I am a missionary

I am a missionary to this culture, to this town, village, city, county, community, region.

I am a missionary to the lost.

I have been sent by God to reach the down, the hurting, the forgotten and forsaken.

I have been sent to the blind, the lame, the poor, the injured, the diseased.

I am sent to the prisoners, the miscreants, the drunks and the addicts.

They need Jesus.

They need salvation.

The need hope.

The hope of salvation for all these who are lost is my obedience to the One who sent me.

I am to let my light shine.

I am to be the salt of the earth.

I am to illumine and radiate, flavor and preserve.

To be the light I must live a good life full of love and good deeds.

To be the light I must declare the praises of Him who called me out of darkness and into His wonderful light.

These people need salvation. They need eternal purpose. They need unconditional love. They need belonging.

Who are these people?

They are the ones I see as I walk along the path or drive along the road. They are fellow shoppers and workers. They are neighbors, friends, and enemies.

The ones that are lost look just like me and look completely different than me. They have the same likes and dislikes and completely different tastes as well.

Lost ones don’t know they are lost. They don’t know the plight of their own condition or the impending danger and doom to their own soul.

They must be told.

If they are not told how will they ever know?

They are heading towards a precipice and when they fall off it will bring unspeakable horrors of destruction.

But we must intercept them and lead them from the broad path to the narrow path. God desires to place them on paths of righteousness for His names’ sake.

And He wants to use my hands, my feet, and my mouth.

I am a missionary to the lost, enslaved, defiant and condemned.

I am a missionary bringing His light, His way, truth and life

I am a missionary.

Am I living like it?

Making others rich

People need to have value added to their lives not taken away.

In each and every encounter that humans have one with another we have the opportunity to build up and encourage and strengthen and add value.

I would define “adding value” as making other’s lives, experiences, wisdom, assets, etc more valuable because of something you and I freely and cheerfully give to them.

We especially need to live this way rather than depleting other’s value or worth by what we selifshly take from them.

Let us share our struggles, let us bear each other’s burdens. But let us also be sure that we are not tearing people down with our attitudes and words. We have Biblical instruction about iron sharpening iron and about mutual edification. This is what I mean by adding value to people. People are to be sharper, encouraged, enhanced, built up because they were with us.

Sometimes we are so down and so unhealthy in our own thought processes that it seems like we are a black hole waiting to suck people into our “misery loves company” pity-party. When people see you coming are they excited because they know that you will bring courage, joy, hope and good cheer with you? Do people know that when they are around you they will be built up, affirmed and strengthened? Do people cringe on the inside or perhaps politely dismiss themselves because your attitude is more about joy-sucking than joy-giving?

I challenge you this week, first, spend time with the Lord and in His Word so that He can reprogram any “stinking thinking” in your life and so that you will think instead on the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Let the Lord transform you by the renewing of your mind. Let the Lord pour out His love and peace, hope and joy into your heart. Let God be the source of your life and joy and meaning.

Secondly, this week, seek to add such value to each person you meet that when they leave your presence they feel richer, fuller, loved and more complete. May their encounter with you be a defining moment in their lives because of how valuable and love they realize they are.

Oh, and just so you know, I think you are awesome to have read this article and taken time to consider my few words. Thank you for sharing a few moments of your life with me. I don’t take it for granted and it affirms to me that I have something valuable to offer to others as well.

What pastors need

Pastors need encouragement and hope. They need comradery and support. They need prayers and affirmation. They need community. They need people to believe in them. They need to know the truth and grace of the gospel. They need to know all the promises of God.

Many people have read about the tragedy that took place this last weekend when a pastor took his own life in California. He was depressed and discouraged. He was hurt and fatigued. He was attacked by the enemy and carrying a heavy weight. Our hearts break for him and his family. Our hearts are heavy for the reality of all of these difficulties and troubles which are present throughout our world. Many pastors are shaken because they know that no one is immune to depression and discouragement.

Pastors are human.

And all humans need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ which is able to heal, save and deliver.

I want to remind you that you are loved! I want you to remember now and always that God is for you. Please remember grace is free. God’s eternal and sufficient supply is available to all who ask, seek and knock. Please, please, please know that there is an eternal hope in Christ Jesus, a living hope, an anchor for our soul. Know that you are prayed for. Know that there are many, many people who care for you and are willing, ready and able to come alongside to help you. Let them. Invite them in. Let people in and always, always, always invite Christ to work afresh and anew in your heart, mind and spirit.

Pastors are human. We are limited like every other human, we face troubles like any other person and we have the opportunity to recieve from the Lord like every other human.

Remember too, that every human on the face of the earth may face these struggles at some time or another. Every person needs to know about the hope in the Lord and the promises He has made. So just as much as you wish that others would go out of their way to encourage you, please, please, please do the same: go out of your way to help and encourage others and pray for and with others. Both fellow pastors and your flock need you to be a preacher of God’s hope and righteousness.

I am praying for you.

You are loved.

God is for you!

Mike J

Revival is available to you!

Revival seems to be in Christian circles one of two things:

  1. A series of planned services, often with outside speakers and musicians, that occurs occasionally in the life of the church
  2. A mytical, ethereal, intangible move of God’s Holy Spirit that may come one day if we can convince Him to do it and if/when He decides to send it

I don’t believe that either of these are what God intends for His Beloved.

I believe that Scripture and the revelation of God would indicate that revival is available to you, your family and the church of Jesus Christ, right now!Continue reading “Revival is available to you!”

What have you been thinking about?

