Through Toys And Sandwiches

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Catey Stover in Freedom Fighters

“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”  Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

 

As I take pen to paper (well the draft was in pen) I would like to start this Freedom Fighter off by saying there is a bigger reason the FF team appreciates it when you write back to us. Please don’t stop, even if you disagree.

 

I have been blessed with getting to know one of our avid readers, who I’ll simply call “Jack from Brooklyn”. I met Jack at Americas Keswick and I got to share a few conversations with him over meals during a conference week. Since then he’ll share other articles he sees on the interwebs that might strike a chord but I think one the most honoring things he does is to ask me is to keep him in prayer. Every so often he’ll take a leap of faith with me by sharing some of those life moments where God has shown up big time.

 

Most recently he shared where his wife’s younger brother, who is from the Philippines, has to leave his native country and work about 10 ½ months in Saudi Arabia. Now that in itself is a call for prayer because as a Christian, Jack’s brother-in-law has to read his Bible, meet with other Christian Filipinos in secret and pray/worship alone. To use Jack’s own words, “The suffering is something I can’t even imagine, separated from his wife and son in an anti-Christian hellhole and his son doesn’t have his daddy there for him every day.” Jack’s wife recently went to visit the family in the Philippines and he felt compelled to buy his nephew the simplest gift a boy could want. A neat box with a couple of toy cars and some track for the cars to ride on. Oh, before I forget this boy is adopted.

 

During the visit that Jack’s wife and her brother had with each other a photo was taken. It was of Jack’s nephew, with a simple note of thanks and this added comment, “I’ll take care of it.” Given the situation, with Jack being many miles away from this moment, all he could do break down. He so wanted to give that young man a hug and tell him that God will love him more than he’ll ever know. Jack also said this to me, “Chris, even by poorer American standards, they almost have nothing in the Philippines. But they have a lot of blood relatives, the extended family, living nearby, so there is an incredible support system we don’t know about there.” And this is where I choke up myself.

 

I just recently sat down with a family member who I love very much and began the process of reconciliation. We had a simple meal at the local diner (side note here: I got the bacon cheeseburger deluxe. I also love bacon). He wanted to start things fresh and said bringing up yesterday’s nonsense wasn’t worth it. Just like with Jack’s story, I did everything I could not to tear up. I took a leap of faith with Jack from Brooklyn and shared my moment with him. Jack and I praised God at that moment and then Jack said he was in prayer for me and shared that this is what the living significance of Romans 12:2 because God is moving every day.

 

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

 

What our adversary tries to do daily is blind us from seeing the light of the Gospel of Christ. (2 Cor 4:4) He’ll use life’s unfortunate circumstances to say to us, “Where is God now?” He’ll hope that it’s enough to keep us from our Bible, hanging with other saints and meditating on the perfection that is Jesus Christ. This is where the rubber meets the road for a Christian because becoming double-minded is a clear and present danger. Peter warns us in 1 Peter 1:13-14 to prepare our minds for action, don’t be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance. To me, this means to understand that Romans 12:2 is the remedy to a futile mind and a darkened understanding. (See Ephesians 4:17-18) God’s whole mission was to reconcile us to Him. That’s pretty plain English right there.

 

So, as Jack and I marveled on how a mighty God could show His glory through toys and sandwiches my take way was clear. It’s all about Jesus Christ. That’s pretty plain English right there as well. No matter what life is throwing at us God’s glory is in the midst of it if your mindset is set on the perfected work of Christ. A simple toy, a bacon cheeseburger or a Freedom Fighter reader who keeps in touch is what God is capable of using to get us to remember Him. Amen?

 

Written by Chris Hughes: Chris, a graduate of The Colony of Mercy (11-2003) has been married for 25+ years (Kathy), has a married son (Kevin) and a daughter in college (Karen). He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008.

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Think About This: “We are perfectly useless as Christians if all we do is conform to the world around us.” — John Piper

The Daily Bible Reading: Numbers 9-13 | You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: ⁴ Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah ⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the Lord.   -Psalm 4:4-5

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.