This is from a missionary friend of ours. Goes to show you that we don't haft to go to a third world country to be a missionary.
Rita Turner lolministries | May 22, 2011 at 8:37 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/pXrX0-2X On my way home last night from a beautiful Graduation Ceremony, I had to stop at Walgreens to pick up some dog food. On my way out of the store, there was a woman who was asking everyone that passed by "Excuse me, come here, I need your help". This woman had a cane she was leaning on, older in age, clothes were tattered, hospital bracelet on her arm. I politely obliged and walked over to hear what she had to say, in my mind the prayer had already begun on the words 'excuse me'.

As I approached her, she introduced herself as Rita Turner and stated she needed my help and she means no disrespect in asking me to begin with. Then she dove into her story, seemed liked she told it 100 times or more. She apologized for her voice being the way it was, she talked in almost a whisper that I had to strain to hear and said that was due to a terminal disease she had been diagnosed with and was currently receiving treatment for. I couldn't understand every word she said but I caught the jist of what she was saying. About 5 minutes into sharing with me, she saw another couple walking into the store and called them over in the same manner and I watched as they hesitated but then came over to hear what she had to say. So Rita started over.

Rita Turner's situation according to Rita: Her son was murdered and you might have seen it on the news last year, it was in the 6 Flags area. (I tried briefly to find the story but I couldn't see anything, course I don't know if he had same last name..anyway that's not important); she has been diagnosed with a terminal illness (she said the term several times but I couldn't tell you what it was); she is in and out of the hospital due to the illness; she is currently staying in the Budgett Inn on Thornton Rd. And this is where her request came which was this. The mgr of the hotel has been gracious with her and her situation in letting her stay there past when she has paid through and she is asking for help in paying her hotel bill.

Now from the get-go as I'm standing there listening to her story and wanting to give her the respect as a person and hear her request for help - I'm praying internally and asking God.."God, how would you have me respond?". The other couple is still standing there listening as well and at this point I don't feel the nudge from the Holy Spirit asking me to act immediately but I don't want to just walk away. So I ask for a 'way out'. At that point, Rita pulls out 2 pieces of paper that look to be from her hotel and the charges and her current balance that is still owed. She then says that people who want to help can pay the hotel directly if they would like to as well, the only thing about that is that they have to do it in person and not over the phone. At that point I 'see my way out' politely and verify the hotel information several times..Budgett Inn, Thornton Rd, Rita Turner. I bid her goodbye and left.

I get in my car and pray out loud. "Lord Jesus, if you want me to help this woman - I ask you for confirmation that in the morning when I wake up, you will remind me of her name and where she is staying." and I headed home. I think, surely that's enough and I'll figure it out in the morning. After all, it's been a long day and I'm tired.

Dear Lord, forgive me.

I start thinking about Rita. The way she presented her story, approaching me humbly yet confident in knowing what she had to do. She apologized and did her best not to offend me or disrespect me and I noticed that not only with her words saying that literally, but also in her mannerisms. It's almost like God put me in her shoes through her eyes. I'm sure that she's had many look 'down on her' thinking she was 'just another beggar' or 'a fraud' asking for money outside of a store to do God knows what, with the money. How degrading that could make someone feel. I don't know if you have ever had to ask for help but that has got to be hard for anyone at one point or another. As I thought about the conversation and remembered her telling it..I could see her tear up as she talked about the loss of her son. It was like God had told her and gave her the strength and the courage to 'do what she had to do' so that He could bring ppl across her path to bless her and fill the need for her.

I know this might sounds silly since she didn't actually SAY any of this stuff that I feel God showed me as I thought back on our conversation while driving home, but I believe it was the Holy Spirit. He didn't push me and give me that gut wrenching feeling that I couldn't help but acknowledge. This was more like a gentle whisper saying "Tina, are you going to be obedient, take the opportunity?..to the least of these..."

I was just about home when I turned the car around and headed towards the hotel. I said to myself I would drive to the hotel and follow the Holy Spirit's direction. I wasn't sure about the area and safety, I imagine if she was being able to stay there without paying the fee's on time then it probably wasn't a 5 star gated community. As I'm driving I think on Haiti and some of the situations that arose there and think...if I can be so passionate about risking life and stepping out of my comfort zone in a 3rd world country that I'm unfamiliar with and in a lot more danger there then why can't I take a chance and be passionate for Rita..here in my own backyard?

I get to the hotel and walk into the office. Sir, do you have a Rita Turner staying here? Yes, he replied. I ask, is her current balance $72 (Rita shared that with us at the Walgreen and showed reciept too). Yes, Yes it is. That was the confirmation I needed. "Sir, I would like to pay $50 towards that balance please". Light of Love supporters were able to bless Rita in this way. I also left my card for Light of Love to pass along to Rita as well.

