You know sometimes I read about a story of what God is doing in someone else's life and I think, "Man, that person must have the most amazing walk with God!" Before I know, I have put that person on a plain higher than others, and think they must be super spiritual! I know I have done this with musicians, preachers, teachers, pastors, authors, and others. I tend to start thinking they have found the key to living above a normal human being.
I remember the utter SHOCK when I watched the movie "Ragamuffin, The Story of Rich Mullins!" I literally grew up thinking that he had to be the most spiritual person alive to sing songs with such depth, emotion, and passion for his Savior. Then I watch a movie that shows a man who struggled with loneliness, anger, fear, and drinking. Then I saw video clips where he talked about his struggles with pornography. I was literally crushed! I thought to myself, "How can a man sing about an Awesome God and cry out "Hold Me Jesus" if he wrestled so heavily with sin?
However, I also identified with this same man because I know my own heart and the darkness that dwells in it. I know how easily I am brought to the miry clay and like a pig, I roll in it and revel in the depth of my struggles. I see how much I want to accept the glory for things in my life that only God deserves credit for! My heart cries out to be holy, but my flesh screams out to be noticed and loved!
That is why I feel sometimes it is important to just Keep It Real!
I started this journal of God's provisions and lessons to me in order to encourage others to know God is still alive and active and providing for his children. I wanted others to see the amazing story He had done in my life and have hope that He knows their needs and is their to provide as He has promised to do! Not to be a genie in a bottle to give us what we want, but to uphold His word that if we seek His kingdom first, that he would add to us clothing, food, drink, shelter, and all the things the world craves and lust after! So when He did an amazing story in my life I felt compelled to share it! (If you have not read it from the beginning, start HERE)
Amazingly enough though, even after GOD did such a MIGHTY and unbelievable work, and I have shared it with as many as who would listen, I realized this week that maybe to some I had become the guy I talked about in the first paragraph. To some, they see me when I am in the middle of the Passion and glory of what God has done, and they miss the moments I am under the covers hiding in fear because I wonder if tomorrow He is going to finish what He started. Or they miss the guy who tells God's story of giving him a farm (literally) who then turns around and thinks it is by his own efforts that his Barndominium is being built. Yes, I am one and the same guy! I wrestle with a man inside who strives to be noticed, liked, appreciated, and even important enough to contribute to his own story.
That is where these past few weeks have found me. As I forged through anger toward a man building my barn who took 2 months longer to finish than we agreed upon and then wanted to charge me more. I decided to take it upon myself to set him straight (thankfully, and hopefully, god intervened enough to not allow me to do something foolish to damage His good name!) I also took upon myself to figure on how much money I needed to complete the project and figured I had attained the amount and I was sort of giving him glory, but I was really patting my own back and thinking how I had contributed to it.
Praise be to God who loves me enough to crush me once again! He loved me so much that he allowed me to be slapped right in the face with the realization that I was no where close to being able to finish what I had started. As people started asking things about drywall, trim, doors, appliances, floors, kitchen cabinets, I suddenly realized in all my brilliant planning, I had not stopped to figure on those things. Suddenly I realized how desperately short I was going to come up. The unsettling feeling of failing my wife and not being able to give her her hearts desire began to overwhelm me. I sat down and figured over and over how I could fix the situation without asking for help. What all I could sell to finish the Barn House. How could I do it on my own power so my wife, kids, and others would be like, "Ray you sure are an awesome guy to build a place like this and you even gave up (fill in blank) to make it happen!" The truth however was I began to realize I was going to fail no matter what I did, I became overwhelmed with sorrow, shame, and I started to sink into my pit of despair! I found myself in a bed under the sheets, breathing rapidly and crying out, "God, where are you? Have you brought me this far only to abandon me?"
But like I said, what a GOOD DADDY who loves me enough to say, RAY!!!!!!!!!! Do you remember how this all started? How desperate and hopeless you were? What did you do? Yes son, you cried out to your Daddy. You asked Me for things that were seemingly beyond reason. You asked ME to supply what everyone else would say was unthinkable. You asked me in boldness, just like my servant George Mueller, and did I not prove Myself to you? Did I not give you what your heart desired out of the abundance of MY riches? Did I not promise to finish the work I had started? Remember how I reminded you of all the good things I had already done in your life? And do you not remember how I said I wanted you to share this story so people would know I AM here and still doing amazing works among my children? Do you also remember that the purpose of telling the story was that I, God, would receive ALL the Glory! Why have you tried to take back some of this story for your own glory? Why have you tried to do what only I could do? Remember Ray, only I can finish what I have begun! Give me back my story and my Glory!
Wow! Here I was thinking I was riding a wave of closeness to God, yet I was stealing from Him! I was trying to take credit for part of His story, and He is such a loving God, He let me try, he let me fail, so I would again be laying at His feet, where I love to be, crying out to Him! And there, in an instance, He lifted me up, he took off the burden I was carrying, and he said, I Love you Ray, just like you are, even when you try and steal from me! I love you Son, just like I love myself! Give me your heavy burden that you have put on your back, I have got this all covered. You just go back to asking me for all the things you need to finish your home and this thing I began 2 years ago, and watch me in wonder and all as I pour out of MY riches and give you a home. And when it is finished Ray, don't forget to tell them MY STORY and give me ALL THE GLORY! I like you so much kid, I want to use you to show Myself off to my people and to the world around you!
Man, what an AMAZING God! if you are interested, stay tuned as I look forward to God allowing me to one day soon tell you "The Rest of His Story!"
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Consumed by Zeal!!!
This past weekend in our family devotions, we looked at the story of Jesus clearing out the Temple. Of course it was under the "Agents of Smash" study I am doing with the kids, however, the words "Zeal for my Father's house consumes me!" jumped out at me. Mainly because I have been feeling this zeal and sense that it is consuming me.
You see, Jesus saw something that really pissed him off!!! I know, people say Jesus used "holy" or "righteous" anger, and I understand the seeming need to defend Jesus from any possible connection with sin. However, there is no need to sugar coat this story. To cover the "Jesus did not sin" part, we simply have to see that the action was not anger or reaction due to self preservation, but rather he acted in anger and frustration for God's Glory and on the behalf of the people of Israel! That covers that topic!
Now for the realness of the situation! IF you had been there that day and watched this seen unfold, I bet you would have had this thought, "That Jesus is a crazy man!" Come on! Be real! You know if a guy did something like that at a local mega church, aka, "God's House", you know you would be calling for the police to arrest the man! That is exactly what people watching Jesus was surely thinking, "Where are the soldiers? They need to throw this man in jail!"
