“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” Jeremiah 20:9
Wow. It’s been a while, hasn’t it, from my last update and prayer request. I confess I am blown away, and humbled beyond measure, at the exceeding way in which the Lord has been working in and through me since I left virtually everything behind in April in South Carolina and hit the road full time for the Lord and ministry.
The Lord has been opening so many doors so fast, to opportunities, and to people’s hearts, so magnificently, in my evangelism and streets ministry and writing, I am unable to keep up. Hallelujah!
I have no greater love and passion and desire than to love and worship the Lord forever and to help people find and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Not to just proclaim the Gospel message, but to help and encourage people in learning not to merely believe in Christ as Lord, but to learn how to follow Him, how to forsake the ways of this world and learn to live according to God’s ways, not merely professing Jesus Christ as Lord, but living with hearts and lives fully devoted to Him as Lord forevermore.
For the first time in my life, I am 100% certain I am doing exactly what the Lord God almighty created me to do. What I was born to do. Why He placed me on this earth. It’s exhilarating to know I am finally living out and fulfilling the life purpose He has given me. For the first time ever in my life, I know I am where I am supposed to be doing what I am supposed to be doing in the way of my life’s calling. It is the most natural and wonderful feeling imaginable.
Jeremiah the prophet at one point was under such great persecution he wanted to stop serving God. But he couldn’t. He said God’s Word was like “fire” in his bones. That’s precisely how I feel. I feel I would shrivel up and wither away if I could not pour out Christ’s love and the Gospel message and God’s Word and help people follow Christ as the Spirit of God leads me, wherever, whenever, however, and to whomever He desires!
So I am thrilled beyond measure to have endless opportunities now to do just that both verbally via streets ministry and in writing in print and online near where I am as close as where I am staying and as far away as other nations via my writing.
I can look back now and see the years of preparation by the Spirit of God through the Word of God as the Lord prepared my heart, taught me His Word, both of which He still does and will continue to do, and began the life-long process of conforming me to Christ.
All my restlessness in years past, as I sensed a strong calling but was clearly in retrospect not yet ready for it, occurred I believe because even as it was necessary I go through the preparation process I still deep within me sensed there was something more that I would one day do. Something I knew in my innermost being I simply must do if I were to ever do what God created me to do as His daughter and servant. I rejoice that at long last I am in that place.
I am richly blessed to have countless opportunities as I remain in Virginia temporarily for my first stop out on the road at the hotel, on the streets, inside places, outside places, with strangers, friends, and even family with my usual exuberance and passion to talk to people about the Lord. The Lord is still introducing me to numerous people through the dogs when I walk them, as well as to people simply as He leads me through each day without the dogs, opening doors continually for me to joyfully, passionately, and excitedly speak to people about Him.
The rich, poor, Americans, foreigners, people worshiping Him, people who profess to believe in Him but don’t appear to have a relationship with Him, people who have been introduced to Him but don’t know how or are not interested in following Him, people who have backslidden, the hurting, homeless, broken, abused, disabled, drunk, high, people worshiping false gods, truck drivers, blue collar workers, the retired, people living the American dream, couples, the elderly, the sick, the confused, Satanists, agnostics, atheists, Hindus, vacationers, family, tourists, travelers, young people, abused people, criminals, on and on. Endless opportunities.
When just days ago my house in South Carolina was officially sold via the closing, having been only on the market two weeks before God sent a buyer, I was thrilled that my last ties to a permanent location had been severed. For I live my life day by day now, knowing my life is His. I will stay in Virginia for as short or long as He desires, yielding to Him as He leads me with the sense He will ultimately lead me from place to place, whether for short or long seasons, wherever He desires, near or far, all for His glory.
The dogs He has sent along with me are doing absolutely beautifully by His grace alone. Despite their special needs, and the old age of some, and despite no longer having a huge property with fenced yards and such, the dogs are in my estimate happier than they’ve ever been.
As perhaps you can imagine, amid all this, I as always need to do some slowing down and resting which remains hard for me to do. My health right now is excellent, praise God, but I confess I have struggled at times significantly since going out on the road full-time with a decades-long on-and-off-again eating disorder, and need to be vigilant about taking care of this body, this vessel, in which the Lord resides, in such a way I am pleasing the Lord and able to be of maximum love and service to Him and to others including my sweet dogs.
Your prayers for me, for the ministry, for those to whom the Lord leads me to minister both near and far, and for the dogs, would be greatly appreciated.
Additionally, I would very much welcome donations from anyone led to give whether once, periodically, or, what would be a wonderful and extra appreciated blessing, monthly as a sponsor. If you are interested in donating, or sponsoring, please feel free to call me at 843-338-2219 or e-mail me if you like at love@walkbyfaithministry.com. You can also donate right on the website.
With God’s love in Christ for all of you,