Let's Get Saved

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom 10:13 KJV

Our job at Pocket Full of Change Ministries is to give the Gospel, get out of the way, and let it work. So what do we do? We help people call on the name of the Lord.  We help them “get saved.” Have you ever wondered what that word means?

SAVED FOR ETERNITY
The Greek word for saved is sozo.  It is a rich word with many meanings. First, it means what most think it means - saved from an eternity in hell.  At Pocket Full of Change Ministries, we help people get to heaven. As I travel, I give the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus. I quote scripture and invite people to the party Christians call Jesus. The harvest is ripe and many say yes. I celebrate with the angels in heaven when someone calls on the name of Jesus for the very first time.

In addition to eternal salvation, sojo also means healed, delivered, and preserved.  Our call is to all of these things. We depend on prayer, the Holy Spirit and Scripture to help people understand and claim the entire power of "getting saved."

HEALED
I meet people in need of healing – spiritually and physically. I listen to their needs, pray with them, write about them if they give permission, take their picture so you can pray for them ( Photo Gallery), and send their needs out to our prayer team. I often use the power Jesus gave me as an evangelist to ask for a miracle to demonstrate the power of the Gospel. As promised in the Word of God, miracles happen as people get healed. 

DELIVERED
In case you haven’t noticed, Satan is alive and well in America. We meet people actively involved in witchcraft, devil worship, and doing unspeakable things. We meet Christians caught up in strongholds that are destroying their faith and ruining their lives. Satan may not have their eternity but he is sure ruining their time on earth. I believe what the Bible says about deliverance and use the word of God to pray over these people and bind the evil spirits. One of my greatest joys is to see the surprise on people’s faces when they feel the release from demons and strongholds. We also send these needs to our prayer team.

PRESERVED
Our call is to help people preserve their faith. Many Christians are discouraged. They worry about the economy, their children, or their marriages. Discouraged Christians know they should have faith but when life invariably happens, they find the faith faltering. When their faith falters, they feel even worse about themselves. Perhaps these people are the ones I spend the most time with. We read the Bible with them, visit in their homes, talk on the phone, Facebook, and pray with them. Often these stories are too intimate and private to share on this blog but helping discouraged Christians is a large part of the ministry. We may spend minutes, hours, and even days with Christians who find their faith in need of being preserved. Whenever possible, I share these stories and the needs with you and our prayer team. You can encourage us and help preserve this ministry by Donating.

The Life and Ministry of Josiah Emmanuel Holsing

  Josiah Emmanuel Holsing
August 27, 2014 10:00 AM - 11:35 AM

Josiah Emmanuel Holsing was born on August 28, 2014 and lived on earth 1 hour and 35 minutes. He spent that time in the arms of his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members. We knew before he was born that his life on earth was expected to be short. God has a plan for every life regardless of how long or short it is. Not every life fulfills that plan but I have no doubt that Josiah Emmanuel Holsing did.

When a child moves to heaven either in utero or soon after birth, it can be confusing for those affected. Why did this happen? How can I love someone so much when I had so little time with them? Did I do something wrong? Am I overreacting? People who loved Josiah understandably had variations of those reactions.

With the best of intentions, the “world view” can discount such a short life by reminding parents that they will have other children, offering pep talks about God’s will, or encouraging the grief stricken not to give the God given season of grief its due.

Josiah's parents, Mark and Hannah understood that Josiah’s life had meaning and a purpose and as they walked through their grief and disappointment, they bravely played their role in ensuring their son fulfilled his purpose in life and ministry.

When they found out that their son had problems that would make life on earth difficult, their demonstration of such raw grief validated what every parent who has lost a child has felt. Their demonstrated faith reminded us to hold an eternal view of life.

Mark and Hannah are our friends. They attend church with us and were our Life Group leaders. They shared Josiah with us and allowed us to come to know and love him. We will be forever blessed because of him.

