His Call
In August of 1999, Paul and I sold and gave away everything but our personal belongings, left our family, home and friends in Ohio, and began our travels. We knew that God was calling us away, and though we had no clue of exactly what we were going to do, we knew that it was time to go.
We each left with a mandate burning in our hearts. For Paul, the Lord had specifically told him on three occasions, "Feed My sheep!". For me, it was a scripture passage from Ezekiel that God had spoken to my heart in 1996,"...And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak My words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house; open thy mouth and eat that I give thee...As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead; fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Moreover He said unto me, son of man, all My words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears...therefore hear the word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me...Ezekiel 2:6-8; 3:9-10, 17(b).
Our first stop was Saginaw, Michigan. The Lord opened doors for Paul to work for a company that builds hospitals. We go to a place, he oversees the building, additions or remodeling of medical facilities, then we are sent to the next location. We have found this to be the vehicle that the Lord uses for us to experience one divine appointment after another, as well as to teach us some life changing lessons.
From our beginnings in Michigan, we have been to many places, gone to numerous churches and met scores of people. And we have found two predominant and constant themes...1) In a land where there are a multitude of churches and people easily espouse "God-talk", the Word of God spoken in Hosea is true, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." (Hosea 4:6), and, 2)...Then said He unto me, son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. He said furthermore unto me, son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from My sanctuary? but turn thee again, and thou shalt see greater abominations. And He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. Then said He unto me, son of man, dig now in the wall; and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door. And He said unto me, go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Ja-az-a-ni-ah the son of Sha-phan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said He unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth. He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do. Then He brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tam-muz. Then He said unto me, hast thou seen this, o son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these. And He brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. Then He said unto me, hast thou seen this, o son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke Me to anger; and, lo, they put the branch to their nose...Ezekiel 8:5-17.
In 1996, a man spoke a scripture over us...Psalm 126:5...They that sow in tears shall reap in joy...we did not understand the full meaning of it at that time, but I wrote the date in my bible.
We have been sent out by God as travelers and missionaries to a churched land...to warn, to feed, to speak, to teach, to plant and to sow...with tears.
Paul and Patti Jensvold
pjensvold@peaglej.com
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