Hospitality

Hospitality is a big part of my life.  I really enjoy having friends over and I regularly help at church functions.  You can usually find me in the kitchen or serving food.

As our churches grow I am finding that volunteering is one of the ways to better get to know people.  It's hard to build relationships when we meet,  have church then take off right away.  I am finding that to build trust I have to build relationships first.  I can't expect trust where there is no relationship happening.  As I know a person better, I feel I can trust them more and more.

I had a couple of nice chats with a few ladies in the kitchen yesterday and it just confirmed that I am in the right place.  I bring my ministry gifts wherever I go.  I can give an encouraging word wherever I am.

I remember a time when the wife of our guest speaker came into the kitchen and helped us do the dishes after pot luck.  We tried to tell her that we would do it, but she wanted to stay and help.  She was such a blessing and we got to ask her questions about ministry and the adventures she had been on.

She really encouraged my daughter to go to bible college.  She made quite an impact on us.  So many people want to be served, and yet this great lady was helping us clean up.

I never forgot it.  I try to lead by example too.

My pastors are great servants.  Many times I have seen them working behind the scenes or helping with the food while others are blissfully unaware of what's going on.  Somehow we get it all worked out and people get to eat and everybody is happy.   It's a joy that stretches us at times!

Anyhow,  that's my thought for the day.  Blessed are the volunteers, because God is rewarding them!  We can never out give God and as we are faithful in the little things He will add to us the bigger things.

"Thank You Lord that we are growing in favor with you and with people.  Thank You Lord that Your light is shining brightly through us!  Thank You Lord for using us today.  May we always be available to give an encouraging word or a empathetic ear to those around us.  Thank You Lord for anointing all the work of our hands. I decree more creativity and blessings flowing through our hands from now on. Amen!"

Bless you more than before, in Jesus' name!
Big hugs,
Brenda Gale Thompson

P.S. "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." (Mark 9:35)

I Receive Your Love

Have you ever had a day where you had all your plans made and then the Lord said, "But I wanted you to do this?" I have.   I was supposed to go to the local Fountain for some acrylic painting but the Lord said to get this video done.

Well, the voice recording was horrible and I am an amateur singer at best, so I recorded a piano accompaniment and then tried to record the vocals again.  Not the best because of a cold, but it's understandable.

So maybe you are that someone that God wanted me to get this done for!  Our minds get renewed as we sing the word of God you know.   This is the kind of song that I hum as I work.  I hope you will too.

I decree that you are blessed today; physically, mentally, spiritually and financially and that your hands are anointed to transfer God's glory to other people. Go with God and go in Love! Amen.

His love is shed abroad in our hearts by Holy Spirit. (ref. Rom. 5:5)

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. "(John 13:35)

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." (Rom. 13:8)

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God..." (1John 4:7)

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1John 4:18)

By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:35)

Have a great day!

Brenda Gale Thompson

Fisherwoman

Jesus said, "Come follow me and I will make you become fishers of men."(Mark 1:17 NASV) I like the "make you become" part. For me that hasn't always been easy. I was taught that a person's faith was their personal business and not to go meddling. Unfortunately, the only way to make sure a person is really saved is to ask them some questions and see what they answer.

If they can't explain how they know they are saved, or if they appear "wishy-washy" or vague there's a very good chance they don't have that assurance.

Many times I won't ask people to tell me "how they know they are going to heaven", because that can make them defensive. I treat each individual as the Lord leads. If they are not full of pride, I can just pray with them and get them to agree with me and Holy Spirit will touch them and soften their hearts. For example, I must have prayed with one lady five or six times, for her daughter and husband, before I felt the release to ask her if she wanted to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she was going to heaven when she died.

There have been other situations where I have told people, "Here, read this (tract) and get back to me with your questions." Sometimes the proud, or complacent need something to jar them awake and you can be the "elbow" God uses to wake them up to their fate without Him. If someone gets offended at me, I don't take it personally. Fleshy reactions happen when you wake someone up suddenly.

You cannot mess up bad enough, to use it as an excuse not to witness or get involved in God's Great Commission. Our witness, however insignificant it might seem (to us), is so important. As we live for Him and ask Him to use us, He will put people in our paths for us to love and talk to. Sometimes a person will need months of loving, encouraging, kind words and prayer before they are ready for the seed of the Gospel. Just being full of His life can help so much. We don't know sometimes how much our witness affects others.

I took the lady that leads the prayer group to the grocery store, for a few things and I must have talked to ten people in the store, some shoppers, some employees. This lady was quite surprised at how well I'm known and how people are so receptive to me. I've built a rapport with many of them so now I have credibility when I pray for them or say "God Bless you". With each one of these precious people I am claiming their salvation and asking the Lord when I can share the seed of the Gospel with them. God knows and He will direct as I ask Him. What He's done for me, He will do for you too! The key is "be available," ask the Lord to use you, then obey His promptings.

Let's make sure that we have a good witness here on earth. Let's be vessels that are cleaned and prepared for noble purposes.(2Tim 2:21) We want to be of earthly use to our Father. Let's make every day count for Him as we "try to serve one another in love." (Gal 5:13)

Wherever we go we can bring His hope, love and encouragement or... we can be affected by the world's negativity. It's our choice. Like Jesus, we are called to rule and reign over circumstances. (Rom 5:17) Let's spend time with the Lord every day, so that we can "be a sweet smelling fragrance" to our world. (2Cor 2:14)

Bless you in Jesus' Name! Let's go fishing for the Lord today!