Forever Young

The Homeless Angel

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:55:21 GMT

“Volunteers. We need volunteers!” My youth pastor’s voice clapped with conviction.

I sat in the back of the church and watched as the shuffle began. Young people got up from their seats, and took their places under signs that read: “Nursing Home,” “Hospital Visitation,” and “Coffee House.”

My friend Alyssa and I made our way over to the Coffee House group. The community outreach leader was passing out directions to the downtown location. I prayed beneath my breath:

Lord, this type of outreach is not familiar to me, but I know that it is familiar to you. Please help me express your love to someone special who needs it. Amen.

The dirt parking lot outside the coffee house was full as Alyssa and I pulled up. A long line of people stood outside waiting for the dinner bell to ring. Warmth swept over me. All these people are hungry. Hungry, right here in my hometown.

Alyssa and I entered the Coffee House through a ripped screen door. A few modest-sized rooms greeted us inside: a kitchen, a dinner hall, and a make-shift meeting area. I watched as busy women placed dinner rolls on large silver platters in the kitchen. Meanwhile, men rushed about setting up mix-matched folding chairs in the direction of a beat up piano.

A tall man in a denim shirt greeted Alyssa and I. “I’m Dan. Are you here to help serve?”

We nodded, yes. He turned towards the kitchen. “Follow me.”

Before I had a chance to ask what to do, a woman with a net scarf on her head, slid a serving spoon into my hand.

“Two spoons of beans per person,” she said. Her voice was strong and centered.

I looked down the serving bar: bread, meat, salad, vegetables, macaroni and cheese, and there before me sat the largest bowl of pork and beans I’d ever seen in my life. I stirred the beans as I looked out the front window. The long line of hungry people continued to grow.

A clock on the wall chimed seven, and Dan unlocked the door. A steady stream of people of all races and ages entered. Each person smiled with appreciation as they walked through the food line with their paper plates extended. I served two large portions of pork-n-beans to each person. A sense of purpose like I’d never felt before filled my heart.

An elderly woman stood in line. I asked, “Are you doing well today?”

Her face was wrinkled and she appeared to be in her mid-70s. She looked like someone’s grandma. Her clothes didn’t match, her shoes were worn, and her hair was unkept. Yet, her eyes held a subtle and alluring glow.

“Yes, I’m doing very well, dear.” She answered with a crackled voice.

I spooned two helpings of beans onto her plate, and she passed by.

“Can I help you carry something?” I asked.

She didn’t say a word. She simply handed me her plastic lemonade glass.

My heart broke as I followed her over to a table. How had this gentle grandma ended up here? Hungry and homeless?

“I’m Jackie,” I said.

“I’m Margaret,” she replied.

“Are you here alone?” I asked.

“Yes, my husband died. We never had any children. It’s just me.” She lifted her sloppy joe sandwich to chapped lips.

Conversation continued around the dinner table where Margaret sat. “Supper’s good tonight, isn’t it Mama?” the man across the table said to Margaret as he sopped up some sauce with his dinner roll.

Another man bit into a doughnut, “Yeah, but I bet Mama knows how to cook better vittles than this.”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Margaret was having dinner at a mission house, yet she continued to reach out like the mother in a family to those around her. Margaret was a glowing figure of God’s hope despite her difficult circumstances.

Half an hour later, Margaret sat at the front of the meeting room where a worship service was scheduled to begin after everyone was done eating.

“Can my friend Alyssa and I sit with you?” I asked.

“Yes, I would like that.” Margaret said.

The worship leader began to play the old piano, plunking out tunes. Margaret lifted her head and sang the hymns as if she’d spent her entire life going to church. Her face lit brightly as she worshipped God.

Tears filled my eyes as I considered the purity of Margaret’s heart.

I whispered into Alyssa’s ear. “I have an idea. I want to get a gift for Margaret. Would you mind saving my seat?”

I quietly slipped out the back door of the coffee house, got in my car, and headed for the closest store that I could find. I was unfamiliar with the downtown area so I settled for a nearby convenience store. I searched for something special to give to Margaret. Then, I saw it sitting beside the cash register—a long-stem, red rose. I quickly purchased the rose and headed back to the Coffee House.

Margaret continued to sing with broken voice: I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee…

I presented the rose to Margaret. “This rose is for you Margaret. I want you to know how special you are to God.”

