The Father's Heart

Revealing the Father's heart

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Kaitlin Cares

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Kaitlin has a big heart for her 9-year-old frame.  Her passion for those less fortunate and often forgotten caused her to take initiative and do what she could to show them they are loved.   She started making care packages for the homeless in her hometown and using her own money to fund the packages.  She worked to earn money and then purchased things to give away.  She loves adding her own creative love to each package.  Now she invites you to join in on the fun.  If you would like to be a part of this amazing story consider supporting her cause financially or by sharing with others.  To give to Kaitlin’s project visit Kaitlin Care’s giving page.

 

Engaging the Lost

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Engaging in meaningful and spiritual conversations with those who don’t know Christ seems terribly daunting for many of us. While we have a deep desire to see our friends, families, and co-workers come into relationship with Jesus, we’re often left not really knowing where to begin.

An amazing truth the Lord has shown me, as we go out intentionally to share Christ, is that people are more open to Jesus than many of us realize. We often feel like, if we engage in a spiritual conversation with someone, they’re not going to be interested, and it’ll probably end up in a fight. Maybe it’s the way we interact on social media that gives us this idea, but nonetheless, I don’t believe it’s the reality as the Holy Spirit is working on people’s hearts every moment of everyday. I sincerely believe Jesus’ words about the harvest being plentiful ring out as much today as they did when He spoke them a couple thousand years ago. It’s not a harvest problem, it’s a laborer problem. The church, myself included, has not done a great job modeling what this practically looks like, so we’re left unprepared and unsure about how to go about it.

One very simple way we engage students at MTSU and Belmont is with “Free Prayer” signs. We find areas students gather, or walk to class, and hold up cardboard signs that say “Free Prayer.” I’ve been amazed at how many young men and women walk right up to us and ask for prayer; we’ve even seen over 20 in an hour. Some are believers in Jesus and others are not. We’ve had students who recently lost grandparents, are struggling with relationships, school’s been tough, etc., who are thrilled we’re willing to pray with them. We use it as a way for them to encounter Jesus, let Him meet their needs and open up conversations about Him. About a week ago, I went out with a couple guys and we prayed with 6 students. We met up with two of these students afterward to go through a book we use to disciple and let folks experience Jesus!

So, give it a try! Offer prayer to your co-workers, family, friends, those in Walmart or at soccer practice. You’ll probably be surprised by how many are not only willing but overwhelmingly thankful you’ve taken time to pray with them. God will move in power as He loves them more than you do! So, pray in faith and expect results; He’s a really good Father.

We’ve also seen the power of intentionally going to the same place(s) every week so we can get to know people. It’s amazing how many folks we meet literally every time we hang out in the Student Union or Quad at MTSU. If we want to reach people for Jesus, we have to go places where there are those who don’t know Him, but I’m sure we all do. Think about the check-out person at the grocery store, or the young lady who makes your cup of coffee at Starbucks. Next time you go in, ask for their name, write it down and intentionally go back to them next time. They’ll be surprised you care about them enough to know their name. Let it lead to deeper conversations as you return regularly.

There’s much more I could talk about here, and I’ll continue writing to help empower us all to reach this world for Jesus! If you’d like help, and would like to see it modeled, we’d love to go with you! So, send us an email and we’ll do it! My email is jon@tfhglobal.com, and Justin’s is justin@tfhglobal.com. We can’t wait to hear from you.

Revealing The Father’s Heart

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A few weeks ago I was in Atlanta for a wonderful night of ministry. A small group of us began a conversation about our father in heaven and his desire for us to know who we are as his children and to know his heart. A young lady joined the group and began to share about challenges she had in living out the kingdom in her every day life. She was asking questions about all of the times she had not reached out to someone when she felt she should.  She was indicating to us that God wouldn’t use her because she had disappointed Him.   As she was speaking I was suddenly overwhelmed with the father’s heart for her. She was a beautiful young lady on the outside but in that moment I saw her as a beautiful daughter. As though she were my very own daughter who I had a great love for. I suddenly felt like she was beautiful just because she is my daughter. And in that moment I realized exactly how the Father felt about her…I walked over next to her, put my arm around her and gave her a hug, and said

“You can’t get it wrong. The father just gave me his heart for you and I can see how beautiful you are to Him!  He wants to hug you and tell you that He loves you just like you are. In His eyes you’re not able to make a mistake so don’t worry about the missed opportunities or the things you think you did wrong in trying to serve Him. He loves you because you’re His daughter. He only wants the best for you and that includes experiencing His joy of impacting others life with His love. Not because that earns His favor but because you experience His joy, His goodness.

She started to cry. And then an interesting thing happened. In the unity that we have in the body of Christ and while I was connected to the father’s heart I immediately felt the heart of the man standing to my left and simultaneously the heart of the woman on my right that I had just spoken.

His heart was saying, “Man I wish I could feel the father’s heart like that.” ( he later confirmed this was exactly what he was thinking while this was happening and it gave me a chance to encourage and affirm him in the father’s love as well)

Her heart was suddenly so overwhelmed with the love of the father that she didn’t want to leave my presence. She had only just met me and there was absolutely no physical attraction. She just wanted to be around me because suddenly she felt the father through me. I could feel her heart saying, I wish he would just hold me like that and never let go.

As I have reflected on this, I was so amazed at how the father could reveal his heart to one individual and through the unity of our faith let all of our hearts connect. One person being encouraged to something greater, another person manifesting the heart and love of the father through them, while a third person receives the affirmation and love of her father as his beautiful daughter.

God is so good to share his love and share his heart with us. I want to encourage you today to not get caught up in trying to heal people, prophesy over people, witness to people, take care of the hungry or do activities that you feel you NEED to do to “minister.” Instead, ask the Lord to reveal his heart in you so that you can allow his heart in you to reach out and touch the hearts of those around you with his love. Experiencing his heart in me has been one of the greatest miracles I have ever experienced.

Interview with Engaging Missions Show

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After our recent trip to Myanmar and Thailand, Josiah and I participated in an interview with my friend Bryan Entzminger, host of the Engaging Missions Show.  We kicked off a series of shows on kids in ministry (something really close to my heart).  I am super excited about this series and the future guests.  Please consider visiting and subscribing to the Engaging Missions Show if you have a heart for missions or you would like to be encouraged by all that God is doing around the world.

If you have not heard some of our stories from Myanmar and the amazing things God did take time to listen to a few of them here.  Josiah is a little nervous starting out but I was so proud of him not only in learning to operate with the Holy Spirit at 11 years old but also to get on the radio and share his heart and the stories from our trip.  I hope you enjoy.

Listen here or please consider visiting The Engaging Missions Show website.