Occult Priest Becomes a Friend

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Kathleen

The occult priest began visiting our college campus Bible table weekly.  He was not a student, but he’d come on campus to hang out with his buddies at the witchcraft table, and to see us.

He was no longer angry with us Christians, but came to us with theological questions. Sometimes we didn’t know the answer and we’d tell him we’ll try to find an answer,  and we would try.  He’d often pick through the free literature on our table.  He’d read it for awhile and usually ask if he could take it with him.

He did this for several months and then we did not see him again—that is, until two years later. One day he suddenly appeared at our table. We were so happy to see him, I even called him by his first name.

He said, “You remember my name?”

I said, “I remember the names of people I pray for.”

“You’ve been praying for me?”

“Yes!  You’re my friend and I care for you.”

I’m sorry to say we never had the privilege of leading him to Jesus, but I believe seeds were planted. For one thing, he stopped thinking of us as the enemy.  In fact we were friends.

Posted in COLLEGE CAMPUS, DOCTRINE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Occultist Asks for Prayer

Posted on January 25, 2015 by Kathleen

We had a sign on our college Bible table that said, “Need Prayer? Let Us Pray for You.”

The occult priest’s girlfriend would often work at the witchcraft table near us. We would try to be our friendliest—smiling and waving. She would smile and wave back.

One day she came to our table.  “I don’t believe what you guys believe because I’m Jewish. But your sign says you are willing to pray for people and I need prayer.  Would you pray for me?”

She did not tell us specifically what her need was, but we prayed for her on the spot. We asked God to meet her needs and then we asked God to reveal to her how much He loves her.  Afterward she thanked us and I could tell she was appreciative.

I said, “If you are Jewish you might be interested in a paper we have here on our table. It explains what the Jewish T’Nach foretells about Jesus’ coming—how He fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies proving Him to be the promised Messiah.”

She took the paper and began reading it. After a few minutes she said, “This is interesting! Can I take this with me?”

Thank You Lord, for another opportunity to show love to these precious ones.

Posted in COLLEGE CAMPUS, PEOPLE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Spiritual Battle with an Occult Priest

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Kathleen

One day on the college campus one of the occult club leaders came to our Bible table. He was dressed in a long black robe and introduced himself as a priest with a specific occult group.

He walked directly up to me with angry eyes and asked, “Why do Christians hate homosexuals?”

I smiled and said, “Hey, God is a God of love.  As Christians, God calls us to love others. We are not to hate anyone.”

He said, “Christians say homosexuality is evil. Why?”

I said, “What I know about good or evil is what I read in the Bible.” I picked up a Bible and opened to Romans 1. “You can read for yourself what God says about the subject. Start at verse 18.”

He picked up the Bible and surprised me by reading it aloud! Every now and then he’d pause and say, “Hmmm. I’ve never seen this before.”

When he finished reading, I suggested he read in one more place. I turned to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

When he finished reading I said, “You see, even 2000 years ago when this was written, people who came to Jesus changed. It didn’t matter what was in their past. God changed their hearts and then their lives changed.  This still happens today.”

He asked challenging questions for 45 minutes, engaging only me. The others at our table would enter into the conversation with supportive comments from time to time, but mostly I knew they were praying.

When the priest finally said good-bye, he was no longer angry. He was actually smiling and said he’d like to come back and visit again!

When he left I noticed I was wet with perspiration. The others said they were amazed at how calm I was.

Huh? Are they kidding? I was in a battle—both mental and spiritual!

Afterward we all prayed together, thanking God for giving me His words and wisdom. We also prayed that the priest would come back to see us again—soon!

  • Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,  nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.     1 Corinthians 6:9-11
  • “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.     Isaiah 54:17

 

Posted in COLLEGE CAMPUS, DOCTRINE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Witchcraft on College Campus

Posted on January 21, 2015 by Kathleen

There was an occult group with an active club on the college campus.

They would set up their table and sell books and paraphernalia for seances and witchcraft. We would set up our table and freely give away Bibles and literature.

We’d smile and wave at them when we arrived.  They would wave back. Yet for some reason we felt they didn’t like us.

One day they walked in a large circle around our table making strange gestures toward us with their hands. What were they doing?  Some said they were casting a spell on us.

We knew that with Jesus indwelling us there was nothing to fear from them.
We continued to smile, wave and praise God that He is in control. We found joy by responding with love.

  • You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.    1 John 4:4                                                      
  • [God will] rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear.    Luke 1:74
Posted in COLLEGE CAMPUS, DOCTRINE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sharing Christ in a Communist Country

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Kathleen

What a privilege it was to visit Southeast Asia, specifically Vietnam and Cambodia. Both are Buddhist majority countries.  Vietnam is also a communist country and is listed among the top countries in the world that persecute Christians.

