In His Shoes

Last Sunday morning I had just finished breakfast and had opened the front door about a foot, to let in some fresh air. Shortly after, I heard someone at the door. I looked and it was the young woman, who I had seen about a week ago on night when she stopped me on my walk and asked if I wanted to take her to my house. But she spoke no English. I told here, no thank you, and then said that God loved her. I had want to help her somehow, even though she was a prostitute, but I didn't have my wallet on me. So I prayed for her that night and now here she was standing at my door. She was short, but on the plump side. I could manage to understand a little; that she had heard I was a Christian, and that was about all I could understand at first. So I brought her into the house, and we sat on two chairs in an empty dining room. I learned her name is Claudia, single and in her late 20's, she has a child and they live with her mother in Guaymas, who is a widow.

 

As we sat there, she talked and cried, but I couldn't understand anything other than I could tell she had a very broken in spirit, and had tried to kill herself at one time by cutting her wrist, and she pointed to the scares. I told her God still loved her very much, gave her a hug and then got some fruit and gave her a choice; she chose the banana. I told her I was about to go to church in 30 minutes, so in the meantime I took her to the beach and we listened to some christian Spanish music for about twenty minutes. She sang along with some of the songs while I waited for people to get to the church who might be able to help her and ask how she found my house. She also had a swollen ankle, and limped when she walked. So I put my hand on the swollen area and prayed that God would restore it and her life. However, she didn't want to go in the church when we got there. So I went in and brought out a young Mexican lady who taught the children church and they talked for a bit and she got her name and phone number. She told me that Claudia found out where I lived by asking people, and they told her I was a Christian. She also said that Claudia had been very depressed and they would talk again on the phone. When they were finish talking, I took her back to town to catch a bus, but she said she was hungry and wanted to go back to my house. So we did, and I gave her an apple, water, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, plus a piece of chocolate candy. But then she indicated she was full and didn't finish her apple or sandwich. What she really wanted was to have sex with me, hoping that I would then give her some money. I said, “no sex”. She said, “not even a little sex” and put her hand on my pants, and I said, “no, not even a little sex. And walked her out of the house.

I had already taken out some money out of my wallet earlier and put it in my front pocket that I had plan to give her. So when we got to the gate, I gave it to her. She was surprised, because she thought she had got nothing, but some food for her efforts. However, I asked her not to come back to my house. I hated doing that, but this reminded me of another bad experience I had, and I didn't want to see something like that happen again. But if I see her on the street again, I will gladly help her, because she is a friend to me, and a lost child of God. However, I didn't want to live in fear, so I prayed again after she left. God said, He was watching over me and not to worry. However, she walked just around the block from my house and waited there for a while. Then a little later she started to leave the area, but saw a Mexican man, that I knew, walking down the street. They talked briefly and then walked back to his house.

I believe God lead this young girl to me so that I could touch her life. We can't change them, only God. However, we can love and pray for them that they will eventually know His love and freedom and have their lives fully restored.

Anyway, when I went to save this story, and it ended up going to the documents that disappeared into the computer, when I tried to drag it to another location. I still don't know computers very well and I kind-of lost my cool for a moment, but decided just to trust God. So I ate my lunch and then went to a young man's house who spoke English, his name is Gerando, and knew computers. He is very nice and helped me to retrieve them. He also removed and helped with some other issues on the computer. Then he asked if I had a blog, because he saw it on my toolbar, so I showed him it and then he also became my 100^th friend on Facebook. My mistake turned into a blessing. So I gave him some money, even though he didn't want to take it, because we were friends. But I wanted to bless him and sow in some tangible way.

Another interesting thing has happened. For the past couple weeks the buses coming after 9pm have not been regular in San Carlos. And people, near my house, have waited for over two hours after getting off work. So I have used my van on several occasions to drive them to Guaymas. One night I had seven Mexican in my van, the three men could speak English. They laughed and talked with each. One small young man was sitting on the lap of another women which was okay with her. As I drove, I had a big smile on my face; it seem that I also have a bus ministry. Two time they have given me some money, one time after we left. But that's not the reason I do it. I love these people very much. Earlier, while we waited for the bus, one man who was drinking, asked me if I drank beer and I said no. Another man asked if I smoked pot. I said no. The bus had not come again so I drove them all home. The next day one of the men bought me a coke, because he said, “I was a good man”.

