Woodlawn Baptist Church

I’ll be the first to admit that I have the most disorganized life compared to many people I know. Everything seems to be in place with these people with every aspect of their lives laid out. They are always organized and structured about everything they do. Then I look at my life and I feel it to be such a mess, with things scattered about, always so unorganized and often forgetting or putting off things that need to be done. As I sit down to set out to put everything into order it seems it will take so much time and effort to do so, and then I hear a voice speaking to me. “Why are you so focused on yourself?”

I begin to “argue” with this voice and I think of Martha and Mary with Jesus and Martha was so tattered to get things done. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and didn’t seem to have a care in the world and this bothered Martha so much that she burst out at Jesus to make Mary come and get things in order. Now, both Mary and Martha loved Jesus greatly and both were set out to serve Jesus, but Jesus responded with “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Understanding this response that Jesus gives helps me understand the greater work ahead. Recently there have been some restructures in the prisons Bible study that has me going less and that concerns me. On top of that I had to go out of town for two weeks, missing any time I have remaining under the proposed plan to spend with the inmates. However, God spoke to my heart and told me all was in control and to continue my fellowship and study with Him regardless of my outreach opportunities. I have come to learn that I must spend my time daily in the “training camp” of Scripture study and prayer awaiting my next mission, regardless where and when it may be. We as Christians must always be sanctified to be ready to give an answer of the hope that is in us. Knowing that when I focus on me and my problems I cannot be used to spread the Gospel, and knowing that God knows my problems already, I either confess my sins and give Him the problem and rest in His assurance or I become ineffective for the kingdom while I “work” through my problem.

I did not fully understanding why I had to be taken away from doing the prison ministry work so I surrendered to the fact that God had a work for me to do in Augusta, Georgia. I was told of a restaurant that served good food in Augusta so the mission that God had me on came to light when I went that first Monday night to the restaurant for my evening meal and met JR a bus boy. When I came in and sat down JR asked me what I was drinking, I told him and he assured me that my waitress would be along shortly. He promptly bought my tea and after a few minutes he noticed that my waitress never showed to take my order so he wrote it down and went to place it. To shorten the story, he basically became my waiter that night. At the end of the meal, as I often do, I left a Gideon Pocket Testament with the tip. When I handed him the Testament his eyes widen he said “This is ironic.” Asking him what he meant he told me he had a lot of questions lately and then I hand him this “Book”. He thought it to be a strange coincidence that he waited my table; which he never does and then the one he is waiting on gives him a Bible.

The following week I visit the same restaurant and JR recognized me from the previous week. He shared with me that the past week his life has been different because of the “Book”.

I'm sharing this with you as a testimony that it is not our work we are doing, but God’s work. We must remain focused on Him and what He has for us. It is fine that we have our lives in order and everything in its place (where I certainly could use a lot of improvement), but it is hard to sacrifice God’s time for “ME” time. He is the Giver of peace and eternal life and it is the reason we exist on this earth.  So our focus should be on the good part that Mary found so important and Martha felt to be such a hindrance.

Those two weeks of not being in the jail has caused me to hunger and thirst more after His righteousness. Last night’s visit to the jail I spoke of following Jesus to a group of 9 men of which 5 gave their heart and life to Christ. I rejoice that God not only refreshed my spirit but that He led 5 lost souls into His kingdom. I still have plenty of things to do around the house and other things to take care of, but somehow it all seems so insignificant when it comes to the good part that shall never be taken away.

Take time to study I Peter 3:15 and Luke 10:38 – 41. If God has called you to minister to the incarcerated and their families please contact Chris Nelms.

Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. Job 10:12