Day 30: 50 Days of Impact

Who doesn’t like to start a new project. The thrill of creating something from noting is exhilarating.  Maybe it is a novel that has been racing around in your mind, perhaps your renovating a house that you found that is a diamond in the rough. There is a certain joy in the work to complete the task, butt he true moment is when you can finally see the finish line and be able to cross it confidently saying it is finished.

 

30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:30 (NIV)

 

Here in this moment we see Jesus, having endured much pain, anguish and humiliation alone and on a cross. By the outsider looking at what is happening, you might see just another man enduring the punishment he solely deserved for the crime he committed, like the men on his right and left. I am sure for the disciples and people who knew Jesus this was a very confusing moment for them, for Jesus had done nothing deserving of this type of death.

Had those who had been by Jesus side listened to his words telling them that this would eventually happen to him, they may not have been as shocked or scared. But they had all left him when he was arrested, very few brave enough to come back and see what was happening to their friend and teacher.

Jesus knew that this was going to happen to him, in the garden he prayed for another way, yet yielded to the plan that was set in place before even time began. For redemption of mankind and restoration of relationship between man and God, this final sacrifice had to take place. So there on the cross Jesus completed the plan to provide freedom for sin for man. Jesus took all sin and bound it, taking control of sin and death.

Now the choice is yours. Will you accept the sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf on the cross? He died for you, and what is even more exciting is that three days later he rose again. He is ALIVE. He wants to provide you with the freedom from sin and a life in relationship with God. We were made for more then just living our lives without purpose.

 

Father, thank you so much that you complete what you start. Thank you that you provided a way for us to return to the relationship once lost in the garden. We know that you are going to come back and rescue us before setting up a new kingdom here on earth. Give us push to share your love with those around us who need to know you. They are loved by you so we should be loving them too. Amen

 

Day 29: 50 Days of Impact

Have you ever been thirsty? I mean so dry that your mouth is raw and hurting, the only thing that will satisfy is a tall glass of water. I am sure you have seen video of people in a dessert searching for water, only to have their hopes destroyed when they find a mirage. We wouldn’t give a thirsty man salt water, or vinegar, we would help them out with fresh water. So if we are spiritually thirsty whey do we stand by when people are quenching their thirst with things that don’t satisfy?

 

“Jesus knew that his mission was almost finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, ‘I am thirsty’ (John 19:28 NLT).

 

“”they offered me sour wine for my thirst”(Ps 69:21b NLT)

 

Here on the cross accepting the drink fulfilling the prophecy.  Another important aspect was to show that even on the cross after all the torture and pain he was fully human, with human needs. There is a group of people who believe that Jesus wasn’t fully man. They believe he was all supernatural and this death on the cross was just for show and didn’t cause him any pain or discomfort. To deny Jesus his humanity is to deny who he is.

This man who earlier had told the samaritan woman “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst again” (John 4:14a NKJV), was now himself asking for water. The guards in their feeble attempt to help offered him a poor substitute for sour wine.

We thirst for more in our lives, and if we don’t ask the right person we will be given a poor substitute that won’t satisfy or restore our lives. We need to ask for water from the one who provides living water. Are there people around you thirsty for the water only Jesus provides? I am sure there are, unless you are living as a hermit somewhere in isolation, we are surrounded by thirsty people who are filling their thirst with all sorts of foul substitutes.  It is time that as believers we start sharing the gift of living water to those who need it.

Father, thank you for the living water you provide through Jesus. Help us to share this water and hope to those around us who are daily drinking poison and other substitutes that don’t satisfy. Let our lives reflect the love you have for them, let them see that you love them deeply and that they matter you. Show us that we need to love them as much as you love them. Amen

 

Day 28: 50 Days of Impact

Trouble, it is something we can expect in life. Anguish is something we can’t avoid. Pain is inevitable to those living in this world. How we respond to these things is something we have control over. Jesus was no stranger to pain, anguish and trouble. On the cross and leading up to it he had many opportunities to use his birthright to reign down judgement on his oppressors, yet he didn’t. He showed compassion, forgiveness and even quoted scripture to let us realize that there is a way to get past the hard times in our lives.

