NEWSLETTER # 7 (MAY 2008) Greetings My Cross-Eyed Friends! If you are receiving this newsletter for the first time, let me say welcome and thank you for taking the time to read It. You may be wondering why I chose CROSSEYED MINISTRIES to be the name of the ministry that God has called me to. Well, It simply explains what I believe God’s will is for our lives: No matter what happens, keep our eyes on the cross. In other words, as long as we stay focused on Jesus, everything will be alright!   NEWS Wow, there is so much to say this month. God is showing himself to be faithful and true. As I have said in the past, I have moved forward with this ministry with a bit of fear and trembling. It’s not that I don’t trust God. It’s more like I finally realize that I HAVE TO trust Him. What I mean is that I KNOW that I CAN trust Him, but stepping out in faith into this ministry makes me HAVE TO live out that faith. There are so many unsure things that I will face, but Praise God, I know the ONLY sure thing. His name is Jesus! April was a very busy month for our new ministry. God was so awesome! He did far above and beyond what I could have ever imagined. His grace is so sufficient. His power is so evident. His decision to use me in His plan is so crazy to me, but hey, if He thinks it is a good idea, then I gladly jump on board! The month began on the fourth with an opportunity to speak at Park Spring’s Christian Campground for a Men’s Retreat. I was invited to use my Christian comedy as a way to encourage and challenge the men to a closer walk with the Lord. I had a wonderful time with the guys and was amazed at where The Lord took us in the message. The way I plan out my “shows” when I do comedy, is to prayerfully begin with what I believe God wants the “message” of the night to be and then work the humor around that point and head toward it. That usually works out perfectly. God had other plans on this night! He took me into a place of testimony after the comedy that I had not intended to share. I know that He was behind it because of how so many came up to me later and thanked me for sharing the struggle that I shared because they were going through something similar. All I can say is Praise God, He is good! On the Fifteenth, I spoke at Beverly Hills Baptist Church. I was contacted by the interim Pastor to speak during their week of Revival for one night. This church had gone through some tough times over recent years and was in the process of searching for a Pastor. They needed encouragement and wanted to “do something different” during there revival time this year. It was a great opportunity to go from craziness to the cross! I hope I encouraged them half as much as they encouraged me! The seventeenth through the nineteenth took me to Old Lea Bethel in Leasburg, NC for a “Youth Revival.” I had preached a Revival there back in 2005. This of course, would be focused on reaching and ministering to the younger generation that is so often over looked. I praise God for all of the leadership that allowed us to “step out of the box” and do things a little different to reach out to those young people. I know some were uncomfortable with the louder, more contemporary music, but they sacrificed wonderfully. The three nights finished with six young people coming to Christ for salvation and many every night rededicating themselves to Christ control in many areas of their lives. Great job by Old Lea Bethel and especially by God! The twentieth through the Twenty-Third took me to the church that one of my best friends in the whole world Pastors. The church, Beaver Island Baptist in Mayodan, NC. My Friend, Rev. Steve Parker. Steve and his wife, Bea are very special to our family. We were members of Southside Baptist in Suffolk, Va. together. We left to go in the ministry around the same time, which took us to Southeastern Seminary together. However, to me, the coolest thing is that when I got baptized after being saved on March 26, 1995, 7:15pm, Bea and Steve were on the baptismal committee. Steve handed me my towel when I came up from my baptism. We have been great friends ever since! I was invited to Beaver Island to preach their Spring Revival. This was my third Revival at Beaver Island and I am always amazed at just how wonderfully the people there treat me! They are so gracious and loving in spite of my failures. I am always excited knowing that I am going to be preaching in Mayodan, because no one does a better job of “Preparing A Church” for a move of God than Pastor Steve! It has been said that you cannot plan a real Revival, but you can prepare to receive one. Steve is a true blue leader at preparing God’s church for a wonderful move of God. Every time I preach there, I know I am going