Lets also not sugar coat what Jesus was doing! He was literally beating men, animals, and anything in his path with a whip of cords! He was tossing tables, shoving bodies, dumping money, driving animals! In this seen, on that day, he appeared to be a mad man who needed to be restrained. Looking at the scene, one might even ask, "Where were the restrainers at? Why did no one hold Jesus back? What were his disciples thinking?" There may be a lot of unanswered questions, but there are plenty of facts written for us to know, Jesus was one PISSED off dude and he did not "hold it in!"
So I ask, Why? Why did Jesus suddenly let loose? What drove him to have this moment of seeming insanity take over? Why did he act like a mad man and literally "whoop some tail" and clear out the courtyard of the Temple? What was his driving force?
The answer to that is in his words, "You have turned my Father's house, a house meant for prayer, into a den of thieves!" Which reminded the onlooking disciples of the verse from Psalm 69:9, "Zeal for my Father's house has consumed me! And there is two reasons why it consumed him.
1. The temple was built as a place that God could come and dwell amongst his people. Since Genesis 1, God has been working to redeem his people unto himself so that He could once again "walk with them in the garden." That has been his purpose and goal and that was the reason for the temple. It was a place people were suppose to be able to come and be close to God!
2. The people needed to be close to God. Only when His people are able to abide with him can they experience the real joy and meaning of this life. When separated in the Garden by the disobedience of Eve and Adam, the people desired a way to be close to him again. They longed to walk close to him and fellowship with the maker of the Universe and their souls. The temple provided them a place where they could come and enjoy that closeness once again.
However, those who were placed in a position to protect the very gateway for God and his people to commune with each other had made it impossible. God was being kept away from the people because the leaders had made it so hard for the people to come in. They assumed the role of "go between" and made a way to profit on it. That is why their were animals and money changers in the courtyard. Because it cost so much for people to enter, most had to simply no longer come, therefore, the poor, whom God has always had deep affection for were no longer able to come. Thus God was deprived by the traditions of men from being able to commune with his people.
Also, the people who were able to "pay to pray" could no longer enjoy quiet communion with God because of all the noise surrounding them. The cows bellowed and the sheep made noises and the birds flew and chirped and the money changers were loud and obnoxious. So once you paid to get in, and you had to pay, your quiet place to speak to God and hear him, no longer existed. Both God and his people were being kept from each other because of the greed and ignorance of man. Their traditions had come between the most needed relationship of all time, the relationship between God and his bride.
So Jesus literally LOST IT! He was overwhelmed with a passion to see this barrier removed. (BTW, this story is mentioned in all 4 gospel accounts. Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 2. Must mean it is pretty important.) So he did what any MAN would do, he welled up in a fit of rage and cleared the courtyard and temple of all the barriers and distractions that were between his Dad and Jesus' Bride!
So how does this apply today?
Well, I literally have felt a "monster" inside me growing in strength and anger (much like the Hulk) against the very same thing Jesus started smashing things for. Today, God desires to walk with his people, that is why Jesus died to provide permanent redemption for his people. That is why jesus was willing to face all the trials of this world and three days of separation from his dad. He so wanted his dad, himself, and his bride to be ONE again, he sacrificed it all. Yet here we stand again, in a world with more technology and opportunity than ever before, and we are farther from God than we could ever imagine. And so many of those who were given the role as "protector" and "provider" of this opportunity for intimate communion have lost site of the reality of what they were meant to do. They write books about how their way is the way and their church is the church to model after. They oppress the people by either overloading them with legalistic rules and regulations or they go to the other ditch and make it a "party" to be with God. Lights, camera, action, watch me all over the world (and by the way, send in some money so we can keep this ministry up!) Then there are those trying their best to balance it all out by mixing the two. They have the "holy rules" and try their best to have the "show" without going overboard! Sadly, it is still focused on what they are doing instead of the point, having a "Father's house of prayer!"
So, I am getting that frustrated feeling! I have just about erupted a couple of times and probably would have looked like the lunatic that Jesus did for that short window of time. But folks, the time has come. God desires to be with his people and his people desire to be with Him. It is time for the tactic of "pay your tithe and He will bless you" which is code for "pay to pray and we will all live nicer lives if you do!" has come to an end. It is time for the noise to stop and the legalistic traditions to be set aside. God wants to be with His people and His people want to be with him.
I recent read a book given to me by a pastor friend and it was another pastors attempt to answer the question "Why should I come to church?" He gave his best answers from a pastors point of view whose income is based on you agreeing with him (sorry that is a little hulk coming out in me) and he totally missed the point. It is not that people do not want to be a part of THE Church, the family of God, it is just here in America, we have followed the path of those Jesus drove out! We have made it impossible for God to draw close to his people because we have made it so expensive ( huge mega million dollar buildings that require a great personality who requires a large income to keep the people coming and GIVING so the buildings, expansions, and programs can be paid for) so people literally can't afford to get close, or, we have grown the distractions so large that even if you can pay to pray, it is so loud once you get in, you cannot be intimate with Him. It has all become a show or it has become so burden with rules that neither God nor his people can enjoy communion.
Like it or not folks, the Agents of Smash are rising up and the tables will be turned over and the people driven out. The question is not "Why should I go to church?" or "Why aren't people going to church?" or even, "Should we go to church?" What we should be asking is "How can I again enter into my Father's house of prayer and help others come in too?"
Our God is amazing and wonderful! He is mind blowing and marvelous. And what he desires more than anything is to walk with us in that same intimate fellowship He started in the Garden of Eden! And I want it so much too for myself and all those who long for their Father like I do!
You see, Jesus saw something that really pissed him off!!! I know, people say Jesus used "holy" or "righteous" anger, and I understand the seeming need to defend Jesus from any possible connection with sin. However, there is no need to sugar coat this story. To cover the "Jesus did not sin" part, we simply have to see that the action was not anger or reaction due to self preservation, but rather he acted in anger and frustration for God's Glory and on the behalf of the people of Israel! That covers that topic!
Now for the realness of the situation! IF you had been there that day and watched this seen unfold, I bet you would have had this thought, "That Jesus is a crazy man!" Come on! Be real! You know if a guy did something like that at a local mega church, aka, "God's House", you know you would be calling for the police to arrest the man! That is exactly what people watching Jesus was surely thinking, "Where are the soldiers? They need to throw this man in jail!"
