THE OPEN DOOR

There is much said in the scriptures about a 'door.' A door is used as a barrier to protect the one who is inside from what is outside. A timeless piece of art is the painting of Jesus standing at the door and knocking--it is a picture of Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock..." In the Song of Solomon, the image is presented of a lover who is standing outside the door with his beloved inside, and he is continually knocking to get her attention so she will open the door to him. Revelation 3:8 is quoting what God has said to the church of Philedelphia: "Behold, I have set before thee an open door." In 2 Corinthians 2:12, Paul is reporting that "...a door was opened unto me of the Lord." These scriptures give me sufficient reason to believe that He orchestrates the opening and closing of the door of opportunity, and especially within Kingdom work. We have been searching for an open door in many areas related to the mission work in Lower Brule since we began working there in June. God has been opening some doors of opportunity, and we are trying to be sensitive to God's timing in these areas. Thank you for praying that we will have wisdom in relation to the work in Lower Brule.

On Saturday, we went to the hospital to visit a lady and her family. She was very close to the crossing, and we heard when we came in to church on Sunday morning, that she slipped to the other side during the night. This lady had been very influential in the church when it was Wesleyan, and her husband told us that she had desired to come to church many times since it was started again, but she was very sickly. We are planning to get to her wake and, hopefully, her funeral.

Esther had a full little van this morning, and she had a lively group of children downstairs. They love to sing, and they sang their hearts out. They were an interested audience. We were happy to have some very small children upstairs with their mother, too.

Willard is a faithful man who has come almost every Sunday since the church has started up again, and he was rejoicing this morning because he has some beautiful new teeth. He has suffered with toothache for months, and he had all of his teeth taken out in one surgery, and his new teeth given to him. Just before he left this morning, he spoke to me and gave me an extra-big smile to show his bright new teeth. :) We appreciate Willard, and we feel that God has something special for him.

We are encouraged, and we are happy to see God working in behalf of the Wesley Sioux Chapel in Lower Brule. Keep praying for us.