Jan is an alum who will be resuming studies in our adult education program at Northwest U. A few years ago, she was the process of divorce, so we sat down together to pray and talk. She wanted to continue her education and I pointed her to our university.
She became an instant hit among students in the traditional program, blending in with her youthful appearance and infectious smile. But more than that, Jan’s big heart and wisdom came from a lifetime of suffering and repeated forgiveness. Soon students were hanging out at the coffee shop with her or driving to her house for home cooking, mentoring, Bible studies, and just plain… well, Jan. She dropped out after a year to fully engage in the senior high school year of her youngest (yeah, she’s also the kind of mom who puts her kids first). Meanwhile, God brought along the love of her life, so she started a new journey. Her wedding was a celebration among many friends.
I called her yesterday when I found photos of a trip she took for her 40th birthday, an extreme sports adventure in Europe. She’d left the albums with me on a visit last fall. “So good to hear your voice!” we said in happy unison.
“What am I doing? Well, I’m a director at X and prayed yesterday with a 96-year-old lady to receive Christ,” Jan’s delight was obvious over the phone lines. “Her family had been praying for her for decades.” I’m one of those who usually sows and tends the field of souls. Jan is a harvester, so the call was an affirmation to keep doing the work God puts in front of me, so that Jan and those like her can bring people to peace with God. I can’t wait to see her today when she picks up her pictures!
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God’s peace be with you!
*In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God's laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful. 2 Chronicles 31:21 NIV
*(Jesus) ”Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:37-38 NLT
*(Paul) My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,
'Those who have never been told about him will see,
and those who have never heard of him will understand.'
In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places. Romans 15:20–22 NLT
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