Good afternoon folks. This Sunday morning the verse that we will be looking at together is Hebrews 4: 16. I know, I know!! Didn’t we think about that verse last week? We did indeed. But here it is again:
‘Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we might receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’
I missed out one word last week and have been so taken by it that I can’t wait to share it for the glory of God and our blessing too. Can you see what I missed?
- As a 'virtual member' of CBBC I hope it is okay to share a story of God's well timed grace. It is also a testimony of God teaching me this merciful principle. My husband and I, and 2 young children, were completing our missionary training at the WEC college in Holland. We had just returned from a thrilling internship in Senegal, having received confirmation from God that this would be our place of full time service in the coming years. However, we had used up all our savings and were learning to rely on God to provide our last year's fees and living costs. I embarked on what can only be described as a programme of 'nagging' God reminding Him of our needs. Persistence in prayer is great but I was not demonstrating prayer in faith rather prayer of desperation and fear. I will not tell you my strategies designed to persuade God that we needed this considerable amount as I am not proud of them but I will admit to eventually black mailing God by telling Him that if He didn't provide this money, then He wouldn't look good because we had told everyone we knew that He would. God was so gracious to me and He taught me so much during that time including that He had his perfect timing. One Friday afternoon my daughter aged 7 ran into our apartment at 4 o'clock after school shouting, "Mummy, mummy, mummy - I need my swimming things and I need them NOW!!!" I looked at my watch and asked her, "Louise, when is your swimming lesson?" I couldn't find anything in the calendar to say that she needed her swimming kit. "Tuesday!" she said emphatically. In my wisdom I turned and said, "Louise, when you need your swimming stuff, it will be ready in your backpack. I won't forget, so be patient!" I immediately heard God laughing, almost audibly. I gave in, stopped badgering Him and in a few short weeks God had provided the large sum of money we needed without my help, worry or constant reminders. In fact, He has been doing so with the same timely grace every day in our adventure of faith as we still serve Him in WEC today. Moira Stephen (Irene Mackintosh's sister)
- Thanks for sharing Moira Stephen and for your honesty! Lovely to hear how gracious and generous the Lord was and is to you 🙌