Isaiah 61:1 -- New Life Theme

I am so grateful that God really talks to us through His Word when we patiently take the time and spend time with Him faithfully everyday. Since I was 12 years old I have had the privilege to read and spend time with God in my Bible almost every single one of those 6,570 days (18 years). God certainly has honored His faithfulness by teaching, reproving, correcting, and training me through His Word. In the many times that God has taught, reproved, corrected, and trained me, I am happy to see the very few times when God emphasized a passage of Scripture to me for warning, encouragement, or a life principal. It seems to me that God sometimes will put His mark of approval or maybe it could best be described as if He were putting His fingerprint of approval on something through emphasizing His Word. As I look through my life I see the times where God emphasized a verse and these verses have taken on a whole new life-long motivation or theme. For example, I have felt the Lord press upon my heart the verses Isaiah 43:4, Colossians 1:28, and Romans 15:7 in my life.

Now, I believe the Lord has given me another verse that just really sticks out above all of His wonderful Word. God gave me Isaiah 61:1 here recently in my life. The way it came about was that I have since I was a teenager felt deep in my heart that God wanted me to be one of His many instruments in serving foster children for His Kingdom work. I have always kept this impression close to my heart with the other impressions that He has given me. Last year, I noticed God starting to do some interesting works among my life and it led toward me taking steps by faith in the directions towards this particular idea. I must admit that I zealously was mistaken when I told some of my family and friends that I would soon be an foster parent. Even perhaps God still might allow me to be one, one day. As of right now, I’ll just have to wait and see what He does. But here recently through some glorious difficulties it seems that God has a bigger glorious plan than what I could ever imagine. I was recently asked by a Foster care organization if I would take on the role of connecting with them and serve their foster teenagers 3 days a week. After some talks with them and of course God, it seems that this is from the Lord and it goes right alone with other details that God has been putting together. I have agreed to serve these teenage boys at one of their facilities.

Throughout this, God one morning pleasantly surprised me. I was reading my Bible one morning, talking to God about something, and all the sudden He took me to Isaiah 61:1. My mind had not even been on this subject and He completely redirected our time together and really pressed upon my heart this verse. After deep mediation in this verse, I am in love with Isaiah 61:1 as my love for it has become my premise for serving these foster teenage boys. Of course this verse can be applied to other areas of my life. But I believe the Lord has a lot to teach me and to demonstrate these truths upon and through me.

I write all of this to you with transparency of my life if hopes that you will be encouraged to get in your Bible every day and stay faithful to being in the Bible every single day of your life. If you have not yet experienced God pressing a certain verse or passage upon you, then you have a indescribable joy awaiting for you.

Helping Men

I hope that your joy may be filled no matter what you are experiencing in life today. Truly Jesus is the one who supplies our joy in the good and bad experiences of life. I encourage you to read your Bible and meditate, ponder on, think about day and night on a passage that you have read.

Here in San Diego, much exciting things have been happening here. I have been working with my church doing door-to-door soul winning at people's homes and within other parts of out community. Many, many souls have been won for Jesus! If you want joy, I suggest that you go out and tell others about their need for Jesus! God not only has been saving people right there at their homes, but we, and I can personally testify too, have witnessed God provide miracle after miracle in creating opportunities for us to reach the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And boy, all my problems just don’t matter anymore when I can rejoice in knowing that less souls are going to Hell! And so can you!

As a glorious result, we will be busy following up and hopefully getting involved in people's lives to help guide them closer to the Lord Jesus Christ through His Word. Aman!

Now, I have some other news for with added details for the benefits of prayers and involvement. There has been a yearning in my heart for many years now for the men gangsters and other people with deep problems. Over the recent year God has privileged me to reach out to this community and boldly tell them the Gospel of Jesus Christ with love and earnestness. I can only give all glory and praise to God because for some unexplainable reason this demographic of people actually listen and engage in conversation with me, this little white boy that I am, about their need for Jesus Christ. Many are impressed here in San Diego that a white guy has no problems going to the Chicano Park area and a few other areas and talk to gangsters about the Gospel of Jesus. Would you please continue to pray for my safety and wisdom? As I go to these areas, God gives me boldness to proclaim His Gospel but meanwhile I rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me to whom to speak and to whom to avoid. Thank you.

I have had to opportunity to lead many to the Lord Jesus Christ. I have a grave concern for some of them. As the Lord privileged me to be raised in an environment where I could find peace and calm in a home with love and Bible teachings. Many of these men, unlike my pass, do not have anywhere to escape from the wicked environments for a substantial amount of time. We have a problem and the Lord calls us to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ stuck in the mire of wickedness. Our problem is that men and even women are being saved inside very wicked environments, but the harsh circumstances of life keep them overwhelmed from as easily maturing in Christ as perhaps I had in my shelter from certain evils. Our world is becoming more and more wicked every day, and as the few get saved from this wickedness, some of them need extra help.

I am purposing a solution that God placed on my heart many years ago. I propose and am in the process of establishing a Men’s Discipleship Home. A home where men will have a home environment but suited with calm, peace, boundaries, and responsibilities. I propose and challenge myself, God, and other brothers and sisters to work together with me in order to disciple and mentor men so that they can become Christ-like leaders for their homes, churches, communities, and places of employment.

The men’s home is now known and will be known as the Bethesda Discipleship Home. I welcome you to check out www.bdhome.org and there you can learn just a little about the BDHome. Of course, as time goes by, we will slowly update the website and provide additional information for those who desire it.

Now, as I have mentioned, I deeply desire your prayers in all of this work. It is a new endeavor for me. And I am just waiting on the Lord and walking alone His pace as He permits me to be part of this incredible new endeavor. As I am now involving myself in this new endeavor I make known to you that there are many financial burdens. I would ask if you would consider being a financial partner in the BDHome? There are many needs in the home that will take prayer and money. Such needs are the following:

1. rents, 2. bills, 3. furniture’s, 4. scholarship funds for men (such as recent involved gangsters) who for a while may not have money to pay rent, 5. transportation costs, 6. curriculums, 7. food, 8. and so much more.

Would you please consider being a partner and financially supporting us? Would you consider forwarding this information and request to your friends, brothers and sisters in the Lord, your church, your organization, and/or your company?

The needs are great. I invite you to participate in the work that God is doing. If you have any questions or concerns, please do write me at LawrenceWBowman@aol.com or contact me another way that you know how to.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Lawrence Bowman
www.bdhome.org

eNewsLetter

I first want to sincrely thank you for your prayers to the Lord Jesus in the work that I have the privledge to be involved with that He is doing here in southern California, USA. The most important people to me are those who spend time being involved in my work through prayer. I truly cherish and covet your prayers. Thank you.

The Lord has been faithful to draw me closer to Him over the last few months. One way He has drawn me closer is through some trails, and one which has been gratefully difficult through human perspective. However, the Lord has faithfully blessed my fiery trials to bring me to depend on Him more, and to be involved in miracles. For example, because of some trying circumstances, God literally has placed me in locations at the perfect time in which I was given the opportunities to impart the Gospel to individuals and I have had the opportunities to see many call upon the Jesus for salvation. HALLELUJAH!

I have been praying for all of you and one thing God laid on my heart is for me to become more detail in interceding on your behalf's through prayer. Would you allow me to pray more in depth prayers for you? I would be honored if you would write me back and provide me things that you specifically would like another individual, such as myself, to speak to God about. Thank you if you choose to allow me to serve you this way. One thing we Christians are here for is to serve one another in different capacities. God has been teaching me to step out of my comfort zones and to reach out and assist people in different ways, even when it is beyond my abilities. I hope you will grow in this area too.

I am finished now with my letter. God has been doing so much more here, but I will save those wonderful stories for another time.

Thank you for reading it. Thank you for praying for me. As always, I invite you to go to website at www.LeftAlive.net and purchase a copy of my book for your benefit and for 1 way you can financially support the work that God is doing through me. Or you can go to www.LawrenceBowman.com and learn other ways in which you can support the work that God is doing here in southern California.

Your brother in Christ,

Lawrence Bowman

Don't assume that your neighbor has heard the Gospel before

The Lord reminded me once again that just because I am in the USA that everyone has heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a wrong assumption and it deserves to be tackled. We must not assume that everyone around us has heard the Good News of Jesus Christ and the bad news that they have offended God by breaking His Laws.

The other evening I was out soulwinning with my brother in Christ, Miguel. We were doing what the disciples did in Acts 5:42 and Acts 20:20. We were knocking on strangers doors and going door-to-door soulwinning. It's an exciting thing to go soulwinning.

Well, we came to one house, a teenage boy answered the door. His father was in the living room playing a video game and I simply started a conversation with the boy, Antonio. Throughout our conversation I learned that he had heard that a man named Jesus died on a cross, but he did not know why Jesus died. So, I showed him different verses that explain how Jesus died on a cross FOR OUR SINS. We talked about this. Then I asked him if he knew what happened after Jesus' death. He said, "No." I then showed him from the Holy Bible that Jesus physically resurrected. We talked about this and the boy thought that was neat. I asked him if he believed this. I loved his answer. He said, "If the Bible says He did, then yes I believe." HALLELUJAH! What faith!

So, we talked some more and looked at other verses and that evening the boy professed Jesus as His personal Savior!

I write this real story to encourage you not to make the erroneous assumption that everyone around us has heard the Gospel. In fact the opposite is true. We no longer live in a "Christian America." Our land is vilely polluted with religions, traditions of men, and lies, and an antichrist spirit even within churches! Therefore, I exhort you to learn the Gospel and go tell the Gospel to people all around you. Jesus just might put you in a person's presence who has never heard the Gospel before. This is our duty as Christians, to go preach the Gospel. And it's a worthy duty!

Last Minutes of Life

I write not to scare you but to encourage you. Hebrews 9:27 states the truth that, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" We would do ourselves a lot of good if we would deeply consider these words and apply them to our lives. Yes, the next verse states, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Praise God we have access to the Eternal God through Jesus Christ. How life is very short and we need to be seeking God and working alone Him.

What's on your mind?

Hello my readers.

I'm interested in knowing what's on your minds. So, what's going on in your lives? Write me a let me know. I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks.

Lawrence

Costs of Telling the Gospel of Jesus Christ to People

Good morning. I'm sitting in a friend's dinning room here in sunny San Diego getting ready for church. It's a beautiful day. A wonderful day to go tell the Gospel to someone who needs Christ!

Last night the Lord once again pressed upon my heart that we need to tell the Gospel to more people more often. But I'm going to make this personal and just speak about myself. The Lord last night showed me some important points about soul winning from Mark 8:31-33. The verses read, "31And Jesus began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And Jesus spake that saying openly. And Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him. 33But when Jesus had turned about and looked on his disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men."

God showed me that first like Jesus I need to teach the Word. In order to teach I have to use my mouth and proclaim that which I know, and that is the Gospel which is able to convert the soul. Not only do I need to proclaim the Gospel to people, but it is interesting that in this passage the words "He spake that saying openly." So, I need to proclaim the Gospel not just privately but also in the open public. Meaning, I need to tell the Gospel to the cash tendent at the gas station, to people at their homes, to the clerk at the grocery store, to people I pass by on the street, etc.

The second point which the Lord showed me in this passage concerns with rejection. I must proclaim the Gospel, yet, unfortunately, there will be many people who will reject the Gospel Message. Nice, sincere, and strict viewed persons will sadly reject the Message of Truth.

Another point which encourages me to emphatically still proclaim the Gospel is because I am going to suffer. 2 Timothy 3:12 tell us that we are going to suffer. That's just a fact. So, just do it! Proclaim the Gospel!

In respect to suffering, unfortunately, the truth is that sometimes my own Christian brehtern will bring some suffering in our lives. It is sad but many Christians are erroneously ignorant to the Christ's commandment for us to proclaim the Gospel. Like Peter and Jesus, some brethern will foolish complain or rebuke us for being faithful to the Cause of God.

But we must ignore the rebukes of foolish brehtern and be mindful of the things of God. God came to earth to save mankind from eternal separation from Him. Therefore do as Jesus said in verse 33, "Savourest (Be Mindful) of the things that be of God, but not the things that be of men."

The Lord always know's how to encourage His followers

I believe in being real with people around me. And I must admit, the Lord Jesus is permitting me to go through such a difficult trial, from my limited perception. Most people cannot or will not try to help me. But that's not my complaint. I refuse to complain because I acknowledge that God is God and He is in control and not one detail of my fiery trials come to Him as a surprise. Halelujah! I just have to praise Him for that!

I am so thankful that the Lord Jesus knows what just to say to me each and every day when I get into my Bible and spend time in prayer with Him. Every day He just gives me the right thing. And I am so glad. Because I feel this trial is so difficult that the enemy lies to me and tells me to quit. But quit? Where else can I go? There is no other place but the Lord Jesus!

I want to share with you what the Lord said to encourage me last night. I was so upset last night. At 11:30 p.m. I got on my knees and just sat their in quiet prayer before Him. And I felt in my spirit that I should read Mark, chapter 8. I was reading it. And in verses 22-26 we find a story about a blind man whom Jesus healed. But, verse 23 is where the Lord stopped me and really ministered to me. The verse reads, "And Jesus took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town;...." Oh, how this verse really still encourages me today too! For though I am saved and on my way to Heaven, God is allowing me to feel as if I were blind in my daily life. But I understand that Jesus is holding my hand through this rough time. Because in Isaiah 41:13, God promises, "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Then I thought about the blind man. Obviously he followed Jesus because Jesus held his hand as they made themselves out of the city. I can imagine Jesus talking to the blind man assuring him that He was going to help him but only when they arrived at the correct place. I can imagine Jesus saying other things to encourage Him. Then on the other spectrum I can imagine the blind man listening to Jesus talk to Him, believing Jesus as he blindly followed Jesus, and even in his mind wondering, "why won't Jesus just heal me right now, right here?" I feel like the blind man. I mentally ask myself, "What won't Jesus help me right now, right here?" But Jesus just keeps patiently and longsufferingly holding my hand and He continues to guide me to the place that I am to be with Him so that He can do His miraculously work to glorify Himself.

Then I felt the Lord last night rebuke me a littlel and just tell me, "stop squeezing my hand because I am holding your hand."

Oh thank God that He continues to talk to me even when I wonder. May I stop wondering and just follow the voice of Jesus without any reservations.

Moving on over

I met with my former CEO today and asked him for a job. The talks were good. He said that he is not objectionalbe to rehiring me. He thinks good of me. But he said that I need to talk with one of my other bosses and see if she will be willing to allow me to work right underneat her. So, I tried to today, but her schedule was too busy to meet with me. I have called her and left her a voice message requesting a meeting with her. So, I just leave it in God's hands. It's been out of my control and we'll see what happens in the next week. To God be the glory.

Asking For Job Back

Over the last few days two of my mentors at two distinct times told me that I should go back to my previous employer and appeal for my job back. Though, I believe the CEO erroneously terminated my position, God can do anything. I have considered their suggestions and have prayed about it this morning. This morning in my Quiet Time with the Lord Jesus I read Proverbs 21 because today is the 21st day of the month. Verse 1 says, "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." I am not under a kingship, but as a king is a representative of authority, my formal boss was my authority over me concerning secular employment.
I went back to my employers headquarter's to try to meet up with the CEO. He was just about to leave for a meeting, and I approached him. He was attention in his response to me as I asked if I could meet up with him. He gently replied that I could meet with him tomorrow at 11 a.m.
I asked God today if I was going to get my job back. The Lord did not give me a yes or no. Instead I felt in my heart Him asking, "Would you really go back if I told you 'no"'" Probably, probably not. But whether if I get the job back or not, I believe this will be a valuable lesson for me to learn more courage in life. Courage helps us to be bold in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus to anyone at anytime. And boy I and all of certainly need more courage. So, I thank God for this courage training.
Would you join in with me to beg the Lord to move the CEO's heart and that I may obtain favor from the Lord and of the man? His name is Andrew.
Thank you.

Why Do You Seek Jesus?

I was reading Mark, chapter 5 today. Verses 41 thru 43 stopped me to consider a good question. The question I have to consider and really of us have to consider is, "Why do you and I seek Jesus? Here in this passage, Jesus commanded them strictly that no one should know that He had just brought their daughter back to life. He did not want to people to follow Him for short sighted reasons and only for miracles. He was a God who can do miracles, but He is also The God who will do the miracle of eternal salvation. That was His aim for coming. To bring an awareness that salvation was through His name.

If we find ourselves coming to Jesus for little self centered reasons, then we are coming to Him with the wrong reasons. Just think of salvation. The only reason we can seek Him for salvation is for the washing away of our sins. If we come seeking Jesus for a better marriage, or new things, or easier life and think that is the reason to come to Him for salvation, then we are dead wrong. So dead that those types of people will find them dead in Hell one day.

After salvation, seeking Him for the remission of our sins, we are to continue to seek Him for the right reasons. We are to seek Him to know Him more and better. We are to seek Him to find out what He wants. We are to seek Him to understand what He wants you and I to do. We should come to God in the good and bad times of life and say, "I'm listening Lord. What would you have me to do today?"

So, let's seek God to know Him and to do what He tells us to do. God is more interested in glorifying Himself and saving souls, then for our personal self centered comfort.

Will you help?

I normally go out with some friend’s from church once a week and we go out on the streets and door to door and befriend people and talk to them about their need for the Savior. Over the next month I will be involved in doing that same type of work 2 or 3 times a week in specific to talk to many Jews who are visiting San Diego from Israel. Please pray that God will open their eyes to see that Jesus is the Messiah. In telling the Jews the Gospel, we have to use the Old Testament of the Bible in showing them that the Messiah they are looking for was and is Jesus Christ. I am quickly amble and efficient to prove the Gospel out of the New Testament. However, at the present moment I am learning how through the work and mistakes of proving Jesus from the Old Testament. I hope that you too will open up your Bible and begin to memorize verses about salvation and I hope you will make time each week to study to learn how to tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have the Truth and we are commanded by Jesus in Mark 16:15 to go tell others about Jesus and their sins. Therefore, we ought to make time each week to study this critical topic.

I want to encourage you from what the Lord did 2 nights ago. I was out with a friend to go soul winning. I walked up to this guy in his 20’s. I started to talk to him, and then I asked him if he would die tonight, would he go to Heaven or Hell. He wasn’t sure. I then asked him if he would let me show from the Bible how he could be sure to get to Heaven. He let me, so I took him to different verses and we discussed the points of the Gospel. Near the end of our conversation, he read John 1:12, and I tell you, while he was reading that verse, both my friend and I noticed this illumination or just a bright joy shine from his eyes. Right after I seen his eyes become illuminated, he spoke and said, “Thank you so much for explaining this to me. You have answered so many questions that I have wondered about salvation. I SEE THAT I MUST BELIEVE ON JESUS FOR SALVATION.” ---I tell you, I wanted to jump up and down for joy. But I didn’t. I answered back, “that he was right and that it was not us, but God had sent us to him to answer his questions.” What a joy it is when we Christians get to tell others about the Gospel of Jesus. I hope that you are encouraged to learn and go tell the Gospel to people. It surely is a joy to do His work!

I want to inform you that I am presently taking classes to become a foster dad for teenage boys. God has opened the door for me to do this. I hope to start fostering sometime in the middle of this year, if the Lord wills. Please pray for me, the future children, and the people that I will have to work with for the improvement of these family’s lives.

I cherish and really need you to pray for me and the work here in California. Thank you for your prayers.

I want to add something different to this email this time. The feel that the Lord has really impressed my heart to do this and I pray that you will consider my request, listen to God, and obey what He tells you to do. If you would please visit my website at:
http://www.lawrencebowman.com/Donate.html you notice that I have posted some of my needs that need to be taken care of. Yes, my needs include financial assistance. Would you please visit that link and read through the needs. Would you prayfully and compassionately consider supporting God’s work through me by sending either a one time gift or become a regular financial supporter? I would genuinely appreciate it very much.

Someone once asked me, “Lawrence, why don’t you get a better job, you do live in America?” I agree and I am thankful that the Lord Jesus privileges me to live in America. However, as I tell men around me often, in everything you do, do it by prayer and obedience. As many of you might be aware, I used to have a very successful business that paid me well financially. But in my life and only speaking of me in my life, I had to be obedient to the call that I felt God press upon me. So, I dissolved that business and realigned my priorities. Then I was offered a once in a life time opportunity to leave San Diego and work in New York City, traveling the world and making money. It seemed awesome for such an opportunity, but the Lord pressed upon my heart to stay in San Diego and keep my priorities on Him and stay faithful to those people He allows me to influence around me. To make a long story short, I desire Colossians 1:28 to be fulfilled in me where God continues to press upon my heart to do that work here in San Diego.

I sincerely hope that you will pray for me and the guys around me everyday. And I ask you again, would you consider to be a support to the ministry here through financial giving? Again, you can see some of the needs I have. I have many other needs, but until God gives me permission to post them up on my website, I’ll keep them close to my heart and faith in Him. I have asked for your help in prayers and finances because (1) God has pressed it up on my heart and (2) when you look all through the Bible, God most of the time helps people by using humans to give to another human.

Thank you so much and again HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sincerely,

Lawrence Bowman
1765 Fourth Avenue
San Diego, California 92101

Hard Times

You know, life is hard sometimes. And then life is very difficult sometimes. But I praise God for the hard times. The hard times show me who I am and that is nothing. We are foolish to think that we are anything. I am not enjoying the hard times, but something good is coming out of them and that is this; I am learning to be dependent on God. And in being more dependent on God, I am learning to be happy with the humble receiving end and being dependent on people helping me. I am in need right now. And when you look through the Bible God time after time uses people to help other people. We scream, "Oh God help me." And He replies back, "I tried to, but you rejected the person I sent to help you." God forgive us for being so prideful and rejecting help. Receiving God's help is very humbling a lot of times. But that's good for us. Humility is good for us. So, thank you God for humbling me some more. Thank you for the people you are and are going to send my way to help me when I am out of string to help myself. And God, I pray for those givers out there that they would be thankful and obedient to give when they know they should lend a hand, food, money, or time.

Thank you.

God's Authority

Hello everyone! I am sorry that I have not written on here for over a week. I've just not been able to have Internet access while here in Ohio.

I think since I have access today that I will share with you my Quiet Time that I had with the Lord this morning. I was reading in Jeremiah, chapter 30. From there, God led me to Genesis 1:26 and Revelation, chapter 13. I will not get into any controversial details of the verses, but I will share with you a practical application that the Lord encouraged me in. After reading these verses and meditating on them, I simply had to stop and praise God for His awesome plan and for giving me life. We all know that God created us and that by itself is a reason to stop and thank God and praise Him. Then as I thought about His creation, and that we humans are created in "His image", it just seems to me that one praise worthy understanding of "His image" means that whenever another type of life, such as angels, demons, animals, and whatever else may be out there, looks upon a human being, they immediately see an image of the Living All Powerful God of All. God has blessed us to go about and symbolize and represent His Authority and His reign over His territory. For this reason Satan hates us. Wherever we are, we are representing that this territory around us is under the authority and ownership of Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah! What a privilege to know God and to represent Him. Therefore, as a Christian we should daily make it a priority to know Him and His character and His ways and principals. How foolish it is of us to live a life, with such a privilege responsibility, and to erroneously represent God. God has called us to represent Him in truth and in life.
So, God encouraged and exhorted me to (1) know Him more, and (2) to live a life that represent Who He Is.

I hope this exhorts you to do the same. May you and I both go into the New Year with the attitude and the priority to know Jesus more and more that we may represent Him as Who He Is.

By the way, here is a picture of my aunt, mother, and I posing infront of my aunt's Christmas tree last week.

The New World Order Government Just Came into Power

Hello everybody,

I have some wonderful news to share with you. God's Word has for thousands of years since the time of Daniel prophesied that a final Word Government would come into power. If you study God's Word you will learn that this Final World Government will arise through an accumulation of steps and the people of the world would greet it in without realizing what they have done.

