7/4/97 Why So Downcast?
(If it is welcome and a blessing, send it on to others,Lee)
Boy, am I glad another birthday is down. That much closer to home. It caused me to remember and think about God's doings. I received a number of emails from around the world. I would like to ask that if you receive this email and it doesn't come directly from me, please drop me a note. I have been receiving testimonies from around the world, of the earth shaking work the Lord is doing.
Today, the 4th of July, in the United States, is the memorial of our "independence" from England. Our national birthday. Many of you might be interested to know that this was a Christian matter, a church issue (and if you want to correspond about it, please write me.) My own celebration of independence, came with the freedom of being born again, giving me a new "birthday" as well. Freedom.
My dad came home two days ago, and immediately the vultures of doom began to swoop. He has freedom, and yet like the rest of us, he needs to establish it and defend it. What God has given us needs to be received and taken care of.
Yesterday, for me, was a very difficult day. Everything was going wrong. At 5:30 this morning my prayer was, let my computer work. I was up til after 1, trying to resurrect it. (I need a new one, this has over 7,000 hours on it, and its 15 months old.) It was doing all sorts of weird things. This morning at least the email is working. Being my birthday, there is a fight that went on in me, about whether or not its important. Seeing my dad yesterday morning was tough on me. Being a pastor, a son, and trying to enjoy my dad and not pushing him(I want him to enjoy what Jesus has for him), and seeing the fear trying to come in. Financially we have been strained, and Tina felt the Lord asking her to leave her job. And the kicker, as I was working on my computer, I realized my dress jeans had a hole in them. (I never trip over the elephant but my shoelace!!!)
Psalm 42 (King Jameth Version)
1 (To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah.)
AS the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Verse 5. Sheep. Cast down. Turned upside down. And unable to get to their feet. Amazing, they just lay there, feet in the air. Unable to turn over. (I have friends who have raised sheep, and have told me this.) They need help. They need a shepherd. A loving, caring person to upright them. His name is Jesus.
We all go through trials, tribulations, its to be expected. Where is our trust? I, being a man, ALWAYS want to fix things. I realize the two hours on my computer last night was fixit mode. It wasn't a problem in my computer, but in the server. My wife will come to me and tell me something and I want to fix it. (Just listen!!!!) God wants me to hope in Him, trust in Him. He asks for praise in times of discouragement.
Are you there? I am not. Today is a new day. His blessings are new every day. There is no freedom being cast down. You must place your hope and trust in Him. Is this the day? I would like to think so. Nothing major has happened in the first couple of hours.
You who receive this letter, are a blessing to me. I realize that I will never meet many of you, and yet I feel a closeness. You bless me with your kind words and prayers. Last night as the computer was doing its thing, my concern was that you would be let down. And if a hole in the knee of my pants was the final straw, I realized that so often this letter is a lifeline to some. For there are many who receive this and it is often the only Christian word they receive. There are many in "persecution countries" who receive this. My computer, even my dad being ill, is minor compared to what some of you have encountered.
Today, celebrate your independence. Put you hope and trust in the Lord. He will not fail you.
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
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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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