Joy in Serving

 

Joy in Serving

     Last week Marilyn, my wife, and I volunteered to pack food for an organization called Feed the Hunger. Feed the Hunger is an amazing organization. They send food, hygiene supplies, school supplies, and Bibles to children around the world. These packing events give us a chance to do something for people we will probably never meet this side of heaven.

     As we were getting ready to leave for the event, I started thinking how much of a blessing this was for us, but then it went to the next level. I began thinking of Matthew 26:31 – 46. This section called “The Sheep and the Goats.” In this section Jesus is talking about the end times. It mentions how the people will be divided into two groups. He told those on his right they were to receive their inheritance. When he was hungry and thirsty they fed Him and gave him drink. When He was a stranger, they invited Him in. He was sick and they looked after Him. When He was in prison they visited Him. They asked when did we do this? Then in Matthew 25:40 Jesus responds, “Truly I tell you, whatever you do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

     Ok, when you read this section it can be a little scary. You want to be with the sheep on the right side, because those who did not do the things mentioned above were sent to eternal punishment.

     This time though, I was looking at the JOY in this section. As we were getting ready to go to this packing event that would send food to children around the world, I realized that as we were feeding them, which is a joy in itself, it was as if we were feeding Jesus. Think of it this way. If Jesus knocked on your front door and you answered it, how would you respond. If he asked me for a drink of water, I would look for my best glass and feel it with water with some ice in it. I would then offer him food. I would do these things, because it would be such a joy and honor to serve our Lord, our Savior.

     That is the lesson here. Every time we have an opportunity to serve and help someone else, it is as though that person was Jesus. Serving Jesus would never be a burden. It would be the greatest honor possible. That is how we need to see everyone we have an opportunity to serve. It is a blessing enough to help someone. You become their hero for the moment, but to serve the Lord compounds that joy.  What a blessing that is.

 

Have a blessed day and a blessed Christmas season.

Ray

Layman Ray

The Evangelizing Artist

     In the winter of 1980, a coworker of mine invited me to an art show he was doing. He was displaying and selling the pictures he painted in the walkway of a strip mall. The location was a row of stores located in one big building with a glassed-in walkway in front of them. This was in Casper, Wyoming, in the United States. As it was winter in Wyoming, it was a cold but sunny day out.

     I had no money to buy anything, but I had told him that I would come. So, I arrived there. Walking across the parking lot I could feel the ice crunching under my feet. Once inside the walkway, I could see him sitting in a chair surrounded by his display of art. I quickly saw his pictures were all scenery pictures. Living in Casper at the base of the Rocky Mountains there was plenty of scenery to be painted. His paintings were very good.

     There was no one else around, and I asked him if it had been busy. He told me it hadn’t been. In fact, I am not sure if anyone else was in the shopping center. The place was quiet. We then talked a bit about his artwork. I told him about members of my family who could paint, but I did not have the skills that they had. Then it happened. He skillfully changed the conversation. He started talking to me about God.

     At that time, I would have told you that I was a Christian. I prayed, but I didn’t know much about the Bible, including what God said much about anything. I had seen the movies “The Ten Commandments” and “The Greatest Story Ever Told”, but we were not a church going family. Our family stopped going to church when I was around four years old. I was young. I thought I knew everything about life, and yet, I didn’t know the most important things about life.

    As he began to evangelize, I immediately got defensive. He tried to talk to me about salvation, and I put up a wall of resistance. I remember he was getting very frustrated, because he was trying to reach me with the good news. I continued to resist. By the time I left, I am sure he felt defeated, and he most likely thought that I was lost.

     In 1999, I was baptized and I joined a church. My relationship with God has grown, but 29 years had passed since that conversation with the artist. It was one of many experiences that stuck with me over the years, times when God was reaching out to me through others.  It took a long time for me to catch on. My coworker was disappointed that day, but he was one of the first people to really reach out to me.

