God Will Surprise You

“See, I am doing a new thing!” Isa 43:19 NIV


Can you imagine Moses’ surprise when God talks to him from a burning bush? As doors shut without explanation, Paul is surprised by a man from Macedonia calling to him in a vision, “Come over here and help us” (Ac 16:9 TLB). Well, He’s still the God of surprises Who says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Ah, there’s the challenge—our perception. We fail to recognize God at work! Maybe you’re saying, “I’ve prayed, claimed God’s promises, done all I know to do, yet nothing seems to be working for me.” Then try this promise: “Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you” (Isa 30:18). Notice the word “wait.” God has a plan and a timetable. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Pr 19:21 NIV). Even when your plans flounder, if your heart’s right God will still make things turn out for your good and His glory. When it comes to God’s guidance, here are some things you need to know: First, ideas go away, but His direction stays. There’s persistence in His leading; that’s why time is on your side. Second, His direction is impossible to follow without His help. He plans it that way. “Without Me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5 NKJV). Third, His direction usually begins with discomfort. “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest…The Lord…led him” (Dt 32:11-12 NIV). A baby eagle is shocked when its mother forces it out of the nest. But that’s when it “finds its wings.” Think about it!

Samson and Delilah

“Samson went down.” Jdg 14:1 NKJV


Samson lost everything because of: (1) Wrong relationships. When God says no to a relationship He’s not being punitive, He’s being protective. “But I feel so good when I’m with them,” you say. God sees where the road leads, you don’t! It’s better to want what you don’t have, than end up with what you can’t handle. (2) Willful disobedience. Three times we read, “Samson went down.” The third time it was to Delilah! So, is this relationship taking you up or down? The poet wrote, “My old companions fare thee well; I will not go with thee to hell.” The Bible says “Samson went down” to Timnath and married a Philistine girl, breaking God’s law. And even though she betrayed him “the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men” (Jdg 14:19 NKJV). Perhaps Samson thought God would excuse him because he was “special.” No, “He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed” (Pr 29:1 NKJV). Repent, before you run out of time! (3) Misplaced confidence. “[Delilah] said, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ So he awoke…and said, ‘I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!’ But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him. Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down” (Jdg 16:20-21 NKJV). When God’s blessing is no longer upon what you’re doing, it’s time to realize: (a) that there’s sin in your life and you must deal with it; (b) that the secret of your strength is in God, not you.

Trust God, and Do Something!

“Do not…be dismayed…I will help you.” Isa 41:10 AMP


As long as you’re willing to live with the problem, you won’t solve it! Sometimes a situation that infuriates you, or unlocks your compassion, is a situation God’s calling you to tackle. Nehemiah couldn’t bear to think of Jerusalem in ruins, so he rallied God’s people and rebuilt it. David, tired of Goliath’s threats, put his life on the line and defeated him. Elijah couldn’t tolerate idolatry so he took on the prophets of Baal, and won! If you’re tired of the status quo, God may be calling you to change it. If so, He has promised, “Do not…be dismayed…I will help you.” Henrietta Mears taught at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood and influenced leaders like Billy Graham, Bill Bright, and former Senate Chaplain Richard Halverson. Disappointed by the lack of good educational material, she started her own publishing house—in her garage! Later it became Gospel Light Publications, one of the most effective in the world. When she couldn’t find a good single-volume introduction to the Bible, she wrote one. To this day it remains a best seller. Motivated by the lack of good retreat facilities for Christians living in crowded Los Angeles, she found the perfect spot in the San Gabriel Mountains. After praying in faith and negotiating, she got her retreat. It’s now Forest Home, a top-notch conference center. Always, at the point of her greatest frustration, Henrietta would take a step of faith—and find a bridge was always there. In fact, on her deathbed, when somebody asked, “If you could do it all again, what would you do differently?” She replied, “I’d trust Christ even more!”

