"... but first gave their
own selves to the Lord" 2 Cor. 8:5b
We are now home in Oklahoma City for several weeks getting the windshield
replaced in the motor home and extensive fiberglass repairs done to
the front. The windshield and front of the coach had some chips and
dings from an encounter with a gravel dump truck that pulled suddenly
in front of us while gravel was falling off of the truck and peppering
the coach. After the windshield cracks started getting longer and splitting
the windshield, I decided that for safety's sake, we better get it replaced.
Fortunately, our insurance covered the entire repair minus the deductible.
We should be back on the road in a couple of weeks.
This past Spring we were able to watch God at work in
the lives of His people. We were privileged to be invited to the first
annual missions conference of a church in Pennsylvania. God was glorified
and pleased. This church, in its infancy as a Bible study group before
calling a pastor, took on two missionaries for monthly support. The
church has been missions minded since then. Dr. John Halsey preached
for the conference on the theme of Faith Promise. The people responded
to the leading of the Holy Ghost and when they took up their commitments
for the next year were able to more than double their missions giving.
This they were able to do because they first gave of themselves. We
rejoiced as we watched and listened while God was working.
While preaching in Texas on doing more than giving and
praying, I asked a rhetorical question about Saul of Tarsus going to
Damascus. I had never had this happen before. A young girl of 10-12
years of age raised her hand. I had already noticed her intensity in
listening and that her attention was on the message. Well, I stepped
down form the platform and let her answer the question. We had a little
discussion for a minute or two, and then went back to preaching. The
thrust of the message was to go beyond praying for missionaries and
giving money to missions; but, to get personally involved doing something
for missionaries, evangelists, pastors, etc. We exhorted the folk to
be available to God for whatever He would want to do through them.
After the service, this same young girl came up to us
at our table and said that God had laid on her heart the children of
missionaries, especially those who may not have any friends their age
on the foreign field. She wanted to write to them and encourage them
on a regular basis. We told her that the preacher would be glad to give
her the names and addresses of the children for her to write to. We
rejoiced at the tenderness of such a sweet young child and wondered
out loud, "Oh, that God's people could grasp that vision!"
We want to thank the new churches that have taken us on
for support and for being such a tremendous encouragement to us. The
fellowship of the saints, though over a great distance, remains sweet
and refreshing. To God be the glory.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.