Sunday, February 28, 2021

DENISE PROSSER: From Fear to Faith


In this Guest Post from Denise Prosser, she shares about a time when she and her husband stepped out in faith in order to bring their daughter home from China. Thank you for sharing, Denise! ~VS

~~~*~~~

FROM FEAR TO FAITH
Denise Prosser 
“I tell you the truth, if you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” (Matt. 17:20 NLT)
“You know what we have to do,” my husband stated matter-of-factly. “I know what we have to do,” I replied. “I just don’t know how.”

There we sat at a crossroad with a monumental decision to make: Would we adopt the precious Chinese girl who was staying in our home on a hosting program? It seemed impossible, but God was clearly beckoning.

Just five weeks prior, God had requested a smaller step of faith: Agree to host her for four weeks. We didn’t know how to handle that financially, but a friend had challenged us, “If finances are the only thing holding you back, step out and watch God show up.” We stepped and watched God and His people reduce the $1,900 fee to $35!

Adoption is forever, and this cost was much greater, but we knew it was God’s will, too. The words of an adoptive dad echoed in our ears, “This is every bit as much a spiritual journey, as it has anything to do with adoption.” So, we leapt... and show up, He did.

He revealed a plan for our family to minister gospel music in churches, teach about adoption and orphan hosting, tell our story, and take up love offerings. This yielded several thousand dollars. A neighbor designed a t-shirt for a special fundraiser. A stranger gave me a $20 winning lotto ticket in the Wal-Mart shoe aisle. Another stranger hugged me and stuffed a $100 bill in my hand in the Aldi’s parking lot, stating that she was “just doing what the Lord told me to do.” Our community put on a wonderful benefit dinner for us. God used His people again and again.

Bit by bit, God met each next step with the finances it required. Time after time, He provided in the eleventh hour, in ridiculous ways. Step by step, God cleared the way to make this little girl our daughter.

We made that decision in July of 2015. God turned fear to faith as we walked, and He turned that faith into provision. Nine months (and 400 pages of paperwork) later, we boarded a plane for China to bring our daughter home! God was faithful through it all, though our steps were often tentative. Thanks be to God; fear didn’t stop God’s plan. 

REFLECT:
1. Can you think of something big God has asked of you?

2. How did He help you conquer your fear so you could answer His call?

3. What are you currently facing that requires extra faith?

4. What can you do, or ask of God, to grow your faith toward obedience?

 

Denise Prosser is from Lakewood, IL. She has been married for almost 22 years and is a mom to 4 daughters, ages 11 to 19. Denise has experienced great variety in motherhood: (1) how she became a mom - both biological and adoptive, (2) how she educated her kids - public, private, and home education, and (3) the various physical, emotional, and developmental issues her family has encountered. Her passion is motherhood. Her vision is to educate, equip, and encourage moms toward raising godly families. Her hope is to walk with women toward freedom, learning, and healing, as they grow in their relationship with Jesus. 

Read more from Denise at:  STAND AND SING



Sunday, February 21, 2021

REV. DAVID STANKUS: Intercessory Prayer


Sharing a short article about intercessory prayer by my husband, David. This came from one of his past sermons. ~VS

INTERCESSORY PRAYER
 ~ Rev. David J. Stankus ~

Colossians 1:9-12 (NASB) - For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all perseverance and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Intercessory prayer is prayer for others. But, we see in Colossians 1:9-12, it seeks for more than just physical needs to be met. Here, in Paul’s intercessory prayer, he asked for deeper, more fundamental needs. He asked for them to: 

  • know God’s will (v. 9)
  • walk in a Christ-like manner (v. 10)
  • be pleasing to God in every way (v. 10)
  • be fruitful in every good work (v. 10)
  • increase in the knowledge of God (v. 10)
  • be strengthened, persevere, be patient, and give thanks (v. 11)

So, as we intercede for others, we need to go beyond the superficial requests, and beyond just the physical needs. We need to pray for their spirit as well – that they will have a spirit of joy, even in the midst of their trying circumstances. This is the kind of prayer that truly intercedes for someone. It meets the foundational needs of their lives. 

Make it a point to intercede in this way for your church members, your church leaders, our nation’s leaders, and for those who are unsaved. 


Sunday, February 7, 2021

PASTOR DANIEL MCINTOSH: Because of God’s Past Faithfulness, I Can Trust Him for the Future

I am sharing an article recently written by my brother, Daniel McIntosh, the Pastor of Fish Creek Bible Church in Booneville, KY. He has some encouragement for us to consider as we face our struggles today. Thank you for sharing, Daniel. ~VS

~~~~~~~~~~~

A few summers ago, the Christian youth camp where I worked had the theme, "Because of God’s Past Faithfulness, I Can Trust Him for the Future." It was based from Psalm 100:5 - “For the LORD is good; His steadfast love endures forever, and His faithfulness to all generations.” (ESV)

Considering our past and seeing what God has done, where He has taken us, and how He has been with us, we can trust God with all that we go through. 

I recall that Spring we had strong winds bringing much damage; homes losing parts of their roofs; trees destroying property. Yet, God faithfully protected the camp. Trees did not damage the buses lying next the them. Not one dent. No major facility was damaged, including the recently built new chapel and dining room.  God protected, showing His faithfulness. 

Scripture shares many times where God protected and showed faithfulness to those who have trusted Him. Some examples include:

  • Adam and Eve sinned, and God still showed love as He provided clothing and promised a way to reunite mankind back into fellowship with Him. 
  • God used Joseph to inform the king of an upcoming famine, leading to salvation of the twelve Israelite tribes as they did not starve. 
  • Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted God, even to the point of death, and were spared in the flames.
With many examples in Scripture, examine your life.  What has God taken you through?  How has He helped you? 

Hebrews 13:5b encourages us that "God will never leave us, nor forsake us." No matter what is going on in our lives, we can know God is with us. We can trust Him, even in the midst of our struggles, trials and tribulations. 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8 NKJV).  Because of His past faithfulness, we can always trust Him with anything and everything.

Pastor Daniel McIntosh
Fish Creek Bible Church
Booneville, KY