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We have been sharing excerpts from my new book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to survive in an Unfriendly World.” This book reaches out to those who may suffer from anxiety, fear, depression, addictions, self-doubt, hopelessness, and the many other usual suspects.
The book is on a special sale right now for Easter, which is only about a eek away, so you need to order now. Just click on the “Bookstore,” tab above to check it out.
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Today’s excerpt is about perseverance. If we stick to our goals we will achieve them someday.
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Chapter 57
Inch by Inch, Anything’s a Cinch
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor
and immortality, he will give eternal life.
Romans 2:7
I was the superintendent of our Sunday school and on the Pastor-Parish committee, which worked closely with the pastor of the church in planning for growth, among other things. The pastor of was a man of vision. He saw what he felt the church should be like in the future and then went about asking the members to help him make that vision come true. He thought we should pave the parking lot, add on to the church to have more Sunday school rooms and acquire one of the houses next to the church as an activity center.
He used his vision one Sunday in a sermon he titled, “Inch by Inch, Anything’s a Cinch!” He told the congregation of his desire that we share his vision and plan for growth as a way to be ready for the future. He acknowledged this couldn’t be done overnight, reminding us that as we did little things to add to the church, the vision would be accomplished!
It has been more than 20 years since the pastor left that church. And when he left, many of his dreams had not been fulfilled. But he continued to believe that even after his leaving, there would still be many parts of his dream accomplished at the church.
Today, there is a paved parking lot with marked parking spaces. There is a new addition for the Sunday school program to expand into. There is even a nice-sized hall for wedding receptions. There are houses next to the church that have been bought and are used by the youth group.
The congregation has grown tremendously because of all of these changes and by God’s will. All of the visions the pastor had in his sermon many years before have been accomplished! It just took twenty years to reach them! “Inch by Inch, Anything’s a Cinch!”
Don’t ever give up on your dreams. God has His own plan, and He decides when it will happen. I know this from experience. Keep the course, and God will use your talents for Him, and it will be something that will please Him. Plus you will be serving God.
You know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:3-4
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will
do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.
John14:12-13
Further Adventures
Is your church growing like it should? Does the church have a vision of what it should be like in ten years? Ask the pastor if there are any plans for the future. If there aren’t, mention that you would like to form a vision team to look for ways to help the church grow and see what changes may needed to help it do that. You could be doing God’s work and also help the church become a more dynamic church.
Something to Ponder
Isn’t it funny that if we would have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible?