LAST LESSONS #134 – LAST THINGS – ENRICHING EXPERIENCES

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

LIGONIER

I think there are times in our lives that stand out because it’s when we made life-changing decisions. I can remember the time when I put my faith in Jesus Christ at a youth conference at Camp O’Leno in Florida. There were summers when as a teenager, I received rich Bible teaching at Montreat, North Carolina. Those were special times that I will never forget because they were times when large groups came together to learn from noted theologians. I used to drink up their teaching and God got through to me in significant ways.

Now as an older person I still look forward to being taught and enriched at large gatherings where the best of the best teach us—such as the Ligonier Conference where 8,000 met recently to hear speakers like Sinclair Ferguson, Steve Lawson, Robert Godfrey, Burk Parsons, Derek Thomas and others.

ENRICHMENT

Every year, Rafiki missionaries come home and experience a week of rich teaching called ENRICHMENT. We bring in several noted speakers including one of our African leaders. The time of learning, sharing, and fellowshipping is wonderful.

Times away from regular work—times with other Christians—especially for those who are always giving out to others are necessary. They are times of refreshment, times to be filled up again personally.

I have learned that if you are too busy to take time off to be refreshed and filled up again, then you will have very little to say to others.

One final note: Make every effort possible to go to Ligonier’s Conference next year in May. It will be held close to Orlando and the theme will be THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. The One who is the way, the truth, and the life, will fill you with himself.

LAST LESSONS #133 – LAST THINGS – MOVIN' ON

 “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and night” Exodus 13:21

If you are like me, you have probably moved at least a dozen times, but we have never moved like the Israelites did. They made a BIG move. Our moves seem big to us at the time, but we can be sure that where God moves us is always for our good. God showed me that for my good it was time for me to move to a place where I would get more care. So my three daughters moved me into a lovely place, and it is good for me.

My new address is:
Rosemary Jensen
500 Waterman Ave. Apt. 402
Mount Dora, FL 32757
Email RMJ@rafikifoundation.org

As Exodus tells us, the Israelites grumbled because they didn’t have leeks to eat even when God was leading them to the Promised Land. Can you imagine! How often we complain about little things when God is taking us to a much better place.

We will all move to the best place someday. And it will be the best place because he will take us home to live with him forever.

And won’t all of us have fun being there together?

LAST LESSONS #132 – LAST THINGS – PART 21 – ENOUGH STRENGTH

“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” Isaiah 40:29

How gracious God is to give us the strength we need when we need it. Have you ever fainted? What did God do for you? Was someone there to pick you up? I have fainted, and God saw to it that “someone” was there to pick me up at just the right time. Have you been sick and needed the strength to get out of the bed? Did someone help you? I have had a number of strokes in my life and every time, God has had someone with me to keep me from falling.

Right now, I am trying to recover from a mini-stroke and need physical therapy to give me strength to walk again. God, in his mercy, has given me what I need at no cost to me!

However, there are times when God takes away physical strength so he can give spiritual strength. Paul says that “When I am weak, then I am strong” 1 Corinthians 12:10. That is because when we are weak, we must depend on God. We know we cannot manage for ourselves, so we say, “Lord, please help me.”

Another gracious thing God does when we are weak is to give others an opportunity to help us. My children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have been giving me help as I recover from my stroke. I’m not sure how great an “opportunity” they think this is! But they do it anyway.

Sometimes God makes us weak to make us more sympathetic with others.

I used to say to my doctor husband that I wish he could be a patient for a while!

Right now, I’m trying to learn that God knows what I need when I need it, so I can relax, but for me that’s hard!

How are you doing?

LAST LESSONS #131 – LAST THINGS – PART 20 – DEALING WITH THE DEVIL

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

Do you watch the news these days? If you do, you are probably as concerned as I am about the broken families and marriages, homosexuality and gender confusion, the culture, social media, health, and even death. Especially for the next generation. How will the next generation survive such evil? Obviously, I do not have all the answers but there are two things I have learned (at least partially!) in my life because the Bible has something to say about them.

