I’ve heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” It may be true you can’t make him, but he will drink…if he is thirsty. Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” We as believers are the salt. It’s our testimony, our lives, our love, our witness for Christ. No, we can’t make him drink, but if we give him salt, he will thirst. He will drink…not from the putrid water that the world gives, but the REAL, Living Water of Jesus Christ. This water will cause him to never thirst again.
I have spent some time thinking about this saying today. I have been asking myself, am I the salt the earth? Do they even know I’m a Christian? Am I living deeply for Him…the kind of living that would make the world thirsty? I paged through some testimonies that I had written down several years ago about this very thing. I realized as I read through these testimonies, with tears in my eyes, I have lost my flavor. I have lost that flavor for Him and my bones ache to go back to the place of being full of “salt” for Jesus. Full of “salt” that makes people thirsty for Him, full of the “Living Water” that would bring life changing salvation to the world that would cause them to never thirst again. I long to go back to this place and I pray that you would join me in my journey back to being “salty.”
October 3, 2005
As I reset the IV pump, it was then that she noticed it. It was the rainbow reflection that shone from it…my beautiful diamond ring my husband picked out for me. She was a 20 year old woman named “Amy” that I was taking care of for stomach problems. I smiled as I lifted up my hand to show her my “rock.” Within minutes, I was sharing with her how the Lord had used eHarmony and how I met my wonderful husband. She glowed with excitement when I shared with her what the Lord had done. I prayed in my heart as I left her room that I would have an opportunity to share more with her later about what Jesus had done in my life.
As I walked out the door of her room to notate the chart, a middle aged nurse walked up beside me. She smiled and introduced herself, saying, “My name is “Catherine,” and I overheard your story…how you met your husband on eHarmony.” She said, “I’d like to meet someone also but just for friendship.” As I listened to her, more of her life unfolded before me. She began sharing how her husband of several years had had several affairs and he had recently told her that he didn’t love her anymore and wanted a divorce. My heart sank in my chest as she shared her deepest feelings with me. They currently were living together, but not like husband and wife, but more like roommates.
I walked with Catherine down the hall and stood outside my next patient’s room. I finally said, “I don’t want to tell you what to do and I really don’t even know what your situation is, but the best thing you can do for your husband is to pray for him.” Catherine’s eyes looked up from the floor. She shared that for the first time in a very long time, she had gone to church. While sitting in church she started to pray for her husband. It wasn’t a prayer that she was used to praying for in fact, this one was from her heart. The very next day, her husband called her and asked her to go for a drive. During the drive, for the first time in months they did not have one argument. It was then as I listened to Catherine, out of my heart, came that “Living Water.” I was just so compelled to tell her what Jesus had done in my life. I couldn’t contain it. I just had to tell her. She smiled after I shared my testimony with her and said that it had been the best news she had heard in such a long time.
I looked at my watch and apologized. I just had to get my medications delivered to my next patient, but promised that we would talk again. She glowed as she walked away. This “salt” made her thirsty for the Living Water.
“Please forgive me, ‘Jan.’ I am so sorry that I am late getting your medications to you,” I said as I frantically pulled apart the pill packages to get the multiple pills into her med cup. I didn’t even look up at her until I heard her soft, frail voice. “I overheard what you said to the woman outside my door…about the hope that you have. I really needed to hear that today.” She was holding back her tears as the hopelessness in her life was evident. Jan was a retired nurse in her 50s with extensive problems with depression. She was on multiple psychiatric medications for her mental illness. As I handed her the cup full of pills, I sat down quietly next to her on her bed. I put my arm around her and gave her a little hug. I was about to deliver some very good news for Jan. “This hope I have, Jan, is available for you too. You see, without Christ, there is no hope.” Once again, I could not contain myself as the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ flowed. I shared with Jan what Jesus Christ had done in my life and how He had saved me from certain death. In the next few minutes, she was sitting on her hospital bed praying to accept Jesus Christ into her heart.
Just days earlier, Jan shared that she had had a dream where she was falling. She was falling and falling and falling into this black tunnel. She remembered thinking to herself, “This must be what it is like to die.” When she awoke she felt so plagued with the uncertainty about where she would go if she were to die. In this special moment, Jan’s hopelessness turned to hope. Jesus had given her peace.
As I listened to her share her life with me, I heard the crash of metal curtain rings hit together. From across the room, her roommate’s cream-colored curtain flew open with a mighty wind. Out of her mouth she said, “I just wanted you to know that I have been listening to everything that you have been telling my roommate and I believe every word you are saying! I want you to know that everything you told her has really helped me to be closer to God.” The “salt” was making them thirsty. They thirsted and they drank.
My heart was warmed as I stepped away from the room and on to my next patient. I arrived back into Amy’s room, the 20 year old woman who saw my ring...the room where this whole divine day had started. Within minutes, I was sharing the gospel with Amy. And then her mom arrived for a visit, and I shared Jesus with her too. And then her boyfriend arrived, and I shared Jesus with him. In a full circle, the Lord accomplished much and the “salt” made them thirsty. You see, I didn’t have to force them to drink…they just got thirsty and when they got thirsty, they drank. The “Salt” was so flavorful that they couldn’t help but drink.
I long for my Lord to bring back my flavor. I long to be “salty” again. I long to be the Salt of the earth and the Light of the world. I long to go back to that place and I pray that you make this journey with me.
**The names are changed for privacy
Friday, March 25, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Heaven
As I spent the last hour scanning the internet for photos of flowers in Heaven, I came to realize there were no photos available to give you a glimpse of an idea what my son, Charlie, saw the night he went to Heaven. Honestly, there were no human words that could have fully wrapped themselves around this beautiful experience. Even Charlie himself, with his 8 year old mind, fought to give us details that even he could not express or comprehend. Our hearts burned with a longing to have been where he had been and to have experienced this face to face encounter with the One True God, Jesus Christ.
Charlie crept into my room at 4:00 am on October 21, 2007. I had checked on him several times through the night as he was recovering from the flu. I thought he may have been sick again. His little body looked frail as I saw him come into my room.
“Mom, I know you’re tired, but may I tell you about my dream?” he said. I rested on my pillow with my eyes closed wanting to drift off to sleep. But when the words came out of his mouth, immediately I was struck to the heart. I opened my eyes and looked down at my son lying on the floor next to my bed. Exodus 34:34-35 But whenever Moses went before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the` veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him. When I looked at Charlie, I could see something shining. He looked like a completely different child when I looked at his face. I saw this humble little boy with a bright and shining aura around him. I kept these things in my heart as I listened to him. I was so astounded by his detailed account that I took him directly to the computer and typed it word for word that we would never forget the details of this wondrous encounter with Jesus. This is his personal account of what he saw when he went to Heaven:
“I went to Heaven, mom. In a blink of an eye, I was there. Mom, you wouldn’t believe what I saw. I saw these beautiful flowers…red, blue, green, pink, and yellow. The flowers were so soft and full. There wasn’t any sign of the death in the flower. They were so beautiful. They were “fat” and soft and blooming. There were huge rose buds, big and blossoming. I saw poppies and roses and big blue bushes of flowers. I had never seen anything like them, mom. I can’t even describe to you the colors I saw because I had never seen the colors before.
I walked on the ground and when I walked it was bright and shiny like a light bulb. It was so shiny and clear. Revelation 21:21 And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. The sky was so bright. It was like a sun. It was like the sun all over. The sky wasn’t blue like it normally is. It was so, so bright. Revelation 22:4-5 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
I was there, mom. I was there with other people. I couldn’t see their faces. They were like angels. They had snow white robes on and their faces were bright. All of them had light brown ropes that came down from their shoulders down to their waists.
