I pr@y all is well with you and that you and your family enjoyed some special time together to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom to know G0d, love Him, and w0rship Him without hindrance!! It always reminds me of the ONE–Jss– who TRULY paid the full price for each one of us to walk in right relationship with G0d, The Father and to have life even though we die!! Truly it is something to remember…not just the last weekend in May, but every day of the year!!
I spent the weekend replacing the “tired” dirt in all of my flower beds and beginning the process of planting new flowers in my garden of life!! It was a fun thing for me and it will bring joy every day as I walk through my garden each morning tending it like our Father G0d intended for us in the beginning. I planted some seeds of flowers from home, so I am hopeful to have some glimpses of home welcoming me each day!!
Last week, D@n and I took Fon and his wife Aram back to their village. We went to the doctor and he said he did not want to see Fon again for 10 days. Since they had been away from home for over 2 weeks, Fon wanted to go back to the village to check on things. They also left 2 small children, 5 and 3 years, and wanted to check on them.
Our time was amazing there!! Again, I had no idea what G0d had planned for the day, but when you walk by the power of His Spirit, He leads you to do things and have conversations that reveal Him to those who do not know Him. D@n and I both just gave pr@ise to Jss, our G0d, and the Spirit that guides us as we got into Harvey to make our way home again.
Here are some of the things G0d did:
“It was not because of his sins or his parents sins,” Jss answered. “This happened so the power of G0d could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”
As usual when we arrived, many came to greet us and sit with us. Each one had words of gratitude to us for the ways we had cared for Fon. Each one also had words of pr@ise for us being in the village at just the right time. True to this culture, most of this gratitude and pr@ise was spoken to us in order to “build us up”. With each comment to us, came a turning of that human pr@ise into the pr@ise of the ONE who TRULY, cared for Fon, had orchestrated the events of that day, and who had come close to all of us so that we could see Him. Much was said about all the money that had been spent…again turning that into the pr@ise of the ONE who provides what His children need at the time they need it.
As we talked, more people gathered, and we just spent the next 4 hours talking and sharing G0d’s Word with all who had gathered. Most of these people were family members of Fon and his wife. D@n began to tell the story of the disciples asking Jss who had sinned, the blind man or his parents. It was cool to watch each person lean in and listen intently. The two “old women” were totally engaged in this story and conversation. They really identified with it and began to tell us how the women of this culture really experience this. They said, “When your son is a good man, prospers, and does well for the family, he is EVERYONE’S Son. He has a “good mother”. When your son is bad, does bad things, does not prosper, and do well for the family, he is HIS MOTHER’S Son. He had a “bad mother.” Since Fon is a Chr!st!an, many have said bad things about him and his “mothers” (mother can mean your birth mother or other women responsible for you). We talked a lot about this story, the power and wisdom of Jss. One of the significant things the two “old women” said, “Really the G0d Fon is following is the Way and the Truth. We need to believe in Him and get His forgiveness, so our lives will be right.” My heart just jumped and I had words on my heart to share, as they were finishing up their words, Fon returned from an errand.
“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling. ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ But he called back, ‘Believe me, i don’t know you!”
Fon began telling a story even before he sat down with us. I do not know if he had heard their words or not because he was not there with us when they said it. The story he began telling was the story of the 10 bridesmaids who went to meet the bridegroom. Five were foolish and five were wise, five were prepared and five were not.
It was perfect!! G0d again had orchestrated the most perfect sequence of events and we could see that truly He is pursuing not only Fon, his wife, his children, but his extended family as well. The door opened for me to say what was on my heart and to wrap up the two stories and our time together. I wish I could tell you exactly what I said, but it was one of those moments we have as His servants where His Spirit takes over and you feel like you are sitting by watching something so much bigger than just what is on your heart.
This is what I remember about those moments: My heart had been so touched by the two “old women’s” words about needing to believe and get forgiveness. After listening to the two stories and the conversation afterwards, I began to share with them how this accident happened to Fon “so the power of G0d could be seen in him” and so that each one of us could see and know the love, the Presence, and the power of Jss on behalf of those who believe in Him. Our time here is short, the night is coming…the bridegroom is coming and we must be prepared! Jss is preparing to come back and He is pursuing all who would put their faith in Him. G0d wants us to see Him so that we will believe…He wants THEM to see Him, to know that Jss truly is the Way and the Truth, and that He is showing Himself to them so they can believe … be “prepared” to go to the feast with Him.
Please be pr@ying for Fon, his wife, and for those in his family and village who have seen and heard the work and words of G0d. We will be returning to pick Fon us to go to the doctor this Thursday. I pr@y we will hear of the great things G0d has done and said in our absence through His Son and Daughter–Fon and Aram. I pr@y we will hear of the salvation of those in his family and that the words of G0d are spreading throughout the village of K0n!an.
Pr@y also for our time with the doctor and that all is going well with the continued healing of Fon’s mouth and teeth. He is doing so much better! They have not removed the wire holding his teeth in place and they have not taken out the stitches inside his mouth along his jaw bone (from the ear to the front of his mouth. You can see from this picture the broken tire on his bicycle. We continue to give pr@ise to G0d for His protection and provision for this our brother who is experiencing pers3cut!on for his f@ith!!
Thank you for your f@ithfulness to pr@y and “carry out the tasks assigned” to you!! Thanks for being “the LIght of the World!”