Good Words from God’s Word
Ken Pethel, Wednesday night before prayer service, gave me a sticky note with good news written on it. God’s good news was that last Sunday 53 people placed their pledge cards on the altar in commitment to give themselves and their offerings for the One Mile for God’s Glory Campaign. All these pledges amounted to $86,078.40. Praise God from whom all blessing flow! In addition to the pledges, $10,577.00 has already been received and deposited in the bank to finance the renovation and construction costs necessary to prepare the new property and space for the relocation of our church.
Some may think that falling short of our $150,000 goal means that we have failed in what God has called us to do. I don’t think that way. More pledges are yet to be given. The numbers will continue to grow. I will not underestimate the power of God or the will of His people. We serve a God of miracles. We have seen miracle after miracle enough to be convinced that He is able to do more than we can imagine. The amount that God supplies will be sufficient to meet the needs we have. Let’s trust God and praise Him for what He has supplied.
The Bible says, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted him” (Mark 11:24).
One of my favorite prayer verses says, “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).
There is more power in prayer than there is in money. What if we increase the level of our praying with $86,000 in our hands rather than a lesser effort in prayer with $150,000 in hand? Which would be more productive? I know the answer. God will answer our prayers as we with united energy tell Him what’s on our hearts about the church He wants us to be.
While crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner, F.B. Meyer was asked to address the first class passengers. At the captain’s request he spoke on “Answered Prayer.”
An agnostic who was present at the service was asked by his friends, “What did you think of Dr. Meyer’s sermon?”
He answered, “I didn’t believe a word of it.”
That afternoon Meyer went to speak to the fourth class passengers. Many of the listeners at his morning address went along, including the agnostic, who claimed he just wanted to hear “what the babbler had to say.”
Before starting for the service, the agnostic put two oranges in his pocket. On his way he passed an elderly woman sitting in her deck chair fast asleep. Her hands were open. In the spirit of fun, the agnostic put the two oranges in her outstretched palms. After the meeting, he saw the old lady happily eating one of the pieces of fruit. “You seem to be enjoying that orange,” he remarked with a smile.
“Yes, sir,” she replied, “My Father is very good to me.”
“Your father? Surely your father can’t be still alive!”
“Praise God,” she replied, “He is very much alive.”
“What do you mean?” pressed the agnostic.
She explained, “I’ll tell you, sir. I have been seasick for days. I was asking God somehow to send me an orange. I suppose I fell asleep while I was praying. When I awoke, I found He had not only sent me one orange but two!”
The agnostic was speechless.
I’d rather be a two orange church through prayer than a sea sick church with a bunch of money.
Ken Pethel, Wednesday night before prayer service, gave me a sticky note with good news written on it. God’s good news was that last Sunday 53 people placed their pledge cards on the altar in commitment to give themselves and their offerings for the One Mile for God’s Glory Campaign. All these pledges amounted to $86,078.40. Praise God from whom all blessing flow! In addition to the pledges, $10,577.00 has already been received and deposited in the bank to finance the renovation and construction costs necessary to prepare the new property and space for the relocation of our church.
Some may think that falling short of our $150,000 goal means that we have failed in what God has called us to do. I don’t think that way. More pledges are yet to be given. The numbers will continue to grow. I will not underestimate the power of God or the will of His people. We serve a God of miracles. We have seen miracle after miracle enough to be convinced that He is able to do more than we can imagine. The amount that God supplies will be sufficient to meet the needs we have. Let’s trust God and praise Him for what He has supplied.
The Bible says, “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted him” (Mark 11:24).
One of my favorite prayer verses says, “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:19).
There is more power in prayer than there is in money. What if we increase the level of our praying with $86,000 in our hands rather than a lesser effort in prayer with $150,000 in hand? Which would be more productive? I know the answer. God will answer our prayers as we with united energy tell Him what’s on our hearts about the church He wants us to be.
While crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner, F.B. Meyer was asked to address the first class passengers. At the captain’s request he spoke on “Answered Prayer.”
An agnostic who was present at the service was asked by his friends, “What did you think of Dr. Meyer’s sermon?”
He answered, “I didn’t believe a word of it.”
That afternoon Meyer went to speak to the fourth class passengers. Many of the listeners at his morning address went along, including the agnostic, who claimed he just wanted to hear “what the babbler had to say.”
Before starting for the service, the agnostic put two oranges in his pocket. On his way he passed an elderly woman sitting in her deck chair fast asleep. Her hands were open. In the spirit of fun, the agnostic put the two oranges in her outstretched palms. After the meeting, he saw the old lady happily eating one of the pieces of fruit. “You seem to be enjoying that orange,” he remarked with a smile.
“Yes, sir,” she replied, “My Father is very good to me.”
“Your father? Surely your father can’t be still alive!”
“Praise God,” she replied, “He is very much alive.”
“What do you mean?” pressed the agnostic.
She explained, “I’ll tell you, sir. I have been seasick for days. I was asking God somehow to send me an orange. I suppose I fell asleep while I was praying. When I awoke, I found He had not only sent me one orange but two!”
The agnostic was speechless.
I’d rather be a two orange church through prayer than a sea sick church with a bunch of money.
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