Jim Lawry.
Jim crossed our door about three years ago now, not by chance as I now know but dy devine guidance, and not by any of my doing.
From that time when I first heard His voice concerning Fay Dineen, I now know that I have heard the Holy Spirit on other occasions. Sometimes He has given like with Fay, short, clear commands, to which I have not always been obedient, I've been very human in other words. And of course it has troubled me after, but we have a Lord to whom we can simply say, "Lord I'm sorry." Other times they have been words of comfort and encouragement.
I got to witness to Jim while he was staying with us some three years ago now. Jim Lawry was also from Victoria, a man about my age, then! (53 going 18.) He had just been through a marriage break up and was looking for an ear, I guess. When I told him that I was a Christian, he said. "Most of the Christians that I know are hypocrites!" to which I replied, "I know and your probably looking at the biggest." And he was! I would not normally respond in this fashion to such a statement, it just seemed to came out automatically, but it opened the door to Jim's ear for five hours over the two days he spent with us. I remember going straight to my Bible and it seemed to fall open at Romans. 7:19 - 25.
Romans. 7.
19. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25. I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
"If great preachers like the Apostle Paul had problems keeping the flesh under control." I continued,"If great guys like him had problems, you can bet the rest of us Christians are going to have a few also." Where we went from there I can not remember, but five hours passed, I remember that much. Jim told my wife, Barb, toward the end of his short stay with us, that he had never been to our part of the coast before, nor had he intended to turn in here, some nineteen miles off the highway. But felt that he had been lead right to our front door. I never lead Jim in the sinners prayer while he was here, the perfect opportunity, and kicked myself after for not doing so, not closing the deal so's to speak.
Some months later we got a phone call from Jim apologising for taking the guest folder from the room, he had somehow packed it by accident and told us he would post it back up. I said "that's ok mate, that happens from time to time." "Tell me have you ever said the sinners prayer?" To which he replied "No." I asked. "Do you want to? To which he responded; 'yes." I lead him in the prayer over the phone, the rest is history. From that point on he was in the Lord's hands. I have written to Jim twice since then to see how he's travelling and have received short notes in reply in which he seems to be a lot better then when he first arrived at our door.
I know beyond any doubt that the God lead Jim to our door and He also knew that I wouldn't close the sale at the time. Jim may have packed that Room Folder by accident as far as he was concerned, but I know the Lord had a big hand in its packing. Our God dose have a way, doesn't He?
Bob Haughey.
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