I was not comfortable traveling there, since I felt compelled to use our trip for the Lord.  In fact, I was even a little bit fearful, especially when our guide told us about the secret police.  He said they are everywhere and may be someone you least expect. I thought to myself  “might it be him?”  Their job is to report anyone who is promoting anti-government propaganda. Of course, this would include Christian material.

But in Acts 5 the apostles were arrested and flogged and told never again to speak in the name of Jesus Christ.  Two verses later it says, “Day after day they never stopped teaching and proclaliming the good news of Jesus.”  They did it anyway!

Why did they disobey the law?  It was because they knew the people needed to hear about Jesus!  And I knew those precious Buddhist people needed to hear God’s truth as well! So every day I was carefully handing out Christian tracts in Vietnamese or Cambodian. I would hand a tract to someone on the street, in the marketplace or a museum, someone who made eye contact and I sensed warmth and interest.  It was also the Holy Spirit’s leading.

I’d simply say, “I have something for you from America, it’s about Jesus.”  Ninety-nine percent of the people received it with gladness.

  • He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”         Mark 16:15
  • They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.   Acts 5:40b
  • The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.    Acts 5:41-42

 

 

Posted in DOCTRINE, HERE & THERE, PEOPLE, TRAVELING | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Lunch with the Girls

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Kathleen

There are some fun women I’ve known for many years. Yet none of these women have ever been open to the things of the Lord.  Every few months we get together for lunch, often in one of our homes.  Today it was my turn and  I did something different.  I invited  Jerri, a dear Christian friend to join us.

When I told her the situation she accepted with joy. She said she would spend the morning in prayer for the women coming, that their hearts would be open to God’s truth. Meanwhile, I too prayed while I was preparing.

It could not have gone better!  The women loved Jerri’s story about how God had comforted her after the death of her husband; how God seemed to arrange for her to meet a godly man. She talked about their God-honoring courtship and now marriage.  She spoke with them as if she believed they were women of faith and understood prayer and God’s faithfulness. The women listened with interest and awe!

Why did I have trouble talking to them about God?  Whenever I’ve tried sharing with them, even an answer to prayer, they seem to politely change the subject.  Could it be that we’ve known each other for too many years? Could it have been Jerri’s winsome personality? Perhaps both.

What really made the difference today?  I believe it was the power of prayer!   We asked God to prepare hearts and He did!

Why am I so slow to learn?

 

 

Posted in PEOPLE, PRAYER WORKS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Two Months to Live

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Kathleen

A well-known Christian man sent an email to his friends.  He explained that his doctor had just given him his diagnosis and prognosis.  His heart is failing and he has only about two months to live.  He said he’s accepted his fate.  He explained that he did all that was on his bucket list and had lived a good life. He asked for no phone calls or letters expressing sadness over his condition. He said that would just make it worse.

I was disappointed in his letter. He was not using his situation for the Lord!  I wrote him the following:

Dear Rob,   I appreciate and respect your honesty as I’m sure others do.  I am sure you will use your time wisely. I hope that will include another letter to your friends and colleagues, sharing your faith and the assurance you have that you will indeed be with Christ in heaven.  You have that assurance because of what Jesus Christ has done, not because of anything you have done. You received that free gift of salvation and so can anyone else who is willing to surrender their life to Jesus Christ.

I believe that because of your condition people will be more attuned to your message.  What a wonderful opportunity God has given you—perhaps two months to minister powerfully to others who will listen.  Believe me. They will listen now!

Rob, I’m going to be praying that God will use you mightily to proclaim the Good News of Christ and bring glory and honor to Himself.  People need the Lord and yet many believe that following Jesus is foolishness. I don’t know exactly how I would go about it if I were in your position.  Perhaps I’d even write a letter to the editor of the paper!

One more thing:  My precious sister passed away last year from cancer. When I prayed with her the last time, I prayed that if there comes a time when she can no longer speak aloud, may she continue to speak the name of Jesus in her thoughts.

I pray the same prayer for you my friend, that you will focus on Jesus’ name, praising Him and thanking Him no matter what. He and He alone can bring peace and comfort beyond measure.

Sincerely in Christ,   Kathleen

Posted in DOCTRINE, ILLNESS or HOSPITAL, PEOPLE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Friends Sharing Jesus

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Kathleen

Friend Number One:  She’s a grandmother and a widow.  Every Saturday at 11 AM the neighborhood kids gather in her living room to hear a Bible story while eating popcorn. They will sing some Jesus songs, learn a Bible memory verse and end their time playing active games in the front yard.

Friend Number Two:  On Thursday evenings her daughter and son-in-law host a couples’ Bible study in their home.  Some couples bring their children and my friend watches them. Wait! She does NOT simply watch them.  She teaches them from the Bible. They learn to look up Bible verses and sing worship songs together.

