Live Sent Day 4: Pray First!

Posted on August 4, 2012 by LauraMac

“Then they returned to Jerusalem…They all joined together constantly in prayer…”  Acts 1:12a, 14a

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples followed His instructions to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit. What did they do first?  Order a pizza? Form evangelism committees? Plan strategy? Nope.  They prayed.  The text suggests this wasn’t just a two-sentence, rote, string-together-a –few-clichés type of prayer.  In fact, the brief phrase reveals at least three insights into this time of prayer:

  1.  They all prayed.  Yes, even the women!  We so often look to the “professional” (i.e. the pastor) to do the praying in a group.  Prayer is the responsibility, the privilege, of every believer.
  2. They prayed together.  There is great joy in joining together in prayer.  In fact, I’m convinced that God uses this time to not only spur us on to pray for the object of our prayers, but also to simultaneously unite the hearts and minds of those praying.  It is difficult to be angry or out of step with someone you are praying with.  If a relationship is a bit strained –whether it be your marriage partner, your child, or your ministry partner – why not suggest praying together for a common concern, people group, missionary, or country.
  3. They prayed constantly.  Don’t you just love –ly words?  Adverbs change the whole picture! The difference between praying and praying constantly is huge.

Lord, teach me to pray.

Live Sent Action Point:  Choose a missionary from each region mentioned in Acts 1:8. Invite a friend for coffee and then spend the afternoon praying together constantly for those serving Him full time.

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Live Sent Day 3: Our spiritual dynamite

Posted on August 3, 2012 by LauraMac

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8

The Greek word translated “power” is the same word we use for dynamite.  Wow!  Best of all, we receive this power as a gift.  We don’t need to try to manufacture it on our own. God always equips for what He calls. That amazing power given by Him enables us to be His witnesses.

And where are we to speak for Him?  Jerusalem, Judea, Samara, the world.  In my life, that means Siloam Springs, all of Arkansas, venturing perhaps to Canada or Mexico, and then to the world.  The list is important and the order is worthy of comment.  Note that Jesus instructs us to begin in Jerusalem. Mission trips to far off places where nobody knows our name are not only more exciting, but sometimes safer from a social standpoint.  We are much more self conscious about sharing Christ with the neighbor across the street than the stranger across the world.  But that’s where our assignment begins. 

Lord, thank you for the power of the Holy Spirit.  Enable me to go in the power of Your spiritual dynamite to be Your witness.  As I drive, walk, shop, live, and work in my Jerusalem today, enable me to see and embrace the opportunities You provide.  Give me courage to be not only a lifestyle witness, but a verbal witness, as well.

Live Sent Action Point:  Bake cookies and take them to your next-door neighbor.  Consider inviting her to join you for a Fall Bible study. Pray as you go.

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Live Sent Day 2: Is now the time?

Posted on August 1, 2012 by LauraMac

“So when they met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’”  Acts 1:6



In response to Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit, the disciples immediately want to know if now is the time for Israel to be delivered from the Roman yoke of oppression.  They could not see beyond the day-to-day challenge.  Their question demonstrates they are preoccupied with the physical and unable (or unwilling) to see the spiritual.

Are we any different today?  How easy it is to fight the political, economic, and social battle–or even the close-to-home battles of laundry, clutter, and bill-paying– and lose complete sight of our call to live sent.

Lord, who do you want to love on, give to, or make time for today?  Bring that person across my path and give me conviction to see the opportunity.  Give me the resolve to push away the immediate physical demands and make room for divine appointments.

Live Sent Action Point: Pray for a divine appointment and then look for it and embrace it when it comes!

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Live Sent Day 1: The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Posted on August 1, 2012 by LauraMac

“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”  Acts 1:4-5

Do you recognize the Holy Spirit as God’s gift to you?  If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is your indwelling, enabling, empowering gift!  Jesus promises we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Water baptism symbolizes on the outside the change that has taken place on the inside. After water baptism, you are literally all wet.  Others can see the difference and know you have been baptized.

If we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, it should also be evident to others.  Are you “dripping” with God’s love?  Does His Word flow from your tongue?  Are you making difference choices?  Are you following hard after Him, becoming an imitator of Christ in all you do?

He has transformed us from the inside out and it should show!

Father, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit!  Hydrate my parched soul with the awareness and comfort of Your presence.  Stir up my heart and mind these next 30 days to listen, follow, and enjoy the leading of Your Spirit. Bless me and make me a blessing.

Living Sent Action Point:  Jesus shared this instruction “while he was eating with them.” A shared meal is a great opportunity for living sent.  Lord, who shall I break bread with today?


