The world is quieter now. We just have to listen. If we listen, we can hear God’s plan.
- Anna (I Am Legend 2007)
That line is for your’s truly, one of few more memorable things to file deep in the crevices of the ‘ole gray matter from the movie “I Am Legend”. I saw the movie last year, and as soon as the line was uttered, I somehow knew that it was going to stick with me, but this post isn’t about the hour and forty minutes of my life lost while watching the movie.
No, actually the thought was to barge right in, recapping the weekend, the final night of discipleship training etc. Before we venture down that road however, I ask that folks continue to keep Pistol Pete in their prayers and thoughts.
So this is the part where I’m supposed segue into something deep, thought provoking or just witty……………… I got nothing!!
As Christians, one of our responsibilities to God is to be witnesses to non-believers and lost souls about Jesus Christ; sharing how He has affected our respective lives. How; through Jesus Christ we are transformed from carnal minded, (Galatians 5:19-21) to focusing on living with Christ as the center of our lives.
2nd Corinthians 5:9-14 (NIV)
9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. 13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
On a few occasions over the past month or so, I’ve shared some of the things going on with discipleship training, Scripture memorization, making Bible reading a scheduled daily habit, to name just a few. Having a prayer list (others), for obvious reasons such as illnesses & financial burdens was bought up maybe a month ago; which the group on an individual basis started doing. Our pastor however bought up some other areas to pray for; praying for Godly wisdom to have & recognize opportunities to witness to people. I took the pastor’s advice to heart, and I have to say in the course of the last few days some awesome things have been happening here!
The background on a few events:(names have been changed or omitted to protect the innocent)
About a month ago, a young lady that helped me on numerous occasions last year; while I was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, shared with me that her older sister was pregnant (a minor). Hearing this news, I was saddened that the sister had made a mistake that with high probability was going to adversely affect her future. I prayed for the young lady and her family, just asking the Lord to watch over them, whatever the circumstances were. During laundry time Saturday evening, the younger sister happens into the laundry room, we exchange small talk, and I teasingly ask her if she’s ready to be an Aunt, she informs me that it was a false alarm with her sister. Thank God!!
A few days ago, there was a situation where, I was challenged to hold my tongue and check my attitude. The gist of the matter is that some questions were asked about procedures, and someone’s ideas about how things should be handled was; as I perceived,”dictated” to me. Even as this post is being drafted, I think back over how the matter and conversation evolved, of how I was allowing a trivial matter get under my skin.Even as the hairs on my neck got ruffled during the conversation, there was this little voice saying to me: “But Chris, didn’t you pray, didn’t you ask Me on numerous occasions for patience, a humble heart, a submissive mind-set & My wisdom?” No masse!! God:1,Chris: 0
As usual, halfway home, I’m thinking “1 Hour power nap on my busted up couch, followed by a quick dinner of Ramen, a Ham sandwich or whatever takes under 10 minutes to prep, plate & pour down the ‘ole gullet.” That plan got side tracked when a neighbor greeted me as I pulled into the parking lot, having returned from work. For a brief moment, the old man inside was screaming “Dude, no eye contact… give her a nod, wave, say hi and move out quickly, it’s nap time!”
Now this neighbor is a friendly person, and though they don’t believe that God exists, we are respectful of each other;they always greet me with a cheerful attitude. So,we are standing there having conversation, nothing deep until about an hour later. The conversation takes a swing toward God, spiritual matters, & religion. As best as I can recall, I think it had something to do with either talking about former spouses or alcohol, the two seem to go hand-in-hand. So the subject matter has shifted, & somewhere in the mix, I find myself witnessing to my neighbor. Not a fire & brimstone witness, just sharing with them how Jesus has changed my attitude about things, which in-turn changed the way I conduct myself. I explained to the neighbor that I believed that the turning point was when I started looking at my life, and the example(s) that I was setting for my kids.
Questions and ideas got tossed back and forth during our chat, and I pray that I answered each from a Scriptural perspective. Finally, my neighbor says that “if” they were to believe in a “higher being”, they had issue with Him, condemning people that chose not to believe in Him or accept Christ. As clear as day, The conversation opened up to where a fluid opportunity to just share the Gospel with them came up, no awkward sidetrack or out of the blue moment, just the facts. Yea, the “old man” got his butt stomped by the Holy Spirit pretty good yesterday.
God:2, Chris:0
Earlier in the day (Monday), a co-worker, “D”, and I happened to be talking first about Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle (a post from last week), followed by multiple topics. My friend “Larry” also happens to stop by a few minutes later to join us. So the three of us are taking “religious” stuff, and the conversation moves to witnessing and personal testimonies. We’re all in agreement about how one’s walk with Christ can serve as the catalyst for opportunities to verbally witness to others. “D” goes on to say, “Yeah just look at you, it’s awesome how Jesus has changed you!” The initial reaction was of surprise, not from being offended, just seemed odd to hear someone talking about me that way. In fact I was so caught off guard that I actually followed-up with by a brief moment of laughter (small & fleeting dose of disbelief mixed in as well). This morning, it really sunk in;”D” is right, I have been changed. Point: God.
To top things off, a little blog love from R3, based off a comment left.
God:4, Chris:0 GAME!!!!
No point. Old men like me don’t bother with making points. There’s no point.
-Councilor Harmann (The Matrix:Reloaded)
My apologies, thought I’d shake you up a bit after such a long post. The point from my skewed perspective, plays along the thought conveyed in the quote at the beginning of the today’s post. Sometimes I believe we just have to be quiet, be still, look & listen; to see how God is working in our lives; and sometimes we do get a word or a sign of confirmation that He is at work.
Grace and peace be with you.