Infallible Proof

“He…presented Himself alive…by many infallible proofs.” Ac 1:3 NKJV


In Jesus’ day when a carpenter completed a job, it was customary for him to wash his hands, dry them on a linen cloth, fold it, and leave it on top of his work. That cloth was his trademark; whoever inspected it knew the work was finished. On Easter Sunday “Peter…saw…the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head…folded up by itself…and believed” (Jn 20:6-8 NIV). Scientists say that infallible proof comes from getting the same result from repeated experiments and multiple confirmations. Here are five infallible proofs that Jesus rose from the dead: (1) Mary Magdalene encountered Him. (2) The women at the grave saw Him. (3) The disciples talked with Him. (4) The apostles met Him. (5) Five hundred people witnessed Him at one time. “He…presented Himself alive…by many infallible proofs, being seen by them.” Christ’s resurrection is the foundation of our salvation and the hope upon which our eternity rests (See Ro 10:9-10). Paul writes: “Christ died for our sins…was buried…rose again the third day…and…was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present…After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me” (1Co 15:3-8 NKJV). At an Easter service in Bangladesh the congregation wept at the crucifixion scene in the Jesus film. Suddenly a little boy at the back jumped up and shouted, “Don’t worry, He gets up again. I saw it before!”

Blending Two Families

“I’m doing the very best I can…at home.” Ps 101:2 TM

If you’re trying to blend “his” and “her” children into one big, happy family, a marriage counselor offers some helpful insights you’d do well to adopt. What we call romantic bliss, our children often see as domestic upheaval. So: (1) Realize it takes work to resolve your problems and build intimacy. Keep reading First Corinthians, chapter thirteen: the key to a strong family is “love.” You must practice it every day. Your kids take their cue from you, so in times of stress maintain a loving attitude. (2) Remember that you had a choice, your children didn’t. They didn’t ask to be put in this situation, so be understanding and work to strengthen their sense of security during this difficult time of transition. (3) Don’t expect instant bliss. Be realistic about the challenges involved in blending two families. There’s no such thing as instant intimacy or total compatibility. It takes time to develop strong bonds and stabilize a family, so “easy does it.” (4) Allow time to grieve past losses. Jesus said, “Those…who grieve…will find comfort!” (Mt 5:4 CEV). At the time of their parents’ second marriage many children have already lived in three different family units: their biological family, their single parent family, and now their new blended family. Plus, if your own biological children aren’t living with you, you may experience a personal sense of loss. Failure to acknowledge this will result in anger and alienation, so deal with the past before taking on the future.

Be Led by God, Not Others (2)

“Led by the Spirit of God.” Ro 8:14 NKJV

God will help you to be all you can be, but He will never help you to be somebody else. When you try to be somebody else, you lose yourself in the process. God wants us to fit into His plan, not yield to pressure and try to fit into someone else’s. It’s all right to be different; different is okay! Find out what you’re good at, throw yourself into it wholeheartedly and you’ll start to experience true joy. Besides, when you try to do what somebody else is good at, you generally fail, right? That’s because God hasn’t assigned you to do what they are doing, or at least not in the way they’re doing it. But that doesn’t mean you’re not good at anything. Here’s an important key: focus on your potential, not your limitations. We all have limitations and we must accept them. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just a fact of life. Actually, it’s wonderful to be different without feeling like there’s something wrong with you. Spiritually mature people know that God loves them as they are and has a purpose for their life, so they’re not threatened by the abilities and accomplishments of others. They enjoy what other people do, because they enjoy what they themselves do. Paul writes: “Let us not become…competitive…envying and…jealous of one another” (Gal 5:26 AMP). In the end, what matters most is being able to say as Jesus said, “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (Jn 17:4 NIV). Any time you can say that, you did it right!

