by Colleen Tronson
from A Retrospect by J. Hudson Taylor
Hudson Taylor had been ministering to a man in the hospital for many weeks; he had tried to share the Lord with the man but to no avail. He was becoming discouraged and decided that maybe by witnessing to the man, he was causing the man's heart to harden to the Lord. So he decided not to continue to talk to the man and prepared to leave his hospital room without speaking of the Lord.
As he was preparing to leave the room, he had this thought, "Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone." He looked at the man, who was very surprised that Taylor had not tried to speak with him, as was his usual practice. Taylor then, with tears, started to share his heart with the man and found him open and receptive to the Lord. The man received the Lord, and Taylor was overwhelmed with joy!
Taylor later reflected on this incident, while working in China:
"I have often thought since then, in connection with this case, and with the work of God generally, that 'He that goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.' Perhaps if there were more that that intense distress for souls that leads to tears we would see more of the results we desire. Sometimes while we are complaining of the hardness of the hearts of those we are seeking to benefit, it may be the hardness of our own hearts, and our own feeble apprehension of the solemn reality of eternal things, that could be the true cause of our want of success."
I saw a similar event happen this week, when I had a heavy heart for one dear woman. I was despairing of her ever turning to the Lord, when I just decided to just pull out all the stops and pour out my heart and concern for her soul. Surprisingly, she was receptive, and I think we have made progress! In my mind and heart, I was convicted about being focused on the wrong thing: the hardness of heart, when I should be focusing on the tenderizing nature of the Word of God.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Students for Human LIFE
University of Minnesota Student Group Event Feb. 13th
We were honored to be able to share our post-abortion stories with the Students for Human Life group at the U of M on Monday evening. The students are taking a stand for life on the campus by bringing in speakers to educate and inform others about life issues.
There were over 30 students in the audience as we shared how abortion did not help us but harmed our lives emotionally, physically, and spiritually. One speaker shared that after aborting her first child, she experienced a miscarriage and was never able to conceive another child.
A married couple shared their story of having an abortion together prior to their marriage and the challenges they faced in their marriage because of the sin. The woman in the marriage had 2 previous abortions, and after the third one, she experienced a miscarriage.
Another woman spoke of aborting her child when she was an 18-year-old who did not want to disappoint her parents or stop her school activities. She recounted years of denial and guilt about it until she confessed it as sin and was forgiven by the Lord. She shared that the abortion clinic did not tell her about the years of suffering she would endure when they took her money and killed her baby for her.
Another woman shared how her abortion led to depression, bulimia, and other challenges in her life until she repented of the sin of abortion and received forgiveness from the Lord.
I shared my story of 3 abortions and then making an adoption plan for my son before coming to know the Lord and receiving forgiveness from Him for my sin in general and for abortion in particular. All of us acknowledged that at the root of our abortions, on some level, there was selfishness.
My friend Jim once said, “We put fences at the top of the cliff to keep people from going over the edge, but some will ignore the fence and jump over it, experiencing a dangerous fall. When that happens, we must run ambulances at the bottom to pick up the broken lives and minister to them with mercy, forgiveness, and grace.”
All of us who spoke now have avenues of ministry to help others who have bought into the lie that abortion is a quick, simple solution to a “problem” pregnancy. Romans 8:28 tells us that “ALL things work together for good." Even the sin in our pasts can now be used to warn others not to chose abortion as we did. We surely don’t recommend sinning so that a person can have a future ministry, but the Lord has allowed our lives to be a cautionary tale to those coming after us.
Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. We are no longer condemned but forgiven and free. Our forgiveness through Christ (Romans 10:13) shows others that there is hope and healing at the foot of the Cross and that it is available for all who seek it.
I ask that you pray for the student group at the U of M. They are taking a stand for life in a culture of death. They are the leaders of today and the survivors of the abortion holocaust of our generation. God help them to stay strong and do all that they do for life with great love.
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
We were honored to be able to share our post-abortion stories with the Students for Human Life group at the U of M on Monday evening. The students are taking a stand for life on the campus by bringing in speakers to educate and inform others about life issues.
