Soldier

Lisa is a soldier, not literally as, but she has definitely seen the devils side to the Great Controversy. After 20 years of being beat by several different spouses throughout the time. Having physical and financial struggles, she has had her low days. Mrs. Tuazon and I knocked on her door, her kindness Exuded her as she immediately invited us in and began talking to us. We learned that she decided to get her counseling certificate and give to the community what she at one point in time didn't know. She's a fighter. Through all of the way Satan continuously attacks her, her faith in God is strong; some views are skewed, but she has strength in knowing she has a best friend she can find peace in. She had a fear that Satan (whom she shared she could feel the power of Satan through the wall that separated her with her neighbor's apartment) would come in her apartment and hurt her family. Mrs. Tuazan shared with her, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." Psalm 34:7 As we began talking to her and invited her to study deeper into God's promises in the Bible for her, she became excited and signed up to attend the Revelation seminar and study the Bible with me. Praise God for fighters who don't give up on Him, even though Satan desires differently.

Perfect Timing

I had been working on different information for the revelation seminar coming up, and finally got an opportunity in the afternoon to go knock on doors for a couple hours. I knocked on my first door, when an older gentleman, Bill answered the door. We began talking and he invited me in to meet his wife Barbara as well. We hit it off, they loved traveling around and helping out orphanages, meeting needs of communities, and sharing their faith. As we were talking they learned that I am Seventh Day Adventist. Barbara then asked me, "I have a question, one thing I know about the Seventh Days is that you don't believe in a living soul. I am at a point in my life where I want to know what it says in the Bible, I have heard both sides but I have never seen anything really in the Bible on what it says, could you show me? I am open to believing that the soul does or does not live after death, I just don't know what the Bible say, and that is what I want to believe." So I answered her questions with Bible verses and she was able to see how a loving God has us rest. At the end of the study she was processing through everything. I asked her if the topic was clear and if she had any questions. She asked some questions on other Bible verses that I was able to explain to her. Her last comment was, "Wow, yes everything was clear. I believe you, I see exactly what you were saying in the Bible."  One blessing about that study is that Sheila wasn't feeling well about a week prior and asked me to give the state of the dead Bible study to one of her contacts, and because of that I had a list of verses and examples and ideas of ways to explain the topic to others who had the same questions about the state of the dead. God sent circumstances to help me be prepared for Barbara's question, and I will be going back to her and her husband this week. =)

Friendship Evangelism

The same day I met Linda, Janelle was across the street inviting people to have Bible studies as well. Linda's neighbor rejected receiving any activity or help from us, which is her choice, and Janelle moved on to people who would desire Bible studies. After studying with Linda the first time, she shared with me how she really enjoyed learning about how God has shown His love to her by giving prophecies (specifically Daniel 2) so we can learn to trust Him. The next week when I returned, her neighbor, who had declined everything Janelle offered, was at the house as well and asked me if I had another Bible she could borrow. The past several weeks I no longer only study with Linda but her neighbor whom she invited to be able to study with us as well. Friends are able to reach friends in ways that Janelle and I would not ever be able to reach them.

Only At Home

"Dear God, I pray I will meet someone who can only be reached at their home." I began knocking on doors, momentarily dismissing my prayer from my memory . Linda answered, she is retired and rarely exits her home. We began chatting, I struggled to see any interest in any of the activities we offered, but as soon as I reached inviting her to join me in studying the Bible she accepted. You see, Linda and her husband attended a church several years back when he decided he would no longer go to church. Linda, in "respect" to her husband, ceased to attend church as well. Since that decision he made three years ago Linda has longed to sing songs, study the Bible, and have the support of a church family. We nonchalantly set up a time for my return the next week and bid farewell to each other for the time being. As I walked away, I recalled how God had specifically answered my prayer finding someone who desired to get to know God better but was unable to be reached at a social function.

Miracle Boy

A poem I wrote when I was 14, soon after my brother was in a car accident. The Doctors told us he wouldn't make it. About 50-100 friends and our family went into a side room and prayed. Nick is still alive but it's been a long road.
Through many tears and much pain
Standing over where you had lain
We prayed for something to happen
Something to take away the change
We didn't know if you would make it
They said you couldn't take it
We knew your stubborn spirit
Could take the pain and bear it
Several days had gone bye
We prayed. god heard our cry
Several weeks had past
I believe you did last
Now you're doing lots better
You made it through the shredder
Now you're on your way to recovery
To get life back to what it used to be

I don't know what I would do
If you wouldn't have made it through
You work so hard in therapy
I'm so proud as you can see
The day you walk again
Many will have tears again
Tears of joy as you can see
For they told bad news of thee
God proved them wrong in His own way
He showed them you, the Miracle Boy

Spiritual Low

You often hear the phrase, “More prayer, More power.” but underestimate the power of the quote. December 2012 I completed a year of daily writing a prayer out to God. Many times, I felt almost as though I was mundanely telling Him everything He already knew. At the beginning of this year, I began to forget about my prayer journal, placing it on my shelf and not touching it for about three or so months. It was not until about two weeks ago that I had one of the most stressful weeks of my life. The stress was stacked so high that I couldn’t sleep at all, so I took my prayer journal back off the shelf and began to write everything down. It took hours, and my hand was sore, but my faith was strengthened. For the last three months, I have been feeling as though I am on a spiritual low, and haven’t been able to “fix” it. Unfortunately it took me these three months to realize that my communication with God had been lacking. I have heard so many times that Satan wants to take prayer out of churches and our personal lives because that is what keeps us connected with God, but I never applied that to my own life. Today is a beginning of a new life, where my prayer journal will be taken off the shelf for life. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:6-7

Fill My Cup

I stood on the ocean shore, the waves breaking right before my feet, the brisk wind kissing my face as it passed by. My eyes and thoughts searched for miles, it seemed that I had reached the end of soil and water went on for eternity. I imagined myself as a cup and God as the all the waters of the earth. Someone once asked me, “If you were a cup, and God was all of the bodies of water on the Earth, who are you to think that you can fit everything about God in your simple little cup?” Truth is, He is all-powerful, He has power beyond our imagination, and compassion beyond our vision. Truth is, He is bigger than all of the waters on the Earth, He created the water. Truth is, we can live our whole entire life getting to know Him better, and we will always have something to learn about Him, He is beyond us in everyway. Isaiah 55:9 says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your was, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” God could drown us with His power, but He gently fills our cup when the time is right. A friend of mine has been praying for something for twelve years. This past week, she was struggling with God’s plan, and why He hadn’t answered her request. At her lowest time, God filled her cup and answered her prayer request. His thoughts are far beyond our thoughts, and His ways are far beyond our ways. Trust in Him, and He will guide and direct your path.