During the DRIME Base Leaders Summit, a lot of training was done with the leaders, but we also wanted to engage in the heart of the ministry—sharing the gospel with people on the streets! On March 8, we went to Kibera, a local slum in Nairobi, and did ministry together as a family of DRIME members from 6 different countries. God certainly moved – check out some of the highlights from our DRIMERs!

I met a man named Nick. I had the opportunity to share with him the plan of God about salvation. He finally decided he wanted to accept Christ! We prayed together, and I am so happy. (Martin, Benin)

I talked to 2 ladies, a mother and a daughter. They wanted to become Christians, and so we prayed together. They were so grateful to hear the good news! They now have Jesus as their Saviour. We prayed that they would know more about Christ, and exchanged contact information. Praise God for our new sisters in Christ!  (Kung and Kong, Thailand)

God is working here this afternoon! Even though we have met lots of people who are Christians, they still want to know more about God and about the ministry. I put them in contact with members from DRIME Kenya, and they are interested in getting connected to DRIME. We also shared contact information, and we will keep in touch. We will be praying for each other even though we don’t live in the same country! (Olivier, Benin)

While doing street ministry in Kibera, I met a man named Paul. He was so open to the gospel from the beginning of our conversation. I shared about faith and how he could get have a relationship with Christ, and he decided that he wanted to accept it! I connected him to a DRIME Kenya team member, and they exchanged phone numbers. Paul will be going to church in Kibera with his new brother in Christ! (Maura, Brazil)

I had a great conversation with a man named William and his daughter Edith. He had heard the gospel before but was unsure of what would happen to him after he died.  I had a chance to share with him about he could be saved by grace through faith. He prayed to receive Christ, and we wrote it down so he would always remember that day. He also said that he will come to church on Sunday. Praise the Lord! (Tanya, Canada)

The Lord moved in powerful ways that day! At least a dozen Kenyans accepted Christ, and were connected to local churches and members from DRIME Kenya for follow-up. Praise the Lord for the opportunity to make him known in Kibera!

What can you do when a friend fails you?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3,10)

All I heard was yelling.  It was as if my head was submerged under water.  I could hear her speaking to me but couldn’t fathom what she was saying. It felt like I was  going to be sick.  What was she saying? What was I supposed to say? As I stood in my kitchen that day and listened to my dear friend yell at me, I wondered how we could have gotten to this place.

We had been doing life together for about 5 years, my friend and I – having babies, hanging out as families and doing ministry together.  We were the only two women in a world of men and we were allies.  But our roles had recently changed and she did not like the decisions I was making.  We were no longer allies or even friends and my heart was breaking.  Why couldn’t we just work this out?  Why did it have to be like this?  Didn’t she know me well enough that she could trust that I had her best interest at heart? 

I watched as our friendship blew up in my face and could do nothing to stop it.

I met with a mentor as I wrestled through what God wanted me to do in regards to our relationship.  As we were discussing the situation my mentor made a statement I’ve never forgotten.  He said, “What you’re seeing here, Kristi, is the purest form of legalism – she is saying, “it’s my way or the highway”.  God’s answer to legalism is grace.  And I believe God has given you an extra measure of grace to reach out to her and draw her back into fellowship.  But with that grace I believe that God is calling you to take the higher road, to humble yourself and go to her and seek to restore your friendship.”

I remember thinking at the time, “This is completely opposite of what the world would tell me to do.  The world would say, ‘she did you wrong, run as far away from her as possible.  You shouldn’t allow yourself to be treated like that.’” 

But I knew in my heart my mentor was right, that God was calling me to lay down my life for her and to go to her in humility and grace. I wish I could tell you that our relationship was restored but unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.  What I do know is that I did what God was calling me to do even though it was completely upside down from what the world would say I should do. He blessed me through my obedience.

In Matthew 5, Jesus talks about what it looks like to live in His upside down kingdom.  Jesus goes on to say, “But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also. If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too…You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’and hate your enemy.  But I say, love your enemies!Pray for those who persecute you!”  (Matthew 5:39-40 & 43-44, NLV)

When we follow Jesus, He calls us to a higher path – a road less followed, a road of radical obedience to His WAY.  The world will tell you that you will be walked on if you do things His way; that you will be trapped and misused, if you hold to that kind of lifestyle. But Jesus says that living in His Kingdom sets us apart and shows the world that we are different!  The truth is that when we live in His upside down kingdom we experience a life of true blessing and freedom.

