Author: Karen Burkett

Wife, mother, grandmother, writer, editor, Bible teacher, ministry director, retailer, pastoral assistant, caregiver . . . these and many more words have described Karen at times throughout her life. Now a 79-year-old widow, she says, however, the description serving as an umbrella over all that is "follower of Jesus Christ."
How I Discovered My Purpose

How I Discovered My Purpose

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

By Guest Blogger Pst. Ayo Daodu

Having been asking God to reveal to me my purpose in life over months, I decided to worship God and listen for His guidance thereafter in the month of August 2004. I knew if I’m to be fulfilled in life I needed an encounter with my Creator to tell me what He created me for, even though I was going to be prestigiously a medical doctor. August 16, 2004, to be precise, I was alone as usual worshipping God. After worshipping God for about twenty minutes, I stopped and sat up and I asked God to tell me my purpose for existing. Then I kept quiet. About five minutes went by and suddenly I began hearing words from inside my belly for the first time in my life. I knew I didn’t hear with my physical ears: “The gift of Joseph ended him up in My palace, the gift of David ended him up in My palace, your gift will end you up in My palace.” I immediately got up thereafter, running away from the call because I never wanted to be a pastor, understanding that His house is the palace. I thought maybe God would mention my becoming a medical doctor. About one week later I had a vision that broke me and I was singing from the spirit realm, “I will open up my heart, ready for your holy fire . . .”

I spent the remaining years of my medical school doing two major things: studying medicine and learning under anointed servants of God. I graduated from the medical school and did my one-year internship and another one-year compulsory national youth service during which I got specific details of my ministry.

Today God has built for us our church auditorium in Nigeria, and we’re debt free to the glory of God. We have maintained an altar burning hot with the anointed Word of Life, with diverse testimonies of God’s interventions. God has also shown us that He is taking us to other countries, teaching the perfection of the saints.

How do you get involved with this ministry?

1. Pray that God will open effective doors unto this ministry to continue to spread the Word of Life in ever increasing dimensions.

2. Visit: https://www.facebook.com/Sceptrechurch/  and like and share some of the highly impactful teaching video clips.

3. Contact us and give as God leads you.

About guest blogger, Pst. Ayo Daodu

A medical doctor from one of the top federal universities in Nigeria. Called into the ministry at the age of 21 while in 200level in the medical school. Now I am gladly a full-time minister of the gospel as a pastor and an anointed teacher of the living Word of God. By the grace of God I am the founder and senior pastor of Sceptre Church International.

Nine Reasons I Read the Bible Cover to Cover Every Year

Nine Reasons I Read the Bible Cover to Cover Every Year

by Karen Burkett ♥ 2 Comments

by Guest Blogger Dave Dishman
[Note from Karen: Visit Dave’s blog to read his daily comments, sharing a few thoughts about what he reads each day. And let what he is doing inspire you to share with others what God is doing in your life!]

Daunting best describes the Bible. Thick, dense, full of arcane references and minute details. Loads of “begats” and shekels and odd names. However, beauty and wisdom and peace and insight overflow from the Bible as well. Every minute I spend in the Scriptures yields dividends. Below are nine reasons I read the Bible cover to cover every year.

