Monday, December 26, 2016
Standing Strong Through the Storm - BROTHER DUAN’S MIRACLE
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15
Brother Duan was an elderly house church leader in northern China. He was travelling with a group of believers today to hear a dynamic Bible teacher, Brother Wang.
Duan asked, “What age is this Brother Wang?” When they told him he was in his early forties, a great look of pain swept Duan’s face. He said, “I once had a son. I knew him for only two months. Now he’s dead. But had he lived, he would be forty-two today. My wife called him “Christmas’ Child,” since he was born at Christmas time. I called him “Isaac,” because we had despaired of ever having a child, but ten years after we were married, along he came.”
All looked at Duan as he continued, “I only saw him for two months.” He then told them how he and his wife were greatly persecuted evangelists in the 1950’s—both in great danger of arrest. So they offered their child to their enemy, two-fingered Wu and his wife who were childless.
Duan never knew what happened until he came out of jail in 1978. His dear wife had died in the terrible famine of 1958. Their son had indeed been adopted by Wu, but the entire family had disappeared under the rubble when a devastating earthquake hit in 1975. Said Duan sadly as they approached the meeting house, “God judged me for being so irresponsible with my little son.”
There was a crowd of two hundred packed into the house, and many outside at the windows. When Brother Wang began preaching, Duan got a terrible shock. It was like hearing himself. There was a commotion as he clawed his way to the window and looked at the preacher.
Hearing the commotion, the preacher stopped. There was minute of shocked silence as both men looked at each other. The physical likeness was amazing. Duan began to apologize, “I’m sorry Brother Wang for interrupting your excellent message. You see, I had a son, who would be your age now. And if he had lived, he would have looked and sounded just like you.”
Brother Wang began to tremble violently. Suddenly his legs buckled beneath him, and someone caught him before he fell down. Tears came into his eyes, and he whispered hoarsely, clutching his pounding chest, “Are you Daddy Duan?”
Everyone wept. Father and son were reunited after forty-two years. Wang had indeed been brought up by two-fingered Wu, who had been so impressed by Duan’s act of giving that he became a strong believer. Wu used to say to him, “I’m not your real father. He is a great man of God, full of grace and love. He gave you to me, and I give you all my love, and the encouragement to put God first, just like your real father.” Wang’s adopted parents had moved away from the earthquake zone before the tragedy, and both died of cancer in their sixties. He became an evangelist, and tried to find his real father, but Duan had changed his name so many times to avoid arrest that he had proved untraceable, even to his son.
As father and son continued to hug and weep, the elder of the church stood up and declared, “It’s December. We have seen our sermon tonight. “Christ came into the world to save sinners” - that is Christmas. Just as Duan handed his only son to the care of his enemy, so God handed over his own son to us sinners. Let us rejoice in their reconciliation and ours too.”
RESPONSE: Today I will rejoice in God’s act of reconciliation in sending His only Son for me, a sinner.
PRAYER: Thank You, Lord that You cared enough to provide a way for my being reconciled to You.
Un Dia a la Vez - Pasos firmes
El Señor afirma los pasos del hombre [...] podrá tropezar, pero no caerá, porque el Señor lo sostiene de la mano. Salmo 37:23-24
Siempre he pensado en lo difícil que debe ser caminar sobre arena movediza, con esa sensación de dar un paso firme y de repente ver que tu pisada va hacia lo profundo. Entonces, si no tienes algo en qué apoyarte o en qué dejar firme tu otro pie, sin duda alguna se te hundirán los dos.
Siempre que tengo la oportunidad de ir al mar, algo que me intranquiliza es precisamente el no tener seguridad en mis pasos. Las pisadas sin ver por dónde camino es como esperar que,de un momento a otro, tropiece con una roca o una planta marina. De verdad, no es mi mejor plan.
Por eso ahora en mi vida me gusta estar muy atenta a mis pasos. Además, me parece muy importante que los pasos que dé cada día sean seguros, firmes y en una senda trazada por mi Dios.
Cuida tus pasos y sigue las huellas de Jesús. De esta manera, nunca irás al abismo, y si tropiezas y caes, Dios te levantará y sanará.
Girlfriends in God - The Real Me is Here
Being with You will fill me with joy; at Your right hand I will find pleasure forever (Psalm 16:11, NCV).
