For the long-haul.

Walking to the doorway I noticed a man sitting in a wheelchair. From where I stood I could only see his bandage-covered legs. They looked so painful. As one of the nurses walked in to take care of him, she closed the door. When she did, I began to pray for this man. I didn't know what was wrong but I knew it was bad. I asked the Lord to give him conviction that would lead him to repentance.

After many minutes the door opened wide and the nurse wheeled her cart out into the hall. I asked her if I could talk to him for a few minutes. She told me it was a great idea.

When I first began visiting in this particular nursing home, the staff was wary of me. Being protective of the residents, they wanted to make sure I would not disappoint them. Many people come to visit the residents...once or twice. But most don't come back. I admit it is sometimes very sad, but when I think of these people not hearing the gospel, I am compelled to go.

I was told the situation was grave; he had cancer and would not be here for long. I introduced myself and confirmed his name as I had seen it on the door.

"Do you have a couple minutes to talk to me?" I asked him.

"Two minutes...two days, two weeks." he said.

"Oh, great! I would love to get to know you a bit. Where are you originally from?"

He tried to answer but was unclear. He tried again but I could not understand what he was saying.

The CNA who was now in the room told me he was from 'up north'. I asked him what he used to do for work. I finally heard him when he told me that he had been a long-haul truck driver for 48 years.

"I know that you understand me and I want to ask you some questions. Are you up to it?"

He nodded and said, "Yes."

I told him that I was going to use the 10 Commandments to see what God would say. He was very honest and listened carefully to each question. He admitted to being a liar, blasphemer and adulterer.

"Since the scripture tells us that man is appointed to die once and then the Judgment, we know we will all be judged by God when we die. If you stood before God tonite do you think He would say you are innocent or guilty of breaking His Law?"

"Guilty as sin."

"Would He send you to Heaven....or to Hell?"

"To Hell."

I paused to let this fact sink in a moment. R. let me know that it bothered him to think of spending eternity in that awful place. He told me that he had heard of Jesus and also that He had died 'for our sins'. But after talking about the difference between head knowledge and complete trust, he realized the difference. He also realized that saying, 'I'm sorry about that' to God was not the same as repentance.

"God says we have to leave it behind us. When you drop the load, then you move on. You don't reload it, right?"

"Right." he mumbled.

"Is this making sense? Have you ever heard this before?"

"Never." (That answer always takes my breath away.)

"Do you think it's important enough to take care of?" I paused.

"Yes."

"It can only be taken care of by you talking to God, and since only God knows the number of our days it's quite a gamble to let it go. Do you want to talk to God and get this straightened out?" I gently asked him.

"Yes, I do."

"You can pray if you would like to and then let me know when you're done and I will pray, ok?"

R. said 'OK' as he looked up at the ceiling. After a few moments he looked at me.

"Are you finished praying?"

"Yes."

"Jesus made a payment for us we could never make, Isn't that awesome?"

"Absolutely, I believe that!" The smile on his face was priceless.


Psalms 91

Fading away

I met a man today who is fading away. Scripture says, 'The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.' (Isaiah 40:7-8)

He is so wasted that when I put my hand on his thin shoulder, I could feel the scapula and clavicle in detail where they join the humerus bone of the arm. He felt so fragile that I was afraid to even put the weight of my hand on him. I did not feel flesh but only bone. He had open sores on his skin and his breath was a reminder that death was very near.

He spoke openly of dying and told me that he didn't believe in Heaven or Hell. He just thinks that he will die and know nothing after that. He listened as we talked of eternity but did not answer about his destiny. I explained that we will live on eternally and that he was rightly destined for Hell. When I was done talking with him I asked him if we could pray for him. He shrugged that shoulder ever so slightly- as if he didn't have a care in the world.

I prayed that God would convict Ken of his sin and draw him. I prayed that he would seek the Truth, no matter what it is. He did not react.

When we parted I told Ken that I enjoyed our conversation. I asked him to consider it carefully because it was the most important decision he would ever make.

This man's soul will outlive his body...

Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.