I announce to you with confidence that this Final World Government came into full affect power on November 10, 2009 at 4:25PM.

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post Newspaper covered the story on November 11th. You can visit the Washington Post's website to read his article. Copy and paste this link below to read it:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/10/AR2009111015034.html?nav=emailpage

I tell you that the Lord Jesus is almost ready to rise up from His Holy Throne and come snatch us Christians out of this world. Hallelujah! Therefore, go preach the Gospel to all people around you. May this news motivate you to tell others the Gospel more and more. If you do not know Jesus as your Savior, I exhort you to repent and call on the name of Jesus right now. He will save you. He has promised it.

Last Night In Rio Grande, Ohio

I have had an enjoyable visit down here in Rio Grande, Ohio. Today, I spent my morning in the Word with the Lord Jesus. Jesus showed me some neat things about what a shepherd is to teach those he watches over in the Lord. Jeremiah 23:4 and Ephesians 4:7-16 is where I was at this morning.
Someone asked me today if I am considering getting more involved within the prison ministry out in San Diego. I do not know. It's funny they asked me that because just this week while I was in the Word with the Lord, I discussed that same topic with Him. It seems to me that if He wants me more involved then He will open the opportunities. Also, I have told Him that whatever He wants me to do, I will follow and be part of His work. Remember, obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). You could say that obedience is better than feelings. We are to put away the sacrifices and obey the voice of God (Jeremiah 7:23).
I went to a Christmas Middle School concert at Gallia Academy Middle School with the Perry's. They ignorantly changed the name from Christmas Concert to Winter Concert. Are they dumb or what? Today is not winter. It is still fall. Out of trying to be politically correct they presented themselves as fools with even as something as simple as the time of seasons. If they want to be foolish and politically correct, then they need to call it what it is: Fall Concert.
Anyways, to Jesus Christ be the glory for the reason of why real celebrations were first started in the first place.
Ohh, one last thing. Here is a picture from last night when I visited my friends Joe and Amber. They are such wonderful people. I already miss them so much.

How you can pray for me

I thought this was a cute picture of David and Sandy's cat. Their cat is just so adorable.

I have been having some good times in the Word with the Lord. And the Lord has been renewing my and fine tuning my vision for His Kingdom work. Like Abram in the Old Testament I am going by faith, and doing what I know to do. What I do know to do is to seek the Lord that I may know Him deeper, preach the Gospel to those around me, encourage and exhort my brothers and sisters to do the same, and to praise Him for Who He Is.

As the Perry's go to work during the day, I stay at their home in the peace and quiet and work on a project that I hope to have finished in a couple of months. I meditate on God's Word and spend time with Him. The Lord showed me something just recently. Philippians 1:6 is a beautiful wonderful promise from God. However, I never seen this until just last night. Verse 6 is not a verse to be left by itself. In fact it is the middle of a very long single sentence. Which means it is part of a single thought. So, verses 4, 5, 6, & 7 are all one sentence. They are all related as one continued single thought. If you read these verses, which are one sentence, we learn that God's promise in verse 6 comes to pass when we choose to get involved in someone else's life and (1) pray for them a lot, (2) fellowship with them often, and (3) get in the Bible with them often. You can't have verse 6 without the other instructions in verses 4, 5, & 7. Think about that. Then do it. Find a man or a woman who you can invest prayer, fellowship, and the Word with often.

Sunday

You can see pictures from today at www.LawrenceBowman.com

I'll keep this short. I'm writing a book and so I did some editing on it today. I am writing a book that can teach Christian's how to practically and effectively tell other people the Gospel of Jesus. I have not come up with a name for it yet. If you have an idea, feel free to write me. Thank you.

I hung out with the Perry's today. That's about it.

Stay in your Bible and reading and meditating on it.

That's all I have to write for today. Good night.

Christmas Party at the Perry's!

For all you Ohioans who might have been able to drive down to southeastern Ohio, you missed out on a fun Christmas party at the Perry's. Boy, there sure was a lot of good home cooked food. We had steak, chicken, green beans, corn, pies, pies, and pies, cookies, sweets, salad, and so much more. And it was all home made from scraps!

The fellowship of friendships is just wonderful. We played the fun card game PHASE 10. That game is so fun, but when you have a lot of people playing it, it just takes so long to play! But a lot of fun! You can see all the pictures at the following link:
http://lawrencebowman.com/2009OhioChristmasTrip.html .

And yes, we had God show up at the Christmas Party. After eating, Pastor Phil opened the Word of God and teached a great message. I was encouraged through the many verses he showed from the Bible about that we should not and do not have to fear. Even from the Christmas story in Luke, God through him showed how we do not have to fear. Fear is no longer an option for Christians. 1 John 4:18 let's us know that. Therefore if fear tries to come into our thoughts, we just need to cast it away. Jesus is love and He lives inside of us believers. Hallelujah! What a freedom that God has come and has provided the remedy for freedom from any type of fear!

So, this evening I thank God so much for bringing Himself into the world to save us from sin, to save us from fear, and to give us the opportunity to have friendship with Him and many other brothers and sisters in Christ.

Thank you God and Merry Christmas everybody.

Why did Peter ask that question to Jesus?

Have you ever had so many questions for the Lord? Have you ever been in a passage of Scripture in the Bible and knew there was something there for you but you just seemed unclear of what it was? Well, that's how I have felt today. God's had me in the faith filled story of Peter and Jesus in Matthew 14:22-33. Peter ask such an unusual question for the circumstances that he is in. I wonder why did he ask such a question. It just does not seem like common sense. All I can think of is that God is trying to teach about faith in the passage. But then also it seems to me that Peter is asking for a confirmation from the Lord Jesus. I just can feel it deep in my spirit that there is more for me to know one day, but at the present moment I don't know.

There does not seem to be anything in my personal life that I need confirmation about. I believe all that I have heard from the Lord and I take Him at His Word. There only thing I can think of is for me to just do as He has reiterated over and over to me in Psalm 40:1. Wait patiently on the Lord. So, if you are reading this, I ask you to pray for me that I will continue to just wait patiently for the Lord. It really is a wonderful time to be with the Lord. Waiting seems to be a time of intimacy with Jesus and just looking Him straight in the eyes and trusting that He has it all under control. Looking into His eyes and eagerly wanting to see all the many souls that will come to know Him intimately because of my present circumstances with Him. How beautiful is that? Thank you Lord.

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............................by the way, I went to a great dinner with David and Sandy Perry tonight. We went to Joe and Mary Lou's. After the delicious dinner, we all played cards and just had a good ol' time together. You can see all the pictures at the following link:
http://lawrencebowman.com/2009OhioChristmasTrip.html .

I'm now in southern Ohio

I had the opportunity to visit my family today again. I am so appreciative that the Lord has given me this opportunity to see and visit my family during this month of Christmas. An old college friend of mine, Jen, emailed me today with some encouraging words. Her email also reminded me to thank the Lord for this special time with my family. Everyday of our lives we ought to thank God for the people He allows me to be around us. We even ought to thank God for our enemies. Not to rejoice in them. That is hard. But to thank Him. Why? Because even through our enemies presence we can learn to depend on God more, we can learn more patience, long suffering, and love.

My mentor's wife, Sandy Perry, was in Columbus today for work. She picked me up and took me down to Rio Grande, Ohio with her and some of her colleagues. I am now down here in Rio Grande, Ohio visiting she and her husband, David. They are such good and faithful friends, and plus they are some of my mentors. It's bitterly cold down here, but the warmth from their hearts keeps me warm.
She made me some DiJorno Pizza tonight. I have never had that type before, and it was alright. I don't think it's as good as the commercials make it sound to be, but it was good. Thank God for food. Especially free food! :) We've sat around talking about some things related to the Bible. Interestingly, Sandy brought up the topic of faith and Peter from Matthew 14. I do think God is working in me to use more faith because He keeps bringing up the topic of faith to me each day. That is blessing. I am so happy that God wants me and even you to trust Him all the way. I am glad that God is not satisfied and therefore He keeps luring us to trust Him more! Hallelujah!