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Live Sent

Posted on July 25, 2012 by LauraMac

If you are joining me for Wellspring this weekend, you are receiving a preview of the “Acts in August” challenge I’ll be issuing there.  Even if you are not attending this women’s conference, I pray you will join us to ponder what it means to live sent by reading through Acts this August.


A message from Laura:

My personal journey with Jesus cannot be separated from my journey to immersing myself in His Word.  From my experience, I’m convinced that to obey Jesus, I must know Jesus.  And knowing Him means meeting Him daily in the Scripture.  If I have any agenda, it would be to turn you on to the Word of God.  My assignment from my Lord is to encourage women to love God and His Word.

If meeting Him daily is something you try to do or know you should do or just haven’t figured out how to do – or even if you are already keeping a daily appointment – I want to invite you to join me in journeying through Acts during the month of August.

The 1st-century disciples heard the call to live sent from the mouth of our Lord directly.  Their stories, as captured in the book of Acts, tell us how they responded to this assignment.  As women who desire to live sent in the 21st century, we can be challenged and encouraged by their example.

I’ll be endeavoring to make a daily post to my blog sharing reflections from Acts on living sent.  Please feel free to make comments there (or on my Facebook Page) so we can encourage one another as women of God to live sent!

You can read and/or join in the conversation here:

www.crossmyheartministry.com/category/live-sent

You can also subscribe to the blog and receive an automatic email when I update with a new post. .  The upper-right-hand corner of the website includes a box labeled, “Subscribe by Email.”

Women of God, let’s go live sent!

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Unpacking Alaska

Posted on July 23, 2012 by LauraMac

The suitcases are empty, but I continue to unpack the insights and teachings God gave during my one-week on mission in Alaska.  Along with eight other women, I was blessed to serve with Alaska Missions during their annual Salmon Frenzy on the Kenai Peninsula.  The residents flock to the beach to dip net salmon and we are there to serve them and their children and share the love of Jesus.

This was my second Salmon Frenzy experience, as well as my second mission trip ever.  God sent me on mission to Alaska, I believe, so I could learn how to live on mission in “Jerusalem” (a.k.a. Siloam Springs, Arkansas).

Every chapter I read this morning in my Bible seemed to include a truth that God was stirring up my heart to receive –all related to this trip.  (I have a “Seven Times Seven” Bible reading plan I put together for myself a few years ago. I (try to) read seven chapters each day.  Might do a blog post on that soon and share my bookmarks.)

1. Exodus 12 – God is giving instructions to the Israelites for leaving Egypt.  Their response should be the same as ours when God says “go:”

“…Then the people bowed down and worshiped.  The Israelites did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron.” Exodus 12:27b-28

Worship and obedience.  A good way to live.

2.  We go, but He saves.

“…Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
I Samuel 14:6

My job is to obey and then to trust the results to Him.

3.  When flights are cancelled and flexibility is called for and people are tired, He is our refuge.

“Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!” Psalm 64:10

I am counted righteous and upright only because of Jesus.  This compels my heart to respond in praise!

4.  Keep on keeping on….

“Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.” Proverbs 23:19

My body may give out, but my heart must stay focused!

5.  I have been complacent in my “Jerusalem” life. I must LIVE on mission here, as I WENT on mission there.

“You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me…” Isaiah 32:9a

Ouch!

6.  In Luke 10, Jesus sent out 72 followers to share the gospel.  They “returned with joy” because of a successful mission trip.  Jesus reminded them (and me) not to rejoice in successful results, but to:

“…rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

The diamond ring is my salvation.  Getting to serve Jesus here…that’s the box.

7.  My ultimate cause to rejoice is that I am saved, but there is also great blessing in doing what we were created to do.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

My heart is full, as I resolve to LIVE on mission.  Amazing that the trip was as much for me, as for the people I served in Alaska.

PS  Two years ago this week, I attended the Wellspring Women’s Conference in Little Rock.  During that conference, God said to me, “You have prayed for missions. You have given to missions.  It’s time for you to GO on mission!”  I said, “Yes, sir!” and that was the seed that grew to two Heart Life Women’s Ministry Mission trips to Alaska.  This weekend marks the second anniversary of my first Wellspring experience.  Amazingly, the theme is “Live Sent.”  More amazingly, I return this year as the conference keynote speaker.  Needless to say, I covet and shamelessly beg for your prayers.

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Wellspring 2012: Live Sent

Posted on May 21, 2012 by LauraMac

Two years ago, I was blessed to attend Wellspring for the very first time.  It was there that I clearly heard God say, “You have prayed for missions, you have given to missions.  It’s now time for you to GO on mission.”

