To leave a story, simply fill in the box to the right, sign your name if you would like, then click on "Anonymous" as your identity, and then click on "Publish Your Comment".
Pastor Todd, thank you for your sermon today! You reminded us all that we are to be a light in this world as well as the hands and feet of Jesus. My husband & I will help an elderly couple this week: She is bed-ridden at 90 and he at 82 is caring for her at home. My husband will drive him to his doctor appt. while I stay with his wife. Our elderly need so much help and sometimes are overlooked. Blessings to you!
Today I gave away something that was very valuable, as well as valuable to me personally. I felt God telling me to give it to my friend who could needed it more than me. It did not matter the fact that I was giving it up; the only important thing was my obedience to God. Through this act for another He brought me so much joy. Not only through the knowledge that I was obeying, but also seeing the appreciation and happiness in the eyes of my friend. Glory to God.
Pastor Todd Our daughter and son were involved in scouts from 1st to 12 grade.We were leaders for their troops. My daughter is 22 and my son 19 and are no longer in scouts but we continue to volunteer one day a week all year round. We also have a troop of about 32 mentally and dissable adult scouts (we call this program P2K or progran 2000 that's when we started it.) We meet every other Tuesday 12 months a year and take them camping twice a year. Your sermon today made me realize that volunteering outside our church is just as important. I have thought about not continuing P2K but we were inspired to keep our commitment to this people. Thank you Todd Luz and Jim smith
One of our greatest joys in our walk with Him is sharing our time and love with others. Our community, Famiy Fellowship, has adopted one of the 11 sites that the Youth at Heart organization helps. They bring want to shape, support & encourage Tulsa's inner city youth. East Cen. Village apartments houses some of these children. We can bring smiles, laughter, simple crafts, games, stories and field trips to these kids. During the school year, we have a special activity or outing with them monthly. They are a true blessing to all of us and we hope to them
At first I thought I'd focus on trying to meet the needs of strangers more this week. But God seems to have directed me to focus on meeting my husband's needs more instead! I think I'm usually better at focusing on strangers than my own husband!
Last night a friend called to hang out. I had other plans and told him no. As I continued, the Holy Spirit wouldn't let me go - so I called him back. I remembered what you said about 'extravagant love'. Turns out - he had left the house and was at a bar. He was dealing with some serious marital issues. We stayed up late talking. Perhaps your encouragement allowed me to be a light for their marriage. I hope so.
Wouldn't you know it..on our way home from church we came upon a couple trying to load a heavy piece of furniture into their vehicle. We had to giggle at the immediate opportunity God gave us to be 'light!" With joy we stopped and helped!
While filling my gastank today, I noticed a woman doing the same with an extremely low tire. I helped her get her car to the air station, filled the tire (I carry a gauge) and suggested places to get her tire checked and repaired if need be. Not much I suppose, but she could easily have been stranded very soon.
Your message Sunday spoke to me even before I arrived at Church. While driving to the 11am service I passed a traffic triangle with extremely tall grass. I commented to my wife that it seemed to be dangerous in terms of visibilty and a potential place for a wreck. She suggested I bring my weed eater and cut it down! You can imagine my surprise when I heard you suggest the exact same thing. I listened to you and God and went directly after church to trim it. It took an hour and half but maybe I really have prevented an accident. I'll never know. Thank you for letting God lead you to teach this message and allowing me to shine my light.
Today I sent encouraging emails to 3 of my coworkers who work very hard and have stressful jobs. As I was thinking today about what opportunities I could look for or create to be light, it hit me how easy it is to overlook encouraging those around me I appreciate just because I get too busy. I hope their day will be brightened some by the encouragement.
What joy it is to give back and be a light for someone else. I lost my husband four years ago to brain cancer. Hopsice was wonderful during this challenging time. I got my Hopsice training last summer to give back what they had given to our family. Each week I sit with a 89 year old Alzheimer patient as a Hospice Volunteer. Both of us have been blessed.
Pastor Todd, you gave us a great sermon and it inspired me to do something for someone I love. I took lunch to a very special and homebound Asbury member today.
Todd, I hope more people will post so we can see how individuals can make a positive difference in our community. I sent cards to some people with health concerns to encourage them. I just now taught someone some computer skills. Hopefully this will bless some souls.