  1. I gain an expansive view of God. Left to myself, I shrink God into my own image. I desire a God who reminds me of me, who approves of my lifestyle and choices, and who hugs me despite my subtle disregard of his ways. No such God exists in the pages of scripture, but how will I know if I don’t go take a look?
  2. The discipline of daily reading develops my faith. Regular reading creates a spiritual practice and builds spiritual muscle. I did not choose to live the Christian life on a lark. As a serious and devoted follower of Christ, I hope to continually grow deeper and fuller in my faith. Bible reading forms the foundation of that growth.
  3. I discover something I’ve never noticed, or thought, on a daily basis. This may be my the favorite part of reading the Bible. I discover new heroes and intriguing villains, new thoughts and challenging ideas, every day.
  4. God surprises me. Not always in a comfortable way.
  5. God wrestles with me. Or better, I wrestle with the God of the Bible. The Lord uses the scriptures to point out my pride or vanity or loose talk. I don’t like it. In fact, I despise it. But I appreciate the fact that words in the Bible roll me around in the dirt on occasion.
  6. I wrestle with the Scripture’s approach the world. I don’t understand many parts of the Bible. Why did the child born from David’s sin with Bathsheba have to die? Seems so unfair to me. But that’s what God wanted, and as a result I grapple with my understanding and beliefs about God. I believe questions fuel our faith, just as questions fueled the faith of many in the Bible.
  7. The Holy Spirit flows in my life with fresh wind. The Holy Spirit changes us, comforts us, challenges us and builds us, particularly paired with the wisdom of the Bible. The combination of Holy Spirit and Holy Scriptures transforms my heart and actions. Nothing else works in such a supernatural way. I fight temptation, I gain compassion, I get beyond myself when the Holy Spirit uses the words of God in my life.
  8. I brag to my friends. Let’s face it – not many people read through the Bible. Let the practice slip at a dinner party and notice the reactions.
  9. My soul swells. Psalm 1 tells us, “Blessed in the man who’s delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” I want such a life – it grows from meditating on the scriptures daily. Comfort and hope and peace grow in such an environment.

I encourage you to join me and make the investment to read the Bible cover to cover in 2021. You can do it. If you spend 30 minutes a day on social media, you can read the Bible through in a year. Start the journey – your soul will thank you.

Dave Dishman

About Dave Dishman:

I find the people of the Bible fascinating. I love digging into their stories and navigating the world guided by their wisdom. I hope you catch some of my enthusiasm. I read through the Bible every year, and always unearth something unexpected. Along with being a reader, I’m a writer, thinker, teacher, creator, observer, traveler, husband, father. I’ve worked in student ministry for 35 years. In my free time I enjoy the outdoors of Colorado, working in the garden, playing golf, and reading good books.

Missionaries to America?

Missionaries to America?

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

by guest blogger Don Veinot of Midwest Christian Outreach
[note from Karen: As you read this, perhaps God will nudge you too to reach out to those in America who are lost in cults and non-Christian religions. Yes, America does indeed need missionaries!]

It is rare that Christians think of missionaries to America. After all, being a missionary requires traveling over a large body of salt water, living in strange, sometime exotic, lands, and learning to speak in another language. And yet, Midwest Christian Outreach. is just that. A mission to cults and non-Christian religions in America. We are ambassadors to those groups and individuals who would not likely darken the door of a church unless they come to the faith first. Many of them have not met a Christian who understands enough about what others believe to be able to challenge their thinking. In addition, well-intentioned Christians often do not understand their own personal faith well enough to be able to give a defense (Jude 3) to a Wiccan, pagan, agnostic, or Jehovah’s Witness.

In our daily encounters we must answer challenges like,“Why were books taken out of the Bible?” (They were not.) “The Bible has been translated over and over so many times, it is no longer recognizable for what it originally said.” This is usually asserted by those who know virtually nothing about translation from the original languages to a modern-day language like English. “The Bible is anti-science.” Typically, this means it does not affirm evolution.

Just this week I had over a 10-hour back and forth discussion with an agnostic who made these and other claims. As I explained to him that the original writings were all completed and accepted before the end of the first century, he was shocked. When we talked about the reason for rejection of later writings, he admitted that no Christians he had spoken with mentioned that point. When he questioned the existence of Christ, he decided he needed to do some investigating after I laid out some of the evidence. You might pray for him. His name is Rich.

As we have opportunity, we meet with Wiccans. We find one of their biggest complaints is that Christians falsely accuse them of worshiping Satan in the sense that there is only the worship of the One True God and worship of anything else, creation for example, would be pleasing to the evil one. Wiccans assert there is no such malevolent being as Satan but that Christians made him up to keep people afraid and in church. As a result, Wiccans are blinded by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) and not of what they are worshiping.

Witches and pagans believe the creation is god and carry out earth-worshiping rituals. Engaging them about truth, biblical truth and God, is often no different from being a missionary in Africa and witnessing to a Shaman, witch doctor, or other spiritual practitioner. Once they realize there are legitimate challenges to their faith and practices as well as reasonable evidence for the claims of Christianity and salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, they sometimes become more open to the gospel.

