Believing the Promises of God - in His Word

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed… Without weakening in his faith… Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. ~ Romans 4 [selected 18-21]



Thursday, November 5, 2009

MEXICO FRUIT = HER NAME IS ROSIE


Thank you for all who prayed for me and our team who went to Tamazunchole, Mexico, in the Huestecha Region, to minister through teaching and preaching at the 4th annual [native] Pastor's Conference there. Our theme for this conference was:
Everything By PRAYER
GOD WAS FAITHFUL!! He did marvelous and miraculous things beyond what we had ever expected. What a privilege it is to be used of Him! He doesn't need 'us' to fulfill His purposes - but He 'allows us' and 'invites us' to participate in the work He is already doing. All I can say right now is WOW - GOD YOU ARE AMAZING!

Crossing the border into Mexico on the 29th of October - after just getting my passport stamped - I waited outside with Dale [a missionary translator on our team]. Dale asked me if I would share "a word of testimony" with two border guards who were standing above him on the ridge. Hesitantly, I walked over and swallowed hard. I had never been 'put on the spot' to just share my testimony with a complete stranger like that. I prayed [quickly] that God would fill my mouth with His words [and not my own]. One of the guards got called away as I walked over. But there stood Rosie. So I shared about what Christ had done in my life. Dale and I talked with her for awhile. She is a single mom with five children who also suffers from diabetes and is losing some of her sight. She also has other physical issues. She does not make enough money to make ends meet and is hoping to move to the USA to get a better job to support her family. She spoke no English at all. She was downcast and discouraged before we began to share with her about Christ's love.
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John 14:6
Jesus said, "I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through Me."
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At the end of our long conversation we asked her if she desired to ask Christ to come into her heart. We explained to her that it was not a matter of "religion" but one of personal "relationship" with a Holy God through Christ's finished work on the cross. WE encouraged her to trust Christ with her life. She said "yes"!!! What a transformation came over her face - none like I had ever seen as she went from despair ... to the JOY of His salvation! We gave her literature and asked if she had a Bible. She said she had a New Testament that someone could read to her so I encouraged her to read the gospel of John - chapter one. We encouraged her to hold on to Jesus for the rest of her life.

This is a song from UNSEARCHABLE [by Gwen Smith] dedicated to Rosie:

Broken Into Beautiful
by Gwen Smith/Sue C. Smith/Chad Cates
[partial words of the song]
She's smiling on the outside,
But she's hurting on the inside;
It's getting harder just living anymore.
And the shadows she has clung to,
Painful things that she has been through,
Have left her feeling worthless, Lord...
But You change worthless into precious,
Guilty to forgiven,
Hungry into satisfied,
Empty into full.
All the lies are shattered,
And we believe we matter,
When you change broken into beautiful.
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Choosing JOY,
Stephanie
[Jesus - the One I Wait For]

6 comments:

Loren said...

Praise the Lord for this testimony! This a a beautiful story and I rejoice with you and many others who were able to see this transformation in Rosie!!

Thank you Lord for your Faithfulness and that prepared this moment for Rosie to receive you and for your dear servant Stephanie and her obedience to share YOU and all you have done in and through her Lord!!

AMEN AND AMEN!

B His Girl said...

WOW! This is amazing Stephanie. You stepped up, shared and look what happened!!!! Joy!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the cute turtles you sent. You may see them soon: )
Looking forward to hearing MORE about your trip.

Beth Herring said...

What a marvelous testimony! I am so thankful that you had a fabulous trip!

Edie said...

How exciting Stephanie! I SO LOVE watching GOD at work!!

LisaShaw said...

I am just loving reading all about the work of the LORD. GOD is using your life Sister. Beautiful photo.

Love the testimony!!! GOD is good!

Crown of Beauty said...

I have read your posts from the top to this one (as well as the one before it...)
What a privileg you have to be able to minister to some of the people of Mexico. Everything by Prayer... what a badly needed theme in our churches and ministries.

I am sure God did a mighty work in your heart. Praise God for Rosie and her willingness to put her faith in Jesus...

Love
Lidj