Hidden in the Tall Grass

Here in Uganda, elderly people are really honored and respected. Someone would be giving a compliment by commenting on how old another person is. This also goes with weight... which can be a bit embarrassing for an American with a completely opposite perspective. Anyway, back to my point.

There is a lovely "older" woman that goes to our church. Her knobby, gnarly leather hands speak loud and clear of the kind of life she has lived. She walks for over an hour to get to church every Sunday. Her name is Esther. She doesn't speak a word of English, not even "hello." Jesus beams straight through her. Through the language and cultural barriers. We are sisters in Christ. I wish I could understand her. I bet she has so much wisdom packed in that precious heart of hers.

For years, since before we came to Uganda, Esther has had a Bible study at her home during the week. When we got here, Tyler started leading the Bible study every Thursday, with Julius interpreting for him. After a few months, Tyler asked Julius to take over the teaching. Now Tyler just goes to give Julius a high five. This not only removes the distraction of interpretation from English to Acholi, but also allows the Lord to flow through Julius with the gift of teaching that he has been blessed with.

Usually, Julius teaches the children's' study first,
 and then he does a "second service" for the adults.

The group that has been coming to this Bible study in this little village of Lakwor (pronounced "La-quoe") has dwindled down to just a handful of people coming week after week. One young man has been coming faithfully, and Jesus is changing his way of life. His father has been questioning him about what Tyler and Julius are teaching him. What could this message be that is so powerful to change a life? The young man asked if Julius and Tyler would come early the next week in order to meet with his father to explain their teachings. 

So, the next week, they arrived two hours early. Nobody owns a watch out there. Nobody goes to work. They just hang out and wait for their crops to grow. So when the vehicle arrived two hours early, the handful of people all came to the regular meeting place for the Bible study. Julius explained that they were there early for a meeting with the boy's father. The group decided to pile into the car and go for the journey, driving on a footpath, plowing through the tall grass. Tyler said he was afraid the vehicle wouldn't make it since he couldn't even tell what he was driving through.

All along the footpath, there are small mud huts hidden along the way. Since NO vehicles EVER drive out this far, the people in these huts were awfully curious as to what was going on. Especially, I'm sure, when they saw a white man driving! 

By the time they reached the father's hut, a group of 60 or 70 people had gathered. Esther, beaming in her glory, was running here and there trying to find chairs and mats for people to sit on. In Uganda, most families own a large amount of land. They plant their crops there, and many many extended family members live all throughout that land. So, this was not just a gathering of Esther's neighbors. It's all of her unbelieving family members!

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

3 John 1:4

Julius, a bit overwhelmed by the crowd, said to Tyler, "What do we do now?" Tyler responded with, "GIVE 'EM THE GOSPEL!"

So, Julius explained what it means to "walk with Jesus." To live day by day with Christ as your friend and also your authority... having true relationship with God. Tyler explained what it means to "abide in Christ." A mango branch cannot produce fruit if it is cut off from the tree. A man cannot live a godly life without being attached to Jesus. We must allow Jesus to be King of our life... our day... our hour.. our every moment. This is what it is to be born again. To live a new life in Christ. 

Someone in the crowd stood up and openly repented before all those gathered and quiet. He confessed that he had given his life to Jesus a year ago, but was not living a life that honored God. He wanted a fresh start. 

Don't we all want a fresh start? Aren't there days... or years... full of sin that you wish you could just erase? Jesus came to do just that. To wash us clean and give us a brand new start. I encourage you to read through the Scriptures at the end of this post.

After the meeting had finished, the young man's father who was questioning this teaching that was changing his son, came to Tyler. In his semi-understandable-broken- English, he said, "When will you return to tell us about Jesus?" With a big smile, Tyler said, "We will be back next Thursday."

Last week they returned. The same crowd gathered to hear the Bible study. A woman was weeping while they sang in worship to the Lord. She came to Julius, and placed her rosary beads she was wearing as a necklace on the red dirt and said, "These are doing nothing for me. I need a real relationship with Jesus." Rosaries are worn as a necklace to show that someone wants to be religious, or as a good luck charm, or to hopefully keep the devil away. Tyler explained to her that the rosaries will not make the devil fear you. They are just plastic beads. A person must be filled with the Spirit of God.

A man in desperation explained that his wife was not able to attend the meeting since she was visiting a sick relative at the time. He said, "Please come back again so this change can happen to my wife too. I want to give my life to Jesus, but I want her to join me. Please come back."

Julius and Tyler headed home. Beaming from the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this little village hidden in the grass... the unknown by men, but well loved by God. Julius confessed his own weakness. He was fighting a battle with Typhoid and Brucellosis, causing weakness, pain, and a high fever that week. He said, "You know, I really did not want to go today. But it is so wonderful that when I do what God asks me to do, I return with more strength than when I left."

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Yesterday, Sunday morning, Esther and the woman that surrendered her rosary beads walked over an hour together. The other woman wanted prayer. She wanted to "officially" give her life to Christ.

Our hearts are humbled and honored and BLESSED beyond measure that these people are hungry and thirsty for the things of God... and He chooses to use us to feed them. Please pray for our Thursday meetings. 

And if you, like the man in Lakwor, want a fresh start... a new life with Christ... you can be forgiven if you humble yourself and choose to believe. The Lord offers His gift of forgiveness a zillion times throughout the Bible. You can email either one of us to discuss it further. We can even help you find a place near your home that will help to strengthen your new life in Jesus. (jennifergooden83@gmail.com or tgooden7777@gmail.com) But for now... just read through this overwhelming list of Scriptures.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 -

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God...

Romans 3:23-26

To him give all the prophets witness, 

that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Acts 10:43

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:23

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, 

and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, 

thou shalt be saved.

Romans 10:9

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:13

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us...

1 John 1:8-10

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; 

and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:10

And now why tarriest thou? 

arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 22:16

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:23

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

John 8:24

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Luke 24:47

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

1 John 2:2

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...

Ephesians 2:8-9

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 13:3

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 6:12

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mark 16:16

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Acts 13:38

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 3:19

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1 Timothy 1:15

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Acts 26:18

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:21

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

John 20:31

 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: 

he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 11:25

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

John 10:9

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

John 9:31

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John 3:36

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Luke 19:10

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:15

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Matthew 26:28

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 33:11

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:2

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 43:25

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

1 John 5:1

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Titus 2:11

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Titus 1:2

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 1 Timothy 2:4

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Colossians 2:14

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

2 Corinthians 5:18

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures...

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned

Romans 5:12

Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered...

Romans 4:7-8

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...

Romans 1:16

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins...

Acts 13:38-39

Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

Acts 8:22

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 4:12

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

John 6:47

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 6:40

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 5:24