What happens after someone comes to the faith presents another set of challenges. With New Age and occult practices like the Enneagram racing through the church, we often have former New Agers who have been gloriously saved contact us in horror, wondering why the churches they are checking out are engaged in the very practices they abandoned to accept the Lord? We often find ourselves discipling them in online groups, by email, and/or by phone while we try to help them find a sound Bible-teaching church in their area. When we reach a Jehovah’s Witness or sometimes even a family of Jehovah’s Witnesses, we must spend a great deal of time unwinding them from false understandings of the Bible and the church.

The tools God has given us to use in this mission field include other believers with a similar calling. It helps us to encourage and be encouraged as well as challenge one another to further study and to be kind as well as reminding one another that God loves not only sinners but also the church.

The outreach is expanded with the website, which is updated with new articles on various false beliefs and sometimes cultural issues from a biblical perspective each week. We do a live weekly webcast on our YouTube channel and have a weekly e-letter, The Crux, which goes out with updates and news stories. The most important tool in all of this is the prayer warriors God raises up.

It is God who guides and equips His workmen. It is God who orchestrates the opportunities to meet the lost in their environments and opens their hearing to engage in the presentation of the gospel. It is God who gives the increase. My wife, the team, and I are blessed to be used by Him. We are empowered by the prayers of those who are burdened with reaching those lost in cults and non-Christian religions in America, a mission field right outside our door–and right outside yours as well.

Blessings,

L.L. (Don) Veinot Jr, President
Midwest Outreach, Inc.
Midwest Christian Outreach
YouTube
Richard Rohr and The Enneagram Secret

Christian Online Outreach

Christian Online Outreach

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

by Guest Blogger Glen Bowman

Last year, I started a nonprofit organization called Christian Online Outreach. I had been working as a professor at a Christian college and in February I put in my “5-month notice” that I planned to move on. I did not have specific plans for what to do, but felt strongly that God wanted me to move on and that He would provide direction for what I should do next. In April, my family and I were in a major car accident, but I took the brunt of the force, being T-boned on the driver’s side. I laid in hot baths every night for weeks in an effort to recover from my back pain.

               Finally one night, I was praying desperately to God, knowing that only He could heal me and give me perfect direction for what to do next in life. It then hit me . . . that I should use the wisdom that God was giving me through my dissertation research to help churches, especially at this time of social distancing. My dissertation described the influence that college students experience from Christian faith sharing through social media. I wanted to know if it was effective and if so, what should Christians be doing or not doing online. This ministry seemed like a natural step to start providing this material (and other wisdom) to help churches become more effective and less offensive online!

               For those who would like to read more about the findings in my dissertation, a full copy can be downloaded through this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.11233.53602. I have tried to model some of the outreach practices that college students said positively influenced their thoughts and behaviors here: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianOnlineOutreach. Our company website and a blog giving insights from my dissertation and other ideas can be viewed through this link: http://www.christianonlineoutreach.com/. Below is a summary of our ministry at Christian Online Outreach and an emphasis for why this focus seems necessary in 2021. Feel free to reach out to me through the linked Facebook page or the contact page on our website!

We live in a world today where many people leave their homes less and engage the world through the Internet more. Due to this dramatic shift in culture, Christians should also shift their focus to greater Internet use and more active outreach online for God’s glory and purpose (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Christian Online Outreach’s mission is to help churches and nonprofits improve their online presence, setting up outreach methods accessible to people locally and globally. These low-cost and no-cost solutions can help reach people that they would never contact without using online technology.

In a recent survey, 60% of churched adults responded that they hope even post-COVID churches will keep finding digital means of bringing people together. Christian Online Outreach provides practical online solutions for this purpose without needing a local technology expert to put them into practice. Jesus has called Christians to make disciples, baptize them, and then continue to teach them (Matthew 28:18-20). While baptism requires in-person contact, we can make disciples and continue to teach them through a myriad of means online. Christian Online Outreach helps churches and nonprofits to elevate their outreach and effectiveness using proven methods. Below are the three major categories of means that we seek to serve in this ministry:

Online consulting

No matter where you are located, Christian Online Outreach can help you with your Internet needs.  We can assess your current online presence with a free consultation and offer tips and assistance for improving your online ministry.

