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Prophecy concerning faith, love, truth, doubts, evil, salvation, etc.

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This is a prophecy I received for someone who had a variety of questions and doubts about faith and the workings of God in her life.  Many topics are covered here ranging from trials, doubts, the purpose of walking by faith instead of sight, the origin of evil, what is truth, what is love, etc.  I post it here  (minus any personal details) because I think others would benefit from the answers Jesus gave.  The prophecy may seem to abruptly jump from one topic to another, but this is because it was directly given to answer specific things this person wrote me about and wasn’t really meant to be a self-contained, stand on it’s own article.
God bless,
Paul

(MESSAGE FROM JESUS BEGINS)

Dear one whom I’ve created and fashioned according to my perfect will and foreknowledge,

You look back on your life with many questions and much wondering — and I do not fault you for this, for if you look back, the natural mind is quick to come up with many valid questions that seem unanswerable; but the truth is this: I’ve been with you at all times.

Do you think it chance that you’re in the place you are now in your journey and search for answers and truth, even having this discussion now?

I am the master potter and I’ve formed you for a unique and powerful purpose — a purpose you can not fully see nor understand at this moment. It’s a purpose you’ve caught a glimpse of in those times when you’ve trusted and called out to Me, yet it’s unfolding, fruition, and specific shape and color has yet to be determined as so much depends on the course you choose to take. Your mind is confused and you look back and wonder how I could have been with you through all those difficult times. Yet I tell you assuredly, I was there and I AM here.

There have been times when My ability to intervene has been limited due to choices you or others have made, but yes, you’ve learned much and have come through the wiser for it.

May I suggest that you not look back on your life with contempt and bitterness, but rather with the understanding that I can use EVERYTHING you’ve been through to help activate and propel you forward towards the very purpose and role which you alone can uniquely fill if you walk with Me in faith and trust? In so doing your individuality, gifts, talents, uniqueness, godly desires and dreams will find fulfillment as you embark on the mission of life with Me at your side to help you navigate the stormy seas of this world, as well as to embark on exciting missions of discovery and those that will help others as well.

Yes, I do have a calling for you — I have a unique plan and opportunity for your life — yet, as you’ve discovered, life is full of choices, and I have limited Myself to work within the framework of your choices.

What I’m offering you is not a set of rules or religion. It’s not a methodology or “toolbox” of self-help instruments to be used within the framework of limited understanding and what “you think” — it’s more than that. What I’m offering you is a passionate relationship with Me which connects you to my very essence.

Yes, you’ve tasted of Me in times past, yet, as you see, you’ve let the waves of problems and doubts distract you from Myself. Remember when Peter looked at the waves instead of keeping His focus on Me? He began to sink. Why? Because He knew in himself he couldn’t “do” the “impossible” of walking on the water — it was contradictory to every form of human understanding. As long as He focused on Me it wasn’t a problem to do the impossible, but as soon as he focused on the “impossibleness” of the situation by looking at the waves and listening to his mind of natural understanding which told him what he was doing doesn’t make sense, then he lost the power to keep going.

So it is, now, with you. You’ve begun to embark on a journey with Me, a journey which requires walking by faith and not by sight, yet the voices of natural “wisdom” call out, “That’s impossible! It doesn’t make sense! What are you doing?!” I know it’s much easier to believe in something you can see and touch with your physical senses or which somehow rely on human capability and ability to obtain things — however, like waves, what can be seen and touched is not the full embodiment of truth; and even though they may seem to dictate situations, they really don’t — only I AM and I do — and as Peter walked on the water, so I can help you walk on in faith if you choose to focus and keep your faith in Me. … for when I am not in focus through faith, the very channel and connection is broken which allows My power, love, truth, and all that I am to flow in abundance which enables you to do the impossible and walk on the water in your relationship with Me. It’s like unplugging a TV from the wall socket. The TV is still there, but there is no power, no life, no flow of electricity which enables one to see and be activated. The TV becomes nothing more than a bunch of components with no purpose.

