What can God do through you?

September 11, 2022


Of all the miracles in the Bible, one of the greatest is the feeding of the 5000. Found in all four gospels, only John 6:1-13 records that it was a “little boy or a young lad” who had the lunch of 5 loaves & 2 fish Jesus fed the crowd. Feeding that many with such a small amount, the disciples collected 12 basketfuls of leftovers. Wow!


I thought to myself, who prepared this young boy for his day out? Somewhere, it was probably a mom that packed a lunch for her son before he left home that morning. She was simply taking care of her boy. She couldn’t have known that Jesus would turn the silent work of her hands, the gifts from her kitchen, & her faithful love for her son, into one of Jesus's greatest miracles. 


That is my favorite part. Don't miss it moms & dads, especially you who are feeling tired & unnoticed. You never know what God is up to with the little somethings you have to give. 


For all of us, when you are faithful with the smallest of things that you have been entrusted, God can take that & do extraordinary things. 

Whatever role you’ve been entrusted with, “DO all that you do as unto the Lord & not unto man” (Colossians 3:23).


See what God can do through you! 


Geno Brown

What we all need!

September 18, 2022


The walk on the road was just about a mile. Hurrying, everybody seemed to have somewhere to be. Some were moving the same direction & some headed the opposite, but everyone was on the same stretch of road. 


Just ahead of us, a man stopped at a garbage can, reached down into the can & pulled out a food container. He opened it & began to eat what had been thrown away by someone else. Walking beside us, a couple around our age was talking, laughing, & enjoying their day. About 15 more steps, at a very upscale hotel, visitors loaded/unloaded expensive cars as some ate in the upscale restaurant. Within 20 feet of us was a cardboard box laid out on a stoop where someone had slept. The stoop was covered with empty tuna cans, drug needles, trash, and paraphernalia. 


The Lord spoke to my heart. You see, no matter what state of life we're in, we're all sharing the same road. We might be headed towards different destinations, but we are all still traveling the same road together. What is it that we all need? One word, Jesus! 

The Holy Spirit revealed that no matter what state of life someone is in, we all need Jesus. It is our calling as Christ followers to realize that everyone needs the Lord.

 

My heart was broken for the man digging through the trash trying to find anything to eat, but my heart needs to be equally as broken for the lady sitting at the table about to eat prime rib. Why? Because they both equally need Jesus, and Jesus loves them both the same. 


"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6


Geno Brown

Are you willing?

September 25, 2022


I went rafting on the Chattooga River earlier this year, and it had me smiling even as I fell out of the raft. It started out great, but as others repeatedly got hurt, including our guide breaking her thumb, fear started to grip me. The water level was the highest it had been all year, and we were one inch away from not being able to raft. I was informed that we were on level 4 and 5 rapids, and I became pretty terrified. 


Thankfully, we switched guides during our next stop. I then proceeded to ask about emergency exits. Fun fact: There’s no way out of river rapids except for rafting down through them. Our new guide, Nathaniel, held out his hand for me to get back into the boat. I tried convincing him that walking on the rocks to the other side was safer for me. What he said next resonated with me. 


He said, “It is my goal to get you to the other side of this rapid without you or anyone falling out of the boat. I will do everything in my power to make sure that you stay in the boat. But you have to be willing. Are you willing?” I nodded my head yes. I was still terrified, but I chose to blindly trust him to get me to the other side unscathed. Good news: I made it to the other side, and God spoke through it. 


Many times we see the rapids of our lives & become terrified. Rightfully so, they’re scary & painful. But, as Christians, we have the best guide in life. We can trust God to guide us unscathed to the other side, no matter how scary it looks. 


I want to encourage you today to get in the boat. Be willing to trust God in the rapid you’re going through. He is faithful and trustworthy. You’ll see the truth of who He is on the other side. God is asking you today, “Are you willing?"


“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) 

 

Kayla McFarland