When Mark and Hannah found out that Josiah's life would be short, they asked the church to hold a baby dedication while he was still snugly inside Hannah's womb. This enabled Josiah to minister to all who had lost babies so early as well as those of us grieving the short time Josiah would be with us. Grieving together as a church family reinforced the purpose and ministry of every life. It made it impossible to think of Josiah as anything other than an eternal soul beloved by God and his family. 

Josiah’s life and ministry will most certainly make the point of the value of life and mean other children will be allowed to be born and live a life on earth. 

Like all parents, Josiah’s parents shared personal moments of his life with us – when he moved inside of Hannah, his birth, and pictures of his sweet face. It reminded all of us to allow joy, even in the darkest moments of our lives.

The life of Josiah allowed his parents to strengthen other marriages by demonstrating how Christian couples can lean on each other, God, and the church to survive and even thrive during the hardest moments on earth.

I personally have already used Josiah’s life and ministry to minister to other grieving parents. His life and ministry will continue to live on earth and in heaven – reminding me of the prayer – on earth as it is in heaven.

Thank you Mark and Hannah for being such good parents to Josiah. Well done good and faithful servants. He fulfilled his destiny on earth. Thank you God for Josiah Emmanuel Holsing. We love him but know you love him more.

An Unworthy Woman

by Cheryle M. Touchton

 Do you ever feel unworthy? I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wanted to be like the “Worthy Woman” described in Proverbs 31. A commercial, popular years back sang, “We bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan, and never never let him forget that he is a man!” I don’t remember their product but the mocking melody and words haunted me. Women watched that commercial with varied reactions of inspiration and indignation. Liberated women screamed, “We don’t have to cook!” Other voices quickly reminded us that we did not have work outside the home. In the meantime, I spent my days trying to balance children, marital romance, and a career while trying to find time for a waning spiritual life. I looked at the model woman in Proverbs 31 and often ended up feeling more like an Unworthy Woman.

Have you checked out the Proverbs 31 woman lately? She could have made that commercial I referenced above. Our role model sewed, planned, shopped, took care of her home, conducted profitable business transactions, managed a staff, dressed well, spoke with wisdom, and was adored by her husband and children. As if that wasn’t enough, this “Paragon of Virtue” had a sense of humor, taught, was in shape, was famous, and even made her bed. She was worth more than rubies. So why was it that when I missed work for the important children’s event, I wondered if I was worthy of my paycheck and if I missed the children’s event, I fretted that I deserved to mark my children with a stamp that said, “return to sender”? Over the years, I’ve come to terms with being a Worthy Woman and I thought you might be interested in the twists and turns of my trying to live up to the role model presented by God.

My Hero - The Worthy Woman

10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:10-31 NIV

As a Christian woman, I knew to strive to be like this woman while wondering if it was possible. No wonder I was so tired! Surely this woman did not have to deal with doctors, day care, bosses, parking, e-mail, texts, and grocery lines. I sighed when I read that she began her day early and worked into the night. Self-esteem plummeted as I looked at my growing “to-do” lists. Guiltily, I would realize that I had skipped my Bible Study once again. Each day, I promised myself that tomorrow would be better before I collapsed into bed. 

I’d wake up the next morning and take heart. The scripture admitted (verse 10) that finding such a woman is rare. I rationalized that if there weren’t that many Worthy Women running around, maybe God didn’t really expect it of me. At that point, super-hero comic books came to mind. Possibly, this woman was the Biblical version of Wonder Woman. I fantasized that I could be like her. Maybe I really could be the one Worthy Woman on our block. This woman became my hero.

Maybe God knew I needed a hero. This scripture is a standard to which all women could aspire. It is hope for what our life could be like. My hero really was able to “do it all.” I wanted to be like her. I longed to know how. Fortunately, I found the answers in the scriptures. 

Get Help!