Martin Luther (1483-1546)


Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Make every moment count.

On the way to the nursing home I stopped to get some flowers for a friend. I went in to the shop and noticed that it was completely remodeled. After asking the gal to help me with an arrangement I told her I really liked the new look. She told me that there was a new owner-just out of school.

"We are excited about the changes."

"I really like it. Much less cluttered." I said.

She began to arrange the flowers in a vase and I watched her. "You really are good at this." I told her.

"Thanks, I like doing this."

Suddenly I came out of my stupor! What was I thinking just standing here???

"The friend I am getting these for is very ill. She probably won't live long."

"Oh, I'm sorry." she said.

"Well, were all going to die one day, right?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"What do you think happens when we die?"

"Oh, I don't know, Heaven I guess." she speculated.

After asking her some questions Gaylen became very quiet. She finished the arrangement just after realizing why Jesus came for us.

"Have you ever heard that before?" I asked her.

"No, not presented like that."

I paid and handed her a Good Person booklet. "I hope you will take time to think about this Gaylen."

"I will definitely give this some thought."

Psalms 103:15-18 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

Carole's time.

This morning Rose met me at the nursing home. She told me that this would be her first time inside of one.

After explaining the layout to her we made our way to the 'short-term' hall. These are folks who have probably just come in for a rehabilitation term from the hospital. Others are here because they have transferred from other facilities and they are awaiting permanent room assignments.

When I go into a nursing home the first thing I do is systematically make my way into every room to discuss their eternal destiny. Depending upon the size of the home, it may take a couple of months tod o this. After seeing about each permanent resident I go to the short-term hall. There is a constant change in people here.

We had a couple of interesting conversations, but the one I want to write about is Carol. She is a fairly young paraplegic. She told me that since 1959 she has held a job and so she has no 'benefits'. She worries about how she will pay for this stretch in rehab. She has lost her husband and her sons...she is alone. Carol is gravely ill. She told me that she had grown up in a Christian Science household. She also told me she never believed it because it was just 'not realistic'. I agreed with her and we began to talk about stepping out of this life. She was quiet but very open. After honestly answering some questions, Carol agreed that God would find her guilty and condemn her to Hell for eternity. This concerned her greatly. Carol's eyes are very sunken and she has deep, gray rings around them. Her eyes spoke volumes when I told her about Jesus. She was familiar with Him but as I told her that He had the hairs on her head numbered and had even kept every tear she had ever cried, she was taken aback. I asked her if she realized that and she answered a quiet, "no".

When we finished talking I asked her if this decision was worth taking care of. She told me she had a lot of thinking to do. I left her with a Good Person booklet and asked her if we could pray for her. She smiled and said, "yes". When we finished she smiled and told us thank you.

It is always amazing to me when I meet someone who has never heard the Gospel. More amazing that God puts us right where He wants us to be at the appointed time. Today is Carol's 'time'.

Psalms 56:8 You number my wandering; O put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your Book?

Rehab For A Reason

None of us expect to be in a nursing home...

I met a man whose life has taken a surprising turn. One day he woke up in the hospital after having a very unexpected seizure-he never knew what hit him. When we met, he was in a wheelchair, on a ventilator and had a feeding tube in place.

You can be a fly on my shoulder as we talk ...


I took this picture of John 2 weeks after we talked. He had gained 6 1/2 pounds and was feeling much better.

Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

Tony then and now.

Tony then:
It was about two years ago now that I first met Tony. He sure looked sick. He was lying in his bed, pale and very thin. He seemed very cold so, I offered to get him a blanket. He seemed afraid for me to ask. I retrieved one out of the linen cart and covered him up.

“Better?” I asked.

“Oh, yes, better.” He said.

We talked a bit and Tony told me about his life as the owner of a popular sandwich shop. “They called me Tony Baloney.” We laughed and talked some more. Tony told me that he was in the rehab center because he was having trouble with his colon. I noticed that the medication he was on was for cancer patients. When we got to the serious topic of eternity, Tony got very quiet.

