Refreshed!

Growing up my Mom and Dad worked 3rd shift in the mill. I spent every night but Saturday with my Grandma and Grandpa Owenby, occasionally with my Grandma Johns. I lived with my Grandparents in the summer.

As a child I was given coffee to drink at breakfast. Half a cup of coffee, sugar and real milk to fill the cup. As I got older less milk and sugar and more coffee. It is no wonder that I love coffee like I do.

In the Ukraine the thing I most looked forward to on getting up in the morning was a steaming cup of coffee. It was so good! All that to say I have been out of my coffee beans for a month and have had practically no time to stop and get a cup in the morning. I have missed it. The last two weeks my days have been longer and nights shorter and I have really wanted a cup of coffee. But no, it just has not happened.

Thursday morning after the prison revival I had an early morning meeting with a DSS lady about a lady our Church has been ministering too. My jeep has a clutch problem so I have been riding the Harley when it is not raining. I left the house and it was chilly. As I rode to my meeting I wished I had a cup of good hot coffee to knock the chill off and to enjoy before getting down to business but I was running a little behind and I knew I would not have time to stop and sit and drink a cup. I am not as skilled as some at riding the Harley and drinking a drink at the same time. My desire then was to finish the meeting with time to spare so as to stop in Mt. Holly at the Jordan’s for a good cup of coffee.

When I arrived, one person was already there and had brought the lady we are ministering to a cup of hot coffee and a biscuit. Is that temptation or what?! Several minutes later the DSS lady, a great lady, arrived. She came over with a cup of coffee in her hand saying she too had brought it for the lady. Since she already had one she said “Pastor, have a cup of coffee.” I took it!

Now when I took the first sip I was amazed. It was hot and fixed exactly like I drink it. It was like I had prepared it myself to my taste. I drank that cup as we talked and planned. It was truly good to the last drop. When we finished we gathered in a circle and prayed for God to help us help this sweet lady and to help her in all her needs. I got on my bike and started down the road realizing I had just enough time to make the next meeting. I began to pray. Thanking God for being so good to us. I thanked Him for helping bring this ladies needs to our attention and allowing us to share His love with others. I thanked Him for those in DSS who worked long hours in a too often thankless job and for giving this particular DSS lady a great heart. I then thought of that cup of coffee she had given me. It was like God said I know you wanted a cup and you were ministering in my name so I gave a you a cup through another of my servants. The verses came to me: Mark 9:41 (NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
Proverbs 11:25 (NLT) The generous prosper and are satisfied; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

I think that goes for a cup of coffee too and my prayer is that the DSS lady who was kind enough to give me a cup of coffee will find herself in the days ahead refreshed. I also hope that, in Christ, I too will continue to let Christ use me to refresh others. Actually my prayer is that we all will be generous, with Christ’s love, the Good News of His salvation and with cups of cold water or coffee. The Kingdom would probably see major expanding. May it be so!

REVIVAL IN THE PRISON!

The last four weeks have been hectic. I have not been able to find time to write here as I so much wanted to.

This week we have been at the Dallas prison in our annual revival there. It was fantastic. Monday night we ran out of chairs and had to ask the prison to supply more. the tent was packed. It was a little warm and humid. I felt like I was in a battle, a spiritual battle which I was. The devil is a thief, a liar and a murderer. He was trying to steal the moment and rob those God wanted to speak to of their chance for new life. He wanted to steal away the joy of praising God and seeing that newness of life that God was already bringing. The music had begun and I was praying with all my might for God's anointing and His presence to be experienced. I had been praying so hard I had not heard the first two songs. My longing was for God to be lifted up so that He might draw to Him those with ears to hear. I looked up above the tent and suddenly a dove appeared and flew down toward the center of the tent and then flew over it and off to my right. It was if God had said My Spirit is here and I am working.

When the invitation came, four men came and prayed to receive Christ and ten or eleven came seeking to turn from backsliding and renew their commitment to Christ. It was so wonderful to see and hear God working and pursuing in love.

Tuesday they said it would be raining and possible thunderstorms. Every yeaar it seemed that rain would come one or two nights. One guard said he had been drenched several times in the past at the revivals and it was worth it and he was ready to be drenched again. I prayed as did others that God would in His favor anad mercy move the rain away from us. When i arrived at the prison, dark clouds were hanging like saturated globs of cotton ready to be wrung out over us. But the blue sky kept coming through. The sun lit up other clouds like rainbows and it never rained though it deluged surrounding areas not a drop on us.. The men and their families came out again and worship began. As the music flowed from beneath that tent out into the night I knew God would have His way again. He did. Many came as couples, one after another, asking me and others to pray that they would put Christ in the center of their marriage and relationships. It was such a blessing to be in the midst of God working in difficult situations to bring order and peace and salvation.

Wednesday came. the last night of the revival. We went into the dorms where the men stay to speak to them and invite them again to the revival. One after another they came to me and thanked me and the church for great food and great services. Thanking us and God for our love shown to them. One dorm gave me a card of thanks for whatCHBC had done. Ernie was busting at the seams. He had led one young inmate to Lord in the lockdown unit. Several work release inmates saw me as they walked into their dorm from a hard dirty day at work and ran to me shook my hand and hugged me saying "I am dirty but I am coming just as I am, i don't won't to miss." I quickly made my way out overwhelmed by emotion. Why would God let me be a part of something so wonderful like this? Just as I am one said. that's what God wanted. i was so pumped I barely remember anything else until the invitation. The praise band, who had blessed everyone so much during the week, sang 30 verses it seemed of Just as I am as one after another came forward. I led one to faith and had 10 come for repentance from backsliding. One whole family came for prayer for their Father who had heart problems. I took out my oil and prayed for him as his family including two inmates clung to him in deep love. One came and asked that I pray for his mouth. He said he knew Chrsit but his mouth was backslidden and dishonored Christ. Wow! I prayed through tears for such desire and courage to confess that. Another said he knew Christ but lived like he didn't. He was ready to nail it down. Wow! I was so moved in my spirit for him. Two inmates came and wanted me to pray with them for another inmate in the hospital very sick. i had just preached on the four friends and their paralyzed friend they brought to Jesus. Wow! They were bringing their friend before the Lord. We prayed as brothers in faith. I believe we could have gone on all night but the end finally came. Tearful hugs came. Many came and asked if we had volunteers who were certified to bring inmates to Church. They wanted to come to CHBC. Mant came and said they were going to Celebrate Recovery in October at the prison led by CHBC. Many family members wanted to know where the church was so they could come. I was overwhelmed.12 people saved, 35 recommitments and many others for prayer. three days of God's love flooding every area of our lives.

As I rode the big hog home later, I prayed thanks to God the whole way. thanks for letting me Pastor such a great Church. Thanks for letting me preach the greatest news ever. Thanks for letting me and our church be a part of great life change. Thanks for giving us all a future and a hope. You know we have that-a future and a hope.

May we always keep our eyes on Jesus and be ever on His mission. It is about Him and not us!

Lord, thank you for giving us the privilege of being partners with you in ministry and for letting us be a part of life change for so many. Help us to be disciplers and help those You bring into Your Kingdom grow in grace and knowledge. To you be all glory. Amen.