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A Letter from Corrie Ten Boom

2011-05-04T17:37:00.000-07:00

A Letter from Corrie Ten Boom

Written by Corrie Ten Boom

The world is deathly ill. It is dying. The Great Physician has already signed the death certificate. Yet there is still a great work for Christians to do. They are to be streams of living water, channels of mercy to those who are still in the world. It is possible for them to do this because they are overcomers.

Christians are ambassadors for Christ. They are representatives from Heaven to this dying world. And because of our presence here, things will change.

My sister, Betsy, and I were in the Nazi concentration camp at Ravensbruck because we committed the crime of loving Jews. Seven hundred of us from Holland, France, Russia, Poland and Belgium were herded into a room built for two hundred. As far as I knew, Betsy and I were the only two representatives of Heaven in that room.

We may have been the Lord's only representatives in that place of hatred, yet because of our presence there, things changed. Jesus said, "In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." We too, are to be overcomers – bringing the light of Jesus into a world filled with darkness and hate.

Sometimes I get frightened as I read the Bible, and as I look in this world and see all of the tribulation and persecution promised by the Bible coming true. Now I can tell you, though, if you too are afraid, that I have just read the last pages. I can now come to shouting "Hallelujah! Hallelujah!" for I have found where it is written that Jesus said,

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things:

and I will be His God,

and he shall be My son."

This is the future and hope of this world. Not that the world will survive – but that we shall be overcomers in the midst of a dying world.

Betsy and I, in the concentration camp, prayed that God would heal Betsy who was so weak and sick.

"Yes, the Lord will heal me,", Betsy said with confidence.

She died the next day and I could not understand it. They laid her thin body on the concrete floor along with all the other corpses of the women who died that day.

It was hard for me to understand, to believe that God had a purpose for all that. Yet because of Betsy's death, today I am traveling all over the world telling people about Jesus.

There are some among us teaching there will be no tribulation, that the Christians will be able to escape all this. These are the false teachers that Jesus was warning us to expect in the latter days. Most of them have little knowledge of what is already going on across the world. I have been in countries where the saints are already suffering terrible persecution.

In China, the Christians were told, "Don't worry, before the tribulation comes you will be translated – raptured." Then came a terrible persecution. Millions of Christians were tortured to death. Later I heard a Bishop from China say, sadly,

"We have failed.

We should have made the people strong for persecution,

rather than telling them Jesus would come first.

Tell the people how to be strong in times of persecution,

how to stand when the tribulation comes,

– to stand and not faint."

I feel I have a divine mandate to go and tell the people of this world that it is possible to be strong in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are in training for the tribulation, but more than sixty percent of the Body of Christ across the world has already entered into the tribulation. There is no way to escape it.

We are next.

Since I have already gone through prison for Jesus' sake, and since I met the Bishop in China, now every time I read a good Bible text I think, "Hey, I can use that in the time of tribulation." Then I write it down and learn it by heart.

When I was in the concentration camp, a camp where only twenty percent of the women came out alive, we tried to cheer each other up by saying, "Nothing could be any worse than today." But we would find the next day was even worse. During this time a Bible verse that I had committed to memory gave me great hope and joy.

"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye;

for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you;

on their part evil is spoken of,

but on your part He is glorified."

(I Peter 3:14)

I found myself saying, "Hallelujah!

Because I am suffering, Jesus is glorified!"

In America, the churches sing, "Let the congregation escape tribulation", but in China and Africa the tribulation has already arrived. This last year alone more than two hundred thousand Christians were martyred in Africa. Now things like that never get into the newspapers because they cause bad political relations. But I know. I have been there. We need to think about that when we sit down in our nice houses with our nice clothes to eat our steak dinners. Many, many members of the Body of Christ are being tortured to death at this very moment, yet we continue right on as though we are all going to escape the tribulation.

Several years ago I was in Africa in a nation where a new government had come into power. The first night I was there some of the Christians were commanded to come to the police station to register. When they arrived they were arrested and that same night they were executed. The next day the same thing happened with other Christians. The third day it was the same. All the Christians in the district were being systematically murdered.

