and to day, and for ever.
Hebrews 13:8
Take this whole world, but give me Jesus.
Take this whole world, but give me Jesus,
I won't turn back, I won't turn back!
- "Well, I don't have any experience at that."
- I don't have the right clothes."
- "There are plenty already out there doing the same thing."
- "What do I have to offer?"
- "I can't do it as well as ________________."
- "I don't have the financing/equipment to get started."
I was standing at the edge of a field that had been cleared, but still needed to be plowed. At one corner of that field, lay a rusty old plow, and I mean rusty and old, not a modern power-steering, AM/FM air-conditioned tractor. I turned and began to walk away when I heard, "Take hold of the plow, Pat." I hesitated, then continued to walk away. Again the voice said, "Take hold of the plow, Pat." I argued, "Something's got to pull the plow!" The voice said, "I'VE got the team. You take hold of the plow!"
Over a decade, each time I had the funds to purchase a computer system, something I had wanted for years, they had to be used for something else. When I returned to the Lord, it wasn't long before He not only restored my desire to write, but gave (yes, I said "gave") me an entire system. Where my husband worked, someone moved out and left behind a nice computer desk and a 4-drawer metal file cabinet. They no longer wanted it--I got it. Then the place where I worked needed some transcription done. I had a transcriber that hadn't been used in years. Instead of them paying me for the work, I asked if what I earned could be applied to the computer system they were letting me use, and it was. Not a penny changed hands.
I began learning how to put together a Christian newsletter and needed to get a printer. There wasn't any money to spare--my husband had lost his job. Within a week of him getting another, I was going through an old box and found a plastic container of my mother's. Inside, were some old coins. One of them was a large heavy coin, bright gold color. I just knew it had to be a fake (which shows you how much I know!)
Now please understand one thing: Mama died 'way back in 1985--there have many times we've been hungry, many times we could have used what that coin was worth, but you see, God had a plan. We took the coin to an honest man, who showed us the value of it and paid us that value. I paid the tithes on it and got not only a printer out of it, but also supplies, an "office" chair and a new bed for our daughter!
This was true, too, when our son asked me to help him get an application for Teen Challenge back in 1997. He filled it out, sent it back, and I gave it to a man to turn in for me. Days turned into weeks and we didn't hear anything from it. I made a number of calls to this man, who assured me he had turned the application in. One day I decided to call Teen Challenge, myself. Nobody had any record of such an application in that office. I took them the original of his application. The very next morning, the Intake Director called to tell me there was a bed waiting for him--come down and finish the enrollment procedure. Hallelujah! Glory to God!
Things seemed to get bogged down, despite all the cards and letters and faxes I was sending, the phone calls I was making. We put a huge sign in the back window of our car asking everyone who saw it to please pray for our son. I printed business cards that asked for people to pray and not only handed them out everywhere we went, but included them in all our correspondence, including bill payments.
Our pastors encouraged us, not only at church, but by calling every day to see how things were progressing. Our Senior Pastor got personally involved and began making phone calls. Within a few weeks, all obstacles had been passed, Praise the Lord! and our boy was in Teen Challenge. He went on to graduate and today is living for the Lord Jesus Christ.
We felt led of the Lord to attempt to create this web site as a source of encouragement for those who might be traveling some of the roads we have. But oh my! what a mess we made within ourselves. The software was not working properly, and I had a very limited knowledge about the internet and especially, creating web pages. It looked awful--I became frustrated and discouraged.
One Sunday afternoon after church, I was sitting here, surfing Christian sites and came up on one that got my immediate attention: Wow, what a site! It was lovely and peaceful and as I read the owner's testimony, I just HAD to write to her and tell her how much it had blessed me.
The next day, as I came in to work on the website, I checked my e-mail and there was a note back from this lady. She included the sentence, "If there is ever anything I can do to help you, please let me know." She was faithful to do that, too--and has become one of the dearest friends a person could ever have on this earth. Through her, we met other Christian brothers and sisters; she encouraged us as we began to learn more about maintaining this ministry and she continues to do so today.
I have always loved to write--not that I have any illusions of grandeur. But if what I can share will allow someone else to know they are not alone in what they are going through, I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for it. And I want them to know, He is the Way through any trial they may be enduring. HE is THE WAY, the only way to get through the battles that we encounter in this life.
As I wrote various articles, I sent copies to our pastor. I always wanted him to look them over, to make certain that I had not strayed or misdirected someone. One day, he called me in his office and said there was another pastor and his wife who wanted me to write a book for them. He had referred me to them. Thank You, Jesus!
As the Lord blessed us with that project, we met other Christian brothers and sisters on this medium of the internet. Faithful, Godly friends who have counseled us and taught us and encouraged us--oh they've done far more for us than we could ever do in return. They have blessed us more than words can describe, because you see, they had a plow to take hold of too, and they did. (You can see their banners listed here: Banner Page).
Hold on to the plow!
Carrie tenBoom is credited with saying: "Don't worry about telling God what to do. Just report for duty!" Truer words were never spoken. God has a team in place to help you accomplish what He has called you to do. And HE will direct that team, you just hold on to the plow. And remember this: If God ordains that you do something, He WILL SUSTAIN you through it! He never sends you forth to do anything alone--He is there with you every step of the way. It may not happen as quickly as you'd like, it may happen in an entirely different manner than you ever thought possible, but IF you will persist, GOD WILL PREVAIL! You WILL see a fulfillment of that which you have been led of God to do!
None of this is to brag or boast about anything "we" have done. In and of ourselves, we are LESS than NOTHING. But with God, ALL (and "all" means just that: A-L-L) things are possible. However, we have shared these things with you in the hopes that you will be encouraged to take hold of (and hold on to) the plow God has placed in your life. And I can assure you, there is a plow with your name on it, and there is a field for you to use it in. Sure, there will be times, just as there were with us, that the last thing we wanted to do was put our hands to those old plow handles. But you see, we've started this way and there's no turning back now.
And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:57-62.In the Name of Jesus, I Thank You, Father, for Your team--the prayer partners and those in authority who were willing to be subject to your direction. Thank You, Father, for our life and the lessons You allow us to learn. And Thank You, Father, for that old plow to hold on to. Sometimes the rows get a little crooked--we get tired, we falter--but Father, we cling. You are faithful to Your Promises and You have never failed to meet our needs. You sustain us, You strengthen us, You bless us with Your EXCEEDING ABUNDANCE. I give You ALL the Glory, Father.
"Take Hold Of The Plow!" Copyright © 2000 by Patricia Sikes.
All Rights Reserved.
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus.
I have decided to follow Jesus!
I won't turn back, I won't turn back!
If you have been blessed, give God the Glory!
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