The Sandpiper
by Robert Peterson
She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I
live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever
the world begins to close in on me. She was building a sand castle or
something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
"Hello," she said.
I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child.
"I'm building," she said.
"I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring.
"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand."
That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.
A sandpiper glided by.
"That's a joy," the child said.
"It's a what?"
"It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy."
The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to
myself, hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life
seemed completely out of balance.
"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.
"Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson."
"Mine's Wendy... I'm six."
"Hi, Wendy."
She giggled. "You're funny," she said.
In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle
followed me.
"Come again, Mr. P," she called. "We'll have another happy day."
The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA
meetings, and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I
took my hands out of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to
myself, gathering up my coat.
The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was chilly
but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.
"Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"
"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.
"I don't know. You say."
"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.
The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is."
"Then let's just walk."
Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.
"Where do you live?" I asked.
"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.
Strange, I thought, in winter.
"Where do you go to school?"
"I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation."
She chattered as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was on other
things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day.
Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.
Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was
in no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch
and felt like demanding she keep her child at home.
"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me,
"I'd rather be alone today." She seemed unusually pale and out of breath.
"Why?" she asked.
I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought, My
God, why was I saying this to a little child?
"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."
"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and -- oh, go away!"
"Did it hurt?" she inquired.
"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself.
"When she died?"
"Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself.
I strode off.
A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't
there. Feeling guilty, ashamed, and admitting to myself I missed her, I
went up to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn
looking young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.
"Hello," I said, "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today
and wondered where she was."
"Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much. I'm
afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance please, accept
my apologies."
"Not at all -- she's a delightful child." I said, suddenly realizing
that I meant what I had just said.
"Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia. Maybe she didn't
tell you."
Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.
"She loved this beach, so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.
She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy
days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly..." Her voice
faltered, "She left something for you, if only I can find it. Could you
wait a moment while I look?"
I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely
young woman. She handed me a smeared envelope with "MR. P" printed in
bold childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a
yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully
printed:
A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to
love opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," I uttered over and over, and
we wept together.
The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six
words -- one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony,
courage, and undemanding love.
A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of
sand------who taught me the gift of love.
NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It happened over
20 years ago and the incident changed his life forever. It serves as a
reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living and life
and each other.
The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.
Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas can
make us lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a
momentary setback or crisis.
This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all
means, take a moment... even if it is only ten seconds, to stop and
smell the roses.
This comes from someone's heart, and is read by many and now I share it
with you...
May God Bless everyone who you send this to.
Everything that happens to us happens for a reason. Never brush aside
anyone as insignificant. Who knows what they can teach us?
I wish for you, a sandpiper.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
What Do YOU Value in Life?
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ONCE YOU READ THIS YOU WILL UNDERSTAND!
ONCE YOU READ THIS YOU WILL UNDERSTAND!
A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way.. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.
There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you.. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece offurniture ....Jack stopped suddenly..
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read.. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was...my time"
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
1. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
2. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
3. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
4. You mean the world to someone..
5. If not for you, someone may not be living.
6. You are special and unique.
7. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
11. Always remember the compliments you received... Forget about the rude remarks.
12 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy .
13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so, you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change theirperspective on life...for the better.
To everyone I sent this to
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way.. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams.
There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you.. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read.. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was...my time"
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away,"
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
1. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
2. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
3. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
4. You mean the world to someone..
5. If not for you, someone may not be living.
6. You are special and unique.
7. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
11. Always remember the compliments you received... Forget about the rude remarks.
12 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy .
13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
Send this letter to all the people you care about, if you do so, you will certainly brighten someone's day and might change their
To everyone I sent this to
Thanks for your time
The Gospel of Christ
STOCK UP on some Bible tracts that you can pass out with your Halloween candy ! What a wonderful opportunity to share the BEST NEWS OF ALL with others and they are COMING TO YOU! :)
The Gospel of Christ reveals that:
All are sinners and cannot do anything to save themselves. (Romans 3:23)
Jesus Christ, God's Son, is a perfect Savior for sinners, even the
worst. (John 6:37-44; Hebrews 7:25)
Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose again on the third
day. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
It is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. (Romans 1:16)
Salvation comes only through Jesus. (Acts 4:12)
Salvation is the gift of God by His grace alone through faith in Jesus
Christ alone, and not by any works you do. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7)
Salvation comes through the blood of Christ, which makes the sinner
righteous before God and brings reconciliation with Him. (Romans 3:25, 5:9)
Salvation comes at the moment the sinner believes the gospel. (Romans
10:9-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)
Salvation is granted by God and secured by God. (John 10:27-30)
Jesus perfectly accomplished and completed all the works necessary to
save sinners just like you. (John 19:30)
Salvation is completely of God and not of man in any way, and it is to
the glory of God alone. (Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9; Ephesians 1)1. Sowers Class 2010 Treat Sign Up
IS IT NOT AMAZING THAT THE CREATOR IS PERSONAL ?
TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGION, IT IS A RELATIONSHIP.
ALL SCIENCE KNOWS IS CONTAINED IN FIVE CONCEPTS
TIME IN THE BEGINNING
SOURCE GOD
ENERGY CREATED
SPACE THE HEAVENS
MATTER THE EARTH
_ GENESIS 1:1_
The Gospel of Christ reveals that:
All are sinners and cannot do anything to save themselves. (Romans 3:23)
Jesus Christ, God's Son, is a perfect Savior for sinners, even the
worst. (John 6:37-44; Hebrews 7:25)
Jesus Christ died for sinners, was buried, and rose again on the third
day. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
It is the power of God for salvation to all who believe. (Romans 1:16)
Salvation comes only through Jesus. (Acts 4:12)
Salvation is the gift of God by His grace alone through faith in Jesus
Christ alone, and not by any works you do. (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7)
Salvation comes through the blood of Christ, which makes the sinner
righteous before God and brings reconciliation with Him. (Romans 3:25, 5:9)
Salvation comes at the moment the sinner believes the gospel. (Romans
10:9-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)
Salvation is granted by God and secured by God. (John 10:27-30)
Jesus perfectly accomplished and completed all the works necessary to
save sinners just like you. (John 19:30)
Salvation is completely of God and not of man in any way, and it is to
the glory of God alone. (Romans 8:28-30; Romans 9; Ephesians 1)1. Sowers Class 2010 Treat Sign Up
IS IT NOT AMAZING THAT THE CREATOR IS PERSONAL ?
TRUE CHRISTIANITY IS NOT A RELIGION, IT IS A RELATIONSHIP.
ALL SCIENCE KNOWS IS CONTAINED IN FIVE CONCEPTS
TIME IN THE BEGINNING
SOURCE GOD
ENERGY CREATED
SPACE THE HEAVENS
MATTER THE EARTH
_ GENESIS 1:1_
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
NASA & THE BIBLE
NASA & THE BIBLE
Thought this was pretty amazing and interesting!
For all the scientists out there, and for all the students who have a hard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the Bible, here's something that shows God's awesome creation, and that He is still in control.
Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been called 'myth' in the Bible is true?
Mr. Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore, Maryland, and a consultant in the space program, relates the following development.
'I think one of the most amazing things that God has done for us today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland ...
They were checking out where the positions of the sun, moon, and planets would be 100 years and 1,000 years from now. We have to know this so we won't send up a satellite and have it bump into something later on in its orbits.
We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog down.
They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries, and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which meant that there was something wrong with either the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards.
They called in the service department to check it out, and they said, 'What's wrong?' Well, they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed time.
They scratched their heads and tore their hair out. There was no answer.
Finally a Christian man on the
He got a Bible and went to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with 'common sense.'
There they found the Lord saying to Joshua,
'Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before Thee.'
Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy! And if darkness fell, they would overpower them. So Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still! That's right.... 'The sun stood still and the moon stayed and lasted not to go down about a whole day!'
(Joshua 10:12-13)
The astronauts and scientists said, there is the missing day! They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back in Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes.. Not a whole day.
They read the Bible, and there it was about [approximately] a day. These little words in the Bible are important, but they were still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes, you'll still be in trouble 1000 years from now.
Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits. As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS.
The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these words in 2 Kings that told of the following story: Hezekiah, on his death bed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof. Isaiah said 'Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?'
Hezekiah said, 'It is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees, but let the shadow return backward 10 degrees.' Isaiah spoke to the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow ten degrees BACKWARD! Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes!'
Twenty-three hours and 20 minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the universe! Isn't it amazing?
References: Joshua 10:8, 12-13 and 2 Kings 20:9-11.
Forward this to as many people who you believe would think this is equally as cool.
If God could do this then; how much more can he do for us today, if we only believe in His word.
Never be afraid to try something new.
All I have and all that I am is by the Grace of God!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
We're Running Out of Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFDK-57NWtc
Acts 13:38-39 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Acts 13:38-39 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,
and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Envelope Evangelism
Ok, there really is no excuse. It doesn't matter if you NEVER leave your house....you can still tell others about Jesus.
We have posted before about using those return envelopes, by putting tracts in them and sending them on their way. And about paying your bills and putting tracts in those.
Here's another way for us to share. The other day I was sending out a birthday card to a friend. After sealing it I saw a blank canvas and used it accordingly! Imagine how many people saw that envelope on the way to my friend, Diana.
Diana said that when she got to her mailbox and saw that envelope in a whole box full of mail she stood right there in the hot sun and read the whole thing!! Praise the Lord! We figured out that it should have taken 1 day to reach her and it took 3 days. Maybe people had to hold on to it to read it! I didn't put a return address on it, purposefully. I didn't want it returned.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
We have posted before about using those return envelopes, by putting tracts in them and sending them on their way. And about paying your bills and putting tracts in those.
