You Think You Know Someone: When The Clouds Opened and Salvation Came

“ 7Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7 (NASB)

 

Last night, while speaking to the woman I respect and look-up to most in all the world, something was shared with me that instantly brought tears to my eyes and goose bumps to form in ninety-five degree Florida!

 

After two God-ordained encounters that day, one with a calls center woman in Colorado and another with my lifelong friend in North Africa, God led me to call this most cherished woman to my heart, who had loved and guided me from the day of my birth, to share of these events. Yet, as I shared my passion to see the Lord bring salvation to the Muslim people through dreams and visions (as He is already doing—and we have had the personal privilege of speaking with Muslims in two different Muslim countries where this has happened to them)—I was given a blessing that I could not have expected.

 

This woman praised the Lord for all that He had done and then asked me, “Have I ever shared with you the story of my conversion?” I stated that she had told me through the years that she had accepted Jesus when she was young. The elegant and stately woman paused and then began to share her heart’s story.

 

“I was eight years old. I was lying in a field and watching the clouds, when suddenly the clouds parted and I saw Jesus standing there. He was wearing a white robe and I remember His face. He looked right at me and extended His hand out towards me as He said, ‘Follow Me.’ I saw bright lights behind Him and there was music playing. It was at that moment that I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.”

 

Knowing this woman as a strong Christian believer who is solid in her doctrine, I was instantly in tears! I told her how amazing that was to hear and shared that I was covered in goose bumps! She continued.

 

“You know, Katie, as I have gotten older, memories have begun to fade; but that one is as clear as the day I saw Him.”

 

I told her that I was shocked and utterly thrilled to learn of this, but had never, ever heard this from her in all my life. She replied, “I will never forget the way that people would look at me when I would tell them about seeing Jesus. I got tired of the looks from others and just stopped sharing it.”

 

I was amazed to be reminded of the truth of the Holy Bible! What Jesus has done since the beginning of time, He is still in the business of doing! Jesus is personally showing up in the lives of those who desire to please God and radically changing their lives for His glory and their good (Romans 8:28)! If you have some extra time sometime, flip through these examples in Scripture of Jesus inserting Himself into creation both before and after His time of being wrapped in human flesh, to edify the believers and turn strangers to God into friends of God through personal revelation (Genesis 18:1-15, Exodus 3:1-22, Exodus 33:1-23, Exodus 34:1-35, Psalm 16:1-11, Psalm 49:1-20, Psalm 110:1-7, Isaiah 6:1-8, Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, John 4:1-54, John 20:1-31, Acts 2:1-47, Acts 7:1-60, Acts 9:1-31, Revelation 1:1-20, Revelation 19:1-16, Revelation 22:1-21).

 

“8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” –Hebrews 13:8 (NASB)

 

I have always looked up to this most amazing woman of stouthearted faith. She has always given a solid, godly testimony with her life through all these years. I thank God for her (Philippians 1:3) and trust that God will use her story to edify others as well. May you be encouraged in the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ!

 

“ 12Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.14For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” Hebrews 13:12-14 (NASB)

Gospel Goads: The Purpose of Life

“But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5 (NASB)

 

What is the purpose of life? To learn of the God who loves you and respond in repentance and acceptance of the free gift of right standing with Almighty God through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (John 3:16). Then, once an individual has stepped into the story of Jesus Christ by declaring that He is Lord and there is no other, it is then the greatest privilege of any believer of Jesus Christ to GO AND TELL (Matthew 28:18-20) of this marvelous message of God’s hope, redemption, justification and sanctification through the finished work of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9-10).

 

As Christians, we are called to be Gospel Goads. What in the world is a goad you may be asking? A goad was a tool used by a herder to direct the sheep to where they needed to go. It was a sharp, pointed stick that the shepherd in the ancient Near East would use to poke the backside of the large cattle or oxen until it went the direction that was desired by the guardian of the flock. This very word is used in the Bible when the Apostle Paul, who at that time was still actively throwing Christians in jail and reveling in their deaths, was met by the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus (where he had official papers to arrest and persecute more Christians).

 

“ 12“While so engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14“And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15“And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:12-18 (NASB)

 

The Apostle Paul did in fact spend the next thirty years of his life fulfilling the work that the Risen Jesus Christ Himself had commissioned Paul to do. And the truth is still in affect for each and every believer in Jesus Christ today. Remember, it’s the Holy Spirit that draws people to Himself. It’s not up to us whether or not a person comes to Jesus Christ, but we are responsible for whether or not we faithfully and accurately presented this good news (Gospel) of God’s love for all humanity through the act of sending His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment we each deserve due to the shameful and unspeakable things we do, think and say.

 

“⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and ^[a]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

 

By living an authentic Christian life, we are used by God to poke and prod non-believers into asking more about the God we follow. What an exciting purpose for each and every life! Jesus Christ wants to use you—right where you are—to have a global impact for Jesus Christ!

 

“¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CORK BOARD OF PRAISE! Open forum to pin a praise in worship of Jesus Christ

“³¹ When they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.” Acts 15:31 (NASB)

 

CORK BOARD OF PRAISE!!! All are welcome to post here…WHAT WILL YOU PRAISE GOD FOR THIS MOMENT? We –all–have reasons to praise…may we allow others to be encouraged by reading, gleaning and rejoicing with us in what God has done and who He is.

 

__”I want to praise God for…”
__”I want to give praise to God because He is…”
__”I want to praise God for the situation…”

 

” 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. 11For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; 12that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:8-12 (NASB)

 

I will start! 🙂 I want to praise the name of Jesus Christ for giving me the air in my lungs, the loving family that I never even dreamed to pray to one day call my own and most importantly, I praise the name of Jesus Christ for salvation from all the filth, shame, anger, resentment, rage, embarrassment and regrets = sin (1 John 4:9-10)… that I have been forgiven of (Ephesians 2:8-9) and washed clean of by the blood of Jesus Christ (Psalm 51:7) when He took my punishment on the cross (Isaiah 53:5). And with Christ as my Lord and my Savior, my life has been given greater meaning than a paycheck with many zeros (Deuteronomy 10:14). From that moment of accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and asking for forgiveness for the myriad of ways I have missed the mark, my life has been infused with a peace that surpasses understanding due to Jesus’ ever present help (Philippians 4:7). No matter what the storm, no matter what unexpected news may be present in your story, take heart–Jesus Christ is ready to walk with you through it and use it for His glory and your good (Romans 8:28).

Share your praise below…come on, now… 🙂 LET OUR PRAISES RISE–Jesus Christ alone is worthy of our praise. 🙂