Jesus was there too. These brightly dressed people were on either side of Him. He was wearing a robe that was whiter than white. Mom, I had never seen anything so white. There was not one little stain or wrinkle or streak on this robe. It was whiter than snow or anything I have ever seen, ever. His face was like the sun. Matthew 17:2 His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. His hair was from his head to his shoulders and it was curly and golden. I can’t explain the gold color of his hair because I had never seen the color before. It was a color all its own. I couldn’t see his face because it was so bright, but I knew it was Him.
We stood at the end of Heaven. Nobody told me I was in Heaven. I just knew I was there. I saw a huge, clear, white hole. Inside the hole, it was something like a magnifying glass. It was moving in a circle. We looked through the hole and we saw all the people on the earth. We took pictures of all of the people on earth that we could see through the hole. The people were just walking around just living like normal. I saw people in a bank walking around and getting their money. They didn’t know we were watching them. I understood everything Jesus was saying, even though there were no words. Psalm 139:1-4 Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thoughts afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. Nobody spoke a word, not even me. I knew in my heart that Jesus knew who was going to heaven and who was not going.
Jesus came up to me and with his bright, shining face and gave me his camera. We started taking pictures of all of the people. Jesus knew who was good and who was not good. Jesus wanted to take a picture of me. The next thing I knew, I slipped through the magnifying glass-type hole. I felt my body being forced out of the hole and pushed out of the wall into my room and back into my bed. I saw the camera flash and my eyes opened. I fully woke up and felt a force push me so hard that it almost pushed me off of my bed. I was out of breath and my breathing was heavy.
I sat in awe as he motioned with his hands and tried with all of his might to help me understand this experience he had with the Most High God. I couldn’t get over the glow on his face. It was so evident that he was really with Jesus. I had a great fear of the Lord.
In amazement by Charlie’s experience, the Lord brought to mind a friend’s Jewish grandfather who was 90+ years old. He was on his death bed. My friend had been fervently praying for him for years. I knew Charlie had been in the presence of the Lord. I knew by the evidence of his glowing appearance. He had indeed seen Jesus. I told Charlie that we were going to pray for my friend’s grandfather right there and I believed that the Lord would save him.
Days later we learned that my friend’s grandfather passed away, but not before he gave his life to Jesus on his death bed. Now he would experience so much more than the glimpse of Heaven Charlie had experienced. He would be in the presence of the Lord in all of its fullness. Words cannot describe all that the Lord has planned for those who love Him!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Race
1Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
My legs ached as I rounded the corner at the 13th mile marker. The battle in my head had begun at mile 5 and by mile 13 there was a full-on war going on in my head. Should I stop and walk? Should I keep going? I never really wanted to do this anyway, so I should stop! As the sweat drops dripped from my hair, I wiped my dry lips. My shoulders were sunburned and my head pounded from dehydration. My whole body longed to stop and rest, but I continued to lift one knee up, as the other foot continued to make contact with the concrete. Over and over it went. I could hear a voice in my head saying “I will never do this again.” This voice didn’t sound quite the same as the voice who told me I could run a half marathon just four months before. I could hear my labored breathing and my shoulders and chest quivered from the energy being poured out of my body. Then I saw it…the finish line. It seemed like a million miles away and I swore they had made a mistake…that last 0.1 miles dragged on for what seemed to be hours. Dragging my body across the finish line, after 2:02:47, I had finally made it. My first half marathon was complete.
I had met my goal…to finish a half marathon. That was it, I just wanted to finish. I had no time goal. Unlike the Apostle Paul, I was running with uncertainty and I was beating the air. I had no real plan. In fact, the truth was, I had limited knowledge of running altogether. I was undisciplined, untrained, and lacked nutrition. You see, I thought I could run the race well without the discipline. That pesky “discipline” part that I didn’t like to talk about. I knew hard training and giving up my cookies would take discipline and hard work. It meant I had to deny my flesh in order to improve as a runner. At the time, I just didn’t have the foresight to see past the cookie in my hand and my nice warm bed at 4:15 in the morning. Isn’t this the way we are in life sometimes? We can’t see past what we are doing today and because of this, we exchange the truth for a lie. A little bit of God is enough. We think if we just get into heaven, that’s good enough. Maybe our foot will be through the door of heaven with the door slamming shut on the other half of our body, but at least we got to Heaven, right? Is this how we want to finish the race being nearsighted with the here and now? But Jesus says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 2Corinthians 2:9. Is there anything from the Lord that we would want to miss? Is being lazy spiritually and lacking the ability to keep our eyes on the eternal prize at the end really worth missing anything that He has for us? Because He has much for those He loves and He says it hasn’t even entered into our heart or into our imagination what He has for us. If I can’t even imagine what it is He has for me, trust me, I don’t want to miss it.
1Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
About a year after this long, 2:02:47 run, I made a decision. I would do things differently. I made a decision to discipline my body and bring it into subjection physically that I would reap the benefits and improve as a runner. This bodily exercise and discipline only profited me a little, but what the Lord taught in this running journey has brought so much to my life spiritually. I have learned to work hard in training, to say no to cookies when I never did before, and to get out of bed to run when it is cold. This is all because, by faith, I have not taken my eyes off the prize. I have been able to stop living for today and to see who I desire to be in the future, both as a runner and spiritually. I have been able to deny myself in the moment of desire to eat that cookie, because I can see the benefit to denying myself in the future, as a runner and as a woman of God. I have learned to fight against the battle in my mind to stop before the finish line when I grow weary and to trust the Lord to carry me when I am weak.
2Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, and I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
It has been months of disciplined running, improved nutrition, and looking to the finish line for the prize. I have fought the good fight. I trained hard and disciplined this old body of mine. On January 16, 2011, it was my opportunity to see the fruit of my labor. Over and over in my head, I heard my running coach. “Be smart when you run. You need to watch your splits closely. Don’t go out too fast. You need to keep your pace. If you feel good at 10 miles, you can start picking it up. But I don’t want you to go too fast.” The night before the race I thought to myself, “This is it.” This is the end of the road for me. I was going to see the results of the hard work and nutrition choices I had made for the past four months of training.
That evening I rested on my bed praying and thinking about my race. My husband leaned his head in the room and told me I should get to bed and get some rest. I knew I needed to, but I just wanted to spend 15 minutes in God’s Word to see what He had to say to me. About five minutes into reading the Word, God spoke to me so powerfully. Matthew 15: 21-28 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O WOMAN, GREAT IS YOUR FAITH! LET IT BE TO YOU AS YOU DESIRE.” You see I had done all of the necessary discipline of my body, improved nutrition, proper training, and now it was just a matter of faith. I saw that the woman had faith and Jesus told her “Let it be to you as you desire.” I received this Word from the Lord and in my heart I saw what I desired and it was to finish the race meeting my goal of 1:43.
I have a GPS watch that I use and it is important equipment for a racer, as this is what tells me what pace I am going. That night, as I slept, I dreamt that it didn’t turn on. I awoke in the morning and kind of laughed to myself. “I must be really stressed out about this race,” I thought. I went to my Garmin and tried to turn it on, but it wouldn’t. I pushed every button on that thing, and it was completely dead. Immediately, panic struck me. I heard the words of my coach to keep my eye on how fast I was going. I tried every avenue to get the thing turned on to no avail. Panic turned to peace, when again the Lord spoke to my heart. “Do not put your trust in your Garmin, you can trust Me.” I immediately received this from the Lord and knew that He would bring me across the finish line, no matter how He wanted to do it. I knew this race about my faith and it was just between the Lord and me.
