God still works

Praise God for another life changed.

I have a great friend, Greg K (I am going to not use his last name because he would want God to get the glory) who has always been an encouragement to me shared as story that gives God the glory. Now let me say Greg is a pilot, but he shares the love of God.

He started by saying, “First & foremost, this is NOT about me ...not in the least.”

Greg reminds us that “God is really REALLY BIG.....”  You and I are very VERY small, and that's a good thing!”

God's timing is always right, good, and often amazing. About 26 yrs ago John B and Greg K crossed paths while they both flew a night freight job for different companies, but each night they had an hour to kill at the Milwaukee WI airport waiting for the freight to arrive.  They became friends.  Somewhere during that time JB says that GK gave him a Bible with a bunch of verses outlined .... Greg says, “honestly I don't remember giving him the bible;  but I do recall us often talking about spiritual things.”  John was pretty quick back then to tell Greg  he was NOT a believer.

TIME and LIFE rolled on....

They lost contact, then years later crossed paths ....stayed in touch, but lost contact again as they both chased flying jobs around the country.

1.5 yrs ago they found each other again.  Internet, facebook.....you know.

John reminded Greg about the Bible (still has it,) and told Greg that he's been reading it ...a lot.

Although they haven't seen each other in over 15 yrs, during the past year they wrote many emails to keep in touch, and to share bible studies.  Greg says, “It was really neat to watch this man, my ole' nonbeliever & cynical friend, come to FAITH.”

John landed in Denver (he's a Captain with USAirways) one night and the next morning Greg picked him up for breakfast and finally a face-to-face reunion.....

They caught-up thru several pots of coffee, went to Greg’s home, wrenched on motorcycles awhile in the garage, & took the bikes for a spin to the mountains & back. THEN they had to head back to the airport hotel so John could get ready for work.

Before out of my parking lot, I said  "Ok Johnny, new topic....  For God so Loved the world...  Where do you fit in that?"

John started talking, and showed great insight into the scriptures and a solid understanding of the gospel.

He got it!

He knew that "religion" isn't the answer, "works" have no power to save, but that IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS.

As Greg drove, John began to read Bible verses that made a difference to him.... questions & discussion followed.

And then not 15 minutes later (in almost a perfect paraphrase of Acts 8, Phillip & the Ethiopian,)  John said, "Greg, find us some water.....I want to complete my faith journey & get baptized into Christ.... and I'd prefer to do it before I takeoff in that Airbus headed for JFK." 

Way to go God .....Amen Holy Spirit.

At that point we happened to be 2 miles from the church Greg is connected to, so an exit later we parked at Sanctuary Christian Fellowship and got into the empty building.

There were only a few things left to say....

"John you're right, it's all about Jesus ...always has been & always will be, and confessing Him as Lord.  Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God who died for your sins?"

John says, "Yeah Greg, Jesus is Lord ...all the way!"

Greg says, "Well buddy then this is real simple... there's no magic in the water.  We're saved by GRACE thru FAITH in the blood of the Lamb ...period.  

Without FAITH right now in God's power to connect you with that blood, this baptism will only get you wet.  

With FAITH, then Romans 6 happens right here upon you and you claim the promises of Acts 2:38-ff."

"I get it, trust me I do ...I want IN.  I believe."

"Because of your confession John, I'm able to baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit......."

You like me, probably wander why share stories like this?

WHY did Greg share this with a few of his Christian friends.....??

He didn't even remember giving John a bible.

It's never about US, but all about His Spirit working thru us to effect others.  

We scatter seed...

God does the really cool stuff inside individual hearts.

And whether we get to watch the fruit grow immediately, have to wait 26 years, or never see it......

His Word never returns empty   ;-/

How cool and humbling is that....

-gk

12 Steps

Here are the "Twelve Steps" of AA modified to our dilemma of sin in general with Biblical references.  As you apply them, may you find that GOD IS ABLE!

1.  We admitted we were powerless over sin - that our lives had become unmanageable.
Romans 7:14-25 ". . .The things that I do not want to do I do. . .What a wretched man I am!  Who will save me from this body that brings me death?"

2.  Came to believe that God, a power greater than ourselves, could restore us to sanity.
Romans 7:24-25 "Who will save me from this body that brings me death? God will!  I thank him for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord."

3.  Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.
Romans 8:4-7  "Now we do not live following our sinful selves, but we live following the Spirit."
Proverbs 3:5  "Trust in the Lord with all of your hearts and don't depend on your own understanding."

4.  Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Romans 12:1-3 "You must see yourself as you really are. . ."
Psalms 51 "I know my wrongs.  I can't forget my sins. . ."
Psalm 139 "God examine me, and know my heart.  Test me and know my thoughts.  See if there is any bad thing in me."

5.  Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Proverbs 28:13 "If you hide your sins you will not succeed.  If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy."
Psalm 32 "When I kept things to myself, I felt weak. . .then I confessed my sins to you. . .and you forgave my guilt."

6.  We were entirely ready for God to remove all of these defects of character.
Psalm 51:12,17 "Keep me strong by giving me a willing spirit. . . the sacrifice God wants is a willing spirit.  God you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for it's sin."

7.  Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a pure heart, God.  Make my spirit right again."
Luke 18:9-14 ". . when he prayed,. . . he said "God have mercy on me.  I am a sinner!"

8.  Made a list of all the persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Matthew 5:21-24 ". . .So when you offer your gift to God,. . .and you remember your brother has something against you, leave your gift there. . .and go make peace with him. . . "

9.  Made direct amends to such people wherever possible except when to do so would injure them or others.
Luke 15:11-32  The Prodigal Son  "The son said 'Father I have sinned against God and have done wrong against you'. . ."

10.  Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
2 Cor. 13:5  "Look at yourselves closely.  Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith. . ."
Hebrews 12:1-2 ". . we should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way. . and. . the sin that so easily catches us. . ."

11.  Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Romans 12:1-2  ". . .But be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you. . . "
Philippians 4:4-8 ". . .pray continually. . .and God's peace will keep your hearts and minds in Christ."

12.  Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Psalm 51:13  ". . .Then I will teach your ways to those who do wrong. . ."

Broken Dreams

As children bring their broken toys
With tears for us to mend,

I brought my broken dreams to God
Because He was my friend.

But then instead of leaving Him
In peace to work alone

I hung around and tried to help
with ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried,
"How could you be so slow" -

"My child," He said, "What could I do?
You never did let go."

Bookmarks

I will continue to add bookmarks or favorites to this blog post as I discover relevant ones. If you have any suggestions, feel free to send those to me and I will consider their relevance to this blog. If I feel they are as valuable as you, I will add them. Thanks!

Links, Bookmarks, etc. below
http://www.studyjesus.com/
http://www.yesheis.com/en/

TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO WIN A SOUL

TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO WIN A SOUL.

1. Prayerfully identify someone you know who is not a Christian.
2. Pray fervently for their salvation every day.
3. Be a blessing to your friend. Be there for him when he needs help.
4. Invite him to a meal to get better acquainted.
5. Ask him if there is any need in his life for which you could pray.
6. Offer Bible study materials he might enjoy studying.
7. Encourage him to come to bible class and worship with you.
8. Ask him two study God's word with you.
9. Tell them why you became a Christian (Mark 5:19-20).
10. When they come to Christ, help them grow and become more involved in church.

Book - "Walking The Narrow Road"

Check out a book on conversion to Christ.

The First Conversion of the New Covenant period.

22“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.’

36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And awe^d came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.