Gunfights and Angry Cowboys

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Greetings Sisters!
I pray this day is a quiet and joyful one for you!
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)

Let them ever shout for joy...those are powerful words.  How often to do we allow the world's troubles to stop us from shouting our joy?

Speaking of shouting, I have a witnessing even to share with you.


The past several days we have been holding gospel signs in a busy tourist town where thousands of people come from all over the world.  Every evening on a certain corner they section off the street and they put on a mock gun fight skit, replaying enactments from old western stories.  It's vile....they pretend to shoot each other and cause the audience to laugh at such sin.  People from all ages come to watch this and it's sickening because as they pass by us to get to it, some of them are giving us a thumbs up or saying they are Christians yet they choose that gun show over talking about the things of God.

We have chosen to stand on that corner with our gospel signs where all passing by on foot, in car or sitting in the seats watching the show, can see and get the truth.  Well, last night one of the 'cowboys' came over before the show to try to intimidate brother Jim.  It didn't work and he walked away angry.  The wicked show went on and after it was finished we walked to the busy corner where everyone was leaving and brother Jim lifted his voice to preach.  I'll put that here so you can hear it as an example...


As we were heading over across the street a super tall 'cowboy' came charging out of the crowd, getting right in brother Jim's face and was screaming, 'GET OUT OF HERE, GO HOME!!!'  Brother Jim just continued to preach and ignore him.  He then came over and yelled at me, but I just walked on by brother Jim...knowing my Father was watching.  He went back by brother Jim and looked like he was going to get violent so I started a video of it, that usually stops people (which in this case it did) and he stormed off. In the crowd, many were laughing and mocking...some of those being 'professed christians'.  The light of God's truth cuts like a knife and reveals what's inside.  Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Soon after, we packed up to head to another witnessing event down the road, which I will share about in a separate post.  

We walked back to our van and just as we were about to get in, a cleaning man in a bank poked his head out the door and said 'I like your signs'.  Brother Jim went to talk to him and as I listened, I was thanking God for using us as this man clearly was hungry for truth.  It was so encouraging to see this man, new in the faith, (struggling with trials) get encouragement on some convictions he had been having.  I think of this passage:

 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.  say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:3-7)

God has His remnant out there, doing His will; they are few and far between but they are willing to lay down their lives for the sheep to help deter them from the slaughter of satan's world.  It could be the over tired mother raising many children in the admonition of the Lord, a wife winning her unbelieving husband without a word, a single sister striving on her own and standing bold and strong in the faith as a witness, or evangelists on the streets.  God is using all for His good, to help that 1 lost sheep.  Rejoice that we get to be a part of that plan and used for His glory!
Have a joyous day.

Love in Christ,
Sister Deb 

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