Lets also not sugar coat what Jesus was doing! He was literally beating men, animals, and anything in his path with a whip of cords! He was tossing tables, shoving bodies, dumping money, driving animals! In this seen, on that day, he appeared to be a mad man who needed to be restrained. Looking at the scene, one might even ask, "Where were the restrainers at? Why did no one hold Jesus back? What were his disciples thinking?" There may be a lot of unanswered questions, but there are plenty of facts written for us to know, Jesus was one PISSED off dude and he did not "hold it in!"
So I ask, Why? Why did Jesus suddenly let loose? What drove him to have this moment of seeming insanity take over? Why did he act like a mad man and literally "whoop some tail" and clear out the courtyard of the Temple? What was his driving force?
The answer to that is in his words, "You have turned my Father's house, a house meant for prayer, into a den of thieves!" Which reminded the onlooking disciples of the verse from Psalm 69:9, "Zeal for my Father's house has consumed me! And there is two reasons why it consumed him.
1. The temple was built as a place that God could come and dwell amongst his people. Since Genesis 1, God has been working to redeem his people unto himself so that He could once again "walk with them in the garden." That has been his purpose and goal and that was the reason for the temple. It was a place people were suppose to be able to come and be close to God!
2. The people needed to be close to God. Only when His people are able to abide with him can they experience the real joy and meaning of this life. When separated in the Garden by the disobedience of Eve and Adam, the people desired a way to be close to him again. They longed to walk close to him and fellowship with the maker of the Universe and their souls. The temple provided them a place where they could come and enjoy that closeness once again.
However, those who were placed in a position to protect the very gateway for God and his people to commune with each other had made it impossible. God was being kept away from the people because the leaders had made it so hard for the people to come in. They assumed the role of "go between" and made a way to profit on it. That is why their were animals and money changers in the courtyard. Because it cost so much for people to enter, most had to simply no longer come, therefore, the poor, whom God has always had deep affection for were no longer able to come. Thus God was deprived by the traditions of men from being able to commune with his people.
Also, the people who were able to "pay to pray" could no longer enjoy quiet communion with God because of all the noise surrounding them. The cows bellowed and the sheep made noises and the birds flew and chirped and the money changers were loud and obnoxious. So once you paid to get in, and you had to pay, your quiet place to speak to God and hear him, no longer existed. Both God and his people were being kept from each other because of the greed and ignorance of man. Their traditions had come between the most needed relationship of all time, the relationship between God and his bride.
So Jesus literally LOST IT! He was overwhelmed with a passion to see this barrier removed. (BTW, this story is mentioned in all 4 gospel accounts. Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19, and John 2. Must mean it is pretty important.) So he did what any MAN would do, he welled up in a fit of rage and cleared the courtyard and temple of all the barriers and distractions that were between his Dad and Jesus' Bride!
So how does this apply today?
Well, I literally have felt a "monster" inside me growing in strength and anger (much like the Hulk) against the very same thing Jesus started smashing things for. Today, God desires to walk with his people, that is why Jesus died to provide permanent redemption for his people. That is why jesus was willing to face all the trials of this world and three days of separation from his dad. He so wanted his dad, himself, and his bride to be ONE again, he sacrificed it all. Yet here we stand again, in a world with more technology and opportunity than ever before, and we are farther from God than we could ever imagine. And so many of those who were given the role as "protector" and "provider" of this opportunity for intimate communion have lost site of the reality of what they were meant to do. They write books about how their way is the way and their church is the church to model after. They oppress the people by either overloading them with legalistic rules and regulations or they go to the other ditch and make it a "party" to be with God. Lights, camera, action, watch me all over the world (and by the way, send in some money so we can keep this ministry up!) Then there are those trying their best to balance it all out by mixing the two. They have the "holy rules" and try their best to have the "show" without going overboard! Sadly, it is still focused on what they are doing instead of the point, having a "Father's house of prayer!"
So, I am getting that frustrated feeling! I have just about erupted a couple of times and probably would have looked like the lunatic that Jesus did for that short window of time. But folks, the time has come. God desires to be with his people and his people desire to be with Him. It is time for the tactic of "pay your tithe and He will bless you" which is code for "pay to pray and we will all live nicer lives if you do!" has come to an end. It is time for the noise to stop and the legalistic traditions to be set aside. God wants to be with His people and His people want to be with him.
I recent read a book given to me by a pastor friend and it was another pastors attempt to answer the question "Why should I come to church?" He gave his best answers from a pastors point of view whose income is based on you agreeing with him (sorry that is a little hulk coming out in me) and he totally missed the point. It is not that people do not want to be a part of THE Church, the family of God, it is just here in America, we have followed the path of those Jesus drove out! We have made it impossible for God to draw close to his people because we have made it so expensive ( huge mega million dollar buildings that require a great personality who requires a large income to keep the people coming and GIVING so the buildings, expansions, and programs can be paid for) so people literally can't afford to get close, or, we have grown the distractions so large that even if you can pay to pray, it is so loud once you get in, you cannot be intimate with Him. It has all become a show or it has become so burden with rules that neither God nor his people can enjoy communion.
Like it or not folks, the Agents of Smash are rising up and the tables will be turned over and the people driven out. The question is not "Why should I go to church?" or "Why aren't people going to church?" or even, "Should we go to church?" What we should be asking is "How can I again enter into my Father's house of prayer and help others come in too?"
Our God is amazing and wonderful! He is mind blowing and marvelous. And what he desires more than anything is to walk with us in that same intimate fellowship He started in the Garden of Eden! And I want it so much too for myself and all those who long for their Father like I do!
David - Agent of Smash
This name will be no surprise to those who have heard it. The famed story of a young shepherd boy versus a giant named Goliath. You almost had to somewhat expect this name to make it on the list. '
However, there is more to this than just a simple story. Yes, David defeated the giant. Yes, the little guy one. Yes, it is probably like you have heard, but there is something deeper here.
The actual fight is found in 1 Samuel 17. This is where we read of how David defeated the giant. However, it is the back story to this agent of Smash that makes this day and this moment in time more incredible.
You see, David was the youngest of a whole lot of strong, strapping young men. He was but a child when all this took place, yet, he had already been anointed to be the future king of Israel. His brothers had gone off to war with Saul against the Philistines and David was left at home to tend the sheep. Only when his father, Jesse, got curious about the battle was David even allowed to go to the battlefield. When he arrived he witnessed this mammoth guy walking out and making fun of God and his people.
David was shocked that God's people would put up with this kind of attitude and mockery of the One, True, Living God. As he asked around he heard about what Saul had offered as a reward to anyone who would go defeat the giant. Davids inquiry into the matter infuriated his brothers and they scolded him for leaving his flocks. However, David Responded in Verse 29, "What have I now done, Is there not a cause?" (KJV) When Saul caught wind of this boy asking about the reward, he summoned David in and David boldly said, "Fear not king, for I will go defeat this man!"