Father, When you call me to do the unusual, upside down thing, help me to act swiftly trusting that the upside down thing is also the very best thing.  Amen. 

Question: Think about a time when you had to lay down your life in obedience to Jesus that went against your personal feelings. How were some ways you overcame?

One of the simplest ways to reach out to your community is start with what you are already doing.

When it comes to donating I tend to think of the basics.  If someone is hungry my concern is feeding him or her, I don’t really worry about making it pretty.  But if I’m feeding the people I love, I take that time.  I wondered what it would look like if I took that same care and effort on something I was planning to give away.  A couple of years ago I did just that, getting together with friends and family to make really fancy Christmas cookies that weren’t for us.  It turned out to be such a good thing that we’ve done it ever since.

Cookies as ministry

Last year we used the ovens in the church kitchen to bake 12 dozen sugar cookies. Then we spent a delightful Saturday afternoon icing snowmen and angels, Christmas trees and reindeer.  We had Christmas music playing and lots of hot chocolate. It was a wonderful day.  When it was all finished we took the cookies to our local drop in center for homeless teens.  As we dropped them off I wondered, “When was the last time someone did something special for one of these kids?”

We’ve made cookies for a women’s shelter and a men’s halfway house.  They are always very well received and they’re not hard for me to do, I was baking cookies anyway.  The groceries to make a few dozen cookies cost less than $20 and the time it takes is no hardship because I like making cookies, it’s fun.  (Plus, this way I get the fun of making more cookies than our small family could eat.)

It is impossible to overestimate the power of a personal touch in the lives of people who feel forgotten.  I confess that there have been times when I have turned away from the homeless while walking along a busy downtown street.  The truth is that I don’t want to see them. I don’t like being reminded that there are people who have so little and people in other countries who have even less.  The cookies are one way to turn back toward them instead of turning away.  A cookie isn’t going to change the world, but it can change someone’s day.  It’s a reminder that Christmas is for them too.

Stretch what you’re already doing

If you’re not much of baker, just take a look at what it is that you’re already doing.  Are you hanging Christmas lights? Find someone else who needs help hanging his or her lights.  Are you shopping for gifts for your kids? Put an extra toy in your cart and find somewhere to give it away.  Ask God to show you how you can take what you are already doing and stretch it a little further.  What you have might not seem like much, but God is really good at taking our little offering and doing something spectacular with it.

At church this past Sunday our pastor talked a little about generosity. He said that he often hears people say that if they had more money they’d be generous and his answer to them is, “No you wouldn’t. Generosity has nothing to do with your money.” He’s right.  Generosity has nothing to do with what you can afford; generosity it all about what you make room for.

In my family we make room by rolling out a few extra cookies and decorating them as if we were planning to keep them. It may look different in your family but the heart of it is the same. Generosity is not about the extra, the leftovers, or surplus. Generosity happens when I say, “I was going to have this, I was planning to spend it on me, but here, I want you to have it instead.” Generosity comes out of our own comfort, our willingness to make a little room.  Start with what you have in your hands and make a little extra.  Ask God to use it and you’ll be amazed at what He does.

Take the next step:

Do you have the Christmas spirit?
Take a lesson: The Gifts of Christmas
Trusting God enough to give

“But forget all of that-it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do a brand new thing.  See I have already begun…” (Isaiah 43:18,19a NLT)

I stepped out of the front doors of the church that I had been a member of for 17 years.  As I walked down the driveway towards my car I felt as though I were going through a divorce. This was the place that where God sent me to help me grow in my spiritual walk.   This was the place where I received a corporate word from God at least twice a week.  This was also the place where God told me that this Sunday would be my last as a member.

Even though I felt a deep sense of loss as I was leaving the church property, I also felt a great sense of hope and anticipation.  What was God about to do in my life?  What new plans did He have for me that required me to leave my church home of 17 years?  What do I do in the meantime?

In Genesis 12:1-3 Abraham was told by God to leave his home and his family to go to a place that He would show him.  Abraham did not know where he was going but he did know what God promised him, and it was something new. God promised to make him a father of a great nation, to bless him, to make him famous and to be a blessing to others.  God would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him. Through Abraham all of the families of the earth would be blessed.

As children of the new covenant through Christ, we have the same promise that God gave to Abraham (Galatians 3:9).  We have also been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3).  As I go through this time of transition, I have been blessed to meet and worship God with brothers and sisters in Christ on Sunday mornings and during the week at different churches.

Through the sowing of my tithes and offerings, I have been a blessing to different ministries that I possibly would not have touched before.  Most of all, am experiencing a brand new relationship with the Holy Spirit has He is taking me on a wonderful journey with Him each day.  I don’t know where God is taking me, but I like the process of the brand new thing that He is doing in my life.

Father, we all go through times of transition.  Help us to enjoy the process, remembering that we don’t go through it alone.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Questions:  What transition are you going through in your life right now? How can you be a blessing to others during this time?  What blessings do you see in this time of your transition?

“For Everyone who tires to honor himself shall be humbled: and he who humbles himself shall be honored” Luke 14:11

At times I am respectfully amused at the repetition of certain themes in the Word of God – repeated over and over again so that you and I will not forget the importance of the message. This is one of those principles.

Many missionaries have given up honor, acclaim, and success at home in obedience to God’s call upon their lives. Perhaps to their surprise, God has honored them in many ways despite the fact that they purposely gave up all rights to such honor.

In every field of endeavor, the principle is true. Most men who seek genuine acclaim are thoroughly humbled along the way. Conversely, most people who humble themselves as a part of their commitment to Jesus Christ and His service are eventually honored.

I have seen this truth fulfilled on numerous occasions in the work of Campus Crusade for Christ to which the Lord has called me. Many young people have stepped into unsung roles of service for their Master. God has honored them not only with fruit for their hire, but also with a measure of acclaim they never would have achieved otherwise.

It is part of God’s plan to abase the proud and raise up the humble. Our goal should be committed service for the Savior. We should let Him take care of the honoring and the humbling.

Bible Reading: Matthew 23:5-12

“Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete” James 1:2-4

A friend of mine had been very successful in business, but after he became a Christian everything seemed to go wrong. Problem after problem seemed to plague him. Yet he never seemed to be discouraged or defeated.

As we counseled together, he assured me that there was no unconfessed sin in his life. So I rejoiced with him that God was preparing him for a very important responsibility in His kingdom. That is exactly what happened. He is now the director of a very fruitful ministry for our Lord. The problems and testing served to help equip him to be a better ambassador for Christ.

If you are experiencing difficulties in your life – physical illness, loss of loved ones, financial adversity – remember the above admonition from God’s Word. Be happy, knowing that God will work in your life to accomplish His holy purpose.

You can decide how you will respond to problems and temptations – you can either become critical and cynical, or as an act of the will, by faith, you can choose to believe that our sovereign, loving God is allowing this to happen in your life for your own good and for His glory.

Even the hairs of your head are numbered. “His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9, KJV). He is tender, loving and compassionate, concerned about your every need.

Bible Reading: James 1:5-12

Today’s Action Point: When difficulties and temptations enter into my life I will – as an act of the will, by faith in God’s faithfulness to His promises – rejoice and be glad, knowing that He is always with me and will never forsake me. As I trust Him and obey Him, he will supernaturally turn tragedy to triumph, and He will change heartache and sorrow to joy and rejoicing. I will trust Him in the darkest night of circumstances.

“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about Me with great effect, to the people in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection” Acts 1:8

Evangelists were gathered in Amsterdam, Holland from more than 130 countries around the world to attend the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. On the third night of this historic event I was asked to bring the address on “How to be Filled With the Holy Spirit.” Just before I was to speak, a note from Billy Graham was handed to me. It said, “I consider this one of the most important addresses of the entire conference.”

According to the hundreds of thousands of surveys which our ministry has taken all over the world, 95 percent of the professing believers do not understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This includes a majority of pastors, evangelists and missionaries. In fact, if I had only one message to give to the Christian world, it would be how to be filled with the Holy Spirit and how to walk moment by moment in the fullness of His power. Indeed if I had to choose between introducing a non-believer to Christ or helping a defeated, fruitless, impotent Christian to understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit and share his faith in Christ with others, I would choose the latter because inevitably the end result would be far greater in terms of the number of people who would be introduced to Christ.

The one great need of the Body of Christ today that transcends all other needs is to be awakened to the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit, to be empowered and controlled by Him, to allow Him to exalt and honor our Lord Jesus Christ in and through us, for that is the purpose of His coming. “He (the Holy Spirit) shall praise Me and bring Me great honor by showing you My glory” (John 16:14).

