The Secret to Everything

Now Is The Time of God's Favor

2011-12-07T10:45:00.000-05:00

Pocket Full of Change Ministries’ 2012 Ministry Call:

Now Is the Time of God’s Favor - Now is the Day of Salvation

Every morning, I pray, mediate, and study the word of God. I keep getting the same message:

I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 6:2 NIV

I feel God whispering: I spent years training you in the corporate world. Take that training and education to build a ministry that has evangelists working all over America. In the corporate world, you were bold and hired the best of the best. Do the same for Me. In the corporate world, you were never shy about asking for software sales. Take that boldness and ask people to contribute to leading America to Jesus. You were a piano teacher. Use that training to teach people how to share the gospel. I gave you the spiritual gift of leadership. Inspire others to share their faith. I gave you the gift of evangelism. Continue to lead My beloved to me. You were a business and technology leader and speaker. Now, I ask you to use that training to go into my churches, ministries, and Christian media to inspire them to love Me and their neighbors enough to tell the world about Jesus. I let your heart be broken so you could serve a broken world. I let you experience disappointment so you could appreciate My favor. I even use your fears, weaknesses, and mistakes so victory over them may bear witness to My love, redeeming power, and grace. 2012 is the time of God’s favor. Now is the day of salvation.

Would you join us in honoring God’s favor? Will you help make the day of salvation possible for the people we meet in America? They need your generosity. Would you prayerfully consider:

Making a Year-end Tax Deductable Donation? (In Enclosed Envelope or On-line)
Making a Monthly Tax Deductable Donation?
Donating MORE in 2012?
Becoming a Part of Our Prayer Team?
Going Witnessing With Us?
Letting Us Help you With Our Coaching Program?
Inviting Us to Your Area To Speak or Host a Boot Camp?

Thank you to all who donated in 2011. Above, meet three people YOU helped lead to Christ in 2011. God has amazing plans for all of us – plans to give us a hope and a future. Together, we will love God and people.

Blessings,

Cheryle M. Touchton

Donate Here

I Wish You Could See What I See

2011-07-08T20:26:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35-36 NIV

I wish you could see what I see. I remember church revivals in the late fifties and early sixties. Members filled a pew with their friends and neighbors. Each night, the pastor preached. At the end of the service, the members sang and prayed as people flooded aisles, weeping and crying out for Jesus. When we saw the fruits harvested, revival filled our souls. People need revival.

I wish you could see what I see. I don’t know if churches stopped having revivals because members stopped inviting friends and neighbors or if those friends and neighbors stopped accepting the invitations… but something changed. Now people tell me no one invites them to church. A pastor and I went witnessing together in the blocks surrounding his church. To his astonishment, six people prayed to receive Jesus in just two hours and many others thanked him for the invitation to church. One young man said that he had passed their church every day, stopped to read the message on the marquis, and had always wondered what it was like inside. People want an invitation.

I wish you could see what I see. People leave some churches without knowing how to meet Jesus personally. I don’t know if those churches forgot to tell them how, did not know how, or began assuming that everyone already knew how. One very religious woman sternly said she believed in Jesus, prayed every day, and “hoped” she was good enough to get into heaven. When I mentioned that God loved her so much that He sent His only Son to die so she could have eternal life, she agreed with me. When I mentioned that the wages of sin was death, she also agreed. When I said that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved and that she needed to confess with her mouth and believe with her heart, she sounded surprised. When I invited her to make it personal and invite Jesus into her life, she said, “I’m in a hurry. I’ll pray if you can do it in 4 sentences.” I could and did and when we ended with her inviting Jesus into her life to be her personal Lord and Savior, tears flooded her eyes. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” was all she could manage. She hugged me because she finally knew what was missing. After that, we said way more than four sentences to each other. People want to know “how.”

I wish you could see what I see. The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a place where 100,000 young people gather to spend four days listening to music and partying hearty. A handful of Christians with the Sojourners Fellowship in Manchester, Tennessee led 98 people to Jesus. Last Halloween weekend, thousands of young people poured into Athens, Ohio to party at the Halloween Block Party. About a dozen Christians led 350 young people to Jesus. Young people want to hear about the one true Jesus.

I wish you could see what I see. Christians wring their hands over the spiritual state of America and believe God has given up on America. I visited a church and witnessed 12 people walking forward to receive Jesus. On July 4th, hundreds crowded around our booth on the mall outside the Capital building in Washington DC just to hear about Jesus. Over 500 people prayed to receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit is still convicting Americans.

I wish you could see what I see. In the last four weeks, 282 strangers eagerly prayed with me to invite Jesus into their lives. When they prayed, what I call “The Holy Spirit Glow” filled their faces. A young man named Erick invited Jesus into his life and asked if he could hug me. A young mother prayed to receive Jesus, burst into tears, and said meeting Jesus must be the reason she decided to drive 15 miles to take her children to the park. While some said no, few were offended when I shared about Jesus. People want to hear good news.

I wish you could see what I see. After spending a day watching me witness, a pastor said, “I feel like I’ve been let out of a cage.” A woman who spent a few days following me and praying as I shared, shared her faith with someone on the plane ride home. Another called me 48 hours after following me and excitedly said he’d just led someone to Christ. When Christians discover how easy it is to share their faith and how much people want to hear it, their faith deepens beyond their wildest dreams.

I wish you could see what I see. In the last four weeks, I've traveled through 13 states and shared the Gospel with many people. People were so eager to receive Jesus that it hurts to be sitting in my house writing this. The world wants and needs Jesus.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Turning America Inside Out

2011-07-08T10:51:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. Matt 10:11-15 NIV

I love Inside Out Ministries. Based out of Seattle, Washington, their group has expanded to include a few of us from the East Coast. I go where I’m invited and celebrated and I met them several years ago when I was evangelizing and staying with my dear friend, Julie Aires, in Seattle. They immediately invited me to meet them in DC for July 4th and I agreed. I’ve been going ever since. I also sometimes go with them to New York City.

Inside Out Ministries is a group of lay evangelists who use their vacation and leisure time to do evangelism events throughout the year. The mix of the group changes every year but there is a core group of about six who are faithfully in Washington DC every year on July 4th. This year there were nine of us.

Debby from Seattle has been every year that I’ve been there. In addition to the gift of evangelism, Debby has the spiritual gift of administration and makes sure we have tracts, bracelets, a place to stay, and enough money. She leads our group when the founder, Tom, is unable to make it. She makes sure we take the time to pray, prayer walk, and study the Bible so we go out into the world equipped with the full armor of God. She also pushes us to keep going when we get too tired to say or do another thing.

We always have East Coast and West Coast Gary. West Coast Gary was Jewish and found Messiah a number of years back. He is a dedicated Christian who has a heart for gently leading people to Jesus. His wry sense of humor surprises and entertains us. He also has the spiritual gift of encouragement, which we desperately need after so many hours of standing up in the hot sun.

East Coast Gary lives in Maryland. He is our cheerleader and driver and when he witnesses, people stand before him spellbound and eagerly say yes to Jesus. He also has the gift of leadership and the amazing ability to find his way around New York and DC. He and my husband Bob are a sight to behold when they excitedly study maps together.

This year, East Coast Gary introduced us to his friend, Sue. Sue quickly became our friend as she joined us in evangelizing. She feels led to pray for and encourage people as they witness and is gifted at working with youth. In the booth next to ours, a church youth group was “face painting” in the name of Jesus. Sue encouraged some of the youth to watch us evangelize. It wasn’t long before those young people were leading people to Jesus.

Dedicated Kathy is always there. She is dedicated to evangelizing, speaking truth, and handing out tracts to everyone. She knows the word of God and has the spiritual gift of teaching. She weaves Bible applications into most of our conversations and uses the pure truth of the Gospel to lead people to Jesus. She also has the spiritual gift of mercy and a heart for people in pain or needing help.

Sweet Betsy from Seattle loves to lead people to Jesus. She is playful, fun, and the peacemaker of the group. She demonstrates the peace of Jesus when she leads people to Jesus. She is also amazing at building things, which comes in handy with all the tents and materials we set up. She has the spiritual gift of service and jumps in to help wherever needed.

This year, we had a new addition. Jasper visited our DC booth last year and joined us in ministry this year. He is a brilliant young technologist from the DC area who is developing his gift of evangelism. It did not take him long to get into the grove of our evangelism style. He is a Chinese American and was very useful in helping us understand how to communicate better with people of Eastern religious backgrounds.

My husband Bob has joined our mighty band of evangelists every year that I have. It always surprises me because he has limited time off and normally isn’t nearly as excited about spiritually intense events and people as I am. At first, he used his gifts of service and leadership to help us sort tracts and set up equipment and his humor when our exhaustion created tension. Inside Out Ministries encouraged him to begin evangelizing and for the last two years, Bob has boldly stood alongside of us giving the gospel to the crowds of people surrounding us. Bob will always share the gospel in his own unique and humorous way but because of Inside Out Ministries, he has grown more comfortable sharing his faith outside of church teaching environments.

I love evangelizing with Inside Out Ministries. This year, together, we led hundreds of people to Jesus. There were so many that we lost count. I know I had at least 167 salvations and the rest of the group was evangelizing and praying right beside me. There is no telling how many people actually prayed and invited Jesus into their lives.

Jesus says that when we travel, we are to search for worthy people, stay at their house until we leave, and let our peace rest on it. He tells us that if anyone will not welcome us or listen to our words, shake the dust off our feet when we leave that home or town. One of my mentors simply says, “Go where you’re celebrated.” I celebrate Inside Out Ministries and the people who volunteer for it and they seem to celebrate Pocket Full of Change Ministries and all of our staff. They are indeed worthy people. As two ministries joining forces to lead people to Christ, we welcome and listen to each other’s words. I am a better evangelist because of my time with them. I consider myself a part of Inside Out Ministries and them a part of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. We are all on Team Jesus and together we are turning America Inside Out.

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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

I Like the Back Part Better

2011-07-03T23:27:00.001-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35 NIV

“India,” they answered when we asked where they from. A Hindu tour group swarmed us, all wanting free Liberty Bracelets. Our evangelism team scrambled to give out bracelets and break into groups small enough to use the bracelets to tell the story of Jesus.

I took one of the families. “The gold bead represents the amazing plans God has for you,” I shared with a father, mother, teenager, and grandfather. “Heaven is paved with streets of gold. The dark bead represents our mistakes. The Bible word for that is sin. Those mistakes separate us from God and the plans He has for us.”

“Wait,” the father said. “Would you start over?” He pointed a video camera at me. “We want to show it to our family back home.” I began again and told them about red representing the blood of Jesus and how He died for us. I explained that Jesus came back to life and if they confessed belief in Jesus, asked for forgiveness of sin, and invited Jesus into their lives, the white bead represented the blood washing them clean. When I got to green and growing, I talked about growth in faith and truth.”

“Wow,” I thought. “They’re actually interested.” I considered inviting them to receive Jesus and a voice inside my head whispered, “They’ve just heard the gospel. How could they possibly know enough to pray to receive Jesus?”

“We have some additional information written in Hindi,” I offered, handing them tracts. “It has the Bible verses I’ve mentioned and a prayer for you to pray when you’re ready.” As I heard my words, it sounded like a copout.

“We have a Bible,” the father said. “We’ve been reading it. I like the back part better because it tells stories about Jesus.”

“You’ve been reading the Bible?” I asked, startled. They nodded.

“He has read more than I have,” the wife said.

“We call the back part the New Testament,” I explained. “The reason you like it is because it is about the grace God offered to the world. Jesus died so that you could have life here on earth and in heaven – like the gold bead.”

They all nodded and I continued, “I know you have many gods but Jesus said he was the way, the truth, and the life and that no one could come to the father except through Him. God says He is the one true God and that we are to have no other gods before Him. Would you like to meet the Jesus you’ve been reading about? You only need faith the size of a mustard seed to invite Jesus into your life. Do you believe in Jesus that much?”

All four of them nodded eagerly and right there on the hot mall across from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, four Hindu family members visiting from India prayed to receive Jesus.

“Can I have four more bracelets,” the grandfather asked. “I want to play the video for my other grandchildren and help them to pray.”

The rest of that tour group left without the gospel making any sense to them. Seeds were planted but they did not believe. I wondered who gave the family of new believers the Bible and thanked God for them.

The voice that hadwhispered, “They’re not ready,” was not from God. The “back part” of the Bible had done its work. God’s voice said, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” Everyone needs Jesus. Satan is certainly reaping his harvest and we have no business closing our eyes to the ready harvest. My job as an evangelist is to offer the gospel and invite people to the party. The listener’s job is to accept or reject the good news.

Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Let Me Out

2011-06-29T23:32:00.003-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Ps 119:103 NIV

“I thought there was no way to reach this community,” the pastor excitedly told his outreach committee members. I’d just finished giving them an evangelism training class. The pastor and the chair of their outreach committee had spent three hours following me through the park and past the sidewalk cafés and shops that surround his church building. “I couldn’t believe how eager people were to hear about Jesus. Only one person got annoyed. Even the Jewish people did not seem to mind talking with us. I feel like I’ve been let out of a cage. I’m going to commit to doing this two hours every week.”

“I’ll go with you,” the outreach chair offered. “Cheryle just speaks scripture and invites people to Jesus. I can’t believe how simple it was. She didn't push us or make us uncomfortable. She just let us watch.”

I wanted to cheer. The pastor had started out dubious about walking around so close to the church. He was well known and respected in his beloved tight knit community and didn’t want people uncomfortable. To his astonishment, almost everyone welcomed the conversation and six people eagerly prayed to receive Jesus. That pastor was starved for what he’d witnessed the Holy Spirit do that afternoon.

“One woman burst into years when Cheryle introduced herself. The woman said we were the reason she’d driven 15 miles to take her children to this park,” the pastor said. “She prayed to receive Jesus. 16-year-old Kyle goes to our local high school. We talked to him a while and then he followed to ask more questions. We need to get him plugged into our youth group. Three junior high school girls prayed to receive Jesus. We saw them a couple of hours later. They were still beaming. We met a man named Jim and when he realized what church I was from, he said my name like I was a rock star. He’d walked by our church every day and read my name and the quotes on our marquis. He was longing for someone to invite him in. Two men wanted to challenge us about God being real. I want our church to offer something where they can come in and feel free to discuss those kinds of things.”

I’m starved for that light to go on for other Christians. I look at Christians struggling to maintain the joy of their salvation. I know that if they would share their faith, it would accelerate their spiritual growth in a way that nothing else would. I look at churches discouraged and struggling and know that if their members would give the good news of Christ to the people they meet on the streets, it would transform the culture of that church in a way that nothing else could. I long to help others share their faith because of what it does for individual Christians, the church, and the lost. It is like a funnel. The Holy Spirit fills us up but if we don’t let Him flow through us and into the world, the funnel gets stopped up.

Are you in a cage about sharing your faith? Are fears of offending or saying the wrong thing, excuses about not having the gift of evangelism, or false beliefs like ‘people don’t want to hear it’ your jailers? Regardless of your spiritual gifts, sharing your faith with others will set you free. Churches that share their faith soar out of their cages as if on eagle’s wings. It is so easy to share our faith. We just speak the words of the Bible and invite people to the party. The true words of the Bible are sweeter than honey and it draws people to it like Humming Birds are drawn to sweet nectar.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Let's Go Witnessing

2011-06-22T22:45:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Luke 10:1-2 NIV

“What percent of time are people with you when you are evangelizing?” Steve asked. He’d just spent a day following me through a mall, watching and praying for me as I shared the gospel. Ten people prayed to receive Jesus and a couple more took The Jesus Challenge to ask the Jesus they don’t believe in to reveal Himself to them. It was a good day.

“Not much,” I said. “I’m by myself most of the time.”

“Think about it,” he pushed. “What percent?”

I counted. It was six months into the year and I’d evangelized with 8 people. Some had spent multiple days with me. I compared that number to the total days I’d evangelized and estimated I’d been alone 90% of the time.

“That is a waste!” Steve said. “You should be with someone 90% of the time. People need to see what you do.”

“I invite people to come with me,” I said. “I think it scares them. I encourage contributors to go because I want them to enjoy what they make possible. Now that I think about it, I lead more people to Christ when someone is with me. I don’t know if it is because the Bible says go two by two, because someone is praying, or because I’m more focused.”

“It’s probably all of the above but I’m not talking about the efficiency of more salvations or even blessing people. I’m talking about people waking up to how simple and straightforward it is to lead someone to Christ. I enjoyed seeing what you did today but it was more than that,” Steve said. “I needed to see how simple it is to lead someone to Christ. There were no tricks, no manipulation - just straight scripture and an invitation. I guess I thought talking about religion was private and people might get offended. These people today seemed to want to hear what the Bible said.”

“They do,” I said. “God made us that way. Everyone is born with a need for Jesus. Evangelize simply means to give good news. I often introduce myself as a ‘Good News Christian.’ Everyone wants good news. People mix up evangelizing and proselytizing. It is not my job to manipulate or talk anyone into salvation. I simply share good news and invite people into the Kingdom. For many, the invitation is too good to pass up. Did you notice that if someone didn’t want to talk, I affirmed their privacy, handed them a tract, and pointed to the prayer. Most of them were reading it as we walked away. Many accept Christ just by reading tracts.”

“I did notice,” Steve said. “Today wasn’t scary for me. You just let me watch and pray. That is what I want you to offer to others. Just invite them to follow you, watch, and pray. Anyone can do that. I needed to know how easy it was to fulfill the Great Commission and maybe next time, I’ll want to take a turn talking. If I hadn’t watched, I might have thought it depended on my words. I still can’t believe how simple and straight forward it is.”

Within 48 hours, my phone rang and Steve said excitedly, “I just got a Father’s Day gift. My family took me out to dinner and I led my waiter to Christ. I plan to go out witnessing tomorrow night.” Steve is beginning a journey that is going accelerate his spiritual intimacy, awe, and faith in a way that nothing else will.

So, let’s go witnessing. Invite me to your area. All you have to do is follow, watch, and pray. You can do that. If you want to take a turn talking, ask and I’ll let you, but all you have to do is follow, watch, and pray. Evangelism may not be your primary spiritual gift but you can learn to use your spiritual gifts to fulfill the Great Commission. If you go witnessing with me, I promise you a day of watching the Holy Spirit work. I promise I won’t push or make you uncomfortable. You’ll leave with a fresh understanding of just how much the world wants to know Jesus. Let’s go witnessing.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

S & S: Salvation & Sunscreen

2011-06-20T22:26:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14 NIV

Yes, I know that the Bible says whatever we ask in His name will be done. I know that when two agree in prayer, we are promised that it will happen. I know that we can and should call on the Lord to do miracles as a testament to the power of Jesus. I’ve traveled with evangelists who do this regularly and I’ve witnessed miracles. However, I must confess that when I travel as an evangelist, I stick to the use of one of my primary spiritual gifts – evangelism, and don’t often call for other miracles. My spiritual mentor recently challenged me about trusting the word of God so I’ve gotten a slightly braver on this journey.

“You are already sunburned and it is only day 1 of Bonnaroo,” I said to a young woman huddling under the limited shade of where people wash their hands. This lovely strawberry blond haired, fair skinned woman, wearing a spaghetti strapped sundress was beet red.

“I know,” she sighed. “It is so hot here and I didn’t realize I was getting burned.”

Louise and I talked with her a few minutes and she decided that she wanted to ask Jesus to be her personal savior. I led her in the standard prayer that I lead most people in when they say yes to Jesus but added the words, “Lord, please protect her from the sun.”

The second we finished the words, “In Jesus name, Amen,” two men rushed up to her and without asking, sprayed her completely with sunscreen. They covered every inch of her body. When they got to her face, they instructed, “Close your eyes.” She did and they sprayed her face. They even sprayed the part on her hair. She thanked them and they left. There was no flirtation, no ulterior motive - just protection from the sun.

We were all stunned and delighted by the instant answer to prayer. What a testimony to the power that Jesus is going to have in the life of that young woman.

“See how God answers prayer,” I said to her.

“I do,” she said in awe.

Since praying worked so well with protection against the sun, maybe I’ll get bolder with my requests to God.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Calvary Leads to Calvary

2011-06-19T18:18:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. Matt 16:18 The Message

“Hello,” I said, walking up to a man and woman sitting on a bench in a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania mall. I was with Steve Harrison, a board member of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. I’d driven to Philadelphia to participate in Steve’s Quantum Leap program for writers. Quantum Leap helps writers learn how to market their books and services. While Quantum Leap is for writers of every genre, Christian and traditional markets, Steve is a committed Christian and wanted to spend a day following me and learning more about evangelism.

The man sitting on the bench gave us a wide grin, stuck out his hand to Steve and said in a childlike voice, “Hello, I’m Jack.”

Steve shook his hand and said, “Hi Jack.”

“Hi Jack,” I said, smiling. “I’m Cheryle. Nice to meet you.”

Jack delightedly shook my hand. He then turned to Steve and shook his hand again, saying, “I’m Jack.”

“Jack,” I said. “Jesus loves you.”

“I love Jesus,” he said. “My granddaddy loved Jesus.”

Wondering if they had the same granddaddy, I asked the woman sitting with him, “Are you two related?”

“No,” she said. “I work at the group home where he lives.”

“Jack sounds like he knows all about Jesus,” I said as Jack beamed.

“He does,” the woman said. “He talks about Jesus all the time.”

“What about you?” I asked. “If something happened today, would you know where you would spend eternity?”

“I hope heaven but I’m not really sure,” she said. “I go to church sometimes.”

“You don’t have to hope,” I said. I went into the good news of Christ. Throughout my sharing, Jack agreed playfully with me, loving hearing us talk about Jesus. Every few minutes, he stuck his hand out for Steve to shake it again.

Jack’s companion listened to my words but wasn’t very interested until I asked where she was from.

“I live in State College,” she said.

“Wow” I said. “I live in State College too. You said you go to church sometimes. Where do you go?”

She gave a name of a local Methodist church I didn’t recognize and added, “I’m not very active.”

“I go to Calvary Baptist,” I said.

When I said Calvary, her entire face lit up. “I know Calvary!” she said excitedly. “They do City Serve. They come out to where Jack lives and help us fix up the place. I love Calvary.”

“We call ourselves the Church Without Walls,” I said. “I love Calvary too. We like to go out into the community and be Jesus to the world. The weekend of City Serve, we cancel all services and just serve. We also send groups overseas to help orphanages and other kinds of projects the same way. We’re pretty excited that City Serve is expanding to other churches in the community.”

Once this woman knew I was from Calvary, everything changed. When I invited her to pray with me, she eagerly agreed.

“I want to pray too,” Jack said.

“Of course you can,” I laughed. Jack and his companion repeated the words after me. When we finished, Jack was grinning and the woman’s eyes were brimming with tears.

“If you fill out a card, I’ll send you free stuff and promise not to hassle you,” I said.

“Sure,” she said, taking the card and filling it out.

“Me to, me too,” begged Jack. “I want one too.” I gave Jack a card and he carefully drew his name in big letters.

“Here is something to help you understand more about what you just did and what to do next,” I told the woman, handing her a tract. “Maybe you can visit Calvary sometime.”

“I want one too,” Jack begged again. I smiled and handed him a tract.

When the day was over, Steve and I had led 10 people to the Jesus that Jack loved so much. Because Jack prayed the prayer, some evangelists might have counted sweet Jack among their salvation numbers but I did not. I could tell that Jack’s grandfather had already led him to Jesus. Because Jack’s grandfather had been Jesus to Jack, Jack helped me lead his companion to Jesus.

I love being a part of a church family that lights up the faces of non-members and even non-Christians. I was 200 miles from my church but because of their determination to be Jesus to the world, Calvary helped me offer Calvary to someone else. When a church is the church Jesus intended, the reach of the church is limitless.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

We Can Have Sweet Fruit

2011-06-18T22:25:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-24 NIV

“Why did you write your book?” the speaker asked. I was in a class that was supposed to teach me how to describe my book so I could increase sales. “Maybe the best way to figure that out is to figure out what makes you mad. Take a moment and write down what makes you mad.”

I sat and prayed about what made me mad. I couldn’t think of anything but I knew what broke my heart. I want to weep when I meet broken, mean spirited, or hardened Christians who make Jesus look unattractive to a world that needs Him so desperately. I want to weep for those poor Christians not experiencing the fruits of Jesus’ spirit and for those they influence.

Jesus got furious at the Pharisees because they were religious but legalistic, judgmental, and just plain mean. He scolded the disciples when they were afraid, wouldn’t let the children talk to Him, and wasted time trying to figure out which of them was more important. He came to give us peace. He told us that the greatest commandment was to love God with our entire hearts, souls, minds, and strengths and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

So many of the people I meet on the streets believe Jesus has no power because the Christians in their lives were not exhibiting the sweet fruits of the spirit that were readily available to them – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. It has been my observation that the lack of those fruits in their lives is the single biggest reason people don’t share their faith and why so many in our country are disappointed with Christianity and the church. I wrote my book, The Secret to Everything, to those Christians who longed for more spiritual fruit in their lives.

Pastors Need Sweet Fruit

“I went to church and it made me cry,” a young man at Bonnaroo told me. “Since nothing had ever done that before, I went back. I became friends with the pastor’s son. One day, I was over at the pastor’s house playing basketball and I beat his son at basketball. The pastor got so mad that I beat his son that he started yelling profanity at both of us. I haven’t been back to church.”

“I’m so sorry that happened to you," I said. "It sounds like that poor pastor wasn’t experiencing the joy of his salvation. The Bible promises us what it calls the fruits of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. The Holy Spirit was what made you cry. He touched your spirit and wanted you to know the Jesus that offered you those fruits. That pastor didn’t demonstrate that to you but please don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Let me introduce you to Jesus.” Within a few minutes, the young man prayed to receive Jesus

Families of Pastors Need To See Sweet Fruit

After leaving Bonnaroo, I stayed the next night at a KOA. When I went over to the office, a sad looking woman sat outside smoking a cigarette. She was in the middle of divorcing her abusive husband.

“I had to get my daughter away,” she said. “She looks just like me and he was starting to turn his anger on her.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said. “Do you have church support?”

“No,” she said. “I was saved when I was little but my pastor was my aunt. She was nice to everyone at church but she was always mean to my mother. I don’t know how a minister can act like that. I’ve tried a couple of other churches but nothing has stuck.”

“What about your daughter,” I said. “You say you’re saved but does she know Jesus?”

“She’s been to Bible School and sometimes we go to church but she hasn’t been saved.”

About that time, nine year old Katie, walked up. “Hi,” I said. “Your mother told me you’ve been to Bible School. Did they tell you about Jesus?”

“Yes,” she said.

“What do you know about Him?” She went on to tell me that Jesus was a baby and had died on a cross.

“Did you know He came back to life?” I asked. She did.

“Do you believe it?” She did.

“Have you ever done anything wrong?” She had.

“Jesus loves you and will forgive you for anything.” I looked at her mother. “May I invite your daughter to accept Jesus as her Savior? She already believes and I think she is ready.” The mother eagerly agreed.

“Katie, Jesus loves you very much and is sorry that that your Mommy and Daddy are getting divorced. They still love you and Jesus wants to help you. Would you like to invite him into your life right now?” She nodded eagerly. Together with her mother, Katie prayed to receive Jesus.

Relationship, Not Religion Creates Sweet Fruit

“I grew up in a Christian family,” a woman told me. “They answered the phone with ‘praise the Lord.’ And yet, they were all depressed and angry. They fought all of the time. Two of those ‘Christians’ committed suicide. When I was 12, my Christian father attempted suicide. I found him and saved his life. What bothered me most was that no one over talked about it or anything else. They just put Bible band-aids on everything and never dealt with anything. I still consider myself a Christian but I almost died from bulimia before I realized that I had to have a relationship with Jesus and not just a religion.”

Who Wants Sour Fruit?

God has called me to go into dark places like Mardi Gras, Bonnaroo, and the Ohio Halloween block party to lead people to Jesus. The Bible says where sin increases, grace abounds and I can testify to that. At all of those events, there are “Christians” there who stand on street corners and walk around, yelling judgment down on the crowd. They call the people walking by horrible names and inform them they are going to hell. They don’t stop with judging the “party hearty people.” They also yell judgment on those entering churches whose doctrine they disagree with. I sometimes follow behind what I call the “sour Christians” and apologize to the crowd on behalf of Jesus Christ who loves them very much. That apology often leads people to Christ.

I wrote my book, The Secret to Everything, because I believed Jesus when He said the most important thing we could do was to love God with our entire heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. It hurts so much when I see Christians so miserable that they exhibit hate and depression rather than the life Jesus intended. It hurts when I see Christians worrying, fighting, or looking as if the burdens of the world are on their shoulder. It hurts because I was once one of those Christians and I still remember what it felt like. When I discovered that the secret to everything was to stop working on fixing everything and everyone and just love God and people more each day, the fruits of the spirit began to taste sweeter each day. I wrote The Secret to Everything because I long for more Christians to know how to fertilize and prune to have fruit as sweet as sugar. The sweeter the fruit, the happier we are, the more people want what we have, and the easier it is to lead people to Jesus.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

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Salvation Bonnaroo Style

2011-06-16T21:40:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Ps 139:14 NIV

For most of my life, I worked hard on music. I studied with the best teachers, practiced, and even got a degree in it. There was only one problem – I was not gifted musically and training only goes so far without that gift. What that meant was that I recognized talent, taught the talented, but always knew what I was lacking. The music world is competitive and musicians usually know where they stand in comparison to other musicians. I loved teaching music and was confident with the spiritual gift of teaching, but because I wasn’t musically talented, no matter how much I practiced, I always felt insecure.

A few years back, God dealt with my insecurities and taught me to nurture and appreciate the gifts He blessed me with and accept the gifts and talents He did not send my way. Since I was born into a family of musicians and had spent most of my life around musicians trying to be one, it was both painful and a relief to step out of the musical competitive whirl wind. At Bonnaroo, the enemy tried to hand me back my insecurities and use them to stop me from leading a group of young people to Jesus.

Louise Milligan and I were walking back to our car with the leader of our evangelism team, Rev. Ron Fuller – The Sojourner. It was the last day of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. It had been a good day with 16 people praying to receive Jesus. We were hot, exhausted, and ready to get back when we heard strains of the song, “Take Me Back to West Virginia.” Ron is from West Virginia and couldn’t resist weaving his way between tents to find the music. They finished just as we walked up.

“I’m from West Virginia,” Ron said. Then, using his best imitation of an old man’s voice, he pleaded, “Sing it again for an old man.” They complied and we sang along.

