As the ABC team has been in Thailand, I have been trying to keep up with the ABC staff reading plan in the CSB Jesus Daily Bible. On day one of our mission, I was still adjusting to the jet lag and awake at 4:30 am Chiang Mai time. I read:“For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.” Acts 8:7-8 CSB that day we “just so happened” to be making visits with a church that served a area of the city that has an inordinately high number of stroke victims. That part of town doesn't like the church being there because they believe it angers the evils spirits whom they believe are causing the strokes. We walked from the church less than 1/4 mile and visited some suffering the effects of stroke. One man, asked to receive Jesus! He wanted the blood of Jesus to heal him too! As he prayed a prayer of salvation with the local pastor in Thai, we heard raindrops hitting the roof, but the sunshine was bright and no rain clouds could be seen. I was instantly reminded of Ezekiel 36:25-27 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”
Ezekiel 36:25-27 ESV We visited several others who were paralyzed and we prayed for them. Another person asked to hear this “Gospel.” God not only changed the lives of these people, He let us have front row seats to His work. He also gave us a "God Nod" from our Daily Bible reading about what He would be doing... btw, He did it again many times last week. But those are God stories for another time.
Hang in there people! God is glad to be with us! I'm praying for us all!