Well, I have a good friend that I have not seen in a couple months. She called and told me that she is pregnant. This is special to her because a few years ago when we lived together she made a decision that has changed her forever. I had tears of joy for her. I told her how happy I was for her and what a blessing this is. She said "I know. I really feel like God is forgiving me and giving me a second chance." I told her God always forgives and takes us back. She cried and told me how much it meant for me to be happy for her; and to have that added comfort in hearing God forgives. Praise God for bringing us back together and for healing her heart!!
In the course of my volunteer hours at the church, I have learned to take many back stairs, hallway and other short cuts. When passing through the darkened sanctuary, I heard the muffled sounds of a person crying. My first thought--allow this stranger privacy at the altar. But then, I remembered--some time ago many had prayed for my recovery. As I recovered, the macho attitude of independence started taking over and I questioned the need of others' continued prayer on my behalf. A friend admonished me--what right did I have to deny others an opportunity to stregthen their prayer relationship with our God. It was clear that God placed me in the sanctuary at just this time. Yes, I was able to pray with this person and most important, God gave me an opportunity to be close to Him in my everyday circumstance. Praise God!
Pastor Todd, your sermon was an inspiration for us to be a light in the world. It was the topic of conversation at lunch Sunday. Our group discussed the responsibility we have in fulfilling our promise to you. We'll be talking about success in sharing light next Sunday. This could go on and on and become quite contagious, something the whole world could use. Praise God! Thanks for blessing us with your sermon.
Pastor Todd, Thank you for a powerful and motivating sermon! In response to your sermon, I began to pray and ask the Lord to give me an opportunity. The Lord answered, but not in the way I expected. The Lord gave me a prayer burden for a woman I do not even know with a life that only the Lord can heal. Though I don't know her, the Lord has gripped my heart for her and given me a love for her that causes her to constantly be in my thoughts and on my heart throughout the day and night. This moves me to pray for her with passion and urgency. This week I have laid down my life for her in prayer. "Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being". 1Corinthians 10:24
This week I have been making a conscious effort to be kind to my coworkers. Not that I was ever mean, but I have been trying to say hi to anyone I pass and ask them how they are doing. It's not much but its defiantly helping me think more of others and less of myself.
Being a light in the lives of others ENLIGHTENS our own as well. I live in Broken Arrow, and we have construction all over town, which means long waits in traffic. I saw an older woman driver who had been trying to turn into traffic for some time. No one would let her in. I let her in, and three other drivers behind her!! It felt great. I also saw an upset co-worker. Since she usually doesn't talk a lot, I debated asking her any questions. But I felt compelled to do so, and we became much better acquainted as a result. Yes, we can IGNITE better attitudes in others through our own example. Blessings. Rita Brumm
Here was our experience of being children of the light this week. Our family responded to a call and got some others to join us in providing income for a widow for the next 6 months. What a blast!
Pastor Tom, I brought one thing away from your service on Sunday that I have been starting to put into practice. It was the statement you made, put into very simple words, "Don't anticipate, participate." I thought I was a 'participant', but didn't realize how much I wasn't until your sermon and the thoughts that I started thinking when I heard that statement. Thank you. Anonymous :-)
The other day I was reflecting on how I could be a light. The thing that came to my mind was my girlfriend. Her love language is Acts of Service....so I went to her apartment and cleaned it for her. I did her laundry, dishes, and vacuumed her floor (just the way she likes it). When she came home that evening from work, she smiled from ear to ear. She was so happy and it was a relief for her to come home after work and not see any laundry. It was great to know that I made her week, just by helping a little!!
The other night I recieved a call from my accountability partner telling me that his car broke down. The next morning I took him to replaced the part and got him running again. He told me that he was so glad that God had put me in his life because he had no one else to turn to. It turned out to be more of a blessing to my spirit, then just the act of fixing his car. As it is said "Tis better to give, than to receive."
Tonight we were hosting a birthday party for my little sister-in-law. We were almost out of cheese, so I ran to QT. Trying to be quick, I parked in the back. As I got out of my truck I saw an elderly woman staring at her car; with a flat tire. I knew I was in a hurry; but I also felt God saying "You have time to help her". So, I went over and changed her tire. I also told her that the men at Asbury have car care check ups for the women of Asbury. She was so greatful, and told me what a blessing I was. Little did she know....she was the blessing to me.
