Coffee With The Lord

Just a pimple-faced, gangly farm boy from the little Western Montana town of Ronan… 10 years old, attending a “Kid’s Kamp” at a place called “Hungry Horse.”  Sleeping on a camp cot in one of the buildings with other kids.  Attended an evening service designed to challenge kids like me to follow Jesus.  The lady “evangelist” spoke the evening that it happened… God spoke to my 10-year-old heart… I responded to the appeal and went back into the prayer room… The only way I know how to explain it is, God said, “I want you!  I want you to serve me and teach people everywhere what my Word says!  LeRoy, will you do it?”  I couldn’t believe He was asking me!  I told Him I was a farm kid from a little town.  I told Him I wasn’t popular or the smartest one in my class.  He said He didn’t care!  It was clear He wanted me!  I finally said “Yes!  I’ll do it for You!”  And the rest is history!  Sixty years later and still doing it… Pastored some wonderful churches, taught Bible, theology and ministry courses for 32 years at Southwestern Assemblies of God University, served my denomination (the Assemblies of God) as National Christian Education Director and Commissioner on Discipleship, and I’ve had the privilege of teaching God’s Word all over the world!  Couldn’t have done it without a clear call and God’s enablement!

Thought about all of that this morning as I read about Jeremiah’s call during my time of “coffee with the Lord”…  Here’s Jeremiah’s testimony…

“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you!  Before you were born I consecrated you!  I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’  Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God!  Behold I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth!’  But the Lord said, ‘Do not say, I am only a youth!  For to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.  Do not be afraid… I am with you declares the Lord!’  Then the Lord put out His hand and touched my mouth.  And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold I have put my words is your mouth!  See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms… I am watching over my word to perform it!’”  (From Jeremiah 1:4-12)

I am so honored to have heard His call!  Sure am glad I said “Yes!”  What a journey for a 10 year old farm kid from Western Montana!  Incidentally, what has the Lord called you to do?  I don’t know if you’re struggling with His call … Or maybe you’ve been running from His call … If you are, let me be one voice to encourage you to say “Yes!” to His call!  Let me tell you, being a Jeremiah is a whole lot better than being a Jonah!

I know several of you have experienced it… a life-threatening illness or an accident… and miraculously, you survived!

As many of you know, Sharon and I had such an accident six months ago.  Coming home from Montana, a car drifted into the lane of a truck in front of us in Colorado, lost control and swiped our vehicle on the driver’s side, taking out our rear axle, causing our SUV to roll 2-3 times.  All I had time to do was cry out “Jesus!”  Car was totaled.  My wife. Sharon, had 10 fractured ribs (several with multiple fractures), a fractured collarbone that had to be surgically repaired, and a punctured lung.  I escaped with just a deep bruise on my left hip.  ICU for Sharon, a lot of pain, surgery, physical therapy, long recovery… but we both are blessed to be alive!

I don’t know why… I guess it was just the shock of it all and my need to help Sharon right after the accident, but I didn’t immediately fall to my knees beside our mangled car in the ditch and offer thanksgiving to God for sparing our lives.  I should have… but I didn’t.  Believe me, since then both Sharon and I have done just that… alot!

And then this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I read Psalm 30 and wrote these words in the margin of my Bible:  “What to do after the Lord saves your life, and you walk away alive after a near death experience.”

Here it is from the Bible…

“I will extol You, O Lord for You have drawn me up… O Lord my God, I cried to You for help, and You have healed me!  O Lord, You have brought up my soul from Sheol [death]; You restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit [the grave]!

“Sing praises to the Lord, O you His saints, and give thanks to His holy name! … To You, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:  What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit?  Will the dust praise You?  Will it tell of Your faithfulness?  Hear, O Lord, and me merciful to me?  O Lord, be my helper!

“You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent!  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!”  (From Psalm 30 ESV)

So today, I paused after reading this Psalm and reflected… and then I made it’s words my own… and did what I probably should have done after the accident in that ditch in Colorado… offered, deep, heartfelt thanksgiving to the God who spared our lives!