     There will be times when you reach out to share the Gospel, and some of those times you will feel like you failed. Remember though it is God’s message, and sharing his message is never wasted. He will do with it as he wills. Our job is simply to share it with others.

     One day, I will meet my coworker in Heaven. That day we will both rejoice, because he was part of my journey to know the Living Savior.

 

For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son! – John 3:16

 

May God Bless You,

Layman Ray

Jonah Is An Amazing Story

 

     I have always enjoyed the story of Jonah. As a child I was fascinated by him being swallowed by a giant fish. As an adult I have come to realize just how complex the story really is. Here are a few things that have amazed me about the story.

     First, we have this man of God who was respected by the people, and yet, when God told him what he wanted Jonah to do, he ran. He was determined to go as far away as possible. He thought he could leave and be out of God’s sight. We know that God knows everything and he is everywhere. What was Jonah thinking?

     I have to say that I cannot be too hard on Jonah, because I know what God’s word says. Yet, there are times I want to do something else. It may be that I just feel too tired to pray, too lazy to help my neighbor, or to scared to share God’s word. You may be shaking your head right now, but I believe we all have our Jonah moments. Sometimes God steps in and gets our attention.

     A giant fish swallowed Jonah. Jesus said he would make the apostles fishers of men, and he did. They listened to their master. For Jonah, it was the fish that was the fisher of men.

     He was in the belly of the fish for three days. People will tell you the story is not true. How can a man survive in the belly of a fish for three days. Let me tell you. Jesus spoke of Jonah and his experience. I believe Jesus knew what he was talking about. I believe the story.

     The Ninevites repented. The people that Jonah was afraid of did the opposite of what Jonah feared. They repented of their sins, and this irritated Jonah. Too often we have our own expectations of justice. I once had someone tell me she was praying for God to make the workman on her roof fall off the roof. The man didn’t fall. We are called to love and forgive.

   There are other things in the story that amaze me, but these were just a few of them. From this we can learn to respect God’s amazing power, to listen to His commands, and to love and forgive others. The story of Jonah is bigger than the fish that swallowed him.

 

Have a blessed day,

Layman Ray

We Are One with Jesus! Follow Up

I originally wrote this as a comment to the article "We Are One with Jesus!", but I wanted to make sure it was easily seen. 

I just wanted to do a quick follow up with an example of what I am talking about. Last night, I attended the prayer meeting at Pleasant Ridge Christian Church, in Greensboro, North Carolina, in the United States. There were seven of us in the prayer meeting. Our prayer focus was for the persecuted church. We prayed for strength and protection for all of our brothers and sisters around the world who are standing strong for Jesus, and we prayed for the church leaders who are risking everything to spread God's message of hope and love. We were a small group gathered together in prayer, but we know that we have a big loving Father who listens to even the smallest of us.

I would love to hear from others who are gathered in prayer for our brothers and sisters in need.

May God Bless You All,

Ray

Layman Ray

A special thanks to Greg, the Prayer Ministry Coordinator for Pleasant Ridge Christian Church, for his leadership and heart for the persecuted church.

We Are One with Jesus!

 

     Have you ever felt truly alone? As Christians we know that our Lord Jesus Christ is with us always. We know we can reach out to God at any time. Yet, we can still feel alone. Sometimes we feel alone in our faith in Jesus. Those around us do not understand, sometimes we are laughed at, mocked, physically abused, and there are even times our lives are at risk, because of our faith. We do not feel alone from God, but we can feel alone from other Christians. Yet, we are not.

    In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays for the believers. He prays for those who will believe in him, and he prays we will all may be one. He says that He has given us the glory that God gave him, that we may be one as He and God are one. Jesus in us and God in Him. Why? So, we may have complete unity. That unity will be a sign to the world that God sent Jesus and he loves us like he loves Jesus. That unity is an essential part of our Christian faith. All true believers are one family under Jesus. If you have put your faith in Jesus you are my brothers and sisters no matter where you are in the world.

