Hello Ted,

This morning I had a feast in the book of Isaiah.

I was reminded of many wonderful verses of foretelling and promise. However, the following grabbed my attention again due to the times we live in presently:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬ ‭

HOLD ON TO OUR PAST/PRESENT

Sometimes we can try to hold on to our past and/or present and are blinded to something new- we miss out on the “new way through the wilderness and wasteland”...

Translated, God is doing something new in our lives often in the difficult circumstances of life and ”now it springs up do you not perceive it ?“

His ways are not our ways...thank God! 

JOB DIRECTION- to do a NEW THING 

I was looking at different job opportunities while at a major crossroads in my life years ago when I experienced perhaps one of the most important “new thing” encounters with God that I may ever have (explained in bullet form):

• I did not have a burning desire to go back into the convention/ tourism field where I had been for nearly 30 years. I surely enjoyed the 30 years but it was time for a change
• I read in the Bible that Jesus went to a quiet place to pray. So I started going to my own quiet place- a bench along the Silver Comet Trail (a 30+ mile walking, jogging, biking path). The bench was overlooking a meadow and was 6 miles away from people (except for an occasional biker)
• I did 3 things unhurriedly the Bible led me to do:

Please consider the following approach to discover

"a new thing” in your life. You will never regret it!

1.Cast all my care upon the Lord: health, job search and financial challenges

1Peter 5:7

2. Praised Him for everything good that had come our way: family, health, faith in Christ-

I Thessalonians 5:18

3. Humbled myself- Job 40:4-5, 42:1-6

IN CONCLUSION:

My Silver Comet “new thing” experience:

I would conclude each of my 3x per week 1+ hour time alone with God session with

Romans 12:1, ”Present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God...this is your spiritual act of worship”

UNUSUAL JOB RESULT- what an unexpected blessing!

After praying for one year and a few months I walked off the bench one day knowing what I was supposed to do for the rest of my life...

HERE IT IS!!!! A new thing:

Not only continue to add but MULTIPLY THE GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST! (Meaning, continue to personally reach out with the Gospel but also train others to do the same)

EXCITEMENT ABOUNDED but..

I was so excited- I believe 100% it was an answer to prayer!

Also it made total sense because it fit my passion, except for:

MY "ANSWER TO PRAYER" BENEFIT PACKAGE WAS:

• No salary
• No fringe benefits

Just a God given vision!

Shortly after, IRWIN and LARRY, unbeknownst to each other helped me get started with the brand new ministry called Witness Breakthrough (WB). A ministry dedicated to training believers to be compelled by love, not duty to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ... where they live, move and have their being...Acts 17:28 (my life’s verse for the past 50+ years)

POSSIBLY MY LAST TRIP

Instead of the Ritz Carlton hotels and flying first class plus we sold our home of 21 years... our lifestyle totally changed. At one point I was going on a WB ministry trip to meet with 6 different Pastors in New England (coordinated by Norm and Woody) I had $12 in my pocket, a one way (paid for) airline ticket to the New England area, a (paid for) rental car - but no where to stay except a slab at a Christian campground where I could sleep at night in my rental a car for 3 days and wash up in a nearby rest room. Plus, I did not know how I would get back to Atlanta. (Click MORE to read more of this miraculous story.)

PEOPLE I HARDLY KNEW INTERSECTED MY LIFE in New England (Effie and Wayne)- they rescued me from sleeping in my car plus giving me money to get back Atlanta (Drew). I got down to no $ so God could get full credit!

FAST FORWARD 18 years:

Throughout my years of being very active in Christian Business Men’s Committee for 21 years and now WB for 18 years...

By God’s grace I have been blessed to speak, train and preach in more than 225 cities, 44 states and several foreign countries

I have also been blessed to write the following books:

-Golfers of Men 

-Witness Breakthrough

-The Master’s Touch

-If We are the Light, Why is America So dark?

-Stretch

-Stretch 2

-Working on Stretch 3

None of the above would have happened had we not fallen upon hard times- and discovered a NEW THING in our lives!

COVID-

What an unexpected & terrible world wide virus that has negatively impacted so many we know, including loss of life.

A NEW THING DURING THE PANDEMIC:

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is a funny and partially depressing movie to an experienced traveler like me. The title represents much of my life in particular because travel has been an important part, especially in work and ministry. But, because of COVID-19 I no longer travel.

Instead I host Zoom type meetings - which I originally despised because of the time it took for me to get them started. They have now become a God-send!

WB NEW THING-

My NEW WB thing is emphasizing small group WB training meetings via Zoom. I have found them to very rewarding, convenient and cost effective (see WB website for meeting updates)

IF LED, please pray the following prayer guided the Isaiah verses.

Put your name wherever my name is below..

pray these verses in expectation daily..

and look for His answers to prayer..

A NEW THING prayer:

“(Ted) Forget the former things; (Ted) do not dwell on the past. See (Ted), I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; (Ted) do you not perceive it ? (Ted) I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬ ‭

Amen and Amen

Ted Sprague

PS

 I often get asked, "why do people open up to you about their lives?" The answer is simple:

I humble myself with my testimony that includes how He has rescued me from being an atheist to become a believer in Jesus... and I honestly listen to them answer meaningful questions...today I asked 3 men"how do you know you are forgiven?" It was a follow up question...they were sharp men 20, 50 and 70...after about 10 minutes of dialogue...they all 3 insisted I share my thoughts...so I told them my testimony emphasizing forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ... because of experiences like this...Jesus is my obvious bottom line and I authentically care for their souls...and they know it!

A NEW THING! You and a small group sign up for a ZOOM WB CLASS...how simple is that?

ANOTHER COVID BLESSING:

Tudi and I faithfully get together first thing every morning 6 days a week for prayer together on behalf of every immediate family member and friend who needs prayer. She leads the devotional and prayer and I join in...as cool as it gets to start the day right!