Margaret’s wrinkled hands reached out, not only for the rose, but for me too. She held me tight and cried. She clutched the rose to her chest for the remainder of the service. Then, she gave me a final hug and walked away.

Margaret may never know what an angel she is and how she reveals something of Heaven on Earth that cannot be told, but only seen. Sometimes I hear people reason about angels and question whether or not they are real.

I saw a real angel—a hungry and homeless angel. Her name is Margaret, and the hope she had in her heart despite hardship brought Psalm 119 to life:

Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Uphold me, and I will be delivered; I will always have regard for your decrees (verses 116-117, NIV).

Have you ever reached out to help serve a meal in your community or been on a mission trip? What amazing things did you experience as you shared God’s love with others?

This week Loren Cunningham was a special guest on The 700 Club. He’s the founder of YWAM (Youth With A Mission). It is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world.

Learn more about Loren Cunningham, YWAM and ways that you might be able to help those in need by watching The 700 Club special broadcast, Loren Cunningham: God is Transforming Nations.

How's Your Image?

Jackie Overpeck — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:14:08 GMT

Fashion, style, and charm. All of these make up a fine image… or do they? How we look matters, but maybe not in the way we might think.

Celebrities, for example, are deeply concerned about their image. They often work with a publicist to help clean up their appearance after they feel their image has been blemished. The hope is to sway the perception of the public eye and remain popular.

Image is a powerful tool. It represents you and the core source of your values. Your image is the visual representation that typifies you. It’s your likeness or what you bear resemblance to.

In the beginning of time God spoke about image:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27).

It is God’s desire to create within you and me the clear understanding that he wants us to be one with him as partakers of his blessing. Ephesians 4:24 encourages, “…put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”

Consider these five keys as you think about your image:

I – Who am I?

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Eph. 2:10

M – I am made in the likeness of God.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Gen. 1:26

A – I am accepted.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Eph. 1:4

G – I am greatly loved.

We are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Rom. 8:37

E – I am eternally redeemed.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. Eph. 1:7

Reflecting Life

Each time we fellowship with God we mirror our heavenly Father’s image. We bear the beauty of Heaven when we reflect God’s acceptance, love, and redemption to our family and friends.

As the hidden inner person of the heart outshines the exposed outer person of the flesh, we are able to proclaim with Paul:

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal. 2:20).

What are your ideas of ways in which we can reflect a Christ-centered image today?

* All Scripture references NIV.

~ Jackie O.

Where Do You Run?

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:54:16 GMT

Where do you run when you need help?

Do you call your boyfriend and pour your heart out to him? Do you ask your Mom or Dad to listen? Or maybe you prefer to be alone in your room, where you can log onto Facebook, post your problems on your wall -- and see if your friends may have the answers you need?

A few years ago, I was faced with a situation where I needed help. I did all of the above. I asked everyone except God. Usually, I go to God first. But this time my problem seemed so overwhelming that I instinctively ran to the physical things that I could touch or see with my natural senses.

What’s the problem with that approach? It’s not grounded in faith. Yes, it’s fine to go to the people around us who love us, but first we must run by faith to God. People come and go; people are not always there. Even our parents as much as they may love us are not always around.

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path… (Psalm 27:10-11, KJV).

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24).

We need a constant Source of help. A place we can run where our Comforter never turns away and our Guide never departs. We need a Helper who can always be found. One whose love is steady and forgiveness is strong. We need God.

We need God for life itself. We need Him on the days when we are popular and we need Him on the days when all of our friends are gone. We need God during nights that are filled with frustration and tears, and we need Him on nights that are filled with laughter.

James 4:8 encourages, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (NKJV).

I like the way The Message puts it:

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud "No" to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet "Yes" to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet. (James 4:7-10)

What keeps you from running to God? Will you try running to Him with a heart full of faith the next time you need help?

~ Jackie O.

To Save A Life

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:18:01 GMT

This past weekend, my husband Arnie and I went to see an advanced showing of To Save A Life, produced by Outreach Films and New Song Pictures. The indie feature file opens theatrically nationwide in January 2010. From my media kit:

To Save A Life is the story of an all-star athlete, Jake Taylor (Randy Wayne). After a childhood friend’s death, Jake’s world spins out of control and he has to make changes in his life and sacrifice some dreams to save the lives of others.

