I was writing this morning and decided I would share part of what I wrote-

Another part about tending the fire in our hearts with God is looking for opportunities to pray for others, share Christ, and be the light of the world. We all have neighbors, co-workers, family, people we know in the community, and people we come in contact with throughout our day. Be a blessing, be the hands and feet of Jesus, be the mouth of Jesus and proclaim life words into people. There are many who are so hungry to hear good news, to hear encouraging words, there are many opportunities to show Jesus to people. This does something for not only the recipient of our blessing or prayer, but it also feeds our inner man as well. That is what Jesus said after he spoke to the woman at the well and the multitude came out to Him.
The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” Then they went out of the city and came to Him. In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
John 4:28-32
We don’t need to have a formal ministry. Our lives are ministry, worship, and a sacrifice unto the Lord. Formal ministry of street ministry, homeless ministry, or church ministries (women, men, etc.) are great, but I believe we are not meant to box ourselves in to those. We can look for opportunities everyday to do even the smallest of things to share the love and truth of God to others. Help a neighbor, make bread, a dessert, a dinner or whatever for a new mom, a new neighbor, or someone who just needs it. Visit a shut in. Give encouragement to someone who needs it. Give a card, a gift, whatever with an encouraging word. Give a smile and hello. Sometimes the smallest thing can make a big difference. We should be doing these things for one another in the church anyway. Doing it for non-believers should just be an overflow.
'And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!'
Galatians 6:9-10
There are so many ways to be a blessing to others that I am sure you can google “acts of kindness” and find something. Even better, ask God to show you…His ideas are endless. Let someone know you are thinking of them and praying for them. Be kind, patient, etc. Let the fruit of the Spirit shine forth and let people see God shine in you. This will open doors of favor and opportunity for you to share Jesus. People will ask why you are so hopeful, peaceful, joyful. Be a Christian and shine your light bright.

'“Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.”'
Matthew 5:14-16
 
'Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves. For then you will be seen as innocent, faultless, and pure children of God, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the universe, offering them the words of eternal life. I haven’t labored among you for nothing, for your lives are the fruit of my ministry and will be my glorious boast at the unveiling of Christ!'
Philippians 2:14-16

New. I didn't know what else to title my first regular blog entry. I have other entries on my Corporate Prayer page, but this one is just a regular good ole' fashioned blog entry. That is weird to think about. That blogs are a normal thing now. Soooo many people have one. We blog about everything. Sports, food, home, children, growing up, growing old, on and on. There was a day that this was a new thing. It was kind of strange, uncomfortable, awkward. Many dismissed the impact blogs and social media would make (there were some of us that kicked against the goads ok). Some underestimated how much of a common yet powerful avenue they would become for people to share and connect. However common it is now, there was a day it was new.

There are new things that the Lord is doing in the earth. I have been hearing Him say over and over,
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise." Isaiah 43:18-21
I know He has spoke this to me personally over the last few years or so. I also know He has been speaking it to the body at large. Some are uncomfortable with new-it is strange, uncomfortable, awkward. That is natural. But I do not want to dismiss, miss, or be left out of the new thing God is doing. I want to be smack in the middle of it.

I have made a choice to dismiss fear, to lay down my preconceived notions, plans, and how I thought things should happen. I have stopped trying to figure out how He is going to do what He said He is going to do, or even worse, to help Him do it with my own ideas (can anyone say Ishmael?) I have decided to let Holy Spirit have the reins, to let God carve out my path, and to enjoy the journey. I don't have all the answers, I don't have a plan A, B, or C anymore. THAT is soooo uncomfortable for me! But I know that the more I step into Him and trust, the more of His faithfulness I will find. He IS faithful. That is something that is unchanging. His character doesn't change-ever-even as He calls us into something new in the advancement of His Kingdom, remember He is ever-faithful and good and true.

My prayer for us is that we would trust God enough to step out on the water as Peter did when he heard Jesus call him out. That we would trust God enough when He asks us to do something new, scary, and maybe seemingly impossible in the natural. That at each baby step of this journey of trust and growth and expanding ourselves, we would say, "Yes, Lord". Perhaps then one day we will find that those scary new things that we could have easily brushed off or dodged have become as normal as a blog.