about our church. She began to cry over how genuine we were at Bible Baptist Church. We were afraid that we had offended or overwhelmed her, but we were very pleased to know that wasn't the case. It was Jesus she saw... nothing more. To God be the glory! Her family came the very next week and very soon after both of the older daughters also received Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour! My heart was over flowing. Not only do I have the privilege of teaching these children God's Word and His Love, but to tell them of the ultimate gift that they received happily, the Gift of Salvation! I have the pleasure of teaching them how they can have a very precious relationship with Jesus and to see God work in their everyday lives! There is a revival to the human heart when we get to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Such peace in knowing we are obeying God's Word by telling others of His glorious gift!
Makes me think of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:16.
1 Corinthians 9:16
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
Woe is unto me! Truly, we don't realize what we are missing until we start obeying Jesus Christ and His leading! His ways are so wonderful... Joyful!
Through serving and obeying God's Word we see more of God in our simple everyday lives! To truly know HIM changes our lives from simple... to exciting!
These children are hearing bible stories for the first time and I get to teach them! Their questions are filled with faith and curiosity. Sometimes, it is very hard for me to not laugh with some of their questions. I was teaching on baptism and one girl raised her hand out of concern and asked, "Do you die when you get baptized?". She had enough faith to believe that it is a real death and resurrection when we go in the water. I couldn't help but smile and explain to her with a little more clarity that it is just a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection. She then replied with a wiping of her forehead and a deep exhale. I'm smiling as I am writing this....memories that I can forever smile about.
Sharing the Gospel
I feel so blessed when I knock on someone's door and get to tell them of the wonderful gift God has for them and that all they have to do is receive it! To see and talk to people who are so busy trying be good and feeling guilty of a past they themselves can't erase is heart breaking, but to share with them about how God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.....Priceless(see 1 John 1:9). To share with them the real reason to be a part of the church from a biblical perspective is sadly something they don't usually know. Such conviction to know that if we don't go and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with our community and everywhere we go... that this wicked world will be the closest thing to paradise that they will ever know. I heard this in a sermon recently and it was so sobering and convicting!
I have had trying times in serving Jesus. Moments when I ask myself if it is worth it(like planning VBS..lol).... It's those moments where my faith has the opportunity to grow and to see God enable me for the task or service that He puts in front of me. Your faith will need to be tried in order for it to be worth anything at the feet of Jesus. Let Jesus try your faith. Trust Him through it all and know that there is Joy in serving Jesus. It will bring you into closer fellowship with Him and you will learn more of Him...... to KNOW Him.
1 Peter 1:6-9 King James Version (KJV)
"6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
For God's Glory,
Mackenzie
Philippians 3:10 King James Version (KJV)
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
1 Peter 1:6-9 King James Version (KJV)
"6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
Children's Ministry
Early on this year I had a friend ask if I would be interested in switching ministries due to the change in availability. At that time I was running the children's class on Wednesday nights and I was ready for a change. I was very happy to find that I would have the opportunity to teach Sunday Morning Children's Church through switching. It has been an absolute Joy and answer to my prayers! There is something so special to me about the junior church. I think a lot of it has to do with how much I loved the junior church as a kid, but also with the children that ride the church van and come for their first time. Recently, my brother, Noah, took on the ministry as the van captain and God has used him to reach out to children. Noah is very dedicated and faithful to follow up with families. One family in particular sends their two kids to our church faithfully every Sunday morning. The second time they came they both raised their hand that they would like to ask Jesus into their hearts. Let me just tell you that so much Joy fills my heart with sharing the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ and His love for the whole world. To see children recognize their need for Christ for their first time is just something I can't describe..... You can just see the realization through their eyes as they understand what God did for them.
After we finished up prayer I asked if I could talk to them further about receiving Jesus. I explained again and asked the same questions just to confirm their understanding. They said they understood and both prayed and received Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour! Praise my wonderful Lord.
A few weeks later a mother visited our services interested in our children's program as well. Only to find out that the mother of the two children that received Christ told her about our church. She began to cry over how genuine we were at Bible Baptist Church. We were afraid that we had offended or overwhelmed her, but we were very pleased to know that wasn't the case. It was Jesus she saw... nothing more. To God be the glory! Her family came the very next week and very soon after both of the older daughters also received Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Saviour! My heart was over flowing. Not only do I have the privilege of teaching these children God's Word and His Love, but to tell them of the ultimate gift that they received happily, the Gift of Salvation! I have the pleasure of teaching them how they can have a very precious relationship with Jesus and to see God work in their everyday lives! There is a revival to the human heart when we get to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Such peace in knowing we are obeying God's Word by telling others of His glorious gift!
Makes me think of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:16.
1 Corinthians 9:16
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!"
Woe is unto me! Truly, we don't realize what we are missing until we start obeying Jesus Christ and His leading! His ways are so wonderful... Joyful!
Through serving and obeying God's Word we see more of God in our simple everyday lives! To truly know HIM changes our lives from simple... to exciting!
These children are hearing bible stories for the first time and I get to teach them! Their questions are filled with faith and curiosity. Sometimes, it is very hard for me to not laugh with some of their questions. I was teaching on baptism and one girl raised her hand out of concern and asked, "Do you die when you get baptized?". She had enough faith to believe that it is a real death and resurrection when we go in the water. I couldn't help but smile and explain to her with a little more clarity that it is just a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection. She then replied with a wiping of her forehead and a deep exhale. I'm smiling as I am writing this....memories that I can forever smile about.
Sharing the Gospel
I feel so blessed when I knock on someone's door and get to tell them of the wonderful gift God has for them and that all they have to do is receive it! To see and talk to people who are so busy trying be good and feeling guilty of a past they themselves can't erase is heart breaking, but to share with them about how God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.....Priceless(see 1 John 1:9). To share with them the real reason to be a part of the church from a biblical perspective is sadly something they don't usually know. Such conviction to know that if we don't go and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with our community and everywhere we go... that this wicked world will be the closest thing to paradise that they will ever know. I heard this in a sermon recently and it was so sobering and convicting!
I have had trying times in serving Jesus. Moments when I ask myself if it is worth it(like planning VBS..lol).... It's those moments where my faith has the opportunity to grow and to see God enable me for the task or service that He puts in front of me. Your faith will need to be tried in order for it to be worth anything at the feet of Jesus. Let Jesus try your faith. Trust Him through it all and know that there is Joy in serving Jesus. It will bring you into closer fellowship with Him and you will learn more of Him...... to KNOW Him.
1 Peter 1:6-9 King James Version (KJV)
"6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
For God's Glory,
Mackenzie
Philippians 3:10 King James Version (KJV)
"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
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