Author Archives: expressyourself4him

Passage of the Day:

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. ² You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.

Reflection:

I spent a decade as a member at a large church. During these years, I met one of the founders of the Church Growth Institute. Larry was a firm believer in Spiritual Gifts and donated his material to my Bible Classes. While there are different types of assessments and tests you can take to ascertain your own spiritual gift, your degree of confidence will influence your overall score. The more humble you are, the lower you will rate yourself. However, as you research the various gifts that exist, you will discern at least one which fits your abilities and personality type. However, this is just the beginning.

Prayerful Action:

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline, 2 Timothy 1:6-7.

Retracing Your Steps:

I attended a Discernment Seminar at a Vineyard Church on February 1st and 2nd of 2012. Prior to this interactive conference, I thought I possessed a special gift, but wasn’t sure if this was from God. Pastor Bruce identified this as Writing in the Spirit. As I listened to a song, heard something on the television or watched a clip from a movie, ideas would suddenly pop into my mind. Before I forgot what I was hearing from God and seeing in my mind, I started taking a journal with me wherever I went. After discerning this gift that I possessed, I began to fan this into flame, creating this blog 2 days later on February 4th, 2012. Twelve years later, I continue to share what the Holy Spirit whispers to me as I continue to nurture my spiritual gift.

Song of the Day:

If you don’t have a clue about your own spiritual gift or talent, search the internet for a free spiritual gift assessment. While it may take a while to ascertain a specific gift, seek discernment from friends or people at church so you can begin to nurture this talent.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” ¹³ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. ¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.¹⁵ Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.¹⁶ Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber.¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’” – Joel 2:12-17

Refection:

I recently worked a news documentary about Israel. Before the Coronavirus pandemic, Israel was in the middle of a drought during their rainy season. Rather than blame God for this crisis, priests and rabbis called their followers to fast and pray for rain. Thousands came to the weeping wall in Jerusalem to cry out to the Lord daily. While this event didn’t receive much worldwide attention, a few weeks after the call to wrestle with God through fasting and prayer rain fell upon Israel. This is a modern-day example of how the Lord responds to believers who take their faith seriously.

Prayerful Action:

They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders^[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust, Acts 14:21-23.

Retracing Your Steps:

Before any decision was made in the first century church, leaders spent time fasting and praying until a clear answer was received or revealed. Unfortunately, most Christians use prayer as a last second Hail Mary, always playing defense, trying not to fall prey to the same sin over and over again. The last Bible Study I attended in Delaware before moving emphasized the importance of creating a hedge of protection around your family using prayer. Imagine how powerful prayer could become in your life if you added fasting to this spiritual discipline? This is what it means to wrestle with God like the Persistent Widow in Luke 18:1-8, not giving up until she received the verdict she desired.

Song of the Day:

Don’t wait for a State of Emergency before you start fasting and prayer. Go on the offensive by being proactive with fasting and prayer, wrestling with God as you seek God’s will and purpose for your life.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— ² although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. ³ So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. ⁴ Now he had to go through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. ⁷ When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” ⁸ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) ⁹ The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.^[a]) ¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water,” John 4:1-10.

Reflection:

Every culture has a group of individuals which everyone else looks down upon. In the first century, Samaritans were considered half-Jewish. Subsequently, the strict religious practices of Judaism discouraged direct interactions with Samaritans. While the disciples went around Samaria, Jesus went straight through town looking for someone to minister to. Hanging at near a local well is a strategic place if you want to talk with one of the locals. This is the setting of Jesus’ conversation with a Samaritan woman who has indulged in casual relationships with several men. Pursuing a heart like God’s means going places that no one else likes to or wants to go.

Prayerful Action:

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,” Matthew 9:11-13.

Retracing Your Steps:

I have a heart for inner cities. When I was in college, I chose spending my final spring break in Philadelphia over a warm tropical vacation destination. When you walk off the beaten path of historic cities, poverty is all around you. Unfortunately, more and more churches are investing their mission funds into third world nations as American cities are becoming close to if not worse than these foreign countries. More than any time in our history, America needs Christians who pursue a heart like God so that the needy and poor also hear the good news about Jesus Christ.

Song of the Day:

The video of Heart of God shows Zach Williams checking into a hotel. With each step Zach takes, there are subtle interaction which people with the heart of God will take advantage of when given the opportunity. May the lyrics of this song inspire you to pursue a heart of God.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, ¹⁸ who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, ¹⁹ and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. ²⁰ Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.²¹ Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.²² Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets, Luke 6:17-23.

Reflection:

Rather than pursue a career in golf course design and maintenance, I chose to become a Summer Work Camp Coordinator for the Methodist Action Program and part-time youth director at Janes United Methodist Church. As I was hungering and thirsting after righteousness, things weren’t going as I had hoped and planned. I was broke, sleeping in the basement on my sister’s couch and my attempts to build two successful youth ministries was failing. This is when God introduced me to an organization called Tentmakers Youth Ministry. After reaching out and passing the interview process, I was accepted to become part of their 1993 Winter Trade School Class. A love offering from my home church, Cornerstone United Methodist, made this opportunity a reality.