Well, I think I've written enough for tonight. I wish you well and thank you. and by the way, you can see all the pictures at the following link:
http://lawrencebowman.com/2009OhioChristmasTrip.html .

Faith Continued While In Columbus, Ohio

Merry Christmas Season! I just had to wish that to you. I am so tired of hearing our Savior, Christ, removed from company advertisements and replaced with the word holidays. If it was not for us Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, companies would not have a reason to lure consumers in to buy more merchandise than they normally do. So, stop cutting Christ out of your marketing plans, when it is because of Him you have more than average of sales this time of the year or anytime of the year!

I still am in Columbus, Ohio. It is so cold here, but I am enjoying the cold weather, and little bit of snow we had yesterday. Though it's cold, it sure feels like the Christmas season, in my opinion. So, I choose to thank God for even the cold weather we are having in this part of the world.

Since I was unfairly fired from my secular job about a month ago, many people have asked me what am I going to do. I have not known. All I can tell them is that I claim GRACE and that I am waiting patiently on the Lord. Many have asked me if I was going to move away from San Diego. It has not been my desire to move away, especially when God is doing so much there and permitting me to be involved with His work there. But again, I have told people I am waiting on the Lord and will do what He leads me to do.

Though I do not have a detail forecast of my future, and I probably never will. I am at peace to announce that I plan on staying in the San Diego area. I was reading Hebrews 11:23-29 today, and I just felt as if the Lord stopped me and let me know that it is His plans to keep me posted in the San Diego area. I can symphetize with Moses here in these verses. I perceive that life might be more challenging than to choose other options that have been offered to me. I would rather choose to stay in San Diego and endure any type of light affliction, such as perhaps not having a home, or a big paying salary job, than to have the luxury lifestyle of my selfish greed and carnal lusts. I would rather endure some light afflictions and be involved in people's lives than to call it quits and just return to Ohio or Florida.

Now, I am telling you this, not to bring condemnation on you, but this is what the Lord has for my life. You will have to seek God and see what He wants for your life, and then do it.

Please keep me in your prayers. I want to be faithful to what God allows me to be involved with. I want to be obedient to God as He leads and guides me a lone. He promises us in Psalms 32:8 that He will guide and lead us. Then in verse 9 He warns us not to be stubborn but just to be obedient and do as He guides.

I hope my news brings some encouragement to you. If you are in the Columbus, Ohio, I will be speaking to the Lighthouse Ministries church on South High St. on January 6 at 6pm. I welcome to you to come.

Faith in Columbus, Ohio

I'm not comfortably in Columbus, Ohio visiting family and friends. My first whole day here I assistd my mother and my newphew in putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it. It was been real nice to board play games with my family and talk and just hang out with them. I appreciate that God allows me to have people to hang out with and enjoy company with.

Last night I was reading in Hebrews, chapter 11. The first few verses God stopped me and began to minister to me about faith. I was reminded and learned something new about faith last night. There are four attributes about faith that we learn about in verses 1, 2, 3, and 6.

Those attributes are:

In verse 1 Faith is a substance.
In verse 2 Using faith let's us have a good report.
In verse 3 Using faith let's us have understanding.
In verse 6 Using faith pleases God.

I just thought that was neat and I thought I would share it with you. God used those attributes to remind me of a promises He gave me a little over a week ago. I am rejoicing in the faithful promies of God. We all should rejoice! Our rejoicing strengthes us to use His faith in our lives.

Rebuke

Have you ever had a day filled with much ups and downs? I’m not speaking of emotions but of circumstance. Well, I will tell you one thing. Today was a day of many circumstances and interesting situations. All day it was filled with pleasant and unlikable happenings. I’ll share just a little of some of the things that happened in my life today.

My day started really early with me moving my last minute big items out of my home, though I was a day overdue to move these out. The owner’s personal assistant stopped by in the middle of me moving and I thought she was going to gripe at me, but she surprised me with a show of humility in her speech towards me. I got the opportunity to share just a little of what Jesus is doing in my life because of my unfair firing.

Later on I had a necessary appointment to attend. It was an awful place I had to be at….and I just had to wait for such a long time. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to read some more of the book I am reading right now, Corrie ten Boom’s biography, “The Hiding Place.” My friend Jackie mailed it to me five months ago and I am finally getting to read it. It’s an awful awful experience the Lord let Corrie go through. My circumstances do not compare at all with what Corrie went through for the Lord’s service to the Jews years ago.

God used Corrie ten Boom’s personal testimony in her book to really convict me of something that has been in my heart. Perhaps this is one reason why God is putting me through the fires of life, to help draw out the wicked prides still inside my heart. I want to admit my sin to you that has been inside my heart, and it only became strongly evident to me today. You may loose respect for me, but that’s okay. I hope you do not, but if you do, I understand and I pray that God will teach you grace. I am human, and this little human needs a lot of learning to do still. So, yes, do please continue to pray for me to Jesus daily!

I want to admit that I have had bad attitudes toward a group of people. I have had low esteem for them, yet God tells me in His Word that He has high esteem for them. In the book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom happily acknowledges to a German Liutenant that she works with the uneducated retarded people of her community in order to give them the Gospel. When I read that, my heart was pierced and gieved. I have always adored slow learners but I must admit I have been hasty in giving them the Gospel. I have the attitude that, “Oh they are feeble minded and God certainly would not do anything mighty with them.” Boy, what an evil attitude I have possessed. Corrie ten Boom was an awesome lady who not only saved many, many Jews lives, not only was she bold and zealous with wisdom, but she also highly esteem the feeble minded people in order to give them the Gospel of Jesus. That is so highly commendable! God forgive me.

All day this has run in my mind as I have gone through some good and bad things. Then tonight in my nightly reading of my Bible, God took me to 1 Corintiahsn 1:27 and boy did God just flatly speak what was on His heart to me! God declares, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”

Thank You God so much for those strong words of rebuke! God certainly has used the feeble minded to convict me and to reveal what such evil pride lurks inside my heart. I confess this and I ask that God would please clean this out of me completely. Even tonight I look at a brother in the Lord different. He is so pleasant to be around. He goes to my church. Though he learns slower than normal about things in life, I have always been encouraged that he reads his Bible daily, he is always seeking God and asking good questions, and I am always dumbfounded that he works really hard to memorize scripture. Though he forgets some scriptures the next week, he continues to work at rememorizing them. He certainly puts a lot of us fast learners to shame! I know some Christians who learn things fast who don’t even read their Bibles, yet here is a man who learns slow, yet has learn the most important thing in life, and that is to spend time with God daily in His Word.

Once again, I am ashame of my sin, but I am so thankful that God revealed it to me. Thank God that He has been so patient with me. He has always known what has been in my heart, and finally I was able to see what He has seen already. Praise God He loves us and that He is so longsuffering.

A day of encouraging

God sure knows how to reproove us and then utilize that reproof to turn it around for an encouragement to someone else. And this is exactly what happened in my life today.

Each morning I spend time with God in His Word and prayer. God revealed to me that I have had a little bitterness in my heart for the past few days. I won't go into details, but some brothers and sisters in the Lord have ignorantly been unthoughtful with me. I am glad that God showed me that I have held some bitterness towards them for thier lack of thoughtfulness. I quickly acknowledged my sins before the Lord and asked Him to help me have attitudes, love, and thoughts of good and esteem for them.

Later on in the day I received a phone call with great concerns over a family member. One of my family members chose to do something horrible and now there is great pain and consequences that will be felt by many people. I spoke to two people on the phone concerning this issident and how it can affect me and them too. I told them about how the Lord this morning rebuked me for having bitterness. I exhorted them to not fall into the same sin that I just confessed to God. But instead we should be filled with love for the individuals around us. Yes, there are going to be some tough decisions that will have to be immediantly implemented, but we still can have love and compassion with righteous discernment and judgement.

Please keep all of my family and I in prayers. Now, I kind of see why God is permitting me to return to Ohio for a whole month. God knew what would happen on November 30th, and I think He is allowing me to be in Ohio to help be an encouragement for all of us.