     With that said, you can know you have brothers and sisters around the world who are praying for you. We will probably never meet, but I can tell you I pray for you. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world people are praying for your safety, strength in your faith, and for God’s blessings to come to you. If you are a believer, you are my brother or sister in Christ. You are so loved by God that He sent his Son, you are so loved by Jesus He prayed for you and He gave His life for you, and that alone is enough reason for us to love and support each other.  You are not alone. You have family members around the world who are kneeling in prayer for you. May peace be with you.

 

I pray you have a blessed day,

Ray

Layman Ray

Jesus in the Garden

 

     When I was growing up, our family lived in a trailer house in a small town in Wyoming. Both of my parents worked. My dad was a truckdriver and my mother was a cook at the county hospital. We did not attend church. My family had at one time, but we stopped going when I was around four years old. My father continued listening to Christian music, and I would at times see him sitting in a chair reading the family Bible. Still, my exposure to Christianity was limited. It was not that my parents did not believe, but we had drifted away from church.

     Still, there was one thing that had an impact on me. In our house we had a large picture of Jesus sitting on a hill, and before him were pictures of the faces of soldier’s faces. It was nighttime, and you could see what I assume was Jerusalem at the bottom of the hill. The soldier’s faces seemed out of place, and it was Jesus that always captivated me about that picture. He was just sitting on that hillside. I could just sit and look at that picture. There was something about it that brought me peace.

     A few years ago, I started trying to do some painting. My painting style is what I call “Early Amateur.” I am not a talented artist; I would be happy to be an average artist. Still, I try from time to time. One day I decided to try to paint a large picture of Jesus to have on my wall. I fumbled along, and what you see above is what I painted.

     Is it on my wall now? Yes.

    Do I think it is fine art? No.

    What this picture does for me though is bring me peace when I am having a challenging day. Some of it is nostalgia. It reminds me of the other picture, but even more so it reminds me of a Savior who loves me. Who loves you. I do not pray to the picture. The picture is not an idol, but it points to the one who came and died for our sins. It points to the one hope that we all have for an eternity of peace. A peace just waiting for us, but we must acknowledge that God sent his Son Jesus to save the world through his sacrifice. We need to accept him as our Lord and Savior. I hope you have.

I hope you have a blessed day.

Layman Ray

Pastor Voddie T. Baucham Jr. Has Gone Home

 

I never met Pastor Baucham, and honestly, I had never heard of him until about a year ago. I started seeing him pop up on Youtube videos. I was quickly impressed because he was a man who spoke the truth. In fact, just this year I read his book “The Ever-Loving Truth”. It was a very good book. It was well worth the read. He passed away on September 25^th, 2025. I never met him, but I pray for peace for his family and friends. He will be missed.

I pray the Lord blesses you today,

Layman Ray

September 23rd, 2005 – Rapture?

 

I have been seeing a lot of information on YouTube concerning the rapture occurring on September 23^rd. I have watched a lot of those videos, and I have been quite fascinated by the chatter. Some videos are done quite well, and a lot of them look like they are just trying to use someone else’s ideas to get clicks. Some of them appear to me to be pure fantasy, but then again who am I to say.

A lot of people have come up with a lot of different reasons as to why this day is the day for the event. So, is it?

Here is the short answer. I do not know. That is not saying I believe these people know. The Bible says that no one knows the day or the hour. Is it possible these people have been given secret knowledge? I suppose it is possible. Is it possible that these people have read the signs correctly? Once again, I suppose it is possible. Here is what I do know if God wants it to happen today, tomorrow, next week, or in five years that will be up to God.

So, why has this fascinated me so? Because all this chatter has opened up a new sense of urgency for me. Like so many others I know I am looking at our current times and it sure looks like we are coming towards the tribulation period and the return of Jesus. That is a seven-year period that sure seems to be moving our direction, and because of this I feel the urgency to help people know Jesus Christ as our Savior.

