In Christ - I am His Workmanship

I am God's workmanship...

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

KPRZ – Encouragement for Today March 2, 2012 Define Yourself Wendy Blight "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) "’Define yourself through the hands and eyes of a true artist." “As I closed the stall door in a public restroom, that slogan caught my eyes. It was from an advertisement for a plastic surgeon. Reading those words, I knew this doctor was tapping into longings every woman has: to be beautiful, loved and accepted by others. “But for most women, this is not reality. We don't see our beauty or worth. We look in the mirror and only see faults. We allow others to define us. “Sometimes it is our culture. But oftentimes it is the very people we love...our parents, a friend, or spouse. Their words deceive us into thinking we are unworthy...a failure as a woman and even as a child of God. “Yet God created us to be women of strength and beauty, each with a divine purpose planned by Him before we were born. God alone has the right to define us. No one else. There is only One true artist and His name is God. “God is the Creator. “After reading that advertising slogan, I felt a burning desire to know a woman's true identity. The Truth I found in His Word was powerful and life changing. Rather than posting these truths on the back of a bathroom door, I wanted to share them with you. “You are: • Created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) • Fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) • Precious and honored in His sight. (Isaiah 43:4) • Redeemed and forgiven. (Ephesians 1:7) • A new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) • Holy and blameless before God. (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Corinthians 1:30) • Chosen by God. (1 Peter 2:9) • God's masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10) • Created with purpose to do great works for God's Kingdom. (Ephesians 2:10) “You are God's creation - beautiful, strong and created with a unique plan and purpose. “I don't want you to rest your head on a pillow tonight without knowing and believing who you are in Christ. I have prayed that God would reveal to you who you really are - not who you are in your parent's eyes, spouse's eyes, children's eyes, friend's eyes, or in the world's eyes, but that you would know who you are in YOUR FATHER'S EYES! “Dear Lord, thank You that You are my Creator. Thank You that in You and You alone I find my identity. Father open my eyes to see who I am in You. Make every Truth I learned today a reality in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.”

I like the word used in the NLT for “workmanship” – it says we are God’s MASTERPIECE!  That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?  Can you look at yourself in the mirror today and see the MASTERPIECE that you are in God’s eyes?  A masterpiece is something that’s highly valued – unique – special – amazing – AWESOME – is that how you see yourself?  I hope so – because when you DO see yourself that way, nothing will keep you from fulfilling the reason God created you anew “in Christ Jesus” – you will do “good works” in His name and for His glory!  You’re His living work of art, walking around in His world to be His witnesses of light, love and life!  Take the time today to praise God for who you are “in Him” – and marvel at the masterpiece that is looking back at you in the mirror!  Sharon

Sharon Pearce, Director

Silent Voices International

355 K Street, Suite H

Chula Vista,  CA  91911

619-422-0757

svoices@pacbell.net

www.silentvoices.org

In Christ - I am an ambassador for Christ

I am an ambassador for Christ...

II Corinthians 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 

KPRZ Girlfriends In God

April 6, 2012

A Willing Heart

Gwen Smith

“My husband Brad went on a missions trip to Guatemala a few years ago. What he saw and experienced changed his life and increased his faith in a dramatic way. He was an eyewitness to the healing power of God. On that trip he prayed harder, believed more, and expected more from God each passing day—and as a result, God used their medical missions team as a conduit for miracles.

“Do you ever find yourself doubting that God wants to move in and through your life? Have you ever felt like you’ve needed a faith-lift? Are there circumstances in your life that have left you feeling ‘unqualified’ to be the voice of life to others? Do you want to experience God’s strength and power in your average, ordinary days?

“If so, then lean in, girlfriend, because what I’m about to share with you is a key to increasing the power of God in your life!

“Hector, the founder of that Guatemalan ministry that Brad teamed up with on the missions trip, visited North Carolina, and my family and I went to hear him speak. When I heard him testify of the provision and power of God, my heart was stirred and my faith was boosted. But what moved me most was the story of the lesson he learned about his call after God led him to be a medical missionary.

“Before he began the medical ministry that he devotes his life to now, Hector’s main goal in life was to make lots of money. Back then he didn’t even apologize for it. He was a Christian and figured that God could use his money to help others.

