Work Tomorrow

I have two appointments to look at apartments tomorrow. Then, I have to go back to the storage unit to get more supplies and resources to mail out to the Philippines for the next campus table outreach there. I am shipping everything in a medium flat rate box for 50.00, and I want to make sure the box is stuffed. I need to get a few more tracts and booklets. I hope to ship the box off tomorrow.

Every day seems to be busy in NYC, because so much walking is involved getting to and fro, especially when appointments are in various parts of the city. Again, I am so thankful for Heritage Baptist Church. The church office is near 34th Street, and I am staying in a different area of town. It is close to train access, though, so it is convenient by train. I got a larger easil for the table outreach last night, so I will also bring that to the storage unit in the church office tomorrow to be prepared for our next table outreach.

I am looking forward to becoming a member of Heritage Baptist Church!

I met today with Dr. Arthur Goldberg and Elaine Berk who work as counselors at JONAH. I was extremely impressed with their counseling ministry to people struggling with same sex attractions. Arthur has contributed to my new booklet, "Is There A Gay Gene?" and is helping with editing. What a pleasure to meet him and Elaine today! I will gladly refer people to their counseling organization and have asked for business cards for all of our table outreach locations, especially NYC and West Hollywood. I contacted the talented graphic designer for the booklet tonight in hopes of setting a goal and time frame for the graphic design to be done for this important project. LTW has had $500.00 donated for this ministry tool to people struggling with same sex attractions. I am praying for 500.00 more to cover printing, assuming LTW can get a batch of these booklets printed for as little as $1000.00.

God is at work! He is certainly keeping me busy!

In His hands,

Dwayna

The Empty Tomb of Jesus

Read about the glorious empty tomb of Jesus HERE.

The Difference Between Islamic Jihad and Violence in the Old Testament

Read about the difference between Islamic Jihad and violence in the Old Testament HERE.

NYC Outreach Tomorrow

I'll be setting up the outreach table tomorrow in NYC. Thanks for praying for Suzi and me as we work together at the outreach table tomorrow...

In the joy of telling others about Jesus,

Dwayna

LTW Update: Rio Grande Valley

From Curt and Janie Rolf
(August 6, 2011)

IT WAS A BEASTLY HOT DAY!!!! A day with not that many ‘shoppers’ but a time to reflect on how much God has blessed us with individuals we have come to know and love on Jackson St.. It was fun to sit back and enjoy visits from friends, acquaintances, vendors and special visitors like Leo – who brought a book entitled The Amazing Bible Family. It’s a must purchase, even if only for recommending.

We read and discussed many topics from angels and Satan to creation and the 10 plagues….all of which we checked out with scripture verses in the Bible. As interested as Leo is in the Bible, we’re still praying for the Holy Spirit to pour out conviction on the reality of salvation, eternity, heaven and hell.

We had remarked for several months that we hadn’t seen our special, mentally-challenged friends. They made quite a commotion in their recognition and warm greeting. We hold a special place in our hearts for them both, as well as their caregiver. We gave her a copy of The Way of the Shepherd and Justin Peters’s printout on Life After Death. She obviously appreciates the attention we give the mentally-challenged kids, and we clearly appreciate her faithful care of these precious special-needs individuals.

A ‘mom’ with ‘grandma’ checked over the materials on the table and took a children’s Bible and English RBC devotional... ‘Grandma’ was pleased to look over the Spanish materials and took the Spanish ‘Gospel of John.

Another lady stopped and took the printout on “List of Heresies” (Roman Catholic Traditions).

How fun…..little Erica (9?) stopped by and was interested in the 10 Commandment coloring pages, along with “Keys For Kids” (Sample Copy) as well as the Spanish CBH devotional (with the picture of the puppy on it, of course). We do so admire those who are blessed with the ability of being bilingual!!!!

Luciano (10?) was intrigued by the banner and “Free Gift” offer. She gladly took The Greatest Story Ever Told, wanting to share it with her siblings.

We usually don’t start packing up until 2:30 or 3:00 but the heat was getting the best of us. The crowd dwindled to almost no one, and even with the canopy, we felt we best leave by 2:00 as Janie was getting a little whoozy from the heat.

We do cherish the challenges that God often brings to the table, but we did, indeed, appreciate a rather quiet day.

