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January 1, 2020
It’s a Family Thing
By Crossworld
EAST ASIA — “You were right,” Melissa said to Crossworld worker Shannon over lunch.
“Right about what?” Shannon scratched her head, trying to remember their recent conversations. The two friends had met often to share life together — ever since Shannon baptized Melissa years ago.
“Two years ago you gave me some advice in dealing with a conflict with a friend,” Melissa said. “You told me that perhaps I was the one in the wrong, and I was really mad. But God is opening my heart to see my own faults and not always blame others. I wasn’t at a place to accept the truth of what you said. Now I understand!”
“That’s great, Melissa,” Shannon said. “What changed?”
“I joined a social media group for Bible memory. We encourage each other to memorize a verse a day for a year, and it helps to fill my mind with God’s Word instead of my own thoughts. Now when I start to worry or complain, I remind myself to practice my memory verse. I still sometimes struggle with anxiety or depression, but it’s much less often.”
Melissa paused briefly before adding, “And there’s something else!”
“More good news?” Shannon asked.
“My dad went to church for the first time last week,” Melissa gushed.
When Melissa first trusted Christ, she shared her new faith with her parents. Her mom came to believe in Jesus also, but her dad always stood against her faith … until recently. He allowed Melissa and others to pray for him when he was in the hospital, and he accepted a Bible from Shannon. Now he believes there is a God, but he doesn’t know what to think about Jesus.
“I told my mom about a new church nearby,” Melissa said. “When my mom agreed to go, my dad said he wanted to go with her.”
“What did he think of it?” Shannon asked.
“He said he thinks he’ll keep going!”
“Amazing,” Shannon replied. “After all this time, the Holy Spirit is softening his heart.”
As the women got up from the table to leave, Shannon wondered at how God changes and shapes us in His timing.
“Right about what?” Shannon scratched her head, trying to remember their recent conversations. The two friends had met often to share life together — ever since Shannon baptized Melissa years ago.
“Two years ago you gave me some advice in dealing with a conflict with a friend,” Melissa said. “You told me that perhaps I was the one in the wrong, and I was really mad. But God is opening my heart to see my own faults and not always blame others. I wasn’t at a place to accept the truth of what you said. Now I understand!”
“That’s great, Melissa,” Shannon said. “What changed?”
“I joined a social media group for Bible memory. We encourage each other to memorize a verse a day for a year, and it helps to fill my mind with God’s Word instead of my own thoughts. Now when I start to worry or complain, I remind myself to practice my memory verse. I still sometimes struggle with anxiety or depression, but it’s much less often.”
Melissa paused briefly before adding, “And there’s something else!”
“More good news?” Shannon asked.
“My dad went to church for the first time last week,” Melissa gushed.
When Melissa first trusted Christ, she shared her new faith with her parents. Her mom came to believe in Jesus also, but her dad always stood against her faith … until recently. He allowed Melissa and others to pray for him when he was in the hospital, and he accepted a Bible from Shannon. Now he believes there is a God, but he doesn’t know what to think about Jesus.
“I told my mom about a new church nearby,” Melissa said. “When my mom agreed to go, my dad said he wanted to go with her.”
“What did he think of it?” Shannon asked.
“He said he thinks he’ll keep going!”
“Amazing,” Shannon replied. “After all this time, the Holy Spirit is softening his heart.”
As the women got up from the table to leave, Shannon wondered at how God changes and shapes us in His timing.
Your part in this story...
Crossworld worker Shannon asks you to pray for these requests.
- Pray for Melissa’s continued growth in the Lord. Pray for good health physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
- Pray for Melissa’s dad. He has a bad heart physically and a hard one spiritually, but God can take care of both!
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