I Cried!

No, I am not ashamed to admit I cry. There was a long time in younger years that I could not cry even when I needed to. Every day I read Psalms 126:5-6 and ask God to now let my "fountain" of tears dry up. Over a year ago I wrote a fairly extensive article on weeping on the JPN web site. I was shocked at the lack of interest in the subject shown by its low number of readers.

Yesterday was one of those weeping days.

I wept as I prayed over friends and various serious prayer requests that have come in recently. Then I went to the post office to check the mail before driving over the mountain. I took out a plain brown envelope. I opened it to find Yen 20,000 (US $220). No letter just a short card from a Japanese lady we have known for many years. Her father was our landlord over 40 years ago when she was just a young girl. Now she is married with three fine children. When we came back to Japan 29 years ago God helped us to move her from the Mormon church into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She became a wonderful Sunday School teacher and Vacation Bible School teacher in our local church in Fukuoka. A few of her nieces came regularly to Sunday School. We only occasionally communicate by email. She had no idea that I needed exactly Yen 20,000 to pay a debt I owned that day! Yes, I wept and thanked God!

Yesterday I heard from some long time friends on Face Book. A couple of those recalled our years in missions and cherished relationships in Christ. Again, I wept and thanked God for friends and fellow pilgrims who stop in the middle of their busy schedules to write a word of encouragement and appreciation for ministry rendered.

Finally, late last night when the JPN Prayer Watch time was finished, I checked my email. I could hardly believe what I read. An email came from the son of a former deacon friend of mine. Just the other day I wrote an article on the JPN web site titled, "Take Out The Trash". Not many read the article since is sounds so strange. In the article I mentioned the deacon (deceased) who was also a very good personal friend back over 25 years ago. I have not heard from the older son for almost 30 years. He wrote me and mentioned he has been visiting the JPN web site for the past few years. He mentioned holding us in high respect and admiration. He went to to say the Holy Spirit told him to send a donation to Peace Prayer Network and to contact us personally. He finished by asking what he could do to "help" us. Wow!

That's right! I cried again. No I am not fishing or looking for compliments. I had prayed for this young man for almost 30 years on a daily basis with no means of contact. I had no idea where he was or how he was doing spiritually. Then to suddenly hear from him and to know we have made a positive impact on his life was miraculous to say the least.

Follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. If He tells you to call someone you love or know, please just go do it right now! If something needs to be forgiven or relationships straightened up, go ahead and take the first step, don't wait on them. Life is too short to waste any more time in pain, anger and separation. You have no idea how important your call or email may be to them. Who knows! You may make them cry and that would be a good thing. One old gospel song contains the lyric that says, He washed my eyes with tears so that I could see. I don't know about you but I see the world with different eyes today because I spent quite some time yesterday with tears in my eyes.

May God bless you richly!

Dan Corbett
"Reaching One Among Millions"

P.S. The young man wrote and said, " I am one of those millions reaching out to you"!