The Connection Magazine Spring 2023

HE IS RISEN HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

3. General Notes

by Rev. Max Edwards

5. Lessons on Prayer from the Master

by Judy Edwards

7. Let’s Not Miss Friday on our Way to Sunday by Rev. Max Edwards

9. The Root of Suffering by Rev. José Macías Flores

10. The Silence of Saturday

by Max Lucado

11. The Resurrection Enables Peace

13. A Witness to Revival by Rev. Diane Ury

THE CONNECTION

MAGAZINE STAFF

Editor-in-Chief: Rev. Max Edwards

Pre-Production Editor: Ms. Deborah Mitchem

Graphic Design: Caleb Hammond

Editor: Rev. Elias P. Stinson, Jr.

Editor: Mrs. Nancy Utt

HQ Executive Secretary: Mrs. Karen Parsons

Department of Prayer: Mrs. Judy Edwards

Translator: Rev. José Macías Flores, Spanish

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All quoted Scripture is from the NIV Bible, 1984, unless otherwise noted.

CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION

“… They approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. … A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’”

Matthew 21:1, 8-9

Whatan incredible moment! The long-awaited Messiah was making his way into Jerusalem!

People were jubilant, and with good reason, they thought. The people were hungry for deliverance, hungry for change. Their victor had come, so surely a victory would follow. If we were to have asked the oppressed Jews to identify the enemy, they would have shouted in unified chorus: “The Romans!”

The emperors and their agents were easy targets for Jewish anger. And Rome did a great deal to deserve it. People were largely property to them, chattel to be used, leveraged or discarded.

So, when the itinerant miracle-worker entered the holy city, the shouts of “Hosanna” rose from the crowds who believed that freedom was coming. But instead of cleansing the city of its Roman overlords, the first act of Jesus was to head to the Temple to confront greed, and all manner of religious oppression being conducted by the Jewish leaders themselves.

“Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, “My Temple will be called a house of prayer,” but you have turned it into a den of thieves!’ The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and … were indignant.”

~ Matthew 21:12-15

What the Jews needed was deliverance from an internal enemy, not an external one. They needed to repent and understand that the promised Messiah wasn’t coming as a victor in the field of politics. No! Isaiah prophesied a Messiah who would come to deliver folks from their real enemy - - sin!

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all … I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.”

~ Isaiah 53:6, 15 nlt

“Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the Lord says: ‘The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care—but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them. Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.’”

“‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.’” ~ Isaiah 1:2-4, 18 nlt

Yes, what the Jews needed was a MIRROR. They needed to take a clear look at themselves. But instead of a mirror, what they saw was a MIRAGE. A mirage is something that is believed to be true or real but that is actually false or unreal. Our word mirage comes from the French verb mirer (“to look at”), but a mirage is a false image that might seem real, but is actually a dangerous distraction.

The Messiah they were expecting was an illusion of their own making, a false notion of reality based on what they imagined to be true and important. In fact, their faulty notion of Messiah was beyond an ILLUSION, it was a

DELUSION. They deluded themselves into thinking that the problem was someone else’s fault.

Like the first century Jews, the biggest problem we face isn’t an external enemy that can affect only the body. Our most dangerous enemy can destroy the soul.

Let us not make the same mistake they did. It is true that life is hard, and we are often oppressed by someone else’s misplaced ambitions. But the Triumphal Entry the Lord wants to make isn’t an entry into our politics, our economy, or our cultural problems. Not primarily. We need to welcome JESUS into our own hearts as the champion who defeats sin. Our sin. My sin.

Rev. Max Edwards International General Superintendent

“ What the Jews needed was deliverance from an internal enemy, not an external one.”

LESSONS ON PRAYER FROM THE MASTER

AndrewMurray was an intercessor, pastor and missionary to South Africa. He was a strong advocate for a strong prayer life. One of his writings is the now classic, With Christ in the School of Prayer. Jesus is indeed the Teacher on prayer and He teaches us yet another lesson as we witness His prayer in Gethsemane.

