Starting on a new project can be daunting.

In the past, I have been known to restore furniture.  I love it when it’s completed and I can see the finished look.

What motivates you to get up each day?  Are you looking forward to your future?

If you’re a Christian, then you already have the motivation you need; a home in heaven.

After you give your life to Christ, He starts a new work in you.  He cleans up the old life and reveals to you the new blessings ahead you can experience.

If you don’t know what lies ahead, ask God.  Tell Him your desires and He promises that if it’s in line with His will for you, that it will come to pass.

Don’t give up when it gets difficult.  Most projects take time and care.

Eagerly expect in Christ’s return. In that day you will be complete; a completed person in Christ.

Paul wrote in Philippians that he was torn with the desire to depart this life to be with Christ, but knowing the necessity of preaching the gospel to the lost.

As I await Christ’s arrival, I can lavish in His love for me, until He completes me.

Philippians 1:6 - “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Black lights were the thing in my era. I would buy posters and put them on the wall, and when I turned on the blacklight, the picture lit up.

Then came the ‘glow in the dark’ bracelets, lights and other toys.

The purpose of these glow in the dark objects was to change the perception of the room; to bring light or contrast to the area.

As Christians, we should be the light in this dark world. Our presence should be uplifting when we walk into a room.

A smile, a song, or small words of encouragement can do more in one moment to those who are hurting or lonely.

Matthew 5:14-16 - “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Just as we light a candle to bring light to a dark room, bring joy and laughter to those hurting today.

When people ask you how can you be so happy and peaceful in this depressing evil and angry society, tell them the story of how Jesus came to you when you had nothing left, or no one to turn to.

Before you can be a light to others, take a look at your own life. Ask God to reveal any sins you’ve been ignoring; ask Him for help in forgiving others and for help in changing your heart.

Be the light.

A window is an opening in the wall or roof that allows people to see out, and allows light to come in.

Referring back to the mission conference, the pastor talked about "#TGEN, which means, “this generation, every nation.” Still confused? He’s referring to how the early churches had the opportunity to reach all the lost people of the world, but they started letting other views come into their lives, which polluted the gospel and tore the church apart. This generation, the one we’re living in, has the opportunity to do this now. We can reach the lost. There are approximately 7000 unreached people groups that are waiting on us. What are we waiting on?

You might be thinking, “I can’t afford to go, or I can’t physically go.” Then, send someone; pray for someone. You can be a part of the generation that reaches the ends of the earth.

For Christians, this should be an exciting time, to think that our generation could be a part of reaching the 7000 people groups who have never heard the name Jesus. Once this goal is met, Jesus will return. Not may return, or we’re hoping He returns, but He says that He will return to take His believers home.

Matthew 28:18-20 - “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Are you the light in the dark room? Can you look out over the world and see yourself witnessing to others, spreading God’s news and love around to all the nations?

Be the window, and let others see through you, God’s goodness. Be the generation that reaches the nations.

The Bible says in Romans 15:1 that we have an obligation to tell others about the good news of Jesus. We can all do this, but do we?

I attended a missions conference over the weekend and the message that I came away with was, “am I willing to be a part of God’s big plan?” The answer for me, is yes.

I’ve said this before; my first mission trip changed me. I never thought I could be so bold and step out in faith to tell others about Jesus. But, I did and the results in my life have been amazing.

God continues to bless me, more than I deserve.

This doesn’t mean that you have to travel to another country to tell someone about Jesus. It means you have to be willing to give and to serve others, no matter where you are geographically.

You can all do this, but will you? Quit living for yourself and be an ambassador for God, to go to all the nations and tell others the best news yet!

Romans 15:1 - “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.”

I’m the last of 8 kids born to Ruby and Walter Walker, so I have quite a large family in today’s standards.  You’re probably wondering how large our house would to have been to hold all these people.  By the time I was born, my three oldest siblings had already left home, and by the time I was a teenager, I was the only kid at home.  My parents were Godly parents who raised us right; going to church, obeying rules at home and school and respecting authority.

