Believe it or not, today, August 8, we are celebrating our 59th Anniversary!!! What a journey it has been. It started with just the two of us. Now, all these years later there are 32 of us. Pray for us, that our whole family will all “grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.”
Samuel Chadwick put it this way: “The one concern of the Devil is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from prayer-less studies, prayer-less work, prayer-less religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”
Besides seeing family and friends, and working on projects in our house and yard, here are a few ministry updates:
Mur had her Women’s Bible Class over for a mid-summer lunch in our gazebo. She also had some Amish women friends over for a lunch.
I’ve been playing golf with a group of guys from our church on Tuesday nights this summer. After 9 holes some of us gather to discuss a chapter from one of the books I wrote, A Call to Responsible Freedom. A number have shared how helpful the book has been. One of the guys I’ve played with a couple of times has opened up to me. Pray I might be able to help him discern God’s will for him, and then respond by faith and obedience.
A few weeks ago we went to a picnic with folks with connections to Wheaton College. One guy said he and his wife were friends of Wanda Devine, widow of a former morning radio host on WCRF. Having worked with her former husband I gave him a copy of one of my books to pass on to her. She wrote a week later: “Just wanted to thank you for your book ‘Light in the Night for Living in the Day.’ I just finished the book this morning and it indeed was a huge encouragement to me. I’ve even shared some of the contents with a dear Christian friend who has gone thru huge trials for several years. I like the way the book was written: deep, lots of scripture and applications, and yet simple enough for all to understand.”
A few weeks ago I talked with another widowed friend. He shared how he was helped through reading my daily devotional book on Romans, Unlocking the Mystery of the Ages, last year. I wanted to share these with you to encourage passing on a book or pamphlet or tract or CD or DVD, or your word of encouragement or your testimony. A paraphrase of Jeremiah 8:20, “The harvest is almost over, the summer is almost gone, and there are many who are not saved, or encouraged or restored.” Make the most of what is left of summer. We’ve had opportunities to do and see things, but there are still opportunities to do what Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 11:1: “Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.” Or what Jesus shared in the parable of the sower of seed, the Word of God (Matthew 13). Before this summer ends share with someone what God has done for you.
A couple of months ago I shared an email from a radio listener asking prayer for her husband who was unlawfully put in prison to be released. Here is an update from Diana: “In Montana, my husband has been freed from jail, and exonerated of all charges. Hallelujah! God is great and powerful, and is victorious over the enemy. Now he has a marvelous testimony, which we’re sure will impact many people. While he was in jail he shared God’s Word and 54 persons accepted Christ into their lives. Fellow prisoners asked him for spiritual advice, and even the jail workers asked him to talk with the other prisoners. The level of suicide deaths went down. All of this is for God’s Glory! We are so thankful to God! Please continue praying for us. Again, thank you for your radio program. I get much help from the messages and testimonies that you share. May God always bless you!” Prayer truly dose change things.
Remember Galatians 6:9-10: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”