IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR THE LORD?

 

And the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:13-14

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" What a great question. In times of personal crisis, national confusion, and societal chaos, you and I might be tempted to believe that problems of today are too much for our God to handle. Beloved friend, cast that kind of thinking as far away from your mind as possible, as nothing is too hard for the Lord. Let's think about it...

Abraham had already begun his great faith journey, whereby he was called a friend of God. He began this walk of faith at the age of seventy-five as revealed in Genesis 12:1-4. Here is man who had passed the prime of life being told that his offspring would become a great nation. When the Lord appeared to him in Genesis 15 some ten years later, he and his wife still had no children. Yet the plan and promise of God had not changed with the changing circumstances of natural aging. By the time you reach our focus text in Genesis 18, another fifteen years had passed. He was now ninety-nine years of age, and she was ninety. Surely the promise of God would prove null and void considering their ages, as she had long lost the ability to conceive and bare children. No wonder she laughed at the prospect of God's promise becoming an actual reality for them. But, here's that hard, pressing question: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

Now you might be wondering what this has to do with the photograph of an aging vehicle. Let me explain. In 2001, Tammy and I encountered the Lord's leadership to trust Him in providing us a home to call our very own. This was a very daunting proposition for us, and at times I nearly baled out of following His leadership when I could not see how we could make our financial ends meet while operating a faith ministry. The following year, as we were praying earnestly about trusting Him for our Faith House, it became apparent that we needed new transportation. As is our habit, we partnered together in prayer for the Lord to lead and direct us concerning this need. God worked as only He could in making our paths cross with a car dealer who sought to minister to ministers. We had come to the understanding that we were to look for and purchase a Chevrolet Trailblazer with a third row seat and room to seat seven passengers. When we arrived at the lot to meet this gentleman, he had only one of the Trailblazer extended versions available, and it was brought in from another dealership at the request of a potential buyer. We gave it a test drive, sat down with him to talk about pricing and financing, and told him that we would let him know of any decision that we made should that vehicle still be available at a later date. Even with a very generous discounted price and an extremely low interest rate, we knew the payments would be just over $500 per month. To us, sending that amount to GMAC every month for five years seemed utterly impossible. But, is anything too hard for the Lord?

We knew that we would be returning to his area of Mississippi in a couple of weeks, so we prayed that if we were to trust God for that SUV, that one, not another one, then it would be on this man's lot when we returned. When we arrived on August 20, 2002, that same Trailblazer was still sitting on the lot at Ackerman Chevrolet, and we left that afternoon with the very first brand new vehicle that we had ever purchased in our years of marriage. We put the first 100,000 miles on it in three and a half years, and it hit 200,000 sometime in 2010. It's now been a part of our family and ministry for eighteen years. It doesn't get used as much as it once did, but this morning the odometer reached 368,000 miles. By the grace of God, we never missed a payment. By the grace of God, everything still works on it. And by the grace of God, it even survived being Laurie's beach buggy for a couple of years when she lived in Pensacola (but that's another story, LOL!).

Friend, why do I share this with you? Because it's so very easy to be overwhelmed by current circumstances of life and lose sight of the faithfulness of God. Not only was He faithful to us in the purchase and financial obligation of the Trailblazer, but He maintained our vision for our Faith House as well. Have you ever heard the old cliché: "Where God guides, He provides"? Well, IT'S TRUE! Before we bought this vehicle, we were living debt free in my hometown of the Mississippi Delta, paying $200 a month rent to the Duncan Baptist Church to live in their parsonage, which was a very nice, three bedroom/two bath, ranch style, brick home. But now we had entered into a financial obligation to General Motors while preparing to undertake the responsibility of relocating and building our new home. We agonized in prayer over all of this, and moved forward in obedience. When we completed our Faith House in 2004, we had a $950 monthly note on a thirty year mortgage, as well as the Trailblazer payments, and neither of us had what is considered to be gainful employment with a guaranteed income. How we even qualified for extremely low interest loans is another testimony of God's grace working in our lives. When the Trailblazer was paid off, home interest rates were on a lowering trend, so we refinanced to a fifteen year mortgage with a $1,200 monthly obligation to hasten our payoff. And as only our gracious God could do, He worked to have our goal of once again living debt free a reality, as we just paid off our Faith House mortgage six years early. Thank you JESUS!!

