Living by the Nudge

The Willowbrook Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, has a patio located to the side of the main entrance and this particular morning I decided to walk through the patio on the way to my doctor's office.  There is a small bench in the patio area and as I walked through I saw that a young woman and her little girl (maybe four years old) were seated on the bench and the lady was reading a story out of a pig picture book to the little girl.  I noticed them but felt no particular "nudge" to stop and visit with them.

When I came out of my doctor's office and walked again through the patio area, I saw that the young lady and her little girl were still there.  But, instead of reading out of the book, the lady was dangling it from her hands and the little girl was playing in some gravel and sand to one side.

This time there was a definite nudge!

As I walked past her and the little girl I felt a definite "nudge" to stop and talk to them about the love of God.  However,  I did not want to walk up to a stranger and talk to her about anything and definitely not about a subject like the love of God.  So, I just kept walking, all the time trying to convince myself that it was a crazy idea and I didn't want to embarrass myself by "butting in" where I had no right to be.

So, I kept walking—and all the time the Spirit of God was telling me "you need to go back."  Finally, about ten or fifteen feet past where she was sitting I stopped dead still in the pathway and talked to God about this situation.  But, even as I told Him I was embarrased and "anyway, what could I say to her?", He kept saying "You need to go back".  Even as I tried to reason with Him and tell Him "This is crazy"--I was already turning around to go back down the path toward the lady.

She was still sitting staring into space.  I remember that she had big blue eyes and those eyes were the saddest most grief-filled eyes I had ever seen.  I stopped in front of her and began to talk.

I told her my name and then said:  "I don't know why you're here and I don't need to know but God told me to stop and tell you that He loves you.  He wants you to know that you are not forsaken, that He is here with you.  Regardless,  of what is happening, and again, I don't need to know, still He wants you to know that He loves you that He is here with you."

She just sat there staring at me.  I even wondered for a brief few seconds if she had understood what I had said.  I thought it was possible that she was so deep into her grief that maybe she didn't understand what I had said.  It was obvious that she was in shock and I thought there was a chance she had not heard or at least had not understand what I was saying.

Suddenly, she stood up and ran the few steps between us and threw her arms around me.  She was weeping and all she could say was "Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!"

What a joy it was to hug that young mother and hear her say "Thank you."  I have not seen her since then so I don't know how things have gone for her, but I know I will always be thankful that God gave me the strength and the grace to go back to her and give her a simple message from the heart of God.

May we ALL be sensitive to the "nudge of the Spirit of God."  ALWAYS!

"THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART"

By: Angela Witt

This is our broody hen, Socks. (Micah named her that because of her feathered legs.) Socks has wanted to hatch eggs for most of the summer. We have done whatever we could to "break" her since we already had enough chickens (and too many roosters!) We would throw her off the nest, collect the eggs, lock her out of the coop, and even put her in isolation. Other hens would push her off of her nest. But no matter what we did, she would gather some eggs together and begin to sit on them. Last weekend I was out of town for a few days. I came home to find Socks contentedly sitting on a clutch of eggs. I didn't have the heart to throw her off this time since I knew I would have to throw the eggs away as well.
I suppose I had compassion on her because once again the Lord began to speak to me. Some of us are like Socks. We have a desire, a dream, a vision inside of us that we long to hatch. People and circumstances try to take that desire from us, to break us of our dream, but it continues to burn in side of us regardless of circumstances.
One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart." Amp. If we make our delight in the Lord, and wait patiently on Him, He will enable us to give birth to our dreams and desires.
Happy hatching!

A PLACE CALLED HOME

​When I left home the first time, I was 17 years old, fresh out of high school and on my way to Texas where I was planning to attend International Bible College in San Antonio.  Through all the years since then (and there have been many!), I have always known that anytime I needed to go back home, I could do so.  My mom and dad always had an open door for any of us who needed a place or refuge during our adult years.  After Bible School I went back home for my wedding to Jerry Witt, I.  Then, I went back home when my third baby, Phillip, was born.  When Jerry was killed in a plane crash in Mexico, I went back home and stayed a while.  During the three and one-half years I was a widow, my little boys and I could always go back home—and often did so—for any of the holidays or events happening in the family.  When Frank Warren came into my life, I went home to tell my family about him.  Although Frank and I were married in Durango, Mexico, all through the years or our marriage we would make trips to Georgia with all our children for the missions conferences, as well as for Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations.  We always knew we could go back home, not because the house was special but because my mom and dad always had an open door for us and welcomed us with open arms.  This was true for all nine of their children, as well as several other children they helped during their years as pastors at Open Bible Tabernacle. 