Here's another way for us to share. The other day I was sending out a birthday card to a friend. After sealing it I saw a blank canvas and used it accordingly! Imagine how many people saw that envelope on the way to my friend, Diana.
Diana said that when she got to her mailbox and saw that envelope in a whole box full of mail she stood right there in the hot sun and read the whole thing!! Praise the Lord! We figured out that it should have taken 1 day to reach her and it took 3 days. Maybe people had to hold on to it to read it! I didn't put a return address on it, purposefully. I didn't want it returned.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
We NEED to tell others about His Saving Grace!
Appointed Time
On the way to the nursing home this morning I prayed that the Lord would lead me to the right person. There are so many people in these facilities. Honestly, you could simply go to one facility and meet new people every week. Death comes to us all but it is often met here. People also move to another facility or go into the hospital as well, so there are never enough laborers to get to every person.
James stopped me coming in the door to talk a moment. Then he asked if I would give him a push back to his room. As we arrived I remembered a woman that I wanted to stop in and see. As I was checking my notes, someone said 'hello'. Barbara was friendly and easy to talk to. She was cautious at first, though.
"What is it you want?" she asked.
"I am just a volunteer and I want to meet you." I smiled. I started off with some simple questions. "Where are you from, originally?" Barbara told me about her kids, now grown and gone. She was in her eighties, after all.
"My daughter Christine has been sick for 12 years." I thought of the woman with an issue of blood that had gone to Jesus for help.
"That's awful to be sick for so long. Can I pray for her right now?" I prayed that Christine would be comforted and that she would seek God. I prayed that Barbara would open her heart to the Truth.
"Thank you for praying for us, that was so nice."
"Do you go to church around here?" I asked her. I try not to speak of their life in the past. Most always have the hope that they will leave the home one day.
"Oh, I never went to church." she said. She told me that she lived across from a JW Kingdom Hall for a long time. "They were always knocking on my door, every Saturday! I always ran them off." she laughed.
We talked about God and what Barbara thought about eternity. We went thru the Law. Barbara got big tears in her eyes and began to cry.
"I did something very bad a long time ago...I was pregnant and the doctor came to me and told me that he could not save both me and the baby. I had an abortion. It's murder, isn't it? Will God ever forgive me for that??"
"It is murder, Barbara but God can forgive everything. You must go to Him and ask." I explained that to repent means to turn your back on your sin. "We can't tote our sin along and expect God to welcome us".
After Barbara prayed she wiped her tears away. "Do I need to get baptized?" We talked about that a moment and then she made a great statement. "We need to tell other people, don't we?"
That's twice in as many weeks that someone newly saved has known this. Really no excuse for someone to be redeemed and not say a word....makes you think twice.
Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
On the way to the nursing home this morning I prayed that the Lord would lead me to the right person. There are so many people in these facilities. Honestly, you could simply go to one facility and meet new people every week. Death comes to us all but it is often met here. People also move to another facility or go into the hospital as well, so there are never enough laborers to get to every person.
James stopped me coming in the door to talk a moment. Then he asked if I would give him a push back to his room. As we arrived I remembered a woman that I wanted to stop in and see. As I was checking my notes, someone said 'hello'. Barbara was friendly and easy to talk to. She was cautious at first, though.
"What is it you want?" she asked.
"I am just a volunteer and I want to meet you." I smiled. I started off with some simple questions. "Where are you from, originally?" Barbara told me about her kids, now grown and gone. She was in her eighties, after all.
"My daughter Christine has been sick for 12 years." I thought of the woman with an issue of blood that had gone to Jesus for help.
"That's awful to be sick for so long. Can I pray for her right now?" I prayed that Christine would be comforted and that she would seek God. I prayed that Barbara would open her heart to the Truth.
"Thank you for praying for us, that was so nice."
"Do you go to church around here?" I asked her. I try not to speak of their life in the past. Most always have the hope that they will leave the home one day.
"Oh, I never went to church." she said. She told me that she lived across from a JW Kingdom Hall for a long time. "They were always knocking on my door, every Saturday! I always ran them off." she laughed.
We talked about God and what Barbara thought about eternity. We went thru the Law. Barbara got big tears in her eyes and began to cry.
"I did something very bad a long time ago...I was pregnant and the doctor came to me and told me that he could not save both me and the baby. I had an abortion. It's murder, isn't it? Will God ever forgive me for that??"
"It is murder, Barbara but God can forgive everything. You must go to Him and ask." I explained that to repent means to turn your back on your sin. "We can't tote our sin along and expect God to welcome us".
After Barbara prayed she wiped her tears away. "Do I need to get baptized?" We talked about that a moment and then she made a great statement. "We need to tell other people, don't we?"
That's twice in as many weeks that someone newly saved has known this. Really no excuse for someone to be redeemed and not say a word....makes you think twice.
Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Hearing From God Without Any Help From Edgar Cayce.
Posted: 06 Jul 2010 07:24 PM PDT
A year ago when James came in, he would not allow me to talk with him about God and he was rather cold in general. A few months went by and our contact was relegated to general greetings and on occasion the beginning of a conversation, which he would quickly shut down. In an Intermediate training class I gave the assignment of visiting the nursing home to some students, who immediately took me up on it.
Dave was in the hallway near James' room and I asked him if he would like to go talk to James. He went in and was in there for a little while. When he came out he smiled and told me that they had a nice visit. I was a bit surprised and very pleased.
Since that time I have been dropping off books for James and leaving them on top of his bed. He is a voracious reader, never without a book. I never told him it was me, but last week he stopped and asked if it was. I confirmed his suspicions.
"Well, I am reading my Bible every day you know." he said.
I was floored. I smiled at him. "No, I didn't but that is great James!"
"Well, it's the Word of God and I really want to know it." he said with a slight smile.
This week he stopped Allyson and I as we walked past his room. He asked if he could ask a question of us.
"Sure, James...what's up?"
"How many people do you see?" he asked.
"Well we try to see every one, but we are only able to see a few each week."
"Well...I know you guys talk to people...and I'm a little confused. I mean, I'm not sure how...well, I want to bear fruit!"
We smiled at him. Allyson explained to him that he was bearing fruit with his testimony already. "You know James, this is quite a statement from a guy who was reading Edgar Cayce when he came in." We all laughed.
"Well, I want to know how to, you know, talk to people!" he smiled. (Wow.)
We've decided that James needs an evangelism class and we are going to arrange one just for him. We'll definitely keep you posted on this one.
John 5:25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
A year ago when James came in, he would not allow me to talk with him about God and he was rather cold in general. A few months went by and our contact was relegated to general greetings and on occasion the beginning of a conversation, which he would quickly shut down. In an Intermediate training class I gave the assignment of visiting the nursing home to some students, who immediately took me up on it.
Dave was in the hallway near James' room and I asked him if he would like to go talk to James. He went in and was in there for a little while. When he came out he smiled and told me that they had a nice visit. I was a bit surprised and very pleased.
Since that time I have been dropping off books for James and leaving them on top of his bed. He is a voracious reader, never without a book. I never told him it was me, but last week he stopped and asked if it was. I confirmed his suspicions.
"Well, I am reading my Bible every day you know." he said.
I was floored. I smiled at him. "No, I didn't but that is great James!"
"Well, it's the Word of God and I really want to know it." he said with a slight smile.
This week he stopped Allyson and I as we walked past his room. He asked if he could ask a question of us.
"Sure, James...what's up?"
"How many people do you see?" he asked.
"Well we try to see every one, but we are only able to see a few each week."
"Well...I know you guys talk to people...and I'm a little confused. I mean, I'm not sure how...well, I want to bear fruit!"
We smiled at him. Allyson explained to him that he was bearing fruit with his testimony already. "You know James, this is quite a statement from a guy who was reading Edgar Cayce when he came in." We all laughed.
"Well, I want to know how to, you know, talk to people!" he smiled. (Wow.)
We've decided that James needs an evangelism class and we are going to arrange one just for him. We'll definitely keep you posted on this one.
