Over forty years ago as I was just beginning my Cristian walk, I simply could not get enough spiritual feeding. After I was saved I was hungry to learn God’s Word, but I just didn’t know where or how to begin. I read little two or three page Bible tracks, and other short hand-outs that were lying atop a small table in the church foyer and a few other assorted announcements from the Sunday Service programs. Burt I needed more,…much more. I thirsted for more knowledge and understanding of just what it meant to be a Christian.

Before I was saved, the Bible and it’s contents, made little to no sense to me. Sadly I was unaware that there were several different translations of the Holy Scriptures and I didn’t even know why that was so. Within the pages of Scripture I discovered big words, important words, and phrases (symbolism) and especially the Old English King James Version to be too troublesome for me to grasp and properly interpret. Consequently I bought a huge big KJV Family Bible from a door-to-door foot-sore salesman, promptly put it on the coffee table in our living rom, and proudly let it sit there untouched, for over one year, the reason why,…I did not know. I’d guess that I considered it to be a “boogey-man protective device of sorts. The sad truth of the matter was that I simply just didn’t read God’s Word. The Bible when I first opened it, frightened me. The voluminous Book was intimidating to me, the new believer. The quantity of knowledge that I thought I would be required to read and understand was overwhelming to my own little mind. In short, I knew I was most deficient in Biblical knowledge and understanding, and I knew it would take me forever to learn what I wanted and needed to know. But,—I knew I needed to learn more and grow more in my new Christian life. So I rolled up my sleeves and began as best I could right from where I was, using only those talents and abilities that I presently possessed. I took the only shot I had…whenever and wherever I had one. Getting started is half done!

Well, it should be noted that Jan and I were both saved at the same event at the same time, July 1977 in Spokane, Washington. Consequently we began our Christian walk together at the same time. That turned out to be a great blessing. We were learning together with great wonderment as we stretched ourselves out of our comfort zones and into the fringe of fear.

Our journey began and lasted for 34 years.

Along the way we built a huge global business organization, made thousands of close personal friends, helped and led thousands of other people to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord, Master, and Savior, and enjoyed our family as we traveled the world. Life was indeed a great “Hoot” as well as a Blessing.

And then in early 2007 I discovered my bride writhing in pain on our bedroom floor. An emergency ride to the hospital and immediate exploratory surgery from the ER of the hospital revealed that my bride, Jany, had cancer. Thus began a 4 1/2 year on-going battle with this ugly, brutal, vicious, and deadly adversary.

On September 11, 2011, Jany went home to be with Jesus. The love of my life was no longer alive on this earth. The loss was almost unbearable. Had it not been for our Christian faith, I don’t think I could or would have survived. It was our unwavering belief and trust in Jesus Christ that allowed us to spend those extra few years together here on earth.

During all this time of battle, our personal faith and belief levels grew and continued to rise to higher and higher levels.

The truth is that we individually have no idea what we might say or do that can either directly or indirectly impact and influence other human beings. We don’t have any idea what and how our words and actions motivate other people to move and act in their own power and might. But we don’t have to know that. All we have to do is to continue to walk in faith and keep helping, serving, and loving other people just as Jesus did.

You and I just need to do the sowin’…God will do the growin’.

On February 7, 2009, a special friend, M. J. Gleikman, mailed a beautiful daily devotional book to Jan as a gift to give her comfort and blessing. The devotional was authored by Sarah Young and was entitled “Jesus Calling.” This little book so touched and moved my bride spiritually that she immediately bought many cases of them and began to hand them out to all of her friends and associates no matter where they lived or what they did.

Jany inscribed the article dated February 7, 2009, as follows:

“M.J. Gleichman thought of my situation this day and sent this devotional to me—thus beginning to bless so many!”

It has been said that living is giving and the more you give, the more you shall receive. That is God’s law, not man’s. From that date forward up to and including the day of her funeral she gave hundreds of these devotionals away to other people whether she knew them or not.

What will be the result? Who knows? However, if you sow abundantly, you shall reap abundantly! That is God’s promise.

Three months later, on Jan’s birthday, she gave me a personal copy of this wonderful devotional on her birthday, May 3, 2009. Inscribed on the inside of the first page she wrote:

“Dave, My birthday gift to you!
I love sharing these amazing words of comfort,
Joy, and encouragement with you.
I love you more than words can say!”
                                                 Jany

Hear the words of Sarah Young as Jan opened them on February 7, 2009.

“COME TO ME FOR REST and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.

Remember that I can fit everything into a pattern for good, including the things you wish were different. Start with where you are at this point in time and space accepting that this is where I intend you to be. You will get through today one step, one moment at a time. Your main responsibility is to remain attentive to Me, letting Me guide you through the many choices along your pathway.

This sounds like an easy assignment, but it is not. Your desire to live in My Presence goes against the grain of the “world, the flesh, and the devil.” Much of your weariness results from your constant battle against these opponents. However, you are on the path of my choosing so do not give up! Hope in Me, for you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence.”

Romans 8 : 28 AMP:

(28) “We are assured and know that [God being a partner in
their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a
plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called
according to [His] design and purpose.”

Psalm 42 : 11 NKJV:

(11) “Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.”

Once you are right with God—once you have become a born-again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, your salvation, your eternity will be assured after your physical death here on the earth. Your soul will live forever together with Jesus Christ through out all eternity! Oh the joy!

Fear not the things of this earthly fleshly life in the physical realm…Live joyously and happily forever in the heavens with the Lord Jesus now and forever more.

When you live a life of comfort and joy because you know you have yourself right with God, then true happiness will fill your heart and the hearts of those around you.

How many people have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ because of how you lived your life while you were here on earth?
Jesus is the multiplier. He tells us that if we sow sparingly we shall reap sparingly, But if we sow abundantly, we shall reap abundantly.

Once you know the Lord Jesus Christ you can freely share Him and His Truth with any and all whom you encounter.

While it is known how many seeds are in an apple (because they can be counted), it is not known how many apples are in a seed. Let your mind wonder and then begin to share your precious knowledge with any and all who come into your life! Because once you permit the Lord Jesus to come into your life and help you with your evangelistic efforts there simply is no possible way for a person to know just how many apples can be produced in a single seed!

My bride, Jany, sowed and sowed and sowed the seeds of gospel truth through this little devotional book by Sarah Young. The seeds were still being sown right up to the time of her funeral service. Cases of these books were placed in a corner of the viewing room with an invitation to take one and share what you learn from it.

Thank you precious wife. God bless you—you certainly earned it. I do so love you! Peace to you and your soul. I will surely see you again!

Peace and Love to all of You………………….Poppa Bear