That was the beginning of the series of events that took me to Alaska with nine other women last summer to serve during Salmon Frenzy.  (We are returning again this summer!)

In 2011, I was blessed to return to Wellspring and teach four breakout sessions (two topics, each taught twice.)

This summer, I’m honored and excited to return to Wellspring for the third time –I will be teaching three breakout sessions and will also be the keynote speaker for the two large group meetings. Please pray for me as I continue to prepare.

I would love to have my friends join me in presence, in prayer, or BOTH!

You can get more details here:  http://www.absc.org/images/Calendar/wellspringposterfinal.pdf

Hope to see you in Little Rock, July 27-28, 2012!

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Barnabas: Son of Encouragement

Posted on May 8, 2012 by LauraMac

“…Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”
Acts 4:36a-37

Barnabas is one of what I like to call “B” characters in the Bible.  (His name even begins with B!) You rarely see him in the limelight, but the few occurrences display a life of great character, commitment to Christ, and selflessness.  His name even means encouragement – so appropriate, as his life certainly encourages and challenges us.

In this passage, we note that Barnabas was an encouragement to the body of believers by sacrificially giving something of value to bless others.  Acts 4:32 introduces a discussion of unity:  “All the believers were one in heart and mind.” The beliefs that we hold in our hearts and minds should work their way out into actions and attitudes that change our behavior and affect our relationships.  Clearly, that was the case with Barnabas.  He not only embraced a sense of unity with the body of Christ in his heart and mind, but he allowed those beliefs to influence his behavior.

It is one thing for us to say we love others and quite another to live that love out loud.  Perhaps the biggest take away for us from this passage is that encouraging others requires an element of sacrifice.

God what do you want me to sacrifice today – time, treasure, talent?  Enable me, O God, to see that I am a steward, not an owner, of my bank account, my calendar, and the spiritual gifts You have provided.  Who do you want me to bless today with these gifts?  Encourage me, as I am blessed to encourage others.

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Acts 4:29 – Praying for Boldness, not Protection

Posted on April 27, 2012 by LauraMac

Peter and John were hauled before the powerful Sanhedrin religious authority.  They were threatened and then commanded to stop speaking of Jesus before being released.  The power wielded by this religious body would lead many of us to pray for protection if we were in the shoes of Peter and John.  Let’s look at what they prayed instead:

“Now, Lord, consider their threats
and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.”
Acts 4:29

Boldness, not protection was their request.  As we consider living lives of purpose – carrying the message of Jesus Christ to our world–we often pray for protection for ourselves or for others who go out.  A prayer of protection is a prayer that focuses on ourselves, a desire to serve God only as long as it’s safe to do so.  A prayer of boldness comes from a heart that is set firmly on God, a heart that is less concerned with my safety or my reputation and more concerned with making Him known. 

A pray for boldness is a risky prayer.  I’m ready to set aside a life of playing it safe.  I want to be bold.  In my 21st century-western world culture, it may not be my life that is at risk, but my reputation.  Am I willing to be labeled a “Jesus freak,” as I trade in protection for boldness in my desire to live for Him? 

Here’s the thing about prayer:  God always answers.  It didn’t take long for Peter and John to see their prayer answered:

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and spoke the word of God boldly.” 
Acts 4:31 (emphasis added)

Are you ready to pray for boldness?

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Acts 4: If You’ve Been with Jesus, It Shows!

Posted on April 20, 2012 by LauraMac

Our Heart Life Ministry will be going back to Alaska this summer to serve on our second mission trip.  I’ve asked my fellow team members to be reading through the book of Acts to prepare our hearts for this trip.  Camping out in Acts has my heart stirred with anticipation for our trip, but also with gratefulness for the early believers and amazement at what happens when the Holy Spirit leads and we follow.  I’ll be making several posts in the days and weeks to come, sharing the nuggets I’m digging up as I camp out in Acts.  Come look at what God has left here for us!

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”  Acts 4:13

Is it evident to others that I have been with Jesus?  Do people look on and say, “She’s just an ordinary, unschooled girl,” so from where does her courage and conviction come? Perhaps the more ordinary and the more unschooled we are, the greater the glory that goes to Jesus when He uses us to do extraordinary and courageous acts for Him and through Him.  What could be more extraordinary and courageous than sharing the gospel?

Moses’ face was radiant when He had been with God –so much so that he had to wear a veil! (Exodus 34:29-35)  Is my heart and face radiant with the joy of Jesus?  Is it evident to others that I have spent time with Him today?  Have I been I the Word today?  Am I leaning onto God as my source of strength –asking Him for a courageous assignment for today?

Lord, bring someone into my path today that needs to hear the gospel.  Use this ordinary girl to speak with truth and boldness and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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