Murderer Saved

I mentioned two weeks ago that a man at the downtown afternoon Bible Study had been quite aggitated by evil spirits. He was seated behind me making nasty, racial comments and had a very dark, scary expression on his face.

I spoke into his face that we loved him, and that is why we were here. I felt no fear, though later I found out that he was a very dangerous man, a known murderer. While I was speaking to him another visitor was rebuking the devil. I thanked her :)

Well, yesterday, praise God, this big man came up to me, smiling and humble and said, "Sylvia , I want to apologize for my behavior when I saw you last. I spoke badly. I want to be man enough to tell you I am sorry."

Wow, what a God thing that is! Moments before he had gone up to the front of the meeting for prayer and repented and received Jesus' salvation!

This is what will change Jackson. It IS changing Jackson, one person at a time.

Praise be to God. We are so blessed to be watching God work, up close and personal.

Newfie Days

I just received a letter from someone in Newfoundland who found our names on a list of people involved in the beginnings of Faith Bible Chapel in St. John's. They want our reminiscences.

Wow, this brings back the memories.....

Bob and I were newly married and far from home back then. Though difficult, it was an exciting five years. A free time of doing as we pleased. I worked in the medical labs and he went to med school. But before he was accepted in medicine, he was part of a Master's program studying marine biology.

We spent a lot of time climbing on rocks and hanging from cliffs overlooking rocky crags with the most wonderful blueberries in Canada within reach, or not! I recall reaching for some in rather dangerous spots. We would sit in the lazy sunshine and dangle our feet high above the water and watch the jellyfish far below. The Newfoundland sky was clearest blue on those days. when it was grey and mouzy we would head for the library.

Some days we'd wade in tidal pools and scoop up sea creatures. Other days we'd fish for huge cod and fill the freezer with them. I recall another blustery, gray day fishing from the rocky shoreline. Bob's line was caught and pulled out to sea by something obviously very strong and large. It went spinning out from his pole, and then his pole went flying from his hand. Soon after that a giant squid was caught and on display in the laboratory down in Logy Bay by the rocky shoreline.

When he was accepted into Medical school, we stayed on for 4 more years. The hours were long and the money was scant. The folks at Faith Bible Chapel looked out for us kids, and before we left the island, our precious first daughter, Heather Anne, was born there.

Now Heather Anne is having her own adventures with her dear husband Victor, only they are in New York. But this one thing is the same. She is expecting their first little one. Again far from Mom and Dad, but I am sure far more capable and mature than we were back in the day. They also have Janie and Justin living in the same building.

The apple don't fall far from the tree, I guess. God bless my dear children so far away from us. I know He does and will, but I still miss them.

Do It Afraid

Last evening we went downtown too the "usual" Bible study and supper, only it was without our dear friends who live in the house. They were traveling along very dangerous, dusty roads of Mozambique, driving the kind of car which road thieves are stealing regularly, and going into an area where bombing and explosions have occurred. The people are homeless, just sitting in the sun with no food or water, and no medical help.

I pray, O Lord, your protection over them, and that they will accomplish everything you have in mind for them.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, so to speak, or the "little yellow House," other hazards were developing. The yard was filling with needy folks coming in for food and clothing and many who stayed for the Bible teaching. Maggie, who was in charge in their absence, took the mike and gave thanks, and the meal began.

Afterwards when we assembled for the meeting, a man, a big fellow seated behind me, began making racial statements that could have erupted into something.

I will not elaborate, but I refused fear and turned and smiled at him and said, "Aw, Sweetie, we love you and that's why we're here." His friend agreed with me, and when the big guy got up and stomped off, he shook his head. "I ain't gonna let no demon o' hell steal my blessing! God loves us ALL, no matter what color. These people are here to give us a chance, an' I'm glad for it."

Paul, the friendly, smiling man on the other side of him, began rocking back and forth in his yellow blanket. He began singing, "His eye is on the sparrow, and Ah know He watches me."

Our big friend approached the food table to rummage for some supper. A lady already there, stopped in her search and looked up to comment calmly, "In the name of Jesus, you evil spirit, shut up," and then proceeded about her business. I thanked her later, and we did the same thing a couple more times during the evening, going out of our way to offer the man cold drinks and a blanket.

