From Mess to Miracle!

The York Raven "Musketeers" (Donna, Scotty, and Gideon) met at Pine Street today. Eddie was the first to greet us. He needed money for cigarettes. His face was scuffed up; he'd been beat up; he'd been in the hospital in a coma from falling off of a roof; and he reeked of alcohol. A local pastor usually gives him money for his habit, but she wasn't around, so he asked us. I said I don't have money, but I have the Words of Life.

"O.K. I'll take that." We spoke and prayed the Word over Eddie for deliverance from the nicotine addiction and alcoholism. He believes the Word of God and received the Truth, that God will strengthen him to turn from his addictions. At first he said, "I hope so..." Later, he said, "I feel better already!"

Next, Lyn, who had formerly lived a lebsian lifestyle stopped for bread and to testify about her new life in Christ--freedom from sin and freedom from sexual immorality!! She's reading a book that really has her excited about her life in Christ: "From Mess to Miracle" by Kimberly Danielle. The book is about a woman whose life was a mess, but now, she's a miracle --and a preacher. Of course, I like that!

Lynn's mom, Willie, wanted prayer and freedom from nicotine addiction--she got it!

On Maple Street, Gina and Amanda were the first to meet us, along with Gina's dad, Rich. The whole family is growing in the Lord. We're praying for Gina's birth in January and provision for the baby. (It could be twins!)

Gideon ministered to Juan while Scotty and I talked to Edwin. We're praying for Juan's grandmom for healing from Emphysema. Edwin does not go to church, but feels saved by his Catholic faith. He grabs his Virgin Mary necklace to show me, "Oh yeah. I believe." Of course, we told him not to pray to the Virgin Mary, to have no other gods before Jesus. We encouraged him to read the Word, to serve God, to have faith.

On the corner, Scotty and I met two more "believers" who were not ready to be free cigarette addiction. One heard the Word of Truth; the other walked away --to smoke her cigarette. In her church, women don't wear pants or makeup--dresses only--and she likes it there; she'll go to church tomorrow.

The Word(s):
Christ healed and delivered with His Word (Matt. 8:16).
Christ has the Words of life (John 6:68).
Do not love the world or anything of the world...(1 John 2:15-17).

Wanna see pics? Click on the Donna's myspace link.
I'll call the folder "Eddie on Pine."

Happy New Year everyone! Be safe! Be blessed. Be loved. (AGAPE love!)
DD

Thy Will be done in Harrisburg

"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt 6:10)

Gideon and I went to the streets in Harrisburg Sunday night, but started by packing cookies at a room on 13th Street.

Pastor John and Romona and their friends David and Sherry offer prayer and help at a little outreach center on 13th street, called "Lazarus," where they invite the homeless and needy to come in for warmth, prayer, the Word...and a few other basic needs. A formerly homeless man, John, just got a place to stay. He came in and received a fleece blanket and some cookies. We had little baggies filled with Christmas cookies and took coffee, hot cocoa, socks and caps to a local church where the homeless wait outside from dusk until the the doors open to provide shelter for the night (usually around 8pm.) Various churches in the city take turns opening their doors to provide shelter for the homeless each night. At 6 a.m. the people must head back out to the streets. It was 13 degrees Fahrenheit and windy. Near the church door, in the corner, and along the wall we talk to mostly sober and sound minded people-the few to whom we spoke confess to be believers. One fellow from Africa quotes Scripture--not just half of this verse, as some do, but the whole:

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

What we find is that many claim to love God, but are not truly serving His purpose and His perfect will, but are serving their flesh.

This fellow, Simeon, from Africa would not share his story, but said he would be homeless until he was ready, and until the lost things were found, and the things out of order were put in order. He seemed incredibly well-spoken, but would not confess his plight. Simeon, from Cameroon, needed gloves and we had none (except the ones on my hands and he didn't want them-too small and too pretty.)