The sun had just come up and I stood in my corral getting reading for the gun to go off. I had no idea what to expect during this race, but I knew that the Lord was with me and God had renewed my mind. Because this time I could see the finish line and nothing would deter me from crossing it, with or without my Garmin. As the shot rang out, one leg in front of the other, I was completely trusting in the Lord. About a half mile into the race, there was a woman next to me running about my pace. The Lord brought her to me and she paced me the entire race. We didn’t say more than two words the entire time. We almost breathed together in sync for 13 miles and I didn’t even know her name. The Lord was faithful to me in every way.
This race proved to be a different experience for me altogether. I believed God and His Word and I put all of my trust in Him and not my Garmin or anything else. In fact, the next day, I went to turn on the Garmin and it fired up like nothing was ever wrong with it! I had already trained hard. I had disciplined my body and now I just needed to trust the Lord. This time I would finish well. Yes, there was still a battle in my mind. Yes, my breathing was still labored. Yes, my legs ached. Yes, I longed to stop. But this time I had my eyes fixed on the prize. This time, I could forget the here and now and look past the miles and see mile 13.1…and the finish line that was just beyond it. This time I had run with purpose. I had finished the race. I had brought my body in line with my vision. The fruit of my labor and trust in my Lord was evidenced by crossing the finish line strong at 1:42:45.
One day, I will forget all about this race. I will forget all about how I shed sweat and pounds to cross the finish line well. In fact, when I receive my eternal crown, I will not even think about it all. One thing I have learned from my running experience is the ability to look ahead. I am able to see how I want to finish the race of life. I want to fight the good fight of faith and receive the crown that the Lord has laid up for me. I don’t want to miss a thing. I don’t want to miss a person who needs to know about Jesus. I don’t want to miss one act of kindness that would show the love of Jesus. I don’t want to miss God’s voice any time in my life. I don’t want to miss one treasure in His Word. I just want to run well. I just want to see the finish line where the prize is. Not the prize that perishes, but the eternal prize of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of my faith.
My legs ached as I rounded the corner at the 13th mile marker. The battle in my head had begun at mile 5 and by mile 13 there was a full-on war going on in my head. Should I stop and walk? Should I keep going? I never really wanted to do this anyway, so I should stop! As the sweat drops dripped from my hair, I wiped my dry lips. My shoulders were sunburned and my head pounded from dehydration. My whole body longed to stop and rest, but I continued to lift one knee up, as the other foot continued to make contact with the concrete. Over and over it went. I could hear a voice in my head saying “I will never do this again.” This voice didn’t sound quite the same as the voice who told me I could run a half marathon just four months before. I could hear my labored breathing and my shoulders and chest quivered from the energy being poured out of my body. Then I saw it…the finish line. It seemed like a million miles away and I swore they had made a mistake…that last 0.1 miles dragged on for what seemed to be hours. Dragging my body across the finish line, after 2:02:47, I had finally made it. My first half marathon was complete.
I had met my goal…to finish a half marathon. That was it, I just wanted to finish. I had no time goal. Unlike the Apostle Paul, I was running with uncertainty and I was beating the air. I had no real plan. In fact, the truth was, I had limited knowledge of running altogether. I was undisciplined, untrained, and lacked nutrition. You see, I thought I could run the race well without the discipline. That pesky “discipline” part that I didn’t like to talk about. I knew hard training and giving up my cookies would take discipline and hard work. It meant I had to deny my flesh in order to improve as a runner. At the time, I just didn’t have the foresight to see past the cookie in my hand and my nice warm bed at 4:15 in the morning. Isn’t this the way we are in life sometimes? We can’t see past what we are doing today and because of this, we exchange the truth for a lie. A little bit of God is enough. We think if we just get into heaven, that’s good enough. Maybe our foot will be through the door of heaven with the door slamming shut on the other half of our body, but at least we got to Heaven, right? Is this how we want to finish the race being nearsighted with the here and now? But Jesus says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 2Corinthians 2:9. Is there anything from the Lord that we would want to miss? Is being lazy spiritually and lacking the ability to keep our eyes on the eternal prize at the end really worth missing anything that He has for us? Because He has much for those He loves and He says it hasn’t even entered into our heart or into our imagination what He has for us. If I can’t even imagine what it is He has for me, trust me, I don’t want to miss it.
1Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
About a year after this long, 2:02:47 run, I made a decision. I would do things differently. I made a decision to discipline my body and bring it into subjection physically that I would reap the benefits and improve as a runner. This bodily exercise and discipline only profited me a little, but what the Lord taught in this running journey has brought so much to my life spiritually. I have learned to work hard in training, to say no to cookies when I never did before, and to get out of bed to run when it is cold. This is all because, by faith, I have not taken my eyes off the prize. I have been able to stop living for today and to see who I desire to be in the future, both as a runner and spiritually. I have been able to deny myself in the moment of desire to eat that cookie, because I can see the benefit to denying myself in the future, as a runner and as a woman of God. I have learned to fight against the battle in my mind to stop before the finish line when I grow weary and to trust the Lord to carry me when I am weak.
2Timothy 4:6-8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, and I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
It has been months of disciplined running, improved nutrition, and looking to the finish line for the prize. I have fought the good fight. I trained hard and disciplined this old body of mine. On January 16, 2011, it was my opportunity to see the fruit of my labor. Over and over in my head, I heard my running coach. “Be smart when you run. You need to watch your splits closely. Don’t go out too fast. You need to keep your pace. If you feel good at 10 miles, you can start picking it up. But I don’t want you to go too fast.” The night before the race I thought to myself, “This is it.” This is the end of the road for me. I was going to see the results of the hard work and nutrition choices I had made for the past four months of training.
That evening I rested on my bed praying and thinking about my race. My husband leaned his head in the room and told me I should get to bed and get some rest. I knew I needed to, but I just wanted to spend 15 minutes in God’s Word to see what He had to say to me. About five minutes into reading the Word, God spoke to me so powerfully. Matthew 15: 21-28 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O WOMAN, GREAT IS YOUR FAITH! LET IT BE TO YOU AS YOU DESIRE.” You see I had done all of the necessary discipline of my body, improved nutrition, proper training, and now it was just a matter of faith. I saw that the woman had faith and Jesus told her “Let it be to you as you desire.” I received this Word from the Lord and in my heart I saw what I desired and it was to finish the race meeting my goal of 1:43.
I have a GPS watch that I use and it is important equipment for a racer, as this is what tells me what pace I am going. That night, as I slept, I dreamt that it didn’t turn on. I awoke in the morning and kind of laughed to myself. “I must be really stressed out about this race,” I thought. I went to my Garmin and tried to turn it on, but it wouldn’t. I pushed every button on that thing, and it was completely dead. Immediately, panic struck me. I heard the words of my coach to keep my eye on how fast I was going. I tried every avenue to get the thing turned on to no avail. Panic turned to peace, when again the Lord spoke to my heart. “Do not put your trust in your Garmin, you can trust Me.” I immediately received this from the Lord and knew that He would bring me across the finish line, no matter how He wanted to do it. I knew this race about my faith and it was just between the Lord and me.
The sun had just come up and I stood in my corral getting reading for the gun to go off. I had no idea what to expect during this race, but I knew that the Lord was with me and God had renewed my mind. Because this time I could see the finish line and nothing would deter me from crossing it, with or without my Garmin. As the shot rang out, one leg in front of the other, I was completely trusting in the Lord. About a half mile into the race, there was a woman next to me running about my pace. The Lord brought her to me and she paced me the entire race. We didn’t say more than two words the entire time. We almost breathed together in sync for 13 miles and I didn’t even know her name. The Lord was faithful to me in every way.
