Oasis

Sometimes God puts an oasis where you least expect it.
Sometimes it's even when you least realize you need it.
Sometimes it's not for our refreshment, but for another's.
Sometimes it's not about refreshing a brother, but witnessing to the lost.
Sometimes I can ramble on about nothing and leave everyone wandering what I'm trying to say. I'm pretty good at that.

Yesterday some of the folks I work with at Aaron's and myself were out collecting canned goods in an effort to help a local food ministry. The event itself turned out to be hugely successful and in just a little over 2 hours we collected over 500 cans of food to give to the ministry, but on the way to 500 I connected with a brother in Christ.

We knocked on his door and explained what we were doing. His response was that he was barely able to manage himself. He said it rather matter of factly with a touch of sorrow. He was sincere. He repeated himself rather quitely, then said, "It really doesn't matter much, because the Lord's coming back soon." He said that rather matter of factly with more than a touch of hopeful joy. I rejoiced in my heart with him and it came out in the form of a rather loud "Amen!" Just thinking about it now gets me pumped up all over again.

He said he is 92 and his wife went home to Heaven two years ago. He also shared a remarkable observation with me. "I never realized how much she buffered me from the world." There was a moment of silence as he reflected on what he had with his wife, and I thought of how true that is for me with my wife. WOW! What a remarkable realization. Thank God He pointed that out to me before it was too late.

He continued to speak and share his insight on several things. I did not agree with all he had to say, but kept the disagreements to myself, choosing rather to shake hands and encourage him in what we did agree on. I can't tell you how I was refreshed in that meeting. I know my brother was as well, for he asked if I could come back later and we could continue our conversation. How good it is for brothers to dwell in unity!

Unfortunately, the likelihood of my seeing him again on this side of heaven is slim. I sure would like to though. That was the most refreshing drink of water I've had in a long time.

What about the lost? Oh yes, I almost forgot! The young man who was with me heard a little bit of the Word of God, and saw the unbridle passion for Jesus Christ in a couple of Christians. He asked me no questions, niether did he make any negative comments. He was thoughtful. A few hours later, as we left the store and he and I shook hands and I looked him in the eye, I noticed a seed was planted. I won't get to water it, but I believe God will have someone do so.

I have had many great joys in my life; many great successes; many satisfying achievements, but I have never had any greater joy than being used of my Lord for His purpose.

Problems? Worries? Concerns?

Its amazing how the hand of God on your life can completely remove any of the things mentioned in the title. We went out for our regular Sunday afternoon evangelism / teen soul winning and I was feeling a little off. I didn't really want to do, and wasn't expecting God to do much. I don't know what had gotten to me, but I did know that if I gave into the feeling I would have a difficult time recovering.

Pastor called it "Holy Spirit Night" and I was glad about that. Normally we just go knocking on doors and recently I have had very few positive results. I have been wanting to go to the public parks and talk to people. Before leaving I prayed with my group for God's direction and fruit. I thought of some parks and when God gave the okay on one, we pulled out.

The park God led us to was being used for some soccer games that were well attended. The problem was that most of the attendants spoke very little English. We found a group of teenage boys playing basketball and spoke to them for a while. Realizing they had no interest, we moved on. I headed through the soccer spectators to the playground the younger kids were playing at.

I was looking for some adults and thought it would be easy to find some with the number of young kids playing. Not today. The best I could se was a few young teenage girls. I hate aproaching young girls with the all perverts running around, so I asked them were the adults were. I explained to the girls that I was the youth director at our church and we were trying to build the bus routes. God used that to open up a conversation during which two of the girls announced that they were Christians. I asked them if they knew whether they would go to heaven if they were to die today and they said no.

As I explained the Gospel to them, all five payed very close attention to what I was saying. They asked great questions and each one led right into the next point. I knew God was in control of this conversation. All five of the girls prayed to receive Christ as their Saviour. As we left they were singing about what they had just done, and excitedly proclaiming that they couldn't wait to tell their parents!

I noticed that all my problems had faded into nothingness.

Praise God, I love Him!

One Hit Wonder

I went to one of our local shopping malls yesterday with one of my brothers in Christ looking for folks to share the gospel with. As we walked I prayed for success.

We approached a man sitting on a chair who looked up to me. I immediately recognized him as someone who doesn't know me, because people who know me don't look up to me. Okay, that was lame, but I couldn't resist.

Anyway, we exchanged hellos and God struck up a conversation. Five minutes later I was sharing the gospel with him and he eventually prayed to receive Christ as his saviour. It was like getting up to bat and knocking one out of the park on the first pitch. Pretty cool since the mall closed early that day and we had to leave shortly afterwards.