Don't Keep The Faith

“Pray for me also, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:19).

My wife and I were checking out of a Florida hotel early one morning. I had prayed that God would use me today to talk to someone about His great love.

Then something both exciting and scary happened. While I was riding the elevator down to the lobby, God began to put a holy desire within me. "I want you to talk to the clerk at the front desk,” said God.

Immediately my flesh began to give me several good reasons why God's plan would not work. After all, the lobby would be packed with customers in a hurry to check out, the man would be busy, and I surely wouldn’t have time to say very much at all.

But as the elevator doors opened onto the lobby area, I had shock and awe!

Not one customer was anywhere in sight. Here stood the lone clerk at the front desk, just waiting for me! Now my spiritual knees were quivering, and I knew I had once more heard from God.

I slowly walked over to this huge, expansive counter, wondering what in the world I would say. I decided to begin our conversation talking about the weather.

But I could already tell I was in trouble as I had begun listening to my fears.

I knew I had to take a bold step of faith, or I would miss this divine appointment.

I began to 'hem and haw’; talking about everything except what God had put in my heart. If you delay long enough, which I did, you will lose the holy moment God made for you. I did. Soon the lobby was crowded with other customers, and I had blown it.

As I was backing my car out of the parking lot, tears were falling down my cheeks. I prayed, “God, please send another faithful servant to talk to this hurting man. And God, please let me NEVER FORGET this moment. If I am weeping, how much more do you weep for your lost children?”

Our greatest joy comes from SHARING the faith, not KEEPING it.

Intentional for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

Retire Rich

"Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together" (John 4:36).

Enter "how to be a millionaire" on Google, and you will get 27,900 opportunities to become a millionaire… most of them bogus. "Get rich quick" schemes abound, and the crooks are almost as many.

There are three problems: 1. A million bucks doesn't go near as far as it used to, 2. We can't take dollar number one with us when we die. 3. We might die today.

Nothing is guaranteed… except the risk.

However, God's word gives us a sure-fire, no-risk formula for "retiring rich".

When we invest our resources, time and talents into helping others find Christ as their Savior, then we will have a "retirement party" of new believers welcoming us into heaven. When we walk through the pearly gates, people of all races, nations and colors will run to us with glad faces. "Thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me find Christ and gain heaven", they will cry.

These are TRUE RICHES… guaranteed not to ever shrink in value. You will have eternal friendships because of your shrewd and strategic investments in souls. Think of it, you and I help determine a person's eternal destiny.

No one will stand in heaven wishing they invested less… I guarantee it!

Living intentionally for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries

Almost Saved

"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ, among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" (II Corinthians 2:15).

Some days I hate computers! They lure me into tediously and thoughtfully entering all my creativity, and then with one missed keystroke, I can erase it ALL!

What happened? I FORGOT TO SAVE MY WORK!

What's the solution, you ask? I must continually SAVE my work every so often, thus limiting my exposure and loss potential.

There are many people in our lives who are IN THE PROCESS OF BEING SAVED. God is often dealing with them. You and I are regularly loving them.

And before long, they WILL be saved!

My attitude and approach can either ERASE much of what others have sowed into their lives, or it can BUILD on what others have sown. I wonder whom God will bring into our path today who is in the process of being saved. You and I can help them get ONE STEP CLOSER to their decision to surrender to God.

Success is not winning someone to Christ, but bringing them one step closer!

Living intentionally for souls,

Tom Elie
Evangelist/President
Oasis World Ministries