John 5:25 "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
I Am Waiting For You (Luke 15:11-32)
You may not know me, but I know everything about you (Psalm 139:1)
I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalm 139:2)
I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139:3)
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10:29-31)
For you were made in my image (Genesis 1:27)
In me you live and move and have your being (Acts 17:28)
For you are my offspring (Acts 17:28)
I knew you even before you were conceived (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
I chose you when I planned creation (Ephesians 1:11-12)
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book (Psalm
139:15-16)
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts
17:26)
You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
I knit you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13)
And brought you forth on the day you were born (Psalm 71:6)
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me (John 8:41-44)
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1
John 4:16)
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you (1 John 3:1)
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father (1 John 3:1)
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matthew 7:11)
For I am the perfect father (Matthew 5:48)
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand (James 1:17)
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs (Matthew 6:31-33)
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11)
Because I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3)
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore (Psalms
139:17-18)
And I rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)
I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32:40)
For you are my treasured possession (Exodus 19:5)
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul (Jeremiah 32:41)
And I want to show you great and marvelous things (Jeremiah 33:3)
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me (Deuteronomy 4:29)
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4)
For it is I who gave you those desires (Philippians 2:13)
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians
3:20)
For I am your greatest encourager (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2
Corinthians 1:3-4)
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you (Psalm 34:18)
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart
(Isaiah 40:11)
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Revelation 21:3-4)
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth
(Revelation 21:3-4)
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus (John 17:23)
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed (John 17:26)
He is the exact representation of my being (Hebrews 1:3)
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you (Romans 8:31)
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you (1 John 4:10)
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love (Romans 8:31-32)
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me (1 John 2:23)
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again (Romans 8:38-39)
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen (Luke 15:7)
I have always been Father, and will always be Father (Ephesians 3:14-15)
My question is, Will you be my child? (John 1:12-13)
I am waiting for you (Luke 15:11-32)
*Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God*
I know when you sit down and when you rise up (Psalm 139:2)
I am familiar with all your ways (Psalm 139:3)
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered (Matthew 10:29-31)
For you were made in my image (Genesis 1:27)
In me you live and move and have your being (Acts 17:28)
For you are my offspring (Acts 17:28)
I knew you even before you were conceived (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
I chose you when I planned creation (Ephesians 1:11-12)
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book (Psalm
139:15-16)
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live (Acts
17:26)
You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
I knit you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13)
And brought you forth on the day you were born (Psalm 71:6)
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me (John 8:41-44)
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love (1
John 4:16)
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you (1 John 3:1)
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father (1 John 3:1)
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could (Matthew 7:11)
For I am the perfect father (Matthew 5:48)
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand (James 1:17)
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs (Matthew 6:31-33)
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11)
Because I love you with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3)
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore (Psalms
139:17-18)
And I rejoice over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17)
I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32:40)
For you are my treasured possession (Exodus 19:5)
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul (Jeremiah 32:41)
And I want to show you great and marvelous things (Jeremiah 33:3)
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me (Deuteronomy 4:29)
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4)
For it is I who gave you those desires (Philippians 2:13)
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine (Ephesians
3:20)
For I am your greatest encourager (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles (2
Corinthians 1:3-4)
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you (Psalm 34:18)
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart
(Isaiah 40:11)
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes (Revelation 21:3-4)
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth
(Revelation 21:3-4)
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus (John 17:23)
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed (John 17:26)
He is the exact representation of my being (Hebrews 1:3)
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you (Romans 8:31)
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you (1 John 4:10)
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love (Romans 8:31-32)
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me (1 John 2:23)
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again (Romans 8:38-39)
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen (Luke 15:7)
I have always been Father, and will always be Father (Ephesians 3:14-15)
My question is, Will you be my child? (John 1:12-13)
I am waiting for you (Luke 15:11-32)
*Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God*
Friday, May 28, 2010
Paulo hears - but did he listen??
This Saturday I went to one of the usual fishing spots along the beach in central Florida. 3 other evangelists were there and out we went.
I was able to talk to an elderly couple who are in their mid-seventies. The man – Paulo instantly went into a lecture on the oil spill, BP, Big Oil, etc. Each time I interrupted him and tried to lead him into the spiritual, he reverted to his political agenda. This happens quite often as most people seem to grasp where you are going with the conversation and they don’t want to go there.
He finally took a breath and I said that God is in control and don’t you think if He wanted the oil to disappear that he could do that in less than a blink of the eye? Paulo did not agree and said it was man’s greed that caused the oil spill. I did not disagree because I wanted to take that idea of greed and go to the Law. That man is greedy and that has become many men’s god. Paulo did not believe that God could make the oil disappear so with that that I said it does not matter what he believes but what matters is what is true. His wife agreed. She quickly let me know she is a Believer but then was quiet – that was a good thing.
I took Paulo through a few of the commandments. I discussed with Paulo the idea of being in a civil court and someone making the payment for the fine that he could not pay. He has 2 choices – accept the payment that someone else made on his behalf or reject that payment. He understood this and I decided to give him the Gospel as we are commanded to. See Mark 16:15, 2 Timothy 4:2, and 1 John 4:15.
There are some who might say don’t give him the Gospel since he wasn’t repentant at this point. However, each witnessing situation is different. I think to apply Matthew 7:6 in all situations is not what we are commanded to do.
Paulo’s wife stayed a few moments as Paulo walked off and thanked me for talking to him. She said most of her family members are believers and they have been trying to reach him for years. She said this was truly a divine appointment and God had sent me there at that time to speak directly to Paulo.
Do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Romans 1:16
I was able to talk to an elderly couple who are in their mid-seventies. The man – Paulo instantly went into a lecture on the oil spill, BP, Big Oil, etc. Each time I interrupted him and tried to lead him into the spiritual, he reverted to his political agenda. This happens quite often as most people seem to grasp where you are going with the conversation and they don’t want to go there.
He finally took a breath and I said that God is in control and don’t you think if He wanted the oil to disappear that he could do that in less than a blink of the eye? Paulo did not agree and said it was man’s greed that caused the oil spill. I did not disagree because I wanted to take that idea of greed and go to the Law. That man is greedy and that has become many men’s god. Paulo did not believe that God could make the oil disappear so with that that I said it does not matter what he believes but what matters is what is true. His wife agreed. She quickly let me know she is a Believer but then was quiet – that was a good thing.
I took Paulo through a few of the commandments. I discussed with Paulo the idea of being in a civil court and someone making the payment for the fine that he could not pay. He has 2 choices – accept the payment that someone else made on his behalf or reject that payment. He understood this and I decided to give him the Gospel as we are commanded to. See Mark 16:15, 2 Timothy 4:2, and 1 John 4:15.
There are some who might say don’t give him the Gospel since he wasn’t repentant at this point. However, each witnessing situation is different. I think to apply Matthew 7:6 in all situations is not what we are commanded to do.
Paulo’s wife stayed a few moments as Paulo walked off and thanked me for talking to him. She said most of her family members are believers and they have been trying to reach him for years. She said this was truly a divine appointment and God had sent me there at that time to speak directly to Paulo.
Do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Romans 1:16
Saturday, April 17, 2010
A Taste for Blood.
As soon as I got to the event Saturday night, Dennis took me aside to let me know about a guy he had just met. He described this guy as 'having a taste for human blood'. Hmmmm. OK. He told me that he had tried talking to him but the guy told him that he had demons. Dennis said he was very unfocused and then he walked away.
Well, I watched him for a while. He seemed drawn to the kids at the event...not good. I told some of our fellow evangelists who were out that night and we prayed for him. All I could think of was that he was someone's child. I continued to watch him and then told one of the guys, EC that I was 'going in'.
As I walked near him I could see that he was absolutely filthy. His nails were all very long and you could immediately see dirt under them all. I also noticed that he had numerous scabs and sores covering his body. As I got closer I saw human bite marks on his exposed skin. I wondered how he compared to the maniac of Gadara.
"Hey, I like your shirt!" I said. "What's the cross for?"
"It's what Jesus did. See the skulls? They are death!!" He had a very strange look in his eyes while we talked.
"Yeah. What about this other cross? What's that about?" I asked. He mumbled something unintelligible. "Can we talk? Do you have time? You seem like a very interesting guy. Let's sit here."
He consented and we sat down. I told him my name and he told me his. He said he was 19. (I am going to change his name in this blog for his sake.)
"Do you live around here Tom?" He told me he did. He also told me that he was raised in 'the system' of foster care since he was very young. He told me that he had been sexually abused and mentally abused. He can not read or write.
"Then they threw me out on the street, now I live with my real Mom." As he spoke you could see he was under great pressure to try and focus. He was very aware of everything around him and yet he didn't look directly at anything.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that." I told him. "I want to ask you some questions. Do you think you could answer some for me?" He nodded. "Where will you go when you die?" We talked a bit about the reality of Heaven and Hell. Tom didn't like the thought that he might end up in Hell but told me he didn't think he could go to Heaven because of some of the things he had done. I won't relate those things here.
"When Jesus hung on that cross He looked far into the future and saw your face, Tom. The Bible says that He bore all of our sins. He knew each one you would commit and He decided to pay for every one of them." At various points in our conversations I could see his muscles constrict and he would seem to go into a trance-like state.
"Do you believe that everyone has demons?" he asked me.
"No. But I do believe that some people have demons." I told him.
"I have demons." he said. "I see demons and angels and other things that people don't see." He quickly stood up and asked if I would come with him to go see a guy.
"Why do you need to see the guy?" I asked, fully aware that I had friends all around me but was not going to go beyond where they could see me.
"I want to get a cigarette." he said. At various points during the evening he would simply stand up and change the subject.
After he got the cigarette we walked away from the crowd a bit so that he could smoke it. "I tried to kill myself, I slit my wrists. I got hit by a car and thrown halfway into a parking lot." I thought of the father who took his demon-posessed boy to Jesus. (Luke 9) I found myself praying that the Lord would speak to this boy through his fog.
"I'm a destroyer! See that bicycle over there?" He pointed quickly at a bike across the parking lot. "I could tear it down and make weapons out of it! I can make a weapon out of anything." He told me that he sometimes fought even though he didn't want to. "I put the last guy in a full-body cast. When I was in jail I bit a huge hunk out of my arm because I didn't want to fight." Suddenly he got up and walked toward our booth.
Dayna was sitting on the slope behind the booth and I could see she was praying for us.
"Let's go sit over here with my friend, Dayna." While we sat with her I told Tom that the only one who could speak to God about his sin would be him.
"Yeah, I know. I talk to him alot." he said.
"The only thing He wants to hear from you is complete surrender." At this his eyes became wild and I could see the muscles in his arms and hands completely contort them. "Only you can do it and it may be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life." Dayna prayed as we talked. "If you think this is something that you can do then go ahead."
Tom talked a minute about how he could never close his eyes here. We told him he was safe and that the Lord would protect him if He made Him Master of his life.
"Have you ever played 'chicken' with a semi-truck?" he asked us.
"No."
"Well, I have and we were about this close when we finished" he measured about a foot's space.
"Well, you can't clean yourself up, Tom. You have to go to God and ask Him to cleanse you from all of this filth and sin that we talked about."
"Yeah, I know. I want to do that." he said.
"Do you need Jesus?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Can you say it?"
