Cross My Heart Ministry

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!

“…They called the apostles in and had them flogged…The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
Acts 5:40-41

The apostles were given a beating.  The flogging would have been “40 lashes minus one” according to Jewish rules.  The punishment was cruel, painful, and even given by order of the religious leaders—the Sanhedrin.

I would have offered, most likely, a variety of responses—loud protest, physical resistance, an attempt to rally others to protest on my behalf, and certainly cried to God, “Where are you?” But the disciples did none of these.  Their response was…..rejoicing…????!

They realized that they were never more like Jesus than when they were suffering. An eternal mindset, a heart set on heaven, an assurance of their salvation, the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit – surely all these led to a transformation from the inside out.  Only a genuine inward change could evoke such a powerful and unlikely outward response.

When all goes well, we can fake it – manufacture an outward veneer that fools others and perhaps even fools ourselves occasionally.  But when the pressure comes, the heat is turned up, and persecution becomes intense—then the real women of God are separated from the little girls.

Do I have what it takes to “woman up?”  Can I respond well to suffering for the name of Jesus?  Persecution on the outside reveals what’s present on the inside.  How do you and I respond to suffering?

A woman who lives sent may be called upon to suffer for His name.

Lord, I have led an easy life.  My 21^st century-western world offers little opportunity to face real suffering.  Whether it is physical, emotional, relational or some other type of suffering I may face for your name, I pray for strength to “woman up” and actually rejoice in the midst of it.

Live Sent Action Point: Pray for missionaries who are living sent right now in very difficult and dangerous situations.*  Ask God to provide an eternal perspective and the power of His presence to enable them to survive, thrive, and REJOICE in His name.

*If you would like to make praying for missionaries a regular part of your prayer life, consider subscribing to Missions Mosaic.  Details here:  http://wmu.com/index.php?q=adults/misc/missions-mosaic

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.  Acts 4:36-37

I never realized Barnabas’ name was really Joseph.  I am blessed in my life with several “Barnabas”-type friends.  I’ve actually referred to one or two as my personal “Barnabas” because of the special way each has of bringing encouragement when I need it most.

That must be why the apostles gave Barnabas a new name.  Because he practiced encouraging them, they gave him the name that means “Son of Encouragement” and it stuck.

At first reading, I didn’t understand why the author chose this particular context to specifically tell us what his name means.  What does selling a field and sharing the proceeds have to do with being an encourager?  After I thought about it for awhile, I decided it actually means a lot.

We usually think of encouragement as being done with words of affirmation.  (Or maybe, that’s just me and my own particular love language.)  But there are other ways to encourage—in fact, each of the love languages* (words of affirmation, meaningful touch, gifts, acts of service, and quality time) all are ways to bring encouragement to another.

In this instance Barnabas gave his land and the money it brought.  As we read on in the book of Acts, we will see Barnabas being an encourager in other areas, as well.  He made an investment of time (in partnership with Paul) with the Church at Antioch to encourage them in their faith. Later, we will see him use words to stick up for John Mark.

Each instance of being an encourager also involved a sacrifice.  As we encourage others, we give away something:  time, words, money, etc.

To be a woman who lives sent is to be a woman who encourages.  And to encourage another requires an element of sacrifice.

Lord, forgive me for selfishly holding on to my words, my stuff, my time.  Even the pronoun “my” makes me culpable! Enable me to give away something today that encourages others.

Live Sent Action Point:  Look over the five types of love languages.  Ask God to give you an opportunity to encourage someone today by giving in one of these five areas.

*The Five Love Languages, by Gary Chapman

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

The miraculous healing of the crippled man in Acts 3 led to Peter and John being hauled before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4.  These Sanhedrin guys meant business—they issued threats and, as the ruling religious authorities, they had the power to follow through.

When Peter and John were released, they joined their fellow believers and a prayer meeting broke out.  What would you expect them to pray for?  The logical answer would be protection.  I have prayed for several friends this summer who have traveled to far-away places on mission trips.  Always, I pray for protection.