God is so wonderful. He is worthy of so much praise. He knows things before we know. We therefore should always trust Him in anything He directs us to do.

No Power

A very influential church here in San Diego kicked off their Christmas season of events with a prominent ensemble band to play beautiful music for our ears to enjoy. I was enjoying the music until I recognized notes from a well known Santa Clause theme song mixed in the music of a Christ centered song. I thought about it for a minute and then brushed it off, considering that I was in a church house and it would be ludicrous for someone to play music about Mr. Clause with Jesus. I brushed it off considering that I misheard the music.

Fifteen minutes later, the singers were singing beautifully, the instrumentalists were playing enthusiastically and all the sudden, I heard words being sung about Santa Clause. I knew I was not misunderstanding my language. I could not believe what my ears were hearing inside a suppose house of God. Lord Jesus forgive us!

I immediately got up and left. Some my think I am acting fanatically or that I am too zealous. This is fine. God warned us in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 of how the world would be right before His return. 2 Timothy 3:5 warns that Christians will have a form of godliness, but deny the power. Then those few Christians who are totally convinced of the narrow standpoint about Jesus and forsaking the world are commanded to turn away from powerless Christians. That’s what I did. I walked out of that building, grieved in my spirit for them and their testimony before the Lord Jesus Christ.

Only Jesus is worthy to be praised! Santa Clause is an antichrist of Jesus. Santa Clause tries with all his scrawny strength to be like Jesus, but only Jesus is omnipotent, only Jesus is knows you, only Jesus watches you, only Jesus is returning, and that is truth and nothing but the truth!

The majority of the churches today are powerless. God is still power, but the children of God have no clue of His power nor any unction in how to use His power because they have forsaken God's commandments and have embraced self wants, desires, and will. Jesus well prophesied of our generation in Revelation 3:14-21. We are not to be lukewarm. God warned that He will vomit out of His mouth those who are lukewarm. From where has God always spoken to mankind? He has always used to mouth of holy powerful men of God, His church, to preach His Word. His Word brings about change. He has and never will use the mouth of powerless lukewarm people. Therefore, God's Word comes out of His mouth, which flows through the instruments of human mouths to proclaim what He utters. God says that He will vomit up lukewarm believers so that they cannot ever be part of His utterable Word. My friends, this is what is happening before our very eyes today. People are congregating in great flocks, posting the word church in front of their buildings, and having social gatherings. But there is one thing missing. Jesus! If Jesus is not the total center, then it's not a church gathering, but a social fellowship gathering.

I write this to exhort you to put Christ the center of your life. Forsake the world, and forsake the lies of the social smiley fellowships of today. Love all people around you, have compassion for all people around you, but represent Jesus in all manners of holiness. Least you be found lukewarm and be spewed from the Lord's mouth.

Almost Done & A Man Saved!

If you noticed, I did not write a blog last night. I have been busy packing, doing other things here in San Diego, and by the time I got home last night I was super tired. Yet, I had to finish packing and then I spent some time with the Lord in reading the Word.

After I spend a couple hours at the State Prison, I came home and a friend of mine and I packed a truck, and I took it to where my things need to be right now. I've been busy with that all day. I praise God so much for friends who care for me. Thank you God.

I kept my normal schedule this morning and went to the Donovan State Prison. It was very productive and profitable there once again. Normally, there is a main television in the center of the "auditoriumn" blarring loudly so that inmates can hear it from a far distance in their cells. I was so thankful but the t.v. was turned off for most of my time there this morning. I had some good visits with guys. I met a few brothers in the Lord and I was able to encourage them through prayer and sharing the Word with them. One guy was encouraged, as I was, as we looked over Luke 9:23. That one verse is rich full with wisdom, principles, and promises. I pointed out four important points in that verse. He liked that and I hope that he will implement those points into his life.

Another cell I went up to this morning, there were two guys there. I approached them, started a normal conversation with them. Then I asked them that if they were to die this week, would they go to Heaven or Hell? They smiled big, gave me their answers and then started to giggle real hard. I felt the Holy Spirit tell me to just stay there and continue trying to break through their ignorant attitudes.

One of them told me he was going to go to Heaven and the other had told me he would probably go to Hell. The "Heaven one" was laughing more, so I looked the "Hell one" dead center in the eyes, and asked him, "If I would show you from the Bible on how you could know for certain on how to get to Heaven, would you do what it says?" He answered me, "yes." I told him to get his Bible and to approach the little glass window through the iron cell doors. He appraoched. I then began to tell Him the Gospel with first starting off in Romans 3:23, and explaining how we are all sinners. His interest started to grow, as well as the other guy. We continued to talk about sin, and I allowed him to point out one of God's laws that he had broken, which was he agreed that he had broken the law that we shall not lie.

The Gospel stings and offends people sometimes when it reveals our sins to us. This happened today. The "Heaven guy" got very offended by the Word that he was certain horrible thigns before God. We discussed this in detail and to make a long story short, he sat down and I could see that God was truly convicting him of his sins. It was an awesome sight to see two scoffers change their demeanor from laughing to becoming very serious in a moments of 30 mintues time. We continued to talk and I continued to tell the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ. Halelujah! The "Heaven guy" realized that he was on his way to Hell, and surrendered his heart to Jesus in his cell and professed Christ as his Savior. Halelujah! Though the other one did not get saved this morning, I still pray for him. He just could not come to grips with 100% knowing if Jesus really died for him. We looked at different verses, but still no aveal this morning. That's alright, cause I know that God will reveal the Truth to him and soon he will be saved. I praise God that I allowed myself to get in God's opportunity to be one of the many who God will use to bring him to Himself.

May this exhort you to go and choose to actively tell others the Gospel of Jesus. You will be glad that you did.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

This is a wonderful day of gratitude, appreciation, and thanks. This day reminds me to live each day of my precious life with gratitutde and appreciation. The Apostle Paul in the Bible was always showing his appreciation and gratitutde to people. Most of his lettters begin with words such as "I thank my God in rememberance of you, I thank my God for you, I praise my God for you...." These words in his letters remind me to have the habit and lifestyle of telling people my appreciation for them. I am exhorted through these words of his to tell people genuine of my gratitude for them and how I value them.

I went to some friend's homes for lunch and then dinner tonight. All of them I value so much. I am guilty of not telling them enough. The first family prays for me, encourages me all the time through different verses from the Bible, and exhorts me to continue the work of investing my life into the lives of other people. I praise God for them and others that exhort and encourage me in life. Then I think about my other friend and his family. I am so grateful that they are willing to allow me to store my belonings in their garage for a time being until sufficent incomes and a new home come into my life.

I am about all moved out of my present home, the apartment. I am preparing for my trip to Ohio for a month. I look forward to see all of my family, friends, and new people. I look forward to getting to know Jesus through this visit and involving myself in His work that He is doing there.

This day of Thanksgiving has just been a blessed wonderful day. I am so rich because I know King Jesus, I have His Word, and so many blessings in and around me. May you know how rich you are if you have put all of your trust on the Lord Jesus. If you have not, then I exhort you to place all your trust onto Jesus Chrsit alone, and nothing else.

I am packing for my move

For most part of the day I did my packing. The majority of my home is now in boxes. I still have to pack my kitchen, but I want to wait til the last day for that. I enjoy cooking very much. Speaking of cooking, I've put together some Mother's Home Made Potato Salad for the Thanksgiving Dinner that I am attending tomorrow. I'll be at some friend's homes.

One of my neighbors came over today to check up on me. He was bothered that I was fired under unfair terms. I truly understand the questions and weariness that can come with being fired for wrong and unfair reasons, but hey, life has many unfair moments. I was encouraged to share my testimony with him as of how Christ has been working in my heart. Though my circumstancs at the moment seems disambiguated and uncertain, I am fine with that. God again reminded me and encouraged me today in Lamentations 3:25-27. The verses say, "25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth."

Well, I am going to go to bed now. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, Happy Thanksgiving!

Priorities

I'm going to be very direct and blunt. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God." I didn't say it. Jesus said it. Jesus is more or less teaching us that a Christian whose priorities are not correct is not fit for God's work. Therefore, we must diligently strive, examen ourselves and make sure that our priorites are correct.

