You never know how God will use you if you just take a step of faith for Him.... Here's a testimony a lady sent Roxie and I. It is raw and unedited. Seems to pain the picture better.
hey holland and roxie!
i emailed a friend a couple days ago to update her on some of the awesome ways we are seeing personal prayers answered in our lives these days, and it dawned on me that YOU GUYS should be the ones to hear about it, since much of this news actually began with you, that night on san clemente pier. sometimes we just go on serving others for the lord and often times don't get to see or hear about the results in someone's life, and when i do hear that someone was truly touched by the lord, it really encourages me and warms my soul with such gratitude... i'm sure it's the same for you guys... so, i wanted to share our recent news around here with you and hope it encourages you as you continue to minister to, and pray for those people god puts in your path. you would have NO IDEA how grateful i am that the lord steered you to the pier that night without hearing what the lord has been doing in our son's life since we met you on the pier. so i copied & pasted part of my email to a friend, the part you need to know about, so you can be blessed by it too! here's the copy:
so god just keeps hooking us up with the coolest people these days. scott & i were out lobstering one night and this couple came up to us to give us some info on a new church they'd just planted in san clemente. they asked if there was anything we wanted prayer for, and i told them about joel, and they told us about their own son, who is also in jail. seemingly perfect strangers just sharing this great sadness for our wayward, beautiful boys, so lost and desperate for the lord's touch, and right there on the pier we prayed for each other's kids. it turned out that the pastor was actually someone very special from our old church... (he was the music director)... so we went to their new church the next day, and he actually mentioned to the congregation that they had a couple of divine appointments the night before on san clemente pier, and i just smiled, because it was sooooo true for us too, as i had been praying for god to put his people in our path!
the pastor emailed afterwards, and i wrote back asking him to pray about a ministry i wanted to start to support the orange county rescue mission, and we all met for coffee, and he & his wife were all supportive, and somehow in that meeting with them just confirmed god's calling to get this thing going for the mission. i put an ad in craigslist a couple days before that, and it just took off from there.
then i contacted a church in westminster and asked them if they ever visit people in jail... (it's a real upbeat place for young people, though we've never been to it). anyway, the next week, joel told me someone from that church came to see him, and as he talked to the pastor, he was really honest about himself and his backsliding with god. before the guy left, he asked if joel wanted some study notes. joel told me he really didn't care about the study notes one way or the other, but took them just to be polite because the guy had been so nice to come up and see him. then a "street" type bible came to the jail that i had ordered him, and he started reading it. at that point, he remembered the pastor's notes, and got them out and actually studied what he was reading, and said it all came back to him, this passion for the truth, and said that now he has this "overwhelming desire to absorb as much as he can from the bible". those were his exact words! so then, he and five other guys formed their own bible study in jail, and meet everyday now. next, he got a new bunk-mate who just happens to go to the church the pastor was from, and knows all these pro-skaters that gabe knows of, who film and do artwork, people who gabe keeps up with for their "skate-fame" and all. the bunk-mate is a nazarene and totally sold out to god, and if you think about it, shouldn't even be IN there, but gets bunked in with joel. joel says he's hilarious AND a believer, and just can't believe god put them together like that when the kid has no drug issues or prior legal problems. (he's in huge trouble for a mural he painted on a wall, haha!)
it is typical for the different races to fight in the jail he's in, but joel gets along with everyone, and their bible study group is made up of one mexican, a black guy, an asian, a jewish guy and joel. he says in their bible study group, there is NO COLOR... no notice of race or color... just "orange" for the clothes they wear. they pray for each other, for god's will, not their own, before each other's court dates, etc. then the pastor who visits him wrote me and said that joel is obviously of superior intelligence and has a solid foundation in christ, so he put him in charge of editing his sermon notes (from jail! haha), and some publications he's been working on. so now joel is getting even more out of the word through this ingenious pastor's idea to have him work on it with him! (surely the pastor re-proofs his work after joel, but how cool is that?!!) and this all came from god directing our old music pastor and his wife over to us on a pier one night, and praying for each other's sons. the timing was only something god can do... you know those moments, huh...