​The house was big and had plenty of room for everyone.  On Thanksgiving and Christmas there would be a gathering of different children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren throughout the years.  I remember one Christmas when it seemed that everybody went home for Christmas and there was “standing room only”.  Literally!  There were people standing in the living room, dining room and daddy’s office, eating off the plate they were holding in their hands because there was no room for everyone to sit down.  They were great times, full of laughter, lots of talk and really great fellowship.  I think I can speak for all my siblings when I say they were tremendous times of love and great food.  We made incredible memories.

​My mom and dad and different members of the family lived in that house for more than sixty years.  Daddy built the house when I was in high school and all of us grew up there.  But, this past week our 94 year old mother and her executors signed the papers and sold the house that had been “our home” for all those years.  It was a time of sadness for all of us as we recalled all the things that happened in that house, andit was especially sad for our mother.  But, it had to be done.  Mama could no longer live alone and it was dangerous for her to be in that house alone.  So, we all agreed, it had to be done.

​This has caused me to reflect on several things.  One of the most obvious things is that for the first time in my long life I no longer had a “home” or a place of “refuge” where I could go any day, any hour of the day for any length of time for any purpose and be welcomed with open arms.  Another thing I reflected on is what does the word “home” mean?  We all know it means a place of safety, a place of refuge, a place where we are accepted “just as we are”, as well as a place of rest, nourishment and happiness.  There is a saying “home is where the heart is”, and that is true also.  Still, I felt there was more to it than that.  

​Several years ago I entered into a time in my life when I no longer felt like I belonged to this world.  There were things that were happening that I could not understand, systems that I had believed in and depended on all my life, had failed and I felt I no longer belonged to this world. ( I would imagine that the Christians in the middle east right now feel like that.)  Then I remembered the Scripture in Hebrews 11:13 that says “ . . .they were strangers and pilgrims on this earth.”  It is talking about all the heroes of the faith who had been persecuted for their faith, but howthey didn’t despair with this persecution because “they were pilgrims on this earth.”  Their goal was not this world, they were just passing through.  They were headed for another place!

​We are not suffering persecution like many in this world today are suffering, but we do need to remember that this is a temporary “home”.  No “home” on this earth, as much as we love it and appreciate it, is permanent.  Our true “home” is in eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is an old song we used to sing “This World Is Not My Home—I am just passing through.”  In Spanish it not only says that this world is not my home but that “this world is not capable of being my home.”  In other words this world cannot measure up to what my true home is.  Our “real home” is on the other side.

​To all the members of my family who are sad about losing our “home place”, just remember that those people who once gathered at Nanny and Papa’s house, will also be with us in our “true home” at the great reunion in eternity.  

​I am super thankful for the home we had here on earth for so many years but I am even more thankful that those who made that home for us here on this earth, have also prepared us for our real home over there!

Remembering my Sister, Linda . . .

Remembering my sister, Linda . . . .

She was born when I was nearly six years of old, but since I was child number one, and she was child number 4, she became my baby.  I carried her on my hip or in my arms when I played games with the other children.  When I went to the store, or to visit friends, I took care of her.  This "looking after Linda" continued until we were teenagers and I left for college in Texas.  She was 18 years old when she made her first visit to Mexico ( to visit my husband and I)   and she fell in love with the country and the people and always wanted to go back and work in Mexico.  Because of family obligations she was not able to fulfill that dream until 17-18 years before her death.  She lived in the same city with us here in Mexico working at CCdeMAC  for several years and then moved to another state in Mexico where she opened an orphanage for children who had been

deserted or who were in the hands of the local government.  During the next several years she took care of around 20 children, sending them to school, feeding  and clothing them, and teaching them about the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Although she had to leave Mexico because of her bad health, she stayed in contact with the children's home and sent them offerings to help take care of the children.  She was one of the most compassionate persons I have ever known.

Apart from her work in Mexico and her love for the children, Linda was a singer.  From the time she was a small child she could sing and by the time she reached her early teens she had developed a strong, beautiful soprano voice.  And how she loved to sing!   Those of us who heard her sing "Bethesda" will never forget it. She sang in trios, duets and choirs all over the U. S. and Mexico.  She sang solos in the same places.    She loved to sing.  

Linda left her life on this earth on May 3, 2014.  She was in the hospital when she passed because she had open heart surgery just a few days earlier.  As her daughter and son-in-law were driving her to the hospital the morning of her surgery, the weather was bad.  Actually Pensacola had a record-breaking flood that very morning--maybe the heavens were weeping for what was going to happen to Linda?  During the trip into the hospital Linda began to sing:  "It is Well With My Soul." It was the last song she sang here on this earth. 

