the other side

-by Christy Fitzwater 

Sometimes I invest so much time imaging what horrible things would happen if I were to share my faith with someone that I forget what good outcome may come about.   

I only see my side –the side where there’s fear of speaking about Christ. 

The poem below was written by a teenage girl at my church who chose to follow Christ this year.  Just a reminder of how the other side is feeling. 

Saved!

A new found joy

A shining new peace

A new found comfort

A shining new love 

I asked.

I prayed.

I found.

I relaxed.

A joy never experienced

A peace never accepted

A comfort never existed

A love never known

I was honest.

I was changed.

I was relieved.

I was saved.

Getting started.

-by Dale Brandeberry

For many years, I waited for the perfect time to tell others about Jesus.   

I had friends who knew I was a Christian, but sadly many did not.  I always hoped there would be a perfect opportunity to tell them about Jesus.  Sometimes an opportunity would arise and I would share the Gospel with them, but many of my friends never heard about Jesus from me.   

The longer I knew my friends, the harder it became to bring up the subject of Jesus.  I secretly feared they would reject me if I started talking about the Lord, and this kept me silent.  Once in a while I would share Jesus with a person in need and he would accept the Lord, but those moments were very rare.    

I was in a rut and I didn’t know how to get out. 

Finally, a few years ago I took it to the Lord, because I knew God did not want me to be a closet Christian. 

The message to me from God was very strong.  You are not involved in the lives of others because you don’t love me enough.  If you loved me, you would love them and care enough about their salvation to tell them what Jesus did for them, and you would not wait to tell them the truth.    

I was crushed and confessed my sin to the Lord.  I asked him to give me the love that I didn’t have.  He was faithful and started shaping my heart day by day.    

One day shortly after my confession, the Pastor called.  He was out of town and wanted me to go to the jail to visit a church member’s son.   I didn’t want to go and said I was busy.  After getting off of the phone, I sat down with the intention of an evening with Monday Night Football.   

I heard my Lord say, What are you doing tonight that is so important that you can’t take time to share Jesus with someone at the jail?   

I called the Pastor back and told him I would go.   

When I obeyed, the Lord caused me to love someone I had considered unlovable. He showed me if I really cared about others, I would make sharing Jesus with them my Number One Priority.   I started looking for opportunities to share Jesus and studying ways to share about Him more effectively.   

The more I shared Jesus with others the more my love for Him grew, and that caused me to love others more and want to share Jesus even more.    

I am reminded as I write this that I have not yet finished the race, but I am no longer standing on the starting line wondering where everyone went.

What do you need to do to at least get started telling others about Jesus?

confessions of a bad neighbor

-by Christy Fitzwater 

I smile at my neighbors every time I drive by them –but I’ve made little effort to get to know them.  That’s the ugly truth.  I drive by them on my way to church, but I don’t know their names. 

I took a daring action a few days ago.  I was driving down my street when I saw my neighbor from two doors down pulling weeds by her driveway.  

So I stopped the car and rolled down the window.  (Are missionaries in Africa as brave as this?) 

I said, Hi, I’m a pathetic neighbor and always drive by without even talking to you.  I don’t even know you’re name! 

Stacie, she replied. 

I’m Christy. 

Christine? 

No, Christy. 

I proceeded to ask about her kids.  Her oldest will be a senior next year.  I told her, My daughter just graduated last weekend.  If you need sympathy next year, you can talk to me! 

We chatted for a few more minutes, and I drove away.  I wonder if Stacie knows Jesus. 

I’d like to find out. 

Do you know your neighbors?

I want a story

-by Rebekah McPeak

Do you ever hear the voice of that snotty girl from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in your own?

I do.

I'm lucky. My boss is a Christian -and not just the type of Christian who goes to church and "respects my beliefs." The other day he called me into his office, and he was acting like a giddy school boy. His excitement was contagious. He couldn't wait to tell me his story. He proceeded to share about how he had just walked with someone from DEATH to LIFE, and it was the very first time he was part of the moment...the decision. We were all smiles as he relayed the story.

He told me of his intentionality in looking for a bridge to talk about Christ in the natural context of his life. His willingness to follow the Holy Spirit instead of his own self-conscience nature. His boldness to ask the question, Do you want to commit your life to Christ...right now? His total joy in someone's salvation. I couldn't believe it. I could totally believe it. It was a great day.

Now here comes the part about Willie Wonka.

It was the voice inside me as I walked down the hall. Away from that life-giving conversation with my friend.

I want a story.

What about me, God? I want a golden ticket, too!

Seriously. Angels were jumping up and down, blowing party horns. There was a crazy celebration going on in heaven, and I tried to interrupt. Um, excuse me God, but where's my story?

In that moment I didn't hear God's booming voice to silence me, but I should have. God WANTS me to make my story happen. He's handing me opportunities. What am I going to do about it?

Do you want a story, too?

kids count

-by Christy Fitzwater

For a long time I taught kids at church because I had kids and felt obligated to get involved.  I enjoyed it and felt it was valuable, but in the back of my mind I always thought someday I would “graduate” and move on to work with adults, where teaching about God was really important. 

Then I watched the Jesus video for children, which depicted the story of Jesus’ life from the kids’ point of view.  I saw them wrestle with who Jesus was, as they listened to Jesus and then also listened to what their parents were saying about Jesus.  I realized kids have to go through the same thought processes as adults, to decide whether they will follow Jesus or not.  God said to me, The souls of children matter. 

Then I went on a two-week trip to Africa where I was going to do something really important and teach adults the Bible.  But I stood up one night to tell my story of knowing Jesus, and I looked down into a sea of children.  The adult Bible study went horrible during the week, but I really felt like I connected with the kids.  The souls of children matter, God said to me. 

I came home, feeling like a failure when it comes to talking to people about God.  Then I walked into a room full of children where I teach at church every Wednesday, and God said, The souls of children matter. 

Jesus said, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (Matthew 18:3)  A child’s humble, open heart puts him at the perfect place to receive Christ.   

What children are in your circle of influence?  Your own kids?  Grandkids?  A neighbor kid?  Nieces and nephews?  The souls of children matter.  Look for every opportunity to talk to kids about God.