This race proved to be a different experience for me altogether. I believed God and His Word and I put all of my trust in Him and not my Garmin or anything else. In fact, the next day, I went to turn on the Garmin and it fired up like nothing was ever wrong with it! I had already trained hard. I had disciplined my body and now I just needed to trust the Lord. This time I would finish well. Yes, there was still a battle in my mind. Yes, my breathing was still labored. Yes, my legs ached. Yes, I longed to stop. But this time I had my eyes fixed on the prize. This time, I could forget the here and now and look past the miles and see mile 13.1…and the finish line that was just beyond it. This time I had run with purpose. I had finished the race. I had brought my body in line with my vision. The fruit of my labor and trust in my Lord was evidenced by crossing the finish line strong at 1:42:45.
One day, I will forget all about this race. I will forget all about how I shed sweat and pounds to cross the finish line well. In fact, when I receive my eternal crown, I will not even think about it all. One thing I have learned from my running experience is the ability to look ahead. I am able to see how I want to finish the race of life. I want to fight the good fight of faith and receive the crown that the Lord has laid up for me. I don’t want to miss a thing. I don’t want to miss a person who needs to know about Jesus. I don’t want to miss one act of kindness that would show the love of Jesus. I don’t want to miss God’s voice any time in my life. I don’t want to miss one treasure in His Word. I just want to run well. I just want to see the finish line where the prize is. Not the prize that perishes, but the eternal prize of Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of my faith.
Friday, January 14, 2011
In the Midst of the Tragedy in Tucson…Good News!
John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
Since hearing the tragic news this past Saturday of the horrific shooting at the shopping center here in Tucson, I have practically been glued to the TV and other online news outlets. My mind has gone through scenario after scenario of what I would have done if I would have come upon a scene like that knowing that I frequent the stores in my Tucson area, usually with my two young daughters in tow. In fact, this store is just a few miles from my house. A sick feeling lingered at the pit of my stomach just imagining the emergent situation that erupted and how handicapped I would have felt.
Day after day, the news media revisits these gruesome events that took place at Safeway just six days ago. At first it’s surreal with no names associated with it…but then the photos appear on the TV. Six of them dead and many others wounded. Every news channel you turn to, you see the face of a little 9 year old girl, an elderly woman, Gabrielle Giffords, a young man, and others. But here is what the news doesn’t show…the photos of the thousands of people that are affected by this tragedy. Thousands of tears shed behind closed doors and at their loved ones’ funerals. They can’t photograph the pain and loss they feel. It’s impossible to photograph the future birthdays they will miss and the family vacations that won’t be taken. It’s such a great loss. These events are shown over and over, but in the next couple of months, we will seldom hear anything about this tragedy because the mews outlets will determine there is something more newsworthy to take up the airways. But those who lost someone they love will bear permanent scars, pain, and sadness in the hearts for years to come.
“Who could have done such a thing?” I thought as I looked at the blood spattered Safeway entrance. I guess I had my own expectations. Maybe he was a big burley, tattooed, scary guy. But instead, they showed a photo of a boy. He was just a young boy, not much older than David when the Lord anointed him King. But what I difference in the hearts of these two young men. Day after day, more and more of Jared Loughner’s life has been plastered all over the TV. I heard him being described as a devil worshipper, weirdo, crazy, trouble-maker, and many other things. I thought about his parents and how they must feel. Their son, who they raised and loved, has done something so terrible. My heart just hurt for them. I just want to show up at their house and tell them how much I care about them and love them.
It has been such a sad time for the city of Tucson…so many families affected. I know how special my family is to me and I couldn’t even imagine how they feel. It’s been bad news for them and for us and for our country. But an amazing thing has happened in my heart over these past six days. I have been amazed at the peace I have in my heart. What’s the reason for my peace? You see, even in this tribulation, I have good news…I have the best news. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Jesus is waiting for you, for us. He wants to be the Lord and Savior of your life and mine. He is still able and willing to forgive your sins and mine. Here is the reality…everyone…without Jesus, is lost, just like Jared. But here is the best news…no sin is too big for Jesus. Jesus is able to forgive ALL sin. Jesus is waiting for Jared and for you and for me to come to Him…He is waiting with opens arms. He is ready to take our sin is far as the east is from the west to not remember our sin (Psalm 103:12). Jesus is able to touch lives and transform us, even the life of Jared. The bible is full of lives changed by the power of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul was killing Christians and the Lord touched His life and transformed him and the very thing he lived to destroy, he lived the rest of his life to build up. He gave his life for Jesus and so can you and so can Jared. Friends, this is the reality of being touched by Jesus Christ. This is such good news! The blood of Jesus is so powerful, even Jared Loughner can be forgiven. If God can forgive this horrific tragedy, he can forgive us of anything we have ever done or going to do.
Here is a challenge to all of the Christians in the world…lift Jared Loughner up in prayer. We have the privilege of praying to the God of the Universe and He says we can come to Him with confidence knowing that when we ask, He hears (Hebrews 4:16). And if He hears, He answers! We may think Jared is an impossible case and unable to be reached, but Jesus is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or think…so I encourage you to all to ask (Ephesians 3:20). Ask that the Lord would move mightily in his life and in his heart. Ask that Jared would receive the forgiveness that we all need. Be a part of the work of Jesus Christ and instead of a massacre, the Lord can create a masterpiece!
I am happy to say in the midst of this tragedy, there is still Good News…it is Jesus Christ. We don’t need more gun control, more security, more laws, more politics…the world only needs Jesus. It’s all we need and He’s totally sufficient to meet all of our needs. I encouraged you all if you have not done personal business with Jesus, now is the time. He is waiting for you and He is able to transform your life. Take this first step in your transformation by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Your salvation is very important to God-so much so that he gave His only Son to die for your sins:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God is not willing that any should perish, and that includes you! (2Peter 3:9). So pray this prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for sending Jesus into the world. I realize that I need a Savior.
Jesus, come into my life. I submit all my life to You, and I thank you for giving me eternal life. Amen.
If you have just made Jesus your Lord and Savior, I invite you to send me an email . I would love to encourage you in your new walk with Jesus and pray for you.
Since hearing the tragic news this past Saturday of the horrific shooting at the shopping center here in Tucson, I have practically been glued to the TV and other online news outlets. My mind has gone through scenario after scenario of what I would have done if I would have come upon a scene like that knowing that I frequent the stores in my Tucson area, usually with my two young daughters in tow. In fact, this store is just a few miles from my house. A sick feeling lingered at the pit of my stomach just imagining the emergent situation that erupted and how handicapped I would have felt.
Day after day, the news media revisits these gruesome events that took place at Safeway just six days ago. At first it’s surreal with no names associated with it…but then the photos appear on the TV. Six of them dead and many others wounded. Every news channel you turn to, you see the face of a little 9 year old girl, an elderly woman, Gabrielle Giffords, a young man, and others. But here is what the news doesn’t show…the photos of the thousands of people that are affected by this tragedy. Thousands of tears shed behind closed doors and at their loved ones’ funerals. They can’t photograph the pain and loss they feel. It’s impossible to photograph the future birthdays they will miss and the family vacations that won’t be taken. It’s such a great loss. These events are shown over and over, but in the next couple of months, we will seldom hear anything about this tragedy because the mews outlets will determine there is something more newsworthy to take up the airways. But those who lost someone they love will bear permanent scars, pain, and sadness in the hearts for years to come.