Look at all those people of faith in Hebrews 11. See what they went through for Me. Why? Because they were focused on Me (Jesus) and knew they were helping to construct My Kingdom — a Kingdom of true love and eternal purpose. They did not conform to the clamoring voices of the world (and even their own human brain) which were so ready to tell them they were crazy. It was not a “pipe dream” they convinced themselves of — they were simply following that inner conviction of faith which was completely contradictory to the voice of natural reasoning and “wisdom” of man. They were thus connected with My true wisdom — they were connected with Me through the vehicle of faith. Faith is tied to the internal compass I’ve put inside you which points towards Me and helps you know which way is TRUE north (the way to truth / to Me) — as opposed to the changing magnetic north of the temporal realm.

I created all the universe not by some outer tool, but by my very essence of who I am. I didn’t use an outer “tool” of power — I AM power. I didn’t use a guidebook of truth, I AM truth. I didn’t use an outside motivator of love, I AM love. There is no power outside of Me, there is no truth outside of Me, there is no love outside of Me. So, why the walk of faith? Faith is the vehicle by which people can connect with Me. It’s the “spiritual connection” to Me. I’ve created it this way so that ALL could simply understand and experience Me (indifferent of culture, creed, geographical location, resources, etc.) and so that no man could attempt to take glory to himself, his ideologies, his “tools”, his own wisdom, his “religion”, experience, or what have you — not because I’m “selfish” and some sort of glory-egoist — but because there really is no full embodiment of truth outside of Me, plain and simple. The moment people rely and put their trust in visible systems, “tools”, religions, laws of attraction, or other “understandable” things and what have you, above Me — they’ve in essence traded Me for some outer “thing”. This outer “thing” could not possibly contain the full embodiment of Me / My essence — it’s just physically and metaphysically impossible. How could the infinite be contained? It’s a contradiction in terms.

Now, don’t get me wrong, you can find many good things contained in various religions, methods, ideologies, etc … the thing is, these are only tidbits of the full picture… An absolutely minuscule piece of the puzzle; therefore it’s not wise to put one’s trust in these puzzle pieces rather than in Me — who is the sum of all the parts and full embodiment. To cling to a part to the exclusion of the sum just won’t take a person very far in their quest for truth.

So, back to the “faith” question… Faith connects to Me — it enables fellowship and relationship. “Seeing my glory” and even flashing my words in the sky doesn’t automatically enable someone to have a love-connection with Me if their faith and trust has not been activated towards Me. Lucifer saw my glory and still chose a path he knew would lead away from Me — so “seeing” is not the same as believing / trusting / having FAITH in Me.

Faith is the means by which one can enter in to a relationship with Me — the infinite — the full-embodiment of love, truth and power — the eternal life giver. Faith is the means by which truth can begin to be assimilated and understood and practiced.

I came to Earth in human form (Jesus), I lived and spoke with people, I showed that I am truly God by proving my essence through the love I shared, the live I lived, the miracles I performed, the truth and wisdom I displayed, as well as through the culmination of the crucifixion (and subsequent resurrection) and the judgment I took upon myself by allowing myself to be separated from my divine power and essence in order to experience true death for every man when I cried out on the cross, “My God, why have you forsaken me!” In that moment I experienced and took on myself all the sins of all humanity and the consequent judgment of complete separation from all the is love, from all that is Divine. In other words, there was in that moment the complete absence of light — in which case only darkness remained. Of course My subsequent resurrection sealed the deal and offered ultimate proof that I AM and that even death itself can not contain Me.

I did all this so faith would have a portal — a door by which one may freely enter (made possible through having the ability to recognize and perceive it clearly). Through the door of faith in Me, Jesus, one may enter in to fellowship and relationship with Me and thus be connected to all that I am. There is thus no need for dependence on outer tools or methodologies to replace the fullness of all that I am. Yes, some “tools” and practices are helpful in living a life of faith and love, and that is the purpose of all that is shared in The Bible — to serve as an anchor by which one may keep firm in My truth and aid in a relationship with Me. However, when the Bible is read without faith, true understanding remains hidden from the reader.