When I look around at people I know and even those I do not, I grow concerned for them. Even if the rapture does not come for another 70 years, it is still important for them to believe that God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son. He did not send him to condemn the world, but to save it. There is a future for everyone that is either going to be Heaven or eternal torment.

If you are not sure where you are standing, go to allsoulscount.com and there you will find instructions for salvation. Feel free to send me a comment through this blog, and I will respond. I make no money from this blog or from All Souls Count. I do this because I believe, and I do this because I want you to know peace. As someone once said, “Know Jesus, know peace; no Jesus, no peace.”

If you are a believer, please reach out to those who are not. We can share the hope of salvation with others. The time is short.

 

May God bless you wherever you are.

Ray

Who Can We Trust

This week, the Church I attend is currently doing Vacation Bible School, or VBS. Vacation Bible School is when churches hold events that help introduce children to basic Christian Theology.  There is teaching, videos, food, and games. It is a lot of work, but it is fun working with the children.  Our theme this year is “You can trust in Jesus.” As I said, the lessons have very basic themes.

If you have been watching the news on television, you know the world seems to be running out of control, like a rockslide with boulders bouncing everywhere. Sometimes, I start to wonder what could happen next. It would be easy to just stay in bed in the morning and cover my head. There are many mornings I am tempted to do that. There are wars and rumors of wars, severe storms, and people are chasing chaos like it was a rugby ball.

So, what do we do, or what should we do? The youngsters in Vacation Bible School are hearing the answer this week. We can put our trust in Jesus. No matter how crazy things get Jesus has the answer. He died on the cross and gave us eternal hope. No matter what happens He has his arms around us and will give us eternal peace. So just maybe the lessons the children are getting this week are not so basic, because they are the lessons that can stand up to everything the world can throw at us. In the end, our trust in Jesus is our salvation. He did not come into the world to condemn it, but that the world might be saved. Trust in Jesus.

 

May God Bless You,

Layman Ray

My Easter Prayer

I pray all of my brothers and sisters in Christ can celebrate the risen Lord in peace this year.  I pray that those who do not know Jesus will learn about him and accept him as their savior. Our God is an amazing God, and may we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

The Light!

 

The Light

 

Yes, Jesus is the Light!

For Him alone we live.

He gave the blind their sight.

Yes, Jesus is the Light!

Only through Him we might

Have faith enough to give.

Yes, Jesus is the Light!

For Him alone we live.

 

This was a triolet poem that I attempted to write in 2008.

January has kept me busy this year. I plan to get more articles out on a regular basis. If you have any thoughts or comments, please feel free to share them.

I hope you have a blessed day.

Layman Ray

FLURE Revival Reminder

                 Today, my wife and I have been enjoying watching snow flurries outside of our kitchen window. We live in the southeastern part of the United States, where we do not see a lot of snow, so it is a treat to watch it. Snow flurries start with little white fluffy flakes gently falling. Then, you notice some of it sticking to the ground. Next, you see white patches on the back deck, and finally those patches start merging to create a light blanket of snow.

A few years ago, I authored an article called FLURE Revival for the website allsoulscount.com. The premise was that during Jesus’ ministry, He seemed to focus on five key areas when addressing his followers. Those areas were:

·         Forgiveness

·         Love

·         Unity

·         Repentance

·         Evangelism

You may note that I did not mention prayer, but that is because prayer is foundational to all of these. I was looking for the key teachings and examples Jesus imparted to those who believed in Him.

                As Christians, when we learn to forgive others and to truly seek forgiveness from others, we can have a significant impact on both non-believers and our fellow believers. They will see that we are walking the walk, and this will enhance how others perceive Christian integrity.

                When we strive to live a life of sacrificial love, those we encounter are positively affected. Loving the way Jesus loved us is an incredible goal. Imagine how many marriages would be strengthened if couples did this, how many lives would improve if we served others with love, and how much your life would change if you took the time to love others as a Christian. Once we push aside our own egos and put others first, we open a whole new life of enrichment for everyone.