The journey has not been easy, and many questions circling our lives remain unanswered. Yet through it all, God has been faithful. When we step outside and see the Trailblazer, it constantly reminds us that God can make a way, when there seems to be no way. Amen! In fact, there are three other automobiles parked outside of our home, and the Trailblazer is the only one that we paid for. All of the others were given to us! The Lord makes sure that I remember this whenever I want to camp out in a place of despair and wonder how He can possibly supply our many needs. NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR THE LORD!

Abraham's wife, Sarah, was going to soon learn this great principle. In Genesis 21:1-3, the Bible says: "And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him—whom Sarah bore to him—Isaac." Is anything too hard for the Lord?

FEAR or FAITH?

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

I'm sick. No, I am not sick with the Wuhan virus, or COVID-19, or coronavirus, or whatever we're supposed to call it, I'M SICK OF IT! I'm sick of the constant chatter about it. I'm sick of the non-stop news coverage concerning it. I'm sick of the political posturing over it. And I'm sick of the unbelievable display of "stupidity panic" as a result of it!

Some are reporting this event as a doomsday catastrophe, which at times crosses the line from revealing basic facts to fear-mongering. Others are prophesying that this virus will usher in the final Great Awakening via Facebook technology before the return of Christ. (By the way, I didn't know that God needed social media to accomplish His work. And I also remind you that if an awakening does not take place, the Bible says in the Old Testament that we are to execute false prophets. Be very careful, preacher, what you say. And because of your lying tongue and deceitful words, be very thankful that we don't live in Old Testament days.) While even a few are challenging this whole scenario as a false scheme to manipulate the markets, destroy our prosperous economy, and cause a tidal wave of hatred towards our President in order to assure his defeat in our upcoming election.

In light of all this commotion around us, what are we to think? How should we respond? And what are we to do? Please read my observations with an open mind and an humble spirit, as I have prayerfully prepared to post my thoughts:

• I do not believe the coronavirus is a false news narrative. I believe it is a real disease that should not be taken lightly. I do not know if it originated from someone eating a diseased bat purchased in an open market in Wuhan, China; or was an experiment gone bad in some kind of chemical/biological testing facility in that city; or was a man-made virus intentionally loosed in order to fulfill the desires of those with an extremely depraved heart. I do not know the exact origin, but I believe that it is real.
• Like some, I question why this virus is getting such news coverage when other sicknesses and diseases cause much more death than the coronavirus. The latest report states that there are 186,707 confirmed cases and 7,471 deaths linked to this disease globally. As I stated in my MARCH MADNESS post last week, it is estimated that at least 100,000 have died in this same time period of the common strains of the flu. Hmm, that's an interesting comparison. Also, the likelihood of contracting the coronavirus is very minimal. China, where the virus originated, has a population of 1.4 billion, and has reported just under 81,000 cases with 3,226 deaths. Look at that again: 1,400,000,000 people, and only 81,000 cases. Italy, with a population of 62 million, has certainly been hit hard with the virus according to alarming reports. It has about 28,000 confirmed cases with 2,158 deaths. The United States has a population of 330 million. We currently have 4,743 confirmed cases resulting in 93 deaths. In the state of Mississippi, we have a total population of approximately 3 million, with 12 confirmed cases of coronavirus, and no deaths. What does all this mean? With a total population of 7.8 billion people on planet Earth, only 0.000024% has the virus. In the U.S. only 0.000014% of our citizens has the virus. And in my home state of Mississippi, only 0.000004% have the disease. If you were to double, or even triple the confirmed cases, it would still remain a very small, minute percentage of the entire population. Estimated figures tell us that so far this year, there have been 7,700 traffic fatalities in the United States compared to 93 coronavirus deaths. You are much more likely to be killed in a car crash in this country than to die from this virus.
• One of the reasons for the concern over the coronavirus is the limited number of hospital beds and medical supplies. Our health care system is not made to handle large numbers of extremely ill members of our society. Just looking at Mississippi, there are a total of about 12,000 hospital beds throughout the state. With a population of 3 million people, it is easy to see that we are not able to house and care for a large number of our citizens should they get desperately ill. Since this is a new virus, we have no natural immunity to it. Therefore, medical professionals, researchers, and governmental leaders have the right to be alarmed and to put forth advice and recommendations to us concerning the desire to lessen the spread of this virus.
• As upsetting as this situation is right now, our world will eventually return to a place of normalcy. For those who like to schedule everything, have all their plans and courses of action spelled out, and possess a sense of control over their lives and circumstances, you will have to adjust to the new normal for the next several weeks. I encourage you to consider others more than yourself. Check on the elderly and those with compromised immune systems who might be in your circle of influence. Look for those opportunities to share the gospel with those who do not posses the same hope that we have in Christ. And by all means, please lovingly encourage everyone to CHILL OUT concerning toilet paper!