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look – the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” Matthew 26:36-46 nlt

Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and there is much truth and inspiration to be gleaned from His example. During this Lenten season may we ponder these scriptures,

asking the Holy Spirit to impart the same passion for prayer we see in Jesus. Let’s take a few minutes to ponder some simple observations.

As I read these scriptures, my first observation is the wrestling Jesus experiences to accept the cup of suffering – wrestling that is not unlike our own. It’s important we recognize that, as the Incarnate Son of God, Jesus is fully divine and also fully man, sharing in the human condition and wrestling with submitting to something his humanness – His flesh – does not want! Jesus asks if the cup of suffering can be taken from him more than once, knowing full well what is coming and what death on a cross will involve physically, but also each time He asks, He also acknowledges that He will submit to the will of the Father, the Father He trusts implicitly.

me Lord, to trust you without reservation.”

I love the honesty Jesus displays, asking (my paraphrase), “Does it have to be this way?” and yet it’s always coupled with, “But I want your will over mine.” And His persistence to continue asking until He gets to a place of full submission – what a lesson for me, and for us all. God can handle our questions, our struggles, as many times as we need to bring them, as we eventually

“Help

move to a place of submission and acceptance. He made us. He knows us. And He knows that the battle to submission is fought in prayer. Jesus’ prayer also shows us a glimpse of the relationship He had with the Father, one of complete trust. Through Jesus’ example we see this: as I pray, as I struggle, I must also trust! Trust that God’s will is ALWAYS best. Are my prayers prayed with trust that even if I don’t get my “list” fulfilled, He is still trustworthy? “Help me Lord, to trust you without reservation.”

My last observation relates to Jesus’ frustration with His disciples. It seems those He brought with him and asked to tarry with him, do not have a clear understanding of the importance of what is happening as Jesus wrestles in prayer. They can’t even stay awake! Anyone reading this passage who is an intercessor or who has tried to establish a prayer ministry in their church, may relate to Jesus’ frustration. Jesus asks them to watch and tarry with Him. He challenges them and reminds them of the importance of prayer and that it will help them not give in to temptation, but eventually he tells them to go ahead and rest. How I interpret Jesus’ example here is that He invites others to deeper prayer and He tells them the importance, but what they choose to do does not change His response to what He is called to do. Prayer warriors, continue to intercede as God calls you to, no matter what; continue to establish prayer meetings and prayer coverage, even if very few respond. Not everyone will join you but do what God has called you to regardless.

Let’s travail in prayer with trust, honesty, persistence and submission to God’s will over our own. Let’s continue to invite others to join us in prayer while also having grace for those who may not yet understand the call… But above all, PRAY!

I want to leave you with these words from Andrew Murray:

“Blessed Lord Jesus! Gethsemane was the school where You learned to pray and to obey. It is still Your school, where You lead all Your disciples who wish to learn to obey and to pray just like You Lord! Teach me there to pray, in the faith that You have atoned for and conquered our self-will and can indeed give us grace to pray like you…

Blessed Lord! Open my heart, and the hearts of all Your people, to fully take in the glory of the truth: That a will, given up to God, is a will God accepts for use in His service, to desire, determine, and will what is according to God’s will. Let mine be a will which, by the power of the Holy Spirit, exercises its royal prerogative in prayer… O Lord Jesus! Teach me to pray. Amen.”

Judy Edwards is the Chairman of the Evangelical Methodist Department of Prayer

“as I Pray, as I Struggle, I must also Trust!”

LET’S NOT MISS FRIDAY

By Max Edwards

“… grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: ‘ye were bought at a price,’ and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.”

~

Bonhoeffer,

Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship Pocket Books, 1995, p. 45

Resurrection Sunday is GREAT. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior rose from the dead, putting an exclamation point on His supremacy. Let the celebrations ring out: Death is surely dead!!