While we sang, I looked at the 12 young people sitting and singing under an open-sided tent. One was playing guitar and another, a harmonica. Three young women, dressed in bikinis, were puffing on pot out of what I now know is a pot bowl. Most had beer cans in their hands. One young man was wearing a bathing suit and two shells strapped across his chest. His girlfriend complained the entire time that he had eaten all of her “mushrooms.” I knew they weren’t talking about portabellas. According to the girlfriend, 7 grams of mushrooms was too much for him to eat and his punishment was to walk around wearing the shells. I prayed for them as we sang.

When we finished singing, Ron stepped behind me, and quietly instructed, “Now, add them to your number.”

I knew what he meant. I stepped forward, used my “outside voice” and said, “You were kind enough to sing for us so I want to tell you about Jesus.”

They were in a great mood. They clapped. One shouted, “Yea Jesus.” I kept it light and fast paced. “The Bible says all have sinned. Sin is the Bible word for making mistakes. Anyone sinned this weekend?” I paused as they laughed, agreeing they knew all about sin.

“It is a level playing field,” I said. “We’re all sinners. The wages of sin is death but the good news is that the gift of God is eternal life. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Jesus loved you so much that He died for you. I want to lead all of you in a prayer to invite Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior.”

They looked at each other, hesitated, and one shouted, “We’ll pray it if you sing it. This is Bonnaroo.”

I stuttered and froze. I’d already noticed that at least four of this crowd was gifted musically. I thought about Ron and Louise standing behind me and knew that while I’d probably never see these young people again, I’d have to go home with Ron and Louise knowing how my music compared to the gifted musicians we’d just heard. Louise is my sister-in-law and I’d been her son’s piano teacher. If I sang, I was afraid she was going to find out just how untalented I really was. The familiar musical shame crept into the marrow of my bones. Then, I got mad that the enemy was using it against me.

“Ok,” I said, shaking off the bad feelings. “I’ll sing a line and you repeat it back to me.” They all cheered.

“Dear Jesus,” I sang and waved my arms for them to repeat it back. They sang the words back.

“Thank you for dying for me.” They cheerfully sang each line as I sang through confessing faith in Jesus, admitting sin, asking for forgiveness, and finally, asking Jesus to be their Lord and Savior.

My internal music teacher critiqued as I sang and I was vaguely aware that my melody line made no harmonic sense and that I changed keys at least 3 times. I must have had some kind of rhythm because they clapped as we sang.

When we finished, I said to the now quiet group, “There are 12 of you sitting here. How many of you really sang the words and meant them?” Nine raised their hands. I added nine to our count, making the total of 78 for me and 98 for our entire group.

Later, Louise and Ron said it was great, that I’d gotten quiet at all the right moments. “They clapped along,” Louise said in wonder.

I knew what my musical grade really was but also knew that evangelism is a spiritual gift and that spiritual gift had carried the moment. The harvest was ripe. No wonder the enemy was throwing old insecurities back into my face! I am beautifully and wonderfully made and the gifts God gave me are enough to do what He calls me to do. I tossed those insecurities right back at the enemy. They don’t belong to me.
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Team Jesus

2011-06-15T23:46:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
KJV Phil 4:13

“You guys sure are a great team,” Ron Fuller with the Sojourners Fellowship said.

“We are,” I agreed. “We used to work together. We’ve been family a long time.”

Louise Milligan is my sister-in-law, friend, sister in Christ, and the mother of 2 of my 4 four nephews. Louise joined me at the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee. We both like many kinds of music but we were there to tell concert attendees about Jesus. We heard several times what a great team we were. Team Jesus is the best!

Each morning, Louise and I grabbed a cup of tea, read our Bible, and prayed together. Team Jesus is prepared.

“I hope you are careful,” I told one young man. “You probably have a mother who wants you safe.”

My mother told me to party my “A..” off,” he replied. (You’ll have to fill in for yourself the word he really used.)

Louise walked around behind him, looked, arm bumped him, and said, “It’s still there.” Team Jesus has a sense of humor.

“What is that?” I asked a couple. They were lighting a 4-inch colorful piece of glass and puffing.

“It’s a bowl,” they explained.

“I assume it is for pot,” I said. “How does it work?” They explained the technology and then went on to teach us about how and why people ate poison mushrooms. Louise and I listened without commenting when they said, “It’s natural so it is safe.” Team Jesus just loves.

After they finished sharing about pot, we shared about Jesus. They listened to our good news and invited Jesus to be their Savior.

“I can’t believe what people tell you,” Louise said as we walked off. “Thank goodness they didn’t offer us a puff.” Louise and I have never smoked pot and plan to keep it that way. Team Jesus lives in the world but is not of the world.

“I was worried about that too,” I said. “I always ask when I don’t understand things. It helps me in my work. That information will come in handy for leading someone else to Christ.” Team Jesus wants to know.

A couple of days later Louise and I were walking across the Bonnaroo field when someone called us over. It was our pot smoking friends, clear headed, relaxed, and excited to see us. Team Jesus is effective!

Louise and I walked around for four days in 90 degree plus weather, sharing Jesus. While we were together, 49 people prayed to receive Jesus as their personal Savior. Team Jesus in unstoppable!
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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

It's A War Out There

2011-06-11T23:42:00.003-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph 6:12-13 NIV

It’s a war out there. When it happened the 1st time, I was disappointed. When it happened the 2nd time, I was surprised. When it happened the 3rd time, I knew we were under enemy attack and the team I was with, Louise, Tanya, and I, prayed. When it happened the 4th time I got mad. When it happened the 5th time, it simply didn’t work. The enemy’s newest strategy was to snatch people away, just as they were about to pray to receive Jesus.

Just as two lovely young women were about to pray to invite Jesus into their lives, their long lost best friend ran up and started hugging them. I was disappointed because the moment seemed lost. When they finally finished hugging, I tried to snatch the moment back. The “interrupter” glared daggers and said, “I’m really uncomfortable.” She stormed off, which ended any possibility that the other two were going to pray. The enemy had snatched them away and had used their friend to do it.

Another time, just as we began to pray with a young woman, 3 friends stormed over and demanded she come with them “right now.” The enemy snatched her away and used 3 friends to do it.

It would have been comical if it hadn’t been so frustrating. Later, a drunk burst into our group asking for directions just as the group was about to pray. My sister-in-law Louise is nothing if not bold. She actually ran what I call a “block” by putting herself between us and them. She had no idea where the stage was but she managed to head him in another direction.

On our way out of the park, it happened one last time. We met a lovely but frustrated young woman standing next to her suitcase. She had been standing beside the road for an hour waiting to hear from her friends. As we talked she confessed that she had been struggling and had lost all hope. We prayed for healing for her and shared Jesus. Just as she was about to pray to receive Jesus, her phone rang. Louise and I couldn’t believe it was happening again and we were done with the enemy winning. We waited for the conversation to end, insisted on helping her carry her stuff, and walked with her. She eventually prayed to receive Jesus.

On Day 1 of Bonnaroo, we had 3 salvations but it would have been much higher the enemy hadn’t snatched people away at the exact moment they were about to be reborn. It is a war out there – a war against the spiritual forces of darkness. The enemy may win a battle but he can’t win the war. We have our own secret weapon at our disposal – prayer.

They don’t call them prayer “warriors” for no reason. It’s a war out there and we put our warriors to work. Prayer worked and the enemy didn’t even bother trying the strategy again. On Day 2 of Bonnaroo, Louise and I led 13 people to Jesus. On Day 3, we had 7 salvations. Together, we’ve had 23 salvations in 3 days. I’ve had 50 people pray with me since I left on this missionary journey. Our entire team, lead by the Sojourner, Ron Fuller, has had 65 salvations in 5 days. It may be a war out there but we already know who will win!

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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Wonder in Wal-Mart

2011-06-09T00:59:00.000-04:00

Give’em Heaven In 2011 – Wonder at Wal-Mart

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. John 4:35-36 NIV

A couple of days before the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival there is wonder at Wal-Mart as the parking lot fills with painted vans, excited people looking for a party, lots of beer, and Christians giving the good news of Christ. In the last 24 hours, our tiny group of about 8 people led 37 people to Jesus.

“I have the best job in the word,” I told one young person, “I get to travel the country giving the best news anyone could ever hear.” In moments, this pierced, painted, and scantily clad young woman prayed to receive Jesus.

“You’ll enjoy the concert more if you drink more water than beer,” I advised a group of young people. “At about day 3, people are walking around looking miserable. Heat and hangovers are a bad combination. They came all this way and spent all this money and they look like me the day after surgery.” They laughed and two of them prayed to receive Jesus.

“Please be careful,” I said. “You probably have a mother at home who wants you to return in one piece.”

“You’re right. I just got off the phone with her.”

“If something bad happened and you didn’t live through this week, do you know where you would go next?” I asked.

“Bonnaroo heaven,” he said.

“And if you got to Bonnaroo heaven and God asked why he should let you in, what would you say?” God adores this young man and in a few moments, he said the words that meant he could go somewhere even better than Bonnaroo heaven.

“My I tell your children the story of Jesus?” I asked.

“They’re not my children but I’m watching them. Sure.”

I pulled out my cube that had pictures and told the children a story that two of them had never heard before. Their eyes were as big as saucers. One of the children was in tears. I asked if they wanted that Jesus to be their savior and they all nodded. I prayed with them and gave them pictured tracts that explained what they had just done.

If you wonder if the wonder of their salvation was real, relax. We have good news and people feel it all the way to the marrow of their bones. They crave what God has to say as people camped outside of Wal-Mart in 90-degree weather pant for water. Everyone wants Jesus, even if they don’t know it.

My beloved Jesus said, “Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest'? Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” At Wal-Mart today, we opened our eyes and looked at the fields. They were ripe for harvest. I am filled with wonder.

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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

We Care

2011-06-06T22:57:00.003-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. John 20:21 NIV

Jesus has sent me out on the road again. I left today for a month long missionary journey made possible by faithful churches and Christians who love God and people so much that they use time, talents, and resources to lead strangers to Jesus. I'm writing this from Wytheville, Virginia. I want to shout for joy about how much Christians care about leading people to Jesus.

The Church Cares

The Sojourners Ministry out of Manchester, Tennessee cares so much about the 80,000 people about to descend on their city to listen to rock music and “party hearty” that they invited evangelists in and have rallied the community to share Jesus with attendees of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. I am headed there now.

My church, Calvary Baptist, cared enough about strangers to financially and prayerfully support a missionary journey that will reach people who may not ever come to State College, Pennsylvania.

Tiny Hart Haven Baptist Church out of Jacksonville, Florida cares enough about America to donate monthly a part of their limited budget for missionary journeys that span the country.

The church cares about leading people to Jesus!

Christians Care

Pocket Full of Change Ministries has yearly, monthly, and occasional ministry supporters who care so much about leading total strangers to Jesus that they send money that they could otherwise use for themselves. A faithful prayer team spends time praying for the work of this ministry.

A faithful woman who lives in Arizona cared enough about people visiting Tennessee to send money for 2 Bonnaroo concert tickets – one for me and one for someone to walk with me continually praying.

My sister-in-law Louise Milligan, out of Jacksonville, Florida cares about the people in Tennessee. She agreed to be the person who goes with me and is using part of her vacation time to take Jesus to Bonnaroo. Another faithful person heard Louise was joining me and donated her personal frequent flier points for Louise’s plane ticket.

Pocket Full of Change Ministries has a faithful Board of Directors who uses their time, talents, and resources to faithfully and prayerfully guide the work of this ministry.

Christians care about leading people to Jesus!

God Cares

The reason that Christians care about strangers finding Jesus is that God loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus to die so that we could live. Just as God sent Jesus to us, Jesus’ loving spirit dwells in us, and if we tried to keep quiet about how much God cares, the Bible says the rocks would cry out. Just as God sent Jesus to us, so Jesus sends Christians to the World. God cares about people spending an eternity with Him.

It is an honor to be sent by Jesus!

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Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Jesus Is More Interesting Than Texting

2011-05-26T09:50:00.006-04:00

by Cheryle M. Touchton
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Rev 22:1 NIV

“Can I give you something more interesting than that text you are reading?” My friend and ministry supporter, Deb, were strolling through a mall in Philadelphia and noticed three teenage girls huddled together reading a phone.

“Huh?” one mumbled, looking up.

“I want to give you something to read that is more interesting than what you are reading on your phone. It’s about Jesus.”

“Who?” one of them asked.

“Jesus,” I said, handing the 3 girls a Christian tract. “Have you heard of Him?”

“Yes,” they all agreed. We listened to their varied religious backgrounds and views. Before long, all three teenagers eagerly prayed and invited Jesus to be their Savior. One had told me she was a Christian and Baptist but prayed aloud along with her friends to show support. When we finished praying, the self-proclaimed Christian looked stunned. “I’ve never prayed a prayer like that,” she said. I was surprised and reminded not to assume that anyone is a Christian, regardless of the church they grew up and were baptized in.

Notice the sparkle in their eyes. It amazes me that strangers will allow me to take picture but I always ask because I love the capture the thrill of just meeting Jesus.

A few minutes later, Deb and I met Nicole. “I pray all the time,” she said. “Some people think I’m not Christian because I have a daughter and I’m not married but I don’t believe they are right. I hope I’m going to heaven. I go to a Catholic Church and I’m trying really hard.”

“The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. That includes the people who tell you you’re not a Christian because of your daughter. The wages of sin is death and while what you did to get that daughter was a sin, your daughter is gift and not a sin. You don’t have to try so hard to get into heaven. It’s easy. All who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

With relief in her eyes, Nicole prayed and invited Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. We took her picture and as we walked away, she thanked us repeatedly. A few minutes later, we interrupted another woman who was reading her phone. She also prayed to receive Jesus.

I don’t have to be timid about interrupting people texting, listening to IPods, or reading a book. Jesus really is more interesting than anything anyone could possibly be doing. After all, He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and Last, and the Beginning and the End. If I can get their attention, many figure out just how interesting Jesus is in just a few minutes. It is totally worth taking the chance of offending someone and in all my time on the road, I’ve only had a few people “shoo” me away.

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Cheryle M. Touchton, the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady, is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. She and the Missionary Dog Belle travel the country as missionaries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org.This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep Belle the Missionary Dog and the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

The Birthday Gift

2011-05-09T19:33:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Change Ministries

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? Rom 10:14-15 The New Living Translation

May 9 was Deb’s birthday and I wanted to give her a gift. Everything I thought about giving seemed trivial for one who has made such a difference to so many. Deb has a heart for helping people meet Jesus. She is a financial and prayer supporter of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. Some of us are called to “go” and in order to go, we must be “sent.” (Romans 10:15) Deb is a sender.

I met Deb leading a women’s retreat for her church in Arizona. When she sent her original donation, she included the words, “Give’em Heaven.” Those words have become our ministry slogan and this year it is “Give’em Heaven in 2011.” Her initial donations often came at a time when I was personally discouraged about finances and seeking God’s will in evangelism. It takes money to lead people to Christ and the economy is tough. Monthly support is essential for stabilizing ministries and Deb’s monthly donation has helped us budget and plan for our part in building God’s kingdom. She also has helped fund specific ministry events that led to the salvation of many. I wondered what possible gift I could give that would represent the love I have for her as a sister in Christ and a partner in evangelism.

Sunday, while sitting in church, listening to a Mother’s Day sermon on faithful women, I knew the gift I was going to give Deb. On her birthday, Belle the Missionary Dog and I were going to go to the Penn State University Campus and tell people about Jesus.

It was lovely day. After so much cold weather, students were giddy to be outside frolicking in the sunshine. Many were about to graduate and the campus was bursting with energy. Belle the Missionary Dog did her thing and drew the students to us. Belle did tricks as I gave the gospel of Jesus Christ. We handed out Christian tracts to people waiting for busses and studying for finals on park benches. Young people shared their faith stories and disappointment with God and church as we all basked in the sunshine.

One young man, Matt, was still grieving the sudden death of his 12 year old brother, who died from a simple bowel obstruction. The horror of it was worse because it occurred only four days after 9/11. He lost his faith when his Godly mother, who stood steadfast in her faith through everything died only four years later from complications of radiation treatment for cancer.

I shared with him about the loss of my son and gave him a salvation tract and a scripture card about dealing with grief. I invited him to pray with me but he said that after being mixed up for so long, he needed to read the material and get alone to think. I invited him to my church, gave him my phone number, and offered him a ride to church.

Three beautiful young women crossed the campus carrying the caps and gowns they’d just picked up. Their faces beamed with hope and excitement for the future. As we passed on the sidewalk, Belle made sure that she got their attention. We talked about their destiny, in the immediate future and eternity. All three had attended Christian churches as children and believed in Jesus at some level. None had a personal relationship with Him nor had they ever prayed to ask Him to be their personal Savior. After hearing God’s words, two prayed the words that would change their destinies. Their spiritual birthday will be the same as Deb’s earthly birthday. The third listened to God’s words, bowed her head when her friends prayed, but refused to pray herself. She promised to read the tract and consider it for later. I believe God will send many more Christians her way with the same offer.

Happy Birthday, my dear Deb. The birthday gift I gave you was a day of ministry in the work we both love so much. The real birthday gift came from God. As I prayed for you today, I asked God for a special gift for you – for Him to send at least one person to receive Jesus on your birthday. He sent two that will forever share a birthday with you. I love you. Thank you for your partnership in the work of Pocket Full of Change Ministries.
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Cheryle M. Touchton, the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady, is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. She and the Missionary Dog Belle travel the country as missionaries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org. This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep Belle the Missionary Dog and the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

In the Garden

2011-04-19T22:34:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton

My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. Matt 26:39 NIV

On Holy Week, I think about Jesus praying alone in Gethsemane. His soul was overwhelmed to the point of death. He took His disciples to the garden but they had to sit and wait outside. Imagine the emotion as Jesus begged, “Daddy, if possible, take this cup from me.” Then, my sweet Savior modeled acceptance and obedience by finally saying, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

What sends you to the garden alone? Because of my oldest son, David Paul Touchton, I got into the habit of going into the garden regularly. Bob and I met our adorable David when he was six. He moved in on this 7th birthday. God gifted David intellectually and musically and for a few years, it seemed like his future was bright. When his future fell apart, there was no putting it back together. I begged God to take the cup of David’s mistakes from us but my poor troubled David, broken before I ever met him, used his free will to ruin his life and break my heart. David found God again the last year of his life and when he died of AIDS in 1995, the only place for me was in the garden.

I had to go alone. I wanted my family and friends to enter the garden with me but all they could do was sit outside and pray. At first, I was mad to be there alone but God taught me that there are times when I have to enter alone. I had begged God to heal my son and had to accept that God gave David His perfect healing in eternity. I left that garden finally saying, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

In the Garden* is my favorite hymn is. I love it. I understand it. I’ve told my family to sing it at my funeral. I ignored nephew Bill when he asked, “If you’re dead, why do you care what we sing?” I’ve warned everyone that they are not to leave out any of the verses because together, they tell a story. I’ve tried to get my family of singers to learn it for me while I’m still alive but they don’t seem as excited about it as I am. Anytime there is a hymn request, I ask this hymn to be sung. I include it in conferences that I lead. I have many different recordings and when I listen to In a Garden, I feel God telling me that I am His own.

Verse 1- In the Garden*

I come to the garden alone.
While the dew is still on the roses.
And the voice I hear falling on my ear,
The son of God discloses.

I no longer wait for tragedy to send me to the garden. My special time with God is early in the morning. I enter that holy time alone. If I’m still, quiet, and listen carefully, the voice I hear falling on my ear, the son of God discloses. Don’t misunderstand. I’ve never been blessed to hear the audible voice of God. I had an aunt who heard voices and we locked her up so if I heard voices, I wouldn’t admit it anyway. Nevertheless, I do hear God’s voice in the early morning while the dew is still on the roses.

Verse 2- In the Garden*

He speaks and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me,
Within my heart is ringing.

As soon as my eyes open, the rush of anticipation of my time with God washes over me. I awaken hungry so I rush through my breakfast, quickly make my coffee, and trot upstairs with my dog Belle to my special vibrating recliner and kneeling bench. I kneel before the window and the sweet sound of God’s voice rings in my heart. I sit in my chair, open my Bible, and read the melodious words of God. If weather permits, I go outside. At first, I listen to the birds but the voice of God is so sweet that, to my ears, even the birds hush their singing.

Verse 3- In the Garden*

I’d stay in the garden with Him.
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go, through the voice of woe,
His voice to me is calling.

I want to stay in the garden but the work of the day beckons. If what I hear in garden is difficult and the day ahead of me dark, I beg to stay in the garden but God bids me to Go, through the voice of woe. When I beg for my cup to be removed, I wait in the garden until I can pray, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Chorus- In the Garden*

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

As I leave the garden, the chorus stays with me. God walks with me and He talks with me throughout my day. When I’m frightened or uncertain, He whispers that I am His own. The joy we share as God and I walk together in the garden surpasses anything I have ever known.

*In the Garden – Words and Music by Austin Miles

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

If the Devil Doesn't Like It, He Can Sit On a Tack

2011-04-01T11:46:00.001-04:00

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deut 31:8 NIV

I was 8 years old and loved to sing an old hymn that included the words, “If the devil doesn’t like it, he can sit on a tack.” I sang them fearlessly. I still believe those words just as much today but sometimes it takes a moment to recognize the devil’s hand in something.

It was time to write an April newsletter article. I had much to write about. Ministering with my best friend, Nancy Edwards, at Mardi Gras in New Orleans was amazing. 15 people prayed to receive Jesus. When I returned Nancy to Atlanta, 2 more people said yes to stepping up and changing their destinies. I’d also spoken at several events. I sat down to write and words wouldn’t come. What was my problem?

Discouragement
During and in the busy week after Mardi Gras, criticism of the effectiveness of evangelism and what I do came from several sources whose words cut to the bone. Those words, so casually spoken, grew in my mind until I found myself doubting the validity of my call from God on a week where heaven had literally come down and glory had filled my soul. I sought the council of my husband, Bob, who immediately began praying for what he labeled “Cheryle’s discouragement.”

I’ve come to believe discouragement is a demon who follows me when God is with me and goes before me. It attacks right after a spiritual victory. Most often, it finds its way into my heart through Christians or those I love or respect. It is sneaky and ruthless. It preys on my doubts and fears and uses my very heart for God and God’s word against me. It is cunning because I have trouble telling the difference between the demon discouragement and Godly council that I depend on to keep me spiritually fit.

When I heard myself saying to Bob, “I’m confused about what I should be doing,” I knew Bob was right. The demon discouragement had cleverly found a home. It was why I couldn’t write. Truth never confuses me. When my heart is open to God, truth pierces my soul. When my heart is spiritually cold, I can ignore truth so I’m not confused. The fact that I was confused meant the demon discouragement was attacking me and threatening to hinder my ability to Give’em Heaven in 2011. Get thee behind me, Satan!

The Answer
If the demon, discouragement, is hindering your ability to Give’em Heaven in 2011, let me share some truths I’ve learned.

The only effective tool against a demon is to rebuke it and speak the word of God aloud.

If someone has told you that Christians are too “preachy,” know that God calls us to go into the world and preach the Gospel.

If you are wondering if people who pray to receive Jesus are sincere, let me state that all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved.

If you’ve heard that people need to be convicted of all of their sins first, know that they only need to admit they are a sinner and ask for forgiveness. The Holy Spirit often convicts new Christians of one sin at a time over an extended period.

If you think you can’t tell someone all about Jesus in just a few minutes, believe that the lost do not have to understand everything about Jesus to receive Him. They only need faith the size of mustard seed to call on the Lord.

If you are uncomfortable quoting numbers of salvations, please consider that the number of people we lead to Jesus matters because each number is person and people matter. We are to place our light on a table for all see. The Bible often quotes numbers and it is my conviction we should as well. At Pentecost, 3,000 people called on the Lord. In 2010, 132 people prayed with me to receive Jesus. At Mardi Gras, 15 people prayed with Nancy and me to change their eternal destiny. I do not apologize for bragging on God because the God’s word is sharper than a double-edged sword and those salvations came from speaking God’s words aloud.

For those who argue that salvation isn’t just about speaking a few words but is about a changed heart, let me assure you that a prayer that calls on Jesus is made up of words and speaking that prayer aloud is the single most powerful tool I’ve ever witnessed for leading to a changed heart. While “the sinner’s prayer” is not specifically in the Bible, 1) accepting that sin has separated us from God and asking for forgiveness from that sin, 2) confessing that Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead for our sins, and 3) asking Jesus to our Lord and Savior is absolutely in the Bible. The order of the words may not matter but confessing, believing, and praying to receive Jesus is the difference between an eternity in heaven and an eternity in hell.

To those who question the feasibility of leading people to Christ while they are in the middle of sinning, let me quote Romans 5:20. Where sin increases, grace abounds. I can personally attest that when Christians evangelize at dark events where sin increases, grace does indeed abound, and many pray to receive Jesus.

To those who counter that it is impossible to follow up with people who pray to receive Jesus right on the street, may I remind you that just as the Holy Spirit sends evangelists to lead people to Christ, He is equally faithful to send teachers to disciple them.

Join us at Pocket Full of Change Ministries and Give’em Heaven in 2011. People are hungry to know Jesus. Don’t let the demon discouragement keep you from being bold. As the old hymn says, “If the devil doesn’t like it, he can sit on a tack.”

Why Hell?

2011-03-12T07:30:00.004-05:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, “Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.” Luke 16:22-24 NIV

“I don’t believe in hell,” our server, Ally, told my best friend Nancy and me. “How can a good God create hell?”

Nancy and I had just left her church choir practice and were sitting at the end of a long table with several of her friends, including her Minister of Music. Sensing Ally was shy, we talked so quietly that Nancy’s friends at the end of table didn’t even know what was going on.

“Do you believe that Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I believe in Jesus. I just don’t believe in hell. We’re all good and God loves us so we’re all going to heaven.”

“If that were not true, would you want to know it before you die?”

Ally stared at us for a few seconds and finally said, “Yes. I just can’t believe God would create hell.”

I began explaining the theology about hell. I talked about fallen angels, free will, and Jesus going into hell. Ally’s eyes glazed over and I remembered that non-Christians don’t have the Holy Spirit and can’t understand such things.

“Ally,” I said. “I’m a Christian. Like you, I believe in Jesus. I’ve gone a step further. I’ve invited Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. When I did that, the Holy Spirit entered me. The Holy Spirit helps me understand things that cannot be understood without Christ. The Bible is God’s letter to me. When I read it, God is talking directly to me. The Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin is the Bible word for making mistakes. The wages of sin is death. The Bible says there is a hell and that's enough for me to believe it. It also says all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. I may not like it but I believe hell exists and I trust God about that. If you pray to receive Jesus, you’ll also start developing that same kind of trust and understanding.”

Ally relaxed. Believing it because it was in the Bible was enough for her.

“Would you like to invite Jesus into your life right now?” I asked.

“Oh no, I can’t,” she said, frantically looking at Nancy’s friends. “I’m self conscious.”

“Ally,” I said. “We’re the only people in the restaurant. Everyone else at this table is talking and aren’t watching us. Look at my hands. They’re shaking. My heart is about to beat out of my chest. This is your moment. I don’t usually push but I can’t describe how I’m feeling. I think God wants you to do this now. I’m good at making this easy and will tell you exactly what to say.”

“Ok,” she whispered.

Nancy and I took her tiny, trembling hands. Together, we gave Ally the words that would change her destiny. Aloud, I added the words, “God, please help Ally understand all the things she doesn’t understand.”

When we finished, Nancy asked Ally if she could tell everyone sitting at the table. Ally said yes so Nancy got their attention and announced Ally’s good news. Everyone at the table clapped.

“Do you have a Bible?” I asked. “The Bible will help answer your questions.”

“No,” she said.

“I’ll bring you one this week,” Nancy’s Minister of Music eagerly spoke up. He will follow up, get her a Bible, and invite her to their church.

“Thank you,” Ally said, as we left. “Thank you so much.”

Nancy and I have been together a week. We’ve had 17 salvations. I leave her tomorrow to move to the next stop. Like Ally, I sometime wonder, why hell? The only answer I have is that I trust God and believe the Bible. I hate the idea of people going to hell.

Join us in our “Give’em Heaven in 2011” campaign. Invite me to your area to go evangelizing. Pray for us. We’re almost out of money and it is only March. Consider making a donation to this ministry. Tell your community about Jesus. Give’em Heaven in 2011!

Yes, No, We'll See

2011-03-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6-7 NIV

Mardi Gras came to an end. It is time for me to give my best friend Nancy back to her husband, Barry. It was a good four days and well worth our time and the money people donated to make it happen. We had 15 salvations, passed out tracts, and presented the Gospel numerous times. We met so many faithful Christians there doing the same thing. The Bible says to think on what is lovely and leading people to Jesus is lovely.

Yes

“If you get to heaven and God asked, ‘Girlfriend, why should I let you in?, 'what would you say?” I asked a woman who had just told me she was going to heaven. I’d guessed she was about 25. Her black skirt was so tight and short that I wondered how she moved.

She was silent for minute. Finally, she said, “I have no idea!”

“Good answer,” I said. “You’re honest. I can work with that. Do you believe in Jesus?”

“Yes,” she said. We confirmed the facts of His birth, death, and resurrection and she was well informed. I spoke scripture about how to get to heaven and she listened with rapt attention. Someone had taught her about Jesus but not the way to Him. When I invited her to pray, she was ready and eager.

I love telling children about Jesus. With the permission of the supervising adults, we gave out many children’s tracts and presented the gospel to several groups of children, using a picture cube that tells the story of Jesus.

One grandmother agreed to let me talk to her 5 grandchildren and said, “These 3 here're saved but these 2 ain’t. I told them about Jesus but their mama don’t take them to church.”

As I told the story of Jesus, I stopped at each section of the cube to make sure the two unsaved little boys, aged 6 & 8, understood. They not only understood, they believed. The grandmother had taught them well.

“May I ask them to invite Jesus into their lives?” I asked.

“Yes,” the Grandmother answered without hesitation.

I turned to the boys. “You know and believe everything you need to know to become Jesus’ friend. Do you want to do that now?”

They both nodded solemnly but when they repeated the simplified salvation prayer, they said it clearly and enthusiastically.

No

I long for every encounter to be lovely, but not all are. Many refused the tract. A few were rude and occasionally obscene. I heard several times, “I’m good. Don’t bother me.” I honored their wishes and moved on, praying for them as I left.

We’ll See

Several listened to the Gospel, took the tract, and promised to say the prayer later. I believe that at least two of those will really do it. Who knows, maybe more than that. I didn’t push beyond my invitation to pray.

My favorite, “We’ll See” are the intellectuals who love to debate. They pontificate about science, future lives, philosophy, other deities, or what ever book they have just read. I listen completely and do not debate. In fact, I try to express no opinion about their opinions. I’ve found opinions escalate debate and while they might enjoy it, we get nowhere.