As we made our way through the Law of God, Tony began to cry. “Will God ever forgive me?” He sobbed when he realized how grievous his sin actually was to God. I had to wait until he was able to hear me before I gave him the Great News! As I explained what it meant to follow Jesus I gave him the illustration of the parachute that we all like to use. I told him that he should trust Jesus just like a parachute, if his plane were going down. His hands flew to his mouth and he said, “My girlfriend’s grandson was skydiving yesterday and his parachute failed to open!” Tears came to his eyes again and I explained that this was the closest illustration I could think of but that now he could see that Jesus was even more reliable than a parachute that we trust our lives to (or something like that!). I prayed silently that this would not interfere with Tony receiving the Message that he needed. Tony wanted to pray right then to ask God to forgive him. He said he wanted to follow Jesus. I gave Tony a large-print Bible and put his name in the front of it.

A couple of months later I received this note from him…

Tony now:
This year at Christmas I received a note from Tony with a request that I call him sometime. That time was today. It was really nice to talk to him and hear how he is doing. Tony told me today that God has really changed his life since he has been ‘converted’. He told me that for a long time he was an alcoholic, he could not give it up no matter how many times he tried. Since his conversion he has not had a drink. He doesn’t want to offend God. He also told me that he tithes 10% of his income (Social Security). He said that he is currently reading the last chapter of Corinthians. He had a couple of questions for me and we cleared those up. Tony told me that every night he prays to the Lord and when he does he thanks God for sending me and asks God to bless me.

Although Tony is 80 now and not well enough to get out to church, he is growing in the Lord. He is not a false-convert but a living, breathing son of the living God.

Lately I have been praying for clear direction from the Holy Spirit…

Message received loud and clear.

Phillipians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making my request for you all with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,

In the Nick of Time

I received this note from my friend Sally today. I just had to let you all in on it!!

Jen, I have to share this with you…

A week ago 3 of us visited a lady who was new to the nursing home. She was battling lung cancer but appeared to be doing well and feeling well. We prayed with her and that was that. She said she was (part of a very ritualistic church). Three days later I felt this urgency to see her. Praise God she came to the Lord! I left her a Bible and told her I’d be back in a few days. When I returned three days later I was told she passed away that morning. I am just so grateful to God that she was saved.

James 4:14-17 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

The Veil Was Taken Away!

Going from room to room this morning was nice, seeing familiar faces and saying hello. But I am always looking for the new person…someone who perhaps has not heard the Truth!

This morning I looked at the names on the doorways and saw one I didn’t recognize. Well, I did and I didn’t. Although I did not know this lady I have seen the name before. It is the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. Before going in I prayed that the Lord would speak to her and show her Truth.



I said, “Hello, how are you? My name is Jennifer and I’m just a volunteer.”

“Oh, don’t say ‘just’ a volunteer. I think it’s very nice.”

“Well, I do enjoy it!” I said with a smile.

Jane told me that she is down in Florida visiting her family and she ended up in the hospital. She was transferred here a few days ago.

“I don’t know what happened but I fell again last night. I hope it doesn’t set me back. I am supposed to go home on Monday!”

“Have you talked to your doctor?” I asked.

“Not yet, but my son said, ‘Mom, you need to come home, then you will begin to feel better.’ I have two sons, one of them lives in Israel.” She smiled as she said this.

“I think your son is right and I am sure that everything will be better at home. Do you live with them?” Although she had already told me she was on vacation, I always ask a few questions to try and gauge the person’s mental status, while I am talking with them.

“Oh no, I live in New York and I was down here on vacation and then I ended up in the hospital! My son wants me to move down here permanently so that I will be closer to him and to my daughter. My grandkids all agree with him. I guess I will have to make some changes soon. Do you like it here?”

“I love the winters here. My favorite place for breakfast closed up so I’m looking for a new one, but when that gets settled I will be happy again.” We both smiled at that.

Saturday is often a visiting day for family so I always try to ‘get in and get out’ because once someone comes to visit, my time with them is finished-even if they try to listen the family often gets aggravated.

