Being a Christian in today's world is very hard. But do not let that scare you, anything worthwhile is worth working for. Being a Christian can be hard but it can also be fun. That is my objective, through my own stories, stories of my friends and a lot of plagiarism (Just kidding, only a little plagiarism.), I am going to show that you can be a Christian and still have fun!

the most wasted of all days is one without
laughter - e e cummings


Monday, August 08, 2005


  God, are You sure that's how You want to do it?


Have you ever heard the one about the man who lived in a midwestern town that was located in a valley between two rivers. There was a terrible flood and both rivers overflowed their banks and the rains continued to fall day and night. The town was being flooded slowly but surely. Everyone was evacuated, except for one old man who refused to leave his house-which would soon become completely submerged.

"I have faith that God will save me," the old man shouted at everyone who asked him to leave and flee to higher ground. The man believed in the power of prayer, and he trusted that God would save him somehow.

As the water covered the roads, making them impassable for cars, a man in a four-wheel-drive truck stopped at the old man's house and banged on the door. "Hurry," he cried out. "Come with me and I'll drive you to safety! You haven't much time!" But the old man continued to pray. He would not leave his house.

Within hours, the water had risen several feet, completely flooding his home. The rain continued. The old man climbed up on the kitchen table and continue to pray. As the water was lapping at his heels, a man in a rowboat paddled up to the old man's kitchen window and shouted, "Sir, get in my boat! I'll take you to safety!"

"No," the old man shouted back. "God will deliver me from this flood!"

The water got deeper and soon the old man had no choice but to climb up on his roof. The torrential rains persisted. While he was praying, he heard the chop-chop-chop of a helicopter in the sky. He looked up and saw the helicopter hovering over his house. A ladder had been lowered for him to climb.

"Go away," yelled the man at the helicopter. "You will blow me off my roof! God is going to save me! You go save someone else!"

The helicopter couldn't wait forever, so it left the old man on his rooftop, still praying. Eventually, the water engulfed the house and the old man perished in the flood.

When the old man arrived at the gates of heaven, he asked Saint Peter if he could have a talk with God. Peter took him to he throne of grace.

"Oh Lord, I prayed earnestly for the rains to stop and for your deliverance from the flood. But you left me there to drown. I don't understand!"

"My child, I heard your prayers. I sent you a four-wheel-drive truck, a rowboat, and a helicopter. Why did you send them away?"

Author Unknown

First of all, I want to thank all of you that have been praying for me over the past few weeks. I am so blessed to have friends like you guys. So let me ask you guys something. Has God ever answered one of your prayers in a way completely different than the way you would have done it?

As most of you know, my doctor told me to find a new job or work on my stress management. Like I said, I really don't feel stressed. Really! So after the doctor told me stress way killing me, I decided to get my resume together and start looking for a job. That was Friday, then on Sunday a fellow co-worker passed away. Man, what a crappy weekend. This is where God does His thing and throws me for a loop. The next week my boss presented my with an opportunity. At first I thought it was a demotion but know I realize it was a blessing is disguise.

God once again has answered my prayers in a completely different way that I ever expected. You see the man who passed away was going to retire in the near future. Our company hired a very cool young man to to replace another man who had retired earlier this year. Unknown to most of us, they had hired this guy not just to replace this first guy who retired but he was going to move up and replace the guy who passed away when he retired. (Have I lost anyone yet.) So this is where God's timing is always prefect. They promoted the young man this week and I am going to take his job. I know I am rambling but I am trying to make a point. My point, God always answers prayer, either yes, no or wait. The answer may not be how you thought it would be and it may not be when you want it, but He always answers. Man, our God is so cool.

I kind of feel like the guy in the flood, looking for one thing when God sends me something else. Only difference, I see God has answered my prayers and my friends prayers!

Thanks again for all your prayers. You guys are great.
God bless,
Joe

God, are You sure that's how You want to do it?

15 Comments:

At 6:11 AM, Blogger Joe said...

God is so amazing. Yet why should we be amazed? But we are. Every time.

 
At 7:06 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

"Has God ever answered one of your prayers in a way completely different than the way you would have done it?"

Dude, I can't think of a time when God EVER answered a prayer the way I envisioned it when I prayed. You know that verse about God using foolish things to confound the wisdom of the world? That's my life story.

When I asked God for financial blessing, He crossed my path with people who badly needed my help. When I asked God to give me the kind of peace I had observed in someone else, He thrust me into a stormy situation that felt like it was going to tear me apart. When I asked God to help me to trust Him more, He "told me" (don't ask) to quit my job.

In every situation, my prayer was answered. In a way, even though He didn't always give me what I technically asked for, He knew what it was that I really wanted. Does that make sense?

Hey, great blog. Peace.

