Wednesday May 4, 2016: A few weeks ago Gary Lively found out that Mike Clark and Amy planned to attend the Angola Prison Rodeo. I responded back and told him I had a first cousin in Angola serving a life sentence without parole for murder. Mike and Amy made it a point to look for my cousin Peter Lemm who has been imprisoned for over 30 years. Not only did they find him but he had other family visiting as well they got to meet. Mike prayed and encouraged Peter to the point that tears of joy and appreciation poured out that someone would take the time to pray with him. My understanding from talking to other family members is that Peter is a born again (Johnn 3:3) believer.
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Becoming a Friend by Michael Stephens
It was Saturday morning February 13, 2016; Randy White and Michael Stephens had set up a display at Mac's Fresh Market to sell tickets for the annuals Sportsmen's Banquet in Farmerville. I went up to purchase tickets for Robby and the boys; and visited for a while. This is a story by Michael Stephens that came out of that morning. A little while after I had left a man walked up and started talking to Randy but Randy couldn't remember his name. Then Michael and Randy talk about the problems with remembering people's name but how easy it is to remember faces. While they were talking another guy came up and asked what they were doing. Randy began to explain to him that it was a fundraiser for XMA. As he was talking to Randy, Michael thought to himself, I know this guy. As this man was talking to Randy he pulls out his wallet and took out five dollar bill and hands it to Michael and said "Here." Michael's response was what ticket do you want to buy; he said I don't want anything, I just want to give it to you all. Michael thanked him and put the money in a box as Randy continued to talk to the man. He reaches back in his pocket and pulled out two more $5's and hands it to Michael and said here, here's two more $5, again Michael thank him for the donation. As Randy continued to talk to him, he reaches into his pocket, pulls out his wallet and counted out the remaining money it was $29 and said here this is all my money. He said take all of it, Michael said, "Are you sure that you don't want a ticket?" He said I don't need it, I don't need the money and I don't need the prizes. I just found out yesterday that I have cancer, it's all in my bones and all in my body and so I'm not going to live much longer. The man looks at Michael and the hat that he was wearing it had, "Cajun Valve" on it and he said don't I know you and Michael response was I know you, your name is Chuck. They had not seen each other in 17 years; they had worked with each other at Industrial Valve. This was right after Michael had got out of high school. They talk for a few minutes and as they did Michael was thinking that they needed to pray for Chuck. There was a pause in the conversation and Michael spoke up and said Chuck do you mind if we pray for you. He said, "No I don't mind." So both Michael and Randy laid hands on him to pray for him but as they did he said I have drunk a couple beers. Michael said we don't care about that we just want to pray for you. We just want to let you know just how much God love you. Michael started praying for healing for his body but he felt more led to pray for his spiritual well-being. They prayed that he would feel the presence of God, and that he would feel God's love, that he would feel God's peace and emotional stability. He thanked them and then he left; he went and sat in his car that was parked in front of the store. Michael began to remember our conversation where I mentioned that Jesus called his disciples "friends." And how important it was that his disciples knew that they were friends of Jesus. He thought the power of being a friend over and over again. Michael would play the word over in his mind, "Brother, Friend" and when Michael would say friend it seemed that there was power and that word. The word brother has a reverence to it but when somebody says friend it becomes a different level of relationship. As he thought about this, Chuck has cancer and he may die, I prayed for him and now he's gone, he needs a friend. Michael was thinking I was his friend when we work together. Michael looked over to where the car was and it was still there. Michael said to himself, "I have got to go talk to him." Michael walked over to his car and tapped on the window, he was still sitting there wiping his eyes, and he had come to tears. Michael said, "Chuck I don't know if you have love and support from your family but I would like to be a close friend to you and I will give you my phone number. You call me, I don't care if you call me every day or any time you need to talk I want to be for you through this. I will be there to help you, to pray with you and encourage you. He said, "Men I need that." Michael said I mean what I say, you call me. He talked to Michael about his struggles with believing God. Michael talked to him about having a relationship with Jesus Christ and it being more than just going to church. Michael told him that we could pray for healing and Jesus can heal your body right now, but you're still going to die. Every person that Jesus healed on this earth has died and gone and they are an eternity somewhere. We want to pray for you and God wants to heal you but first he wants to heal your heart most importantly. Our attitude toward Jesus Christ should be I'm going to serve you whether I live or die. The most important thing right now is that God wants you to know that he loves you in a spiritual sense at this time more than a physical sense. Michael shared the gospel with him. They talk again for another 20 minutes and Michael encouraged him to call. Whatever you need I will be there for you. When Michael got home that night he had a text from Chuck, it said that he got more from the prayer than any prize that you may have. He text Michael back a few minutes later and said I always thought I was saved until I talk to you today. After our conversation today I know I am saved! April 29, Michael sent me this text: The old friend of mine that we prayed for at Mac's just called me and told me he is back from MD Anderson and is cancer free! "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." Acts 20:24 "Vision will always be tested on its way to realization.