For the life of me now I cannot remember what it was that Jane said to begin our conversation…oh, I think she told me that her husband, D. was in Heaven now….

I smiled. “So you believe in Heaven and Hell?”

“Oh, I believe in Heaven but not Hell.”


“The Scripture actually makes more references about Hell than Heaven. Do you know why?” She shook her head from side to side. “Because God was trying to warn us about it-to avoid it! What kind of people go to Heaven? Good people?”

She smiled and said, “Yes.”

“Are you a good person?”

“I try to be.” She answered.

“I would like to give you a little test I call the Good Person test. I know that you will know the answers because the questions are from the Law of Moses, and I know that you are familiar with that. I will ask you to be honest when you take this test. OK?”

Then she laughed and tried to get me off of the subject. Somewhere in here I had told her that my husband was Jewish. She said to me, "What does your husband think of all of this-does he believe it, too?"

"Yes, He does." After a moment I said, “Let’s go back to that test…In your lifetime, how many lies have you told?”

Jane seemed a little taken aback at the question but recovered and laughed it off. I smiled and then asked again, looking straight at her.

“Well, many I’m sure.”

After I had taken Jane thru the Law, I paused for a moment to discuss the Passover. I always do this with someone who is Jewish. This is the way I introduce them to Yeshua (Greek name Jesus).

“What do you celebrate at the Passover?”

“The Exodus of the Jews from Egypt.”

“Remember what they did the night before leaving? They took the lamb and slew it, then put the blood on the doorposts. Remember?”

“Yes.”

“Why did they have to put blood on the doorposts?”

“So the firstborn would not be killed.”

“Right, the Angel of Death would pass over the house! Now let’s go back to that courtroom where you stand before The Righteous Judge and He has just pronounced you ‘guilty’ under the Law. Into the back of the courtroom comes a man. He rushes to the front of the courtroom and says, ‘Wait-please! I am willing to pay for Jane. Please take the handcuffs off of her and put them on me!’ Do you know who that is Jane? Who would be willing to pay for you?”

She paused and said nothing.

“It’s Yeshua! He is God’s Passover Lamb, sent for you. He is the Lamb of God, slain to take away the sins of the world. Yeshua, the Messiah!”


Her hand flew to her mouth as her heart turned to God…”How did I miss that???" The look on her face was one of horror. "I knew I should have read my Bible!" (I hate to think of all the people who will stand before The Righteous Judge with this thought in their mind!)

I went on to explain that although Yeshua died for all of our sins it was not automatically applied-we had to apply it. “He has done everything He needs to do! If I bring your favorite cookies in here for you and I’ve done all the shopping and baking…then I’ve done everything I can do. They are not yours until you reach out, and eat them.”


I explained that two things were necessary for participation in this process: repentance and faith in Yeshua.

Jane bowed her head and prayed silently. When she was finished I prayed for her aloud. She squeezed my hand and thanked me many times for coming to talk to her. We discussed the fact that it was not a coincidence, she heartily agreed. As I was leaving she said again, “I have two Bibles at home, I must start reading them now!”

Although she is 86 years old, she has just had the veil lifted from her heart!!

2 Corinthians 3:15-17 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Now, I cannot see with my eyes whether the veil was indeed lifted, but I know God can.

Joan Meets Her Messiah

Joan is younger than some of the residents here. But of course, she is not here for long. When I came into her room she was sitting in her bed looking out the window. Val and I greeted her and she smiled. We sat with her and talked a bit about the weather and where she was from. When asked about a church background, Joan told me that she was Jewish but that she had never gone to Temple. I asked where she would be going when she left. She told me she would go home to live with her daughter. I said, “No, I mean when you leave feet first.” She hesitated for a moment and then with a hesitant voice, “Heaven?”. I asked her how she would get there. She told me that she tried to do the right thing. As I took her through some questions she became very quiet and I could tell that she was taking this very seriously. I asked her what the Jewish people celebrated at Passover. She said she really didn’t remember. I reminded her of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and she remembered the story, with a smile. We talked about the preparation that they made the night before they left. How they hurriedly killed a lamb and put the blood on the door posts. We talked about the Angel of Death and how it would pass over the house when it saw the blood. She was listening intently at this point. I took Joan to the courtroom and introduced her to the Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the world. Joan began to cry when she realized why Jesus came. She prayed that God would forgive her and she told Him that she accepted Jesus as Messiah!! I asked her if she had a Bible and she said she didn’t. I ran out to the truck and brought in a new large-print Bible for her. We make a label to put into the front cover of these Bibles. They are inscribed "On this day (date) I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior" then there is a line for them to sign their name. Joan took the pen and slowly signed her name. Then she held it to her chest and cried.