Be Led by God, Not Others (1)

“Led by the Spirit of God.” Ro 8:14 NKJV

Life is like a maze; it’s easy to get lost. Pressure comes at us from every direction to keep others happy. We study the important people in our lives, trying to decide what they want from us and how to give it to them, and in the process we lose ourselves. You need to stop and ask, “Who am I living for? Why am I doing the things I do?” Paul writes: “Having gifts…that differ…let us use them” (Ro 12:6 AMP). What has God called and equipped you to do? Those who succeed at being themselves don’t allow others to control them because they’re led by God. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Don’t be upset because people place demands on you. It’s your life, take charge of it! The pressures you feel right now may not be coming from others at all; they may be coming from your own people-pleasing instincts! Yes, there are times when we all do things we’d rather not do. We do them because we love others, and in so doing we show “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22). But that’s different from being controlled by your own insecurities or the endless demands of others. When you try to become everything to everybody, you get lost in the process. Plus, when you live for people’s approval, you risk forfeiting God’s. It’s time you started praying, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” (Ac 9:6 NKJV). Once He reveals it to you, commit yourself to it fully, regardless of who does or doesn’t agree.

According to Fred Smith (1)

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1Co 11:1 NIV

 A lifelong friend of Billy Graham, Zig Ziglar and Ken Blanchard, Fred Smith mentored a generation of leaders. But more importantly, he was the real deal at home. He believed the words: “Tell your children and grandchildren…the incredible things I am doing” (Ex 10:2 TLB). Fred’s daughter Brenda shares some Scriptures she learned from her dad. Let’s look at them: “Love never fails” (1Co 13:8 NAS). When Fred’s doctors said he was dying, Brenda said, “No, I’ll take him home and he’ll live.” She did, and he did. Many older people who die of “natural causes” actually die of loneliness. Love is still our healthiest environment; it’s God’s greatest gift to us, and ours to one another. “Tribulation produces perseverance” (Ro 5:3 NKJV). Don’t miss the good in the bad. Trials can be negative or positive, depending on how you use them. Type A people expect life to run on their schedule, but tribulation has its own agenda and pace, and patience is the only antidote. “Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled” (Ro 12:11 TM). The director of a big company confirms that engineers who retire without a plan to stay busy, often die within sixteen months. By not staying involved in life you are subconsciously giving yourself permission to die. Fred Smith’s philosophy was: you can’t let up, and keep up. Paul said, “As long as I’m alive…there is good work for me to do” (Ph 1:22 TM). And there is for you too.

Spiritual Growth

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Ro 12:2 NKJV


Are you wrestling with a personal problem, thinking, “If I can just overcome this I’ll be okay?” Well, there’s good news and bad. The good news is, by God’s grace you can overcome it. The bad news is, when you’ve overcome this particular problem, another one is waiting to take its place. You’re always going to be working on something. Spiritual growth is a work in progress. And it doesn’t come through human effort, self-condemnation, or the white-knuckling works of the flesh. It comes as a result of spending time in prayer and having your mind renewed daily by His Word. As you agree with God, believing what He says is true, change automatically happens. You start to think differently, talk differently, and act differently. Be patient with yourself; it’s a process that develops in stages. Would you think there was something wrong with your child because they couldn’t walk perfectly on the first few tries? No, you’re delighted each time they take a step. When they fall you pick them up. When they mess up, you clean them up and encourage them to try again. You never stop working with them! And God does the same with us. He’s not angry because you haven’t “arrived,” He’s pleased that you’re pressing on, endeavoring to stay on the path. It’s God’s job to “cause [you to] be governed by the Holy Spirit” (2Co 3:8 AMP). If you could do it by yourself you wouldn’t need Him. So instead of driving yourself harder and harder, start leaning on God more and more and you’ll “go from strength to strength” (Ps 84:7 NIV).

The Power of Parental Love (2)

“Isaac…loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” Ge 25:28 NIV


The prophet wrote: “Our parents sinned…and now we’re paying for the wrongs they did” (La 5:7 TM). Parent, no responsibility is greater than yours! Flawed and limited though you are, God has put awesome power into your hands—the power to shape the next generation. Succeeding or failing in business means nothing compared to succeeding or failing as a parent. When you fail, your children often pay for the wrongs you did. Many of us have gazed adoringly into the crib of our innocent child and prayed, “O God, wherever else I may fail, don’t let it be here!” Answering that prayer is going to take: (a) Total investment in them. It will involve being at their game, play or social event when you’re exhausted, and participating in their spiritual, emotional and educational challenges. (b) Accepting them unconditionally. That means even when they don’t want to become what you hoped for, you support them wholeheartedly for being what God designed them to be instead! (c) Unfailing encouragement. Whether they win or lose, are right or wrong, make you look good or embarrass you, you understand, console and encourage them to believe in their God-given potential by letting them know, “I’ll never reject you, no matter what happens.” What if it’s late in the game, they’ve gotten off track and you know you’ve blown it? Admit it to God—and them. They know you failed and they’re generous forgivers! Ask (and believe) God to change you and them. God has promised to “restore to you the years” (Joel 2:25 NKJV) that failure and neglect have stolen.

