When I think about this idea of getting to serve the Lord in ministry, I am in awe all over again of how He chooses to use us to reach people and the world. I look back and remember the amazing things that He has done and what He has allowed me to see and to be a part of. I have seen the power of the gospel to change lives, marriages, families, and communities. I think about how God saved me at the age of five…My parents were missionaries and for the first time, the Holy Spirit opened up my heart to understand the gospel. We lived upstairs in this wonderful old house and the church was downstairs. I could not wait for my Daddy to come upstairs so he could pray with me to get saved. From that day on, God has been my rock, my refuge and my fortress…the one to which I could always go. When we go back to the story of how we came to know Christ, I believe it stirs up within us a passion to share this good news with everyone that we can. It is what keeps us going! We can get lost in our routines, our areas of serving and get discouraged when we don’t see what we continue to ask God for. Disappointment can be the very place that the enemy comes in and convinces us that God is not who He says He is and that He cannot do what He says He can do…Then we can lose hope and stop believing God for His mighty power to draw people to Himself, to build the churches and ministries He has placed us in, and for Him to help us fulfill our calling. We can be so disillusioned…that we stop believing the very God who called us on this faith journey. This year, I have felt this desire to go back…to remember and celebrate what God has done in our lives in the past… To remember how He saved us…How He used us to share the gospel with someone…How He led us…How He equipped us and prepared us… How He miraculously met our needs…and to proclaim to Him “I believe You will do it again!” “Dear Lord, I thank You for all that You have done for us…For saving us and allowing us to serve You. We claim Your Word today…”As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long…Since my youth, God you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.We pray for a great harvest of souls and we pray that You will empower us to share the Good News with the people in our neighborhoods, communities and all around the world.”

-Cindy Lyons