The hero didn’t succeed in all her endeavors alone. She chose well with her life mate. She had a successful, supportive, and respected husband. She had a staff to help her – even a housekeeper (verse 15). Maybe it really was OK to hire that housekeeper I had been dreaming of. I started planning the speech to my suspicious husband.

No Husband Bashing!

The housekeeper speech didn’t go so well at first. I thought to myself, if we had her husband, we could probably all be worthy. After all, the Worthy Woman had the perfect husband. God wouldn’t put up with that nonsense – I had a Godly husband. Besides, it wasn’t even about the type of husband she had. It was about a loving wife who always brought her husband good and not harm (verse 12). I realized with chagrin that it didn’t say that she brought him good only when he deserved it. Nonetheless, it didn’t take long for my husband to see the light about having a housekeeper.

This woman didn’t waste time blaming or complaining about her husband. While the popular modern day feminine sport of “husband bashing” might be fun and even possibly deserved, I had to stop it anyway. It wasn’t Biblical. I began trying to think only about doing my husband good.  

No Whining!

Whining is another popular way of life for many women. We even dress it up with positive words, like “venting,” “expressing our feelings,” or “standing up for ourselves.” I’d read entire books written just to justify my whining and encouraging me to stand up for myself. I’ve since realized that those books destroy happy homes and weren’t Biblical.

Instead, I studied my hero. Like me, she got up early and was never idle. She began her day taking care of her family. She went to her work and made a profit. She worked late into the night. Unlike me, she worked eagerly (verse 13). She kept her sense of humor as she laughed at her future (verse 25). My hero was too dignified to waste her life whining and complaining. I resigned from the whining department.

No Fear!

I was fearful without realizing it. I had dressed my fears up with words like caution, planning, being prudent, and learning from the past. The Bible says fear is not from God. What that meant shocked me as I realized where my fear came from. My hero did not allow fear to control her life (verse 21). She was fearless in her home and business world. This chapter is one of the many scriptures where God tells us that successful business people must be willing to take risks. My hero was willing to make decisions and act before she could guarantee outcomes. She could afford to do this because of wisdom – which does come from God. She considered a field and bought it. Out of her earnings, she planted a vineyard.

As tempting as spending or saving her money might have been, she started a second business. In this business, she made linen garments and sold them. She supplied the merchants with sashes. My hero was a profitable entrepreneur (verse 18). Because of her profits, she was able to be fearless in her home. As a result, her family stayed clothed and fed. Note that she also dressed well. This woman was no “self-sacrificing co-dependent victim,” to use modern day jargon. I began to let go of fear in business and at home and wonder of wonders, my income increased, and my family was better able to stay clothed and fed. It was fun when I realized I could afford to dress better.

Know The Secret!

My hero knew the secret to life. The scripture ends by telling us that she relied on God (verse 30). She had a healthy fear of God – the respectful kind of fear that does come from God. The only thing any of us need to be afraid of is ignoring God’s wisdom and missing the blessings He has planned. As a reward, my hero exhibited what the New Testament called the “Fruits of the Spirit.” I noticed for the first time that these were the fruits of the “Spirit” and not fruits of “works.” All of my “trying harder” had been fruitless and resulted in me feeling like the “Unworthy Woman.” I began letting the sweet fruits of the “Spirit” bloom in my life. Like my hero, when I began living by the fruits of the “Spirit” and not by “works,” those very fruits of the Spirit produced a happy home and successful career.  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

I began relaxing. Could it really be this easy? No wonder I fell so short. I was working way too hard. Most of what I was doing was necessary and even good. The problem was my motives – I was desperately trying to be worthy instead of surrendering to the joy of being obedient and trusting that I was already worthy because I was saved by grace. I was trying to do this alone. I was using Proverbs 31 as a “law” to judge me and falling woefully short. I had forgotten grace and was unsuccessfully trying to live by works. I was trying to do it all and had forgotten that I could only do “all things” if I did them in Christ. 

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

Keep In Step!

