Good morning Father!
Thank You for always meeting me at the beginning of each day with new strength, new wisdom, new guidance, new direction, new mercies and new grace! Thank You for restoring my soul! Thank You for continuing to speak to me. Thank You that You delight to show Yourself to me!
Thank You for the privilege and blessing of partnering with You in the things You are accomplishing on this earth. Thank You for the privilege and blessing of being in Greenwood with precious brothers and sisters in Christ over the weekend for Judgment House. Thank You for the lives that were changed for eternity! Thank You for the simple gospel message of Jesus Christ. Thank You that the message has power to transform lives! Thank You that the message gives hope for tomorrow and joy and peace for today! Thank You that the simple gospel message has transformed my life!
I have pondered this weekend why You have used the life of Billy Graham in such a powerful way. It is because he shares over and over the simple gospel message of Jesus Christ, isn’t it? Your message is simple. You loved the world. You sent Yourself in the person of Jesus Christ to live among us, to become flesh and blood and to give Yourself as the payment for our sin to acquire our salvation. You offer each of us the free gift of Your Son - You have done all the work. Our part is to accept Your forgiveness, Your abundance, Your joy, Your freedom! Bless You Father! The burden for my salvation was all placed upon You.
Judgment House uses stories to share the simple gospel message of Jesus Christ. Two years ago, at the encouragement from someone in their church, Clay and Hope wrote a script for Judgment House sharing Hannah’s story of faith. Portrayed in the drama is the reality of eternal life in a place the scripture calls heaven or eternal damnation in a place the scripture calls hell. You aren’t playing games with us, are You Lord? Your plan was in place before the foundation of the world. You tell us that “wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Matthew 7:13 Many are flocking down the road to destruction - all the while being completely unaware of what the scripture says. And then You go on to say, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:14 Just like in Noah’s day - only 8 people on the face of the earth were spared - You know Lord, that is really heart breaking and I know it breaks Your heart. You say in Your word, “It is not Your will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” John 3:17
One of the memories I took away from this weekend that will be forever etched upon my heart was when “Hannah” was standing in the Judgment Room being welcomed into her eternal reward. She replied, “Thank You Jesus. This is the day I have been waiting for all my life.” I loved that Lord! I loved that! The day we come to meet You in heaven is the day we have waited for all of our lives. We may not completely understand that now but one day we will fully understand!
Another memory I will always cherish is from the heaven scene. It is always my favorite scene - to see Hannah walk across the bridge into heaven blesses my heart every time! The gentleman who portrayed Jesus had the most beautiful eyes and he comes to everyone in the heaven scene and speaks an individual word to each of them. When he came to me, he said, “Welcome, I know it hasn’t been an easy journey.” I could hear You saying that to me Lord and it brought tears to my eyes! I know that You know where I am and where I’ve been - I know that You can identify with me unlike any other but to hear someone playing Your part say those words to me really blessed my heart and I thank You for that. I thanked him and asked him later if he said the same thing to everyone - he told me no - that he was always desiring to speak to each person what you place on his heart and he never knows what he is going to say. I heard Your voice Lord and I thank You for speaking to me through him!
I will also never forget the statement, “The love of Christ disarms!” I love that Lord! It was spoken by the youth minister at the church! It is so true! Your love breaks down all the barriers - it cuts through all pretense! I thought about when You stood before Your accusers and opened not Your mouth. You just loved those the Father placed in Your path - however broken they were and Your loved “disarmed” them! We don’t have to defend ourselves - we have nothing to defend - You are our Defender! Our part is to share the love You have given to us. Before he ordered his food, the minister asked the waitress at Cracker Barrel where she stood with You. Immediately she smiled and said, “I love Him.” He had gained a new friend and proceeded to invite her to Judgment House.
After lunch we watched this minister pursue a young man on the parking lot of Hardees that he had met a couple of weeks before while visiting in the hospital. The young man was in a wheel chair and had no legs. He has several children - none of which he is taking responsibility for - and is himself an addict. The minister took him into Hardees - spoke words of life over him and then bought him whatever he wanted for lunch - he ordered two of several things! “The love of Christ disarms.” He has a new friend. He has planted another seed into this young man’s life. And it brought him and those of us watching great joy! You want to use us, don’t You Lord? You want to “disarm” those around us with the love of Christ! Oh Father, let me love You with abandon! Allow the love of Christ to be the spillover from my life!!
You are at work in so many ways and in so many places! Oh Father, bless Your name!! There were many who had come from places of brokenness to help with Judgment House - several from Faith Home. They have no pretense - nothing to prove - they just loved us! They are quick to acknowledge their need of You! Unlike many of us who try to act as if everything is okay! They opened their arms and they welcomed us! Thank You for filling us with Your love to love them back! Bless that little church, Father and bring many to a saving knowledge of Yourself! Begin a new work in that place and raise up the body of Christ to love others as You do! In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen!
And Father, work out the details for this coming weekend! We are available to go where You want us to go! Thank You for allowing mother to go with me this weekend! Strengthen her physical body in Jesus name, I pray, Amen!