There were over 30 students in the audience as we shared how abortion did not help us but harmed our lives emotionally, physically, and spiritually. One speaker shared that after aborting her first child, she experienced a miscarriage and was never able to conceive another child.
A married couple shared their story of having an abortion together prior to their marriage and the challenges they faced in their marriage because of the sin. The woman in the marriage had 2 previous abortions, and after the third one, she experienced a miscarriage.
Another woman spoke of aborting her child when she was an 18-year-old who did not want to disappoint her parents or stop her school activities. She recounted years of denial and guilt about it until she confessed it as sin and was forgiven by the Lord. She shared that the abortion clinic did not tell her about the years of suffering she would endure when they took her money and killed her baby for her.
Another woman shared how her abortion led to depression, bulimia, and other challenges in her life until she repented of the sin of abortion and received forgiveness from the Lord.
I shared my story of 3 abortions and then making an adoption plan for my son before coming to know the Lord and receiving forgiveness from Him for my sin in general and for abortion in particular. All of us acknowledged that at the root of our abortions, on some level, there was selfishness.
My friend Jim once said, “We put fences at the top of the cliff to keep people from going over the edge, but some will ignore the fence and jump over it, experiencing a dangerous fall. When that happens, we must run ambulances at the bottom to pick up the broken lives and minister to them with mercy, forgiveness, and grace.”
All of us who spoke now have avenues of ministry to help others who have bought into the lie that abortion is a quick, simple solution to a “problem” pregnancy. Romans 8:28 tells us that “ALL things work together for good." Even the sin in our pasts can now be used to warn others not to chose abortion as we did. We surely don’t recommend sinning so that a person can have a future ministry, but the Lord has allowed our lives to be a cautionary tale to those coming after us.
Romans 8:1 tells us there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. We are no longer condemned but forgiven and free. Our forgiveness through Christ (Romans 10:13) shows others that there is hope and healing at the foot of the Cross and that it is available for all who seek it.
I ask that you pray for the student group at the U of M. They are taking a stand for life in a culture of death. They are the leaders of today and the survivors of the abortion holocaust of our generation. God help them to stay strong and do all that they do for life with great love.
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Amazing Grace Home Update!
Since 2003, Metro Women’s Center has been building a capital campaign fund drive for the establishment of the Amazing Grace Home, a Christ-centered home for pregnant women. The name of the home comes from the Amazing Grace that God has shown me personally (you can read my testimony at www.metrowomenscenter.org) and for the grace He wants to show to each of our clients.
In late November 2011, we purchased a home [pictured above] for $158,000! We are praising the Lord for His provision. Our goal was to raise $400,000 by end of 2012, and God provided us a home for less money than expected and also sooner than expected. We will continue to need operating funds of approximately $75,000/year with paid house parents (living on-site), a case manager working 20 hours/week, and for other expenses for the home.
We are thankful for your past prayer and financial support for this project and humbly ask that you continue to pray and give financially as you are able. For more information on the Amazing Grace Home, email AmazingGraceHome@metrowomenscenter.org. To donate to the operating fund for the Amazing Grace Home you can go to www.metrowomenscenter.org and make a donation through PayPal or send your gift marked “Amazing Grace Home” to Metro Women’s Center, 6418 Bass Lake Road, Crystal, MN 55428.
In late November 2011, we purchased a home [pictured above] for $158,000! We are praising the Lord for His provision. Our goal was to raise $400,000 by end of 2012, and God provided us a home for less money than expected and also sooner than expected. We will continue to need operating funds of approximately $75,000/year with paid house parents (living on-site), a case manager working 20 hours/week, and for other expenses for the home.
We are thankful for your past prayer and financial support for this project and humbly ask that you continue to pray and give financially as you are able. For more information on the Amazing Grace Home, email AmazingGraceHome@metrowomenscenter.org. To donate to the operating fund for the Amazing Grace Home you can go to www.metrowomenscenter.org and make a donation through PayPal or send your gift marked “Amazing Grace Home” to Metro Women’s Center, 6418 Bass Lake Road, Crystal, MN 55428.
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