"Yeah." he answered but never said it.
"Tom if you want to talk to God go ahead." I invited. "I will pray for you and then you pray, ok?" He nodded.
I prayed out loud while Dayna prayed silently for us. Tom stared straight ahead with wild, staring eyes. His hands were contorted again and he looked as though he was fighting himself.
He bowed his head and started mumbling gibberish. He kept it up for a few minutes. Then he suddenly stood up and walked away from us.
I walked down to him and said, "Tom did you pray?"
He was very angry now and said, "Yeah I was praying in tongues, don't you know that?" And then very calmly he said, "They have crosses over at that table and I want one but I don't have any money."
We walked over to the table with him. The crosses were made from nails bound together with wire. He chose a purple one and Dayna bought it for him. The lady showed him how to adjust the leather and he put it around his neck. He stood still for a moment holding onto it.
"That cross won't protect you, you know that don't you? Only Jesus can save you, Tom".
"I know."
We parted ways and he took my hand twice saying thank you each time.
Please pray for him. God knows his real name.
Well, I watched him for a while. He seemed drawn to the kids at the event...not good. I told some of our fellow evangelists who were out that night and we prayed for him. All I could think of was that he was someone's child. I continued to watch him and then told one of the guys, EC that I was 'going in'.
As I walked near him I could see that he was absolutely filthy. His nails were all very long and you could immediately see dirt under them all. I also noticed that he had numerous scabs and sores covering his body. As I got closer I saw human bite marks on his exposed skin. I wondered how he compared to the maniac of Gadara.
"Hey, I like your shirt!" I said. "What's the cross for?"
"It's what Jesus did. See the skulls? They are death!!" He had a very strange look in his eyes while we talked.
"Yeah. What about this other cross? What's that about?" I asked. He mumbled something unintelligible. "Can we talk? Do you have time? You seem like a very interesting guy. Let's sit here."
He consented and we sat down. I told him my name and he told me his. He said he was 19. (I am going to change his name in this blog for his sake.)
"Do you live around here Tom?" He told me he did. He also told me that he was raised in 'the system' of foster care since he was very young. He told me that he had been sexually abused and mentally abused. He can not read or write.
"Then they threw me out on the street, now I live with my real Mom." As he spoke you could see he was under great pressure to try and focus. He was very aware of everything around him and yet he didn't look directly at anything.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that." I told him. "I want to ask you some questions. Do you think you could answer some for me?" He nodded. "Where will you go when you die?" We talked a bit about the reality of Heaven and Hell. Tom didn't like the thought that he might end up in Hell but told me he didn't think he could go to Heaven because of some of the things he had done. I won't relate those things here.
"When Jesus hung on that cross He looked far into the future and saw your face, Tom. The Bible says that He bore all of our sins. He knew each one you would commit and He decided to pay for every one of them." At various points in our conversations I could see his muscles constrict and he would seem to go into a trance-like state.
"Do you believe that everyone has demons?" he asked me.
"No. But I do believe that some people have demons." I told him.
"I have demons." he said. "I see demons and angels and other things that people don't see." He quickly stood up and asked if I would come with him to go see a guy.
"Why do you need to see the guy?" I asked, fully aware that I had friends all around me but was not going to go beyond where they could see me.
"I want to get a cigarette." he said. At various points during the evening he would simply stand up and change the subject.
After he got the cigarette we walked away from the crowd a bit so that he could smoke it. "I tried to kill myself, I slit my wrists. I got hit by a car and thrown halfway into a parking lot." I thought of the father who took his demon-posessed boy to Jesus. (Luke 9) I found myself praying that the Lord would speak to this boy through his fog.
"I'm a destroyer! See that bicycle over there?" He pointed quickly at a bike across the parking lot. "I could tear it down and make weapons out of it! I can make a weapon out of anything." He told me that he sometimes fought even though he didn't want to. "I put the last guy in a full-body cast. When I was in jail I bit a huge hunk out of my arm because I didn't want to fight." Suddenly he got up and walked toward our booth.
Dayna was sitting on the slope behind the booth and I could see she was praying for us.
"Let's go sit over here with my friend, Dayna." While we sat with her I told Tom that the only one who could speak to God about his sin would be him.
"Yeah, I know. I talk to him alot." he said.
"The only thing He wants to hear from you is complete surrender." At this his eyes became wild and I could see the muscles in his arms and hands completely contort them. "Only you can do it and it may be the hardest thing you have ever done in your life." Dayna prayed as we talked. "If you think this is something that you can do then go ahead."
Tom talked a minute about how he could never close his eyes here. We told him he was safe and that the Lord would protect him if He made Him Master of his life.
"Have you ever played 'chicken' with a semi-truck?" he asked us.
"No."
"Well, I have and we were about this close when we finished" he measured about a foot's space.
"Well, you can't clean yourself up, Tom. You have to go to God and ask Him to cleanse you from all of this filth and sin that we talked about."
"Yeah, I know. I want to do that." he said.
"Do you need Jesus?" I asked.
"Yeah."
"Can you say it?"
"Yeah." he answered but never said it.
"Tom if you want to talk to God go ahead." I invited. "I will pray for you and then you pray, ok?" He nodded.
I prayed out loud while Dayna prayed silently for us. Tom stared straight ahead with wild, staring eyes. His hands were contorted again and he looked as though he was fighting himself.
He bowed his head and started mumbling gibberish. He kept it up for a few minutes. Then he suddenly stood up and walked away from us.
I walked down to him and said, "Tom did you pray?"
He was very angry now and said, "Yeah I was praying in tongues, don't you know that?" And then very calmly he said, "They have crosses over at that table and I want one but I don't have any money."
We walked over to the table with him. The crosses were made from nails bound together with wire. He chose a purple one and Dayna bought it for him. The lady showed him how to adjust the leather and he put it around his neck. He stood still for a moment holding onto it.
"That cross won't protect you, you know that don't you? Only Jesus can save you, Tom".
"I know."
We parted ways and he took my hand twice saying thank you each time.
Please pray for him. God knows his real name.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Window Tinting and Quarks
The conversation this morning happened on me so fast that I almost don't remember how! I went in to get the driver's window tinted on my truck. It's been so cold here that it peeled off.
When I walked in to talk to the guy I noticed that he had a very nice 1965 Mustang fastback in the garage. It was his and he told me all about it. It was Caprice blue and he had re-done everything on the car. It was beautiful. He told me his name was Jeff.
Jeff measured my window for the film and as he did he told me that he used to restore Mustangs for a man. His job was to bring them all up to factory specifics. He said he loved doing it and it taught him a lot.
"I loved working on it and it kept my mind on it instead of other things." He laughed when he said this. "You know, it was a distraction. Something to keep my mind busy. That's what it's about you know, just keeping your mind busy while you're here. We're not here for long!"
'Wow,is this really being dropped in my lap like this?' I thought. "That's right, here one minute and gone the next!" I was meeting Allyson at the nursing home when I was finished here and I had prayed earlier that God would bring someone into our paths to talk to. Guess He was already starting!!
"The big question is what next Jeff?"
"Yeah, you got that right! I'll tell you what I think..." Jeff proceeded to tell me that he believed that God created the world with a big bang about 17 billion years ago and man has evolved ever since. He told me that he liked the science of it. He told me he 'liked religion' because we needed to keep that balance of good and bad in us. It made the world go 'round. He told me that he thinks about this a lot.
When I asked if he believed in life after death he told me that he doesn't really like the idea of Hell. He said that he believed that our spirits came back in our kids.
"So, if I have this right you believe that you are a compilation of your ancestors?"
"That's exactly it!" He nodded then went on to tell me that we all had good and bad in us and then when we die we might get to float around 'god'. He proceeded to use familiar words like forgiveness and Heaven. "I don't believe the Bible. I believe in science."
I told him that my Dad and I had just had a conversation yesterday about quarks. We were discussing the possibility of pure sound being able to break quarks down. "The Bible says that God spoke the world into existence." He didn't know this.
I let him finish his thoughts and when he seemed to pause I asked him when he would be good enough to die. He seemed puzzled by the question. "Well, you mentioned a balance between good and evil in us. When are you good enough to die?"
"Ahhhh...well..."
"Jeff are you a good person?" I asked.
"Yeah. I try do do what's right." he said.
"I want to ask you some questions."
"Go ahead, I'll be honest!" he said. My phone was ringing and I saw that it was Allyson. She probably wondered where I was, so I hit the answer button. My plan was to let her hear what was going on so she would know I was going to be late. I was sitting over in a chair away from the truck and Jeff was standing at the truck with the driver's door open. Suddenly a voice said, 'Your call cannot be completed.'
"Whoa!! Was that the voice of God??" Jeff laughed. He seemed a bit shocked by this.
"No just Bluetooth." oops. I took the phone off Bluetooth and dialed her number then held the phone down. She told me later that she heard us and had prayed for us. By the way, it's a good idea to do this and have someone praying for you while you are talking to someone.
After Jeff answered some questions and admitted that he had probably broken each Commandment I asked him how God would judge him..."Guilty or innocent?"
"I'm going straight to Hell!" he said this with a bit of levity but I didn't let him off the hook.
"Yes, you are." I let it soak in.
"Well, we all are!" he said, as if this were some sort of comfort.
"Do you know what God did for us, so we don't have to go there?" Jeff didn't answer, he looked mystified. "Any idea?" He had no idea!
I told him about Jesus dying for us. He told me he thought it would have been much 'smarter' of God to just have the whole cross come out of the ground with Jesus on it and for Jesus to say something like, "I'm dying for you now. OK go ahead and continue." and then for the cross to go back into position in the hole in the ground. hmmm.