The fourth day I was to speak in a little church. The people came, but they were filled with fear and tension. All during the service they were looking at each other, their eyes asking, "Will this one I am sitting beside be the next one killed? Will I be the next one?"

The room was hot and stuffy with insects that came through the screenless windows and swirled around the naked bulbs over the bare wooden benches. I told them a story out of my childhood.

"When I was a little girl, " I said, "I went to my father and said,

"Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ."

"Tell me," said Father,

"When you take a train trip to Amsterdam,

when do I give you the money for the ticket?

Three weeks before?"

"No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train."

"That is right," my father said, "and so it is with God's strength.

Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.

He will supply all you need – just in time…"

My African friends were nodding and smiling.

Suddenly a spirit of joy descended upon that church and the people began singing,

" In the sweet, by and by,

we shall meet on that beautiful shore."

Later that week, half the congregation of that church was executed.

I heard later that the other half was killed some months ago.

But I must tell you something. I was so happy that the Lord used me to encourage these people, for unlike many of their leaders, I had the word of God. I had been to the Bible and discovered that Jesus said He had not only overcome the world, but to all those who remained faithful to the end, He would give a crown of life.

How can we get ready for the persecution?

First we need to feed on the Word of God, digest it, make it a part of our being. This will mean disciplined Bible study each day as we not only memorize long passages of scripture, but put the principles to work in our lives.

Next we need to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just the Jesus of yesterday, the Jesus of History,

but the life-changing Jesus of today who is still alive

and sitting at the right hand of God.

We must be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is no optional command of the Bible, it is absolutely necessary. Those earthly disciples could never have stood up under the persecution of the Jews and Romans had they not waited for Pentecost. Each of us needs our own personal Pentecost, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We will never be able to stand in the tribulation without it.

In the coming persecution we must be ready to help each other and encourage each other.

But we must not wait until the tribulation comes before starting.

The fruit of the Spirit should be the dominant force of every Christian's life.

Many are fearful of the coming tribulation, they want to run. I, too, am a little bit afraid when I think that after all my eighty years, including the horrible Nazi concentration camp, that I might have to go through the tribulation also.

But then I read the Bible and I am glad.

When I am weak, then I shall be strong, the Bible says. Betsy and I were prisoners for the Lord, we were so weak, but we got power because the Holy Spirit was on us. That mighty inner strengthening of the Holy Spirit helped us through. No, you will not be strong in yourself when the tribulation comes. Rather, you will be strong in the power of Him who will not forsake you. For seventy-six years I have known the Lord Jesus and not once has He ever left me, or let me down.

"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him", (Job 13:15)

for I know that to all who overcome,

He shall give the crown of life.

Hallelujah!"

what grieves my heart.

2011-03-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

I love marketing. I find it fascinating. Ever since I figured out how to "log on" 8 years ago.
Sure that I would get rich and change the world, I set my nose to the grind stone.
I was going to figure this thing out! I was going to crack the marketing code!

I pored over every scrap of free (albeit disconnected) info I could find, and set to work putting the pieces together.

What a shock! As the pattern emerged, I found that virtually EVERY SINGLE christian show was geared toward a sell. These guys are all marketers , I realized.

READERS, PLEASE, UNDERSTAND....JESUS CHRIST IS REAL AND HIS ANOINTING IS AVAILABLE WITHOUT COST. YOU CAN'T BUY A MIRACLE.

MY NET WORTH IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS. THE GOD WHO GAVE HIS ONLY SON WILL NOT WITHOLD MY DAILY NEEDS.

I don't serve a mafia god. If you listen to some t.v. evangelists, you may believe that God will break your legs, kill your children, and cause you to get a terminal illness if you don't "tithe".

But what did the New testament givers give? The book of Acts says that they held all things in common, (Acts 4:33) and that none of them lacked. They even brought it all to the feet of the apostles (how many preachers would you feel comfortable doing that with?) The Bible says there was no lack among them, because they all shared. How many leaders give everything they have?