Friend to Friend
Our seven-year-old grandson was very sick and in the hospital for seven days. Justus had both a bacterial infection as well as a serious viral infection. His fever spiked to 106 every night for five days and for three of those nights he was listed code red as his heart rate increased and his oxygen levels decreased.
The doctors from Infectious Disease scrambled to figure out which bacteria were causing Justus’ illness. Finally, after four days of all questions and no answers, they switched antibiotics and Justus finally began to improve. We all cheered when his fever only reached 102! And I took my first breath since the moment he got sick.
Our daughter and son-in-law stayed with Justus day and night. So his little brother Hudson stayed with us. I knew Hudson was terrified. It seemed like the most important three people in his world were locked in a hospital … and his best friend, his brother, was very sick. I made a special bed for Hudson beside our bed where I could reach down and pat him during the night … or hold his hand … or just stare at him and pray.
One night I was getting Hudson ready for bed. We went through the usual routine of taking a bath, picking out special pajamas, brushing teeth, reading a book and then praying. Hudson prayed for his brother every night, pleading with God to make him well so he could come home. Before tucking Hudson in for the night, I went to brush my teeth so I wouldn’t wake him up later when I came to bed.
When I walked back into our bedroom, I stopped dead in my tracks. Our daughter had framed recent school pictures of Hudson and Justus and given them to us as gifts. We placed them on the bookcase in our bedroom so we could pray for them every morning and every night. Hudson had gotten the picture of Justus and sat it on the floor beside his bed. When I walked into the room, Hudson was talking to the picture, “Justus, I love you so much! And I really, really miss you! I am telling God how much my heart hurts without you and that I need Him to make you well.”
I didn’t hear the rest of Hudson’s conversation with his brother. I was crying … and pretty much losing the control I had wrapped around my heart since Justus was hospitalized. I finally pulled myself together enough to pray with Hudson and tuck him in for the night.
When Justus finally came home, Hudson could hardly stand it! He was ecstatic! He kept hugging Justus and kissing him on the cheek. Justus finally said, “Hud, Mama told me you slept with my picture by your bed. Did you?” Hudson grinned and nodded yes. Justus smiled and said, “Well, now you don’t have to sleep with my picture. The real me is here!” Hudson’s faced beamed with joy!
And I thought about my own life … my own heart … my own relationship with Jesus Christ. Scripture promises that the Lord’s presence brings joy.
And yet … there are many times when my life does not exude that joy.
Why?
Maybe I have forgotten what it was like when I first met Jesus - the wonder of His presence in my life. At times my life is too crowded for God.
It is so easy to relegate our spirituality to religious activity when all He really wants is to spend time with us. When the tears fall, He wants to wipe them away, collecting each one so that He can pour them back into our lives as a refreshing rain of restoration. God longs for us to forever run into His arms, sharing every hurt and rejoicing in every victory. The Father yearns to wrap His strong arms around us, bringing the peace we so desperately need.
I desperately want the Father to bring back the new again … and live a life that celebrates the amazing truth that the real Jesus is here.
Let’s Pray
Father, I sometimes I feel like my life is spinning out of control. I’m tired of the imbalance I see in the way I live. Help me learn how to establish priorities that please You and reflect Your plan for me. I commit to spending time with You each day, seeking Your wisdom and direction. I love You, Lord.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Are you ready to evaluate your life according to God’s priorities? Set aside time today to spend with Him. Grab your journal and record the truths He gives you about how to balance your life.
More from the Girlfriends
A daily time alone with God in prayer and Bible study will strengthen you to face whatever life throws at you this year. Check out Mary’s weekly online Bible study, Light for the Journey, for practical ways to tap into the power of God’s Word. It’s not too late to join … and have access to all of 2016 lessons including the series, Taking Down the Giants in My Life.
Be sure to check out the FREE MP3s on Mary’s website and connect with Mary through email or on Facebook.
Seeking God? Click here to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
LHM Daily Devotion - "Fear Turned into Joy"
December 27, 2016
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy". (Luke 2:10, ESV)
The days before Christmas were anxious times of worry for me. What if I ended up with a stocking full of coal? And of course there was always the dreaded children's Christmas program! But the days after Christmas were simply glorious: playing with our Christmas toys, listening to Christmas music, eating Christmas cookies. Life was good!