When they finish their speeches, I usually ask, “If Jesus were the way, truth, and the life and no one could get to the Father except through Him, would you want to know it?”

One person this week said no so I moved on.

Most often, I hear something like, “That’s a silly question. I could never know that. It would be impossible to know.”

I smile and say, “I knew you were going to think it was silly but it is a serious question. If there were a way you could know beyond a shadow of doubt, would you want to know? If Jesus were the only way to heaven and you were going to end up spending an eternity in hell without Him, would you want to know it before you die?”

Most say yes. I then say, “I want to give you the Jesus Challenge. It takes courage but I think you’re up to it. Ask the Jesus you don’t believe it if He is real. Tell Him you need proof. Feel free to tell Him you don’t believe and how ridiculous you think the notion of there being only one-way to heaven really is. He has big shoulders. He can handle it. Ask Him if He is real and then watch with an open mind. If He isn’t real, you have nothing to lose. If He is real, you have eternity to gain.”

Two Mardi Gras clad confirmed atheists took the Jesus challenge this week. I gave them my card and said, “You’d better hang on to your hat and my card. Over the years, I’ve heard back from several people who took the Jesus Challenge. Their stories were astounding. Contact me and tell me your story about how Jesus proved Himself.”

Yes, it has been a lovely week. I love going outside to play with my best friend, Nancy. Evangelism is my favorite kind of play. Evangelism is not Nancy's calling but she is always willing support me in my adventures. When we wake up tomorrow, I’ll drive Nancy back to Atlanta.

The Reason

2011-03-07T23:54:00.002-05:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Rom 10:13 NIV

Today, I think I discovered the reason I felt so driven to attend Mardi Gras. I suspect Anthony was the main reason God wanted me here.

On Sunday, Nancy and I took a break from witnessing to watch a delightful street show. For an hour, we watched 4 talented young men perform amazing gymnastic feats, tell jokes, and dance.

Throughout the show, I focused on Anthony, who appeared to be the leader. His mouth contained what I think is called a “grill” and when he laughed, his twinkling gold teeth competed with his twinkling eyes. Because of some of the jokes, I suspected he wasn’t a Christian, but I appreciate talent and anyone who can make me laugh.

After the show, I stood in the long line to give my compliments. “You guys were great,” I said. “You are also good at getting money out of people. You asked us for $5 and sure enough, I found myself putting $5 in the basket instead of my usual $1. I’m in ministry and $5 is precious.”

“Oh, he’s good at a hustle all right,” quipped the young woman standing next to him.

“Yes, he is,” I said. “As I watched the show, I couldn’t help but think that God has big plans for your talent and humor. I can see it one day leading young people to Christ but that would mean you’d have to become a Christian first.”

Anthony and his friend laughed.

“I know another group who uses karate to lead people to Christ. They go into high schools and churches. They are using their talent to change the world,” I said. “It was all I could think about as I watched your show.”

Anthony was polite but people were waiting so I left and didn’t expect to see him again.

Today, Nancy and I meandered over to Artillery Park, the same place Anthony’s group had performed the day before. We were expecting a huge Christian worship service but were surprised to see Anthony’s group finishing a show and the Christian worship team standing around.

It turned out that both groups had paid for permits for use of the same space. I watched Anthony interact with the Christian team as they compared permits. Then, Anthony stuck out his hand, shook the pastor’s hand, and started removing his equipment.

I walked over to Anthony. “You guys are a class act. You could have made that difficult and yet you didn’t. I know this is costing you money and you must be disappointed. I appreciate how cooperative you’re being.”

“I just wanted to see his permit,” he said. “Last year Christians told me they had a permit and it turned out they had lied.”

“Lying isn’t Christian,” I said. “I’m sorry that happened to you. By the way, I still think God has big plans for you.”

“You remind me of an old lady who always comes to Mardi Gras and tries to pray with me.”

“Maybe that old lady couldn’t come so God sent another old lady to talk to you about Jesus,” I joked.

To worship with what looked to be a thousand Christians right in the middle of Mardi Gras was amazing. There standing across from fortunetellers and party goers circling Jackson Square, Christians danced, sang, jumped, waved flags, prayed, and took communion, all in the name of Jesus. As the worship service neared the end, I noticed familiar athletic pants moving up behind me. Somehow, in that big crowd, Anthony had ended up right behind me.

He seemed to be under conviction so I began praying for him and waited until the end of service to talk to him.

“I’m glad you came,” I said, standing up and touching his arm. “I’ve been sitting here praying for you. I can’t stop thinking that God has big plans for you in the body of Christ.”

“I think I’m getting there,” he said quietly.

“You don’t have to ‘get there.’ We can do this right now. The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life. All who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. Let’s call on Him right now. I’ll tell you exactly what to say.”

“OK,” he said.

Anthony gave me his hands and together, we prayed for him to receive Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. Nancy congratulated him. Anthony left to set up for his next show, changed forever.

“I knew it!” I told Nancy excitedly. “I knew last night he was going to accept Jesus. God is going to use his talent in the church. I think Anthony may be the reason I was supposed to come to Mardi Gras. I feel like I could go home now and I’d be finished.”

“I’m OK with that,” Nancy grinned. I knew what she meant. Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras was definitely not Nancy’s choice for a place to be. I’d needed someone with me and she’d come because I needed her.

“No,” I said. “Sorry. We have one more day. Let’s finish this.”

We’ve had 10 people pray to receive Jesus. Tonight, we strolled Bourbon Street praying for the drunken crowd and handing out tracts. We were encouraged by how many Christians were there doing the same thing. Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday. Where sin increases, grace abounds.

Making Lemonade From Lemons

2011-03-06T23:31:00.000-05:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28 NIV

Lemons start out sour. If you squeeze them and add sugar, they turn into wonderful delicious lemonade. Logic would have it that when a sour, squeezed life meets the sweetness of Jesus, that life would turn as sweet as a tall icy glass of lemonade. The sad reality is that it doesn’t always work that way.

Today, Day 2, of our Mardi Gras experience, my best friend Nancy and I stood and watched some sour faced Christians using an amplified bullhorn and vile posters to shout obscenities and condemnations to Mardi Gras attendees. To add insult to injury, they did it standing on the steps of the magnificent St. Louis Cathedral that Nancy and I had enjoyed so much yesterday.

They weren’t alone in their heckling. Because this wasn’t their first year of torturing party goers, non-Christian members of the crowd came prepared with bullhorns and nasty signs of their own. I apologized to Jesus as Nancy and I listened to the loud and sometimes obscene insults being tossed back and forth.

“I’m so sorry,” I told an angry man yelling into a bullhorn and wearing a t-shirt with a picture of Jesus pictured profanely. “I’m a Christian. Jesus is about love. Those people yelling at you are not representing the Jesus I know and love.”

“No kidding,” the man said. “They come every year. They stand on the stairs of a church we love and say horrible things.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said. The irate anti-Jesus crowd gathered around us and Nancy and I apologized to all of them, lacing scripture with our apology. We listened to their frustrations until they seemed to settle down. Other Christians walked by and added their apologies.

Are you wondering where the lemonade comes in? I was furious with those sour faced Christians until I remembered that all things worked together for good for those who love God and have been called according to His purpose. Those sour Christians had handed us opportunities to evangelize. Those opportunities led to at least 1 salvation, many presentations of the Gospel, two commitments from “atheists” to ask Jesus to reveal Himself, and a chance to be Jesus to an angry mob.

All things today did work together for our good. Nancy and I had a good day. We worshiped and prayed together and shared Jesus with many people. 4 of those conversations resulted in salvations. That makes a total of 8 salvations for Mardi Gras. I must also confess that Nancy and I also took time today for a 20-minute much needed foot massage, watched some amazing street performers, and visited fun shops. After all, we are female and best friends.

Tomorrow, I’d really like to meet those sour faced Christians again and thank them for providing us the opportunity to apologize for their hostility. I suspect that thought isn’t from God so instead, I’ll focus my attention on demonstrating love to a lost and dying world. For tonight, I’m just going to enjoy the lemonade.

Heaven Came Down

2011-03-05T23:35:00.002-05:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

It isn’t unusual for best friends to go to Mardi Gras together. In fact, everywhere my best friend Nancy Edwards and I looked, friends were partying hearty together at the 2011 Mardi Gras. Nancy and I have been best friend for over 40 years so naturally, we want to be together any time we can. What is unusual is the reason we went. Nancy and I were at Mardi Gras to lead people to Christ.

Day 1 started out slowly. It was raining as heaven literally came down. Cold, wet, grumpy people huddled together under the awnings that decorate the French Quarter. They were not in the mood for friendly conversation.

To stay warm and dry, Nancy and I ducked in to two museums and the magnificent St. Louis Cathedral. We felt like God gifted us with a few moments to just be girlfriends enjoying the history and beauty of the city of New Orleans. Realizing the rain was there to say, we bought $3.99 ponchos and begin our work.

We walked and walked and walked. We handed out a few tracts but mostly we started conversations. We heard one young man say, “I look 21. I can get away with it.”

I touched his arm and said, “No you don’t. You look 19.”

“Did you hear me say how old I was?” he asked, looking surprised.

“No,” I said. “You look 19.” That was our door opener to tell the group about Jesus. No one from that group prayed to receive Jesus but we encouraged them to stay safe because we knew they had mothers that cared about them.

Then, in park overlooking Jackson Square with St. Louis Cathedral as a back drop, heaven came down and glory filled our souls. Nancy noticed a man taking a picture of 5 beautiful young women. She offered to take the picture for him so he could be in the picture and he told her that he wasn’t with them. After he took the picture, he moved on but Nancy and I stayed and struck up the conversation that resulted in 3 of them praying to receive Jesus. Look in the photo gallery and notice the smiles on their face right after they bowed their heads and invited Jesus into their lives.

Nancy and I continued on. We talked to many people. We passed a jewelry store, and being female, we had to go in. We hadn’t gotten 5 feet into the store before heaven came down again. Nancy says my eavesdropping is a spiritual gift. I overheard a young woman saying to her friend, “I love my mother but…”

I turned to her and said, “You can stop right there. You love your mother. You don’t have to add the but.” She and her friend both went to laughing.

She answered, “My mother is wonderful. She prayed with me before I came.”

“Are you a Christian?” I asked.

“I am,” she said.

“If something happened to you tonight, do you know where you’d go in the next life?”

“Heaven,” she said. “My name is written in the book of life.”

“What about you?” I asked her friend. Three minutes later, her friend’s name was written in the book of life, as she prayed to receive Jesus.”

Nancy stepped back to take a picture and the sales girl said, “I’m not really supposed to let you take pictures in here but I overheard what was going on and wanted to let you capture the moment.” The sales clerk told us she was a Christian.

We arrived back to Providence House at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary bedraggled, tired, and wet but excited to “Give'em Heaven in 2011.”

Give 'em Heaven in 2011

2011-02-09T22:18:00.000-05:00

Picture yourself standing on street corner. Waiting with you is a tattooed, pierced young woman with spiked multicolored hair and wearing a black and white polka dotted short skirt that makes it clear there is nothing underneath. Earbuds seem to have grown into her head. How could she chew gum with that tongue ring? The tiny white dotted traffic light man signals it is safe to walk. This young woman automatically steps off the curb. You don’t trust the electronic man so you look both ways. A car is barreling through the intersection, determined beat the red light. What do you do?

Should you “mind your own business?” Maybe the driver is male and will notice the short skirt in time to stop. You could hope someone else will tell her about the speeding car. She’s listening to music and not paying attention. Does she deserve what happens next? Personally, I think you’d reach out and snatch this woman to safety, caring little about what she looks like, deserves, or thinks of being so roughly handled.

Now, mentally return to that same curb. You look at her and suspect she does not have the promised peace that passes all understanding. She doesn’t look like her body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Does she know there is heavenly host that makes music more beautiful than what is blaring from the earbuds? What if she steps from that curb and a speeding car ends her life. Where will she go next? What do you do?

You could “mind your own business.” After all, if you talk about Jesus, you might offend. Maybe she already knows Christ. You could pray that someone else tells her about Jesus. Do you ignore her because she seems hell bent and probably deserves what she gets? Based on what Christians across America tell me, most will just look away, cross the street and do nothing. What would you do? Would you ask if she knows your beloved Jesus?

In Matthew 28:18-19, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The eternal destiny of the world is our business.

Most of you probably agree that spending a life without Christ and an eternity in hell is worse than having a speeding car careen into you. The point of our campaign, “Give ‘em Heaven in 2011” is to encourage all of us to speak up and share our faith with that level of urgency.

If you don’t know how, contact us and we’ll help. We offer free teleconferences called “The Secret to Witnessing.” Ask for our Pocket Reference Guide for Witnessing and some tracts. In 2010, 132 strangers prayed with me to receive Jesus. I participated in or led events where many Christians with various spiritual gifts led thousands to Christ, using a simple process. I’d be honored visit your church, class, or organization and share salvation stories and the process we use. Join me – Give ‘em Heaven in 2011. It is easier than most think.

Would You Like to Know the Secret to Everything?

2011-01-18T18:58:00.004-05:00

Join Cheryle Touchton and Pocket Full of Change Ministries for a free teleconference and on-line Bible Study
The First Tuesday of Every Month Beginning on February 1, 2011
7:00 EST

How many times have you said, “I’m a Christian? I shouldn’t feel this way.” Are you confused about what to do next? Are you restless? Does your best not seem good enough? What if there were an ancient, secret formula that contained the key to a new freedom and peace beyond your wildest dreams? Wouldn’t you want to know the secret?

The good news is that there is such a formula. God offered this secret formula many thousands of years ago. Generations who embraced it, soared as if on eagle’s wings and those that did not, crashed to the ground. Learn secrets like how to guarantee good self esteem, how to heal broken hearts, and how to feel the presence of the God who loves you so much that He sings over you. Join us the first Tuesday night of every month for an action packed multimedia teleconference and on-line Bible Study and discussion based on Cheryle Touchton’s newest book The Secret to Everything. It is free but Cheryle offers you double your money back if you don’t find yourself laughing out loud and crying real tears as you discover the five simple words that will change your life and give you focus and direction.

While not a requirement to attend and benefit from the Bible Study, Cheryle encourages you to order her book, The Secret to Everything, and come prepared to discuss the questions in the chapter entitled “Parley.” After all, it shouldn’t be hard since you’ll have an entire month read each short chapter. Each session works as a standalone Bible Study so you can attend as many sessions as you wish. Since the sessions are recorded, you can listen to any you miss and people can join and catch up at any time. However, the only way to participate in the live discussions is to attend each session as it is presented live. The sessions are as follows:

• February 1: Preparation and Promise
• March 1: Progress to Mind Matters
• April 5: Progress to Heart Helps
• May 3: Progress to Soul Soothers
• June 7: Progress to Strength Solutions
• July 5; Progress to Neighbor Needs
• August 2: Perseverance: The Next Step

Class Size Is Limited So Ask Barbara For the “Secret” To Enrolling Now

Enrolling is easy. E-mail Barbara and she’ll send you the “secret” telephone number to listen and the “secret” website to view the presentation. When you call in, Cheryle will give you the “secret” key code.

The Eyes of the Christ Child

2010-12-01T22:48:00.000-05:00

Day 2: The Eyes of the Christ Child

Meditation (3-5 Minutes)

Begin by being still before God. Read Isaiah 9:6 and meditate on the words.

Isa 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

1) Be still and know he is God.

2) Think about Jesus as a child.
a) What can you imagine him doing?
b) Do you think he enjoyed getting and receiving gifts?
c) How do you think the Christ Child would experience Christmas?
d) View this Christmas through the eyes of the Christ Child.

3) Let him be your Wonderful Counselor.
a) Surrender your problems.
b) Seek his wisdom.

4) Let him be your Mighty God.
a) Feel his power.
b) Surrender to his power.
c) Claim his power.

5) Let him be your Everlasting Father.
a) Bask in his love.
b) Feel his arms around you.

6) Let him be your Prince of Peace.
a) Release all contentious thoughts or worries.
b) Experience his peace.

Prayer
1) Ask God to speak to you during this worship time.

2) Requests of the Christ Child

a) Pray specifically for those that need to experience Christmas through the eyes of the Christ Child.
i) Specifically name those in emotional or physical pain.
ii) Specifically name the non-Christians in your life.
iii) Add them to the list.

b) Prayerfully update the list with new requests and any answers from God.

c) Praise God for his answers.

3) Gifts from the Christ Child
a) Praise God for his blessings.
b) Update the list.

4) Gifts to the Christ Child
a) Ask God to give you his spirit as you give gifts to others.
b) Prayerfully, update the list.

5) Ask God for knowledge of his will for you and the power to carry it out.

6) Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Bible Study

Jesus came to earth as a baby. Like other babies, people gave him gifts and celebrated his birth. As far as we know, he had to learn to walk, talk, and dress himself. He grew up loved by his earthly mother and father. As an adult, Jesus loved children. He instructed us to let children be our teachers.

Background Scripture
Matthew 9:13-15, Mark 10:13-16, and Luke 18:15-17: Read the background scripture carefully. Jesus took time to be with children. How did he treat these children? What did he do for them?

What lesson was Jesus trying to teach his pious and impatient disciples?

The Faith of a Child
Lauren is eight years old. “I can’t wait for Christmas. It is my first Christmas as a Christian.” Earlier this year, Lauren asked Jesus to be a part of her life. “I was baptized,” she excitedly told me.

Lauren lives in a Godly home. She has been in church all of her life. Jesus has always been part of her life in some way. I questioned her further. “You already knew about Jesus. Why is this Christmas different?”

“Christmas has to be different because everything is different now. Jesus is my friend. I need him this year because two of my other friends moved away. Jesus will never move away.”

“What do you do with Jesus?” I asked.

“I talk to him. My brother is sick so I ask God to help him. My Daddy needs a job. I tell Jesus.”

“What is your favorite part of Christmas?” I asked.

“Church is fun at Christmas. I love singing the Christmas Carols. I get to go upfront and light a candle.” I asked about her favorite Christmas service. “Christmas Eve,” she said. “We turn off the lights and light candles.”

“What about the Bible? Do you have favorite verse?” I prompted.

Without hesitation, she answered, “Genesis 1:1. I can say it. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. This was the first verse I memorized. It reminds me that God made me. My favorite verse in the New Testament is John 3:16. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I wondered if she understood and asked her about it. “This tells me I will live forever with Jesus.”

Read John 3:16 and Genesis 1:1.

Since Lauren is just eight, I knew there had to be more to Christmas for her. “What about gifts?” I quizzed. “What was your favorite gift?”

Her face lit up. “I love gifts. When I was three, I got a toy car that fit over my legs. I sat the ground and pretended to drive. It had a steering wheel and a gearshift. Driving this car made me feel like a grown up. When I got older, what I liked changed. I gave that toy car to a girl in my church. Now I like Barbie Christmas gifts. Wearing a Barbie nightgown makes me feel pretty. I want a new Barbie for Christmas.”

“Lauren, why do you think we celebrate Christmas?” I was expecting her to say we celebrated the birth of Jesus. Her answer was better.

“We celebrate God’s gift to us. Christmas reminds me of a song I sing in church. This song says that we do not have to go looking for the gift of Christmas. Jesus is the gift that comes to us.” In what way does Lauren have the eyes of the Christ Child?

Luke 18:17: How are we to receive the kingdom of God?

A footnote to Lauren’s story is that her brother got well and her father found a job.

Application (5-10 Minutes)

1) Making It Personal
a) Name and pray for your favorite Christmas celebration.
b) Write your favorite Bible verse.
c) What was your favorite Christmas gift? Thank God for it.
d) Think of a child that you know well. Pick someone who is sweet, innocent, and bright with the joy of a child.
e) How will this child react to life today?
f) What areas of your life need the eyes of the Christ Child?
g) Ask God to help you have a childlike spirit throughout the day.

2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17):
a) Stop and briefly pray when you feel strong emotions (i.e. impatience, anger, excitement, frustration, or joy).
b) As you feel each of these emotions, ask yourself this question: “If I were experiencing this with the faith of a child, how would I be reacting?”
c) Ask for the faith of a child.

Ending the Day

a) Thank God for the children in your life.
b) Did you have the eyes of the Christ Child today?
c) Confess if necessary.
d) Ask God for the eyes of the Christ Child.

Godly Fellowship At Christmas

2010-12-01T01:12:00.000-05:00

Day 1: Godly Fellowship At Christmas

Morning Meditation (3-5 Minutes)

Begin by being still before God. Read Psalms 46:20 and meditate on the words.

Psalms 46:10 (NIV) Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.

• Be Still.
o Clear your mind.
o Breathe deeply.
o Sit quietly.

• Know He is God.
o Feel his presence.
o Let his presence envelop you.

• He is exalted among the nations and on the earth.
o Feel his power.
o Surrender to his power.
o Claim his power.

Prayer (5-10 Minutes)

Ask God to speak to you during this devotional time.
Requests of the Christ Child

• Pray for the Christmas season.
o Pray for the Christmas worship services and celebrations in the community.
o Pray for your church and your Christmas celebrations.
o Pray for our Nation during this holiday period.
o List any specific events/concerns that need continued prayers.

• Pray for needs.
o Pray specifically for the people in your lives.
o Pray for your church.
o Tell God your concerns and needs.
o List any specific requests that need continued prayers.

Gifts from the Christ Child
• Think about your blessings this Christmas.
• Praise God for his blessings.
• List your top three blessings.

Gifts to the Christ Child
• Ask God to help develop that gifts given to anyone is a gift to the Christ Child.
• Ask God what gifts he wants you to give this Christmas.
• Prayerfully, fill it any gifts you plan to purchase between now and Christmas.

Ask for knowledge of his will for you this Christmas and the power to carry it out.

Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study (10-15 Minutes)

Christmas is a time for fellowship. We fellowship with God, families, friends, and our church. God tells us, “It is not good for you to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) Healthy loving hearts need fellowship. If we fellowship with God and open our eyes and look around, God will send us people with whom to have deep and intimate fellowship. We read his word to learn about Godly fellowship.

Background Scripture
The background Scripture is Luke 1:1-56. Open your Bibles to the familiar passage. Today’s devotion studies the fellowship between the two Godly women God chose to begin the very first Christmas. We will study how Mary and Elizabeth fellowshipped with God and each other. We will study the following aspects of their fellowship: Love, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, and Jesus Christ.

God chose two very unlikely women. Elizabeth was too old to have a child. Mary was too young and innocent to have a child. They were both a “disgrace” by their world’s standards. Elizabeth’s disgrace had been her barrenness. Mary’s disgrace was that she became pregnant before she married.

Our Holy God loves to do the unexpected. The world judged them unworthy. God judged them most worthy. He chose Elizabeth to bear the son that would tell the world about the Christ Child. He chose Mary to bear His son.

Background - Elizabeth
Read Luke 1:5-7. Elizabeth had been married for many years to Zechariah. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were descendents of priests. They lived blameless lives. Zechariah was faithful to his priestly calling. Their religion taught them that children were blessings from God. People assumed the inability to have children was a sign of God’s punishment. Elizabeth and Zechariah were most likely the subject of gossip and/or questions. How do you think Elizabeth felt about being barren?

Read Luke 1:25: Elizabeth desperately wanted children. She pleaded with God and had faith he would answer. She waited and most likely held her breath each month. She probably felt shame and disgrace over her barrenness as the years progressed. Miraculously, God finally answered her prayers. How does she feel now?

Read Luke 1:16-17: God had planned her blessing for years. He gave more than she asked. Her child was special. What was her son’s purpose?

Background - Mary
Mary was a young woman with the same dreams that other young women had. She was faithful to God. We see from her questions to the angel that she was intelligent, confident, and faithful. She was a woman of honor and purity. Mary was engaged to a kind Jewish man named Joseph. She expected to follow in the footsteps of the faithful people that had taught her how to live and love.

Read Luke 1:29-31 and Luke 1:12-13: Again, God does the unexpected. An angel named Gabriel appeared to her, changing her plans. Gabriel had been very busy. He had also visited Zachariah, announcing Elizabeth’s pregnancy. What would your reaction be to a visit from an angel? Not surprising, Gabriel frightened both Zachariah and Mary. We can only hope Gabriel does not take our reactions personally. He seems to be used to the reactions because he had his response ready.

Read Luke 1:34: Gabriel told Mary that she was going to bear the son of God. Mary’s parents had obviously told her the “facts of life.” Why was Mary confused?

Read Luke 1:38: In the end, she humbly accepted the will of God. She even rejoiced in the news. What was her answer?

One can only imagine the conversation with Mary’s mother. “An angel said what?” Mary must have been tempted to ask Gabriel to come back and explain this situation to her mother. We do know that Mary left her home in a hurry. (Luke 1:39)
Love

Read Luke 1:43-44: Mary went straight to Elizabeth’s house. Here we have one of the most beautiful demonstrations of love that is recorded in the Bible. These women shared their faith and joy. They quoted scripture and worshipped God as they talked. They encouraged one another. Elizabeth rejoiced at Mary’s arrival. What did she say to Mary?

Baby John was not going to be left out. What did he do?

Holy Spirit
Read Luke 1:41-42: True Godly fellowship includes the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Because the Holy Sprit was a part of their relationship, Elizabeth understood the situation before Mary even told her.

God, The Father
Read Luke 1:46-47: True fellowship includes worship of the Holy Father. Mary and Elizabeth praised God together as they sang and quoted scriptures. “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my savor.” Enjoy the words of their worship service.
Jesus

Read Luke 1:42: The final piece of true fellowship is Jesus Christ. Jesus was the point of Mary and Elizabeth’s fellowship. What were Elizabeth’s words to Mary?

Application (5-10 Minutes)

1) Making It Personal
a) List the people with whom you will fellowship the most this Christmas. (write your answer)
b) Whom do you love? (write your answer)
c) With whom do you share Godly fellowship? Which relationships include the presence of the Holy Spirit, worship of God the Father, and the love of Jesus Christ? (write your answer)
d) Which relationships need improvement? (write your answer)
e) Ask God to help you improve your relationships.
f) What can you do to improve your relationships? (write your answer)
g) If you are lonely and need more fellowship, write a letter asking God to meet your needs. Ask God to send you one new person today. (write your answer)

2) Praying Continuously (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
a) Pray for those closest to you at lunch, dinner, and at bedtime:
b) Tell at least one friend how important they are to you.
c) Look for his answers throughout the day.

Ending Each Day With God

a) Ask God to help you with your fellowship with him and those closest to you.
b) How was your fellowship on this 1st day of the Christmas season?
c) Confess your failures and claim your victories.
d) Decide to apologize the next day, if necessary.
e) Praise God for his fellowship this Christmas.

The Secret to Surviving the Economy

2010-11-19T12:37:00.000-05:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
904-614-3585
Cheryle@pocketfullofchange.org

Whine, Whine, Whine. Everyone is whining about the same subject – the economy. I know because I was whining too. I felt justified. My husband’s employer eliminated the entire department that we moved across the country for him to work for. We owned houses in two cities and both were worth around 40% less than we had paid for them.

I had company with my whining. I turned on the television and heard whining within minutes. It was the most popular discussion topic at social events. I opened my newspaper and the whining began on the front page. The last time I checked, whining did not help. What I needed was an answer. I have great news – there is one and, thank goodness, I remembered it.

My answer started with knowing that God has amazing plans for me – plans to prosper me and give me a hope and a future. How did I know? God said so in Jeremiah 29:11. The trick was to discover those plans. Then I remembered. I knew an ancient secret that had been around for thousands of years.

The irony of me forgetting this secret is that I’m an author and this ancient secret is the subject of all of my books and articles. If you are Jewish, you probably wear this secret around your neck and call it the Sh’ma. If you are Christian, you know it as the Greatest Commandment. It is practical, balanced, and simple. In short, when we stop working on our problems and simply love God with our entire mind, heart, soul, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves, the problems take care of themselves.

When my husband and I stopped worrying about the economy and refocused all energy on loving God and our neighbors, we were able to hear the plans God has for us along with how to finance them. It was not easy and we had make some difficult decisions but just two short years later, our houses are sold, we have no debt, my husband has another job, and we are gradually rebuilding our financial security. We do not make as much money as we have in the past and we are renting instead of owning a home, but we live in a lovely house and have enough money to meet our needs, give to others, have fun.

So how does this apply to the reality of unsold homes, job searches, and stressed budgets? Below are five simple steps for surviving the economy.

Step 1 – Mind Matters
First, focus your mind on what is good, lovely, pure, and admirable in your life. List them on paper. Then, get honest and answer, in writing, the following questions:
• What is the reality of your financial situation? List your income, expenses, and debt. (a spread sheet helps)
• List your risks. For example, is your job in jeopardy? Are you over/under qualified for the current job market? Has your home value decreased?
• What can you reasonably afford with the income you have?
• What can you reasonably do without?

Step 2 – Heart Helps
Whining, complaining, and self-pity are heart poison. Stop! If your financial situation has taken a downturn, don’t pout. Instead, face what you have given up and move on. If fear is worming its slimy way through your heart, stomp your feet in defiance. God of the Universe has plans for you! Reel in those rambunctious emotions.

List:
• What you had to give up
• What you lost and are grieving
• What you are afraid of losing
• Whom and what you are mad at or blame

Step 3 – Soul Solution
Economy issues are nothing for a God that can create a universe. Trust Him and pray, confess, and praise.

Ask God:
• To help you forgive anyone and any situation that has hurt you financially
• To reveal His plans for you and how you are to carry them out
• To give you wisdom to know what to do next
• To give you courage and power to carry out those plans

Thank God for everything in your life, including the economic crisis. List:
• What you need to do next
• What you want to do next

Trust what you wrote down.

Step 4 – Strength Solutions
Act immediately. Put your plan into action. This is no time for fear, doubt, laziness, or delay. Work with the energy and confidence of the determined. Work into the night. Smile while you are working because you know a secret. God has plans to give you hope and a future.

Step 5 – Neighbor Needs
If you’ve followed the above steps, you’ll be a light in this troubled time. Your financial recovery story will become hope for others. Love for your neighbors will bubble out with no effort. Let the economic stress bring you closer to others. Be generous with what you have and accept generosity. Don’t whine and walk away from anyone whining. Watch in wonder as the plans of God unfold, sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly, but always timely.

In the scheme of all eternity, unsold homes, short sales, and unemployment are unimportant but they matter to most of us. They must matter to God because He promised us a future and gave us the secret for dealing with them. When we stop worrying about the economy and focus all our energy on loving God and our neighbors, the economy crisis will serve its purpose and take care of itself. Hope will return! We will have a future. God said it and we can believe it!

