Job's Daughters Our Daughters

Unbeknownst to me and a total surprise, 
my 2 daughters planned a 75th birthday party 
for me and  invited a few of my friends (obviously they left some dear friends out unintentionally)....

THEY PULLED OFF A MASTERFUL BIRTHDAY SURPRISE...
our friends Rick and Kathie picked us up for dinner with other friends. I had been texting Trisha and Trinda that afternoon confirming our plans the next day to get together with all of the 6 grandchildren in Anniston, AL (midpoint between Birmingham and Atlanta)...I had prepared a meaningful handout lesson from Psalm 119- I was bringing 6 Bibles to give one to each grandchild. 
When we opened the door to thunderous 
"SURPRISE" 
I immediately saw Trisha and Trinda...
I  thought...
HOW'S THAT POSSIBLE?

WHAT A SURPRISE...
Tudi, Trisha and Trinda plus Rick and Kathie were quite the team....
During the day Chuck and I played golf together and he too was quite deceptive regarding the surprise

Tudi, Ted, Shirl, and Irwin




David (above)
and Chuck teamed up to tell the famous "cat" story that brought a lot of well deserved laughs




Chuck




Fran (middle in red) and Ray (to the right of Fran) 
gave their inspiring WB testimonies...Nancy (not shown) shared how she sent John Macarthur the MASTER'S TOUCH after we met in Big Canoe
shared


Brian gave an update on the 9/11 Outreach at Cobb Energy Center 



BESIDES some good-natured kidding and funny  stories there was  meaningful sharing too

...Including a wonderful testimony given by Irwin, 
Vice Chair of the Witness Breakthrough Board. His testimony below is in the book...
IF WE ARE THE LIGHT,  WHY IS AMERICA SO DARK?
"Shirl and I met on a blind date in 1981. Shirl was Baptist and I was Jewish. When we were dating, I started going to church with her and a year later we were married. Shirl joined Peachtree Presbyterian Church and I continued going every Sunday with her. Several years later, as new members of Atlanta Country Club, we were asked by the pro shop if another couple could join us for our tee time; it was Ted and Tudi Sprague. We later found out that they had prayed together that morning to meet someone that day that they could witness to for Christ. We became close friends and through Ted's knowledge of the Bible and his love and caring my journey to becoming a Christian really began. I was constantly asking Ted about the Bible and learning about Jesus. 
Four years ago, after attending an Easter play at church with Ted and Tudi, sitting at a Starbucks, through Ted I accepted Christ as my Savior.  A few months later, my son also, with Ted's guidance, accepted Christ and we were baptized together. It was Ted's commitment and enthusiasm that led us to Christ and changed our lives!  I believe the Witness Breakthrough ministry can teach so many people how to share their faith with others and change their lives as Ted has done for me."
 
Irwin"


 

HOWEVER, THERE ARE THE TRIALS OF LIFE TOO

Sometimes Facebook pictures can be very deceiving because everyone is smiling and so positive....
positive is GOOD! 
I AM A POSITIVE PERSON

...CELEBRATIONS are so special  and go along with the TRIALS OF LIFE...as pointed out in the book of Ecclesiastes above




OUR DAUGHTERS- TRISHA and TRINDA- have been through 
and are going through the TRIALS OF LIFE





Trinda and Trisha

Examples: 

-Trisha has battled being a Type 1 diabetic for 35 years including a near fatal bout of gastroparesis many eye surgeries...Her son and daughter have some medical issues too. Her husband has had numerous accidents being a part time UBER driver...She has a wonderful full time job working for  an International energy consulting company 


-Trinda this year has gone through a divorce (not her initiation) after 24 years of marriage...and very recently was diagnosed as being a Type 1 diabetic...on the very same day her oldest son Jeremiah was diagnosed as being a Type 1 diabetic too...She works full time and also has 2 part time jobs too (she is the creative person with my weekly emails and our WB website)


As ECCLESIASTES 3:1-9 points out-
life has many different chapters...
here are a few of the verses


There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silen t and a time to speak


CELEBRATIONS and TRIALS...for a purpose

I THANK GOD for our two daughters, wonderful friends,  and for both the good times and trials of life that contribute to our witness to others of our faith in Jesus Christ

HEALTH WITNESS-

On the same day a couple days ago Tudi and I both had opportunities to witness...Tudi was able to comfort and pray for a neighbor who is having health related challenges in her family
S he is living proof of powerful witnessing through comforting others with the comfort she has received from the Lord ...2 Cor 1:3-11


GOLF WITNESS-

Two men I met on the golf course were very courteous and very communicative about their lives. By asking a lot of questions I found out a lot about each of them. To my amazement they did not ask me one question about my life. Frankly it is not unusual but still amazes me because people are so focused on themselves they are unable to get outside of self...despite being very nice people they were consumed with self

     I PRAYED FOR WISDOM 
on how to approach them with the Good News

MISSED PUTTS...a springboard to the Gospel

After missing my 4th putt for a birdie from within 10ft...
I asked, 
" HOW DO YOU COMPARE GOLF TO LIFE?"  

I continued, "I just missed my 4th putt for a birdie within 10ft...how is that like life?" They both responded quickly and said something like...
"YOU HAVE YOUR GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS"
...one of the men asked, 
"SO WHAT'S YOUR ANSWER?" I said,  
"You need FORGIVENESS in both!"

I then gave my testimony of how I went from an atheist to faith in Christ and began to understand forgiveness of sins...
I gave them each a wrist
band...
and they promptly put them on...thanking me enthusiastically as our round of golf ended

 
 
CONCLUSIONS:


*SELF CONSUMED...is a DEAD-END, FRUITLESS STREET....repent of this sickening condition...and learn to listen to people...become a genuine loving witness

*ENJOY and CHERISH the CELEBRATIONS of LIFE...thank you TRISHA and TRINDA for my never to be forgotten surprise birthday party

* GROW  through the TRIALS of LIFE...that's where personal character is developed

*SPRINGBOARD to the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST where you live, move and have your being...as the base and reference point in your life...that's ABUNDANT LIVING giving out the GOOD NEWS



Witness Breakthrough is available to take you and/or your small group through our  newest book...  
IF WE ARE THE LIGHT, 
WHY IS AMERICA SO DARK? 
It will help you become a John 3:16 witness...compelled by love, not duty to proclaim Jesus Christ

Ted
Acts 17:28
    Job 42:15...2 very special daughters...I am a blessed man




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