Now get this picture in your head, a BOY offers to go take on the mightiest warrior of the time in the form of a 9 foot tall giant whose armor probably outweighed David himself. This is what Saul is looking at in real life and he simply tells David there is no way he can go. However, David is ready for this response and tells of a lion and a bear he has killed with his bare hands. For some reason, these stories convinced Saul to send David out to face the giant because David said, "If God delivered the lion and bear into my hands, will he not also deliver this giant into my hands?
The rest of the story is common to most folks that David went out, Goliath laughed at him for stepping forward. Goliath told David he was going to feed him to the beast and birds at which David replied in kind stating that God would deliver Goliath into his hands. God did just as David said and Goliath fell to the ground with the simple thud of a rock against his forehead and then David finished the job with Goliath's own sword, beheading the giant.
Again, we see an Agent of Smash delivering God's people from an evil that overwhelmed them. In this case it was a literal man who held them captive by his size and reputation as a warrior. And once again, God decided to winch battle using a boy so that no one could claim glory except for Himself.
Next story, we will talk about Moses!!!
Ray
However, there is more to this than just a simple story. Yes, David defeated the giant. Yes, the little guy one. Yes, it is probably like you have heard, but there is something deeper here.
The actual fight is found in 1 Samuel 17. This is where we read of how David defeated the giant. However, it is the back story to this agent of Smash that makes this day and this moment in time more incredible.
You see, David was the youngest of a whole lot of strong, strapping young men. He was but a child when all this took place, yet, he had already been anointed to be the future king of Israel. His brothers had gone off to war with Saul against the Philistines and David was left at home to tend the sheep. Only when his father, Jesse, got curious about the battle was David even allowed to go to the battlefield. When he arrived he witnessed this mammoth guy walking out and making fun of God and his people.
David was shocked that God's people would put up with this kind of attitude and mockery of the One, True, Living God. As he asked around he heard about what Saul had offered as a reward to anyone who would go defeat the giant. Davids inquiry into the matter infuriated his brothers and they scolded him for leaving his flocks. However, David Responded in Verse 29, "What have I now done, Is there not a cause?" (KJV) When Saul caught wind of this boy asking about the reward, he summoned David in and David boldly said, "Fear not king, for I will go defeat this man!"
Now get this picture in your head, a BOY offers to go take on the mightiest warrior of the time in the form of a 9 foot tall giant whose armor probably outweighed David himself. This is what Saul is looking at in real life and he simply tells David there is no way he can go. However, David is ready for this response and tells of a lion and a bear he has killed with his bare hands. For some reason, these stories convinced Saul to send David out to face the giant because David said, "If God delivered the lion and bear into my hands, will he not also deliver this giant into my hands?
The rest of the story is common to most folks that David went out, Goliath laughed at him for stepping forward. Goliath told David he was going to feed him to the beast and birds at which David replied in kind stating that God would deliver Goliath into his hands. God did just as David said and Goliath fell to the ground with the simple thud of a rock against his forehead and then David finished the job with Goliath's own sword, beheading the giant.
Again, we see an Agent of Smash delivering God's people from an evil that overwhelmed them. In this case it was a literal man who held them captive by his size and reputation as a warrior. And once again, God decided to winch battle using a boy so that no one could claim glory except for Himself.
Next story, we will talk about Moses!!!
Ray
Thursday, December 24, 2015
The Force Awakens - The Power of Prayer
I know, using the title of a hit movie as part of the title. Kinda cliche, but, very true.
I am always amazed at my Father and His work. More importantly, how He works through prayer. How long it seems we slumber in our kingdom walk then suddenly He shakes us awake through the use of circumstances, history, and the words we read in the Bible from long ago.
A couple of months ago, I read a passage from John 14:12-14. Jesus was speaking to his disciples who were amazed by the things he did. He turned this around on them and said, "whatever you ask in my name, I will do it to glorify the name of my Father in heaven! If you ask me ANYTHING in my name, I WILL do it!"
Think about the power in those words. Reading them drew me to desire even more to know how to pray, how to ask, and what to ask for. This in turn led me to order a book entitled "Release the Power of Prayer" by George Mueller. If you remember, it was his story that sparked another journey in my life back in January of 2014. After having read the above verse and seeing the title of the book, knowing George was a man of prayer, I assumed I could learn much from his knowledge of "how to pray!" However, I was even more moved as I began reading and found the book was again simple stories of prayers God had answered in his life. In fact, it was stated that George Mueller had documented over 50,000 answered prayers in his 92 years on earth. FIFTY THOUSAND! Stories ranging from lost keys to God changing the weather. I highly encourage the reading of his autobiography and this book as well so you can be as George would say, "encouraged that God still answers prayer!"
On a recent retreat, I began to understand the power in, and need for, God's people in 2015 to share the stories of what God is doing. We have His Word in the Bible of the things he has done. We have stories from history like George Mueller, Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone, Samuel Morris, and Isabel Kuhn of what He has done. But today we so desperately need to know what He is doing. We sing "God is not Dead", but do we live our lives as a reflection of that saying? If He is not dead, and He does not change, then His power we read of in the Bible and stories of history must be alive today!
In the aforementioned book, Release the power of prayer, George told of a time when he needed mild weather during the winter so he asked for God to send a southerly wind on the days the work needed done. God answered! He also spoke of asking God to help him find a key, and when money was in need, and when the desire for souls to be saved. God answered.
This awoke something in me! The desire to pray and expect God to work, as George had mentioned he did. So on November 28th, I was scheduled to have an Auction in Gallatin TN and all week the weather was amazing. However, heavy rain was forecast for the evening of the 27th and on for four days. Having just read of Georges answer to the southerly wind prayer, I asked God to hold off the heavy rains until the sale was completed and to bless the auction beyond any of our imaginations. When Saturday morning arrived, only a light mist was in the air and a drizzling rain. I have a video from right after the tenet was taken down and the sale complete, and the larger rain drops began to fall and it poured the rest of the weekend. God answered. Not only that, guesses on what the farm would bring was from $400,000 to $675,000, when it was finished, it brought $830,000. god answered.
I know if you have read my story, these should not be a surprise as God has been doing some amazing things in my life over the past 24 months. However, I am human just like all the characters in the Scriptures and like George Mueller and Hudson Taylor. That means I wrestle with God and "can He, and will He really pull through this time?" But George said something that stuck out to me, he said "each small prayer answered and each small test given is a faith builder for the days ahead and the next test." So I began to see God moving and it encouraged me to pray more.
My next test came as I was called for another Auction. I had done the past two as co-broke with my father, but knowing God had called me to be set apart even in my labors, I wondered if the owner would be okay with me standing on my own two feet. So I asked (worriedly I might add) for God to give me favor and show me how to approach the situation. When it came up, it was VERY clear God had gone before by using another person to recommend me for the job and the owner said "I don't care how you do it, I was told you were the one for the job and I want you!" God answered!
Soon after I was working on my sheep shed and I really wanted to finish it on a certain day. Not having electricity available, I was relying on my chain saw for cutting boards. Early in the day, as I pulled the cord to crank it, it failed to recoil and my heart sank. I worked with it a few times and no luck. I finally got it to take the cord back in and I prepared to take it to the shop. Suddenly I stopped and simply said, "Father, I really want to finish this shed today, can you please make this thing crank and work correctly?" I grabbed the chainsaw, pulled the cord, and it fired right up and worked the rest of the day! God Answered!
Then just the other day, we were called regarding my daughters horse and that she was acting up. I went the next morning to check on it and was told a story of how she was nearly impossible to catch and get back in the barn. I, not being a fan of the horse business, was discouraged and not sure what to do. We decided the next morning that my daughter and wife would go early and try to get her back in. On the way I simply asked "Father, please allow Raygan to walk up to her horse and lead her into the barn!" When we arrived it was very foggy and hard to see. I stood at the gate and continued to pray that prayer, and the next thing I saw was my wife and daughter walking to the barn with the horse on the lead rope. Not an issue at all, and has not been since!" God answered!
So why tell you all this? Because I want you to know God answers prayer! In fact, He is pleading with His children in the western world to remember He answers prayer and He wants us to know that He longs for us to simply ask Him ANYTHING! Not that you can run and ask for a million dollars, but if it His will and for His glory that a million dollars be given you, He can, and will, only ASK!
God loves us so much, as a father does his child. I know if my children ask me to do something for them that I know will be good for them or simply bring them joy, I do everything in my power to make it happen. If I , an earthly father who struggles with a wicked heart, will do that for my kids, HOW MUCH MORE will He do so much more for us, His children.
To God be the Glory!
Your brother,
Ray Carman - Auctioneer/Realtor
I am always amazed at my Father and His work. More importantly, how He works through prayer. How long it seems we slumber in our kingdom walk then suddenly He shakes us awake through the use of circumstances, history, and the words we read in the Bible from long ago.
A couple of months ago, I read a passage from John 14:12-14. Jesus was speaking to his disciples who were amazed by the things he did. He turned this around on them and said, "whatever you ask in my name, I will do it to glorify the name of my Father in heaven! If you ask me ANYTHING in my name, I WILL do it!"
Think about the power in those words. Reading them drew me to desire even more to know how to pray, how to ask, and what to ask for. This in turn led me to order a book entitled "Release the Power of Prayer" by George Mueller. If you remember, it was his story that sparked another journey in my life back in January of 2014. After having read the above verse and seeing the title of the book, knowing George was a man of prayer, I assumed I could learn much from his knowledge of "how to pray!" However, I was even more moved as I began reading and found the book was again simple stories of prayers God had answered in his life. In fact, it was stated that George Mueller had documented over 50,000 answered prayers in his 92 years on earth. FIFTY THOUSAND! Stories ranging from lost keys to God changing the weather. I highly encourage the reading of his autobiography and this book as well so you can be as George would say, "encouraged that God still answers prayer!"
On a recent retreat, I began to understand the power in, and need for, God's people in 2015 to share the stories of what God is doing. We have His Word in the Bible of the things he has done. We have stories from history like George Mueller, Hudson Taylor, David Livingstone, Samuel Morris, and Isabel Kuhn of what He has done. But today we so desperately need to know what He is doing. We sing "God is not Dead", but do we live our lives as a reflection of that saying? If He is not dead, and He does not change, then His power we read of in the Bible and stories of history must be alive today!
In the aforementioned book, Release the power of prayer, George told of a time when he needed mild weather during the winter so he asked for God to send a southerly wind on the days the work needed done. God answered! He also spoke of asking God to help him find a key, and when money was in need, and when the desire for souls to be saved. God answered.
This awoke something in me! The desire to pray and expect God to work, as George had mentioned he did. So on November 28th, I was scheduled to have an Auction in Gallatin TN and all week the weather was amazing. However, heavy rain was forecast for the evening of the 27th and on for four days. Having just read of Georges answer to the southerly wind prayer, I asked God to hold off the heavy rains until the sale was completed and to bless the auction beyond any of our imaginations. When Saturday morning arrived, only a light mist was in the air and a drizzling rain. I have a video from right after the tenet was taken down and the sale complete, and the larger rain drops began to fall and it poured the rest of the weekend. God answered. Not only that, guesses on what the farm would bring was from $400,000 to $675,000, when it was finished, it brought $830,000. god answered.
I know if you have read my story, these should not be a surprise as God has been doing some amazing things in my life over the past 24 months. However, I am human just like all the characters in the Scriptures and like George Mueller and Hudson Taylor. That means I wrestle with God and "can He, and will He really pull through this time?" But George said something that stuck out to me, he said "each small prayer answered and each small test given is a faith builder for the days ahead and the next test." So I began to see God moving and it encouraged me to pray more.
My next test came as I was called for another Auction. I had done the past two as co-broke with my father, but knowing God had called me to be set apart even in my labors, I wondered if the owner would be okay with me standing on my own two feet. So I asked (worriedly I might add) for God to give me favor and show me how to approach the situation. When it came up, it was VERY clear God had gone before by using another person to recommend me for the job and the owner said "I don't care how you do it, I was told you were the one for the job and I want you!" God answered!
Soon after I was working on my sheep shed and I really wanted to finish it on a certain day. Not having electricity available, I was relying on my chain saw for cutting boards. Early in the day, as I pulled the cord to crank it, it failed to recoil and my heart sank. I worked with it a few times and no luck. I finally got it to take the cord back in and I prepared to take it to the shop. Suddenly I stopped and simply said, "Father, I really want to finish this shed today, can you please make this thing crank and work correctly?" I grabbed the chainsaw, pulled the cord, and it fired right up and worked the rest of the day! God Answered!
