Cross My Heart Ministry

 “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.”  Acts 9:20

When the scales fell away from his eyes (Acts 9:18), Saul could see physically and spiritually.   He now spreads the truth he had devoted his life to eradicate:  Jesus is the Son of God.

God will soon also give him a new name (Paul) to identify his new life in Christ.

He may be given a new name, but Paul’s personality is still intact. His zeal, intellect, and resolve are now re-directed to the truth.  His ability to speak, debate, and engage others is clear to everyone as Scripture records that he “…baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.”  (Acts 9:22)

God had saved Paul. Now Paul will serve Him.

God, thank you for my salvation.  Because you have saved me, I want to serve you.

Live Sent Action Point:  Take inventory of your natural and spiritual gifts.  How are you or how could you use these to serve the One who saved you?

“…Brother Saul….”
Acts 9:17b

When Ananias received instructions from God to go to Saul, he didn’t exactly say, “no” but he did remind God in verses 13 and 14 of Acts 9 that Saul was a persecutor of God’s people and had come to Damascus with authority to take prisoners. Essentially, “Are you sure this is the guy, Lord?”

God responded to Ananias’ concern:  “Go!” (Acts 9:15) God also highlighted the ministry He had in mind for the unlikely Saul.

Ananias responded to God in obedience:  “Then Ananias went…”  (Acts 9:17)
Placing his hands on Saul to pray, Ananias referred to him as Brother – communicating acceptance into God’s family.

Relying on God’s Word, Ananias believed in faith that Saul would be transformed by God into Paul –the evangelist chosen by God to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.

It wasn’t Saul who changed Ananias’ mind.  It was God.

Who have you and I written off as candidates for God’s Kingdom and God’s Work?

Lord, forgive me for judging others.

Live Sent Action Point:  Thank God for your salvation.  Ask Him to identify the “most unlikely to accept Jesus” in your sphere and then pray for an opportunity to share the good news.

“For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.”  Acts 9:9

Paul’s Damascus Road experience was followed by a forced, three-day fast.

Before his conversion, Paul (then Saul) was passionate, zealous, committed, devout, orderly, and steadfast.  His mission:  to eradicate the “false” teaching of Christians.

After his conversion, Paul was passionate, zealous, committed, devout, orderly and steadfast.  He was given a new mission:  to evangelize and draw others to Christ.

God knocked Paul off his lofty “high horse” (spiritually and physically speaking) to get his attention. The result was a new direction and a new purpose.

How might God give us a “forced fast?”  A disappointment, a back thrown out, a lost job or ministry, a financial struggle, a broken relationship—what circumstances might bring a forced “time out” to you and me?

These time outs afford an opportunity to step off the merry-go-round of life and check in with God for a re-evaluation of that which claims our time, treasure, and our talent.  God may use this time to change our direction.

A woman who lives sent goes where GOD is sending.

Lord, forgive me for confusing activity with obedience.  I want to go where YOU send.  I want to follow YOUR plan.

Live Sent Action Point:  Take a voluntary fast from a specific activity, from television, from spending or shopping, or even food.  Use the time to press into prayer, asking God for spiritual re-alignment, to either confirm or re-direct your passions.

“Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
Acts 8:30b

When Philip encountered the Ethiopian reading from the Old Testament, he asked this leading question.  It was a perfect conversation starter.  His new friend responded with an openness to learn more and Philip found himself sitting in the chariot next to the government official and discussing Scripture.

The Ethiopian was reading prophecy about Jesus found in the Old Testament book of Isaiah.  Verse 35 records that Philip wisely “began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”

Philip began right where the man was.  And from there he shared the gospel, the good news. The result was a changed life, as the Ethiopian was baptized and “went on his way rejoicing.” (Verses 36-39).  And it all began with a question.

What questions might we ask those we encounter?  How could a conversation with a stranger result in a change for eternity?

• Are you okay?
• Do you need help with that?
• May I pray for you?

Note that the pronoun “you” is in every sentence.  It is the “I” pronoun that keeps us from starting the conversation – -pride, embarrassment, self-consciousness.

