Now that is nasty that people would pelt your van with eggs!  Just plain not
nice.  But the neat experience youshared with us is w9onderful and precious
and a very special gift indeed.

Littlekat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith P Hodges" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2004 1:21 PM
Subject: A cool experience


Dear Friends,

I had a cool experience today. I went outside onto my veranda where
there are two armchairs. I live in a flat above a shop, four such
flats share a veranda which is semi-private.

We are known in the area I live as Christians. It doesnt happen all
the time, but people do drop in asking for prayer, usually drunk. One
would not think it in our very well to do area but even only last
week my van and house were pelted with eggs and my wing mirror was
vandalised... anyhow back to my veranda.

There, quite unexpectedly, I found a local lad and two strangers. One
was a very sweet young woman and she asked me if I thought that God
could be "out to get someone", because that is what her friend had
told her. She told me that she and her children had been taken in by
an older woman and how God had given her a family and a loving home
overnight.

I was able to explain, and come to a realization as I spoke, that I
thought that what she was experiencing is exactly what knowing Jesus
is all about, that is essentially the whole point. (ministry of
reconciliation)

She said how she felt that all the pain of her difficult life and her
bitterness had been melted by the experience of becoming part of a
family, being loved.

She asked me many questions about the Lord and she asked me to share
my testimony. When I said "it is like a love affair, God is wooing
you,", she said that that was exactly what her friend (her spiritual
mum) had said to her.

There were several moments like that in our conversation, and I felt
very encouraged that I was able to play my part in what was a
genuinely spontaneous God moment, and to be able to share of Gods
goodness in a natural non-preachy way.

yours in Christ

Keith