                Unity among the followers of Jesus is something He prayed for the night before his crucifixion. Yet, the world often sees Christians fighting among themselves. We need to focus on what is truly important. If you take the gospel down to the main message, that is where our focus should be. John 3:16 – 17 is where our focus needs to be. God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish. For Jesus did not come to the world to condemn the world but to save it. That is where we should find our unity.

                Repentance should be a key part of our lives. This goes along with seeking forgiveness. We need to not only seek forgiveness but also turn away from sins in our lives. The world watches Christians with a critical eye, so we need to live like we believe in the message.

                Evangelism is the last of the group, but it is vital. The world is filled with people who are lost and sometimes, that sounds too simple. If we want to be blunt, we will say the world is full of people who are destined for eternal damnation. If we believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation, and I do, then we need to try to reach those who are lost. God sent his Son because all souls truly count. We are his hands and feet to spread the good news. God has made it amazingly easy for people to get on track for an eternity of joy and love. Our job is to share that message with them. God absolutely loves everyone, and He has given Himself to bring them to safety. So, we need to show the world the same love and share this blessed news.

                Why did I mention the snow? I see FLURE Revival working in the same manner as the snow flurries outside my window. At first, it may appear in scattered areas around the world, but as more Christians start putting these five areas into practice, it will begin to spread. Can you imagine the impact we, as Christians, could have on the world? A united group going out to the world in love, living lives that honor the Lord, and sharing the gospel of hope and love. 

                I pray that my life serves our great and wonderful Father in a way that brings Him joy. This year, my New Year’s resolution is to do more to serve him. That is my hope for all of you.

 

May you all be blessed, Layman Ray

The Christian What If Zone: Room Vacancy

 

The Christian What If Zone: Room Vacancy

I remember when I was about six years old. The school I attended brought all the students into the gymnasium. There, we watched three short films: a version of The Night Before Christmas, the story of the Nativity, and a movie about animals in Africa. When we watched the story of the birth of Christ, I was surprised that the innkeeper told Joseph and Mary that there was no room at the inn. 

This Christmas season I started wondering - what if the innkeeper had room for Mary and Joseph at the inn that first Christmas Eve. It almost seems like it would have taken something away from the narrative. After all, the image of the baby Jesus being placed in the manger is impactful. Still, my mind wandered to the innkeeper. How would giving Mary and Joseph a place to stay possibly have changed his life?

These thoughts brought me to Obed-Edom the Gittite. In 1 Chronicles chapter 13, there is an interesting story of the time King David first started brining the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Along the way, the ark seemed to be unsteady, and a man named Uzzah reached out to steady it. When he touched the ark, the Lord became angry and struck him down.

When this happened, David became angry and afraid. He decided that he was not ready to bring the ark into the City of David. So, he took the ark to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, and he left it there for three months. During that time, Obed-Edom’s entire household and everything he had was blessed. The commentary in the New International Version Bible suggests that his blessings may have included numerous sons.

So, what if the innkeeper had a room in the inn for Mary and Joseph? What if he had invited them on into his place to stay? First, the Christ child would have been born in his home. The Son of God would have started his earthly journey in his inn. That would have been a blessing enough, but if we can equate the story to that of Obed-Edom, the blessings might have spread to his entire household. I cannot help but wonder what he may have missed.

I have a question for you. Have you told Jesus that you have room in your heart for Him? I hope the answer is yes. Still, for some, the answer may be no or possibly not yet. Either of these answers means you are missing out on the blessings God has in store for you. Trust me, there are blessings - first and foremost, the blessing of eternal salvation, and more than you can imagine.

Now, do not get me wrong. I am not saying that once you accept Jesus in your life, you will never have trials. That is not the case. You will go through hardships because that is part of life. The difference is that you will recognize the blessings you have.