Windblown

2010-09-02T15:46:00.003-04:00

This post is dedicated to my fun and funny friend, Jan Lucas, April 28, 1961-August 14, 2010

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Eccl 1:14 NIV

Are you feeling windblown today? Are you fretting over people, places, and things you can’t control? Are you trying to win when winning does not matter? Are you upset over events that are meaningless within the perspective of eternity? A recent series of events has given me a new perspective on chasing after the wind.

I couldn’t imagine my friend, Jan, dead. She was only 49. I shuddered as I remembered laughing with her over everything. She lit up a room when she entered. Even when she was upset, she found humor. She worked full time as an assistant to a department head at a university and part time as a licensed mortician. Through her university job, she traveled all over the world and had an amazing understanding of cultures. Her training and experiences as a caring mortician gave her calming perspectives and insights that the rest of us depended on. They say if you want something done, you give it to a busy person, and Jan’s church had come to depend on that. The last time I saw her, I sat with her in her church and was amazed at how many people came over to ask her about some church project they were working on. I teased that she had fingers literally in every pie professionally and personally. Her husband and two daughters beamed as they watched her flit from person to person. Beautiful Jan was full of earthly life one minute and in heaven the next. It seems inconceivable that it could happen so quickly and yet it did.

Jan was a member of a weekly spiritual support group that I participated in for 3 years. We discussed our relationships with God, family, friends, church, and employers. We shared our feelings and struggles. Honesty was our guiding principal and we were careful to protect secrets. We occasionally met for lunch, for coffee in individual homes, and even visited each other’s churches for special occasions. We were friends.

Jan was the 4th member of that 6 person group to die since I moved away 4 years ago and all but 1 of the women were younger than me. Each died of differing conditions that destroyed the frail human body quickly. As I remember discussions and admittedly even whining in those intimate gatherings, I realize how truly windblown most of us are. As a group, we discussed issues with children, husbands, jobs, and finances as if they mattered. With perfect hindsight knowledge, would those things have been so important if we had known those lovely women had such a short time left on earth? Perhaps we’d have chosen to sit together in parks talking with God and each other while feeling the sunshine on our faces. Maybe we wouldn’t have cared so much about scattered newspapers left by hapless husbands and thoughtless remarks by distracted children. Unreasonable bosses, dwindling checkbooks, and church disputes lose their power with the decay of earthly bodies.

One of my mentors has a saying, “Life is life.” My life has vicissitudes that mimic things that matter. My husband recently had the thrill of getting to observe the next Mars Land Rover. Bob and I are excited about a planned romantic getaway. My granddaughter’s 2nd birthday is soon. As I write this, my mother sits in the waiting room of a cancer doctor. I spent the morning researching depressing elder care options for my beloved aunt and uncle. I reviewed the gloomy ministry checkbook and wondered what we were going to do. I talked to my youngest granddaughter and ached to hold her. I washed clothes, answered e-mail, and made my husband breakfast and dinner. Are all of these things meaningless under the sun? The answer is yes and there is relief in that answer.

When I look at life through the eyes of eternity, loving God and people more is all that matters. I can pass through thrilling and disturbing life events with the knowledge that my eternity is secure and forever. When I realize that an entire earthly life is a tiny blip in all of eternity, I understand what it means to live 1 day, 1 minute, and 1 second at a time with the peace that passes all understanding. Mathematically, a life of 5, 30, or even 100 years are all the same when the ratio is to an eternal timeframe. As I wait for news of my mother’s health and God’s wisdom regarding the next steps for my aunt and uncle and ministry checkbook, I do so while being held in the loving arms of a Father who has a perfect place already prepared for me. When my husband arrives home tonight, maybe I won’t care if he leaves his dishes in the sink or hugs the cat before he hugs me. When we love God with our entire minds, hearts, souls, and strengths, love for our neighbors becomes a guiding principal that improves the world around us. That sure beats feeling windblown.

PS – I’d still welcome your donations:
Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Changing So I Can Share an Un-Changing Jesus

2010-08-24T13:39:00.004-04:00

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb 13:8 NIV

Jesus may be the same yesterday and today and forever but generations and ways of reaching each generation changes. I thought I kept up – after all, I travel the country talking with all kinds of people from various cultures, races, and religions. When potential publishers ask what age group I target, I’ve never been able to come up with an age that I best reach. Children, young people, and adults all read my blogs. I lead all ages to Christ. The name of my Ministries os Pocket Full of Change Ministries. How could I be out of touch?

It all started when I read in the State College newspaper that most college freshman can’t read cursive. I had no idea. I was so upset that I wrote about it on Facebook. For days, I was stunned. Because I want people to be able to read what I write, I haven’t written in cursive for years so it wasn’t that I thought cursive was so important. I was more stunned that I didn’t know cursive was going the way of vinyl records, phone booths, and hand written letters.

Next, Bob took me out for my 58th birthday. Perhaps, I wouldn’t have been so sensitive if it hadn’t have been my birthday, but it was and I was.

First, the college-aged hostess said, “I love your dress.”

“Really,” I said, beaming that a younger person liked my clothes.

“Yes,” she said. “We were all talking about how much we like your dress. We like your earrings too.”

“The earrings were my birthday present. My daddy says this dress looks like something Endora from Bewitched would wear.”

The hostess stared at me blankly.

“Cheryle,” Bob whispered. “I don’t think she’s ever watched that TV show.”

“Wow,” I said. “You should look for it on reruns. It is a fun show.”

Then we went to the movie theater and stared at the choices. Most movies in State College are geared towards the student population and don’t appeal to me. We narrowed it down to 2. I overheard several giggling college freshman discussing the merits of one of the movies we were considering.

“So you liked it?” I asked.

“We did,” a young girl said. “It was funny.” No one seemed to mind that I’d butted into to their conversation.

“I don’t like slap-stick,” I said. “It makes me cringe. That movie looked like it has a lot of slap-stick humor in it. Does it?”

“What’s slap-stick?”

“You know,” I answered. “Like in the Three Stooges.”

Another blank look.

Cheryle, the teacher, came to life. “Slap-stick is a form of humor where you laugh at people getting hurt. The pain is usually exaggerated and I don’t get that type of humor.”

“Like this,” one of the girls said, hitting her friend.

“Exactly,” I laughed. “Show us again.”

“I don’t think the movie had any slap-stick,” said the girl dodging the second hit.

Bob and went to the movie. Slap-stick was in the very first scene and continued throughout the entire movie. I shuddered and cringed between laughing. I left feeling old, out of touch, and like a poor communicator.

This will not do. God sent me to State College and since I live there, I need to be able to minister there. I’m in a church that reaches college students and I want to serve my church. Jesus and the message of Jesus may be the same but ways of delivering that message change. I need your help.

To share an unchanging Jesus, I have to be willing to change. I’m already willing to worship where the music and worship style maybe not be my favorite but are more effective in reaching people for Christ. What else do I need to change to minister in a community comprised mainly of college students? What moves and TV shows should I watch to know what they are talking about? What expressions should I use so they will understand me? What doesn’t work because it offends so deeply that they stop listening? I’m not going to wear short skirts or pierce anything that isn’t already pierced. I might dream about a butterfly tattoo but it isn’t going happen. However, I’d even take feedback on dressing in ways where I can still be me and not make clothing a barrier for sharing an unchanging Jesus in a changing world. It will be hard but I might even consider wearing less makeup. I’d love your feedback.

When Prayers Intersect

2010-08-02T22:55:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. Matt 18:19-20 NIV

How about 90? I’m thrilled with 89 but I’d love to make it 90. Could you send me just one more person before I go home?

I felt foolish about the prayer. The 2010 Pocket Full of Quarters Missionary Journey was ending the next day. I’d been on the road 4 months, had traveled 17,000 miles, and visited 30 states. 89 people praying to receive Jesus in 4 months was more that I’d ever personally experienced. Plus, I’d participated in events where hundreds had come to faith. Surely, I should happy. Still, 90 would be such a nice even number.

I called to tell Bob about my prayer. I didn’t learn until later that Bob began praying for God to send at least 1 more person.

I arrived at the book signing 30 minutes late feeling disorganized and embarrassed. It’s hard to get out of a campground early and Tom Tom, my GPS, gets as lost in Indiana as I do. I quickly set up at my table, which was right next to the front door, and began greeting people.

In walked a woman with her two teenaged grandsons. We introduced ourselves and began talking. Not wanting to leave the young men out, I turned to the oldest, an 8th grader, and asked, “Jacob, Do you go to church?”

“I go to two churches,” he muttered.

“He goes with his mother and with me,” his grandmother said. “He goes to our youth group.”

“Have you been baptized?” I asked.

“No,” he said, sounding defensive.

“It’s a problem,” his grandmother said quietly. “He hasn’t been ready.”

“Jacob,” I asked. “If something happened to you today and you didn’t live through the rest of the day, do you know where you’d go next?”

“I don’t,” he answered, waving his arms in the air. “That’s the problem. I really don’t know. I just don’t know.”

“Do you know what the Bible word is for making mistakes?”

“Sure,” he said. “Sin.”

“Aha,” I said. “You know some Sunday School answers. Have you ever sinned?”

“I don’t like Sunday School answers,” he said.

“Good for you for being honest,” I said. “That takes courage. So, have you sinned?”

“Yes,” he said.

“You’re in good company,” I said. “The Bible says we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. It also says the wages of sin is death. It sounds like the reason you don’t know where you’re going when you die is that you know you’ve sinned.”

“That’s right.”

“The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life. God loved you so much that He sent his only son, Jesus, to die on the cross and pay the price for your sin. Do you believe in Jesus?”

“Yes,” he said. “I do.”

“Do you believe in the dying on the cross and the resurrection thing?”

“Yes.”

“Great. That’s the hard part. Believing that someone rose from the dead is hard to believe but I suppose God wouldn’t be much of a God if He couldn’t bring the dead back to life.” Jacob laughed.

“You’ve just confessed that you’ve sinned and that you believe. The Bible says all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. All that’s left is for you to call on the name of Jesus. We could do that right now and you could be sure you’re going to heaven. Would you like to do that?”

“I don’t know,” he said, looking at his grandmother.

“Are you OK with this?” I asked her.

“Of course,” she said.

“Jacob,” I said. “The Bible also says that the angels celebrate when someone prays to receive Jesus. We could give all of heaven an excuse for a party if you decide to follow Jesus and invite Him into your life right now. There is no party like an angel party. How about it? I’ll make it easy. I’ll tell you exactly what to pray.”

Jacob took a deep breath. His grandmother and I held our breaths. Long seconds ticked by as we waited. Finally, he said, “Sure, why not.”

I took one hand and directed his grandmother to take the other. I looked at Jacob’s younger brother. “You could do the same thing if you want.”

“No,” he said backing away. “I’m good.”

“You’re not ready yet but maybe you will be soon.” I prompted Jacob, line by line. He carefully and solemnly repeated the words:

“Dear Jesus, I believe you died on a cross and rose from the dead for my sins. Help me with the parts of me that doubt this. I confess that I have sinned and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my life and be my Lord and Savior.”

“Congratulations, Jacob. When some other strange lady asks where you’re going when you die, I want you to tell her that you’re going to heaven because you asked Jesus into your life.” Jacob grinned.

“Here is a Christian tract that will explain what you just did. I want you to tell your church what you did and tell them you’re ready to be baptized. Maybe your grandmother can help you figure out what church to do that in.”

“Can I have two tracts for my brother and sister?” he asked. “They need to do this.”

“Absolutely,” I said. “Go home and lead them to Christ.”

I was about to burst with the good news. I thought about the angel party that was going on and needed someone to celebrate with. I walked over to the bookstore owner and said, “That young man just prayed to receive Jesus. I’d had 89 people pray to receive Christ on this journey. The journey ends tomorrow and this morning, I asked God for 1 more so the number would reach 90. God gives me the delights of my heart.”

“Now you need to ask for 95,” he joked.

The next day, I cried as I read the following e-mail:

“There are never any words big enough to say thank you when you have changed someone's life. I came home from work last night and found that my son, Jacob, had been saved. He met you yesterday at Tree of Life in Greenwood, Indiana. We have been praying for him and my husband for many years. Jacob has been involved with youth camps, church, and volunteering in the children's ministry. He just never gave his heart to Jesus. I thank God for answering that prayer through you. Your loving sister in Christ, Amie”

Amie had been praying for her son Jacob. Bob and I had been praying for a 90th person to lead to the Lord. All of our prayers intersected in Greenwood, Indiana where Jacob met Jesus. What a way to end the 2010 missionary journey.

Would You Donate Monthly to Help Me Tell More People About Jesus?

2010-07-19T09:04:00.003-04:00

Would You Donate Monthly to Help Me Tell More People About Jesus?

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Do you long to tell the world about Jesus but feel guilty because you don’t speak up more? There is another way to help. Maybe God is leading you to become a part of evangelistic work through Pocket Full of Change Ministries. In the last 3 months, I’ve personally prayed with 85 people as they became Christians. I’ve assisted events that led hundreds to salvation. I’ve traveled through 28 states handing out quarters that represent the free grace of God and tracts that tell the story of Jesus. I’m Cheryle Touchton and the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. I’m asking you to join me in telling more people about Jesus by committing to a monthly contribution.

Potty Patrol at Bonnaroo Leads People To Christ

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In June, God put me on Potty Patrol. Bonnaroo is a rock concert that attracts 80,000 yearly to the tiny town of Manchester, Tennessee. I joined the Sojourners to use that concert to tell the good news of Jesus. I stood outside smelly portable toilets handing out free antibacterial wipes and tracts about Jesus to grateful young people. Many prayed to receive Jesus while waiting in line. I’ve been invited back next year. Would you help me say “Yes” by donating?

July 4th Was Harvest Time at Christ on the Mall in Washington DC

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On July 4, I stood for 13 hours in 99-degree heat at a booth on the Mall outside our nation’s Capital. Inside-Out Ministries from Seattle, Washington and I gave away 5000 Liberty Bracelets that tell the story of Jesus. Two mothers begged me to tell their troubled daughters about Christ and cried as they prayed for salvation. A man named George cried as he realized he no longer had to be afraid of hell. Muslims and Buddhists heard the story of Jesus and said “Yes” to the Way, Truth, and Life. I want to go next year and take others. Would you help me go by donating?

A Halloween Block Party is a Potential Mission Field

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Athens, Ohio says they are one of the most haunted places on the planet and hosts one of the largest Halloween block parties in the nation. The Christian community in Athens has asked for help telling the attendees about Jesus. Would you help me help them by donating?
Requests for Help are Pouring In and We Need Monthly Contributions to Say “Yes”

People are hungry for Jesus and Christians are hungry for help with evangelism. This is my calling from God and spiritual gift and I need your help. You can mail tax deductable monthly donations to Pocket Full of Change Ministries at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240 or have a monthly contribution deducted from your credit card or checking account via PayPal. Each day on the road costs $120. Monthly donations are critical to our ongoing work. Pray about sending monthly contributions of $10, $25, $50, $120, or even $500. Please pray about saying ”Yes” so I can say ”Yes.” Donate

40 In 3 - Here Am I, Send Me

2010-07-10T07:51:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isa 6:8 NIV

How can I possibly explain what it feels like to be with 40 people in just 3 days as they pray to invite Jesus Christ into their lives? That is what happened to me on July 4th at “Christ on the Mall” in Washington DC. Every year, Christians come to our nation’s capital, set up booths on the mall outside the Capital Building, and tell people about Jesus. I was there with Inside Out Ministries from Seattle, Washington. Hundreds prayed with our group to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It was like a hot dog stand. People crowded around and waited to talk with us.

I’d use words like awesome or amazing but I looked up the definitions and these words weren’t big enough to describe my feelings. Thinking about it “takes my breath away,” brings on renewed tears, and for some reason, leaves me feeling strangely unworthy of such an honor. I want to leap for joy and shout it from the tops of mountains. I want to call everyone who donated to Pocket Full of Change Ministries and say, “People will be in heaven because you gave money.” I long to experience it again and fall to my knees with pleas of “Here am I, send me.”

We were giving out free Liberty Bracelets that had colored beads to represent the way to true liberty. The gold bead represented heaven and the amazing plans God has for each person. The dark bead represented the sin that separates us from God. Red is the color of the blood Jesus shed to give us a way back to God. White is the color or purity and represents how God sees us when we invite Jesus into our lives. Green represents the growth we have in a relationship with Jesus. We gave out 5,000 bracelets to people of all races, nationalities, religions, ages, and genders.

A man named George waited in line for his bracelet. As I tied it on, I asked if he knew where he would go if he died today. It seemed a harsh question and I don’t usually start that way, but the Holy Spirit urged me.

“No,” he shuddered. “I want to go to heaven but I worry about it all the time.” George was a well-dressed man who looked to be in his 50’s. Nothing about his countenance indicated his concerns about eternity and yet it was there.

“Do you believe in Jesus?” I asked. “His birth, death, and resurrection?”

“I guess,” he said. “I just can’t stop worrying about hell.”

I explained what the bracelet meant and why Jesus died on a cross. “The Bible says that you only need a tiny bit of faith. It describes it as the size of a mustard seed. It sounds like you have at least that much faith. I suspect you’ve made mistakes and feel you deserve hell,” I offered gently. His tears affirmed the truth.

“I’ve tried to make up for them,” George said. “Nothing makes me feel better.”

“The Bible says everyone has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. Sin is the Bible word for mistakes. If you’ve sinned, you’re in good company. Everyone has. In God’s eyes, all sins are equal, so you sins are no better or worse than any other person.“

George was listening intently so I continued. “You’re right to worry about hell because the Bible says the wages of sin is death. The good news is that the Bible also says the gift of God is eternal life and that all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. You’ve done the hard part. You already believe in Jesus. All that is left is for you is to call on the name of Jesus and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. Let’s do that right now.”

“Please,” he begged, visibly trembling.

“Pray after me,” I said. “Dear Jesus, I believe in you. I know you died on a cross and rose from the dead for me. Help me with the part of me that doesn’t completely believe. I have made so many mistakes and feel guilty. I ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my life right now and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for my salvation.”

“Thank you,” George said, as he finished praying.

“Do you need to sit down?” I asked, leading a shaking George to a folding chair.

“I do,” he said, taking the offered seat under the tent. As George tried to compose himself, Christians all around us were praying with people. It was almost 100 degrees but Inside Out Ministries stayed on that mall for over 13 hours, constantly leading people like George to Christ.

“You don’t ever have to worry about hell again,” I told George. “That issue is settled. You remember your mistakes but God has already forgotten them. You probably need to make amends to some people in your life but God has forgiven you for all of eternity. The angels are throwing a party because you’ve invited Jesus to be your Savior and a place for you in heaven is already being prepared.”

“Thank you,” was all George could manage to say.

“Thank you Jesus,” I whispered as George left. I’ve been on the 2010 Pocket Full of Quarters missionary journey since April 1st. I’ve visited 29 states, driven 14,000 miles, and 85 people have prayed with me to receive Jesus. I’ve been present as hundreds changed their destiny through prayer. People long for Jesus because He is worthy. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:27)

Have you prayed the words, “Here am I send me?” If not, you cannot imagine what you are missing. God probably won’t send you on the road as He does me, but there are people like George in your grocery stores, shopping malls, and parks. Look for them. They need to hear about your Jesus. Ministries like Pocket Full of Change Ministries need funding. Donate so we can do the work God has called us to do full time. Pray, “Hear am I Lord, send me.” Go into the world as God calls. Please, do not miss the joy of being a part of leading people to an eternity with Christ.

Grace Wasted

2010-06-23T00:09:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph 2:8-9 NIV

What I long to do more than anything is to be able to communicate the power of grace the world. To communicate it, I have to understand it myself and I confess to occasionally struggle. A couple of years ago, I wrote a book called, “Pocket Full of Grace.” The words I wrote communicated to the best of my ability, the Biblical view of grace. When the book was complete and I reread my own words, I shelved the book without publishing it because I realized how bound I still was to law and the guilt and judgment associated with lack of perfection. While my eternity with Christ is sealed, I sometimes waste grace in this life. I won’t publish the book about grace until I can accept the grace of Jesus Christ so fully that I offer grace to myself and those close to me. I know I am saved by grace so why do I still demand perfection in others and myself? That is the question I’ve been trying to answer since shelving my book, “Pocket Full of Grace.”

I ache when I meet people tortured by their past. Lynn is a Buddhist. Christians surround her. Her daughter and best friend have tried to tell her about the grace of Jesus but real mistakes from this life and imagined mistakes from a past life torture Lynn.

“I can’t be a Christian,” Lynn said. “It can’t be that easy. It takes all of the responsibility off me. I know I must have done something terrible in the last life to deserve everything that has happened to me in this life. I’ve given up trying to be happy in this life and am working hard to be good so I have a chance of happiness in the next life.”

I spoke words of grace from the Bible and told her that if she accepts Jesus, she could be relieved of guilt of her past but as I said the words, I remembered how many Christians still believe they are being punished for past sins.

A Christian mother told me, “I’m having so many problems with my teenage son. I’ve done my best but I think God is punishing me for my own teenage mistakes.”

Where is her relief by grace? I know firsthand how painful a troubled teenager is for a mother. This poor mother is suffering from agonizing pain made even worse by her rejection of the grace that is her right through Christ.

I visit churches that waste grace. 25 years later, they are still holding members accountable for past mistakes as they retell tales. I hear words like, “Our piano player is on her second marriage” or “She’s getting what she deserves. You should have seen her in high school.” Preachers preach sin and point fingers from the pulpit where their members roast that same preacher over Sunday lunch. Where is the peace of grace?

Where is grace in Christian families? I hear wives torturing husbands for not being perfect while I stand in grocery store lines. I hear criticism in jokes and husband bashing stories. I hear husbands complaining about things like weight gains, cluttered homes, and nagging. Adult children drag out the mistakes of imperfect parents as childhood stories become dinnertime entertainment. Parents try to discipline children’s current mistakes by clubbing them with past mistakes. Smug words like “I told you so” start family wars that indicate just how much we waste grace while on earth.

Perhaps it would be easier to tell Lynn, the Buddhist, about the grace of Jesus if the Christians who surround Lynn could accept the grace of Jesus so completely while on earth that there is no judgment or guilt remaining in them. Wouldn’t the resulting peace of grace radiate out so far that it would draw the world in?

Jesus was perfect. When I long for perfection in others, and myself, I’m really longing for more of Jesus. Since shelving the book, “Pocket Full of Grace,” when I find myself tortured by what I left undone or by the mistakes of others, I stop and seek out the face of Jesus. I apologize to Him for wasting grace and let grace surround me and return my peace. Real or imagined slights of others lose their power, as I love them through the forgiving eyes of Jesus. The demands of perfectionism that condemn me to restlessness and discontent are replaced by the gentle peace of knowing that others and I are made perfect through the love of Christ.

There is such peace in grace. I cry over Lynn trying so hard to make up for mistakes from a past life but perhaps the real tragedy is when Christians, who are saved by grace, waste it. For today, I’m committing to offer myself and others grace for our own lack of understanding about and acceptance of grace.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage all of us and strengthen us in every good deed and word. (Paraphrased from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Halleluiah Healed

2010-06-19T21:44:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. Matt 18:19 NIV

I’m just grateful that all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed. The healing of Halleluiah seriously humbled me about the size of my faith. Before you judge me too harshly, remember…judge not lest you be judged. You might just find out your own faith struggles.

Halleluiah’s refrigerator broke. It worked with the generator and the battery but would not work with gas. For a week, I fought with it. I ran the battery down and wasted generator gas trying to keep food cold. I turned it off and back on, lit the gas stove to check gas levels, stomped on the brake in case it had an air bubble, and prayed over it. Nothing helped. Food spoiled and I pouted. It was affecting my entire trip.

I dreaded what I was going to have to do about it. Fixing camper refrigerators is expensive and takes time. Not every camper dealership works on them. When I arrived at Bonaroo, I emptied the refrigerator’s contents into my host’s fridge and sighed over my woes. I pretty much whined about it to anyone who would listen.

When I whined to Riley Stephenson from Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Riley said, “Why don’t we pray for it. Brad’s generator broke on the way here. He was going to have to go back home because he had his elderly mother with him and she needed the air-conditioner. We prayed over it and the generator started working again.” Brad is Riley’s friend and often travels with their ministry. Brad and Riley had driven from Fort Worth, Texas to meet us in Tennessee for the concert.

“The fridge has done this before,” I said dubiously. “I already prayed about it and it still isn’t working. I think it needs to go into the shop. When I get to Jacksonville, I’ll try to get it fixed.”

Riley has that innocent childlike faith that everyone wants. I confess to having a bit of a scientific mind and believe that God often uses science to fix things. I was feeling protective of Riley and his faith. I didn’t want him disappointed. Words like “Oh ye of little faith” now come to my mind. I’m just being honest here.

“Let’s go pray,” Riley insisted. We went outside and Riley and his friend Brad, the owner of the healed generator, touched Halleluiah’s refrigerator. I sat in the driver’s seat squirming.

“Dear God,” Riley prayed. “You promise us that when two of us agree, it will be done. Cheryle needs this refrigerator for her ministry. We ask in the name of Jesus for you to heal this refrigerator.”

Brad turned it on. “It’s working,” he announced.

“It always works for the first three minutes,” I said, still not sure. “Then, the “check” light comes on.”

I cranked Halleluiah and we drove off. Every few minutes, someone in the back seat would announce, “It’s still working. The check light isn’t on.”

Well – It’s been 4 days and the refrigerator is still working. Brad and Riley weren’t surprised. I don’t know why I am since I see God’s miracles every day. God and I are working on that.

Potty Patrol

2010-06-15T10:12:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Phil 4:11 NIV

I try to be content in all circumstances but some circumstances are more challenging than others. The concert, Bonaroo, is an exciting event for most people. You can ride amusement rides, listen to music, play games, eat and eat some more, dance, hear comedians, and sleep in the sunshine. I’ve found that God doesn’t much care about my personal comfort on these missionary journeys and sure enough, at Bonaroo, God put me on Potty Patrol. I wrote about this on my Facebook and the Christian author, editor, speaker, and apparent comedian, James Watkins, commented that I was doing my Christian “dooty.” You have to have a sense of humor when doing God’s work.

Yearly, over 80,000 people descend on the tiny town of Manchester, Tennessee for a concert that attracts the biggest and best popular musicians and entertainers. Ron Fuller is one my mentors and invited me to participate with them in an evangelistic outreach to the concert attendees. Ron, The Sojourner, is pastor of the Sojourners Ministry, a home church ministry whose hub is in Manchester. I go where I’m invited. You can visit the Sojourners Hub

Manchester doesn’t have enough hotel rooms, camp grounds, restaurants, or restrooms to accommodate everyone, so eager attendees sleep in tents and campers on concert grounds and in the Wal-Mart parking lot. Massive rows of portable toilets frame the city and concert grounds. People wait in line in temperatures that exceed 90 degrees and the scowls on faces indicate their distaste for the foul smell and dread of entering the tiny nasty coffin-like boxes. I spent hours standing beside them handing out individually wrapped sanitary wipes and Christian tracts. Potty Patrol worked.

“Would you like a wipe?” I’d offer. Their face would light up.

“Absolutely,” so many said. “Thank you so much.”

“How about a wipe in the name of Jesus? He loves you so much that He put me on Potty Patrol just for you.” Most grinned, took my wipe, the tract, and thanked me. I worried they would toss the tracts in the potty but people were so eco-friendly that they came out carrying and reading their tracts.

One woman said, “Oh, no, not another one. Are you going to tell me I’m going to hell because I’m listening to this music?”

“Did someone tell you that?” I asked.

“Oh yeah, there is a Christian group here warning people that this music will send them to hell.”

“They are not with us. I’m with the Sojourners and we share good news. Music can’t send anyone to hell. That’s bad theology. Jesus came to save the world – not to condemn it. I’m here and I promise you, I’m going to heaven. The Bible says in Romans 3 that all have sinned and that includes the person who told you that. It says in Romans 6 that the wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life. In Romans 10 it says that all who call on the name of Jesus shall be saved.”

“I like the way you think,” she said, her voice cracking.

“I think you’re worried about hell,” I said gently. “Let’s take care of that issue right now.”

“OK,” she said with relief.

“Pray after me,” I said. Line by line, she prayed the following prayer.

“Dear Jesus, I believe in you. I believe you died on a cross and rose from the dead for me. I’ve made mistakes and I ask for your forgiveness. I ask you to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for my salvation.”

When we finished, she was crying. I said, “If anyone else tells you that you are going to hell, you look them in the eye and say firmly, ‘I’ve called on the name of Jesus and He saved me by His blood on the cross. I’m going to heaven.’”

“Thank you so much,” she said, still crying. She hugged me, took her life into her own hands, and dashed into the nasty potty.

Potty Patrol was a success. I gave out 200 wipes and tracts. Next year, I’ll take more. People were grateful for the wipes and while a few refused the tracts, no one got mad. Many received Jesus right there by the smelly stalls and many more walked away reading the words of love. Our small group had 131 salvations and 41 people prayed with me directly to receive Jesus. We never know where God is going to use us. Our job is to say yes to God and to be content in all circumstances – even the smelly ones.

Nothing Shocks Me Anymore...Or So I Thought

2010-06-13T23:57:00.003-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; Heb 4:12 NIV

“I’ve seen so much on the road that nothing shocks me anymore,” I casually announced to a room full of people. Saying that was a bad idea. It was as if I had issued a challenge.

The Sojourner, Ron Fuller, had invited Ken Copeland Ministries and Pocket Full of Change Ministries to Manchester, Tennessee to participate in an evangelistic outreach to the 80,000+ crowds expected at the famous secular concert, Bonaroo. Ron Fuller is my mentor and has an amazing heart for God and ministry. In addition to being the pastor of their local home fellowship, The Sojourner mentors home churches and ministries all over the world. Visit Sojourners Hub.

Riley Stephenson from Ken Copeland Ministries was kind enough to bring training materials and tracts for the Sojourners to use. We began on Wednesday night with Riley leading evangelism training. Riley reminded the Sojourners that Jesus came to save and not condemn and that to evangelize meant to share good news. He said we were going to see shocking things. We were to stay positive and not debate or condemn. That was when I said the words that would come back to haunt me.

The next morning, we went to Bonaroo. It was amazing. In the middle of that dusty noisy field, many young people prayed to receive Jesus. I’d been walking for hours in 92 degree temperatures and was exhausted. I spotted The Sojourner sitting under a giant oak tree and dropped beside him to rest on the grass.

“How many steps have you taken?” a young woman asked. She’d noticed my pedometer. I turned around to answer her and didn’t see her boyfriend standing next to her.

“I’m over 16,000,” I said.

“Wow,” she said. “Do you always walk that many?”

