The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. 18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Our greatest directive…Go and make disciples. There is nothing more important than this. The Gospel, the good news of Jesus, is something we are supposed to share, not keep to ourselves.
Each summer, I have about 3 weeks off. Normally, I spend two of the three weeks at two different camps. The first week is spent at Super Summer Evangelism Camp. I attended this camp as a student which led to meeting my husband there. We have served on the Exec Staff for this camp since 2016. Our job is to teach students to know and share the Gospel. This year, I had an added bonus of being asked to teach a rally session for the camp about the Holy Spirit’s role in evangelism. My friend and leader, Jason Richards, called me in March to ask me to consider doing this. I agreed without hesitation.
When you start LOOKING for the Holy Spirit, He shows up everywhere. He’s always there, but we often get so distracted by our own lives that we don’t stop to pay attention.
The great commission is a directive, but it holds a promise, too. He will be with us ALWAYS. He doesn’t send us to do this on our own. The Holy Spirit provides His power, His opportunities, and His words.
I ask you, as I asked the students that day:
What keeps you from sharing the Gospel? What’s your fear? Or hangup?
Is it fear?
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
You are EMPOWERED by the King of kings!
Is it not knowing what to say?
“Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what must be said.”
Luke 12:11-12
The Holy Spirit will GIVE you what you should say.
Is it not knowing to whom or when to speak?
In Acts 8, we see that the Holy Spirit even creates the opportunities for you. In the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch, the Lord told Him where to go and what to do.
26 An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip: “Get up and go south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is the desert road.[d]) 27 So he got up and went. There was an Ethiopian man, a eunuch and high official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to worship in Jerusalem 28 and was sitting in his chariot on his way home, reading the prophet Isaiah aloud.29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go and join that chariot.”30 When Philip ran up to it, he heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you’re reading?”31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone guides me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the Scripture passage he was reading was this:
He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb is silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will describe his generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.[e]
34 The eunuch said to Philip, “I ask you, who is the prophet saying this about—himself or someone else?” 35 Philip proceeded to tell him the good news about Jesus, beginning with that Scripture.36 As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” [f] 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him any longer but went on his way rejoicing.
The Lord has provided for everything that we could possibly need in order to be empowered to share the Gospel. He has gone before you. He is present with you, and He will continue to work once you’ve completed your task. We don’t have to rely on our own wisdom or strength to share the Gospel. We have the Holy Spirit, and He is everything we need.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
What is comfort??
I know a lot about feeling comfortable. Chenille both robes, silky slippers, fluffy soft pillows, faux fur blankets, a mouth full of cheesy Chick Fil A macaroni., a warm sip of a vanilla latte…
Bruh!!!!…….not that meaning of COMFORT! Comfort means to come along beside someone to offer encouragement, through words or actions. This version of comfort originates from our Father, Jesus Christ, in the form of the Holy Spirit. As He comforts us, we are then equipped to offer the same comfort to the broken hearted. Haven’t we all needed some level of comforting when we’re suffering?? How does God use the Holy Spirit to comfort us … through His word and His people!! .
This verse speaks to two different types of people-”the comforted”, who feel peace as Jesus stands beside them in their storm , and the “need to be comforted” – broken hearted who desperately need comfort. To the comforted, the purpose of their tribulations and hard times has been revealed. This scripture says that God comforts us in our trials and storms so that we are prepared to comfort those who experience loneliness, depression, and heartache in their life. We’re able to give them comfort, that only comes from God. I love the way these two verses echo the word “comfort” five times. I think Paul does such a great job of making sure we don’t have any distractions when we read this verse. It’s a good verse to put to memory, not only so we can be comforted, but to remind us that God requires us to comfort those who are suffering.
