THE DEVIL TRIED TO SQUEEZE US- BUT ALL HE GOT WAS JESUS!

By: Donna Selma Lind

"We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8

Last week we were coming back home from Springfield. It was late in the afternoon and traffic was fairly heavy on Route 13- Kansas Expressway.

The road was two lanes and we were in the left hand lane. There was a large semi-truck in the right lane and he started to come over in our left lane. 

Being the co-pilot I began to warn my husband,

THE TRUCK IS COMING OVER IN OUR LANE!

 I see him, don't worry he sees us, he's not coming over here.

NO, HE'S COMING OVER HERE! HE'S NOT STOPPING! HE'S GOING TO HIT US!

My husband pounded on the horn and so did all the other vehicles.

But the Trucker kept coming over and we were stuck in the middle of a concrete Roadway median and a Semi-truck trailer with no way out!

Everything went into slow-motion and all we could hear was the deafening screeching sound of the Semi-trailer's metal hitting and scraping our vehicle from the front of our passenger side scraping all the way to the end of the tail lights.I watched helpless for what  seemed like an eternity until finally the Semi cut us loose and kept going! 

During those seconds of terror, when we were literally pressed between life and death, I looked straight into the eyes of the Semi-Driver (the enemy) as he looked back at us in his rear-view mirror seeing us trapped and getting squeezed! I kept shouting- JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! JESUS! and then I cried out in my Heavenly prayer language. 

And then I shouted- WE SHALL NOT DIE BUT WE SHALL LIVE AND DECLARE THE WORKS OF THE LORD! JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!

And just like that, it was over! We were alive! We did not die! Hallelujah! The devil tried to squeeze us, but all he got was JESUS!

The truck driver never stopped, we tried to flag him down and so did all the others that witnessed what happened.  A good Samaritan called 911 and reported the accident and made sure we were okay. I called 911 and when we got to a spot where we could pull over we met a Police officer who took our information.

The first thing he said was, "Wow usually when someone is involved with a Semi,they have a lot more damage."

I said; Praise Jesus! It's because the hand of God and His Guardian Angels protected us! Hallelujah!

When the officer finished taking our information for the report, I thanked him for serving and protecting us. I asked if it was okay if we could pray for him? He looked surprised and his face lit up and he said "Yes! Sure.Yes please!"

So there in the Papa Murphy's parking lot overlooking the highway and a procession of rush hour traffic, we Prayed for the Man in Blue. A Protector, a Hero, a Restorer of Peace, Law and Order. Some of the same qualities of my Savior Jesus!

After we prayed the Officer had a big smile on his face and chuckled, He said; "You know it's really something that you prayed for me, today of all days. When I went out on call this morning, I had a Praying Mantis land on me when I was driving. It just flew in the window and sat on my shoulder and every time I shooed it away, it came back and hopped all around me while was driving.I couldn't get rid of that thing.I never had anything like that happen to me before!"

I told him, MAYBE GOD JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW YOU ARE SURROUNDED AND COVERED IN PRAYER AND NO SHAKING OR SHOOING IS GOING TO STOP THE PRAYERS  THAT ARE COVERING YOU!  Hallelujah!

 

How do we know that the Officer didn't need extra prayers that day or that he didn't need a sign from the Lord showing him that people do love and appreciate what he does by putting his life on the line for the people in his community. Please if you see a Police Officer, thank them for what they do to protect us. Pray for them. Bless them. 

"What the enemy meant for harm, God turned into good."Genesis 15:20

In this event, THE DEVIL TRIED TO SQUEEZE US, BUT ALL HE GOT WAS JESUS!

When we were "SQUEEZED" all that came out of our mouths was JESUS!

What comes out of our mouth when we are "SQUEEZED" is what is in our heart.  

"A good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45

What is coming out of your mouth when you are SQUEEZED?

Life or Death is in the power of the tongue. JESUS IS LIFE! 

We have the Victory in JESUS! To GOD BE THE GLORY!

Only by the Grace of God did we miraculously walk away from being SQUEEZED by the enemy...Squeezed, but NOT destroyed! 

 "We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8

HOW JESUS TURNED A COOKIE SCOOP INTO THE GOSPEL FOR THOUSANDS!

By: Donna Selma Lind

"For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry." 1 Kings 17:16

People call him "The Cookie Man." He is a sweet gentleman who has a Cookie Ministry where he shares the love of Jesus with his home baked Cookies! 

A while back I Heard "Cookie Man" was looking for a cookie scoop to make his cookie baking easier. I told my husband, next time we go to Walmart I'm going to buy Floyd the "Cookie Man" a new Cookie Scoop.