Ever since Jake Taylor was a kid, he was the type of guy you couldn’t help but like. For Jake, life is good. He has friends, fame, a basketball scholarship, a future and the hottest girl in the school. Not much to get down about, right?

Enter Roger Dawson. He’s Jake’s childhood best friend before Jake’s popularity goes into high gear. Miserable and mad over being on the outside of Jake’s, or anybody’s inner circle, he’s tired of being pushed aside by everyone. He walks onto campus with a gun in his pocket and pain in his heart, and makes a tragic move.

Jake is devastated at what Roger has done. And something in him changes. In seeking answers in his own life, one question plagues him the most… Could I have saved him? He is now deeply compelled to reach out to the students who are on the fringe of acceptability by the school’s upper crust. But he finds reaching out to the undesirable threatens his world. He may lose his own friends, his scholarship, his dreams and even his reputation to do it.

To Save A Life is a powerful and touching movie about the real-life challenges of teens and their choices. But it's more than just a movie—it's a feature-length film with follow-up opportunities like a youth group curriculum and a teen devotional centered around the biblical concept that we’re never more like Jesus than when we are reaching out to the hurting and lonely.

At some point, every teen has to decide: "What's my life going to be about?" To Save A Life dares to bring that question into the teen world, encouraging young people to answer it with boldness, honesty and Christ-likeness.

Visit the official movie site and view the trailer at www.tosavealifemovie.com. Check out these tools to help you grow spiritually: To Save A Life novel & non-fiction book---and Devo2Go, a 36 day interactive audio devotional.

~ Jackie O.

Are You 4Real?

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:49:32 GMT

What happens when you get over 7,000 Christian girls ages 12-17 together? An incredibly fun God party with all your best friends!

The Revolve Tour hosts mega events for teenage girls in cities all over the country every year. Award-winning bands and speakers with real and relevant messages shared on this year’s theme “4Real” combining amazing music, real-life stories, drama, and excitement for a one-of-a-kind inspirational weekend for girls.

While at the Fort Worth, Texas, conference, I sat down with Jenna Lucado, Revolve Tour speaker and author of Redefining Beautiful, to talk about God’s great love.

Jackie Overpeck: You have a big heart for ministry and missions. How did that begin?

Jenna Lucado: I’m pretty sure those seeds were planted in me when I was a little girl. I was born in Brazil and that’s where I lived for the first three years. Ever since I was a little girl, I would see people on the street and I’d say, “Mom, does she know God? Does he know God?” Even now, I wonder every time I pass a face, does this person know God?

When I was in college, I did my first girl's conference as part of the worship team, and that’s when I really started falling in love [teaching] with teenage girls and seeing the impact on their lives as I talked about identity and beauty. I loved every minute of it.

Jackie: What advice do you have for girls trying to find their place of service in Christ?

Jenna: The more I grew in my relationship with the Lord, the more He started dreaming for me. As you pray, “God give me the desires of your heart,” He’ll do it. That’s just how it works. Pray that His dreams will be your dreams.

Jackie: What’s one of your favorite things about The Revolve Tour? Why should girls come and join in the fun?

Jenna: The Revolve Tour is a big room of comfort in not feeling alone. There are girls of all different colors, backgrounds, and families.

You might be the only girl in your circle of friends who is adopted. But when you come to The Revolve Tour, there may be two hundred other adopted girls in the room. If you’re a tomboy, you are going to be in a room with tons of tomboys. At The Revolve Tour, you’ll find the unity of being surrounded by people that get you. At Revolve, you feel affirmed, encouraged, and loved.

Jackie: What major character trait does God want His daughters to really get or see about Him?

Jenna: God wants girls to know He is their Dad. When God is your perfect Dad, you can stand in front of the mirror of God’s Word and you can know His truth about who you really are. You learn who you were created to reflect, which is Him. He becomes your mirror. You start seeing yourself and your reflection in a whole new way. It’s just like I wrote in Redefining Beautiful: You begin to see what God sees when God sees you.

Jackie: What advice do you have for girls about being “4Real” or true to the special person God created them to be?

