Dear Friends:
(If it is welcome and a blessing, send it on to others,Lee)
First and foremost. Many thanks to ALL who wrote with prayers and encouragement. It was greatly appreciated. I have begun to respond to some of you and have just had a small lack of time.
Life is so interesting when you walk with Jesus. Last night we had cell group and after praying for nearly an hour, the conversation naturally picked up on what to do. The suggestion has come that I touch my staff to the water and I recognize the Biblical implication, but perhaps I have missed it, not knowing what staff and to what water.
So here we are, looking forward to a week of moving and figuring out where we meet Thursdays, Fridays, Saturday and Sunday. So do continue to pray. My concern is what to do with people. We know God is moving. I received many calls yesterday from other Christians who just wanted me to know I was in their prayers and "could they help?" For us more than anything, its a money thing. We are presently not a monied church. We believe in giving away what we have. We have lots of young people and they need us. They don't have money, but they have hearts turning towards the Lord. When I read about young people being killed during a prayer meeting in the US of A, I know I have a job to do.
Today is a full day. 7:30 a deliverance, then a pastor's meeting, then home again to move.
But...we are encouraged by what we see. We believe that when you don't have a building sometimes people have to learn to be more in touch with each other. Not that we don't want a building, but we know the church is you and I, not a building, you and I.
God will provide. He has to. He said He would. And certainly, the majority of people would say we lost. But tell me something. Is God a liar? Is His Word true? Who do we say He is? Is He a builder of churches? He is our habitation. Our hightower, in Him will I trust.
Some people have grumbled, some have packed and left. We pray blessings upon them. We could have really changed nothing. Sometimes people are more in love with a pastor or a building than they are with Jesus. When we examine our hearts, it shows us where we are. Do we love Jesus? But we see that most people are feeling the strength of the power of God. Buildings can't do that. They lend a credibility and a comfort to church, but often there is communion with the Creator and fellow partakers that is lost.
I don't want people to trust me because I have a title. I have spent more time trying to get away from the title than trying to get it. I am just Lee, proof that God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. I don't have eloquent speech or great insight. My church loves and is transparent(real transparent-when they hurt, they hurt.) My wife said to me the other night, "I know you love the Lord and want to do what He wants you to do." Folks, I am a sinner saved by Grace, who grew up in a family where love was bought and feelings cheap. To love someone I can't see and be willing to follow Him, often is a challenge to my intellectual(intellectual simpy means you can listen to the William Tell Overture and not think of the Lone Ranger!)mind.
I know pastors and leaders who lord their titles and their positions. I don't even consider myself in pastor class, let alone have the ability to control. I don't fit their molds.
Peter was asked "do you love me?" three times by Jesus. Now I know that if you were asked do you love Jesus, you would say "yes", but llet me probe for a minute. If you put jobs, buildings and Jesus together and each asked you the question "do you love me?", how would you respond? See, I know Peter squirmed. Why, because the next part, was "feed my sheep." And I know He squirmed, because it didn't look like, taste like, feel like, or seem like-he loved Jesus.
So if Jesus stood before you today and said, "do you love me?", would you squirm and would it appear to the world that you are a Christian? Because if it doesn't you and I have a problem. Closet Christianity. Its okay if homosexuals come out of the closet, but not Christians...
How about it? Are you coming out of the closet? Does man dictate your Christianity? How about a building? How about your soul? Does that soulish nature keep you from doing what Jesus said to do.
Selah!!!
Selah.
Shalom.
We pray for you, each and every day. If this is an encouragement to you. Please tell us, and please email it to someone else. If you have a prayer request, please mail it to us. We want to stand with you, battling spiritual wickedness, seeing people made free. We want to serve our brother and sister.
In the Service of Christ for His Glory,
Lee Johndrow
For more information on this ministry or to receive our newsletter
please mail us at:
154 Paddock Road
Springfield, Vermont 05156
For those who support us in prayer and deed we appreciate it.
Thank you,
Lee & Tina Johndrow
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