You see, the Bible is unlike any other book in the world. It’s inspired by Me and therefore is meant to be understood not solely by physical, analytical methods of the mind — but through the understanding granted when combined with faith which is the linkup with My Spirit. Sometimes this understanding isn’t formed the very moment a passage is read, but as I said, if someone “abides” and continues in My Word, then he shall know the truth and the truth will make him free.

This faith can come in various manifestations — the faith of a seeker crying out for truth — the faith of someone hurting who looks to The Bible for answers — the faith of someone who wants to grow in their relationship with Me and thus finds food for their spirit… In each of these cases faith is creating a vacuum in a person’s spirit which causes the Words read on the page to be enlightened by My Spirit and the truth starts flowing towards the vacuum, thus granting understanding. As it is recorded in John 6:63 that I said, “The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” So true understanding of the Bible comes when read in faith. Even the seeker who may not know that I, Jesus, am truth — if he reads the Bible with his innermost being calling out for truth, he is calling out for My very essence since He has faith that truth exists and that it can reveal itself… He may not know truth is Me, but I will help Him understand this very fact, for I am the way, the truth, and the life.

I’ve given a portion of my power to my creation — for example to the angels as well as to humans. My power can also be seen in what I’ve created — the beautiful natural world I’ve created for people to enjoy. However, My power and essence is not FULLY embodied in My creation nor any “method” of operation — My glory and essence is too “big” to be contained within any thing except Myself … in fact, I am not contained, I am beyond all things because I created all things. If I created all things, it’s impossible for me to be contained by any thing or things, including the human mind. However, I do desire that my crown jewel of creation — people, experience a relationship with Me and for this reason I’ve created them in my image so that they may communicate and experience Me through the spirit which I’ve given them.

You see, evil is not a thing or person, it’s an absence of Me. Darkness is not a thing, it’s a state where light does not exist. Some give to much credit to the ‘Devil’ — thinking he has all this power in himself and is thus someone to be feared because of the “evil” he “creates” and the power he has… but this is not the case. Yes he has some power, but he’d have no power if I completely retracted all that I’ve given him — he, along with all people and all creation would immediately cease to exist should I completely retract my power and essence … everything would return to the “natural” state of nothingness — darkness and void — emptiness. But because darkness is the absence of light, the disappearance of the Devil wouldn’t mean evil would end … those who exclude Me will always live in various measures of void and darkness, with the high measures manifesting what has come to be known as evil.

I’ve given life to all My creation for a season. Choices are to be made and that’s what life on Earth is for. I extend my arms to all who would desire to come to Me and discover truth and eternal love. For those who come I also grant eternal life — a relationship with Me and a place in My eternal Kingdom of Love.

So in reality, you needn’t try to understand the role of the Devil. He’s simply chosen to depart from me and thus abides in darkness and void — the absence of love and light. The Good news of the Bible has nothing to do with the Devil, it has everything to do with a relationship with Me. This is what I offer to people, and this is what I offer to you.