There is greed in the pulpit.

It sickens me to think of how many times a pastor has manipulated, guilt-tripped, and bullied the congregants into giving. I'd go in with one dollar, wanting to give it all. I'd leave giving nothing. Why? I felt like the pastor had just pulled me up by the collar and demanded a dime.

Forget that.

the Bible says, "Let every man give as he purposeth in his heart. Not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

The time has come

2011-03-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, Bible scholars, do y'all remember that verse where Paul says (paraphrase), It's time that all of you buffet fed Christians are teachers yourself. And yet, you have need that someone teach you.

Does that sound like church in America? No, not the never been weaned part. I know that Christians are milk fed, for the most part. I mean,the part where we are to graduate into teaching mode. I read this word, and get that Paul fully expected ALL of these new testament believers to be teaching others.

(at, like a paid academy, right??

Waiting at wisdom's gates.

2011-03-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

I will never forget how lonely I felt, hanging out at the doors of my church's Bible "Academy". Of course I believe in higher education. There is certainly nothing wrong with Seminary. I just don't understand why I have to pay money to learn the fundamentals of my faith. Like, understanding Bible prophecy and fulfillment.

Since when did learning about the end times and understanding the old testament books become extra-biblical? If ever there was a time we should be understanding end-time events, it's now, and "so much the more as we see that day approaching".

It grieves me that some truth seeker out there can't afford the monetary cost of learning Bible basics.

He wasn't ashamed of me.

2010-12-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

Jesus was not too proud to die for me. He hung naked on a cross, for all to see.
He says that if I am ashamed of him, he will be ashamed of me.
I am not going to pretend that you don't need him.
We all need him, desperately, in this wicked world.
You know that times are perilous.
All of our wealth will pass away.
Nothing will matter when we die except for one thing....
what did we do with Jesus?

How I know He died for me.

2010-12-13T09:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I will tell you what I read. Revelations 3:20. Jesus is talking to us. He says "Look, I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him. And he shall dine with me". I read this verse and reallly believed that Jesus would come into my heart and fellowship with me, if I asked Him to.
He really did! It was the coolest thing that every happened to me!
I KNEW beyond a doubt where I would go if I died right then.
Do you know, beyond a doubt where you will go when you die?
What could be more important?
Don't you want to know?
If you feel a tugging at your heart, pray with me.
Dear God,
I do want to go to heaven when I die. Show me that you love me. I know you love me. Help me to believe that Jesus loves me after all I have done. I thank you for dying on the cross.
I know that you must love me alot to die for me. I believe your word which says "Whoever comes to me, I will never turn away." Please forgive me for all of my wrong doing, and be my lord and savior.
I invite you into my life. I will stay with you forever, let me never turn away.
Help me to live for you everyday.
Amen.

How to Live Forever.

2010-12-13T09:13:00.001-08:00

I know that you know that one day you will die. We all will.
I know that you know that there is no way to know for sure where you will go when you die.
There is no guarantee.
The only way to know for sure, is to have The Creator let you know, for sure.
Has God ever come down and told anyone "You are going to heaven when you die?"

The Bible says that God's spirit is able to speak to our spirits (the real part of us) and let us know that we belong to Him.

I had that happen! I was 12 years old when I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart and make me a brand new person.
He did!
Here's how I did it. I told Jesus that I believed he died on the cross to pay for my sins. I invited Him to come into my life.
Read below to find out how I knew these things are true.

2010-10-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

He rides a skateboard every day down the sidewalk where my children play

so asked him to come to church one day

he smiled and he told me "i'll try"

I gave him a tract to read today

he shyly smiled and walked away

the next time I saw him he told me "i prayed that prayer written on the insde"

His friends and him
skate down the stairs
of the church across the way from me.

On sunday I saw the congregants stare at the "ruffians" blocking the way

But no one asked them to come inside.

I knew they were wrong.

Why one of them's saved! There hair might looks wierd but for them our lord gave that great commission compel them to come. (I feel I am the only one.)

