Dear friends:

Our 9-year-old TV died the other day and Sony does not produce replacement parts for it.  Grrrrrrr.  So we went shopping yesterday for a new TV.

We were at Best Buy speaking with the manager near the front of the store.  He was a 35-ish black fellow.  Suddenly, to my shock, he clutched his heart and bent over, in obvious pain and distress.  I thought we might lose him, but God had another idea.  I asked him what was the matter.  He said it was his heart.  He said he has a heart problem.  I felt the compassion of Jesus for the fellow rise up in me and that God wanted to heal him.  I asked, "Would you like for Jesus to heal you?"  He did not hesitate to say yes.  So right there in the front of the store, Yolly and I boldly laid our hands on his shoulder and quoting Mark 16:18, "(Those who believe) shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."  We prayed and pronounced him healed.  We take Jesus at His word.  I have no doubt that his healing came or is soon on the way.  He was very appreciative and happy.  His distress turned to joy.  I left him with this word, "God is the strength of my heart" (Psalm 73:26).  With a big smile, he said he would remember it and look it up.

Chalk it up -- one life changed by the name of Jesus!

From there, we went to a furniture store to find a console on which to sit the new flat screen TV.  The salesman was a middle-aged man.  While Yolly was looking around the store, I talked with the salesman.  We were talking about age and  health.  He told me I looked about age 63.  When I told him I was actually 80, he was shocked.  I merely pointed skyward and said, "It is Jesus.  I give Him all the credit."  When I said that, he looked funny and exclaimed, "As God is my witness, I feel the presence of the Spirit here right now!"  We talked about the Lord.  He was a believer but I believe this experience jump-started his faith.  Come to find out everyone in his family had died young due to heart problems, and he had been very concerned about himself.  I sensed it was a source of fear.  I ministered to him and gave him a Scripture from the Lord, "I shall not die but live and declare the works of the Lord" (Psalm 118-17).  He was very touched and edified, and I believe his life was changed, with fear driven out by the Word of God.

Chalk another one up -- another life changed by the name of Jesus!

So in one afternoon, God used us to bless and change two lives!  No doubt, God was in both those unlikely encounters.

Reflecting on all this later, I was reminded that Jesus likes for His name to be invoked and spoken in public.  Most of the world uses His name as a curse word.  Even most Christians will not mention it in public, a grave mistake.  This is because they either give in to fear as to what people might say (making the devil happy), or they have sin in their lives and are ashamed to use it.

But when His powerful name is mentioned, He shows up and manifests Himself in situations, as He did with us yesterday.  It is a way to see Him do miracles.  Praise His name!

Don't hesitate to mention the name of the Savior, your dear friend, in public.  Jesus said that if you confess Him before men, He will confess you before the Father.  I can almost hear Him yesterday say, "Hey, Father.  Look at old Bramlett down there.  He mentioned my name in that TV store, and confessed my Word.  Actually, I sent him there, and he was obedient.  I am for sure healing that fellow."

Jim