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     I know you’ve heard the declaration about Judgment Day happening on May 21, 2011.  As you can see, we’re still here!  But some of us will be leaving next week on an important mission.  I’m not talking about the Rapture!  I’m talking about the biggest missions trip that has ever taken place.  The Jamaican government has graciously invited Praisefest Ministries an organization dedicated to taking the Gospel to the world, the opportunity to send teams of Christians into over 230 schools to share the Gospel with over 133,000 students.  In addition, a team of believers has also been given access to minister in a major prison facility in the country.   The beautiful thing about this mission is that churches across the United States are uniting to make this event happen!  

     Can you imagine what an impact this will be?  First of all, let me say again: The Jamaican government has given Christians permission to go into the schools to share the Gospel!  For those who may have forgotten, the U.S. Supreme Court banned praying in schools in 1962!  That’s right.  Some of us more seasoned saints can actually remember praying in schools.  I was in 7th grade the last time I said The Lord’s Prayer in school.  So I do not take this trip for granted!  This is an awesome occasion!   

    Yesterday at church, one of our ministers delivered a powerful message in which he stated that God is calling for His people to believe as never before.  We are to expect God to do “exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…(Eph. 3:20, NKJV).”  I must admit that sometimes I take God’s Word for granted.  I recite the familiar passages as if they are nursery rhymes.  But it’s time for the church to believe again!  If God can do this in Jamaica, what about our great nation? 

     I am calling my Facebook friends to pray for this important mission.  Amazing things happen when God’s people pray!  If governments topple in the Middle East through Twitter and Facebook, what can happen if we get on our knees and use social media to storm the heavens and rally believers to action?  “With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible (Mt. 19:26, NKJV).”

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     I am the queen of throw aways!  Just ask my husband.  If you need somebody to help you clean out your closet and you don’t know how to do it (or you get jittery at the thought) just ask me.  I love to get rid of junk!  As a matter of fact, I absolutely hate junk! 

     You know what I mean:  those old keys that don’t fit any door; miscellaneous chargers that don’t fit any cell phones; frilly blouses (Are they back in style?) or bell bottom pants pressed against the back wall of your closet; that pleated skirt your aunt gave you to wear ten years ago; that box of glasses you swear will come back in style.  Shall I go on?

     You can probably add to my list.  I certainly can, but I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.   I’m sure some of you will agree with me:  Junk is annoying!  Why do we keep it around when it obviously has outlived its purpose? 

     Just the other day I smelled something awful in my pantry, so I went hunting for the culprit.  You might have guessed already.  It was a rotten potato!  Have you ever smelled one?  It STINKS!  I mean it absolutely REEKS!  So what did I do?  I searched the bag of red potatoes until I found the bad one and gently took it out of the bag, carefully avoiding any contact whatsoever.  Whew!  Was I relieved!

    But just as I was about to throw it away, my practical-minded husband had a brilliant idea:  Why not plant the potato in the back yard and let it yield more potatoes?  Now who really thinks like that?  My husband, of course!  “Are you kidding?” I asked throwing my hands in the air, “Why would I do that?”

     “Because you shouldn’t waste that potato.  It still has some use,” he calmly stated, holding out his hand to prevent me from tossing it in the trash can.  I knew I was not going to win that argument.  Captain Thrifty struck again!

    I am reminded about a passage I read in the book of Nehemiah this morning.  Briefly, Nehemiah, a cupbearer in a foreign land, had access to comfort and luxury in the king’s palace, but he mourned over the ruined walls of the city of Jerusalem, his native land.  He grieved over Jerusalem’s condition.  The king, moved by Nehemiah’s compassion, released him to return to Judah to rebuild the city.

     Soon opposition arose and a  mocker screamed, “Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish–stones that are burned (Neh.4:2b)?” I had to think about that image.  Can burnt stones be used again?  The answer was yes!  Nehemiah refused to look at the ruins and see waste.  Instead, he saw potential!  And before long, regardless of naysayers and continued opposition, he rallied his people to rebuild the walls of the city!

    Some of you may be feeling as if you are a throwaway.  You may feel as if God has discarded you.  You may think your time for use has come and gone.  I know.  I’ve felt that way before.  Let me tell you this:  IT’S A LIE FROM THE ENEMY!  Nothing or nobody is wasted in God’s economy!  Whatever you’re feeling is not the truth!  He’s not finished with you yet!  In fact, now that you’ve felt defeat, He can use you even more to minister hope to others.  Jer. 29:11 states, “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope (NKJV).”

   Run to your Father!  He’s waiting…………..for you.