Pastor Dewey Note: From time to time the Lord has directed me to ask certain individuals to share their testimony with us. I thank Robin Prater for answering this call……….God Bless you and yours, Robin. We all can be encouraged by Robin’s story, Amen! 
Twenty-five years ago I couldn’t have told you the words to any hymn. As I stood next to my husband in church for the first time, the song I remember hearing was, “Amazing Grace”. It’s the first hymn I learned. Our son was just a baby in my arms when I felt the sweetest feeling come over me. At the time I couldn’t have explained what was happening, but now I know that it was the Holy Spirit. The tears came as I handed my son to my husband and my feet left that pew close to the back row quicker than I could say, no. I walked forward and in that moment I asked, Jesus to be my Savior. My life forever changed on that day. A day just a few weeks away from Thanksgiving.
I found my way back to the pew and my husband stood with tears streaming down his face as he held our son. From the moment my husband and I met, he had been praying. He was praying that I would one day accept Christ as my Savior. He sweetly shared the love of Jesus with me. A girl who knew nothing about faith, who would one day share her faith with her children and be near as they too accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior.
Our spiritual journey is just that. A journey. There is so much to learn. Each day is an opportunity to know Him more. I have learned I must be dedicated and disciplined. Faith must comes first by believing. It’s when I believed, that I learned to see. I mean, really see as though it was the first time. It’s through having faith in Jesus that everything in life comes to have meaning and purpose. When we seek Christ, we will never come up empty. He will fill us with all we need.
Say we meet a new friend we really like. We invite them to coffee. Lunch is next. Pretty soon we are talking everyday. Sharing our deepest secrets. We share our great moments. We treasure time together. Milestones point out what makes are relationship wondrous. It’s giving time to one another. It’s being there always. It’s knowing the other so well, you can finish their sentence. You know what they are going to say before they speak the words. You laugh at the same silliness and you know when the other is in need. You know when tears are about to fall. A sweet friendship such as this doesn’t just happen. It is made. It’s created over time. Friends, this is what our relationship with Jesus should look like.
Remember being a kid and having that one friend who stuck beside you like a brother? You would go somewhere and there was always someone who would say, “Where’s your buddy?” We need to be so close to Jesus that when others see us, they know that He is present with us! Our steps should be in tune with His. Our words His and our actions a reflection of Him.
When I married my husband, my mom gave me a Bible as a wedding gift. It was my first Bible. I couldn’t have shared with you one single scripture. I didn’t know where to begin. In church when the pastor would say, “Please open your Bibles and turn to John 3:16”, my husband would help me find it. Yes, John 3:16 is the first verse I ever memorized.
I started reading. It wasn’t everyday that I read. I would pick up that Bible and just turn to a random page and read. Over time that reading turned to daily opening my Bible. The more I read, the more I yearned to read. This Living Word was feeding my soul. It wasn’t just a book any longer. Not just a wedding gift, but part of my life. The pages came to life. The words were sweet nectar to my lips as I read them out loud. There are days I will read for a few minutes and others that I can simply remain in His Word for hours.
If you could see my desk now, there are four different Bibles sitting next to me. There are study Bibles next to my bed. Bibles are everywhere in our home. This, coming from the girl who grew up in a home without a Bible. If I’m honest and I must be. There have been times where those Bibles have collected dust. Times along my journey where I left my first love. Praise Jesus, there is no dust today. Oh friend, how His holy Word is wisdom for my weary soul. It gives guidance and love. Discipline and strength. I guess you could say it’s a love map. Today, I simply can’t get enough of this love map.
Soon, I was reading the Bible to my children. I was sharing the stories with them that I had learned. This newbie in Christ wanted nothing more than for my children to fall in love with the Word of God. As I read scripture to them, scripture I thought I had known, I learned even more. It’s amazing to pick up the Living Word of God and read a scripture you have read a hundred times and still gain more insight than ever before. There is always something new to learn. Something new to share.
The more I seek Him, the more of Him I desire. The more of Him I desire, the more of Himself He shows me. The deeper I dive in, the more my perspective changes. Jesus is all about change and creating. I didn’t have to be all cleaned up before He accepted me. I didn’t have to change my ways before He entered my heart. All I had to do was surrender to Him and accept Him. He does the rest. Once He enters the heart of man, we are remade. We are born again. The old is gone and the new is being created. Jesus is a miracle worker. If He can love a sinner such as me and move me to follow Him, anything is possible. He didn’t look at my past and say, “I don’t want her”. He looked at me, His daughter, and said, “Come to Me, sweet daughter, just as you are. I created you to love me. Let Me take your life and show you My greatest mercies.”