Relying on Him as He directs our paths (Prov. 16:9),

Curt and Janie

Rio Grande Valley – Harlingen, Texas

The Cross of Jesus

We do not want to be personally or institutionally offensive, but we cannot buffer the offense of the Cross."

John MacArthur

Prayers Much Appreciated

I'm seriously considering moving back to Manhattan to lead our outreach here (since the former leader moved to Chicago, and there appears to be no one else to lead it) and also be here to work more on music. All of the ministries are going well without me in Atlanta, and I have honestly been praying to God about where He would have me move to lead an outreach all summer. I have missed working at the table outreach, due to the fact that the leaders in Atlanta have it going so well now without me. What a surprise to now be praying about moving back to NYC.

Pastor Matthew Recker has been such a blessing to me, and I love Heritage Baptist Church. It would be such a pleasure to work with him in missions. The church has been storing our supplies for the table outreach now for about 2 years.

Please pray for me. My mother has been suggesting that I consider moving back to NYC. I have resisted thinking about it seriously, because I love my life in Atlanta. But, the important question to ask would be, "Is it God's will?" I want to be where He wants me. I am feeling like it may be His will for me to move back.

I know that God did not begin this outreach in NYC, with its international scope, for it to end. Pastor Recker has tried to find someone to lead it, but no one has felt led to lead it. If I don't be the leader, it won't be done, at least at this time. I will be setting up the table as soon as the wind dies down from the hurricane.

It is too expensive for me to sublet in NYC and pay my rent in Atlanta. My mother said she would help me store our materials for LTW and help with mailouts from TN to all of our locations. This will save on more storage space in NYC. Heritage Bapt. NYC has been storing our materials for the NYC location for about 2 years now, but there is not nearly enough space for all of our resources for all of our locations. If it is God's will for me to move back to Manhattan, it will save money to have our main storage location in TN, close to where my mother lives, for her to help with mailouts.

I trust that God will make His will very clear and give me His peace, like He has every time I have moved. This is such a surprise. I have been very happy in Atlanta and never planned on moving. I want to be where God wants me to be. I am looking at studio apartments, hoping to get a safe, clean place in a good location for as little as possible.

Photos from Last Weekend at Venice Beach LTW Outreach Table

"Jesus I Come" (one of my favorite hymns)

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

I grew up singing this song:

Out of my shameful failure and loss
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross
Jesus, I come to Thee


Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm
Out of distress to jubilant psalm
Jesus, I come to Thee

My Shelter

“Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer
From the end of the earth I will cry to You
When my heart is overwhelmed
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I
For You have been a shelter for me..."
Psalm 61:1-3

Update

I'll be in the studio the next few days and then plan to set up the outreach in NYC as soon as the weather allows. (No Lighting the Way funds are going to pay for music projects, of course.) I'll be in touch with MORE photos from our Venice Beach outreach last weekend as well as NYC outreach photos as soon as possible. A shipment will be sent to the Philippines for the next campus table outreach there first thing next week! Thanks for the prayers and donations.

This Morning at Heritage Bapt.

This morning's sermon was such an encouragement as Pastor Recker taught from Phil. 3, reminding us that in order to rejoice in the Lord we have to beware of people who will rob us of our joy. We are told in Philippians 3:2 to "beware" three times of evil workers and people who are enemies of the Gospel. God realizes, as He warns us, that these people are often religious workers, twisting the truth and attempting to confuse us away from our close walk with Jesus in pure devotion. I sang "No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus", and, as usual, the blessing was all mine to be at Heritage Bapt. Church. I thank Heidi for telling us about this church years ago. What a blessing to be working with Heritage Bapt. to shine a light for Jesus in NYC.

With Heidi, Pastor Matthew Recker, and his wife, Debbie

Announcements

I am singing at Heritage Bapt. NYC this morning.

More photos from the Venice Beach outreach yesterday will follow as soon as I get back from church this afternoon!

LTW Update: Today at Venice Beach

Our new team member, Jennifer, is such a blessing and answer to prayer to our ministries at West Hollywood and Venice Beach. Today at Venice Beach, she and Dan got there before Mike and Eileen and set up the table we use in West Hollywood in order to save a spot on the boardwalk before Mike and Eileen arrived with our Venice Beach table and sign. Dan wrote to let me know they were very busy today, and they had many conversations with tourists and locals about Jesus and how to be saved as people approached the table. We really thank God for Jennifer, because Mike and Eileen live so far away that it is very difficult for them to get to Venice in time to save a spot. Today we got a spot on the boardwalk! 

