Friday, October 17, 2008

More Changed Lives continued...

Here is another encouraging story about what God is doing in the hearts and minds of Canadian University students...

From Brad at Concordia U: This year, we gave away about 1000 Real Life Kits! As always, we pray for the chance to meet up with each student who received a kit and witness God drawing them to Himself. However, with many of these students, we never hear from them again. Which is what makes this email I just got all the more encouraging:

“My name is Yasmina and I am a third year student at Concordia U. in Montreal. Although I do not know the young women’s name, I want to thank her and your team for handing me a small booklet called “Knowing Jesus Personally” three years ago. It took me three years to finally read it. I had even rudely asked you the first year to stop sending me emails. But God didn’t give up on me and has been persistent in helping me know Him. Over the last year, I truly committed my life to Him. I find myself quoting from the materials your team gave me, as it has answered the most important questions I have had along the years. I would love to get more copies of these booklets in French and English to share them with others!”

Saturday, October 04, 2008

We are all agents

Another compelling and encouraging devotional from Turning Point:

Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them."

The word "mission" comes from the Latin word missionem, meaning the act of sending. It's used in diplomatic circles for a delegation sent to conduct negotiations in a foreign country. In the armed forces, it describes an operational task conducted by military agents.
In the Old Testament, Joshua was God's agent, and his mission was to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. He was told, "The Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you" (verse 8).

In the New Testament, we are God's agents. Every believer is a missionary, sent to lead others to the promise of eternal life in Christ. We can't do it alone, but we're commissioned with His authority and anointed with His power. He goes before us and will be with us. So make sure your life is a mission—not an intermission.

The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed.
Hudson Taylor