In-person presentations

We can come to your congregation and speak to your members about methods for more effective online outreach. We can also speak to your ministry staff, elders, or any other group as needed for assisting with your outreach goals.

Customized assistance

Our ministry is not limited to a confined set of services. We desire to help churches and nonprofits in any way possible to fulfill God’s work for them through the Internet. Feel free to express your needs and vision so that we can assist you.

More about Glen Bowman:

Glen Bowman was born in Mission Hills, CA, in 1979 and grew up in Orange County. As an undergraduate, he attended UC Berkeley and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He became a Christian in 2002 and worked as a psychology researcher on campus at UC Berkeley and for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Afterwards, he attended Harding School of Theology and obtained a master’s degree in Christian Ministry. Overall, he served in ministry in the South for six years before moving back to California. For another six years, he preached at a church of Christ in Los Banos, CA, about two hours from San Francisco. After that, he worked at as an assistant professor of psychology at York College, a Christian college in York, Nebraska. Last year, he stepped down from that position to work as the Executive Director at Christian Online Outreach to equip churches for more effective ministry on the Internet.

Looking Back to Move Forward

Looking Back to Move Forward

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Guest blogger: Pastor Terry Nightingale

Imagine listening to a long speech in a hot, dry, dusty wilderness in a place where you may not feel entirely safe.  That sets the scene for the beginning of Deuteronomy, and it is where God wanted the children of Israel to look back and recall some painful memories and some home truths.

It was not their comfort zone.

The wonderful stories of God’s salvation, provision and faithfulness are about to be recounted, but they will be mixed with the hard realities of their parents’ sins, their leaders’ shortcomings, and their own failures. The grown-up children will need to face these if they are to enter into God’s promises. And they will face them in the place where they are most dependent on God for his provision and protection: the open wilderness – where an enemy might attack at any moment.

God sometimes chooses the wilderness to do his greatest work in us.

And sometimes the desert of dependence is the only place on the planet where we find the courage to truly face our disappointments and failures.

In Deut 1: 2 – 3, we read:

‘Normally, it takes only eleven days to travel from Mount Sinai to Kadesh-barnea, going by way of Mount Seir. But forty years after the Israelites left Egypt, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses addressed the people of Israel, telling them everything the Lord had commanded him to say’ (NLT).

The hardest truth that the Israelites must face is distilled and focused into these two verses. What should have taken days ended up costing many years. The failure by some to be faithful to God and obedient to his Word resulted in a long and difficult journey for all.

Interestingly, Moses’ speech comes shortly after an unusual period of success described in verse four. Moses and the Israelite soldiers had just won two battles and defeated two kings.

In my own life, I have found that the biggest temptation in life is the one to believe that any success I might experience is due directly to my own cleverness, wisdom or righteousness. In those times, I need a reminder of the grace of God. I need to walk back out of the comfort zone and return to the place of dependence – the very place where Moses led the Israelites to hear his confronting message.

God is in charge and he calls the shots. Our modern world often tells us to forget the past and simply move on. The past is the past it declares; you can’t change it, so it’s onwards and upwards. But God has a habit of calling his people to stop and remember. He wants us to remember his Word and his faithfulness, but he may also want us to revisit a dark place with new eyes before moving on.

It may be the place of our own failure, or we may feel we are victims on the raw end of the failures of others. It may be that life has not granted us the success we dreamed of. As the Israelites stood ready to hear Moses’ first sermon, they were about to hear of their parents’ sins, their leaders’ disastrous choices and their own lack of faith. But there is hope – a lot of it. Sometimes looking back, with the Holy Spirit’s help, can provide the very key we need to move forward with God.”

This is an excerpt from the Introduction of Looking Back to Move Forward: embracing setbacks for greater fruitfulness, my first book with Kharis Publishing.

The book can be found at: https://www.amazon.com.au/Looking-Back-Move-Forward-Fruitfulness/dp/194627772X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=looking+back+to+move+forward&qid=1608534939&sr=8-1

Or: https://www.kharispublishing.com/

About guest blogger Terry Nightingale:

Terry is a pastor serving in the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, having previously worked in education both in the UK and Perth. Terry has been involved in Christian ministry in a variety of ways over the years from teaching to evangelism, from music ministry to pastoral care.