Prayerful Action:

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty, ” John 6:35.

Retracing Your Steps:

When you take a leap of faith like I did back in 1993 and leave everyone you’ve ever known, it’s a huge transition. However, this Trade School was more like a Spiritual Bootcamp, from 7am in the morning to activities and homework each night. I became so entrenched into what I was doing that I didn’t have time to blink. I was stretched well beyond my comfort zone, forced to lead worship, gave daily talks, serve as an MC and talk to strangers each evening at local malls. At the end of this 40 day adventure, we spent a week at a wilderness camp, serving one another. The final day involved 24 hours of silence and meditation, reflecting upon where we are, what we’ve learned and where is God calling us to go following graduation. This is the most controlled and spiritual setting that I have ever experienced on earth where hungering and thirsting after God was a daily focus.

Song of the Day:

The attached song was one of my favorite songs as I became a full-time youth pastor. The lyrics of Fisher of Men detail what it means to hunger and thirst after righteousness. May today’s devotion inspire you to draw closer to the Lord in 2024.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ 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, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” Matthew 28:16-20.

Reflection:

As a former high school coach, I know the importance of trying to recruit new and young players. When you only have players for four years, if you focus solely on your current team and forget to share, teach and make younger players interested, you won’t have a team in five years. This same concept applies to youth pastors. If leaders pour their hearts and souls into high school students and neglect upcoming junior highers, they’ll be out of a job. Jesus’ call to his disciples was to seize each day by sharing with other people who Jesus really is, teaching about Jesus’ vision in Acts 1:8 and train willing participants to go and do the same.

Prayerful Action:

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation, Mark 16:15.

Retracing Your Steps:

Evangelism is the spreading of the Christian gospel by public preaching and living out your testimony. I tend to be more of the latter, leading by example so I can earn the right to be heard. More vocal individuals feel compelled to share the message of salvation wherever they go. If you have ever taken a spiritual gifts test, I encourage Christians to focus on their areas of strengths. The key is to be genuine, 1 Peter 3:15-16, and avoid being forceful. As Christians demonstrate the love of Jesus, open doors to share your faith will come in the future.

Song of the Day:

Final Thoughts:

Evangelism tends to scare most Christians, unsure what to say and how to respond to tough questions. Perhaps attending Evangelism Explosion and studying under a more experienced Christian is what you need for now. However, to ensure the success of future generations of the Christian Church, don’t miss out in playing your role in sharing, teaching and making disciples.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved, Acts 2:42-47.

Reflection:

While I was raised within the Roman Catholic Church, most of the teaching I learned was based upon religious practices. The concept of meeting with likeminded Christians wasn’t introduced to me until I joined a Methodist youth group in high school. During my final two years of high school, some of these teenagers became like a second family to me. Just meeting on Sundays wasn’t enough for me so I joined an accountability group and started a Bible Study. While I was still young in my faith, these experiences shaped and strengthen my faith journey.

Prayerful Action:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching, Hebrews 10:23-25.

Retracing Your Steps:

When I was an infant Christian as a teenager, I once asked, “why can’t I just attend church on Sunday? Isn’t that enough?” As a shy boy, afraid that stuttering would embarrass me, I kept to myself. Yet, when I witnessed how happy and joyful the Christians who attended the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bible Study, I wanted what they had. I wasn’t sure what it was, but a spiritual hunger grew deep inside my heart. When I finally attended, I began to understand of importance of Luke’s words in Acts 2. While I did have some stuttering fits along the way, meeting with other Christians energized my soul. Don’t be like me for years by keeping to myself. Seek out a small group so you can experience the pleasure of meeting with Christ-minded believers.

Song of the Day:

My wife Leanne and I waited for over a year before finally finding a church. A few weeks later we joined a weekly small group that has helped us stay connected socially and spiritually. If you feel alone, seize this day so that tonight you’ll experience the joy of meeting with fellow Christians.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. ¹² We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. ¹³ If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵ And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:^[a] The old has gone, the new is here! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin^[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21.

Reflection:

The term ambassador refers to an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative when working in or visiting a foreign nation. Back in 1997, I became a Brand Ambassador for Michael Jordan Golf as the store manager at O’Hare International Airport. When travelers walked into this store, many asked, “what does Michael Jordan the basketball legend have to do with golf?” Just as I explained the vision for Michael Jordan Golf, the apostle Paul was calling members of the Church at Corinth to become ambassadors for Jesus.

Prayerful Action:

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body, Philippians 3:20-21.