                                                                                                  

Many of you probably know that for half of my ministry experience, I have been classified as bivocational. If this term is new to you, it simply means that I have been employed outside of my ministerial vocation to meet the needs of my family's financial burdens. Tammy and I both helped operate a family owned restaurant in Sturgis when our girls were younger and who also worked there with us. I worked at a local hospice company for several years as a chaplain, serving patients, caregivers, and my fellow employees as I ministered to people in the midst of very difficult circumstances. Since 2011, I have been involved in the transportation industry, driving ACR Coach charter buses, as well as Mississippi State University shuttle buses for a three year period in that time frame. During these nine years of meeting thousands of people and helping groups reach their travel destinations, I have sought to be a witness for Christ in a subtle yet straight forward way. I have purposely played Christian music on low volume via the radio or satellite TV on my buses, to which I have never heard one complaint. While working on campus, I engaged in numerous conversations with students who trusted me to give them sound, biblical advice concerning some of the issues that they were facing in life. And in the charter world, I have often quoted the above scripture from Philippians chapter four before purposely praying for our safety on the roadways before embarking on a trip.

With the news of this coronavirus inundating the airwaves of talk radio, news reports, social media, and everyday conversations everywhere, this verse is taking on a whole new meaning for me and my family. The charter bus industry is taking a direct hit in this time of crisis. With an announcement just yesterday of governmental officials suggesting that we do not gather in groups no larger that ten, who's going to plan to fill a bus with 50 passengers to go somewhere? In fact, over 80% of my trips in 2020 have been school or sports related, and now all of my upcoming trips for the next several weeks have been cancelled. Spring time is the "Christmas season" for those of us in this type of work. If we don't make it now, we won't make it at all. We have historically called the months of February, March and April our industry's March Madness because of the hectic schedule associated with this time of year. Now, however, everything has drastically changed.

Other businesses, like ours, are about to be thrown into the fires of financial uncertainty. I say all of this to let you know that I am not writing in an ivory tower, unconnected from the world of fear and concern. Though not physically, this virus is having a direct impact on me and my family. So what are we to do? We can either allow FEAR or FAITH to dominate our hearts, lives, thoughts, and actions. It cannot be both, it is an either/or reality. So we choose FAITH! What about you? Are you going to join forces with those who add to the chaos, or will you link up with the calmness of the redeemed? Jesus said, "In the world, you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world." Amen? So, my dear friend, I encourage you to KEEP CALM and FAITH ON!

The Acute Pain of Personal Rejection

"And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.'"

1 Samuel 8:7

It was a tragic time in the life of the nation of Israel, as the elders of the land demanded an earthly king. They boldly declared that they wanted to be like all the other nations that surrounded them. It is truly a sad testimony whenever the people of faith have a desire to be like the people of the world. As Samuel tearfully brought this request to the Lord, he was told that this was not a reflection upon him as a prophet, nor as a judge, but was a clear statement of personal rejection rooted in a greater problem. The people had rejected the wisdom, counsel and leadership of Samuel, because the people had rejected God. Samuel was not the first to experience this pain, as Moses encountered the sting of rejection. David also knew about rejection, first from Saul, and later from within his own family. Likewise, Jeremiah and Amos, two Old Testament prophets, were rejected men. And, of course, Jesus knew the deep pain of this malicious reality. The Bible says, "He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him."

Rejection is an awful word that produces agonizing wounds. It carries with it a harsh stigma that is extremely difficult, and nearly impossible, to overcome. A child rejected by his or her parents. A wife rejected by her husband, or a husband rejected by his wife. An individual rejected by their community. A worker rejected by their peers. And within the body of Christ, we often realize that the acute pain of personal rejection is not limited to the testimonies of those whose lives are portrayed in the word of God.

