on december 31st, on a drive out to a new year's eve party, a sister in Christ challenged me to run with her and share the gospel with at least one person every day, for a year. we both discussed how this is something, as Christians, we should have already been doing. I jumped at this exciting, yet also scary, opportunity. I have friends that blog and never thought that I would actually start one. but I heard about this idea from a pastor in a sister church in Utah, who is doing the same thing. after reading and being encouraged by his stories, I too decided that I wanted to share my Jesus stories with you! (you should check out his blog at: http://gr84god.blogspot.com/) I am a little disappointed that I didn't hear about his blog sooner! but I still want to share how God moved this last month through simply handing out a tract to at least one person a day. so, I will briefly list this last month. you can read them, or-just start with me from now on.
my purpose and motivation for this blog:
Romans 1:5-6
Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey Him, bringing glory to His name. And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.
1.1.10
+the first day I went to spend some "kohls cash" to get a few items that I needed. all day, and the whole time I was in the store, my mind was literally consumed with the fact that I had to give the "do you know for certain" tract out. I kept praying and looking for that opportunity. well, it came down to the point where I was checking out and it was my last option. I nervously made small talk with Jean, my checker-outer lady (she was very kind) and after she handed me my sack I said, "have you ever seen one of these? would you just read it for me?" I immediately got a cold look/response and as I turned I saw her slide it by the register. I prayed she would read it during her long night shift or that later another one of her co-workers would pick it up and hear the Good News. a big breath from me as I walked out day one was over. I knew this was going to be hard. handing out that little booklet seems so simple yet I still had that fear!
1.2.10
+we always go out to eat after church and my car had stopped at jimmy johns. the two guys at the register looked really familiar to me so I struck up converstaion and we found out that we had all been in band together back in the day..woohoo! after reminiscing I asked them if I could give them something, they both said yes so I happily reached down to grab a tract but only had one! I knew I had more in my car so I awkwardly left, and then came back with one for him. haha. they both seemed to appreciate it.
1.3.10
+I had a lunch date with 5 of my old high school friends this day. God really blessed me with such a solid group of girls, we have always made it a point to still get together since all going different places for college. we ate at panera and the whole time I was just praying for an opportunity to share. I've prayed for these women for many years. finally God changed the topic of conversation from drinking to the left behind books! bam! it was sweet. one of my friends was reading them and really liked them. I pressed questions and got to share the truth. I left no tracts this day but I always feel a little extra blessed when I actually get a conversation!! I left panera smiling big. God is good and faithful and He's moving!
1.4.10
+I was not going anywhere on this day and the dorms are empty over break. great. how will I get a tract out? so, I decided to get creative and use the resources God gave me to make sure I got the gospel out today. one of my brothers friends had sent me a facebook message commenting on an oswald chambers quote I had had as my status. he said it was inspiring. I took this opportunity to share the gospel with him in a reply message. it seemed like a weak-sauce effort (and it's only day four!) but you'll see later how God still used it!
1.5.10
+I went to wal-mart on my way home from work to pick up a few food items. as I checked out I asked the typical "have you ever seen one of these?" to my surprise the cashier actually said, "I did 20 years ago and it made all the difference" I replied with an "amen!" and walked away. I was stoked! but then also like, oh, I still need to give one out! as I looked up a tall gentlemen was standing by the door with a frown. I handed him the tract with my typical question, and walked out as I saw him read the front cover "do you know for certain?" I had noticed he was wearing a cross necklace and prayed that he knew the true answer and reason for that cross.
1.6.10
+it was super snowy this day but had to get something important from hy-vee I'm sure...or just be sure I got a tract out. I honestly don't remember why I went now. anyway, I gave my cashier Jaime and tract and then also left one for Holly at the photo center at walgreens. I love to run errands for Jesus.
