96
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
March, 1933
accomplished much; she needed training, and the time came when such advantages became a necessity. “ Both o f us agreed to pray every day for an open door. About that time, some one sent me a catalog describing the courses o f study afforded by a certain Bible Institute. Tak ing stock, we discovered that, with an extra thirty-two dollars, Frances could be in that Institute for the summer session. The question was where we were to get the needed money. God was asked to raise up some friend to contribute the necessary sum. Several weeks passed, but the thirty- two dollars did not arrive. What was wrong ? What were we to do ? “ One Tuesday morning while I was praying, some one seemed to say to me, “ ‘You are to furnish the needed amount!’ ‘“ Give thirty-two. dollars!’ I exclaimed. ‘Dear Lord, You know I haven’t another cent to give to Frances, but if You will find something for me to do, I shall be glad to work for the money.’ “ The following Saturday, in response to a long-distance telephone call, I went to Decatur for a conference with the pastor o f the First Methodist Church o f that city. He wanted me to assist in a series o f special evangelistic meet ings for a high school group in his Sunday-school— a half- hour address was to be given every evening for ten days. A t firstT was afraid o f the big church, but I had promised to. work, therefore the opportunity must be improved. The pastor asked my price. O f course I wanted the thirty- two dollars, but as that seemed to me exorbitant, I said, “ ‘You furnish the entertainment and give me whatever you think the services are worth.’ “ The very first day in Decatur I took occasion to re mind the Lord that I was in the meeting for thirty-two dollars. Again the Lord dealt with me, and in no uncer tain way made me understand that I was in that big church to assist in the saving o f souls and the investment o f lives, and that the Lord would look after the raising o f the money. What a glorious meeting it was! From the very beginning, the power o f God was manifest, and the response o f those splendid young folk was marvelous and permanent. “ The morning following the close o f the series, the pas tor handed me a small roll o f bills, saying as he did so that the amount was not what it should be, that dollars and cents could never pay for the accompilished results. A feeling o f sickness came, and immediately I wondered if God had failed me—and my girl. “ As soon as I was alone on the train, I began to count the money: five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven—guess how much was in the roll ?” “ Just thirty-two dollars,” called an excited listener. “ Really, girls, thirty-three dollars were needed, for my carfare had been one dollar.” “ Thirty-three dollars!” came from a chorus. “ You have told us during the evening evangelistic meetings that God is not a robber, and He may be depended upon. You have assured us that He gives good measure, pressed down and running over. If that be true, you should have been compensated for your work,” added the calcu lating occupant o f a near-by seat. “ Wouldn’t seeing Frances in school be sufficient com pensation? I f not, the best o f entertainment and the oppor tunity o f working with an efficient church staff should be considered. Best o f all, the chance to assist in the win ning o f many for the kingdom should be reckoned as that good measure, should it not ?” “ Thirty-five dollars,” and “ forty dollars” were later guesses. “ Girls, there were sixty-five dollars— thirty-two dol lars for Frances, thirty-two for myself, and one dollar for
carfare! It pays to allow the ‘All mighty’ to manage our affairs.” “ I wish I could have such experiences,” commented a serious listener, “ You may. God is no respector o f persons. A t the Bible Institute, Frances received a larger vision, valuable friendships, and a training that were all important factors in the successful development o f her life. “ God’s plans for Frances were bigger and better than those she had for herself. Hers were to give up, to quit, to kill. His were to make life worth while. This is always His plan, for every Christian. Shall we n
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker