Walking With Andy

My husband and I have been on the road since Aug., 2010, spreading the gospel predominately in North and South Carolina, as well as several other states. We started out by being obedient to what God asked of us, which was giving up our house and all it’s furnishings. When our car died a few months  later, things changed dramatically. Our journey got harder, but we didn’t stop-we went wherever God would have us go, and He always provided for the journey. He called us to individuals where we would stay for a short period of time, do whatever work He had brought us there to do, then move us along to the next community or town.

In the last two years, we have been to 32  churches (so far), in 5 states, and stayed in some rather uncomfortable places. Some physically uncomfortable; others spiritually so. Sometimes our peace was not welcome, and we would move on as God directed. Earlier this year, he led us to camp, to have a 'rest', in a local national forest, where we are still staying right now. For the first time in a long time, we have peace and prayer time with the Lord. We rest from our labor without the stress of being under a stranger’s roof. It is wonderful! It gives us a glimpse of what Adam must have experienced while he resided in the garden.

The Lord has put some wonderful people in our life that understand what we’re doing. Not everyone is called to minister to people on the 'street level', but that is where He has us right now, and we have planted a lot of seed, watered some that others have planted, and even got to see some harvest. There are others that call themselves Christian that try to take advantage of us because of what they consider our ‘lack.’ Those are the people that are in our prayers, because they think they are doing the right thing, but it almost always ends up being some sort of selfish motive that has caused them to act, not in their desire to see the kingdom of God grow.

When a person has been on the front line, fighting powers and principalities continually, meeting perfect strangers and taking up residence with them, it can create a loss of identity. In the forest, with no stress, no deadlines, no undisciplined children, no disobedient Christians who think they are perfect, it’s just us and God. We can walk and talk with Him, and are guided by Him without any outside worldly influences. Just like the old song says, we are walking with Andy:

In The Garden

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Words: Charles Austin Miles (1912)