A Prayer to Invite Your Non-Believing Friend to ChurchBy Victoria Riollano Bible Reading"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"  – Romans 10:14-15 Listen or Read Below: As a pastor's wife, I am always thrilled when a new family walks into our church. Their look of curiosity and sincere hope that our church could be safe place for their family has always been one of the highlights of my week. I cannot wait to meet the first-time guests and ask them the million dollar question, "How did you hear about our church?" Almost every time, I receive a similar reply, I was looking for a church online. Typically, their story continues as they share about a previous church disappointment, being new to the area, or feeling like they wanted a fresh start in a new ministry. And, on a beautifully rare occasion, a newcomer will share that their neighbor or co-worker had been inviting them for some time.  The truth is many who enter church are Christians simply moving from one flock to another trying to find the church that feels like a better fit for them. Although we welcome everyone, I always wonder when the day will come that church members would bring in non-believing friends so that they may be in a room full of people who want to see them know the Lord! Admittedly, even as a pastor's wife, I recognize that asking someone to come to church, especially a non-believer can be a bit nerve-wracking. Yet, I always remember that if we don't invite them, we cannot expect them to come. I am reminded of the verses above from Romans.  The words, "how beautiful are the feet", have always struck me as an odd phrase and source of encouragement. Truthfully, when we think of feet, especially during biblical times it is hard to consider how the feet of anyone could be seen as beautiful. In fact, some believe that the Apostle Paul traveled over 10,000 miles by foot. Its fair to say his feet were bruised, in pain, and not a pretty sight. Yet, spreading the gospel to non-believers was his life's mission and he was willing to get a little dirty and be uncomfortable to do so. Truly his journey and his feet were blessed and beautiful as he told others about the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Today, I want to empower you to walk out the walk of sharing God with anyone who will listen. And as Romans 10 reminds us, you are in fact sent by the Lord to share the gospel! We live in a time that we can share the message of God's love and our testimony with the click of a button. My encouragement to you, however, is to take another step of faith and invite the person you share with to church. If they aren't local, share churches you know of that can help them to be discipled and grow in their relationship with God! Surely, the local church is a place of emotional support, spiritual growth, and friendship. I believe every new believer can benefit from not having to discover their faith all alone but to do so in community. May we be bold enough to invite people to church without pause! Let's pray: Lord, I thank you for the privilege of sharing the Good News. At times, I have allowed the fear of rejection and not knowing the words to say to halt me from inviting others to church. Lord, I ask that you give me opportunities to share with others the Gospel and creative ways to invite them to church. May you bless me as I walk out the great commission with wisdom and peace. Lord, I pray for a great harvest of believers to arise from my choice to invite others to church. In Jesus' name, amen! Photo credit: ©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages Victoria Riollano is a mother of eight, veteran spouse, Psychology professor, and doctoral student, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God's ultimate purpose for her life. Victoria holds an MA in Child Psychology and is the author of two books- The Victory Walk: A 21-Day Devotional on Living a Victorious Life and  Warrior Mother: Equipping Your Heart to Fight for Your Family's Faith. When she is not writing, you can find her serving in her local church as the pastor's wife, worship leader, and youth pastor. Ultimately, she desires to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. You can connect with Victoria at www.victoryspeaks.org and on social media at Victory Speaks by Victoria Riollano on Facebook and @myvictoryspeaks on Instagram. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! The post A Prayer to Invite Your Non-Believing Friend to Church – Your Daily Prayer – September 27 appeared first on GodUpdates.

September 27, 2024 When Church Is the Hardest Place To GoTAYLOR JOY MURRAY Lee en español "Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman?'" Luke 7:44a (NIV) The day I left church midway through Communion, I'd sat in a sanctuary full of people but never felt more alone. For a moment, I lingered on the edge of a pew, the ache inside of me so lacerating it hurt to breathe. I can't do this. As everyone else partook of the bread and cup, I got up and left the room. When we have experienced spiritual wounding, it can feel deeply disorienting. On that cold morning, my mind didn't have words yet for my own story of church hurt, but my body reacted. This moment happened almost without my conscious awareness: My feet walked me to the closest exit. Today, maybe you find yourself in a similar story. Perhaps you're walking toward the exit of a church - or of your faith. Maybe you're in a period of disentangling inherited views of God from actual God. Or perhaps you've come to see God through wounds inflicted by a faith community's rejection or a leader's abuse. When the hands that harm us belong to people who claim faith in Jesus, it can feel as if God is not good. For me, one of the hardest questions to answer has not been "does God exist?" but "is God kind?" As I've grappled with this question, one scene in the life of Jesus has gripped me. It's just so beautiful. Jesus was having a meal with a Pharisee named Simon, and "a woman of the city, who was a sinner" entered Simon's house with a bottle of perfume (Luke 7:37, ESV). Kneeling, she anointed and washed Jesus' feet with her hair. I'm captivated by this Jesus sitting at the table. Who was He that a woman who was cast out by religious leaders like the Pharisees was willing to go into Simon's house to be in Jesus' presence and experience His grace? I can only imagine the invitational pull of Jesus. The warmth. The compassion. The dignity. He is compelling and kind. He is a safe person to be with even in our fear and shame. When the woman's actions were met with Pharisaical contempt (Luke 7:39), Jesus turned toward her. He asked Simon, "Do you see this woman?" (Luke 7:44a). In five words, Jesus turned away from empty religiosity and toward the vulnerable. He positioned himself away from a Pharisee's power to be with a woman who felt small. Here, this woman saw her hurt and hope held in the tender hands of Christ. You are never alone in the wilderness of your wounding. Jesus is the Wounded One who gave His life for you on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). He sees you. When prayer feels impossible, even His wordless presence can whisper the truth that He is still with you. Dear God, I am hurt and scared. Help me remember that I don't need to protect myself from You. You lead with love. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS As Christians, how can we balance living purposefully while we're here on this side of heaven with the reality that this world is not our forever home? Listen to Dr. Joel Muddamalle's recent teaching on this topic called "What Is My Assignment From God While I Am Here on Earth?" Watch on YouTube. Taylor Joy Murray's book, Stop Saying I’m Fine: Finding Stillness When Anxiety Screams, blends therapeutic insight with spiritual truth to help you dig beneath the surface of your anxiety. If you want to better understand where your anxiety comes from and why, and if you long to learn a more compassionate approach to engaging with your anxiety, this book is for you. ENGAGE Connect with Taylor on Instagram. To learn more about Taylor, her books, her Faith & Feelings podcast, and other resources, check out her website. In a recent episode of Faith & Feelings, Taylor hosted a conversation with a woman named Jennifer about her journey of healing from spiritual wounding. Listen to their conversation - "Am I Safe if I Trust God?" - on Apple Podcast and Spotify. FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 91:4, "He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection" (NLT). Church is supposed to be the safest place to be. Sometimes it is not. Yet how might the God of Psalm 91 and Luke 7 bring healing to our spiritual wounds? Have you ever felt like you need to protect yourself from God? What thoughts or emotions surface when you reflect on Jesus' gentle and protective posture toward the woman in Luke 7? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Taylor Joy Murray. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post When Church Is the Hardest Place To Go –  Encouragement for Today – September 27, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

A Prayer to Invite Your Non-Believing Friend to ChurchBy Victoria Riollano Bible Reading"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!"  – Romans 10:14-15 Listen or Read Below: As a pastor's wife, I am always thrilled when a new family walks into our church. Their look of curiosity and sincere hope that our church could be safe place for their family has always been one of the highlights of my week. I cannot wait to meet the first-time guests and ask them the million dollar question, "How did you hear about our church?" Almost every time, I receive a similar reply, I was looking for a church online. Typically, their story continues as they share about a previous church disappointment, being new to the area, or feeling like they wanted a fresh start in a new ministry. And, on a beautifully rare occasion, a newcomer will share that their neighbor or co-worker had been inviting them for some time.  The truth is many who enter church are Christians simply moving from one flock to another trying to find the church that feels like a better fit for them. Although we welcome everyone, I always wonder when the day will come that church members would bring in non-believing friends so that they may be in a room full of people who want to see them know the Lord! Admittedly, even as a pastor's wife, I recognize that asking someone to come to church, especially a non-believer can be a bit nerve-wracking. Yet, I always remember that if we don't invite them, we cannot expect them to come. I am reminded of the verses above from Romans.  The words, "how beautiful are the feet", have always struck me as an odd phrase and source of encouragement. Truthfully, when we think of feet, especially during biblical times it is hard to consider how the feet of anyone could be seen as beautiful. In fact, some believe that the Apostle Paul traveled over 10,000 miles by foot. Its fair to say his feet were bruised, in pain, and not a pretty sight. Yet, spreading the gospel to non-believers was his life's mission and he was willing to get a little dirty and be uncomfortable to do so. Truly his journey and his feet were blessed and beautiful as he told others about the hope that is found in Jesus Christ. Today, I want to empower you to walk out the walk of sharing God with anyone who will listen. And as Romans 10 reminds us, you are in fact sent by the Lord to share the gospel! We live in a time that we can share the message of God's love and our testimony with the click of a button. My encouragement to you, however, is to take another step of faith and invite the person you share with to church. If they aren't local, share churches you know of that can help them to be discipled and grow in their relationship with God! Surely, the local church is a place of emotional support, spiritual growth, and friendship. I believe every new believer can benefit from not having to discover their faith all alone but to do so in community. May we be bold enough to invite people to church without pause! Let's pray: Lord, I thank you for the privilege of sharing the Good News. At times, I have allowed the fear of rejection and not knowing the words to say to halt me from inviting others to church. Lord, I ask that you give me opportunities to share with others the Gospel and creative ways to invite them to church. May you bless me as I walk out the great commission with wisdom and peace. Lord, I pray for a great harvest of believers to arise from my choice to invite others to church. In Jesus' name, amen! Photo credit: ©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages Victoria Riollano is a mother of eight, veteran spouse, Psychology professor, and doctoral student, Victoria has learned the art of balancing family and accomplishing God's ultimate purpose for her life. Victoria holds an MA in Child Psychology and is the author of two books- The Victory Walk: A 21-Day Devotional on Living a Victorious Life and  Warrior Mother: Equipping Your Heart to Fight for Your Family's Faith. When she is not writing, you can find her serving in her local church as the pastor's wife, worship leader, and youth pastor. Ultimately, she desires to empower women to live a life of victory, hope, and love. You can connect with Victoria at www.victoryspeaks.org and on social media at Victory Speaks by Victoria Riollano on Facebook and @myvictoryspeaks on Instagram. Related Resource: Remember God’s Enduring Love for You in this Guided Meditation on Psalm 100! This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. Become aware of God's presence with you, and praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future. Listen to every episode of the So Much More Podcast on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode! Now that you’ve prayed, are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! The post A Prayer to Invite Your Non-Believing Friend to Church – Your Daily Prayer – September 27 appeared first on GodUpdates.