Many times this year Mike and Eileen have set out to meet Dan on Ocean Front Walk only to find no spot available for our table on the boardwalk. Jennifer sure is a help. We plan to still use our Venice Beach table with our banner reading "A Free Gift for You" and the sign at our table in the psychic environment reading, "Come find out what God has to say about your future for free." (This sign attracts people to our table in the psychic environment, and instead of reading their palms or tarot cards, we answer questions about life and death and salvation based on the Bible, offering Bibles, sermons and other resources specifically for New Agers, atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians on contemplative prayer and emergent church practices  for free as we share with people how to be saved through faith in Jesus.)

The rules about getting a spot on the boardwalk change frequently. We have been praying for God to make a way for us to get a spot to set up our table, since Venice Beach is one of the best places in the world for our evangelistic outreach based on apologetics. We love shining the light of the Gospel there alongside the psychics, satanists, "Scientologists", Atheists United, Hare Krishna parades and Hindu tables with the air blue with profanity and clouded with incense. It is the perfect place for our table where people can stop to hear about why Jesus is high above all the other gods!

-----------------------

Update: I found out after I posted this that the team DID use the table set-up for Venice (and the sign and materials we use for the "Heart for Him" table in West Hollywood were only used to wisely reserve the spot.). I will post more photos of the outreach at Venice Beach on Saturday, Aug. 20th soon!)

LTW to the Smokies Update

Lighting the Way to the Smokies Update
By Claudette Litz
Aug. 7, 2011

There is no better way to spend a beautiful Sunday afternoon than in the Great Smoky Mts. National Park. What a blessing to go to the early worship service at church, and after Bible Study Fellowship, go to the mountains to represent Jesus to the tourists! Although rain was in the forecast, it was sunny and quite warm. I enjoyed talking with my next-door neighbors. They knew I was there on Saturdays but did not expect to see me today.

The first visitors at the table were two men from Jamaica. They were excited about the materials on the table being free. I explained the purpose and content of most of the booklets, Bible, tracts, etc. However, they only wanted the CDs of sermons, and they took one from each of the following pastors: Dr. Nelson Price, Dr. William Sims, Craig Mintz, Tommy Fox, and Hollie Miller. After a lengthy conversation with them about the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus and how to know Him, I realized that their hearts were ready to listen to each of the sermons and that God was at work in their lives.

One mother listened as I talked with her little girl. It was easy for the little girl to relate to me, because we have similar names. Her name is Claudia, and her grandmother’s name is Claudine. We both were excited about our names, and that set the stage for talking about the name above all names, Jesus Christ. We talked about His love for us and how we can know Him as our Savior. Claudia loved the Wordless Book, as I shared the meaning of each colored page, and she wanted to take it with her. Her mother and I talked about the importance of faith and living a life of obedience out of love for our Savior. She took the audio DVD of the entire Bible and will share it with some friends who have poor vision. She also took several sermons on CD and the CD, “God’s Story from Creation to Eternity.” The booklets by Eternal Publications-- 101 Last Days Prophecies and 101 Scientific Facts and Foreknowledge-- continue to be chosen and very much appreciated.

A high school teacher from Orlando wanted to use the quotes from America’s past presidents and founding fathers in her lesson plans, and we enjoyed talking about the Orange County Public Schools, since I taught there in the 80’s.

After looking over the materials on the table, a man said he could see that I was proselytizing. I introduced myself and said I was only representing Jesus, and God was doing the work by directing the people my way. It is His work, not mine. He quickly said he was going the other way and pointed away from the table. He seemed embarrassed that he had even approached my area. Although he thought it was wrong for me to be there and wanted nothing to do with Jesus, God put it on my heart to pray for him. Only God can save, and perhaps, He will use our quick encounter to speak to his heart at a later time.

A middle school student asked for a New Testament. She told her parents she had been thinking of reading it, as if it were like any other book. I encouraged her to read it every day and to take time to meditate on its words and pray. Her parents seemed to be glad she wanted it but gave no indication they were Christians.