We made a second trip out and stopped in the alley next to the church this time. Here, on the other side, were the intoxicated. Charlie was depressed and wanted prayer, but did not want to give up his 6 pack of beer. He said he's serving Jesus and he's saved. His belief-Jesus drank "wine." Several others had the same excuse for being drunk. I told them it was grape juice (new wine) that Christ partook and that the Word says drunks won't make it into heaven (Gal 5:21.) Here's what Christ said: repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand--repent--that means turn from your wicked ways!! That means change your mind. There's a better way! After hearing the Word of Truth profanities flew out of his mouth about this terrible world and how this is hell on earth. "This is hell!" is what Charlie thinks.

My question, then why did Jesus teach us to pray this way, "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven?"

re: the wine at the wedding feast-
The wine at the wedding, Christ's first miracle provided for them a "better wine"--"good wine."
Joh 2:10 And he said to him, Every man at the beginning sets forth good wine, and when men have drunk well, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine (G2570) until now.

The "good wine," better wine was described in Greek as morally better, valuable and virtuous.

G2570
καλός
kalos
kal-os'
Of uncertain affinity; properly beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), that is, valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from G18, which is properly intrinsic): - X better, fair, good (-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.

We talked about a better way, that life more abundant (John 10:10,) but Charlie chooses to continue suffering.

It seemed like one guy was ready to hear the Word and Truth, but time was up.

At the place on 13th street, we prayed for two fellows who came into the kingdom that night and we prayed for Romona's pet scan-that she be healed and free from cancer. Praise God, He is able!
Praise God --we believe she is free;
And we wait for the good report!
In Christ Jesus,
Amen.

FOCUS!!

...on what's lovely, and true, and faithful!

JESUS!! (the reason for the season)
and reason for advent all year long!!

Advent:
LOVE!!! (in Jesus...because of Jesus! True love!! Pure love! Holy love!)
JOY!! (songs, new songs, old hyms, Christmas songs...in our hearts!)
peace....
and HOPE!

Saturday was spent preparing for a family gathering, but while grocery shopping in Hampstead, MD., I ran into plenty of people to whom I could share some Truth.

Rich's mom who recently joined a church after 5 years of attending. Her and her husband joined because her husband said, it's time. So, they will take the "diamond" introductory classes to find their purpose and place in the church (even though they've been serving and attending for many more years than that!)

At the P.O. We (friends, believers, non-attenders) discussed faith and God's Word about healing.
We're praying for Gabriel Michael who had cancer since he was a baby. (He's about 4 or 5 years old.) The newspapers call him "sick." I said he is not--not according to the Word of God! His grandmom's question is about generational curses--
My response, according to the Word of God:

Christ became a curse (Gal 3:13).
The work was finished at Calvary--and is finished (John 17:4, 19:30).
We were healed by His stripes; therefore, we are healed (1 Peter 2:24).
Lord, help our unbelief (Mark 9:24).

I ran into another former-church-family-member who does not attend church anymore. She'll be a teacher soon.
Hmm?

I ran into her again-- and felt led to say,
"We don't know the day or the hour when the trumpet will sound, so we must be ready!" (Matt 25:13)
That's what the Lord laid on my heart.
And she didn't like it-said she's not ready.
Her response:
"I don't go to church anymore. Don't preach to me!"
(If she's angry and hurt-it makes me sad...and I pray.)

Is there a witness in the house?!!
Last night, I saw a shirt that said "WITNESS." It was a black shirt with silver shadowing the word, "witness." Silly me-in too much of a hurry to stop and talk, just smiled and let my Christ-mas joy shine (b/c I had to get to work, to pay the bills--some of them, anyway.)

So, today, I witnessed: About the young man who was deaf since birth and after receiving Christ as Savior and Lord, received hearing! I witnessed about the guy who had cancer and was diagnosed with one weak to live, but was totally healed by the grace of God, faith, and the prayers of the saints!
And the Buddist, to whom I was sharing these true stories walked away quickly--silently--to his wife, who hated me because I'm a "won't -be- silent- about- Jesus -Christian."

