Post by Jolly on Dec 17, 2018 17:12:13 GMT
Around Christmas I wax a bit nostalgic and remember old times, friends and places. Maybe 30 years ago, one bright Sunday morning in church, the preacher was asking the congregation whether any would like to testify about any recent Blessings God had bestowed upon them.
A few folks stood and testified about a loved one getting better in the hospital or maybe about an old friend they hadn't seen in a long time, just dropping by out of the blue.
Then, Brother Don stood up.
"Preacher", he said. "I want to testify about how good God has been to me".
"Y'all know about the barn on my property. And y'all know that barn burnt down this week. What y'all don't know, is that times have been a bit hard this year. It's been the kind of year where a man put his kids Christmas toys on lay-a-way and he's still trying to figure out how to pay for them. No,no...Don't feel too sorry for me. Nobody's sick at my house and we've got more than enough to eat. Got more firewood than I could burn in two years."
"Preacher, that old barn burning down left me mighty low, though. Lost most of my hay and y'all know what the price of range cubes is. Didn't lose any animals and nobody got hurt trying to put the flames out. I guess that is at least a small Blessing."
"But preacher, here's what's got me slobber-knockered...The wife had me check all the papers in the desk and you'd never believe it, but that old barn was insured. Man from the insurance company came out and looked over the ash heap Friday afternoon. Told me what they were going to pay for my barn."
"Preacher, could've knocked me over with a feather."
"Here I was, worried about scraping together enough money to get the kids Christmas and the insurance folks is gonna cut me a check, that'll rebuild the barn, buy me enough winter hay to get by and even let me pick up the kid's Christmas."
"God has Blessed me, pastor. He burnt my barn down!"
A few folks stood and testified about a loved one getting better in the hospital or maybe about an old friend they hadn't seen in a long time, just dropping by out of the blue.
Then, Brother Don stood up.
"Preacher", he said. "I want to testify about how good God has been to me".
"Y'all know about the barn on my property. And y'all know that barn burnt down this week. What y'all don't know, is that times have been a bit hard this year. It's been the kind of year where a man put his kids Christmas toys on lay-a-way and he's still trying to figure out how to pay for them. No,no...Don't feel too sorry for me. Nobody's sick at my house and we've got more than enough to eat. Got more firewood than I could burn in two years."
"Preacher, that old barn burning down left me mighty low, though. Lost most of my hay and y'all know what the price of range cubes is. Didn't lose any animals and nobody got hurt trying to put the flames out. I guess that is at least a small Blessing."
"But preacher, here's what's got me slobber-knockered...The wife had me check all the papers in the desk and you'd never believe it, but that old barn was insured. Man from the insurance company came out and looked over the ash heap Friday afternoon. Told me what they were going to pay for my barn."
"Preacher, could've knocked me over with a feather."
"Here I was, worried about scraping together enough money to get the kids Christmas and the insurance folks is gonna cut me a check, that'll rebuild the barn, buy me enough winter hay to get by and even let me pick up the kid's Christmas."
"God has Blessed me, pastor. He burnt my barn down!"