Your fellow idiot,
notmywill.blogspot.com

 
At 8:18 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Joe B,

Commenting to your post made me think of the first time God ever answered my prayer. I posted it on my blog, and credited your site with giving me the idea.

Check it out at notmywill.blogspot.com

 
At 8:25 AM, Blogger 20mileview.blogspot.com said...

Joe:
I can remember when I was much younger, getting very specific with my prayers. It was as if I was telling God, "OK, here's my desire, my plan, and what I think is best, now, will you please conform your will to meet my wishes?" Once I prayed for a specific job. I prayed very specifically for four or five things. When I found a company that had all the criteria, I poured it on, and even "helped" God by adding a couple of things about this particular job. Guess what? I got the job. God gave me exactly what I asked for. And 3 years later, broke and frustrated, I left. Why? It was MY will and not His. I have since learned to pray with the understanding that God has His best for me, and I just need to see what that is, or trust Him when I can't see.
I've found that by trusting Him completely, I can walk in the steps He has already ordered for me and not worry about whether or not He is upholding my will. It is a definite paradigm shift, but one that I am glad to make, for my own sake.

 
At 9:27 AM, Blogger Mike said...

God Rocks... Psalm 3:5&6

 
At 10:32 AM, Blogger jettybetty said...

Joe,
So glad that God has answered your prayers--and you are able to see it as His will!

Yes, over and over He's answered my prayers differently than what I expected--but His way is always best!

JB

 
At 12:47 AM, Blogger Sam Kurien said...

Our God is so Cool. More than coold He is awesome and yet He stoops down from heaven to look after small tiny children like us. God Bless Joe, your honest posts truly inspire everyone

 
At 10:47 AM, Blogger Cindy-Lou said...

Amen, brother! Isn't it funny how His answers to our prayers are even more grand than we could imagine? My hubby is one of those prayers anwered by God in a way completely different than I would have expected... and boy am I glad ;) I see you're in Georgia, too... you should take a look at the Georgia Christian Bloggers ring, you can find it on my site.
Love your blog! (thanks for stopping by mine and the nice comments! I'm adding you to my blogroll if you don't mind...)

 
At 11:36 PM, Blogger Darlene Schacht said...

The title of your blog caught my attention, and now that I see it, I think it's pretty cool. Glad I popped by, I know Joe and Paula and Cindy, and I'm sure they'll tell you I'm an idiot too.

 
At 10:53 AM, Blogger guppyman said...

Joe... glad you keep coming to my site. I've been a silent reader of yours too. This was a great story... It is always amazing the way He leads us to where we need to be.

BTW- for a great site for your 3 year old... try this one:

http://www.railimages.com/gallery/

All kinds of train pics there!

 
At 6:53 PM, Blogger Jackie Bolen said...

God helps me out when I am too stubborn and dumb to quit things. I had the worst job ever and I dreaded getting up everyday to go to work. I got fired and felt a load off my shoulders.

One time I was doing a long-distance hike and I hated it...then I got bit by a tick and had to quit.

Not sure if those are answers to prayer or not but it initially seemed like 2 very bad things that happened (being sick/getting fired) but it all worked out way better in the end.

 
At 12:55 PM, Blogger Gustaaf-Fernand said...

I'm just wondering: Could God create something he cannot destroy? If he can: he's not very good in destroying. If he can't: he's not very good in creating.
The allmighty, powerful God doesn't exists.
There's nothing as contradictorious as a God. People always craete a God as an image of themselves. People in Africa believe God is black. In America he's white. But you're gonna tell me he's both right, or non.
But please, feel free to carry on...

 
At 10:50 AM, Blogger Nancy said...

Thank you Freddy, I will feel free to carry on believing in God and His creation whether it is black, white, or any color of the rainbow! I will pray that you see what the Holy Spirit is trying to show you, it is beautiful.

Joe, all the way from Georgia and through the blogs you know me... thanks for the heads up!

God Bless

 
At 1:49 PM, Blogger Refreshment in Refuge said...

You blog has blessed me. I'm delighted I stopped by. I look forward to more!

I think the tougher time is when God gives me exactly what I ask for. I have asked for lots of things that were not good for me and God gave me those things so I would learn they were not good for me. It's funny/strange how God helps us to grow up in Him.

 
At 8:49 PM, Blogger supermom_in_ny said...

Ok, this is my third attempt to post this comment...
I know exactly what you mean. I have been blessed with many miracles. If you visit my blog, you can read about a few. One thing I learned is that God answers prayer: in His way, on His time and often in an unexpected manner. We have to remember that He knows the future and the answer may not always be what we want, but in the long run it is for the best. The hardest part is walking on an uncertain path, but that is when faith and trust come in.
Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.
I commend you on your work to edify and encourage.
May you continue to be blessed...
www.supermom2005.blogspot.com

 

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