“It depends,” I laughed. “I’m a Christian missionary and writer. When I’m on a mission trip, I almost always walk over 10,000 steps. When I’m back home writing, it stays under 5,000. I’m here at Bonaroo telling people that Jesus loves them and wants a relationship with them.”

She quickly lost interest but the word Jesus got her boyfriend’s attention.

“Jesus,” he slurred. “He’s cool. My girlfriend broke up with me last month and I was bummed. I cried out to Jesus to hold me and it felt like He did. I called my Mom and told her Jesus held me. I don’t understand it but ever since, I’ve been hearing about Jesus everywhere.” I resisted the temptation to remind him that since he was here with another girl, he hadn’t grieved for very long.

I followed his voice and as my eyes traveled upward, I saw bare feet, bare legs, and then, my eyes quickly moved past the only thing he was wearing - hot pink men’s bikini underwear with a bright yellow band. They left nothing to the imagination and covered little. I shuddered as I looked upward to notice the beer can in his hand.

I remembered my casual words from the night before and prayed, “God, is this a test? Maybe it is a joke.” Between the beer and the bikini, I was tempted to ignore the opportunity but I remembered Riley’s training from the night before. He’d reminded us that the word of God never returns void. I took a deep breath, shook off my shock, and proceeded with the process Riley had suggested.

“You called on the name of Jesus. That was serious and He heard you. In the Bible, Romans 3 says that all have sinned. Romans 6 says that the wages of sin is death and the gift of God is eternal life. Romans 10 says that all who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. We’re going to take care of that right now.” I had his full and amazingly sober attention. He leaned over to me and I had to choose between smelling the alcohol on his breath or taking the chance of seeing something I didn’t want to see again… beer-breath won by a landslide.

“Pray after me,” I instructed, staring deep into his eyes.

“Ok,” he soberly nodded.

Line by line, he repeated the following words. The entire time we were praying, his new girl friend was snapping pictures of him from behind.

“Dear Jesus, I believe in you. I believe you died on a cross and rose from the dead for me. I’ve made mistakes and I ask for your forgiveness. I ask you to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for my salvation.”

He said the words without any slur and I knew the word of God had indeed divided his soul and spirit and the Holy Spirit had reached this young man’s spirit in spite of the beer and his state of undress.

“You’ve just made the best decision of your life,” I said. I had to bite my tongue not to add, “Now, go put on some clothes.”

Instead, I said, “Chances are, you’re going to do everything you planned to do at this concert but pay close attention. It is going to feel differently now. You won’t enjoy it as much. The Holy Spirit is already working on you.”

He walked off trying to tell his uninterested girlfriend what he had done. I heard him saying Jesus repeatedly. The Sojourner, who’d been quiet until that moment said, “I saw that young man earlier. I noticed what he was wearing and asked God to help him. A few minutes later he is over here starting a conversation with you.”

“It’s a good thing you were here to witness this,” I joked. “Otherwise, no one would believe this story. I never should have said that nothing shocks me.” Hmmmm...Maybe now I can say nothing else could possibly shock me.

Once You're a Pickle, You Can't Go Back to Being a Cucumber

2010-06-03T20:54:00.001-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

How can one simple prayer, “Jesus, I ask you to be my Lord and Savior,” make such a difference? I don’t completely understand it myself but I know it makes all the difference in this world and in eternity. I know it because the Bible says it and because of what I witness in people.

So many I meet have done the hard part but have stopped just short of becoming a Christ follower. They already believe the astounding facts that Jesus came to earth as a baby via a virgin birth, died on a cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Many go to church and some have even gone so far as to confess their sins to God or a priest.

They say they believe but then indicate that it isn’t enough. So what is missing? When I ask if they have invited Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior, I often get blank or surprised stares. Sometimes, they mutter words that resemble, “Surely I have. I just don’t remember.”

“Oh, you’d remember if you had,” I answer. If I can get them to pray that simple prayer, their testimony to the power of that prayer is consistently the same. People who sincerely ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior report that it changes them forever.

“Everything is different now. Things are calmer. Our family enjoys church. We all get along better. It all started with that prayer I prayed with you last year,” Michelle said in wonderment. She’d been updating me about everything that had happened in the year since she had prayed to ask Jesus to be her personal Savior. Michelle had already believed in Jesus and attended church sporadically. She tried reading the Bible but didn’t understand it. The problem was that she was trying to practice religion without ever having prayed to receive Jesus personally.

“Of course it all changed,” I said. “You prayed to receive Jesus. He entered your life. You’re different so everything is different. It’s like dipping cucumbers into vinegar. Once a cucumber becomes a pickle, it is changed forever.”

When I tell young children about becoming a Christian, I do an object lesson. First, we taste a cucumber. Next, we soak it in vinegar and taste the resulting pickle. I always ask, “Do you think this pickle can ever go back to being a cucumber?”

“Noooo,” they shout in unison.

“That is how it is when you pray to receive Jesus. Once you invite Him into your life, you can never go back to being a cucumber again. You are changed forever.”

Mallory told me the same story. She’d grown up in a Catholic church. When I met her on the first missionary journey in 2002, she believed in Jesus and had been baptized and confirmed. She’d never invited Jesus to be her personal savior. She was the first person Pocket Full of Change Ministries helped lead to Christ. I met her again in 2010 and she told me what had happened since that simple prayer. She’d gone from being a sad confused college student to becoming a committed Christian, church member, and student of the Bible. She’d graduated from college and had married a Christian man. Her transformation from cucumber to pickle was apparent in her glow.

Last week, I took a vacation with my sweet husband. I jokingly wrote on Facebook that since I was on vacation, I hoped others were telling people about Jesus. A few hours later, God assured me that other Christians were busily helping cucumbers become pickles. I sat in a restaurant in Maine and listened to the testimony of Heather, my server.

“My boss led me to Jesus. I don’t understand it but everything is different since I invited Jesus into my life. I feel different about everything. I already believed but now I know Him.”

“Of course everything is different,” I joked. “You’re a pickle instead of a cucumber. You’re changed forever.” At her confused look, I explained what I meant.

If you believe in Jesus but have never asked Him to be your personal Lord and Savior, you’re still a cucumber longing to be a pickle. Believing is the hard part but we also have to confess with our mouths. I beg you to pray this simple prayer: “God, I believe that Jesus came to earth as a baby, died on a cross, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven. I’m not perfect and have made so many mistakes. Please forgive my sins. Jesus, I invite You into my life to be my Lord and Savior. If any part of me doesn’t believe, help me in my unbelief. Thank you for my salvation. Amen”

Top Ten Perks to Being a Christian Writer and Missionary

2010-06-01T22:33:00.001-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Phil 4:4 NIV

Recently, my Christian writer’s group asked us to come up with the perks of being a Christian writer. Eight years ago, I left a lucrative and exciting corporate career to answer God's call to ministry and writing. I had only planned a 2-month sojourn between executive jobs but life became so interesting, I forgot to job hunt. If you don’t job hunt, I suppose you never find a job. In those years, I’ve come to understand why God had to remind me to rejoice in all things.

Below are my “Top Ten Perks to Being a Christian Writer and Missionary”

1. I am no longer tempted by the "evils" of money.

2. Since I spend much of my life in campgrounds, I really enjoy nice
hotels.

3. I can't always get showers on the road so I now appreciate showers.
It is a real bonus when they are clean, hot, and bug-free.

4. I now have an outlet for the stories running around in my head so I let
others talk at parties and in Bible studies.

5. My husband makes more money than I do, which is really good for his male ego. (He has offered to get over the ego thing in exchange for my former salary.)

6. My own ego is kept in check by humiliating book signings where people walk by me while avoiding eye contact.

7. If the writing thing doesn't work out, book signings have prepared me to work booths at carnivals.

8. The galleys I deal with are less fattening then the galleys of yachts and cruise ships. (Galleys are the type set proof copy that writers review just before a book goes to press.)

9. I spend so much time with my dog that I hear her voice. My readers
like her voice better than mine.

10. My clothes cost a lot less and are more comfortable and interesting.

I loved my last job and I love this one. In fact, I rejoice in this job. I love being with people when they pray to receive Jesus. I love people saying my books helped. Would you believe I almost rejoice in the Lord when showering with bugs? I once showered with a mouse and discovered just how well Baptists could really dance.

When God Is Silent

2010-05-23T09:08:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God. Ps 38:15
NIV

What do you do when God is silent? I pace, fret, and assume I’ve done something wrong. When I don’t hear His voice, I look for other voices to guide me. Thankfully, God’s silence is loud enough to overshadow doubts and other well-meaning voices.

I hugged my grandchildren goodbye. My daughter-in-law, Whitney, and her mother, Elaine planned to visit Whitney’s sick grandma and then head to the Charlotte Airport to fly to Jacksonville, Florida. I watched them drive off, already lonesome.

I cranked Halleluiah and was distracted by the domestic scene in front of me. A tiny grey mother kitty carried her babies, one by one, to a new location. She carefully and tenderly held babies by the skin on their delicate necks. I thought of my own grown children. I still had a mother’s tender heart that longed to carry babies but they didn’t need to be carried any longer. I felt a moment of nostalgia as I remembered carrying my babies from one location to another.

I put Halleluiah in reverse and realized I didn’t know where to go next. I was stunned. Since I began these journeys in 2002, I’ve always had an instinct about the next location. I panicked because I couldn’t hear God. I remembered my morning devotions with my grandchildren. Should I also have done private devotions? I sat in the car and prayed for wisdom. God was silent. Why couldn’t I hear Him? What was I doing wrong?

I called Bob. He’s never silent. “Bob, I don’t know where to go next.”

I heard the computer keys clicking. “What about Myrtle Beach. You can be there in a few hours. They’ve got a KOA. You haven’t stayed near the ocean yet.”

I hung up and called the Myrtle Beach KOA. They had room. I couldn’t make myself reserve a spot. I called Bob back.

“It doesn’t feel right. I don’t know what’s wrong. I always know where to go.”

“Maybe you can stay in Charlotte.”

“Both Charlotte campgrounds had room but I couldn’t make that reservation either,” I said.

“What about Wilmington, North Carolina?” he offered. I sighed. He was trying to help but nothing felt right.

“When you don’t know what to do, I guess you do the next right thing,” I said. “I’m going to grocery shop.” I drove across the street and filled Halleluiah with food. I still didn’t know what to do so I filled Halleluiah with gas. I ate lunch but still no word from God.

I started driving. I called Bob again. “I’m just driving. I have no idea where I am or where I’m going but I was bored sitting there. I guess when I figure out where to go, Tom Tom will figure out where I am and send me there.”

I passed a shopping mall and saw a Massage Envy. I have a membership because of my fibromyalgia and was behind in using my pre-paid massages. Maybe God wanted to give me a massage. Unfortunately, they had no openings.

I was wasting gas so I drove into the parking lot of a sandwich shop that had free Wi-Fi. I got a diet coke and was sorry I’d already eaten lunch. I briefly considered eating again but knew that wouldn’t help. I decided to sit in Halleluiah and use their free Wi-Fi until God told me what to do. I looked at my watch. Three hours wasted and I was only 3 miles from where I started. It was time for Whitney’s plane to leave so I called her.

“Are you at the gate?” I asked, picturing Ava and Noah excited about boarding the flight.

“No,” she said frantically. “We’re going to miss our flight. I have to go. Chris is calling. He’s trying to find us another flight.”

“How can I help?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she said as she hung up.

Suddenly I knew why God had been silent. Whitney was going to need help. He couldn’t tell me earlier because the need hadn’t even happened yet.

I called Bob. “Whitney missed her plane. Now I know why I’ve been sitting here. God wants me to drive them to Jacksonville.”

“Their stuff won’t fit in the camper. You don’t have enough seat belts,” he argued.

“I have 2 belts in the back, 1 in the middle, and 2 in the front. That’s enough. You’re forgetting the rule about vehicles – you can always put in one more thing.”

I called Whitney back. “God hasn’t let me leave Charlotte. He wanted me to wait on you. I’ll drive you to Jacksonville.”

“Are you sure?” she asked. “We can’t get another flight out. But I don’t want to interfere with your ministry.”

“Whitney,” I said. “You and Chris donate to this ministry. Today you get your very own minister. God kept me in Charlotte for 3 ½ hours waiting on you to miss that flight. Let me help.”

“We’re sitting in the lobby of the airport. The kids haven’t even eaten yet so we’ll have to stop for lunch.” I looked at my watch. It was after 2.

“I’m going to take a minute and repack Halleluiah so I’ll have room for your stuff,” I said. “I’m 30 minutes away. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

Bob called while I was repacking Halleluiah. Packing Halleluiah is his job. I’m not the most methodical person in the world and he likes knowing where things are so he can help me find stuff.

“Where are you putting things?” he asked frantically.

“Anywhere I can. Ouch!” I screamed.

“What happened?” he demanded. “Are you safe?”

“I’m lowering the spare tire so I can put stuff underneath. It was hot and burned me. I’m parked and safe. Yuck.”

“Now what?” he said.

“I got grease all over me.”

“Cheryle,” he said. “I didn’t think you could lift the tire by yourself.”

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I’m going to figure it out. I just wish it wasn’t so hot. I’m putting the boxes of books underneath.”

I went inside and realized that the toilette area could act as a closet.

“What are you doing now?” Bob asked.

“Stuffing stuff in the toilet.”

“What?”

“Well, technically, the toilet lid is closed. I’m stuffing stuff inside the toilet closet.”

“What if you need the bathroom?”

“I’ll take the stuff out. I hope no one opens this door or they will be crushed.” Bob’s blood pressure rose even more.

When I finished repacking, I headed to the airport with Bob still on the phone. It was a good thing it was Saturday or his job might have been in jeopardy.

“Cheryle, find out what airline they’re at,” Bob instructed. “You have to get in the correct lane.” Sighing again, I resisted the urge to remind Bob that I’d been driving to airports as long as he.

I drove up to find two hungry grumpy children disappointed about no airplane ride, a frazzled Mama, and a weary Nana waiting in the airport lobby with 2 giant suitcases, 2 backpacks, 2 car seats, 2 purses, and a stroller. We loaded everyone and everything in tiny Halleluiah. We stopped for fast food and drove to Jacksonville.

I felt honored to serve my children. I was like that mama kitty carefully carrying her babies to another location. I thanked God for my wonderful daughter-in-law who allowed herself to be ministered to by the ministry she supports so faithfully. Whitney’s mother, Elaine, rode in the front. She and I had known each other since 3rd grade but had never really spent any quality time together. We had hours to revisit memories and fill in the intimate details of our lives. At the end of the drive, Elaine and I left the car planning our next outing. At one of our stops, Whitney witnessed one of the Divine Encounters she makes possible through her donations. Tiny Ava rode in the middle seat. She isn’t much of a traveler but having the resources of Halleluiah available made her trip more pleasant. Noah rode in the back with his mother and enjoyed their quality time. It was a fabulous trip.

When Whitney tried to pay for the gas, I argued. “You’ve already donated to this trip. It would be like you were paying twice.”

“Take the credit card!” she insisted. I did.

I spent the night at their home, went to church with them the next morning, and hit the missionary road again. This time I knew exactly where to go and when I arrived, I met the person God had sent me there to meet.

I learned a lesson about God’s silence. It doesn’t necessarily mean I’ve done anything wrong or that I couldn’t hear Him talking. In fact, it wasn’t about me. The answer wasn’t prepared yet. I’d been tempted to listen to other voices more willing to speak but God’s silence spoke louder than those voices. Maybe the next time God is silent, I’ll just relax and wait.

Truth

2010-05-22T07:36:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 NIV

Since the beginning of the 2010 Pocket Full of Quarter’s Missionary Journey, Belle the Missionary Dog and I have traveled in our camper van, Halleluiah, through 20 states evangelizing and handing out quarters. I’m writing from Florida but soon will be heading up the East Coast. Every person we meet is in a different phase of the continuum of his or her walk towards or away from The Truth. Below are a few recent examples.

Seekers – Need The Truth and Time to Think

Jules said she was a former Mormon. She left the church because she thought the rules were silly. She lived in Utah, where everyone she knew believed the same teachings. She’d never heard about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or that grace was free if you asked. She was a young mother and wife and said, “I want my 2-year-old son to learn about God but I can’t take him to a church I don’t believe it. I’m trying to learn about other religions.”

“May I tell you a little about traditional Christianity?” I asked. She nodded eagerly and listened with rapt attention. At the end of the “Truth Lesson,” I invited her to pray to receive Jesus.

“Not yet,” she said, backing up. “I have to think about things. Can I keep this information?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “Here’s a card to my website. The quarter in it represents the free grace of God. The website contains more information. Jules, I can see it in your eyes. You’ve recognized the truth. This is simple. All you have to do is ask Jesus to help you in your unbelief and pray the prayer in that pamphlet. The Holy Spirit will do the rest.”

Rebels – Wait Until Truth Has Their Attention and Go Slowly

Emma grew up forced to go to church and hadn’t personalized it. When her sister announced she was a lesbian, Emma’s religious mother struggled. Emma decided religion was judgmental and rejected it. Then her best friend got addicted to cocaine. She worried about him and watched him ruin his life until he met Jesus. She said, “The change in him was amazing. He is off cocaine and productive. Now he wants me to think about Jesus. I suppose all of this could be real. It has sure helped him.”

“What do you know about becoming a Christian?” I asked.

“I suppose you have to go to church and get baptized,” she said.

“No,” I said. “Christianity is about a relationship with Jesus. Those things you mentioned are important but not about becoming a Christian. May I share with you the way?” She nodded and I spent the next 20 minutes reading scriptures that demonstrated that the Jesus loved her, wanted a relationship with her, and was waiting for her to invite Him into her life. She listened openly but I knew that if you push a rebel to pray for salvation too soon, it could postpone that decision for years.

“Think about it,” I suggested. “Read this. I’m sure your friend would be honored if you prayed this prayer with him.”

The Fearful – Need Help Identifying and Releasing What is Blocking Truth

Sandy was a non-practicing Jew. A Christian friend helped her understand Jesus was real and possibly the Messiah that her faith was waiting on. She knew how to pray to receive Him but was terrified of what it would do to her family relationships. When I probed, I found the root of her fear. It was deep and went back to her childhood. An aunt had become a Christian. The family ostracized the aunt, who later committed suicide.

I took her hands. “Tell me exactly what you’re afraid of.”

“I’m afraid I’ll become a Christian and end up doing the same thing as my aunt.”

“Sandy – you already believe in Jesus. I can see His Truth in your eyes. You’ve come too far to stop now. Are you worried that meeting Jesus will change you so much that you’ll lose control?”

“Yes,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I’ll be like. I have a son. What if I do what my aunt did?”

“Can you make a decision to trust God with that fear? You don’t have to trust Him yet, just decide to.”

“I can try,” she said. Her hands were trembling.

“Good job. Now, let’s ask God to remove the fear.” She agreed and I led her to ask God to remove the specific fear. She looked up and took a deep breath.

“Tell me the first thing that came to your mind after you prayed to remove the fear,” I said.

“I can!” she said excitedly. “I suddenly heard myself say I can do this.”

“Do you want to invite Jesus into your life right now?” I asked.

“No,” she said thoughtfully. “I think I should pray that prayer with my friend. She deserves that.”

“What an honor,” I said. “She will remember it forever.”

Deceivers – Bolt from the Truth – Even While It’s Pricking Them

A shabbily dressed man knocked on my window. I cranked Halleluiah for a quick getaway and rolled the window down. Belle barked warningly.

“My car overheated. I tried to buy lunch but my credit card won’t work. You’re in ministry. Could you loan me a few dollars? Give me your address and I’ll mail it to you.”

“I won’t loan you money but I’ll give you some. I live off donations so I don’t have much.” I pulled $5 from my wallet. He reached through the window.

“Wait,” I said, pulling it back. “First, let’s talk about Truth.” I presented the gospel of Jesus. “Jesus is The Truth.” He took a tract and pretended to be interested.

“I’ll pray for you.”

“Sure,” he said reaching for the money. “I can always use prayers.”

“I mean now,” I said, keeping the money where he could see it but out of his reach. I prayed for his character and for Truth to be revealed. I finally handed him the $5 and he snatched it away. He literally ran from the car, jumped in his supposedly overheated car, and sped away.

Trekking and Tracting Through Carowinds

2010-05-18T19:57:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16:15-16 NIV

OK – I admit it – I love amusement parks. They are fun. People are generally in a good mood and receptive to receiving information about Jesus. I also like rides. I go to amusement parks whenever possible.

My Pocket Full of Quarters journey rule is to go where I’m invited and do what I’m asked. My daughter-in-law Whitney called to say her 92-year-old grandmother was gravely ill. Her grandmother, Louise, was my Girl Scout troop leader when I was child and I love her dearly. I knew she was in Charlotte, North Carolina visiting her youngest son.

“How can I help?” I asked immediately.

“Mom and I want to go to Charlotte. Chris has a business trip and can’t keep the children.“

“If you take the kiddoes to Charlotte, I’ll meet you there.” I negotiated. “They can help me tell people about Jesus while you and Elaine visit Louise.”

If you’ve been reading this blog, you may remember that my youngest granddaughter, 1-year-old Abigaile, helped me hand out tracts a few weeks back. Now, 2-year-old Ava and 6-year-old Noah were going to get a turn. I’d been to Carowinds Amusement Park in Charlotte and knew they would enjoy it so I began making plans.

We arrived at the Charlotte hotel about the same time. “Gi Gi!” Noah said excitedly. “You’re going to love this. Look.” He opened the drawer and pointed to the Gideon Bible.

“Gideon is a ministry that hands out Bibles,” I explained, showing him the name. “I’ve met people who worked with Gideon. God has told them to put a Bible in as many hotel rooms as possible.”

“Let’s go see if there is one in your room,” he said excitedly. Sure enough, I had one too.

“I’m going to put it with your ‘talk to God books,’” Noah said, getting the Bible out of the drawer and taking it to the zippered zoo bag that holds my Bible and study books.

“I brought the ‘talk to God book’ you like,” I said. “We’ll read it tonight before you go to bed.”

That night, I read the children a devotional and showed them the tracts. “We’ll ride rides tomorrow but our job is to tell everyone about Jesus. I need you to help me give these to people.”

The next morning, as we were walking across the Carowinds parking lot, Noah said, “Look Gi Gi, look. Look!” He pointed to a license plate.

“Where is it from?” I asked.

“No,” he said excitedly. “Read it.” The words across the bottom read “In God we Trust.” I thanked him for being so observant and took a picture. We entered the park and began riding rides and handing out tracts.

Ava liked giving tracts to preschool girls like herself. She’d walk up shyly and simply hold it out. I’d ask their mother’s permission and after the mom nodded, the children took the tracts. These cute tracts had a picture of cow and the cover read, “You’re very special to God.” As we stood in lines, Ava beamed as their mothers read the words that told these tiny children about how much God loved them and how they could find Him. Even at 2, Ava understood the importance of what she was doing.

Noah also understood what we were doing and figured out right away which tract was for which age group. We had Transformer tracks for adolescents, Cow Tracts for preschoolers, and Billy Graham tracts for adults. He passed them out everywhere.

Unlike Ava, there was nothing shy about Noah. Worried that a “no thank you” would discourage him, I warned, “Not everyone wants to hear this good news. It is our job to share about Jesus and their job to say yes or no. Even if they say no, we are always nice. We want them to see Jesus in us.” He accepted that and stayed hopeful when 2 people said no thank you. They were polite and so was he.

As we walked out of the park, Noah reached in my purse and grabbed the rest of the tracts. He handed them to everyone we passed. When we were down to 1 Transformer tract, he asked, “Can I keep this one? It’s about transformers.”

“Absolutely,” I said. “We’ll read it before we go to bed tonight.”

We saw many people reading our tracts. We don’t know if anyone prayed to receive Jesus but I’ve met an amazing number of people who say getting a tract played a vital role in their becoming a Jesus follower.

The Gift

2010-05-17T00:22:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Cor 9:15 NIV

I met a man who had given his country the gift of his faithful service. Dennis was 19 when he signed up to serve our country. He fought in Viet Nam. He came back to America to go to school on the GI Bill. His fist day of college, the professor had everyone introduce themselves and tell a little about their lives. When Dennis told his story the professor said, “Why don’t you come to the front of the room and demonstrate how to bayonet a baby?”

“Thank you for serving for us,” I said. “I’m so sorry that America didn’t treat you better when you came home. I entered college in 1970. I remember what professors said about the war and the soldiers. It was terrible. I had a cousin in Viet Nam and I got so angry.”

I met Dennis in the Charlotte KOA Campground. He was there to help a friend with their gun display at an NRA Tradeshow. Dennis had recently retired from a 35-year career as a fire fighter in Chicago and was spending his retirement traveling the country and living in campgrounds. He was single with no children.

“Many of the Viet Nam Vets have had a hard time,” I said. “That war seemed harder on our solders than the others. Maybe it was because of how they were treated when they returned.”

“The average World War 2 Vet saw front line combat 30-40 days during their enlistment. We saw it almost every day for the entire time we were enlisted,” Dennis said. “You can be under that much stress for only so long without it damaging you. I had nightmares for years.”

“Did it make you cynical about your country?” I asked.

“Not my country but it made me cynical about people. People do stupid things.”

“The people I’ve met also tell me that it made them have a hard time with the concept of God,” I said.

“Recently, I was in the hospital. The doctor came in and told me I had a spot on my lung and they were going to give me chemo. He walked out. The next thing that happened was a Chaplin walked in to pray with me. Next, a priest came in. Then a Rabbi. Wait – I'm not done. A Cleric came in. I figured I was covered on the prayer thing. God had heard from all sides. I was just glad a Buddhist didn't come in. The Buddhist would have told me to try to accept it and I didn’t want to accept it.”

“So did you have cancer?” I asked.

“No,” he said. “It turned out to be a lung infection. I still had a hard time. 12 weeks of antibiotics shut down my kidneys. Then it left me with 6 weeks of gout.”

“How are you now?”

“OK,” he said. “My foot still hurts.”

“It sounds like those prayers are working. If you had to pick, which of those religious brands would have worked for you?”

“I guess the priest. I don’t think any of them have it all right.”

“I have a real simple definition when I ask people if they are a Christ follower. Do they believe in the God as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Do they believe in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus as the son of God? Have they confessed their mistakes and asked Jesus into their life? Christianity is about a relationship with Jesus, not a religion. The religion might come later but it starts with a relationship. Are you active in the Catholic church?”

“Semi,” he said, pondering what I’d said.

It was time to go. I prayed about what to give him. The answer came and I walked to the car. I grabbed my book, The Secret to Dealing With Pain and Related Depression. It dealt with pain and contained the way to Jesus.

I walked back over and handed him the book and a card with a quarter in it. “The quarter represents the free grace of God. It is a gift. All you have to do is ask Jesus into your life. He makes everything better. This is a copy of my pain book. I don’t think you’re depressed but you mentioned pain.”

“Thanks,” he said, looking pleased. “May I make a donation or something?”

“This book is a gift. We live off of donations but this book is a gift.”

He opened his wallet and pulled out a $20 bill.

“You don’t have to do this,” I insisted. “This was a gift.”

“I don’t have to do anything,” he said. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to. I want to give you this.”

I knew I had to accept his gift so I took it. I prayed he would accept the real gift that the book told about.

==========================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Cheryle Touchton at 904-614-3585.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Losing Perspective in the Darkness

2010-05-12T07:40:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12 NIV

I was on the phone with My Best Friend Nancy as I stepped outside my camper. It was dark and Belle needed to walk.

“I can’t see anything,” I cried. Nancy didn’t like hearing that. She frets about me traveling alone and does not like me being outside at night.

“I can’t see and I can’t remember where the lake is. I can hear the frogs but it sounds like they are everywhere. How do I know I’m not going to walk Belle into the lake? Do they have alligators in South Carolina?”

“Yes,” Nancy said. “They do have alligators. Alligators eat dogs.”

“Great,” I said. “I’ve completely lost my perspective in this dark.” An alligator didn’t eat Belle and I didn’t fall in the lake.

A couple of weeks later, I stepped outside in the pitch-black dark in Colorado. I knew there was a giant cliff close to me that dropped hundreds of feet into the canyon below but couldn’t remember which direction it was in. I knew that if Belle and I walked over the cliff, bad things were going to happen. I turned on my tiny flashlight beam and still couldn’t get my perspective back. I had completely lost my way and that tiny beam that pointed in one direction didn’t help. I needed a light that lit up the darkness all around me.

I meet many people who have lost their way. It is as if they are wandering around in the darkness and do not even notice it is dark. They don’t know which way to go or that there is anything available but darkness. They have lost their perspective about the difference between right and wrong. They have no idea of what living in the light could even be like. They have no memory of anything but darkness so darkness seems normal. They wander around dangerously close to a cliff and sometimes they fall over.

Occasionally, people shine tiny lights their way in the form of rebukes, pep talks, or advice. “You can do better,” people suggest. “Stop or you’ll kill yourself,” frantic loved ones cry. Unfortunately, like my tiny flashlight beam, these poor lost souls see the light but it does not illuminate the darkness or help them find their way out.

The only hope is to allow the bright illuminating “Sonshine” of Christ’s love and grace burst through us in the form of love, grace, faith, and kindness. The light of Christ is so bright that not only will it light up their darkness, it will make them long to walk towards it. Once they accept the love and grace of Jesus, He will convict their heart about sin and show them a way out.
=========================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Cheryle Touchton at 904-614-3585.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Who and Whose Are You?

2010-05-10T20:54:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10:27 NIV

Who are you? Whose are you? What thoughts dominate your mind? What emotions control you heart? Whom or what do you worship? What increases or depletes your strength? Whom or what do you love with your entire mind, heart, soul, and strength? The answer affects your life and eternity.

People answer most of those questions in the first 5 minutes I spend with them. They speak words that mirror their thoughts. They wear emotions on the set of their jaw and the bent of their shoulders. They demonstrate what they worship by what excites or hurts them. Their strength is obvious by the shape of their body and the speed of their gait. The sweet aroma of Christ is unmistakable and the lack of it is as painfully obvious as a gaping hole left in a ship by an enemy torpedo.

The signs of pain are everywhere. God has called me to minister to people on the streets of America. I hear shocking stories as I travel. I witness shocking deeds. Some are so broken that they have lost faith in ever being happy again. Some are so hardened that bitterness spews out of every breath. I want to weep when I meet Christians who spot evil on every street corner and have taken it upon themselves to be the “sin police.” I apologize when I meet Christians and non-Christians who been so damaged by the "sin police" that they have rejected Christ and Christ’s church completely. People casually and jokingly share deeds so mean spirited, dangerous, or evil that I shudder as I recognize the deep pain behind their lighthearted words.

