Have you ever watched this show?  I must admit I have only seen bits of it on 2 different occasions  however I watched the ENTIRE episode recently.  The Duggar Family (19 Kids and Counting) traveled to Scotland.  It was so great to see our city and all of the sites, streets and people we see everyday.

Jarrett Family in Edinburgh

We will be traveling soon back to Edinburgh as well however our journey will be a little different than the Duggar Family.  With only 2 kids going back with us, we leave Luke here in the USA attending VSOM School in Youngstown, Ohio.  As Missionaries, we are used to saying “goodbye” and “hello”.

You would think that it becomes easier over time but to be honest, it really doesn’t.  Setting up house again, getting settled into schools, finding a home to live in, etc…are all part of the cost AND joy of being a ‘sent one’ for our Lord.  His words to us in Mark chapter 10 bring comfort to those of us honored to carry this calling: Jesus said, “I can guarantee this truth: Anyone who gave up his home, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, or fields because of me and the Good News will certainly receive a hundred times as much here in this life. They will certainly receive homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields, along with persecutions. But in the world to come they will receive eternal life.”

Thank You for keeping us in your prayers this Holiday Season as we prepare to return to Scotland.  As the Holy Spirit touches your heart, thank you for becoming one of our partners in this work.

Jennine suffered with panic attacks for 10 years which robbed her of sleep most nights. A school teacher, married for 12 years with three kids, she had a wonderful ‘God Encounter at one of the services we held here in the USA as Joanie prayed for her. Thanks again for partnering with us to make a difference in the lives of real, everyday people. Enjoy and be Blessed!

Be inspired as you learn about Scotland and how God has worked through its people over the centuries.

Sometimes God does things you don’t expect. This is one of those times.

We were ministering as guest speakers in a church in Edinburgh, Scotland. At the end of the service, we were praying for people. I noticed in the back a couple watching.

I could tell that God was moving in the man’s heart. I asked if I could pray for him.

As I began to pray, the power of God hit him. His body physically jolted like a bolt of electricity went through him. His whole body shook for about three seconds.

Then I felt a coldness in my heart come over me and I stopped praying. I waited to listen what God was telling me. God told me that he was having trouble with smoking cigarettes and wanted to quit. I looked at him and said, “you want to stop smoking cigarettes, don’t you?”

He said, “I do.”

I had him say a couple of prayers asking for Jesus to set him free of this, which he did.

I prayed for him again. And his body shook again like he was hit with a volt of electricity. Then, he spoke was baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in his heavenly language.

Following that, he asked if I would pray for his wife. She was taking over 70 hydrocodeine tablets a day, which is an incredible amount of amphetamines.

We prayed for her and she rededicated her life to Christ. We broke the power of this addiction that had been troubling her for years.

They are a wonderful couple that were set free by a genuine God encounter. Today, both of them serve in the church by helping in the soup kitchen.

God touched their lives and the impact is lasting.

Two teenagers who did not believe in God’s existence were astounded by a “God thought” concerning the future direction of their lives. So much so, they wanted to receive prayer.

Click here to view the embedded video.

During street church in Edinburgh, Scotland, a group of tough guys (and me) experienced a God encounter together.

Coming off the outdoor stage, I walked over to the six young men and introduced myself.

The leader was very vocal. He said, “you know, I am going to hell.” He went on to say, “there is no literal hell” and tried to go down the road of being an atheist. He was very nervous and worried about his life. As I listened, I suddenly began to understand that these kids were lost and lonely.

I explained to them what the Bible said. I told them “anything can be forgiven. Anything you want to talk to the Lord about, he is available.”

Inspiration from God

Then, I had this inspirational God thought come to me.

I asked them “have you ever felt the love of God in your life? Ever?”

“No” was the answer across the board.

Then I felt the love of God rise up in my heart. I asked one of the boys, “do you want a hug”? He looked uncomfortable with his friends staring back at him, but then said, “alright, yeah.”

So I put my arms around him and held him like I would one of my own boys.

Then, I went to the next boy. “Do you want a hug?” He said, “yes.” So I hugged him. And I went on down the line. Each boy getting a hug. Smiling, like a mom, I put my hand on one kid’s hair, like I would do my own kids and said, “you need a haircut.” With each lonely kid I held, this was not my love. It was God’s love visibly and tangibly pouring out of me.

Finally, I got to the leader. He said,”I’ll have one of em.”

By now, I was crying. Through my tears I told them, “now you can never say you have not felt the love of God.”

A doctor spoke these words to the two people — Steve and Amber — who experienced a real life God Encounter on the street in Edinburgh, Scotland.

As Steven was walking by on crutches, I felt prompted to meet him and ask if I could pray for his leg. He said, “I have had an aneurism in my leg, it is getting better… but yes you can pray for it.”

After praying for healing in Steven’s leg, I continued our conversation “Changing your life is not brain surgery, it is very easy and can happen today. Are you in a place in your life where you want to change? Are you desperate enough? Have you finally realized living my life ‘my way’, is not such a good thing? Are you ready to give your life to Jesus and follow Him?”

He smiled back at me and shook his head yes.

I continued, “OK, here we go, this is what we need to do.”

Believe in God and Jesus His Son. Decide to follow Jesus and make Him Lord of your life. Talk to God

He does the miraculous and saves you.

“I am going to pray right now, my eyes open, right here…are you ready?”

Again smiling he said “Yes let’s do it.”

We then prayed for 2 minutes. “Steven, all your guilt, shame, the bad things you have done to yourself and others, is gone. Jesus has cleansed you, He has written your name in His ‘Book of Life’. My friend, when you die, you now have no more fear…Heaven is now your home.”

A real God Encounter… Providing Life through Spirit Methods is the tag line of our ministry. Not arguing, debating or mental persuasion…Holy Spirit to his spirit changed this man. Smiling and looking up with tears he said in his Scottish brogue – “look what yuv done now, you’ve got me tearin’ up an all…I canny stop the tears”

“look what yuv done now, you’ve got me tearin’ up an all…I canny stop the tears” -Steven

His fiance’ Amber was being talked to by another of our church named Sharon. Amber opened up and also made Jesus Lord of her life.

The Rest of the Story

After Steve regained his composure, only then did he tell me the rest of the story: “The surgeon (doctor) spoke to the both of us and said ‘You both are at a crossroads in your life, if the two of yay’s don’t makes a change, you both will be dead in a few months…this may be the last time I see the two of yay’s’.”

Steve then began to recount to me an incredible story of pain and misery that would break your heart. Following his story, His fiance’ spoke up looking at him and said “didn’t I just tell you, we need to change our lives? Didn’t I? I have been telling him for the last 2 days, we need to change our lives, especially for our 16 month old baby girl. We then came into the city for a meal today and heard yay’s here on the street…”

Friends, it wasn’t until after these 2 made decisions for Jesus did we get all these facts.

Obeying and Trusting that small inner voice that speaks to you and to me was made so real to me, it was what created a real God Encounter!
As Christ followers we truly know how much we need Him. However, have you thought about this wonderful truth: Jesus NEEDS me!

You and I are the only expression He has to another human being. This job has been entrusted to us, not to angels.

How humbling, how satisfying to experience the love of God flowing out of you to someone in need. Be Jesus today to that SOMEONE you know who needs a touch. Trust your heart, be bold and step out.

You may be the God Encounter someone needs.