In the last 14 months, I have had to go through four different surgeries, including a quadruple bypass and a splenectomy. I also endured months of chest pains, infusions, and a round of chemotherapy. It was challenging, to say the least, but during that time, I saw blessings after blessings in my life. One of the biggest blessings I had was hope. I knew that no matter how bad it got, in the end, God had me. If I did not survive my surgeries, I would have gone on to spend eternity in Heaven.

I also had fellow believers praying for me during my challenge. Just as I pray for all my brothers and sisters in Christ, including you. If you are not a believer, I am also praying for you. I am praying you will open the doors and invite Jesus to come and stay with you. He is knocking, and he is waiting for you to welcome him in.

What if you said, “Yes, I have room for you. Come on in.”

 

Have a blessed day,

Layman Ray

 

For more information on salvation, please visit Salvation's Path (allsoulscount.com) This is a link to All Souls Count’s web site.

Christmas Gift Ideas

 Here we are in the heart of the Christmas season, and I really enjoy this festive time of year. One of the many things I enjoy about Christmas is giving people gifts. Sure, it is nice to receive presents, but there is something special about giving someone a gift that you took the time to either track down or make. It is a way to show someone you care about them, to express your affection in a unique way, and to bond.

 While exchanging gifts is a wonderful tradition, Christmas ultimately celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of our Father in Heaven. So, let me ask you this, “Have you ever wondered what kind of gift you could give Jesus?” If not, then maybe I can help you with some Christmas gift ideas for Jesus. Here are just a few gift ideas.

·         Spend time with Him: Set aside some special time this season to really talk with Him in prayer.

·         Introduce someone to Jesus: Share the gift he gave to all who will receive it.

·         Forgive someone that you feel has wronged you: Start by praying for that person; you may find that your feelings towards them will change.

·         Seek forgiveness from someone you have wronged: Don’t just say you are sorry, instead seek ways to show the person you are genuinely remorseful.

·         Help a stranger: Remember the story about the good Samaritan.

·         Join a local church: If you are not a member, look for one to attend. Most churches would love to have you there.

·         Thank Jesus for his sacrifice and repent.

·         Volunteer with a local charity.

·         Worship God the Father.

These are just a few ideas and remember we do not know when Jesus was actually born. So, these are good things to do any time during the year.

I hope you have a merry Christmas this year.

Layman Ray

Standing for Peace, Unity, and Love

In 1983, I was stationed at Hahn Air Force Base in West Germany. At that time, East Germany was still part of the Soviet Bloc, but tensions had started to calm down. In fact, our biggest threats came from terrorists. We were all aware of the Baader-Meinhof Gang, also known as The Red Army, and their bombing attacks. Plus, in that same year 241 service men were killed by Hizballah terrorist in Beirut, Lebanon. The bombing sparked a strengthening of security on the bases.

 I mention all of that to give you a backdrop for a poem that I wrote during that time, which seems especially fitting as we face new threats and uncertainties.

 The Knight Rides

The knight rides through the dark,

Upon his sturdy steed.

Never straying from his course,

Destruction is his deed.

Soon his voice will sound like thunder,

And our world will shake.

His sword is swift, and with a flash

Many lives he’ll take.

He doesn’t care whom he kills,

Man, woman, or child,

And all the world will feel

As if we’ve been defiled.

The world will be burning,

With no one left to care.

Darkness will befall us,

With no one left to spare.

This evil knight keeps coming,

Astride his metal horse.

Is there no one to stop him,

And stray him from his course?

 So, that has been on my mind lately. Threats are escalating between the countries, and it seems like we may be on the verge of World War 3. Let us pray that will not happen. I do not believe most people want things to come to that. I would love to see a world where people support and love each other, instead of being dragged into conflict.