and you know we've been looking for another boat... well, the lord may have clearly just told us not to buy one. the boat trip came from us asking some random guy at a gas station about his 26-foot inflatible, and he whips out these pictures of his dolphin runs, and i notice a verse from ephesians written at the bottom of one of his pictures, and say "oh, you're a christian... ephesians, blah blah blah." he turns out to be a member of capo calvary right down the street, with a boat ministry of sorts, and right there at the gas station invites us out on the water on new years day, and has given us a standing invitation to go boating whenever he's down at the harbor. he's a photographer in laguna so we all shared a lot in common. scott was in hog-heaven out on the water again, and i just love the way we can see god leading the daily affairs of our lives again... even putting christian men in scott's path that seem to be leading to some discipling for him. this guy is perfect for scott, who could really use a christian mentor. (END OF COPY)
so how's that for a happy new year for us?? hahah, isn't this awesome stuff?? praise god!
anyway, blessings & happy new year to you both. we hope to see you again soon!
-kathy
Showing posts with label God Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God Stories. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Friday, July 25, 2008
Another Testimony From Worshp Life 2008
Just wanted to comment on the awesomeness of the Lord, and how wonderful the Worship Life Conference was this weekend.
I sat in on your "confessions of a worship leader" workshop.
And I was very moved by what you said about the sacrifices that are made in us when we pray to be used in any way He wants to use us. (You may have seen my sitting towards the back with tears in my eyes...although I doubt I was the only one)
I prayed that "dangerous" prayer some time ago, and have recently been going through that very thing of saying, "But Lord, this hurts."
And so to hear your testimony and hear that God is working through it all and never forgets about us or leaves us...that really touched my heart and encouraged me in ways that I cannot even describe.
So thank you so much for sharing that testimony and sharing those words with us.
The conference was awesome and our whole group was blessed, as I'm sure everyone else who attended was. God is so good.
I sat in on your "confessions of a worship leader" workshop.
And I was very moved by what you said about the sacrifices that are made in us when we pray to be used in any way He wants to use us. (You may have seen my sitting towards the back with tears in my eyes...although I doubt I was the only one)
I prayed that "dangerous" prayer some time ago, and have recently been going through that very thing of saying, "But Lord, this hurts."
And so to hear your testimony and hear that God is working through it all and never forgets about us or leaves us...that really touched my heart and encouraged me in ways that I cannot even describe.
So thank you so much for sharing that testimony and sharing those words with us.
The conference was awesome and our whole group was blessed, as I'm sure everyone else who attended was. God is so good.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
A Testimony From Worship Life...
Brethren,
I am the Worship Pastor of a Calvary Chapel in LA County. When I attended the 2006 Worship Life Conference I had a sense that God was going to minister to me but I did not know how and when.
You see, without giving every detail I’d like to share how God worked in my Family and I in the midst of a very difficult trial. Two years prior to the Conference. When my son had begun to attend Vanguard University Then one evening my wife and I were told by our son that he had remembered that he was molested by someone as a child. Brethren, this was the beginning of a countless number of situations and events with my son that we’re horrible. My wife and I were devastated. My son went from being a happy young Christian to a young man that was on a downward spiral. Depression, suicidal threats, irrational thinking, self destructive behavior. Needless to say my wife and I we’re suffering along with our son. There is no doubt that God showed Himself strong and was sustaining us through it all. Then in March 2006 my wife and I we’re at home doing some planning and the phone rang. I answered the call and a Police Officer said “ Sir, I wanted to inform you that I have your son in the back of my Patrol Car right now. He has been arrested on a first degree felony charge of Residential Burglery”. My wife knew by the look on my face that it was something terrible. I told my wife and she collapsed to the floor. I thought she was having a heart attack. My 17 year old daughter came to help my wife while I talked to the police officer. I never knew that my heart could ache in such a way.
After that day we started the process of getting a Lawyer “Christian”. My son was facing potentially seven years in prison. The lengthy court process began and felt like years. But in the midst of it all my Lord and Savoir had incredible compassion on my son. There is just too much miraculous events to write about. My son ended up with no jail time. Just community service, counseling, and restitution.
