A new TV for Bishop Clay

This weekend, my sweet wife Susan, Jason and I went to visit my father in law in N.C. for his Birthday. Bishop Clay is a retired Church of God minister who is 78 years old and his wife is 82 years old. Rev. Clay has served in the Navy and Air Force as well as being a preacher. Rev. Clay has served in WWII, the Korean war and two tours in Viet Nam. He truly is a man of God. I could tell you of his many churches and story after story of his ministry days. Many times he still ministers trough Jason and I when we go into the street ministry. Ill tell some of those stories later but for now....

We got to Rev. Clay's house late, after 11:30 pm. He was in bed so Jason and I cut on his old television just to see what was on. We could hardly see it it was so blurry and distorted. You could not read one word that was displayed. It was very bad...Real Bad. We tried everything we could do to adjust it and nothing worked. Nothing.

In just a second I got this nagging idea that they may not know how bad the TV was that they may think it was their vision. That idea just nagged at me and would not go away. Jason said to me... you know I think we are suppose to fix this for them, what do you think ? We both said a quick prayer we both felt the same leading ....

In just a few moments we were off looking for a Wal-Mart. We found a Super Wal-Mart in the next town over (Wilson, N.C.) Here we are in the TV section looking for just the right TV at 1:00 am. We looked and Looked for a good while because we wanted to be sure that we got just the right one. We found a new flat screen lcd that was just right. So we said another quick prayer and to the Cash register we went. While we were checking out the lady ask us just what was the deal? Why were we out at 1:00 am buying a TV ? So we told her the story. She was moved to tears. This brought us to the discussion about God and his blessings and how God knows our needs and how he will meet them even at 1:00 am in another state !! Then I felt that touch.. I told her that God knew what she was going trough and just what her need was. I told her that she was to be sure to pray and seek his guidance for the rest of the shift and watch how God would answer her prayers. I could see her spirit change. She was lifted up. I just could feel that she had hope. This I am sure was a Divine appointment.

So we returned with the TV and installed it. No one woke up while we were doing this. The TV was great nice and clear and crisp. We said another prayer and went to sleep.

The next morning when they woke up and came in the living room Jimmy Swaggart was on preaching. It took just a second and then they noticed the difference. They were blown away ! The Bishop cried. His wife said " look how clear Jimmy is. " "all this time I thought it was my eye sight that was bad !" Wow! I just knew it last night..They did think it was their vision not a bad TV. (direction right from Heaven)They both were careful to give thanks to God for this blessing. It was a very moving moment to know that God had allowed us to be a small part of blessing these folks. How following that leading could lead to so many people being blessed. We were blessed, The Wal-Mart lady was blessed, The Clay's were blessed and I hope you are blessed by reading this.

Think about it for a second. God knows what you need and where you are right now. There is hope in Jesus. He is the only hope. What is it that you need? Why not ask him right now?

Have you ever just known something? A need someone had or felt like you were suppose to speak to someone or help someone or just reach out in some way? Did you follow that lead?

I thank God that he would allow Jason and I to be a part of this ministry. All of this is to God's glory.

Work Saturday at Nathans New House

Today men from Nate's church,a crew from Fix-it-all, a crew from Buckner mobile home repair co. and a few Rembert firemen came to Nate and Grandmas home today. Everyone worked most of the day both inside and out hooking up power, water, sewer and painting. Everyone donated both time and materials for this project. It was a Great day for us and them.

Next week the AC and Heat then next weekend the decks. These folks have been truly blessed.

I was thinking...
This little idea and one or two discussions has grown into a full blown construction project. Folks are calling us asking if they can help or what they can do to help us.

When the blessings flow........

Nathan and Grandma get a new home.

This is part of the story about how our God has blessed Nathan and his grandma. First a little history about these two and how God brought them and our ministry across each other.
Nate and his Grandma live in an extreme rural area of our state "Way out in the country".All they have is each other. Grandma is around 73 years old and Nate is in his late 20s. Have you ever met a person that no matter how hard he tries he just can not catch a break ? Well, Nathan is that guy to the 10th power. Nate has had a very hard time working and Grandma is on a small fixed income. They do the best they can with what they have. They have lived in a very small mobile home that was built in the early 1960s. They have lived there for more than 16 years. They are living in a field that is owned by a local farmer. This 1960 mobile home has NO HEAT or AIR CONDITIONER. In the winter they would move a kerosene heater from room to room for heat. It leaked every where possible. All I can really say about it is...it is more than 47 years old and it was falling down around them. This was truly a bad situation. We met Nate and Grandma through their affiliation with the local volunteer fire department. (I tell you more about that in another Nate story) So..One day Grandma was involved in a grave auto accident. She was injured and was in very serious condition. She had many broken bones and all sorts of internal injuries. She was in the hospital for more than 6 months. When she comes home she would be in a wheel chair and or use a walker for a long time or possibly even forever.

HERE IS THE PROBLEM (or the opportunity to reach out)

Her home is so small and falling down that her wheel chair / walker would not move in the home at all. She could not even fit them trough the front door and you know with those medical issues and fixed income...What would she do ? What could she do ?
Just Pray !

