Tell ALL That Jesus Will Return!

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Acts 1 (click the link)


KEY VERSE:
[Jesus said to them:] "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NIV)


THE BIG IDEA:
This verse contains the last words Jesus spoke while on earth.  Any parting words from a loved one draws us—the parting words of our Lord and Savior are certainly worth listening to! His last words… a promise of the Holy Spirit’s power and a charge to go tell all.


REFLECTIONS:
As I ponder on this verse, my thoughts drift to memories of parting words from my most loved ones as time, distance or death was about to separate us. Memories… Daddy’s “Be strong baby Gal”; Mother’s “You’ve got a Friend—Just call me”; and my Grandaddy as he was dying, “I will be waiting for when you come home.”  It’s like bundling up all those feelings of love, grief, excitement, fear of unknown into a few words that seem so inadequate to cover the depth of the heart’s groaning.

Growing up in East Africa there seemed to be so many goodbyes.  What do you say in parting words?  How do you sum up what needs to be said? Jesus’ parting words were Go GO Go!!!.. tell everyone everywhere what you have witnessed.  Tell your family, friends, town, states, other nations even to ends of the earth—what you have seen and heard.  Don’t worry about ANYTHING because I will give you the power… I will give you what you need.

Cinda Brooks’ Version: "You are unique—your path is like no others’ and you have the ability and responsibility to tell people… and you can do it like no other. Not all are charged to go to Africa, Nepal or India—maybe your charge is to tell those in a tighter circle—in your 'Jerusalem' or to parent or teach a child that may go to these places.  But ALL are charged."


POINT OF ACTION:
Where is your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth?  Where are you meant to tell what you have seen and heard?  Do you let the busyness of life keep you from connecting with people in “your” places and telling them what you have seen and heard?  Do you worry what or how to say?  Jesus promises us the Power—the Holy Spirit.


PRAYER
Ask God… Where? To whom? To open your eyes to opportunities to tell.
Ask God for what He has already promised—the power of the Holy Spirit.


WHO AM I?
Hi!  I’m Cinda Brooks.  When dating, my husband Stanley, asked: “Babe, why do you have to live life so hard?”  I haven’t figured out that answer yet and we’ve been married 16 years.  I love life, challenge, adventure, Stanley, family, friends, my dog Rusty, and my King—not any particular order!  I am a nurse in a Texas Game Warden uniform… actually I’m retired from that and just playing, chasing some dreams, writing a book & traveling with Stanley.