1.7.10
+I needed a "dawg" day (Day Alone With God) so I got out of the dorm and hit up the local scooters down the street. after I ordered my mocha, and gave my barista the tract, I spent the rest of my afternoon at a table in front of a huge window, reading/praying/journaling. as I left there was a lady sitting right by the door on her computer. call it the Holy Spirit? but I felt compelled to give one to her as well. she paused, and read the cover out loud! then to my utter surprise, asked me to sit down for a minute!!!! we introduced, talked, shared the gospel, and basically, became friends! Hope had two friends coming and they asked me to stay so I could be their fourth for Phase Ten. Phase Ten for the gospel..? you bet. I learned that her two friends were Christians and one was looking for a local church. I gave them Candlewood cards and left my number. we didn't pray but Hope said she would read the whole tract and I left scooters that night with a huge smile, I love how God works and I believe He's moving in her heart.
1.8.10
+I don't really like wal-mart but somehow I always end up there! I asked my usual "have you ever seen one of these before?" to my cashier, Dennis, and he replied "yeah! I think you gave me one last week!" (side note: I remember faces...for the most part. I know for sure it was not me who gave him a tract so praise God for my faithful brothers and sisters stepping out as well! and my cashier didn't need to know this so I just rolled with it...) I replied, "oh yeah? did you read it?" he said he lost it so I gave him another and forcefully told him he had to read it this time before he goes to bed that night.
1.9.10
+after church my college group went to eat at "VI" (village in). It was late and I had not given out my one tract yet. as we walked in an older man was also walking in so I handed him one. he seemed bitter to me. I pray for his salvation.
1.10.10
+I visited a dear friend that was in the hospital this week. I gave a tract to a young man named Danny. as he took it he said, "Okay. I'm going to read it right now" and walked back to his room.
1.11.10
+first day of classes. yes! fresh, new faces! people are back on campus! I sat by Pete and Carolyn in my p&a lecture. when the professor was done I handed them both tracts. they seemed grateful for the gift.
1.12.10
+classes. day two. p&a lecture again. eight am. I switched it up and sat by a new girl, named Andrea. I gave her a tract at the end of lecture. she said thanks and that she would read it.
1.13.10
+went out to lunch at burger star with two dear friends! we left a tract on our table as we left.
1.14.10
+I have come to find that the girls locker room is a great place to find girls to share with! ha! I left one with Danielle, a girl in quite a few of my classes and then ran into a girl I used to nanny with! I had been convicted so many times to share with Ashley and never did. then I'm doing this whole challenge thing...and decided that opportunity was a divine appointment! I am so thankful for God's grace and second chances.
1.15.10
+my roommates really needed puppy chow...or I still had to get my tract out there...so I made a special trip to hy-vee and left a tract with my cashier Dani.
1.16.10
+went to the clubhouse for some random reason and there were two guys looking at the vending machines. I left a tract with both of them.
1.17.10
+I'm an RA and work the desk shift all day on sunday's and it's always really slow. I also have to be careful about how bold I am with my faith here. the day went on and all of the sudden it was 11:30pm and I still hadn't given out a tract. I got back to campus and was just going to go look for someone. I remember thinking and feeling that I had failed that day, and failed God. I saw three huge scary dudes smoking cigars in front of a building and as I made a loop to come back I prayed,"okay Lord, I will go to them if you want, but keep me safe!" but I then eagerly starting praying for a nice lovely girl to give a tract to and lo and behold, one came out of another building! I awkwardly called out to her and gave her a tract. she asked me if I was a Christian and I said yes! we chatted for a few minutes and I got to invite her to our dinner the next night and she was interested in church. as I walked away I felt so loved by God. He is good. oh! and the scary dudes were gone when I returned but there were two other smokers on my way so I gave them tracts as well. :)
1.18.10
+had lunch with a dear sister in Christ and we gave a tract to our server, Alex. (side note: I realized that our churches supply of tracts was quickly depleting. so I decided to spice it up and purchased some tracts online that look like one million dollars. they are perfect for situations like this, in a restaurant!)
1.19.10
+found another girl in the girls locker room, made small talk about some buttons on her backpack and then gave her a tract. she looked at it and replied "Oh honey, I ain't Christian" and handed it back to me. I just took it and walked away. I'm not to quick but kind of wish I would have said "that's why I'm giving it to you!"
+later that day on my way home from work I really needed stick butter to bake cookies so I stopped at a little grocery store called wholners. I gave my kind cashier a tract with my usual lingo. as I walked away I heard someone call out my name. unbelievable. it was Hope! the scooters lady! I was amazed. we briefly chatted and then I left, smiling big. how crazy that God took me to wholners at that exact time. He is moving!