What have you been thinking about this morning?

  • “I didn’t sleep well last night”
  • “I have to deal with that thing I never addressed last week”
  • “How will I ever get through this day”
  • “My __________ hurts so bad”
  • “I can’t believe that he/she _____________”
  • “Friday is sooooo far away”
  • “I sure hope that _____________ doesn’t happen again this week”
  • “Oh yeah, last week ____________happened and I still have to deal with the aftermath”

If you started your day off thinking about these things, I can tell you with a fair degree of certainty that you have already been heaping some stress, discouragement and frustration on your own head.

Here is the reality of the statements above: they may all be true and they may all deal with actual thoughts, feelings and desires that you have.

And yet, these thoughts are not necessarily helpful towards a healthy perspective, a hopeful outlook and a posture of victory. Continue reading “What have you been thinking about?”

God is for you!

Dear Pastor,

Today, you are the light of the world. Today, you are the salt of the earth. Today, the Spirit of Christ is with you. Right now, the Spirit of Jesus Christ is in you.

This is not true because you like the idea of it. It is not true because if makes you feel good. It is true because God said it was true of all who accept His Son Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

This week may bring with it circumstances rife with both difficulty and opportunity. You may experience some really amazing “highs” and some debilitating “lows” And through it all God is faithful. And remember this: God Almighty is for you!

And on top of all that, God desires to and is working towards blessing you (showing His love), encouraging you (revealing His power), shaping you (making you Holy) and making your heart and life unshakeable in Him.

When we are unshakeable it doesn’t mean that we don’t have wind and waves swirling around, it does mean though that we can sleep on a pillow in the middle of the boat (with Jesus!) while the storm just keeps blowing.

Remember this too: as you receive God’s declaration and ordination of you as the salt and the light, and furthermore as you allow God to make your soul unshakeable (even bringing peace to your thoughts and emotions!) God will empower you to help others to know about and receive this same gift.

God not only desires that His ministers live as overcomers, but also that each and every one of His children would be anchored in Jesus and live victorious Spirit-filled lives.

So this week, please, please, please, get on your knees (physically if at all possible) and ask the Lord to lift burdens you weren’t meant to carry, quiet the voices that are not of Him and empower you to live and preach the unshakeable life of peace and victory in Jesus!

Christ is with you, Christ is in you!

Mike J

Spiritual Emergency Rooms

Dear Pastor,

As leaders in the church, you and I are privy to seeing a lot of brokenness, pain, and heartache.

As leaders of God’s church we are on the front lines when people are brought into the spiritual emergency room.

And just like in a physical emergency room, things can get messy. When people have been in car accidents, or been shot or face horrific illnesses, the pains that they experience, the blood that flows and the tears that are shed can many times be too much for people to bear. But as servant leaders of God’s people we are called to carry this load so that others may know the love of our great Savior!

Sometimes the sheer messiness of helping hurting people can seem like something we don’t want to have any part of, and yet when the persons we help are made whole, it is all worth it.

When the people who have been in darkness, extreme pain and suffering, loneliness and rejection are loved and made whole by the grace and power of God we are reminded why we are spiritual ER doctors. So please in the midst of some of the difficulties in the world these days, please remember that after the healing takes place among the hurting people, the resultant health will be a testimony to God and we will literally shout His praise when we see the miracle of His power!

Let us keep working, keep serving, keep loving and keep praying and watch and see what God does in the Spiritual Emergency Room called The Church of Jesus Christ. I believe thousands will be saved, healed and delivered and the pain and suffering we endure along the way will all be worth it!

Christ is for us, Christ is in us!

Mike J

Who is your cheerleader?

Dear Pastor,

Who believes in you?

Who is constantly telling you that you will make it, you will overcome, you will prevail?

Who never stops believing in you despite your shortcomings and failures?

Who reminds you that all things are possible with God and that as His child, God is working everything in your life for God?

First, if you can’t think of someone who is that for you, I am so sorry. That must be lonely and difficult. Let’s work on getting you tied into someone who is your cheerleader and encourager. Send me a text (205-910-7050) or an email and let’s set up a time to talk on the phone or meet together in person. I will offer you the encouragement that I am able to and then we can pray and talk about how you can have a cheerleader in your life from now on.

Second, I want to remind you that the perfect and eternally faithful cheerleader is the Lord Jesus Christ. He never stops loving you and always lives to intercede for you. No matter what you do right or wrong, God loves you, rejoices in you, sings over you and cheers you on. Never forget that and don’t forget that He has given us the beautiful place of sweet communion in prayer and the Word in which He very tangibly cheers us on.

Lastly, stop and think about your spouse, your kids, your family and friends, and your flock. Who cheers them on? Who encourages them? Who do they know will always keep working that they may know all that is available to them and all that is possible for them? Make sure that you are that person to others and make sure that those in your care are encouraged and have a cheerleader in their life.

Please know that I am praying for you and that you are deeply and dearly loved

Christ is with us, Christ is in us

Mike J

What I need today

Do you know what you need today? Do you even know the next step to take?

I find myself today (like pretty much every other day!) in need of the Lord to guide me.

It is the wisdom from God that I am most in need of.

  • What should I be thinking on today?
  • How do I think about different things?
  • Why do I think about things that really aren’t excellent, praiseworthy, true?*
  • Who should I be talking to today?
  • What should I be saying to them? (what words/message/truth)
  • What attitude should I be having?
  • What things do I need to let go of?
  • What things are a distraction to me and completely unnecessary in my life?

Continue reading “What I need today”