At the family gathering, all I could talk about was cows--how I love cows and what personality they have! And how the kingdom of God is like a milking parlor...

Hannah-Penn

I am:

(at a community Christmas outreach--
at a school-Hannah Penn
in an "impoverished" neighborhood.)

I am surrounded
by great men, mighty warriors, hard workers, priests, and great leaders,
and charisma.

I am blessed
to be called a child of God, a servant, an heir to the throne, and the apple of His eye.

I am encouraged
by encouraging Bible stories.

I am exhorted
by charismatic proclamations of God's promises in His Word.

I am saddened
by hundreds of people and children who take free Bibles just because they are free and may never read them.

But,
I am praying
that they will (read them)!!

And
I am sad
because we ran out (of Bibles).

I am interested
in this: that a family who won two bikes does not trust three Christians to guard their bikes so they can go eat,
and they go home without the warm meal. Hmmm?

I'm concerned
about the child who skates around the outside for hours watching his friends enter into the school and come out with presents, and he wonders why he was not invited, and how to get invited.
So, we invited him to know Jesus-more-
He'd been in a bad car accident and gets afraid anytime he gets in the car to go anywhere--
So, we prayed with him about that,
and encouraged him to read his Bible,
and he said, "We're on chapter 3."
Yeah!
(and I'm thinking, he's much more rich out here-with that- a parent who reads and studies the Bible with him!!
...and I should have told him that!)

I am concerned
-about the sad faces, the angry yelling mothers, and the little child crying and hiding behind a pole, the pregnant unwed mothers, and the little girl wearing a princess coat who just won a free bike at the raffle and flipped the bird at me and then waved, "bye, bye."
So, I went to her car and her mother to ask a few questions.
And they're fine, and they're blessed...and they know Jesus--because they go to church...
and, I pray about whether to rebuke the child or tell on her,
and decide to be merciful,
and kind,
and speak life,
because love covers....
and kindness brings them, hopefully, to repentance-that's what the Word says--

I go home
I can't sleep
so I get up and keep praying...
and God speaks-
in Malachi-
all of it.

Now.
I have peace (and may rest)
Thank you Jesus!
Amen.

Marketplace Ministry

There's a "gucci" grocery store in York-I just love it-probably have NO business shopping there, but I was hungry and in the neighborhood. I kept walking around looking at stuff that I wanted, like I want to bake cookies and there's a good sale! I have $17 to spend-Yay! While standing near the , trying to decide and pray about the "difference" between want and need. When a fellow said, "you look like a woman on the mission."

"Well, yeah," I replied, "do you know the Lord Jesus Christ?"

So, for several hours we discussed the Word and salvation. It was great!

Then I run into another lady whose light is REALLY shining! Our eyes catch, so I ask her where she got that joy? And she said, "Jesus!"
Wow! Her son (maybe 3 years old,) Caleb, memorizes scripture. He recited it for me:
Num 14:24 But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and has followed Me fully, I will bring him into the land into which he went. And his seed shall possess it.



and gave me a prophetic Word-
"You gotta laugh at that lady!"

William's Grove Speedway

Bob and Marianna live near William's Grove Speedway. Some of my family members used to race there, but not any more. (My brother-in-law, Keith, had a stroke at 40 years old, ending his racing career.)

Still, it's exciting to visit this place, the Mobile Park next to the speedway, where there's lots of construction.

Ravens: Gideon, Marianna and myself took bread, potatoes, and yogurt to the residents in William's Grove Trailer Park where Bob and Marianna have been witnessing and testifying for the past few months.

We prayed for a believer of strong faith whose having mouth surgery soon, but the surgery is dangerous because of a medication (cumidin) on which she could bleed...possibly to death if the blood does not clot. (Cumidin is a blood thinner).