When I was 20, my sister dealt with suicide ideation and severe depression. I remember planning my wedding day and hearing the question, “Mary, is it okay if I’m not in your wedding?” From then on I would wake up every morning, wondering would she be alive. I needed comfort to make it through each day. But, more than anything, I wanted to comfort her hurting heart. I found comfort in His word, praying His word, and listening to only worship music. I cried my heart out. Then my mom also became a victim of depression. It was hard dealing with this heavy heartache and the feelling that God had abandoned us. Somedays, I didn’t seek His encouragement through prayer, and I lost my trust in Him. I wanted God to hurry up and heal them. Please God restore my family, especially while I was counting down the days to my wedding. Meanwhile, He was working out his masterful plan; He was using me to comfort and encourage my sister and my mom until the doctors knew how to treat their illness. During the entire time of taking care of my mom and sister, the numerous mental hospital visits, hopeless phone calls, anxiety, and constant setbacks, God’s comfort poured into me. It was the only way I survived this storm.
A year later, their miraculous healing brought about restoration in all of us. After this tribulation passed, I sang praises and thanked God that I had been comforted by the Comforter. He took care of us all in His complete sovereignty!!
When I discovered this verse, II Corinthians 1: 3–4, I experienced clarity and was able to hear the Holy Spirit whisper “Comfort’ to me. It was an “A -Ha” moment for sure!!! I was able to rest knowing why I had to endure that trial… to feel God’s supreme comfort, mercy, and love. God comforted me over and over and continues to do it, so I am always equipped to comfort those who are suffering. Continually, God uses me to comfort women that are lonely, depressed, and hopeless. He gives me energy to befriend them and offer them the Living Water!! I give all the Glory to God for His unending supply of comfort!!!!!!! Amen!
From a very early age my mother and father taught me to always do the right thing. Do right to others even if they don’t do right back, to be respectful, and numerous other things.
2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
Everyday we are at war. As Christians the devil is constantly tempting us with numerous things such as doubt, substance abuse, lust, and many other things.
Everyone loves when someone tells them they are proud of them. The last words my MiMi ever said to me were, “I’m so proud of you Mavo. I love you and I will see you soon.” I miss her everyday, and I know she is reading this now in Heaven.
A few months ago I went to my father’s company’s crawfish boil. As I was waiting in line a group of men walked up to me and introduced themselves and told me they worked with my dad. They proceeded to tell me that my dad talked about me all the time at his office and that he was so proud of me. It felt really good, and when I went back to sit down with my dad I almost brought it up but I decided not to. I thought back to the verse 2 Corinthians 7:4 which says, “Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.”
When we bring glory to God He is proud of us. We should want to do the right thing and we should try every single day to be more like Jesus. We should want to surround ourselves with other Christians and try to bring people who aren’t Christians to God.
My parents did such an amazing job raising my sister Maggie and me. They each taught me certain things that will stick with me for as long as I live. My mom was the first woman I ever loved and whenever I was going down the wrong path she prayed every single day for me and still to this day she prays for me. I always watched my father and how he showed up for everything for us. He came to every game he possibly could come to, and if he couldn’t make it because of work he would call us after and listen to how it went.
They both prayed for my future spouse whenever I was just a kid. This past May I got engaged to my beautiful fiance Kelanie, and she brings out the best in me every single day. I know that God gave me them as my parents to prepare me for the real world. When I tell you I thank God for them I really do. They are hands down the best parents in the world.
I am about to move out of their house and into my own and start a new chapter in my life. Although I won’t see them everyday, the things they taught me will stay with me forever. My parents put God first in their marriage, and Kelanie and I will do the same. When we put God first He is proud of us.
Speaking to other people about Jesus makes Him so happy and proud and we should want that. My future father in law said, “You’re never too young for someone else to look up to you, so we should influence them with Jesus.” It is so true we should live for Jesus because someone will notice just like I did with my parents living for Jesus. As Christians we should all strive together to make God proud.