But before we can get to Sunday, we must move through Friday. In many places in the world – certainly in the USA the Friday of passion week

is called “Good Friday.” Why is that? How has it come to be known as “good?” And in what sense is it “good?” The Oxford English Dictionary indicates that the name comes from an antiquated meaning of good, deriving itself from the word Holy. Indeed, this is the case in many of the Romantic languages: “Viernes Santo” (Spanish); “Venerdì Santo” (Italian); “Sexta-feira Santa” (Portuguese).

“Holy Friday,” it seems to me, might put us in a more accurate frame of mind, grappling with the sorrow of our Savior. It is interesting to me that in Romania, “Good Friday” is called “Black Friday.” Traditionally, it is a day of sorrow, fasting, and solemn reflection on the suffering of Christ.

Pondering and deeply processing the suffering of Jesus is more than just important; it is essential.

When we just rush into Sunday and the joy of the Resurrection, we miss the grief of the passion.

If we don’t understand the pain, we don’t fully understand the price.

ON OUR WAY TO SUNDAY

If we don’t aptly reckon with the sorrow, we won’t fully recognize the sacrifice.

If we don’t focus on the agony, we will never fully appreciate the atonement.

It is probably true that we don’t want to focus on the suffering of Christ because of our empathetic response. Put simply, we don’t WANT our Jesus to hurt. But here’s the cold, hard truth: He suffered so deeply because sin is costly. Sin demands justice. Sin is black. Sin is painful. One of the reasons why we might so quickly pass over the intense suffering of Christ without too much thought is that – well, to put it bluntly – it is our fault. It was on account of our sin that He suffered.

Tony Compolo achieved a level of notoriety in the 1980s for his sermon, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Coming,” which is a wonderful and comforting truth. It reminds us that when we are hurting, we can know that the resurrection stands as a beacon of hope that our hurt is not permanent.

In terms of our spiritual life, those of us who know Christ know that our sins are forgiven, but in order never to forget the high cost of sin, we should remember that “It’s Sunday, but not long ago it was Friday.” Sin is expensive, and Jesus offered himself up to suffering and crucifixion to settle our sin debt.

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities …” Isaiah 53:3-5

“He suffered so deeply because sin is costly. Sin demands justice. Sin is black.”

THE ROOT OF SUFFERING

Every time we go through dark moments, and we feel that we cannot take one more step, we ask ourselves, what is the purpose of suffering? Why do I have to go through these painful circumstances? Is there a purpose or is this a random event that just happened to me?

It may be a small and temporal suffering or it may be a very destructive and painful circumstance. How should I respond to my ordeal? Am I a victim? Is God responsible for what I am going through? Maybe others are to blame for my misfortune. What is the purpose of my suffering? Could it be a punitive act on God’s part, an act of discipline? Maybe this painful circumstance is merely a natural happening, with no real purpose.

For most of us living in third world countries, our worldview of suffering is affected by our culture. We tend to identify ourselves with the suffering Christ. He was a good man, just as we are good people; yet he suffered under the system , was beaten without reason just as we are. Every time we go to a Catholic church, we can see the Christ defeated, with his mouth open, bleeding and beaten just as we are. We are good people; we have not committed a crime, but we are under the system . The problem is that under the system the suffering Chris is defeated and stays that way. There is little or no mention of the resurrection and victory over death. This produces a spiritual sense of hopelessness for the present and the future.

This is the reason that the hope the Gospel brings is so important. For a Christian, suffering should have a definite meaning: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:2-4

Rev. José Macías Flores is a former General Superintendent of our Mexican Evangelistic Mission. He is an EMC Elder and member of the Connections Staff.

