The Attitude of Gratitude

Uncategorized

Today I (Emil) was reading the Bible in Luke about the 10 lepers, Luke‬ ‭17‬:‭12‬-‭19‬ ‭Passion Translation. This story really touched my heart! 10 lepers came to Jesus—they were complete outcasts, totally unclean, and were banned from society! They called out to Jesus, and He said, “Go show yourself to the priests,” and as they were obedient and went to the priests, they were cleansed and healed! Yet one of the 10, meaning 10%, stopped when he realized he was healed and returned to the Lord, giving Jesus praise, worship and glory! Why is this important? Because Jesus said, “Ten of you were healed! What about the other nine?” But the one who came back with gratitude overflowing from his heart, for what the Lord did for him, was the only one of the 10 who got saved. The other nine were made clean! This is something for us to really think about, the power of gratitude and thankfulness to the Lord for the things that He does in our life. Gratitude is the attitude that moves the hand of God more than anything else I can imagine! So the next time you go to grumble, I hope you remember this story! Read it below in the passion translation for yourself, and see what I’m talking about!

As he entered one village, ten men approached him, but they kept their distance, for they were lepers. They shouted to him, “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won’t you have mercy on us and heal us?” When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words: “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.” They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way. One of them, a Samaritan, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.” “So where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Weren’t there ten who were healed? They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?” Then Jesus said to the healed man lying at his feet, “Arise and go. It was your faith that brought you salvation and made you whole.”
‭‭

Weekly Pastor’s Article: Unexpected Extra Exposure!

Roadside Notes

We are setting up in Sioux Rapids again, starting yesterday! The Commons in Spencer has been great, but the Lord told Karen about a month ago, “Don’t neglect Sioux Rapids.” So we will be setting up Free Prayer there for the next two or three weeks and then back and forth with Spencer as the Lord leads. Emil has a weekly Pastor’s article in the Sioux Rapids Bulletin Press newspaper now which comes out on Friday so we are gaining more exposure. Last week’s paper came out with TWO articles “by him” although he had only submitted one! It turned out the editor’s weekly article was mistakenly attributed to Emil. When Emil called her about it, she laughed and said she saw that and said, “Well, you’re getting extra exposure!” Thank You, Lord!

Unique Start to 21st Year

Roadside Notes

We celebrated our 20th anniversary on the roadside September 12th! Our 21st year had a unique start to it! Tuesday, as we entered the parking lot of the shopping center where we set up, a guy in a pick up truck literally drove over a rock median and through some bushes and cut us off! It was a little freaky but it turned out he wanted to talk! After about 10 minutes, he waved and drove off!

Fall is in the Air!

Roadside Notes

It was 90 degrees Tuesday when we set up on the roadside, and yesterday it was 60 degrees and we wore heavy flannel shirts over our T-shirts! It is fall! And we are grateful for the cooler temps! People stop no matter the temperature. We’ve had 3 people stop this week so far and we look forward to talking to and praying with whomever stops today in response to the Lord’s drawing!

Favor from the News

Roadside Notes

We made the front page, and we are so grateful for a very favorable article! We were interviewed almost 2 months ago, but we have just recently been hearing about people who are unsure about us, about what we do, about whether we are legit! As the weeks went by, we kept praising God for His perfect timing, and this must be it!!!

Roadside Busy

Roadside Notes

We have been busy this week on the roadside. Our site in Spencer continues to attract people to stop. Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, the weather was so nice we sat outside the trailer for 4 hours ministering to those who stopped. Today it was back to hot and humid! But we still had people stop. God wants to speak to people and we’re thrilled to be used by Him!

The Costly Love of Jesus

Ministry Notes

Jesus demonstrated His costly love by standing in the gap for us, trading places with us so that we can walk free! Not just in death, but many times throughout the New Testament Jesus gave living demonstrations of what He would be doing upon the cross: standing in the gap for the accused, re-directing punishment away from them and toward Himself time after time. Costly love is Jesus standing in the gap between us and our accusers, between us and danger, between us and obstacles to our pursuit of Him. Every time Jesus loved someone, it cost Him something.

The woman caught in adultery is a perfect example (John 8:2-11). The law said this woman was to be stoned. But Jesus shifted the Pharisees’ hostility, disgrace, and humiliation OFF the woman and redirected it towards Himself, shielding her from punishment and death. Jesus stood between her and the law and religion and stood His ground, armed ONLY with unconditional love. Jesus willingly bore her judgment to save her and give her life.

The enemy stands before the throne of God accusing US night and day. BUT Jesus holds a piece of paper in His hand. He has taken OUR penalty, OUR punishment, OUR Sin and borne it Himself. As they nailed His hands to the cross, He held onto that paper–in His hand–for us. Are we willing to exhibit costly love back to Him? To love Him in a world that doesn’t? To give costly love to another as Jesus did?

He Sees Us

Roadside Notes

The Commons site continues to be popular as more people are stopping for ministry, and some return with more people. We are honored to pray for those who are hungry for a touch from God and to give a word to those hungry to hear His voice. These are desparate times for many and especially so for those who don’t know Jesus, Prince of Peace. Whenever you feel a nudge from the Lord to speak or to pray for someone, or even to smile at someone in the store, do it! He has gone before you and it will minister more than you can imagine. People respond to being seen in a world that works to keep us disconnected. God sees us, each one of us, and He wants us to know that. In the Free Prayer trailer, when He has us say to someone, “I see you,” that truth never fails to bring tears and more often than not, surrender to His previously-unknown love.

Great Day on the Roadside

Roadside Notes

As soon as we were set up at The Commons in Spencer today at noon, a man and woman appeared and asked if we pray for people! We had an intense session with the woman who asked a lot of questions and with whom we shared all Jesus was telling us in response. It was good and we know she will return for deliverance and freedom! We loved her and her boyfriend. We did a couple of errands after the Lord told us to pack up and the third stop was a grocery store. While Karen went in to shop, Emil stayed in the Jeep with the trailer. The Lord showed him where and how to park, very visible from the busy street. Almost immediately two women pulled in and asked if Emil was ministering right then and he said, “Always!” and within a half an hour the Lord had set them both free from things the enemy had plagued them with for years! God is GOOD! They were saying good-bye to Emil as Karen walked out of the store! God’s timing is perfect!