When the shepherds first saw the brightness of the angel, and the surpassing brightness of God's own glory, they were gripped with fear. But as the angel announced the birth of God's Son, their great fear gave way to greater joy. Life was good!
Life was really good for our first parents Adam and Eve. God created them perfect and good. They knew God loved them, and they knew they could depend on Him to faithfully provide all their needs. Fear didn't enter the picture until they disobeyed His command and ate the forbidden fruit. At that moment, their perfect knowledge of God was replaced with fear and dread of His wrath and punishment.
We still live under that fear too. It's a fear that comes from not knowing God perfectly or trusting Him completely. When times are bad or when troubles come upon us, we find it difficult to fully lean on Him. But that's why Jesus came, to take our guilt upon Himself and pay the penalty for our sins in His suffering and death on the cross. With all sins removed and death completely conquered by Jesus' death and resurrection, there is nothing left to fear. Life is good indeed!
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we rejoice that You sent Your Son to remove our fear by taking upon Himself the punishment we deserve. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts forever. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy". (Luke 2:10, ESV)
The days before Christmas were anxious times of worry for me. What if I ended up with a stocking full of coal? And of course there was always the dreaded children's Christmas program! But the days after Christmas were simply glorious: playing with our Christmas toys, listening to Christmas music, eating Christmas cookies. Life was good!
When the shepherds first saw the brightness of the angel, and the surpassing brightness of God's own glory, they were gripped with fear. But as the angel announced the birth of God's Son, their great fear gave way to greater joy. Life was good!
Life was really good for our first parents Adam and Eve. God created them perfect and good. They knew God loved them, and they knew they could depend on Him to faithfully provide all their needs. Fear didn't enter the picture until they disobeyed His command and ate the forbidden fruit. At that moment, their perfect knowledge of God was replaced with fear and dread of His wrath and punishment.
We still live under that fear too. It's a fear that comes from not knowing God perfectly or trusting Him completely. When times are bad or when troubles come upon us, we find it difficult to fully lean on Him. But that's why Jesus came, to take our guilt upon Himself and pay the penalty for our sins in His suffering and death on the cross. With all sins removed and death completely conquered by Jesus' death and resurrection, there is nothing left to fear. Life is good indeed!
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we rejoice that You sent Your Son to remove our fear by taking upon Himself the punishment we deserve. Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts forever. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
Devociones de Adviento - Devociones de Adviento
Martes 27 de Diciembre
Mateo 1:18-25
Cuando José despertó del sueño, hizo lo que el ángel del Señor le había mandado y recibió a su mujer. (Mt 1:24, RVC)
Hay situaciones que comienzan como sueño y terminan como pesadilla. Con José, afortunadamente, sucedió al revés. Comprometido con María, un buen día supo de su embarazo. Podía haberla repudiado y humillado públicamente. Pero como era un hombre justo no quiso exponerla, por lo cual decidió dejarla en secreto. Pero Dios no había fijado su mirada sólo en María; José iba a tener una gran misión en la crianza de este ser extraordinario que venía al mundo, y Dios así se lo comunica. Así como María puede ser considerada la más dichosa de las mujeres, José tendría un papel extraordinario al lado de esa joven mujer de Nazaret.
De manera similar a lo que sucedió con José, a veces la vida se nos torna en pesadilla. Los conflictos familiares y la desconfianza hacen que nuestras relaciones se fracturen y los pactos de amor se desvanezcan. A menos que prestemos atención a lo que Dios nos dice y honremos el pacto de amor que hicimos, no hay manera de salvar una relación de amor. Pero eso demanda humildad, arrepentimiento, perdonar y ser perdonados, confiar en Dios.
Jesús, el salvador de nuestros pecados, es la promesa profética hecha carne. En él se cumplen aquellas palabras misteriosas acerca de una virgen que daría a luz a un niño, el cual sería nuestro Emanuel-Dios con nosotros. Él quiere ser tu Emanuel en esta navidad. En el nombre de Jesús, tu existencia puede ser transformada en nueva vida y reservada para la eternidad. Por fe en su nombre hallarás perdón para tus pecados y podrás luchar contra el pecado que destruye tus relaciones más sagradas.
Señor Dios: que al encontrarme en dudas y dificultades escuche tu palabra, me arrepienta y ordene mi vida. En nombre de Jesús, mi Emanuel. Amén.
