Chaplain Bill Wolfe
Llano County Sheriff’s Department
Hello, and welcome once again to the November edition of the Chaplain’s Corner. I’m all wound up as I sit here and write tonight. J November is Thanksgiving month and I have things for which to be thankful. Part of it is on my behalf and the other is for a friend.
I’m thankful that I’m here to write again this month. At about 2:45 am this morning, I almost had an up-close and painful encounter with a 10-55 (DWI). I was in my p.o.v. on my way to meet my wife who was coming home from watching a successful marching band contest in Waco. As I was heading out of town, I was suddenly confronted with headlights in my lane coming right at me. Next thing I know, I’m on the handheld calling in to dispatch. Clean miss. Thank You, Lord! There was a city officer just two blocks behind me and he treated the occupants of the pickup to the County Bed & Breakfast once he caught up to them.
A near miss like this seems to convey the message that God’s still got something for me to do before I leave this world. (This is the second head-on that He’s spared me from in about as many years.) One of those things I get to do is to celebrate my 30th wedding anniversary on the 29th. J I’m thankful that she’s put up with me for that long, although it doesn’t seem like it could be 30 already.
Well, what’s really got me wound up tonight is news I received in a phone call from Alabama just a little while ago. Sometimes God uses more extreme measures than a near miss to get our attention. I often refer to “2 x 4 theology” when God has to, figuratively speaking, hit me with a 2 x 4 to get my attention.
I have a friend (yep, I have one…bet you didn’t know I had any J) who had recently moved to Alabama. God had placed a call upon his life, but he was running from God. You may remember my funny little story about Jonah a few years ago about what happened when one man ran from God. (I had actually nicknamed my friend Jonah.) Last week this “Jonah,” who is in his 30s, suffered a stroke and was in pretty bad shape. God had been dealing with him, but he was playing games with God. Today, “Jonah” allowed himself to be talked into going to church. His wife said it took 4 men to help him up the stairs into the church. I had sent emails around the country asking for prayers for him. At the close of the service “Jonah” went forward for prayer and God completely healed him! He went into the church lame and came out walking! Praise the Lord!
Why am I sharing this with you? Several reasons. J First as I said, I’m wound up because God is still in the prayer-answering business. We all hear about miracles in church services that maybe aren’t really genuine, but I know this one is. God has shown Himself mighty in answer to prayer and a willingness to yield a life into His hands. Secondly, I have to tell you that it is God that will bring people up out of their wheelchairs, not John F. Kerry. And thirdly, those of you that are going through tough times, I want to bring some admonition and encouragement.
There’s an old saying that “into every life a little rain must fall.” For some of us it’s more like a tropical storm. But God can turn it around. Whether we’ve never met God, whether we’re playing games with God, or simply running from God, life can get real rough. Whether He causes it or allows it, I don’t know. More likely, it’s like the barricade at the low water crossing. If you don’t heed it, it’s your own fault. God tries to get through to us, but we won’t listen.
The Good News, however, is and continues to be that when we stop running, stop playing games, stop trying to leave God out of our lives, He will come and bring the answer that we need.
Wow! I didn’t mean to go to preaching, but someone out there needed to hear that. I know that there are most likely some of you who are doing your best to let God work and are having tough times. I know that tragedy falls into lives through no fault of your own. God is still there waiting for you too. All we have to do is to call out to him and be open to His touch and He will work on our behalf.
Prayer is a sincere conversation from the heart that touches Him. He will hear and answer. Sometimes the answer is exciting and obvious. Sometimes we have to listen closely. Sometimes the answer is scary or not what we want to do, but if we’ll do what He says, it will be prove a blessing.
Well, I’ve wound down now and probably made someone mad. But, if you’re the one who needed to hear, I pray that you’ll respond to Him.
Blessings to you and yours.
Chaplain Bill
chappy@chaplainscorner.org