What does this have to do with the Conference you ask? Well, I became very hardened and bitter towards my son and my joy was robbed from me by the enemy. I have to admit I was a mess. I know that the enemy had been working overtime to cause my family to fall! But God had His perfect plan. I attended the worship conference and it was really good but I just was not feeling it. Then Brit Merrik was teaching and I was at the edge of my seat. He began to share about his little son whom he loved dearly would escape after his bath running through his house naked. But one night his son surprised him and jumped into his arms and wrapped his little arms and legs tightly around his waste and neck. He did not let go for a number of minutes. While Brit was telling this story I began to weep bitterly. I immediately had memories of my son and I experiencing the same kind of loving times. I felt the Love of God fill me at that moment and I went forward on my face to my God. I had realized that I had allowed the enemy to rob me of my Joy but God restored me that day at the Worship Conference. The theme for the Conference was “Saturated”. Well, God did just that with His perfect Love. Restoration, Restoration! For my son, wife, daughter and myself.
Today my son has come back to The Lord through many more Miraculous events. When we out for dinner last week my son told us he wants to attend Bible College.
I am absolutely blown away by my Lord! There is some scriptures that The Lord gave my wife many years ago before all this happened and has been fulfilled.
James 5:7-8 7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
God has restored what the enemy tried to destroy. Praise be to God!
Joel 2: 23 Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm —
my great army that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
27 Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the LORD your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.
Thank God for the Saturated Worship Conference!
I am the Worship Pastor of a Calvary Chapel in LA County. When I attended the 2006 Worship Life Conference I had a sense that God was going to minister to me but I did not know how and when.
You see, without giving every detail I’d like to share how God worked in my Family and I in the midst of a very difficult trial. Two years prior to the Conference. When my son had begun to attend Vanguard University Then one evening my wife and I were told by our son that he had remembered that he was molested by someone as a child. Brethren, this was the beginning of a countless number of situations and events with my son that we’re horrible. My wife and I were devastated. My son went from being a happy young Christian to a young man that was on a downward spiral. Depression, suicidal threats, irrational thinking, self destructive behavior. Needless to say my wife and I we’re suffering along with our son. There is no doubt that God showed Himself strong and was sustaining us through it all. Then in March 2006 my wife and I we’re at home doing some planning and the phone rang. I answered the call and a Police Officer said “ Sir, I wanted to inform you that I have your son in the back of my Patrol Car right now. He has been arrested on a first degree felony charge of Residential Burglery”. My wife knew by the look on my face that it was something terrible. I told my wife and she collapsed to the floor. I thought she was having a heart attack. My 17 year old daughter came to help my wife while I talked to the police officer. I never knew that my heart could ache in such a way.
After that day we started the process of getting a Lawyer “Christian”. My son was facing potentially seven years in prison. The lengthy court process began and felt like years. But in the midst of it all my Lord and Savoir had incredible compassion on my son. There is just too much miraculous events to write about. My son ended up with no jail time. Just community service, counseling, and restitution.
What does this have to do with the Conference you ask? Well, I became very hardened and bitter towards my son and my joy was robbed from me by the enemy. I have to admit I was a mess. I know that the enemy had been working overtime to cause my family to fall! But God had His perfect plan. I attended the worship conference and it was really good but I just was not feeling it. Then Brit Merrik was teaching and I was at the edge of my seat. He began to share about his little son whom he loved dearly would escape after his bath running through his house naked. But one night his son surprised him and jumped into his arms and wrapped his little arms and legs tightly around his waste and neck. He did not let go for a number of minutes. While Brit was telling this story I began to weep bitterly. I immediately had memories of my son and I experiencing the same kind of loving times. I felt the Love of God fill me at that moment and I went forward on my face to my God. I had realized that I had allowed the enemy to rob me of my Joy but God restored me that day at the Worship Conference. The theme for the Conference was “Saturated”. Well, God did just that with His perfect Love. Restoration, Restoration! For my son, wife, daughter and myself.
Today my son has come back to The Lord through many more Miraculous events. When we out for dinner last week my son told us he wants to attend Bible College.
I am absolutely blown away by my Lord! There is some scriptures that The Lord gave my wife many years ago before all this happened and has been fulfilled.
James 5:7-8 7Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. 8You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
God has restored what the enemy tried to destroy. Praise be to God!
Joel 2: 23 Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.
24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
25 "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm —
my great army that I sent among you.
26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
27 Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the LORD your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.
Thank God for the Saturated Worship Conference!
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