Today I woke up exhausted as I had a bout of insomnia and cancelled the work on my house today. I got up and drank coffee and read a little bit. Then I got a hold of Joel Peach and invited him to lunch. We agreed to meet at about 12:30.
I wore my "I Killed Jesus & Jesus Saved Me" t-shirt. For those that have never seen this shirt it's a black T with large white letters that say "I Killed Jesus" then in smaller grey letters underneath it says, "& Jesus Save Me." When people are more than 20 feet away all they see is the large white letters. Many times this shirt will make people squirm until I get close enough that they can read the grey letters. At that time I see a calm come over them.
Today was no different. These two African American ladies were sitting across the Dining Room from us and they kept looking at me in disgust. I pointed it out to Joel and I shared some other situations where this shirt has allowed me to have conversations about God with complete strangers. After they were finished eating they had to walk right past us and the Mom stopped and read the shirt and asked me, "what in the world does that mean? Why would you wear a shirt stating that you killed Jesus? I love Jesus." I explained very kindly that if I and her and every other person since God's Creation hadn't been sinners that God would've never had to send His Son to die for our sinful and broken ways. As a result we were all guilty of killing Jesus. At that moment I saw the light come on and she smiled and apologized for staring at me and then wanted to know where she could buy a shirt too for her husband.
That is the reason I have that shirt. To force people to think outside the box. To start conversations with complete strangers so we can have conversations about Jesus. So we can talk about His Grace and all His Glory. I am so humbled and pleased that I got to represent His Kingdom today and honor Him by discussing His greatness.
Now we fast forward to this evening and I talked Joel into going to worship tonight at Reality. I picked up Joel and we had a very nice visit on the drive over. After driving to church we grabbed some coffee and I noticed a man I never had seen before walk in. He grabbed coffee and headed for a couch in the back by himself. I walked over and introduced myself to David and found that he'd moved into the community from Portland a couple months ago and was in the process of finding a church to call home. He had been to the Thursday night service and this was his 3rd service today in as many churches.
David was a little shy at first and a little reluctant to answer personal questions about himself to a stranger but as I listened he began to open up a bit. I discovered that he loved to worship through music and has a musical gift that allows him to play many instruments. The service was about to start and so I asked if it would be OK to continue after worship and if at that time there was anything weighing on his heart that I could pray with him about. He smiled and said he would like to talk some more after the time of worship.
The sermon was the wrap up of the study on the Book of Jonah. As always Paul did a great job of getting to the real point God is trying to get to us in this story. Really made me think about how shallow I have been in my life and how much like Jonah I have been. Like when I was a kid and my Mom would tell me she bought me a gift and as soon as I found out it was new pants or shoes I threw a tantrum as it wasn't a toy. I wish I could say that type of selfish behavior stopped as a child but truthfully it still goes on. I make a commission and yet I get pissed as I didn't make a bonus with it even though I did everything right and it was out of my control but still I didn't get the bonus too, I get pissy and just throw a different type of tantrum now. So I can relate to how silly and selfish Jonah acted in chapter 4 and yet God still loves me as He loved Jonah and that my friends is called GRACE.
After taking communion and singing a few more songs I went to the back of the church and met with my new Brother David. I introduced Pastor Paul and after they talked for a bit I got the chance to do something amazing for our Lord. I was able to listen to David with compassion and a caring and loving heart as that sermon really touched his heart tonight. He told me how he had been so harshly judging an atheist friend for so long and how that lesson tonight made him see how wrong he was.
I praise God for this. He was able to speak through Paul and using the book of Jonah to bring a man so much conviction he was able to confess this sin and then repent for it. I praise the Father for this. I sat there and listened and then the Spirit spoke words of wisdom and encouragement and love through me to David and we were able to lay it all at the feet of Christ tonight as I was honored to pray for this man. I saw a man that has been beating himself up secretly for a long time get a new start tonight. A refreshed start that David is going to take out in this community and share a smile and kind words to strangers for the Kingdom of Christ. For this I thank God and praise His unconditional Love that He has for every being He created.
I am so blessed that God is calling me by name to share His Love with the world one person at a time. I give thanks for this and I ask anyone reading this to give praise to God and to please lift up my new Brother in Christ David this week and to also please pray for me. Pray for me to continue to be obedient to my Father and loving to all of God's people. I ask that you pray for me to be strong and lead from the sins of flesh this week. That you pray for me to hear God in my heart and soul and to remember, when I can't handle any of it, all I have to do is lay it at the cross and He will take over and relieve me of the troubles and worries I have. Thank you for your prayers and your friendship.
God bless you all and may God continue to not only Bless America but all the people in the world.
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