before the sun goes down

"Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in His sight" (I Chronicles 19:13).

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Declaring the Truth about Life AND Life Everlasting!


"And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in thy judgments" (Psalm 119:43)

You may wonder what does a Christian go through when he or she chooses to stand and speak for life publicly.  Allow me to share what all happened today...

Went to the local abortion mill, as I do twice a week, and stood for life from 6:30am to 10am.  

Prayed on the way there for the ability to share the Gospel and wisdom to give an answer. 

Offered help to and shared the Gospel with people going in to have their children killed.  Saw women and girls going in, and mourned in my spirit over both the fear and desperation on the faces of some and the impudence and brazen selfishness on the faces of others.  

Was refused for the most part, ridiculed by mothers, friends, and the staff, and was falsely accused and maligned by the manager.

Grieved at the knowledge that 10+ innocent children were slaughtered today not a 100 feet from where I was standing.

Gave tracts to people going by, including about 15 students waiting for the bus.  

Saw 54 positive responses from passersby.

Had a few people stop their cars to tell me that they appreciated what I was doing.

Had others driving by who ignored me or mocked at the murder of babies, and the word of God.  Was given opportunity to bless those who cursed me.

Witnessed of the Gospel and life to a woman walking by who was just released from prison yesterday after a 10 year sentence for killing someone.  She agreed with me in general about the evil of abortion, but raised doubts about cases of rape.  I answered her questions from the Bible in love, and gave her a tract about life and eternal life.  Let her know I will pray for her and her children.

Talked with a man who in his car on the road, whose girlfriend was inside, sharing with him what the Bible says about life, sin, forgiveness, and salvation.  he was not agreeing with me, but our conversation was civil.  As I spoke with him, the manager yelled profanities at me from the parking lot, where he stands when the abortionist is expected to arrive (he acts as security guard too).  The man and I kept talking.  Suddenly, the manager was behind me pushing on me with his chest and wouldn't leave me alone.  This, I believe, constitutes "assault".  He was angry that I was speaking with the man.  I guess prolife sidewalk counselors are bad for business.  It is the first time he has gotten physical against me, and I am grateful that the Lord protected me.  Got to share the Gospel again with this manager, telling him that I care about him enough to warn him of the danger, and that I desire to see him saved in Christ Jesus.

Warned the abortionist when he came of the need to repent and trust in Christ.  Preached the Gospel to him and to the manager again.  The abortionist yelled back at me and went inside to do his bloody business.

The manager said I was wasting my time, and that it would please him if I would leave and not come back.  I let him know that I am not living to please him, but my Father in heaven.  And my Lord calls His children to speak the truth and stand against evil.  

In each case, the Lord gave me words to say, almost all of it, being straight from the Bible.  "The preparations in the heart of man, and the answer from the tongue, is from the LORD" (Proverbs 16:1).  All glory to the Lord for being my Stay, and my Defense.

Praise the Lord, I'm seeing God work in this ministry, even in those who are resisting.  Jesus Christ shows His protection of His servants, and gives the words to say.  Am praying for His continuing conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

 I'm thankful for the three young ladies who drove up from out of state to stand for life today too.  I prayed for other believers to get the burden to join me someday. 

All that in one morning.  

If you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Saviour, maybe you should ask your self, what you are doing to share the truth about life and eternal life.  

What are you doing to stand for the lives of the innocent in danger of being slaughtered?

What are you doing so that people can hear the Gospel and learn how they can have everlasting life?

There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down. 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

What is in a Word? INVESTIGATE

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).

   My mind is a little peculiar.  Sometimes things jump out at me.  It is rather strange.

   Real life example- I am sitting in my house, minding my own business, when I see three books on a shelf.  They are on unrelated subjects, and all I can see are the titles on the binding.  But for some crazy reason, my mind starts to try to find how the books are the same and how they are different.  I note that the three books were authored by three different people, that the binding are three different colors, yet that the lettering are all gold colored.  The symbol of the publisher is on the bottom of each book, and each were published by a different publisher.
   Especially the words grab my attention.  My mind sets to work, checking to see if the titles have the same amount of syllables.  Then I start counting to see what letters all three books bindings have in common and discover out that each book contains three L's, if you include the author's name with the title.  I do all this while seated, and never even touch the books.  After this ordeal, my mind is satisfied, that is until I sit here again.  Then my mind will want to check on those titles again, just to make sure that they haven't changed.  

