Morning Moments

Many years ago, my wife and I were expecting out first child. We were only married 3 months when she became pregnant. I was a student pastor grossing $50 a week and had to drive about 40 minutes to and from the church several times a week. I remember having my tax return done and the guy said: "you have more deductions than you have income." Were we poor? Not on your life for we served the KING.

One day we were expecting a pastor friend from home to visit us for a few days. We honestly did not enough food for the occasion. Our rent on that big old country house was $55 a month and the lady we rented from paid the utilities. I was in school on the GI Bill of $140 a month, and the school was another half hour away in the other direction. BUT, we were right in the middle of the perfect will of God, and happy as a lark. My pastor friend drove up and would you believe it; his trunk was filled with food from my home church.

One night in the '70s, I had returned home from a meeting with a near empty tank. We were back in school by faith, but right in the middle of God's perfect will. We lived in Tampa and I went to school in Clearwater, about an hour away. The gas shortage was at its height and I could not find a station with gas. As I passed one, I noticed a tanker filling the big tanks. I pulled in and asked the driver where I might get gasoline at that hour. He said, "Man, you will have a hard time tonight, but I "happen" to have a couple of gas cans and I will fill you up - for nothing.

I had just bought a diesel Volkswagen Jetta. My wife and I were in formal attire and on our way to a graduation party for some church kids. Guess what? We ran out of fuel, and parked on the side of the road when a guy in a big pick up truck pulledup and asked if he could help us. I said, "I'm out of gas." He said, "Hop in and I will take you to a station." We has just pulled away when I told him about my diesel Jetta. He responded with, "Oh, I thought you said gasoline; I have a tank full of diesel in the back." So, he filled my tank and would take nothing in return.

One more story for now. I had a doctor's appointment in Atlanta and we lived about 30 miles north of Tallahassee. I had bought an old Mercedes from a friend for $3000. On the bypass around Macon, the car just stopped running. I am mechanically challenged so I said to my wife, "We will walk to the next exit." I no longer spoke the words than an old hippie van pulled up. "Can I hep ya?" the guy asked. My wife whispered, "Honey, be careful." I said 'sure man, I appreciate it. I'm a preacher who knows nothing about mechanics and any help would be appreciated." Long story short, the guy said he would take us to the doctor's office, and pick us up on his return trip home. Oh, by the way, he "happened" to know a mercedes mechanic in Macon. So we drove to the next exit (prior to cell phones) in his nasty van. He made a call to "someone" who told him he would fix it, but I would have to leave a credit card on the front wheel for payment. DUH! How dumb could I be? Just dumb enough to trust God with all my heart! I left the card, made it to my appointment, had lunch in Atlanta, and was picked up at the precise time I was told I would be. The guy, by the way, had just recently come to know Jesus!" Imagine that! He took us to the garage where my car was repaired, and there was a receipt for $70 for the repair, along with my credit card.

NOW, what is the point of all this? That is how I have lived my Christian life all these years with a few stupid side steps that this old boy took on his own and for which I have faced the consequences. I don't give a rip about the acquisition of or the accumulation of money. I will give all I can for as long as I can and trust God to take care of me. That may not be smart to some but it pleases my Father who has NEVER disappointed me nor let me down. All my life folks have thought I was rich, even when I did not have a dime. BUT I AM RICH, and my wealth does not depend on the stock market, my wise investments, my financial abilities, but ONLY on my absolute dependence on my Father in Heaven and His Son who lives inside me. Remember, "He who was rich, became poor for our sakes, that we may become rich toward God."

That's my story and I'm stickin to it! My dear friends, clamor not for this works goods; "consider the lilies of the field...Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of these. If God so clothed the lilies of the field...will He not YOU?"
I realize that many (even Christians) have lost much in this economic crisis, and are subject to lose more, but I am not being flippant about it when I say that this may be the only way for God to get our attention. TRUST HIM!

PRAYER: Father, you resist the proud and give grace to the humble, so I confess to you and my brethren all the pride that I have possessed and throw my soul humbly before your throne for myself and the body of Christ everywhere; that we may see our great inability to "fix" the mess of our country gives you the glorious opportunity to be the able God you are through us in the time of need. Thank YOU!