The Stuttering Pastor

Before I begin, I find it suitable for you to know of an event that took place many years ago in my life. It was a day that a pastor was praying for me. As he stood there praying with his hand on my shoulder, God showed him something. That something was me preaching as an evangelist, even at a young age. That was God’s calling for my life.

What does that have to do with the story in which I am about to share? Well, allow me to explain. It just so happens that what I wrote above was part of the conversation that I had with a Brother-in-Christ. That conversation, by the way, is the topic of my story. Hope you’re ready because its beginning comes now.

The setting was a gift shop in an aquarium located in Atlanta, Georgia. The year? I can’t remember for sure. It may have been the summer after my sixth grade year. Like I said, I don’t know.

Anyways, I was looking at some stuffed penguin toys and somehow got talking to a worker there. He was a young gentleman with outstanding manners. He had short and nicely trimmed facial hair, but not very much of it. He was obviously Christian based on our conversation. Overall, he seemed very well raised.

Not long into our conversation I told him the story mentioned above.I also told him that I worried about becoming a pastor because I stuttered. He said, “Hey! There’s nothing wrong with that.” He then said that even Moses stuttered.

With that in mind I figured that it was all good. Stuttering just gave me one more similarity to Moses. Besides, God created me with no mistake. He must have had a really good reason for the stutter. Whatever that reason, I’m positive that it brought tons of glory to him. God can use any situation for his own glory, and as long as He does so, then I have no complaint whatsoever.

The Young Man’s Bible

In my preteen days, I went to a Christian men’s conference each year with my dad. Now, I could tell you so many stories about the events, but I will only be telling you one. It’s a moment that I will never forget. As a matter of fact, I learned so much that day as God used me in miraculous ways. This is the story of the young man’s Bible.

My dad and I had stopped at a food place for breakfast before heading towards the conference. I went and found a spot to eat as my father got the food. The spot I settled at was a booth. It was a booth located right next to a window and not far from the entrance. I have no doubt that the Lord had saved that spot for me specifically.

As I sat there, I opened up my Bible. Not long after, I realized that a grown man was watching me do so from the other side of the window. Once I looked his way he ran towards the entrance and made his way my booth. Once at the booth, he threw himself in the seat across from me like a child eager to sit in Santa’s lap. What was this all about? I was about to find out.

I looked at the stranger as he asked me for prayer. I agreed to pray for him as he told me what was wrong. Apparently, his wife, whom he loved, wanted a divorce. She was already kicking him out of the house. So, at that moment I prayed for a complete stranger sent my way by none other that Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

Like I said above, I learned something from this. It is a lesson that I will carry with me for eternity. I learned that you should not worry about the negative judgments that come out of the mouths of others. Why? Because when you devote your life to the Lord and choose to do things such as reading your Bible in a diner or drive-thru, not only will there be a positive impact in your life… But in the lives around you, as well.

Flying Faith

It was the summer of 2010, and my dad and I had just entered an airport. The two of us were all set to return from an outstanding vacation in Indianapolis, Indiana. We walked up to the desk near the entrance so that we could receive our boarding passes. The girl working at the counter told us that our flight- due to severe thunderstorms- would be delayed until the proceeding morning. She said that we could get a discount for a airport hotel at the terminal.

This news was terrible news. You see, I had just made plans for the next day while on the way to the airport. I had scheduled for two of my friends to come over. One of them was going to be heading off to college soon, and I really wanted to see her before that happened. It was terrible news.

What could I do? Could I do anything at all? That’s it! I could pray! I could pray to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no task to challenging for Him.

Sure enough, it worked! My father talked to the employee at the terminal and was about to be given a discount slip for the airport hotel. Right then, however, the worker received a message over her two-way radio saying that our flight was no longer delayed. God had saved the day! Yet, he was still not done saving it. My dad and I just didn’t know it at the time being.

Our first flight had arrived to the city of its destination. Unfortunately, it was unable to land for the moment. There was a terrible storm that it had to wait on. It would be too high of a risk for it to try landing. So, we circled around the airport for a bit.

My dad kept on saying that we would miss connected flight. I, on the other hand, had been told different by the Lord. He had shown me a picture of  us making it right when they were about to block off the entrance. I looked at my dad and said, “We will make it.” My dad laughed because he was truly impressed by my faith.

Finally, the plane was on the ground. My dad and I ran towards the terminal. The terminal was on the other side of the building. Still, I refused to give up my faith in the Lord. We eventually reached the terminal, and just as God showed me, we made it just in the nick of time.

Even when times got tough, I put my faith in the Lord. Why? Because God is capable of doing anything. Even when things appear to be going wrong, they are actually working out for God’s glory. Not only for God’s glory, but for the best possible outcome, as well.