I went to my knees as I realized there was no law against the Fruits of the Spirit. They were a gift from the Spirit. I was a Christian who could live by the Spirit. I confessed my need to “keep in step” with the Spirit.

Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:23-25 (NIV)

To “keep in step,” I turned to meditation, prayer, and my Bible. I praised God as I realized that I was already perfect through Christ and was even now being made Holy. 

Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.  Hebrews 10:14  (NIV)

I looked at the model of Jesus’ life and saw that He began His days with His Father. I began waking up with a song in my heart as I began my days with my Father. I disciplined myself to have a regular quiet time each morning. That meant my husband had to help with the children in the mornings, which actually allowed him to become a better dad. He was dubious at first but will now tell anyone that it was the best thing that could have happened to our family.

In that quiet time, I became still and knew He was God. I meditated, prayed, and studied my Bible. I asked God for knowledge of His will for me and trusted that He would speak. I asked Him for the power to carry out His will each day. My insecurities begin to disappear. I asked for wisdom and knew He would give it. 

I did my best to go through my days being obedient to what I heard from God. I began to trust my instincts. God was faithful and answered my prayer as I began making better personal and business decisions. I became willing to take risks that didn’t conflict with the Bible.

As I struggled to hear God clearly, I made mistakes but that is where blessed grace works best. Before retiring at night, I began reviewing my day with God. I confessed doubts and failures. I gratefully accepted forgiveness and made any necessary amends the next day. I woke the next morning and began again.

Continue One Day At a Time!

My journey towards becoming a Worthy Woman began in 1980 and continues today, one day at a time. I rejoice that I am a child of grace. When I began keeping “in step with the Spirit,” I began feeling like that Worthy Woman, one day at a time. As promised, my adult children now call me blessed and my sweet husband praises me (verse 28). It turned out that my Biblical hero helped both of our careers as we began to understand the meaning of having our “works praised at the city gates” (verse 23 & 31). Today I stand tall. Yes, I am a Worthy Woman and enjoying my rewards (verse 31). If you are feeling unworthy, let’s talk. Everything that happened to me can happen to you. The Bible promises it. I’ve experienced it. I believe it!

Don't Argue - Ask

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady


Is the person who has slept beside you 10, 20, or even 50 years saved - in relationship with Jesus and on their way to heaven? You might be surprised at the answer. I meet people every day who aren’t 100% sure their spouse is saved but think they probably are. Sometimes I meet people who argue theology with their spouse when their spouse expresses doubts about salvation. Never argue or preach. Believe what people tell you. Find out for sure if they are saved – you don’t want to be standing at a coffin one day wondering. If they aren’t saved, lead them to Jesus.

Last night was wonderful. Nancy’s sister and brother-in-law Sandra and Rick Mowery visited her in Atlanta, Georgia. When she found out they were headed to Branson, Missouri, she mentioned I was headed there as well. Rick contacted me. I was supposed to leave the morning they arrived but extended my trip so we could visit. Imagine – them living in North Carolina, me in Pennsylvania, and us coming together in Missouri for an evening of fellowship and evangelism. Don’t you love how God works things out?

Dinner was wonderful. We were in a busy tourist area and I confess to being disappointed that God didn’t open any evangelistic doors. We decided to return to my campground, sit on the dock, and talk.

Well – we talked all right – to other people. We led 2 people to Jesus. This story is about Karen. We were almost to the dock when we met her. She was from Joplin and active in church. When I asked where she was going in the next life, her answer was, “I hope heaven.”

“It sure beats any other alternative,” I quipped. “I hope you go as well. When you get there and God asks why He should let you in, what will you say?”

“I’d tell him that I hope I’ve been good enough to get in.”

“Karen!” her husband interrupted. “You know that’s not what our pastor says.” Karen stared at the ground. They’d had this argument before.

“What does your pastor say?” I asked.

“He says we get there because of Jesus – his grace,” he answered.

“You’re pastor’s right. Have you asked Jesus to be your Savior?”

