Hey Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope ya had a good day walking with God in the Holy Spirit. I had a good day encouraging some believers and Ashley prayed to receive Christ trusting in His work to save her. Jake had stick straight hair ruffled up bangs in the front, wearing a black t-shirt and sweats. Waiting to do a workout he was sitting in the upstairs of the PE lounge. He did not have much time so I got his response to the question and he listed some of the good things he would be known for with friends and family. I went through the Gospel with him and he said he would pray at night. I’ll hope to see him again and find out. Ashley’s story is below if you want to take the time. Please pray she grows in her faith and Jake receives the Lord.

 Ashley was sitting towards the back of the cafeteria at a table. She’s a mom and had thick stick straight thick blonde hair and a square chin. She looked to be in her mid-20’s, old enough looking that I asked if she was a student when I first asked her to do a survey. She ate her yogurt cup as we talked. She had a brown and tan thin striped sweater on and jeans, wore glasses, looked like an attractive business woman. I asked her what she would say if she died and stood before God and he asked, “Why should I let you into Heaven?” “Because I learned from my mistakes and I acted better—something I was doing wrong, I changed it,” she replied. I asked her what the likelihood was she was going to Heaven. “Highly likely,” she said. She said she prayed a lot and was very grateful. It seemed like her prayers sometimes involved her kids, asking God to help them to see she did not mean something she’d said in a negative way, possibly in frustration, but they’d think of it in a way she had intended, or later hoped so. Almost as if He would change their memories. I began to go through the Gospel with her and she agreed with the first points that God loved her and wanted her to believe in Him. Eternal life was that He would live inside her. I asked what Jesus did that took away her sins so God could live inside. “He forgives you,” she replied. I asked her what Jesus did to forgive her. “He opens your eyes so you can digest how to act better?” she replied. I said the Bible taught something different than that and went on to explain the death of Christ and his blood cleansing her and being a payment for God. She seemed to accept that but didn’t really hear it. I explained the righteousness of Christ. She heard it but I could tell she wasn’t getting it. I explained how her good stuff could not fix her bad stuff and God had to make our actions into good. I asked if when she asked for forgiveness was she thinking that she’s know she would be forgiven because Jesus died for her or hoping somehow her actions would allow for it. She reiterated that she was thinking she would try to do better and learn from her mistakes. I prayed silently that God would break through and help her see what I was saying because it wasn’t getting through. I said if she wanted to be forgiven trusting in what Jesus had done and I walked her through the prayer. She somehow didn’t really hear what I had just explained. “I do that a lot by my own words,” she replied speaking of her prayers. She said also she had felt God presence since she was very small, 5 years old. I agreed that God’s Spirit had been on her influencing her. I said this is different it is asking God to forgiven you because the blood of Jesus paid for your sins, not because of anything you do. It seemed to finally dawn on her. “That’s a different perspective I hadn’t thought of it that way before,” she replied. I said then she could pray it silently knowing she was forgiven based on what Jesus had done. She agreed and took the booklet and prayed to receive Jesus. I went on to explain the Christian life to her going to God in prayer and confessing her sins and living “By the Spirit’s Power” asking Him to change her from the inside to be made good so she’d do good things on the outside. I gave her Bible Promises for You and I wrote her name and the date and “forgiven!” saying now forgiven by His blood. I gave her The Case for Christ Answer Booklet and a Bible study on passages where Jesus claimed to be the God of the Old Testament. She thanked me. I told her I would pray a Bible Verse for her each day asking God to bless her and I’d ask for blessings for her life with her kids. She was delighted to hear that and said, “Thank you I’ll pray for you too.” “Oh thank you that would be great,” I replied. I got up to go saying I would see her in Heaven and being old I’d get there first. She laughed a bit and said, “OK I’ll see you there.” And I headed off.

 So thanks for your prayers for the ministry and for evangelism today if you had a chance. God truly blessed.

 In Him,

Bob