   Another instance- I am sitting at a friend's home.  I see a sentence stenciled on the wall, a clever decoration.  My mind starts to dissect, going through the alphabet, checking to see what letters are used in the sentence, and which are not included, if all the vowels are present or not, etc.  I count to see which letter is used most often in the sentence.

   This type of thing has been happening ever since I learned to read at age 3 1/2 to 4 years of age.  Most times when this happens it really doesn't make much difference, except my mind is getting a workout.  It can even be a mental strain, and sometimes I have to purposefully think of something else.

   But there are some benefits that rise from it at times.

   When looking at a word, I am often struck by the wondering of where that word came from.  I think back to whether I have learned what roots it came from, and search for related words.  For instance, the words course, courier, current, cursive, and cursor key, are related words, derived from a root cursus meaning "to run".  Therefore, when I see a word with the same root, my mind checks it to see how it fits.  From childhood, I have been fascinated with words and their history.
   Moreover, I appreciate the richness and depth that is to be had in the English language, and how words can be grouped in "families".  There are words that can be used to communicate the same meaning, but each can have also its own flavor, and specific dynamic.  For instance, sauntered, ambled, tiptoed, and stomped are all words that can be used to describe someone walking, but each conveys a varying attitude, manner, and quality.  Seeing how words can be the same and different has often been an aid in learning and adding words to my vocabulary both in and out of school.

   Other times, when I see a word, I see words inside the word.  By dissecting these inner words, I can understand the meaning or application of a word.

Let's take a look at the word INVESTIGATE.

INVESTIGATE: to search into; to examine with care and accuracy; It comes from the Latin, investigo, "to follow a track, to search."

Dissecting the word from the viewpoint of studying the Bible, we find certain inner words...

IN - You need to get IN the Bible.  Open it, ask God to teach and shew you what you need to know.  If we don't get into the Bible, how can we expect to know it?
"Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy word." Psalm 119:18
"The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." Psalm 119:130

INVEST - Spend time in the Bible.  Invest time hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on the Scriptures.  It is worth the investment.  And remember, where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
"O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97

VEST - The vest covers your heart.  Don't just get knowledge for your head.  Take the truth to heart.
"Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart"
Psalm 119:34

I - See how the Scripture applies to you personally.  Don't just say, "Oh my brother needs to hear that!"  Consider yourself first and see if you line up with God's word and where you need to repent and confess sin and do things God's way.  Then you can share with your brother what the Lord is teaching you and encourage him to do the same.
"I thought on my ways and turned my feet unto thy testimonies" Psalm 119:59

GATE - A gate swings.  It is active.  Put hinges on the truth of the Bible you have learned and swing with it.  Live according to the precepts and principles of the word of God.
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" Psalm 119:105

   Let us be diligent to study the word of truth, to be approved workmen!  Let us not end up ashamed because we neglected the Book of the Lord!

   Let the words of the psalmist be reflected in our desire for the LORD and His word...

"Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation according to thy word.

So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.  

I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. 

And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes." Psalm 119:41-48

   There is still time to win a battle before the sun goes down.


Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Why Stand for Life and Speak for the Gospel?

Stood for life this morning.

Offered information and help to women who were on their way to pay to have their babies murdered.

Prayed for hearts to be turned, and for my people to awaken to what is happening in our own country's cities.

Gave Gospel (English and Spanish) tracts to passersby.

Put signs with Scripture and the facts about abortion out for the benefit of the public driving by.

Carried a sign with the verse "Thus saith the LORD of Hosts, Consider your ways" (Haggai 1:5).

Shared about the Gospel and life with the postman and someone who stopped, asking for directions.

Read Scripture and warned a hardened murderer of the need of repentance as he went to slay at least half a dozen innocent Americans.

Preached to the manager, sharing why I was there and gave the Gospel message I give him every week.

Why do I do this twice a week?  Why do I rise early Wednesdays and Saturdays to go to the abortion mill?  Why do I warn the lost?

Like my Father, I am not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Here is an exhortation to us from a brother already departed:

"If sinners are to be damned at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies, and if they perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees imploring them to stay.  If Hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let no one go there unwarned or unprayed for."  Charles Spurgeon

   Jesus said to "preach the Gospel to every creature".  Are we not to obey our Lord and His word?

This is why I do what I do.  And this is why I exhort all my Christian brothers and sisters to do the same.