“Then I heard the Lord asking ,”Whom shall I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am Lord. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
EXCITED, anxious, EXCITED, nervous, EXCITED, overwhelmed…. Humbled, prayerful, covered in peace- AND, officially trying to not freak out 🥴. Lol, ALL the emotions of a very “human” momma. The momma that loves the Lord with her whole heart, has seen His face and love, trusts His Word, holds on to her faith for dear life – but, STILL, human.
All of a sudden your babies are basically grown, love Jesus, and want to GO OUT and tell others about Who He is.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of age.” Matt. 28:19-20
This is what we pray for, what we want for our children. To see them love Christ more than anything, and to fall more in love with Him daily. When Emma, Piper, and Mac came to us and told us they wanted to go to Alaska that’s when all of those emotions came flooding in. We all started praying. Praying for guidance, direction, and of course- confirmation. And God, in all His glory, and His way, worked it all out and lined everything up. Long talks about missions, what to expect (the very real and raw), and gosh – them being SO FAR away! (YA’LL! My kids were closer to RUSSIA than to me!😬🫣)
Days, weeks, months of hard work, prayer, preparation, and so many moments asking God to calm nerves as it got closer and reality set in. So many days PRAISING GOD for an Ah-Mazing Youth/ Church leadership, Church family, and grateful for our community and village!
I knew myself what it was like to go on a mission trip. I knew all the different sides of it. The overwhelming emotions, the exhaustion, the nerves, and the very greatness of God unfolding before your eyes. The good, the bad, and the in between. But, it wasn’t me going this time … it was “my” babies and their friends – that are my babies!
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
“…. take up his cross and FOLLOW ME.” There is so much overwhelming spiritual joy in missions and following God’s call. There is also the very reality that taking up His cross and following Jesus is not easy. CHRIST’s mission was not easy, His life was not easy, spreading the gospel – not easy. As “momma”, I was so excited for the mission, the joy and refining they were going to take part in and experience. I was also, admittedly battling my flesh. Nervous about the possibilities that come with the mission- heartache, trials, tribulation, risk, rejection, safety … all the things. Even when we know that God teaches us our greatest lessons in the midst of “the hard” – it stinks watching your kid hurt, struggle, battling sadness, or fear.
God continually reminded me of WHO HE IS. Reminded me that they are HIS children – and so am I. And while they did experience some “hard” and unplanned hiccups- sickness (imagine being closer to Russia and sick lol 🫣🤪), spending days and hours with children sharing the gospel and crying because you don’t want to leave them, cancelled flights, being split from your sibling and church family to be put on different flights, AND up for 33 hours trying to get home – but – even with all that and more – they saw His face! And so did I and many others. They were His hands, His feet. They took up their cross to follow Him, and He was with them every step of the way. They fell more in love with Christ, with His people, and His mission. They went to Alaska to change lives – and they were embraced in Him changing theirs. I look at all their pics and see that Alaska was breathtaking- but Alaska with GOD was LIFE-GIVING.
3 John 1:4 “I could have no greater joy than to hear my children are following the truth.”
“for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”” Ephesians 5:14
“I was buried beneath my shame
Who could carry that kind of weight
It was my tomb
Till I met You”
From “GloriousDay”
It was my tomb……..
Have you ever been just going along and 💥 the Lord just ties a bunch of loose thoughts together and 🤯.
I have been studying Jabez’s prayer from 1 Chronicles 9-10, and I am especially hung up on borders right now. If you go to Freedom Fellowship you know we now see trees, mountains and Colossians everywhere we look. Now, I also see borders.
It was my tomb……..
We sang Glorious Day during our song service the other day and “my tomb” just struck a chord in my spirit. The Lord opened that tomb and set this captive free 🙌🏻. Those borders were forever expanded and reach all the way to the throne room. Hallelujah 💃🏼
It WAS my tomb……..
Why then do I allow the enemy to sneak back in and start luring me back to the tomb. Why do I allow myself to let discouragement wall me in? Why am I seeing borders in my life where God has granted access?
It was my tomb…….
