http://youtu.be/U0l7_vsOxp8 - Forever - Fireflight
Go and Tell
For the last few months, I've been working for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. My job is temporary and will end in just a few short weeks. But during this "temporary" assignment God gave me, I
was blessed to see the community of which I am a part, the community of believers, come together with
One purpose - to reach out to those who are lost in our own backyard. There was no "this church" or "that church" - just brothers and sisters in Christ who wanted to go and tell the Story of Jesus and His love for us.
I think I remember Jesus praying that we would all be One, just as He and the Father are One. This community came together with love towards the community and each other. I don't think we'll ever be the same.
Going on an international mission trip is awesome and everyone seems to come back feeling like they'll never be the same. God is so good! I think what happens is, because they "go and tell", God blesses them in even greater ways than they bless the people they serve. God tells us that we cannot out give Him and when we are obedient to the call He puts on our lives, He blesses us in amazing ways.
I had the opportunity to hear some "love" stories from our Youth Group members at church who decided to spend Spring Break helping others. They served in McAllen, Texas helping to build homes for people who don't have the material blessings most of us have. I also listened to some Dallas Christian students who went on mission trips over Spring Break. The message they all kept sharing - "I'll never be the same." God opened their hearts and eyes to what really matters. They were ambassadors for Christ to people who desperately need a Savior. Once again, God said "go and tell" and when these young people obeyed, God blessed them with so much more than they ever would have imagined.
These kids could have gone skiiing, to beach, on some other fun vacation, and that would have been fine. After all, don't they need a little break from school? A time of refreshment and rest? And what fun they would have playing and having a great time! But then when they come back to school, what do they have? They have some fun things to remember, but after a few weeks, that experience, that happiness is just a memory. Then they can't wait for the next "happy" vacation. Right?
But the kids that put aside their own selves and chose instead to spend that week helping others, the joy they experienced from serving those who are less fortunate, that joy will last into eternity. God touched their hearts with love for others. That changes the way we look at things forever.
But going on a mission trip is not the only way we can Go and Tell. The Will Graham Celebration this weekend in Terrell is a mission trip into our own community. It no less important for us to tell our neighbors and acquaintances about the love of Jesus than it is to tell those across the ocean. Christ gave us a commission to GO and Tell His Story to all the world. Even to the people in our own town.
Last night was the first night of the Trinity Valley Will Graham Celebration. It was eye-opening for me.
The Celebration is an evangelistic ministry with the goal of spreading the message of hope that is found
in Christ. Last night many people responded with a desire to have the forgiveness that Christ offers us.
It made me seriously consider how many people I know who feel that they are just too far gone for Jesus
to save. How many people desperately want what I have? Am I reaching out to the lost with my life?
Am I willing to tell others about my Savior without feeling embarrassed or awkward?
Tonight is Student Night at the Celebration. We have special performances by Fireflight, Tedashii and Rend Collective Experiment. These are young people who use their special talents in music to bring glory to God.
They testify to the faithfulness and love of Christ through song. Last night we heard Rend Collective Experiment and also Brenton Brown performed. Brenton wrote "Everlasting God", "Your Love is Amazing", and Lord Reign in Me" among other praise songs we sing all the time.
Jesus told us to go and preach the gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things which He commanded. Are we doing that in our own community? Someone you know needs to know Jesus. Look for those people. Seek them out. Ask God to give you opportunities to be His witness. If you know someone who desperately needs the burdens of this world lifted off their shoulders, if you know someone who feels they are just too bad, too far gone into sin for Jesus to forgive them, please bring them to the Celebration tonight at the Performing Arts Center in Terrell. Give them an open door to hear what Christ did for us all - He came to save sinners and we are all sinners.
The Celebration starts at 7:00 but the doors will be open at 6:00. The Performing Arts Center is located at 400 Poetry Road in Terrell. The admission is FREE. What you will get out of this time of worship is priceless. Go preach the gospel and as St. Francis of Assisi would say, "use words if you must". Show others there is hope and that HOPE, Jesus Christ, can change everything.
http://youtu.be/O5OAunLHw9A - Wrapped in Your Arms - Fireflight
http://youtu.be/umVl0Mb7CsU - Unbreakable - Fireflight
Come join us at the Terrell Performing Arts Center in Terrell - 400 Poetry Rd. I can't think of a better
way to spend Saturday night!
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