Your sermon last week was so inspiring, yet so simple. It's a message that we all need to hear over and over again. I loved your comments that just because we're not participating in darkness doesn't mean that we're "living in the light"....it just makes us less dark. My husband and I immediately started talking in the car on how we could "be the light" during the upcoming week. We stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home from church to pick up a few things. Wouldn't you know it, when we pulled into the parking lot, there was a lady standing there with a sign that said "Stranded and Hungry". Normally, I'm embarrassed to say, we would just go on about our business. But today...it struck me that this was God Himself speaking directly to us. We took action! After gathering a few things we needed, we provided the woman with a sack full of hot food from the deli on our way out of the parking lot. What a wonderful feeling to see the joy in this woman's eyes. Thank you for reminding us to be gentle, gracious and kind every day!
What an awesome sermon and wonderful reminder of how we can so practically be Lights for our Lord!! Thank you so much. I was nudged to send a word of affirmation to your parents, thanking them for their key role in helping nurture the amazing young man of God that you are. Yea, God!!
Serving others is what my friends and I have been doing the last month. A dear friend of ours at Asbury has brain cancer. The minute we found out we met in the prayer room to prayer. There are about 10 of us. We have all been to the hospital numerous times. A friend and I relieved his wife for a couple of hours at the hospital. Our dear friend has had a stroke on top of the brain cancer and can hardly talk and is bedridden. We started to sing some old hymns to him and immediately he started to sing with us. Such a feeling of closeness with God and our friend came over us. By serving others we receive so much more..... Alive, Alive, my Jesus is Alive!
I am a Registered Nurse. I have the unique opportunity to touch lives in a very personal way every day. I choose to "be the light" with every hand I hold, every reassuring word I speak and every prayer offered in a patient's name. Thanks for reminding me of this honor!
Appreciated your kind comment on the car care ministry. It's a great opportunity to serve our church family. After our last July Sat morning car care activity, I stopped by Best Buy to do some shopping and a young man noticed my Car Care T-shirt. He was a auto mechanic and asked lot's of questions about what we did. He thought is was a great idea, and sounded like he might take our ministry back to his church. It seems you just need to take notice and seize the opportunities the God presents. Great Sermon!
I am blessed each Sunday morning with leading a 2 year old Sunday School class. I busy myself preparing for the lesson a few times each week.
This past Sunday was the scripture of Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples. Well, I brought a couple of bath towels from the house with the intensions of teaching a lesson on serving.
The class had two girls and two boys. I washed the feet of the two girls first, finished the first boy and was preparing to wash the second boys’ feet when one of the girls asked to wash the boys feet.
My 6-year-old told me today that some kids were using the Lord's name in a "mean way". She said she told them that the Lord doesn't like that. She is trying to spread the light too!
This last weekend I began doing hospital visits. I was wearing my Asbury badge and realized that passersby in the hallways were smiling at me because they recognized the badge.
I gave small bibles to those I visited. One member has been there for 3 weeks and did not have a bible until now. I am greatful for the fellowship her and I shared.
Feeling a little blue this evening, I sat down to surf the web a little and I've ended up here. Reading through all of these posts has really lifted me up. I want you all know that you were my light tonight. God bless you all.
Sunday, August 12th, I invited my 11 year old cousin to the chapel service with me. He thoroughly enjoyed the live music, the service and the atmosphere. After church, we stopped at Subway to eat lunch. As we were pulling into the parking lot, we noticed a young lady with her infant in a stroller standing outside of her car, her hood was propped. Brad & I got out of the car and I offered our help. I offered to let her and the baby sit in my air conditioned car while we attempted to jump start her car. As we were attaching the jumper cables, a man came to our cars and offered his help as well. The lady was so incredibly appreciative of our help on that hot summer day she started crying. It brought so much joy to our hearts knowing that God had called us to help that young lady. Later that evening I got a call from my 11 year old cousin and he was telling me what an incredible feeling he had in his heart from serving God earlier that day. God Bless!!! Sara Anderson
35 comments:
To leave a story, simply fill in the box to the right, sign your name if you would like, then click on "Anonymous" as your identity, and then click on "Publish Your Comment".
