What Do You Reflect?

I had something really exciting happen last week. Some of you may have heard but for the rest, I had my first paid speaking engagement! I was so excited about it I posted an announcement on Facebook! The Lord told me years ago I would be a crier for Him. When He first said it I thought he meant crier like crying and I wasn't totally thrilled. The Holy Spirit went on to say I would cry out the gospel to lost and hurt people. I liked that plan better.
I have been speaking for quite some time whether at small groups in my home, at my church or when asked to meet with groups at other churches but it has always been on a volunteer basis. I'm not complaining it's just what it has been. My hearts desire however is to have speaking be a way I make a living. Those of you who know me know it's the shutting up I have the problem with :)
I'll get real here with you. These are some of the thoughts I have when I'm dreaming big. It would be nice to actually drive to see someone or a group and know I have enough gas in my car to get there. It would be nice to have my people call your people and set up a lunch appointment. It would be nice to have a microphone sometimes so I'm not screaming at people. It would be nice to have someone carry in my table, chair, sign and books instead of me so when I get up to speak I'm not sweating my face off. It would be nice to have my hair and nails done before I speak or have someone do my makeup so when I'm wearing lipstick it doesn't look like I just ate spaghetti sauce. You know what I'm saying.
I have been speaking into peoples lives for over 20 years and have never given up the dream of doing this for a living. I need you to follow me here because I'm not bragging I am truly beyond humbled and honored anytime the Lord let's me speak into one of His children's lives.
With that said, I gotta tell ya Gems I was so excited when I got a check for speaking and was able to put gas in my car for the next appointment. I hope it's the beginning of more opportunities to do what I love and get paid for it.
Gems, I'm not unlike any of you that dream about my future. I dream of speaking to larger crowds and having more financial blessings.
There are so many people out there hurting and needing to hear a word from God, He needs all of us to do our part. This got me thinking about Jesus and a verse in Matthew.
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Read it again from the Message Bible
Matthew 9:36 Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.
Jesus felt compassion for the people, His heart was broke when He looked over the sea of people that so desperately needed a Savior. That so desperately needed Him. Because He is Jesus He knew exactly what each person was suffering with or from. He knew every tear that was shed and every harmful word that was spoken to EVERY person in that crowd! You can see why His heart would be breaking.
Honestly I could not bare to know all that hurt at once. That can only be handled by Jesus but, it would still be great to be used by God in a large setting. Like Joyce Meyer or Beth Moore, no I'm not comparing myself to them but hey you might as well dream big right?
Today however, I had an experience that reminded me of something very special. How very important it is for intimate moments with people. I had the privilege of giving a word of encouragement to a beautiful woman today. As we sat and drank coffee together God revealed things to me to share with her. These were things only He would know about. It was a way to show her that Jesus not only saw her wounded heart, He also wanted to speak to the exact location of the wound. The place that we become experts at hiding. A place we would never share in front of a bunch of people we don't know.
Because there wasn't a large crowd and I wasn't up on a stage we were able to have face to face, eye to eye contact. For just a moment I could see into her soul and she could see the eyes of Jesus looking back at her. Let me explain that.
This is part of a verse in the Bible where Jesus is speaking to His disciples,
Matthew 9bAnyone who has seen me has seen the Father.
The people were saying they had never seen God and Jesus responds with the above verse. I started really thinking about His words and hoped that verse was true about me. Since Jesus now lives in me I should be able to say, If you have seen Gena, you have seen the Father. I should be a reflection of Jesus.
So when I'm looking into the eyes of someone who is hurting they can be looking back into the eyes of the Father.
You try it.
If you have seen (your name here) you have seen the Father.
That is some powerful stuff right there.
I say all this Gems to tell you there is nothing like one on one contact with another person and allowing your self to be the reflection of Jesus to them. To hold their hand, cry with them, pray with them, hug on them. These things can only be done when your right in front of someone.
I'm not disqualifying being taught and encouraged in a large arena I'm just saying both are just as important. So if God decides to move me in that direction and I can make a living speaking GREAT! If He decides to leave things just as they are I can honestly still say GREAT! If He decides to do both, hey I'm a meat and potatoes girl that's great too.
I want my main goal to reflect Jesus to others. To be able to say “If you have seen me you have seen the Father.”
Proverbs 27:19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

No Jesus, No Peace

I have been thinking lately about God telling us to pray Peace for Israel. I have been doing that but it seemed odd to me that God would tell me to pray for peace. When I read the Bible there is not much peace for Israel. In Revelation there is more war prophesied, to the point God tells the Israelites when they see certain signs to run for the hills and hide in caves.
I felt like my prayers for peace were against the word of God, for what He has planned, so I asked Him about it.
The Holy Spirit gave me a very profound answer. He started His answer by asking me some questions.
What is one of the names of Jesus?
Answer: Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
What was the problem with Israel when Christ came?
Answer: They didn't believe He was the son of God so they didn't accept Him as their Savior.
Romans 10:1 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelite is that they may be saved. 2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness 4 Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
You see I was praying for peace as in war but I am now praying for the peace of God through His son Jesus Christ. Perhaps that's what God means. I should be praying what Paul says in the above verse, that they (Israelite) may be saved. The only true peace we can have is through the Holy Spirit which we receive when we accept Christ.
God is all about peace through unity . He speaks of it often in the Bible.
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
We have all kinds of denominations but God said there would be one rock that He would build His church on. This message came first to the chosen children of Israel. When it was not completely accepted it was made available to the Gentiles, the rest of us, but God's heart is always for His children Israel and that none should perish.
God has a lot to say about us having peace that comes through unity.
Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!
John 17:23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Funny I don't think much has changed since the beginning of time. God is still trying to get all His children together in unity and peace. I believe we are supposed to pray for the peace of salvation for Israel. Pray for when the end times come that we will be a unified body of believers. This could be a prayer for all denominations not just the Jewish people. We are all one body.
1Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Ephesians 1:10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
The final word the Holy Spirit gave me was “pray for peace for Israel. ”
Gems I thought I would share this teaching moment I had with the Holy Spirit. I hope it will encourage you to pray and maybe help you as it did me to understand why we should pray for peace for Israel. The peace that passes all understanding.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

No Jesus, No Peace, Know Jesus, Know Peace