So, what is to be our number one priority? I'm glad you asked. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness..." Our number one priority above all else is to seek God and His Kingdom. What's is God's Kingdom then. God's Kingdom is Christ the center and people. God's heart is people. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but tht the world through Him might be saved." God's priority is saving lost people. It's such an esteemed high priority of His that He even humbled Himself to become one of us, and allow us to crucifiy Him to death.

If people are on God's heart and are His priority, then our second priority should be working to save people too. 1 John 3:16 teaches us, "By this we perceive the love of God that He laid down His own life for us. Therefore, we also ought to lay down our own lives for the brethern." In Mark 16:15 we are commanded by Jesus to, "Go into all the world and PREACH THE GOSPEL to every creature." Jesus did not command us to go comfort people and help them to have better and more comfortable lives. He did not command us to raise up people to be law abiding citizens. Jesus commanded us to PREACH THE GOSPEL. For when the Gospel is preached, then the power of God is released and is able to convict the hearts of men and to save them from their sin, their judgement, and themselves (Romans 1:16). If we preach the Gospel, then Jesus will save them, then Jesus will take residence inside them (1 Corinthians 3:16), and He will do all that cleaning up that we are trying to do. Jesus promises in Romans 12:1-2 that He will do the cleaning up. Jesus promises in Matthew 6:33 that everything else shall be added if we seek the Kingdom of God. That includes Him cleaning the messed up lives in people.

Therefore, let us confess our sin to God that we have gotten our priorities wrong. Let us repent and go out and PREACH THE GOSPEL to all creatures. Let us let God do His work in cleaning up people.

If we do not, God again warns us in Luke 9:62 that we are not fit for His Kingdom work.

Normal Day

This morning I was awaken from a phone call from one of my mentor's and friend, Paul Drake. Yes, I have a mentor and it is Biblical to have mentors in our lives. I encourage every man around me to make sure that he allows himself to be at least mentored by an older man who
1. has a walk with Jesus Christ and 2.has known Jesus as his Savior and Lord for many years.

My day was quite normal. I spent some good time with Jesus in prayer, silence, and reading the Word. God really spoke to me in Jeremiah 15:10. It's an odd verse the Lord used to speak to me. You would think the verse would have made me sad or mourn, but instead God used it to deepen my gratitude and appreciation for some little things in my life.

I started doing a little packing today. I have to be moved out of my apartment before December 1st. Plus I did a bunch of nuisance mudance errands. Moving sure creates little nuisances, but I assume God uses those to help me persever and learn more patience. Thank You for caring so much Lord.

The Word of God Sustains Me

Oh how precious the Word of God is. It is the best Encourager in all of the universe. God's Word in Issaiah 33:6 says that "Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of your times..." We learn in Proverbs that the Word of God is wisdom and knowledge. We learn in the Gospel of John that Jesus is wisdom and knowledge. Thank God for His Word. His words is my stability in all of my times. Good and bad times. I do not need to be tossed to and fro, up and down with emotions. I, a child of God, can be stable in my emotions, in my thoughts, and in rest in the promises of God's Word.

Many people over the last few days have come up to me and asked me with concern how I am doing since my job's termination. I am grateful that they are concern. The truth is that I am joyful and have a peace of mind. God's Word instructs us in Philippians 4:8 on what we should think about. All positive things! I do have some needs and when I express those needs to other individuals they seem to have an emptiness in their eyes of not wanting to hear what my needs are. On the other hand, they are filled with joy when I am genuinely able to smile at them and respond with the truth that I am filled with joy and peace. I am filled with joy and peace because my God is in control. My faith is in Him. I am able to praise Him whether or not He chooses to help me. The other day God led me to Daniel 3:17-18. God confirmed to me that He is worthy of praise no matter what He decides to permit or not permit in my life. If God allows me to become homeless, despised by all brethern, and die in starvation, He still is worthy for me to praise.

Though I do not believe He will allow me to die of starvation, I am only making a strong point of the truth of His wortiness of praise. God has encouraged me greatful from Psalm 40:1 to just wait PATIENTLY on Him.

Trials have benefits from them. 2 Corinthians 4:17 has encouraged me to know that the benefits for going through trials is that God is working them for a far exceeding and eternal weight of glory. I am benefited in the long run by being transformed to make God look more good. Halelujah!

Another benefit is found in Psalm 44:3. It is God who gives us favor and through His favor permits us to have what He gives. But He never gives just for us to have self enjoyment. God gives so that we may give more back to Him and to others. God increases so that we will increase in giving; our time, abilities, thoughts, prestige, or money.

Thank you God.

Thanksgiving

I am tired tonight so this will be short. Thank you for your understanding.

The Lord showed me something today. It is Thanksgiving week and it is a good idea to ponder of being thankful. I was at Dr. David Jeremiah's church this evening and he said something true. "Thanksgiving is meant to have us focus on the God of good things and not the good things tht God gives us." How true that is. So, many times I find myself thankful for what God has given me or put in my life. It is even greater to have gratitude toward God. Thank You God for being in my life. Thank You God for loving me so much beyond my understanding.

As I think about different things I am thankful for, the question comes to my mind, what can I be thankful for in the circumstances of my trial? Yes, I have a hard trial. No changing that. But what can I thank God for in the middle of it?
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..........................................As I think about that, I first realize that I can and am thankful that God would even think about me. I am thankful that He would consider me to be worthy to be tested in a circumstances in order to show me who I really am. (nothing but a saved sinner with much of need for Him) I thankful that He loves me so much, that He wants me to be so close to Him that He would permit me to go through another trial in order to draw me closer to Him. And there is just so much more.

I hope that this week you will stop, ponder on what you are true thankful for. I hope that you will meditate on and about Jesus, and think about how you are thankful for Him and what He is doing. It truly is better to be thankful for God than to be thankful for the things He gives us.

Blogging & etc....

I simply still do not understand much of how to use my blog, or how to advertise it, or how to get people to find me on here. It seems like a waste of time. Time is valuable. However, I do enjoy typing on here. Each night I have for many years had the habit to write in my journal. Besides that I am now writing a blog. Blogging seems to be a way of journaling so I do not view it as a waste of time. And maybe, perhaps....one day, someone will come across my blogs and be encouraged by them.

I went to Reformer's Unanimous program tonight hosted at my church. I was happy to see that this one gang member came by tonight. I have not seen him for over a year. We got to talk and I do hope that he somehow will learn to just give it all to Jesus.

I don't have much to say tonight. Except one thing. I was thinking today about my whole situation where I have to move out of my apartment next week and my job lost. I got really excited and started to praise God when I thought about what God has done in my life. It seems to me that God is ready to advance His kingdom somewhere. He looked through the Earth and seen me. I don't know why but He knew I would be the best candidate for the advancement of His kingdom in a new area, so He worked some situations to get me to readjust my focus. So, now I have to move and move on to where He wants me to work with Him to advance His kingdom. If you think about it, that is so exciting. I am so humbled that God would even consider me. Halelujah! God is so awesome that He would look down upon this Earth and remember us and draw us closer to Himself. Thank you God so much.

Divine Appointment

Since I am going to be moving out of my apartment in a couple weeks, I began to advertise some of my furniture for sale today. Surprisingly, two pieces of my furniture sold. And then God had a wonderful surprise for me. It was a family who bought one of my couches this evening. They came over to pick it up. One of the individuals of the family was a young man who recognized me. I did not recognize him at first. He asked me with enthusiasm, "Aren't you Lawrence from the federal prison?"

I replied, "Yes, I go there to preach the Word." As I was speaking, I realized that he had been one of the inmates that would come to the Bible teachings that I do. We immediantly hugged each other. And we talked a little. He informed me that he has not gotten plugged into a church or Christian group yet. I exhortet him to be sure to be part of a local congregation so that he can learn more of the Word, be encouraged, and grow in his relationship with Jesus.
We both were surprised to run into each other. Out of one to two million people in San Diego County, he and his familiy happened to be buying the couch I am selling. I let him know that God let's divine appointments to happen for different reasons, and one of those reasons is to encourage someone or to exhort them to be obedient to what God has instructed them to do. I informed him that perhaps God brought us together for God to remind him through me that he defiently needs to part of a local group of Christians. (On a side note, Hebrews 10:25 instructs us not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together). I invited him to my church.