A brother and sister listened as I told them about how good God is as Creator of the universe and as the One who loves us in spite of our sins. We talked about how He is pure and sent His only Son, Jesus, so that our sins can be forgiven when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord. They took several Child Evangelism tracts.

Philippians 4:5 “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”

Claudette Litz

"Jesus I Come"

“Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications." Psalm 130:1

Here is one of my favorite hymns I grew up singing as a child:

Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light
Jesus, I come to Thee
Out of my sickness, into Thy health
Out of my want and into Thy wealth
Out of my sin and into Thyself
Jesus, I come to Thee

This Morning at the Heartease Home for Battered Women in NYC

I had such a great time sharing my testimony and singing this morning. It was my honor to be with the women at the Heartease Home, an outreach of the Bowery Mission, providing Christian housing for battered women on the East Side of Manhattan. The women were such a blessing to me, and I was so privileged to share with them about how faithful God has been in my life during their morning chapel service. I am pictured with Mary, the director. (Of course, I won't list the name of the other women to protect their anonymity.) What a powerful ministry, close to God's heart and mine.

Singing Tomorrow at the Bowery Mission

I am singing and sharing my testimony tomorrow at the chapel service for the Bowery Mission Heartease Home for battered women on the East Side. I pray God will touch the hearts of the women there with the testimony He has given me. I plan to begin by singing "No More Prisoner Of Yesterday" and also sing "Honest Life", "Through It All" and "My Prize."

Witnessing Tips

By Daniell Mann:

The “I Can Do It” Religion

With an air of assurance, Claire declared, “I don’t believe anyone can know the ultimate answers, but I also don’t think the ultimate answers are important. We can find peace and our meaning in life in the fact that we’re living our lives the best way we can!”

What Claire is saying in effect is that “I know that you can’t know.” How can she say she can know and deny that possibility of knowledge to the other person?! A simple question might prove helpful at this point – “Do you know that other people cannot know the ultimate answers?” If Claire answers “yes,” then you can ask, “How is it that you can know, but others can’t know?” If instead, Claire admits that she really doesn’t know, then she might be open to searching. In regards to this, Jesus promised:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

Whenever a statement is logically incoherent, it also cannot line up with the evidence. If Claire was to be asked, “What evidence do you have that these questions can’t be answered,” she would be unable to provide any. To make this assertion, she would first have to survey every claim to ultimate truth and then prove that all of these claims are baseless – something impossible to do!

More seriously, she denies that “ultimate answers are important.” However, when we lack these answers, we suffer. Jewish philosopher and theologian, Abraham Heschel wrote:

“It’s not enough for me to be able to say ‘I am’; I want to know who I am and in relation to whom I live. It is not enough for me to ask questions; I want to know how to answer the one question that seems to encompass everything I face: What am I here for?"

Similarly, the novelist Norman Mailer wrote:

“I think we are all healthier if we think there is some importance in what we’re doing. …When it seems like my life is meaningless, I feel closer to despair. I like life to have meaning. That is not to say you have to jump into meaning and find it where there is none.”

Claire might agree that we need meaning, but she evidently thinks that she can establish her own meaning “where there is none.” However, life’s purpose, which can infuse the Christian so effortlessly, is beyond reach of those who don’t know the God of the Bible. If God cannot be known, then His purpose for our lives is going to remain uncertain. In contrast to this, Jesus claimed that He derived His ultimate nourishment by serving His Father:

"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)

Christians can attest that there is real satisfaction in knowing that they are serving their Savior. However, it’s not just Christians who recognize the necessity of living in concert with our values. Author Karen Wright wrote approvingly of this need,

“Eudemonia refers to a state of well-being and full functioning that derives from a sense of living in accordance with one’s deeply held values.” (Psychology Today, May 2008, 76)

I would imagine that Claire agrees with this broadly-accepted principle. However, she believes that she can establish her own meaning and purpose for her life, but this isn’t easy. For one thing, if she hasn’t answered the “ultimate” questions, her created purpose will feel arbitrary and empty and will not give her the sense of meaning which she desires.

Besides, we need assurance that this meaning is connecting us to something greater than ourselves. It isn’t sufficient to merely imagine a purpose. It’s like telling someone who wants to get married to simply imagine the ideal spouse and to enjoy this spouse in her mind. Instead, we crave what is real.

