Thank You, Jean Daves

The sun was setting and the lights of Hot Springs, Arkansas were starting to glimmer against the surrounding mountains. It was Friday night, and people hurried from work to begin the wonderful weekend! Everywhere you looked you could practically read the minds of those you passed: "TGIF!" The restaurants were filling up and the Oaklawn horse racing parking lot was nearly full. (Oh! How my Dad hated the traffic caused by people out gambling!)
My family also enjoyed a Friday night tradition: eating fish at Kilby's Restaurant! MMMM-Good! My Mom, Dad, brother and sister had enjoyed this tradition of good food and a relaxing evening out for some time.(I had not yet arrived on the scene) It was getting a little uncomfortable though, since the new waitress came. When my Dad worked for the Hot Springs School District as pupil personnel director, Jean Daves was a volunteer that worked with him for a while. She was a very nice lady, and my Dad was a people person, so she always greeted our family warmly when they showed up to eat some fish on Friday night!
The owners of the Restaurant were members of Grand Avenue Baptist Church and sweet Christians. It just so happens that Jean Daves was a member there too.
She began inviting my Dad to church. "Ron, I want you to come to my church. We have a new pastor and you'd just love him!" She would say as she seated them. "His name is Glenn Riggs, and he's so nice. I hope you'll come visit soon." She'd say again when she brought the food. My Dad would smile and say "Oh really. Well, yes, we'll have to do that." And then proceed to dig in and forget all about it.
This continued for weeks. Every Friday, the Courtney family would eat fish; every Friday, Jean Daves was the waitress - or server! - and would invite them to church. "Ron, now I really want you to come visit. You said you would."
Finally, my Mother became embarrassed to eat there and continue to put this zealous woman off for another week, because they really hadn't seriously meant to visit her church or her pastor. "Ron," Mom said one night as they headed out the door for fish, "You know Jean is going to invite us to church again tonight...we need to either stop eating there, or go visit her church!" Well, a decision was made. I don't know whether my Dad had a strong desire for spiritual matters, or if he simply loved food that much, or maybe both. But whatever the reason, they decided to attend Jean Daves' church...and it changed our lives. I'm including myself there, because, while I was not yet born or even considered, it affected my life.
They went to church there that week. They'd never heard anything like it. In the other churches they attended, it seemed as though the preacher was talking over them, instead of to them, and they had never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel. My brother, Kevin, who was nine I believe, leaned over to Mom and whispered "Mom! I understand what he's saying!"
My parents left. They did not get saved that night, but they had kept their promise to Jean Daves!
Later that week, they received a visit from the Pastor, Glenn Riggs, and the associate Pastor, Glenn Lewis. Seated at the brown kitchen table at 110 Sunset Bay Drive in Hot Springs, Arkansas, my parents accepted the gift of Jesus into their lives, and we've never been the same. My parents could never seem to get over what Jesus had done for them. They weren't part of the "party" lifestyle, they weren't drunks or hooked on drugs, yet they knew they were unworthy of Jesus - as we all are. They have given their lives to knowing Him and serving Him. My parents have worked on buses, in Sunday School, and have gone soul winning, sharing the Good News with others that Jean Daves helped to share with them! In fact, my Dad was out knocking doors his last night on this Earth! What a faithful Father I had! My mother has not quit serving since Dad's home-going - as many women would. She keeps going! What a faithful lady she is!
I've been given a wonderful life - a life in Christ - and I owe it to a lady that I've never even met. I owe it to a lady who loved the Lord enough to not only invite others to church, but to be persistent at it!
Thank you, Jean Daves, for being a living witness for the Lord. You were the instrument used to change my life, and the lives of my family, for eternity.

Rahab Gives Me Hope

Rahab is not a pristine Bible heroine like Ruth, Mary or Esther. She was a woman of ill-repute, a harlot. She was not even a Jew. But I like her! Maybe because I can relate to her. No, I was never a harlot, but my sin condemned me to an eternity in Hell nonetheless. It didn't matter to God that my sin was rebellion, instead of fornication. All sin is wicked, and unless we accept God's free gift of salvation, we will all pay for our sins - no matter what they are - in a place called Hell. Because of this, I can relate to Rahab. Here are some things I like about Rahab.
1. Rahab was a sinner. She had a bad reputation. In Joshua chapter 2 we see that Joshua has sent two spies into Jericho. They go into the house of Rahab for safety. In verse 2-3 the spies are spotted coming into the city, and immediately the king sends his men to Rahab's house. Of course, I believe the king knew of Rahab's reputation, and figured that she perhaps enticed these men to her home. Rahab did invite them in, but not for the reasons the king had assumed. How often do we misjudge someone because of their past? "Well, you know how she is!" We say to one another. Maybe she's changed!! Maybe we should give folks the benefit of a doubt. I try not to assume anything bad about anyone. Even if I want to, I try not to! The king did it, and he misjudged Rahab.
2. Rahab had heard of the God of Israel, and she feared him. When I first heard of the power and greatness of God, I feared him too.
Joshua 2:9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
3. Rahab asked to be spared, but she didn't just ask for herself. She begged for the lives of her entire family. When I got saved, I wanted to tell everyone, so they could accept this wonderful gift too. I want my friends, family, and even total strangers to know that through Jesus, they can be spared! They don't have to go to Hell. Rahab wants her Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, everybody - to be spared.
Joshua 2:13-14 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
4. Rahab is a beautiful picture of the Cross.
The spies tell her that they will protect her, she is to only hang a scarlet rope out of her window, and her home will be spared. This rope is a picture of the blood. When I got saved from sin, Jesus moved in. He placed His blood over my sin, and now, when God looks at me, He sees the blood. He doesn't see my sin anymore. Now, that doesn't mean that I don't sin anymore, oh no. I wish I didn't, but when I do sin, the blood is there to cover it up. What a blessing!
That scarlet rope is the spies way of escape. The blood is my way of escape, I have escaped Hell through Jesus blood! Hallelujah!

The thing I like best about Rahab is the end of her story. The spies kept their word. They spared Rahab's entire family. But it gets better. Rahab accepts the God of Israel has her God, she gives God her life, and she becomes part of the lineage of King David! Matt. 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
Now that's a happy ending! Jesse was the father of David, and David was in the lineage of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus allowed a no- good, rotten harlot to be in his blood line. I find that amazing. It gives me hope. I'm no-good. I pretty rotten. But, maybe God can use me, too.
You see, God doesn't care how smart you are. He doesn't care how many "big name" people you know, or the size of your bank account. He doesn't care if you can sing, or play an instrument. He cares about one thing: your heart. Do you fear Him? Have you received Him as your Savior? Will you give your life to Him, to use as He will? He can do great things, just look at Rahab!