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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: HOME (02/07/19)
Here I am again, back to the familiar where nothing's changed. I see I left a shirt on the bed and crockery drip-drying by the sink.

It seems incredible that this place -- this home -- should be just as I left it, when God's light is rampant on earth. And I've been part of it. What a journey! It was a spur of the moment decision, but the best I've ever made. I teamed up with Theo, and we just decided we'd take a road at random and see what village it led to.

The wiry old man sitting outside his house had half a dozen children playing at his feet. That gave us an opening.

"Are those your grandchildren, old man?" I asked.

His face softened and his eyes brightened as they wandered, first to them and then to us.

"All of them," he said.

Theo joined in. "Children are so trusting."

The laughter lines creased around his eyes. "They come to me with anything."

"Did you know that's the way we must enter the Kingdom of Heaven?"

The old man stiffened, his face suddenly hard. "Trust God like the children trust me?" He looked at the ground, frowning. "No. You see, I've had experience, which these children haven't had." His eyes misted over."I know what it's like to pray to God and have a silent heaven."

It was my turn. "Will you tell us about it?"

He stood up. "Come. I'll show you."

He opened the gate and ushered us into his home, leading us to a room at the back. On the way, we heard cries and the pounding of heels on the floor. He opened the door a fraction and bade us look. In the middle of the room tied to a pole that was fixed to the floor was -- what was it --- an animal? No, although like a crazed beast, its eyes burned with fury, the head swayed back and forth and the heels drummed up and down, up and down while it wrenched at the ropes holding it to the post. It was barely recognisable as a young girl, tormented and crazed by a thousand demons.

Closing the door, the old man took us to his sitting room. "That's Lydia. I've prayed to God day and night for my grandchild, but He's not listening." The tears trickled. "Can you see why I cannot trust Him as a little child?"

I glanced at Theo and saw his face shine. "Sir, God has heard your prayer. His timing is perfect. He wants you to know about His Messiah. He's come to save us from our sins and deliver us from the oppression of the Evil One."

He told him the good news of Jesus, the Messiah. On finishing, he said, "Now, take us to Lydia."

It was our first taste of the power Jesus gave us. With screeching and a stench that filled the house, the demons fled. Lydia's eyes softened, her face transformed and she spoke to her grandfather in a voice as sweet and clear as a mountain stream. "Thank you, Grandpa, for praying so earnestly for me." She smiled as she held the weeping, trembling old man. That evening we preached to a packed house. Lydia had waltzed around the village in a dance of joy, spreading the good news. The Kingdom of God permeated the whole village as we stayed at the old man's home preaching, teaching, healing the sick and driving out demons in the Name of Jesus.

Then we moved to the next village and the scene was repeated as we used Jesus' strategy, staying in people's homes and ministering from there.Luke 10:7) We'd never experienced such power.

Finally, after filling village after village with the light of God, we reported back to Jesus. "Even the demons obeyed us!" we exclaimed with excitement. The other seventy disciples had similar stories.(Luke 10:17)

But Jesus warned us, "Don't get carried away with the power I've given you. Remember from whence it came and rejoice that God has chosen you to be with Him."(Luke 10:20) It was a sober lesson. I admit, the power had gone to my head a little.

And now, my little home, it'll be good to sleep in my own bed with familiar things around me, but then I'll have to say goodbye to you. You see, there's a Messiah who has no place to lay His head,(Luke 9:58) and I'll be following Him wherever He goes.
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This article has been read 776 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
C D Swanson 
02/15/19
Wow...powerful message, and so well written.
Thank you.
God bless~
Bonnie Kronberger 
02/15/19
You drew me into the start of your journey. Then seeing Lydia and recognizing the mans despair at perceived unanswered pray, my heart broke. So often we get discouraged that God doesn’t give us our desired outcome. It was at this point I was surprised and thrilled to realize when and who the story was about and my peace returned.

Excellent creation of a Jesus story. A few sentences seemed awkwardly written, especially if read aloud. Other than that, an outstanding piece.
Francie Snell 
02/18/19
WOW! I could read this over and over. Well written my friend. This is captivating and memorable.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
02/19/19
You drew me in right from the beginning. Your descriptions are great. I think the only red ink would be minor. At first, it feels like a modern story. That's a great way to pull new readers in. Take a story from the Bible and modernize it a bit. There's nothing wrong with that at all, but then when it was clear it was in Jesus time, it feels like you slipped to telling it in that setting. I'd encourage you to keep with the setting in the beginning. It will make it easier for younger people to understand. Words like bade and ushered don't necessarily fit that first setting. I think you've done a fabulous job of retelling the story though. The line about not being innocent as children, seeing more than they have really blew me away. It made me think of that story from a different perspective. You really did an outstanding job.
Barbara Culler 
02/20/19
I wondered about how the MC could speak so rudely to the old man. But then later, it became clear. I loved your take on the story.
Linda Lawrence
02/21/19
Be encouraged that while reading your story today, God used it to confirm what I thought He might be saying to me in my Bible reading today and in today’s FaithWriters devotional. God used you to nudge me to bless a couple of people in some specific ways. Isn’t that why we write? May your story be used again and again.
Bonnie Bowden 
02/21/19
Congratulations on taking us with you on your journey, Dave. Such descriptive scenes transformed me back in time. The voice in the first couple of paragraphs seemed different than the actual telling of the story.
C D Swanson 
02/21/19
Congrats!
God bless~
David Butler
02/21/19
Inspiring take on that gospel story. Congratulations on your win!
Tracy Nunes 
02/22/19
Oh my...these is something touchingly elegant in your wording of this beautiful piece. Simple but true. Congratulations. Loved it!