Another lady invited us in, but shewed us out quickly after confessing that we don't partake in celebrating Halloween. Another church had thrown them a Halloween party at the trailer park. But we asked, "if Christ comes back tonight, are you ready?" They think they are, but don't even read the Bible. If they don't hear, how will they know the way?

Another young believer was really struggling in her faith due to a troubling ex-husband who is controlling and perhaps, even terrorizing.) We encouraged her in the Word, and testified to God's power in our lives to deliver and protect us from evil, how His promises are true, but that she must draw near to the Lord for that assurance and peace. She must "believe" His promises are true and be built up in the faith through enduring and learning to rejoice in this trial.

Finally, we visited a young woman who was raised in the Methodist faith and attends church to please her mother, but Missy likes wicca, believes in salvation by good works, and worshiping nature. She spent an immense amount of time complaining about religious "Christians" who hate gay people and about all of the hypocrites in the church and how Wicca "just feels good..." She hates the fact that a tree will be chopped down. (Yeah, if it doesn't produce good fruit, we replied.) And she has a problem with the fact that the Bible says men are over a woman: "God first, then man, then woman." I explained the how the woman was taken from the rib of Adam and made, yes, second, under his wing-the rib. But she scoffed, feeling that she's the protector--perhaps, even "stronger vessel." We explained the difference between "religion" and relationship, and how all doctrine is good and profitable for teaching. We tried to explain a a how Father's love chastens the ones he loves, and she admitted that she'd spank her child if he ran in front of a car. We brought all these issues and concerns to the cross-saying plainly this, "that's why Christ died."

Marianna tried to explain how Jesus is love and how much he loves her. She said, "I know, I know." I had to cut right to the point at that, "I know" and responded, "No you don't. If you knew the the truth and knew Jesus, you wouldn't be in rebellion to Him and His ways. All you want to do is complain and feel good."

She claims to be happy. Just then, her Wiccan friend shows up to take her shopping.

She left the door open for us to visit again--no hard feelings at my blatantly calling it what it is-rebellion and lies.

It had been snowing as we ministered at this trailer and we endured until our fingers, toes, and noses were frosty, but went in for shelter, fellowship and a warm comforting drink with Bob and Marianna. We were able to encourage one another in the Word and pray together before leaving. Roads were icy at spots, but the Lord brought us home safely. PTL!

We thank Jesus for the blood, His Word of Truth, and His grace and mercy, and the hope-even our faith-that His Word never returns void (Is 55:11) Amen.

The Law is good...

"We know that the law is good if a man uses it lawfully." 1Tim 1:8

Gideon led several people to repentance and to right relationship with the Lord in York, PA on Saturday. He uses the ten commandments as a starting point, asking, "have you ever told a lie?" They say yes and he asks, "what does that make you?" Well, of course, a liar.

There must be conviction of sin before repentance. Unfortunately what we found was a lack of faith, misunderstandings, corrupt minds, and deception. But praise be to G-d in Christ Jesus and the Word-He is faithful to strengthen those whose hearts desire to be faithful.

John's knee was strengthened on Pine Street. James decided to believe G-d and turn from his addiction. James, Anthony, and Tone were grateful for coats, suits, and sweatshirts that had been donated. (Thank you Mr. Nelson.) Many others heard the Word and the Truth. We're still praying for a new eye for Carson.

On Maple Street, Casey came to the Lord and the Word. Several people received New Testament Bibles. The children practiced finding various Scriptures. Many are learning how to use their Bibles.

Johnia's twins are still in the hospital (premature) and we're praying for their development-Raquel and Naquel. They received baby blankets and a changing table that had been donated.

We're still praying for Jackie and Amanda, for Jackie to walk in righteousness and lead by godly example. And for Amanda-salvation and Truth (deliverance.)

These people are all heavy on my heart. There's frequent shootings on Pine Street, crack addiction, drug deals, and sexually immorality, but I hear the Spirit saying that G-d will make a way. Thank you Lord.

In Christ,
Raven Donna

P.S. God bless the helpers and those who donated. We are truly grateful, especially for our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.