Work Trip and Witnessing
Good evening and greetings to our sisters in Christ!
Are you thanking the Lord for this day? Rejoicing in all things and content? Last week, we embarked on a week long work trip, routing us about 400 miles through Wisconsin, into (upper) Michigan then back into Wisconsin. When we started, brother Jim said we'd hold off on street preaching so we could do all this as quick as possible. (Normally we have spot jobs in various locations as we go.)
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. [2] My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. [3] O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. [4] I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1-4
Our days were busy from morning until evening and we enjoyed God's creation along the way. Brother Jim's voice had a rest and just yesterday he mentioned that. He also mentioned that we had not had anyone come to talk about the things of God, through the trip. He said that yesterday. And today (one day before our route is done) there were 4 witnessing events. Funny how that all timed out:-)
We stopped at a laundrymat this morning so I could catch up on clothes (our trip didn't allow time for hand washing) and a man walked up to talk about the signs on the van. I hung them all over the van and we drove with the windows down, drying them in a couple hours.
While we were there, we went for a walk and fed some seagulls in a parking lot.
There was a man sitting on a picnic table, looking like he might be homeless so brother Jim talked to him, gave him a bible and a little food bag that we have ready for such instances. As we were leaving the laundrymat, we looked over the parking lot and saw him reading the bible:-)
On our way to where we are tonight, we went through anabaptist country.
Although their life is one of less complications, their religion is complicated with man made traditions that God hates. Read Mark 7. Most of them admit it and don't want to repent, but we hope those who have ears to hear, follow the Word in obedience and come out from such places.
We arrived in a town about midday, were going to eat lunch when a man drove up and got out to talk. He agrees with the fact that churches are lying and we are to follow Jesus and not religion. He was an elderly man, eating a piece of lemon pie, causally talking to us, strangers, in a parking lot, about God and His truth. Once again, God's perfect timing. I'm going to start calling brother Jim the Parking Lot Preacher:-) This man was talking to brother Jim for a couple minutes while I finished up what I was doing and when I stepped out he stared at me, up and down, looking at my clothing. It's funny to me because it's like they don't realize you can see them doing it. I'm not sure what he was thinking but brother Jim just got done telling him we don't belong to any organization and they were talking about how to 'be' the body, not go to one. He was a nice elderly man and thanked us for what we were doing. (We gave him a bigger printed tract as he doesn't go on the internet.)
Minutes after we arrived where we currently are for the night, a man drove up and commented on the van sign 'Churches are Lying". Turns out he was a pastor and didn't like brother Jim calling people like himself, out from their false ways.
Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? [2] He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. [3] He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. Psalm 15:1-3
We know someone (a recent interaction) claiming Christ that could use a bit more discernment in the back biting area, defaming the things of God in their life. This person has fleshly pride and vanity, you can see a teaching brother Jim did on that here:
http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2020/09/lifting-weights-or-lifting-pridevanity.html
I hope you have a joyous day tomorrow and you stand boldly on the Word and it's truth. Don't fall back, keep pressing forward!
May God be praised! Peace and grace unto you, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...
https://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html