THE SILENCE OF SATURDAY

Jesus is silent on Saturday. The women have anointed his body and placed it in Joseph’s tomb. The cadaver of Christ is as mute as the stone which guards it. He spoke much on Friday. He will liberate the slaves of death on Sunday. But on Saturday, Jesus is silent. So is God. He made himself heard on Friday. He tore the curtains of the temple, opened the graves of the dead, rocked the earth, blocked the sun of the sky, and sacrificed the Son of Heaven. Earth heard much of God on Friday.

Nothing on Saturday. Jesus is silent. God is silent. Saturday is silent. Easter weekend discussions tend to skip Saturday. Friday and Sunday get the press. The crucifixion and resurrection command our thoughts. But don’t ignore Saturday. You have them, too.

Silent Saturdays. The day between the struggle and the solution; the question and the answer; the offered prayer and the answer thereof.

Saturday’s silence torments us. Is God angry? Did I disappoint him? God knows Jesus is in the tomb, why doesn’t He do something? Or, in your case God knows your career is in the tank, your finances are in the pit, your marriage is in a mess. Why doesn’t He act? What are you supposed to do until He does?

You do what Jesus did. Lie still. Stay silent. Trust God. Jesus died with this conviction: “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” Acts 2:27 Jesus knew God would not leave him alone in the grave. You need to know, God will not leave you alone with your struggles. His silence is not his absence, inactivity is never apathy. Saturdays have their purpose. They let us feel the full force of God’s strength. Had God raised Jesus fifteen minutes after the death of His son, would we have appreciated the act? Were He to solve your problems the second they appear, would you appreciate His strength?

For His reasons, God inserts a Saturday between our Fridays and Sundays. If today is one for you, be patient. As one who endured the silent Saturday wrote: “Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord” James 5:7 nkjv

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK;

MAX LUCADO, 2013, REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and best-selling author, who, in his own words, “writes books for people who don’t read books.”

THE RESURRECTION ENABLES PEACE

Then, the same day at evening, beginning the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled … Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you!”

Whenthey placed the body of Jesus in the tomb that Friday afternoon, the disciples must have felt that their whole world had come apart. They had truly believed that He was their long-awaited Messiah. But they had just watched Rome cruelly torture and kill him; just as they had watched others die. “How is this possible?” they must have wondered. Their peace was crushed, and everything they thought they had learned about faith and hope were now dead. The uncertainty that loomed in front of them must have seemed like a gigantic storm certain to devour them.

And now, here we are, 2000 years later peeking into the uncertainty that we face in the light of world events: earthquakes of unimaginable proportions; political unrest and violence; mass-murder in the news on an almost daily basis; wars that threatens to entangle us; rising inflation and deep economic instability. But we would do well to remember that the early disciples were

facing issues that make our problems seem pretty small by comparison. We may not feel a lot of economic or political security, but they were an entirely subjugated people living hard lives under an oppressive Roman rule. Yes, we face difficulties, but they faced imprisonment, and almost certain death simply for living out their faith. We aren’t sure if the events half-a-world away will impact us directly, but they didn’t have to look around the world for hardship, because it was on their front doorstep every day.

There is something that we, and the early disciples share in common, though. THE KNOWLEDGE

THAT JESUS IS RISEN!

And that reality brings perspective to every struggle, both small and great that we will ever face. The first evening after Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to His disciples and declared an amazing reality in one solitary word: PEACE.

Jesus had risen bodily, and he immediately resurrected for them a memory, something he had said to them right before his arrest, trial and crucifixion: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Jesus reminded them of his promise of PEACE. No matter what the circumstances, no matter how uncertain our future is, nor how difficult it might become, one thing is absolutely sure: GOD IS WITH US. Just

John 20:19 kjv

at the moment when the disciples felt the least peaceful, Jesus personally stepped into their world to assure them of His watchful care. They had just witnessed Rome brutally kill the leader of their small company, and it was no logical leap to assume they would be next.

(And indeed, that wasn’t far from the truth.) But right into THAT VERY REALITY, Jesus spoke peace. Jesus promised peace. Jesus predicted peace. And here’s the amazing truth: Jesus IS peace.

