FOLLOWING GOD'S DIRECTION

Years ago, I found myself without an income. I had labored for eight years as a minister of music and education in a church, only to be judged by some in that church as too old to minister effectively. After all, I was fifty-nine years old!

Because of the attitude of some of the members, I was left with no income. Fortunately, I had housing. My mother's small house in my hometown was available to us, so we made the move, not knowing how God would provide for us.

It seemed to me something like the experience of Abraham, who was instructed by God to "a place where I will show you." And like Abraham, God provided all that we needed. Within two months my wife and I were both gainfully employed, and our grandson, whom we were raising, was happy with new friends.

To add to all this, within two months a local church had called me to be a bi-vocational minister of music—even at my "advanced age." And, this has been one of the most rewarding ministries of my life. In fact, I am at this point still ministering to this great church twenty years later. Age? They say, no problem.

"By faith Abraham obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Hebrews 11:8

Water of Life

The hot, dry weather we often experience in west Texas reminds me of when I lived in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Alamogordo is nestled near a beautiful mountain range but in the edge of a desert. This barren desert is the home of magnificent sunsets, colorful cacti and exotic wild life. Although it is beautiful in its own way, the one dominating factor in this environment is the absence of water.

But go north from Alamogordo, still in the desert, and soon you will be in the little city of Tularosa, where green lawns, colorful shrubs and tall trees are abuandant. The difference: a small river brings water from springs in the nearby mountains. This life-giving water is allowed to spill over to irrigate lush gardens and lawns, creating a veritable desert oasis.

Many of us often find ourselves facing the arid realties of life. Sometimes our spirits just seem to dry up much like a cactus plant in a New Mexico desert. We may feel as dry and parched as this year's hot, dry west Texas wind.

Remember, God offers his gift of thirst quenching spiritual water. Jesus said to the woman at the well, "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14 (KJV)\

FEAR OF THE DARK

As a teenager, I worked for a short time as a dishwasher in a small café. It was summer and I was staying with my sister and her family. My shift ended at ten P.M. Usually my sister would drive me home.

Sometimes she was unable to come for me and I would walk home. The darkness did not bother me. But as I neared her home, I would begin to be afraid. The closer I got, the more apprehension I felt, until I would be literally running to the door.

This fear I felt as a teenager reminds me of how we sometimes feel as we face the struggles of life. There are times when our fears overwhelm us. That’s when we must run to safety—the safety of God’s protection.

It’s good to realize He is with us, always.

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9 (KJV)

WALKING WITH GOD

When I was in college a friend told me that when she walked on campus she always stayed on one side of the sidewalk. She said she did this to leave room for God to walk beside her. She also said, during those walks she often talked to God and felt His presence.

We often hear sermons and devotionals about walking with God. This is an expression picturing our ceaseless relationship with the Lord. Walking with God is much more than attending worship or Bible study each week. It is more than an occasional prayer when we are distressed.

Walking with God may mean different things to different people, but surely it is living in the consciousness of God through prayer, Bible reading, and by simply recognizing His presence moment by moment.

The Bible speaks often of those who walked with God. We can do it, too.

Noah was a just man . . . and Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9 (KJV)

ANSWERED PRAYER

Do we expect God to answer prayer?

I recently heard a preacher advocate keeping a list of things we pray about. His suggestion was to list the prayer need and beside it put the date it was added to the list. Then when a prayer is answered, mark a line through the listing and put the date the prayer was answered.

Maybe doing this would help us realize how often God answers our prayers.

We all have needs of our own, plus needs of friends and relatives. Sometimes we think God is too big or too busy to be concerned with our needs. But the opposite is true: God wants us to come to him with our problems, our concerns.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1 John 5:14 (KJV)

FAITH

When I was young and in seminary, friends told me about running out of money when it was still a week until payday. But they realized they would be all right, because they had enough food to get them by, except for one thing: they needed bread to help their small store of food last until payday.

They said they prayed for an answer. Later one of them found two dollars lying on the floorboard of their car. This was enough to purchase the bread they needed to tide them over until payday. My friend said, "I didn't know whether God would really hear our prayers, but He did!" This was small faith. But God honored their prayers.

And Jesus said unto them . . . if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:20 (KJV)