to see God do great things among His people and He did not let us down! Many were moved by God to remove obstacles and “issues” that kept them from being who God wanted them to be! What a God! On the twenty-sixth, I got a great opportunity to go back home to Suffolk, Va. A group of churches were joining together for a youth outreach called “The Strawberry Jam.” It was a three day, outdoor event that had a number of speakers and A LOT of bands and music. It was great to see many that I hadn’t seen in a while. God, as usual, was gracious and allowed me to share how a personal relationship with Jesus changes how we view everything! It was great to get back home to Suffolk. I really need to get back more! I praise God for such a busy month. It was good to slow the pace down after returning to Caswell CO. God is so good and merciful to me. I cannot thank Him enough! Here is my schedule, so far, for the months of MAY and JUNE: May 2 - The Encouraging Cup, Fletcher, NC May 13 - Relay For Life, Yanceyville, NC May 16 - The Art Gallery At Bear Creek, Saluda, NC May 24 - Lee County Community Outreach, Lee County Fairgrounds, NC June 1-3 - Christian Comedians Association Conference, Anaheim, NC June 6-7 - Hosting Lindsay’s Dance Studio Recital, NC   DEVOTION “Just Cut The Rope” This is the story of a mountain climber who was determined to reach the summit of a high mountain. After years of preparation, he began his adventure. He made his ascent and climbed all day. As daylight faded, he decided to continue climbing. Before long, the night fell heavily and he was overcome by total darkness. The moonlight and starlight were hidden within the clouds giving him zero visibility. Yet, he continued to climb. Climbing blindly, he made great progress and was only a few feet away from the summit when suddenly, he slipped and began to slide down the mountain. Falling at a frightening speed in the darkness, he could not see anything. All he felt was the tug of gravity sucking him down. In those anguish-filled moments, he saw his life pass before his eyes. He thought death was near when suddenly, he felt the tightening of the rope around his waist. Somehow his rope had caught a hold of something. In the pitch darkness of night, he could not see what it was attached to. In desperation, suspended in mid-air, he screamed, "God, please help me!" Then unexpectedly, a deep voice from heaven responded, “What would you have me do?” "Save me!," cried out the cliffhanger. “Do you really believe I can save you?” asked the voice from Heaven. "Of course, my Lord!" assured the fearful mountain climber. “Well then,” said God. “Cut the rope.” There was a moment of silence. Then, the man, doubting God’s instructions, tightened the rope around his waist. Refusing to cut the rope he hung in the freezing dark night. That next morning, the mountain rescue team found the man frozen to death. His hands were wrapped firmly around the rope tied to his waist. To their amazement, he was hanging two feet from the ground! How tight are you holding your ropes? Are you holding onto something other than God? Has God been asking you to step out and trust Him, but you are afraid to? Listen to this wonderful promise from His Word, “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you (Isaiah 41:13).” Don’t let your fear keep you from trusting God today. Place your faith in Christ and trust the almighty God to take care of you through everything!   Verse To Meditate On: “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9   PRAYER REQUEST: 1. Continue to Pray for my family. God has done many miracles in restoring and healing some of the struggles that Satan has brought on us. To God goes all glory and praise. That does not mean that Satan is finished fighting. I am sure that he will turn the heat up again. Continue to pray that we use the spiritual battles to draw us closer as a family and closer to our Lord! 2. Pray for safety and graces as I begin traveling more in this ministry. 3. Pray that God would provide enough opportunities to support my family. 4. Pray that God would either provide us with trustworthy transportation OR do as He did with the children of Israel. He kept their shoes from wearing out during their 40 year trek through the wilderness! He can keep my old car and our struggling van from collapsing if He chooses! 5. Pray for my Health. I need to get more serious and focused on my battle with diabetes. I say battle, but honestly, I have not been fighting too hard. It’s time to start fighting back and get it under control. Well, I guess I have taken enough of your time. Please visit our website and email me sometime. I NEED THE ENCOURAGEMENT!. God Bless you and thank you for spending time with me! Ronnie Wyatt