No more. No more borders. No more isolation. No more pity parties. No more walking in defeat.
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
Isaiah 43:1-3a
Earlier this week as I was praying about what to write for this day, I highlighted and noted in my daily readings this passage as a possibility. I had no idea what would transpire over the weekend, but I knew that fear is prevalent and often crippling due to the scary times in which we live. The weekend’s happenings have further accentuated these fearful times.
As believers, we are commanded to “fear not”. God very clearly tells us not to fear, but then He tells us why. “I have redeemed you” is what He says. Redeemed has multiple definitions in the Merriam Webster Dictionary: “to buy back; to free from captivity by payment of ransom; to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental; to release from blame or debt; to free from the consequences of sin”. That redemption is available because of Jesus. When we are redeemed, we are His. We are freed from captivity that sin brings because He bought us. We are a precious treasure to Him. As His special treasure, we are not immune to scary times, but we are immune to the effects of them if we will obey the command to “fear not”. God said that He will be with us “through the waters”, “through the rivers”, “through the fire”. His presence will keep us from being overwhelmed or burned or consumed.
Our nation is certainly in a very scary time. Our kids and our families are facing scary times. We are facing scary times. The scary times may be financial problems, wayward children, illnesses, crime too close to home, ungodly leaders, ungodly bosses, threats to our freedoms, and we could go on and on, but we won’t. Why? Because God says, “Fear not! I have redeemed you. You are mine I will be with you and nothing can overcome you because nothing can overcome Me. I am God, your God!” On the other side of these scary times is victory for the redeemed child of God. Don’t sweat the scary stuff! God’s got us!
“For when the horses of Pharaoh with his chariots and his horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them, but the people of Israel walked on dry ground in the midst of the sea. 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. And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.”” Exodus 15:19-21 ESV
Miriam was born into slavery. She watched her mother send baby Moses down the Nile in a basket with a prayer that God would spare him- and Miriam saw God answer that prayer. But she was a grown woman who lived through the harsh hand of slavery before God sent Moses back to Egypt to free His people. We don’t know what she was thinking when they finally walked out of Egypt. We don’t know if she crossed the Red Sea in terror or in confidence, but we do know that she packed her tambourine. It says something about her faith that as she left Egypt she chose to keep her tambourine at the ready. She expected to need it. She expected to sing in praise.
Sisters, we have that great expectation EVERY DAY. Jesus has delivered us from our sins. Our father loves us and He has prepared goodness before us. He guides our steps. He provides for our needs. As you prepare for the new day He has given you, thank Him for His sovereignty, for His kindness, for the Red Seas He will part for you and even the pain He may carry you through. As you walk out the door today don’t forget your tambourine.
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” Psalm 51:7-15 ESV
A few weeks ago in June, I got the privilege of going on my second mission trip to Alaska with my church youth group. My experience and time spent there was life-altering, humbling, inspiring, and very very rewarding.
We set off to Alaska on July 9, taking a 7 hour flight across the US. The first sign of being in Alaska was the beautiful mountains that surrounded you, and of course, the AMAZING weather. Let’s just say, coming back to Texas was a serious let down because nothing can beat the no humidity felt in Alaska. After landing we got set at a local church in Anchorage, and the whole week we were hosted by an organization called Grace Works. They cooked every meal for us, and don’t think this food was church camp food. We were eating delicious home cooked meals, and even got to try cool things like reindeer sausage. Grace Works also provided us with volunteers to assist us as we set out to our assigned trailer parks. This is where we got to interact with kids, and where all the fun happened.