 In honor of her life, and her love of music, her eight siblings sang that song at Linda's funeral.  

FRUIT THAT REMAINS

Many years ago when we had only been in Mexico for a short time we were in a dry, barren land.  That was when a man of God came to us and said God had given him this Scripture and told him to give it to us.

“Ye have not chosen me,  but I have chosen you,  and ordained you,  that ye should go and bring forth fruit,  AND THAT YOUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN . . .”  John 15:16

A few weeks ago I was privileged to be asked by the family of a young man who had been killed in an automobile accident to participate in that young man’s funeral.  As I sat with the family and friends of that young man (his name was Benny) I wept with them over the loss of this 28 year old son, but I also rejoiced at the faithfulness of God and thanked Him for the privilege of being a party of this young man’s life.

Benny was an unusual young man in Mexican society and culture.  He was a third generation Christian.  Fifty plus years ago when we first arrived in Mexico to do the work God had placed on our hearts, Benny’s grandparents were one of the very first families we met.  They became fervent Christians and his grandfather began to travel through the rural areas of southern Durango and northern Zacatecas taking the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the small towns and villages of those states.  Bro. Chema was one of the most uniquely talented persons musically I have ever known.  There was not a string instrument he picked up that he could not play:  every type of guitar, violin, bass fiddle, or mandolin, it made no difference.  He could play them all.

There have been several times within the past fifty years during our time of service in Mexico, that I have wondered if we were really accomplishing anything for the Kingdom of God.  But that day as I sat in the funeral for young Benny I rejoiced and thanked God for the joy of being  chosen by Him to take the Gospel to this family.  From both sides of the family, there were relatives of this young man who came to know the Lord years ago and were still serving God on this sad day.  It was fruit that has remained.

There aren’t many people who have the privilege of seeing with their own eyes fifty years later the fruit of what they have sown.  But, I was privileged to have that experience.  As it turned out, it was fruit that remained and that still remains.

Days will come when anyone involved in the end time harvest will be discouraged and will wonder if what they are doing is worth the price that is being paid for that harvest by their own lives and the lives of their children.  If we can remember that God does give fruit that remains, we will continue, joyfully, on our journey.

Chrismas in Mexico 2013

An exceeding, abundant blessing: our twin daughters, Lorie and Jeannie

Oct 7,2013

A few days ago I had the privilege of watching and listening to a dvd of my daughter, Jeannie Theo, as she brought the message in LakeWood Church, Houston, Texas.  It was a powerful word on The work of the Cross in our lives”, and I marvelled at the way she developed the central thought and the way she delivered the message with power and passion.

She was speaking in SIpanish, she is fluent in Spanish as well as in English, and I wept and rejoiced as I watched her  move in the Spirit of God.  She finished her message by singing the old hymn “AtThe Cross”.

Her twin sister, Lorie Zamorano, is also fluent in Spanish and in English and she also brings the word of God forth with power and passion.  Although both girls are trained musicians and have been involved in numerous recordings with their brother Marcos Witt and Coalo Zamorano,  it is Lorie who has composed several songs that have become ‘hits’, especially her recording of “Soy Mujer”  I Am Woman.

When I watch these two girls move in the anointing of the holy spirit, I am reminded of the hand of God that has been on their lives since before they were born.  When my husband and I discovered that I was expecting another baby, my husband immediately began to believe and speak in faith about there being two babies instead of one baby.  There were no multiple births in my family as far as I knew and I was afraid that there would only be one baby and my husband,Frank, would be disappointed.  But he was so sure in his spirit and he based his conviction on the scripture found in Ephesians 3:20:

            “Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory . . .”

            He was right.  There were two babies.  He spoke those two babies into existence.

            Frank and the twins were close in their relationship, as only fathers and their daughters can be, and he sowed into their lives all through the years.  When they were young ladies and married with their own families he spoke a word to them again and said that God was going to give them a ministry in the word and in music.  The girls didn’t start looking for ways to enlarge their ministry.  Neither did they knock on doors looking for opportunities to develop this ministry they had been promised.  They simply trusted God that if this was a true word, he would bring it to pass.  And so it has been.

            As I watched Jeannie minister the word on that dvd recording, and as I watch lorie sing that song “I am Woman” and see how God has moved her into a word ministry also, I am reminded of their dad’s love for them and the encouragement he gave them all their lives for whatever they wanted to do for the Kingdom of God.

            Frank grieved when he saw women who were pressed down with the cares of life or under the foot of an autocratic or abusive spouse.  He loved to see a little girl, a young woman, or an adult woman with spunk, spirit and fire.

            I smile as I remember that and I know he would be pleased and blessed with how the Lord has developed our girls into great women of God.