"The Storyteller"

Stepping Out in RED Shoes!

- Day 57 -

There's nothing like "A Good Story!"

A week ago, an elderly, pastor friend of mine lent me a marvelously old book about the American revivals of old.  The book was published in 1876.  All week I have been going through it, reading the most interesting articles written by observers of the day -- people who sat back and watched what happened and then wrote about it.

Today I stopped by my friend's church and visited with him.  I sat myself down in his office and we talked about the book.  Here's a man who's been in ministry for well over 50 years.  He's seen it all.  So I asked him to tell me about one of the most amazing things he's ever seen.

He told me about a young couple who had come to the church during the "hippie" days.  They sat in the balcony and just watched for months.  Then one morning, a Christian man from the church appeared at the pastor's home, with the hippie guy by his side, stating proudly... "This guy wants to get saved!"  

The pastor welcomed them into his living room and talked with them about the gospel message.  He wanted to be sure the young man understood salvation.  Finally, it was time to pray.  The minister told the man that they would all close there eyes now in prayer, and that it was up to him to ask Jesus to come into his heart.  That's simple enough.

 They all closed their eyes and after a minute or two, the man began to groan.  The minister sensed there  was some sort of demonic activity going on.  The man looked up at the pastor and stated, "I just can't do it!"  The minister calmly assured him that all would be well once he asked Jesus into his heart.  "Go ahead.  You can do it!" he encouraged him.

They bowed their heads again when suddenly, without notice,  up the man jumped, hands lifted high into the air, praising Jesus like there was no tomorrow.  "Wooooosh!" the minister proclaimed as he looked at me, making a sweeping motion with his hand.    It was as if a rushing river went right through that young man.  It started at his feet right and went right up through his head.  He was washed clean.  I've never sensed the presence of the Lord the way I did that day in that room!

The next week rolled around and the newly saved man showed up again -- this time with his girlfriend. She wanted to be saved as well.  The same scenario unfolded.  BOOM!  Up she stood, hands lifted high, praising Jesus in the most wonderful way.

"The both of them were dynamically saved.  

No one touched them.  They just asked 

Jesus into their hearts and Wooooosh!

They were never the same."

I wish you could have seen this pastor's face.  He was glowing as he told me the story.  His eyes were bright -- his smile from ear to ear.  You would have thought it had just happened yesterday.  Then I noticed something...  I was captivated.  I was sitting on the edge of my seat, hanging on the minister's every word.   The Holy Spirit had slipped into the office and joined us for this time of story telling.  How wonderful.

Just today, my friend Tammy said to me... "When someone dies, it's like losing a library."  My visit made me realize how true that was.  I shall have to step out in my RED shoes again soon to visit this pastor friend of mine.  One story is not enough.   I hope he will share his library with me!

Joel 1:3 says...

"Tell it to your children, 

and let your children tell it to their children,

 and their children to the next generation."

Until tomorrow,

Gail