Terry and Sue moved to Australia in 2003 from the UK. Today they have two grown-up children both married, and two grandchildren. They enjoy walking and watching Science Fiction movies.

Find Christian Jobs

Find Christian Jobs

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I just updated the Christian job opportunity page on Find Christian Links. Lots of helpful links if you . . .

  • Are a ministry or a church looking for a new pastor or staff member
  • Are searching for a Christian career
  • Are searching for a job in a church or other Christian organization
  • Are a pastor looking for a new church

I hope you will take a few minutes to visit the page and explore the countless possibilities! 

Multiethnic Group People Holding Letter Opportunity

A Parent’s Guide to Safe Video Game Fun

A Parent’s Guide to Safe Video Game Fun

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

by Guest Blogger Alyssa Strickland

Video games can be a great form of entertainment for kids and parents of all ages. Not only is gaming an excellent way to pass the time on those rainy days, but it’s also a valuable bonding experience to share with your little ones. Of course, many parents worry about the health and safety of their children while playing video games. Although there are some risks involved when it comes to in-game content and interacting with strangers online, you can take several steps to ensure your family gaming experience is both safe and fun!

Choosing Equipment and Devices

First off, make sure you do your research before buying video game equipment. Choosing a console can be quite a challenge, especially if you’re trying to please several members of your household with differing opinions. The best console for your family will also depend on the age of your kids. For example, Common Sense Media suggests a Nintendo Switch for families with young children. Keep in mind that you can also use a basic computer to play video games as long as your specs are up to par.

If you’re buying a new computer for gaming, remember to budget for a new monitor as well! With a little research, you should be able to find a great monitor in nearly any price range. For example, CNET recommends several affordable monitors that include gaming-friendly features like a widescreen IPS display, zero-frame design, and high refresh rate.

Is Your Internet Up to Speed?

You may also want to consider upgrading your home internet plan. Online gaming can use a lot of data, so you’ll want to evaluate your internet speed and connection strength to ensure your family enjoys a smooth and frustration-free gaming experience. There are also some easy tricks you can try to improve your Wi-Fi connection and get a better signal for gaming. For example, placing your router somewhere off the floor in your gaming room could improve the signal strength.

Family-Friendly Video Games

When it comes to picking video games, you have even more research to do. Pay attention to the age rating on the games you’re considering to ensure the content is okay for your kids. On top of this, do some research to determine if the games are appropriate for your children’s ability levels. You may also want to consider whether or not the game is primarily meant for online play, since you may or may not want your kids interacting with people on the internet.

Parental Control and Internet Safety

No matter how old your kids are, it’s important that they understand basic internet safety before playing games online. Make sure you and your kids are aware of the most common online gaming dangers, including cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and personal information vulnerabilities. In addition to good internet safety education, make use of the parental controls on your gaming console. Parental controls allow you to manage what games your children play, whether or not they can play online, and even how much time they spend staring at the screen!

Screen time limits are important for the health of your children. Too much screen time can interfere with your children’s sleep and prevent them from getting the daily exercise they need to stay happy and healthy. Fortunately, it’s easy to get your kids away from their screens. Whether it’s exercising together, signing them up for sports, or finding family-friendly entertainment and games, there are many options available.

Don’t let your concerns about video game safety stop you and your kids from enjoying all of the fun that gaming has to offer. With a little research and precautionary planning, you can ensure your family’s gaming experience is safe for kids of all ages. You might just discover a fun new hobby yourself!

Guest Blogger Alyssa Strickland created millennial-parents.com for all the new parents on the block. Alyssa believes the old adage that it takes a village to raise a child, but she also thinks it takes a village to raise a parent! Millennial-Parents is that village. Today’s parents can be more connected than ever and she hopes her site will enrich those connections. On Millennial-Parents, she shares tips and advice she learns through experience and from other young parents in three key areas — Education, Relationships, and Community.