Jenna: When you spend time with God, you find out He loves every part of you--even the part you may be embarrassed about. It’s a domino effect. You spend time with God. God tells you who you are. And then you gain the confidence to trust who God created you to be. A natural confidence comes as God affirms your uniqueness. The Creator of the universe loves every part of you.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Jenna Lucado was born in Brazil (where her parents were missionaries) and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She still lives in the Lone Star State, working with high school girls even when she’s not at The Revolve Tour. The daughter of best-selling author Max Lucado, Jenna realized she has a passion for speaking, writing, and peanut butter -- just like her dad. Jenna currently speaks to more than 125,000 teen girls annually as part of The Revolve Tour. Jenna’s book Redefining Beautiful offers girls a new vision of themselves and a new definition of beauty as Jenna reveals a foundational beauty secret: a father’s love. Jenna brings hope as she helps girls discover that they already have the perfect Dad.

Learn more about The Revolve Tour, Jenna Lucado,and the great lineup of speakers, drama team actors, singers, musicians,and praise band by visiting www.therevolvetour.com.

~ Jackie O.

The Real Meaning of Free

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:37:10 GMT

The other day I was shopping at a popular store and a poster advertisement caught my eye. It said, “Get Everything and Pay Nothing!” A beautiful girl holding shopping bags was on the ad.

I thought how does that really work? How do you get everything and pay nothing? I knew the answer. It was one of those sales gimmicks aimed at young women, to tempt us into purchasing clothes by using credit unwisely.

The ad was an appeal to satisfy instant gratification. The suggested “guarantee” was that you can have anything you want without worrying about the payment which will eventually be required.

No matter what promise a store makes you, if you walk out the door with their merchandise, there will be a bill coming. When you sign your name to a sales slip, you agree (whether now or later) to pay the full amount due, according to the store’s terms.

The definition of “debtor” is to be captive or prisoner to unfavorable conditions. While to be “free” means there is no charge and no cost.

There is someone who makes a promise for that which is free and His promise is faithful and true.

With Jesus, we get everything and pay nothing because He has already paid the price.

God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world. (1 Cor. 7:23, NLT)

Throughout your lifetime many tempting advertisements will come your way. Use Isaiah 55:11 as a guide for all you do, knowing that God’s promises are the ones to trust:

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (NKJV)

At the Cross the only fine print we read is the declaration: How priceless is your unfailing love! (Ps. 36:7)

Jesus died for you and me---so that we can truly comprehend the meaning of the word FREE.

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah… we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! Eph.1:7-8 (The Message)

Find Peace with God!

~ Jackie O.

Receive Grace, Reveal Grace

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:49:12 GMT

A Really Cool Verse: “God's paths get you where you want to go. Right-living people walk them easily; wrong-living people are always tripping and stumbling.” (Hosea 14:9, The Message)

Receive Grace: Have you planned a pathway? Getting there with God is the way to go!

Reveal Grace: So, you’ve got it all figured out -- huh? You may not have the foggiest idea what direction to take in life. Either way, there’s some helpful wisdom to following God’s path and living a pure life.

Let’s say, for example that you would like to be a nurse or a gourmet chef, or possibly a corporate executive. You may have plans to be a Licensed Practical Nurse, but God has plans for you to become a Registered Nurse instead. On your pathway to becoming a renowned chef, you may want to go to culinary school in Paris, but God has plans for you to study cooking in New York.

Hosea 14:9 is pretty clear. It's a flashing, yellow, caution light. As you walk in obedience to God's laws for life, He will cause your feet to walk firm and He’ll see to it that your steps are ordered to the correct places at the correct times. God steadies us when we loose our balance. Sensitivity to His Spirit is key.

Try these three keys any time you start down a new path:

Read your Bible for wisdom.
Pray for understanding.
Listen to good advice from your parents, pastors, and Christian friends who love you. Then, apply that advice. Don’t just be a hearer; be a doer.

Why muddle around risking a fall when you can climb up any mountain with His help?

“He makes me as surefooted as a deer, leading me safely along the mountain heights”

Psalm 18:33, NLT.

Recite Grace:

Now it's your turn. Chime in and share. What are you doing to stay on God's path for your life?

~ Jackie O.

The Smudgy Sin of Disbelief

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:20:58 GMT

Last night as I washed my face before bed, something interesting occurred to me. I looked into the mirror. A blonde raccoon looked back at me.

It was my own reflection, only I had a humongous black mask around my eyes. My mascara had smudged all over my face.

Smudgy mascara is a lot like the sin of disbelief. Just like smeared makeup, unbelief darkens our eyes from the truth, leaving a large stain. It causes our spiritual eyes to become blurred and our views to become distorted.

