Welcome to the month of LOVE everyone!
My, this has been a busy month, and a fruitful one! We were fasting and praying with our home church for 21 days this month, and through it all, Ken and I were reminded of some things that we should keep close to our hearts…and it all has to do with the love of Christ…
As you know, Ken goes into the jails every week, to sing and share the good news of Jesus, and what He has done for him. There was a disruptive young man in there one night, with gang tattoos all the way up to his neck. Ken was remarking about how, “After tasting the life of truly being clean and sober, the good life, then fall away again, it is so much harder to get back to that place again”. All of a sudden this man, becoming emotional and very serious, said to Ken, “Yes, I know exactly what you mean…” This man had actually HEARD what Ken was saying, and Ken could tell he was then actually feeling the tragic aftermath of what he had done. It was a Holy Spirit moment, repentance, and it led Ken to reflect on some things. He was reminded, AGAIN, that you never really know the depths of what others are going through; others you may think are just rude or nasty or mean. Even though bad choices make for bad consequences, God’s loving grace can cut right through sin, and swallow it up, if we have ears to hear. God is waiting right there with His arms open wide to forgive, and to welcome us into His kingdom. You never know how close some are to surrendering. We just have to make sure we keep shining the Love and hope of Jesus into the hearts of them…
“Keep Jesus at the tip of your nose, always!”, is what my father told me on his death bed, back in 1992. I thought that was the weirdest thing I had ever heard in my life! That was 8 years before I was saved. He was dying from kidney failure due to uncontrolled diabetes. He was not perfect, as we all aren’t, but I loved him desperately. I never even knew him to go to church or to even say the word, “Jesus”. This encounter unfolded on a day, after several days, of my father screaming and writhing in severe pain. There was nothing more that we could do for him, except to keep him medicated. He starting crying out in a loud voice that day, ”Jesus, help me! Jesus please help me!”… and Jesus did… My dad sat up in bed and calmly looked at me while he spoke those words, his last words. He died in peace 3 days later. I know now that Jesus met him as he cried out that day, and saved him. I have used that message so many times in my counseling of others. God’s love will chase us down til our last dying breath, if need be… We can be assured of that! So, go love others, as He has loved us. You never know when someone is listening…… Much love in Him, Ken & Cindy Romans 8:39