Pastor Todd, thank you for your sermon today! You reminded us all that we are to be a light in this world as well as the hands and feet of Jesus. My husband & I will help an elderly couple this week: She is bed-ridden at 90 and he at 82 is caring for her at home. My husband will drive him to his doctor appt. while I stay with his wife. Our elderly need so much help and sometimes are overlooked. Blessings to you!
Today I gave away something that was very valuable, as well as valuable to me personally. I felt God telling me to give it to my friend who could needed it more than me. It did not matter the fact that I was giving it up; the only important thing was my obedience to God. Through this act for another He brought me so much joy. Not only through the knowledge that I was obeying, but also seeing the appreciation and happiness in the eyes of my friend. Glory to God.
Pastor Todd
Our daughter and son were involved in scouts from 1st to 12 grade.We were leaders for their troops. My daughter is 22 and my son 19 and are no longer in scouts but we continue to volunteer one day a week all year round.
We also have a troop of about 32 mentally and dissable adult scouts (we call this program P2K or progran 2000 that's when we started it.) We meet every other Tuesday 12 months a year and take them camping twice a year.
Your sermon today made me realize that volunteering outside our church is just as important. I have thought about not continuing P2K but we were inspired to keep our commitment to this people.
Thank you Todd
Luz and Jim smith
One of our greatest joys in our walk with Him is sharing our time and love with others. Our community, Famiy Fellowship, has adopted one of the 11 sites that the Youth at Heart organization helps. They bring want to shape, support & encourage Tulsa's inner city youth. East Cen. Village apartments houses some of these children. We can bring smiles, laughter, simple crafts, games, stories and field trips to these kids. During the school year, we have a special activity or outing with them monthly.
They are a true blessing to all of us and we hope to them
At first I thought I'd focus on trying to meet the needs of strangers more this week. But God seems to have directed me to focus on meeting my husband's needs more instead! I think I'm usually better at focusing on strangers than my own husband!
Last night a friend called to hang out. I had other plans and told him no. As I continued, the Holy Spirit wouldn't let me go - so I called him back. I remembered what you said about 'extravagant love'. Turns out - he had left the house and was at a bar. He was dealing with some serious marital issues. We stayed up late talking. Perhaps your encouragement allowed me to be a light for their marriage. I hope so.
Wouldn't you know it..on our way home from church we came upon a couple trying to load a heavy piece of furniture into their vehicle. We had to giggle at the immediate opportunity God gave us to be 'light!" With joy we stopped and helped!
While filling my gastank today, I noticed a woman doing the same with an extremely low tire. I helped her get her car to the air station, filled the tire (I carry a gauge) and suggested places to get her tire checked and repaired if need be. Not much I suppose, but she could easily have been stranded very soon.
Your message Sunday spoke to me even before I arrived at Church. While driving to the 11am service I passed a traffic triangle with extremely tall grass. I commented to my wife that it seemed to be dangerous in terms of visibilty and a potential place for a wreck. She suggested I bring my weed eater and cut it down! You can imagine my surprise when I heard you suggest the exact same thing. I listened to you and God and went directly after church to trim it. It took an hour and half but maybe I really have prevented an accident. I'll never know. Thank you for letting God lead you to teach this message and allowing me to shine my light.
Today I sent encouraging emails to 3 of my coworkers who work very hard and have stressful jobs. As I was thinking today about what opportunities I could look for or create to be light, it hit me how easy it is to overlook encouraging those around me I appreciate just because I get too busy. I hope their day will be brightened some by the encouragement.
What joy it is to give back and be a light for someone else. I lost my husband four years ago to brain cancer. Hopsice was wonderful during this challenging time. I got my Hopsice training last summer to give back what they had given to our family. Each week I sit with a 89 year old Alzheimer patient as a Hospice Volunteer. Both of us have been blessed.
Pastor Todd, you gave us a great sermon and it inspired me to do something for someone I love. I took lunch to a very special and homebound Asbury member today.
Todd, I hope more people will post so we can see how individuals can make a positive difference in our community. I sent cards to some people with health concerns to encourage them. I just now taught someone some computer skills. Hopefully this will bless some souls.