“I have,” he said. “Karen and I have talked about this before. She knows the answer.” Again, Karen looked at the ground without bothering to answer.

“Karen,” I said. “I want you to know you are going to heaven. Do you believe in Jesus?” She nodded.

“Do you know you are a sinner in need of forgiveness?” I asked. Again, she nodded, looking at the ground.

“Karen, you may not have ever done the easiest part – inviting Jesus into your life. When you do that, the Holy Spirit enters your life and you’ll have the assurance of your salvation. May I lead you in that prayer?”

“Yes,” she said quietly. We prayed and affirmed her faith in Jesus and need of forgiveness. Then, she invited Jesus into her life. We all saw it – the look of light and hope come on  her face. She’d found the missing piece of the puzzle.

“She’s done things like this before,” her husband grumbled.

“She’s probably done parts of it but that last part, inviting Jesus in, makes all the difference.” I looked at Karen. “I’m guessing you haven’t done that part before.” Karen nodded her affirmation and smiled.

“Now your wife will be in heaven with you one day,” Rick said. “All of heaven is throwing a party.”

We’d began the conversation with discussing Hot Air Balloon Festivals so I said, “An angel party is better than a Hot Air Balloon Festival.” Everyone laughed.

This sweet couple had been married and going to church for 50 years. Somewhere along the line, hubby met Jesus and assumed his wife had as well. When she doubted her salvation, he argued, preached theology, and reassured her. What he didn’t do was believe her and lead her to Jesus.

Occasionally, I meet people who doubt their salvation even though they are saved. Maybe someone scared them when they were children or sin has blocked the voice and feeling of the Holy Spirit. Those people know the answer about what gets them into heaven because they remember inviting Jesus in. For those, it is important to walk them back to the event that caused the doubt and help them with either repentance or forgiveness.

That was not the case here. This woman was a good woman trying to work her way into heaven and falling woefully short. She needed to meet Jesus personally instead of being taught “about” Him.

Tonight, when you climb into bed, turn to your spouse, and ask, “Where are you going in the next life?” Listen and don’t argue. If they say heaven or hope they are going to heaven, follow up with, “When you get to heaven and God asks why He should let you in, how will you answer?” Listen without argument. If they say anything other than I’m going to heaven because of the blood of Jesus or because I’ve called on the name of Jesus as my Savior, simply quote scripture.

“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. All who call on the name of Jesus will be saved.”

Ask them if you can lead them in a prayer so you will one day be in heaven together. Let them know you’ll tell them exactly what to pray. Chances are they’ll say yes. It they don’t, let it go. God will use the scripture to convict their heart.

If they say yes, pray, “Dear God, I believe in you. I believe in your son Jesus – that He died on a cross and rose from the dead for me. I confess that I am a sinner. Please forgive me. Come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for my salvation. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Go to sleep knowing for sure that your spouse will one day be in heaven with you. Don’t ruin their amazing moment with more intellectual teaching. Just be quiet, hold them, and let them enjoy their Holy Spirit Moment. Trust that they now have the Holy Spirit working for them and be patient with their growth.


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I Christian

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

I was hot and sticky. Evangelizing in an outdoor mall in 100-degree temperatures is brutal. Evangelistically speaking, it had been a disappointing day. People were too hot to talk. It was my birthday so I splurged by ending it at a nail salon. I plopped down in the pedicure chair, put my feet in the water, and promptly fell asleep.

“Why you in Branson?” I vaguely realized someone was working on my feet and talking so I shook off sleep.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” the nail tec said. “You sleeping. I won’t talk.”

“No,” I said. “I want to talk to you. I do ministry. I travel America and help people meet Jesus. I am staying at the campground next door.”

Her English name was Phoebe. Her Vietnamese name was Une. She was twenty and had been in America almost 3 years. She loved talking but struggled with English. We both just kept repeating things and saying things in different ways until we understood each other. 

“You Christian?” she asked.

