A Masterpiece Of Mercy

My family and I went to a Southern Gospel concert in Monroe last Friday night. The Booth Brothers were one of the groups that performed. This is one of the songs they did. It is on their current cd, Let It Be Known. The lyrics describe a work of grace that the Lord has done in one that has been redeemed. Listen to it on the YouTube link. Thanks! I hope you like this! 

A Masterpiece of Mercy

He knew what I was when He made me.
He saw the sinner I'd become.
Yet He knew He had grace that could save me.
His latest work of art had just begun.

He started with an old dirty canvas.
My sin had left me tattered, bent, and marred.
Then this artist turned His light upon my sadness,
And began to wash away the blackest part.

When all the stains were gone He started painting
With colors that I'd never seen before.
Then with joy He was ready to display me,
To show the world what the Cross was for

A masterpiece of mercy; a miracle of grace
When the master sees one hurting
And wipes the pain away.
The canvas of the artist
Becomes a holy place
For a masterpiece of mercy; a miracle of grace.

Now I'm getting ready for Heaven.
Every day just makes me want to go.
But the artist hasn't stopped; He's still painting,
And when He's finished, He will take me Home.

A masterpiece of mercy; a miracle of grace
When the master sees one hurting
And wipes the pain away.
The canvas of the artist
Becomes a holy place
For a masterpiece of mercy; a miracle of grace.

The canvas of the artist
Becomes a holy place
For a masterpiece of mercy; a miracle of grace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og8yx3Y4nDE&sns=em

He that winneth souls is wise . Proverbs 11:30

Gospel Tract Update

I received the February shipment from the Bezeugen Tract Club in the mail
today. The " Get Out Of Witnessing Free " tract can be used to introduce Christians to the club. The "Are You Ready ? " tract has a new front image. When I hand people these, I ask them if they would go to Heaven or hell if they died in five minutes. Lately, I've had a few men assure me that they were saved. Most people that I offer a tract to have taken one. It's been a while since I have had a rejection. The last time was a man at a Walmart parking lot who may have been running from God.
I plan on going to a street corner with the cross on my lunch break one day this week. I usually give tracts to those who are walking by. Sometimes I hand tracts to people at the traffic light when their window is down.
I will be ordering Spanish and English tracts in the next few weeks. Do you have a gospel tract testimony to share ?

Mr. Eternity

There was a comment on the last post about the inspiring story of Mr. Frank Genor from Sydney, Australia. This reminded me of Mr. Eternity. He wrote the word " eternity " over 500,000 times wherever he went in Australia.
Please check out this link to read about Arthur Stace. This is another inspiring story of a man that was changed by the power of God. http://www.pastornet.net.au/stace/Rahme1A.htm

Seven Rules For Daily Living

I heard Todd Friel talk about this on Way Of The Master Radio. I found the list from www.wholesomewords.org :

The following rules for daily living were made by Dr. Goforth in 1894 and written on the fly-leaf of his Bible:

1. Seek to give much—expect nothing.
2. Put the very best construction on the actions of others.
3. Never let a day pass without at least a quarter of an hour spent in the study of the Bible.
4. Never omit daily morning and evening private prayer and devotion.
5. In all things seek to know God's Will and when known obey at any cost.
6. Seek to cultivate a quiet prayerful spirit.
7. Seek each day to do or say something to further Christianity among the heathen.

Bible Reading Update

Today, I completed 150 days of following Professor Grant Horner's Bible-Reading System. I have enjoyed reading the Bible with this schedule. As you can see in the photo above, I have finished several lists more than once. I have went through Proverbs and Acts 4 times so far. On the last two list that aren't in the photo, I am on Ezekiel 27 and Acts 7. Bible Bookmarks is a free iPhone app that you can use to keep track of your progress. You can find it in the App store. I started with a journal, but I like this better. YouVersion is a great Bible app that has this plan schedule,too. If you don't have an iPhone, try keeping a journal. There is a four page print out with the bookmarks @ http://www.thevinefellowship.com/10Lists.pdf.com
Please go the Sept. 16, 2011 entry @ http://seekingforsouls.blogspot.com/2011/09/professor-grant-horners-bible-reading.html

If you haven't got a plan to read the Bible through this year, pray about this one. Try it for a week or two. I love the Word of God. I love the God of the Word !

