Humphreys E-vents November 2009

Dear Friends and Family,

“What are you most thankful for?” I was asked this challenging question recently at a gathering. I had to set aside the worries and stresses that filled my mind, and reduce it all down to just one thing. For me, one Bible passage came to mind.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Regardless of what’s going on in our lives, we are thankful. And it’s all because of the HOPE we have in Jesus Christ. This is truly good news!

Here’s what we’ve been up to recently:

TRAVEL:

We did have plans to go to Alberta as a family for the annual GoodSeed Bible Camp staff retreat, but plans changed at the very last moment when we realized that Titus’ passport had just expired and we couldn’t travel across the border. So instead, we drove to MO to spend some time with Joy’s folks as well as her brother and family. We’re thankful for the special time God gave us together.

Celebration:

Our little Andy turned 3 years old on November 12^th! We thank God every day for entrusting him to us. He is such a happy, healthy, little boy—but he’s sure growing up fast!

Ministry:

Writing projects continue to be a priority as I work on the GoodSeed eNewsletter, correspondence, and content for the website each month. If you are interested in reading what I’ve been working on, go to http://www.goodseed.com/about/enews/ to subscribe to the GoodSeed eNewsletter.

We’re thankful that the Lord continues to give opportunities to build relationships with our neighbors, Joe & Kathy (not their real names), who don’t know the Lord yet. It’s awesome to see them asking some really great questions about God, Jesus, and the Bible. Recently, while hanging out at our place on a Sunday evening, Joe made this comment:

“You know, I really want to understand the Bible. I’ve tried reading it, but it’s just so confusing—it just doesn’t make any sense. What I really need is the ‘Cliff notes to the Bible.’ If only there was a book or something that could explain it to me in simple terms… I think that might help.”

It was a perfect opening to give Joe and Kathy The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus. On the way out the door, they both said they couldn’t wait to read it! Sure enough, it only took Joe 1 ½ days to read the whole thing. Now he is studying through the book on his own for the second time. Meanwhile Kathy is also reading through it for herself. Please pray that in the very near future we will see our dear neighbors begin a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Work Trip:

Looking ahead, we have more potential travel plans in the works. The new office building for GoodSeed in Alberta, Canada is under construction. We are prayerfully exploring the possibility of me (Scott) going up to work on completing some of the interior construction that needs to be done sometime in the next few weeks. For more information about this project: http://www.goodseed.com/donate/building-international/.

Thank you so much for your part in our lives and ministry. Drop us a line if you get a chance—we’d love to hear from you!

Grace & Peace,

Scott & Joy Humphreys, Chad, Titus, Andy.

The Gavel of Grace

For years I knew little

Of God’s history and ways
I thought that the Bible
Was a make-believe maze

But when I checked further
Really studied the book
Its message made me glad
I took the time to look

In its many pages
A story was explained
God was Lord Creator
And in control remained

All His laws were broken
By independent man
But God in his wisdom
Designed a loving plan

A Savior He promised
His own Son it would be
Through a substitute death
Sinful man could go free

The Judge of all judges
Could not look at His Son
Law’s gavel descended
Its work had to be done

When justice was complete
The Substitute lay dead
The Father’s only Son
Had paid man’s sins instead

But death was not the end
God gave to Him new life
The Savior ascended
Up away from earth’s strife

In heaven He now lives
At His Father’s right hand
Law’s gavel is finished
On the cross it did land

The Lord patiently waits
For us all to believe
To place our faith in Him
Christ’s work for us receive

The gavel that condemns
God says I’ll never face
Furthermore he’s lifted
The gavel of his grace

The verdict from His bench
Still echoes in my ear
God declared me RIGHTEOUS!
No basis now to fear

The gavel of God’s grace
Has fallen upon me
Reckoning me righteous
Justified-- pure as He!

So now I understand
The biblical worldview
No more a fairy-tale
For me I know it’s true

Refrain:

The gavel has fallen
Fallen twice by God’s grace
It fell first at the Cross
When Christ died in my place

It fell again later
At faith’s moment in time
When Judge of all judges
Made His righteousness mine

Paul W. Humphreys (July 14, 2009)

Fifty Years in a Pew

“You know, I’ve been just sitting here in the same pew for fifty years…” Thelma declared to me.

The elderly woman was clutching an aluminum cane, her big KJV Bible, and a Stranger book as she shuffled to the front of the classroom after participating in the last session of a TERM seminar. Despite her stooped posture, everything about her demeanor was proper; silver hair, a light blue dress, pearls and thick glasses. I noticed, though, from the quiver in her voice and the welling moisture in her eyes that she had more to say.

Thelma continued, “But I want you to know that before this weekend, I had no idea that all those stories in the Old Testament had anything to do with the New Testament. But now, it’s like after all these years the lights have turned on and I’m reading my Bible for the first time again. What Jesus did was so incredible when you know all the history which led up to it…Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I can’t wait to give this book (The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus) to my grandson!”

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."—John 8:12

Praise the Lord that the light of Christ shone brightly into this elderly woman’s understanding in a way that will certainly reflect on others. From what she shared with me, I think it’s safe to say that Thelma’s days of “just sitting in her pew” are over.