This young girl’s video really touched my heart because she sounds a lot like I was 40 some years ago. Very shy, and worried about what people thought, and turning to alcohol to lose, or loosen up, inhibitions. She was saved a whole lot quicker than I was and our salvation experiences were a bit different- other than sitting in church and just crying and not knowing why. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one.
salvation
Jesus Saves
This is a short one. Jesus is alive and well and still doing miracles. This one is similar to Peter’s release from jail.
A Testimony. Or Praise Report?
My 27 year old son, who lives in Ohio about 3000 miles away, has led something of a difficult life for several years. Some of it was of his own making, some of it his dad’s, and some of it was just what life has thrown at him. I won’t go into details. Let’s just say that I’ve been praying for him for a long time.
In the last few months, close to a year ago, there has been a change in him. It’s been gradual but over the last couple months, perhaps even in the last few weeks it has steamrolled. He has been talking with me more openly than he ever has before (hours at a time), and in the last couple weeks he has been talking about God.
The thing is, during these last few weeks, he has never mentioned Jesus. Then this last Sunday he had texted me and told me about going to church, I think it’s a smaller one, and how he is becoming part of this little congregation. So, curiosity getting the better of me, I texted him back and basically said, “so you’ve been talking about believing in God, but do you believe in Jesus? That He died for your sins and was resurrected so you could have eternal life?”
It was a bit before he texted me. I was afraid that I had pushed too far. But when he did respond, this is what he told me, and I’m quoting directly from his text message:
“So a few weeks ago I was at the laundromat, and while my clothes were in the wash I sat in my car and prayed. I was faced with a choice of where I wanted my life to go, and I agreed with God that wherever he wants me is where I want to be. I went into the laundromat to switch my laundry to dry, and two minutes later an older black lady came in and said ‘Excuse me sir, I just wanted to let you know that Jesus loves you and we are all brothers and sisters in Him and we are promised eternal life‘. At which point I was like ‘Alright God, messages received. I guess this is where you want me.'”
There was more that he said that I’m keeping for myself, but those words just made me cry. I have seen the change in him. Heard it in his voice and the way he talks about life, the things that are important to him and the things that no longer are. Only God could have done such a wonderful work in his life. My heart is bursting with joy.
All that to say is never give up. Keep praying for those lost loved ones. God loves them and wants them to be saved even more than you do.
White Fields
“…Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” Mark 4:35
I was only five years old in 1968 when the Jesus Revolution was beginning. We had just moved to Alaska when God started stirring in the hippie community. We didn’t have a whole lot of them (hippies) up here back then. At least, not that I was aware of. I never really heard too much about this whole movement until I was older, and then it was just a little bit here and there.
This afternoon I went to see the Jesus Revolution movie not really knowing what to expect apart from a couple trailers I had watched. About five to ten minutes in, I had tears running down my face and it didn’t let up until the show was over. What a beautiful depiction of what took place in the late sixties, early seventies among the Jesus Freaks. (Yes, I do remember that particular label.)
I think I was most touched by the portrayal of those people who had such a passion for Jesus and a passion to reach a generation that was literally looking for love in all the wrong places. Their willingness to love and serve others who were so different from them was absolutely Christlike. It was something that Jesus would have done. What we should be doing. It convicted me deeply.
Now it appears that multiple university campuses, and elsewhere, are experiencing a new movement of God, a stirring in the hearts of today’s young people. The Gen Z’s and Millennials. There is a lot of speculation about what this movement is. I’ve heard that a lot of these college revivals, like Asbury, are actually manmade and not from God. On the other end of the spectrum there is talk that this is the start of the Latter Rain that Joel prophesied would happen in the last days.
I can’t say with any certainty what is going on, but what I am seeing is a whole bunch of people repenting, worshiping, and praising God. Even if this isn’t a true revival, how can there be anything wrong with that?
What I do know for sure is that this generation, Gen Z and Millennials, are so lost and seemingly without hope. They are the outcast hippies of the 2020’s, looking for something to fill the emptiness they feel inside, looking for hope they don’t believe exists, for peace that is just out of their grasp. I daresay that most of them have never even heard of Jesus.
What I see is a field that is white and ripe for harvest. This generation needs Jesus just as much as the hippies did in the sixties and seventies. They need love and they need someone to tell them about Jesus and the hope He offers. They need someone who will wash their feet.
I don’t know when Jesus is returning, but I do know that He will not return until those fields are harvested. The question is then, who will be doing the harvesting? As Jesus said in Luke 10:2 “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Sometimes I Forget — Reasoned Cases For Christ
What wonderful reminder… from a dear brother in Christ.
I know, one wonders how it would be possible to forget what God has done in all of our lives, but yet, especially in times of great difficulty, one can forget. Forget about that “chance” meeting that changed the course of our lives . . . Forget about God’s answers to prayer given so many […]
Sometimes I Forget — Reasoned Cases For Christ
For Such A Time As This 