Cross My Heart Ministry

“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,
the Holy Spirit said,
‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which
I have called them.’”
Acts 13:2

Most of us love “the list” because of the sense of accomplishment that comes as we cross each item off.  (You know you really are a go-er and a do-er if you realize, “I did something not on the list!” and then quickly add it just for the pleasure of crossing it off!)

The need to “do” something often spills over into our Christian walk.  Huh?  Aren’t we supposed to go and do?  Even the Great Commission begins “Go” in Matthew 28:19.  Indeed it does.  But backing up just a few verses, we note that the disciples worshiped before receiving their assignment to go (Matthew 28:17).

This same worship-before-work principle is found in Acts 13:2.  It was while they were worshiping the Lord that Barnabas and Saul received their assignment to go.

A least two reasons for worshiping first come to mind:

1. It ensures we go in HIS strength and not our own – we are realigned to focus on Him and be filled with Him.
2. We receive confirmation of our assignment.  It may be a job that needs done, but does God want me to do?  Note in the verse above:  “…the work to which I have called them.”

The woman who lives sent worships before she works.

Lord, I begin today worshiping you as my Savior and also as the Lord of my life.  Fill me with your Spirit. I am your servant.  Use me and spend me wherever you wish.  Let your love flow through me to others.

Live Sent Action Point:  Read your Bible.  Worship God.  Ask Him what work He has for you today. Then complete your assignment with joy.  Worship before work!

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him…when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.”  Acts 12:5, 16

If you take time to read Acts 16 in its entirety, you can’t help but giggle at the picture it paints.  The people are earnestly praying for Peter’s release and God answers.  Peter runs to the home where they are meeting and stands at the door knocking repeatedly.  The little servant girl Rhoda is so overjoyed that she runs back without letting him in, and the people are astonished when they realize Peter is there!

“Oh, ye of little faith!” we might say to them.

“Oh, us of little faith!” we might say to ourselves!

Obviously, we can pray earnestly, but fail to pray expectantly. I believe we need to do both.

A woman who lives sent prays earnestly and expectantly – she prays in faith, trusting God to do the impossible.

Lord, forgive me for the times I have prayed without faith. Open the eyes of my heart to see that nothing is too great for you.

Live Sent Action Point:  Identity the unsaved person you have prayed for—perhaps for years—with no result.  Continue to press on in prayer, praying expectantly and in faith.  Do it today.

“The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help
for the brothers living in Judea.”
Acts 11:29

The new believers at Antioch proved themselves to be disciples of Christ by sending a gift to help their Christian brothers in Jerusalem.

A convert is a baby believer – one who has accepted Jesus, but not yet become a disciple of Jesus.  A disciple is committed to an active faith, a growing faith.

The Christians at Antioch proved their faith by living it out loud.  This act of love did not earn salvation for them, but it confirmed their salvation existed.  We can do good deeds all day long, but those deeds do not make us a Christian.  However, if we are a Christian, good deeds should flow from our lives.

My wise husband explains it this way, “You don’t bark to become a dog.  You bark because you are a dog!”

Where is God calling you and me to live sent by loving others, sharing what we have?

Two additional points about providing help to others:

1. The Scripture says that each gave “according to his ability.”  Ask God to reveal your ability to give.
2. Before they sent the help, it says they decided to provide. The battleground for any positive or negative choice is always our mind.  What are you and I deciding to do today?

Lord, I thank you that I can give according to my ability.  I want to be your disciple.  Use me as a vehicle of blessing today.

Live Sent Action Point:  Look around your house and find something to give away to someone in need.  Decide to do it.  And then do it.

“…a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.”
Acts 11:21b

True repentance is more than academic belief – it requires a heart change.  And a genuine heart change will result in turning to the Lord.

Just as turning my body redirects my whole physical self (head, arms, feet, knees – my big toe doesn’t get to choose to stay behind), turning to Jesus redirects my whole spiritual self (heart and mind).

True repentance results in turning to the Lord.  We tend to focus on what we are turning away from.  Perhaps the legalist in us wants to make a list of what must be left behind.  But it’s really not so much a turning from as a turning to.

Our freedom in Christ releases us from the “have to” and enables us to embrace the “want to.”  Because of Jesus, it is not drudgery to turn from sin, but delight to turn to Him.

As we share the gospel, we need not worry about “fixing” people or telling them what needs removed from their life.  It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict – not ours.

A woman who lives sent walks in freedom from sin and shares this truth with others.

Lord, thank you for freedom from sin and for the joy of following hard after You!

Live Sent Action Point:  Pray for an unbelieving friend.  Ask the Holy Spirit to bring the conviction and for your friend to believe AND turn to Jesus.

“…it is against our law…But God has shown me…”
Acts 10:28

Peter was raised a Jew.  His Jewishness was ingrained in his culture religion, lifestyle, and traditions.  To be a Jew was to know and live the law.  And the law dictated that Jews did not associate with Gentiles.

And yet, Peter is uttering these words as he stands in the home of Cornelius, a well-to-do military man and a Gentile.

God prepared Peter for this meeting by giving him a vision in Acts 10:9-16 that essentially set aside the traditional rules of “clean” and “unclean.”

And Peter gets it.  He connects the dots.  God’s kingdom is not exclusive.  There is room in our Father’s house for all that bow to Jesus.

What traditions or expectations are we layering on top of the gospel?  Where does “our law” or our rules need to be trumped by God’s truth?  What does God need to show us?

A woman who lives sent must beware of excluding or judging others . The smoker, the foreigner, the tattooed, the Democrat, the Republican?  Who is the person I choose to step around, refusing consciously or unconsciously to associate with or to pray for?

God, I want to see others through your eyes.  I want to love and embrace others as you do.  Forgive me for allowing my rules to trump what You reveal.

Live Sent Action Point:  Ask God to convict you of any conscious or unconscious judgment.  Ask Him to enable you to set this aside and see others through His eyes.  Ask Him for an opportunity to demonstrate His love.

 “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.