Three Dead, Buried and Raised with Him

If you have been keeping up with this blog you might remember a story of a man named Reed. He is terminal and will not be with us long. Last week he asked if he could follow the Lord in baptism!! My good friend Tucker caught me last Saturday and gave me this great news!

James was saved last year after we talked about the crucifix around his neck. We talked about what it really meant and when he realized that he had failed to keep the Law he gave his heart to Christ! He also wanted to be baptized!

Richard and I met when his roommate cussed me out of his room. We went out to the courtyard and talked for a long time. When he realized how far short of God's Law he was he immediately prayed and asked God to save him! Now he wants to take the next step.

Dennis came and helped the guys get ready to go. Tucker and her sister, Janette are awesome friends and they took care of the rest! God bless you guys!

Headlines: Angels Rejoicing!

Allyson spent the morning with me at the rehab center. We had a great time and met some very nice people. Among them was a lady named Verma.
She listened carefully as Allyson took her thru the Law. She was very concerned to realize that she was not good enough to go to Heaven. When Allyson explained to her what God did so that she would not have to spend Eternity in Hell, she gladly received the gift that Jesus died to give her.

Now, I don’t know how many angels can dance on the head of a pin or even if they would-but I do know they were very happy when we left that room.


Luke 15:10 Likewise I say to you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Firefighter Refuses Rescue!

This morning I am thinking a lot about a man named John. When I met him he was stretched out on his bed, alone in his room at the facility. I couldn’t tell how old he was- maybe late 50’s? He was definitely underweight. The TV was blaring at full volume but John was staring blankly out his window. He turned and looked at me but said nothing. I asked if he would mind turning down his TV for a minute. He complied. I asked his name although I had seen it on the door. Introducing myself, I asked where he was from and he said, “Brooklyn”. I made small talk about his accent and the weather. John told me that he used to be a firefighter. We talked about that for a minute and then I asked where he was headed when he left. He shrugged his shoulders. I asked him if he considered himself to be good. He said, “Yes.” I began to ask him some questions and after the first two he put his hand up in the air and said, “Hold it right here. I know where you are going with this and I want to tell you that God and I aren’t speaking right now.”

I waited and he finally started to talk. He said, “I was a firefighter and I had a fire in my own house. My 14-year-old son was in the house so I went in and dragged him out…then for some reason he ran back into the fire! Why did God let that happen? Then last year I lost my only other son to cancer!!”

These types of questions are really difficult to hear. Last April my husband and I got the chance to attend the Way of the Master Ambassador’s Alliance Academy. While there I witnessed a man come to the microphone during an open air session with Ray Comfort. This man Larry asked Ray why God had allowed his two-year-old to die. Ray told the man he didn’t have an answer for him, but that it was not God’s plan for that to happen.

I took that to heart and told John that very thing. John went on to tell me that all of his friends kept asking him why he wouldn’t eat. John said he didn’t want to eat. He was a very bitter man and I felt that the Lord wanted me to share something that had happened in my own life with him.

First, I told John that there was no way I could understand how he felt in this situation. I then relayed that a long time ago I had a son. On the night before his third birthday, his father kidnapped him. It was very difficult. For years when I thought of my son the memories were wrapped in bitterness. I felt that if I let that go I might not remember what he even looked like! I had a hard time separating the bitter memories from the boy. I told John that he had a relationship with his son long before the bitterness came and he needed to let go of this unforgiveness and bitterness against God and himself. “Does that make sense to you?” I asked him. He said, “Yes, I know what you’re saying.” John and I continued our discussion and he promised to do some thinking. I tried to visit him again but he is gone, I don’t know where.