© Copyright 2016 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones
Mateo 1:18-25
Cuando José despertó del sueño, hizo lo que el ángel del Señor le había mandado y recibió a su mujer. (Mt 1:24, RVC)
Hay situaciones que comienzan como sueño y terminan como pesadilla. Con José, afortunadamente, sucedió al revés. Comprometido con María, un buen día supo de su embarazo. Podía haberla repudiado y humillado públicamente. Pero como era un hombre justo no quiso exponerla, por lo cual decidió dejarla en secreto. Pero Dios no había fijado su mirada sólo en María; José iba a tener una gran misión en la crianza de este ser extraordinario que venía al mundo, y Dios así se lo comunica. Así como María puede ser considerada la más dichosa de las mujeres, José tendría un papel extraordinario al lado de esa joven mujer de Nazaret.
De manera similar a lo que sucedió con José, a veces la vida se nos torna en pesadilla. Los conflictos familiares y la desconfianza hacen que nuestras relaciones se fracturen y los pactos de amor se desvanezcan. A menos que prestemos atención a lo que Dios nos dice y honremos el pacto de amor que hicimos, no hay manera de salvar una relación de amor. Pero eso demanda humildad, arrepentimiento, perdonar y ser perdonados, confiar en Dios.
Jesús, el salvador de nuestros pecados, es la promesa profética hecha carne. En él se cumplen aquellas palabras misteriosas acerca de una virgen que daría a luz a un niño, el cual sería nuestro Emanuel-Dios con nosotros. Él quiere ser tu Emanuel en esta navidad. En el nombre de Jesús, tu existencia puede ser transformada en nueva vida y reservada para la eternidad. Por fe en su nombre hallarás perdón para tus pecados y podrás luchar contra el pecado que destruye tus relaciones más sagradas.
Señor Dios: que al encontrarme en dudas y dificultades escuche tu palabra, me arrepienta y ordene mi vida. En nombre de Jesús, mi Emanuel. Amén.
© Copyright 2016 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones
Our Daily Bread - The Power of Simple Words
Read: 2 Peter 1:12–21 | Bible in a Year: Zechariah 1–4; Revelation 18
We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16
Raucous laughter marked the guests in my father's hospital room: Two old truck drivers, one former country/western singer, one craftsman, two women from neighboring farms, and me.
"...and then he got up and busted the bottle over my head," the craftsman said, finishing his story about a bar fight.
The room bursts into laughter at this now-humorous memory. Dad, struggling for breath as his laughing fought with his cancer for the air in his lungs, puffs out a reminder to everybody that “Randy is a preacher" so they need to watch what they say. Everything got quiet for about two seconds, then the whole room exploded as this news makes them laugh harder and louder.
Suddenly, about forty minutes into this visit, the craftsman clears his throat, turns to my dad, and gets serious. "No more drinking and bar fights for me, Howard. Those days are behind me. Now I have a different reason to live. I want to tell you about my Savior."
He then proceeded to do just that, over my father's surprisingly mild protests. If there's a sweeter, gentler way to present the gospel message, I've never heard it.
My dad listened and watched, and some years later believed in Jesus too.
It was a simple testimony from an old friend living a simple life, reminding me again that simple isn't naïve or stupid; it's direct and unpretentious.
Just like Jesus. And salvation.
Go and make disciples of all nations.
© 2016 Our Daily Bread Ministries
Nuestro Pan Diario - El poder de las palabras sencillas
Por Randy Kilgore
Leer: 2 Pedro 1:12-21 | La Biblia en un año: Apocalipsis 18
Porque no os hemos dado a conocer el poder y la venida de nuestro Señor Jesucristo siguiendo fábulas artificiosas… (2 Pedro 1:16).
L os que visitábamos a mi padre hospitalizado nos reíamos a carcajadas: dos viejos choferes de camiones, un ex cantante de música country, un artesano, dos mujeres de granjas vecinas y yo.
«… después, se levantó y me partió una botella en la cabeza», dijo el artesano, para terminar su historia sobre una pelea en un bar.
Mi padre, mientras luchaba contra su cáncer e intentaba conseguir un poco de aire para reírse, dijo para que se cuidaran de lo que contaban: «Randy es pastor». Aunque se callaron durante unos segundos, estallaron de risa ante la noticia.
