Just the evening before we entertained several young friends from a University nearby...opportunities like these are multiplying all around us! A few of the young men will be coming to visit with us weekly now...such an encouragement...
Then on Saturday morning, The Bug, who has been persistent in her questions about faith, life and the decision we all must make to accept or reject the claims of JC, asked to go out for a private time of study of the Book. Daddy and I recognized that it was a crucial time for her, so I took her out for a breakfast date. We ended up sitting in a Starbucks here (the very first time I've even been in one in 2 years)...but they had a comfortable quiet table on the third floor where The Bug and I sat down and read the Book together. She was full of questions and her heart was so tender and open...
At the end she told me she was ready to make her decision...so there, in Starbucks, we bowed our heads as she received the free gift of Him. Immediately after she said, "I want to be bptzed...tomorrow!" I told her that we certainly could do that, but that there was a large party, later the same day, where others like her would be doing the same. I asked did she want to join? "YES!" So that was that...
She was absolutely radiant. My heart was so deeply moved by the purity of her heart, her recognition of her need to settle this decision and clearly that the HS was drawing her to himself! There will be many things in her life that will challenge her and the decision she made...but she, like all of us, will grow in the knowledge of her faith...now she will have the help of the HS to teach her!
I simply cannot report to you the other miracles we saw today...though my heart longs to show you the pictures...but you can give thanks to Him with us for the many new Family members...a harvest day for sure!
After The Bug's special act of obedience, one of our fellow teachers, a foreigner who has taught with us for the past two years...came to be a part of The Bug's event...and stood with me as we heard person after person share their stories of changed lives.
I have carried a burden for this teacher for the entire time we've been here...I've shared more of my faith with her than probably with any other person...her heart was always warm and receptive, but her DOUBT continued to overwhelm her.
There have been many times, as she has come to our foreigner's meeting each weekend, that I've wanted to say..."Okay, what do you think NOW, what is the state of your heart?" But each and every time, I felt a strong "WAIT" from the HS.
However yesterday, while we were standing together hearing the stories and celebrating the acts of obedience we witnessed, I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt that HS was telling me to say to her, "Today is the day of your s*lv*tion." I was petrified! I reasoned that perhaps I could say, "So, what do you think about this s*lv*tion thing?" or "Do you have any more questions about this thing everyone is talking about?"...but NOOOOOO....over and over again, with my chest pounding, the HS told me...to say directly to her "TODAY is the day of YOUR s*lv*tion!" I thought I was going to faint...everyone in the room was in tears as a time of celebrating and thanking Him continued...then, as I drug my feet over to her, turned her, looked her straight in her eyes with my hands on her shoulders and said it...I said, "I know that the HS wants me to say this to you, 'Today is the day of your s*lv*tion."
She burst into tears, clung to me and said, "I don't know!" Then I asked her to go to a quiet place with me to talk about it, assuring her that I respect her fully and love her dearly, but that I HAD to share it with her.
We studied some relevant text from the book and she interrupted me. Through tears she told me, "Two days ago, I prayed and asked Him, "would you please give me a sign that you're really there, a sign that I am supposed to believe in you and follow you? And please...please don't let it be subtle, but something undeniable, right in my face"...
I was stunned....as the reality of what I had felt led to do and how it was a direct answer to her prayer settled over me...then she said, with both of us and Magpie, who had joined us, crying with joyful tears..."I am ready."
For the second time in one day I had the privilege of listening in on a precious soul turning her life over to Him.
April 10th...I hope that yours is a indescribably incredible as ours was!
1 comment:
JOY JOY JOY JOY JOY, and more tears of JOY!
the pahlkas
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