My Day Off
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Monday was my day off. I got up and decided I was going to call Sammy. He had been calling me alot lately, so I called his house to see if he wanted to go out to eat breakfast. He didn't answer, but his girlfriend did. I have ministered to her at various times and I have helped her in some situations, but I have never had one on one time to really share my testimony and the gospel. So to make a long story short, I asked if she would like to go eat breakfast. She seemed surprised but accepted my offer.
I arrived at their apartment, picked her up and we went to Cracker Barrel. She told me she had never even been inside of a Cracker Barrel before. We sat down and I am praying silently to the Lord to give me the words He wanted me to speak and to let it be His words not mine. So I just asked her about her life and she began to open up with me about where she came from, the things she had been through in her life, I could feel her pain. Many times there were tears in her eyes. I listened intently as she shared with me. She shared with me how she felt responsible for Sammy falling so far into drugs and alcohol because when he first moved in with her, he wanted to come see us and go to church and she wouldn't go with him. She said she used to be very jealous of me. I told her I wanted the best for her and Sammy, but I knew they would never experience true happiness apart from Christ.
I shared my testimony with her and she told me she was about ready to accept Christ, but the thing that was holding her back was she didnt' want to be a hypocrite and she knew if she accepted Christ and went back into the old life, that she would be seven times worse. I shared with her how God would make a way where there seems to be no way, He would give her strength and I would be there if she ever needed a friend to support her or help her through tough times. She again told me she wasn't ready.
By this time, I knew she had felt the Holy Spirit tugging at her heart, but she was resisting. I just let her know I was there for her. We continued to chat about the Lord and the differences in my life before and after Christ and how He changed our lives. I said if He did it for me, He will do it for you, so if you ever change your mind or want to pray, I will be here. I planted the seed, I shared the Good News, now I wait because God's word doesn't come back void!
I arrived at their apartment, picked her up and we went to Cracker Barrel. She told me she had never even been inside of a Cracker Barrel before. We sat down and I am praying silently to the Lord to give me the words He wanted me to speak and to let it be His words not mine. So I just asked her about her life and she began to open up with me about where she came from, the things she had been through in her life, I could feel her pain. Many times there were tears in her eyes. I listened intently as she shared with me. She shared with me how she felt responsible for Sammy falling so far into drugs and alcohol because when he first moved in with her, he wanted to come see us and go to church and she wouldn't go with him. She said she used to be very jealous of me. I told her I wanted the best for her and Sammy, but I knew they would never experience true happiness apart from Christ.
I shared my testimony with her and she told me she was about ready to accept Christ, but the thing that was holding her back was she didnt' want to be a hypocrite and she knew if she accepted Christ and went back into the old life, that she would be seven times worse. I shared with her how God would make a way where there seems to be no way, He would give her strength and I would be there if she ever needed a friend to support her or help her through tough times. She again told me she wasn't ready.
By this time, I knew she had felt the Holy Spirit tugging at her heart, but she was resisting. I just let her know I was there for her. We continued to chat about the Lord and the differences in my life before and after Christ and how He changed our lives. I said if He did it for me, He will do it for you, so if you ever change your mind or want to pray, I will be here. I planted the seed, I shared the Good News, now I wait because God's word doesn't come back void!
posted by Live, Love, Laugh | 10:18 PM
21 Comments:
:)
God is good.
(Love the new look, BTW).
Go Mom! You are so amazing.
Dana, love your new look. :)
I am glad to hear that she was so receptive to your talk.
All we can do is plant the seeds and let God do the rest.
Love the look of the new blog!
WOWWWW !!! Dana, this new look is great. Nice job.
Awesome. That is so great. I pray that when the time next comes for me to really witness to someone, that I can be like you.
Dana, you're amazing. Cracker Barrel and your sharing your testimony is just what she needed. She needed more than just words, she needed love, and you gave it to her. Sounds like you're obeying the command, "feed my sheep" in more ways than one!
God Bless You Dana!