Friend Number Three:  The children come every Friday after school. They gather under a large shade tree in the front yard. She and her husband share with them stories from the Bible.  They sing worship songs to Jesus.  They learn to pray.

Friend Number Four & Five:  Once a week after school, this retired man and his wife help teach a Good News Bible Club in a public elementary school near their home.  Public school?  That’s right!  In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court passed the Equal Access Law permitting Bible clubs to meet in U.S. public elementary schools. That is, after school hours.

Do you have children in your neighborhood?  Do they know the Lord? Can you help?

  • Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.    Matthew 19:14-15 
  • Learn how you can get involved with Child Evangelism Fellowship:  http://www.cefonline.com/
  • SONG: JUNGLE MISSIONARIES by Kathleen – Click here to listen:
Posted in Child Evangelism Fellowship, DOCTRINE, PEOPLE, RAISING KIDS | Tagged | 4 Comments

Living at the River Bottom

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Kathleen

One Sunday afternoon a homeless woman stopped at our Bible table at the beach.  Said her name was Bonnie and she lived at the river bottom.

The river bottom is a popular dwelling place for the homeless in our community. It’s in a jungle of thick brush and trees covering a wide area next to the river. I asked her about living conditions there. I was curious.

She said it’s a pleasant place to live!  People create privacy boundaries around their living spaces, using boxes or existing bushes. Some even have furniture—chairs, mattresses and chests of drawers! Most have their own ice chests for food storage. “But if you don’t have a lock on it, watch out!  Your peanut butter is sure to go missing!”

Bonnie and her husband Tom have lived there for three years. She said they are both followers of Jesus and read their Bible together every night. Their only problem is their addiction to alcohol.

“We panhandle during the day, but we use our money to buy food first, before we buy booze!  Our only drug is alcohol!  In fact, Tom and I are the only ones living there who don’t use drugs. ”

She said that one guy has a guitar and they enjoy evening singing around the campfire. “Recently after singing, Ol’ Chuck announced that he was going to take his life. We all watched him swallow his pills. We figured he was dead by 11 PM,  but  we didn’t call the cops ’til morning.”

Bonnie and Tom have two young children being raised by her parents in another city. Every Christmas and Easter her parents bring the children and rent a motel room for three days, so they can spend the holidays together. “I love seeing our kids. It’s also a good time for us to take showers and wash our clothes.”

She said she would like to be free from her addiction to alcohol. Tears fell as I prayed that she and Tom would find deliverance from this bondage. I then shared with her some contact information so they could get help from Teen Challenge.

I explained that Teen Challenge is the most successful drug rehabilitation program in the nation. “Many programs recommend a higher power—but if your higher power is not Jesus Christ, then your higher power is not genuine and will not be lasting.” I assured her that Teen Challenge is not for younger teens. Participants must be at least 18.  Most in the program are in their 20’s and 30’s.   She was encouraged to learn that in some locations they offer programs for families so they can live together. Bonnie and Tom would fit right in!

  • Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.           Psalm 82:4
  • Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.       Galatians 6:2
  • Do you have a homeless population in your community? How are they being helped?
  • SONG:  DEAR LORD OF LORDS – Click on story’s title to listen: 

     

Posted in BEACH, ILLNESS or HOSPITAL, Love & Romance, PEOPLE, RAISING KIDS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Glioblastoma Brain CA & Prayer

Posted on January 4, 2015 by Kathleen

My friend Eileen passed away recently from Glioblastoma, brain cancer.  During her final months, she lived with her sister in a distant city.

I kept in touch with Eileen by phone, but in her last weeks she could no longer talk. However, she would listen and understood when others spoke.  The last time I called her she was suddenly able to respond with appropriate short comments!

I asked her if she was in pain. She said “No.”  I shared with her some good news and she clearly replied, “Oh really!” I asked if she would like me to read to her from the Bible. She said, “Yes, please.”

I read to her from Psalm 34 and she listened quietly.  Every now and then she would respond in agreement with “Oh yes.”

I asked if she would like me to pray for her.  She said, “Yes.”  I prayed that God would continue to keep her pain-free. I asked God to heal her if this was His will. I prayed that God would fill her with His Holy Spirit, with His love, His Joy and His peace. I prayed that even if she could not speak aloud, that she would repeat the name Jesus in her thoughts, because there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

According to her sister, Eileen never spoke another intelligible word after our phone conversation.

Today I’m praising God that I KNOW where Eileen is.  I believe she’s experiencing a joy beyond measure in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

  • Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.  Acts 4:12
  • My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.   Proverbs 4:20-22 
  • O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.   Psalm 30:2
  • SONG: These Inward Trials (Lyrics by John Newton circa 1779) Updated and arranged by Kathleen.  Click here to listen:  

 

 

Posted in ILLNESS or HOSPITAL, PEOPLE, PRAYER WORKS | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments