Books
New Release! Soaring Servants: Women in God's Service by Linda Sedrick Pearson is now available at PS Publishing.
Would You?
By Linda Sedrick Pearson
Two teenage males stand on the sidewalk. One speaks more than the other. The second young man shakes his head and begins to walk away. As he turns, the first young man notices a car coming towards them. He grabs the second young man and throws himself between him and the approaching car. Gunshots ring out in the first young man falls.
You see, this young man was a Christian, but he had been a gang member. That was until someone cared enough to share Jesus with him. He now went into the streets and shared Jesus with the gang members he knew, including those who before had been his enemies.
This second young man was a member of a rival gang. He wouldn’t listen to the words the first young man told him. He didn’t want any part of this Jesus. At least not until the first young man saved his life.
“Why?” The second young man asked the first.
“Because,” the first young man gasps weakly. “I knew that if you had died at that moment, you would have been condemned to the burning fire of eternal damnation. I didn’t want you to die lost and I know that I am prepared and ready.” And with that he breathed his last here on earth.
The second young man weeps with all his heart. He has never had anyone to love him that much. He reaches over and gently removes the book the young man holds in his hand. It flips open to John chapter 15 and his eyes rest up on verse 13.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
This is a true story. These events really happened.
Think about it. Would you? Would you give your life for someone that you had considered an enemy?
Excuses
What if Jesus had used the same excuses we use when we don’t want to do something? Think about it.
What if Jesus said, “I was going to come die for your sins, but I forgot!” Or, if he said, “I didn’t have time to save those people.” Maybe He would say, “I don’t like those people so I’m not going to go save them.”
What if Jesus decided, “Even if I gave my very life for them they wouldn’t accept me. So, I’m not going!”
Maybe He would say, “I don’t feel like it! I just don’t feel good today.”
Or, He could have said, “I’ll go after my favorite TV show and I finish playing this video game.”
What if Jesus said, “I have to check on my Facebook friends first and play some of the games there. Then, if I have time, I’ll go die for their sins.”
Or what if He said, “I didn’t have time to write the Bible.”
Jesus could have said, “I am too tired. Maybe I’ll die for their sins tomorrow.” And then, what if you died today!
Jesus did not say those things. Instead, He dropped everything He was doing in heaven to come to earth. He put it all away, just for you. He ran to earth to be born of a virgin, suffer a life in the flesh, to be tortured beyond any imaginable pain and suffering.
Why? So each and everyone of us could be saved.
Don’t you think it’s time to lay down your own excuses?
Heartless and Without Strength
By Linda Sedrick Pearson
Are you to the point where you don’t have the heart to go on? Are you tired and without the strength to fight the everyday battles that come against you? Do you feel like you are all alone? Do you feel like you don’t have anyone who cares about what happens to you?
You don’t have to continue on heart less, weak and alone. There is someone who cares. Child, you don’t have to continue fighting battles alone.
Jesus Christ cares for you. He cares so much that he came in the flesh to die on the cross for you. He loves you so much that he lives for you.
Do you want a relationship that won’t fail? Do you want a relationship with someone that won’t leave you? Asked Jesus to come into your heart and life.
Do you think this is phony? It’s not! I know from experience of living without him and living with him. I have been on both sides of the fence. Believe me when I tell you and sweeter tasting on Jesus’ side.
No, I’m not after your money. No, this is not a con. I do not have any hidden agenda.
The only thing I want is for you to search deep within yourself. If you find that there is something missing, if you are not satisfied with your life, and if you want to know more about Jesus, contact me. It’s up to you. When you get tired of struggling on your own and tired living the life that you have been living, contact me. There is a better way. That way is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Doctor It
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
Have you ever had a sore that you didn’t doctor? You know that if you don’t put any salve on the wound soon it will become a huge festering thing. Every minute, hour and day that goes by without medicine makes it grow bigger and it hurts more.
There are lots of things in our lives that are like that.
Are you a person without Jesus Christ in your life? The longer you go without Jesus, the worse you become. If you continue in this way, your whole being is eventually consumed.
Perhaps at one time, you tried serving the Lord. Then, one day, someone said something that hurt your feelings. Maybe this person did it intentionally and maybe not. Instead of confronting that person, you sit and think over and over again what the person said to you. Every time you think on this, the sore gets bigger. Why not take the salve of the Holy Spirit and put it on the wound? How do you do that? Go and talk to the person who caused you injury.
There is a good chance that the person didn’t realize what he or she was doing. Not only will you rescue yourself, but you may even rescue the other person from festering sores. It may even stop them from injuring someone else.
It’s time we stopped giving the devil entry into our lives. Stand up for God. Let’s learn how to handle these things in a godly manner.
Be Prepared
God expects us to be prepared at all times. Prepared for what? Several things. First, we are to be prepared to by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. That is step one.
Next, we are to study our Bibles daily and know the word of God. This prepares us to battle the temptations and trials that come against us. We are to pair this with constant prayer. These tools will prepare us for spiritual battles.
We are also to be prepared by knowing what we believe and why we believe it so that if someone asks we have answers. As Christians, we should always be able to tell exactly what we believe. Do not say, “I believe what my church believes.” That is not an answer. If that is what you usually answer, think about what exactly does your church believe.
Questions to Ask Yourself and Answer
- Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?
- Do you believe that Jesus was born of the flesh to a virgin (she had not had sex with any man)?