“What happened to change the course of his life? Back in the late eighties, Hector and his wife joined a medical team on a trip to a mountain village. The team was blown away by what God did through them while they were there. On the four-hour drive back to the city, they worshipped and sang praises to God. As he worshipped and drove, Hector heard the Lord speak to his soul. This is what I’ve made you for: to medically treat My people, to pray for their healing, and to share the hope of Jesus with the hopeless and the lost.

“Hector felt so overwhelmed that he pulled the truck over and told the team of his call from God to be a missionary doctor. They prayed over him, whooped it up in celebration, and then continued down the mountain with an even greater sense of purpose and excitement. Hector thought that God had called him to be a missionary because of his skills as a doctor. Later, he would think otherwise.

“A few years into his work, while visiting a remote village, a woman with a large mass on her side came into their makeshift clinic. Her terrible pain was curbed only by her excitement that the medical team had come to help her. One glance at her tumor and Hector had a strong suspicion that it was malignant. Upon examining her further, Hector was convinced that she was terminal. He became very frustrated with God, to the extent that he didn’t even want to share the gospel with her because he couldn’t do anything to help her physically.

“Hector sent up a few prayers of frustration, but felt God nudging him to share the gospel with this woman. So he reluctantly shared the good news of Jesus with her; and, to Hector’s surprise, she wanted to be forgiven and place her faith in Jesus Christ! And as they sat on the floor of that makeshift med-center, this sweet woman trusted Jesus as her Savior. When they finished praying, the woman had a radiant smile and tears in her eyes. He hugged her and she began to cry.

“’What happened?’ Hector asked. ‘Why are you crying?’

“’As we were praying,’ she said, ‘I felt a warmth that started on my head and spread to the tips of my toes.’ As she said this, she realized something had changed, and she screamed with delight, ‘My mass is gone! My pain is gone!’

“Hector had her lie back down on his examining table. The tumor that had been there just minutes ago was gone. God had intervened. She was healed, both spiritually and physically!

“In the amazing celebration that followed, God spoke clearly to Hector’s heart. God told him that He had all the power needed for the work He had called Hector to, and it had nothing to do with his medical training. God impressed on his heart that He didn’t need Hector’s skills or his knowledge; He had all of that covered. He just wanted him to go in His name.

“You and I have that same opportunity every day. We have a chance to be a witness of God’s healing love to a world of wounded hearts. Did God need my husband and the other volunteers to heal Guatemalan villagers, treat their physical wounds, and share the hope of Jesus with them? No. Did God move in the lives of the villagers because of their willingness to go in His name? You bet!

“One of my favorite sayings is, ‘God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.’ If you are His, then you are called. Not because of who you are or what you can do, but because God can and will do His work through you.

“Did God tell Jonah to go to Nineveh because Jonah was a great leader with amazing vision? No! Jonah proved to be quite wimpy. When Jonah finally made it to Nineveh, did God bring a great wave of repentance and restoration because of Jonah’s rhetorical gifts? No! God stirred the hearts and changed the lives of hundreds of Ninevites because Jonah finally had the courage to speak God’s words.

“God wants to do something similar through you. He wants you to stop fighting Him on this and be willing to speak for Him so others can know the same healing and hope that you know. He wants to bring beauty up from the ashes of brokenness all around you.”

You don’t have to go on a mission’s trip to be an Ambassador for Christ  (but if you have the opportunity, take it – it really will change your life!) – you can be an Ambassador every day right where you are!  You are Christ’s representative in your neighborhood – at your job – in the grocery store parking lot (I’m thinking about all the cars with Christian stickers that seem to lack Christian drivers) – at the doctor’s office – ANYWHERE you go you are representing the King of kings!  Keep your eyes – and your heart – open to the possibilities! This is a good weekend to step out of your comfort zone and ask someone to church – lots of people are looking for a place to go this Sunday morning!

“Rejoicing in the miracle of everlasting life – and the wonder of His never-ending love…Wishing you a Blessed Easter!”  Sharon

By His great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  1 Peter 1:3 RSV

Sharon Pearce, Director

Silent Voices International

355 K Street, Suite H

Chula Vista,  CA  91911

619-422-0757

svoices@pacbell.net

www.silentvoices.org