A Testimony

I will say it again and again, there is always an attack before a blessing. Over and over again this holds true for me here.

Yesterday I was having a very regular morning. Work was moving along normally and I was feeling fine. I had made my early morning phone call to my Accountability Group back home. I had done all of my morning devotions and prayers. Even wrote a good Blog as the words came out with ease.

At lunch time I decided that I would go and read a lttle of the book, Unlocking the Islam Code. I had not read any of this in a few days and thought that it might be a good idea as I was waiting for Hassan to deliver me a copy of the Koran to read. I wanted to be prepared in case a conversation came from the interaction.

As I went to my room I figured today I would be comfortable and lay in my bed and read rather than sitting in the uncomforatable metal chair at the desk. No sooner did my head hit the pillow was I overwhelmed with the feeling that something was wrong. I began to think of Catherine and the kids. I even thought to get up and go outside and do something else for the hour. My stomach ached and my mind was just astir.

I didn't react in the way my mind was telling me I should. I laid there and asked the Lord to be with me. I rebuked Satan in the name of Jesus Christ and stated that He wwas protecting me. I even thought for a moment that even faith as little as a mustard seed was aenough to rebuke the evil that I felt. I prayed a little for my family and then I began to read the book. Within a few seconds the feelings were gone and I was ok.

So after an hour of reading, and an occasional knodding off, I got up and went back to work. Again the afternoon was uneventful and I worked with ease. A little early Catherine called which always brightens the day for me and we spoke for a few minutes before she went to do her prayers and wake the kids.

At around 16:00 I began to think about the things that I had read regarding what a Muslim would relate with in wittnessing of the Christian Faith. With this I decided that I would go over early to the East side and stop by and see Hassan. I figured asking for the Koran would help facilitate an opportunity to wittness to him. So off I went.

When I arrived at the CRSP Yard and walked up into the overhang area where I immediately saw a new face of a yound soldier. I figured he was just visiting so I moved past everyone and went into to Hassan to say hello. We spoke for a few minutes util Chandel brought me some tea. This interupted my time with Hassan so I moved outside figuring that I would come back to the purpose I was there for after I finished the tea.

Just outside of the office that Hassan was at, on the table, was the book A Case for Faith. As Isaw it I asked who's it was and the new Soldier said it was his. "Oh", I said, "I like that book. Lee Strobel, I have read a few of his books". "Yeah, my uncle gave me this before I left home. I just started it. I also have the Toa in there".

Ok, for anybody that is not seeing the writing on the wall, these are the opportunites that God lays out in front of us. These are the opportunities that we as Christians pray for in the mornings. These are the moments that we get to make a choice, do I step forward in faith or do I get worried that this fine young Soldier may get offended if I begin to wittness to him. What choice would you make?

I began to pray in my head, Lord let my words be yours and this moment be what you have it be. "The case for Christ was actually the book that my now Pastor gave me before I was saved. It lead to me accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior." This started our conversation that went for approximately a half hour right there in the open air porch of the offices.

This youndg man was searching for God. He was looking in every area he could. Chineese philosphy, Mormonism, he even stated that the Muslims had been speaking to him about becoming a Muslim since he arrived in the yard. He spoke several times regarding finding a Religion. Reading about things that would tell him what the answer was. He was lost and wondering and the enemy was standing at the gate.

The very amazing thing was that what I had read at lunch was the very information that I needed to explain to the Soldier some of the fundamental reasons the Muslims had asked , and told him, what they had during his conversations with them. I came equipped to discuss some very pertinent issues with this Soldier. I came with ammunition against the enemy and Satan knew this was to happen, that is why I had the attach earlier.

He had alot of questions, I gave him all the best answers I could. We had several interuptions, but I continued to move past them and continued the conversation with him. We covered many areas of the difference betwwen religion and Faith. That Faith was his personal relationship with God and that nobody could tell him how that should be. That was for him and God to determine and that no man could determine that for him. In the end I gave him a challenge. I stated to him that if each night as he lay down to sleep he were to ask God to be in charge of his life. That if earnestly asked for Him to lead him to the one true answer that he was searching for that God would give it to Him.

See, I know that there is only one way, and that if this man is truly searching for that then the only answer that he will need is the one that God places in his heart, that Jesus Christ came, He died on the cross to attone for all of our sins, that He was resurrected on the third day and now sits with God in heaven. Through our Faith in this, God will pour out His free gift of salvation to us and will be changed forever as we follow Him.

You were given the power and authority to speak in Jesus name. You are equipped perfectly for any situation that the Spirit leads you into, He won't give you anything you can't handle. You also have to believe that you are saving people from their eternal death, from eternal seperation from God. That Jesus has bridged that seperation that was created at the Fall and that we can now stand with Christ in fellowship with God.

Now normally I would have ended the story here, but it continued today before I could Post this...

Now again, there is no doubt in my mind that this man was the very reason why Satan was attaching me in the afternoon yesterday. Even today the enemy placed obstacles in my path and this mans path. This soldier was overseeing some local men in the installation of a fenceline within the FOB. I went to him as I was going to give him a copy of the New Testiment, Finding God, so that he could begin reading it if he liked as he read A Case For Faith.

As I drove up to the work site one of the local men, a young Afghan approached the truck. I said hello and told him that I was looking for this paticular soldier. He pointed to where he sat then followed me to him. I said hello and as he stood I explaine dthat I brought him a New Testiment to use. Just after he took it in his hand the local man reached and grabbed the Bible. I continued to speak with the Soldier and the Afghan man and another offered me tea, which aI graciously accepted.

Here I am in an awkward spot now. I have to get the Bible back from the Afghan man and try to continue to speak with the Soldier. Just then the Afghan man stated "Oh, finding God" it was now obvious that he could read some English. "Yes, it is the Jahil." "Jahil!" he said back as he took it now and sat with the older man who had given me the tea. I continued now to ignore that and speak again to the Soldier about the benefit of this Bible as it could help answer questions for him.

Then the Afghan man approached again, now with the other man. He was now nervous as he bagan to speak about his duty to explain about God. At this point I just prayed again, that the Spirit would lead. Praise God, he did. Through a brief conversation regarding God, even about the "Prophet " Jesus. I was able to explain that I was here to give this Soldier a gift , this "Jihil" so that he would know about the prophet Jesus. Also that I hoped that God would lead this man to the one true Faith as He saw fit, not because of my words. At that the man handed the Bible back to the Soldier. I finished my tea, said thank you to the Afghan men and then said good bye to the Soldier letting him know that he could find me if he needed me. At that I left.

A few things in conclusion. First, get out of the training grounds of the comfortable "Church" and apply what the Lord has taught you. I think He made it quiet clear that this was His expectation of us. Secondly, when an opportunity presents itself, take it. Lastly, trust God. Every time that I do this, especially when it is at the moment when I need it most, it works out better.

Now at a minimum, if you have gotten to this point, pray for this young Soldier. You don't need to know his name, God does, but pray please. Praise God.