The Amazing Way That God Works

There are times that we get discouraged and wonder if it is worth going on. I am not sure if that ever happens to you - but it does to me. You do what you can and it seems that no difference is made at the moment. Or if there is a difference it is small and the really big change you wanted doesn't seem to materialize.

I have an account to share with you today that hopefully encourages your view on things.

Background
In 1974 my wife and I moved to Walkerton, Ontario to begin our ministry as the full time Pastor of the Walkerton Pentecostal Church at 421 Colbourne Street. I wanted to make a difference and change the whole world. I was young and like all young people I believed that could happen during my time in Walkerton.

In 1974 I prayed that God would help our church to make a difference in the community. For the most part the little church on First Avenue had done little to change any world - let alone their world. They were happy meeting each week, singing the songs that they loved, praying prayers and just being a church.

One Sunday in that first year someone came to church to worship with us. The woman came in not knowing anyone in the church. At the end of the service she came forward to pray asking Jesus come into her life. It was wonderful to be a part of this beginning of change for this woman. It was even more wonderful to see the church's reaction to this conversion experience for this lady.

One man commented that he felt that God was doing something in our church. He had been praying about this and could remember that it had been 9 years since anyone had been saved in our church. I questioned him when he said this because he was so specific with a date and year. At which time he produced a newspaper clipping that told of a lady dieing at a railway crossing when her car had been hit by a train. That terrible happening took place on a Tuesday. The man described how this had hit our church. The same woman had come into the church on the Sunday before and come to the altar to give her life to Christ - marvellously saved! Then she was taken from this life and the church two days later. The conversion and death had left a powerful affect on his family - enough so to keep the newspaper clipping for 9 years.

I left that meeting with a thought in mind.... "If that is true God we have a big problem, how are we going to change it?"

I prayed for God to give me three men that would help me to reach out to our community. He gave me Everett, who stuttered badly; Steve, who had a severe nervous problem that often left him running to the bathroom when you most needed him; and John, a big Dutchman that had a serious anger problem. Each of their stories is amazing and unusual. God used all of them to touch someone.

To explain my opening comments I want to tell one story.

The Miracle
John the Dutchman, called me and said that he wanted to be apart of doing something in his community. He felt that we could go together to tell someone about the Lord. A few weeks later I was driving with John down a country road near Paisley, Ontario. He had a family that he thought we should visit. The family consisted of a man and his wife, Len and Shirley. As we approached the farm where they lived John warned me that Len didn't like church people and had a strong dislike for ministers. By the time we arrived at the farm door I was apprehensive about who we would be meeting and what might happen.

Len was very tall standing around six feet five inches. Shirley was very kind and welcomed us into their home. It was a good visit that evening but nothing special happened. When we left Len said that he would like us to come again sometime.

A few weeks later I couldn't get Len and Shirley out of my mind. I had prayed for them and felt that God would do the rest. Maybe they would come to church some day... and maybe... when the time was right I would get back to see them again. After all it was a 25 mile drive to their farm from where we lived in Walkerton.

One particular day I remember clearly that God had nudged me about them. They popped into my mind and I would pray for them. It happened again and again. Then the thought changed - "You need to go visit Len and Shirley." I prayed for them again and again - not knowing when this visit should take place. Later that day, about 4 PM, the thought came - "You need to go now!" It was just before dinner time and it meant that I would miss our meal as a family. I slipped into the car and off I went for Paisley and the farm.

When I arrived at the farm their very large dog was barking at my car. I went to the door and knocked. When Shirley opened the door I asked if I could come in to visit them. She had a puzzled look on her face and told me that Len had just arrived home - but she didn't know if he was still awake or not.

When I came into the kitchen she called out to Len in the next room and them told him that the minister was here for a visit. There was stir in the other room and then Len walked out to the kitchen, and took a chair next to me at the table. He had obviously been drinking. The smell and the sway in his gait was telling the story before me.

Len first statement to me was a question. He looked at me and asked, "If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?" I was startled and answered, "Yes." Then I said half smiling, "Len, I am suppose to be asking you that." Len looked straight at me and asked how I could be so sure that I would go to heaven. In the next little while I shared how this could happen for me and him. Then I asked, "Len, would you like to be sure you would go to heaven? Would you like to ask Jesus to come into your heart now?"

His answer was truthful and to the point. He said, "Yes I would but I am not sure it will help, as you can see I am drunk. I have a problem with alcohol."

I assured him that God would not only save him but also help him with the alcohol problem too. Something inside of me gave an assurance that was very special.

As we prayed together Len cried. At the end of a prayer of inviting Jesus into his heart and asking forgiveness of his sin he broke into tears. He said, "Pastor, I sure hope that I can do this." Right then I prayed that God would set him free from alcohol completely. We cried together.

When I left the farm that night I was thanking God that He had nudged me earlier that day to pray and then to come. The feeling inside at that moment was one of having to trust God with Len that he would leave the alcohol alone and continue to ask God for help. It was Tuesday night.

On Sunday as people were coming into church a very tall man was among the procession filing through the doors. Along with him was a lady. They looked familiar but different. You guessed it - Len and Shirley had come to church. Both were dressed up and were smiling.

Later in the service I invited people to share a testimony of what God had done for them this week. After a few people had spoken, Len stood up. Len and Shirley were sitting in the back row. He told his story.... and there was a special awe that fell over the congregation and people began to praise the Lord.

Len told how he would drive home from work each night returning to the Paisley farm. His habit for many years was to stop at the Tavern on the highway between Walkerton and Paisley for some drinks before coming home. It was his happy hour. Every night he would return home drunk and fall asleep in his chair shortly after getting home each night. He told how I had come last Tuesday night and talked with him about Jesus and how we had prayed together. Then he told the rest of the story that I never knew. He remembered being drunk when we started praying. He remembered me saying the words and asking God to heal him of the abuse of alcohol. Then what he said next was amazing, "When the pastor prayed, I sobered up and the feeling of being drunk was gone. I went to bed sober!"

We all praised the Lord when he said that. Wow, the Lord sobered a drunk in his own kitchen!

Then Len told us some more. He said the next day he was praying and praising God on his way to work. He was different and things had changed. He didn't realize how different things were until Thursday and Friday. On his way home on Thursday night he was driving and praising God. Len happened to look up at the rear view mirror and in the mirror he could see the Tavern growing smaller until it was out of site. This was the Tavern that he always stopped at each night to get drunk before arriving home. He realized that for the second night in a row that he had no desire to drink. Len said, "I am free of alcohol! Jesus set me free when the pastor prayed for me."

We all cried and praised the Lord that Sunday.

Fast Forward to May 10, 2006 - Yesterday.
My cell phone rang and another Pastor introduced himself. He was a minister in Paisley, Ontario and asked if I was a minister that might remember Len D. I said yes, definitely. Then he put Len on the phone to talk with me.

Len told me that Shirley was dieing and likely wouldn't last the night. I was so thankful that he called and told him we would pray for him and Shirley at this time.

Then Len told me how thankful he was that I came that night to his farm - so long ago. His words left me weeping with him on the phone.... He said, "Pastor, I have not had a drink of alcohol since that day to this. Thank you for coming to the farm that day."

That was 32 years ago!

I am humbled and encouraged again - when I think... when there are times that I get discouraged and wonder if it is worth going on.... God says... this is what happened... this is why you do what you do.

Len - and the Lord - reminded me again miracles happen when we pray.

Be encouraged. God has a plan for you today.