Retracing Your Steps:

As society transitions from facts toward a more politically correct opinionated based culture, disinformation about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is spread daily. Subsequently, unless modern-day ambassadors for Christ begin speaking up to correct these untrue statements, the next generation of Christian churches will accept, believe and embrace unbiblical doctrines. This is why the apostle Paul urged the Church at Rome to renew their minds with the Bible, Romans 12:1-2, so that their teaching will align with the first century church, Acts 2:42-47.

Song of the Day:

Learning to become an ambassador for Christ begins by serving in a local church or ministry. As you continue in this role or move up into a leadership position, elders and the Holy Spirit are your guide to fulfill the Great Commission, Acts 1:8.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. ¹² I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. ¹⁷ I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. ¹⁸ Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas^[b] and stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. ²¹ Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. ²² I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. ²³ They only heard the report: “The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they praised God because of me, Galatians 1:11-24.

Reflection:

When I first became a Christian in the middle of my sophomore year of high school, people in church began to ask me, “what’s your story?” Since I had no idea what they were talking about, I asked my swim coach who became my spiritual mentor. Coach Horne led me to today’s passage where the apostle Paul shares his spiritual background which led him to follow Jesus. Ken referred to this as Paul’s testimony where an individual reflects upon their life prior to being introduced to Jesus, their conversation experience and how God has changed their life. This is what I mean by urging readers to tell your story to others.

Prayerful Action:

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis^[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed, Mark 5:18-20.

Retracing Your Steps:

According to Jesus, it was more important for the man who had be set free from demonic possession to tell others about Jesus than immediately become a disciple. One powerful aspect of a testimony is that your story of how you came to faith in Christ can reach people that others can’t. If you follow the model in Galatians 1:11-24, you can highlight specific addictions, bad habits and cravings that you couldn’t escape. While not everyone has a road to Damascus transformation, there are events that set the stage for you to come to Jesus, Romans 10:9-10. Finally, point to how the Holy Spirit has altered your vocabulary, behavior and overall life. If you place this in an outline form on a notecard, you’ll be ready the next time someone asks, “what’s your story?”

Song of the Day:

May the lyrics of today’s song inspire you to get prepared to share your testimony sometime in April. May the showers that accompany this time of year result in a spiritual awakening in your life this Spring.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. ² This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, ⁴ for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God, 1 John 5:1-5.

Reflection:

Charles Sheldon, a minister from Topeka, Kansas began a sermon series in 1886 entitled “What Would Jesus Do?” While this expression may have been used by the Church at Antioch whose daily actions coined the phrase Christian, Acts 11:26, this congregation merely emulated the life practices of Jesus. More recently, Janie Tinklenberg, who served as a youth group leader in Holland, Michigan developed What Would Jesus Do bracelets. The acronym W.W.J.D. spread throughout the world due to this bracelet designed to help teenagers emulate Jesus.

Prayerful Action:

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, Ephesians 5:1-2.

Retracing Your Steps:

Whenever my mother or teacher told me, “That’s not like you,” this was a clear indication that I was not behaving as I normally would. From a spiritual perspective, I was far from emulating Jesus. The hard part of any evaluation process is making sure you have someone in your life who is honest and fair in their assessment of your life. Sometimes churches develop and encourage a superiority complex, looking down on those who aren’t emulating Jesus like other faithful followers. Whether you need a bracelet to remind me or a friend, make emulating Jesus a daily priority.

Song of the Day:

You shouldn’t have to tell others that you are a Christian. If you get into the habit of emulating Jesus, your actions will speak for themselves, signs of light and love in a dark world.

by Jay Mankus

Passage of the Day:

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ³ And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. ⁴ Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. ⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone, Colossians 4:2-6.

Reflection:

I spent 3 years working for a Christian company that made inspirational gifts. While serving as a Production Manager, I was reminded of a game that a friend from college and I developed. Speak the Word was inspired by today’s featured passage. Depending upon the topic of conversation, we challenged each other to incorporate the Bible into whatever we were talking about. Although this game was never manufactured, I created a board and cards which I used from time to time in my Bible classes at Red Lion. This idea gave birth to today’s title as a means to share the words of the Bible in conversations that you participate in daily.

Prayerful Action:

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Peter 3:15.

Retracing Your Steps:

We have all said the wrong thing at the wrong time at one point in our lives. Meanwhile, when God has given you an opportunity to share your faith in the past, were you ready or did you let this chance slip away without speaking the Word? A friend from high school, who was diagnosed with and died of cancer, would ask me, “why are you so happy?” I had numerous opportunities to tell Maureen of my newfound faith in Jesus but was afraid of how she might respond. My failure to Speak the Word inspired me to become a youth pastor so when future Maureens asked me, this time I would be ready.

Song of the Day:

Sidewalk Prophets is a fitting name for a band to highlight the need to find places to Speak God’s Words to and with our friends. May the lyrics to The Words I Would Say inspire you to keep in step with the Holy Spirit by finding ways to Speak the Word in your daily conversations.

by Jay Mankus