Sunday Words of Encouragement May 5, 2013

Our Pastor’s Sermon this morning caught attention: Leaving the Zombie Zone!
Zombies are known as the reanimated dead. They have no soul; they have no walk--only a shuffle; they have no life, no interest other than seeking the next bite (i.e. earthly pleasure). See the comparison with people? And even with Christian pew sitters? (See the verses for today below.) We do nothing but shuffle through life, seeking earthly pleasures, if we are not obedient to God’s call and living abundantly through His gifts. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves other than to accept the Gift of Grace that was freely given through Christ’s sacrifice. Ephesians 2:5.  The fullness of our lives in Christ propels us to share the Gospel of Grace through loving others.

Today was Missions Sunday and Pastor noted that Jesus himself directed man with what we call The Great Commission. Mark 16:15. “Go” – take action, don’t just sit in your seat. “[Y]e” that means “you”, each of us. “...[I]nto ALL the world...” - start in you backyard but reach out to the ends of the earth.  If you cannot go yourself, then share support to send others to share the Gospel of Grace across the world.
***As a note to this – we continue to study End Times in our Sunday School and our teacher mentioned that around the world today persecution brings death to one Christian every 3 and a half minutes!***

This seemed like an appropriate song:
The Mission

Verses for Today
Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

I give thanks again, Lord, for your grace and your blessings. I pray that you give strength and protection to your missionaries and servants as they take your word to the ends of the earth.