All is well. Could not get into competition. Time to enter had passed. Just as well. God has blessed Paul in a great way. He has four gold medals and will row today. The Lord has given us a great relationship with the people from Sydney, Australia, who are putting on the GAMES in 2012. Paul was the first person to sign up so they gave him a free trip for the GAMES. There were over 1000 in attendance and Paul looked so sharp representing Jesus in his FFC outfit. We praise Him, Praise Him!!!!!!
The Lord gave us great favor at the church service last night. Music was a blessing - quality!! Have to leave now - 6:30 AM. Might do shot put (left handed) and discus (right handed). The joy of the Lord is our strength. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Thanks be to God for all He is doing!
It's early. Will be at the Toughest Firefighter competition all day with Brazilian man. Paul will be competing in Field and Track. Please share these scriptures for the blog.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3 We always thank God, the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints-- 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the LORD and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
Just got back to hotel before monsoon type storm. The rain is beyond words - lightning, thunder, sounds like violent explosions. Doesn't bother my FATHER - comes right from His throne. Spent morning with Israeli team - good relationship. Then went to TFA with Brazilian son/brother. Prayed through an interpreter for strength, etc. He did well. Church tonight @ 6.00. With Paul at track & field for the next two days. Thank the Lord for the open doors He is giving us to share His Word.
We received an invitation to a local Presbyterian church. We confirmed we would be there Wednesday night. It's one block from the hotel. Yesterday morning we ran out of Firefighters For Christ New Testaments. Later in the day the ministry team to the athletes from the church brought us five cases of New Testaments. One page is in English and the opposite page is in Korean. They are going like hot cakes. They also gave us approximately 5000 pens as giveaways. We are making many contacts. A firefighter from Brazil has asked us to be with him at his competition tomorrow. Please pray for Paul Steusel as he competes tomorrow in Field and Track. Thursday Paul will do indoor rowing. Thank you for your faithful prayers.
We prayed with firefighter from England before his competition. He came back to thank us after winning silver. He gave glory to GOD. Invited to church Wednesday night, sport ministry. Teams from Brazil showed up. Led one young guy from Hong Kong to JESUS. He hugged and kissed me. Insisted I be w/him during his competition on the 25th to pray. Said I was a father to him. We have had many personal conversations with firefighters. Eph. 3:20
Just returned from opener. Great!!!! day @ CD table. Out of all Spanish CD's. Large groups from Venezuela, etc. FFs very open & responsive. Shared w/a German lady with a precious little girl. She had lost 4 babies. I told her she had 4 w/JESUS. Important thing was to know HIM personally to make sure she would be w/them again. GOD is at work here.
Gave away many CD's. Met many from previous games. Pray that GOD will continue to spread HIS WORD.