I'm so excited to share this with you all. For those of you who have been visiting By His Grace since April 15, 2008, you know that we have been counting down to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I recently came across several resources about China and its people that I would like to share with you. I have 6 packets that include an East Asia update newsletter, a China Olympic Guide, an about East Asia bulletin, a People of China Magnet, a China prayer card reminder, an awesome 30 day devotional booklet put together by those who are working, serving, and witnessing in China, and an elastic Pray for China bracelet. Because this isn't any kind of competition where I would randomly select a "winner" I'm just going to give these packets to the first 6 people who comment to this post by sharing with us an evangelistic encounter of any kind that you have been a part of.
I want to leave you today with a devotion exert from the Reflections from China devotional booklet.
A Private Lesson with the Coach
By BB
"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6. NASB
On a trip to Beijing, I visited the China World Trade Center. It had great shopping and places to eat, and it was really clean. I looked down at my dingy jeans and worn out shoes and thought, "Wow, it has been a long two years." Looking in the restroom mirror, I saw a new color in my hair (white!) and new lines around my eyes. Again, I thought, "Wow, it has been a long two years."
The center had a huge ice skating ring. Standing one floor about the rink, I had the perfect view. I saw a little girl who was about 5 or 6 years old. Because she was a "foreigner", she looked different from everyone on the rink. She was having her private lesson with her coach.
Her coach would hold her hands and then he would let her go. He skated backwards so that her could face her. She was barely moving. He had his hands extended, as if begging her to come to him, but she was struggling. You could see the strain in her eyes and legs. Then just when I thought, "Oh, no she won't make it!", her coach reached out and grabbed her hands.
I breathed a deep sigh of relief as I watched the coach take her in his arms and skate all around the rink with her. She looked as if she could conquer the world. Then he stopped, turned her toward him, and skated backwards away from her once again. This time she skated to him! Again, they went flying off around the rink. He was doing all the work and she was just enjoying the ride. I watched as the coach added a new step, and then another.
As I walked away, I felt the Lord telling me, "I am your Coach. I reached out My arms and you came to Me. Then I sent you out to do what seemed impossible. You are a foreigner in this land. But, you have had a private lesson with Me!"
The opening ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics are only days away. Let's continue to pray that all those involved in the games, as well as the people of China will feel and see, like never before, the loving arms of Jesus Christ reaching out to them.
Don't forget that the first 6 of you who post a comment sharing with us an evangelistic encounter that you have been a part of will receive the East Asia information packets.
"Go into all the world and makedisciples of all the nations."Matthew 28:19
5 Lovely Thoughts Shared:
I love what you shared with us. Thank you!!
I ordered 100 of the prayer bands for our church! Thank you for encouraging us to pray during this time for the people of China!
What an awesome opportunity we have to pray for the people of China.
An evangelistic experience: A couple years back I took my children to the playground. There was a young father there with his child. He ended up next me pushing his child on the swing next to my child. We struck up conversation and the door opened to ask him what he believed. So I did and he gave me a works answer. So I ask him if I could share with him how the Bible answers that question and he let me. He didn't pray to receive Christ right then but seeds were planted and I ask the Lord to send someone else to him to "water those seeds."
Have a great day! Krista
Wow, what a great packet. I am glad you are reminding us of ALL the people going to witness in such an unsaved land.
An evangelic encounter:
Well, I don't know if this counts, but I am trying to remember that my blog is a type tool to share my faith and my beliefs. I know that my sister in law is not saved, and I found out that she, faithfully, reads my blog. Wow. So, that means she is reading how my husband and I are trusting God, while hubby is out of work, as well as she read my testimony and about how God worked to heal my broken marriage. We pray for my BIL and SIL. They live far from us and we don't see them often. So, always try to remember that she is reading and I pray this can be a tool for her salvation. Currently, they are pretty closed off to talking about faith. So, this is my way.
Blessings Jenifer...I was looking at CNN today and noticed the Olympic time is arriving and thought of YOU and praying for China and its missionaries. As soon as my internet cooperated I
clicked on to your blog to read and at first did not see any OLYMPIC news...until HERE! I began reading and realized how much China has meant to you like me with Mexico til I arrived here.
Then I came upon that precious devotional...oh such wisdom & heart! I love the skating and how appropriate is this with Our Father's Love for us! I will press in praying for CHINA...for those who serve that reaching the world for Christ! God bless your love for the lost and the harvest! May God reign in East asia and change lives as HE protects those who choose HIM...may the captives find freedom and feel His Presence. May He release those being persecuted and may His justice protect and rescue them and may freedom ring in their hearts proclaiming Jesus as Lord! May they find strength in His Name...let JESUS win this Olympics with the most gold medals ever...the gold in their lives & hearts that belong to Jesus, their King & Savior! May the Chinese walls fall and religious freedom ring! May Our Lord reign over ALL!
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