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
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
20130115
20110723
Fear 0f Flying
Today I will share a great story I was told recently:
There was a religious woman who had to do a lot of traveling for her business. Flying made her very nervous, so she always took her Bible along with her.
One time, she was sitting next to a man. When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and smirk and went back to what he was doing.
After awhile, he turned to her and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there do you?"
The woman replied, "Of course I do. It is the Bible."
He said, "Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?"
She replied, "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that; it is in the Bible."
He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?"
The woman said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask him."
"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then you can ask him," replied the woman.
There was a religious woman who had to do a lot of traveling for her business. Flying made her very nervous, so she always took her Bible along with her.
One time, she was sitting next to a man. When he saw her pull out her Bible, he gave a little chuckle and smirk and went back to what he was doing.
After awhile, he turned to her and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there do you?"
The woman replied, "Of course I do. It is the Bible."
He said, "Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that whale?"
She replied, "Oh, Jonah. Yes, I believe that; it is in the Bible."
He asked, "Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?"
The woman said, "Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask him."
"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then you can ask him," replied the woman.
20090619
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)
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)
20080114
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)
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)
20080110
GRACE
It is a good thing we are not required to buy our way into Heaven. We would not be able to pay the price. No one, even the richest of us, has enough money for that.
In fact the price, though so very high, has already been paid. Our Lord paid that price by His death on the cross. He was the only one who could pay that price. He was the only sinless one, and only one who is sinless could die for the sins of others.
It is also good that we are not required to live perfect lives to enter Heaven. We are not perfect. Neither do we have to perform good deeds. We want to live for Him, but our salvation is by grace rather than works.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (JKV)
In fact the price, though so very high, has already been paid. Our Lord paid that price by His death on the cross. He was the only one who could pay that price. He was the only sinless one, and only one who is sinless could die for the sins of others.
It is also good that we are not required to live perfect lives to enter Heaven. We are not perfect. Neither do we have to perform good deeds. We want to live for Him, but our salvation is by grace rather than works.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (JKV)
20080108
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)
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)
20071216
THE BREAD WINNER
Stanley looked at his watch, remembering his promise to take his teen-age son, Joey, to the rally at church. He looked at the stack of reports on his desk. With a sigh, he picked up the telephone to call Joey at home.
Late that night, when the reports were finished he thought again about the missed rally. His conscience pricked him. A Christian athlete was scheduled to speak, and would have been a great influence on the boy. But business came first.
Suddenly the telephone rang. “Sir,” a deep voice said, “this is Sergeant Brown at the police station.”
“What can I do for you, Sergeant.”
“It’s your boy,” the sergeant said. “We have him here at the station. Can you come right down?”
The Bible clearly teaches the responsibility of a man to his family. This responsibility includes the area of a relationship with God. And time is short.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1 (KJV)
Late that night, when the reports were finished he thought again about the missed rally. His conscience pricked him. A Christian athlete was scheduled to speak, and would have been a great influence on the boy. But business came first.
Suddenly the telephone rang. “Sir,” a deep voice said, “this is Sergeant Brown at the police station.”
“What can I do for you, Sergeant.”
“It’s your boy,” the sergeant said. “We have him here at the station. Can you come right down?”
The Bible clearly teaches the responsibility of a man to his family. This responsibility includes the area of a relationship with God. And time is short.
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1 (KJV)
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