A day in Alaska consisted of waking up around 8 and eating breakfast, then either going to explore in the mountains and down trails, or helping local churches with projects they needed done. After that we would come back to the church around 11 and begin chapel. I’m currently a part of my youth worship group, and one day I got the privilege of leading worship for the group staying at our church. That was a huge blessing. After chapel, we would eat lunch, then around 1, we would load our vans up with supplies to go teach kids about Jesus, and we set off to assigned trailer parks. Since our church brought such a big group of kids, we had to split into two groups. My group went to a very low income trailer park, and it was huge. The kids there know about Grace Works, because some have been attending for years. They knew exactly what time of day we were coming to their trailer park, and when we got there, there was nothing but pure joy on their faces. We average around 30-50 kids every day, and we met in a little field of the trailer park. We played games, sang and danced to songs, did crafts to go along with the Bible story every day, fed them snacks, and drank lots of tang. The sad thing is that some of these kids didn’t have great home lives, so the meals we provided them with may have been the only thing they could eat. They were so grateful for everything they got, and that was sweet to see because it reminded me how fortunate I am to have all the things I’ve been provided. God has been abundant in everything in my life, and I worship him and praise him for that.
The last day at the trailer park, I got to teach the Bible story. I taught the children about Jesus being our good shepherd. We discussed Jesus being the shepherd, and we are his sheep. They began to understand the concept that if Jesus had 100 sheep, and 1 went astray, he would leave the 99 just to retrieve and find the 1. I had some deep conversations with some kids about feeling like they were the 1. The 1 sheep that loses their way and strays away from Jesus, and maybe it’s because they didn’t feel loved, they were scared to be open about their faith in their home, or they didn’t want to be judged by their friends. As best as I could, I assured them that Jesus will never abandon us. He’s always willing to get down to whatever level we are at, and bring us back up to where we need to be. Still now, I miss the kids I got to spend the week with. They were special, and left a big mark on my life. They knew I was there teaching them, but they still don’t realize how much they did for me. I pray I get to go back to Alaska and see them again, and I encourage everyone to pray that God continues to work on those children. God is evident in so many things, and my week in Alaska was filled with his presence.
Hope is the word the Lord has been speaking to me this season.
But what is hope really? If you are anything like me, the meaning has been lost because it’s become and been used more as “wishful thinking”. Hope in the Bible however is confident expectation. It’s a trust that God is who He says He is, that He will do what He said He will do, and does not disappoint.
Last month I had read in Romans 8 and there’s a verse that says “hope that is seen is not hope at all” and at the time I had taken it as: that even though I don’t have many experiences to go off of regarding certain hopes in my life, I can still expect. But I’m me and I like to know things and I’m wanting the next 10 steps lined out for me. (Anyone else like that because if so, hi hello you have found your people haha.) Obviously God doesn’t always work like that — in fact, I’d say He rarely does. When I found myself just a few weeks after back in the same hopeless place, the Lord brought this to my mind again and it ministered differently. This time I took it as: hope that is constantly reassured and spoken into is not hope at all. Sounds harsh when writing it out I’m not going to lie but it actually gave me so much peace. If I am going to confidently expect God, to take Him at His word, to believe He will do what He has already said He would especially since He’s not man and cannot lie and no word will return to Him void, then I do not need to hear it a million times or see how He is moving. Granted, that’s not to say He won’t ever reassure or remind us of promises He’s given us but if we find ourselves no closer, can we still hope? If we find ourselves in a season of uncertainty, can we still be confident? Can we still be in expectation when nothing has changed or it’s even worse? Can we still stand on what we have heard and do know? Can we remain firm when no other words are spoken and God feels distant? Can we hope without seeing, hearing, or understanding anything at all?
Speaking for myself, I fail at this. But when I put my eyes and confidence on Jesus, in His character of faithful and true, a fresh wind for hope just comes. And it spurs me on. Renewed to wait again and believe and expect – HOPE – again. So may I encourage you not to give up hope even when it seems hopeless in the natural or disappointments have come because your “confident expectation” in Jesus will not be put to shame, you will not be left disappointed…He is the God of hope after all.
Hope again. Expect again. Dare to believe again.
“Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 AMP
“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” Romans 8:24-25 NKJV
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NKJV
Rays of Sunshine inc 