When things get dark....we have hope!

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep, AND...the Spirit of God was hovering...."

This verse gives me hope.  As I look around at our world today, it's obvious, much is happening.  It's obvious that things are getting darker and darker.

Tonight, I was having a bible study with my kids and I was answering their questions.  Adah said, "Dad, the pastor at church was talking about darkness today and how things were getting darker and darker, will we be safe?  Will we have wars?"

These questions affected me, because in my mind I want to ignore the dark things, the things that were prophesied years ago by the prophets.  We had better pay attention and we better be prepared, because those times are happening, right now.

No one understood Noah, while he was building his boat on sand.  People must have thought he was a crazy man.  Can you imagine...building a boat in a desert?  Can you imagine the looks he got?  Can you imagine the rumors?  What is this guy doing?  What a wacko!  What a waste of time!  What a waste of resources!  But Noah, heard from the Lord.  He knew what was coming.  He was a sheep who knew the voice of the Lord.

Well, there are many people who are walking the earth saying, "Yeah right, we've been hearing he's coming back for 2,000 years."  These "Christians" are crazy!  But what if...what if what they say is true?  What if, we are living in the times of thick darkness?  What if, everything that was said in the scriptures comes to pass?  What if...?

What will happen to my family?  What will happen to my children?  What will the world look like?

This may surprise you....but I have hope!  I'm excited for what's to come, because I've read the end of the story and WE WIN!  I do not fear the times ahead of us, because for those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, they will abide in the shadow of the Almighty!  He will deliver them from the fowler's snare!"  This is just one of the many promises found in God's word.  These are promises and he is the Great Promise Keeper.  He will never betray us.  He will never turn his back on us.
Even if we are faithless, he remains faithful!

Recently, I've noticed many people, pastors, church members declaring the doom and gloom of our country.  I've heard the "doom and gloom" messages.  This may get me into a lot of trouble, but there's no such thing as a "doom and gloom" gospel!  The gospel is good news!!!  If all we have is doom and gloom, where is our hope?  If doom and gloom is our destiny Christians, why do you follow the Lord?

The reason I love the first verse in this blog (Genesis 1:1-2) is for one reason.  Notice the first part, "The earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep"  You see, if the verse stopped there, we would all be depressed.  I mean really...think about it.  The earth is formless, void, empty and it was pitch dark.  But hope comes in the latter part of this verse.  "And the Spirit of God was hovering."  You see, the Spirit of God could see in the darkness, the Spirit of God could move in the darkness and the Spirit of God was the only ONE who could do anything about the darkness.

I absolutely love what happens next...."And God said, let there be light" and there was light!  Praise God.  You see the Spirit was hovering, waiting for the word of the Lord to be spoken.  When the word is spoken, things happen!  The Spirit is hovering even now in the earth and even though it's getting darker and darker, when the word is spoken, things happen!  Will you speak the word of the Lord?

Look at Isaiah 60:1-2.  "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you."  What a wonderful promise!  Here's another verse that without the latter part the first part would leave us hopeless.  More good news!

Here's the study I did with my children tonight.  We were in their bedroom all gathered around on the floor.  Well, they have some glow in the dark stars stuck underneath the top bunk bed.  The Lord spoke to me as I was reading them this verse.  As Adah, Noah, Nathan and even little Elsie had questions of what would happen, I was able to show them exactly why I still have hope and why they should too.

I noticed, when the door was open in the room the stars didn't glow.  They were somewhat bland to be honest.  So...I got up and shut the door and it was dark in the room.  All we could see were those little stars under the bed.  Elsie was a little frightened, so I turned on Noah's head lamp that he was using for reading.  You see, when the darkness came then the light was noticeable.  But those little stars were not enough to light that room, but that "head lamp" was.  But I must admit, when it was completely dark, those stars were pretty comforting.

My point to the children was when the Lord said, "For behold, darkness will cover the earth, thick darkness the people, but the Lord will arise upon YOU and his glory will be seen upon YOU!  Each of us who call upon the name of the Lord will be like one of those little stars.  People will be drawn to us, people will look to the only thing that shines a glimpse of light.

One last thing we noticed during our study.  When we shined the head lamp on the stars, the stars started shinning brighter and brighter.  They were kind of dull to be honest, but Noah had the bright idea of holding the head lamp right against one of the stars.  When the "head lamp" was pulled away, that star shined brighter than all the others.

Here's my point...

The darker it gets, the more people need the light.  Matthew 5:14 says, "You (we) are the light of the world.  A city on a hill that cannot be hidden!"  So praise God, I'm a light-bearer.  Praise God, that as the main "head lamp" shines on me, I shine brighter and brighter.  Christians, we must be basking in the light of His presence.  It's imperative!  We'll need to shine bright as things get darker.