Global Upheaval

Global Upheaval

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I received Hal Lindsey’s newsletter each week. If you are not already getting it, I encourage you to do so. Here is last week’s message. Please visit his website and sign up! He is a man of God and scholar of end times prophecy.

By Hal Lindsey

The world changes. Sometimes it changes quickly. The two world wars of the 20th century created massive upheavals, as did the Black Death pestilence of the 14th century. Some upheavals are caused by new technologies, such as the printing press, the internal combustion engine, the telephone, or gunpowder. Sometimes political revolutions cause fast and massive change, and sometimes big changes come from simple ideas, including bad ones.

Today, several of those things are happening at once. With Covid-19 as a trigger, we see revolutions all around us. Technical revolutions that should have been for our good have been subverted. Ideas that history has repeatedly proven wrong and dangerous, are rising with a new sense of inevitability.

One of the unique things about this year is that these massive societal upheavals are global. Most of history’s revolutions have been localized, but the changes going on now are going on everywhere. And they are all moving in a specific direction – the direction laid out in the Bible thousands of years ago.

For decades now, government and corporate surveillance of citizens has been growing, but mostly hidden. The pandemic has made the invasion of privacy suddenly seem laudable. To keep the virus in check, the world is rapidly building the infrastructure of the Antichrist. That means building a surveillance infrastructure that will allow governments to watch every move their citizens make, and be able to use Artificial Intelligence to interpret those moves.

Covid’s economic destruction is wreaking havoc on capitalism everywhere, making citizens of all nations increasingly dependent on government. That’s what antichrist will need – a population full of people depending on government rather than their own hard work and creativity.

To bring new benefits and more relief to the public, governments are printing money hand over fist. This can only go on so long before it brings its own disaster. The mark of the beast as described in Revelation 13:16-18 means that, in the future, world leaders will give control of the entire global economy to the Antichrist and his cohort, the False Prophet. They will do that either because of a global economic collapse or their fear of one. (But it won’t work for long because the Bible describes at least two more economic disasters after Antichrist comes to power.)

Bible prophecies also say that near the time of Christ’s return, there will be increased levels of anti-Semitism and of the persecution of Christians. Back in the 1960s and 70s, ideas like free speech and inclusiveness were primary tenets of campus liberalism. Not anymore. Today we have something popularly known as “cancel culture.”

And if you want to be canceled fast, just quote one of the Bible’s less popular passages – Old Testament or New. Another way to do it is to identify with Israel, or tell the real story of Israel’s formation. People are losing their jobs because of Sunday School lessons taught 20 years ago.

How should we respond to these things? Like Christians. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” But you will not respond in love if you are hysterical with fear. So, follow an instruction given in the Bible hundreds of times – “Fear not.” In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

Live in His peace. Love your neighbor. Pray with expectation. He’s coming soon!

God Bless,
Hal Lindsey

Hal Lindsey

mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147
email: comments@hallindsey.comweb: http://www.hallindsey.com

Walking in Reverse

Walking in Reverse

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

by guest blogger Pastor Terry Nightingale

I was talking with a friend the other day.

He had been offered a role in an organisation where his unique abilities and connections would be vital for the next phase of their vision.

He was flattered with the offer but extremely reluctant to accept it. The trouble was, he had worked for the company several years previously and, although under different management back then, he had not found them willing to embrace his ideas. In fact, the feelings of rejection were still quite raw.

The organisation had moved on since that time with the new leadership team taking it in an exciting new direction, but my friend could only see the pain he felt eight years ago.

While we were talking, I found my self thinking of Moses.

Moses had left Egypt out of favour and under a cloud. After a misguided attempt to win justice for a fellow Israelite, he not only felt the rejection of his own people but the sentence of death from his adoptive father – the Pharaoh. Moses had no choice but to close that chapter of his life and move on.

Years later, and now with a wife and family, God called him back, ‘I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt… the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’ (Ex 3: 7 – 10)

I wonder what went through Moses’s mind.

The first question he asks God is, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ In other words, ‘Lord, I burned that bridge decades ago, they didn’t want my help then; I’m sure as heck they don’t need it now.’ God had to reassure Moses that things were different now: there’s a different Pharaoh on the throne and the elders of Israel will listen to him.