In addition to these problems, Claire thinks that “We can find peace and our meaning in life in the fact that we’re living our lives the best way we can?” However, if she can’t answer the ultimate questions, she has no standards to determine when she is living at her “best.” Doesn’t ascertaining what is “best” require that we answer at least one “ultimate question!”

Despite her skepticism, we all have an inner sense of what’s right and what’s wrong, even if our minds will not agree with what our heart is yelling. However, with heart and mind divided, we condemn ourselves to a schizoid and dissonant existence. Even worse, we know that we fall far short of our internal standards. The Apostle Paul explains:

“Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law [of Moses], do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” (Romans 2:14-15)

What do we do when our hearts condemn us, and they will? If we know the truth about our merciful God, we can confess our failings and trust that He will forgive and help us in our weakness. However, if we lack this knowledge, we have only two choices. We either lapse into depression after getting a painful eye-full of who we really are, or we wage a never-ending battle to deny the truth and convince ourselves and everyone else of our goodness and worthiness.

We need these truths of God. Without them, we remain destitute. Peter explained that all forms of blessing are locked away within the transformational mental nuggets of knowing God:

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Peter 1:2-3)

Initially, it usually feels good to believe that we are the captain of our own ship. However, this places a weighty responsibility on our faltering shoulders. We have to live up to our standards and inflated expectations, and it’s more than we can bear!

http://www.mannsword.blogspot.com/

Update from George and Goldie Shaw, Missionaries to the Jews

George and Goldie have sent us countless Hebrew/English Bibles to give to the Jews for our table outreach locations, especially in NYC. Here is a photo of Doug at our table in NYC offering the Bible in Hebrew to a young man. We thank George and Goldie for helping us get the Bibles in Hebrew/English and Russian for the Jews to read the New Testament.

Dear Prayer Partners,

Goldie awakened on that Thursday morning with the song, "Let the glory of the Lord arise above us." We claimed that for Plummer Park and West Hollywood. It wasn't the numbers; it was the key people we met. We have been going to this park since 1998, getting long lists of Russian names, and mostly they were older folk receiving hundreds and hundreds of Hebrew/Russian Scriptures. We notice each year that different nationalities frequent the park, not only Russians, like it used to be.

We now have for distribution a whole Russian Bible, both Old and New Testaments in the same book, produced by SDHS in England. One of the first people who came was smiling Yakov. He wanted this Bible, only in Russian. Alex received the same. Mark, a Russian- Jewish man, liked the Hebrew/Russian New Testament. James, a believer, took two sets of Hebrew/English Bibles, one for himself and one for his Israeli friend, Gideon, to witness to him.

We shared a Spanish Bible with the maintenance man in the park. Then came Mariceta who joyfully took a VMC Spanish Bible.

You had prayed for the younger generation to come. God really surprised us with a whole group of children, ages 7 to 9, passing our table and eagerly receiving the little "Pure Gold" booklets full of Bible verses. Their leaders also took a copy. Let the glory of the Lord arise in their hearts!

We remembered long ago stopping at a Judaica Shop on Ventura Blvd in the San Fernando Valley. Nejat, a Persian Jew, did not forget us and waved his hands in delight to see us. That was 12 years ago when we had given him a whole box of Tanakhim to bless his customers. This time, we gave him several Scriptures, including New Testaments.

Thank you for praying for safety (traffic was horrendous) and we bless you for being with us in spirit.
George and Goldie

LTW Update: NYC

Summary from our outreach last Saturday in NYC...

(Photos are here.)

We set up a little “mini table outreach” last Saturday at Bryant Park, because I did not yet have the key from Pastor Matthew Recker at Heritage Bapt. to get all of our materials and our full table set up from the church’s storage space. (We are so thankful to have that free storage space. It saves Lighting the Way at least 100.00 a month in expenses.) I took a walk with Susan Young Saturday morning in Central Park, and she asked, “Do you want to set up a small outreach table? I have some materials in my place I can bring, and I am sure God will draw people over.” I agreed, and we both smiled with enthusiasm about the idea! Suzi continued, “I will bring my guitar and just softly play praise and worship music, and I know God will lead people over as He desires.”