The first is that the devil is behind the evils we see today. Look at:

• “And give no opportunity to the devil.” Ephesians 4:27
• “Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” 1 Timothy 3:7
• “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

The second thing I have learned is that God is in control.

When everything goes wrong in my life, and that happens more frequently than I like, I am still trying to learn to just stop and think for a moment.

GOD IS IN CONTROL! Nothing happens to me that he doesn’t know about. Furthermore, he has planned it all for my good.

When I am confused and ready to panic, I try to remember to tell myself “STOP! Don’t panic!” God is sovereign and I can depend on him to take care of my problems. I remember what my daddy used to say to us kids when we were confused and troubled, “What difference will it make 100 years from now?” Good question!

But what has helped me most of all is reading and re-reading a book called Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.

Don’t let the devil take you down. Put on the whole armor of God so you can resist the devil. I will pray for you, my readers, and I ask you to pray for me.

LAST LESSONS #130 – LAST THINGS – PART 19 – AMAZING GRACE

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

In the past few blogs I have been sending you the stories of those who have been involved in Rafiki and why. Today I am sending you a different story but one that thrills me more than I can say. Read on:

Hi Rosemary!

I’m not writing to be involved in the ministry, but I wanted to reach out and tell you that YOU were the one who led me to Christ way back in 1970 in San Antonio. My brother Mark Yorloff was your daughter’s (Jan) boyfriend and they invited me to church one Sunday.

It was the first time I ever went to church (it was a Lutheran church), and afterwards we drove in your station wagon to your home for lunch. But the most important part of the story was, after church you asked me in the car if I understood the sermon and that I was a sinner and needed Jesus. I said yes and we all prayed together in the station wagon.

I will never forget you and your family and lunch in your beautiful ranch style home.

Just wanted to say thank you and I’m enjoying re-connecting with you via your Last Lessons and look forward to them so much. I’ve even ordered some of the books you suggested.

Oh, one last thing. I’m 63 years old now (saved at 10), and have followed the Lord closely all these years, being very involved in starting Kids for Christ clubs at schools here for around 25 years. Almost every single school has a club that meets before school (elementary) and many lives are being changed with many asking Jesus into their hearts at the meetings!

Hope you see this letter!

Sincerely,

Susan

Dear Susan,

I can’t believe I heard from you after so many years and your letter gave me more joy than you can imagine!!

Mark (now Mark Houston) has written me and even sent me a CD of his. But he didn’t tell me what happened to you. What stories you both have! To say that I am proud of you both would be the understatement of the day. I passed on Mark’s and your messages to Jan (she has changed her name to Annie now) and she was thrilled to hear what God has done in your lives.

Susan, would you allow me to use your story in one of my blogs? I would leave off your name but it would encourage others to invite their friends to church. AND talk to them about Jesus. So many Christians today don’t witness to their faith for fear of “offending” somebody. It’s so sad.

Let me know if you will allow me to use your story in a blog and because you read my blogs, you will see the comments that people make.

Susan, I would like to keep in touch with you. You are my “daughter in the Lord” and I love you.

Rosemary

Oh Rosemary.

I’m crying.

I’m so happy to hear back from you!

If only you knew how much Jesus means to me and how thankful I am you led me to Christ.

I was such a lonely little girl. I had three bigger brothers and our home wasn’t loving. When you invited me to your home, I felt love saturated in your home. It was new to me. I never forgot it and wanted that for my home someday.

The Lord has been everything to me! I am married 43 years now, first time marriages for us both, and we all serve the Lord and love Him.

I just wanted to share that with you. Many come to Christ, but not all grow and desire an intimate relationship with Him. I am SO, SO, SO THANKFUL God put in me a desire to know Him and talk to Him in prayer daily.

Of course you can share my story!

Susan

So, blog readers, when you tell others about Jesus, he extends his AMAZING GRACE to them and to you! If you want to tell me how you came to faith in Christ, email me at RMJ@rafikifoundation.org so we can all rejoice.