“Who could have done such a thing?” I thought as I looked at the blood spattered Safeway entrance. I guess I had my own expectations. Maybe he was a big burley, tattooed, scary guy. But instead, they showed a photo of a boy. He was just a young boy, not much older than David when the Lord anointed him King. But what I difference in the hearts of these two young men. Day after day, more and more of Jared Loughner’s life has been plastered all over the TV. I heard him being described as a devil worshipper, weirdo, crazy, trouble-maker, and many other things. I thought about his parents and how they must feel. Their son, who they raised and loved, has done something so terrible. My heart just hurt for them. I just want to show up at their house and tell them how much I care about them and love them.
It has been such a sad time for the city of Tucson…so many families affected. I know how special my family is to me and I couldn’t even imagine how they feel. It’s been bad news for them and for us and for our country. But an amazing thing has happened in my heart over these past six days. I have been amazed at the peace I have in my heart. What’s the reason for my peace? You see, even in this tribulation, I have good news…I have the best news. John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. Jesus is waiting for you, for us. He wants to be the Lord and Savior of your life and mine. He is still able and willing to forgive your sins and mine. Here is the reality…everyone…without Jesus, is lost, just like Jared. But here is the best news…no sin is too big for Jesus. Jesus is able to forgive ALL sin. Jesus is waiting for Jared and for you and for me to come to Him…He is waiting with opens arms. He is ready to take our sin is far as the east is from the west to not remember our sin (Psalm 103:12). Jesus is able to touch lives and transform us, even the life of Jared. The bible is full of lives changed by the power of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul was killing Christians and the Lord touched His life and transformed him and the very thing he lived to destroy, he lived the rest of his life to build up. He gave his life for Jesus and so can you and so can Jared. Friends, this is the reality of being touched by Jesus Christ. This is such good news! The blood of Jesus is so powerful, even Jared Loughner can be forgiven. If God can forgive this horrific tragedy, he can forgive us of anything we have ever done or going to do.
Here is a challenge to all of the Christians in the world…lift Jared Loughner up in prayer. We have the privilege of praying to the God of the Universe and He says we can come to Him with confidence knowing that when we ask, He hears (Hebrews 4:16). And if He hears, He answers! We may think Jared is an impossible case and unable to be reached, but Jesus is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or think…so I encourage you to all to ask (Ephesians 3:20). Ask that the Lord would move mightily in his life and in his heart. Ask that Jared would receive the forgiveness that we all need. Be a part of the work of Jesus Christ and instead of a massacre, the Lord can create a masterpiece!
I am happy to say in the midst of this tragedy, there is still Good News…it is Jesus Christ. We don’t need more gun control, more security, more laws, more politics…the world only needs Jesus. It’s all we need and He’s totally sufficient to meet all of our needs. I encouraged you all if you have not done personal business with Jesus, now is the time. He is waiting for you and He is able to transform your life. Take this first step in your transformation by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Your salvation is very important to God-so much so that he gave His only Son to die for your sins:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God is not willing that any should perish, and that includes you! (2Peter 3:9). So pray this prayer:
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for sending Jesus into the world. I realize that I need a Savior.
Jesus, come into my life. I submit all my life to You, and I thank you for giving me eternal life. Amen.
If you have just made Jesus your Lord and Savior, I invite you to send me an email . I would love to encourage you in your new walk with Jesus and pray for you.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Not by Might nor by Power
Zechariah 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
I was disappointed as I reasoned with my then 16 year old son, Johnny. Not disappointed that he wanted to finish college first, but that he didn't seem to have a desire to go on an extended missions trip or go overseas to bible school to dive into the Word before he started college at a secular school. I shared with him that right after graduation would be a perfect time to do something like it because he had no responsibilities of family, job, etc. and he would probably never be able to get another opportunity. Even when I mentioned it, I could sense he had already decided he wasn't going to do it. Every part of me wanted to continue reasoning with him and arguing with him about why it was such a good idea. But deep in my heart, I said these exact words..."Ok, I won't mention it again, but you can't escape my prayers." I smiled to myself knowing that the Lord would honor my quiet spirit (which is very difficult for me by the way), and He would honor my self control in not quarrelling. I was certain I could come to the Lord with my request and He would move on my behalf if I acted in meekness and faith.
That evening, I added this important request to my prayer journal. The Lord brought a scripture to my spirit. Exodus 10:1-2 Now the Lord said to Moses, "Go in to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants, that I may show these signs of Mine before him, and that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your son's son the mighty things I have done in Egypt, and My signs which I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord." You see, the Lord wants to take every opportunity to bring glory to Himself...He is worthy of all praise. I knew as soon as I read this truth that in the end, no matter how long it took, the Lord would bring glory upon Himself. I also knew if He could change Pharoah's heart from hard to soft, he could certainly change Johnny's heart who had a deep desire to serve and honor the Lord.
It has been over a year since I wrote that in my prayer journal. I have quietly come to the Lord with my request and I have never mentioned anything about bible school or a missions trip to Johnny again since that day. I have waited patiently on the Lord for Him to bring glory to Himself. Just a couple of days ago, I was riding in the van with Johnny. "You know, mom, I've continued to have this feeling in my heart that God wants me to go to go out of the country either to bible school or on a missions trip with Gospel for Asia. The Lord has just continued to bring it up in my heart. I don't know what to think about that."
He didn't know what to think about it, but I did! I wanted to jump up and down and get out of the van and do a dance! Our God hears our prayers and if we wait, He will answer, without fail, 100% of the time. We don't have to knock our kids over the head or beat our husbands to listen, or be verbally aggressive to get our way. We just need to have a quiet spirit, and come to the One who will change our situation. He is in the business of the heart. He judges the heart and works in the heart and He is very, very good at the work He does. I want to bring honor and glory to the One who knows our hearts. I am thankful today that the Lord gave me His Word and He ALWAYS tells me the truth. If we seek Him and His Word and quietly come to Him with our requests, He will move and it's the most amazing thing! I pray that you never give up asking, seeking, and knocking. Because if we ask, it will be given to us, if we seek, we will find, and if we knock, the One who opens the doors, will open it to us! (Matthew 7:7) God Bless you this Christmas!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Psalm 107:1 Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.
1Peter 4:7 Love will cover a multitude of sins.
It was September of 2005 and I had just started my job at the hospital. I was taking care of a young woman with end-stage AIDS. Her body was severely battered by years of drug addiction and AIDS had taken its toll on her. All she wanted to do was lie in bed and wait for her pain medications. She looked like a shell of a person lying there. There was no eye contact, no expression. She didn't want to shower or even talk. She just waited to die. Her condition saddened me and I called out to the Lord for help. God placed her on my heart and I started to pray for her daily. I asked that the Lord how I could minister to her and also that He would open a door so I could share with her about the love of Jesus. Day after day as I cared for her, I would try different avenues to get on the subject, but the door was completely closed. I remember telling the Lord that it was impossible to share with her because her heart was closed to anything spiritual. She was discharged from the hospital one day and I never saw her again.
Over a year later, I returned from the hospital after maternity leave. I hadn’t worked for some time. I grabbed my coffee and listened to report. I was surprised when I heard Becky was one of my patients. I was sure she had probably passed away. During morning rounds, I went into her room and she was sitting up in a chair writing in a journal. Becky was reading a little prayer book that one of the priests from the hospital had given her. I introduced myself again and told her that I remembered her. She shared a little bit about herself. Becky said that she had gotten into drugs very early in life. She explained that she had three kids, all of which she had lost custody of, and she had gotten AIDS from IV drug use. I had a small window of opportunity to tell her just a little bit about what Jesus had done in my life. She was a little more open about talking about spiritual things, but she still seemed distant and had a wall up. Every chance I got, I glorified God and shared all that God was doing in my life. I had hoped and prayed that God would open a door for me to share how Jesus wanted to give her a new life, but as the days went by, I realized the opportunity to do this was slipping by. Her discharge date was set in a couple of days.
