When God Shows Up

Many years ago a group of Christian men came to this community to establish a mission outreach church in a community where a church house had been closed years earlier.  They purchased the facility and had a wonderful response from the people surrounding the rural church house.  Sometime later, an overseer from another part of the state required all those members to conform to the rules and regulations of the other part of the state and there was a mass exit from the local people to other churches. This is when Rose and I moved to this community to help with Sunday School and Vacation Bible School where we had up to 65 children come and participate. In spite of great effort and care for the people, there were internal problems in the church and it seemed like our labor seemed to have been in vain.  The day came when we closed the door to that church house, and wondered if we had misunderstood God’s call to come here.   Just as we were at one of our lowest ebb in our search for God to give us direction, a door opened for us to work with another couple in hosting suppers and having a time of fellowship afterwards.   These people came from differing church backgrounds and some with no church affiliation at all. Through these times we had numerous people come to faith in Jesus Christ.   Later those who had no home base wanted us to begin a Sunday morning gathering that would have the same warmth and closeness they experienced in the suppers.  Bob and Sherry Campbell led out with that new adventure, and today we are experiencing the wonderful blessing of a church family that reflects everything we had asked God to do for us and more.

For the eyes of Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him….   (2 Chronicles 16:9)

When God gives us a vision, we can assume from his working with other men and women in the Bible that there will be the death of that vision before that vision is fulfilled. Moses, Joseph, King David, Daniel, and Jesus himself were examples of how God showed up just when it seemed like the end had come.

Robert Strand said the Dallas Theological Seminary was at the very point of bankruptcy. Creditors had filed suit against them.On the morning of their foreclosure, the faculty and board gathered in the president's office with Dr. Chafer for prayer that God would somehow provide a financial miracle.  They formed a circle and each man prayed in turn.

When it came Dr. Henry Ironside's turn to pray, he prayed: " Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are Thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money."  While they were in the prayer meeting, a tall Texas Cowboy walked into the business office and said to the receptionist, " I just sold two train car loads of cattle in Fort Worth. I've been trying to make a business deal go through and it won't work and I feel like God wants me to give the money to the seminary and I don't know if you need it or not, but here's the check!"

The secretary reached for the check, and knowing the critical nature of the moment, immediately headed for the prayer meeting. She timidly knocked, not wanting to disturb the prayers, but eager to get their attention. She kept on tapping till Dr. Chafer, came to the door. He took the check, looked at the name and recognized it as the cattleman from Forth Worth.  He turned around and interrupted the prayer meeting. Turning to Dr. Harry Ironside, he almost shouted, " Harry, God sold the Cattle!!"

Just when it seems that the curtains are closing on a project or dream God shows up and once again the miracle continues!  Let’s not underestimate what God can do with an impossible circumstance. That is His specialty. That is when He usually shows up!

Selah….

Al Yoder

1/22/201