It is not hard to discover what is important to people. What we do with the information depends on who and whose we are. The easy way out would be to play the "sin police" by pointing out what people are doing wrong and how they could do better. After all, those mistakes are usually obvious to everyone. If we’ve spent time studying the Bible, we could hurl the words of God as an indictment and feel self righteous as we do it. The problem with that approach is that it focuses on behavior and not the heart. God cares about the heart. The behavior is a mere symptom of what is going on in the heart.

When I meet people on the street, I have a moment to influence a heart and if I focused on behavior, I’d lose that moment. When I focus on judging or reacting to behavior instead of having compassion for the damaged or hurting heart, it means that something is wrong with my heart.

What I long to do with every pour of my being is to let the perfect forgiving understanding loving heart of Jesus shine so brightly that that even if someone rejects it, they never forget the attraction. The heart of Jesus saw the sin of the prostitute but ministered to the damaged heart. The heart of Jesus rebuked the pious religious people so intent on living by rules and regulations that they had no room left to love. The heart of Jesus was compassionate to a thief condemned on a cross. The Jesus I want to radiate prayed for His executioners while His blood dripped onto the ground below.

My job on the streets of America is to love God with my entire mind, heart, soul, and strength and let that love bubble up and pour over every person I meet. Knowing and doing that are two different things. It is sometimes a challenge to love God with my entire mind when my mind whirls with uncertainty about what lies around the next corner. Loving God with my entire heart grows difficult when I let my heart be damaged by damaged people. It is impossible to love God with my entire soul when my soul craves what is out of my reach. I can forget to love God with my entire strength when my body is made uncomfortable by the demands of God’s calling. When I allow earthly distractions to interfere with loving God, the babbling brook that represents my love for others dams up and stops flowing. The only answer is for me to stop trying to solve every difficulty and turn my entire attention back to loving God with all that I am.

On those days when I manage to love God with most of my imperfect being, I notice beauty and peek around the next corner with anticipation. I recognize damaged hearts even as they hurl unfair, untrue, or cruel words about my Savior or occasionally me. I’m able to minister to a heart instead of reacting or taking harsh or ugly words personally. I accept the blessings God gives today and trust that they are not only enough, they are abundant. I serve God with the strength I have and He multiplies it and pours it out on the world the same way He fed 5000 with just a few loaves and fishes. When I love with the heart of Jesus, people want to know more of the Jesus who creates such love. My love for God grows as I witness the power of that love in their lives and suddenly, I have more love to offer to the world.

When the “who” of me becomes a Christ-follower seeking the Mind of Christ and the “whose” of me is God’s beloved, forgiven child, I can walk on water, move mountains, and say to the wind, “peace be still.” That kind of power is available to you if you want it. Who and whose are you?
======================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Cheryle Touchton at 904-614-3585.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

What A Day

2010-05-08T21:11:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Ps 118:24 NIV

What a day. I love sprinkling Jesus everywhere, but I must confess that if I get to pick, sprinkling Him across the towering red rocks of Colorado and Utah and along the Colorado River would probably be my first choice. In my last career, I was confined to an office. Now I get to do my work hiking places like Hovenweep National Monument.

As Belle and I hiked up and down the steep rocky canyon of Hovenweep National Monument, we shared Jesus with a Wicca practitioner and a Park Ranger. When we got back to the Visitor’s Center, Belle put on a trick show for an entire class of 5th graders. While she performed, I got to talk about Jesus. They were interested in reading Belle’s blog so I handed out my cards. The teacher thanked me for taking so much time with them.

As Belle and I hiked, I remembered the flat tire I’d had in Hovenweep in 2002. At the time, I thought it was crisis but it lead to the salvation of the man who changed the tire. This just goes to show that I don’t know what is good for me. I hear from him from time to time and he is doing great.

I also took great pleasure in the fact that because I’d prepared for this journey by working out at Curves, I was able to hike the steep rocky two mile trail with little effort.

This afternoon, I went to the grocery store. The woman in line ahead of me was angry about everything. I’m not sure what got her so angry but she was slamming her groceries out of her cart. In her fury, she laid her wallet down and panicked when she couldn’t find it.

“Here it is,” I said quietly, pointing the wallet that was perched on top of a can of peas. “You seem like you’re having a bad day.”

“I am,” she huffed. “This grocery store charges too much and they don’t take care of you.”

“We’re cheaper than the other grocery store,” the clerk argued.

“You’re too crowded,” the woman retorted.

I opened my purse and handed her a pamphlet entitled, Steps to Peace With God. “You look like you need this,” I said.

“I have peace,” she snapped.

I just looked at her and she looked sheepish. “I don’t believe this stuff but I’m sure you mean well.”

“I absolutely mean well,” I said.

“Ok,” she said, sighing. “I’ll take it and read it.”

Tonight, I took the 21 mile Canyon Land boat and dinner tour out of Moab. As I walked in, I remembered the sad college student who’d worked the ticket counter in 2002. She’d had a number of personal tragedies and what I call a “pocket full of tears.” I shared Christ with her and when I returned in 2003, she was a completely different person. She’d become a Christian, joined a church, and gotten active in a Bible study. Tonight, when I walked up to the same counter for the 3rd time, we immediately recognized each other and both got excited. Mallory was happy, had graduated from college, was still active in church, and had married a Christian man. Jesus had truly emptied her pocket full of tears.

For the dinner portion of the tour, I sat with 4 people who said they were more spiritual than religious. Three were interested in my story and life but not Jesus. The fourth, sitting next to me, was a former Mormon from Utah and was willing to talk about Christ. I gave all of them quarters and cards. I quietly shared the way to Christ with the former Mormon and gave him a tract. Since he was sitting with his 3 friends, who were busy religion bashing while we talked, I didn’t push him to pray with me but I showed him the prayer in the tract.

“Thank you,” he said, taking the tract.

Just in case you think my day was perfect – it wasn’t. I got lost a couple of times. My GPS took me down a dirt road that had a fence at the end of it. You haven’t lived until you turn a camper around on a rocky narrow dirt road. A cabinet flew open while I was driving and hurled food items at poor Belle. Something fell off the shelf above me while I was driving and conked me in the head. I was without cell coverage most of the day. I had to hook up my camper up in the dark and I scraped my hand while I stumbled and fumbled around. The hose didn’t connect properly and soaked me. I plugged in the electricity and it didn’t work. Shivering and wet, I walked to the campground office in the cold black night. Fortunately, they were still there and got my electricity working.

My life on the road is hard. Often, I long for my comfortable bed and luxurious shower. I always long for my husband. Days like today make it all worth it. This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

==========================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Cheryle Touchton at 904 614 3585.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Date Day

2010-05-06T00:41:00.001-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matt 7:3-4 NIV

Sunday was Date Day. Date Day is better than Date Night because it lasts all day and all night. Bob and I hadn’t seen each other in 3 weeks and we planned to pack Sunday with a day of worship, romance, and adventure.

Our day began worshipping at the San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico. We’d spent the night at Hotel Albuquerque Old Town and the church was just a couple of blocks away. Bob and I strolled through Old Town holding hands and quietly walked into the church packed with people.

Fray Manuel Moreno started the original church of San Felipe de Neri in 1706. Fray Manuel was a Franciscan priest who came to Albuquerque with 30 families from Bernalillo in 1704 or 1705. Don Francisco Cuervo y Valdez, the founder of the city of Albuquerque, originally named the church San Francisco Xavier, after the Viceroy of New Spain. The Duke of Albuquerque changed the name to San Felipe de Neri in honor of King Philip of Spain.

On a rainy day in the summer of 1792, the old church completely collapsed. A year later, Albuquerque built the church currently standing on the Old Town Plaza. This lovely church is in the shape of a cross, has the Stations of the Cross on the 5 foot thick walls, and was constructed of adobe.

It was a peaceful service filled with prayer, reading the word of God together, and singing. We sat in anticipation as the Priest began his Homily.

The Priest said a parishioner once commented that no one ever had ever heard him talking badly about other churches or religions.

The Priest answered, “We have enough to talk about in this church. When we finish fixing everything here, we’ll talk about other churches.” We all laughed.

The Priest’s response is the best example of Matthew 7:3-4 I’ve ever heard. When we finish fixing everything about ourselves, we can start fixing other people.

We left the church and ate authentic New Mexican food in Old Town. We visited shops, again holding hands. Bob bought me a lovely mother’s day gift – you may have guessed what – a dramatic necklace. Who is surprised that I wanted that. We went to the movies and saw – you can probably guess again – Date Night.

We’d hoped to take the gondola up the Sandia Mountain and eat dinner at the Hotel on top of the mountain but the ice cold rain and hail discouraged us. I wondered if it was an example of the heavy rain that had collapsed that tiny church so many years ago. Instead, we drove around the city taking in the sights and ran a couple of errands. We ate New Mexican food for dinner. What can I say? We don’t have Mexican food in State College, Pennsylvania. After dinner, we returned to our hotel. I do not plan to write about the rest of our delightful Date Day.
====================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Cheryle Touchton at 904 614-3585.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

I'm Sorry

2010-04-27T10:48:00.001-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

This is dedicated to the people all across America who shared with me their “Christian” and “Church” horror stories.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Cor 13:13 NIV

To everyone who has been hurt by Christians who put legalism ahead of love, I’m sorry. Those same people crucified Jesus.

To everyone who has been hurt by a church who judged them instead of loving them, I’m sorry. Jesus told them that if they judged, He was going to judge them.

To everyone who has been devastated by a Christian who did not honor their vows, I’m sorry. Jesus said they honored Him with their lips but their hearts were far from him.

To everyone who has watched a Christian use God’s word to kill or destroy, I’m sorry. Jesus said to love your neighbor.

To everyone who has been puzzled by a Christian trembling in fear, I’m sorry. Jesus said, “Oh ye of little faith, why do you doubt?”

To everyone who has been abandoned by a Christian, I’m sorry. God said, “I will never leave you nor will I forsake you. “

To everyone who has been wounded by Christians while doing the work of Christ, I’m sorry. Jesus said, “Father forgive them, they know not what they do.”

To everyone who has been reminded of their mistakes by Christians, I’m sorry. If you ask Jesus into your life, He won’t even remember your mistakes.

To everyone who has had Christians use the word of God to win an argument, I’m sorry. The Bible says they have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels.

To everyone who has watched Christians preach one thing while doing another, I’m sorry. The Savior called them hypocrites.

To anyone who has been criticized by a Christian, I’m sorry. Jesus said they should have first taken the plank out of their own eye.

To everyone who has rejected Christ because of Christians, I’m sorry. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

=================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Start At the Beginning

2010-04-25T00:12:00.002-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV

Have you ever wondered if the person sitting next to you knows the basic Jesus story? Do they know that He was born to a virgin, died on a cross, and rose from the dead. Do they know that He is the promised Messiah from the book of Isaiah? Do they know that He loves them and will forgive and forget anything they did wrong? Do they know that no one could or needs to work their way into heaven – that heaven is a gift to those who ask? Never assume the answer is yes. Sometimes, we have to start at the beginning – even with the person sitting next to us at church.

“Oh, I’m not religious. I Buddhist but not much,” Jade said. Jade was from Viet Nam. She was standing on my right removing my nail polish. I was in a massage chair with a young man working on my feet. Women filled the chairs next to me. Everyone could hear every word.

“How long have you been in the U.S.?” I asked.

“6 years.”

Were you Buddhist in Viet Nam?”

“She Buddhist,” the man working on my feet said as he frowned.

“You must be Catholic.” I said. The people I’ve met from Viet Nam are usually Buddhist or Catholic.

The young Vietnamese man working on the woman next to me said, “We both Catholic. She Buddhist.”

“Do you go to church?” I asked. They both nodded eagerly. “Have you prayed and asked Jesus to be your Savior and Lord?” Again, they both nodded.

“I nothing,” Jade said. “Not religious. What are you?”

“I follow Christ,” I said. “That makes me Christian. I love Jesus and asked Him to come into my life.”

“My husband Baptist,” she said. “What difference between Christian, Catholic, and Baptist?”

“Is your husband from Viet Nam?” I asked, surprised.

“No,” she said. “He American. He Baptist. His brother prays at everything – Christmas and Thanksgiving.”

“Does your husband go to church?” I asked.

“Some,” she said.

“Do you go with him?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

“Do you like Baptist church?” I asked. “Do you like the preacher?”

She shrugged. “I no understand preacher.”

“You asked the difference between Christians, Baptist, and Catholics.” I said, struggling to find words for someone who had no background in religion or Christianity. “Christians believe that Jesus was born to a virgin, was murdered on a cross, and came back from the dead. A Christian has admitted mistakes and prayed to ask Jesus to come into their life. A Christian has a personal relationship with Jesus.”

“He born to virgin?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said. “God was His father. It is hard to understand because Jesus is God. God saw how bad we were living on earth so He came to earth to save us. God has several faces or roles. Just like you – you do nails, are a mother, and a wife. God the Father is our daddy. He made us. He made the flowers and trees. God the Son is Jesus. He came to earth as a man to teach us and to save us so we can go to heaven. When we pray to ask Jesus into our life, Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the part of God that lives inside of us."

“Do you know about Buddha?” she asked.

“I do,” I said. “Buddhism isn’t really a religion. It is a philosophy or a way to live. It is a peaceful way to live. Buddha was a teacher and he came up with 4 Noble Truths about how to live. The people that I know that follow Buddha are very good people. The difference between Buddha and Jesus is that I have a personal relationship with Jesus. He did not just teach truth – He is truth. He rose from the dead. He is alive. No one that is Buddhist tells me they have a personal relationship with Buddha.”

“He is alive?” she said, clearly surprised.

“Yes,” I said. “The world killed him but He rose from the dead. He is God. He is alive in us when we ask Him to come into our life. He teaches us. You said you did not understand the preacher. If you had the Holy Spirit inside of you, the Holy Spirit would help you understand him. Jesus is also the way to heaven. Do you believe in heaven?”

“Yes,” she said. "Buddha say if you live good you go to heaven. I try to live good.”

“That is another difference between Jesus and Buddha. Jesus doesn’t tell you that you have to live good to go to heaven. He says you have to believe in Him and follow His ways. Heaven is free – all you have to do is believe in Jesus and ask for heaven. If you tell Jesus what you did wrong and ask Him to forgive you, He does. He does not even remember your mistakes after He forgives you.”

“He does not remember?” she asked in awe.

“No,” I said. “It is as if it never happened. We call that grace. It is free. You cannot work your way into heaven.”

I pulled out a laminated card that had 4 simple steps to becoming a Christian. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find my Vietnamese tract. “Do you read English?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said.

I walked her through each step and read her the words from the Bible scriptures.

“Jesus loves you,” I said gently. “He said so right here. The Bible is God talking to you.”

“It is?” she said.

“Yes,” I said. “I love the Bible. I can read God’s words any time.” I read her more words.

“I think I believe in God,” she said.

“I can tell you want to believe in Jesus. You do not have to understand everything to be Christian,” I said. I read her a sample prayer to ask Jesus into her life. “Do you want to pray this now?”

“No,” she said. “Can I have this card? I want to read it to my husband. I want to ask if he did this. I want to know what he think. What is difference between Baptist and Catholic?”

“They are both Christian religions. They worship in a different way and they believe a few things differently, but they both claim to follow Christ. Remember – a Christian in someone who has prayed to invite Jesus into their life. Not every Baptist or Catholic has done that. They are both Christian religions but a Christian is a person. You cannot become a Christian because your parents were Christians. You have to decide that for yourself.”

“How old were you when you did this?” she asked.

“8. My parents are Christians and took me to a Baptist church but I was not Christian until I prayed this. I do not care what church you go to as long as they teach you to follow Jesus but if your husband is Baptist, you should go to the Baptist church with him. It will be wonderful for your son for both parents to be Christian.”

My time with her was over. She clung to the card as I walked over to dry my nails.

Just before I left, she came over to me. “I want to say thank you. No one explain this to me before. I did not know what Christian was. You taught me about Buddha. I did not understand difference. You good person. Thank you.”

“Jade,” I begged. “Please, go home, talk to your husband, and pray that prayer. Go to church with him and tell the church your good news. Let them help you understand.”

As I walked out of that nail salon, I thought of all of the hands Jade had painted. Surely, some were Christian. Had none of them told her that Jesus loved her? She was married to a Baptist. Why hadn’t he started at the beginning and explained that Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead? She went to a Baptist church. Why did no one figure out that she needed them to start at the beginning? I’ve learned to never assume people know about Christ. I always ask, even in church. I visited a church and led a woman to Christ while sitting in the middle of an advanced Bible Study she’d attended for weeks. The Christian women around her had assumed she was already Christian and were trying to teach deep Biblical truths to someone who needed to know that Jesus died for her. They sat stunned as she prayed to invite Jesus into her life. They all apologized for not starting at the beginning. Please tell the story of Jesus everywhere. Start at the beginning.

==================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

The Gift

2010-04-21T23:18:00.003-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady
This is dedicated to My Best Friend Nancy

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Acts 1:4-5 NIV

I was so excited. Two days with my best friend Nancy. The first night was to be at her house in Buford, Georgia and on the second night she was to travel with me to the television show in South Carolina. What a gift.

Nancy has been my best friend since high school. She is a faithful friend and a faithful supporter of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. A missionary day at Pocket Full of Change Ministries costs about $120. Each month, Nancy donates 1 day.

In anticipation of our time together, I asked God for a special gift. God, Nancy is so faithful to this ministry. It would be a special gift to both of us if you would let us lead someone to Christ together. Let her experience how her money is used.

When I arrived at her home, I was disappointed to learn that she’d forgotten about a prior commitment and couldn’t travel to South Carolina with me. We went to dinner that night and I looked for the gift I hoped God would send. Nothing happened – no doors opened. I was leaving early the next morning so I accepted that God had said no to my request.

Just before bed, Nancy suggested we go out to breakfast the next morning. I slept later than I expected and woke up rushing. I forgot about my request to God.

At breakfast, I did something I often do. I asked the waiter, “We’re Christians and are going to bless the food. Is there anything you’d like us to pray for?”

“Yes,” he said, grinning. “Pray for my hockey team to win.” Matt was a college student about to graduate. I knew the twinkle in his beautiful eyes was going to serve him well (see his picture in the photo gallery under Georgia – Buford).

“What if someone from the other team is also praying?” I quipped.

“You’ll just have to pray harder than them.”

We prayed for Matt’s hockey team. That began the conversation where Matt talked about Jesus and growing up in a church school. He wasn’t in church and had never actually prayed to ask Jesus to become his savior. I pulled out a tract from my purse.

“This is written by Billy Graham.” I said. “Do you know who that is?”

He thought for a minute. “I don’t think so,” he said. I’d never met anyone who didn’t know Billy.

“Trust me,” Nancy and I said almost at the same time. “His work is worth reading.” Matt took it and promised to read it. Matt kept returning to our table to talk about jobs, his future, God, and life issues. Suddenly, I knew God was going to give Nancy this gift.

“Matt,” I asked. “Would you like to change your destiny right now?” I’d stolen that term from a Facebook post from my pastor. Matt looked interested so I continued. “You could pray right now and become a Christian. We could read the prayer that is in that tract.”

“Ok,” he said.

Wow, I thought. That was easy.We opened the tract and Matt invited Jesus to become a part of his life. I gave him a card and left thrilled with God’s gift to Nancy and me. I thought about my doubts from the night before. God was waiting for just the right time to answer my prayer.

Nancy knew she was already a part of everyone this ministry leads to Christ because she donates and helps make these trips possible. She reads the stories I post so she already knew what happens on the road. Knowing and experiencing it are two different things and I was grateful that God gifted us with being able to, together, be a chapter in Matt’s story, “The Day My Destiny Changed.”
====================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Miracle or Incompetence? You Decide

2010-04-20T22:28:00.001-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin. Luke 15:9 NIV

Bob’s camper keys weren’t anywhere. I looked through the entire camper. I took everything out of my purse and shook it upside down. I keep my keys in the same outside pocket where I keep my tracts, Liberty bracelets, quarters, and pens so while I had it empty, I reorganized my tracts so I could easily reach them. I put everything back in the purse, ending up with the one last remaining Liberty Bracelet. I made a mental note to buy materials to make more Liberty Bracelets.

I’d had such a good day the day before. Several people had prayed to receive Jesus. Now I felt terrible. The keys couldn’t be replaced without getting a new alarm system. I’d lost 3 things that day and knocked my expensive projector onto the floor. I felt incompetent. I wondered if I should quit and return home. Belle the Missionary Dog must have been worried because she posted a blog about it. Encouragement and prayers poured in. At 12:21 AM, my pastor, Dan Nold wrote on Facebook:

“Easier to say when it's not me...but no less true... being a part of four chapters of four different lives, that all begin with the sentence... ‘Let me tell you about the day my destiny was re-written’ is certainly worth the missing keys. Praying for you!”

I’d never thought about using the word “destiny” with regards to leading people to Christ. I had a new relevant term to use in witnessing. The magnitude of being a part of someone’s destiny “being rewritten” washed over me and tears of gratitude sprang to my eyes. I was in Georgia and my new pastor had just reached out from Pennsylvania in the middle of the night and ministered to my discouragement. Not only were the keys worth being a part of someone’s destiny, I would have offered up the camper that the keys unlocked to be a part of such a miracle. I had perspective once again. Before I closed my eyes and went to sleep, I thanked God for my job but reminded Him that I’d still like my keys back.

The next morning, I grabbed my other set of keys and drove to the nursing home where my cousin, Luann, works. When I arrived, I carefully put the keys in my purse on top of the Liberty Bracelet. Inside, Luann played the piano and I led the singing of Amazing Grace with a room full of senior citizens. Then, I delivered a message of salvation and encouragement while showing pictures of places the people watching would probably never visit again. They listened with rapt attention and many cried. Afterwards, I walked around listening to their stories and praying with individuals. It was a good morning. I enjoyed ministering with Cousin Luann.

After the event, Luann and I headed to our cars. I told Luann about the missing keys and she called the church from the day before to see if there they were there. I opened my purse to get my keys and there on top of the Liberty Bracelet were two sets of keys.

“Luann,” I said excitedly. “Look.” I held up both sets of keys.

“Where were they?” she asked.

“In the purse I completely emptied yesterday. They were sitting next to the keys I used to get here. They were lying on top of a Liberty Bracelet, which was the last thing I put back in the purse. Is this a miracle or did I just miss them yesterday?”

Luann laughed. “Perhaps it’s both. I love you.” We hugged and she slipped some money in my pocket. When I looked at it later, it was enough to fund an entire day of ministry. I was touched. I knew that amount of money was a sacrifice. I guess Luann thought I was competent enough to invest in.

So I ask, what do you think? Am I really that incompetent…or blind or scatter-brained? Were the keys right there and I just missed them when I emptied my purse looking for them? Did God find my keys and gently lay them next to my other keys that I had just used, and on top of a Liberty Bracelet I was going to use to lead someone to Him?

A footnote to this story – the next morning I used the term “change your destiny” with a college student and he prayed with me to become a Christian. I’ll write that story after I get back from speaking on Nite Line Christian television tonight.

==========================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

A Day Full of Miracles

2010-04-18T00:07:00.000-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor 10:5-6 NIV

I wasn’t happy. I wanted to be asleep. I’d been on the missionary road for 2 weeks and had traveled from Pennsylvania to Florida. I usually sleep in campgrounds but the church I was speaking at that morning had generously bought me a hotel room. I’d set the clock for 7 AM but awoke at 5:45. Breakfast wasn’t until 6:30 so I walked Belle the Missionary Dog and did my morning devotions. At 6:30, I dashed downstairs. Breakfast wasn’t ready.

I peeked in the kitchen. A busy woman said, “It will be out in a few minutes.”

I’m not a morning person. Add hungry to the mix and I could have been downright dangerous. I took a breath and fought to take my nasty thoughts captive.

Instead of saying what I wanted to say, I asked politely, “Did I misread the breakfast time?”

“No,” she said as she frantically filled bowls. “I’ve been out for several days. They didn’t tell me that a machine was broken and everything was in a different place.”

“You’re having a bad morning. Relax. It will be OK. I’m a Christian missionary. I travel the country talking to people about Jesus. Tell me your name and I’ll pray for you.”

Her name was Mary. She calmed down and looked grateful. I prayed and she finished getting breakfast out.

“May I talk to you?” she asked, after everything was out.

“Absolutely,” I said, looking wistfully at eggs on my plate. “Have a seat.”

“I’ve been dating this nice man for 6 weeks. Jim talks about Jesus and wants to pray at meals. I went to Catholic school so I believe in God but he’s different than me. I want to be like that but I’m not.”

“Are you a Christian?” I asked.

“I think so – I’m Catholic.”

“If you’re Catholic, you believe in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Right?” She nodded.

“I know you’ve confessed your sins.” She laughed and nodded.

“Have you prayed and invited Jesus to be your personal Savior and Lord?”

She hesitated before she said, “I must have.”

“I can tell by your hesitation that you haven’t. You would remember. I suspect that is the difference between Jim and you. Jim has probably asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior so Jesus is personal to him.”

Another customer walked up so Mary had to go back her job. I finally ate my cold eggs. When Mary was between tasks, I tried to continue the conversation but she pointed to a table and looked self-conscious.

“Is that Jim?” I whispered. She nodded.

I was only two tables from Jim so I turned to him and said loudly, “Jim. Mary says you pray with her. Are you a born again Christian?”

“Yes Ma’am, I am. Since I was 12.” He could eat and talk at the same time. I’ve got to learn that technique.

“Mary and I have been talking about Jesus. She recognized Jesus in your life. Good for you! She believes in Jesus but hasn’t invited Him into her life.”

We both looked at Mary. I said, “The 3 of us could do this right now. You could pray and meet Jesus personally.”

“No, I couldn’t do it,” she said, backing up. “I’m too shy to pray aloud.”

“You can do this!” I said encouragingly. “I’ll tell you want to say. Hold our hands.” There in the Comfort Inn, in a small town in Sunny Florida, Mary quietly repeated the words that changed her life and eternity. When we finished, she was crying. Jim was beaming.

“Jim, you’ve got to promise to help her learn to study the Bible,” I said. “If I don’t hurry, I’m going to be late for my speaking engagement.”

After I got dressed, I took one of my books to Mary. She was still glowing.

I made my event just in time to set up. I began by telling the 300 women about Mary. Everyone clapped. I’m getting bolder about giving invitations after I speak, so at the end I invited people to do what Mary did. This particular church had planned an alter call. I stood awestruck as 4 people came forward to ask Jesus to be their Savior. To the surprise of the church, about two dozen people stepped forward for re-dedication or prayer.

What a day of miracles. If I’d given into the temptation of that morning grump, this entire day would have turned out differently. I loaded up my camper van Halleluiah, and Belle and I went off in search of our next miracle.

=============================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

I think I'm Going to Join a Carnival

2010-04-16T23:06:00.003-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. Gal 2:8 NIV

I may join the carnival. I’d make more money and have more customers. I used to go book signings and act like a refined author. I think people thought I was a carnie because they’d walk right by, deliberately avoiding eye contact. One day, I decided that if people were going to treat me like a carnie, I was going to act like one. When I started using carnival techniques to entice people to stop at my table, I started selling books.

“Step right up,” I sometimes say. “You know you want to. What you are looking for is sitting right on this table.”

Other times, when someone gets within earshot, I say, “I’m so happy you came to this book store just to meet me. I’m Cheryle Touchton and I’d love to sign a book for you today.”

If people pass me, I say, “You just missed the best book in the store.”

Most people are good sports. They grin, walk over, and flip through the books. I begin my commercial. Today, one man said, “You’ve got to get over your shyness.”

To the ones who look confused, I say something like, “I wasn’t selling books acting like an author so I decided to try my hand at acting like a carnie.” I’ve wondered if my success using those techniques means I’d be a better carnie than author. But alas, God hasn’t called me to the carnival so I’ll just keep on pretending to be a carnie in book stores.

Today’s book signing was 4 hours long. It was Friday in a Christian book store, which didn’t bode well for selling books or being entertained. 4 hours is a long time to sit lonely, bored, and feeling rejected.

When I got there, they put me in the back in the Café. I wasn’t happy because the course, Book Singing 101, teaches to always sit in the front of the store.

As usual, I don’t know what is best for me but God does. I had a delightful afternoon.

Let me start by saying I sold 7 books, which is impressive for a Friday in Christian book store. That means I made about $11, which works out to a little less than $3 an hour. Admittedly, It is a hard way to make a living… especially, when you spend $6 in the café.

The café is where people go when they want to snack, reflect on life, listen to Christian music, read, or calm down. From the time I got there, God sent one ministry encounter after another. At several points during the day, I had multiple conversations going on at one time.

A grieving and lonely widow sat there for 3 hours. I suspect she comes in often just to be around people. She sat in silence reading until I engaged her in conversation. We talked off and on as she sat there. It took some work but little by little, she revealed the reasons behind her frozen look of sadness. As she shared, her face relaxed. She was disappointed with both of her adult sons, was selling the house she’d spent her life in, and was regretting not being nicer to her husband when he was alive.

“He was a good guy,” she said. “Why did I fuss about so many things that didn’t matter?” The sad thing about the conversation was that she had faithfully attended the same Baptist Sunday School class every Sunday without telling a soul how disappointed she was with life. Others in café engaged, spoke scripture to her, talked about grace, and got her phone number. She bought my book and thanked me when she left.

A man wore a troubled look of shock as he plopped down with his latte’. He sat alone sipping and staring until I talked to him. As his story poured out, I understood his horror. He’d been in town for 4 months, dealing with a brutal mass shooting. His former brother-in-law had murdered 4 people, including his former wife and the police officer trying to rescue them. His daughter was a target in the incident but had changed her mind at the last minute and hadn’t been at the place where the shooting took place. His daughter’s younger sister was shot and had spent months in the hospital. She’d lost the baby she was carrying. Family dynamics had grown bitter as people responded differently to the uncle, who was in jail, and arguments over the family business arose. I shared our family’s murder story and what I’d learned about forgiveness. I saw him relax as he realized that forgiveness was for him and not for the people who obviously didn’t deserve his forgiveness.

The dramatic stories continued as the afternoon progressed and people sought refuge in this Christian café. I spent time with a mother who’d recently lost her 21 year old son, a recovering drug addict, and an older man who was dating for the first time, 8 years after his wife died. As I left, I asked the owner if I could spend a day there on every missionary journey in the future. He agreed. Today, I got to do my work in an air-conditioned building, listening to Christian music, sipping diet cokes, and selling books. What a glorious afternoon. I guess I won’t join the carnival after all.

================================================
Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Things Didn't Turn Out The Way We Planned

2010-04-15T00:13:00.003-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. James 5:13-14 The Message

“Where are you from?” the man I later found out was John asked. I saw it in his eyes. He had what I called the “Intensive Care Waiting Room” look. John had a burden.