“I am. In Viet Nam, was your family Catholic or Buddhist?”

Her face lit up. “We Catholic. In Vietnam, we from south. South more like America and North follow Russia and China. North mostly Buddhist. In Viet Nam, we have 2 ways - God or Buddha. My family follow God. In America, I hear Christian. My friend’s family Christian. I not know difference.”

“Christian means people follow Jesus. Jesus is God’s son. You were taught about God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?” I made the sign of the cross.

“Yes,” she said, saying the words back awkwardly. “But we follow God. No talk much about other.”

“Christian means you believe in Jesus, have asked for forgiveness of sin and asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Christian includes many religions. In America, we have Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostals, Episcopalians, and others but all are Christian if Jesus is their Savior. Do you know word sin?”

She shook her head and looked confused at the word.

“Sin is the mistakes we make. Things we do wrong.”

“Yes,” she nodded. “My grandmother said demons will make me do wrong and if I do wrong, I go to hell. Buddhists can come back for another life but Catholics go to be with God or to hell.”

“Yes,” I laughed. “Demons will try to make you do wrong but I want to talk more about hell. When you ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, he forgives you for your sin and saves you from hell. The word Lord means he is your boss – he is in charge of you. Like the person you work for here. Do you understand?” She nodded.

“Savior means he died on the cross to save you from hell. Jesus doesn’t want you to go to hell.”

“I understand,” she said, her face lighting up. “Woman came to Landing. She had picture. God on one side and me on other. Cross was bridge. I had to walk across. Picture made me understand what you say.”

“I am happy she showed you that picture. I have seen that picture. It very good. Did she pray with you?”

“No, but I think about it. She Christian. She say ‘God bless you.’ She nice. Christians like to say ‘God bless you.'”

“Phoebe, Bible says we all sin. The cost of our sin is death and that means hell. Yes, demons want you to go to hell but heaven is God’s gift to us. All who call on the name of Jesus will be saved from hell – they will be Christian. Would you like to pray and become Christian?”

“My English no good enough.”

“I help you. I tell you what to say and make you understand.” Notice, that I used her simplistic broken English. That was on purpose. I’ve found it helps those struggling with English understand better if I copy their phraseology.

“Yes please!” she said. “Thank you. I want to be Christian.”

We prayed slowly and simply. I stopped to explain words she stumbled over. Occasionally, she would repeat a phrase when she understood it better. As soon as she finished praying, she begin bouncing up and down and giggling.

“You are feeling the Holy Spirit. He came into your life when you asked Jesus to be Savior and Lord.”

“Yes,” she giggled. “I feel Him. I understand Christian.”

“You are Christian,” I encouraged.

“I Christian!” she said, giggling again.

“The Bible calls that getting born again. You have been reborn as Christian. ”

“Wait,” she said. “I get paper. You write word down. Born again. I put in my phone.” She got paper and I wrote ‘born again’ down along with the meaning.

“If the woman who showed you the picture comes to the mall again, tell her what you did,” I encouraged. “God was sending you people to help you be Christian.”

“I will. She come Tuesday. I Christian! I tell her. I say God bless you.” 

“I want picture of you. You are smiling and I want  a picture,” I said.

“Yes, take picture.” She posed. We swapped information so we could be facebook friends.

Phoebe hugged me as I left. She whispered in my ear, “I Christian. God Bless you.”

I felt God sing, “Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Cheryle, Happy Birthday to you.” Was that my mama I heard harmonizing with Him?

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I'm Not Easy But Jesus Is

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

But where sin increased, grace increased all the more. Rom 5:20

I have a knack for it – saying that thing that sets others up for a joke. I don’t do it on purpose, it just happens – sometimes very publicly.

“I’m going to the campground.” I announced, stepping onto the Casino shuttle bus in Vicksburg, Mississippi. I’d spent the evening evangelizing at the Casino. I’d had many meaningful conversations but was a little disappointed that I hadn’t led anyone to Jesus. I’d also had an excellent seafood buffet. I did not gamble but have to confess that those quarters I give away were burning a hole in my pocket. On my first journey in 2002, God made it very clear that on these journeys, quarters were to be used for Him.