Just like his son, John didn’t want to be rescued. The reason doesn't really matter in the long run. God has done everything needed just to save him. Instead, he may turn and run into the fire.


Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Found: One Lost Sheep

Val joined me at the nursing home this morning for the first time. She seemed at ease as we walked in. Hallways and silence greeted us. We met a man with no legs named Chris. He gave me a hug and asked if we would go see a new friend of his named Reed in a room down the hall. He described a man with cancer of the kidneys and liver, who had just been told he had two months to live. With the Holy Spirit in the lead and hearts pounding, we made our way there.

The room was very dark and quiet. I was familiar with this room because of the man in the first bed, Michael. Although he has a severe brain injury I have spoken to him of Law and Grace, never really sure if he is hearing or understanding. I know that my job is to sow the seed and the Lord will take care of the rest. There are many days that I fight to keep this in my heart-but I know that God is Faithful!

In the far bed we were able to see a small, frail figure under the covers. We greeted him and he was friendly. After talking with him a bit we discovered that he had not attended church, even as a youngster. We talked about what he thought would happen after death. He wasn’t sure. We talked about the destination for all of us-the real ‘us’, our souls. We talked about the fact that our bodies fail us. Reed thought he was a good man but after speaking with him a bit he realized that God saw him in a different way. He was humbled under the Law of God and when he learned of his certain destination in Hell, he was very concerned. When Grace was introduced to him he immediately saw his need of a Savior who defeated death. After Reed was finished praying he asked God to bless us and thanked us for coming to tell him. We left Reed with the story of the God Shepherd and the 99 sheep. I asked if he knew what the name of the lost sheep was. He seemed puzzled, but when I told him it was Reed, he smiled.


We saw Chris later in the hallway and gave him the great news about his friend. He smiled widely and went to look for Reed. Chris is the grandson of a preacher from Alabama. He was wayward and ran from God until the Law stopped him in his tracks last year.
Val told me later that when her own mother was dying she kept asking the Lord, “Why does she have to die in a nursing home? It was something that she always dreaded and never wanted.” She said that her prayer was answered the very first time she went in to visit her Mom. She walked in and saw all of the people and knew that they needed someone to tell them.

As I read through the obituaries in my local paper, sometimes it makes me sad-but mostly I smile when I think of the reunions going on.

Luke 15:4-7 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?... I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Sometimes We Reap

As a laborer in the fields, I know that while we are planting the seeds we look forward to reaping…

I met Lorene after I looked into her room and saw her sitting alone. We talked about Ohio, where she was born, and years gone by. We talked about the Lutheran church that she attended and then conversation turned to her destination after this life. She was hoping that she would go to Heaven. Lorene became very concerned when she discovered that she was bound for Hell. She discovered that the reason Christ came to this Earth was to defeat Death and Hell-for her. Bowing her head, she prayed and asked God to forgive her and then she thanked Him. Lorene told me that she needed to speak to her son about all of this, so I gave her some GP booklets! She gave me a hug before I left and thanked me for coming to tell her about Jesus. Even in her 90’s it wasn’t too late for her!!

Just one room down the hall I met Don, a retired member of the U.S Army. He has recently fallen down, breaking his hip, some ribs and an arm. He was in a lot of pain and had two black eyes but wanted to talk to someone. He is a Catholic man and told me that he felt he was a good man. Our conversation revealed Don’s destination was quite a bit different than he was planning. He digressed a bit, but then came around when reminded of God’s Law-it completely stopped his mouth. I thanked him for fighting in a war so that I could be free. I reminded him that although he didn’t even know me, he sacrificed all he had for that purpose. He was very attentive as I told him about a Savior who came for him. He then told me that he would like to pray so we did. I told Don that even though he might go home before I see him again, I do look forward to seeing him in Heaven and he smiled.