A person who doubts is a called a skeptic. A skeptic is someone who hesitates at the truth, especially religious teachings, including the Bible. Skepticism has the same effect in our hearts that blotchy makeup has on our eyes.

Being a doubter fills the heart with darkness. Why? Doubt divides us from the truth. The truth is that which is sincere. The truth isn’t always easy, but it is authentic and real.

Philippians offers this wisdom:

Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about.

Philippians 4:8, TLB

Do you have any doubts or disbelief in your heart? Is it hard for you to stay focused on admirable feelings?

As you give all of your uncertainties to the Lord, He’ll wash away any misconceptions you have.

The best thing you can do is tell God about it. Disbelief causes us to stand far away, point and say, “I doubt that.” Instead, get certainty. Get out your Bible and search the Scriptures. Find out for yourself what God says by quieting your mind and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart.

I’m convinced that God has a Maybelline mascara remover bottle in heaven. How do I know? He has washed my darkened eyes from the smudgy sin of disbelief and doubt many times.

~ Jackie O.

Two Things to Totally Forget

Jackie Overpeck — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:20:23 GMT

Once you have given your whole heart to Jesus, guilt from the past cannot plague your mind with regret. If it does happen, it is not God’s doing. It’s the enemy, plain and simple. The devil will try to badger and harass you with thoughts of God’s displeasure, but that is a flat out lie. You are fully accepted in Christ.

There are two things that you must totally forget. God has forgotten them and He wants you to forget them too. Can you guess what they are?

1) Your Sins: Any act, thought, or way of behaving that is contrary to God’s Word.

2) Your Iniquity: Any continued sin or sin that has become a habit.

The moment that you repent or turn from wrongdoing and align your heart with God’s Word, God’s will, and God’s ways, something powerful happens: God totally forgets.

How can God forgive and totally forget? Jesus’ blood. When Jesus died on Calvary’s Cross, He stood in your place. He took your sins and iniquities upon Himself and said, “Father, forgive them…” (Luke 23:34).

To be forgiven means that you have been pardoned. It’s to be excused from blame.

Yes, God knows how icky your sin was. It’s true that nothing is hidden from His sight. The Bible warns clearly about the consequences of sin.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23, TLB

When you ask the Lord Jesus to cause your heart and hands to be pure before Him, He makes a special promise to you.

He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12, TLB

Can you picture that? Our sins are blown away! They are power blasted out of God’s sight as far as the east is from the west. That’s a long way! East and west never meet. In other words, God never looks at your sin again. It’s gone.

In return, God’s desire is to enter into an agreement with you. Check out what He says to Israel, which also speaks to you and me as His believers today:

This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people. They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They'll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I'll wipe the slate clean for each of them. I'll forget they ever sinned!" Jeremiah 31:33-34, The Message

Here’s the bottom line: God has totally forgotten the past. Now will you? Be free, and be faithful.

~ Jackie O.

A Fresh Start This Fall

Jackie Overpeck — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:08:15 GMT

Did your last school year end on a good note? Hopefully so! But just in case it was a downer, here’s some encouragement.

Perhaps there’s a teacher you dread seeing again or a boyfriend you broke up with that you haven't spoken to all summer. No matter what you're facing as the new 2009-2010 school year begins, you’re not alone. From the moment you hear the first class bell ring---you’re surrounded.

The Lord’s there with you. You really can tell him anything---just like your BFF. Except His iPhone is never turned off. Any time you call, He’ll answer.

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18, NIV

I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. Psalm 3:4, NLT

It's not easy to face the new school year, especially if something unpleasant was left unresolved from last year. But, as you welcome the Lord to come in and make all things new, He’ll provide you with steady inner peace for a fresh start.

When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17, TLB

The best thing to do is release your concerns to Him through prayer. Tell Him about whatever “it” is. Then ask for His help. No matter how big or small the issues you’re facing, God’s got you covered.

You can get excited about that! A fresh start means a crisp new chapter. As you begin this school year, you’re walking into a bright new future.

Be optimistic when your alarm clock goes off. No! Don't growl at the sunlight and pull the pillow over your head.

God's presence is with you. He provides new hope. Others will look into your eyes and notice that something about them twinkles as bright as the stars.

The next thing you know, your friends will be asking you, “How’d you get that shine?” And you’ll be able to say back to them, “J-E-S-U-S!”

~ Jackie O.