The Ends of Our Noses

What do you see when you walk out of your church doors? What’s across the street? Next door? Around the block?

I recall Dr. Jim Futral, president of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board telling our state Baptist paper’s readers that their witness was to reach from the ends of their noses to the ends of the earth.

So what is at the end of our nose? Whatever it is, we may need to look no further for the starting point to reaching our world - our “Jerusalem” hometown - according to Acts 1:8. One local church campus is right across from a city school and a sprawling apartment complex. My home church is across from City Hall and on the corner of the downtown area. Within less than two blocks are retirement communities, the city’s Senior Center and other dwellings. Many congregations are neighbors to hospitals, nursing centers, shopping areas, and housing communities from mobile home parks to expansive subdivisions. God has a vision and a mission for each.

As you seek to obey God’s call to “look on the fields” (John 4:35), will you ask Him to let you see (with spiritual eyes) beyond the physical structures of your surroundings? As you go to worship services or Bible studies, consider taking some time to prayerwalk through the nearby communities and businesses, asking for God’s direction on ministering to those who live or work there. Invite a fellow member to go with you. Do it regularly. Greet people you meet, tell them what you are doing, and ask how you can pray for them. You may step right into a divine appointment the Lord has orchestrated to bring a seeking heart to Him!

You’ll never know unless you “follow your nose”.

Best wishes from Benreading:)

Heading to church

Rae was getting herself ready for church on a Sunday morning when I snapped this shot. You've probably noticed that children usually love to go to church! However, if they haven't had a good night's sleep, or there's a show on TV they want to see, the parents may have a fight on their hands!

Since we are grown-ups, we never have a negative attitude about heading down the road to the church of our choice (or, as I've heard it said, the church that pays our salary), right?

Well, I must admit I sometimes do. For whatever reason - having to face an EGR (Extra-Grace-Required) fellow member, not being prepared to teach, fatigue, etc. - I may wish to stay home for a Sunday (or longer)! But the Psalmist had a different attitude: "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord'" (Psalm 122:1).

If your attitude is bent out of shape about attending (and being involved), have a good heart-to-heart talk with the Lord; He knows you inside-and-out, anyway. Ask Him to restore the joy of your salvation to you, and to fill you with an appreciation for the preciousness of our freedom of worship. And if you just can't wait to gather with fellow saints, then be sure to thank staff members, teachers, musicians, nursery workers and others who make it such a special experience for you!

May God bless us as we gather with fellow believers, and may we grow in the desire to bring others into the fellowship!

Best wishes from Lefthandrightbrain:)