-Shopping-

Just like other big cities, New Orleans has its share of shopping destinations. There are 3 malls within 8 miles of our house. But for a unique shopping experience, you have to go downtown. All of the stores throw their doors open, play some music, and invite shoppers in to purchase food, clothes, knickknacks, and anything Cajun. Walking down Canal Street and neighboring streets such as Bourbon, Magazine, and Tchopitoulas (pronounced Chop-a-two-lus) can give the avid shop-a-holic an opportunity to burn some hard earned money.

For me personally, shopping is a national pastime that I do not enjoy. I am the kind of “get what you need and leave” shopper. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is not. She can shop for a couple of hours, not purchase a single thing, and consider it a successful trip. This is the style of shopping that I wish upon no man. I walked into a women’s clothing store with Elizabeth the other day, and the saleswoman looked at me and said, “You can go sit in the back if you want to. That’s usually what all the men do.”

But a neat thing to do downtown is window shop. Mannequins are set up in windows wearing the finest of clothes, matched and coupled to the T. You can just look at the clothes and picture yourself wearing them. This is a big marketing technique that stores use. Put clothes on display that people like, and they will come in the store to look around. Well that’s exactly what happens with me. Elizabeth and I will walk past a window, see some nice clothes on the mannequins, and walk in to check it out.

Christians are a lot like those dummies (don’t get mad yet, just stay with me). Christians are constantly on display. People are watching us - what we look like, how we act, what we say, how we raise our families, and how our lives look different from their lives. God’s goal, and hopefully ours, is for non-Christians to observe the lives and lifestyles of Christians and be interested in what they see. It is then that these “window shoppers” may come into a church or a home wanting to know what Christianity is all about. Setting a good example is not a substitute for witnessing to someone, but it is an opportunity to reflect Christ-like attitudes and actions. Remember this week that you are on display to the world. What are people saying when they pass you in the window?

-Spending time in the Word-

“We should be less concerned with making churches full of people and more concerned with making people full of God.” -David Roozen

1. Read 1 John 1:1-10. This is my favorite passage in the Greek New Testament. It is just full of rich meaning. By walking with God, our witness becomes stronger and more noticeable, along with being easier to share with others.

2. Read Acts 4:13-22. If you have had a genuine conversion experience, you won’t be able to stop telling people about what you have seen and heard about God.

-Hiding the Word in your heart-

Memorize these verses as you continue to learn and study the Word of God daily.

1. [Jesus said] “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” -Acts 1:8

2. “Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.”
-1 Peter 2:12