Living Faith Alliance Church

Riding in Style

Blame Pastor Greg for this one. This blog is entirely his fault…I simply can’t resist the invitation to tell a story. Even one I’ve told before.

For a couple of weeks, Greg has asked us to share how God is blessing others through us and/or how God is blessing us through others. How can any of us be quiet? Sharing our stories multiplies praise to our very generous and deserving Father. And hasn’t He done so very much in our lives?

Several years ago, for a lot of reasons, Kenny and I were in an overwhelming financial mess. We had no idea what to do except cry out to our Father in heaven for help, for direction, for hope. As we struggled through each endless day, it seemed our situation got worse and worse. Even the car we were driving was leased and the lease was up. We would have to rely on Kenny’s vintage pickup to get around.

Now that doesn’t sound like a bad plan at all…except my aging Mama with Alzheimer’s lived with us. She just couldn’t easily get in and out of that vehicle. It was quite a comical adventure hoisting her up and in or carefully lowering her out over the running boards. We petitioned our Father for help. We needed a better way to convey Mama comfortably and safely to her doctor’s appointments and church.

So God impressed on Kenny’s heart to call each of our three children to privately  join us in prayer for a car suitable for Mom Mom’s transport. During the conversation with our oldest son, KJ, he asked how much money we wanted to spend on the car we needed. Without hesitation, Kenny responded, “None.” I think he surprised all three of us with that answer. He had decided to trust God fully. What a step of faith! Me? Not so much. I was shocked, but his bold declaration jump-started my mustard seed sized faith into action.

The very next day, KJ called us back with an incredible story. An associate pastor at a church in North Carolina, he had gone into his office early that morning and was greeted by the church’s elderly secretary. She posed an unbelievable question. “Do you know anybody who needs a car?”

Did he ever!!

This dear lady’s son had a car dealership and kept his mama in reliable used vehicles, upgrading her every few years. He had a newer model ready for her use and told her to find someone who needed her old one, a car literally only driven to church on Sundays (and a few other days) by a little, old lady. It had been well maintained and had very low mileage. She was excited and blessed to give it to us, she said. SHE was blessed??  Isn’t that just so like God?

And it was a Cadillac! Mama was to ride in style with comfortable, heated front seats. It was easily accessible for her too. All because of a very generous Southern lady and her son who were obedient to the prompting of their incredibly generous God who desired to meet the urgent need of this humbled Northern lady and her precious mom.

We had that classic car a long time and were appreciative every single day. Every time we sat in it, we were reminded of the goodness and generosity of our Father. And a mother and son we never met face to face.

We were so very grateful.

Thinking about it all these years later, with a lump in my throat and my eyes misting over, I still am grateful. My heart is filled with thanksgiving and praise to God once more for the blessing of that big, old boat of a car.

And that’s what generosity does. For the giver and the beneficiary.

But most importantly, the Giver of all good gifts, our generous and loving God receives the honor and glory due Him.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

 Matthew 5:48 (The Message)

—Eileen Hill

Dependence: A Measure for Maturity

A few days ago I came across one of my lost journals in my basement by accident. I wasn’t too excited since I knew, based on my journaling habits, it probably contained a bunch of blank pages. I opened it to find only two entries. The second one read:

12/16/15

Purpose of parenthood: Connect child to source of life. Root child in living waters. Jesus is the root. He is the way to the Father. He gives us water that keeps us from thirsting again.  Once a child can draw water from the Father, through Jesus, they are ready to live on their own.

 Is it possible that we too often prioritize independence as the main objective of parenthood? Convicted, I asked myself these questions: Is the independence I encourage in my children rooted in an increasing dependence on God? Am I teaching my children how do things on their own or how to do things with Him?  Am I promoting self or God-dependence?

I shared my conviction with my wife who pointed me to Ezekiel 29 to find an example of the terrible consequences of the independence that comes from self-dependence.  Here the Lord says to Pharoah: 

“I am against you, Pharaoh king of Egypt,

you great monster lying among your streams.

You say, “The Nile belongs to me;

                        I made it for myself.”

But I will put hooks in your jaws
                                   and make the fish of your streams stick to your scales.
I will pull you out from among your streams,
                                    with all the fish sticking to your scales.
 I will leave you in the desert,
                                   you and all the fish of your streams.
You will fall on the open field
                                   and not be gathered or picked up.
I will give you as food
                                     to the beasts of the earth and the birds of the sky.”

 In Pharaoh’s case, his independence would lead to dependencies and bondage. This is also the case with our children. The one who believes he owns the Nile will be hooked like a fish. The one who seeks control will be controlled. The one who seeks ownership will be owned. May we not encourage an independence in our children that will lead to this destruction. Independence is not a guaranteed sign of growth in the right direction.

In contrast, the bible tells us of another king who had an independence that came from His dependence on His Father. In fact, He was so dependent that He did nothing apart from His Father. (John 5:19:20). With His Father He was able to escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. He was truly free. Like Jesus, may our children’s independence in the world be the byproduct of their dependence on God.

 Our kids are watching more than they are listening. Do they see us as self-made? Have we taken ownership for the Nile in our back yard? Do our words and actions model a personal dependence on God? 

May God help up us to be living testimonies of His provision, and may dependence on God, not independence, be the measure by which we gauge maturity in both the young and old.

To God be the Glory,

—Roger Garrison

 

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