Well, I have a good friend that I have not seen in a couple months. She called and told me that she is pregnant. This is special to her because a few years ago when we lived together she made a decision that has changed her forever. I had tears of joy for her. I told her how happy I was for her and what a blessing this is. She said "I know. I really feel like God is forgiving me and giving me a second chance." I told her God always forgives and takes us back. She cried and told me how much it meant for me to be happy for her; and to have that added comfort in hearing God forgives. Praise God for bringing us back together and for healing her heart!!
In the course of my volunteer hours at the church, I have learned to take many back stairs, hallway and other short cuts. When passing through the darkened sanctuary, I heard the muffled sounds of a person crying. My first thought--allow this stranger privacy at the altar. But then, I remembered--some time ago many had prayed for my recovery. As I recovered, the macho attitude of independence started taking over and I questioned the need of others' continued prayer on my behalf. A friend admonished me--what right did I have to deny others an opportunity to stregthen their prayer relationship with our God. It was clear that God placed me in the sanctuary at just this time. Yes, I was able to pray with this person and most important, God gave me an opportunity to be close to Him in my everyday circumstance. Praise God!
Pastor Todd, your sermon was an inspiration for us to be a light in the world. It was the topic of conversation at lunch Sunday. Our group discussed the responsibility we have in fulfilling our promise to you. We'll be talking about success in sharing light next Sunday. This could go on and on and become quite contagious, something the whole world could use. Praise God! Thanks for blessing us with your sermon.
Pastor Todd, Thank you for a powerful and motivating sermon! In response to your sermon, I began to pray and ask the Lord to give me an opportunity. The Lord answered, but not in the way I expected. The Lord gave me a prayer burden for a woman I do not even know with a life that only the Lord can heal. Though I don't know her, the Lord has gripped my heart for her and given me a love for her that causes her to constantly be in my thoughts and on my heart throughout the day and night. This moves me to pray for her with passion and urgency. This week I have laid down my life for her in prayer. "Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being".
1Corinthians 10:24
This week I have been making a conscious effort to be kind to my coworkers. Not that I was ever mean, but I have been trying to say hi to anyone I pass and ask them how they are doing. It's not much but its defiantly helping me think more of others and less of myself.
Being a light in the lives of others ENLIGHTENS our own as well. I live in Broken Arrow, and we have construction all over town, which means long waits in traffic. I saw an older woman driver who had been trying to turn into traffic for some time. No one would let her in. I let her in, and three other drivers behind her!! It felt great. I also saw an upset co-worker. Since she usually doesn't talk a lot, I debated asking her any questions. But I felt compelled to do so, and we became much better acquainted as a result. Yes, we can IGNITE better attitudes in others through our own example. Blessings.
Rita Brumm
Here was our experience of being children of the light this week. Our family responded to a call and got some others to join us in providing income for a widow for the next 6 months. What a blast!
Pastor Tom,
I brought one thing away from your service on Sunday that I have been starting to put into practice. It was the statement you made, put into very simple words, "Don't anticipate, participate." I thought I was a 'participant', but didn't realize how much I wasn't until your sermon and the thoughts that I started thinking when I heard that statement. Thank you. Anonymous :-)
The other day I was reflecting on how I could be a light. The thing that came to my mind was my girlfriend. Her love language is Acts of Service....so I went to her apartment and cleaned it for her. I did her laundry, dishes, and vacuumed her floor (just the way she likes it). When she came home that evening from work, she smiled from ear to ear. She was so happy and it was a relief for her to come home after work and not see any laundry. It was great to know that I made her week, just by helping a little!!
The other night I recieved a call from my accountability partner telling me that his car broke down. The next morning I took him to replaced the part and got him running again. He told me that he was so glad that God had put me in his life because he had no one else to turn to. It turned out to be more of a blessing to my spirit, then just the act of fixing his car. As it is said "Tis better to give, than to receive."
Tonight we were hosting a birthday party for my little sister-in-law. We were almost out of cheese, so I ran to QT. Trying to be quick, I parked in the back. As I got out of my truck I saw an elderly woman staring at her car; with a flat tire. I knew I was in a hurry; but I also felt God saying "You have time to help her". So, I went over and changed her tire. I also told her that the men at Asbury have car care check ups for the women of Asbury. She was so greatful, and told me what a blessing I was. Little did she know....she was the blessing to me.
