Don't miss the Treasure

When I was in my mid-twenties, I remember a time when I was living in North Phoenix in a house with two other young men from our church. We used our house as a gathering place for the single Christians in our church, as I was the assistant youth leader at that time.

Well, unfortunately I lost my job at that time and found myself with no money, no job, my car was broken down, and I sank into a depression, not knowing what to do or where to turn. Fortunately, I continued to pray about my situation every day. I even went out in the 100 plus degree heat going door to door offering to wash people's windows, but with little success.

Finally, in desperation, I took all the money I had, which was a coffee can full of change, brought it to church that Sunday, and put it all in the collection plate. I remember telling God, "I need a miracle, and so here is all I have." Of course, the weight of all that change in the offering plate weighed it down so much that people began laughing as they passed the plate with both hands from one person to another. I thought it was pretty funny too, even though the I was dead serious about the offering.

What happened after that truly was a miracle. Out of the blue a friend of mine flew into town from Alaska, where he had been working on a fishing boat. It was so good to see him, as we hadn't seen each other in a long time. He was the kind of friend who would just show up at my apartment in the middle of the night when I was living in Montana, and we would go to the restaurant and talk til the early hours of the morning about all our dreams and goals for the future. Next thing I know, he's kidnapping my car, which had broken down and I had no money to fix it, and taking it to the shop to get it fixed. He paid the entire tab for me, and I'll never forget that.

Almost immediately I got a job and before I knew it things were back to normal. I'm so thankful that God loves me. Even with all my failures in life, he has never let me go, has never abandoned me, has never disowned me. I am his child. He is my Father. I'm thankful he sent Jesus to die for my sins, and I'm going to shout it from the rooftops, and tell anyone who will listen about his love. My prayer is that when I breathe my last breath, the word "Jesus" will be on my lips.

Deuteronomy 31:8The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Hebrews 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."