Difficulty is the perfect test! It is God's way of hauling our values out of the shadows into the light. Whether it is a failed life goal or a personal tragedy, difficulty reveals what we really care about, how deeply rooted our faith really is and how centered we are on accomplishing something God has given us to do in His purposes for our life." - 'Before You Quit' by Doug Gehman Thursday, August 13, 2020: At Trace Mayo’s meeting this afternoon, he shared his Chicago experience. Some that had theology classes left early; those who were hungry stayed for 5 hrs. After all had left, one man stayed; Trace looked at him and said. “You want this don’t you?” He answered, “Yes, I have been raised in a Baptist church all my life; I have not repented of my sins.” “I was baptized when I was young and don’t’ think I knew what I was doing.” He said, I want this! Trace had purchased a horse trough; put it in the back of his truck for this purpose. Trace explained what would happen to Him.
When he came up out or the water Jesus baptized him with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking a new language. Trace baptized two that evening; both were baptized with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Wednesday, August 12 ,2020: Trace Mayo shared this testimony; He has a buddy who is a missionary
at a Baptist Church; he has been growing and growing as Trace has been talking to him About the things of God. On day as he was listening to Frances Chan who said that in 50 years of ministry he had not one person get healed. Later every one he touched got healed. Trace’s buddy called and apologized for believing away the books of the Bible. Another of Trace’s friend, David prayed for him. While he was driving home; listening to Worship music He was baptized with the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues. This happened while Trace was in Chicago. Tim Smith will be presiding over his fathers funeral:
Gerald P Smith Thursday 8/20/20 Visitation 10-11 Funeral 11-noon Burial Central Baptist Church cemetery Pray that Tim will be a tower of spiritual strength for the family and friends. Pray that Jesus Christ receive Glory. 1. We have power with God and with men, in proportion to our loyalty of faith in the Word of God.
2. Christ is in me, the power of God is in me, and the Holy Spirit is making the Word a living Word. 3. If we are to do the will of God at the right time and place, we must get into the Spirit and so give God a fair chance. Ezekiel 37:7 “So I prophesied as I was commanded.” He just did what he was told. It takes more to live in that place than any other. 4. You cannot have holy boldness without God. https://youtu.be/ZVRFpWPLSz8
I’d like to start by saying praise God for another day of air and for putting wonderful people in my life. Trace Mayo and Jordan Boutwell rounded up men in the community that they knew for a bible study which funny enough, I had been praying for that quite some time then, but the Lord blessed us with opportunity to meet up on Thursday each week for the last few weeks. At the time this bible study was firing off, I had been praying for Jesus to guide me, because I was lost. I had been accustomed to masturbation and pornography. I was having sexual interaction with my now fiancée. I was dealing with doubt and was under a vast amount of destress about marriage and being a the Godly man I needed to be for wife. I understood that I could not be successful in not only my marriage but my life as well if God did not come first. So when I got word of this bible study, I just knew it was God giving me a sign. It was Matthew 18:10-14 coming to life for me. So after a few weeks of going to this bible study I had noticed that the Trinity was working in me. I have not performed any kind of sexual sin in 2 months now. I have not been using vulgar language and I was passionate about a lot of different dull aspects of my life. And I’m not saying it was me who did that, praise God, but not masturbating or watching or using foul language isn’t what gets you to heaven. On August 6th, Trace had made it to the bible study after 10 days of witnessing God’s work and we discussed baptism and what it means for real. I thought I had a grasp what baptism was suppose to mine but in all actuality, I