About the same time I was the Prayer Ministry Coordinator for "LIGHT THE LAKE" a Free Christian Concert and Festival in Stockton, MO. I was trying to find donations of Bibles and Devotion books that we could hand out at the Prayer Tent. Every place I called required a large amount of money that was not in our budget. I just kept praying, God please send us copies of The Good News for us to share in the Prayer Tent, and please make them Free!

The next day Pastor Gary and his wife Linda from my Church Bolivar 1st AG, generously donated three hundred copies of the Book of John! Hallelujah!

That was a great beginning, but I still needed about seven hundred more!

I kept praying, kept believing, kept seeking and kept knocking! I was hitting a brick wall but I didn't give up, because I knew My God would supply ALL my needs according to His riches and Glory! Philippians 4:19 

A few days later we were getting ready to go to Walmart and in my spirit I heard; 

"GO CLEAN OUT YOUR PANTRY AND GIVE ALL OF YOUR BAKING SUPPLIES TO FLOYD."

What? ALL my supplies? 

YES, ALL YOUR SUPPLIES!

Everything?

YES, EVERYTHING!

I had boxes and boxes of baking supplies. Bags of Flour, Sugar, Chocolate chips, Brown sugar, Cake Mixes, Cookie mixes, Vanilla, Melting dark chocolate and white chocolate and cans of pie filling, frosting, and Oil! I completely emptied my pantry. I gave it all. 

I was reminded of the Bible story of the widow of Zarephath as I cleaned out my cupboards.

We boxed everything up and my husband added several dozen fresh farm eggs. 

I reminded my husband, We are stopping at Walmart so I can pick up a new Cookie Scoop!

Then, I heard in my spirit; 

GO TO THE DRAWER AND GET YOUR PAMPERED CHEF COOKIE SCOOP AND GIVE IT TO THE COOKIE MAN.

What? No, I'm imagining that. Not my Pampered Chef Cookie Scoop!

YES, YOUR PAMPERED CHEF COOKIE SCOOP. GIVE IT TO HIM!

But God, you know that's my favorite! But, I'm going to buy him a new one at Walmart, he will like that much better. (Have you ever bargained with God before about something?)

My husband beeped the horn. Let's go! 

I grabbed my purse and closed the door behind me.

GO BACK AND GET THE COOKIE SCOOP!

I knew it was God talking to me, so, I unlocked the door and went back in the kitchen and grabbed my favorite Pampered Chef Cookie Scoop and stuffed it in my purse.

1 Samuel 15:22 "What is more pleasing to the LORD; your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,"

We still stopped at Walmart and bought a new Cookie Scoop because I kept thinking, he is going to want a new one and not my old Pampered Chef scoop!(Someone say, Whale's Belly!)

We knocked on Cookie Man's door and we carried in all the boxes. He was surprised and overwhelmed with all the baking supplies. What a joy to be able to help this dear man in his special ministry! 

He thanked us over and over, we were getting ready to go, when I pulled my scoop out of my purse and the shiny new scoop still in it's package from Walmart and set them side by side on the table.

Now Cookie Man, which Cookie Scoop would you rather have, this nice brand new scoop or this old one here? (I was still hanging on!) 

He picked up both the scoops and looked them over and when he saw my old scoop he started to cry, "Pampered Chef? I've been praying for a Pampered Chef Cookie Scoop! I've been praying all morning for one just like this , exactly this size! I can't believe it, I finally got my Pampered Chef Cookie Scoop!"

Oh Glory to God, He cried, I cried. He was blessed, I was blessed and I knew without a doubt that it was God that was speaking to me that morning so specifically because Cookie Man was praying so specifically! 

God Hears our Prayers!

I admit it, I dragged my feet for a bit, it isn't always easy to obey God, but it is ALWAYS Good to obey God and God is Always Good!

I got home that day and the phone rang, and it kept ringing! Calls from other Ministries donating Bibles and Devotions for our "LIGHT THE LAKE" outreach! Tom and Cindy Johnson from SLING N STONES gave over one hundred Bibles! 

Other Ministries called and donated! 

In the end God took a Cookie Scoop, some Flour and Oil and Baking supplies and turned them into several thousand copies of the Good News of Jesus Christ to share with the multitudes! Praise the Lord!

The night of our Light the Lake Outreach nearly ten thousand people came! Hundreds gave their hearts to Jesus, countless re-dedicated their lives to the Lord and many were Baptized under a huge 25 ft. Cross that lit up the hot July sky!  

Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus! All Glory be to God!

We passed out the copies of the Good News all day and night and I still can't explain how when the event was over we had boxes of Bibles and Devotion books leftover! 

Just like Jesus did with the Loaves and Fishes! 

But here is the coolest thing that brings this story full circle! (I know it's a BIG circle!)