Jesus was a friend of sinners, drunkards, prostitutes and tax collector. I guess I'm wearing His shoes too.

God is working in mysterious ways to establish His Kingdom in the lives of Mexico. Sometimes it can be a little nerve racking, at first, but then His peace is always just a breath away.

Fools for Christ

Jephthah,was the ninth judge of Israel. He was a valiant warrior and was also the son of a prostitute. He also made a vow to God, that if the Lord were to give him the victory over their enemies, that he would offer anything that came out of his house, as a sacrifice unto the Lord. This appears to be a very foolish vow. Yet God takes what some men call foolish or a slip of the lip, and honors the man, by placing him in the Hebrew's Hall of Faith. The Lord knew Jephthah long before he was even born, and that one day he would be a great man despite a difficult life and childhood. What was Jephthah thinking when he made such a vow? We will never know, but he never dreamed it would be his daughter, but God knew. Yet he loved God so much and was grateful for all He had done for him, that he was willing to give anything to show his love and appreciation. And he showed it by still keeping his word, and offer his only child ,a daughter to the Lord. She was probable the joy of his life, because she also loved the Lord like her father. Jephthah's greatness and humility can also seen in his daughter's final request as she to was willing to give herself completely to the Lord, and forgo any hopes or dreams that she might have. Just as Abraham and Issac also had to do something similar. (Gen22:2-18)

The apostle Paul referred to himself as “a fool for Christ”. (1 Corth. 4: 10) Nothing matter more to him than to know Christ, and to preach the cross on which He die. He counted everything, including his "light" affliction as nothing compared to the glory set before him. That Glory is Jesus Christ, the Pearl of Great Price, the Prize at the end of the race; and Beloved of the Heavenly Father.

“Along the journey, the fire of God's love that begins to burn within, causes us to surrender the things that we lean on for fulfillment. We willingly submit them to His inner cleansing flame.” --John Crowder

As sons and daughters of the God, we have chosen to give up the things that were once precious to us in order to serve Christ, because He has become the most important thing and person in our life. He has become our All in all, everything is found in Him. Nothing can compare with His wonderful and endless love. The Lord always honors those who have made great sacrifices done in faith, even thought the world often considers them naive and foolish.

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”--jim elliot

To Be or Not to Be

To Be or Not to Be; that is the question Shakespeare once asked. It is also the privilege and authority God is placing in the mouth's of His sons and daughters. We are His voice on earth to establish "Thy Kingdom come". If we want more of Christ's faith, power and authority seen on earth in the areas God has intrusted to us, then we must speak it into existence. If we don't want to see sickness, disease, poverty etc etc, then we kick that out. Over the past number of years The Heavenly Father has revealed more of His heart and what His desires are for His Bride, the Church. He also desires His sons and daughters to participate in establishing and creating what fits within the Kingdom and it's unlimited perimeters that extend into eternity.

”There’s a definition – this belongs in the Kingdom and that does not belong in the Kingdom. Does heart disease (apply other things here) belong in the Kingdom? If not, then kick its sorry ass out of the Kingdom! YOU set up a standard. YOU set up this and say, NO, NO FURTHER! You THROW OUT of the Kingdom and you PUT THIS IN the Kingdom. You want joy and faith and the power of YHWH and the Spirit of healing and prosperity in the Kingdom, but you DON’T want the Spirit of poverty, heart disease, diabetes and excuses in the Kingdom, then YOU define those things, says the Lord.”

(portion of a prophecy from Sheldon David)

As I thought more about this I realized that the Kingdom is in us as well as outside and around us. Therefore by faith, we should make sure that our words and proclamations apply to us as well. This should be obvious, but sometimes we have a tendency to separate ourselves from the reality of the Kingdom, and that we will always be a part Thy Kingdom Life.

Jesus said to his disciples, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Mat. 18:18-20)

 

It is Finished.



