W9: Well Done, My Sparrow

When Last We Spoke

In my W8 blog, I mentioned that I was facing three options regarding this missionary journey I’ve been reporting about. I was undecided which option to choose.

Option 1

The pastor of the Beaufort church suggested that I should settle down here in Beaufort, at least for a temporary time. I could get rebaptised, intelligently and deliberately this time, fulfilling Jesus’ words in John 3:5, “Truly, truly I say to you, ‘Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.'” The pastor’s argument was that even Paul and Barnabas stayed for six months to a year in the cities they journeyed to. He further emphasized that to be an effective missionary, one needs to have the support and prayers of his home church. He asked me to think about this and make a decision to stay in Beaufort.

Option 2

My grandson, Niall, is travelling across the U.S. by car from California and has agreed to meet me in Beaufort and take me the rest of the way to Vermont in the event I am unable to continue. This might be necessary because both my diabetes and my chronic heart failure have been exhibiting more severe symptoms with these long, hot, humid days and nights.

Option 3

Restock, rest up, then man up and continue walking to Charleston, SC then Myrtle Beach, then on to the rest of the journey.

Making Up My Mind

My desire to serve my King makes me feel that I need to keep walking. However, there are two things that have made me think that perhaps this journey has come to an end.

First, My Health

As I mentioned, I have been experiencing more severe symptoms of my two most critical health factors. Because of my heart failure, my heart does not move my blood as well as it used to do. This results in blood pooling in places instead of constantly flowing. When blood pools, there is a risk of clots forming which can then move until they form a blockage. If the blockage happens in the lungs, it can become pneumonia. If it happens in an artery that feeds the heart muscle, it can cause a heart attack. In the brain, it causes a stroke. Or, in an extremity, it can cause the death or impairment of the extremity. Therefore, pooling blood is a serious problem. I take diuretics to reduce swelling in my feet and legs caused by pooling blood. I also take blood thinners to help prevent the formation of clots.

When I walk eight to twelve miles a day (which is pretty slow by walking standards of 3 miles per hour), my legs have been swelling up to 1 1/2 times their normal diameter. That is cause for concern and may indicate the end of my journey.

Second, My Testimony

Throughout my journey so far, not a day has gone by without meeting someone who has responded to my testimony of how Jesus’ love and power has changed me. Until now. For the past week, although I have talked to everyone I meet, not a single person has been receptive to hearing about Jesus or the news that He can do for them what He as done for me. I’ve prayed about this and the only thought that comes to me is Jesus’ instructions to the disciples he sent out to learn how to share the Good News. He said that if they got rejected, they were to shake the dust off their feet and go elsewhere. 

My Conclusion

If I need to stop walking, and my purpose in Beaufort is completed (ie: “shaking the dust off”), then perhaps I am supposed to go with Niall by car up to Vermont and start my work there, serving my daughter and grandchildren. But, just to be certain, I’ve asked God for a sign. I would like to meet with the pastor to discuss baptism and settling down in Beaufort. I would like to be counseled and have this option explored. Niall will arrive on Thursday and wants to depart on Friday, so talking to the pastor won’t be happening on Sabbath, so either the pastor will call me (he has my number, but I don’t have his), or I will need to meet with him either before or after Wednesday night Prayer Meeting. 

…Two Days Later…

My phone has not rung, so this afternoon I walked to the church about an hour and a half early. No one was there, so I sat against the wall in the shade and waited. Time passed. People showed up. The elder unlocked the church and we all went in. The pastor did not show up. 

 

Tomorrow, when Niall arrives, I believe I am to share the driving and gas with him and drive the remainder of the way to Vermont.

Aftermath

I left with Niall on Friday morning. We stopped in North Carolina for the night in Elm City. The Elm City graveyard has a road that follows a creek for about a half mile, which provided us with a lovely small woodsy area to set up the tent and cook supper. The drive from Beaufort, SC to Elm City, NC gave Niall and I a chance to talk long and in depth about religion, the importance of spiritual connections, and the ways that God has worked in both of our lives and minds. This conversation did more for my faith than every other conversation of the entire walk. Praise God for working all things together for good!

Having arrived in Vermont now, my life as “Grandpa” will be full of love and purpose. I may not write further blogs at this time. Perhaps, after a passage of time to adjust, I may have new experiences to write about and will initiate a third series of blogs on another aspect of living Christianly. Until then, be blest, my good readers. Remember, the things God has done for me, He will do for you as well. 

You Matter to God.

Whatever place you find yourself in right now, there are some elemental truths that you can count on.

1. Human nature is essentially selfish and human interaction with the Divine is essentially pagan.
2. God longs for a holy relationship with us and will provide the holiness we need to have such a relationship with Him.
3. We are completely unable to be holy or obey God or even love God on our own.
4. Christians are beleaguered with pagan selfishness the same as everyone else.
5. Christ lived a perfect, holy life and defeated the pagan human nature. 
6. If you confess your selfishness and your pagan tendencies, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE YOU AND CLEANSE YOU OF ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
7. Forgiveness is the beginning of holiness and the foundation of redemption.

If you desire to be close to Christ now, in the future, and forever, begin today by confessing the selfishness and the pagan inclinations that breeds sin against God and sin against people. Ask for, desire, and cherish an abundance of Christ’s own mind, works, power, and most importantly, Christ’s own Faith. These are gifts and blessings that God is eager to give to us, if only we would ask for them. We are not saved by our faith, for our faith is too weak. We are not saved by having faith IN Jesus. We are saved by the Faith OF Jesus.

 

In all things, we are weak. We have no willpower. We have no concept of Faith. We lack everything holy.

 

In contrast, Jesus is strong. It is Christ who both WILLS and DOES good works in us. It is Christ who has the power to control our will. It is Christ who provides us with perfect Faith, perfect Love, and perfect Holiness. May you open your heart to receive the blessings of Heaven. Open your mind to understand Christ’s words and commands. Open yourself to joining Christ in a joyful and loving relationship. Amen.