The Power of Parental Love (1)

“Isaac…loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” Ge 25:28 NIV

Isaac’s favoritism triggered rivalry between his two sons. Now some rivalry is normal and healthy and is usually outgrown, but not in Esau and Jacob’s case. Time only turned their rivalry into hatred. It’s tempting to blame Esau’s explosive anger, but his brother Jacob was no innocent victim. Catching Esau at a moment of extreme hunger, Jacob tricks him into trading his inheritance for a bowl of stew. Later, pretending to be his brother, Jacob steals Esau’s prophetic blessing from under their aging father’s nose. Where does this kind of toxic rivalry originate? Is it about good kids versus bad kids? Not likely! “Isaac loved Esau.” Esau got his father’s love, leaving Jacob resentful over getting what he, Jacob, wanted but was denied. Jacob couldn’t get the love he craved from his father so he grabbed what he could: the birthright and the blessing. When children are denied our love they become self-destructive, pursuing whatever love-substitutes they can get from us or other sources. Jacob wasn’t born a “bad boy.” The failure of Isaac’s love and his favoritism toward Esau left Jacob feeling rejected, hating the brother he perceived to be his problem. And Esau didn’t start out a “bad boy” either. His mother Rebekah favored Jacob, helping concoct his “stolen blessing scam.” Jacob wasn’t loved by his father; Esau wasn’t loved by his mother. Their parents weren’t on the same page. Their favoritism led to one son becoming a fugitive and another programmed for a life of failure. Parent, consider carefully your power to shape your child’s life!

You Must Be Bold!

“We were bold in our God.” 1Th 2:2 NKJV


If you want to be led by God you must learn to be bold—not rude or insensitive, but bold, because God will sometimes direct you to do things others don’t understand or agree with. Any time you step outside the boundaries of what others think is acceptable, you risk rejection. So be it! You can’t allow that to keep you from doing what you know God wants you to do. Confronting criticism becomes a little easier when you remember that, ultimately, “Each of us shall give account of himself to God” (Ro 14:12 NKJV). It hurts to be criticized. But if you’re to succeed in life, you must have the attitude Paul had. Ben Campbell Johnson paraphrases Paul’s words in First Corinthians 4:3-4: “I am not the least concerned with the fact that you are deciding what is right and what is wrong with me…Neither you nor anyone else can put me down unless I first put myself down (and I’m not doing that)…Though I don’t know of anything against me, my ignorance doesn’t mean that I am correct in my appraisal, because the final evaluation is in God’s hands.” Secure people can handle being the only ones doing something. They can also allow others the same choice because they know we have been called to love one another, not analyze and categorize one another! To avoid growing old and feeling like somewhere along the way you got lost and never succeeded at being what God called you to be, you must be bold.

Denominationalism

“That all of them may be one.” Jn 17:21 NIV

This may come as a shock, but the Book of Life doesn’t record your denomination next to your name. In heaven there are no religious labels. If someone has the right to call Jesus, Lord, you must treat them as your brother and sister regardless of which church they attend. We’re all related by blood—the blood of Jesus! As believers the Bible tells us to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3 NAS). Notice, God doesn’t tell us to create unity, He tells us to preserve it. Comedian Elmo Phillips used to tell this story: “In a conversation with a person I had recently met, I asked, ‘Are you a Protestant or a Catholic?’ My new acquaintance replied, ‘Protestant.’ I said, ‘Me too!’ I asked, ‘What franchise?’ He answered, ‘Baptist.’ ‘Me too!’ I said. ‘Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?’ ‘Northern Baptist,’ he replied. ‘Me too!’ I shouted. We continued to go back and forth. Finally I asked, ‘Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist, Great Lakes Region, Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist, Great Lakes Region, Council of 1912?’ He replied, ‘Northern Conservative Fundamentalist Baptist, Great Lakes Region, Council of 1912.’ I said, ‘Die, heretic!’” Seriously, do you know what Jesus prayed for? “That all of them may be one…so that the world may believe.” A divided church is a wounded and weak church. Ever considered what would happen if we downplayed our labels and put our contents on display? Maybe we wouldn’t need signs outside our door to attract people, because they’d be drawn by the love of those inside. It’s worth thinking about, isn’t it?

Your Faith Is on Trial

“Do not think it strange.” 1Pe 4:12 NKJV


Faith in God doesn’t exempt you from life’s trials; it sustains you in them and grows stronger as a result of them. Trials come in different areas such as sickness, unemployment, relational conflict, and personal challenges. And trials have different time lines; some last a short season, others a lifetime. And trials, like storms, have different intensity levels. But most trials have one thing in common: they make you say, “If only I could understand why this has happened.” The Bible answers this question in two Scriptures: (1) “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Ps 34:19 NKJV). (2) “For a little while…you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory” (1Pe 1:6-7 NKJV). . Claiming God’s promises doesn’t mean you will escape adversity. Who told you that anyway? Not God! His Word says, “Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you.” Real maturity often takes place in the crucible of pain. The truth is, you’ll never know how strong your faith is till you’ve been there.

Getting Along with Each Other (4)

“You must get along with each other.” 1Co 1:10 TM


Here are two things you must do in order to mend a broken relationship: (1) Attack the problem, not the person. You can’t fix the problem if you’re obsessed with fixing the blame. The Bible says: “A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire” (Pr 15:1 TM). In resolving any conflict, how you say it is as important as what you say. If you say it offensively, you’ll be received defensively. “A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is” (Pr 16:21 GNT). Nagging doesn’t work. You’re never persuasive when you’re abrasive! Don’t use words that are condemning, belittling, comparing, labeling, insulting, condescending or sarcastic. “Use…only helpful words…so that what you say will do good to those who hear you” (Eph 4:29 GNT). (2) Focus on your relationship, not your differences. It’s unrealistic to expect everybody to agree about everything. But when we focus on the relationship, the problem often loses its significance, diminishes, or becomes irrelevant. Often we can reestablish the relationship even though we’re unable to resolve our differences. We’ll always have honest disagreements, but surely, by God’s grace, we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can walk arm-in-arm without seeing eye-to-eye. This doesn’t mean giving up on finding a solution. You may need to continue discussing it—but now you agree to do it in the spirit of love. Reconciliation means burying the hatchet, not necessarily the issue. So who do you need to contact? With whom do you need to restore fellowship?

Getting Along with Each Other (3)

“You must get along with each other.” 1Co 1:10 TM


Getting along with each other requires more than compliance, it calls for cooperation. So: (1) Validate the other person’s feelings! Never try to talk someone out of how they “feel.” Listen without being defensive, and nod that you understand, even when you don’t agree. Feelings aren’t always true or logical, but until they’re validated you won’t get anywhere. David said, “When my…feelings were hurt, I was…stupid” (Ps 73:21-22 GNT). We all act badly when we’re hurt. But Solomon says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense” (Pr 19:11 NIV). When you are willing to empathize with someone’s feelings it says, “I care about our relationship more than our differences; you matter to me.” Sure, it’s a sacrifice to patiently absorb somebody’s anger, especially when it’s unfounded. But remember, that’s what Jesus does for you! (2) Confess your part. Jesus said, “First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye” (Mt 7:5 NLT). Since we all have blind spots, get a friend to help you evaluate your attitudes and actions before meeting with the other person. Ask God, “Am I part of the problem? Am I unrealistic, insensitive, or too sensitive?” Confession is a powerful tool! When you can admit your own flaws, it defuses the other person’s anger because they’re expecting you to be defensive. Don’t make excuses or shift blame, just acknowledge your part. You say, “That’s hard to do.” Sure, but God “has given us this ministry of restoring relationships” (2Co 5:18 GWT).