...............boy I sure hope he will be obedient to God's instruction. I'd love to see him grow in the Lord and just see what all the Lord has to offer him.

Now, something greater got to happen too. His mother thought she was saved. I asked her what she is relying on to get her to Heaven. She responded that she was not sure but if she had to choose something it would be her trying to be a good person. I shared my personal testimony of how I used to think that way, but the Bible clearly shows us that it is not be works, nor of ourselves because God will not allow anyone to boast. Salvation is only by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ alone. We continued to talk, and talk about how we have broken God's Law, the ten commandments.
We were making good head way, she was understanding the Truth, but then all the sudden, she got an important phone call and learned that someone had just died. I was sorrowful for her, and though I compassionately tried to continue our conversation, the door had closed. Though she did not believe on Jesus in my home, I trust that God permitted me to be part of the thousands of ways he is using in her life to draw her to Him. Keep her in prayer. Her name is Lucy.

I thank God for divine appointments. I continue to ask God to help me to be attentive so that when an opportunity quickly arises for me to serve someone the Word of God, I may quickly jump on the opportunity.

Keep me in prayer too. Thank you.

People's prayers have encouraged me

This afternoon a friend of mine called me to see how I have been doing regarding my fire incident with my previous employer. We discussed about how no new changes have happened except that God had reminded me of a valuable lesson about humility.

He told me that many people in the S.E.A.R.C.H. college ministry at the Univeristy of Rio Grande have been praying together for me. It sure encouraged me to learn that people are taking time to lift me and my old bosses to the Lord Jesus. Prayer is so important and I am blessed so much inside when I hear that someone is praying for me. We all need to pray for each other. And I deeply appreciate the prayers of believers for my life and the people around me.

I do not know why God has permitted me to be fired. I do know that God has His reasons which are best. I've asked God that perhaps He would use my life as an example to other Christians to continue in patience and perseverance no matter what is happening around them. God teaches us in 2 Peter 1:6 that He will use our patience and perseverance to create in us an attitude and character of Godliness. To be made more like Jesus is the best thing in the world.

I just thank the Lord so much for allowing us to pray for one another. It is so wonderful to be able to come to God and commune with Him. What a pleasure.

Soul winning

This evening two of my friend's and I went door-to-door soul winning . What I mean by soul winning is we go to people's doors steps, knock on their doors, and talk with them about the Gospel of Jesus. We got this awesome idea from Acts 20:20. The Apostle Paul utilized door-to-door soul winning in the many methods he used to present Christ to people. And you know what? It is very effective and wise.

Tonight, we walked through this apartment building by our homes. Like normal we come across people with interesting conceptions of God. But like usual, we are relying on the Holy Spirit to guide us to the individuals who are searching for Truth. And after 7 doors, God led us to those people. We got to talk with a woman stuck in her religious beliefs. Though she knew her Bible, she told us that she was open to study it more to see if Jesus really is God and if she can really have eternal life with Him. We showed her some scriptures, and compassionately asked her some real good questions. Hallelujah! She was quiet and she kept telling us, I see your point but I need to study this some more. It was such a joy to see her go from an initial rejection to toward the end she was desiring to wonder if perhaps the Bible clearly does prove that Jesus is God and that does offer a promise of eternal life with Him.

Though we did not get to lead her to Christ, I do believe that we were instrumental in opening her curiosity some more to the real Jesus of the Bible. Her name is Misha and it would be a privilege if you would pray that she would come to the knowledge of the Truth and that she would put all her trust in Jesus alone.

How wonderful eternity is going to be for those who chose to labor and pray in the harvest of souls! I can't wait to be in Heaven and learn of how I was 1 instrument out of 10,000 that God used to bring a soul to Him. Just think? Wouldn't you like to be one of those 10,000 individuals that God uses to draw a soul to Him? If Jesus is your Savior, then I exhort you to go out and tell others about Jesus Christ, that He still is wanting to save souls from the awful fires of Hell.

Aman!

Serving

Today I went down to the federal prison in downtown for my bi-weekly volunteer service there. I always go into the prison with a partner and the two of us are just perfect partners for the work of the Lord. God sure arranged all that for the two of us to work together.

Tonight I taught a message about patience. The guys were receptive to is. As usual I always encourage them to go back and review the notes so that God can reveal more to them that what my limited self can teach them.

I believe in being real and transparent with people. It is a disservice to people when we try to teach them something and hide our struggles with them. I let the guys know that the message I was teaching on was very applicable to me as well. I shared with them how I was fired, yet God is showing me how to be patient and wait on Him.

God is so good! Just as Psalm 119:68 says. God is good. Since I have to move out at the end of the month I have been wondering where I would put all of my furniture. My partner at the prison came to me on his own terms and invited me to store all of my furniture in his garage until I find a place to live..... I praise God so much! I tell you. God is faithful. When God is involved in anything, such as a trial too, He will bring the people, necessities, finances, all together so that He will be ultimately glorified and so that we will be benefited. I am praying that through all of this ordeal, may many souls come to know Jesus as their personal Savior. Aman!

Perhaps God is allowing me to through this so that some Christians can learn to serve their brother and/or sisters in the Lord. It's good to go out and serve people. To help them physically and then help them spiritually. But Galatians 6:10 exhorts us to serve Christians even the more.

Getting Fired!

Good evening to anyone that might be out there reading this. This is my very first blog. I got the idea to have a blog from a movie I seen on the airplane the other day. I do not get the chance to watch movies often and I do not remember the name of the movie but it was about a woman who did a one-year blog about her cooking. It was an enjoyable movie from what I seen on the airplane.

I keep a person journal with me and write in it every night. But perhaps this could become my journal. I don't know yet. What I do know is that I am seeking Jesus for wisdom and better discernment as what I am to do next. The Lord this morning repeated to me to just wait on me Him. He took me to Psalm 40:1, as He did 2 days ago, and this morning He repeated, "Lawrence, wait PATIENTLY on Me." I thought that was interesting. God tells me to wait. But then, also, He uses the important adjective, patiently. So, that is what I am going to do. I am at peace.

The reason why I need to wait patiently on God is because 2 days ago, I was fired from my awesome job as a Property Manager. Many months ago I was misinformed about something, and all these months since I got the job I have been permitting an employee to do things without my supervision. He's always been an great employee and he was with the company for a little over 8 years. Well, he did something over the last few weeks, and the CEO of our apartments learned about it and he did not like it. It was nothing that I was trying to hide. I did not like it either, but I mistakenly presummed that the employee had all the authority to do it without my permission. Well, to make a long story short, the CEO believes that I lied to him, and without questioning me or permitting me to have the opportunity to fully answer any questions or state any facts or opinions, I was immediantly terminated. It came as a surprise to me. I have always tried to serve him, his staff, and his tenants with humble service as Jesus did. I have served him ways that he is unaware of and I have even saved his company a few thousands dollars in ways that I do not think he knows about.

But hey, life is not fair all the time. The only person who is fair and faithful is God. God knew this was coming. It did not surprise God. So, now I've been seeking God for guidance. God showed me that I need to take the full blame and go on with my life. Jesus took the full blame of my sins on His cross even though He never sinned. So, as the manager, I assume the full responsiblities and I will move on to what God opens for me to do with Him.

I am grateful for the opportunity that I had to do in this job. May my bosses be blessed.

Oh, I did send a short email to my boss and CEO to thank them for the oppotunity to have the experience, and to apologize for letting them down. I am sincere about it. I hope they will be blessed in everything.

Well, I am going to read my Bible now as I always do before I go to sleep. It's getting late. Thanks for reading my blog. Well, my thoughts. Thank you. .....good night.

.............................................Oh, one last thing. Here is a picture of me in my pajamas tonight. I thought I would be silly and really go out on this blog thing. :) good night.