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Social Media Billboard Messages Spread God's Forgiveness

2/18/2015

We are all a part of the “sound-bite” world. Most of us consider Facebook and twitter our “community” of like-minded, similar interest, people to interact with on a daily basis. There is so much good that can come from the new “social media”, but it is often over-shadowed with the negative. Both Facebook and Twitter have been a great tool for Caroline and I to share our love of Jesus and His message of salvation with people we never will come in contact with personally.

One thing is for sure, you don’t have very much time or word count, to interact. Lengthy posts will, most likely, be ignored, and “scrolled” over. Just like anything, you have to understand the format and adjust your approach to use it effectively. The shorter and more pin-pointed the message the better. I have started using little billboards to convey quick responses to what is happening out there in my world of friends. These include:

Is today the Day – Jesus takes over your Whole life – Give Him your whole heart today ♥
How Often? 70x7 Forgive
Amen, Amen and Amen Thank you JESUS
I Fired myself… and hired JESUS as my Life Planner – Yokeup, let Go.. Give it to God.
Give it to God… your Whole Heart
Give it to God – What are you Waiting for?
God Bless You – Give Him your whole heart
God saw this, took note of it, and will Respond accordingly
Jesus Christ is the Answer
Jesus Christ Savior – Healer – Give Him your whole Heart Today
Jesus, Use me today to shine your light of Salvation
The Joy of Jesus – Go get ya some
REPENT – try it, you’ll like it! And so will God

Simple little pictures to broadcast the message of Truth about God and salvation through Jesus. The key to all of this is forgiveness. I can testify that the most difficult person to forgive is myself. Without forgiveness nothing moves forward in the Kingdom of God. Jesus came down from heaven for that 1 purpose… Forgive all of us and make a way for us to stay in heaven. When you understand forgiveness, and what God has done for all of us through Jesus, your heart will melt and a new life will be started in you. That’s what salvation is… a new heart, the heart of Christ.

Think about how many times you have fallen short of what God wants from you…how many times you’ve sinned. God’s grace is Amazing and relentless. In return, He expects that same from us regarding others. It’s very interesting how God packages the message of forgiving others, right after declaring the power we have through His love.

18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. 19 "I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them." 21 Then Peter came to him and asked, "Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?" 22 "No, not seven times," Jesus replied, "but seventy times seven!" [Mat 18:18-22 NLT]

Take a hard look at who you need to forgive and that just might be the person in the mirror. If you haven’t surrendered your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior….

What are you waiting for  Give it to God.

-- Jeff Petkevicius
Give it to God

GIVE IT TO GOD: New Year Brings More Opportunities to Serve

12/4/2014

It’s that time of year again. The time when all of our pits, trailers and RV’s get winterized and take a nap until spring when it all breaks loose again in the Pro BBQ community. This is a time of reflection, and focus on Jesus. A time to pause and remember the year we just had. For me, it was a life-time of memories. This year included 32 competitions reaching from Delaware and D.C., to San Diego, Green Bay, Billings MT, Dallas, Tampa and of course, Kansas City and many other cites along the way. Through it all, I racked up over 43,000 miles on my new Ford F250 and went through 2 sets of trailer tires and a new axle. All in All, I wouldn’t have changed a thing and I look forward to another year where I can do this again.

If you have been to a contest where we hold cook’s church, or you keep up with me on a daily basis on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll know that my emphasis is for all of us to get into God’s word everyday. Reading the bible allows God to reveal His character, His Love, and His desire for our lives with Him. Jesus never goes out of style and the Bible is the greatest book ever written. In it, you learn about Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. Jesus is still a head-liner in our society during this season as much as Satan wants our focus off of Him and onto sin and “stuff”.

As for me, this new year brings more opportunities to serve Jesus…how, when, what and where are up to Him. I’ll keep close to God everyday and stay encouraged and energized by His love for all of us. These words, and many more, directly from God, give me hope, keep me calm, and keep me focused on what really matters…. All Year LONG!

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" [Rom 10:9-15 NKJV]

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what [is] that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. ... 9 [Let] love [be] without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 [Be] kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance [is] Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20 Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [Rom 12:2, 9-21 NKJV]

-- Jeff Petkevicius
Give it to God

GIVE IT TO GOD - BBQ Business Trip a Blessing

11/5/2014

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I went on a very cool “business” trip recently to work with Portland Rescue Mission in Portland OR. They are looking into small business opportunities to provide training services to the people they serve and generate the income to pay for it. My friend Eric Bauer (Executive Director) and a group of people from the community were discussing a BBQ Food Truck. Eric invited me up to share my thoughts.

God’s timing is so perfect. The trip was exactly what He needed me to experience and fill up my ministry tank for serving Jesus. Yeah, I went there to help them understand competition BBQ and the Sport of Pro BBQ, but what I walked away with is more passion, desire and energy to share Jesus. Some of you are thinking… oh no, it’s gonna get ugly if he gets MORE enthused… LOL.

The Portland Rescue Mission is all about serving the homeless population in Portland. What it boils down to is that we are ALL homeless to some degree. Those that we see on the streets are on one part of the scale, but we are ALL on the scale. The reality is that Jesus is HOME! Homelessness is a direct result of Jesuslessness. Every one of us has some level of needing Jesus to intervene in our lives for His mission in our lives, and we miss it everyday. When we find Jesus, the gap is filled and that part of our lives takes on a whole new complexion. People who end up on the streets are dealing with a very empty tank of Jesus, but it’s no different that what you and I deal with in certain aspects of our lives.

When people recognize their broken-ness, and the light of Jesus goes on, Lives change, people heal, people move upward and forward. Those that hit the bottom have the clearest picture of what a life of hopelessness looks like and when they find Jesus, they see the truth and the answer that we are all looking for… Jesus Saves.

Jesus calls each and every one of us to serve Him and His Kingdom. We are not to walk alone, or abandon the mission because it doesn’t feel good, or we don’t like to get dirty and messy in the process. He tells us:

'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I [was] naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed [You], or thirsty and give [You] drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take [You] in, or naked and clothe [You]? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did [it] to one of the least of these My brethren, you did [it] to Me.' [Mat 25:35-40 NKJV]

Today, we will have opportunities to tell people about Jesus and truth of His loving Grace for all of us, will we respond?

One tag line that I heard on my trip that really stuck with me was given to Eric from a social services mentor he had years ago by the name of Jack Ellis.

“We must meet people where they are, and walk with them at a pace they can sustain.”

If you haven’t surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, what are you waiting for? Give it to God.

-- Jeff Petkevicius
Give it to God

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Jeff Petkevicius

GIVE IT TO GOD

JEFF PETKEVICIUS - Pit Master for Give it to God - Professional Competition BBQ Team. The team's mission is to showcase Jesus Christ, His salvation and hear HIS name called as often as possible :)

Give it to God....what are YOU waiting for?

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Social Media Billboard Messages Spread God's Forgiveness

GIVE IT TO GOD: New Year Brings More Opportunities to Serve

GIVE IT TO GOD - BBQ Business Trip a Blessing

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