So there is no doom and gloom for those who are walking in the light as he is in the light.  Darkness can't hinder light, but only make it more obvious.  Light becomes more valuable in the dark.  These are dark times, I agree.  However, I have hope because when things are pitch black, guess who will be there shinning as bright as the stars.  Those who are in Christ!  Take heart, be encouraged!  Jesus is Lord!!!

Blessings,

Jimmy

The Life of an Evangelist...

Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior - Jesus Christ!  He is the way, the truth and the life!  He is the alpha and the omega - the beginning and the end of all things!  The creator and sustainer, the image of the invisible God!  He's the author and finisher of faith, a friend of sinners who is full of compassion, abounding in love, mercy and grace!  He's worth everything we have, all of our lives belong to him.  He gives and takes away, he's the breath of life and the one who forms mankind from the dust of the earth.  This is the One who holds the keys to abundant life.  Without him, we can do nothing, but with Him all things are possible.  Who are we that he would not only save us, but commission us to take His glorious gospel to the ends of the earth?  We are looking for the city, whose maker and builder is God.  That's what we live for!

Over the past several months, a lot has happened in our lives.  Our ears are attentive to the voice of the Lord.  Although, we're not 100% sure of everything he is saying at this point, we feel like we've heard enough that prompts us to make some very important decisions.  

As an evangelist, there is one thing that keeps me up at night.  There is one thing that occupies my mind throughout the night and throughout the day.  It's the thought that millions of people are living on the wide road that leads to destruction.  Millions of people are struggling with addictions, have broken families, and are dying everyday with no hope.  Our world is in trouble!  So many people have never heard the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ!  I've had a chance to interact with people all over the world who are working in regions where bibles are a rare commodity, and the gospel is unheard of.  Matthew 24:14 says, "And this gospel of the Kingdom must be preached throughout the whole world."  It must happen before the end will come.  

Our son Noah is 9 years old and the Lord has used him in mighty ways in our life.  For example, his favorite bible verse is Romans 10:14-15.  "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"   Along with the "Great Commission" this scripture is the hallmark of evangelism!  The Lord was gracious to give this verse to my 9 year old son.  He cherishes this verse so much, he has it engraved on a necklace that he wears around his neck.  

While I was praying about this verse, I had a question for the Lord.  What is the meaning of "beautiful feet?"  I didn't quite get it....But then, I had a revelation.  Feet are made for moving, feet transport people, people transport messages, but feet were never made so we can stand in one place.  The life of an evangelist is a life of moving, traveling, and literally taking this hope to the ends of the earth!

Recently, Laura and I have been praying about the things the Lord has put before us.  There seems to be some open doors for the gospel in other countries.  Right now, there are open doors in Migori, a small village near Kenya, Africa.  There is an open door for the gospel in Northern India (Himalayan Mountains), South India and even Pakistan.  Of course, this causes questions...

Also, over the past many months the Lord has been showing me that I am not a pastor, but a purebred evangelist.  I want to function in my calling, because when I do, the yoke is easy, the burden is light.  But, when I don't, I feel a heavy burden, I get tired, I get stressed out, weary and weak.  I must get back to the place of ministering to the Lord in prayer and preaching the gospel with power!

I feel like Laura, our family and I are in a place of mending nets right now.  For the past 2 years, we have thrown a lot of seed here in upstate NY.  We've covered the ground in this region.  Many people have heard the gospel, been changed by the gospel and are experiencing the freedom and restoration that comes from the gospel.  I believe the church here in this region has been strengthened, the lost have been found and the next generation of "Holy Spirit Filled Evangelist" have sprouted.  I believe the fire has been started, now it's time to move to stir up another region and to light another flame.  

This happened in the inner city of Norfolk, VA.  The ministry there still continues, because of faithful workers in the vineyard and I believe the work in Dolgeville and the surrounding areas will continue, as well.  We've learned that we may never see the final product of our work in a region, until the day we are caught up in the clouds with our Savior.  We start fires, fan flames and move on...this is the life of an evangelist.

Also, I believe as the spiritual leader of my home, it's time for me to serve my wife and children in this next season of our lives.  Ministry takes a toll on families, period.  In order for us to be effective, we have to be a healthy family unit.  God is serious about us caring for our families, they are by far the most important ministry he's trusted to our care.  When a family is strong, the work they do is effective.  If a family is weak, everything else suffers and things unravel quickly.  Now, I humbly lay aside my work here in NY to take care of my greater work - loving my family.  We will rest, mend our nets and move on to get ready for another catch!

Mending Nets:

We realize that if God is sending us to other countries, we will have to be well prepared.  If God is going to give us another catch, our nets must be mended and we must be strong enough for the work ahead.  