Getting Along with Each Other (2)

“You must get along with each other.” 1Co 1:10 TM


If you’re serious about restoring a broken relationship: (1) Before you talk to the other person, talk to God. He can change their heart, your heart, or both hearts. It’s amazing how different you feel when you’ve prayed. Often the conflict is rooted in unmet needs. Any time you expect human beings to meet needs only God can meet, you’re in trouble. “What causes…quarrels among you?…You want something but don’t get it…You do not have, because you do not ask God” (Jas 4:1-2 NIV). Instead of looking to God, you look to people, then you get angry when they fail you. God says, “Why don’t you come to me first?” (2) Arrange to talk to them one-on-one. Even though you’ve been offended, God expects you to make the first move: “Go and be reconciled to that person” (Mt 5:24 NLT). We say, “Time heals.” Not necessarily; sometimes it just causes wounds to fester. Taking control of the situation reduces the damage. Plus, bitterness only hurts your fellowship with God and keeps your prayers from being answered (See 1Pe 3:7). Job’s friends reminded him, “You are only hurting yourself with your anger” (Job 18:4 GNT). (3) Timing is all-important. Don’t try to mend a relationship when you’re tired, rushed, or will be interrupted. And don’t do it “on the fly.” The time and effort you’re willing to put into restoring it indicates the value you place on the relationship. So do it when you’re both at your best. You say, “I’m not sure I can do it.” Yes, you can; God “has given us this ministry of restoring relationships” (2Co 5:18 GWT).

Getting Along with Each Other (1)

“You must get along with each other.” 1Co 1:10 TM


If you keep bailing out of relationships every time they hit troubled waters, get used to your own company—it’s the only company you’ll have. The best relationship you can hope for is an imperfect one you keep working on every day. Relationships can’t be based on seeing eye-to-eye on all points, but on a commitment to love each other and a willingness to work for peace. Jesus said, “God blesses those who work for peace” (Mt. 5:9 NLT). Notice, peacemaking is “work,” but the rewards are worth it. Relationships are always worth restoring. God wants us to value our relationships instead of discarding them every time there’s a problem. Paul wrote: “If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you…Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends” (Php 2:1-2 TM). Our ability to get along with each other is a mark of spiritual maturity. God wants His family to be known for their love. Strife and bickering send the wrong message to a watching world. Paul was embarrassed when the church in Corinth started splitting into warring factions and taking each other to court. “Shame on you!” he wrote. “Surely there is at least one wise person…who can settle a dispute between fellow Christians” (1Co 6:5 GNT). He was shocked and disappointed that nobody was mature enough to resolve the conflict peacefully. So he wrote: “I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other.”

What Goes Around Comes Around

“The deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.” Pr 12:14 NAS


A lady was driving along a back road in stifling hot weather when she passed an elderly man attempting to fix a flat tire. A woman alone can’t be too careful; nevertheless she hoped somebody would stop. When nobody did, she went back and found the old man weak and perspiring. “Thanks,” he gasped. “I prayed somebody would stop.” Using her cell phone to call for help, the woman waited with him. He introduced himself as Bill Krumweide, talked about his family and his hobby of collecting antique farm equipment. He offered to pay her but the Good Samaritan said, “Just knowing I was an answer to prayer is enough.” Ten years later the same lady was worried about her aging father, who could no longer work the family farm. When she called a volunteer organization for help, four men arrived with heavy equipment and spent three days planting the crops. One of the men looked familiar, and when he introduced himself she realized why. Turns out he was the elderly man’s son, Bill Krumweide, Jr. “Thank you for helping my dad all those years ago,” he said. “I’m the one who owes you,” the woman replied. “It’s amazing how one kindness followed another and connected our families in a bond of gratitude. And it started…with an old man’s prayer.” What goes around comes around. “The deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.” God rewards us “according to [our] work” (Pr 24:12 NAS). You don’t live in a vacuum. The Bible says: “Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord” (Eph 6:7 NKJV).