Pastor Todd,
Your sermon last week was so inspiring, yet so simple. It's a message that we all need to hear over and over again. I loved your comments that just because we're not participating in darkness doesn't mean that we're "living in the light"....it just makes us less dark. My husband and I immediately started talking in the car on how we could "be the light" during the upcoming week. We stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home from church to pick up a few things. Wouldn't you know it, when we pulled into the parking lot, there was a lady standing there with a sign that said "Stranded and Hungry". Normally, I'm embarrassed to say, we would just go on about our business. But today...it struck me that this was God Himself speaking directly to us. We took action! After gathering a few things we needed, we provided the woman with a sack full of hot food from the deli on our way out of the parking lot. What a wonderful feeling to see the joy in this woman's eyes. Thank you for reminding us to be gentle, gracious and kind every day!
What an awesome sermon and wonderful reminder of how we can so practically be Lights for our Lord!! Thank you so much. I was nudged to send a word of affirmation to your parents, thanking them for their key role in helping nurture the amazing young man of God that you are. Yea, God!!
Serving others is what my friends and I have been doing the last month. A dear friend of ours at Asbury has brain cancer. The minute we found out we met in the prayer room to prayer. There are about 10 of us. We have all been to the hospital numerous times. A friend and I relieved his wife for a couple of hours at the hospital. Our dear friend has had a stroke on top of the brain cancer and can hardly talk and is bedridden. We started to sing some old hymns to him and immediately he started to sing with us. Such a feeling of closeness with God and our friend came over us. By serving others we receive so much more..... Alive, Alive, my Jesus is Alive!
I am a Registered Nurse. I have the unique opportunity to touch lives in a very personal way every day. I choose to "be the light" with every hand I hold, every reassuring word I speak and every prayer offered in a patient's name. Thanks for reminding me of this honor!
Appreciated your kind comment on the car care ministry. It's a great opportunity to serve our church family. After our last July Sat morning car care activity, I stopped by Best Buy to do some shopping and a young man noticed my Car Care T-shirt. He was a auto mechanic and asked lot's of questions about what we did. He thought is was a great idea, and sounded like he might take our ministry back to his church.
It seems you just need to take notice and seize the opportunities the God presents.
Great Sermon!
'Never too young to learn'
I am blessed each Sunday morning with leading a 2 year old Sunday School class. I busy myself preparing for the lesson a few times each week.
This past Sunday was the scripture of Jesus washing the feet of the Disciples. Well, I brought a couple of bath towels from the house with the intensions of teaching a lesson on serving.
The class had two girls and two boys. I washed the feet of the two girls first, finished the first boy and was preparing to wash the second boys’ feet when one of the girls asked to wash the boys feet.
As for me...'Never too old to learn'.
Randy Pinney
My 6-year-old told me today that some kids were using the Lord's name in a "mean way". She said she told them that the Lord doesn't like that. She is trying to spread the light too!
This last weekend I began doing hospital visits. I was wearing my Asbury badge and realized that passersby in the hallways were smiling at me because they recognized the badge.
I gave small bibles to those I visited. One member has been there for 3 weeks and did not have a bible until now. I am greatful for the fellowship her and I shared.
Feeling a little blue this evening, I sat down to surf the web a little and I've ended up here. Reading through all of these posts has really lifted me up. I want you all know that you were my light tonight. God bless you all.
Sunday, August 12th, I invited my 11 year old cousin to the chapel service with me. He thoroughly enjoyed the live music, the service and the atmosphere. After church, we stopped at Subway to eat lunch. As we were pulling into the parking lot, we noticed a young lady with her infant in a stroller standing outside of her car, her hood was propped. Brad & I got out of the car and I offered our help. I offered to let her and the baby sit in my air conditioned car while we attempted to jump start her car. As we were attaching the jumper cables, a man came to our cars and offered his help as well. The lady was so incredibly appreciative of our help on that hot summer day she started crying. It brought so much joy to our hearts knowing that God had called us to help that young lady. Later that evening I got a call from my 11 year old cousin and he was telling me what an incredible feeling he had in his heart from serving God earlier that day.
God Bless!!!
Sara Anderson
Post a Comment