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There will be a huge announcement made about our bookstore in just a few more days. Keep checking back to see what it might be. That is all I am telling you right now. (How is that for a teaser?)
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In our bookstore right now is a book that is on a special sale. It is called, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”
This book reaches out to those who may be suffering from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.
Check it out by clicking on the “bookstore,” tab at the top of this page.
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I will only have about three more exceprts from the book, “Signs of HOpe: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”
Today’s excerpt asks, “How do we speak to others about God? What do we say?”
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Chapter 71
The Best Teacher Is Experience
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Did you ever have a perfect opportunity to witness to someone and let it pass? Was there a time when you knew there was an opening to share news about God, and you didn’t? I have had that happen to me before. Afterwards I think of things I could have said that I didn’t think of at the time.
What should we as Christians do? Should we carry folders with us at all times? We could have them organized for many different situations like: a death in the family, divorce, a lost job, a serious surgery coming up, or a fear of failure. Then when the person says, “I have a surgery coming up, and I am afraid,” we can pull out our surgery folder, and read it to them.
Not a very practical—or personal—approach, I would think.
I have learned that I have a world of experience. I have “been there and done that.” Unfortunately, I have been through each of the examples I have mentioned, and many others. Just like you have. I had to suffer through them without a person with a folder around. That is the bad news. The real good news is that I had God there to comfort me. I can relate to someone’s hurt. I can share with them how I handled it. I let them know it won’t be easy for them try to make it on their own, but with God there at their side, everything is possible.
I wish I hadn’t had to go through all the trials, but it was God’s way of preparing me to be an ambassador for Him. Trials, by their very nature, are part of our lives so we can understand God and ourselves better and come to the realization of how much we must depend on Him.
I have been in pre-op getting ready to have quadruple bypass surgery. Some people may have been frightened beyond control, but I had a peace about me that was reassuring, not only to me, but to those family members who were there with me.
A friend asked a couple of weeks after my surgery, “How were you able to be so calm?” Bingo! I was able to share my belief in God, and the calmness He had provided for me.
I have had the fear of failure, but God helped me to the point where I am writing this book. I have been divorced, but God taught me how to fight depression so that it won’t happen again. I have lost jobs, but God let me know He had a better plan for me. I have lost several relatives, close friends and my father through death, but God reassured me that I would see them again some day.
I am a walking, talking, experienced machine! You are too. You have been through the death of a loved one or a friend. You have lost a job. You may have been through a divorce. You probably have faced failure. Many have been through a serious surgery.
Use those experiences to help others who are going through the same things. You have the memories of the things you’ve faced right up in your memory banks. Use them to let the person know that God loves them, and that He will help them through the storm. He doesn’t always take us out of a tough situation, but He is there to guide us and show us the way through the situation.
The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom
for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the
Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.
Isaiah 61:1-2
Further Adventures
I can truly say I’ve had about every surgery known to man. (I know, I shouldn’t say that!) I can also tell you that I wasn’t always positive and cheerful. There have been times when I’ve told God, “TIME OUT! This is more than I can take.” However the witnessing that I have been able to do because of the many surgeries I’ve had trumps all the pain and agony I’ve gone through.
Don’t let an illness break you down. Use it to comfort your own family and others.
Something to Ponder
Isn’t it funny that we always fear the unknown, but we know who to turn to?