I love you. My arms are wide open for you. Please choose to rest and abide in My arms so I may strengthen you and heal the wounds in your heart. It’s ok that there’s many things you don’t understand … full understanding is not necessary for us to share a wonderful relationship together; in fact, worrying too much about why this, that and the other is not spiritually healthy for you right now. I can guarantee that if you proceed in faith with Me, many of your questions will find their answers in time. There are many things I’ll show you, but they don’t need to all unfold at once. It’s a step by step process, just like a baby isn’t an adult by day two, nor is a caterpillar changed in to an unfettered butterfly except after time spent in the cocoon. I’m your cocoon. Yes, cocoons are needed sometimes in order for metamorphosis to take place… until that caterpillar enters the cocoon he doesn’t put himself in a position for me to do the miracle of transformation. Please, let me help you in giving you the desires of your heart. Let me help you experience the joy of salvation instead of slavery of the mind. Let me set you free from all the confusion you face … it doesn’t become clear by running away … it becomes clear by letting me renew your heart, mind, and spirit as you abide in Me and in My Word — in faith. If you lack faith in The Bible right now — that’s ok. But are you open to let me still work with you on this? That’s all I ask. You needn’t try and force yourself to have faith for it’s not something you’re able to do … trust in Me — I’ll raise Lazarus if you roll away the stone … just do what you CAN do and let me worry about what you can’t. If you’re able to simply give me a chance and trust that I’ll lead and guide you as a result of your direct faith in Me, then that’s all I require. Just lay out all your doubts to me and leave them on the altar. I’ll take them and work with you on them in time… but it’s always a step of faith to abide in Me — the natural mind can’t wrap it’s head around it, so I’d advise not to try and do so. If you can simply accept that I love you, that’s all I need to work with — we can take it from there. If you’re not sure of that, then I can still help you come to that place if you let me… It’s up to you — but just know that I do love you…

With much love,

Jesus

Buried with Christ – living a new life – Romans 6:4

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“Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)

In II Corinthians 13:5 the Apostle Paul encourages us to “examine ourselves” to see if we are truly “in the faith”.

In a world where “Christianity” is often “practiced” as a fashionable mode of operation or a regimen of rules rather than experienced as a passionate relationship with Jesus Christ, it’s so easy to get sucked in to the “normality” and various pulls of life and forget that our relationship with Jesus should result in us living a new life — a life in which our visions, goals, time and viewpoints are markedly different than the world’s “me-first” prototype.

“… we have been buried with him through baptism into death …”

Jesus was crucified (for us!) and buried in a tomb. In the same way our old life characterized by “me-first” priorities should be dead, gone and buried. (See Luke 9:23.)

This is not to say we suddenly, magically lose all human and selfish desires. The difference is the “me-first” motivator is no longer in control. It doesn’t lead us around by the nose telling us what to do with our thoughts, time and life. In essence, it’s no longer enthroned as “god” of our life. Why? Because we’ve decided that God should have the place of God rather than allowing our own selfishness to usurp that position. We’ve therefore traded a temporal path of limited fleshly reasonings for God’s eternal path of truth and light. (I Peter 2:9)

WAIT! someone may exclaim. What’s so “bad” about a “me-first” attitude? Isn’t it natural, after all?

I think the answer to this is clearly visible in the world around us. Flip on the news (or just look around) and we can see the results of the me-first attitude. What’s the motivating factor of every crime? — “I want that!” (me-first). (James 4:1-3) What’s the motivator of every unkind action? “I’m more important — I need to consider myself first.”

Me-first attitudes are not just actions — they’re characterized by lack of action as well. If love is seeing a need and filling that need, me-first attitudes are seeing needs and doing nothing.

“… as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life.”

Now the power and life of God enters the equation and provides the solution to the me-first attitude.

Jesus was raised from the dead through the power of God. This same power (God’s Spirit) baptizes (immerses) and transforms our spirit when we truly make the decision to yield our life and receive Jesus as Lord — letting Him be God instead of us. See I Cor. 12:13, Titus 3:5, Lk. 11:9-13, John 1:12 and Acts 5:32.

This baptism and renewing by the Spirit of God is what gives us the power to live a new life in Christ. No longer do we need to try on our own to do the right thing, figure out eternal truths, etc. Now we have God’s Spirit and Word as a guide, counselor, and provider of power to live a new life. See John 14:15-17; 16:13; Acts 1:8.

Have we truly been “born from above” (John 3:3) by enthroning Christ as Lord in our life, and are we thus living our life with God’s Heavenly Perspective instead of a me-first attitude? (Col. 3:1-4) When people look at us do they see the love, joy and “peace that passes all understanding” (Phil. 4:7) which comes as a result of living a new life with Jesus? Are we walking by faith instead of sight — looking past the temporal enticements and keeping our eyes, heart, visions, plans and actions within God’s eternal realm of love and truth? (II Cor. 5:7; Heb. 11:1,6, Heb. 11:13-16; II Cor. 4:18; I Peter 4:1-2; Romans 8:5-17)

“I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:16–21)

Let’s make a difference in this world! Let’s let God’s light shine through us in such a way that people will clearly see Him. Let’s live a new life — in Jesus.