"The Last Block"

2010-10-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

When my daughter was a little girl, I used to ask her to pick up her toys. She would slowly, and I do mean s-l-o-w-l-y, put the toys up one by one.
Then, she would breathe a little sigh, and stop.
It was always the same....I'd say, "honey, you forgot a block".
She would always leave just ONE block on the floor.
And then, she wouldn't pick it up! She'd let it lay there.

The Lord spoke to my heart that I was doing the very same thing.

How many times (don't count) does the Lord give us something to do, and we just
don't
do
it?

The High Places

2010-10-03T21:29:00.000-07:00

In scripture, there is a lot of mention about "high places". I kept running into this term a lot, in the word, during my study time. I asked the Lord to show me more about this.

Here's what He showed me...The High Places were altars that the people prayed from, which were originally consecrated to the enemy. Back in Old Testament times, the children of Israel were frequently rescued from idolotry. After they repented, they would pray to the true God, but often from the pagan altars.

They were worshipping the true God, even though the framework was wrong.

Something clicked in my spirit when I read this: I believe God is calling us to change our ways and our habits.
For me, this means becoming more structured in what I do, and finishing what I start.

My high place is disorganization
What's yours?

Love the one your with

2010-07-25T15:05:00.000-07:00

You know, it really doesn't make much sense..the people that I'm with the most, aren't always the ones that I treat the best. Listen to what this saint in the lord wrote recently:

Before I was a Christian, I was more courteous nicer to friends than to my own family. I was more demanding and less forgiving with those dearest to me than with anyone else. [Read more...]

I would love to be able to tell you that as a Christian, I have learned to be as polite to my family, as I am to strangers. (Actually I can't tell you that I am always polite to any group of people...sometimes I'm bold, but come across, well, as cold) But I think I can confidently say that for the most part, I take more pains to come across as courteous with people I don't know, than with my own children.
This is an easy one...see, I know that my kids know the Lord. I don't know if that stranger walking toward me has ever met Jesus. So, I want to be Jesus to him.
But what I have to constantly remind myself is, I need to be Jesus to everyone...especially my own children. Evangelistic at heart, my main focus on my behavior is,"How will this affect souls?" In other words, every smile I give, every favor I offer, I do with eternity in mind,. But what about my children? Don't I want them to enter eternity joyful, having run the race with a good attitude?
This blogger's post really has got me thinking.
I was recently watching this Piano player names Kim Collingsworth. She is absolutely phenomenal. And yet, for all of her talent, there is a certain something you feel about her..you can feel that she lives her faith. I can catch glimpses on stage of her tender concern for her family. No matter how great her ministry is, it seems that it would not be as 24 Karat if her family was not so close knit.
I want my relationship with my family to enhance my ministry.
If you are reading this post right now, would you please stop and pray for my family? Some days, it seems like none of us are on the same page.
Thanks

t

"Love the Foreigner"

2010-05-20T07:19:00.000-07:00

Through out the Scriptures, Almighty God commanded the Israelites to love the sojourning soul. "Remember" God told them, "you were strangers in Egypt".

How many Christians really believe this today? Sadly, more Native American Indians welcomed us, than we welcome the foreigner.

How many Cherokees, Apaches, and other tribes set up border patrols and stiff penalties?

What am I saying? Do we just open up the country to everyone? Of course not. But isn't it strange that we are so incensed with Mexicans when we, too, were once foreigners?

Just something to think about.

(Would Jesus be deported?)

Are all homosexuals going to hell?

2010-05-13T18:15:00.001-07:00

No. Of course not. If you are a homosexual, I am praying and believing that you will find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And when He finds you, He will do the changing. Not me. Not the non-Christians, throwing stones and frothing at the mouth with their God-talk.

