ANSWER TO PRAYER

Stephanie and I had the opportunity to work a secular motorcycle event this weekend. This has been a passion of ours for many years. We are now full-time missionaries seeking the outcast and those who feel rejected by the church and when we have the opportunity to serve at these events, God brings those people straight to our doorstep. I praise God that we still have to opportunity to serve bikers and to serve the lost in such a wide variety of venues.

When we arrived Saturday morning, we were informed there had been quite a fight between bikers the previous night. No one was quite sure how the fight began, but one of the prominent 1% Motorcycle clubs was in the middle of the mele. There was a gentleman who claimed to be an innocent bystander that took quite a beating. This young man had several scrapes on his face and a pretty bad cut above his eye. He was obviously having a rough time. To top it all off, he lost his keys, his wallet, and his cell phone. He stopped at our booth to inquire, several times if someone had turned them in. Each time we had nothing to report. Once he came up and asked if we could seek out the EMTs that were at the fight to see if they might have taken these items. We did and the EMTs did not have them. Each trip brought a greater level of anxiety to this young man's face.

On his fourth visit, I offered to pray for him. He kind of shrugged it off, but agreed. I could tell he had no faith this would yield any results. He had given up hope. I prayed specifically that his keys, his wallet, and his phone would be found. I also prayed for his peace and that God would provide answers for him beyond just his current dilemma. 

Less than half an hour later, he came back with a great smile on his face. His keys, his wallet, and his phone had been found. I cannot describe the excitement on his face. It was at this point I shared with him that the power of God was on display specifically for him and the Glory all belonged to God, not me. I might have prayed the prayer, but I had no power to answer, to act on that prayer. It was all God. I could never preach a more powerful sermon than the one that played out in this man's life on Saturday.

God is still in the business of answering the prayers of the faithful and showing his power to those that are far from him. As I look back, why would I be surprised at this wonderful answer to prayer?  The number of times God has shown up in my own life is beyond belief. I pray this young man will never forget the power of the Lord and the very specific answer he received from God Almighty!

 August 15, 2022

AUGUST

'The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ' 2 Peter 3:9 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/2PE.3.9

Sometimes a scripture like this really slaps me in the face. Stephanie and I are like sprinters sitting at the start line waiting for the gun to go off in the race! We are reaching out to people. We have started our first Discovery Bible Group a couple of weeks ago. It has been such a blessing and new "persons of peace" keep arriving each week. We have joined a local outreach here in Bluffton and made a few great connections already. That is also a blessing. SO, we are ministering to others just as God has called us. We are also about 60% of the way to our monthly budget funding. THAT is an amazing praise and God continues to bless us beyond all we could imagine. BUT, you knew that was coming, we are at $0 for our project getting "the meeting place," open for business! There are so many things God is speaking to us about this space. Yet, we are stuck in the starting blocks. When I read this scripture it is a quick, pointed, reminder that God has the plan and HE knows the perfect timing to open our ministry. I might view God as being slow, but I trust him and know he is waiting for his perfect timing. I praise God he does not rely on my knowledge and my own selfish personal plans. When we release our lives to him, we give up our personal plans and we give up our imperfect timing. 

Thank You Lord!  Use us for your glory, for your purposes, and we promise to follow you all the days of our lives!

 August 8, 2022