"Do you really think that He could not have come off of that Cross in a flash?? Scripture says that Jesus could have called leagues of angels but he didn't. He willingly laid His life down for you. When he was dying he saw your face Jeff. He knew each and every sin you would commit and He paid for it anyway." We talked about repentance and faith in Jesus.
Jeff still had questions and didn't believe that Jesus was without sin. After talking with him a while longer, I gave him the courtroom illustration and asked him if he could leave after his apology to the court. He got it. I talked again about repentance.
"Jeff, do you think this is important?"
"Yes, I do!" he said and stepped back.
"When do you think you'll take care of it? You never know when it's your time to go and if you wait, it may be too late for you!"
"I know... soon!" he said. By now some other people had come into his shop. I gave him a Good Person tract with the payment. He gave me a hug and told me he enjoyed our conversation.
Please pray for Jeff. It seems a bit strange to think that someone might not be familiar with the reason that Jesus came, but that's why we're here-after all!!
When I walked in to talk to the guy I noticed that he had a very nice 1965 Mustang fastback in the garage. It was his and he told me all about it. It was Caprice blue and he had re-done everything on the car. It was beautiful. He told me his name was Jeff.
Jeff measured my window for the film and as he did he told me that he used to restore Mustangs for a man. His job was to bring them all up to factory specifics. He said he loved doing it and it taught him a lot.
"I loved working on it and it kept my mind on it instead of other things." He laughed when he said this. "You know, it was a distraction. Something to keep my mind busy. That's what it's about you know, just keeping your mind busy while you're here. We're not here for long!"
'Wow,is this really being dropped in my lap like this?' I thought. "That's right, here one minute and gone the next!" I was meeting Allyson at the nursing home when I was finished here and I had prayed earlier that God would bring someone into our paths to talk to. Guess He was already starting!!
"The big question is what next Jeff?"
"Yeah, you got that right! I'll tell you what I think..." Jeff proceeded to tell me that he believed that God created the world with a big bang about 17 billion years ago and man has evolved ever since. He told me that he liked the science of it. He told me he 'liked religion' because we needed to keep that balance of good and bad in us. It made the world go 'round. He told me that he thinks about this a lot.
When I asked if he believed in life after death he told me that he doesn't really like the idea of Hell. He said that he believed that our spirits came back in our kids.
"So, if I have this right you believe that you are a compilation of your ancestors?"
"That's exactly it!" He nodded then went on to tell me that we all had good and bad in us and then when we die we might get to float around 'god'. He proceeded to use familiar words like forgiveness and Heaven. "I don't believe the Bible. I believe in science."
I told him that my Dad and I had just had a conversation yesterday about quarks. We were discussing the possibility of pure sound being able to break quarks down. "The Bible says that God spoke the world into existence." He didn't know this.
I let him finish his thoughts and when he seemed to pause I asked him when he would be good enough to die. He seemed puzzled by the question. "Well, you mentioned a balance between good and evil in us. When are you good enough to die?"
"Ahhhh...well..."
"Jeff are you a good person?" I asked.
"Yeah. I try do do what's right." he said.
"I want to ask you some questions."
"Go ahead, I'll be honest!" he said. My phone was ringing and I saw that it was Allyson. She probably wondered where I was, so I hit the answer button. My plan was to let her hear what was going on so she would know I was going to be late. I was sitting over in a chair away from the truck and Jeff was standing at the truck with the driver's door open. Suddenly a voice said, 'Your call cannot be completed.'
"Whoa!! Was that the voice of God??" Jeff laughed. He seemed a bit shocked by this.
"No just Bluetooth." oops. I took the phone off Bluetooth and dialed her number then held the phone down. She told me later that she heard us and had prayed for us. By the way, it's a good idea to do this and have someone praying for you while you are talking to someone.
After Jeff answered some questions and admitted that he had probably broken each Commandment I asked him how God would judge him..."Guilty or innocent?"
"I'm going straight to Hell!" he said this with a bit of levity but I didn't let him off the hook.
"Yes, you are." I let it soak in.
"Well, we all are!" he said, as if this were some sort of comfort.
"Do you know what God did for us, so we don't have to go there?" Jeff didn't answer, he looked mystified. "Any idea?" He had no idea!
I told him about Jesus dying for us. He told me he thought it would have been much 'smarter' of God to just have the whole cross come out of the ground with Jesus on it and for Jesus to say something like, "I'm dying for you now. OK go ahead and continue." and then for the cross to go back into position in the hole in the ground. hmmm.
"Do you really think that He could not have come off of that Cross in a flash?? Scripture says that Jesus could have called leagues of angels but he didn't. He willingly laid His life down for you. When he was dying he saw your face Jeff. He knew each and every sin you would commit and He paid for it anyway." We talked about repentance and faith in Jesus.
Jeff still had questions and didn't believe that Jesus was without sin. After talking with him a while longer, I gave him the courtroom illustration and asked him if he could leave after his apology to the court. He got it. I talked again about repentance.
"Jeff, do you think this is important?"
"Yes, I do!" he said and stepped back.
"When do you think you'll take care of it? You never know when it's your time to go and if you wait, it may be too late for you!"
"I know... soon!" he said. By now some other people had come into his shop. I gave him a Good Person tract with the payment. He gave me a hug and told me he enjoyed our conversation.
Please pray for Jeff. It seems a bit strange to think that someone might not be familiar with the reason that Jesus came, but that's why we're here-after all!!
Aguas Vivientes!
Aguas Vivientes!
Posted: 09 Apr 2010 05:41 AM PDT
I could not remember my password when I was on the net last night trying to pay a bill. Arrrgggh! Finally I broke down and called Jose' in Customer Service. He was a very nice young man with a heavy Spanish accent. He was very helpful and solved my problem.
After we were finished with the password issue Jose' asked me if I had any other questions. I just love that. Of course I told him I did.
"Jose' I have a question for you that is off the usual subject, but please take this seriously. I want you to really think about this, OK?"
"OK."
"How do I get to Heaven?"
He was quiet a moment and then said, "You have to do the right thing, you have to obey laws and be nice to other people."
"Do you do those things?" I asked him.
"Yes ma'am, I go to church and confession and take communion, and I'm nice to other people. I try to do the right thing."
"You are a good man?"
"Yes ma'am. I try to be." he said.
"Jose' I want to test your theory, OK? But I want to make sure that before you answer these questions you really think about them and you are honest before God-OK?"
"Yes ma'am."
I knew that this call was being taped and I also wanted to be respectful that Jose' was at work. I quickly went through 3 of the 10 Commandments and we discovered that Jose' had lied, stolen and blasphemed God's name.
He quickly justified his actions. "But I haven't committed anything really big."
"So you think maybe God will weigh everything and decide that you did more good than bad?" I asked.
"Yes ma'am." Even I would vouch that he was very polite.
After talking a bit more Jose' was struck by the fact that our sins and acts of disobedience are something that we cannot erase. They will stand forever, unless erased and forgiven by The Only One Who Can Forgive.
Jose' also learned the reason that Jesus really came-to make a payment for us that we CANNOT. We simply don't have it! We talked about repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone.
"You can't hang on to your good works, Jose'. You must let them go and hang on to Jesus. He's the only way!" I quoted John 14:6 to him. I hope you will really do some thinking about this. I don't want you to go to Hell, Jose'.
"I don't want to go to Hell either!"
"The only way for you to avoid it now is to talk to God. Beg Him for forgiveness and put your trust only in Jesus! How do you say Living Water in Spanish?" I never can remember that!!! (Sorry Spanish-speaking friends!)
"Aguas vivientes."
"That's it! Go to that website, Jose'."
"Wait a minute...I want to write this down!" I could hear him scrambling at his desk.
After getting off of the phone, I prayed for Jose' that he would seek God and not stop until he found Him.
I am so very thankful that we have resources for the Spanish-speakers out there!!
Posted: 09 Apr 2010 05:41 AM PDT
I could not remember my password when I was on the net last night trying to pay a bill. Arrrgggh! Finally I broke down and called Jose' in Customer Service. He was a very nice young man with a heavy Spanish accent. He was very helpful and solved my problem.
After we were finished with the password issue Jose' asked me if I had any other questions. I just love that. Of course I told him I did.
"Jose' I have a question for you that is off the usual subject, but please take this seriously. I want you to really think about this, OK?"
"OK."
"How do I get to Heaven?"
He was quiet a moment and then said, "You have to do the right thing, you have to obey laws and be nice to other people."
"Do you do those things?" I asked him.
"Yes ma'am, I go to church and confession and take communion, and I'm nice to other people. I try to do the right thing."
"You are a good man?"
"Yes ma'am. I try to be." he said.
"Jose' I want to test your theory, OK? But I want to make sure that before you answer these questions you really think about them and you are honest before God-OK?"
"Yes ma'am."
I knew that this call was being taped and I also wanted to be respectful that Jose' was at work. I quickly went through 3 of the 10 Commandments and we discovered that Jose' had lied, stolen and blasphemed God's name.
He quickly justified his actions. "But I haven't committed anything really big."
"So you think maybe God will weigh everything and decide that you did more good than bad?" I asked.
"Yes ma'am." Even I would vouch that he was very polite.
After talking a bit more Jose' was struck by the fact that our sins and acts of disobedience are something that we cannot erase. They will stand forever, unless erased and forgiven by The Only One Who Can Forgive.
Jose' also learned the reason that Jesus really came-to make a payment for us that we CANNOT. We simply don't have it! We talked about repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone.
"You can't hang on to your good works, Jose'. You must let them go and hang on to Jesus. He's the only way!" I quoted John 14:6 to him. I hope you will really do some thinking about this. I don't want you to go to Hell, Jose'.