The next day, I drove across town to Gospel Supplies so I could buy her a bible. It wasn't just any bible. I wanted to get her one with big letters because she had AIDS-related meningitis that damaged her eyes. I also wanted to get her name engraved on it so that she could call this bible her own. I went and purchased her pretty, red bible and I brought it up to her in hopes that we would be able to talk more. She seemed thankful, but I still never had an opportunity to share with her about this matchless love that can only come from Jesus.
It was over a month later and a day before Thanksgiving, 2005, I stopped in to work because I had to pick up some paperwork. I wasn’t even in my uniform, but I heard someone from behind me call my name. I turned around and it was Becky. She said excitedly, "I have been looking for you." She told me that she had a relapse with her drugs and she had gotten readmitted to the hospital three days earlier. For the past three days, she had been walking up and down the hallways looking for me and wondering if I was going to be at work. She had just prayed that she would see me and there I was! I walked with her for a while. I noticed how broken she looked. She had really come to the end of her rope. She explained she wanted to find me to let me know how special her bible was to her. She said, “I had no idea that you had engraved my name on the cover of the bible. I have shown every doctor and nurse who comes into my room my new bible and I hold it up and say this is my bible!” Friends, may we never underestimate the power of love. It covers a multitude of sin and it NEVER fails. Becky went on to explain that every time she felt like doing drugs, she would pull her bible out and read it. When she did, the feelings to go and do drugs would leave her. It made me want to cry for her. I saw her in her eyes how much she longed to be free and that God had touched her heart through His Word.
She invited me to sit with her for a while and the anointing of God was in the room. I shared that I had been praying for her and I sensed the Lord had opened the door for this appointment. I asked Becky if I could share with her how she could go to heaven. God had totally opened up her heart and she listened intently to everything I said. When I asked her if she wanted to repent and receive eternal life, she nodded her head and closed her weary eyes as I led her in prayer. She sat on her hospital bed repenting and asking Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. For the first time, I saw joy light up her face. I just wanted to cry with her because I knew that the Lord set a wretch like me free and He was doing His mighty work again. He had created another beautiful masterpiece by His blood.
Right before I left Becky’s room, I asked if I could lay hands on her and pray for her health. She asked if I could pray for healing of her body and that God would deliver her from her drug addiction. I prayed over her and spoke the Word of God over her and her addiction. I told her the Lord had the power to deliver her and she could believe Him because He was worthy. I have never seen such a change in a person's demeanor as I saw after she had received the powerful blood of Jesus. Praise God that even when we give up on ourselves, He is faithful to never give up on us.
As I walked down the hall and out of the hospital, I realized how much I had to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. I thought about my own salvation and how freely Jesus forgave a sinful woman like me. I write this to encourage all of you on this Thanksgiving 2010. For all of you who have prayed for your family and friends to be saved and have lost hope, be encouraged on this Thanksgiving season and believe with me for the salvation of our loved ones. The Lord’s hand is not too short to reach those we see as unreachable. We serve a God who has the power to heal and save mightily. I prayed for this woman that I didn't even know and God answered me in all of His glory and power. Now what more do you think our Father in heaven will do for those His own children hold up in prayer? When it really comes down to it, what else is there? It’s just God's perfect love for us and the precious gift of salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving as we see the Lord’s work in our own lives and as we continue to see the gospel go out and touch the lives of those we see who do not yet know Him.
It was September of 2005 and I had just started my job at the hospital. I was taking care of a young woman with end-stage AIDS. Her body was severely battered by years of drug addiction and AIDS had taken its toll on her. All she wanted to do was lie in bed and wait for her pain medications. She looked like a shell of a person lying there. There was no eye contact, no expression. She didn't want to shower or even talk. She just waited to die. Her condition saddened me and I called out to the Lord for help. God placed her on my heart and I started to pray for her daily. I asked that the Lord how I could minister to her and also that He would open a door so I could share with her about the love of Jesus. Day after day as I cared for her, I would try different avenues to get on the subject, but the door was completely closed. I remember telling the Lord that it was impossible to share with her because her heart was closed to anything spiritual. She was discharged from the hospital one day and I never saw her again.
Over a year later, I returned from the hospital after maternity leave. I hadn’t worked for some time. I grabbed my coffee and listened to report. I was surprised when I heard Becky was one of my patients. I was sure she had probably passed away. During morning rounds, I went into her room and she was sitting up in a chair writing in a journal. Becky was reading a little prayer book that one of the priests from the hospital had given her. I introduced myself again and told her that I remembered her. She shared a little bit about herself. Becky said that she had gotten into drugs very early in life. She explained that she had three kids, all of which she had lost custody of, and she had gotten AIDS from IV drug use. I had a small window of opportunity to tell her just a little bit about what Jesus had done in my life. She was a little more open about talking about spiritual things, but she still seemed distant and had a wall up. Every chance I got, I glorified God and shared all that God was doing in my life. I had hoped and prayed that God would open a door for me to share how Jesus wanted to give her a new life, but as the days went by, I realized the opportunity to do this was slipping by. Her discharge date was set in a couple of days.
The next day, I drove across town to Gospel Supplies so I could buy her a bible. It wasn't just any bible. I wanted to get her one with big letters because she had AIDS-related meningitis that damaged her eyes. I also wanted to get her name engraved on it so that she could call this bible her own. I went and purchased her pretty, red bible and I brought it up to her in hopes that we would be able to talk more. She seemed thankful, but I still never had an opportunity to share with her about this matchless love that can only come from Jesus.
It was over a month later and a day before Thanksgiving, 2005, I stopped in to work because I had to pick up some paperwork. I wasn’t even in my uniform, but I heard someone from behind me call my name. I turned around and it was Becky. She said excitedly, "I have been looking for you." She told me that she had a relapse with her drugs and she had gotten readmitted to the hospital three days earlier. For the past three days, she had been walking up and down the hallways looking for me and wondering if I was going to be at work. She had just prayed that she would see me and there I was! I walked with her for a while. I noticed how broken she looked. She had really come to the end of her rope. She explained she wanted to find me to let me know how special her bible was to her. She said, “I had no idea that you had engraved my name on the cover of the bible. I have shown every doctor and nurse who comes into my room my new bible and I hold it up and say this is my bible!” Friends, may we never underestimate the power of love. It covers a multitude of sin and it NEVER fails. Becky went on to explain that every time she felt like doing drugs, she would pull her bible out and read it. When she did, the feelings to go and do drugs would leave her. It made me want to cry for her. I saw her in her eyes how much she longed to be free and that God had touched her heart through His Word.
She invited me to sit with her for a while and the anointing of God was in the room. I shared that I had been praying for her and I sensed the Lord had opened the door for this appointment. I asked Becky if I could share with her how she could go to heaven. God had totally opened up her heart and she listened intently to everything I said. When I asked her if she wanted to repent and receive eternal life, she nodded her head and closed her weary eyes as I led her in prayer. She sat on her hospital bed repenting and asking Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. For the first time, I saw joy light up her face. I just wanted to cry with her because I knew that the Lord set a wretch like me free and He was doing His mighty work again. He had created another beautiful masterpiece by His blood.