Right now, God has not released me from my full time occupation, which is very demanding.  I spend a lot of time away from home each month, leaving my wife and children at home.  Obviously, this creates a lot of extra work for my wife.  She home-schools our children, which is also very demanding.  Up to this point, we have lead a full time ministry, so when I return from my "tent making" work, I am busy with ministry work.  As you can imagine, this is very draining and doesn't allow me to devote adequate time to Laura and the children.

Now imagine, traveling for work 3 weeks per month, running a very demanding ministry here in NY and traveling to other countries to preach the gospel.  It's clear that this will not serve my family well.  Hopefully, you can see that we have to make some very important decisions.

We've decided that it makes sense to put our house on the market on June 29, 2015.  We are looking to move to Charlotte, NC.  Most of my customers are in this region and moving to Charlotte will eliminate much of my travel for my full time job.  This will allow me to stay close to home throughout the week and care for my family.

Also, I don't believe that God has called me to go into the ends of the earth and leave my wife at home.  She is my greatest asset and a real blessing from the hand of the Lord.  She's a faithful "helpmate" and there's no one I'd rather have at my side in the dusty harvest fields, than her.  This presents another problem...who will care for our kids while we are gone?  Well, thank God for Grandparents!  In Charlotte, we'll be close enough to receive help from both my family and Laura's family.  

Mending nets is an important part of fishing.  The nets have to be strong enough to hold the catch and as we know the catch is plentiful.  In the meantime, we will begin mending the nets while we're here in NY by focusing on our family.  We'll continue to be a part of the work that's happening here, until God opens the door for us to leave.

We hope our time here in NY has served to advance the Kingdom of God!  We've learned many lessons here, we've come to know God in ways we haven't thus far.  Most importantly, we've seen lives forever changed and that our work was not in vain!  

Jude 1:25 "To the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Together in the harvest,

The Foster's

The Sinner - Luke 7:36-50 (Poem)

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The Sinner

I wonder if she heard about the woman who was drug into the courtyard by her hair.  I wonder if she could hear the thunder of their accusations. I wonder if she was an eyewitness to the events.  I wonder if she could relate to the struggle of this women. I wonder if she thought to herself….”That could be me."  I wonder what she thought when she heard the words of Jesus, as he starred her in the eyes declaring, “Women, neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more!”  I wonder if she felt like there was hope for her...

I wonder if she heard about the women who bled for 12 years, spent all that she had on doctors and physicians, who risked everything by going out into society that day, just to touch the hem of his garment.  I wonder if she felt this woman’s pain.  I wonder if she knew exactly how this women felt…

I wonder if she sat in the crowd, as He fed 5000 people, with a couple of small fish and some loaves of bread…

I wonder if she knew the boy who lived in the tombs, who had been run out of town by every person he encountered, I wonder if she heard the rumor that there was no hope for this boy, he was demonic.  I wonder if she was one of the ones that saw him clothed, sitting in his right mind, next to Jesus.  I wonder if her jaw dropped.  I wonder if she felt like there was hope for her….

I wonder if she sat on the roadside as He passed by in that little village.  I wonder if she witnessed the outcast, that blind man, as he stood up screaming, “Son of the Living God, have mercy on me!”  I wonder if she watched Him, as he grabbed that blind man’s face asking, “What do you want me to do for you?”  I wonder what she was thinking as the man said, “Sir, I want to see."  I would have loved to see her face, when the blind mans eyes opened for the first time!

I wonder if she knew the leper, the one who everyone wrote off, who everyone wanted to stay away from.  I wonder if she saw him skipping through town, clean, no more sores, accepted again, because of this man Jesus…

I wonder if she was in the front row, listening to Jesus, teaching to a packed crowd, when all of the sudden the roof opened up and 4 men were standing looking down through that hole.  I wonder what she thought, as they lowered him down.  I wonder if she stood up, in awe…wondering what they were doing.  I wonder what was going through her mind…

I wonder if she saw hope for herself, I wonder if she said, "I got to get to this man, He's the one!  He's the Savior, He's the one who holds the keys to life!"  He's the one the world has been waiting for, He's the one who holds my hope in the palm of his hand!"

I wonder if this is what was going through her mind, as she kicked in that door, as Jesus sat with the Pharisees having an evening meal?  I wonder if she was afraid.  I wonder if she knew that this was her last chance.  I wonder if she said to herself, “I don’t care what they think, I have to get to Him"

I wonder if when she walked in, she cared about the stares from the religious people.  I wonder if she pushed herself through the crowd of Pharisees, just to get to his feet.  I wonder if they tried to stop her, I wonder if it was chaos for a moment.

I wonder what she felt when she found herself at his feet, weeping, crying, sobbing…I wonder if she finally felt what all of the others felt…I wonder if she felt his amazing love embrace her like no other man, she had ever been with.  After all, rumor was, that she may have been a prostitute, in and out of the arms of many men.  I wonder if for the first time, she felt safe, secure and had a better understanding of what true love was.

I wonder….