New to Web Ring

2010-04-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

I've just decided to become a part of the Web Ring community. If any of you have a problem with some of the sites this links to, let me know, and I'll review it. As you know, Web Ring is an online program of sorts that lets you connect with other like-minded webmasters, who share your passion in whatever area.
Mine is Christianity. In short, this web ring deal should link you with other Evangelical sites. IF IT DOESN'T than please contact me in the form below. Thanks,
Suzy Christian

Winning the Jewish Person

2010-01-19T10:45:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally decided it was time. I "bit the bullet" and went online to learn how to write Hebrew. After all, Noone could ever stump me with "what does the ORIGINAL bible text say" if I knew Hebrew.
So online I went. The VERY FIRST site I visited had Isaih 53, side by side with the Hebrew text.
But as I read down further, I found that well over half of the chapter was completely gone.

They had COMPLETELY GUTTED IT!!

Gone were the passages in it on the crucifixition. They even declared (contrary to the scriptures), that Jesus had died from some disease (thought they don't claim the passage speaks of Jesus).
I found a guy online who addressed this.
His name is Ron Elki

He explained to me that Isaiah 53 used to be read in it's entirety clear through the 1950's. But as Jewish people found their Messiah there, their Rabbi's began deleting whole portions of Isaiah 53.

Ron recommended that I read the Masoretic text published in 1917, to avoid any deletions.
You can access that here.

Ya'll come back now (not)

2009-12-04T16:38:00.000-08:00

I write this post for any of you who have relatives that are, shall we say, above your league.
Mayve they have more money, more talent, more education, or think they have more intelligence.
Possibly, some of you have relations who think that they are more spiritual than you.
In short, they are "better than you", (they think), though never would they admit it.
How does this change of priority happen in a soul?
How can one family of siblings start out with nothing, value the eternal, and end up selling it all for a pot of gold?
Why do some people grow up valuing relationships, while others value the almighty dollar?
Some people calcualte their "net worth" by the money in their bank, etc.
When people ask me what my net worth is, do you know what I tell them? I say "my networth is the blood of Jesus". it's true...you never know the value of something until someone puts a price on it.
And so, today, I leave you with this thought...what is your neighbor worth?
A hundred years from now, people may not remember what you wore, what car you drove, or the wit you possessed, but they will NEVER forget the way that you made them feel.

The Real Church

2009-11-11T13:21:00.000-08:00

Why do we need to have our fannies pampered with cushy pews?
Why do we have to have fancy carpeting in our churches?
Why do preteens have to have expensive, Disney themed Vacation Bible School Curriculum?
Why do Christians who live two doors down from one another take separate fuel hogging vehicles to the place of worship?
Why do I keep letting food go bad after every meal?
Why do I feel deprived that I buy my clothes second hand?
Do I real deserve Buffet every friday? Why can't I be happy with McDonalds twice a year?
If Christmas is the birthday of our saviour, why should I complain if I get nothing?

You're no brain surgeon

2009-11-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

It's like this...someone is laying in the road bleeding to death. There they are. I pull my car over. I dive out. First, I call for someone "qualified" . NO one comes, cause know one cares. Even though the dude is layed out on a highway by the hospital. Surgeon after surgeon drives by, and leaves him dying. (They've got a church service//er, i mean a job to get to). Finally, using superglue, staples, and duct tape, I wedge the vicitm's head back together, drive him to the hospital, and admit him. Does anyone thank me. Heck no. All i get is, "Maam, you really should have called for help" or "Do you have a degree?" or "you know, we can only hope that this raw approach doesn't lead to infection.It weirds me out how people who have never won anyone to Jesus like to critique other people's "witnessing" styles."Oh, that's just too bold....after all, you don't want to scare anyone away, do you?"or, "That technique might work with YOU, sue, but most of us like to cultivate a relationship first"That's cool. But you'd think after 20 years, they'd find that opening to share.When I lead people to Jesus, and other christians insist that my style is too "in your face", I feel like tearing my hair out.WHO CARES IF I'm confrontational. I'm saying something, and you're saying nothing. Look, if there's a buger in my nose, for crying out loud, someone tell me. I hope you say it nicely. I hope you are tactful. But still, if the only one real enough to tell me about my problem is 4 years old, then let me know, kid.

_

Those Rich Christians.