Weekend Witnessing

Bro. JJ and I planned on doing some street preaching on Friday night, but we decided not to preach at our main spot because the rock bar was having a benefit for a family. We felt it was wisdom because it would hurt our ministry. It might have been for a family that lost their house in a fire during the holidays. So, we tried to find somewhere else to preach. There wasn't another good spot that was busy with people outside. We ended up going to Walmart for some tag-team witnessing ! We talked to Rafael, who said that he didn't know where he was going if he died within five minutes. I talked to him about repentance and challenged him to get right with God. We gave tracts to a few shoppers. There was a lot of employees putting out stock. We witnessed to several. I gave a tract to Clayton, asking him to read it when he had a break. JJ witnessed to one man. After that, I gave a tract to that man's friend. Outside, we talked to a homeless man named Eddie. We told him that we would pray for him.
On Saturday, I went to Chile Verde ( our favorite Mexican restaurant ) with my family. My friend, Carlos, told me that he was going back to Mexico. I remember praying for him one night in the laundry matt parking lot. We felt the touch of the Lord as we prayed ! I talked to Midal, who said that members of his family were Christians. He is from Honduras. I pray that he will get back to the Lord. I gave tracts to Rodrigo and Jose. They were eating there. Jose said that they lived in Memphis and were in town working. I not only eat good food at Chile Verde; I get to witness, too !
I talked to Santiago at Kol's. He lived in Crossett, Ark. We have church members who live there. It is about an hour from Sterlington. I had left my Spanish tracts in our van. When we were leaving, I placed a tract titled "Porque El Vive" ( Because He Live's ) on a truck that was parked by us. I really think that was his truck. I had mentioned the tract to him in the store.
Afterward, we went grocery shopping at Walmart. I gave a "Get Out Of Hell Free" card to a man at the check-out. I offered one to the cashier. He had one at his register ! It must have been a card that we had left there. He said that he keeps the card close by ! I gave a tract to Lupe as we were leaving.
Most people have never received a gospel tract. It is up to us to get the gospel to them ! I haven't had many reject a tract lately. Most people will take one if you have the right attitude. They must see that we are concerned about their soul. They must see their need to be saved. Have you witnessed to anyone today ?

New Year Resolutions For Soul-Winners

It's that time again. Everyone is making their goals for the new year. Some are getting fired up to lose weight. Others want to make more money. Many want to get " religious ". Goals are set and sometimes not met. What do you think are resolutions that Christians should make ? What have you considered to do better in or do more of ? Here are some that I have thought of :

1. Read the Bible more.
This is one that I have broken many times. I would start by reading at Genesis in January. By the middle of the month, I wouldn't be reading like I needed to. This year is totally different.
I am still on Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading System( click on the label for the September the 16th post ). I have 110 days left to have the whole Bible read. I didn't read like I needed to in December because of all that was going on with the Christmas activities. It's time to get back on track!

2. Pray more.
There are so many hinderances to prayer. We must do our best to overcome them. Prayer is what holds us together. We can't do anything for the Lord without praying first. My goal is to get up at 5:30 in the morning to pray. It seems that the day is better when we cam meet with God before we meet with everyone else. Does your church have a prayer meeting? Do you attend it on a regular basis? We have ours every Tuesday night. Leonard Ravenhill said that he wouldn't go to a church that didn't have a prayer meeting. You may say that there aren't many going to yours. You can go and, just maybe, you might influence others to go. We need to pray individually and pray corporately.

3. Witness More.
There are so many opportunities for the Christian to proclaim Jesus to a lost and dying world. I love to witness ! I look for every chance that I can get to share my faith. When at times I have been discouraged, I got encouraged by witnessing. I want to witness to as many people as I can this year. I want someone to know the Savior that I know !

4. Be more involved in missions.
I would like to take a mission trip to Mexico this year. I have been looking at a city called Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo. I have a friend that is from there. I would like to give more to missions, also. I know of missionaries to Mexico, Honduras, the Philippines, and El Salvador. We also know of pastors from India and Nigeria that come to our church about every year.

Whatever your goals and resolutions are, I pray that you you will accomplish what you have set out to do. Don't lose motivation. Keep track of your goals daily. Share your faith everyday. This is going to be a great soul-winning year !

Happy New Year ! / Scott's Testimony

We pray that this will be a great new year for everyone! There are still souls to be won in 2012!

On New Year's eve, Bro. JJ and I evangelized at Walmart. We were there from about 3:45 till 5:00. We witnessed inside first. I was giving out tracts on the way in. I talked to Charles who was looking at the liquor( which they have at the front ). I told him my testimony briefly. Upon leaving that section, I explained to another man what I was doing. He took a New Year's tract from me. I got to share my testimony with a few others.

We preached and held the cross for about 45 minutes. At the spot that we are preaching in now, there is a path where employees and customers walk to go to the bus stop. We gave most of them tracts. Only one man didn't take a tract from Bro. JJ. I talked to my friend, Willie, who was walking to Walmart. He had worked at Ryan's several years ago. I gave him the address to the Spanish blog (He is from Venezuela ). I gave a tract to Trey at Walmart last night. We saw him walking to the bus stop today.

