I worked for a company that had me traveling to south Florida each Monday and returning on Thursday. Landing in Fort Lauderdale, renting a car and getting started by 8:00 each Monday was the routine. I tried to witness to folks when people were available, but i couldn't mix witnessing with business, so I tried to catch people when I could. while driving down one of the very busy streets one day, I noticed three young boys sitting in front of a convenience store, just leaning against the front wall. I turned the car around and pulled up in front of them. I had several Gideon testaments with me and I opened one to the back pages. That's where scriptures are located and a plan of salvation. I told them that I wanted to give them these little Bibles and they were eager to take them. As I opened one of them and began to read the scriptures, they didn't stop me and were very attentive. At the end I asked if the sample prayer expressed the desire of their hearts. I asked each one individually. They all said yes. Each prayed the prayer and appeared sincere. Their countenance changed right there. They were truant from school and I encouraged them to get back to school and try it with Jesus this time. They assured me they would.
As I drove away, I thought about what God had just done. I really don't like witnessing to just everyone unless I'm passing out tracts in large numbers. For one on one witnessing, I like to just wait on a set-up from the Holy Spirit. That's what happened here. I was compelled to turn the car around. Every time I have heeded the call to witness someone gets saved. I have resisted much more often than complied. What a shame. It's probable that people who would like to witness don't do it because nothing happens. I'm convinced that they need to wait but also heed the call to witness when it happens. God prepares hearts though many methods and will use you if you wish, but you must be willing and pay attention. You know what I'm talking about. Remember what God told His prophets and Jesus' disciples including the Apostle Paul. He protected them and He will do the same for you. It can be scary, but say those first few words and the fear will melt away.
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Carol and I just went on a business trip to Hollywood, CA. What an experience. Carol loved the side trip we took to Thousand Oaks to visit Reagan's Presidential museum. Those few days were quite pleasant, but Hollywood was not at all impressive for me. I would rather put up with the mosquitoes in Florida than the people on Hollywood Boulevard. What a mess. Sodom comes to mind. When I left, I felt compelled to not look back for fear that God would turn me into a pillar of salt. For some reason, I didn't feel compelled to even give people tracts. It seemed wasteful. When leaving Hollywood, it wasn't so bad. People quite readily accept the Kristin tract. Someone recently asked how many have been printed so far in the seven years that we have been producing them. I actually stopped keeping a strict count of the numbers. I think around 300,000, but I'm sure the Lord knows the exact count.
I have had the pleasure and privilege of leading people to Christ for over 40 years and it never gets old. I remember a home I visited on a business matter. The gentleman was 72. I didn't ask his wife's age. When business concluded around 8:00 PM, I decided to witness to him. His wife was saved. She was very talky and kept interrupting. She was just extremely concerned for his soul. I quoted Revelation 3:20, knowing that is a fellowship verse, but i've often used it to witness effectively. He sat in his recliner and said nothing, but didn't object. He just sat there, not moving. I told him that Jesus was knocking and that uncomfortable feeling he was having was the conviction of the Holy Spirit of God. He just sat there. I quoted it again, and again. I must have quoted that scripture a half dozen times, asking him to give in. His wife interrupted again and I asked her to get me a cup of coffee. She left us alone. I quoted the verse again and he reached for my hand. I was sitting on the ottoman in front of him with my Bible, showing him the verse as I quoted it. He pulled me off the ottoman onto my knees as he joined me and just began to cry. He prayed a wonderful prayer without my help, asking God to save him through His Son's death, burial and resurrection. He asked that Jesus blood would cover his sins. He knew his stuff. After all, his wife mentioned that he had been going to church for over fifty years and the preachers had been witnessing to him also. This was his moment and I got to be there when it happened. After explaining how he should go forward in a profession of faith at his church, his wife bounded into the room dancing like a school girl praising the Lord and crying, "he never done that before. Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord" What a great time we had and I couldn't get in a word. He just opened up and kept me there. He wouldn't let me leave. It was after ten and he followed me down the driveway assuring me that he would call his preacher with the good news and he would follow up at church. I'm glad I didn't assume he was saved. I'm glad God gave me the boldness to witness to this old fellow. I'm sure he's been in heaven for years now and has met Kristin. There are no experiences that beat this. I'll give you some more stories equally as amazing. Remember that I am not a people person. I just believe that, even though I am nervous and shy about witnessing, God will do all of the work. I just show them scripture. |
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October 2021
Kim MagdaleinKristin's Dad |
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