“What campsite are you in?” the driver asked.

“The very first site you come to - 1.”

“I can sure find that,” he said, laughing.

“Yep, I’m easy.” Talk about awkward silence. The driver and the two men on the bus were all thinking the same thing. I stood there a moment deciding between leaving it alone or quipping my way into an evangelism opening. You guessed it – I had everyone’s attention so I went for it.

“Well, I’m not easy. My husband probably wouldn’t like to hear I’m on a Casino bus announcing I’m easy.”

“Where is your husband?” one man asked. “Did you leave him there gambling?”

“Nope, he’s home praying for me.” Everyone laughed.

“Did his prayers work? How much did you win,” the same man asked.

“We’ll see after this bus ride. Actually, he was praying that I was winning but not what you might think. My job is to win souls for Jesus. I was at the Casino sharing the good news of Jesus.”

The man scowled. “I’m a Christian but I don’t think you should be sharing about this here. Seems like you’d have more luck at the homeless shelter where people are down on their luck.”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I saw some people here tonight down on their luck.  What about you? Did you win?”

“No but I don’t think people want to here about Jesus while they’re gambling. Beside, you can’t talk to people about Jesus who are drinking. ”

“We need all the prayers we can get,” the bus driver chimed in. Comforting that the driver was joking about being a drinker.

“Actually you can talk to a drunk. The Gospel scriptures are powerful and will sober up a drunk. I’ve seen it happen many times. You’ll be surprised but I lead people to Jesus in these environments all the time.”

I turned to the man who had been silent the entire time. “Did you win?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head sadly. “I try to be a Christian but don’t know how good I am at it.” I suspected his gambling losses had been bigger than he expected.

“Do you go to church?”

“Not as much as I could.”

“Do you believe in Jesus?” He nodded firmly but looked down.

“Do you know where you are going in the next life?”

“I hope heaven but I’m not sure I’m going to make it.”

“I might not be easy but Jesus is,” I encouraged. “You don’t have to try so hard or worry about making it. The Bible says we’ve all sinned and fallen short. Yes, the wages of sin are death and you look like you believe that right now.” He nodded sadly.

“The Bible goes on to say the gift of God is eternal life and all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. Calling on Jesus gets us to heaven – not being good enough and trying.”

 “Here you are,” announced the bus driver. “We are at your campsite.” I knew he’d been listening to every word.

“I know we are at my campsite,” I continued. “But this is important and the kind driver will wait right here until we finish this. Would you like me to lead you in a prayer calling on Jesus as your Savior?”

“Yes, please,” he whispered.

I led him in a prayer. He said it firmly, especially the part asking for forgiveness and asking Jesus to be his savior. When we finished, I encouraged him to keep being good but explained that now he had the Holy Spirit helping. I resisted the urge to rush the end even though I was probably messing up the shuttle schedule. I told him that the Bible says all of heaven celebrates one person meeting Jesus and that an angel party was better than a Casino party. Everyone on the bus laughed one last time.

“Thank you for waiting,” I told the driver, quickly stepping off. I felt bad that I hadn’t confirmed his faith.

“No! Thank you!” he said firmly. “And I’m waiting here until you get locked inside.” I don’t know if he was thanking me because he was a Christian appreciating what had happened or if he had prayed along with the man sitting on the bus. I could tell by the warmth in his voice that he was saved.

As I stepped off the bus, I also resisted the urge to tell the proclaimed Christian, “I told you so.”

PS – I know my best friend Nancy Edwards is going to scold me for letting 3 men know I was staying alone in this campground but God is just going to have to protect me because this was meant to be.