A woman who lives sent focuses on the other person rather than herself.

Lord, give me a heightened sense of those around me who are hurting, struggling, or questioning.  Quicken my mind with a leading question to start a life-changing conversation.

Live Sent Action Point: Ask a leading question today.

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip,
‘Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch…”
Acts 8:26-27a

The angel of the Lord told Philip to go and he went. His obedience was immediate.

Philip didn’t get the whole plan. God didn’t provide an agenda.  He gave directions only for the first step and Philip obeyed.

The obedience is all the more remarkable when we consider that Philip was leaving the revival in Samaria to go to the desert.  Many of us would question the wisdom in leaving the place where God is obviously working in the lives of many to go the place where he finds just one.  Perhaps obedience would have been easier if he were in the desert and being called to the place where God is working, to the revival.

Am I happy to go to the place of blessing…and reluctant to go the desert?  Do I insist on choosing the setting and time for my service?

Philip left the masses to go to the one.   A woman who lives sent may be called to the revival or to the desert. She may be called to many or to one.  Most importantly, a woman who lives sent goes where God sends.  She says, “Yes, Sir!” to God’s command.

Lord, give me my assignment for today.  Who is the one person you are sending me to?  Is she my bank teller, my checkout clerk, my hairdresser, or next-door neighbor?

Live Sent Action Point:  Choose the same check-out clerk at your grocery store each time you go.  Remember her name.  Pray for her. Ask about her family. We women can do a lot with three minutes!  Make a friend.  Earn the right to invite her to your Bible study or next women’s ministry event.

When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.
Acts 8:25

Peter and John completed their mission in Samaria.  But the work God had for them did not end there.  They were faithful to seize every opportunity on the trip home to also preach the gospel.

What a great example and challenge for us to make the most of every opportunity – even the travel time.

On my very first mission trip two years ago, my most impactful experience did not happen on the beach where I went to serve.  It happened in a pizza place on the way home.  My encounter with a young woman named Ashley and our conversation about God will be one I remember forever.  Ashley continues to be on my prayer list today.

Our mission is sometimes not just about the trip.  But as we go – and as we come home – God may have assignments for us along the way, too.

A woman who lives sent is always on mission.

Lord, stir up my heart to seize every opportunity to speak for You!

Live Sent Action Point: The next time you are dining in a restaurant, say this to the waiter or waitress: “We’ll be praying for our food in a few minutes.  Is there anything we can pray about for you?”  Be sure to leave a good tip!

“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them.”  Acts 8:14

This passage seems to suggest that the “sending church” in Jerusalem is taking responsibility to visit the mission work (in this case, Samaria).  The role of Peter and John is to offer encouragement and prayer to the new believers and, most likely, to the “missionaries,” as well – the new believers from Jerusalem that have now settled there.

The encouragement that Peter and John were able to extend to the Samaritans on behalf of the church in Jerusalem is not unlike the encouragement that we carry along to those on the field when we go on a short-term mission trip.

Are you a missions-minded woman?  For years, I prayed for missions and I gave to missions.  Two years ago, I heard clearly from God that I was to GO on mission.  What a joy to obey Him in this area.  Would you pray about whether it might be time for you to GO, too?

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to offer encouragement and prayer on the mission field.

Live Sent Action Point:  Ask God to open up an opportunity for you to GO on mission for Him.

Those who had been scattered preached the word
wherever they went.
Acts 8:4

After Stephen was martyred in Acts 7, the heat was turned up on the believers in Jerusalem.  As a result, “…all except the apostles, were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.”  (Acts 8:1)  Saul, the chief persecutor of the Christians, was dragging believers off to prison (Acts 8:3).

Disillusionment?  Disappointment?  Depression?  What was the response of the early believers?  And, more pointedly, what would have been your response or my response?  If prison is a possibility and you are getting out of town to avoid it, starting over somewhere else might make one a “closet Christian.”  Not so for these folks.

