2012 BY DON HENDERSON 1 This PowerPoint moves forward when you click

OUR STORY BEGINS WITH A LARGE ROCK OUTSIDE A LITTLE CABIN 2

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room was filled with light and God appeared before him. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in Front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the Rock with all his might.. 3

PUSH So, the man did this, day after day. 4

For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down; his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all of his might. 5

. Each night the man returned to his cabin, sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. YEARS PASSED 6

Since the man was showing discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture by placing negative thoughts in his weary mind: “You’ve been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn’t moved!!” thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. 7

8 Those thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan said, “Why kill yourself over this?” “Just put in your time, giving just minimum effort; and that will be good enough.”

9 That’s what the man was tempted to do, but instead he decided to take it to the Lord in prayer. “Lord,” he said, “I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock. What is wrong? Why am I failing?” The Lord responded compassionately

10 My dear child, when I asked you to serve Me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all of your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?

11 Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure. Your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you have not moved the rock. But your “calling” was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. Now my child, I will move the rock.

12 At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what he wants, when actually what God wants is just a simple obedience and faith in him. By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountain.

When everything seems to go wrong….just: 13

PUSH !! 14

When Life gets you down…. Just: 15

PUSH !! 16

When things don’t go as you think they should…. Just: 17

PUSH !! 18

When your patience is “gone” and you don’t know what to do; just: 19

PUSH !! 20

When the world around you is running amok; Just: 21

PUSH !! 22

PUSH !! 23

When all seems lost and out of hand…Just: 24

P= Pray U= Until S= Something H= Happens 25

Matthew 17: 20: “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” 26

I Thessalonians 5:16 16.Be joyful always: 17. pray continually; 18. Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 27

28 THE BEGINNING OF TRUE FAITH PRAY FOR OUR NATION EVERY DAY NOTE: THE IDEAS OF THIS WERE ORGINALLY RECEIVED IN AN IN 2001 AND I CONVERTED THE THOUGHTS TO A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FOR A CONCORDIA LUTHERAN FACULTY MEETING AS PART OF MY TEACHING DUTY. IT IS WITH A FAITH, BORN NOT OF WORDS, BUT OF DEEDS THAT I SUBMIT THIS FOR YOU. MAY GOD SURROUND YOU WITH THE LOVE YOU ARE PROMISSED. Don Henderson, March 20, 2012