"I don't want to go to Hell either!"
"The only way for you to avoid it now is to talk to God. Beg Him for forgiveness and put your trust only in Jesus! How do you say Living Water in Spanish?" I never can remember that!!! (Sorry Spanish-speaking friends!)
"Aguas vivientes."
"That's it! Go to that website, Jose'."
"Wait a minute...I want to write this down!" I could hear him scrambling at his desk.
After getting off of the phone, I prayed for Jose' that he would seek God and not stop until he found Him.
I am so very thankful that we have resources for the Spanish-speakers out there!!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Opening Session Prayer
Thought you might enjoy this interesting
prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. It seems
prayer still upsets some people.. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open
the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is
what they heard:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those
who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we
have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed
our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it
the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it
welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it
justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our
children and called it building self esteem..
We have abused power and called it
politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values
of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts
today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!
The response was immediate. A number of
legislators walked out during the prayer in
protest. In 6 short weeks, Central Christian
Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than
5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls
responding negatively. The church is now receiving
international requests for copies of this prayer
from India , Africa and Korea .
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on
his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,'and
received a larger response to this program than any
other he has ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep
over our nation and wholeheartedly become our
desire so that we again can be called 'one nation
under God.
The Lord is in Charge
Just go.
Since the nurses are very familiar with the patients, I usually ask them if they have anyone I should see first. On this particular morning I was told the man I should really see wasn't here but instead, he was in the hospital.
I decided to make the trip on Tuesday. I was really dragging my feet today. I really needed to snap out of it! I prayed on the way that the Lord would take care of all the details. I knew that if I would just plant the seed, salvation would be up to Him. When I got up to the room I was concerned because I could see that there were no sheets on the bed. As I peeked in the room I saw an elderly lady sitting in a chair.
"Hi." I introduced myself and told her I was from the nursing home.
"I'm Geri, Charlie's wife. Charlie is down in dialysis right now. You are welcome to wait with me." She gave me a weak smile. Geri looked very worried and tired.
We talked for a while about her children and grandchildren. We talked about Charlie, whom I had yet to meet. Soon enough the subject of death was discussed. I asked what she thought about the afterlife. She told me about her father, who was trained for the priesthood in Rome.
"He came back and told my grandmother that he just could not do it. He was a wonderful man", she reminisced. "He instilled in me a very strong belief in Purgatory."
Oh, great, I thought. Ok Lord, You have to do the work. I am going to do what I came to do. Seeing that Geri was a Roman Catholic I knew that she would be familiar with the 10 Commandments, so I took her through a few of them. She admitted to lying, stealing and blasphemy. Then she told me that God would not send her to Hell because nothing she did was 'that bad'. We went through a couple more Commandments and then finally she told me she would end up in Purgatory.
"You know, good works!" she smiled.
"You know Geri, that is really a comforting thought, but the trouble is there is no Purgatory mentioned in scripture. And if it were true then why did Jesus have to die?" When I said this her jaw dropped slightly. She just stared at me as though this were the first she was hearing of something that really shocked her.
"If God is truly Righteous and Just, as scripture says He is, He will be bound by His Holiness to send you to Hell for eternity-no chance of escape for you! God sent Jesus to die for us because we don't have the payment He is looking for. You see, Jesus died so that He could pay our penalty. We deserve to go to Hell-we did the crimes. What God expects of us is that we humble ourselves and admit that we've done wrong. We don't deserve Heaven but He made a way for us to spend eternity there. We must repent, or turn away from our sin, admitting we are wrong. Then we must follow Jesus, putting all of our trust in Him. 'For by grace are you saved, through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast.' There will not be one person boasting in Heaven that he got there on his own. Does this make sense to you?" I asked her.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Sharing the Gospel
Hello to All,
Dennis and I would like to thank you for all of the encouragement, donations and prayers for FFM Ministries. It has really been exciting and eye-opening to see what the Lord has done!!
So far He has allowed us to:
-Circulate over 64,000 gospel tracts.
-Give out over 600 bibles.
-Distribute 14 Way of the Master training kits.
-Help send 3 individuals to the Ambassadors Alliance Academy in California for training.
100% of the money given goes toward getting the Gospel out.
We were recently contacted by Pastor Harry in the Mindanao region of Philippines:
Thanks a lot of your prayers and concern towards the ministry here in our area. The God's work here is in Mindanao area, it has 17 cities. Our desire and prayer by the grace of God that we can share to them the word of God. Mindanao is a wide island many destitute and poor brethren don't have Bible to use. Please behind us in your prayers that God will harvest more souls to His Kingdom before Christ return. We appreciated so much of your deep love concern towards the ministry here, we never forget you all in our serious day and night prayers that God will bless you abundantly. May God's best be upon you all. In Christ, Harry
We are so grateful to tell you that we were able to supply him with 200 desperately needed Bibles. We got a note from him a couple of days ago...
Greetings in Jesus name! I just arrived from the destitute brethren in the Muslim area distributing the Bibles. Praise God! The meeting there is very successful! but I can't send you pictures through email because I don't have digital camera.... We traveled 3 hours from here reaching that critical place to meet them and sharing to them the good news of Jesus. However, I can send you photos through your physical address so that you can see the result of the distribution. We are praying for more Bibles because I talk to their pastor, he has also a friend who has in need of the 200 Bibles who is pastoring to the next town, they are also praying for a long time that God will provide Bibles for their guidelines. Please share and transmit this email to your lovely and merciful brethren there in your place. Wishing of your love and compassion towards the ministry here. We pray for you day and night that God will bless you more and use you mightily! May God bless you all!
We have also put him in contact with Living Waters Asia. They have scheduled training meetings for next month. (PTL!) The area that Pastor Harry is speaking of is the dangerous mountain region of Kauswagan, where Muslim rebels wage war against Christians and the government.
As you can see there is a great need here in this region and you can see that there is someone willing to share the Gospel already in place. But certainly, you can also see that there is a great need for funds to supply literature and training in this very dangerous area. 2 Corinthians_9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
If any of you would like to help in this effort to get evangelism training to the Philippines, please go to:
http://www.ffmministries.com/support/support.htm
PayPal is preferred but there is also an address for checks.
The number of training seminars we will hold and amount of material distributed is directly affected by this effort to raise funds.
Luke 12:16-21 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
Luke 12:35 Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.
Dennis and I would like to thank you for all of the encouragement, donations and prayers for FFM Ministries. It has really been exciting and eye-opening to see what the Lord has done!!
So far He has allowed us to:
-Circulate over 64,000 gospel tracts.
-Give out over 600 bibles.
-Distribute 14 Way of the Master training kits.
-Help send 3 individuals to the Ambassadors Alliance Academy in California for training.
100% of the money given goes toward getting the Gospel out.
We were recently contacted by Pastor Harry in the Mindanao region of Philippines:
Thanks a lot of your prayers and concern towards the ministry here in our area. The God's work here is in Mindanao area, it has 17 cities. Our desire and prayer by the grace of God that we can share to them the word of God. Mindanao is a wide island many destitute and poor brethren don't have Bible to use. Please behind us in your prayers that God will harvest more souls to His Kingdom before Christ return. We appreciated so much of your deep love concern towards the ministry here, we never forget you all in our serious day and night prayers that God will bless you abundantly. May God's best be upon you all. In Christ, Harry
We are so grateful to tell you that we were able to supply him with 200 desperately needed Bibles. We got a note from him a couple of days ago...
Greetings in Jesus name! I just arrived from the destitute brethren in the Muslim area distributing the Bibles. Praise God! The meeting there is very successful! but I can't send you pictures through email because I don't have digital camera.... We traveled 3 hours from here reaching that critical place to meet them and sharing to them the good news of Jesus. However, I can send you photos through your physical address so that you can see the result of the distribution. We are praying for more Bibles because I talk to their pastor, he has also a friend who has in need of the 200 Bibles who is pastoring to the next town, they are also praying for a long time that God will provide Bibles for their guidelines. Please share and transmit this email to your lovely and merciful brethren there in your place. Wishing of your love and compassion towards the ministry here. We pray for you day and night that God will bless you more and use you mightily! May God bless you all!
We have also put him in contact with Living Waters Asia. They have scheduled training meetings for next month. (PTL!) The area that Pastor Harry is speaking of is the dangerous mountain region of Kauswagan, where Muslim rebels wage war against Christians and the government.
As you can see there is a great need here in this region and you can see that there is someone willing to share the Gospel already in place. But certainly, you can also see that there is a great need for funds to supply literature and training in this very dangerous area. 2 Corinthians_9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
If any of you would like to help in this effort to get evangelism training to the Philippines, please go to:
http://www.ffmministries.com/support/support.htm
PayPal is preferred but there is also an address for checks.
The number of training seminars we will hold and amount of material distributed is directly affected by this effort to raise funds.
Luke 12:16-21 And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."
Luke 12:35 Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.
God is good - ALL the time!
STEWARDSHIP
CRAIG & YVETTE WHEELER
Tithing was not a hard thing for me to learn. As a young man, my parents instilled in me to obey God and give at least ten percent of the money I made to the Lord. My first job was at age 13 when I began to deliver a local newspaper. I made it a point to tithe; it is a practice that has served our family well. I cannot explain how God makes your money go farther after you give your tithe but I know it works. It has been evidenced in my life many times.
As a married couple, Yvette and I decided early on that we would tithe and be obedient. God has taken care of us beyond anything we can imagine. That does not mean that we have not had times of need or struggles along the way. That does not mean that we have gotten everything we ever wanted. It does mean that God has met all our needs.
