MOVING FORWARD - pastor mike landry

The beginning of a new year invigorates me.  I like it because it has the aroma of a fresh start.  It prompts me to refocus, retool, rejuvenate, and return to doing what's most important.  It's not so much a time for resolutions as it is a time for repositioning and realigning.  Launching into 2012 with a renewed purpose will require clear navigational coordinates.  Repositioning and realigning means we must remember our calling from God and make sure our life's rudder is pointing us in that direction.

And just exactly what direction is that?  Jesus said His was "to seek and to save those who were lost." (Matt 18:11) He also said, "as the Father has sent Me, so send I you."(John 17:18)  His agenda and purpose are to become our agenda and purpose.  His agenda involves reconnecting lost people, discouraged people, hurting people, hopeless people, and confused people with Himself.  Bottom line...we are to do everything in our power to connect disconnected people to Jesus Christ.

So how do you do this?  It starts by being a friend.  Be sociable.  Spend time with people.  Honestly care about them.  Don't be so preoccupied with your own life that you cease to even see the people around you.  You calling from God is to help others to find God.  It's all boils down to relationships.

Why not take a moment...right now...and think about the people God has put in your path.  Next time you see them, plan to talk to them.  Ask God right now to help you to be extra sensitive to their needs and to grant you the compassion you'll need to understand how to communicate effectively with them.  You're going to find people will be much more open to your sharing Jesus with them when they first see that you genuinely care about them.

Look for the open door to share the Good News about Jesus with them.  Then walk through that door.  There's no other way.  As the Apostle Paul so eloquently put it in Romans 10:14, "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?"

 Just do it!  You won't regret it.