Then just the other day, we were called regarding my daughters horse and that she was acting up. I went the next morning to check on it and was told a story of how she was nearly impossible to catch and get back in the barn. I, not being a fan of the horse business, was discouraged and not sure what to do. We decided the next morning that my daughter and wife would go early and try to get her back in. On the way I simply asked "Father, please allow Raygan to walk up to her horse and lead her into the barn!" When we arrived it was very foggy and hard to see. I stood at the gate and continued to pray that prayer, and the next thing I saw was my wife and daughter walking to the barn with the horse on the lead rope. Not an issue at all, and has not been since!" God answered!
So why tell you all this? Because I want you to know God answers prayer! In fact, He is pleading with His children in the western world to remember He answers prayer and He wants us to know that He longs for us to simply ask Him ANYTHING! Not that you can run and ask for a million dollars, but if it His will and for His glory that a million dollars be given you, He can, and will, only ASK!
God loves us so much, as a father does his child. I know if my children ask me to do something for them that I know will be good for them or simply bring them joy, I do everything in my power to make it happen. If I , an earthly father who struggles with a wicked heart, will do that for my kids, HOW MUCH MORE will He do so much more for us, His children.
To God be the Glory!
Your brother,
Ray Carman - Auctioneer/Realtor
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Elijah - God's Agent of SMASH
On my journey with my kids through Scripture and looking at God's Agents of SMASH, this week we came upon Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19. I am constantly amazed (and encouraged) of how each time God's people had been led astray by a false God, that He would send an Agent of Smash to redeem His people back to himself. I am also amazed at how each Agent was not some amazing, Hercules of a man (or woman) but rather just a person that God had called and they willing followed and obeyed. It gives me hope for our world for when He sends his next agent of SMASH!
Elijah's story is set in a time that a king had risen up whose heart was set against God. He and his wife had rid the land of the prophets who spoke truth and replaced them with prophets to the false god Baal. Ahab and Jezebel had been doing everything to kill Elijah himself, and out of fear for his life, Elijah went and hid himself. He had witnessed God do amazing things, but just like any human, he feared death, especially death at the hands of these evil people. So he had pronounced that it would not rain until God told him it would, and then he ran and hid.
In this time, he ended up at a widows house who had a son (chapter 17). He asked her for food and she informed him she only had enough for one meal left for her and her son and then she was planning on dying. Elijah told her to cook it all, but to first feed him and if she obeyed, her flour and oil would not run out until it rained again! This was her test, and according to the story, she passed in flying colors. From that day on Elijah lived with her and they ate from that same jar of flour and oil. Until her son died! This part of the story shows us another test of Elijah as he prayed for life to renter the boy's body. It did not happen the first or second time. But Elijah did not I've up in his prayer and on the third time asking God to revive the boy, he breathed again. Lesson: do not quit praying if you do not receive the answer immediately.
After this Elijah was sent by the Spirit of God back to Ahab to call out the prophets of Baal to do a test and see who the one and only God was! (Chapter 18). Wow, what a scene. As he called out the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 of Asherah to a challenge to see whose God would send down fire to consume an offering. PLEASE, read this story yourself! It is amazing.
In the end, of course God proves only He is God and as a result, Elijah told the people to capture the false prophets of Baal and put them to death by sword that day. He called the people to serve ONLY God and to abandon their evil worship of Baal. God used Elijah to redeem his people again and purify His people from their sin. But it again took an agent of SMASH who obeyed God and did something radical to call attention back to God. It was not an action of his own choosing, but rather an obedience to what God told him to do.
Immediately following this, Elijah told Ahab to go eat and drink and prepare for rain. At this point it had been three years since it had rained in the land. Elijah went to the top of a mountain and prayed for the rain to come. 6 times he sent his servant to check the horizon for a rain cloud and 6 times he returned saying there was nothing. It was the seventh time when his servant said "there is a cloud on the horizon the size of a mans hand." That is when Elijah told Ahab he better get home because a rain cam e up quickly. Ahab rode his horse and chariot, but we are told "the Spirit of God cam upon Elijah" and he girded up his clothes and ran ahead of the chariot (on his feet) into the city! Another cool story, but pronounced with the fact that Elijah did not stop praying after 6 times of negative words, but rather continued to pray and waited expectantly upon God to answer.
Elijah's story is full of exciting times, and times where he despaired of life all together. Immediately following this he went somewhere and asked God to simply take his life because "he was the only prophet left who loved God!" he was depressed and God had to rise this man back out of the miry clay. Elijah was just a man, and anything mighty that was done through him, or any Agent of SMASH was done because the "Spirit of the LORD" came upon them. Please take the time and read the rest of Elijah's story, it is full of the glory of God and His ways!
Until next time, SMASH on!!!
Your Brother,
Ray Carman
Elijah's story is set in a time that a king had risen up whose heart was set against God. He and his wife had rid the land of the prophets who spoke truth and replaced them with prophets to the false god Baal. Ahab and Jezebel had been doing everything to kill Elijah himself, and out of fear for his life, Elijah went and hid himself. He had witnessed God do amazing things, but just like any human, he feared death, especially death at the hands of these evil people. So he had pronounced that it would not rain until God told him it would, and then he ran and hid.
In this time, he ended up at a widows house who had a son (chapter 17). He asked her for food and she informed him she only had enough for one meal left for her and her son and then she was planning on dying. Elijah told her to cook it all, but to first feed him and if she obeyed, her flour and oil would not run out until it rained again! This was her test, and according to the story, she passed in flying colors. From that day on Elijah lived with her and they ate from that same jar of flour and oil. Until her son died! This part of the story shows us another test of Elijah as he prayed for life to renter the boy's body. It did not happen the first or second time. But Elijah did not I've up in his prayer and on the third time asking God to revive the boy, he breathed again. Lesson: do not quit praying if you do not receive the answer immediately.
After this Elijah was sent by the Spirit of God back to Ahab to call out the prophets of Baal to do a test and see who the one and only God was! (Chapter 18). Wow, what a scene. As he called out the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 of Asherah to a challenge to see whose God would send down fire to consume an offering. PLEASE, read this story yourself! It is amazing.
In the end, of course God proves only He is God and as a result, Elijah told the people to capture the false prophets of Baal and put them to death by sword that day. He called the people to serve ONLY God and to abandon their evil worship of Baal. God used Elijah to redeem his people again and purify His people from their sin. But it again took an agent of SMASH who obeyed God and did something radical to call attention back to God. It was not an action of his own choosing, but rather an obedience to what God told him to do.
