@MakeDisciples Glory be to God!
Thank you so much for writing and including the details you did. By the time I finished reading this post I was in tears, and was only kept from a full flow because I received a call from work.
If I responded to all the ways your life situations mirror mine, I would literally have to re-write nearly everything you did. I will say that I followed a similar path of being ‘lukewarm’, I’ve dealt with family chastisement (with comments almost verbatim to what you wrote), I’ve struggled with the state of my families hearts (realizing as you do that God will cause growth as he desires, but remembering that Jesus said families would be divided because of the gospel (Luke 12:53), my guilt for how much time I spend at work and not spending more time with and for God (I’ve also considered quitting my job and considered selling everything I have to give to those in need) , and many other similarities.
Something that struck me from your comment and further helped me realize it is without question from God was the part were you mentioned about setting up auto timer emails in Gmail to send after the rapture takes place. That is actually what started this whole DB, wanting to send emails after we are gone but I didn’t have anything to really send. I’ve currently got 4 emails I reset every Friday (alarm set at noon) that will automatically send the following Saturday at noon. I had to setup additional accounts in Gmail so I can make sure it isn’t stopped by the system (I read somewhere that an account is limited to 500 emails in a day to keep from spammers exploiting the system) I have a handful of gmail accounts for this purpose. If you’d like to setup your own, here is the link to the files I’ve attached to those emails, as well as the verbiage I’ve written in those emails (in a word document called Rapture Email (text)). On top of that, I am constantly attacked with fear from the enemy that I forgot to reset the email counters (waking me up at night in a panic, wondering if I’ll loose my job if I forget to reset the counters since I have my work distro and have included my name in the signature line, etc.) but I always remember that God has a reason for everything, no matter if I can see it right then or not. While I don’t enjoy the thought of persecution, I know God will only let his children suffer if it will be for my good and His glory!
Another thing you mentioned was passing out info to people when you tip them. God has laid it on my heart to do the same! I’ve got business cards drafted (picture here) (only $10 for a box of 100 from staples.com) and I’ve been handing them to people, putting them in tip jars, sticking them in the gas pumps, and anywhere else that I feel God would like me to. I even got to talk to someone at Chili’s pickup window yesterday while the chip reader was broken and gave her a card, explaining a quick version of my testimony. I was wearing my ‘Jesus Paid It All’ baseball cap and was able to talk about Christ. To make it even better, as I was walking out the door one of the other works asked in jest if I was trying to recruit her and I said ‘just talking to her about Jesus’. I prayed and hope that that card, my hat, and the conversation spark something in their workplace. I dont get to see the leaves but I pray that I was effective in planting multiple seeds and giving a little water before I left.
As I mentioned in my original post, I’m always looking for more info and ways to add and share with others. I will definitely check out the site you sent and try to pull more info in. If you’d like assistance setting up auto emails or creating an additional DB with the info so you can share your own URL with people, I would be more than excited to assist.
NOTE: this goes for anyone reading this post as well.
God is so amazing! It gives me such a feeling of peace knowing He works in mysterious, but similar ways with His children. Thank you again for responding and sharing. Until He calls us home I will fight the enemy, wearing the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18 ) and keep trying to plant and water.
I can’t wait to meet you, with all our brothers and sisters in Christ, in heaven! May God bless you!