What did they do as they traveled and found a new home?  They preached the word.  Philip’s experiences in Samaria suggest that revival was breaking out.  (Acts 8:5-8).

Only in God’s economy could persecution lead to revival.  When I hear of persecution, my first prayer response is essentially, “Lord, make it stop.”  But if I am also praying for revival, could the persecution actually be an answer to prayer?  The ways of our great God are certainly not our ways.  And a woman who desires to live sent might face persecution.

Lord, give me an eternal perspective.  Give me eyes to see that even persecution can be used for your glory.

Live Sent Action Point: Each day, my website focuses on an unreached people group.  (Look at the top right side here:  http://www.crossmyheartministry.com/blog/)  Pray for this group today and enlist your children to pray, too.  You can even make it a geography/history/social studies lesson as you click and learn about this group. Pray specifically for the few Christians and the missionaries who are serving this group.

“They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.  So the word of God spread.  The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly…”  Acts 6:7

When the apostles realized they needed help, they called seven men to serve.  These seven became the first deacons.  In the Jewish-Old Testament method of blessing, the apostles laid their hands upon them as they prayed. Prayer was a priority.

The apostles gave their attention to “prayer and the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4) The Word was a priority.

When prayer is combined with the Word, lives are changed.  The scripture says that the number of disciples (note that it doesn’t say converts –disciples suggests genuine change) increased rapidly. (Ahhh…another adverb! If you’ve been reading along since day 1, you know how I love these ‘ly’ words.) Though I can’t quantify the difference between an increase and a rapid increase, I think we can assume this was an exciting, growing time for the early church.

The bottom line is that lives were being changed.  How has knowing Christ and living as a disciple changed your life?  Would you like a life change? Have you been living only as a convert – prayed the prayer and have your fire insurance, but little more?  A disciple embraces prayer and the Word.  The result is a changed life.  You are changed first and then others around you take note and are changed, too.

A woman who lives sent is a woman of prayer and a woman of the word.  Are you ready to be changed?

Lord, teach me to pray.  Give me a hunger and thirst for your Word.  Change me and use me to change others.

Live Sent Action Points:

• Decide to pray.
• Pray.
• Decide to be a woman of the Word.
• Find a Bible study to plug into this fall.* The accountability will keep you going.

*You are invited to join me beginning September 6, as I teach a verse-by-verse study of Genesis.  We will be using Joy of Living materials.  You can download the first week’s lesson here:  http://www.joyofliving.org/html/GENEBND01FF.pdf

If you are in the Siloam Springs area, we will be meeting from 9-11 am at First Baptist Church.  Email me at cross.my.heart@cox.net to sign up .

If you are out of town or work, you can still join in by doing the lesson on your own and then listening to each week’s recorded teaching lecture.  I will record those and then upload to our FBC website each week.  Ask to be added to the list and I will email you the link each week. You could even meet with a friend and have your own small group.

You can also join our Bible study Facebook group called Thirst Bible Study: http://www.facebook.com/groups/486865611324968/

“…choose seven men from among you who are known
to be full of the Spirit and wisdom…”
Acts 6:3

When the apostles realized they needed more leaders to help in serving the church, they identified two primary qualifications for servant leadership:

• Spirit-filled
• Wise

We receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.  We receive more enabling and empowering in and through Him as we walk in faith and obedience (Acts 5:32).

Wisdom comes from being in the Word.  There is no real wisdom apart from God.

If I am Spirit-filled and wise, it should be evident in my life.  Note that the verse indicates that those chosen should be known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.  I would maintain that a “private” faith is really no faith at all.

The standard for leaders in our church is a good standard, also, for a woman of God – a woman who desires to live sent.  Am I Spirit-filled?  Am I wise?  Am I living that out in such a way that I am known to be both?

Lord, I want to be your woman!  My heart longs to be Spirit-filled and wise.  Empty me of me and fill me with more of You!

Live Sent Action Point:  Ask Him to reveal Himself to you daily in His Word, to empower you with His Spirit, and then live like you are both – live sent!