Ok lets back up a bit...Just after the accident Jason and I were talking about the situation when we both were given (from above) the solution to this issue. GET HER A NEW HOME ! yep that was it, so we asked, how do we do this God ? We were bothabsoulty sure that this would work out in a grand way. Because we were both sure that we had heard from heaven. The next day I was at the fire station talking with a long time baptist pastor from the church that Grandma attended. He was saying how he just wanted to buy her a better home and help them out. WHAT DID HE JUST SAY ? A Better home? Do you think that was a devine appointment or what? I began to share the burden that Jason and I felt for the situation and during that conversation I felt the witness of the Holy Spirit and so did he. Well from that point on things just took off. We began to look for a used newer home. His Deacon's went to work on all of those things that come up when you are house shopping Jason and I were running down leads. We found the home in the Mobile home lot right next to our church. the guy told us that we could have it for $3800.00 and he would move it and set it up for $1300.00. We agreed and bought the home for them. The local Fire Department, (Sumter County Rembert Station) provided much of the work force for this project then another church in Kershaw County heard about what was going on and asked if they could build a wheel chair ramp on the new home. God had put together a great team and all was running well.

The new home is a 70ft X 12ft two bed room, two bath,large open den and kitchen with a laundry room. It is about 900 sq ft. Much bigger than the old home. Then one of the deacons told us that he had found a central heat and air unit for the home.
That's right God provided heat and air as well. Why not ?

Today the home was delivered. Next will be the new decks and the new inside paint and the heat and air hook up. I will provide photos as this progresses.

Think about this question a while.........Have you felt the lead or push to reach out and help someone lately ? Did you do it ?

Look over there. Thats the Guy !

One Saturday morning Jason and I began with a prayer as we do every day. We ask God to show us where to go and who was in need. Off we went across town looking and talking about the ministry and all those things we talk about. You Know... That day we had a few encounters that I will tell about later but for now this is thew story for today..

About midday we were riding past a local gas station in town. This is a very busy store and gas station. As we rode past the station I saw a fellow sitting on the curb next to a motorcycle in the rear of the station. It looked like he was getting ready to eat lunch alone. As we passed by he looked like he was lit up. Like a light was shining on him. Before I could speak Jason said Look over there. That's the guy !
He was pointing at the same guy I was looking at. Guess what we did.........

We went into the store grabbed a couple of hot dogs and "Went to where he was" (Luke 10). We had lunch with **** right there on the curb. We had a long conversation with him. His story was a sad one. He spoke Abbot all of the trouble and drama in his life From the motorcycle accident that left him injured to the failing relationship with his wife to having no friends. He even led us to think that he was considering ending his life.

Jason and I began to tell him how we found him (God directed us)that day and why we were with him right then. We spoke about Gods love, grace and mercy and how God knows where you are and what you are facing. We told him that God would send the answers, heal the heart and bring Peace to his life.

We could tell from our conversation that his spirit was lifted from our visit with him that day. We don't know but, that visit could have prevented him from taking his life that day. We see him from time to time around town.

I wonder how many people you pass by in a day and when you pass by you feel the leading to speak or start a conversation and let the chance slip by. Tust that leading and reach out. You never know when your kind words are all it might take to rescue someone in need..

A Man named "Pee Wee"

On our second trip to the junkyard we met a man who was known as Pee Wee. He was 68 years old and in bad health. He needed a walking cane to get around. He was injured years and years ago when he fell from a roof and broke his leg in several places. He had no money at the time so his his broken bones healed not set. This caused one of his legs to be badly deformed. We spent some time with Pee Wee talking and getting to know him. Since his accident he was not able to work much. Things went from bad to worse for him. He had been living in the junkyard for more than 14 years. 14 YEARS!!. As we got to know him and he got to know us over the course of the afternoon God put a real burden for him on both of us.

When it was time for us to leave for the day Jason got a real witness from the Holy Spirit an ask Pee Wee this BOLD question. Jason said "Pee Wee, God is a big God. He will answer your prayers. Ask him. What can we do...What can God do for you right now to make your life easier. ask anything at all !

OK, stop right here for a second and think of all of the request that Pee Wee could have ask for. IE. Money, Beer, a Car, Home, Food and on and on....

But God put that question on Jason and I knew right then that what ever Pee Wee was going to ask it absolutely would be done. No question in my mind at all.

Here is what Pee Wee ask of God that day. He got a bit of a tear in his eye and said...Do you think you guys could come by and visit with me from time to time?

WOW !!! Of all of the things he could have ask for, all he wanted is to have a friend. Someone to talk to. Well you know what our answer was ...Right ?

On the way home that night Jason and I did not talk much at all. We were in deep communication with heaven. (Prayer).

This is the lesson we got from that day...Pee wee just wanted to feel like a NORMAL person. To have someone to call his friend. To care for him, To check on him, a reason to be alive. That's all. JUST VISIT ME !! On that day We were dedicated to being a good friend to Pee Wee. He was not just a ministry project, He became a friend of ours.

Fast Forward to the next Sunday...

Sunday morning I'm sitting on the pew while the preacher is preaching, I'm thinking of Pee Wee. Then I got direction from heaven. What about the guy sitting right next to you ? How is he feeling right now ? Is he in trouble ? Look up there three rows up. How is she feeling ? Is she in need ? Do these people need a friend or a friendly word of encouragement? How will you know if you don't speak with them. What if you missed it.

So let me ask you to think for a moment. Every day how many people do you come in contact with? Pass in the hall at work, In traffic, at the Cash register, At the car wash, On the phone? What do you think the chances are that just one of those folks just need a kind word, some hope, An edifying word.

God knows where you are and what is in front of you. He will send someone to you with a word for you.

WILL YOU BE SENT TO SOMEONE? Today look for a Pee Wee.