 

⁴⁶ About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,^[c] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:46

 

Here in the final hour before his death Jesus cries out one of the most used words from the cross. Maybe you have heard preachers or others say that in this moment it was when the weight of all sin was set on Jesus and God himself couldn’t look at him any longer due to the sin.

If we look at Jesus upbringing we would know that he was taught the scriptures of old and would have been well versed in the Psalms. Psalm 22 starts with the phrase,

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?

 

Was Jesus in this moment reminded of this Psalm, maybe he didn’t have the strength to continue reciting all of it, but if you take the time to read the whole Psalm you will quickly realize that it was all about Jesus, his life, death and resurrection.

How then can these words impact our world and our lives? Well as believers of the living God, we believe that he is the trinity, God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Spirit. To separate any from God is to go against what Jesus taught us and the bible explains. So, when Jesus was on the cross, God experienced the cross. So, God couldn’t have looked away as he was part of the experience and plan.

To tell others about this truth can be something that sounds out of this world and fantasy. But for them to understand that God never left Jesus on the cross, can help remind them that he loves them just as much and is not going to leave them in their times of anguish, troubles, and pain. We go through these experiences to either mold us into who we were meant to be or to draw us close to a relationship with God.

You can either run away from God during your times of trouble, get angry with him, or ask him to guide you through it, to give you direction and hope for what is to come. How will you respond to the trouble when it comes? Will you let your response impact those around you in a positive way?

Father, thank you for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. I know you were there right with him during that hardship and were behind the plan of salvation from the beginning. I pray that we as believers will come to you in our trouble and ask you to mold us into who you desire us to be. Let our lives impact those around us. Let them see you in us. They matter to you so they matter to me. Amen

 

Day 27: 50 Days of Impact

All over the world, every week we hear of some disaster or tragedy that is affecting someone. We as Christians, have no excuse not to be helping those in need. It is never wrong to help those who are in need. To turn a blind eye and say, ‘that’s not our problem’ is to ignore the very command of Jesus to love one another. Michael W. Smith compelled us with the song ‘Love isn’t love until you give it away’. Are we hoarding the love of God, or are we sharing it with compassion, ready to make a difference where ever it may be?

 

“Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.”

John 19:25-27 NLT

 

Even in his death Jesus was show compassion. He wanted to ensure his mother was taken care of. What amazing love he has for people. Do we care about the people around us? I mean really care? Jesus at the brink of death was still thinking of others.

 

I sometimes wonder why we miss this point. We need to be a church who had our community in mind and working at helping the needs of those around us. 

 

How then will we go out and show compassion to those around us? Are we waiting for a big event to shake our neighborhood before we jump into action? Or are we ready to help those in need with the little things, blankets for the cold, shelter for the homeless, love for the unloved, or food for the hungry?

 

Must we wait until the church leadership makes a push forward and then we jump onboard, or are we willing to just go and do it on our own? Sometimes waiting for someone else to make a move will slow you down, get up and show compassion because you want to not because someone tells you it needs to be done, or organizes it. You may be the change maker needed to start something big. One person’s compassion can change a community and beyond.

 

Love isn’t love until you give it away. Are you ready to share love and compassion that was given to you?

 

Jesus, As we remember the day you died for us, let us remember your compassion for those in need and work to follow your example of love for the hurting. Thank you for your sacrifice, let us desire to sacrifice our needs for you. Use me to meet the needs of those around me, let me not try to hoard you love, I want to give it away. Amen

 

Day 26: 50 Days of Impact

To take for granted that you will have the opportunity on your death bed to repent is a gamble. We should know all to well that death can sneak up at any moment an we may not be given a last breath to make a choice on where we spend eternity. Many wait until they have lost everything to accept Christ. We don’t have to wait until everything is falling apart to trust God with everything. Even when your life feels perfect, without a relationship with Jesus we are missing the purpose of life. What is holding you back?

 

“Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

Luke 23:42-43 NLT

 

“In times of trouble, may the LORD answer your cry. May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.”

