A Living Witness to God's Precious Miracles

By Russell Young

Romans 9:21—“Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”

 

Just what is the Apostle Paul saying to us in these precious words? Simply this—the Almighty God has power over the clay! Yes, God makes us, and molds us, and holds us in

• Language: English
• Publisher: Black Lacquer Press & Marketing Inc.
• Release date: Jan 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9781948288941

Russell Young

Mr. Young: WWII wounded Vet, High School teacher, Baseball Coach, Guidance Counselor, Missionary Hospital Manager in Ghana, British West Africa.

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Copyright © 2019 by Russell Young.

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Published in the United States of America.

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Contents

Introduction

Chapter One: In the Beginning

Chapter Two: Wisdom Enters

Chapter Three: Maturing In Wisdom

Chapter Four: Wisdom Reveals Purpose

Chapter Five: The Story of His Mysterious Ways

Chapter Six: Mysterious–Some Specific Examples

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Introduction

DURING THE COURSE OF a long, varied and interesting teaching career, I have had numerous endeavors and examples of God’s goodness to me. I have experienced His help in all sorts of circumstances in my life. I have observed His overwhelming control in my life and His guidance in my attempts to perform according to His will. I must say, I have been amazed at His faithfulness to me and in spite of much unfaithfulness on my part toward Him. I must say that I have been especially impressed by His forbearance and His patience with me; of course by the way He has blessed me with benefits which I have truly not deserved. I therefore anxiously desire to acknowledge my debt to Him and in this somewhat imperfect way express my heartfelt gratitude to Him. That is one of the reasons I have written this book.

In all of these experiences I have learned valuable lessons which have helped me to draw ever nearer to Him. My prayer is that these lessons may be of help to others and perhaps most especially to my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and my great great grandchildren. This is of course another reason why I have written this book. I firmly desire to share with others these things which have happened to me. I definitely wish to emphasize, especially to the younger generation, that it is a practical and intensely real thing to let Christ come into one’s life. Especially in these times, as ever before, it is vital that they put their trust in Jesus Christ.

I will describe later on in more detail the happenings and the blessings of my God–filled life, full as it has been through His goodness to me. Throughout this book I have attempted to recall some of God’s gracious dealings with me. I will list some of the lessons I have learned, so that God will be glorified. It becomes more and more apparent how wonderfully good He was to this very unworthy soul, and in that way, others may profit from the things he has taught me and how He has given me something in stressful times.

My prayer is that they may find Him, as I have found, that He is able and willing to be for us all that we need, both in our occupations and our private life. With Him life can be a very wonderful thing.

As I am writing this, I am looking back on many mistakes and failures on my part. Both of omission and commission as well as the many times I have failed Him, and must have grieved and disappointed Him. Yet, through it all, I am amazed at his forbearance and kindness to me. Yes, these thoughts create a sense of shame in myself, but with it all, an intense feeling of gratitude to the one who has stood by me in spite of it all.

Chapter One

In the Beginning

WE SPEAK ABOUT GOD and his intervention in our lives. That is fine, and very natural, but we must remember that there is only one way in which we can get to know God, and that is through his Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. God recognizes no other means of contact. It was in order to bring this contact about, that he sent His Son into this world, so that He, the Son, might show us God. That fact, of course, is basic and must be accepted without reservation.

Everything must have a beginning, and our spiritual life is no exception to this rule. It is true that some are unaware of the exact moment when it begins, but even so, a beginning was there.

I have had the wonderful privilege of being born into a family in which Christ had been known and honored for generations, and I learned about Him from my parents in my earliest years. It was during the Great Depression, and we were anything but wealthy. My father never owned an automobile. There were ten of us children. I had five sisters and four brothers. We walked to church every Sunday. It was seven blocks away, and we never missed; rain, snow or sunshine.

For the teachings they gave me, and for the example of consistent Christian lives which they set, I can never be sufficiently thankful. They made the things of God real to me, and helped me to realize that God desires, and was able, to come into every area of our daily lives. All that helps me immensely in my later years. Yet my friend, I shall admit that in spire of their teachings and examples. And in spire of that fact that I knew God’s plan of salvation and yet, I was fourteen years old before I entered into the spiritual experiences which revolutionized my life.

II Timothy 3:15– and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Yes, my friend, I do firmly believe that it is only when Christian parents raise their children in God’s Holy word, that they will be sensitive to the Lord. If we teach our children to pray, they must see us praying. If we teach them that the Bible is the God’s word, they must see us reading it and loving it. If we insist that they go to church, we must go with them. I hope that you are aware of the fact that one of the Church’s needs today, is for a revival of solid Bible teaching in the Christian home. Think about it. The home is where the next generation of Christians is being formed.

Mark 10:14– But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

It is so true: To feel secure, what children need is a loving look and a gentle touch from someone who cares. They do not need intellectual understanding. They will believe what you believe if you will trust them. Jesus said we should have child–like faith. In other words, we adults don’t have to understand all of the mysteries of the universe. All He wants is for us to come to Him, accept His love, and to commit our life to His tender guidance.

Yes, it is true, Jesus asks simply that we draw ever nearer to Him and he will do miraculous and wonderful things, but we must show compassion and love, from the heart, to our children.

If we are to abide in Him, He will abide in us, and He will help us to look compassionately at our children, and they will be able to see things differently.

Yes, in the very beginning, in God’s great mercy to me, He has brought me to know Him in the only possible way– through Jesus Christ, while I was still young.

Psalms 92:12– The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Grow like a cedar– rapidly! Did you know that bamboo can grow as much as two feet in twenty–four hours?

Believe it or not, some Christians think they will grow that fast too. They wonder why the changes they are praying for are taking too long. Other Christians don’t seem to worry about growth at all. However, growth is not an option. Just as we