cool weather and family gatherings

Hey GNN downtown team and prayer partners, 11/22/07

Have you noticed the fresh air of some cool fronts? We are glad to see it! But it would also be a good reminder to dress warmer, and bring an extra coat just in case it’s windy.

We can’t say it enough how much of an encouragement each and all of you to us. We pray God’s blessings on each of you!

We believe that the singing and street-preaching idea has potential. We are discovering that it is hard to add anything else to December’s schedule, so we are setting the idea aside until January or February next year.

(Barbara’s update)
Last week was Thanksgiving, and I was thinking Friday night as we were downtown how thankful I am that God lets us share the gospel with whomever we are willing to talk to and share our hearts and lives with. We saw Jamie a homeless lady and Steven shared some valuable truths with her and we shared a bite to eat with her. We see Jamie pretty regularly, and it's neat to see her change as we have built this friendship with her. She smiles and in her own way says thanks for being my friend. We have only a moment with some people down there or at the store or wherever God allows us to be His witness, but what a joy it is to be His messenger to encourage and exhort.

David was talking with Mike at the hot dog stand and he seemed so far from seeing the truth, but he asks so many questions. His beliefs are really strange but he asks the type of questions that are pleading with someone to prove to him what is really true. He was raised as an orphan in a Catholic orphanage so he has some Catholic beliefs, and a lot of other beliefs from reading fictional books.

This time of the year really causes so many people to care about others, thinking of family and all. I pray that it will cause each of us to care about every person God puts in our path. And how important it is for us to not only say hello and wish people "Happy Thanksgiving", but to show them that the God who created this world and each and every one of us wants to have a relationship with them too. Share your lives and your testimony and heart with whomever God sets before you and see the joy only God can give a lost world. You see we are not of this world if we are a follower of Christ, but we are looking forward to a home with Our Holy Heavenly Father one day, and who are we taking with us?

God gave me a song when I was praying one day to Him after my dad died and I said Lord I miss my dad so much and God said Barbara He's with me, his work is done, but go tell others about Me. And this is a prayer in a song that God gave me, maybe sometime I can sing it to you all. I included the words of the song at the end. ‘Jesus, Help Me to Disciple’ (see verses at the bottom)

As Children of the Lord Jesus Christ; God calls us to be His ambassadors.
2 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God."
I pray God will teach each of us to be His disciples each and every day until we see Jesus.
Love, Barbara

(Steven’s update)
One unique conversation, I (Steven) had was with three ladies, I briefly took the ‘Smart Card’ test with them and had a brief conversation with them. We were kind of walking quickly because of the cold, but they appreciated the conversation, so that was good! Every so often, some of our family is able to join the downtown Saturday evening soul-winning team (Operation 180), and Paul and I were able to do that last Saturday. We had quite a few very interesting conversations! It was pretty cool! But the highlight of the evening, for Sean, Matt, Marie and I was talking with a Muslim man! Wow, what an incredible conversation! He actually challenged us to be even more bold about not only following Christ, but challenging more people to join us!... but I’m getting ahead of myself… It started when we saw this family (dad, mom, 3 kids – elementary age) all by themselves. It was obvious that they were homeless and they looked kind of sad, so we went over and talked to them. We talked with the guy, named Steve, most of them time and found out that he was raised a Christian and then decided that 4+ years ago, that he wanted to be a Muslim. He mostly blamed it on the hypocrites in the church, but it was also obvious that he wanted something other than the gospel Jesus taught. So, he asked us a few questions and we showed him several verses, but he was still trying to hold onto his view. Then toward the end of the conversation, he went on and on for maybe 5-10 minutes about the hypocrites in the church (though he tried to say that all of us are hypocrites, and we nicely reminded him that we aren’t). We heartily agreed with his assessment of the so many people who say they follow Christ and are really looking out for their own greed, but we also contrasted that by pointing out that those people he was pointing at aren’t Christ, and that He is perfect and He doesn’t mistreat people like that… anyway, interesting conversation… Then at the end of the conversation, he also encouraged us and challenged us to keep looking for people who are willing to stand with all they have on God’s truth. TALK ABOUT INSPIRING! Wow!... needless to say, all four of us were fired up even more to follow Christ better! What an incredible opportunity to hear from someone who calls himself a Muslim challenging us to follow Christ with all we have!... kind of strange, but this guy clearly saw and admitted that what we had is genuine. And he’s right. What God has given each of us who follow Him as best as we can, is the real thing! It is more valuable than anything else people are looking for! And we also know, that as we are following Christ as best as we can, God’s clear testimony is challenging the hearts of those around us that they too need to get serious about their relationship with Christ. What an honor – what a privilege it is to have this wonderful, amazing opportunity of a relationship with the Creator of this Universe – perfect God, desiring a relationship with us, sinners saved by grace – WOW!

One other thought (Steven). I have been finding God opening more little opportunities to talk with people in a variety of places lately, and I’m grateful. We are praying that God would be doing that with each of you too, and we trust that He is! Everything done for Him will be rewarded! Thank you again to each of you for your part in this team. We are a team of believers/followers of Christ. J

Your friends and fellow laborers,
David, Barbara, Steven and Paul

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Jesus, Help Me to Disciple

Jesus, help me to disciple.
And live for you each day.
Jesus help me to love you more..
And learn to walk Your way.

Verse
Jesus life here is hard.
But you said, You'd guide us through.
Jesus help me to encourage those.
Who will and do belong to you.

Verse
Life here on earth is so short.
But in Heaven, We'll be forever with You
So keep from getting busy
On things that don't glorify
You.

Jesus help me to disciple
And live for You each day.
Jesus help me to read Your Word
And learn to love Your way

Verse
You said one day we'd be in Heaven.
And earthly things won't matter anymore.
You said one day we'd be with You
And that's what life worth living for.

Jesus, help me to disciple..
And live for you each day.

Jesus help me too
Do Your work.
So I'll be found faithful.
When I see You.