1.20.10
+I was walking into class and I stopped an older man, who was walking out, and gave him a tract. he raised his eyebrows and seemed curious. I wished him a good day and prayed for him.
1.21.10
+guess where I am? yup! the locker room again! I got to walk out with Rachel as I gave her a tract. she read the cover and said she had never really thought about that before. she went the other way to her class and I told her to read it and to let me know what she thinks.
+at work my co-worker was asking a favor and then jokingly said "and you can give me a million dollars." this grabbed my attention and I said, "Okay! Hold On!" I ran over to where I keep my bag and grabbed my last tract that has Obama on the front and looks like real money. "I said, here you go!" I think she saw Obama and got freaked out because she said she didn't want it. I insisted and said "no really, read the back!" there was quite a crowd now so I walked back to my work and left it to filter through them. later that day it somehow got back on my desk and so I insisted on making my co-worker Tracy take it home. I was mad I had only had one left in my bag that day, but oh so thankful to my savior. I had been praying for an opportunity at work and He brought it in the most creative way! that night I was certain to restock my armor.
1.22.10
+my college group went to the movie "to save a life" (you should see it!!) and I told my ticket man how lame it is that students only get discounted on thursdays. (I'm a student every day of the week!! I just don't get it.) anyway, he too was a student and felt the pain, but I left him a "million dollar" tip, and a message worth more than anything.
+after the movie my car stopped at mcdonald's for ice cream. I gave Matthew, my cashier a million dollars. he smiled and immediately read the back! as we were leaving I heard him shout to his coworkers (in a genuine excited non-mocking way) that he had received a million dollars! I believe he would share that bill with his co-workers and that they too would read the Message.
1.23.10
+it's after church and I again find myself at the jimmy johns drive through. It's a new guy I've never seen so I leave him with a tract and ask him to read it. he started reading it as I drove away.
1.24.10
+had to pick up a birthday gift for a three-year-olds birthday party. I left a tract with the girl at the Target checkout lane. she smiled as I handed it to her and said thank you.
1.25.10
+a sister and I went "gospeling" around campus and we sat to "eat lunch" with a girl that was sitting by herself in the student center. we talked with her for a good half hour, at least, and got to share with her and leave her with some literature. I was surprised that she was so willing to let two strangers sit and have lunch with her. I pray for Sarah's salvation.
1.26..10
+I was walking out of my class and as I held the door for the person behind me, it was actually a guy from my p&a and swimming class. we small talked about how hard our swimming class was that day and then as we were about to part ways I said, "can I give you something?" Zach said "sure." so I rummaged around in my bag and gave him a tract. I told him to read it and just let me know what he thought. he said, "okay, I'll see you thursday". I then proceeded to walk to the student center and stopped to fish for something in my backpack and a girl stopped. I left her the same message and she looked at the tract funny. eh, I will just keep casting my nets!
1.27.10
+I'm frozen and walking to my ten o'clock. I look up and lo and behold, there is Zach from my class! I said hello and then the next thing I know we're talking about the tract and he said he couldn't stop thinking about the question "will you go to heaven if you die?" his heart seemed really soft and receptive to the gospel and he realized that he would need to make some life style changes if that's what he were to choose. he then asked me if I was a part of "the church group" on campus and if I knew Janna or Ashley. I said yes! apparently he works with two of my good friends! can I just say, God is so cool! I invited him to our college ministry that night called "the rock" but he worked so I invited him to church. he was legitimately interested. we departed (late for my class for the gospel? you bet.) later that morning I sent a text to my friend Janna and later she said that Zach approached her and that they had a good convo as well that day. I believe he will get saved.
+that night I walked in a building for my lab, and I ran into another friend from a class last semester. In my mind I said, "why not!" and left him with "a million dollars". Dan seemed a little freaked out.
1.28.10
+today! I was heading out to work and a girl from the building across from mine came out at the same time. it's one of those, I-say-hi-but-don't-really-know-you relationships. I just small talked, Megan was super nice. as we departed for our cars I gave her a tract. she was very grateful and asked "oh, how will I get this back to you after I read it?" I said "its yours-to keep!" her face brightened and she said thanks.