was as wrong as wrong could have been. Throughout the night, I had felt something steering up inside my heart and I knew it was the Holy Spirit. I felt convicted after learning what baptism truly meant. When we were wrapping things up for the night, Trace and Jordan asked me, “ Where are you at Caleb?” and all I could think about how I was separated from God. That night, I understood that my life would have been insignificant had I died that next day without the Lord as my one and only Ruler. I understood that I was going to suffer all eternity apart from the God if I went on living life my way. I understood that I would not have been thought of as a Godly man by anybody at my funeral if I were to pass. I explained to Trace and Jordan about I had been baptized as a young boy but I was not a true baptism. I thought then was that I was doing something that had to be done like if was a check list. I failed to realized you must be washed anew by the Holy Spirit. So Jordan, Trace and a wonderful guy named David prayed over me as I confessed my sin and ugliness and as we were getting ready to go to do the baptism, Trace said, “Are you ready to go die”. Scary sounding but realizing that I’m killing the old me and washing the old me away, I replied, “Absolutely”. We then walked out into the parking lot, and I got saved in the back Trace’s truck. As I came out the water, I felt the Holy Spirit throughout my entire body and all I could think was , “Praise the Lord” and “ God is love”. Might sound cheesy but that’s the God’s honest truth. The Holy Spirit also influenced me to speak in tongues which I had been skeptical but seeing Trace’s videos and learning that that is not a thing of old helped give me the understanding that I too can speak to my beloved God in the manner. I was, however, a little freaked out at first because I didn’t grasp that I was talking until a few moments after I heard my voice saying, “sheb sheba”. I didn’t know what it meant at the time but knew it was the Holy Spirit praying to God through me. That was the coolest moment of my entire life. I later looked up the definition this phrase and they both, more or less, mean “promise”. When I told Trace about that, he said, “The Holy Spirit is God’s Promise”. That night was the most exciting night of all my years, I thank the Lord everyday for the air that breathe and for the wonderful people that I’ve been blessed with in my life. That pretty much wraps things up. To whoever is reading this, God bless.
Praying for Malawi, here is one prayer to pray. You are invited to fast and pray with us for this Friday, August 14th. Americans and Malawians will be joining in fasting and prayer.
Lord we speak life. We release blessings in the name of Jesus over: Werengani Ministries Madalitso Tizifa and his family The Headmaster teachers at Werengani Ministries Grace Godfrey The students and their families. Guards and workers The residents of Kapanga village Chief Kapanga#4 and his family Chief Kalikwala and his family We speak healing (body, mind, soul and spirit) over the same people Werengani Ministries Madalitso Tizifa and his family The Headmaster teachers at Werengani Ministries Grace Godfrey The students and their families. Guards and workers The residents of Kapanga village Chief Kapanga#4 and his family Chief Kalikwala and his family Lord we bind and render powerless every curse and word curse spoken or cast against Werengani Ministries Madalitso Tizifa and his family The Headmaster teachers at Werengani Ministries Grace Godfrey The students and their families. Guards and workers The residents of Kapanga village Chief Kapanga#4 and his family Chief Kalikwala and his family Lord we bless even the witch doctors and Muslim Leaders who speak against us with a revelation of Jesus Christ. We pray for dreams, visions, visitations and divine encounters for every one who does not know You Lord Jesus Christ. Melt hearts of stone and give them new hearts of flesh consecrated to You. Use opposition to refine us into noble vessels of service that you can use to further your kingdom and to display the love of God that includes suffering for you and with you. In Jesus name! |
AuthorRobert Lindsay Archives
November 2021
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