(Music Video) Dive

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An inspiring music video by Steven Curtis Chapman encouraging us to take a step of faith and dive in to the river of God’s Spirit and will.

“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’” (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive…)” (John 7:37–39)

To dive in to a pool requires letting go of earth beneath us.  We need to abandon our own preconceived ideas and plans — even our own self:

And Jesus said to them all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself.” (Luke 9:23–26)

Nothing can compare to the exhilaration of the unhindered flow of God’s Spirit carrying us along in the current of His will.  Whatever it may “seem” we’re giving up will seem insignificant in comparison with what God has in store for us.

“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

That we “may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory” (Ephesians 3:18–21)

… and the things that were once difficult for us to do, we find that we’re no longer alone — but “it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

So, a swim anyone?  Let’s go for a dive!

(Video Slideshow) God is God

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This is a beautiful song by Steven Curtis Chapman called “God is God” put to some beautiful nature photos.

The song is an inspiring reminder that although there are some things we don’t understand or can’t explain, God knows, and we can rest assured that all things are in His very capable hands.

“Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29–31)

An excerpt from the lyrics:

“God is God and I am not
I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting
God is God and I am man
So I’ll never understand it all
For only God is God

And the sky begins to thunder
And I’m filled with awe and wonder
‘Til the only burning question that remains
Is who am I

Can I form a single mountain
Take the stars in hand and count them
Can I even take a breath without God giving it to me
He is first and last before all that has been
Beyond all that will pass . . .”

Connecting with God – The altar and the incense

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I was just reading the Bible with Kaden (my six year old son) in Exodus chapter 30 where God explains how the alter for burning incense was to be built. It struck me how God’s instructions concerning this altar and the incense parallels our spiritual walk and offers insight for walking in fellowship with Him.

This altar was located just outside the Holy of Holies (where God would manifest His presence) and was separated only by a thick curtain. The incense to be burned on this altar was a specific mixture set forth by God Himself — a mixture which was holy and sacred. Nobody was to make nor use this recipe for any purpose other than for burning on this specific altar before the Lord.

One portion of scripture I found particularly interesting concerning the altar was the instruction from God:

“You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it.” (Exodus 30:9)

God had specific instructions in regards to the incense to be used.  There was to be no substitute.

The other kinds of offerings were good offerings sanctioned by God — but they were not to be offered upon this altar before the holy of holies. The altar was strictly for the burning of this specific incense.

This got me thinking how incense is spoken of in relation to our prayers and communication with God.

“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” (Revelation 5:8)

“Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!” (Psalms 141:2)

Considering incense is like our prayers — and at the beginning of Jesus’ model prayer He prays “your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10) — putting the two together we can see the relationship between communicating with God and His will being accomplished.

Prayer is our communication lifeline with our Creator. Without this vital communication and fellowship we’re unable to partake of God Himself.  We may accomplish many things which our mind and logic (as well as many other voices in the world) tells us are important, but only by seeking God’s will alone do we know that we’re accomplishing the things He wants us to which have the greatest impact on lives and eternity.

If we offer God the incense of HIS choosing and as per His instructions upon the altar of our life (Romans 12:1) — that is, if we do not offer “unauthorized incense” (incense (plans and prayers) which have root in our own selfishness) but rather seek to enact His Word and the things He reveals to us — in so doing we will not be presenting our own “burnt offering”, “grain offering” nor “drink offering” upon the altar of our life which was created solely to offer a specific, sweet incense to God; instead, we will be listening to God’s instructions and guidance and following it up with obedience and action. “To obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22)

Each of us has a realm of influence which no one else has. Therefore as we seek first His Kingdom, He can make clear how to best enact the plan He has for us as individuals and how to incorporate all He has already shared with us through His Word — the Bible.