We had been there almost 30 minutes, and no one had come over. I noticed that perhaps it was because we had no sign reading “A Free Gift for You” like we normally do at the large table when we set up on city sidewalks, usually alongside other vendor tables. Maybe our little table with literature last Saturday at Bryant Park was too inconspicuous. Yet, Suzi assured, “Just wait. God will work. It is almost better that we are off to the side of the main walkway without any sign, because He will get all of the glory when the people begin to stop.”

As soon as I said, “I don’t know if this is effective, Suzi. No one is stopping,” a (sober) homeless man stopped! He asked, “Have you all got any food to spare? I’m hungry.” Suzi said that we had food for his heart—the Bread of Life-- to offer him. She asked, “Have you ever been born again, Sir?” He said very coherently, “Every time I turn around it seems some Christian is telling me I need to be born again.” I asked with a chuckle, “Do you think that is by accident?” He pulled up a chair and explained that he was raised in a family of staunch Catholics. He was afraid that if he became a born again Christian it would come between his relationship with his family. We had a glorious conversation with the man. He seemed very sincere, and he answered all of our questions honestly. He even said, “You all don’t have to buy me any food. I appreciate the Gospel of John to carry in my pocket and the tract, ‘Scripture vs. Tradition.’” (That tract explains the difference between a saving relationship with Jesus and man-made religion). I explained that I normally never give someone who is homeless any money, due to so many addictions and the need to use discernment when it comes to the motives of beggars. But, I continued, “There are exceptions. I will buy you a sandwich if you will do something.” He seemed interested. I said, “Since Christians have been coming your way to tell you you have to be born again to be saved and know Jesus as Lord, can you please explain to me how to be born again?” He paused and admitted that he did not know how. I answered, “Ok, well, I will buy you a sandwich if you will listen as we explain to you how to be saved. In case you should ever decide to have a relationship with Jesus, which is the greatest gift you could ever have, you need to know how to be saved.” He listened as we explained that someone has to agree with God about his or her condition and decide to come to God on His terms . I explained that we had to agree with God about our sin and repent, which is an act of the heart—it is a turning away from our old, autonomous way of living in rebellion from God’s moral law and standards and decide to go His way, which is pure and always in a direction where we have to deny the flesh and live according to His holiness. I explained that this is what it means to be a follower of Christ and know Him as our God and Friend. I went out to explain, however, that we are not saved based on works but by His grace. It is a real relationship in that we can grieve Him or make Him happy…and when we disobey, He disciplines us….We went on to tell him that we know God by reading the Bible, and it is the living Word of God, because it becomes alive in our hearts when we choose to obey it…because we have a Savior who is alive today in heaven and hears us when we pray. Suzi asked, “Are you sure, Sir, you don’t want to be saved?” He said, “I know I will get saved eventually, just not today.” I said, “The Bible says, ‘Today is the day of salvation.’ (2 Cor. 6:2) You don’t know what tomorrow holds! Even your desire to get saved is a gift from God you should not take for granted. Only by His grace is your heart desiring Him, yet your heart could harden over time. We should never ‘continue in sin that grace may abound,’ and take God’s love toward us for granted.”

After I bought him a sandwich, he said, “Thank you. That was really sweet, and you did not have to do that. I am trying my best to get a job.” I said very nicely in response, “Well, you know, you are in rebellion from God. You can’t expect Him to bless you when you are in rebellion from Him. Maybe He has you at this humbling place in your life to see your need for Him.” He promised to read the booklet we gave him on prophecies in the Bible and think about why he feels he does not want God. I told him that, in all reality, he had nothing to lose but everything to gain. However, he was wise to count the cost. Jesus said that if someone does not love Him more than any family member, he or she cannot follow Him. We have to “hate” our own lives, meaning, our own ways, and submit to God’s. (Luke 14:26). I reminded him that his family could never love him like Jesus loves him, enough to lay down His life for him and free him from death.

I got back to the table and shared with Suzi more about my conversation with that man, Jim, about salvation after I bought him a sandwich. And, about that time, a policeman approached. He asked, “Is all of this religious literature?” We said, “Yes,” and he answered, “Ok, then you are fine. You have a right to be here under the First Amendment.” Suzi said, “Thank you, Officer. Are you a Christian?” He said, “Oh, yes, I love the Lord.” She asked, “Could you tell us how you got saved?” He said, “Well, Mormon missionaries came knocking on my door, and I got baptized in the Mormon church.” Suzi, coming from a Mormon background before she was saved, said with a smile, “We need to talk.”