2009-09-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

Today I had to really check myself and not join in with my friend Amber about "those rich Christians."
Obviously, my friend Amber feels snubbed and discluded from the clique-ee ness she's been sensing...
as in "we's not rich like they uns". I call it the Clampett syndrome. Those Clampetts were always being
worked on by the Drysdales to fit in. It wasn't that they were looked down upon...it's just that "those rich Christians" (er, i mean "Drysdales") were always trying to help them climb the social ladder.

I don't think that there should be any social ladders in Christianity.

What do you think?

2009-09-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, a Christian organization that gives 100% of its donations to the mission field (unheard of). I get absolutely no monetary compensation from displaying this book offer. The book is fantastic, and shows what the gospel should be (as in FREE)

If you are lukewarm

2009-09-24T11:21:00.000-07:00

In Revelations, Jesus writes to the Christians and tells them that they have forgotten their first love.

They weren't hot. They weren't cold. They were just coasting. Not sinning, but not on fire. They went to church, read alittle, prayed a little, did a few good works. But they weren't passionate. They were coasting. They were lukewarm.
Sound familiar?
In short, they just tacked Sunday morning Christianity onto their everyday, busy lives.

They had lost their zeal.

So Jesus tells them how to get it back. He says
1)Remember the height from whence you've fallen.

Remember that high you felt back in the good old days when Jesus was everything?
(are you really remmembering right now?)
Take a real moment.

There it is...that sensitivity toward sin...that desire to serve God with all of your heart...that joy in your salvation....that desire to share it.

This leads into number 2
2)Do again the first works.

In marriage counseling, they say to repeat the romantic overtures with your mate that you did as a newly wed, (flowers, candy, praises)
EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL IT.
Repeat often. The feelings will come.

Go ahead. Go tell someone about Jesus. Do it again. And again. Tell at least one person today.
Tell a little old lady. The mailman. A stranger. A relative. A teenager. A preteen. Tell a child. Watch what happens.
Just pick one person every day.
I hope to hear back from you.

But I'm not smart enough

2009-09-24T11:09:00.000-07:00

Even if you became a Christian yesterday, you know everything that you need to know to lead someone to Jesus.
Just talk about what Jesus has done for you.
Ask the spirit of God to give you specific words to say to each person.
When you feel that nudge, just open your mouth.

You don't have to be elegant, or even super confident.
You could even say,
"I'm not sure how to ask you this, but could I ask you a question"
yes,
"Do you have a relationship with Jesus"

Or, you could start a conversation about anything, and redirect it to Christianity...He will show you how.

Alot of people think that I am never nervous about witnessing. Usually,I'm not. I was picked on everyday of my life in school, and it made me tough. But there are sometimes that I do feel kind of uncomfortable.
Because sometimes, I know exactly what to say, and I have never met the listner.
That's right. With me, there's lots of times that God has me go say a specific word to someone that I've never met.

(gulp.)

Here's how I do it.

"I know that I've never met you before, and I'm not sure how you will take this but there's something that I need to tell you"
Then, I just tell them.
After they pick there jaw up off the floor, and sputter about how the word was right on, they thank me.

One time, I was SUPER nervous, because the dude was in a business suit and i was (shall we say...)casual.
I felt like the Lord was telling me to just be open with him about my comfort level.
Here goes, Lord.
"I know that you don't know me, and you might think that I'm a religious fanatic, but there's something that God told me to tell you, and I am sure it's God."

Believe me, baby, he was all ears.
His eyes misted up, his look softened, and in a low, husky voice, he quietly thanked me.
I love it when God makes a hit.
Don't you feel ripped off?
Don't you want God to use you like that?
Just ask Him to, and be honest about your fears, your lukewarmness, your shyness, maybe your lack of real relationship.

After all, you can't tell others, with passion, how great God is when you hardly talk to him.
Do you know Jesus? If you don't, just ask him to forgive you, and come inside of you to live.
John 6:37 quotes Jesus as saying, "All who the Father gives me will come to me. And whoever comes to me, I will in no way turn away."

What we really believe.