In my thirty years of gospel ministry, I too have faced and experienced the pain of rejection. Memories surface from time to time that remind me that the path of obedience has not always been easy. As the Lord faithfully opened doors for me to proclaim His word, I soon discovered that others were working to spread malicious lies and unfounded rumors against my personal character, and my scriptural beliefs, in order to damage, or perhaps destroy, my ministry. I would often laugh at such foolishness, until I discovered that some friends were being swayed to believe these baseless attacks. At one time I was in an area of service that still had strong pockets of racial division and prejudice in the lives of people, politicians, and even pastors. Preaching a message that God's grace is mighty to save no matter the place nor the race of an individual, caused a label to be placed upon me that was less than ideal. I remember being in those places where pastors would foolishly share the latest "n----r" jokes in order to raise my ire and judge my reactions. One particular time an ugly racist joke was told IN THE PULPIT, and then the preacher looked down at me and said, "What do you think about that, Brother Charles?" I wanted to get up immediately and leave as I felt my face flushed with anger, but I had been invited to preach the primary message before lunch by the host pastor. I was nearly in shock by this sinful and horrible display of hate and stupidity. When we later had a short break, I quietly left without saying anything to anyone. I don't know what happened after my departure, but I was told that I was the invisible recipient of many crude comments. Up until then, I counted that very influential pastor of a large church as a good friend, but our relationship eroded to a nonexistent level after that unpleasant event.

At other times my boldness in the pulpit caused my peers to turn against me. I was labeled a pulpit agitator by some who disliked both my style and my substance. A beloved associational missionary told me of an interesting phone call that he received from our state convention concerning my future. Some statistical information had garnered their attention concerning our church's growth, and they had several questions to ask about me. He validated what they were hearing in the state office, but when they voiced concern that I was a man who "rocked the boat" and they wanted him to speak to me about becoming a bit more moderate and agreeable, he laughed and told them that they should look elsewhere for a man who could be moved and controlled by the convention. It was via this man's knowledge and experience that I learned many prominent churches would have pastors who were groomed and chosen by the power of convention politics rather than the divine working of the Spirit of God. Years later a pastor told me that he always avoided me personally and professionally after other pastors voiced negative comments about me in his presence. When I was privileged to preach at a state evangelism conference where he was in attendance, he approached me and apologized for listening to useless gossip rather than talking with me face to face concerning what he had heard.

Now I do not want to paint an ugly picture over my thirty plus years of ministry. Time and space do not allow me to reflect upon the awesome adventure that I have had in following Christ. The trips to other countries to be involved in medical evangelism, revival conferences, pastor training, and missionary retreats have been wonderful encounters of His Spirit working in my life and in the lives of those in attendance. Numerous trips to Central and South American countries, as well as to European and Asian mega-cities, and those African adventures to both large cities and small villages will always be treasures stored in my memory. Preaching in elaborate chapels with huge windows to view the surrounding majestic mountains, as well as in mud huts with thatched roofs, were all privileges of grace. I remember being in a tiny Mexican village where an ongoing feud among two church families caused most folks to stay away. The congregation consisted of the missionary couple that we were with, my own family, two very aged women, about five little boys, and three dogs. The missionary led the music, the little boys took the offering, and I was preaching when the dogs decided to liven everything up with a good fight underneath the homemade pews! Dust was flying, teeth were biting, and the women started swinging whatever they could find at the dogs, as well as the boys, as they had joined the ruckus beneath the pews. When everyone guilty of fighting had been beaten out the door, they all went home. Looking at the missionary, I said, "What should we do now?" Replying with a smile, he said, "Let's give an invitation. After all that commotion, one of our wives might need to get saved!"

Funny experiences of life, coupled with those deeply moving times of Spiritual awakening and renewal, are also cemented in my mind. It has been an incredible adventure of faith that still continues today. I will be the first to admit that I have failed in numerous ways, yet the faithfulness of our Lord has been consistently present throughout the good times, as well as the not so good. As I look toward entering my thirty-first year of gospel ministry, I readily admit that where I am now was not a part of my long-range plan. Yet the past and current circumstances of my life have not dampened my faith, nor my zeal, for serving the Lord Jesus and seeking to be a positive influence through His name in whatever capacity is open for me.

If you are one of those servants of the Lord that has also experienced the acute pain of personal rejection, I encourage you to look away from those who would sidetrack you from your faith journey, and get a fresh glimpse of the Lord Jesus Christ. I remind you again that He is the ultimate example of rejection, yet He did not allow the God-haters of His day to interfere with His accomplishing His Father's will. In fact, the rejection was an important part of God's plan for the life, and the ultimate death, of His Son. And Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father, nor Me." Amen!