“I live in Pennsylvania. What about you?”

“My wife and I are from Maine. We stay there until November and here until May.” Here was the KOA in the tiny town of Starke, Florida. They traveled in a truck pulling a large 5th wheel camper. “This is a nice campground. We love it.”

“I’m surprised,” I said. “My family lives 45 minutes from here so I’ve never stayed here before. I do like the campground.”

“Are you alone?” he asked.

I paused and prayed about how to answer. Telling a man I’ve never met that I’m alone in the camper next to him isn’t usually recommended. I trusted the peace I felt from the Holy Spirit so I answered.

“I’m a Christian writer and missionary,” I said. “I’m on a mission trip. I’ll be here until Friday. Do you have a church here in Starke?”

“No,” he said. “My wife is bedridden. We can’t go to church.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said.

“Life didn’t turn out like we planned,” he said. “She fell in 2005. She’s bed ridden. I do everything. I even lift her in and out of the truck. I’m doing the laundry now.”

“If you went to church, what church would it be?” I asked.

“We were Episcopal,” he said. I noted the word “were.” He didn’t identify with church.

“How long have you been married?” I asked.

“Fifty years,” he said, his face finally lighting up. I wondered how long he would be able to lift his wife in and out of the truck.

“Congratulations,” I said. “That is a feat now.”

John suddenly looked sad again. “My daughter’s getting a divorce.”

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Divorce is so painful. It hurts everyone. We just had a family funeral that brought divorced family members together. I realized how much I’d missed people I used to be related too. I hate divorce. It tears whole families apart. Bob and I have been married almost 39 years.”

“Yep,” he said, shaking his head. “It hurts all of us.”

“I can tell it’s hurting you. Do you have grandchildren?”

“They are all grown. All my kids and grandkids live in Maryland. We don’t see them much.”

“John, do you have any support?”

“Not really, it’s just me and Mary.”

“Is she good company? Does she still have her mind? Does she talk to you?”

“She does,” he said. “She has a good attitude.” I thanked God that something was going right in this poor man’s life. “Her arm’s all drawn up so I have to do everything but she’s good company.”

“My new book came out yesterday. The name of it is Dealing With Pain and Related Depression. It doesn’t sound like Mary’s depressed but she might enjoy reading it. I’m going to give her a copy of it. I’m also going to add Mary to my prayer list.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“John, I always ask people if they are a Christian. What I mean by that is do you believe in the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, have you confessed your sins, and have you invited Jesus into your life. Are you a Christian?”

He looked at the ground, as if being reminded of something that had happened a long time ago. “I have,” he finally said.

“You need some help,” I said. “Even if you can’t go to church, maybe if you connected with the local church, they could be support for you.”

“There is a good Episcopal church right up the street,” he said, sounding hopeful. “When we come back in November, I think I’ll try to check them out.”

“Good idea,” I said.

I went back to my camper and got a book. I signed it, “Mary, I’m praying for you. Life can be hard but I understand that you have a good attitude. I can tell your husband loves you. You are blessed.” Cheryle M. Touchton Luke 10:27

I took it back to John.

“I’m finally done with this laundry,” he said.

“I’m doing laundry tomorrow,” I said.

“You’d better do it today,” he said. “It’s less crowded.”

==========================================================

Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

No Matter What

2010-04-07T20:59:00.003-04:00

By Cheryle M. Touchton

The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 NIV

Our family may be sad but we celebrate together, no matter what. We are a big family because we constantly add to our numbers. When you marry or befriend one of us, your entire family becomes ours – no matter what. On Resurrection Sunday, as four generations of multiple family threads – some related by blood and all related by love – met together to celebrate Resurrection Sunday and search for colorful eggs in my parent’s pink azalea blooming yard, the weight of sadness hung in the sparkling Florida sunshine and tried to steal our joy.

Missing family members left gaping holes in our celebration. All four of my nephews were grieving. My two oldest nephews rode their bikes over from the home where their 51-year-old father had died in their arms just two weeks before. My two youngest nephews missed their grandma and my sister-in-law missed her mother, who was celebrating her first Easter in the presence of Jesus. We struggled with what to say to two women at the event alone due to marital strife and grieved the absence of their husbands. We felt guilty for even having the event because Grandma Touchton lay in a hospital bed in the final stage of her life, her mind already gone from the ravages of Alzheimer’s.

Serious illness tried without success to put a damper on Celebration Sunday. Among those searching for eggs and blowing bubbles were people suffering from chronic pain, aging related confusion and difficulties, and complications from and treatment for a kidney transplant trying to go into rejection.

As I write this, my husband sits at his mother’s bedside, watching each breath and wondering if it will be her last. I stayed with her until 3:00 AM the night before but since I had ministry and mission commitments in Orlando, Bob insisted that I continue my journey until he calls me to Jacksonville to be with my multifaceted and interesting family as we celebrate the life of my mother-in-law. We will celebrate – no matter what.

When our family gets together, no matter what, we celebrate the reason we come together. When we’re together, there’s always a chance that an argument or two will break out but – no matter what – it is forgotten in moments. This Resurrection Sunday, we comforted each other but we laughed at the blowing bubbles and the children searching for eggs - and we celebrated. That news of Resurrection Sunday is so good that even sadness couldn’t stop us from enjoying the day. Jesus is alive and because He is alive, we are too-no matter what!

==========================================================

Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at
Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Tortured by Life

2010-04-02T09:36:00.001-04:00

I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. Ps 6:6NIV

“I know Calvary Baptist,” the woman next to me said. “They help people. They moved me into my house. I’d heard they helped old people so I called and a bunch of men showed up with a truck and moved me.”

“Have you ever worshipped there?” I asked. “We call ourselves the church without walls and moving you in is a great example. We like to be the church to our community.”

“Oh no,” she said. “I’ll never go to a Baptist Church. I was married to a Baptist preacher for 5 years. I found him in bed with a 17 year old.”

“Don’t blame all of us Baptists because of one bad one,” I said. “When I get back from this missionary journey, maybe you can go to church with me.”

I was sitting in Walmart, just a mile from my home in State College. My first stop on the 2010 Pocket Full of Quarters Missionary Journey was to get my nails done. I couldn’t believe how busy Walmart Nails was on Thursday afternoon. Four of us waited together and I already knew this woman had fallen down 27 stairs in 2004, was about to have her 7th knee surgery, had had 2 heart attacks, and had been abandoned by her 1st husband after 8 months. Her face showed the tell tale hollow sad eyes of someone tortured by life.

In fact, all three women waiting with me looked tortured. They knew about Jesus but none had a close personal relationship that could relieve their torture. The 33-year-old sitting across from me was recovering from a near fatal aneurism that left her stunned and disappointed with life. The woman on my left was overweight, in bad health, married to a Muslim, and had been trying to get pregnant for 10 years.

“My family wasn’t happy I married a Muslim,” she said sadly. “I figure it is all the same God but they didn’t see it that way. Jesus is in the Qur’an, you know.”

I nodded, while opening my purse and handing her 2 Christian tracts, Jesus and the Qur’an and Word Religions.

“Thanks,” she said. “You remind me of my friend. She is married to a Baptist preacher. She’s always talking to me about Jesus. I’ll read these.”

“She’s probably praying for you,” I said, smiling at her. “God probably sent me here.” I told her about traveling across the country helping people get to know Jesus. I gave her a card with a quarter in it. “This quarter represents the free grace of Jesus. That is the biggest difference about my Jesus. He loves us unconditionally and offers free grace. We don’t have to do anything to work for it. We just accept it. That information will tell you how.”

“I need prayer,” she said, looking down at the tracts. “We’ve been trying to have babies for 10 years. It isn’t going to happen without doctors we can’t afford.”

“My Baptist preacher husband and I tried to have babies, “ the first woman spoke up. “He used to get on his knees every night and beg God for babies. All that prayer didn’t do him any good.”

“I’m guessing that was before the 17-year-old,” I quipped, hoping to lighten the mood. It worked for a minute. She actually smiled.

“This is going to sound terrible.” She hesitated as if trying to decide to say something else. We all waited. “A man broke into my house and raped me. I got pregnant. We didn’t know whose baby it was so my husband got tested. He was sterile. The baby was from the rapist. I didn’t believe in abortion so I had her.”

Everyone waiting for nails service sat in stunned silence. They’d all been sharing their tortured tales but no one could top that story.

“How long ago was that?” I finally whispered.

“1975,” she said. “I guess it was good because I wouldn’t have my daughter.”

“You’re still grieving everything,” I said. “After all this time.” She shuddered and nodded. Everyone leaned forward to hear our quiet words.

“I’m dating a nice man but I won’t marry him,” she whispered. “Too many bad things have happened. I can’t be happy.”

“Yes you can! Life is hard,” I said. “The Bible warns us about that but there is a way to be happy. You’re tortured by life but you don’t have to carry all this around anymore. I have some scriptures here about grief. You can move past all this and be happy. I promise! I know people who have dealt with worse but letting Jesus help them.” I opened my purse and handed her a card with a quarter in it and a scripture card on grief and Jesus. Walmart Nails called my name so I stood up. The 2010 Pocket Full of Quarters Missionary Journey had begun.

==========================================================

Cheryle M. Touchton is the Director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information or to schedule a speaker for an event, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden at 904 316-5462.

This ministry exists because people like you are called to help fund the work of the kingdom. To help keep the Pocket Full of Quarters Lady on the road leading people to Christ, you can donate at

Donate

Copyright: Pocket Full of Change Ministries

Journey to the Cross - Our Father

2010-03-31T20:31:00.000-04:00

The "Our Father" is the nicname for Jesus' model prayer. Many Christian churches say it together at every service.The rooms of Alcoholic Anonymous contain people from every religion, socioeconomic group, and culture. They have one thing in common - addiction has leveled them and destroyed their lives.They’ve also discovered a secret. If they call out to God, He’ll help if they let Him, regardless of their circumstances or beliefs. While AA is careful not to identify with any particular religion or sect, the universal words of the Lord’s Prayer end many meetings. Like everyone else in the AA rooms, Jesus remains anonymous as they beg a common Father for the much-needed help.

Morning Meditation

Read Isaiah 64:8.
Isa 64:8

Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. NIV

• God is father to everyone, regardless of personal opinions. Enjoy that truth.
• Some reject the truth of God’s fatherhood. Allow the pain of that to wash over you.
• Offer yourself as clay for the master potter.

Morning Prayer

• Pray to Our Father, asking for what you need.
• Pray the Lord’s Prayer slowly and carefully.
• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.
• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

God is our Father. In the beginning, He created us in His image for His pleasure. He gave us free will, which we often use for our detriment. Because of our confusion and mistakes, God came to earth to show us how to live and love. On His journey to the cross, He took a brief moment to teach us how to communicate with Our Father.

Each of the scriptures below are written first in the King James translation and then in the paraphrase, The Message. Compare and contrast the meanings as you study this important prayer.

Read Matthew 6:9.

Matt 6:9

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. KJV

With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. The Message

• Whose Father is the prayer to?

• What are we asking of our Father?

Jesus knew what He would be facing at the end of His journey on earth. The agonizing trip to the cross was the will of the Father and best for humanity.

Read Matthew 6:10.

Matt 6:10

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. KJV

Set the world right; Do what's best — as above, so below. The Message

• Where is God’s will always done?

• Are you willing to pray for God’s will on earth regardless of what it means for you personally?

In Matthew 6:11, Jesus gave us permission to ask for our daily needs. Read and pray His simple prayer.

Matt 6:11

Give us this day our daily bread. KJV

Keep us alive with three square meals. The Message

• Do you remember to pray daily for your needs?

• Are your daily needs met?

Not only did Jesus tell us to forgive, He showed us how to forgive by praying the words, ”Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) We witness His agony on the cross and willingness to forgive and become able to forgive others their petty wrongs against us.

Read Matthew 6:12.

Matt 6:12

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. KJV

Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. The Message

• What are the 2 parts of this prayer?

• How do you think forgiving and being forgiven are related?

Like us, Jesus was tempted and gave us hope by His stern words, “Get thee behind me Satan.” (Mark 8:33.) Read Matthew 6:13.

Matt 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: KJV

Matt 6:13

Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. The Message

• What is the prayer?

• What are the two things we need safety from in the paraphrase, The Message?

The last part of this prayer is not in the earliest manuscripts but I included it anyway because I like it and pray it. Read Matthew 6:13.

Matt 6:13

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. KJV

You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes. The Message

• Is God in charge of your life?

• Do you recognize His beauty?

By using the words, “Our Father,” Jesus meant to be inclusive and not exclusive. When I travel, talking to people about Jesus, I try not to debate their beliefs. I often encourage them to pray the words, “Our Father,” asking the God they don’t believe in to reveal Himself in truth and light. It has been my observation that when people sincerely pray this prayer, the truth of Jesus Christ becomes evident without my having to do, or say another thing besides letting them know I’m a Christian. Our Father is truly ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.

Application

Every morning was the same. I arrived at the red brick Ruth N. Upson Elementary School and formed a line outside my classroom. When the first bell rang, wiggly excited children filed into the room to put away our coats and books. I can still smell the wooden floors, chalk, and the slightly sour cafeteria aroma that assaulted my senses as I left the fresh air and entered the musty damp building. By the time the second bell rang, we were in our seats waiting expectantly for the loud speaker.

The crackle and loud blaring feedback from the box in the corner of our ceiling announced that the principal was ready to begin. We stood, faced the flag, and laid our hands over our hearts in solemn pledge of allegiance to one nation under God. Then our principal led us in what she called the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Together, the Muslims, Jews, agnostics, and Christians prayed to one father, asking for deliverance from evil. I didn’t include the word atheist because those innocent young children hadn’t yet thought to reject Our Father. I did include agnostics, because some of the children were mature enough to begin a search for their Father, even if they hadn’t been introduced to Him in church. God answered our prayers and protected our schools from evil. We felt safe as we memorized spelling words and chased each other on the playground.

We all wondered what trespasses were and now, the translations use the words debt and debtors. As a first grader, my husband prayed, “Forgive us our trash baskets,” while wondering why we needed to be forgiven for using trash baskets. As we said these words, without understanding the meaning, God forgave us for our childhood pranks and antics and we found ourselves tolerant of the mistakes of those around us. I had bucked teeth and had to wear corrective shoes so children were occasionally mean to me. That early Morning Prayer gave hope and peace as I learned to forgive.

Regardless of our financial status, we all received our daily bread while at school. Christ’s kingdom ruled in our classrooms as our teachers lovingly taught orderly lessons. I remember few disruptions and no violence while sitting in those tiny desks. Mean teachers were so rare that I can still recall the one or two that walked menacingly through the halls.

We consider the Lord’s Prayer to be a Christian prayer, but as a young child, I didn’t. I’m Baptist and we don’t say that prayer in weekly services so I only had it memorized because of public school. In my innocence, I assumed it was for everyone and trusted God to answer it for everyone. Since no one mentioned the word Jesus or Christianity, Christ anonymously helped us all as we found unity in the words “Our Father.” No one complained about the words of that prayer as all children reverently repeated it together.

As a parent of children who grew up in schools not protected by that early Morning Prayer, I missed it. My children learned to take for granted the drug deals they witnessed and the hidden guns in the classroom. When my son was instrumental in saving the life of a student and heard the blast of a pistol going off 2 feet from him, I was proud of his heroic efforts but baffled that these were the same rooms that educated me. When my 8th grade daughter had to kick a fellow student to get him to remove his hands from her body, I was glad she defended herself but wondered why she had to. Where was God in these violent disorderly rooms?

For today, pray the Lord’s Prayer for our schools, life, and country. As we’ve seen from the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous and our nation’s public schools of days long past, God answers prayer, even when people don’t understand what their words mean or to whom they are praying.

Journey to the Cross - God Will Send a Lamb

2010-03-31T00:34:00.000-04:00

Sacrifice is the act of offering something or someone to a deity in homage. Humans apparently have a need for sacrifice since most religions have practiced some kind sacrificial rites. Sacrifice can also mean to forfeit something highly valued. Parents sacrifice time and money for their children. Soldiers sacrifice their lives for their country. God sacrificed His son for the world. Christians sacrifice our will to the Lamb.

Morning Meditation

Read Isaiah 53:7-10

Isa 53:7-10

He was beaten, he was tortured, but he didn't say a word. Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered and like a sheep being sheared, he took it all in silence. Justice miscarried, and he was led off — and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true. Still, it's what GOD had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it — life, life, and more life. And GOD's plan will deeply prosper through him. The Message

• This ancient prophesy was written centuries before Jesus was born. Ponder the wonder of it all.

• He gave His life as an offering for sin in order to see life come from it. Allow yourself to enjoy life, life, and more life.

• Allow God’s plan “to deeply prosper” through you.

Morning Prayer

• Thank God for sending the Lamb.

• Offer everything to the Lamb of God.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

When we hold on to earthly things too deeply, God may ask us to give them up. When we become willing to release them, God often returns them to us. When we release anything to God, no matter how precious, what God gives in return is better than anything we had before. Confused? Abraham sure was.

God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son for many years. Finally, in their old age, God fulfilled that promise by sending them Isaac. God told Abraham to expect to father a nation through Isaac, but God later asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac’s life to Him.

Notice as you read Genesis 22:1-2 that Abraham could hear God’s voice and responded to Him immediately.

Gen 22:1-2

Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, " Abraham!"

And he said, "Here I am."

He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." NASU

• What were God’s instructions to Abraham?

• How do you think Abraham felt?

• How would you have felt?

Regardless of how Abraham felt, read his actions in Genesis 22:3-4.

Gen 22:3-4

So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. NASU

• What did Abraham do?

• What was noticeably missing from this journey?

• Do you think you could have been as obedient as Abraham?

Read Genesis 22:6-7.

Gen 22:6-7

So the two of them walked on together. Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!"

And he said, "Here I am, my son."

And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" NASU

• Do you think Isaac was alarmed when he questioned his father?

Read Genesis 22:8.

Gen 22:8

Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together. NASU

• What was Abraham’s answer?

• How do you think Abraham was feeling as they walked together?

• How would you feel as you took what you thought was your last walk with your only son?

Read Genesis 22:9-10.

Gen 22:9-10

Then they came to the place of which God had told him; and Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood, and bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. NASU

• What did Abraham do next?

• How do you think he felt as he bound Isaac?

• How do you think Isaac was feeling?

Abraham got a reprieve. This story is foreshadowing God’s sacrifice for the world but His son got no reprieve. Read Genesis 22:11-12.

Gen 22:11-12

But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!"

And he said, "Here I am."

He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." NASU

• What do you think Abraham was thinking and feeling as the angel of the Lord spoke?

• Do you think it was easier to untie Isaac then it was to tie him?

Read Genesis 22:13-14.

Gen 22:13-14

Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son. NASU

• How do you think Abraham and Isaac felt when they saw the ram?

• A sacrifice was still necessary. How willing do you think the ram was to be sacrificed?

Most likely, Abraham was weak with relief to be returning home with his beloved son. God had put him through an ordeal. When Abraham chose obedience and put God ahead of His son, God’s grace allowed Abraham to keep his son. When God asks much, He also offers much. Read Genesis 22:15-17.

Gen 22:15-17

Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you. NASU

• What was the promise?

• How did that promise come true?

The words Passover Lamb is in the Bible many times. It was used during religious celebrations, as atonement for sin, and as protection. Read Exodus 12:21-22.

Ex 12:21-22

Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb. You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts; and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. NASUKJV

• What where the Israelites to do with the blood of the lamb?

Read Exodus 12:23-24.

Ex 12:23-24

For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you. NASU

• How does the blood protect them?

Read the words of John the Baptist in John 1:29.

John 1:29

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. KJV

• What does John the Baptist call Jesus?

• What was the role of the Lamb?

• Why do you think Jesus is called the Lamb of God?

Like the ancient Israelites, protected by the blood of the Passover Lamb, the blood of Jesus protects us. Sing with the angels as your read Revelations 5:12.

Rev 5:12

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." NASU

Because of the grace of Jesus, we no longer have to sacrifice blood from a lamb or any other animal. The lamb has been slain, His blood protectively on our foreheads. The Lord will pass by our door and not allow the destroyer to come into our house to smite us. Worthy is the Lamb!

Application

A year after I lost my job, Bob lost his job. We were expecting it and Bob was even excited. We had our plans. We were going to sell our house and move to a university town, where Bob would get a PhD in robotics. Bob had dreamed about it for years. The day Bob got the news his job had ended he celebrated and I cried.

I wasn’t as happy. “I love my house,” I moaned as I sat looking at the shimmering waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. I argued with Bob and God but both insisted we put the house up for sale.

I whined to my friends but they took God’s side. “You shouldn’t love something that can’t love you back,” a friend said.

“You’ll have another house that you love just as much,” another comforted. I was miserable. It took weeks before I finally surrendered to God and allowed the “For Sale” sign to go in the front yard.

As people began to look at our house, I felt pain accompanied by peace. I knew I had done the right thing. God’s will had become more important than our house. Then, just as suddenly as God had said to sell the house, God whispered to our spirits, “Keep your house.”

Bob and I both heard that Still Small Voice but by this time, Bob and I had a firm plan and struggled to change it. My realtor was my best friend and she had gone to a lot trouble to list it so I was embarrassed to back out. I hate looking indecisive. As Bob and I discussed keeping the house, our fears took over. How could we afford it without jobs? Were we hearing God correctly?

God just kept saying the same thing. “Keep your house.”

In desperation, or possibly lack of faith, we asked God for a specific sign. Within moments of that prayer, we went outside and there was a double rainbow directly over our home. It didn’t touch anyone else’s house. We were so astounded we took pictures. We called our realtor and took the house off the market.

Bob has almost finished his PhD. We haven’t missed a single house payment. This house has appreciated more than our take-home salaries would have been had we worked during those few years. God faithfully provided a way to keep the house.

I now realize that to keep the house, I had to be willing to let it go. God and I both had to know that I loved following Him more than that house. When I finally turned the house over to God, He told us to keep it. That house is now God’s house and we offer it in service, any way He chooses. Four churches regularly use it for Bible Studies and retreats. We spend half of our time in the college town but our house usually stays filled with people. I don’t know how long we’ll have that house but it is surrendered to God.

Today, what is more important to you than the will of God? Surrender it and allow God provide a Lamb.

Journey to the Cross - Blessed are those who are Persecuted

2010-03-29T21:34:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been persecuted? You probably didn’t feel blessed while it was happening. If you deserved persecution, this lesson isn’t for you. I have to confess that many times when I thought I was being righteous, God later humbled me. One of life’s ironies is that most people are righteous in their own eyes. This is the last lesson on the Beatitudes. For purposes of this study, I have combined the last 2 Beatitudes because I’ve always thought they belonged together.

The Beatitudes were the equivalent to the “New Torah” or new laws to a new people of God – the Christian church. In this new world, called the Kingdom of God, things are not always as they seem. To get a feel for the power of the Beatitudes, you could start every Beatitude with the words, “Despite appearances to the contrary, blessed are the …”

There have been those occasions when doing the right thing got me into trouble. I’m just insecure enough that when people are upset with me, I automatically question myself, even if I knew I did the right thing. I’m grateful that the Beatitudes remind me that, despite appearances to the contrary, I am blessed when I’m persecuted for righteousness. When I’m in trouble for doing the right thing, it feels a lot like I’m in trouble for doing the wrong thing.
If:
• You listened to the voice of God,
• You did your best to follow that voice,
• The Bible supported what yo did
• Would do the same thing again,
• And still had people upset with you,

Keep reading. Today, we are talking to people persecuted for doing the right thing.

Morning Meditation

Read Matthew 5:10-12.
Matt 5:10-12

Beatitude 8
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Beatitude 9
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. NIV

• Let yourself remember times when you were persecuted for righteousness.
• Did you feel blessed?
• Let yourself rejoice and be glad, knowing that you have a great reward waiting for you in heaven.

Morning Prayer

• If anyone is persecuting you, ask God to help you be honest to determine if you did anything wrong or are being persecuted for righteousness.

• Listen carefully to the voice of God.

• If your persecution is for the sake of righteousness, praise God for His blessing and watch for the kingdom of heaven.

• If not, confess and make amends.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

We already learned about the kingdom of Heaven in Day 23. Take a moment to review the devotion and refresh your memory. The kingdom of heaven is like:

• Finding a precious pearl.

• Finding a priceless hidden treasure.

• Casting a fishnet out into the sea, catching many fish, and separating the good fish from the bad.

When being persecuted for righteousness, it’s easy to feel sorry for ourselves. That’s when I read the book of Job. No matter how difficult my circumstances are, Job’s have me beat. I’m grateful for the book of Job because it reminds me not to expect life on earth to the fair. I may not like it, but at least God warned me.

Job was a righteous man, blessed spiritually, personally, and financially. He had a loving family, wealth, and good friends.

Read Job 1:1.

Job 1:1

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. NASU

• Describe Job’s character.

Read Job 1:2-3.

Job 1:2-3

Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. NASU

• What were his earthly blessings?

Job was about to go through a test. God and Satan had an argument and Satan issued a challenge. Read Satan’s words to God in Job 1:9-11.

Job 1:9-11

Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face." NASU

• Why did Satan believe Job was righteous?
• What did Satan suggest to God?

It does seem easy to be righteous when everything is going right. The true test of righteousness is how we react under pressure. God decided to prove a point to Satan and to everyone who would later read this story. Read Job 1:12.

Job 1:12
Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD. NASU

• What did God give Satan permission to do?

• What condition did he put on Satan?

Over the next few chapters, Satan persecuted Job by stripping every earthly thing Job held dear. Job lost his health, property, family, and community respect and yet remained faithful – thus giving us all hope that we could remain faithful to God in the face of any calamity.

Unfortunately, Job’s family and friends didn’t see his losses as a blessing and chose to add their own persecution. They added insult to injury by suggesting his problems were due to his own sin. As Satan persecuted Job for his righteousness, Job’s friends and family joined the party. Read Job 2:9-10.

Job 2:9-10

Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!"

But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips. NASU

• What did his wife suggest?

• What was Job’s answer?

Read Job’s lament about his friends in Job 16:1-5.

Job 16:1-5

Then Job defended himself: "I've had all I can take of your talk. What a bunch of miserable comforters! Is there no end to your windbag speeches? What's your problem that you go on and on like this? If you were in my shoes, I could talk just like you. I could put together a terrific harangue and really let you have it. But I'd never do that. I'd console and comfort, make things better, not worse! The Message

• How does Job respond to his friends?

• How do you think he felt about his friends’ accusations?

Throughout the Bible, we see people persecuted for righteousness. All of the disciples but one died for their faith. King David of the Old Testament had enemies at every corner. These human people struggled to interpret their earthly circumstances with eternal eyes. In the end of the book of Job, God did restore Job’s earthly blessings. Read Job 42: 10.

Job 42:10

The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold. NASU

• What did Job have to do before his fortunes are restored?

• Do you think having everything restored made up for all that had happened to him?

While Job did have other children and his health and fortunes restored, we are aware of how tragic his prior circumstances were. We wonder if his new children made up for the grief he felt over losing his first children. How did he live with the memory of what happened to him? Did he suffer from posttraumatic shock syndrome or need antidepressants? Alternatively, did he learn the lesson of how temporal and unimportant earthly blessings are and come out of the experiences with a faith stronger then ever?

This book of Job has troubled people for thousands of years. Certainly, it makes the point about the ebb and flow of earthly life. It warns us about what we can expect from our time on earth but most of us hate this news. For me, the greatest lesson of the book of Job is the privilege he had in serving God. What he went through took place in just a blip of eternal time and yet he has the honor of being a role model for everyone following God while on earth. Job is perhaps the oldest book in the Bible. Imagine his pleasure in his eternity, knowing God is still using him as a teacher for us today. Despite all appearances to the contrary, Job was blessed.

Application

My hands trembled as I opened my report card. I was in 5th grade and always got good grades but I still agonized over what would be written on the card. Wonder of wonders, I had made straight A’s. Usually, a couple of B’s found their way to my card but this time, those beautiful A’s peppered the row. I couldn’t contain my excitement as I bounced with glee. “Look,” I bubbled to my friend Janice. “I got all A’s!” She merely nodded.

I didn’t notice Janice’s lack of enthusiasm or the fact that she didn’t share her grades as I continued my anticipation of surprising my parents. I put the card in my notebook to go home.

When I arrived home, I opened my notebook, looking for this affirming card. It wasn’t there. Could it have fallen out? I was crushed with disappointment. My parents were good sports as I searched for the missing card, babbling about the grades.

Later that night, the phone rang. A neighbor had found card on the ground. “Cheryle must have dropped it,” my mother said.

“I don’t think so,” the neighbor said. “When I took it out of the envelope, it was torn into little pieces. My first thought was that a child had gotten bad grades and had torn it up but when I saw the A’s, I knew something else had happened.”

As Mama told me, I was confused. “Why would someone tear up that card?”

Mama sat me down and explained about jealously. “Did you tell someone about the card?” I remembered my conversation with Janice and her silence about her own grades. For the first time in my life, I realized that the world might not share the joy of my accomplishments. After that, I was sensitive about how I talked about my grades but I still didn’t understand how someone could tear up a card that looked like that.

In junior high, I was on the majorette squad. On afternoon, we went on a shopping trip to the mall. I noticed that two of the majorettes wore aprons with big pockets and thought it was strange. I was shocked when I saw them scooping earrings from the jewelry into those deep pockets.

“What are you doing?” I exclaimed.

“If you know what’s good for you, be quiet!” one of them threatened.

“But it’s stealing,” I continued.

“Hush,” she demanded, storming out of the store.

When she got outside, she explained as if she was talking to a child. “Getting jewelry is easy. They just leave it out on the counter so they have to expect this. I was nervous the first time but Carol taught me how easy it was. All you have to do is wear big pockets, wait until no one is looking, and scoop. You’ll have all the jewelry you ever wanted. I’ll lend you my apron in the next store so you can try it.”

“No,” I said indignantly. “It’s wrong! We have to go back in there and give these back.” Her eyes hardened as she reached her hands into her pockets and shoved a pair of earrings into my jeans pockets. “You were with us and you walked out of that store. Now you have a pair in your pockets. If you tell on us, I’ll tell them that you stole right along with us. You’ll get in just as much trouble as us.”

Scared and intimidated, I rushed home. Terrified I would be seen, I kept the earrings hidden deep in my pockets. When I was finally safe at home, I showed the earrings to Mama and told her my horror story.

I have no memory of what happened to those cheap plastic earrings but I do remember Mama’s explanation. “Those girls are not Christians so they don’t know right from wrong. If you’re going to stay on the majorette squad, you’ll have to be careful. You need to influence them and not the other way around.”