2009-09-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

Do we really believe that if people go into a Christless eternity, that they will miss heaven?

Do we really wonder about our coworkers', friends' and neighbors' eternal destiny?

Have we searched our hearts and asked ourselves, "Is there anyone I know with whom I have never shared the gospel?"

Are we scared to really believe that we are responsible?http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0079/0079_01.asp

Why you don't witness

2009-09-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

You don't witness because

1. You are afraid. you fear man, not God.
2. you are ashamed of the gospel
3. You tell yourself that if you let your light shine, they will some how understand, through your silent witness, that they need to ask Jesus
Christ to forgive their sins, and be their Lord.

You don't witness because you are
1. Cowardly
2. Ashamed
3. Deceived.

But the main reason that people don't witness, is because they keep waiting for the right timing.
If you have known someone for six months, it is time to make an opening.
The devil's biggest lie is not "never" but "tomorrow"

THE BIG LIE OF THE ENEMY

2009-09-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

"There's a right way and a wrong way to Witness"

Oh really? If someones house in on fire, is there a wrong way to warn them?

Is anyone out there smart enough to explain this one to me....

2009-09-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

A brand new baby Christian runs out and tells the world all about Jesus. They pester everyone they meet. they are bold, brash, and overbearing. In short, they take the commandment seriously where Jesus tells us to "Go and preach the gospel to every living creature".
If there's a cockroach on the counter, they will lead it in the sinners prayer.

But somewhere, they run into a well meaning "seasoned" Christian who tells them stuff about "timing" "sensitivity" and tact.
They fail to mention that they, themselves, have never led anyone to Jesus.

Because they never knew the meaning of the word compel.

The new Christian, however, understands this word. His love compels him to share.
He is not ashamed of the gospel.

And he has won dozens of people to Jesus.
How many people have you won to Jesus?

WAKE UP!!!! YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE

2009-04-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

i will never forget when my neighbors house was on fire.
I had never told him about Jesus.
One day, my next door neighbor was banging on my door. I had been lounging on my sofa, languidly watching the dreamy clouds that were drifting by. My, what unusual clouds, I thought. I really should get up and see why they look so unusual.
But I didn't. Instead, I just lay there dreamily.
Suddenly, May, who lived beside me, was beating the daylights out of my door.
What's her problem? I get up, and walk to the door, and as I'm walking I hear her yelling
"Suzy, get out, there's a fire".
Okay, now I'm out of dream land. I open the front door, and there she stands, terror all over her face.
I look across the way and there I see it. Al's house in on fire. Flames are ripping through the broken window, and the whole thing looks like it's ready to go.
I should have been relieved...after all, it wasn't OUR duplex...it was the house across from us.
Just one problem...I had never told Al about Jesus.
I had never had a chance, right?
Wrong. I have two lungs, two legs, and a mouth.
It didn't matter that I had had no real opportunity to tell him about Jesus...I should have at least written him an anonymous letter, or sent him a gospel tract.
I always got a creepy feeling from him...he was an older man, who walked bent over, and talked on a cb radio at dusk, out in his back yard.
If I really wanted to, I could have.
But it just never "felt right".
"I'm a single woman" I'd tell myself. "And besides, he looks at me...like in a weird, dirty old man way. Nope..." I reasoned. "That wouldn't be God.". So I said nothing.
"And now, he's dead" I thought.
"He's probably in hell, too."
Believe me, that did not make me feel good.
But as it turned out, Al was not dead...in the days to come, he returned to his burned out home to live.
Weeks later, I saw him lugging some personal things into his shell of a house.
Al had no one.
And, he was probably going to hell.
So, I raced over there one afternoon, while he was working on something in his backyard.
I asked how he was and then I told him how awful i had felt, thinking about how I had never told him about Jesus.
Then, I asked him if he'd ever asked Jesus in his heart.
As it turns out,Al was not a Christian, and how no desire to become one.
But I had peace in my heart knowing I had shared with him.
If you know someone and you don't know if they know the One that you know, why not ask them?
God will give you the way, the timing and the courage.
just ask