I look back in my life when I didn’t know Jesus and I can see over and over again times where He was leading me to Him. He was making a way for me to see Him. We are on a divine appointed journey. He has that perfect and exact moment where we meet and all in life changes. He designs us with a desire for more than what this world can give. It’s up to us to seek Him and to know Him.
Friends, He is right before you. He has been waiting and anticipating your meeting. He has been praying for you to come and unlock the door to your heart. May today be that day your life changes forever. I don’t have all the answers. There is so much to learn. But one thing I do know. My Jesus is real!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:4-5
“Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:33
“Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me. All day long I put my hope in You.”
Psalm 25:4-5
CAMPMEETING 2015
under the TENT
HAYNES PARK, RIO RANCHO
SEPTEMBER 10-12
GUEST MINISTER: Phillip Slaughter
Written by Barbara Gould of Emmanuel Ministries International
Camp meeting is a time when God brings people together to display HIS LOVE and HIS POWER!!!
It is a time when the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is revived and also a time when those who do not Jesus Christ get the opportunity to see and experience God’s awesome love, mercy and grace. There are healings and miracles. People come to the God of love, receive His love and peace and actually give their lives to Him!!!
Because of this, there is rejoicing in the city … our cities … our state and nation. It is a ripple effect. People who experience the reality of the love and power of Jesus Christ want to share it with others. Campmeeting is a medium to help spread revival fires .
Two things happen: the Church is revived and people come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ!!!
This kind of thing happened with Phillip in the Book of Acts. The result was “great joy in that city.” It happens today. We saw it with Brother Oral Roberts under the tent, Brother Shambach and many others. In these end times, God wants to move in that way again.
Evangelist Phillip Slaughter resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma and carries a strong revival anointing as he ministers in song and the Word. He travelled with Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin for several years with the RHEMA Singers and Band. In that capacity, Phillip was thoroughly trained to flow in his calling as he ministered unto the Lord and then to the people. Holy Spirit has chosen Evangelist Phillip Slaughter for such a time as this to declare the love and power of Jesus Christ during our 2015 Campmeeting. For more information call Emmanuel Ministries International of Albuquerque/Rio Rancho, NM: 505-489-9772 Emmanuel Ministries Website
By Tara Shaver
Reminder: National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children in Rio Rancho Saturday, September 12
Albuquerque, NM– Pro-Life groups across the nation will unite in prayer on Saturday, September 12th to remember the victims of abortion, pre-born children.For this 3rd annual National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children, we are excited to be partnering with The HUB of NM, ABQ Right to Life, Surrendered Hearts New Mexico, For God’s Glory Alone Ministries.
Please join us as we pray together and mourn the loss of so many precious lives and be encouraged by those in attendance who are committed to seeing abortion end in our communities.
We are blessed to have three local Pastors join us at an incredible memorial location. We appreciate the warm welcome we received by Father Mansfield of St. John Vianney Church.
Schedule:
Saturday, September 12th from 12:00-1:00pm
St John Vianney Church, 1001 Meteor Ave, Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87144
Opening Prayer: Pastor Dewey Moede, For God’s Glory Alone Ministries
Greeting and Welcome: Dan Rosecrans, The HUB of NM
Scripture readings & Reflection: Pastor Cundiff, Calvary Lutheran Church Rio Rancho
Special guest speakers: Pastor Richard Mansfield, New Beginnings Church
-Laura Rosecrans, The HUB of NM
-Betty Eichenseer, ABQ Right to Life
-Tara Shaver, Protest ABQ & Pro-Life Witness
Placement of flowers on the memorial
A moment of silence for private prayer
Group Prayer: Dan Rosecrans, The HUB of NM
Closing Prayer: Pastor Dewey Moede, FGGAM Ministry
All are welcome to attend this event and families are encouraged to attend with their children.
Please also feel free to bring flowers to lay at the memorial site at St John Vianney Church, 1001 Meteor Ave, Rio Rancho, New Mexico 87144
For more information please contact: Tara Shaver, 505-319-7825 shavermissions
Please join and share the Facebook event page: New Mexico National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children
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