God prepared my heart, God created the opportunity, God opened the way…

1. My experience

 

God prepared my heart….

 After Dave Geisler’s first training session on 6^th April, I was encouraged to make intentional effort to bring people one step closer to the Good News. So I made a prayer to God as I intentionally targeted my family members – they are my parents, my siblings & their spouses as well as my nieces.

 

God created the opportunity….

Sunday evening is set aside for family time where all of us gather at my parents’ place and have dinner together.  That particular Sunday evening when I went home from YM, I saw my brother & his wife already there.

 

While sitting around at the dinning table to munch some snacks, my sister-in-law came up to me and started to share something rather personal. Basically it was about child bearing. (She & my brother were married for 7 years already and still have no children although they would like to have.) 

 

God opened the way….

As we were chatting, she shared how she felt about disappointments they both face again and again regarding child-bearing. I then took that opportunity to bring in the message of God in our conversation. I mentioned about God being the Creator & Giver of life. Helped her to recognize that life is a gift of which only the Great Creator can give. Although I assured her that I am praying for them to have a child, we need to acknowledge God has the prerogative to determine His gift.  I also shared about examples of women in the Bible who were barren and how God chose to open their wombs later.

 

About 3 weeks ago, I received a sms from her (my sister-in-law) regarding a disappointing news. Somewhat I sensed her heartfelt pain & disappointment so I replied asking if I could call her on the phone. She replied to call her at her house phone number and so I did. After listening to her sharing, I asked if I could pray for her. With her acknowledgement, I took that opportunity to pray for her over the phone. (This was the first time I ever prayed for and with her.) I knew she felt awkward yet comforted.

 

I thank God for opening the door to give me courage & opportunity to share more about Him to my sister-in-law. I could see her response of being comforted & serious thought about the Great Creator God whom I worship and serve. And I am thankful for the opportunity to bring her one step closer to the Lord.J

 

 2. Lesson learnt

It is important that we share with biblical understanding of who our God is and with conviction; people can sense & appreciate our God as well as the faith we proclaim.

 

Learn to empathize with others & recognize our helplessness, yet direct them to our loving & almighty God.

 

3. Encouragement

God does open doors when we truly seek Him; therefore, dare to look out for opportunities where He would answer our prayers.

 

 

Sharing by Annie Lee

God answers prayer, God is constantly at work, God knows our heart!

1. My experience

 

God Answers Prayer….

During one Thursday evening prayer meeting, I was sharing with a group of sisters about praying for opportunity to share the Gospel to my mum’s siblings (particularly her eldest sister and second younger brother).

 

Interestingly, the next morning while I was at home with Bruno because my mum had to go for her medical check-up, I received a call from this second uncle (that is my mum’s second brother!). Since my mum was not in, he chatted with me and so I took the opportunity to share the Gospel with him and challenged him for a response.

 

 God Is Constantly At Work….

 

Although I have not met this uncle for more than 4 years, we were very friendly with each other. Since he already knew that I am a Christian, it was rather easy and straight forward for us to talk about spiritual issues.

 

Actually, some years ago I ever gave him a bi-lingual Bible to read. And according to him, he has been reading it. In our conversation, he assured that he reads and has been thinking about what he read. He also reads other religions literatures. Then he told me that his son got him a cross and placed it next to a Buddha statue in his house. His son beliefs in Buddhism and knows that my uncle “likes Christianity” and so got him the cross. When I heard that, I took the opportunity to ask him if its’ true that he beliefs in Christianity & why so? Well, he could not quite explain the reason but somehow finds Christianity more logical & acceptable. He said his son told him these 2 religions are actually the same. But I told him it is not true. Somehow he recognize that too.

 

Then I told him frankly that my heart’s desire is to see my parents & relatives like himself to believe and acknowledge Jesus personally. And ironically, he “encouraged & assured” me that I should believe that my household will be saved because God has first touched my life and it will influence them somewhat. I was surprised he could say such things and I trust he truly has read the Bible and maybe quoted this from the bible! Nevertheless, I challenged him that it is still a personal decision every one has to account to the Lord and respond to Him. He understood that too!

 

Anyway, we ended the more than an hour phone conversation with me urging my uncle to seriously consider the Gospel message and wish that he will make a decision for Christ soon. And he ended with an assurance that he knows my sincere heartfelt prayers for him.J

  

God Knows Our Hearts…

 After hanging up the phone, I thank God for the answered prayer that I had the opportunity to talk with my uncle about the Gospel again. I also prayed for God’s continual working in his heart to convict him.

 

And I was encouraged to know that although Bruno felt it was a very long phone conversation I had and somewhat neglected him, he knew I was discussing the gospel with my uncle and so did not interrupt us. Instead, he asked if my uncle actually believe the Gospel. So we both agree that we need to be constantly praying for our loved ones who are non-Christians.

 

 

2. Lesson learnt

When we are serious about sharing the Gospel and prepared to do so, God will open the door and so we should be alert to it.

 

 3. Encouragement

When we walk consistently in our belief/faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and able to share with conviction, people can sense our sincerity.

 

 

Sharing by Annie Lee