Charlotte was waiting for her lunch when I noticed her. She is very friendly and told me that she was from Pennsylvania. We talked about her family and then she told me that she used to attend a “Christian church”. I asked her where she thought she would spend eternity. She said she would probably go to Heaven. I asked her if I could ask her some questions and she was very hesitant but honest. She became troubled when she realized Hell was her future home. As I told her about Jesus she hung her head. When I finished talking with her I asked what she was going to do. She replied, “I would like to accept Jesus Christ!” She prayed, asking God’s forgiveness and she thanked Him for Jesus. I asked Charlotte if she had ever heard this message before. She replied, “I heard this once when I was about 15 years old.” I asked her if it made sense then. She told me that “it did make some sense but I just didn’t get it”. Charlotte also told me that long ago, her parents would get the children dressed every Sunday, and they would all walk to church together. Her grandparents met them there.

One thing I am reminded of often is that when we pray, God hears our prayers and remembers them. Sometimes they are answered long after we are gone from here.
Psalm 22:31 They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness to a people that shall yet be born, that He has done this.

A Man Named Bear

I talked to the nurse on duty this morning and asked if there was anyone in particular she wanted me to speak with. She turned to me and said, “Well, there is a man, his name is Bear- but he is mad at everyone and everything right now…he’s right here in this room!” She pointed to a room nearby. I quickly asked the Lord to go before me and soften his heart. I looked into the room but didn’t see anyone. I looked back at the nurse and was about to ask if he was gone to therapy when she said, “Oh, he’s in there, he weighs 500 pounds and we haven’t gotten him up yet.” Reassuring myself that my will was in order I tried not to picture myself shredded. I went in and introduced myself to a tattooed mountain with a long braid and beard. He said, “OK, what do you want?” I stared at him and he stared at me. I finally said, “Would you like me to pray with you?” Now, please understand that I NEVER say something like that, and most especially with the information that I had just been given! He stared at me a moment (while I asked for God’s protection- I could not believe what I had just said) and in a very soft voice said, “I would like that very much.” I took his hand in both of mine; it was like holding a 25 pound meatloaf! I asked God to comfort Bear and open his heart to Truth.

He showed me pictures of his snakes with his son, which he had posted on the wall of his room. When asked if he ever attended church, he told me that he had been an altar boy. I asked what he thought happened to us when we died. He said he didn’t know and didn’t believe in Heaven or Hell much anymore. After asking him some questions I discovered he was proud. I opened the Law to him and he admitted guilt but then digressed. He even said at one point, “Hand me my Bible!” I thought …huh? This guy has a Bible in here? I went around to his side table and after removing a stack of papers I discovered a Bible that our ministry gives to people when they accept Christ as Savior. When we give one to someone I write a little statement in the front about why they are receiving it and then ask them to sign it. I opened it up and it was signed by a lady who I knew had died. (Isaiah 55:11) I asked him if he knew her. He said he didn’t. I told him that she had passed away- he turned white. We continued our conversation with him searching for an unknown verse that didn’t exist. Meanwhile, I kept praying that God would give me the words he needed and that the Holy Spirit would break his hard heart. I quoted Ephesians 2:8-9 and told him that he could never be good enough-it was a gift. I let him know that all of his righteous deeds were like filthy rags-the good deeds! I turned to Romans 6:23 and asked him to read it. It was difficult for him to read it but when he finished, he laid the book flat on his stomach and put his head back on his pillow. He let out a big breath and paused, then said, “A big book has just been opened! I feel like I have just been hit in the head with a board…it sure took me long enough to get it!” He said, “Why would He do that?” I told him that God didn’t want him to go to Hell. He knew Bear would need a Savior just like the rest of us. He got the good news of Grace and I asked if he wanted to pray. Bear got choked up and prayed to God, asking for forgiveness and thanking Him for Jesus. He told me that his son had been ‘bugging’ him to come with him to a church called Calvary-that it was really important. I would have loved to see the smile on that young guy’s face when his Dad gave him the news!