 As Christians, we need to set the example for the rest of the world. By uniting in support of others, praying for our leaders and for peace, we can show the world the true meaning of Christian love and compassion. Let us be like the good Samaritan, offering help to strangers without question. Though we may not be able to change everyone’s heart, we can start with our own actions.

Have a blessed day.

Layman Ray

Christ Focused: The Communion Story

 

As a Deacon in my church, I’ve had the honor of helping serve communion.  These days, we use small, hourglass-shaped communion cups. One end holds a piece of bread, and the other holds grape juice. (Although, some older cups in our church might have turned to wine!)

Years ago, the Deacon’s would pass the plates of bread around and then serve little cups of juice. There is a science to this, as you do not want to spill grape juice on someone’s Sunday best. Blessedly that never happened. Afterwards, the Deacon’s would go to the front of the church, and the Pastor would serve them. He would explain what the elements represented, and the entire church would then eat the bread and drink the juice.

One Sunday, the other Deacons and I were lined up in front of the church, with our backs to the congregation. The Pastor approached each of us with the plate of bread in his hands, symbolizing Christ’s body. When he came to me, I picked up a piece of bread and brought my hands together in prayer as he continued to the next person.

The Pastor began to tell us that the bread represented the body of Christ, and he was telling us how Jesus had broken the bread during the Last Supper. As I stood there, the bread was between my left thumb and index finger, my right index finger twitched for no apparent reason. The twitch knocked the bread out from between my fingers. I watched in disbelief as it fell in slow motion to the floor.

There have been times in my life when the brain seems to kick into overdrive, with thoughts moving faster than seems possible. This was one of those moments. After a split second of shock, I started trying to figure out what to do. Should I ask for another piece, pretend to eat it, or pick up the bread from the floor?

I quickly decided I could not pretend to eat it. As a Christian I felt that would be a lie, especially while taking communion. I also did not want to ask for another piece. Communion bread is a Holy Sacrament. I was blessed to be partaking in that moment, and asking for another piece would imply that any piece of bread is fine. The piece of bread that had dropped represented Christ’s body broken for me.

So, I reached down, picked it up, gave a prayer of thanks, and at the appropriate moment, I ate it. It was important to me as a believer to partake in the meal in remembrance of Christ. I needed to push my petty concerns aside and focus on Christ. It was a humbling experience.

From time to time, things happen in our lives that make us reassess our focus. As long as we put Him and His desires first, we can be confident we’re moving in the right direction.

Have a blessed day.

Layman Ray

The Christmas Gift

 

Hello All,

I know Christmas is two months away, but I would like to share this poem with you.

Have a blessed day,

Layman Ray

 

The Christmas Gift

Wrapped so carefully was the present.

The package could touch a suffering heart.

Some men have seen this gift as insolent.

They cannot see the gift as a fresh start.

 

Some enjoy the idea of receiving,

But they do not want to see what’s inside.

Yes, they enjoy the pleasure of giving.

Still, from this present they prefer to hide.

 

Then there are those who unwrap the package.

They take the gift to save for themselves.

In truth, the gift was for every age.

This gift was given to all for free.

The gift of life completed on a tree.

The Christian What If Zone: Time Travel

 

We are about to embark on an adventure through the world of imagination, where random thoughts and mindful meanderings blend. We are going to travel through the electrical impulses firing in our brains to open the world of possibilities. We are about to step into “The Christian What If Zone.”

Ok, that may have been a little dramatic, but I wanted to lead into this by making the point that this will be an exercise of the imagination. So, please indulge me with this.

                Imagine, if you will, you are in your church sitting in one of the pews. You and several others are attending a prayer service. The pastor is leading the time and has just asked for everyone to pray for the people of the surrounding community, the lost, the lonely, those in need, and those who are hurting. You close your eyes.  The church is silent as you pray, but if you are honest your mind is wandering.