Now this doesn’t mean that there wasn’t some sibling rivalry every now and then.  I can remember two of my sisters arguing often, even throwing each other’s clothes out the window, but they always made up.

I love all my siblings, but I also know that my fellow believers are my brothers and sisters too.

In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus’ mother and his brothers were asking to speak to Him, but He told the man, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”  Now, He wasn’t saying this out of disrespect, but just to say that everyone who believes in Him, is His brothers and sisters.

I love my local church family and my brothers and sisters in Peru, as much as my own family.  There’s a special bond when you’re doing life side by side with fellow believers.  We’re all reaching for the same goals; we know our final destination.  I don’t know about you, but this is what life is all about.  Relationships are key to surviving this dark world.

Now there was conflict among siblings in the Bible. The first murder mentioned in the Bible was when Cain killed his brother Abel, out of jealousy. Conflict in any family is not a part of God’s plan for the family. He wants us to love our brothers and sisters, just as He loves everyone who believes in Him.

Support your brothers and sisters in Christ; love them as Jesus does and enjoy the blessings that come along with the family of God.

If you’re foreign to what I’m talking about, or if you haven’t found your church home yet, don’t put it off.  I invite you to visit my church, Church of the Savior; it’s on Brannon Crossing, at the south end of town.

Matthew 12:46-50 - “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”  Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

What would happen to the world if all the cell phones stopped working today? I have a feeling that we would have civil wars breaking out all around us.

I see it every day, and it used to only be seen outside the workplace. People checking their phones, chatting back and forth to others, as if it’s ok to be doing it and working on the job.

Now, I’m not that old, but I do remember the days when you go to work and do your job and didn’t call home or anyone else until you got home.

Our culture is messed up. Families used to eat at home and actually talk to each other around the dinner table. These days, you’ll see families at restaurants, and no one is talking to each other; they’re all looking down at their cell phones. Ugh.

I know this is not everyone, but it’s almost getting to be the norm.

Addiction to cell phones is just as harmful as addiction to drugs. Both give attention to a substance that’s controlling their lives.

Put your phone down. If you’re bored at work, then find something you can do to help out. If you’re retired, go visit a nursing home. These people need you, if only for an hour.

Get socially addicted to serving others.

Hebrews 10:25 - “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Do you ever feel like you’re a stranger in a foreign land; those around you seem to be living a different way of life?

As Christians, we are to obey God. If you are in an environment where everyone around you seems to be living their own life, ungodly and sinking in sin, don’t ignore these people. Love them, just as God loves them.

People who don’t know God need to see the light in you. They may see anger, sorrow or depression all day long. Ask God to help you show love to them. Once they see you’re different than most, they’ll want to know why.

1 Peter 2:12 - “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Take the opportunity to reach out to those in your path. Listen to their story.

There’s one thing I learned on the mission field. Even though you may not know the language, you can still show you care, with a smile or a hug.

If you find yourself a foreigner today, show others the love that God shows you every day.

Be bold and reach out to a stranger today.

I have great respect for the farmers. Day in and day out, they rise early, work in the hot sun until the evening approaches, and get up the next day and do it all over again.

After they plant their seeds each year, they wait. They are expecting to see the crop come to life and thrive. Once in the ground, the seed starts growing, but the farmer can’t actually see it growing. The farmer has faith that his crop will start to grow. The farmer plants by faith, not by feeling.

If the farmer relied on his feelings for the seeds to start growing, he might get too anxious or worried that it’s not coming up soon enough.

As a Christian, we should be following in the footsteps of the farmer.

But, our seeds that we sow aren’t tiny seeds that are planted in the ground, but seeds of hope to the lost.

Once we tell someone the good news of Jesus, we let go and have faith that God will take over.

We may never see the crop that we sow, but we can have faith that the seed was sowed, and God can bring the seeds to life.

2 Corinthians 9:6 - “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”