Unos 40 minutos después, el artesano aclaró su garganta, miró a mi padre y se puso serio: «Howard, ahora ya no bebo más ni peleo en bares. Todo eso pasó. Tengo una nueva razón de vivir. Quiero contarte sobre mi Salvador». Y lo hizo, sin prestar atención a la sorprendentemente leve reticencia de mi padre.
Nunca escuché una manera más delicada de presentar el evangelio. Años más tarde, mi padre también creyó en Jesús.
Fue el sencillo testimonio de una viejo amigo que vivía una vida sencilla, y eso me recordó que lo sencillo no es ni ingenuo ni estúpido, sino directo y sin pretensiones… como Jesús; como la salvación.
Señor, que pueda ver esas oportunidades en que los corazones están preparados para oír de ti y les hable de tu amor.
… id, y haced discípulos a todas las
naciones, bautizándolos en el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del
Espíritu Santo. Mateo 28:19
© 2016 Ministerios Nuestro Pan Diario
Unser Täglich Brot - Einfache Worte
Von Randy Kilgore
Lesen: 2.Petrus 1,12-21 | Die Bibel In Einem Jahr: Sacharja 1–4; Offenbarung 18
Wir sind nicht ausgeklügelten Fabeln gefolgt, als wir euch kundgetan haben die Kraft und das Kommen unseres Herrn Jesus Christus; sondern wir haben seine Herrlichkeit selber gesehen. (2.Petrus 1,16)
Raues Gelächter erklang im Krankenzimmer meines Vaters—zwei alte Lastwagenfahrer, ein früherer Countrysänger, ein Handwerker, zwei Frauen von benachbarten Bauernhöfen und ich waren zu Besuch.
„ . . . und dann stand er auf und hieb mir die Flasche über den Kopf“, erzählte der Handwerker über einen Streit in einer Bar.
Wieder lachten alle. Mein Vater rang nach Luft. Das Lachen tat seinen vom Krebs befallenen Lungen nicht gut. Dann stieß er hervor: „Randy ist Pfarrer“, sie sollten besser aufpassen, was sie sagen. Einen Augenblick wurde es still, aber dann ging das Gelächter erst recht wieder los.
Über eine halbe Stunde später räusperte sich plötzlich der Handwerker und erklärte an meinen Vater gewandt: „Aber das ist jetzt vorbei, Howard. Mit Trinken und Schlägereien in der Kneipe ist Schluss. Mein Leben hat jetzt einen anderen Sinn. Ich will dir von meinem Erlöser erzählen.“
Und das tat er dann, obwohl mein Vater, wenn auch schwach, protestierte. Ich habe noch nie erlebt, dass die frohe Botschaft so sanft und freundlich weitergegeben wurde.
Mein Vater hörte zu und kam ein paar Jahre später ebenfalls zum Glauben.
Das schlichte Zeugnis eines alten, schlichten Freundes hat mir neu vor Augen geführt, dass einfach nicht mit naiv oder dumm gleichzusetzen ist. Es ist geradeaus und bescheiden.
Wie Jesus. Und die Erlösung.
© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot
Wieder lachten alle. Mein Vater rang nach Luft. Das Lachen tat seinen vom Krebs befallenen Lungen nicht gut. Dann stieß er hervor: „Randy ist Pfarrer“, sie sollten besser aufpassen, was sie sagen. Einen Augenblick wurde es still, aber dann ging das Gelächter erst recht wieder los.
Über eine halbe Stunde später räusperte sich plötzlich der Handwerker und erklärte an meinen Vater gewandt: „Aber das ist jetzt vorbei, Howard. Mit Trinken und Schlägereien in der Kneipe ist Schluss. Mein Leben hat jetzt einen anderen Sinn. Ich will dir von meinem Erlöser erzählen.“
Und das tat er dann, obwohl mein Vater, wenn auch schwach, protestierte. Ich habe noch nie erlebt, dass die frohe Botschaft so sanft und freundlich weitergegeben wurde.
Mein Vater hörte zu und kam ein paar Jahre später ebenfalls zum Glauben.
Das schlichte Zeugnis eines alten, schlichten Freundes hat mir neu vor Augen geführt, dass einfach nicht mit naiv oder dumm gleichzusetzen ist. Es ist geradeaus und bescheiden.