Psalms 20:1 NLT

 

Picture this, Jesus, beaten by the Romans, mocked by the Jews, his friends had left him, and now he is hanging on the cross. Now to top it off as he is hanging their, the two criminals next to him start talking. One openly mocks Jesus. This criminal who is sharing the same penalty as Jesus, who deserved his fate, was mocking Jesus who was innocent. The other criminal goes to defend Jesus. He knows something is going on and eagerly and openly defends Jesus the innocent.

 

When he finishes rebuking the other criminal, he turns his attention to the one he was defending. This criminal may have had the importance of Jesus revealed to him either by the Holy Spirit, or maybe he had heard Jesus talking earlier in his life. We won’t know exactly what compelled him to ask the dying man next to him to remember him in heaven.

 

But an awesome reminder of Jesus forgiving power is displayed here on the cross. This criminal called out to Jesus, and Jesus didn’t ignore him, he didn’t make him say a prayer, he didn’t make an altar call, he answered his cry. This displays the awesome forgiveness of Jesus. King David wrote that the Lord answers are cries in times of trouble. This criminal may have remembered this as he hung on his cross and knew of the psalm as a child, but for whatever reason he cried out to Jesus to remember him, the pint to remember is that Jesus answered his cry.

 

So today those around us who are hurting, dying, depressed, out of work, angry, they all need Jesus. He is right there waiting for them to cry out to him. It is never to late for someone to come to Jesus.

 

Dear Jesus, I need to keep sharing your love with those around me. Help me this Easter weekend to invite friends, coworkers and family to experience the love of Jesus. Give me the boldness to invite people to church this Sunday. Let your messages all over this world from in the hearts of those who may only attend church once or twice a year. Break hearts and change lives this weekend. Amen

 

Day 25: 50 Days of Impact

I wonder how we would lives if we found out that our last seven sentences were being recorded before we died. Then these seven sentences would be shared with all humanity as the defining perspective of who we are. Would this change how we treat one another?

 

“When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.”

Luke 23:33-34 NLT

 

Jesus according to scripture had seven words spoken from the cross. The first being this account in Luke 23.

 

Jesus had just been whipped, mocked, beaten, striped of his cloths, humiliated, questioned by authorities, and nailed to a cross. He didn’t defend himself, he didn’t try to weasel his way from the cross. He didn’t curse or condemn those who were attacking him. No, he forgave them.

 

Imagine such grace and compassion for the world, could we be like this in our daily walk? Could we stay calm even when the world around us is trying to destroy us? Can we accept what ever is coming to us and then forgive those oppressing us? Trusting that God has a plan and knows that in the end he will be glorified? Would you be able to stand firm in your faith even to death? Would you be able to forgive those who your executioners as they killed you? I pray God would give me such strength.

 

Jesus even in this moment as he forgave them the guards below him were mocking him by gambling for his clothing. Yet he didn’t change his views, he still forgave them. He is still forgiving those who are willing to come to him. The gift of salvation he bore on the cross is freely available to all mankind.

 

We need to put into action the forgiveness of Christ. He forgave others even at the point of death and we need to share his forgiveness now while we are alive. Don’t wait until we are at the point of death. Jesus commanded us to seek and save the lost and make disciples.

 

Jesus, help us to forgive others and share your forgiveness to them. Help us to show them your love and that you desire to have a relationship with them. Give us guidance in speaking to reach them where they are, and to say what they need to hear. Give us boldness and courage to be great witnesses for you. If you could forgive those around you on the cross we prayed you will pour the same desire for the lost to us for those we meet each day. Amen

 

 

Day 23: 50 Days of Pray

The message of the cross and salvation has reached millions of people, yet there are untold numbers of those who have yet been reached. With today’s social media there really no excuse for the message not to be out there. Yet weeds have popped up and are infesting just as fast, giving true Christianity a bad reputation, as mankind tends to paint all Christians with the same brush. Many are following these false teachings and they too need to see the light. I watched a video today of people thanking a celebrity for his words that pushed them to keep going in life. I can only imagine the day where people will be thanking you for the message of hope you shared when you told they about Jesus, or when you were Jesus in their lives. We may not all have a hugh platform to share Jesus love but we all have opportunities, if only we will take them. You can make an impact in one life at a time or 100’s of people. Wherever God has put you do something.