My Testimony - Nineteen years ago on New Year's Eve, I was involved in the party scene. I thought I was living the good life. I had moved to Shreveport to manage the GNC at Southpark Mall. I had just bought a 1992 Dodge Dakota Sport. I tried to find a picture of one like I had, but the one in the picture above was the closest. I had row bars and a tarp on the bed. I was twenty-three at this time. Before this,I managed the GNC at Pecanland Mall in Monroe. I was into working out with weights.I had lost about 65 pounds through exercising and dieting. My friend, John, helped me to get on track. In November, my boss asked me if I could transfer to the Shreveport store. I eagerly told him that I could. I was wanting to go up in the company.
I had met a young woman at one of the clubs that I hung out with my friend, Al. We started dating before I moved. She lived in Ruston. I stopped in see her one day when I was going back to West Monroe to visit. She broke up with me that day. The day before New Year's Eve, she called me to ask us to hold a place for her at the club where we would be at in Monroe. I was going to show her that I could be with someone else! We all got to the bar that night with partying on our minds. I started drinking mixed drinks. Sometime after midnight, I blacked-out. I remember just bits and pieces of what was to happen after that. I remember walking out to my truck. After that, I remember shutting the passenger door to the truck. Then, I was walking on the other side of the bridge down Trenton Street in West Monroe. Then, I was at the door of Al's apartment. I woke up at 10:00 on New Year's Day. I told Al that we needed to find my truck. I didn't know where it was! We drove around looking for it in West Monroe and Monroe. I finally called The Monroe Police Department to ask I'd they had towed the truck. The woman on the line told me that it had been towed to Master's Auto Service in Monroe. I went to see it there. The hood and front was crushed in the middle. The owner of the towing company told me that I was fortunate to be alive. I had hit a utility pole on the corner of Pine and Walnut, which was several blocks from the club. The police had pulled some of my hair from the windshield where I had hit with my head. I had walked about two miles from where I had wrecked. The officer that worked the accident called me at midnight on January 1st to ask me about what had happened. I lied about what I did, but they knew that I had been drinking.
I had to go back to Shreveport without transportation. Over the next several months I depended on my parents to come to bring my back home
on most weekends. I walked to work sometimes and got a taxi at other times. One day at work I was talking with a regular customer about some of our products. She and her husband worked for the Shreveport Police Department. We ended up talking about church and Jesus. She asked where I went to church. I told her that I was trying to go back to church. She said "You're not doing anything! You better come back to Jesus now! "
There had been others who had witnessed to me before, but her words made me to think. I didn't write the exact date down, but around March the 15th I repented of my sins, asked for forgiveness, and was saved at my apartment in Kingston Village Apartments on Kingston Road! What a change! I got born-again! I told everyone what had happened to me! I couldn't go back to the clubs anymore!
I couldn't listen to the same music anymore! I didn't have the desire to drink anymore! I was a changed man!
I was able to move back home and get my old job back in April. I started passing out tracts. I went to church whenever I could. I wanted all that the Lord had for me! I wanted to do His will! I met Todd at a revival one night. We passed out tracts at several bars around town. Later, we preached at some of the bars. I was nervous about street preaching, but I was hooked after I did it a few times! I love to tell the story of how the Lord saved me!
I am thankful that I have had an extension on my life. I should have died and went to hell that night of my accident, but I am alive! I am saved!
Happy New Year !

Evangelism Update - 12/30/2011

The Monday After Christmas - We were off from work due to Christmas being on Sunday. After going to my parents, my family and I ate at CiCi's Pizza. A Spanish couple was sitting in the booth behind us. When we were leaving, I told the gentleman " Feliz Ano Nuevo " ( Happy New Year ). We talked for a few minutes. He is a Doctor from Mexico City who lives in Dallas. I gave him my email and Spanish blog address. I gave out tracts at both of our Walmart stores.

Tuesday - I went to Walmart on my lunch. I talked to Luis, who is a truck driver that was passing through. I gave him a tract. He said that he lives in California. In witnessing, sometimes you run into people who aren't from the area that you live in. I've talked to different ones who are working in the area on a job that they travel with ( like construction ). I've talked to men that work on pipelines. Most likely, I will never see them again. At least I have talked to them about their soul or have put a tract in their hand.

Wednesday -At lunch, two Taco Bell employees got at tract. I went solo to jail service at Claiborne Parish Detention Center. We had a great service. I preached on " Set Free " out of Mark 5. I talked about my testimony and the born again experience. Many of the men took tracts, the gospel of John and Romans, and devotions. Two of the tracts are featured in the photo above.They are from this months Bezeugen Tract Club shipment.
One man asked me how to deal with his cellmates who weren't saved. I suggested that he read Ephesians 5. On the way home, I stopped at Walmart in Farmerville. I talked with a man whose name is pronounced " ses- toes ". He is from Mexico. After our conversation, I gave him a tract. I gave a New Year Resolution tract to the cashier as I was leaving.

Friday - I passed out several tracts at the mall tonight. I talked with a Spanish man who lives in Arkansas.
As I gave out the New Year Resolution tract, I would tell the receiver that there was a gospel message on the back. My five year old son helped put a few tracts out for someone to pickup.
At Walmart, I talked to Jorge. He works at a Chinese restaurant in the mall. My friend, Manuel, worked there until he moved back to Honduras last year. Jorge Is also from Honduras. He is a Christian, but can't go to church much because of his work schedule. At the checkout, I talked with Xavier. Then, I spoke with a couple from Columbia, South America. They know of a Spanish preacher that I know. Last stop: Water By The Gallon ! We went to fill up three water jugs. I gave a tract to a man that was leaving WingStop. I left a few at the water dispenser, also. Maybe someone who is getting natural water will receive the Living Water !

In my next post, I will write about my testimony. I was in an accident that led to my salvation. Only one more day in this year. Make it a soul-winning one !

Merry Christmas !

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (Luke 2:1-21 KJV)