Cyber Truths By E-mail
1. As Long As It Is Called TODAY (March 4, 2005)
[click here for a printable copy]

Dear Friends,
We want to share with you a wonderful testimony about recent events that praise the wonderful kindness of our Father toward us.
But first, please ask yourself: Is there anything you dread that might happen in your walk with Jesus?

One matter in particular gravely concerns Sue and me on our pilgrimage to salvation. Jesus promises that there will come a time when, "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:12,13). May heaven forbid that our love would grow cold as we see the increased wickedness not only in the world, but in those who once walked in fellowship with us in Jesus but, like the apostle Paul's friend Demas, fell away to follow things of the world. This reality both grieves us and causes us to fall upon our Lord Jesus in greater dependency.

How do Paul's' words affect you?

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

Sue and I have been given a message of restoration to share by our Father. But we don't want to run the race only to find ourselves disqualified by our lack of love for others! The thought that this could happen disquiets us.
We've seen so many over the years lose their love. To fill the void, they fill their lives with more religious forms. Others live in cynicism, calling themselves "Christian" but evidencing none of the character of Jesus nor His loving concern for others.

Cold love has most clearly been seen in the lack of viable testimonies by "Christians" to our Lord's faithfulness. We probably hear about 1/100th the amount of testimonies that glorify our Father compared to 25 years ago. So we want to encourage you to fulfill God's command: "But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness" (Hebrews 3:13).

Two weeks ago we wrote about the "Divine Encounter" we had in the mountains with two women. That led to a remarkable evening with them and their husbands. It was so precious to sit and share with couples who are serious about their relationship with God and their desire to bring Him glory! The Spirit's confirmation in their hearts of that which our Lord has given us to share made us all feel as though we'd known each other for years.

This type of fellowship that focuses on testimonies of our Lord's involvement in each other's lives is so wonderful! Yes, Sue and I could go on sharing His message because our Father commanded us to, but these encounters are special blessings for us. Wherever we find people whole-hearted about their relationship with God, we and they rejoice that He has put us together!

The day after we got together with these couples, we headed off to northern New Mexico for cross-country skiing at 10,000 feet. We had 3 days of wonderful skiing with majestic snow-capped mountains all around us. At that altitude you stop a lot to catch your breath. But the stops enable you to really appreciate the grandeur of His handiwork!

Wherever we go we ask our Lord for opportunities to encourage people in the Name of Jesus. On our second day out in the forest we encountered a couple from Ohio. In a matter of moments we were relishing God-praising fellowship with them. Both we and they had come to Christ during service in the Navy. Our lives coincided on so many points. Standing there bathed in the Spirit's presence amid sun-filled forest was so glorious! The man was involved in a prison ministry, and we shared with him the life-changing effect Demolishing Strongholds has been having on so many, especially in prison.

This man had worked among Native Americans in Arizona back in the 50's and was delighted to hear how the Hebraic foundations were helping them now to walk in intimacy and spiritual power in Jesus.

 

On the back of our minivan we have the stenciled letters "www.restorationministries.org". Back at our motel I was sitting in front of our room reading in the sunshine. A couple got in their car and drove off. A minute later they drove back and got out to talk with me. They'd seen the web address earlier on the car and vowed they'd find out more about us! By the time we finished sharing together, they eagerly accepted copies of the books we'd brought with us "just in case".
When we arrived home we felt like Moses with shining faces having come down from the mountain! We don't want the glory of our memories to fade. So we want you all to rejoice with us and praise God for His wonderful kindness.
We also want to encourage you to stay away from the path to "cold love." Only by drawing near to Jesus and endeavoring to represent Him to each person you encounter can keep your love growing and manifesting itself to others. Let's keep on encouraging each other as long as it's called "Today"!

Your family in Christ,
Mike & Sue Dowgiewicz