Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Why do we doubt Him?

I am sorry that I have been missing in action for the last few weeks. I have had a computer virus for the last month that was harder to shake than the flu. Whenever I would get on the internet, I could only click one or two times before my entire computer would lock up. Thankfully, a computer repair service was able to fix most of my computer issues and I am back!

I have missed our “Tuesday Together in the Word” blog. Boy, the Lord has been using Acts to speak to me. In Acts 12, Peter is in prison, about to be executed, “but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.”

Their prayers were answered and Peter was miraculously delivered from prison as an angel led him to freedom. Upon being freed, Peter went to the very house where people were praying for him, but no one believed that Peter was at the door except for a servant girl.

Acts 12: 12-16
And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the
mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and
were praying. When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named
Rhoda came to answer. When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she
did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front
of the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept
insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” But Peter
continued knocking, and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were
amazed.

They had been praying for Peter to be freed from prison, but when he was actually freed they couldn’t believe it. They did not even have enough faith to open the door to let Peter inside. Their prayers had been mixed with doubt. They prayed but really did not expect the Lord to answer. Is this a picture of your prayer life? I know it is mine at times. Sometimes, I look back at the things that the Lord has done in my life and I can’t believe that I ever doubted. But, then I turn right around and doubt again. The great thing about this illustration in Acts 12 is that the Lord knew their weaknesses and doubts and answered their prayers anyway. I am so thankful that we serve a gracious Lord.

Here is a very recently example of my doubting the Lord and his answer to me:

Our church has been planning to go on a Mission Trip to Ecuador this summer. The group will be going into an area of Ecuador that was devastated by floods last year to share hope to a people that have lost everything and desperately need to hear about Jesus. We decided that our family would not be going on the trip this summer. Due to the cost of the trip, the state of the economy, and the fact that we have gone on a foreign mission trip the last two summers, we decided not to go this summer. But the Lord just wouldn’t let us say “No.”

The biggest reasons that we had decided not to go was because we really did not want to ask people for money to go on this trip right now. The cost for all four of us to go is expensive and times are really tough for a lot of people. So many people are out of work. I was doubting that the Lord could provide the funds for this trip. Then, the Lord gave me an idea!

As most of you know, I am a CPA. I do personal, partnership, and corporation tax returns. The owner of my company has generously agreed that if anyone comes to our office to support this mission trip as a new client to have me do your tax return, 100% of what you pay to have your taxes done will go directly to the mission trip. You will even make your check out to the mission trip (which will be 100% tax deductible to you as a donation). Also, the suggested donation that I am asking for doing your taxes is what you paid last year to have your taxes done, minus 20%. In other words, you will save money and 100% of what you give will go to support the spreading of God’s word in the foreign mission field. Can it get any better than that?

Currently, we are committing for one member of my family to go to Ecuador (either Steve or me); however, based on how much I am able to raise, I am hoping that all four of us can go. If you are interested, please e-mail me at kelly@hhaccountingservice.com or call me at 205-668-1910 ext. 104. If you do not live close to Calera, I can meet with you at our Birmingham office or you can send me your information by mail or e-mail. Please mention this to other people that you may know, including the company that you work for. I would love to do individual, partnership, S Corporation or C Corporation returns for you.

Also, I look forward to blogging with you about what the Lord does on this mission trip.

Blessings to you!
Kelly