Ok, so Sunday went pretty good considering I didn’t have a clue what I was going to say that morning. I went to bed Saturday night reading my bible in an attempt to find something to speak on in the morning. I knew and felt God wanting me to speak in the morning but ultimately I found myself saying “Why am I trying to figure out what to say when they aren’t MY words?” So I stepped out in “faith” and trusted that God would give me the words to say.
Oddly enough like an hour before I was to take the stage God spoke to me and then later I toke the stage to speak. I used a few passages one from 1 Timothy 4:7 I think it is if memory serves me correctly, it talks about while Physical training is of some value, Godly training is of greater value, so to speak.
The main passage God gave me to use that morning was from Hebrews 11. It was a scary experience and was a total step of faith for me. Hebrews 11 talks about different characters throughout the bible who stepped out in “faith”, exercising it if you will.
Then I shared a story that my dad told me and how I came to be here in Tanzania. I spoke of how just my being here was just that a step f faith as I trusted God to provide for me to be here. Of how Fran showed me the A.I.M. website and the promo video for the World Race. She had faith in God in that this is where God wanted me. Our faith was rewarded and I was fortunate to leave to serve the Lord.
Then I shared what happened to Fran. I talked about how my family, myself and many others had prayed for Fran to receive healing. What we got was the ultimate healing and now Fran is with our Lord, praise God. It may not have been the type of healing we were looking for but it was and is a healing none the less. Again, I say praise God.
Then I shared the story my dad had told me, it was from the day, literally the night Fran passed on. My dad and my little sister Emma, who is 6 mind you, were sitting around the table for dinner. My dad asked her how her day was, I thought it an odd question to ask, but my sister’s response left me stunned and in tears.
She said “You know, today was a good day.” Inquisitively my dad responded with another question “Why is that?” My step mother having passed at 9:30 that morning she responded “Because mommy is with Jesus now.”
What extraordinary faith!!!!! I continued my talk about how God will call us to exercise our faith at times and other times tests it. I told them that even my speaking that morning was for me an act of faith as I didn’t know what I was going to say. And definitely wasn’t planning on talking about Fran that morning at all until I got to the church that morning.
I was worried about how I would do that morning and was told it was good so I guess I did ok. If I said anything profound or better yet all that I did say I give all the glory to God. I just went with His leading.
As he walked away I felt God saying to me “Get him a drink.” I turned and went back to a stand selling cokes and other sodas we had passed just down the street. I purchased one and went back to look for him. After about fifteen minutes or so I couldn’t find him there had been a homeless man standing there with us the whole time so I gave the slowly warming coke to him.
Just as I did so I saw the Muslim man to my left. I rushed back down to the shop selling the cokes and purchased another. I found him and gave it to him. When it saw it the expression on his face said it all. He accepted the coke but with a rather obvious disdain towards me for buying it then offering it to him.
I went back to the group where there was still preaching taking place and a young man who had tried to point me in the direction of the Muslim man earlier approached and tapped me on the shoulder. Not knowing what he wanted and trying to understand him I asked one of the translators to help.
We went to an alley near by and I discovered that he wanted to receive Christ!!!!! Praise God!!!! We prayed for him and he accepted the Lord!!! Praise god!!!! We rejoined the group and so not really knowing what to say and him not being able to understand me I gestured to him to see if he would like a drink. We walked down to the same little soda shop and I purchased a coke for him there.
After finishing his cold beverage we returned to the group once more. A few minutes went by then I saw him walk off only to return with a friend. Suspecting that he may have just been wanting a coke himself, I was hesitant but got one of the other translators to assist. We found that he as well wanted to accept the Lord as well. We prayed over him as well then we all returned to the church where some of the church members talked with the two knew young Christians.
I don’t know if they both were only after a coke but all I can say is that God knows their heart. I trust that they were being sincere and say yet again praise God. I don’t know if any of that ever would have taken place had I not tried to buy the Muslim man a coke to begin with. I feel very blessed as they could have approached anyone yet approached me. I found later that the first young man used to work for a preacher.
It was an awesome day none the less. I thank you all for your prayers as I am sure they helped a great deal with the speaking I did Sunday morning. But an even bigger thanks goes to our Lord for speaking and setting up the divine appointment He did that afternoon. Praise God!!!!!
