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Now That’s Hardcore…

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

A dear friend sent me a couple of books for my birthday from the Voice of Martyrs. She knows my heart for the people of India, so I was elated when I opened them up. I want to share an excerpt from “Restricted Nations–INDIA” by the Voice of the Martyrs with Riley K. Smith.

This is a pledge that graduates from Emmanuel Theological Seminary and Bible College in Kota, Rajasthan make publicly.
“I stand with the apostle Paul in stating that, ‘for me to live is Christ and to die is gain’.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my hands to serve all mankind.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my feet to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth no matter what the cost.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my lips by proclaiming the Good News to all who hear and by edifying the Body of Christ.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my mind as I meditate upon His Word and His promises to me.

I give my earthly treasures and all that I possess to follow the way of the cross.

I commit to love my family, orphans, widows, lepers, the wealthy and the poor the way that Christ loved the church.

I surrender my will and life to His will and life.

I commit to the service of the Lord by being a good steward of my time.

I surrender this body on earth to the perfect will of Jesus, and should my blood be spilled may it bring forth a mighty harvest of souls.

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb. I will seek to honor His command. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.

Lord Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

I love my India and my fellow citizens, and I claim India for Christ.”

After that ceremony, one of the graduates returned to his village. They tied old shoes around his neck and led him down the streets then forced him to drink cow urine and they beat him. Yet, what they had hoped for…the gospel to be shut down…wasn’t what happened. Hundreds who watched the spectacle came to Christ.

Truth is, you and I need to repent. What we consider persecution is rather pathetic, when’s the last time we’ve been beaten and forced to drink cow urine?!

I pray that this will come back to you and to me, when we feel the day can’t get much crummier. I pray that you and I will be bold enough to say this pledge and claim America for Christ. These Indians knew it wasn’t just lip service that day when they stood publicly and stated these strong words. Can we?…and truly mean it…

Moments with Myles

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I know many of you wonder if my six year old son really says some of these things I generally post on fb. The answer is yes. If you’re a close friend, you can testify–as you’ve heard it yourself and sometimes if my phone is nearby and it’s a full blown conversation, I record it as proof. Here’s a run down of our afternoon.

It was 50’s day today, as they celebrated their 50th day of school. Here’s the dialogue:
“So, Myles, was anyone else dressed for 50’s day besides you?”

“No, well…yes, just one other boy.”

“What’s his name?”

“I don’t know.”

“You’ve been at school for 50 days! How can you not know his name?”

He looks at me with a somber face and then he does that smirk many of you have seen, “Well, it’s like this, mom…I just don’t care.”

I try not to laugh, “What do you mean you don’t care? How can you not care?”

He shrugs indifferently, “If he falls, I can say…’hey, you okay, pal.’ Pal works just as good as his name and I showed I cared.”

How do you argue with that!?

During homework this evening:
“Mom, I didn’t have time to wait on you to finish jogging, so I cheated on my spelling–but I’m done.”

The spelling words are on the side of the sheet and I’m supposed to cover them up and read them to him. “Myles, cheating is wrong.”

“Yeah, but it’s also fast.”

We did redo the paper and he protested the entire time. We can learn a good lesson. Cheating is fast, but integrity is more important! Myles doesn’t think so…but one day…maybe it’ll take!!

Sorry, but You’re Just Too Fat for My See-Saw!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Naturally, you read the title and you expect this to have something to do with weight…it does, but certainly not the fleshly pound…well then again it’s all about your definition of ‘flesh’. Am I talking about skin? Nope.

I find myself on the see-saw of life, not being able to find a good balance sometimes. Anyone else feel like that?

I’m not a believer in horoscopes or astrology. I don’t study the stars to predict my future. I know who holds my destiny. (It’s God if you’re saying, “Wow, who?”)  I like the stars, don’t get me wrong. They’re pretty and twinkly and all that sparkly stuff. I say all that to say this…My horoscope sign is a Libra. I don’t even know what a Libra is and if I was a good blogger, I would have researched it maybe, but quite frankly…I just don’t care. However, the picture that goes with the Libra is the scale. Even scales.

I find that proof that horoscopes are a bunch of bunk. I have a hard time balancing things. I struggle with it everyday. I know how the pyramid works. God, husband, kids, ministry and whatever else, but sometimes I find the whatever else sliding into number 2 (not poo). I learned long ago to beat my family up! Meaning I’m up a few hours before them, so I have time to spend with God and He has discussed my balancing issues with me…sometimes I listen…sometimes not so much.

One day I was  engrossed in something I was writing when I glanced up my son was standing in front of me with an exasperated expression, his empty cup held out. His words (a small moment with Myles) “Mom, I could have milked the cow already!”

My response should have been, “I’m sorry, baby. I’m on it.” Then I should have gotten up and got him a glass of milk, instead I found my first thought to be, “Well, why didn’t you?” (We don’t have cows btw…so it would have been impossible.)

What it boils down to is, God expects us to balance our time. He gives us great things to do. Not everything that keeps us unbalanced has to be a sin. Sometimes it is ‘flesh’ that weights down the see- saw bringing us to a teeter. Sometimes it’s good things–just out of order, which happens to be where I struggle.

What’s weighting down your life’s see-saw– throwing it out of balance? Maybe you need to tell those things, like me, “Sorry, but you’re just too fat for my see saw.” Shave what doesn’t need to be there off, and put those things that are good and do need to be there on a healthier eating plan, so you find the balance. Easier said than done. I’m well aware. Thus the blog. 🙂

What are you doing here?

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I’m a fan of the show Smallville. I love Superman–love heroes in general, but I’ve found on every episode, especially in the earlier seasons, one of them or several of them would end up saying in an overdramatized voice, “What are you doing here?”

They would look at each other with wide eyes and then pause for effect… you see it was important for both of them to be in that one place at the same time–the right time. They didn’t understand what was going on or why the other one was there, but it always ended up that they needed each other to make it through a critical time or maybe just a shoulder to lean on. (Col. 3:16 “Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another…”)

I believe in Providence and I believe God puts us in places, even in places of crisis, for a reason and He always sends someone in His body to encourage us (Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,”) Sometimes we’re in the crisis, sometimes we’re sent into it to sharpen. So…what are you doing here?

I hope you enjoy the randomness and sometimes seriousness of the blogs and I welcome and encourage comments, but if you’d do me a favor start it with telling me…What are you doing here?!