September 27, 2024 When Church Is the Hardest Place To GoTAYLOR JOY MURRAY Lee en español "Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman?'" Luke 7:44a (NIV) The day I left church midway through Communion, I'd sat in a sanctuary full of people but never felt more alone. For a moment, I lingered on the edge of a pew, the ache inside of me so lacerating it hurt to breathe. I can't do this. As everyone else partook of the bread and cup, I got up and left the room. When we have experienced spiritual wounding, it can feel deeply disorienting. On that cold morning, my mind didn't have words yet for my own story of church hurt, but my body reacted. This moment happened almost without my conscious awareness: My feet walked me to the closest exit. Today, maybe you find yourself in a similar story. Perhaps you're walking toward the exit of a church - or of your faith. Maybe you're in a period of disentangling inherited views of God from actual God. Or perhaps you've come to see God through wounds inflicted by a faith community's rejection or a leader's abuse. When the hands that harm us belong to people who claim faith in Jesus, it can feel as if God is not good. For me, one of the hardest questions to answer has not been "does God exist?" but "is God kind?" As I've grappled with this question, one scene in the life of Jesus has gripped me. It's just so beautiful. Jesus was having a meal with a Pharisee named Simon, and "a woman of the city, who was a sinner" entered Simon's house with a bottle of perfume (Luke 7:37, ESV). Kneeling, she anointed and washed Jesus' feet with her hair. I'm captivated by this Jesus sitting at the table. Who was He that a woman who was cast out by religious leaders like the Pharisees was willing to go into Simon's house to be in Jesus' presence and experience His grace? I can only imagine the invitational pull of Jesus. The warmth. The compassion. The dignity. He is compelling and kind. He is a safe person to be with even in our fear and shame. When the woman's actions were met with Pharisaical contempt (Luke 7:39), Jesus turned toward her. He asked Simon, "Do you see this woman?" (Luke 7:44a). In five words, Jesus turned away from empty religiosity and toward the vulnerable. He positioned himself away from a Pharisee's power to be with a woman who felt small. Here, this woman saw her hurt and hope held in the tender hands of Christ. You are never alone in the wilderness of your wounding. Jesus is the Wounded One who gave His life for you on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). He sees you. When prayer feels impossible, even His wordless presence can whisper the truth that He is still with you. Dear God, I am hurt and scared. Help me remember that I don't need to protect myself from You. You lead with love. In Jesus' Name, Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS As Christians, how can we balance living purposefully while we're here on this side of heaven with the reality that this world is not our forever home? Listen to Dr. Joel Muddamalle's recent teaching on this topic called "What Is My Assignment From God While I Am Here on Earth?" Watch on YouTube. Taylor Joy Murray's book, Stop Saying I’m Fine: Finding Stillness When Anxiety Screams, blends therapeutic insight with spiritual truth to help you dig beneath the surface of your anxiety. If you want to better understand where your anxiety comes from and why, and if you long to learn a more compassionate approach to engaging with your anxiety, this book is for you. ENGAGE Connect with Taylor on Instagram. To learn more about Taylor, her books, her Faith & Feelings podcast, and other resources, check out her website. In a recent episode of Faith & Feelings, Taylor hosted a conversation with a woman named Jennifer about her journey of healing from spiritual wounding. Listen to their conversation - "Am I Safe if I Trust God?" - on Apple Podcast and Spotify. FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 91:4, "He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection" (NLT). Church is supposed to be the safest place to be. Sometimes it is not. Yet how might the God of Psalm 91 and Luke 7 bring healing to our spiritual wounds? Have you ever felt like you need to protect yourself from God? What thoughts or emotions surface when you reflect on Jesus' gentle and protective posture toward the woman in Luke 7? We'd love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments. © 2024 by Taylor Joy Murray. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews, NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post When Church Is the Hardest Place To Go –  Encouragement for Today – September 27, 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

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