I could give testimony of the many times God impressed us to give to the Church Missionary, a needy family or a Ministry when the money did not seem to be in our bank account. The money might have been in the account but it was for a designated bill or other expense. We have given time and time again as the Lord has directed. The result is that things have always worked out. There have been times when we gave to meet a need knowing it was a sacrifice. At some point, we would always receive unexpected money that provided for our needs or God provided another way.
I am not saying money falls out of the sky when we give our tithes and offerings but I am saying God provides. Luke 6:38 says: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye met withal it shall be measured to you again.
God sometimes provides for us in ways other than monetarily. I firmly believe that for the Christian who is a faithful in giving tithes and offerings God will put his hand of protection on them and provide. Sometimes that provision means that kids remain healthy, the old car and washing machine does not break down or God provides for a specific need we have.
Being faithful is a quality that is rare in our Society today. I think it is one of the best things we can do for the Lord and the Church. God has certainly been faithful to provide for our needs.
You know our Government takes a lot more than 10% and spends our money foolishly. Yet God only requires 10% and he meets the needs when we do so.
As indicated by Luke 6:38, we cannot out give God. The more we give, the more God blesses us and provides. As one who has given tithes and offerings for many years, I can tell you I have never missed a meal because I did not have something to eat.
Several years ago, Yvette and I felt impressed to help a family member following a Hurricane. They had lost a lot of their possessions and were living without some basic necessities. We gave some money that we really did not have. I knew I had a bonus coming in several weeks but it was pretty much spent already. We did the right thing and followed through on what God impressed us to do. There is good and bad
news. Although we helped out privately, one family member criticized us for helping and said that the money would not be well spent.
In a case like this, God does not judge us for how the money was spent. He judges us our obedience. Well the good news, we were obedient and did what God asked us to do. Several weeks later when I did get my bonus, it was twice what I was expecting. You cannot out give God!
In closing, recently God provided for us in a real time of need. With over 20 years invested in a company, the doors began to close for me. I began to ask God to close doors that I should not go through and open the doors that He wants me to go through. I shared this burden with others who began to pray as well. Shortly thereafter I spoke with a couple of Christian businessmen about my situation and in short order both companies offered me a job. God is good - all the time!
Rick L. Carter
Senior Pastor
Canyon Creek Baptist Church
Richardson , Texas
CRAIG & YVETTE WHEELER
Tithing was not a hard thing for me to learn. As a young man, my parents instilled in me to obey God and give at least ten percent of the money I made to the Lord. My first job was at age 13 when I began to deliver a local newspaper. I made it a point to tithe; it is a practice that has served our family well. I cannot explain how God makes your money go farther after you give your tithe but I know it works. It has been evidenced in my life many times.
As a married couple, Yvette and I decided early on that we would tithe and be obedient. God has taken care of us beyond anything we can imagine. That does not mean that we have not had times of need or struggles along the way. That does not mean that we have gotten everything we ever wanted. It does mean that God has met all our needs.
I could give testimony of the many times God impressed us to give to the Church Missionary, a needy family or a Ministry when the money did not seem to be in our bank account. The money might have been in the account but it was for a designated bill or other expense. We have given time and time again as the Lord has directed. The result is that things have always worked out. There have been times when we gave to meet a need knowing it was a sacrifice. At some point, we would always receive unexpected money that provided for our needs or God provided another way.
I am not saying money falls out of the sky when we give our tithes and offerings but I am saying God provides. Luke 6:38 says: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye met withal it shall be measured to you again.
God sometimes provides for us in ways other than monetarily. I firmly believe that for the Christian who is a faithful in giving tithes and offerings God will put his hand of protection on them and provide. Sometimes that provision means that kids remain healthy, the old car and washing machine does not break down or God provides for a specific need we have.
Being faithful is a quality that is rare in our Society today. I think it is one of the best things we can do for the Lord and the Church. God has certainly been faithful to provide for our needs.
You know our Government takes a lot more than 10% and spends our money foolishly. Yet God only requires 10% and he meets the needs when we do so.
As indicated by Luke 6:38, we cannot out give God. The more we give, the more God blesses us and provides. As one who has given tithes and offerings for many years, I can tell you I have never missed a meal because I did not have something to eat.
Several years ago, Yvette and I felt impressed to help a family member following a Hurricane. They had lost a lot of their possessions and were living without some basic necessities. We gave some money that we really did not have. I knew I had a bonus coming in several weeks but it was pretty much spent already. We did the right thing and followed through on what God impressed us to do. There is good and bad
news. Although we helped out privately, one family member criticized us for helping and said that the money would not be well spent.
In a case like this, God does not judge us for how the money was spent. He judges us our obedience. Well the good news, we were obedient and did what God asked us to do. Several weeks later when I did get my bonus, it was twice what I was expecting. You cannot out give God!
In closing, recently God provided for us in a real time of need. With over 20 years invested in a company, the doors began to close for me. I began to ask God to close doors that I should not go through and open the doors that He wants me to go through. I shared this burden with others who began to pray as well. Shortly thereafter I spoke with a couple of Christian businessmen about my situation and in short order both companies offered me a job. God is good - all the time!
Rick L. Carter
Senior Pastor
Canyon Creek Baptist Church
Richardson , Texas
Unremarkable.
The lopsided smile gave her away-she had had a stroke. It had affected her on the same side my grandmother's stroke had. She said her name was Jean. She was small and looked scared. Nothing special about her. She was unremarkable to the human eye.
"I don't know what time they will come to get me today." she said.
"Are you waiting for therapy?" I asked her, knowing the schedule was different today.
She nodded. "Well, since it's Saturday it might be different."
She nodded her head and told me she forgot what day it was. Easy to do in here. Every day was the same. Same food, same people. Florescent lights instead of the sun.
We talked about the horrible weather conditions 'up north'. She shook her head from side to side. Jean was nearly deaf and told me so as I watched her continually try to adjust her hearing aid. This always makes it more difficult. But nothing is impossible with God. One time I was talking to an old Irish man who was nearly deaf and even though I was sitting next to him, almost screaming in his ear, he could not make out what I was saying. Then the Lord showed me his calendar, which was hanging on his board. I took it down and rolled it up, making a sort of bullhorn. After that, he heard me just fine.
After a few minutes I got down to the business of eternity. Jean thought she was ok, as far as being a good person goes. She faced off with the 10 Commandments and found out that she had failed to be perfect. This caused her to politely justify herself. We went back over a couple of the Commandments and she stopped. I asked her where God would have to send her she hesitate and said, "Well, I think that God would have to...Hell." Her shoulders slumped when she admitted this.
I watched her a moment and then asked her if she knew what God had done for her so she would not have to spend eternity in Hell. She didn't understand what I said, so I began to write it out on paper. As I wrote the name Jesus my pen stopped-just stopped writing. For some reason I had another pen in my book so I just continued on. I saw behind her a picture of a dapper man in a WWII uniform. When I explained why Jesus came I told her that, just like someone who went to war, He did it for all of us. At this her eyes teared up and she nodded her head. When I was finished Jean told me she was tired.
"Hard to think." she muttered.
"I know I've given you some heavy things to think about. But I know you realize this is very important, too. The only one who can make this decision is you, Jean. You don't need me."
She nodded and told me thank you for coming in to talk with her. I left with a heavy heart. Allyson was waiting for me in the hallway and we stopped to pray for her and another lady that Allyson had just finished with. After speaking to another lady, we parted ways around 11am.
At around 4pm, my cell phone signaled to me that I had received a message. it came from Tucker, another friend who works at the nursing home. "I am just calling to let you know that the work of the Lord goes on! Jean ________ has just prayed to received the Lord Jesus Christ and I wanted to let you know!"
Unremarkable? Obviously not to God!
1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
"I don't know what time they will come to get me today." she said.
"Are you waiting for therapy?" I asked her, knowing the schedule was different today.
She nodded. "Well, since it's Saturday it might be different."
She nodded her head and told me she forgot what day it was. Easy to do in here. Every day was the same. Same food, same people. Florescent lights instead of the sun.
We talked about the horrible weather conditions 'up north'. She shook her head from side to side. Jean was nearly deaf and told me so as I watched her continually try to adjust her hearing aid. This always makes it more difficult. But nothing is impossible with God. One time I was talking to an old Irish man who was nearly deaf and even though I was sitting next to him, almost screaming in his ear, he could not make out what I was saying. Then the Lord showed me his calendar, which was hanging on his board. I took it down and rolled it up, making a sort of bullhorn. After that, he heard me just fine.
After a few minutes I got down to the business of eternity. Jean thought she was ok, as far as being a good person goes. She faced off with the 10 Commandments and found out that she had failed to be perfect. This caused her to politely justify herself. We went back over a couple of the Commandments and she stopped. I asked her where God would have to send her she hesitate and said, "Well, I think that God would have to...Hell." Her shoulders slumped when she admitted this.
I watched her a moment and then asked her if she knew what God had done for her so she would not have to spend eternity in Hell. She didn't understand what I said, so I began to write it out on paper. As I wrote the name Jesus my pen stopped-just stopped writing. For some reason I had another pen in my book so I just continued on. I saw behind her a picture of a dapper man in a WWII uniform. When I explained why Jesus came I told her that, just like someone who went to war, He did it for all of us. At this her eyes teared up and she nodded her head. When I was finished Jean told me she was tired.
"Hard to think." she muttered.
"I know I've given you some heavy things to think about. But I know you realize this is very important, too. The only one who can make this decision is you, Jean. You don't need me."
She nodded and told me thank you for coming in to talk with her. I left with a heavy heart. Allyson was waiting for me in the hallway and we stopped to pray for her and another lady that Allyson had just finished with. After speaking to another lady, we parted ways around 11am.