 

“The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.””

Isaiah 40:8 NLT

 

The word of God stands forever. Amen. Our God didn’t give us a changing faith, one that changed as our desire do, or changed with the seasons. Gods word never changes. I am so thankful for this. Imagine not knowing if today God is adding something new to his word. We don’t have to worry; Gods word stands forever.

 

Here is where people who don’t have a relationship with Jesus fail to understand. They don’t see God as anything more then just a big finger in the sky playing puppet master with our lives. As followers of Christ we know better and need to show the world through are love, actions and words that God is a loving God who wants so much more for us. This meagre existence is only temporary and God made a way for us to live in eternity with him. Forever ever.  Awesome.

 

Dear Jesus, help us to share with the those around us that your word stands forever. It won’t change with the seasons, it is a rock which we can trust won’t crumble at the first sign of trouble. Give us the insight even today to be a witness to our friends, coworkers and families. Amen

 

How are you making an impact? I would love to hear about it. Comment Below!

Day 21: 50 Days of Impact

No more then ever we are coming to realize that words have more harmful effect then some generations told us. The old saying “sticks and stones may break our bones but names will never hurt us”, was the mantra of my generation as a kid. We now come to see mental illness and other problems arise due to low self esteem and low self worth due to the way people have been treated. Sticks and stones will break you bones, but they heal. Words cut deeper and leave scars that are harder to heal. Jesus is the ultimate healer and he can heal your hurt from the words that have cut you deeply.

 

“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

 

The tongue is the most powerful weapon we have. It can destroy and build up. As the proverb reads ‘bring death or life’. But how can words bring death? Mean words that hurt people based on their appearance, mannerisms or disability has lead to many suicides or even mass shootings from an angry individual(s) looking for revenge and answers. How many women have chosen an abortion because they were talked into it? Our words can lead us down roads we never want to be on.

 

But in contrast our words can bring life. Not only our words. The words of Jesus bring LIFE. He taught us how to live life. He showed us what it means to use words to build others up.

 

Words are only useful and powerful in the giving of life if we open our mouths and use words that bring life. We can sit and talk to our friends about everything from weather, to news, politics and sports. But when it comes to the import things in life like a relationship with Jesus we treat those words like poison.  We think, sure it is honey to our lips, but sharing it they will only be bitter to theirs. Rejection is what we fear. But if we don’t try then we will never know.

 

We need to break these preconceived notions that people are always going to negatively respond to the message of Jesus. If we believe the words that Jesus spoke about life then we need to believe that Jesus not only loves us but he loves everyone and they need to hear about his love for them.

 

Dear Jesus, to often we fear that you will be reject if we speak about you. Prove us wrong. Holy Spirit guide us and show us who to share with giving us the words to speak. We are not given a spirit of fear, so help us to live that way, proud of being a Christian wanting to share the love of Jesus with others. Amen

 

 

 

 

Day 50: Original 50 Days of Pray Revisited

Thoughts on Day 50: Well it was great revisiting this original series with you. I hope you enjoyed it. Remember, prayer is a powerful weapon we can use to reach the lost, and talk to God.

DAY FIFTY

But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last. (Matthew 27:50 MSG)

When I started the 50 Days of Pray I did not count ahead to see when if would be ending. I think it is fitting that it ended on Good Friday.

Jesus, beaten and bruised, hanging up on the cross, they didn’t stop mocking Him, they gave Him sour wine. But that is not why Jesus was crying out. I can’t imagine what He must have been going through as every imaginable sin from creation to completion was put on Him. It was so unbearable that he cried out loudly. It wasn’t the torture or the cross, that killed Him, I believe it was the overwhelming sin that was thrust upon Him that took His last breath.

But I am so glad that the story doesn’t end there. 3 days later He resurrected from the grave. Amazing. He defeated sin and death once and for all. So he knows what you are experiencing, he knows your pain.

Dear Jesus, thank You for taking sin on for us. Thank You for bearing it all on the cross. You are so amazing. Keep working in my life, I want to do anything You ask of me. Amen