Playing with God....

I just want share my encounters this morning....I was taking care of some things before heading to work....On a corner I see this same man that I usually see early in the morning looking haggard, like he's been up all night."
I felt from the Lord to pull over and after our pleasant "Good Mornings" I asked him how he was....he began to tell me of the pain he was in.  I know he has a serious drinking problem but you can't come across a nicer guy....he just needs Jesus.
I listened to him and expressed concern for him.  And then I began to talk to him about asking God to deliver him....I asked him "I've talked to you so many times about your life...about God who loves you so much and about asking Him to change your life...save you...why don't you ask Him to deliver you?"  He said something that really struck me.  He said, "I don't want to play with Him."  I told him that God knows him and that he is being respectful."  But I told him that God can deliver him but also take away the desires and things that he thinks he cannot let go of...He said, "I believe that."...

And then along comes another guy....with his bottle in his bag...."Hey how you doin?  You know I love you!  I've always loved you!!!  Do you  know who I am?"  "No" I answered.
He said, "Your dad had my picture up in his barbershop when I was boxing!"  And through the worn hairy, dishoveled downtrodden look on his face, I saw that boxer on my Dad's wall.  I told him I remembered him and began to talk to him about asking God to deliver him.  He said "you sound like your Dad!  We were close."  I asked him if my Dad ever talked to him about his soul, he responded"All the time!"  I continued to talk to both of them and then drove on to work.

But while driving I began to think about what the first man said, "I don't want to play with Him."  It struck me that this man would rather not play games with God and remain in his sinful state until he felt he could change.  I thought of the verse "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them... "  John 6:44.   I believe he and I have had so many conversations because God IS drawing him....but how many Christians are taking their salvation for granted?  How?  By the lackadaisical way they live for God, their prayer life or lack thereof, loving people the way Jesus commanded.

Are we taking God for Granted?  Heaven forbid!

I'm going to keep talking to this man and others...God is drawing people to Himself.

He's coming soon!

The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1

I haven't shared too much from the SSC street journal in a while, but I feel like writing again....

Tonight as I ran errands for my Mom, fixed dinner, ran to the market....all I kept seeing was lost souls...carrying their black bags full of their version of peace and joy and even love...Young women high and slurring their speech, half dressed and oblivious to their surroundings or how they were behaving.

I interceded for them all but after I finished taking care of home I hit the streets.  I just couldn't take it anymore....too much prayer is going out for these souls and they needed to know that.   Every Sunday we at Soul Saving Center stretch our hands out towards Salem and intercede for every lost soul.

I started out on Union St.  I parked my truck and walked up to about 10 young men gambling, smoking, cursing.....doing the usual.  I gave them the gospel and then God told me to pray right there for them.  They continued cursing, playing cards while I took them to the throne room.  I was loud and earnest in my petition to the Chain Breaker.....Soon they all quieted down and when I was finished I knew God had caught the ones He sent me there for....they were asking about me after I walked further down the street to minister to some more people....I preached to people in cars, on stoops and those on bikes.  That look in their eyes...the look that says, "I really need help, I need to change, I need something!"  I know that look so well...

I invited them all to church and told them I loved them...They said, I love you too....

They know that I really mean it.   They know when it's real....Jesus is Real!!!

God is  always with me, especially in the streets....He lead me to the motel in Salem.  I walked up to a guy who knew who I was...I had ministered to him so many times and hadn't seen him in a while.  He was in jail and had just gotten out.  He had the ankle thing on him but he introduced me to his buddies.  One knew my Dad and we laughed about the "Irv Grip" when he gripped your head and turned it while cutting your hair your head was in a vice grip!  But then I got down to business.  I knew God sent me there.  There was that look again....the look of desparation on a man's face that lets you know you are hitting him where he lives and he wants out but doesn't know how.....I prayed for each one individually and sang for them....

I've got a lot of people to pray for....If you would just pray for Salem during your devotions, put Salem on your prayer list.....God loves this town...and I told so many that tonight....

God Bless You!

Two sermons: One in Soul Saving Center and one in the Street

It's a wonderful thing to obey the Holy Spirit!

After our service today where the Lord was high and lifted up and God is really showing Himself to be our faithful good good Father; I thought the rest of the day would be spent with family....and it was.  

But right after church I was driving my cousin home and turned down Olive St. and there were about 6 or 7 men hanging out....just looking like they needed a good dose of the Word.

I pulled the car over and some of them knew why I pulled over.  I dove right in as the Holy Spirit gave me words that were from His heart to them.  I could feel His love for them.  And the Lord was really stirring me to share the gospel in such a way that I felt an anointing that let me know that God had them there, waiting for the Word.  Oh how He loves His lost sheep!

They listened and as my mother remarked later...."Not one them walked away."  Sometimes one or two may walk but the majority listens....I've done this many times but I wanted to share today because the Lord really let me know so intensely how much He loves them.  They nodded, laughed and smiled as I shared the gospel with some humor and a lot of Scripture!   And I left them in thought because the Holy Spirit was at work and the devil had to stand back and watch!

All I can say is to God be the glory!!!  Jesus Loves Salem and He loves those men and as we stretch our hands out towards Salem every Sunday interceding for the people of this town called "Peace!"   I know God is at work....

I praise His Holy Name!!!

You Cannot Win with the devil, He's a spirit, but Jesus Can!!!

After the funeral service today where I ministered, I purposely went looking for people hanging out in Salem.... and there is always someone hanging out in Salem.
I parked my car and walked up to a group of guys and one guy I have shared the gospel with before had on "Dallas Cowgirls" attire.  I had to tell him that because I loved Jesus I was going to hug him.  Another guy said, "Uh Oh, that's an Eagles Fan!"  He didn't know me and we laughed at the way you can spot us as fans.

We talked and I shared the gospel with them....one guy stood a bit off to the side, but he listened.  I explained to them that they may have every intention of 2017 being a good year!  Their year to do something with their lives, but they devil has other plans for them....and unless they have Jesus as Lord of their lives, unless they have accepted Him and repented of their sins, they are still a slave to sin and therefore, slaves of the devil.....He knows the only weapon we have is Jesus...and the devil, he even believes it!  I told them they can't win with the devil because he is a spirit but He knows if we have Jesus in our lives, if we believe on the Lord and receive Him in their hearts that the devil would fear the God in them.  I told them how I gain victory over his plots against my life through the very name of Jesus!  I talked about how much God loves them....How much He loves Salem.

I continued to give the Word and one of the guys, said, "She got me crying over here...."  It was God revealing His truth to this man.

I invited them to church tonight and all the rest too.  I had introduced myself and talked to them about my Dad....and why I was out there....there's always someone who confirms my Dad's ministry to the streets.....and they know what I am doing out there.....

I praise God that they may not come to church tonight but they got the Word today!

Happy New Year!

Church After Church

After church on Sunday we always pass a group of people hanging out, not really doing anything but drinking and just doing what they do....

For some time now I have been feeling like I should stop and give them a taste of church via a mini sermon since they won't come to church...any church.  I haven't been stopping, just saying I should stop to myself.....so I repented to the Lord that I haven't been obeying Him after church.  With my Mom in the car I know she's usually very hungry after church....but that's no excuse.

This past Sunday I got out of my car and walked up to a group on Olive St.  I gave them the Word as my Mom waited in the truck for me.  She was fine.  Checking everybody out.  She knew some of the older guys and later told me that my Dad has preached to that man for years.

One girl walked up to me and asked if I was Chris's mom, I said yes and kept on sharing the gospel....They listened, even shook their heads...except for the man my Mom told me about, he walked away.  But he knows...he knows.....

There's something so cleansing about doing what God wants you to do.....there is nothing like it in the world!

...Shootings and Killings on Broadway

"...there have been recent shootings / killings on Broadway and retaliation is expected."

This is from an email I received this evening.....there was more but this is what made me turn off the TV and ask God what should I do.  I decided I needed to take my German Shepherd puppy Bella out to go and for me to pray.

I usually stay on my street at night and as I was praying for Salem I decided to keep walking onto Broadway....I approached some guys hanging out and asked them if it was true.....nothing....Was there a shooting?  Did someone get killed?  Someone mumbled something....and then like a mother who has been warning her children about the company they keep....even if THEY are the bad influence, I began to tell them that this is not God's plan for their lives...God loves them, He is the only one who can bring peace into their lives, into their homes, into this town....If God didn't love them, why are so many people praying for this town?  I told them that we pray for them all the time at Soul Saving Center.  I told them I was going to pray over this corner again as I have in the past....and I will continue to pray.  I let them know that God sent my father to preach the gospel and now I'm here and there is no fear, nothing intimidating me, nothing but love for them....I let them know I loved them.
No one moved.....I prayed out loud and asked God to not let another person lose their life because they are not ready to meet Him....I asked God to protect those young men and to go after them and deliver them from the evil that is controlling them.  I gave them to God and told them that I would continue to pray and that they need to give their lives to Jesus Christ.  The only way out!  I kept saying, "He Is The Only Way Out!   Before I left, one of the guys said, "We love you too.  We love you."

Bella was very good, very quiet and they couldn't believe she was just a 6 month old puppy.  I thank God for her temperament.  I can minister to the guys in the street at night and she's quiet and right there....I don't fear anyone...and the guys know that, but they are afraid to walk anywhere when she is there.....So God knew what He was doing when He chose Bella for me....Born in Egypt and living in Salem, NJ.  And on the mission field with her Mommy.  Sweet!

Please pray with all of us who are praying for Salem!  God loves this town!

...Shootings and Killings on Broadway

"...there have been recent shootings / killings on Broadway and retaliation is expected."

This is from an email I received this evening.....there was more but this is what made me turn off the TV and ask God what should I do.  I decided I needed to take my German Shepherd puppy Bella out to go and for me to pray.

I usually stay on my street at night and as I was praying for Salem and decided to keep walking onto Broadway....I approached some guys hanging out and asked them if it was true.....nothing....Was there a shooting?  Did someone get killed?  Someone mumbled something....and then like a mother who has been warning her children about the company they keep....even if THEY are the bad influence, I began to tell them that this is not God's plan for their lives...God loves them, He is the only one who can bring peace into their lives, into their homes, into this town....If God didn't love them, why are so many people praying for this town?  I told them that we pray for them all the time at Soul Saving Center.  I told them I was going to pray over this corner again as I have in the past....and I will continue to pray.  I let them know that God sent my father to preach the gospel and now I'm here and there is no fear, nothing intimidating me, nothing but love for them....I let them know I loved them.
No one moved.....I prayed out loud and asked God to not let another person lose their life because they are not ready to meet Him....I asked God to protect those young men and to go after them and deliver them from the evil that is controlling them.  I gave them to God and told them that I would continue to pray and that they need to give their lives to Jesus Christ.  The only way out!  I kept saying, "He Is The Only Way Out!   Before I left, one of the guys said, "We love you too.  We love you."

Bella was very good, very quiet and they couldn't believe she was just a 6 month old puppy.  I thank God for her temperament.  I can minister to the guys in the street at night and she's quiet and right there....I don't fear anyone...and the guys know that, but they are afraid to walk anywhere when she is there.....So God knew what He was doing when He chose Bella for me....Born in Egypt and living in Salem, NJ.  And on the mission field with her Mommy.  Sweet!

Please pray with all of us who are praying for Salem!  God loves this town!