“Why were they so mean to me?” I asked. “I just wanted to do the right thing.”

“Because it reminded them that what they were doing wrong,” Mama explained. “They got mad because they felt guilty.”

I spent the rest of my high school years on that squad. I wasn’t the only Christian, but I was in the minority. I never forgot the lesson I learned that afternoon. I hung out with those girls at school and went to their chaperoned parties but I never again accompanied them to the mall or went to parties where I knew something untoward would be going on.

Everyone on that squad knew I was a Christian and, over time, I became their confessor and counselor. I suspect I wasn’t the only one who learned a lesson that afternoon because they never again let me see their dark side in action. Occasionally, in need of absolution, they confessed their dark secrets but they didn’t insist or suggest I join their wicked adventures.

What lessons have you learned from doing the right thing? I thank God for a Godly mother who explained what was happening to me or I could have been shamed about my grades or seduced into thievery. For today, stand up for what is right, regardless of the consequences.

Journey to the Cross - Blessed Are The Peacemakers

2010-03-29T00:10:00.000-04:00

Who is your favorite peacemaker? Our dictionary says a peacemaker is one that makes peace or settles disputes. Synonyms are mediator, soother, and go between. The antonym is troublemaker. The definition of troublemakers is one who stirs up strife. Who do yo know that stirs up strife?

In my travels, many have shared their reasons for not going to church. Most often, those reasons involved reactions to troublemakers in the body of Christ. One man had been hurt by the actions of another man. He said, “If this man was an example of the body of Christ, I don’t want to be part of that body.” This angry man hadn’t been to church in years.

Church bodies usually rebel against troublemakers. When rebelled against, troublemakers are hurt and/or surprised because they sincerely believed they had the church’s best interests at heart. I’ve met many of these wounded troublemakers.

One woman said, “I was the only spiritual person in that church. I only wanted what was best for them. When I tried to help, no one listened to me. I finally left the church.”

“Tell me about the kinds of ways you tried to help,” I gently asked. I cringed as I listened to her behavior at church business meetings. She’d criticized programs where people were working hard and doing their best. She had a PhD and offered herself as the expert on many subjects. She constantly made suggestions to the pastor about ways to improve his sermons. She questioned the way the church was spending money. This poor woman was offended that people didn’t want her advice. She cared about the church and thought she was doing the right thing. The congregation was glad to see her leave and no one had called to invite her back.

Morning Meditation

Read Matthew 5:9.

Matt 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. NASU

• Let the peace of God fill your soul.

• Are you a peacemaker or troublemaker?

• Do people call you a child of God?

• Allow God to search your heart.

Morning Prayer

• Ask God to help you be a peacemaker.

• If you have been a troublemaker, ask for forgiveness.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

The 7th Beatitude says blessed are the peacemakers. The promise that goes with it is “they shall be called sons of God.” Note that it doesn’t say they shall “be” sons of God. We may be sons of God but if we don’t act like it, the world won’t call us sons of God. The word “called” is in each translation I read. Also, note that the definition of peacemaker doesn’t say “makes peace or settles disputes unless there is a good reason to argue.” The implication is that making peace is more important than being right or winning a point.

The promise that goes with being a peacemaker is about what the world calls us. In other words, does the world see us as sons of God or as sons of the world?

Think of the church troublemakers you have known. Did you perceive them as being influential loving members of your church body or did you wish they would be quiet and perhaps even go away? The truth is, while troublemakers usually view themselves as enlightened or courageous people willing to stand up for what is right, most people just view them as troublemakers.

Read the two paraphrases below for Matthew 5:9.

Matt 5:9

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. The Message

Matt 5:9

Happy are the peacemakers -- because they shall be called Sons of God. YLT

• According to the first paraphrase above, when are we blessed?

• What is the promise of the first paraphrase?

• In the second paraphrase above, how does it say peacemakers feel?

When we feel as if others are wrong or they have treated us unfairly, the natural tendency is to fight back. Unfortunately, that isn’t scriptural. Read Luke 6:27-30.

Luke 6:27-30

I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. NASU

• How are we to treat our enemies?

• What are we to do for those who mistreat us?

• If someone hits us on the cheek, what are we supposed to do?

• If someone takes our coat, what else should we give him?

Read Jesus’ words in Mark 9:42.

Mark 9:42

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. KJV

• What is better than offending someone?

Stirring up trouble, for any reason, feels bad. It feels bad because it offends people and is wrong. Regardless of the righteousness of our position or motives, causing strife is wrong because it ruins our witness to the world. When we are troublemakers, the world does not see us as “sons of God.”

Application

I was in a panic. I’d known for several months that my publisher needed a professional photograph by the first of March. I’d gone to the trouble of having a photographer come out and take pictures. Then, my photographer and I both got busy and let the days slip into months without turning the digital pictures into paper pictures. Now, it was 3 weeks past the deadline and my publisher needed that picture.

Frantically, I called my photographer. He apologized for taking so long and immediately e-mailed his pick of the pictures for my publisher. “Put it on your camera stick and take it somewhere to get printed,” he suggested. “Most drugstores will print it right away.”

Bob and I went up to the local pharmacy and put my stick in the machine. “That’s a great picture,” the clerk pleasantly complimented. “Who took it?”

“My photographer,” I said innocently.

Her features hardened and her voice changed. It felt as is I could hear her saying, Aha. Caught you! What she said was, “I won’t sell you that print unless you have written permission from the photographer.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “This is on my camera stick. My photographer e-mailed me this today so I could bring it over here.”

“Sorry,” she said. “I won’t sell it to you.”

I could feel myself getting mad. Bob tensed as we both prepared for a fight. “I want to talk to your manager,” Bob insisted.

She left to get the manager. When we explained the situation to him, he smiled and agreed to sell us the picture. The woman behind the counter argued with him. “You can’t sell it to them. That corporate e-mail said that if it looked professional, we couldn’t sell it to them. We have rules for a reason.”

The manager looked at us apologetically. “I’m sorry but she’s right.”

“Show us the e-mail,” Bob demanded. When we looked at the e-mail, there were 3 specific criteria for professional photographs, none of which our picture met. Our photographer had taken this picture on my front porch so the background wasn’t solid. It was taken outside so the lighting wasn’t professional. There was no copyright notice or watermark on the picture. Yes, it was a wonderful photograph but it didn’t meet the criteria the drugstore executives had set in order to refuse to print the picture.

“According to this e-mail, you can sell me my picture,” I said to the frowning woman.

“Well, I’m not going to,” she said smugly. “There were other e-mails that had other criteria and I just can’t find them right now. I can tell a professional photographer took this.”

“He did,” I insisted, getting angrier. “He also said I owned it and could reprint it any time I wished. There is a reason he e-mailed the file without a copyright on it.”

Bob looked at the manager. “This is your call, not hers. You know it’s OK to sell us this picture.”

“Sorry,” he said. “We’ve been sued so we have rules.”

“But we’ve read your rules and this pictures doesn’t violate them,” I said indignantly.

“Is there anyone else you can call?” Bob demanded.

“Yes,” the manager said. He left to go call his boss. He came back shortly with a solution. “Call your photographer. If he gives verbal permission, we’ll print it.” Thank goodness, our photographer answered his phone. Naturally, he said we could print the picture.

As the woman behind the counter printed our picture, she continued to debate us. Bob and I couldn’t leave it alone, trying to explain why she should have just sold us the picture. “Don’t you understand,” I tried again. “There is a reason they put the criteria in there. This picture didn’t meet the criteria.” The woman set her jaw as she worked on our pictures. She still wasn’t happy about selling us the pictures.

Suddenly, I was aware of how badly I felt. I had won the war but still was upset. I left Bob to pay and went outside to pray. I had a queasy feeling that God had just given me one of those uncomfortable life lessons. When I went back inside, Bob and the woman were still arguing. I heard her say, “People steal from photographers all the time. We have to protect them.”

I looked at her and said, “I would never steal. I’m in a ministry.” She wasn’t impressed and didn’t ask what kind of ministry. I didn’t offer further explanation. As I walked out, I realized that this woman worked at a store a few blocks from me and I wouldn’t have any credibility if I tried to tell her about the love of Jesus.

I went home and started writing this devotion. It’s a dangerous thing to dare to become a Christian writer because God sends you plenty of things to write about. I’ve found that if I presume to write about a scripture, He insists I know what I’m talking about. I humbly write to you today that when I left that store, I was unhappy and the employees of that store would not have called me a child of God. I am a child of God but they would not have called me one. I may have been right but I had stirred up trouble in that store.

For today, if you feel wronged, learn from my mistake. Stop before you act. Instead of asking if you are right or wrong, ask if you are being a peacemaker. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. When Bob and I got home, all I said was, “That didn’t feel very good.” He agreed. Trust me, being a peacemaker feels better than winning or being right.

Journey to the Cross - Is It I Lord?

2010-03-27T23:20:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been betrayed? As I’ve traveled the streets of America, I’ve met countless broken people who have been betrayed by others. As they try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, they struggle to find the meaning behind what happened to them. As happened to our Savior Jesus, their betrayer had turned them over for little more than a few paltry pieces of silver.

I met Jim and his young son James in New Mexico. James managed the shop that was putting a new tire on poor limping Happy. As James stood behind the counter taking my tire order, I noticed the haggard expression of what I call the “ICU Waiting Room Look.”

After turning the keys over to Jim, I sat down to watch cartoons with little James. “I don’t like this show,” I complained to James.

“Why not?” He asked.

“The adults and children are always fighting. In my family, we love each other,” I told him. “We try to be nice to each other.”

“Not in mine,” James said glumly as he shared their tale of betrayal. His mother had left them to move in with another man. Since James’ older brothers and sisters were from a previous marriage, she had taken everyone but him. James and Jim had packed up and moved to New Mexico to start their lives over and be a little closer to family.

I’m sorry James,” I said. “Grownups do confusing things sometimes.”

He nodded. Changing the subject, I started telling him about the wonderful church I had visited that morning. “My church sometimes helps me with things I don’t understand,” I told him.

“I miss my church,” 8-year-old James confessed. “Daddy hasn’t found us one here.”

I immediately went to the counter to talk to Jim. He was surprised at his son’s need. “I can’t make his mother come home but I guess I could take him back to church,” he admitted. “Thanks. I guess I could also get him back into Karate. Maybe it’s time to get things back to normal.”

I had visited a church that morning that turned out to be near their home. “I had actually been thinking about visiting there,” Jim gasped in surprise when I mentioned the church. We both knew God had orchestrated our time together. I left knowing that God was going to heal James and Jim’s brokenness if they let Him.

As people betrayed by co-workers, employers, church members, pastors, spouses, friends, and others share their stories with me, I am thankful that Jesus shared His experiences with betrayal so I can share it with others. We learn from Jesus’ experience that God’s plans work through everything, including brutal betrayal.

Morning Meditation

Read Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:9-13.

Matt 24:9-13

Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. NIV

• Let Jesus’ bleak warning wash over you.

• Let the hope in Jesus’ words strengthen you.

Morning Prayer

• Take time to remember those who have betrayed you.

• Pray for your betrayers.

• Thank Jesus for warning you that people would betray you.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

It is said that if you are in a room of twenty-one people, seven will love you, seven won’t have an opinion, and seven won’t like you at all. Certainly, this generalization won’t be true in every or even most situations but its point is well taken. We can’t control how others see or feel about us and we often have no idea of the schemes that might be going on in their minds.

Judas was one of Jesus’ disciples. He had traveled with Jesus, listening to His sermons and watching His miracles. Judas was trusted enough to be the disciple that handled everyone’s money. Read his words of betrayal in Matthew 26:14-16.

Matt 26:14-16

Then one of the Twelve-the one called Judas Iscariot-went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. NIV

• What motivated Judas?

• What price did Judas put on Jesus?

Jesus knew of the betrayal and warned all of them. Here we see a glimpse of the humanity and insecurity of each disciple as they ask, “Surely not I, Lord?”

Read Jesus’ warning and their response in Matthew 26:21-24.

Matt 26:21-24
And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"

Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born." NIV

• How did the disciples feel about the upcoming betrayal?
• Why do you think they asked, “Surely not I, Lord?”
• What warning does Jesus give about the betrayer?

Read Judas’ hypocritical words in Matthew 26:25.

Matt 26:25

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"

Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you." NIV

• How do you think Judas felt as Jesus revealed what He knew of Judas?

We’ve already read about Jesus’ agonizing time in the garden in a previous devotion and we know that Jesus’ heart was broken. Read again His words in Matthew 26:45-46.

Matt 26:45-46

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" NIV

• What had already happened to Jesus?

• What does Jesus call Judas?

Imagine the disciple’s alarm as they witnessed Judas leading a mob. Read Matthew 26:47-49.

Matt 26:47-49
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.NIV

• Who sent the mob?
• How did Judas identify Jesus?

The book of Luke gives us some additional insight about Judas. Read Luke 22:2-6.

Luke 22:2-6
Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus. They were delighted and agreed to give him money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present. NIV

• Who was behind Judas’ actions?

• How did the Chief Priests feel about Judas’ betrayal?

• Do you think Judas could have rebuked Satan’s temptation?

Like most that succumb to Satan’s temptation, Judas expected to be able to enjoy his reward for the betrayal. Read Matthew 27:3-5.

Matt 27:3-5
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders. "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood."

"What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."

So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. NIV

• How did Judas feel after he betrayed Jesus?
• What did Judas try to do?
• What did Judas end up doing with the money?
• Do you think Judas could have been saved if He had turned to Jesus instead of killing himself?

The story of Judas’ betrayal reminds us of the pitfalls of giving in to Satan’s temptation. It also reminds those betrayed that betrayers suffer far worse than those they betray. It proves the point that guilt and remorse for sin are not enough without the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ. Instead of turning to Jesus and living in the grace of a Savior who forgives all, Judas chose to let the guilt of his transgressions destroy him. Without grace, the burdens of our lives are too much to bear.

Application

When I was about 12 years old, I had my first experience with betrayal. My best friend, Christie, lived behind me. From the time we were small, we rushed outside every morning, looking for each other. There was a fence dividing our property. We climbed the fence so often that Daddy built us steps over the fence so we could more easily travel back and forth.

On school mornings, Christie tossed her books into my yard, scampered over the fence and knocked on my door so we could walk to Ruth N. Upson Elementary School together. After school, we spent our afternoons drawing chalk Hop Scotch patterns on the hot pavement of my cement driveway or sitting on my red brick porch playing Jacks. On weekends, we had sleepovers in the green shuttered white dollhouse that Daddy built behind our house. We giggled as we whispered our secrets.

When we entered 7th grade, Christie walked up one day and announced, “You are no longer my best friend. I have a new friend who is better than you. I plan to spend my time with her from now on.”

"What did I do wrong?” I cried. Christie ignored my brokenhearted pleas as she walked off. Never again did she climb the fence.

I went home and cried as my mother held me. “I don’t know what I did wrong,” I sobbed.

“Honey,” Mama consoled. “It doesn’t sound like you did anything wrong. Sometimes people just let you down. You’ll find another best friend.”

Of course, Mama was right. Little by little, my heart healed as new friends entered my life. Daddy took down the fence steps that were a painful reminder of the lost friendship. Eventually Christie moved way from neighborhood and school and I lost touch with her.

God eventually sent Nancy Edwards, who continues to be my closest friend today. Nancy and I double dated in high school and went to our Junior and Senior Prom together with the men who later became our husbands. I was her Maid of Honor at her wedding and she was my Matron of Honor. She had I have shared our lives, joys, and sorrows. Nancy challenges me when I’m on the wrong track, encourages me when I’m discouraged, travels with me when I want to play, and listens when I want to vent. We’ve shared this precious sisterhood for most of our lives.

A couple of years back, Nancy and I were reminiscing about our school days. For some reason, I told her the story of Christie. Nancy and I knew each other in Junior High School but didn’t become close until High School. After she heard the story, Nancy went to laughing. “Cheryle, I was the friend that Christie dumped you for. We hung out for about a couple of years until she dumped me for another ‘best friend.’ I also wondered what I had done wrong.”

The same girl had betrayed Nancy and me. Christie was the betrayer but like the disciples, in our insecurities, Nancy and I had asked, “Is it I Lord?” Our betrayal was painful at the time but it taught us a lesson about true friendship. When true friendship came along, we recognized it and held on to it. After Christie betrayed Nancy, Nancy prayed for a best friend who would love her through everything. While our friendship has had its rocky moments, it has survived the test of time and trials, always becoming stronger. We wonder if poor Christie is still going through life, betraying one potential friend after another.

If someone has betrayed you today, understand that like Judas, they are one who will suffer the most. Pray for them.

Journey to the Cross - Blessed Are the Pure in Heart

2010-03-26T21:43:00.000-04:00

I have a friend who constantly reminds me to check my motives. She helped me understand that you can do the right thing for the wrong reason. While it is true that right is right, when our motives aren’t pure, we suffer.

Our family has seven seats for the Jacksonville Jaguar games. Each week, phone lines buzz as we decide who is going to the weekly game. One Sunday, it worked out that we were only using 3 tickets. My 17-year-old nephew Jim was taking his girlfriend, and my father, Grandpap.

The night before the game, my daughter Kelley got engaged. We invited family members not attending the game to Sunday lunch to make the surprise engagement announcement. Jim found out about the secret announcement and told Granpap that he should probably miss the game and go to lunch instead. Grandpap complied which meant Jim got to spend an afternoon at the game alone with Alex. Our entire family joked about Jim’s motives when Grandpap showed up for lunch.

The next day at piano lessons, I teased Jim about encouraging Grandpap to miss the game. Jim grinned and sheepishly asked, “Did I do something wrong?”

I laughed and said, “I guess that depends on your motives. Were you really concerned about Grandpap missing the engagement announcement or were you just trying to get an afternoon alone with Alex?”

Jim got quiet a moment and finally said, “The truth is, both were true. I was worried about Grandpap missing the announcement but I also wanted to be alone with Alex. Is that bad?”

Perhaps the reason the Bible talks so much about a pure heart is that it’s hard to tell when we have one. Our behavior might look the same either way. We often benefit either way. The promise that goes with a pure heart is our ability to see God. I told Jim, “Maybe the real test about your motives being pure is whether or not you saw God that afternoon.”

Morning Meditation

Read Matthew 5:8.

Matt 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. NIV

• Think of the many ways you serve God.

• Are your motives pure?

• Do you see God in your service to Him and others?

• Let yourself gaze “wide eyed” at His glory.

• If you have trouble seeing God, let Him purify your heart.

Morning Prayer

• Ask God to help you check your motives for purity.

• Ask God to help you have a pure heart.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

The Greek word for “see God” used in Matthew 5:8 can actually mean to stare with wide-eyed wonder. Read the following paraphrases of Matthew 5:8.

Matt 5:8

You're blessed when you get your inside world — your mind and heart — put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. The Message

God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. NLT

• What does it mean to have your inside world put right?

• What do you think having your inside world right has to do with seeing God in your outside world?

Like any good pastor, when Jesus preached this particular sermon, He was quoting the Bible. Read Psalms 73:1.

Ps 73:1

Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart! NASU

• Who was God going to be good to?

Read Psalms 24:4-5.

Ps 24:4-5

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation. NASU

• What is the definition of a pure heart?

• What is the reward of a pure heart?

Read Psalms 18:24-27.

Ps 18:24-27

Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes. With the kind You show Yourself kind; With the blameless You show Yourself blameless; With the pure You show Yourself pure, And with the crooked You show Yourself astute. For You save an afflicted people, But haughty eyes You abase. NASU

• What does God show those who are kind?

• What does God show those who are blameless?

• What does God show those who are pure?

• What does God show those who are crooked?

• How does God treat those who are haughty?

The interesting thing is that God’s work can be done even if our motives aren’t pure. Read Philippians 1:15-18.

Phil 1:15-18

It's true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they'll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending the Message, wanting to help. The others, now that I'm out of the picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad. They see me as their competition, and so the worse it goes for me, the better — they think — for them.

So how am I to respond? I've decided that I really don't care about their motives, whether mixed, bad, or indifferent. Every time one of them opens his mouth, Christ is proclaimed, so I just cheer them on! The Message

• Read the first paragraph of the above scripture. What are the motives of the two groups of people?

• Now read the second paragraph. What was Paul’s reaction to their differing motives?

When I travel across America, I often hear the words, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” I always ask what they mean by that. Invariably, the response has spirituality as good and religion as bad. I always suggest that they look to the Bible to find the definition of “pure” religion. Using that definition, no one can find fault with religion. Read James 1:27.

James 1:27

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. KJV

• What is pure undefiled religion?

Unfortunately, not everyone who calls himself or herself religious has a pure heart. Apparently, the churches Paul mentored had similar problems. Read 1 Timothy 1:5-7.

1 Tim 1:5-7

But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

NASU

• What is the goal of our churches instruction?

• What happens in some churches?

While having wrong motives may harm others, the consequences to us are worse. Read James 4:3.

James 4:3

You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. NASU

• What happens when we ask with wrong motives?

As with everything, we must remember that these scriptures are to us. It is our job to check our own motives. It is not our job to check or ever suspect the motives of others. Read 1 Corinthians 4:5.

1 Cor 4:5

Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God.

NASU

• Whose job is it to bring to light what is hidden in darkness?

• Whose job is it to disclose motives of our heart?

• Where does our praise come from?

Being honest about our motives often takes hard spiritual work but it is worth the struggle. The promise for having a pure heart is that we will see God.

Application

I have a confession to make. In my service as a church musician, my motives have not always been pure. I grew up taking piano lessons in a competitive environment. Playing piano was about being on stage, impressing an audience, and winning competitions. It often puzzled me that people seemed to actually enjoy it.

In my early adult years, I occasionally served as church pianist. Those were not happy times as I obsessed about preparation, stressed over each mistake, and thrived on affirmations. My motives had little to do with service and everything to do with impressing the congregation with my skills and willingness to serve.

No matter how hard I worked, I was unhappy with myself. I certainly didn’t see God in the worship services. I was too busy seeing myself and judging what I now know were performances. Eventually, it became so burdensome; I dropped out of musical service.

About the time I dropped out of playing for services, my husband dropped in. He started singing in the choir and playing bass guitar in our contemporary service. I was astounded by how much he enjoyed it. For him, every service was worship and he participated with a servant’s heart. He actually said, “I love singing in choir. It’s a place where I don’t have to be the best or in charge. I just serve.” I was confused. One of the reasons I didn’t enjoy singing in the choir was that I would never be the best singer. I had some work to do.

I got honest with God about my music. I confessed my motives and asked God for a servant’s heart. My church asked me to play for a small mission they were starting. I knew God was giving me a chance to practice serving with humility. For a year, I was faithful to that mission, learning weekly how to offer my music to God. I prayed about every selection. Instead of picking the hardest offertory to perform, I picked something that I could easily prepare and that would help the congregation quietly worship. The pressure of a good performance was gone and suddenly I could see God through my music.

My attitude about serving as a church musician is now completely different. I play when asked but don’t compete for positions. Usually my piano playing is used for nothing more than accompanying a Sunday School class in the singing of a simple hymn but I feel as if I am playing for the King of Kings. I love singing in the choir and grieve the times when I am unable to participate. What joy I was missing when my music was for nothing more than showing off!

Think of how you are serving God. Get honest with yourself and check your motives. Perhaps the most valid test is to ask yourself if you can see God in your service. If your heart isn’t pure, do yourself a favor. Confess and ask God for help. He is faithful. He will bless you beyond anything you can imagine!

Journey to the Cross - Blessed are the Merciful

2010-03-25T09:31:00.001-04:00

"Mommy - they killed Bambi's mommy," Kelley wailed. Her loud sobbing almost got us ejected from the theater. My daughter has the spiritual gift of mercy. We didn’t know that when she was younger. All that we knew was that sad movies made her wail. Before I understood her spiritual gift, we teased her about being a "dramma queen."

When she was 4, she came out of her Presbyterian Day School with tears pouring down her face. “What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Mommy, they killed him!” she wept, shoulders shaking. “How could they do that?”

“Killed who?” I asked in a panic.

“Jesus,” she cried. “Why would the world kill Jesus?” It was Easter and the teacher had told the children the story of the crucifixion. I held her as I tried to give an explanation for something that that I didn’t understand. Seeing the crucifixion through my daughter’s merciful eyes changed my emotional response to the Easter season.

Kelley’s dramatic empathy and compassion became a family joke. We’d say things like, “There goes Kelley again” when the tears would begin to flow. We felt guilty when she took a spiritual gifts test and we found out mercy was her strongest spiritual gift. The rest of us had those annoying gifts like leadership, prophecy, and teaching. None of us really understood mercy until we let Kelley become our teacher.

The Greek word used for merciful in Matthew 5:7 is eleemon and it means compassionate. Our dictionary definition says mercy is compassionate treatment. The 5th Beatitude we shall study is mercy.

Morning Meditation

Read Matthew 5:7.

Matt 5:7

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. NIV

• Let yourself feel compassion for a mother who watched her son be crucified.

• Now turn that compassion to our savior, guilty of nothing, yet dying on the cross.

• Finally, try to allow yourself to feel mercy towards Jesus’ accusers and murderers.

Morning Prayer

• If mercy is your spiritual gift, thank God for it.

• If mercy is difficult for you, ask God to send you a teacher.

• Tell God your joys, fears, and needs. Praise Him in everything.

• Pray for knowledge of God’s will for you today and the power to carry that out.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to interpret the scriptures you are about to read.

Morning Bible Study

Have you ever found yourself saying, “He deserved what he got?” What about, “I don’t feel sorry for her. She was asking for it?” Perhaps even worse is, “Thank goodness. I’m glad he finally got what he had coming to him.” How is your compassion? The promise that goes with blessed are the merciful is mercy for ourselves. Do you ever need mercy from God or a relative or friend? The best way to get it is to give it.

Read Matthew 5:7 from the two paraphrases below. Compare and contrast them with the translation above.

Matt 5:7

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for. The Message

God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. NLT

• What are the differences?

• What happens when we are merciful?

• What conclusions can you draw?

In an earlier lesson, we talked about forgiveness. Perhaps mercy is a step past forgiveness because we move past anger and on to compassion for the people who have wronged us. Read Psalms 86:15.

Ps 86:15

But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth. NASU

• How is God described?

Luke 6:36-38 instructs us to be merciful and then goes on to explain merciful behavior.

Luke 6:36-38

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return. NASU

• What happens if we don’t judge?

• What happens if we don’t condemn?

• What happens if we pardon?

• What happens when we give?

• How are we measured?

Have you ever met someone who was cruel? Read Proverbs 11:17.

Prov 11:17

The merciful man does himself good, But the cruel man does himself harm. NASU

• What does a merciful man do for himself?

• What does a cruel man do for himself?

If you want to learn about mercy, read the short one-chapter book of Jude. The chapter begins with a prayer. Read Jude 1-2.

Jude 1-2

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. NIV

• Who is the prayer for?

• What is the prayer?

It then goes on to describe the horrors they are facing. Evil people surround them. The book describes what should happen to those people. Read Jude 12-13.

Jude 12-13

These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm-shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted-twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. NIV

• What kind of men live among them?

• What is the fate of these evil people?

The faith of the Christians was slipping so Jude reminded them that God had warned them about what to expect. Read Jude 18-19.

Jude 18-19

In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.

• What are we to expect in the last days?

He then reminds them about the mercy of God. Read Jude 20-21.

Jude 20-21

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

• What are we to do when surrounded by evil?

• What are we waiting for?

And finally, he tells them to have mercy for those struggling. Read Jude 22-23.

Jude 22-23

And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh. NASU

• How are we to feel towards those who doubt?

• How do we help those struggling?

• What emotion goes with mercy for those who seem so far gone?

• How are we to feel about the sin they are committing?

Throughout the Bible, God says to hate the sin and love the sinner. We’re allowed to detest actions of some. We can be terrified by the mistakes they are making but we should always feel compassion about what they are bringing on themselves.

Application

Bob and I spent last Friday frolicking at the zoo with our 2-year-old grandson, Noah. We rode the zoo train and tooted right along with the whistle. We sang animal songs as we passed each animal’s home. We giggled at the monkey’s antics and delighted as the lorikeets landed on our shoulders. We slid down the slides in the playground and bought a toy alligator in the gift shop. It was a perfect day.

Not all grandmas were having such a perfect day. I noticed one grandma scream, “Stop it! You have to calm down.” The child was bouncing with excitement over the monkeys. When we got to the rest room, she waited outside while her grandchildren’s mother went inside. After a couple of minutes of watching her grandchildren play tag in the roomy outside non crowded waiting area, the grandma marched into the rest room and said, “You’d better hurry up before I kill your children.” The mother must have believed her because she started rushing.

Another grandma walked around the zoo carrying a ruler. Every time a child raised their voice, ran, or exhibited any kind of excitement or enthusiasm, grandma crashed the hard ruler down on their legs, leaving ruler shaped whelps. When the 3-year old cried over a stinging leg, this grouchy mean grandma continued to strike him, trying to get him quiet. I glared.

“How can they treat children this way,” I fumed to my husband. “If you can’t play at a zoo, where can you play? These grandmas need to learn to have fun.”

I occasionally spanked my children but only when they were openly defiant and nothing else worked. The times I had to spank hurt me. They were private moments when I had to love my children enough to set a serious boundary. I have never spanked someone else’s child and I pray spanking a grandchild will never be my responsibility. My mental fuming at this abuse went on for days.

Then, I began writing this devotion. I knew I wanted to write this story. I decided to talk about how little compassion these wicked grandmothers were showing their grandchildren. I intended to make the point that they were teaching a behavior to these children that would later be returned to them. I planned on ending with saying that when we show mercy, we are given mercy. Since these grandmas showed so little mercy, they would most likely receive little compassion back from the grandchildren.

Then I read the Bible passages about mercy. I realized the story was about my own lack of compassion for these harried unhappy grandmas. As God began to convict me, I began to feel compassion. I grew sad that they would never have the joy that I have with Noah. I felt badly for how these children would one day treat these women. I realized that these two women’s grandmas had probably treated them the same way. I thought back to my own sweet grandma and felt blessed. I remembered rocking my grandma, her frail body in my arms, during her last days on earth. These grandmas would most likely never experience being rocked by a loving grandchild.

I still hate what those women did to the excited sweet little children but God gave me compassion for those troubled miserable women who didn’t know how to have fun at the zoo. Now I understood the scripture. This scripture is to us – to you and me. We may judge the sin but we may not judge the sinner. It goes even further than that. We are to love the sinner – with our entire soul, mind, heart, and strength. We can feel the compassion of Jesus by seeing what the sin is doing them. Maybe that’s what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves.

This Lenten season, is the behavior of someone upsetting you? Look at the world through their eyes. Seek compassion instead of judgment.