Wie Jesus. Und die Erlösung.
Gehet hin und machet zu Jüngern alle Völker:
Taufet sie auf den Namen des Vaters und des Sohnes und des Heiligen
Geistes.
© 2016 Unser Täglich Brot
Хлеб наш насущный - Сила простых слов
автор: Рэнди Килгор
Читать сейчас: 2 Петра 1:12-21 | Библия за год: Захария 1-4; Откровение 18
Мы возвестили вам силу и пришествие Господа нашего Иисуса Христа, не хитросплетенным басням последуя, но быв очевидцами Его величия. — 2 Петра 1:16
Громкий смех в больничной палате моего отца неопровержимо свидетельствовал, что к нему пришли посетители: два старых шофера, один бывший певец песен в стиле кантри, плотник, две женщины с соседних ферм и я. «...А потом он встал и разбил об мою голову бутылку», – сказал плотник, завершая историю о драке в баре.
Все вновь расхохотались над этим, теперь юмористическим, воспоминанием. Папа, страдавший в то время от рака, немного отдышался и напомнил собравшимся, что «Рэнди – проповедник», поэтому им стоило бы следить за тем, что говорят. Секунды на две установилась тишина, а затем все захохотали еще громче.
И вдруг, минут через сорок после прихода, плотник прочистил горло, повернулся к моему отцу и серьезно сказал: «Я больше не пью и не дерусь, Ховард. Это в прошлом. Теперь у меня другая жизнь. Я хочу рассказать тебе о моем Спасителе». И он продолжил, не обращая внимания на протесты отца. Я не слышал более кроткого и доброго представления Евангелия.
Папа слушал и смотрел, а несколько лет спустя тоже уверовал в Иисуса Христа.
Это было простое свидетельство старого друга. Оно еще раз напомнило мне, что «просто» не значит наивно или глупо. Это значит прямо и непритворно.
Таким является наш Господь. И наше спасение.
Отче, помоги мне видеть людей, которые готовы слушать Тебя. Улучши слова и выражения, которыми я передаю Твою истину.
«Идите, научите все народы, крестя их во имя Отца и Сына и Святого Духа». — Матфея 28:19
© 2016 Хлеб Наш Насущный
Notre Pain Quotidien - Le pouvoir de paroles simples
par Randy Kilgore
Lisez : 2 Pierre 1.12‑21 | La Bible en un an : Zacharie 1 – 4 et Apocalypse 18
Ce n’est pas [...] en suivant des fables
habilement conçues que nous vous avons fait connaître la puissance et
l’avènement de notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ [...]. (2 Pierre 1.16)
Les visiteurs de mon père hospitalisé
ont éclaté d’un rire gras. Il y avait dans la chambre deux vieux
camionneurs, un ancien chanteur country, un artisan, deux fermières des
environs et moi.
« … et puis il s’est levé et m’a cassé la
bouteille sur la tête », a ajouté l’artisan pour finir son histoire à
propos d’une rixe dans un bar.
Tout le monde a pouffé de rire à
l’évocation de ce souvenir devenu humoristique. Papa, qui arrachait
chaque respiration au cancer, leur a rappelé en toussant : « Randy est
prédicateur », pour les inciter à faire attention à ce qu’ils disaient.
Tous se sont alors tus pendant environ deux secondes, puis toute la
chambrée a éclaté de rire encore plus fort.
Après une quarantaine de minutes,
l’artisan s’est soudain éclairci la voix, s’est tourné vers mon père et
est redevenu sérieux : « Fini la boisson et les bagarres de bar pour
moi, Howard. Ces jours‑là sont derrière moi. J’ai maintenant une autre
raison de vivre. Je veux te parler de mon Sauveur. »
Puis il est passé à l’action, malgré les
objections étonnamment faibles de mon père. Or, s’il existe un moyen
plus gentil et plus doux de présenter le message de l’Évangile, je ne
l’ai jamais entendu. Mon père a écouté et regardé, et quelques années
après, il a cru en Jésus.
C’était le témoignage simple d’un vieil
ami menant une vie simple qui me rappelait que simple n’équivaut pas à
naïf ou à stupide, mais à direct et à sans prétention.
Allez, faites de toutes les nations des disciples. Matthieu 28.19
© 2016 Ministères NPQ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)