On hundreds of occasions throughout the world I have spoken on this subject and always, when the invitation is given, a good percentage indicate their desire to be filled with the Spirit. The Scripture promises, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness? If so, you are a candidate for the fullness of God’s Spirit. You can by faith appropriate His fullness right now by claiming His promise that God will release His power through you in order that you may be an effective witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Reading: Romans 15:15-21

Today’s Action Point:
Today I will claim by faith the fullness of God’s Spirit in order to live the supernatural life and to be a more fruitful witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that it is the Holy Spirit who will enable me to live that exciting, supernatural life.

Two of my teenage years were spent carrying a tuba in my high school marching band. My mom wanted me to learn to read music, and the choir was full while the band was a tuba-tooter short, so I signed up. Not necessarily what you would describe as a call from God, but it wasn’t a wasted experience either.

I had a date with a twirler.

I learned to paint white shoe polish on school buses.

And I learned some facts about harmony that I’ll pass on to you.

I marched next to the bass-drum player. What a great sound. Boom. Boom. Boom. Deep, cavernous, thundering.

And at the end of my flank marched the flute section. Oh, how their music soared. Whispering, lifting, rising into the clouds.

Ahead of me, at the front of my line, was our first-chair trumpet. He could raise the spirit. He could raise the flag. He could have raised the roof on the stadium if we’d had one.

The soft flute
needs
the brash trumpet
needs
the steady drum
needs
the soft flute
needs
the brash trumpet.

Get the idea? The operative word is need. They need each other.

By themselves they make music. But together, they make magic.

Now, what I saw two decades ago in the band, I see today in the church. We need each other. Not all of us play the same instrument. Some believers are lofty, and others are solid. Some keep the pace while others lead the band. Not all of us make the same sound. Some are soft, and others are loud. And not all of us have the same ability. But each of us has a place.

Some play the drums (like Martha).

Some play the flute (like Mary).

And others sound the trumpet (like Lazarus).

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were like family to Jesus. After the Lord raised Lazarus from the dead, they decided to give a dinner for Jesus. They decided to honor him by having a party on his behalf (see John 12:2).

They didn’t argue over the best seat. They didn’t resent each other’s abilities. They didn’t try to outdo each other. All three worked together with one purpose. But each one fulfilled that purpose in his or her unique manner. Martha served; she always kept everyone in step. Mary worshiped; she anointed her Lord with an extravagant gift, and its aroma filled the air. Lazarus had a story to tell, and he was ready to tell it.

Three people, each one with a different skill, a different ability. But each one of equal value.

From Cast of Characters
Copyright (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008) Max Lucado
Used by permission

Question: What role would you like to play in God’s band? Has God prepared you for this role? How can you get there?

Can we pray for you today?

“God spoke to him and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He replied, ‘I have worked hard for you, God. The Israelites have turned against you. I’m the only one left and now they’re trying to kill me too’”  (1 Kings 19:13b-14).

This passage tells of the amazing miracle that Elijah witnessed when God sent fire to consume his sacrifice and everything around it. But he was on the run from a vengeful Queen. He was exhausted mentally and physically, and couldn’t remember when he’d had anything to eat or drink. Elijah felt like he was all alone. He believed he was the only prophet of God left in Israel.

He finally stopped running and settled in a cave for the night. God spoke to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God wanted him to know that He was all powerful and could protect him from his enemies. He did not need to run away. Elijah had just experienced an amazing miracle on Mount Carmel, but he did not remember that the God who set the sacrifice ablaze was the same God who could protect and guide him now.

Could God be saying to you, “What are you doing here?” Maybe you’re wondering how you’ve gotten to this place in your life. You feel like you’re just barely making it through the day, and you don’t have the time or the energy to be involved in a ministry. God knows how you feel, and He understands how many responsibilities you have every day. If there’s something God wants you to do, He will help you find the time and give you the strength you need to accomplish His work. Philippians 1:6 says, “He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

You may already be in God’s will, doing all that He has planned for you. But, what if there’s more that God wants you to achieve? Maybe you’ve been involved in a ministry you thought was right for you, it was where God wanted you to serve. But lately you’ve been hearing from God that He has a different work for you to do. You can easily settle in to a routine and be involved in things you think would please God, but be totally missing His will for you.

It’s never too late to obey God. God is waiting, longing for you to come to Him in complete submission and ask Him what His plan is for your life. He delights in answering this prayer. Maybe you feel the Lord is asking you “What are you doing here?” You think you’ve gotten off course; you’re not in the center of His will. It’s never too late to obey God. You can surrender your life to Him, maybe for the first time or in a new way today. It will be a decision you will never regret.

Questions: In your walk with God, have you gotten off course? What is God’s plan for your life? Are you in the center of God’s will?