Right before the last Altar call, I looked at my purse and there was a Cookie Scoop sticking out of it! That's right a Cookie Scoop, a PAMPERED CHEF COOKIE SCOOP! in the middle of a Prayer Tent in a sea of thousands of people, how did a Cookie Scoop end up in my Purse?

I questioned everyone, and no one knew. I was convinced the Cookie Man gave it back especially since it was a Pampered Chef exactly like the one I gave away! (Hey I should get some kind of a kick back for mentioning Pampered Chef so many times in this story! ;-) 

I found out the next day that our Church Youth Pastor Mike's wife Christa had heard the story about how God turned my Cookie Scoop and the Flour and Oil baking supplies into thousands of Bibles and Devotion Books! 

She said she was baking some chocolate chip cookies and reached into the drawer for her cookie scoop and there were two in the drawer! She only had one and had know idea how she ever ended up with two! When she picked the extra scoop up and examined  it closely it was stamped inside the handle with the words PAMPERED CHEF! Christa said she never owned a Pampered Chef Scoop! She knew God put it there for her to give it to me! Thank you Christa!

Can you believe that? Glory to God! He gave me back my Cookie Scoop! Thank you Father God!

Because He loves us and He wants to Bless His children! He is a good, good Father! Yay! He loves us!

 

When we let go of what is in our hand, God will release what is in His hand!

 Sometimes we hold onto something or someone so tight that we don't have any room left to open up to something far greater and better than we can ever imagine!

What are you holding onto? 

What are you ready to let go of so your life and the Kingdom of God can grow, multiply and be glorified? 

  "And the Word of the Lord continued to grow and be multiplied." 

Acts 12:24

"Give and it will be given unto you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will it be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."Luke 6:38

AND THAT'S THE SCOOP! ;-)

I WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE

By: Donna Selma Lind

"I was blind but now I see!" John 9:25

A few months ago we added a brood of newborn chicks to our already large chicken flock. I had picked out a couple of new exotic breeds that I thought looked like fun. The kind with the fancy fountain feather heads. As the baby chicks got older they started to explore outside of their Coop. Well, all but the two special ones, they never wanted to go outside, they always hung back and clung together in the corner of the Coop. We just thought they were a little skittish because they were fancier than the normal "farm chicks!" ;-)

One day after my Husband opened the door to let the chickens out he peeked through the window to see what "Martha and Mary" were doing. They were clucking and squawking and dashing back and forth bouncing off the walls and into each other! He went inside, picked up the chickens and after a thorough examination called me over for a second opinion. 

I think the chickens are BLIND! he announced. Look at their eyes!

I don't see their eyes! 

Exactly, that's why they don't go outside with the other chickens. That's why they hide in the corner and run into the walls! They're BLIND!

We started to move the feathers around on their fancy feathered knot-heads and all of a sudden the tiniest green eyeball peered back at me! It was only opened a tiny slit and the eyelid was fluttering and blinking like someone flung open the curtains on a sunny morning and shouted;
"GOOD MORNING! IT'S WAKE UP CALL!"   

They weren't blind at all, the poor babies just couldn't see because their fancy feathers had grown down and covered their eyes! 

After a quick you-tube tutorial on; "How to cut fancy feathers off around chicken eyes!" the operation began.

A few careful snips here and there and eyesight was restored to a couple of very happy chick-a-dees! 

Martha and Mary ran outside clucking and flapping their wings, seeing the barnyard and their fine feathered friends for the first time since they were babies! That night they flew up and sat on the roost for the first time, so proud and happy just chuckling away!

They were Blind, but now they see!

How many of us stumble around in the darkness, bumping into the same old walls of sin and bad habits, unforgiveness, envy,pride,anger and offense? 
We hide in the dark corners hoping no one will notice and call us out of our selfish, sinful lives.
We think it's easier to hide in the darkness, easier to push away the fear and the pain and push away the people who love us and want to help us. 

"For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." John 3:20

In the darkness we are Blind. Spiritually Blind. We can't see the truth in the dark. And we don't want to! We cannot grow in the dark. We can't fly in the dark! 

"But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." John 3 :21

As believers we are to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to a world of darkness.
We are to shine in a way that those in the dark would want to come into the light. Show the world truth in love and share our testimony of how God trimmed the little chicken feathers off our eyes so now we can see and walk in the light. 

And when we walk in the light, we can "SEE"with spiritual eyes, how to reach out and help someone else who is stumbling in the darkness like we once did. We can share our story of hope and God's amazing Grace of how we once were lost but now we're found. 

"I was Blind but now I see."

This week ask the Lord to trim your "fancy chicken feathers" off of your eyes so you can see to help someone else see who is struggling and stumbling around in the darkness!

"We were blind but now we see!" John 9:25