Since the officer was on duty and could not sit down with us, Suzi went to speak with him where he was standing, explaining why Mormonism is a cult. She shared her testimony of how she left the Mormon “church” when she learned they have a different Jesus and a different gospel. He said he was no longer attending a Mormon church but had never realized Mormonism is a cult. She spoke with him for at least 15 minutes and encouraged him to be in a sound church, explaining that salvation is not based on works but only by God’s grace.

Suzi left to use the restroom and came back excited, letting me know that she had met this really sweet Christian girl, Hope, in the restroom who is going to come over to the table. She seemed really enthusiastic about our table outreach. Hope came to take a seat, and another Christian, Ramiro, joined us, explaining that he had overheard our conversation about Jesus. So, the four of us had such a delightful time getting to know each other and sharing testimonies about what it means to know God. It was encouraging, and we ended the day in prayer as the wind was getting up, and we feared that it would start storming. When we got done with the prayer, Christian was there. He said he was sorry that he had arrived late, but he wanted to make time to talk to some people about Jesus. He stayed after we left, and he was off to the side offering a woman a tract, explaining to her what it means to know Jesus as Savior as we headed for the subway.

We agreed that there was no place we would have rather been than at that little table off to the side being used of God at Bryant Park last Saturday.

To the praise of His glory,

Dwayna

(Photos are here.)

Work Today

Off to meet my friend, Daniel Mann, for lunch. I have been friends with Danny and Anita since I moved to NYC in 2007. Danny writes a great blog, keeping us all abreast in apologetics and is a gifted teacher at New York School of the Bible.

I plan to add a summary of our day in outreach last Saturday to the photos this afternoon and run some errands pertaining to buying some supplies for our table outreach.

Thanks to two Christians, our needs have been met for the table outreach supplies! God meets the needs of this ministry in such an amazing way in every location, as no funds have ever been solicited. The Lord just burdens Christians to give, and the needs are met. It never ceases to amaze me. It is just another way God has of showing us all that this ministry belongs to Him.

Where Do We Go In Our Pain?

I was asked today by a friend on Facebook to pray for her, as she explained that she was feeling loneliness to the point of despair. She explained that she knew she had the Lord, yet she was feeling so low, as if there was no end in sight to the pain. She asked, "Have you been there?" Here is how I responded:

PURSUE God. Meaning, many things "want" you in your despair. You can shop, overeat, watch TV...we have many options for where to go to numb the pain. Jesus says, "Come to Me." I have found that when I turn off the TV, listen to a great sermon and take notes, open the Bible and read a passage like John 17 or the Psalms and memorize a verse or two (which requires meditation on the precious verse), God makes me happy IN THE MIDST OF PAIN. He will do the same for you. He is a Healer and Comforter WITHOUT SHAME. Getting in debt, overeating, numbing out in front of TV cannot solve anything, neither can the quest for "pleasure". Our loneliness is too deep for the pleasures of this world to satisfy. God made it that way, so we would need Him and turn to Him. When you feel alone, go to the Lord, and He will meet you there. It is a precious place: down on your knees in brokenness.

To answer your question, yes, of course, I have been there. But, I will tell you confidently that the Lord has met me with encouragement EVERY TIME I have gone to Him with my loneliness and given me peace which truly surpasses understanding.

NYC Outreach Needs

I am praying for extra funds specifically for our table outreach in NYC. Here are the needs: 2 new plastic bins, a new sign (reading "A Free Gift for You"), a stand for the sign, a table cloth and another dolly. These needs equal about 200.00. I ordered the two plastic bins today at Staples for about 45.00. I worked for over 2 hours today in our storage space after church, organizing supplies for the outreach to be the best it can be. I just hate to do anything half way, especially when we are doing outreach in God's name. I want the table and the signs to look good, so people will want to stop at our booth.

We praise the Lord that Heritage Baptist allows us to store all of our resources (books, tracts, Bibles, articles, sermons on CD and DVDs) for the table outreach for free at the church office. This saves LTW at least 100.00 per month in storage costs.

LTW Update: A GREAT DAY OF OUTREACH IN BRYANT PARK!