Ceejay Horrell

www.CeejayHorrell.com

The little things can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Today’s mobile phone offers users many more capabilities than voice mail or text messaging, and manufacturers continue to add an array of features.

Roaming, for example, allows you to use your phone in multiple countries. You can send and receive data and faxes, access to the internet, and GPS is integrated into many devices. Applications like a clock alarm, calendar, calculators and games are standard on most devices and video and music are a must for some.

But have you ever considered that your mobile device could actually have a huge impact on the life of an unbeliever? I was listening to the “Focus on the Family” Broadcast: ‘Making an Impact in Your World’ (26.08.2011 www.FocusOnTheFamily.com) about ordinary people in every day situations who are having an extraordinary affect on the world around them, by simply living out their faith.

I was moved by the story of Jim Omi, a high school custodian, who helped shape a school's spiritual atmosphere. Working the midnight shift from 10pm – 6am, Jim longed to be used in fulltime ministry, but soon realized that God was speaking to him in a different way. While praying about his work and fitting into God’s kingdom, he heard God confirm that this custodian position was for him.

Working long hours in an empty school building was pretty scary at times, to say the least, and Jim was determined to change it. Using his mobile device, in this case an IPod, he decided to plug it into the schools PA system and crank it up with his favourite praise and worship songs. He was soon convinced that he was brining God in, and anointing the entire building in a very unique way. 

Jim didn’t stop there. While walking through the school performing his duties, he would pray as he walked through the hallways, brushing the lockers with his hand as he walked by, and praying over each one. Soon those who knew what he was doing began to see a difference. One prayer group in the school turned into ten. One pastor on hearing about his ministry thanked him and said, “You’re pastoring and you don’t even know it, because you’re praying over people’s lives, for God has given you a special passport into these schools.”

God uses people in every day situations, because many of them have access to unique places. The little things can make a huge difference and the devices we’ve become so dependent on are powerful tools. Who would have thought an IPod in the hands of custodian could set the stage for such an impact?

We can all be stirred by the Spirit of God to move where we see the opportunity. You don’t need a degree or some special piece of equipment; all you need is a heart that’s ready to serve, right where we are.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Colossians 3:23 NKJV

By the way, many mobile devices have a built-in camera, allowing you to take pictures and record video, but did you know, most also have sound-recording capability. Why not record a testimony of how God is using you where you are, and have it played at your church for the Personal Ministry feature. I’m sure many will be blessed and encouraged.

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:12 NIV

Several years ago a new report came in about a man and his wife found frozen to death in their car after a blizzard dumped tons of snow, burying their vehicle. A note was found in the glove compartment scribbled by the woman before she died. The note read: “I don’t want to die this way.” Tragically, less than six feet from their icy grave was a stranded bus, whose festive passengers remained warm throughout the night.

The word ‘gospel’ means good news, but the gospel is only good news to those who receive it. Our heavenly Father not only forgives us of our sins but transfers all the good, holy and righteous deeds that Christ ever did to us. This is incredible good news!

If you refuse this gift you will not have eternal life no matter how many good works you have performed. If you accept and trust in Jesus as your salvation then the eternal life God offers to you in Christ is guaranteed! Though you may be a sinner, in God’s eyes you are now considered perfect, blameless and without fault. This gives us peace with God and allows us to stop worrying about our salvation.

I think we could agree that God paid too high a price for us to ignore His incredible sacrifice for us. Why not receive this gift today?

www.ceejayhorrell.com

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 NIV

Ever wondered how a worm gets inside an apple? Interestingly enough it does not burrow from the outside, but rather an insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worn, begins in the heart and works out through a person's thoughts, words, and actions.

We are not sinful because we sin, we sin because we are sinners by nature, it’s what we produce and it comes out of a natural tendency that we are all born with. The good news is that God can and has taken care of this for us, and the only reason God’s word tells us that we are sinners is to show us our need of a Saviour.

Your heavenly Father has done everything a God of love can do to save us from our sins and His solution for our sin problem was Jesus’ death on the cross.

Matthew 23:37 says, - how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings… NIV

You know you can rent anything today, cars, houses, tools, plants, videos, babysitters and according to a report by Teresa Wantanbe in the Seattle Times on Wednesday May 13th 2009 you can ‘Rent-A-Family’

A couple and their 2-year-old son greet the wife's 70-year-old mother at the train station and escort her back to their home for an afternoon of Japanese noodles and warm conversation. Grandson kisses grandma and daughter holds her hand as they talk about all living together someday. Grandma's emotions may be real. But her "family" isn't.

They are professional stand-ins, hired by the grandmother at a cost of $1,125 so she could experience the warmth of even a simulated three-hour family visit. The woman's real daughter, a 37-year-old working mother of two, is too busy to see her mother regularly.

Something is wrong with the human family, you might be suffering in isolation but you’re not alone. God can bring surprise endings into our lives. We may be runaways, with our back turned away from God, but He loves us despite our mistakes, we are His family, His children, and He’s in search of each one of us.