Thursday, January 27, 2011

Saving Soul One at a Time

A man in full of pain of the heart sat down and talked about his past experiences with his father. The pain of rejection, the hurt of physical and verbal abuses still sting him. His heart aches every time the memory of his father is recalled. He has not talked to his father for 15 years. Only a few times through emails. Even in the emails, hurt was done through the words and tone of language used.

The man is in pain trying to fight this disease and demon inside of him. As one layer of the onion was peeled off, he shared and opened a little more. The past seems so real. The memory seems so fresh. The voice of his father still carries a lot of weight. He wants to move on, but he has to forgive his father and releases the one who hurt him into the hands of God.

In his quest and search for the peace within his soul, he explored Buddhism. Somehow, all the books he read, the meditation he did could not calm the roaring sea of turmoil and chaos within. The billows rolled. The emotions of anger and resentment and bitterness seem to eat him up from the inside. God is more than ready to save him. He was not ready yet. There is resistance from within. God is patient. He is working in this man's heart and soul. The time of salvation is near. The Holy Spirit is compelling me to stay on.

As I handed him the Bible and invited him to ready Psalm 103, the moment he read the first few verses, he broke down crying out to God to save him from sin. Forgiveness came. Love of God comes to fill his heart. Peace of God comes inside and stay. He invited Jesus to come into his soul to save and to transform him. Oh how beautiful it is to witness the love of God breaks inside a man's callous heart and delivered him from destruction.

He is saved. He is reading the Word, and the Word works on him. The burden is lifted up. A smile broke out. What a beautiful sight to see. Yes, Sinners need Jesus still today. He is the only One who can save, heal and deliver.

God is so gracious and always in the business of saving souls.

Pastor Linh

Friday, January 14, 2011

Jesus Sets Her Free

By the grace of God a young woman came for prayer. She has been waiting for another person to come and pray for her. He's not come yet. However, her soul seems to be in great turmoil. She observes religious rites and duties with the hope to find some peace in her heart. The voices, the anxiety, the painful memories of the past keep haunting her. She couldn't sleep at night. She was waiting for some medicine to calm her down so she could sleep.

After talking to her she realized her needs for the Savior Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He is the One who died in her place; he is the One who forgives her of all her sins and He is the Healer and the Deliverer. She understands for the first time that cutting her hands won't solve her pain; bury her pain deep down inside won't release the hurt; the offenders are out there somewhere; and the question of how can she forgive someone who hurt her deeply? How can her soul rest?

It's all in Jesus Christ. He has the answer.

She forgave her offenders. She found peace in Christ Jesus. She embraces love again. Truly, all healing comes from God. God has come to set her free. Whom the Son sets free, she is free indeed. She is free! Joy comes evidently shown on her face. Tears stopped rolling down. God is great to her. What a privilege to serve people with the powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

Praise be to God.
Pastor Linh