Right before I left Becky’s room, I asked if I could lay hands on her and pray for her health. She asked if I could pray for healing of her body and that God would deliver her from her drug addiction. I prayed over her and spoke the Word of God over her and her addiction. I told her the Lord had the power to deliver her and she could believe Him because He was worthy. I have never seen such a change in a person's demeanor as I saw after she had received the powerful blood of Jesus. Praise God that even when we give up on ourselves, He is faithful to never give up on us.
As I walked down the hall and out of the hospital, I realized how much I had to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. I thought about my own salvation and how freely Jesus forgave a sinful woman like me. I write this to encourage all of you on this Thanksgiving 2010. For all of you who have prayed for your family and friends to be saved and have lost hope, be encouraged on this Thanksgiving season and believe with me for the salvation of our loved ones. The Lord’s hand is not too short to reach those we see as unreachable. We serve a God who has the power to heal and save mightily. I prayed for this woman that I didn't even know and God answered me in all of His glory and power. Now what more do you think our Father in heaven will do for those His own children hold up in prayer? When it really comes down to it, what else is there? It’s just God's perfect love for us and the precious gift of salvation through Christ Jesus our Lord. May you have a blessed Thanksgiving as we see the Lord’s work in our own lives and as we continue to see the gospel go out and touch the lives of those we see who do not yet know Him.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
God is Mighty
I rushed out the grocery store making my escape to the van. My six week old daughter was hungry and not about to wait. As I made my way across the parking lot, there I saw her. Our eyes met. As if I knew what she was going to ask, I quickly shifted my eyes to the asphalt hoping she wouldn't notice me. As she took two steps towards me, I heard the dreaded request. "Do you have any spare change?" With a sigh, I replied, "No, no spare change." I was annoyed as I moved quickly to my van. I just wanted to get home to feed my baby and relax. Could they not understand my body language and my annoyance when they asked me for money, I wondered. She promptly thanked me after I said no and I hurried on my way. Deep in my spirit, I thought how this homeless lady still mattered to God and as a daughter of the King, she should matter to me also.
Thoughts came flooding back to my heart as I remembered what Pastor Fernando told me months earlier. He said he never gave money when homeless people asked, but he would give them fruit or whatever he had from his lunch. I got to my van and buckled my daughter in her car seat. I looked in my grocery bag at the one loaf of bread and carton of yogurt at the bottom of the bag. A drew in a deep breath as I felt the Lord prompting me to share the little I had. I drove across the parking lot to the woman. I opened my window and called out to her. She came over to my window. I said, "I have no money, but I do have a yogurt if you want it." She smiled a sad smile and thanked me for sharing. She was about 40 years old, thin, weathered, and one of the loneliest souls I had ever seen. It showed on her face all of the pain and sorrow her life had offered her. I saw the dissatisfaction that that squashed her hopes and dreams that resulted from believing the lie that the world had something to offer her. The world had left her void of any peace, joy, or love. All of a sudden, like a flood, I got such an overwhelming feeling of love that flowed in my heart for this woman. What spilled out of my mouth at that moment would do nothing short of changing this woman's life in an instant. Tears welled up in my eyes and I said, "I want you to know that Jesus loves you." Just the sound of that name changes people...that beautiful name, Jesus. A flash of hope lit up in her eyes and I saw that my Mighty God had had touched her deep in her soul. "I appreciate you telling me that," she said. "I have been very, very down lately and I needed to hear that."
For a few moments we were like old friends catching up. She started opening up to me about her life. She told me her name was Cynthia and that she was homeless and hungry. She had contracted a rare blood disease that was causing her to be sick. The doctors told her that she didn't have long to live. She shared with me the hurt she had in her heart that she could trace back as far as she could remember. Over the past couple of days she explained that things had gotten so bad for her that she didn't want to get up and face another day. She thought to herself just hours before that she hoped to either die on her own or that she would commit suicide. Tears flowed down my face as I pointed to Jesus for her solution. I explained that the Lord sent me to talk with her and that He was willing and able to to change her life and heal her.
Cynthia had been very sick recently from her disease and she had been thinking a lot about God and heaven and when I asked her if she knew she was going to heaven, she said this very question plaqued her heart. All the while it tugged at her heart, she was completely unsure of her eternal destiny. My heart flowed out Living Water as the scripture talks about. The power of Jesus just flowed through my heart as I sat in awe of God. He was opening the door for me to share with this woman and I was privileged to be a part of His glorious work. My daughter, on the other hand, was not very excited. She was starting to cry because she was hungry.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, I invited Cynthia into my van to drive across the parking lot. This is something I would never recommend. When I think back, I knew I was being led by the Holy Spirit because this is something so contrary to what I would do on my own. I would never invite anyone into my car, especially with my 6 week old baby in the car with me. We quietly drove through the parking lot to the resturant where I would give her something to eat that would satisfy her for a while, but also share with her the Bread of Life that would last forever.
As we sat down together at the table, she ate as if it were her last meal. I knew she was hungry for food. But what I started to realize was she was more hungry for eternal security and the love of Jesus. I told her that even more than the food she was eating or any amount of money in the world, what I was about to share with her was worth more than Gold. I sat and nursed my daughter as I shared the gospel with this stranger. Cynthia cried as she accepted forgiveness and invited Jesus into her heart. While I prayed with her, she took in a very deep breath. After I finished, she said that she had not been able to breath in deeply in so long because of this heaviness she had in her chest. She explained that while I was praying for her that God had lifted something from her and she was able to take a deep breath. God had forgiven all of her sins and removed the burden from her.
The Lord removed her sin and I visited with my new friend. She was now my sister and part of my family. I was so cut to the heart when she shared her life with me. She had been living in an abandoned home with no furniture or electricity. She shared that her childhood was very difficult and she never felt any love in her home. The Lord revealed to me that she had been wounded and deeply hurt by abuse as a child. As if being unloved isn't enough, her brother had committed suicide 6 years earlier. It broke her heart so much that she gave up on God. She realized as the Holy Spirit worked in her heart that she had been mad at God for her brother dying. I told her, "I assure you, Cynthia, God has never given up on you because He sent me to talk with you today." Jesus was the answer to all of her problems and He wanted to give her a new life and fill her with a joy that couldn't be obtained anywhere except through HIm.
After all of this, she said, "More than the meal you've given me, thank you for taking the time to tell me all of this." In all of her life experience, no one had ever taken the time to talk to her about God. She explained how she had a deep sense of relief in her heart that she was unable to explain. Her smile lit up the room and it gave me great joy to see God be glorified.
When we were getting ready to leave, she pulled out a dirty, crumpled piece of paper with a poem on it. She had written it that morning and this is what it said
My true love, Sent from the Heavens above
As beautiful as a flying white dove
Wanting him, needing him, missing him, and loving him,
I have deep emotions for this man, so much so you just
wouldn't understand.
Life has so many commands and demands,
struggles and strides, so many tears to hide
not really one soul you could honestly confide
Life to me has always been a rough ride,
much loss but not much gained
releasing my tears as it may rain
at times I may feel insane, with no one in particular to blame
I pray day after day, night after night, for my life to just be alright
Yet I know I must not give up, I must try with all of my might
Althoguh I cry myself to sleep almost every night, still I must awake
the next day and put up another fight just to survive and be alright
Written by Cynthia AKA Sinner
I was moved in my heart that she had written this. The man she spoke of in this poem was Jesus and He had given her a new life. He had rescued her from her darkest hour and she was going to be alright. The Lord had done a wonderful thing in this woman's life. I was amazed as I thought about how when people ask me for spare change, how deep inside I have already judged them. But God showed me how it doesn't matter to the Lord if we live in an abandoned building or a high dollar mansion, His spirit wants to reach them and save their lost souls.