Immediately following this, Elijah told Ahab to go eat and drink and prepare for rain. At this point it had been three years since it had rained in the land. Elijah went to the top of a mountain and prayed for the rain to come. 6 times he sent his servant to check the horizon for a rain cloud and 6 times he returned saying there was nothing. It was the seventh time when his servant said "there is a cloud on the horizon the size of a mans hand." That is when Elijah told Ahab he better get home because a rain cam e up quickly. Ahab rode his horse and chariot, but we are told "the Spirit of God cam upon Elijah" and he girded up his clothes and ran ahead of the chariot (on his feet) into the city! Another cool story, but pronounced with the fact that Elijah did not stop praying after 6 times of negative words, but rather continued to pray and waited expectantly upon God to answer.
Elijah's story is full of exciting times, and times where he despaired of life all together. Immediately following this he went somewhere and asked God to simply take his life because "he was the only prophet left who loved God!" he was depressed and God had to rise this man back out of the miry clay. Elijah was just a man, and anything mighty that was done through him, or any Agent of SMASH was done because the "Spirit of the LORD" came upon them. Please take the time and read the rest of Elijah's story, it is full of the glory of God and His ways!
Until next time, SMASH on!!!
Your Brother,
Ray Carman
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Balaam's Donkey - Agent of SMASH
If you have not read Numbers 22-24 lately, you really should. Most people are somewhat familiar with the phrase, "If God could speak through an ass (donkey)......" and this is where that story comes from. This week Father led me to this story as our next installment of His Agents of SMASH. I will have to admit, on the surface, it does not seem to fit the profile, that is until you really dig deeper.
Take a minute and read it for yourself. I never believe in relying on someone else to recount a story especially if the source is available. But here was our take on it.
Israel is in the post Egypt era and they are moving through the land, pretty much overtaking all the inhabitants based on God's command. When they reach Moab, the king there, Balak, decides to take some extreme measures. He reaches out to Balaam, a well known sorcerer in the area who has a high reputation as being one who if he cursed or blessed you, you were cursed or blessed. Bala, knew he had no chance against Israel, unless, Balaam would come curse them.
Balak sends messengers to bring Balaam to his aid, and God simply told Balaam "No!" So Balak, sends a second party of princes to ask for his services, and this time God told him to go with them, but only say what He told him to say.
The next verse is really interesting as we enter into the donkey's part of the story. Salaam, gets up the next day and goes as God had told him to, but then we see God for doing what he had said, to which I replied, "Good question to ask God!"
This is when God sends an angel to oppose Balaam on his journey and the Agent of SMASH goes to work. This angel stands in the path and Balaam does not see him, but the donkey does. Here is why that is interesting. Balaam is a sorcerer who is suppose to be in touch with the spiritual realm and see spiritual beings. He should have seen the angel, but his eyes had been shut and he could not. So when the donkey 1) veered into the field 2) rubbed the wall crushing Balaam's foot 3) laid down in the road, Balaam went ballistic and beat the animal. And when it said he beat the donkey, imagine a thorough whipping and lashing that would hurt. Balaam was furious because he was embarrassed. This animal was "making a fool" of him (v.29). God, in his mercy allowed the donkey to speak and simply ask Balaam, "Why are you beating me?"
Here is where we get the fun part of the story. Balaam seemingly not surprised answers his donkey. They carry on a discourse until Balaam finally says, "If I had a sword I would slay you!" Now is when his eyes are opened and he finally sees this angel with a flaming sword in his hand and Balaam is AFRAID! The angel informs him had it not been for his donkey, he would have surely slain Balaam and spared the donkey (ironic turn of events.) Balaam in fear offers to go back home, but instead, God told him to continue on through the angel, but warned again that he was only to say what he was told to say.
So how is the donkey an Agent of SMASH? She was an agent because she saw the danger ahead and turned to avoid it, and in the process, she crushed the foot and pride of the man she was carrying. Agents of Smash are agents who are sent to purify from sin, and Balaam had a pride issue which showed itself in his reactions to the donkey turning from the path and embarrassing him. If God had not used the donkey to purify Balaam before he arrived, he may have succumbed to the temptation to curse Israel in order to please Balak over God. He had been told to only do as God said, but with a heart full of pride, he may have disobeyed in order to please men. His pride and arrogance is shown by the fact he was blindly going ahead, ignorant of the road block God had sent. Without the donkey, Balaam would have surely died because he was not acting humbly and this would have spelled disaster for him ahead.
However, because God used a donkey to humble this proud man, he obeyed when he was told to bless Israel despite the temptation to receive the approval and riches of men. He obeyed God inspite of the fact he may have lost his life at the hands of Balak. This Agent of SMASH allowed him to see God more clearly and therefore obey His commands.
What a fascinating story and one we can learn so much from. God oft times places obstacles in our paths in order to protect us or remind us of his will. And if we are too proudly marching forward in our own strength, in His mercy he may humble us and speak to us through the mouth of an ass (donkey.) If we are sensitive to Him, hopefully we will see the Angel and the flaming Sword before the donkey speaks!
On a personal note, having had donkeys on our farm and knowing how frustrating they can be, it gives this story even more significance when the donkey says "have I ever acted like this before?" and Balaam says "No." I promise you, if one of my donkeys ever spoke, you can bet I would first check my sanity, but then I would listen. Because of this donkey, God secured a major blessing for his people and again displayed His sovereignty over ALL things!
Amazing story, you should really check it out!
Your Brother,
Ray Carman
Take a minute and read it for yourself. I never believe in relying on someone else to recount a story especially if the source is available. But here was our take on it.
Israel is in the post Egypt era and they are moving through the land, pretty much overtaking all the inhabitants based on God's command. When they reach Moab, the king there, Balak, decides to take some extreme measures. He reaches out to Balaam, a well known sorcerer in the area who has a high reputation as being one who if he cursed or blessed you, you were cursed or blessed. Bala, knew he had no chance against Israel, unless, Balaam would come curse them.
Balak sends messengers to bring Balaam to his aid, and God simply told Balaam "No!" So Balak, sends a second party of princes to ask for his services, and this time God told him to go with them, but only say what He told him to say.
The next verse is really interesting as we enter into the donkey's part of the story. Salaam, gets up the next day and goes as God had told him to, but then we see God for doing what he had said, to which I replied, "Good question to ask God!"
This is when God sends an angel to oppose Balaam on his journey and the Agent of SMASH goes to work. This angel stands in the path and Balaam does not see him, but the donkey does. Here is why that is interesting. Balaam is a sorcerer who is suppose to be in touch with the spiritual realm and see spiritual beings. He should have seen the angel, but his eyes had been shut and he could not. So when the donkey 1) veered into the field 2) rubbed the wall crushing Balaam's foot 3) laid down in the road, Balaam went ballistic and beat the animal. And when it said he beat the donkey, imagine a thorough whipping and lashing that would hurt. Balaam was furious because he was embarrassed. This animal was "making a fool" of him (v.29). God, in his mercy allowed the donkey to speak and simply ask Balaam, "Why are you beating me?"