Poor guy, he couldn't help the words coming out his mouth. Curious how those types keep coming back though. May the Spirit of God touch his life, as He has done for others.

When our evening was through, A.C. helped clean up as usual. He was last to leave and had a couple bags of clothes for the old lady next door him and a child in the neighborhood. He needed a drive to the other side of the graveyard to transport them all, so I was blessed to drive him to his apartment. Down back alleys, we stopped by a bar with folks standing around, and unloaded his stuff and he introduced me. He is such a dear guy, even though we caught him digging in the handout bags for extras of the soup cans I had brought.

Maggie is house sitting for the folks and answering the door, as needy friends come by for food and prayer. It was a faith stretch for me to leave her there last night, but she feels called to live among the poor, so wanted to stay on. The rest of the evening she spent dealing with a friend of ours who had come to the synagogue the night before for Bible teaching, but who this evening disappointed us and took several valium.

He had passed out on the grass and I covered his bare midriff from the cold temperatures before I left. I thought he'd be there all night, but later he woke to knock on the door. When he became confrontational, the Lord brought the neighborhood cleptomaniac (nice word for a thief) who distracted him with questions about his eternal soul.

After the unrest, Maggie had a word form God in Psalm3 about lying down and sleeping in the peace of God. I felt the peace too, and did not press her to come home. When I woke nervous at 2:30am, I prayed and bound spirits and asked God for the angels again.

This morning the kids who live in the little yellow house have arrived back from their grandma's for her to babysit till next weekend. We are glad she'll have company. Her challenges now include comforting and disciplining children who miss their mom and dad and are well aware of the dangers they are in.

As Maggie said, "Mom, if we cannot trust God in all this, what good is our faith? We just have to trust Him and do it afraid. And he WILL give His peace once we do."

Alyosha is Waiting

I remember the dream I had of little Dima in a small boat on a rough sea. The waves were taking him farther and farther from shore. I yelled for help to save him and no one could help me.

Then I woke up and prayed, but I guess I should have prayed more fervently.

Dima had a limp and was often picked on by the bigger kids. He was a sweet, little boy who loved our Peter, and Peter used to cry for him. A few months ago I heard that Dima was running away from the orphanage regularly, and that even when they'd take his clothes, he'd find a way to escape and that he was sniffing glue on the streets of Odessa.

One time we managed to get him on the phone. Peter was very distressed because he could not remember enough Russian to get through to his old friend. He kept saying in English, "Dima, don't run away! Don't sniff glue!" But they both hung up disheartened that they could not communicate, and Peter went to his room and put his pillow over his head.

Today I heard that Dima is dead. he was riding on top of a trolley and get electrocuted. I am not doing very well about this.

Please, can more people help get the kids of Ukraine? Yes, there are many children, but it matters very much to the one you rescue that you fought and won the battle for him or her.

One friend of Peter's is still left, a quiet little guy who is a bit slow, but very endearing and loving. Alyosha.

When I saw Alyosha last he was earnestly showing me his workbook which was filled with lovely handwriting and drawings. Can someone go for Alyosha? I don't want to lose him to the streets.

Passover

The day Jesus stood up to read from the prophet Isaiah in the little synagogue in Nazareth was recorded in Luke 4. They most likely recited the very same prayerthat day as is in today's prayer book.

But something has been added.

Just as he announced that the Isaiah chapter he was reading described him, so this little prayer is also about him. It uses Levitcus 23 as its reference point, and the life and future of Jesus as its theme. It goes like this:

Blessed are You, YHVH, our God, who laid out your plan of salvation through Yeshua (Jesus) with your appointed feasts. Thank you Lord, that Yeshua was crucified on Passover, buried on Unleavened Bread, resurrected on First Fruits, and sent us your Holy Spirit on Shavuot. We look forward to His return at Yom Teruah, judgment on Yom Kippur, and the Thousand years he will reign as we celebrate Sukkot.

That about covers it and demonstrates the relevance of celebrating the Feasts of the Lord, including the one which commennced this evening at sunset.

Happy Passover!