Could you use a good dose of PEACE today? Jesus tells us to “ … not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ … for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow …” (Matthew 6:31-34) And if you worry that you might not fulfill your God-given mission, you can rest in God’s peace on that issue as well. Jesus said, “… Do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that

hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

(Matthew 10:19-20)

Jesus does not instruct us to be unprepared, but He does instruct us not to worry about whether or not God will be with us through our difficulties. Trusting Him with the outcome of our lives and witness is a wonderful, peaceful path.

Looking into the passage of John 20 one more time, we also take great comfort from the fact that the Lord spoke peace to his followers not just once, but twice. “So, Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you!’ As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)

Jesus does not simply command that we be at peace, but He GIVES US PEACE IN INSTALLMENTS.

He gives us day-by-day portions of His peace, so that no matter what challenges we face, no matter how uphill the climb, no matter how uncertain our future might be, we can live right in the center of HIS GREAT PEACE!

“Jesuspromised peace. Jesus predicted peace. Jesus is peace.”

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Psalm 130:1-6

Atage 19, I transferred to Asbury College. I did not yet know Jesus, barely even knew anything about Him. On my first day in chapel in Hughes Auditorium, I had no idea what we were doing in there or why. Then the singing started. I had never heard that kind of singing. But what was even more remarkable to me was, as I looked around, kids my own age were singing robustly from their hearts! They had brought their own Bibles and were taking notes, during the preaching. They seemed to understand what the preacher was

talking about. They flooded down to that rail thing, and I heard that they were meeting God there. I was so drawn to the whole deal, fascinated by people who actually knew Jesus and loved Him. This made me extremely curious and filled my soul with longing. I had many intellectual struggles with religion, but in my heart the Spirit allowed me to place my hope in these new friends and their experiences of knowing God. After a few months of seeking, I heard His Voice for myself, and I have never recovered from that beautiful sound.

On February 8, 2023, at Asbury University, the risen, living Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, came to offer His heart of Holy Love to the student body. To revive means to re-life. The Father had heard their cries; He’d seen their pain, fear, anxiety, sin and captivity. Jesus came to rescue them and to bring them into His very Life. He poured out His Spirit upon and into those who would receive Him. Many did. Many watched in wonder and came back into Hughes with permission from the Holy One to simply sit with Him in curiosity. Jesus loves that.

What the curious found when they heard Jesus say, “Come and see!” was that His Presence there was safe. Even as He was looking right into their minds, souls, past screw ups, hearts of wounded cynicism, and

dark sin, His light-bringing conviction was coming forth from His loving heart. His holiness is alluring and was inviting those on the edge of their seats, “Come to Me!” They found rest.

While I was ministering on the prayer team at the altar in Hughes, I took in the continual worship rhythm of Scripture, testimony, and proclamation. Never did people stop coming to the altar. Music is the heart language of the young. The sense I got during the singing worship was mutual giving and receiving between us and Jesus. He seemed to hear our hearts in our voices as we loved Him with our song words, and there was something like a swell in the room. It wasn’t only volume, but quality fullness, as though He was receiving our love and worship and it was bringing Him great joy. Sometimes our song words were about what He does in and for us. We received His love in hushed tones of awe, and then we’d just be so overcome, we’d sing from depths of fullness that were loud.

Emotionalism could have driven the music worship, but the student team never went there. They indeed led us continually to focus on the Person of Jesus Himself, our King and Redeemer, our Knower and Lover and Healer.

By the time I arrived it was day 9, and I recognized my 19 year old self in these seekers from near and far. The response of the Asbury University students openly coming to Jesus, worshiping Him with abandon, testifying to cleansing from sin, deliverance from anxiety, and fullness of joy, unleashed the latent, but fully human

created longing for God, in young people all over the country and the world! They were invited by the Spirit to “Come and see!” what Jesus was doing in the lives of kids their own age.

Meeting and praying with them at that rail thing was such a joy.

Some came in speechless, tearful offerings of thanksgiving to Jesus, draped over the altar, and just wanted someone to pray words with them.

Many came wanting Jesus for the first time ever. In that space they were utterly free to come with great expectation even though they had no Christian vocabulary for their longings. And they knew that was fine with God, that all He wanted was for them to come to Him. I’d tell them, “That’s OK! Jesus IS the Word! He doesn’t care if you don’t know what to say.”

I asked each person if they’d ever given their lives to Jesus. Many had not and would say, “But I want to!! I don’t know how to do that! How do I do that?!” Together, I walked with them into the goodness of Who He is and what He has done for and will do in their lives. “Jesus is God. He’s the Creator of the universe. He became human so that He can recreate our human predicament and restore us to His dream for our lives. He is the One Who bears your sin. Take it off of you, and let Him place it into Himself. The

cost of sin is death. He died your death. He receives your voice of confession right now. He forgives you.”

They confessed their sins aloud to Jesus. “Jesus, I’m sorry for… Forgive me for…” With each statement their voices rose in intensity of joy and freedom, sometimes their confessions grew longer as they experienced the freedom of God’s release. Often they wouldn’t look up. I’d say, “Look at me, look at my face. Jesus has set you free! He wants to give you His Life of victory, cleansing, wholeness, and freedom. Will you receive His Life?” Everyone I prayed with did!

A guy drove a thousand miles, was the first one in the door, ran to the altar and threw himself on the floor heaving in despair for an hour. He found help and hope.

“The Father had heard their cries; He’d seen their pain, fear, anxiety, sin and captivity. Jesus came to rescue them and to bring them into His very Life.”

An addict just out of rehab who’d lost his family and everything else, gave his life to Jesus and received the risen Savior’s Life into his own, walking back to his seat a new creation.

A whisp of a high school girl drove all the way from the Rocky Mountains, mustered the courage to come forward for cleansing of her sinful behavior, and freedom from selfharm and anxiety. When we hugged before she went back to her seat she looked like a different person. Because she was!

A middle aged newly divorced woman came to know Jesus as the One Who truly completes her, Who will never abandon her. She’d been a Christian for decades, but had never talked directly to Jesus. She was undone. It was beautiful.

I had them read aloud a passage from my Bible before they got up. Often they’d continue reading on and on. They’d look at me and then back down at the Godbreathed Word, in wonder that He could speak so crystal clear to them now in His written Word. They fought to stop reading. I gave a new Bible to one woman and had her underline a key verse I showed her. She kept reading, grabbed the pen back out of my hand and kept underlining more verses. Later I saw her in the crowd with her new Bible clutched to her heart, smiling and singing gloriously.

As I sent them back to their seats, I told them, “The Jesus in the four gospel books –the One Who makes blind see, calms storms, and raises the dead – is the One you just gave your life to! And He is the One Who just gave His Life to you. He lives within you now!” Their faces would beam in awe and wonder.

In the crowds coming to see how and why there’s so much hope in central Kentucky, Jesus never sees a crowd. He sees each person individually, hears their cries, loves them, speaks to their hearts, “Come to Me.”

He sees you, right now, no matter where you are. He wants you for His very own, to love, cleanse and care for every part of who you are. Lift your face to Him this moment, hear His loving Voice. Whisper to Him your need, your love, your gratitude, open your heart to His tender, kind Love. Let Him relife you.

The Lord has pleasure in those who fear, those who wait upon His unfailing Love. Psalm 147:11

Reverend Diane Ury is a soldier of the Raleigh, North Carolina Corps and with her husband, Dr. Bill Ury, serves as The Salvation Army USA National Ambassador of Holiness. Prior to becoming Salvation Army Soldiers of the Raleigh, North Carolina Corps in May 2017, the Urys served as ordained ministers within the Evangelical Methodist Church.