A Christmas Gift For Jesus

I have heard many objections to the sharing of the gospel message. Many have said, “I cannot lead someone to Christ. I don’t know how.”

Leading someone to Christ may be very simple. Many years ago, on a trip to Kansas City, I stopped at a wayside rest in Iowa, just off of 1-35. At the time, God was leading me to witness for Him and I had been going door to door in a northern suburb of Minneapolis. I was quite exhausted with all of my witnessing for Jesus because it was very hard for me, being a shy kid from the sticks of northern Minnesota.

There was a young man sweeping the floor of the pavilion in the wayside rest. Normally I would have approached him and tried to share the gospel, but this time, because I was so tired, I thought I would take a shortcut. I just laid a gospel tract on the display in the center of the pavilion.

Ah, but I was not to get off so easily. Immediately the young man called out, “Sir, Sir . . . what is that you are leaving on the display? You can’t do that.”

Taken back, I said in my defense, “It’s a gospel tract.”

“Well, you can’t leave anything on the display,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I just want to share the gospel.” Not knowing what else to do, I launched into my testimony, how I didn’t know the Lord, how I was empty and miserable, how someone invited me to choir practice where God began working on me. Finally, how I accepted Christ into my life and how He had changed my life completely.”

To my astonishment the young man asked, “How can I do that?”

I stuttered and stammered and said, “Well, you can just bow your head and tell Him how you are sorry for your sins, and you want to give your life to Him.”

The young man sat down, bowed his head, and prayed for perhaps a minute. When he lifted his head there was an unmistakable glow on his face. His whole countenance had changed.

“I want to read the Bible,” he said. “Where do I start?” He shared with me that he was a church going Methodist, but no one had ever told him how to receive Jesus as his Savior.

. . . And how hard had it been on my part? I just told him my story . . . in about 30 seconds. You can share Christ with unbelievers in the same simple way. Just tell them your story.

I have heard many testimonies of people who said they just opened their mouth and the words tumbled out. In retrospect, they would say, “I don’t know where that came from. I would have never thought of those things I said.” Well, it’s quite simple. The Holy Spirit told you what to say as He promised He would.

. . . do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But, whatever is given to you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11 NKJV

In my conversion to Christ, a young woman named Jan played a big part. What did Jan do? She invited me to her church’s choir practice.

I was in a popular “rock” group at the time. I declined twice, but she kept asking. The third time, just to get her off my back, I promised to come. It was there that the 300-year-old hymns cut through my hard exterior and slammed into my heart. That was the seed that was planted. God kept working on me and six months later, I gave my life to Christ.

All Jan did was invite me to choir practice. How hard is that? Could you do that? Of course, you could. You see, there are many ways God can use you to bring someone to Him. You just have to be willing to be sensitive to His promptings and then do what He is asking you to do.

Oh, it is so simple. It’s not rocket science, so don’t make it so complicated.

Now, in Paul’s experience with the Corinthians, he explains that bringing someone to a meaningful life in Christ may take more than one person. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase,” is his testimony. Then he said, “He who plants and he who waters are equal (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).”

Paul brought the Corinthians to salvation and Apollos helped them grow in their Christian walk. Both played equal parts in the process.

So, if you think you are really bad at leading someone to Christ, maybe your gift is helping young Christians grow. Can you do that? Do you have a basic knowledge of the Scriptures? How hard is it to discuss the Scriptures with someone? How hard is it to be a sounding board to a troubled young believer, and offer them some Scriptural advice . . . or to pray with them or encourage them? That’s not hard. You can do that. Remember, Paul said that helping someone grow in their Christian walk is just as important as initially leading someone to salvation in Christ. Let’s not diminish the role of mentoring a new believer, because that’s what you are doing.

Being used of God is not hard. Just pray that God will give you opportunities and then when the opportunities cross your path, be ready.

. . . always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you . . .

1 Peter 3: 15 NKJV

Maybe the best gift you can give Jesus this year is to lead someone to salvation or to mentor someone in their faith.

The Open Gate

By Lorraine

Christmas is approaching quickly and soon we will all be looking to a new year. We will be standing at the “gate” to a new year and that new year will cause us to “cross over”.

Cross over to what? you may ask.

Maybe you think, “I’ll just pray for whatever God want to bless me with.”

There is nothing wrong with that kind of prayer but I think God would like us to be a little more specific. This is a good time to start praying for success in your life and your families, friends, communities, nation and world as you move into a new season with God. Habakkuk 2: 2-3 (ESV) 2. And the LORD answered me; “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. 3. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will not delay.”

I encourage you to take some time to pray, listen to your heart and hear what the Lord may be saying to you about this new year. Write it down.

I encourage you to take some time to write down the desires of your heart. Pray aand ask the Lord to bless them. Ask Him to show you if there is something you need to do to help it come to pass. Write it down.

I encourage you to pray with your spouse about the new year. Pray with your children, and your grandchildren about the new year.

Life is busy but please don’t walk through the gate and cross over without taking some preparation spiritually for this new year. If you do, it will effect every aspect of your life. It may be the difference between a success or a failure.

SHOP TALK

You may remember that about a year ago I wrote about printing my new book. We were not able to raise the amount needed to print. Then one morning the Lord told me that what I wrote was not what He was after . . . and He told me to write the book over again. So I did. It took me about a year. It is now ready to print. At the same time we must have a store built into our website. This will accommodate the new book, the two books we have currently, our music CD’s and any new products we will develop. I have put the cost of this project below.

1000 Books – $3081

Mailing to 30 Ministries – $ 180

Web Store – $4400

Total Project Cost – $7561

All contributions are tax deductible

In His Service

George and Lorraine Halama

Photo designed and taken by Lorraine