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I'm Late - I'm Late - For a Very Important Date

By Cheryle M. Touchton
The Pocket Full of Quarters Lady

For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 2: 10

Swimming in the Florida Sun

People always ask where I’m going to go next. Sometimes I answer, “I don’t know. Are you about to tell me?” These journeys mimic my life – I plan one thing and God plans another and God’s plans are often revealed through circumstances and other people. If I know something is God’s plan, I usually do pretty well with obedience but the trick is to know something is God’s will.

For example, I left Jacksonville and meandered west on US-90. I was feeling the pressure of being able to click another state on the website map so when I got to Tallahassee, I headed north into Alabama. I had what I labeled as a flash of longing to head to Pensacola but chalked it up to my longing for Florida sunshine and beaches and disciplined myself to “stay focused.” Why is it that I forget that God also works through the delights of my heart?

Then I found out that my nephew Jim Milligan’s Grandfather-in-law had moved to heaven and that the services were going to be in Pensacola. I had only met his wife’s grandfather once but I was only 3 hours away and wanted Jim to have family representation at the funeral. Besides, I’ve found funerals to be great places to talk about Jesus because people are thinking about eternity. I then realized that the “flash of longing” was actually the “still small voice” letting me know where I was to go next. What a testimony I’d have had if I’d just trusted the voice when I heard it and was already in Pennsacola when my “sight” told me I needed to be here. But alas – it is hind sight that is 20/20. So after getting this important lesson, you’d think I’d automatically trust that voice the next time a test comes along but I almost talked myself out of listening again.

The funeral was actually this morning at ten. Ten is early for getting somewhere from a campground so I carefully planned the morning. I’d planned on leaving Pensacola right from the campground but I got invited to another party the night after the funeral. My rule on these journeys is to go where I’m invited so I had to tell the campground that I was staying an extra night. The office didn’t open until 9. It was a 30-minute drive and I needed gas so the timing worked if I had everything ready to go after I went to the camp office.

Everything was on schedule until the office was late opening up. While I impatiently waited, I visions of the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland saying, “I’m late. I’m late – for a very important date.” A man joined me on the porch. I felt that gentle tug to talk with him but also felt time pressure about what I knew was going to be a very formal funeral. I heard stirring inside the office indicating they were about to open and almost gave into the pressure of “being late for my very important date.”

With a mental sigh, I asked the man, “Where are you from?”

“Alabama. I needed to get away. My daughter and I moved here after my wife died.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you. I wanted to give up but my daughter’s just 10 and she needs me.” He was working in the campground. He’d grown up in church but because he liked rock music and tattoos, after one too many accusations of being a devil worshipper, he gave up on church. He’d never met Jesus personally but in his desperation to find solace in his grief, he’d visited what he called an “amazing church” two weeks ago.

It was so sweet. The Holy Spirit had prepared Him. He wanted Jesus to be real and longed for hope. I forgot the tick tock of that important date. Instead, I heard the song, Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling playing in my head and knew I needed to go softly and tenderly. I used the sweet words of the Gospel and he literally leaned into my words. He believed in a Father God but not Jesus so I shared what he was missing by limiting his belief to Father God. Father God is our Daddy – our Creator. Jesus is our Savior – offers grace for our mistakes and teaches us how to live abundantly. The Holy Spirit is the comforter that Jason so desperately craved but could not find until he met Jesus. When I invited him to pray, there was no hesitation. Afterward, he whispered, “I felt something.” I suspected that he had been blocking feelings because of grief. Imagine what a relief it must have been to feel again and have that feeling be the Holy Spirit.

I got into my camper oblivious to time. I gassed up and drove into the church parking lot two short minutes before my important date. I sat on the pew just as the music and funeral processional began.

All I can say is wow about my time in Pensacola. I’ve given the Gospel many times. Three people have met Jesus. I’ve had a full dose of Florida sunshine, sand, swimming, dolphins, birds, and yes, unfortunately, flies and mosquitoes. My plan is to leave Pensacola tomorrow. We’ll see what God has planned.
 

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