"Love is patient. Love is kind, not arrogant,
Does not act unbecomingly.
[His] Love never fails...”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
While rereading Chapter 3, Seeing Double, to get this book ready for publication (at the very end), my closest Friend reminded me of another Salvation Story. As I was closing with "witnessing," it isn't an excuse for confrontation. Instead, it means your life is an epistle or an open book everyone reads. Everyone "witnesses" how you live your life:.
My sister, Aunt Patty Cake, was flying home from visiting family and rerouted through a small city, Joplin. It was a more than an hour drive, and even though I'm not too fond of driving long distances (to put it mildly), because I'm a homebody, I decided it was a good opportunity to talk to my Husband. When I got to the exit, arriving well before my sister's flight landed, I realized the entire city was without lights! The only thing lit up was the local mall, and so I naturally went in to see what was happening.
Since this happened years ago, I don't remember why or how the city lost power or why the mall was lit up. But having the faith of a child, I believe it all happened for this special Jewess girl. He had an appointment for me to meet.
As I walked around, I noticed a mall kiosk and began looking at homemade heating pads that, when warmed, would ease muscle aches and give off a soothing scent. Soon, a lovely young lady approached me, and while we were speaking, she was accosted by a group of "Christians" who were out "witnessing." I listened as they confronted her about where she'd go when she died, and even after explaining she was Jewish, they didn't let up on warning where she'd spend eternity (and they made it loud and clear it was not heaven)!
After they finally left her alone and walked away, "proud of the way they were out saving people," she told me how much she hated Christians and how rude they always were to her. Kringe, gulp. I asked her about her lovely accent, and she said she had moved with her family from Israel.
Not knowing what to do or say, being a Christian, I picked out a few things to buy (which I honestly didn't want to purchase, but my Husband told me He wanted me to buy) when I realized I didn't have enough cash. When I assured her, I'd come back the next day (because I'd overheard people saying they'd closed the airport and there would be no more flights that day). I explained I had to return anyway, when she said, "I know you won't come back. It's just an excuse people give you to get away. I prefer people be honest and just say what's true."
The next evening, I returned to the mall with plenty of cash in hand. As I was walking towards the kiosk, I saw my sweet Jewess, first astonished, then smiling. "You came back!" "Yes, I said I would." Then, the moment of reckoning came. As she calculated what I owed and packaged my purchase, she asked me what I did for a living. I said, "I'm a writer," hoping to avoid claiming allegiance with the witnessing Christians who had rudely confronted her the day before when she pressed me, "What kind of books do you write? I'd love to read them." Gulp! Cheeks burning, I looked at her, and as our eyes met, I said, "I don't think you'd like to read my books. Because you see, I am a Christian, and that's what they're about.
Actually, I'd like to read your books, so I gave her my email address and said I'd send her any of my books she wanted. Ultimately, I sent her all the books I had in print, and shortly thereafter, she wrote to let me know she'd shared my books with her family. She'd told her family about me, about not defending the other "Christians," and how unlike a Christian I was—even driving and coming back the next day and purchasing most of the different products she was selling. We kept in touch, answering questions she had about this friend of mine who soon became a friend to this sweet Jewess, who is still Jewish but also a believer—along with most of her family here in America and a few back in Israel.
“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly. [His love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails...” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
UPDATE: Since this testimony was written GOD has done remarkable things in this young man’s life.
John married his pastor’s daughter and became a youth pastor. They had a beautiful daughter born followed by another daughter who they named Selah.
When I commented, “John, and Rachel, Selah is simply gorgeous, and her name is spectacular. CONGRATULATIONS!!
Years ago, I saw the word "Selah" defined throughout the AMPLIFIED Bible, which I wanted to share with you. Selah "pause and calmly think about that."
John replied by saying: “that’s exactly why we picked it! We thought this was a good time to pause and consider all that God has down for our family. We are truly blessed”
And I’m blessed to witness through this GOD’S ability to transform any life, John’s testimony that I draw upon very, very, very often and hope that you will too!
★★★★★ ~ Seeking the Salvation of a Loved One ~ Sara in Turkey
★★★★★ ~ Atarah in South Africa
I learned so many wonderful things from this Salvation Story and it has totally increased my faith in the Lord to save my brother at HIS APPOINTED TIME. I also learned that like Mary Magdalene that those who have been forgiven much are the ones that sit at His feet and are on fire for the Lord for how much and how far He went to save them.
I also loved the tip about if there is an upswing in my brother's life if things suddenly go well for him to keep my eyes on the Lord to finish what He started.
I love the title of this Salvation Story, it's called "My Brother John". My journal today is all about my brother too... There is so much in this Salvation Story about John which is similar to what my younger brother experienced in His life.
Recently my sister and I tried to set up a meeting with a man who overcame his own drug addiction and has started up his own ministry to help others. Unfortunately, before it could happen, my brother disappeared again. So HH has been showing us there is absolutely nothing we can do in our strength to save our brother. We have to "Let Go and Let God".
I learned that like John my brother also needs to hit rock bottom where my HH can pick him up! And also where he needs to get in order to be ready for HH makeover on His life. I have to believe that as radically as my HH changed Brother John he will do the same for my brother Heini.
I was so happy to read that there was nothing John's family (who were in ministry) could do to help him and that like John my brother needs to come to the APPOINTED TIME, the time my HH has set aside to turn his life around.
When I read this testimony I was firstly amazed at how similar John's situation was to my brother's life. I also love the testimony of the former drug addict who became a powerful evangelist after going down the wicked road for a time. My brother is no longer a teenager or a young man but actually a fully grown adult. So I am very encouraged by this testimony knowing that my HH is never too late but right on time!!
I will be living out these principles by sharing them with my sister and meditating on the scriptures and also speaking to my Love about it whenever I think of my brother or become worried or anxious for him as I have heard that he spent a night in jail and also that he has been seen standing on shop corners and it looks as if he is selling drugs, it has been hard on my sister as she drives past seeing him all the time and knowing there is nothing she can do. So I am encouraging her as well and will be sharing these scriptures with her. I am also fasting.
My dear wonderful and precious love. Forgive me for my unbelief. I have been trusting You for so many years for my brother to save him and transform him. Thank you that you have an appointed time for my brother and that your word says that you don't want anyone to perish but to have life and not just any life but an abundant life!
Dear Friend, like you I cannot WAIT for the day when I get to sit down and listen to the Salvation Story of a loved one, listen and hear how our wonderful Lord went about saving and transforming them :))
Then the Lord answered me and said,
“Record the vision
And inscribe it on tablets,
That [a]the one who reads it may run.
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
God's appointed time to turn things around in my brother's life and to radically change him will come. I also love this version:
Habakkuk 2:2-3 New English Translation (NET Bible)
The Lord Assures Habakkuk
The Lord responded: Write down this message.
Record it legibly on tablets
so the one who announces it may read it easily.
For the message is a witness to what is decreed;
it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out.
Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; for it will certainly come to pass—it will not arrive late.
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”