If You Pray to A God Who Cannot Hear You...Maybe He's Not God

Last night, God engineered a few divine appointments. Sheryl Chandler of Truth and Mercy Pro-life Ministries and I met with a Vietnamese couple who chose life over abortion a few months ago. This sweet and gentle couple work hard, own a small home, and desire to live good and honorable lives. They do not have a lot of extra resources available, and were very grateful for the offer of a baby shower for the new baby due in the fall. Sheryl's group which is an integral part of our effectiveness in Cities4Life sidewalk ministry provides the first full two years of all the new baby's needs. The largess filled the young couple's small living room.

An interpreter who we miraculously met at the moment we needed her to help us convince the couple to choose life over abortion was also at the shower. It was very crowded in the small home but we made do by squishing into every available space.

Despite limited money, this couple had two huge pans of food waiting for us. (We had told them we would eat first and bring dessert.) They lavished us with homemade soymilk and honey which the woman, K, had made by grinding the soybeans and squeezing out the milk! (Delicious!) L, the husband, offered us tea from Japan, warning us that tea from China is laced with chemicals. When we left, he handed us gift pouches of blackberry soy milk. Generous kindness oozed from this couple!

First divine appointment. We are actively seeking interim housing for another couple who just chose life, Jesus, and marriage. They were just accepted into a fantastic Christian program that will provide housing, training in all areas, mentorship, and spiritual guidance. The only downside is the apartment won't be available for 4-5 months. We have the couple in an Extended Stay Hotel for now, but it is VERY expensive. Our ministry cannot sustain that for long.

(Aside: If you feel led to help, please donate at our Cities4life website designating funds to go to help W Family. If enough people donate even small amounts, this need could be covered.)

I asked L if he knew of any rentals in his neighborhood. He assured me he would look and let me know. The interpreter then informed me that she works with an agency that provides affordable housing to refugees...but it is not limited to refugees! She contacted the man in charge instantly and he will let us know hopefully today if he can scrounge up an available house. The rents of his homes are within the budget of the new couple! Our ministry will help with incidentals and move-in costs, in partnership with a church who has pledged to help this couple. (PRAY friends!!!)

Next incredible divine appointment. The couple we were providing a baby shower for is Buddhist. We always desire to share the Gospel with everyone we meet in our work with moms who choose life. The language barrier, and the ingrained cultural traditions were a bit overwhelming to us, but we had both researched Buddhism, and the mom herself gave us a beautiful opening.

She prays to Buddha! Sheryl verified with her that Buddha had reached Nirvana...a state of non-existence. He never claimed to be God nor able to answer any prayers, or even hear them. He was dead, and even in K's belief system, non-existent. This astute observation certainly gave the couple pause. I mentioned that K's desire to pray revealed a common human longing programmed in each of us to call out to something or someone, a higher power, a God who hears the cries of our heart. I told her we could introduce them to that one true God.

I knew enough from my brief research into Buddhism that they clearly understand there is suffering in the world, but nothing in their belief system gives it meaning, cause, or reason. The constant cycles of reincarnation are the Buddhist attempt to rise above suffering, but it is a belief fraught with despair. One never knows if one is good enough or not to rise to a higher level of being. If one is NOT GOOD (which we explained in the context of sin in the Christian lexicon), one reincarnates at lower levels that could be truly horrific. Imagine coming to life again as a slug. I told them that the Christian world view could explain the reason and source of suffering, and could also put an end to the fear associated with wondering if one were ever good enough.

Sheryl then gave a beautiful, exquisite summary of the Gospel in simple terms they could understand despite the language barrier. They were both overjoyed with her thoughtful gift of a Vietnamese Bible, and were grateful for my promise to send them the contact info of a Vietnamese church that could help them understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Seeds were planted and important questions raised about faith, and whether we have placed our faith in things that are TRUE. Do not shirk from loving others by questioning beliefs that do not lead to joy, abundant life, and truth. God has called us to be bold in proclaiming the incredible wonder of who He is and how He alone can truly satisfy the God-placed longings of the human heart. We are doing no service to those calling out desperately to a false God who cannot hear them and can never help them if we do not let them know there is One God who can and will.

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I am SO blessed to work with great people of love and faith in Christ like Sheryl and the Cities4life team. Please consider joining us, and supporting this life affirming work.
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1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Isaiah 43:10

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.

Isaiah 45:5

I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,

Exodus 20:3

“You shall have no other gods before me.

Acts 4:12

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”