If we pray with Jesus, “… not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42) — then we’ll find the humble position of our heart is such that allows us to fellowship with God, as Jesus says, “where I am, there will my servant be also.” (John 12:26)  “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and respects my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)  “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him.” (John 14:23)

I don’t know about you, but I want God to “take up residence” in my life. There is nothing that compares to the love, joy, truth and meaning He brings.  There’s just something about knowing you’re in the center of God’s will — burning the incense which He’s custom designed for you personally … “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

And may God grant us the grace to allow Him to replace our old “wineskin” of our current way of thinking with a new wineskin of His making — one that will enable us to accommodate His new wine of instruction, guidance and fellowship in our lives.  May we allow Him pour out our own ideas, plans and opinions — to be replaced by His love, truth, fellowship and instruction.  “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. Instead new wine must be poured into new wineskins.” (Luke 5:37–38)

“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Some people search for God with their mind — wondering why they can’t find Him.  Instead, we must open our heart and say with Jesus, “Not my will, but yours be done”.  In such a position of the heart and will, we find God.  The eternal and incomprehensible to human understanding then becomes known through the resultant indwelling of His Spirit within us.

Aggie: A girl without a country

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The following true account is taken from the book Aggie: A Girl Without a Country, previously published under the title One Witness, written by Aggie Hurst and published just after her death in 1981. It’s an example of how being a faithful witness and doing what God has shown you to do can have tremendous impact, even when it didn’t seem that way at first.

This testimony will be inspiring for anyone who dedicates their time to reaching others with God’s love.

Back in 1921, a missionary couple named David and Svea Flood went with their two-year-old son from Sweden to the heart of Africa—to what was then called the Belgian Congo. They met up with another young Scandinavian couple, the Ericksons, and the four of them sought God for direction. In those days of much devotion and sacrifice, they felt led of the Lord to set out from the main mission station and take the Gospel to a remote area.

This was a huge step of faith. At the village of N’dolera they were rebuffed by the chief, who would not let them enter his town for fear of alienating the local gods. The two couples opted to go half a mile up the slope and build their own mud huts.

They prayed for a spiritual breakthrough, but there was none. Their only contact with the villagers was a young boy, who was allowed to sell them chickens and eggs twice a week. Svea Flood—a tiny woman only four feet, eight inches tall—decided that if this was the only African she could talk to, she would try to lead the boy to Jesus. She succeeded, but there were no other encouragements.

Meanwhile, malaria struck one member of the little band after another. In time, the Ericksons decided they had had enough suffering and left to return to the central mission station. David and Svea Flood remained near N’dolera to carry on alone. Then, of all things, Svea found herself pregnant in the middle of the primitive wilderness.

When the time came for her to give birth, the village chief softened enough to allow a midwife to help her. A little girl was born, whom they named Aina. The delivery, however, was exhausting, and Svea Flood was already weak from bouts of malaria. The birth process was a heavy blow to her stamina. She lived only another 17 days.

Inside David Flood, something snapped in that moment. He dug a crude grave, buried his 27-year-old wife, and then took his children back down the mountain to the mission station.

Giving his newborn daughter to the Ericksons, he snarled, “I’m going back to Sweden. I’ve lost my wife, and I obviously can’t take care of this baby. God has ruined my life.” With that, he headed for the port, rejecting not only his calling, but God Himself.

Within eight months, both the Ericksons were stricken with a mysterious malady and died within days of each other. The baby was then turned over to some American missionaries, who adjusted her Swedish name to “Aggie” and eventually took her back to the United States at age three.

This family loved the little girl, and they were afraid that if they tried to return to Africa, some legal obstacle might separate her from them. So they decided to stay in their home country and switch from missionary work to pastoral ministry. And that is how Aggie grew up in South Dakota. As a young woman, she attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. There she met and married a young man named Dewey Hurst.

