Allen Hester Ministries

08/23/2022

Tonight in our Guys' Community Group, we looked at the phrase, "I shall not want" from Psalm 23.
The guys talked for a bit about the idea that material prosperity is not necessarily a sign of God's blessing any more than poverty is a sign of God's curse on a person. We talked about the idea that "I shall not want" has a lot more to do with the fact that we can trust the Shepherd as our caretaker. We can find our contentment in the Shepherd rather than in our circumstances.
At one point in the meeting, one of the boys shared the following:
"It doesn't say that there won't be lions. Lions will still come and try to attack the sheep but the sheep are under the care of the shepherd. He will take care of the sheep because He loves them." (paraphrase)
Do you find yourself frustrated that these lions still exist? I do sometimes.
Do you also find yourself relieved at the thought that the Good Shepherd is truly with you in the midst of these dangers?
"Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home."
I hope this encourages someone the way it did me. I am thankful for the way the Holy Spirit moves through students to remind us of His truth.

05/28/2022

I would appreciate your prayers as I am preparing to speak on the following dates. Please ask God to use me.

Saturday, May 28: Contra Costa Christian School Graduation, Walnut Creek, CA

Sunday, July 10: Light of Grace Korean Church, Martinez, CA

Sunday, July 17: Living Hope Fellowship, Lafayette, CA

Friday-Sunday, September 9-11: Mission Hills, CA

Thank you for your prayers, my friends.

05/03/2022

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
—Romans 12:12

12/04/2021

Hi, everyone. Could I ask a special favor of you? Our school is holding a contest to celebrate our podcast's 100th episode. As a previous guest on the podcast, I am in the running for a $1000 cash prize. In order to move to the next round, I need 100 people to go to my personal page and click share on the podcast post. If any of you are comfortable doing this, I would appreciate it so much. Thanks.

07/29/2021

Help Needed:

Are you a native speaker of English? Would you be willing to volunteer 1 hour per week to help us reach internationals from many different countries? Message me so I can tell you more.

10/30/2020

Hello! How are you doing? It has been a while. Give me an update on your life.

08/09/2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_ufoebg3N4

Found on a website

05/20/2019

Why me, God?

Why this valley?

Why this struggle?

I supposed we have all asked these types of questions from time to time.

Maybe you are asking those kinds of questions even right now.

Remember, God never wastes pain!

During the last week, I have been reminded of this.

I have had opportunities to talk and pray with at least 4 different hurting people. Some of these times of prayer and conversation were filled with emotion and tears. Other were more reflective with quiet contemplation.

Tonight as I walked and prayed, I was reminded of a song that speaks to this very topic. I am grateful for every valley I have walked through. I am thankful for the times of hurt and the times of sorrow. I am thankful because these experiences have enabled me to minister to hurting people this last week from a place of understanding and authenticity. "What in pain I could not see, I now fully believe God prepared me for such a time as this." I want to share these lyrics with you in the hopes that it will help you walk through your current struggle.

"Why did I walk through the valley?
Why was I forced to my knees?
Why did the sun parch and dry me when I walked through the desert of defeat?
Then came the clouds and the rain fell
I thought I'd never make it through the night
God gave me the answer when I prayed with you
He let me see the dark behold the light.

You may be praying for rescue facing temptation and trial
Struggles are endlessly present, but the purpose is somewhere in God's time.
Just keep on walking the good road
Night leads to a stronger wiser day
When you are asked the reason for the path you have trod
You'll know without a doubt and you can say

I can kneel with a brother who is bearing a burden and say I know just what you're going through
I can pray with a sister in the midst of her sorrow and say I know because I've been there too.
I can put my arms around someone who is down and tell them to have faith and confidence.
What in pain I could not see, I now fully believe
God prepared me for such a time as this.

This is an older song but I still love it. Feel free to give it a listen by clicking the link below.

Provided to YouTube by Daywind Records Such A Time As This · LordSong LordSong ℗ 2000 Daywind Records Released on: 2000-01-06 Main Artist: Lordsong Auto-gene...

03/14/2019

Today, I just want to thank God for the ways He is working around me, in me, and through me.

Today, the Holy Spirit really ministered to us during our morning devotions in my first period class. I can't really put all of it into words but I am going to try to share with you one point that resonated in my soul.

We read the passage in Acts 3 where God used Peter to heal the crippled man who sat at the gate called Beautiful. Peter exclaimed that he didn't have silver or gold but what he did have, he gave to the man. "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" That is just what the man did. In fact, he began to leap, shout, walk, run, etc... I suspect we would, too, after that kind of powerful encounter with God.

"The name Jesus means God saves or Savior. To invoke his name is to unleash his person, power, and character into a situation." Let that quote sink deep into your heart and mind. The next time you pray and end it with in Jesus' name, remember the aforementioned statement.

"The word walk used in Acts 3:6 is an imperative, a command. Peter essentially said, "In the name of Jesus Christ, get up and walk, and keep on walking!"

In class, we talked about how many of us are tempted to go back to the old ways even after we have had a powerful encounter with Jesus. Jesus does not heal us for a one time moment to be forgotten. He tells us to keep walking! I encourage you, dear reader, to keep walking. I know you get tired. I know you fall down sometimes. I know that on somedays you wonder how you are going to take another step. I encourage you to keep walking! The Lord isn't finished with you yet. We had great, honest, raw conversation about these matters today with my juniors.

After school, a student in the class approached me and told me that God had spoken to her during the class and that it was just what she needed to hear! It reminds me of a song that I know. "He's an on-time God, yes, He is!"

I am imperfect. I fall down a lot. Sometimes, I think that there are many others who would do this job better. In the midst of it all, I am reminded that it is HE who does the work in me, around me, and through me. I can't claim anything of myself! I think this is exactly the way God intends for it to work.

Let's get up in the power of Jesus' name! Let's walk! Let's keep walking! Before we know it, we might find ourselves leaping and jumping! Don't worry about what others may think of your outward expression of praise! They don't know what you went through to get to be where you are. They don't know how close you came to giving up. Thank God, He made a way and thank God that He is making a way!

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk and keep walking!

01/28/2019

Time to testify. Name a way, you've seen God at work recently.

12/20/2018

I'd like to ask you to pray for the family of my cousin who passed away yesterday. Please pray the the Holy Spirit will provide strength and comfort in a very difficult season.