When I walked away, I began to pray. I prayed in the Spirit. I prayed that Rita would reach out for prayer if needed. I prayed that others would come across Rita's path, not just to provide money but also to be a friend to Rita. To see Rita through God's eyes and not their own. To see how beautiful she is when God looks at her. He doesn't see a homely woman, begging for money, dying from a terminal illness, wounded in her heart and crying inside to be loved. God sees her as his own child, created in His image, smiling and walking in the freedom that He wants her to walk in.

I don't know if her entire story was true about her son. I have no way of proving if she really is dying from a terminal illness. But you know what I don't need to. I was given the opportunity to bless a woman who was earnestly asking for help. I felt a nudge by the Holy Spirit to be a light in my own backyard. To step out of my comfort zone and worship Him by helping this child, called by Him. So I did. And I thank Him for the opportunity. I thank Him for giving me the ears to hear His voice in her words.

Please keep Rita in your prayers as God lays her upon your heart.

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YOUR CHOICE?????

Could you count the number of choices you have? Think about it, how many choices do you have today? When you look into your closet do you have a choice of, pants?, shirts?, shoes?, dress?, belts?  How many outfits are different, and how many are alike? How about when you go to the kitchen? Do you have a choice of breakfast food? cereal, or fruit? Maybe you would rather choose a McD's sausage biscuit? How about how you will get some news this morning? internet?  TV?  newspaper?  radio? water cooler gossip? The average person in the USA has hundreds of choices every day.

Let's compare that with people who live in a village in a third world country. They don't have a closet in their home.  They wear the same clothes almost every day. Maybe they have one more shirt or dress, but not today, it is just an average day. They do not have a kitchen, so goes to the pot in the yard where she has corn papa boiling in the pot. If they do not like this they can choose to go hungry. Oh, maybe they’ll have a choice of maybe a few herbs to flavor it some, but he only has a little left.  Maybe they’ll save it for tonight. How will they get some news? Maybe if someone comes from the city he will hear something about the outside world.

The man in the third world country has few choices and the man in USA has many. Both men are loved by God.

I have meet men and women whose lives are like this....only a few choices each day. If you go to meet men and women in third world and see the way much of the world lives outside of the USA it will change your perspective on many things. One of the biggest is how many choices we have every day.

Another big choice is this......

The question is will you serve the Lord today or will you serve yourself? Are you willing to say, "Lord what should I be doing today in order to do the Kingdom work you would have me do." So often in our world of thousands of choices serving the Lord is left until later. Not that we want to forget God, or His work, it is just that we think " I’m busy right now with ME stuff.... you know..... making the choices that are important to me." I will do the work of God later.

But now think about this, does the person in a third world country have a choice about what to believe about God? You do. But do they???

Romans 10:14-15

14 But how can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent?

It is our responsibility to make sure the world gets the opportunity to decide for themselves about who Jesus is!!!

It is your responsibility to help in this cause!!!

 You do have a choice you know!!!.

God bless,

Sam & Elaine

Dear Friends and family,

This Easter morning, Elaine and I give thanks for God’s incredible love for us. With those three joyful words—“He is risen!”—we celebrate the greatest miracle of all.

On this Easter day, we hope you’ll also reflect on the precious miracles you’ve shared with the sick, the hungry, the orphaned, and the impoverished. With every life you change, you are living your faith in the most powerful way possible.

Thank you for sharing your love with the vulnerable and the afraid. Because of you, they are rising up against impossible circumstances and living new lives full of hope.

May God bless you and your family, and fill your hearts with joy this Easter, remember JESUS IS ALIVE!!!

GOD BLESS,

Sam and Elaine

Global Outreach Missions

www.globaloutreachmissions.com

JESUS!!!! Something to Shout About

Shout for joy. Psalm 33:3 (NIV)

I love sports, not so much a fan of football, baseball or basketball but a big fan of NASCAR. I've gone to many races over the years, and every time I go there are thousands of fans dressed up and painted up in their favorite driver’s team colors, shouting at the top of their lungs every time he passes another car. When he wins, what a noise! Everyone is screaming!

Then we as followers of Jesus come into church we acknowledge Jesus as our Savior, we confess how He has secured for us a place in heaven (which the Bible describes as a place where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain) and we're completely quiet. The silence is only broken with a brief head nod and a quick "Amen" under our breath.

May it never be so! May we find ourselves so amazed and in awe of our Savior that we shout our praise, cry "Hallelujah and Amen," and in every way surpass the enthusiasm found at a football stadium, baseball field, basketball court or a race track!

During Jesus' triumphal entry, the Gospel of Luke says the disciples were praising God "in loud voices." The Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples, but instead He responded: "I tell you, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40).

Lets’ not let the stones and the sports fans do all the shouting, Go to church and shout for joy in the Lord—yes, I say SHOUT FOR THE LORD ALL YE PEOPLE SHOUT TO THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS, FOR HE IS GOOD! 

As Easter is getting near lets’ not forget that Jesus died on the Old Rugged Cross for our sins to be forgiven and washed away forever so we can have eternal life, WOW how exciting!. Now that’s something to SHOUT about; HALLELUJAH