Testings

On Saturday my daughter and I attended a Memorial with precious saints from our first pastorate at Fruitvale/RiverLakes Community Church in Bakersfield, California. Flo Gause was in that little church when Ted, our two little boys and I moved from Palo Alto, California to begin a 15-year ministry alongside Mabel Boynton, humble missionary with American Sunday School Union who had led many children and their parents to Christ.   Flo taught flannel graph lessons in Sunday School and Vacation Bible Schools to all of our kids in the church, took them to summer camps,  kept our children when many of us were off in ministry somewhere, then at 62 years of age started one Christian school, and then another.  Her six children, many grandchildren and many more great-grandchildren were at her Memorial to tell of this amazing woman's ministry in their lives. When Milt Cole,  pastor who dates back to our era in that church, asked for a show of hands of those who had learned about Jesus and had learned to read and memorize scripture at the feet of Florence Gause,  half the audience raised their hands. ...and the audience was vast.

Ted and I had been married ten years, had been through eight years of training for ministry and three years on Ray Stedman's staff at Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California.  When Dr. Walvoord, President of Dallas Theological Seminary, was sitting at our dinner table one night in 1959,  he quietly asked: "Ted, would you and Jo be willing to consider going to a small church in a place called Bakersfield, California? A white-haired lady came up to me this morning at Mount Hermon where I am speaking, and told me that she has taken the church as far as she can take it and they desperately need a man who has been trained to teach the Word of God."  That "white haired lady" was Mabel Boynton, a pioneering woman warrior, in Heaven now for years.  Her family, too, continues to march forward as warriors in the battle against Satan who does not want one more soul to be won for the Kingdom of God.  In 1959, as soon as that unexpected invitation was out of Dr. Walvoord's mouth at our dining table,  I knew we were going to Bakersfield, California.

Satan had just hit us hard with a terrible test that brought us to our knees. He knew our weak places and had wedged right in as an angel of light to destroy us and subsequently block any fruit that was going to be born for the Kingdom of God. He gave it his best shot, but he didn't win. Fruitvale Community Church (aptly named) was going to bear fruit for generations to come. God had chosen Ted and me before the foundation of the world to "bear fruit that will last".  From the first day of our commitment to Christ to carry out that assignment, Satan came at us from every direction. He has tried and continues to try to take our children and grandchildren into his dark kingdom.  He has come "only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life and have it to the full."  He has already been defeated by the Resurrection of Christ, but he will not give up fighting us as long as we are on this earth.

Son Jeff and wife Carla are coming this weekend for an early Thanksgiving with daughter Dee, Brent and Lexi. My dining table will never be encircled by the same fourteen family members ever again. We will miss our loved ones who have gone to be with Him and are waiting for us to join them soon. Our Lord's Thanksgiving Table will stretch into Infinity.

Today, coming through my door will be woman warriors who have been chosen of Him to "go and bear fruit--fruit that will remain". Every day I am on my phone or computer with women and men warriors across this world.  Every one of us is growing in our faith, becoming more confident that "neither death, nor life, neither angels, nor demons, neither the present nor the future nor any powers, neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

When Satan's vicious attack knocked us to our knees in 1959, I sat at my piano, sobbing and chokingly attempting to sing this song:

COME THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING, TUNE MY HEART TO SING THY GRACE
STREAMS OF MERCY NEVER CEASING, CALL FOR SONGS OF LOUDEST PRAISE
TEACH ME SOME MELODIOUS SONNET, SUNG BY FLAMING TONGUES ABOVE
PRAISE THE MOUNT! I'M FIXED UPON IT, MOUNT OF THY REDEEMING LOVE

Run to Him, my dear friends, when Satan knocks you to your knees.  Even if you're torqued with God for giving Satan the go-ahead to knock you winding,  give the Lord praise in the midst of the attack. Immerse yourself in the promises of God. Satan means it for evil, BUT GOD MEANS IT FOR GOOD.

Love,  Jo