I felt blessed as I walked back to my van. I reached in my glove box and handed her a brand new bible that I had been carrying around for months for that special soul that God showed me. She was thankful for her bible and told me she never had one of her own. While we said goodbye, I asked if I could lay hands on her and ask that God would heal her body. As I prayed, I felt God's anointing and I believe by His power He not only healed her spirit, but her body also.
As I drove away, I pondered the greatness of God. I realized the matchless gift God had given me through His adoption. My life with Him was an abundant life and now Cynthia had the same rights to that life I had by taking one step of faith and believing. I smiled as I thought about my wonderful husband, five beautiful children, and an inheritance in heaven that no one can put a price on. I never saw Cynthia again. I often look for her when I go to that grocery store on the west side of town. But I knew I would see her again in eternity, as she had just received from God what every man and woman is looking for...forgiveness.
A friend of mine recently sent me an email and she signed it "God is Mighty." I say, yes He is! My God is so mighty.
Thoughts came flooding back to my heart as I remembered what Pastor Fernando told me months earlier. He said he never gave money when homeless people asked, but he would give them fruit or whatever he had from his lunch. I got to my van and buckled my daughter in her car seat. I looked in my grocery bag at the one loaf of bread and carton of yogurt at the bottom of the bag. A drew in a deep breath as I felt the Lord prompting me to share the little I had. I drove across the parking lot to the woman. I opened my window and called out to her. She came over to my window. I said, "I have no money, but I do have a yogurt if you want it." She smiled a sad smile and thanked me for sharing. She was about 40 years old, thin, weathered, and one of the loneliest souls I had ever seen. It showed on her face all of the pain and sorrow her life had offered her. I saw the dissatisfaction that that squashed her hopes and dreams that resulted from believing the lie that the world had something to offer her. The world had left her void of any peace, joy, or love. All of a sudden, like a flood, I got such an overwhelming feeling of love that flowed in my heart for this woman. What spilled out of my mouth at that moment would do nothing short of changing this woman's life in an instant. Tears welled up in my eyes and I said, "I want you to know that Jesus loves you." Just the sound of that name changes people...that beautiful name, Jesus. A flash of hope lit up in her eyes and I saw that my Mighty God had had touched her deep in her soul. "I appreciate you telling me that," she said. "I have been very, very down lately and I needed to hear that."
For a few moments we were like old friends catching up. She started opening up to me about her life. She told me her name was Cynthia and that she was homeless and hungry. She had contracted a rare blood disease that was causing her to be sick. The doctors told her that she didn't have long to live. She shared with me the hurt she had in her heart that she could trace back as far as she could remember. Over the past couple of days she explained that things had gotten so bad for her that she didn't want to get up and face another day. She thought to herself just hours before that she hoped to either die on her own or that she would commit suicide. Tears flowed down my face as I pointed to Jesus for her solution. I explained that the Lord sent me to talk with her and that He was willing and able to to change her life and heal her.
Cynthia had been very sick recently from her disease and she had been thinking a lot about God and heaven and when I asked her if she knew she was going to heaven, she said this very question plaqued her heart. All the while it tugged at her heart, she was completely unsure of her eternal destiny. My heart flowed out Living Water as the scripture talks about. The power of Jesus just flowed through my heart as I sat in awe of God. He was opening the door for me to share with this woman and I was privileged to be a part of His glorious work. My daughter, on the other hand, was not very excited. She was starting to cry because she was hungry.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, I invited Cynthia into my van to drive across the parking lot. This is something I would never recommend. When I think back, I knew I was being led by the Holy Spirit because this is something so contrary to what I would do on my own. I would never invite anyone into my car, especially with my 6 week old baby in the car with me. We quietly drove through the parking lot to the resturant where I would give her something to eat that would satisfy her for a while, but also share with her the Bread of Life that would last forever.
As we sat down together at the table, she ate as if it were her last meal. I knew she was hungry for food. But what I started to realize was she was more hungry for eternal security and the love of Jesus. I told her that even more than the food she was eating or any amount of money in the world, what I was about to share with her was worth more than Gold. I sat and nursed my daughter as I shared the gospel with this stranger. Cynthia cried as she accepted forgiveness and invited Jesus into her heart. While I prayed with her, she took in a very deep breath. After I finished, she said that she had not been able to breath in deeply in so long because of this heaviness she had in her chest. She explained that while I was praying for her that God had lifted something from her and she was able to take a deep breath. God had forgiven all of her sins and removed the burden from her.
The Lord removed her sin and I visited with my new friend. She was now my sister and part of my family. I was so cut to the heart when she shared her life with me. She had been living in an abandoned home with no furniture or electricity. She shared that her childhood was very difficult and she never felt any love in her home. The Lord revealed to me that she had been wounded and deeply hurt by abuse as a child. As if being unloved isn't enough, her brother had committed suicide 6 years earlier. It broke her heart so much that she gave up on God. She realized as the Holy Spirit worked in her heart that she had been mad at God for her brother dying. I told her, "I assure you, Cynthia, God has never given up on you because He sent me to talk with you today." Jesus was the answer to all of her problems and He wanted to give her a new life and fill her with a joy that couldn't be obtained anywhere except through HIm.
After all of this, she said, "More than the meal you've given me, thank you for taking the time to tell me all of this." In all of her life experience, no one had ever taken the time to talk to her about God. She explained how she had a deep sense of relief in her heart that she was unable to explain. Her smile lit up the room and it gave me great joy to see God be glorified.
When we were getting ready to leave, she pulled out a dirty, crumpled piece of paper with a poem on it. She had written it that morning and this is what it said
My true love, Sent from the Heavens above
As beautiful as a flying white dove
Wanting him, needing him, missing him, and loving him,
I have deep emotions for this man, so much so you just
wouldn't understand.
Life has so many commands and demands,
struggles and strides, so many tears to hide
not really one soul you could honestly confide
Life to me has always been a rough ride,
much loss but not much gained
releasing my tears as it may rain
at times I may feel insane, with no one in particular to blame
I pray day after day, night after night, for my life to just be alright
Yet I know I must not give up, I must try with all of my might
Althoguh I cry myself to sleep almost every night, still I must awake
the next day and put up another fight just to survive and be alright
Written by Cynthia AKA Sinner
I was moved in my heart that she had written this. The man she spoke of in this poem was Jesus and He had given her a new life. He had rescued her from her darkest hour and she was going to be alright. The Lord had done a wonderful thing in this woman's life. I was amazed as I thought about how when people ask me for spare change, how deep inside I have already judged them. But God showed me how it doesn't matter to the Lord if we live in an abandoned building or a high dollar mansion, His spirit wants to reach them and save their lost souls.
I felt blessed as I walked back to my van. I reached in my glove box and handed her a brand new bible that I had been carrying around for months for that special soul that God showed me. She was thankful for her bible and told me she never had one of her own. While we said goodbye, I asked if I could lay hands on her and ask that God would heal her body. As I prayed, I felt God's anointing and I believe by His power He not only healed her spirit, but her body also.
As I drove away, I pondered the greatness of God. I realized the matchless gift God had given me through His adoption. My life with Him was an abundant life and now Cynthia had the same rights to that life I had by taking one step of faith and believing. I smiled as I thought about my wonderful husband, five beautiful children, and an inheritance in heaven that no one can put a price on. I never saw Cynthia again. I often look for her when I go to that grocery store on the west side of town. But I knew I would see her again in eternity, as she had just received from God what every man and woman is looking for...forgiveness.
A friend of mine recently sent me an email and she signed it "God is Mighty." I say, yes He is! My God is so mighty.
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