I'M A BIG SUCKER FOR HAPPY ENDINGS!

      Hello again. I'm Arlen Yoder from the Soulwinnersr.us website. Remember—the angels in heaven rejoice when a loved one or friend gives their heart to Jesus.

The title of my short post today is “I’M A BIG SUCKER FOR HAPPY ENDINGS!” I’ve talked before about how I cry at almost any happy ending of a TV show, movie, or play, even if the ‘happy ending’ is in an action or a western movie. I’m not going to shy away from saying it, because it’s how God wired me.
      Last week we went to a Fourth of July/birthday family gathering. I engaged several young family members who were very honest about their disappointment that the “church” was not meeting their needs; therefore, they no longer attend church services, or if they do, it is very sporadic.
      One young family member said he wants to get married and have a family, but there is no venue for him to meet young single women. He said, especially, he has had little luck in the churches he has attended. He, in essence, wants a ‘happy ending’ like the ones you see in Hallmark movies, but doesn’t know how to make it happen. I gave him my example of trying to follow God closely and trusting that God would eventually meet my need for companionship, if that was His will. I don’t think it comforted him when I said I was much older (42) when I met and married Dee. I feebly said that I would pray for him.
      So, the next day, I felt moved by God to pray for these beloved family members and others who are desperate for ‘happy endings’ in their lives. I even went forward in church to ask the pastor and others to pray for them.
      Then I thought of the greatest ‘happy ending’ ever. I thought of the question singer Keith Green asked at a live concert during the “Easter Song”. He asked, 

"Do you know what the greatest healing is?” He then answered his own question “It’s the healing of the sin-sick soul. God wants to heal your depression and your heavy-laden soul right now.”

      In Luke 15:10, Jesus confirmed the greatest ‘happy ending’ that Keith Green was talking about. He said, 

“Rejoice with me, because I have found the silver coin I lost! I tell you, in the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

      When I see my family members get saved one by one, I’m going to unabashedly act like the biggest sucker you ever saw and weep with joy like a baby.
      See you next time.

AND HE WALKS WITH ME, AND HE TALKS WITH ME!

      If you’re watching this video, you just saw my first attempt at an AI video snippet. In the Filmora video editing program, I added a picture created in Microsoft Publisher of a garden with a walkway. I then added to the garden picture another picture of Jesus standing with a man. I then added the lyrics to the first stanza and chorus of the 1912 song “In the Garden,” written by C. Austin Miles. Filmora, amazingly, added movement of Jesus walking with and talking to the man in the garden. Then I added a small portion of the piano accompaniment from Hymnary.org, along with the lyrics. I’m not a big fan of AI videos overall, but this venture encouraged me about the value they might provide in certain circumstances.
      With that said, I’ll say hello again. I'm Arlen Yoder from the Soulwinnersr.us website. Remember—the angels in heaven rejoice when a loved one or friend gives their heart to Jesus.
      The title of my short post today is “AND HE WALKS WITH ME, AND HE TALKS WITH ME!" It’s about when we’re feeling down and misunderstood and need a good friend; then Jesus is right here by our side, offering us His arm on our shoulders, and His wonderful encouragement.

The “In the Garden” song says it all:

First Verse:
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.

Chorus:
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.

      See you next time.