At around 4pm, my cell phone signaled to me that I had received a message. it came from Tucker, another friend who works at the nursing home. "I am just calling to let you know that the work of the Lord goes on! Jean ________ has just prayed to received the Lord Jesus Christ and I wanted to let you know!"
Unremarkable? Obviously not to God!
1 John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Note to self.
My friend, you left Him a long time ago.
You picked up your scorecard,
you carry your woe.
To others you seem so strong and intact,
but sarcasm reigns.
You’re bitter. That’s fact.
We bleed when we’re cut: What’s inside comes out.
I see you drip loudly, as if it’s a shout.
“I’m bitter and hateful and vengeful-so what?”
There’s a smile on your face, your ears tightly shut.
Unbelief is a sin that leads down to Death
which many regret with one long, final breath.
Think further of this and examine yourself,
it can’t be done for you by power or wealth.
Get onto the narrow path that leads you to Him,
and follow that clear light, now growing so dim.
Don’t sit with the scoffer or spend any time,
Playing ‘what if’ games, so deep in your mind.
Satan cares not what got you; hate, fear or dread,
He’s a liar and murderer, and he wants you dead.
If he can’t kill you, he’ll take your joy.
His purpose is now: steal, kill and destroy!
Don’t let this murderer reign in your head,
Fill it with scripture and stand firm, instead.
The Adversary will use whatever he can
To hurt you and wound you, even a man.
People with skin on are just tools to him,
He likes to use them-but he can’t win!
Whatever he’s driving, however she’s dressed
Just know that our battle is not with the flesh.
Please be aware as he watches you fall,
He hopes you’ll stay down-not answer God’s call.
Although those around you may give you good grounds,
Don’t take the bait, it only leads down.
Let Him Who is Faithful, Righteous and True
Be the One Who Judges, instead of you.
If you should think it revenge that you need,
Bless your enemies instead, in thought word and deed.
Let God alone Judge, He is Faithful and True
And He never forgets, what has happened to you.
You picked up your scorecard,
you carry your woe.
To others you seem so strong and intact,
but sarcasm reigns.
You’re bitter. That’s fact.
We bleed when we’re cut: What’s inside comes out.
I see you drip loudly, as if it’s a shout.
“I’m bitter and hateful and vengeful-so what?”
There’s a smile on your face, your ears tightly shut.
Unbelief is a sin that leads down to Death
which many regret with one long, final breath.
Think further of this and examine yourself,
it can’t be done for you by power or wealth.
Get onto the narrow path that leads you to Him,
and follow that clear light, now growing so dim.
Don’t sit with the scoffer or spend any time,
Playing ‘what if’ games, so deep in your mind.
Satan cares not what got you; hate, fear or dread,
He’s a liar and murderer, and he wants you dead.
If he can’t kill you, he’ll take your joy.
His purpose is now: steal, kill and destroy!
Don’t let this murderer reign in your head,
Fill it with scripture and stand firm, instead.
The Adversary will use whatever he can
To hurt you and wound you, even a man.
People with skin on are just tools to him,
He likes to use them-but he can’t win!
Whatever he’s driving, however she’s dressed
Just know that our battle is not with the flesh.
Please be aware as he watches you fall,
He hopes you’ll stay down-not answer God’s call.
Although those around you may give you good grounds,
Don’t take the bait, it only leads down.
Let Him Who is Faithful, Righteous and True
Be the One Who Judges, instead of you.
If you should think it revenge that you need,
Bless your enemies instead, in thought word and deed.
Let God alone Judge, He is Faithful and True
And He never forgets, what has happened to you.
Monday, January 18, 2010
PRAY
On Sunday it was a blessing to meet with the "Berean Class," a class filled with God's people that have been seasoned with many of the trials that we, the Sowers, are going through.
We were all given an opportunity to share some of the trials that are heavy on our hearts and KNOW that others WILL pray for us and encourage us!
-Please keep Earl and Carol in your prayers this week as Earl has cancer, is ready to go home to his Savior and Carol is saddened to be left behind.
-Pray for Amy & Bryan as they continue to go to the "Running of the Rapids" class as they go through guiding teenagers through the turbulent waters of adolescence.
-Lucille's son, Kevin, has prostate cancer and will have surgery this Wed. at St. Josephs.
-Keep Chris, Amy & their kids in your prayers. We are in the turbulent waters with adolescent children and hope to stay afloat during this time. May this time be filled with peace and respect.
-Don & Linda are such a blessing with their willingness to run Ministry & More. Pray for the direction that God wants you to go and be willing to serve Him! (Let Don know if you are being called into ministry.)
-Please keep dear Christine, Gio, and Isabel in your prayers as they miss their dear Emilio each and every day. Please give them comfort and peace throughout the rest of their lives, particularly March 5th, the date they will celebrate the time they had with their precious child on the day that he went home to be with his father in heaven.
-Phyllis had two sons that went through the academy and they have went into the completely opposite directions since then. One of them, Lee, is now clean and sober, has a wonderful wife, and has been called to preach. His wife, DeDe is sick and we pray that she is able to get through this difficult time with her health and not need a tracheotomy.
http://www.facebook.com/LeeMonical - check out Lee's facebook page
-Keep Bill & Karen in your prayers as Bill got laid off this week. Given them peace during this time and the right opportunity for Bill to come.
-Be with Mike this week as he was in the hospital with heart and health issues.
-Roy spoke out about his 4 girls and boy and how they had all went through the academy. Unfortunately, his children, as well as ours, didn't come with a manual and that all of their lives haven't been a fairy tale as three of them have been divorced.
Be with our families Lord. Keep them strong in you, Lord, and give Glory to You!
-the Morgan's told us that their son, Jason, is in the marines. May you keep your protection over all of your people, Lord!
-Joyce had 4 children and was widowed. The Lord has meet her needs throughout her life and even gave her a wonderful husband. She is now widowed again and serving the Lord.
May we be an encouragement to her and may she be an encouragement to others that have been widowed.
-May Amy continue to be able to talk with others at her school about Jesus and His saving grace.
-Please keep the doors open for all of us to tells others about our Lord and Savior who can take care of ALL of our needs!
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Psalm 5:3
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Psalm 25:1
Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
Psalms 145:18
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Luke 18:1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Phillipians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
James 5:13-16
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
DO YOU LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT GOD HAS PUT AROUND YOU AND HIS CHURCH? PRAY FOR THEM!
Please keep those that are in Haiti in your prayers and may all that is done to help them, help show them about our saving Lord. Help us, through our thoughts, words, and deeds, bring them to YOU, Lord!
Lord, be with our church, our church leaders, teachers, and the entire Calvary family!
We were all given an opportunity to share some of the trials that are heavy on our hearts and KNOW that others WILL pray for us and encourage us!
-Please keep Earl and Carol in your prayers this week as Earl has cancer, is ready to go home to his Savior and Carol is saddened to be left behind.
-Pray for Amy & Bryan as they continue to go to the "Running of the Rapids" class as they go through guiding teenagers through the turbulent waters of adolescence.
-Lucille's son, Kevin, has prostate cancer and will have surgery this Wed. at St. Josephs.
-Keep Chris, Amy & their kids in your prayers. We are in the turbulent waters with adolescent children and hope to stay afloat during this time. May this time be filled with peace and respect.
-Don & Linda are such a blessing with their willingness to run Ministry & More. Pray for the direction that God wants you to go and be willing to serve Him! (Let Don know if you are being called into ministry.)
-Please keep dear Christine, Gio, and Isabel in your prayers as they miss their dear Emilio each and every day. Please give them comfort and peace throughout the rest of their lives, particularly March 5th, the date they will celebrate the time they had with their precious child on the day that he went home to be with his father in heaven.
-Phyllis had two sons that went through the academy and they have went into the completely opposite directions since then. One of them, Lee, is now clean and sober, has a wonderful wife, and has been called to preach. His wife, DeDe is sick and we pray that she is able to get through this difficult time with her health and not need a tracheotomy.
http://www.facebook.com/LeeMonical - check out Lee's facebook page
-Keep Bill & Karen in your prayers as Bill got laid off this week. Given them peace during this time and the right opportunity for Bill to come.
-Be with Mike this week as he was in the hospital with heart and health issues.
-Roy spoke out about his 4 girls and boy and how they had all went through the academy. Unfortunately, his children, as well as ours, didn't come with a manual and that all of their lives haven't been a fairy tale as three of them have been divorced.
Be with our families Lord. Keep them strong in you, Lord, and give Glory to You!
-the Morgan's told us that their son, Jason, is in the marines. May you keep your protection over all of your people, Lord!
-Joyce had 4 children and was widowed. The Lord has meet her needs throughout her life and even gave her a wonderful husband. She is now widowed again and serving the Lord.
May we be an encouragement to her and may she be an encouragement to others that have been widowed.
-May Amy continue to be able to talk with others at her school about Jesus and His saving grace.
-Please keep the doors open for all of us to tells others about our Lord and Savior who can take care of ALL of our needs!
1 Chronicles 16:11
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
Psalm 5:3
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
Psalm 25:1
Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
Psalms 145:18
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Luke 18:1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Phillipians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
James 5:13-16
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
DO YOU LOVE THE PEOPLE THAT GOD HAS PUT AROUND YOU AND HIS CHURCH? PRAY FOR THEM!
Please keep those that are in Haiti in your prayers and may all that is done to help them, help show them about our saving Lord. Help us, through our thoughts, words, and deeds, bring them to YOU, Lord!
Lord, be with our church, our church leaders, teachers, and the entire Calvary family!
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