But that’s not what the early believers asked for.  They acknowledged the threats, but in the very same sentence asked for boldness.  Their concern was not for their physical protection, but only for being used to bring glory to God.

And our great God seems to take particular delight in answering unselfish prayers.  Just two verses later, the believers had barely said “amen” and the prayer was 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.” (emphasis added). Acts 4:31

Lord, forgive me for being a coward.  Help me to be less concerned with my protection—whether it be physical protection or concern for what others think of me—and instead be consumed with a desire to make you known.  Give me great boldness to speak for You!

Live Sent Action Point:  Pray for boldness to speak for God.  Then speak the truth boldly, trusting Him with the results.

“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

When Moses spent time with God, his face was radiant with God’s glory (see Exodus 34:29).  And just as a shining face brought astonishment to the Israelites, the courage of Peter and John also astonished the crowd in the first century.  Realizing there was nothing really special about the two, the people attributed it all to the company they had kept.  They had been with Jesus.

Surely, no greater praise could be given a woman of God than for a person in her day-to-day-life to note, “That girl has been with Jesus.”  What is it that gives us away?  For Peter and John, it was their courage.  Freedom from sin brings freedom to really live.  As the condemnation of sin is swept out of my life, it is replaced with a joyful peace that both compels and propels me to live and speak for Him.  Peter and John said it best, “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”  Acts 4:20

Lord, thank you saving an ordinary girl like me.  Thank you that you delight in using the ordinary and unschooled.  I pray that as I spend time daily with you, it would show on my face, in my words, with my actions, and in how I spend my time. 

Live Sent Action Point:  Keep a daily appointment with Jesus.  Allow His courage to equip you to live sent, as He directs.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD…”  Acts 3:19

Forgiveness and refreshment.  Two great gifts that can only really come from God.  The world does try to offer counterfeits and substitutes –so cleverly designed that they give the appearance of the real thing. But just as a cubic zirconia is not a diamond, the refreshment offered by the world is a far cry from the genuine refreshment that comes only from God.

We want the gifts, but they come only after the command to repent and turn to God. Look at the order in the verse.

We do a disservice to unbelievers when we “market” Jesus with the lure of refreshment and the peace it brings without focusing first on the need for repentance.  Our coming to God is first and foremost because we are sinners in need of a savior.  Until I acknowledge my sin – and my inability and inadequacy to fix it – I will not see my need for a savior.

For the believer, life also brings opportunities for continual confession, repentance, turning, and cycling back to receive the forgiveness and refreshment that only God can provide.

Where is God calling you and me to repent and turn?

Lord Jesus, how I praise you that forgiveness and the refreshment that follows are there for the asking.  My sin seems so convoluted and so complicated in contrast to the simplicity of confession and forgiveness that you give so freely.  Stir up my heart today, convict me of any unconfessed sin, and restore to me the joy of being clean before You—all because of You.

Live Sent Action Point:  Ask God to reveal an unconfessed sin in your life.  Make the process of repent, (re)turn, and refresh a daily lifestyle.  Your lifestyle of freedom will draw others to the One who has set you free.

{Note from Laura:  This is day 10—I can hardly believe we are one-third of the way through our 30-day commitment to live sent.  Whether you have just joined us or whether you have been a faithful reader from day one, I want to say thank you for joining me in the journey through Acts and accepting the challenge to live sent.   Please consider posting your comments or reflections.  It’s difficult to make this a one-way conversation.  I would love your feedback!  Have you been challenged?  Have you been stirred to think or pray differently?  Have you tried any of the Live Sent Action Points?  What has been your favorite day of these first ten?  The blogging world is relatively new to me.  I’m much more accustomed to teaching to a roomful where I have feedback from faces I can see.  Your feedback will help this natural extrovert feel like she is having a real conversation with friends, rather than writing to the black hole of cyberspace.  And to those of you who have posted comments and shared on your facebook page or clicked, “like”—thank you for blessing me!}