                After a few minutes, you start hearing people and cars. At first the noise seems very distant, but it gradually gets louder. You also notice the smell of exhaust and food cooking. Is that the smell of hot dogs? The impressions are faint that at first. It seems like your imagination is getting the best of you, but as they slowly become more intense you start to realize there is something happening around you. A car horn blares loudly close by. You open your eyes, and you are shocked to find that you are not sitting in the church any longer. You are now sitting outside on a bench in the middle of a large city. There beside you on the bench is a newspaper. It is the New York Post, and you notice one of the articles on the front page is about President Bush. You stand up and look around to figure out exactly where you are. Then you notice the two buildings standing before you. You quickly look at the date on the paper, September 10^th, 2001. You lift your eyes and see the Twin Towers standing before you.

                As you stand there looking, you watch people coming and going out of the building. They are going about their business, and they have no idea what is about to happen. They do not know that the buildings are going to be destroyed in a terrorist attack the next day. The attack will kill around three thousand people. They do not know, but you do. Watching the people going about their business your heart breaks for them. You cannot explain how you got here at this time, and you do not know how much time you have before you are pulled back into your own time. Still, you are here, and you know what is coming. So, here is the question. What would you do with the time you have? Take time to think about that.

I am using this to help us get the feeling of where we are as Christians. We cannot go back and save the people in the Twin Towers, although I wish we could, but we do find ourselves in a similar predicament. We know the future because we have the Bible. We know that God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, John 3:16.  We know that he did not send his Son here to condemn the world. Jesus was sent here to save the world. We have the knowledge of God’s love and the sacrifice on the cross that can save people from a terrible torment. Like the person in the “What If” story we do not know how much time we have before we are pulled out of here. We also know that time is short. We cannot just sit and do nothing. We must try. We must help bring as many people to safety and to home as we can. We must find that same urgency in our evangelism. Let us not waste a moment.  Reach out, share the hope, and be the light in someone’s life today.

Have a blessed day,

Layman Ray

Prayers:  Please pray for the lost in your community and around the world.  Start a discussion with those you know. I believe most people come to Christ because someone loved them enough to reach out to them.

Salvation's Path (allsoulscount.com) This is a link to All Souls Count’s web site. Feel free to print the All Souls Count article on salvation if you would like to share with someone you would like to reach.

To God be the Glory!

 

One day while I was visiting Goodwill, a thrift store in town, I came upon a plaque with the following prayer on it: 

Lord, may I make a difference in all I do, the words I say, and the actions I take.  Lord, may I glorify you, that you might be pleased with me.

Unfortunately, I do not know where this prayer originated. I tried to find it online to give credit to whomever wrote it, but I had no luck. This is a formidable prayer, and I keep it on the wall near the light switch. That way, I can see it every night before I turn out the lights.

For me, these are the words that I need and want to live by. I want my life to glorify God. Does it always do that? I honestly have to say that it does not, but that does not keep it from being my goal and my desire. Bringing glory to God, our Creator, is the very purpose of life, the universe, and everything.

Recently, a friend asked me, in a text, the following question: “What to God is of greater importance our service for Him or our love and devotion to Him?”

After some thought, here was my reply: “I believe the answer is both.  We glorify God by our actions that are based in love and devotion to Him. In Isaiah 1:11-17, God makes it clear that He does not want meaningless actions of worship. We are to love Him by loving others. This is why our serving is so important, but we must serve Him with fidelity and love.

I tend to think of Christians in the same way a loyal knight would serve a worthy king. In ALL we do, we do it in service of the King, and our dedication and purpose in life is to serve the King’s will for His glory.”

So, the prayer on the plaque is especially important to me. I can picture in my mind a knight swearing allegiance to his king with the words on the plaque, but I can also hear a Christian giving himself or herself to the great God Jehovah with these very words.

Have a blessed day,

Layman Ray

 

Prayer request:  Please pray for all of those impacted by hurricane Helene and for those who are reaching out to help them. If you can, both Samaritan’s Purse and Feed the Hunger are two great agencies that will be working to help those in need. You can find both organizations online.