A lengthy conversation ensued between the Lord and Moses and the reluctant prophet finally agreed to do the job.

The end of the story is worth noting: Moses led his people out of slavery, away from the threat of the Egyptian army, to the mountain of God where the community was effectively re-born as people of the living God.

History as we know it flowed from that moment.

Moses submitted to the pain of revisiting the past and a nation was established amidst miracles and wonders. For God’s purposes to move forward, one man had to step back into a place he thought he had walked away from. For Moses, returning to Egypt would have felt like going backwards, opening old wounds, but in God’s master plan it was the key to a significant advance of His purposes.

I wonder if God is calling you to return to something or someone. Life may have moved on, but God is a God of history as well as the future and the two are more than linked. In order for God to bear his fruit in and through you in the future, maybe he is calling you to walk through an old familiar door – even if just for a season.

God bless – Terry

If you found this encouraging you can find more short devotions like this one at https://pastorterry4.wixsite.com/website

About guest blogger Terry Nightingale:

Terry-Nightingale
Pastor Terry Nightingale

Terry is a pastor serving in the southern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, having previously worked in education both in the UK and Perth. Terry has been involved in Christian ministry in a variety of ways over the years from teaching to evangelism, from music ministry to pastoral care.

Terry and Sue moved to Australia in 2003 from the UK. Today they have two grown-up children both married, and two grandchildren. They enjoy walking and watching Science Fiction movies.

Bible Bingo: A Great Game for the Whole Family

Bible Bingo: A Great Game for the Whole Family

by Karen Burkett ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

by Guest Blogger Alvin Gan

Most of us have, at one time or other, played a game of Bingo. This classic game with numbered cards and balls is a simple yet entertaining game that’s great for bringing people together.

Bible Games Central has designed a game that combines the fun and interaction of Bingo with learning about the books and sections of the Bible – Bible Bingo.

While usual Bingo cards contain numbers, the specially designed Bible Bingo cards feature the books of the Bible. Each card is organized into sections of the Bible, such as Old Testament Law, Old Testament History, New Testament Letters from Paul, amongst others. Each section has a unique border color that corresponds to the Bible Bingo Calling Cards. With repeated play using different Bible Bingo cards, players become familiar with the books and sections of the Bible.

Preparation

Download, print and cut up the Bible Bingo Cards. (Each sheet contains 2 unique cards.)

This printable contains 12 unique Bible Bingo Cards. You do not need to print all the cards. Just print as many as you need. (If you have more than 12 players, you will need to print multiple copies.)

alvin_7-18-20_5_Bible Bingo Cards

Download, print and cut up the Bible Bingo Calling Cards. There are 66 unique calling cards, corresponding to the 66 Books of the Bible. Place all 66 Bible Bingo Calling Cards in a stack. Give the Calling Cards a good shuffle to mix them up.

alvin_7-18-20_3_Bible Bingo Calling Cards

You may also like to download and print the following optional resources for your reference during the game or for your discussion thereafter.

Books of the Bible Chart

alvin_7-18-10_2_Books of the Bible Chart

Sections of the Bible Overview

alvin_7-18-20_Sections of the Bible Overview

 How to Play Bible Bingo

Give each player 1 Bible Bingo Card. (You can also give each player 2 or more cards.)

Have everyone cross out the “Free Space” square in the middle of their Bible Bingo Cards.

The game leader picks 1 Bible Bingo Calling Card at a time from the stack and calls out the book of the Bible and the section which it falls under.

Players with that book on their Bible Bingo Card can cross out that square.

The first player to cross out 5 squares in a row (in any direction) and shouts “Bible Bingo!” wins.

For those who enjoy Bingo may also be interested in Thanksgiving Bingo and Christmas Bingo.

Alvin Gan

Alvin Gan is the father of three noisy (but lovely) teenagers and founder of 2 websites that provide creative evangelism and discipleship resources.

www.LetTheLittleChildrenCome.com  specializes in unique child evangelism tools and resources to help convey the plan of salvation for kids effectively.

www.BibleGamesCentral.com develops Bible games for youths, kids and even adults to teach spiritual truths.