January 26, 2004
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Adventures happen even when you don't plan it.
Initially, I hadn't really wanted to talk to the man sitting two seats away from me on the plane on Friday, but to my delight, it happened anyway. Earlier that morning, I had thought about the possiblity but told God that I didn't really feel up to talking to or sharing the gospel with anyone today, but as soon as I said that, the foolishness of my selfishness became evident. So I took it back, "Ok, Lord, if you really want me to, then I'm willing." Boy, crazy things happen when you're willing!
On the plane, I was writing in my journal trying to keep to myself when this energetic 70-yr old man initiated conversation with me. "Did you know you're writing upside down?" he asked. That was all the prompting I needed. We ended up having a fun conversation where I got to ask him all sorts of questions about his life, probing him and causing him to think about the deeper things of life that he hadn't allowed himself to think about for years and years. And then before I knew it, he was asking me to share about my religious beliefs. I shared with him the gospel and the whole story of how I came to know Jesus (he actually teared up!). In the end, I asked him if I could give him a gospel tract, and he was happy to receive it...
Sunday night when I was flying back to SD, I was SURE that it wouldn't happen again. I was (again) writing in my journal. The guy next to me was studying for something. He looked over to me and asked, "Are you studying too?" "No, just writing in my journal," I said and then asked, "Are you a student at UCSD?" He said, "Yes." We talked about all kinds of things, and then before long we were talking about spiritual things. It was so natural. As if God had planned it. haha.
My point? Just be willing. Any time, any place. Even though I didn't totally feel like it, I was willing. Because I know that I have the greatest news in the whole world, I'm always willing in my heart. And because I'm willing, Jesus always gives me opportunities to have great adventures. I think this weekend was quite the adventure...
Comments (8)
So true. Yet... (and I'm not sure if this is a blatant excuse or not) sometimes I feel like I have no clue how to start a conversation with someone. I'll be standing at the bus stop, feel like, "I should share the Gospel with this person that I've never met before standing beside me" and have no clue how to do it. So I don't. It's terrible. On the other hand, apparently some people think that when I do share the Gospel it comes across way too strong and they just want me to back off. :- It's amazing that God uses me at all. hahaha. Praise God for His grace.
Just have a conversation. God will lead it naturally into spiritual things. Don't just start point blank with "Do you know Jesus?" Because that CAN be quite a turnoff.
mary ann that's so encouraging.. i think as much as i have a heart for evangelism i still have so much to learn..to overcome.. i think my deal is that once i get to that gospel message time i mess up the whole thing and it comes out all incoherent and unintelligible.. and then all those hard questions (how do we know which religion is true? why does one religion have to be the only way? with so many intellectual ppl surrounding me.. the simple beautiful message of the gospel seems so much harder to put forth in such a pluralistic atmosphere)
not to be cynical, but it helps that you're a girl too!
dudes don't like talking to other dudes on planes (unless they're older). i've journaled a few times and/or read my bible on the plane and most times people just kinda look at me and that's it. i don't get discouraged, and when that doesn't work, i'll just try talking to them...but my point is just that girls should use this advantage to their benefit!
Praise God! Yes, just be willing to leave yourself open. It's also helpful to carry a couple tracts with you in your purse/wallet and backpack.
whoa.. is all i have to say - wow! i echo j9 - and yet i am really encouraged that God made it so easy! when your heart was willing.. and God made the opportunities... wow!
btw i can't believe you went to norcal when i went to socal - again!!!! mary ann!!!! hehe but i'm glad that you had so much adventure in doing so... still...!!!! hehe
so after your talk and my decision to go to the CCM random EV, it was so cool to see how God really does follow up on His end when you make a committment. this muslim girl we talked to was totally open about talking about the diffs btwn christianity and islam, and we got to share how you can really know for sure if you're going to heaven (can't know in islam)...it was a cool experience and i think we got to help her start thinking about her religion. all this to say, thanks for being the jumpstarter!
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