- Do you believe that God, through the Holy Spirit, impregnated the virgin, Mary?
- Do you believe that Jesus Christ took on the sins of everyone and those were nailed to the cross?
- Do you believe that Jesus Christ is our gift from God so that we can be saved?
- Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven – He is the only way to cross the gulf of sin that separates us from God?
- Do you believe that you cannot do enough good works to make it to heaven?
- Do you believe that baptism does not save you?
- Do you believe that no matter what you do, you cannot be good enough to make it to heaven on your own merits?
- Do you believe that you have to confess your sins to God and accept (receive) Jesus Christ as your Savior in order to be saved?
If you could answer yes to everyone of those questions, you are close to being prepared. I say “close” because I do not know if you do daily Bible study and prayer. Those are important tools that feed our spiritual bodies and we must have a daily diet of each one.
Be prepared, stay prepared. Grab that Bible, carry it with you. Read it during the day. Read it in the morning with your breakfast. Read it in the afternoon with your lunch. Read it in the evening with your evening meal. Read it at bedtime. With each reading, pray. Pray for God to give you understanding and knowledge of what you read.
Mother Hears the News
A young man runs to the mother of his friend and informs her that her son has been arrested. Fear tears her heart. She knows he is innocent, but being a woman she is not supposed to be in the courtroom. She runs as fast as her legs will carry her. Her feet entangle in the long skirts and she trips. She falls on her face. Her nose is bloodied and her body hurts. Ignoring the pain, she jumps up and continues her run.
The crowd is gathered and the mother cannot squeeze through. The crowd will not relent for her. Do they not know she is his mother? Can’t they see her heart is broken?
“My son, not yet!” she cries. “I am not ready. I need you still. Please don’t leave me, yet.”
All of a sudden the crowd begins to shout, “Crucify him!”
“No! Please! He is innocent! He is my son!” Mary cries.
Suddenly, she catches a glimpse of him. His body is torn and ragged, ripped and bleeding. She breaks down and the strength leaves her legs. She collapses in a heap. John, Salome, and Mary Magdalene surround her for protection, afraid the crowd will trample her. They help her up and escort her aside. They all weep in anguish.
They remember his words and know his time has come. Many of the things he said they did not comprehend before become clear and they know their precious Jesus is to die for the sins of the whole world.
What Kind of Disciple Are You?
Take a look inside yourself for a minute. What kind of disciple are you? Are you one like Peter, James, and John, who could not stay awake for one hour to pray for Jesus (Matthew 26:40; Mark 14:37)? Are you like Peter, who during the Lord’s greatest time of need ran away (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72)? What about Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus with a kiss on the cheek (Luke 22:47)? Are you like that – a betrayer of the Lord?
As we get ready to come into the time when Jesus was crucified, stop and take a good hard look at yourself. It is not my job to judge you. It is your job to search yourself and to see if there is anything standing between you and God.
What kind of disciple are you? Do you study your Bible daily, spend some quiet time with God daily, pray daily? Do you witness to all who God has prepared and put in your path? We are not meant to witness to everyone. We are meant to witness to those who the Holy Spirit has prepared the heart and mind to receive our witness. Then, God causes them to cross our path and we are to be ready and aware to witness to them.
If you are not doing the basics of a disciplined life, start now. It is not too late. God expects – NO, HE REQUIRES – us to do these things. What things? Daily Bible study, prayer, quiet time, and witnessing to others.
Jesus is asking you, “What, could you not stay awake for just one hour for My sake?”
Resurrection Message
Did you know women were the first to speak the resurrection message? Read Luke 24:1-12. They ran to tell the apostles that Jesus is risen! Peter and some of the others did not believe them, but this was a true message. Peter and the others ran to the empty to see for themselves. Were they wrong not to believe the message the women delivered? No. We should always search things out for ourselves to know what is truth.
How wonderful it must have been for Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary (mother of Jesus) to be the first to proclaim, “He is risen!” (Matthew 28:1-8). They had no better message to deliver.
We also have no better message to deliver than the resurrection message! How wonderful to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ, including the resurrection message to the whole world. Remember Him always. Christians, stand up and shout from your rooftops, “HE IS RISEN!”
Easter is not about bunnies, eggs, and baskets. It is about a risen Savior – Jesus Christ! Remind all of this message and never stop proclaiming that we do serve the one and only risen Savior!
Witnessing
by Linda Sedrick Pearson
A witness is someone who testifies of things he knows because the witness has personally seen, heard, and experienced what he testifies about. He does not tell of things he does not personally know about. It has to be things he has personally experienced through his own eyes and ears.
If you have been struggling with how to witness to others, just tell what you know about God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Read 1 John 1:1-4 and those verses, written by the apostle John, tell you how they witnessed. They witnessed about things they knew, heard, and saw. Continue reading
Face Your Fears
2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Fear is a weapon that Satan uses against us to keep us down. If he can convince us that there is something to be afraid of, then the devil wins. This is the enemy’s main tactic against us as Christians. Fear has no power unless we give in to it.
We can win the battle and defeat the devil by facing our fears. Stand up to any fear that is coming against you. No matter how hard it is, stand up and face it. You will find that, in most cases, facing whatever it is you are afraid of has no power when you stand up against it.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Believe in God, he is your helper. As long as God is on your side, you do not have to be afraid of anything that man will do to you. Stand strong. Raise the standard of God as your battle flag and face your fears. You will be the victor!