Years passed. The Hursts enjoyed a fruitful ministry. Aggie gave birth first to a daughter, then a son. In time, her husband became president of a Christian college in the Seattle area, and Aggie was intrigued to find so much Scandinavian heritage there.

One day a Swedish religious magazine appeared in her mailbox. She had no idea who had sent it, and of course she couldn’t read the words. But as she turned the pages, a photo suddenly stopped her cold. There in a primitive setting was a grave with a white cross—and on the cross were the words SVEA FLOOD. Aggie jumped in her car and drove straight to a college faculty member whom she knew could translate the article. “What does this say?” she demanded.

The instructor summarized the story: It was about missionaries who had come to N’dolera long ago … the birth of a white baby … the death of the young mother … the one little African boy who had been led to Christ … and how, after the whites had all left, the boy had grown up and finally persuaded the chief to let him build a school in the village. The article said that gradually he won all his students to Christ … the children led their parents to Christ … even the chief had become a Christian. Today there were six hundred Christian believers in that one village, all because of the sacrifice of David and Svea Flood.

For the Hursts’ 25th wedding anniversary, the college presented them with the gift of a vacation to Sweden.

There Aggie sought out her real father. David Flood was an old man now. He had remarried, fathered four more children, and generally dissipated his life with alcohol. He had recently suffered a stroke. Still bitter, he had one rule in his family: “Never mention the name of God—because God took everything from me.”

After an emotional reunion with her half-brothers and half-sister, Aggie brought up the subject of seeing her father. The others hesitated. “You can talk to him,” they replied, “even though he’s very ill now. But you need to know that whenever he hears the name of God, he flies into a rage.”

Aggie was not to be deterred. She walked into the squalid apartment, which had liquor bottles everywhere, and approached the 73-year-old man lying in a rumpled bed. “Papa,” she said tentatively. He turned and began to cry. “Aina,” he said. “I never meant to give you away.” “It’s all right, Papa,” she replied, taking him gently in her arms. “God took care of me.” The man instantly stiffened. The tears stopped. “God forgot all of us. Our lives have been like this because of Him.” He turned his face back to the wall.

Aggie stroked his face and then continued, undaunted. “Papa, I’ve got a little story to tell you, and it’s a true one. You didn’t go to Africa in vain. Mama didn’t die in vain. The little boy you won to the Lord grew up to win that whole village to Jesus Christ. The one seed you planted just kept growing and growing. Today there are 600 African people serving the Lord because you were faithful to the call of God in your life. … Papa, Jesus loves you. He has never hated you.”

The old man turned back to look into his daughter’s eyes. His body relaxed. He began to talk. And by the end of the afternoon, he had come back to the God he had resented for so many decades. Over the next few days, father and daughter enjoyed warm moments together. Aggie and her husband soon had to return to America—and within a few weeks, David Flood had passed into eternity.

A few years later, the Hursts were attending a high-level evangelism conference in London, England, when a report was given from the nation of Zaire (the former Belgian Congo). The superintendent of the national church, representing some 110,000 baptized believers, spoke eloquently of the Gospel’s spread in his nation.

Aggie could not help going to ask him afterward if he had ever heard of David and Svea Flood. “Yes, madam,” the man replied in French, his words then being translated into English. “It was Svea Flood who led me to Jesus Christ. I was the boy who brought food to your parents before you were born. In fact, to this day your mother’s grave and her memory are honored by all of us.” He embraced her in a long hug, sobbing. Then he continued, “You must come to Africa to see, because your mother is the most famous person in our history.”

In time, that is exactly what Aggie Hurst and her husband did. They were welcomed by cheering throngs of villagers. She even met the man who had been hired by her father many years before to carry her down the mountain in a hammock-cradle.

The most dramatic moment, of course, was when the pastor escorted Aggie to see her mother’s white cross for herself. She knelt in the soil to pray and give thanks. Later that day, in the church, the pastor read from John 12:24: “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” He then followed with Psalm 126:5: “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.”