What Do You Think?

This week my teenager had an assignment to interview everyone in our household, asking them, "What does America mean to you?" She asked. We answered. She responded by saying that she couldn't quote us exactly. She had to change the wording because the instructions for doing this assignment included that she could include nothing that would offend anyone else. In case you are wondering what our response to the assignment question was, here goes:"America to us means that we have the freedom to live where we choose, the freedom to get an education, also the freedom to read our Bible and to spread the gospel without fear of death."

Obviously we had a long conversation about why this was, in our opinion, not the right thing to do. I instructed her to write the quotes exactly as they were told to her even if she failed the assignment. I told her I would be more proud of her for failing the assignment than I would if she were to pass with an A+. I also told her this was an opportunity God had given her to let her light shine for him and the rewards he would have for her would by far outweigh the best grade she could possibly receive for the assignment. I reminded her that scripture tells us to place God above man and to not be ashamed of the gospel.

Everyone thinks we have to be tolerant towards others beliefs and that mentioning the gospel or God is being intolerant. What they don't realize is that God is more tolerant than any of us could ever be. Even though people are turning their backs on him and want to remove him from everything, God still is withholding his anger from us, being patient with us, giving us chance after chance after chance to accept him. I feel such sadness and compassion for those who do not realize that God is the example for tolerance. Tolerance doesn't mean that we shouldn't try to teach others about God, it just means that we have to keep giving the chance to hear the truth of the gospel to others. Not to adopt their false truth for ourselves.

Are You Worried?

Everyone we come in contact with voices their worry about their economic situation. Most are struggling paying their mortgage, rent, credit card bills, light and phone bills, groceries, medical bills, along with all the other costs. Most say they have nothing left after paying everything and some say they don't have enough to pay all that they owe.

The Bible says we are to trust in God to provide what we need. We also have a responsibility as believers, if we are more financially able, to help those who do not have enough. I know it is difficult to let go of what you have worked hard to gain. But it is also hard when you sit down with coupons and sales papers trying to figure out how many different grocery stores you will have to go to, which coupons to use at which store to get the most out of them you can, and still not be able to get the groceries you need. Some believers struggle with these situations daily. It can be tiring, discouraging, and at times embarrasing.

We need to follow Jesus' example of compassion to help those fellow believers when they need us. In scripture Jesus often reached out to others because he saw their need or heard their cry. They didn't have to ask for help. He just helped.

Are you worried how you can afford all that you owe? If you are, keep praying for help. God is faithful and just. He knows what you need before you ask. Be faithful to him and in your belief in his promices.

If you aren't in the situation others are in, are you listening to God when he asks you to help? Don't turn your back or walk away when God is asking you to do for others. You may be the one God is using to answer their prayers. Don't fail this test he may be giving you. Be faithful to him to be his light.

Back To Work for Christ

We have missed knocking on doors to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are now moved in and are looking forward to continuing what we feel God has called us to do - spread the gospel one door at a time. It is always such a blessing to see someone have questions and come to Christ. There is nothing more worth while. Jeff has a heart for the children and teens to hear the gospel. His energy in this area is inspiring to me.

Please pray that God will work and prepare those we are to talk to. Pray for revival in hearts of many, not only in this area, but everywhere. Pray for disciples to be born with a fervent desire to reach others. Pray for teens to understand the importance of staying in his Word and how they are so desperately needed to be a beacon of light to other teens. These things wil change our homes, our towns, and our world.

Finally Moved In

We are finally moved in to our new location. Most everything is in place inside the house with the exception of a few things we have yet to get. Now comes the moving of the lawn articles. God gave us the energy we needed to complete this phase of moving. This weekend will be some well needed rest. It is very quiet here and very dark at night with no other houses around us. Thank you to all that helped with the move, it was a blessing to us.

God Is Good!

I recently got the results of my cat scan back. I do not have pancreatitis. I instead have a cyst. The doctor has told me it appears to be benign. This is good news. After a couple of months, I will have an ultrasould. I am told that sometimes these cysts resolve themselves after a few weeks. Please pray that in December it will be gone. Also, please pray that our financial difficulties resolve also. We have used a portion of the money set aside for moving to help pay for medications and medical bills. We will be moving the weekend of October 24th. We're not quite sure how we can afford all the expenses with deposits and first months rent but we are confident that God will provide. He is always so good to us and has never let us down or never left us lacking for anything.

The prayers you have offered up on our behalf are much appreciated. We see God working through your prayers. A transformer blew in our neighborhood on Friday and our television was getting no power. We tried it in several different outlets but still no power. We tried several different times on Saturday morning but still no power to it. We ran some errands, came home, and was told the power had gone out again while we were away. Immediately we started checking other appliances. Jeff tried the television again for some reason and it amazingly came back on, but this time with a better picture than it had before. We don't know how it came back on except God resolving the problem. What a blessing. He can do anything.

Thank you for your prayers, calls and encouragement. You are a blessing to each of us.

Testimony

I have had several to ask me of my testimony lately. I know some are reading the blog so I thought I would put it on here for the ones that do read:

"I was saved at the age of six. I knew who Jesus was and believed that he was the only Son of God born of a virgin, died on Calvary for my sin, and rose on the third to day. I prayed the sinners prayer and believed it with all my heart. But, it wasn't until later in life I started to develope a relationship with him. I turned my entire life over to him. I gave him control of everything. I repented of my sin. Since that time I have seen relationships mended, a marriage that was virtually over renewed and made better than I could have ever hope for, seen family members saved, finances made available when I needed it, and have peace and comfort that I never knew was possible. I still have difficulties but now I have the assurance that Christ is with me to help me through and that I am not alone anymore. He has given me a sense of excitement that is renewed daily. He suprises me daily to meet my needs even before I know I need them. Everyday I learn something new about him and grow to love him even more."

There are a lot of things that I have seen done that has been impossible for us to do on our own. But with God all things are possible to those who believe. This is my God that I believe in so desperately. My constant daily prayer is for you, if you haven't turned your life over to Christ to do so. He's waiting. He has miracles in store for you as well.

God's Grace

God's grace is amazing. Everytime we turn around we see God in everything. We yearn to know God more and more everyday. We stay in his Word. We meditate on it. We look for him in all situations, decisions, and for all directions. It's like being a child, knowing that great suprises await you just because you are a child and because your parent loves you. Each morning we awake searching for God with the expectations that God will reveal himself anew. Sometimes it is suttle. Other times it is just right in front of us. Sometimes it makes us smile just knowing it is him. Sometimes it takes our breath away and the only thing we can do is stop what we are doing and thank him right then and there. There are no words that we can use to express how wonderful a relationship with him can be. There is no way you can know this relationship until you completely surrender to him. If you haven't surrendered your life to him, we encourage you do so as soon as possible. It is joyous to see others filled with excitment that can only come from him.