YOu're a good woman to be helping other's find God. You have planted a great seed..I'm sure it will grow beautifully.
I love the ne look in here..you've been busy!!
Like Shelly said, sometimes we just plant the seeds. There may be others who are meant to reap the fruit, but before that there may be some who come along who fertilize and prune before the growth is complete.
Wow...Dana love the new look!!
You planted and God will water!
Praise the Lord that you are such a willing servant!
Love the new look.
I understand her reasoning about being a hypocrit if she accepts him and then reverts to her old life. It's a reason I've heard before. As you said, God's word never comes back void and he will be there when she's ready.
Seed planting is a very good thing. I love the parable of the Sower and the seeds. Keep talking to her and continue to invite her to church. Christmas is a wonderful time to go to church and she should enjoy hearing the stories of Jesus. This is a good time to learn about the Attonement.
Wow. Dana I am continually amazed and blessed to hear how you seize those opportunities to share the gospel. You are a missionary!!! And I LOVE your new look here.
Gday Dana... I'm a fan of yours and I didn't even know your name until this morning!
Jesus gave people 2 things...
1 time
2 love
He says "Go and do likewise."
He also said (Mark 10:29-30) That whatever you sacrifice for Him, you'll get back 100 times!
I've started on the Proverbs Challenge... reading a chapter a day - 31 chapters and 31 days! Anyone else going to jump on to it?
YOu are such an amazing woman. You inspire me to do more. I hope you know that this post planted a seed in my heart!
Well done! You have opened the door for her to come to you again. Perhaps you will get to see your seed grow!
Well done! You have opened the door for her to come to you again. Perhaps you will get to see your seed grow!
Steele,
Yes He is indeed good! I feel privledged that He would even use me.
Eddo,
You are amazing, thanks to you for the wonderful new look! lol! I was shocked when I got here!!!
Msthang,
Yes she was receptive and she just opened up like a book, I was amazed at how she poured her heart out to me!
Shelley,
So true, all we can do is plant, but I sure like to see the harvest. There is nothing on earth that gives me more joy than seeing someone accept Jesus!!
Mike,
thanks!!!
Jayleigh,
I can remember when I was timid about sharing the gospel, but I just jumped in there and God gave me the words, so now it is much easier!
Amstaff mom,
Yes, I do think Cracker Barrel and Jesus was what she needed. I called her a few times this week and just chatted with her, she seemed surprised I called, but I told her I minister to boys all the time and live with three males, so I had a great time going out to breakfast with her. She was like, Oh I understand, I'll go with you anytime, so guess what? she opened the door and I plan to walk right thru it.
bbgirl,
You have been a blessing to me, sharing your life the way you do has blessed me tremendously!!!
fts,
You are so right! I was telling my sister the other day, whether I live or whether I die, I will proclaim the Lord with my dying breath. He sustains me, I love to share His word and I love to see the fruit. God has blessed me many times to see His word doesn't come back void!!
Bonnie,
Amen, I know He will water it and it will grow and that gives me hope to continue on.
Leann,
I too have heard the reason of being a hypocrite many times. I usually tell them we are all hypocrites, we all sin, we all mess up, that's even more why we need Him.
Lucy,
You are right. I do need to continue to invite her and this is a great time to share, perhaps I will find a play to take her to.
Jennifer,
You bless me too, I love your blog and the way you have such insight. You are very unique in your perspectives and God has given you alot of wisdom.
Keasly,
So glad to hear you are taking up the 31 day challenge. I too am doing it again, it seems there are many who have decided to start doing this! Who knows maybe it will spread like wildfire!!
Faith,
I guess we are here to inspire each other. I am humbled that God can use me to inspire anyone.
Oh Great One,
I hope I do see it grow, I plan to pray and ask God to bless our friendship and to allow her to feel loved by Him, to give her the desire to know Him, that's what we're here for!!
Wow mom - you're so awesome! I wish i had that boldness.
Post a Comment