This last week I went to the United States for about five day. I needed to get my tourist visa renewed at the border town of Nogales, to stay in Mexico for another six months Then there is another Nogales just across the borderline where I did some banking, and also got a care package from my wife. There was two beautiful shirt, almonds, two pounds of her delicious fudge, and some other things. I spent the night in my van next to a Mac Donald’s, where I could get WiFi, and I cheese burger still for a buck. It was also October 31 and all the children coming in were in costume. I really wonder how long it will take to see this holiday meet its end. After a walk, I went to bed, and got to see the sunrise from my van. I thought of all the mornings I used to see them when I lived in my van. I had mixed feelings about that, but it's still nicer to have a house. Then I went to Tucson to go to Costco and a Dollar Store to stock-up on some things that are not found in Mexico or a lot cheaper, including gasoline. I also bought some things for friends who had given me money for Costco items. Gasoline has gotten more expensive in Mexico, ever since I got there, it has never come down, just keeps getting higher and higher.

While I was in Tucson I stayed at Jerry's house, my landlord, for two nights. He fixed most of my meals except the first night, when his wife fixed a lovely dinner. It was a large beautiful house and there was a guest house add to the side with a large flower and desert garden that was walled-in, and his mother-n-law lives there. Jerry and I went to church the next morning. I had never been to a church quit like it. During the song service there was a worship team singing with colored lighting and strobes swaying. And the lead singer and guitarist was the minister, who was about fifty and Mexican. The church held about a thousand and they had two services. And all the electricity for the buildings were supplied by solar panels roofing that also provided shade to cars in the parking lot. The message was on faith from the book of Hebrews, and I had just been talking to Jerry about faith earlier that morning. This was definitely a grace church, and there were many young people and adults of all ages. Some even brought in their coffee espressos. I believe that wherever I go I'm to pray and so I did; that God would bless this pastor and church. The next morning before leaving Jerry shared some personal things and I prayed with him, that God would help him through some difficult circumstances, and that He was in control and will lead and guide him. Whatever the cost may be, His love will sustain him and after all, Christ is the most important thing.

I stayed back in Nogales again Monday night, did laundry and spent most of my American money I had withdrawn and bought a few more things and topped off my gas tank again. It was getting cold that night and by the next morning it was 36 degrees and ice was on my windshield. Burrrrr.

I had a nice quite drive, and a van with a lot of food. I cleared the border early that morning, without being stopped. But eventually, I felt I was to help some one with a ride. So I cleared the passenger seat and put it back on my bed with the other stuff. Then when I came to the next town I saw a old woman and a young girl needing a ride. So I stopped and help then in and had the girl sit on the ice chest that was between the two front seats. They spoke no English, and the girls name was Martha; she was ten and had two brothers. I gave them some snacks and we listen to my worship music for over an hour. Then I let them out in the next big town and told them God loved them very much. Then on the other side of town I saw another couple at the side of the road. This time it was a mother and her son, but spoke no English. We drove for over an hour and listened to music on a Mexican radio stations this time. I was just about five miles from San Carlos, and they were going another direction. The women had no husband and I told her is Spanish, God loved her and He was her husband, and God would be a father to her son. And He loved them both very much.

It was 85 degrees at 1:30pm, and I was back in San Carlos. I unloaded my van and mover my bed mat back into the house, hung my clothes and fixed lunch. That night I when to see my friends at the taco stand and give them bags of chocolate treats, I had bought at Costco. They thanks me and gave me big hugs and then they fixed me a hotdog, and gave me a Sprite to drink. Then Ana told me through her friend Allissia, that she had another friend whose son had tried to cross the border illegally this last weekend, and was injured in the confrontation and was now in the hospital. She wanted me to pray for him; so I took her and Allissia's hand and prayed. I prayed for forgiveness; regardless of his intention, for healing and complete restoration to the Father who loves him and his mother so much. Then they thanked me again and gave me big hugs and said, I love you. Wow, this is what life is all about. Loving God, and serving others, with His love, whenever He gives us the opportunity. Sometimes we even need to be looking along the roadway.

As I walked back to my house, I was so happy about the day, but then I began to wonder what else I could or should have done or prayed. Then God told me, it doesn't really matter what you say or do sometimes, because I know your heart and you mine and My will. Be assured Israel, it is done like you wanted and more, because it is finished.”

I don't know about others, but I want to keep walking and talking in the “it is finish.” What an awesome privilege God has given all His sons and daughters. Amen!