Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: At the Pulpit (11/15/07)
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TITLE: You Deserve the Glory | Previous Challenge Entry
By Tim Pickl
11/17/07 -
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It all started with the faith of a child.
Our little church buildin' is old, an' sadly it needs some major repairs. As I was walkin' with the Lord one Saturday mornin', He gave me a plan. The next day Sunday, I presented it to our congregation, an' they ran with it!
So, for 40 days, those who wanted to an' those who could, fasted. They
sacrificed all kinds-a-ways. Some gave up one meal...others went days without eatin'. The different part of the plan was they went out an' got sponsors. They asked their co-workers an' schoolmates to sponsor whatever they could for 40 days.
It was a wonderful way to witness!
Finally the big "Building Repair Fund Saturday" night service arrived. Everyone was excited to see how the Lord would respond. Expectation an' faith soared like an eagle: You could feel it in the air!
That Saturday we had a visitin' missionary to India -- Bro. Vaman. Like every missionary, he wanted to get back to ministerin' on the field "ASAP".
Before Service started, I was talkin' to some folks near the front row. Then I grabbed my Bible an' a microphone an' stood down in the altar area, in front of the platform. Bro. Vaman was sittin' on a chair off to-the-side behind the pulpit.
As I turned on the microphone to speak, Emily, a little red-headed girl--a tiny thing-- ran toward me. Her daddy tried to stop her. I raised my hand an' said it was okay. She wanted to say somethin' to everyone.
"Can I please give first? Pleeeease?"
Smilin', I knelt down an' hugged her an' said, "Sure, that's okay, Emily."
Clutchin' 40 cents in her freckled little hand, she walked up to Bro. Vaman. "Here, Bro. Vaman, this is for you. I got this money from my friend at school. She doesn't have much, an' I don't either, but this is for you."
It was one of those moments when God smiles an' says, "Change of plans, son."
Excitement turned to joyful tears--like at a weddin'. The people of God lined up an' an' gave their offerin's to Bro. Vaman.
Bro. Vaman stood there with his hands raised toward heaven, weepin' an' thankin' God.
Soon, everyone was standin' down in the altar area, praisin' God. I walked up to the pulpit, an' I opened my Bible to Psalm 80. I fully intended to read the entire psalm as a prayer. The power of God was so overwhelmin'...an' as soon as I put both hands on the pulpit, it happened.
The glory of God filled the sanctuary, like fire.
One-by-one, the people knelt down in the powerful presence of Jesus. Soon, praisin' and weepin' gave way to a holy hush. All was quiet. The only sound was the wind outside an' the "bang-bang" of one of the gutters hittin' the side of the church.
The squeaky back door opened, an' a man an' a woman walked in. Then a few more families, an' they all knelt down in the presence of God. Soon, the buildin' overflowed with people, an' they knelt outside.
The man an' woman stood up. They were all dressed up, as if they were goin' to a formal dance. As they walked forward, I stood too.
"Pastor, may I please speak?"
I handed him the microphone.
"Some of you know me. I'm Dan the Volunteer Dept. Fire Chief, an' this is my wife, Gina. We were drivin' by on our way to a politician fundraisin' dinner when we saw flames shootin' out of the roof. Naturally, I was curious, an' stopped by." People started standin', an' some laughed. "After what I saw an'
felt here, I have somethin' for you."
He tried to hand me a check, an' all I did was shake my head an' pointed him to Bro. Vaman. So he gave it to Bro. Vaman.
It was several thousand dollars.
Dan also promised he would make all the repairs to our buildin'.
I started singin', "For You are great,
You do miracles so great,
There is no one else like You,
There is no one else like You..."
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song “You Deserve the Glory”
1992 Eva-Lena Hellmark
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Laury
It was one of those moments when God smiles an' says, "Change of plans, son."