Here is where we get the fun part of the story. Balaam seemingly not surprised answers his donkey. They carry on a discourse until Balaam finally says, "If I had a sword I would slay you!" Now is when his eyes are opened and he finally sees this angel with a flaming sword in his hand and Balaam is AFRAID! The angel informs him had it not been for his donkey, he would have surely slain Balaam and spared the donkey (ironic turn of events.) Balaam in fear offers to go back home, but instead, God told him to continue on through the angel, but warned again that he was only to say what he was told to say.
So how is the donkey an Agent of SMASH? She was an agent because she saw the danger ahead and turned to avoid it, and in the process, she crushed the foot and pride of the man she was carrying. Agents of Smash are agents who are sent to purify from sin, and Balaam had a pride issue which showed itself in his reactions to the donkey turning from the path and embarrassing him. If God had not used the donkey to purify Balaam before he arrived, he may have succumbed to the temptation to curse Israel in order to please Balak over God. He had been told to only do as God said, but with a heart full of pride, he may have disobeyed in order to please men. His pride and arrogance is shown by the fact he was blindly going ahead, ignorant of the road block God had sent. Without the donkey, Balaam would have surely died because he was not acting humbly and this would have spelled disaster for him ahead.
However, because God used a donkey to humble this proud man, he obeyed when he was told to bless Israel despite the temptation to receive the approval and riches of men. He obeyed God inspite of the fact he may have lost his life at the hands of Balak. This Agent of SMASH allowed him to see God more clearly and therefore obey His commands.
What a fascinating story and one we can learn so much from. God oft times places obstacles in our paths in order to protect us or remind us of his will. And if we are too proudly marching forward in our own strength, in His mercy he may humble us and speak to us through the mouth of an ass (donkey.) If we are sensitive to Him, hopefully we will see the Angel and the flaming Sword before the donkey speaks!
On a personal note, having had donkeys on our farm and knowing how frustrating they can be, it gives this story even more significance when the donkey says "have I ever acted like this before?" and Balaam says "No." I promise you, if one of my donkeys ever spoke, you can bet I would first check my sanity, but then I would listen. Because of this donkey, God secured a major blessing for his people and again displayed His sovereignty over ALL things!
Amazing story, you should really check it out!
Your Brother,
Ray Carman
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
His Hand Provides through Prayer
I am currently reading "Release the Power of Prayer," another small book detailing more of George Mueller's life and prayers that were answered. I am moved by how he sought God for everything, big and small, and how he "expected" answers. He encourages all believers to pray and look expectantly to God to answer their prayers.
So this past Saturday I had a fairly large auction come up. I had been working for over 6 weeks prepping, marketing, and working through obstacles to see it come to pass. I had poured my heart out into this project as I try and do with any I am involved in as a thank you to God for allowing me the pleasure of doing work I enjoy. This is also the means by which He allows me to provide for my family, but more so, these properties are very meaningful to the owners for whom I work. Therefore, I strive to give it my all and my best.
So with this sale coming up, a "perfect day" would be sun shining and 65 degrees. However, this is November 28th we are talking about in TN and the weather said rain was moving in on Friday evening and staying for 4 days. I knew that the buyers would come no matter what, because experience tells me so. However, of the sellers sake, you hope for the best. Therefore, I simply prayed, 'Lord please hold off the bulk of the rain till after the sale and blow our minds as to the outcome of it for Your glory and for the sake of the sellers."
And that was it. Simple prayer and I "looked expectantly" unto my Daddy to answer my prayers.
On Saturday morning, we had only had a drizzle through the evening and throughout the sale. The number of people who came out was literally mind blowing because we only had 8 tracts of land to offer, yet we had over 100 people come to the auction in drizzling, cool weather. On top of that, the final sales price exceeded everyone of our estimations by 20%.
All that to simply say, yes, God answered prayer in the Bible when Jesus prayed. He also answered prayer when George Mueller and Hudson Taylor prayed. He also answered prayer when Ray Carman prayed. All simply men looking to their Heavenly Daddy who told us through His Son, "If you believe, you WILL receive whatever you ask for in prayer!"
When God moves you to pray and burdens your heart, He longs for you to come to Him in prayer so He may answer. He may not do it immediately, (one man prayed for 50 years for the salvation of two men, and his prayer was answered after his death!), but He will build the strength of your faith through patiently awaiting His answer and once he has answered, He will build your Fatih in preparation for the next trial before you!
Your Brother,
Ray Carman
So this past Saturday I had a fairly large auction come up. I had been working for over 6 weeks prepping, marketing, and working through obstacles to see it come to pass. I had poured my heart out into this project as I try and do with any I am involved in as a thank you to God for allowing me the pleasure of doing work I enjoy. This is also the means by which He allows me to provide for my family, but more so, these properties are very meaningful to the owners for whom I work. Therefore, I strive to give it my all and my best.
So with this sale coming up, a "perfect day" would be sun shining and 65 degrees. However, this is November 28th we are talking about in TN and the weather said rain was moving in on Friday evening and staying for 4 days. I knew that the buyers would come no matter what, because experience tells me so. However, of the sellers sake, you hope for the best. Therefore, I simply prayed, 'Lord please hold off the bulk of the rain till after the sale and blow our minds as to the outcome of it for Your glory and for the sake of the sellers."
And that was it. Simple prayer and I "looked expectantly" unto my Daddy to answer my prayers.
On Saturday morning, we had only had a drizzle through the evening and throughout the sale. The number of people who came out was literally mind blowing because we only had 8 tracts of land to offer, yet we had over 100 people come to the auction in drizzling, cool weather. On top of that, the final sales price exceeded everyone of our estimations by 20%.
All that to simply say, yes, God answered prayer in the Bible when Jesus prayed. He also answered prayer when George Mueller and Hudson Taylor prayed. He also answered prayer when Ray Carman prayed. All simply men looking to their Heavenly Daddy who told us through His Son, "If you believe, you WILL receive whatever you ask for in prayer!"
When God moves you to pray and burdens your heart, He longs for you to come to Him in prayer so He may answer. He may not do it immediately, (one man prayed for 50 years for the salvation of two men, and his prayer was answered after his death!), but He will build the strength of your faith through patiently awaiting His answer and once he has answered, He will build your Fatih in preparation for the next trial before you!
Your Brother,
Ray Carman
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