Think BIG
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Christian Encouragement January 7, 2002
<b>Hello Everyone! Ephesians 3:20,21 NIV---"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably
more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him
be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!
Amen." Ephesians 3:20,21 KJV---"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be the
glory in the church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen." I
was bone tired when I hit the bed last night and debated whether or not to pray.
Sometimes, I fall asleep while praying and find myself apologizing to the Lord the next
morning for not being able to stay awake while talking to Him. However, tired as I was, I
decided to pray anyway. I started thanking Him for this and that and before I knew it, all
kinds of things were coming to my remembrance. Yes, again I fell asleep during prayer, but
I fell asleep THANKING Him for everything. Funny, I woke up sometime during the night
sneezing several times in a row, and I had this wonderful peace. I woke up this morning
and didn't feel the need to apologize. Instead, I thanked Him for one of the best night's
sleep I'd had in a long time. I thanked Him for the peace and knew what I had to write
about today. Answered prayers. The encouragement I have to share today, I've already
shared with the ladies in my church when I spoke last Spring at the Ladies Luncheon.
However, it's still a wonderful testimony of the great love and tremendous power of our
Lord and Savior, so today I will share it with all of you. Have you ever requested
something of God so huge, that when He answered, you KNEW it was all His doing? Have you
ever been in such dire circumstances that you knew it was a problem that was impossible
for man to solve? Have you ever asked God to do something "BIG" in a certain situation
that was totally out of your own control? I have. More than once, have I stood absolutely
amazed... with my mouth hanging open! About 20 years ago, I was in my early 20's. I had
(I believe) scripturally divorced a lost man and had a brand new baby to raise. Over a
period of 3 years, I lived under a constant barrage of vicious and wicked threats from
this man. I can honestly say to this day, I have not ever personally known a more vile
human being. I shed a great many tears and lost many a nights sleep living with the
consequences of going against God's Word by marrying a lost man. If you ever think there
are no consequences to sin, I am living proof that, indeed, there are! Now, please keep in
mind, as this story unfolds, I was very young at the time. I spent 3 years asking God to
remove this man from the planet. Yes, to actually kill him! I couldn't see any other
solution. My child and I were in constant danger and I was a fierce "Mama Bear" when it
came to my little one! When I would pray, I would remind God (as if He needed reminding)
that this man refused salvation on more than one occasion and, surely, God must know how
wicked he was. It seemed like every time I turned around, I was being called into court
and being threatened of losing my child. I can't tell you how many times I have sat with
attorneys, judges, intermediaries, and even a psychiatrist and had to listen to a
seemingly charming man lie through his teeth. It looked like the fate of my child was in
the hands of lost and deceived people. It was absolutely frightening! I kept asking the
Lord to protect us. He did. One morning, about a month after Russ and I got married, I
went to the Lord crying my heart out. My strength was wasting away. I still remember what
I prayed. "Lord Jesus, I can't take it anymore. This man is lost. If he dies, he'll go to
Hell. I don't want him to die. Even though he is my worst enemy, I don't want him or
anyone else to go to Hell. What I really want is for Russ to be able to adopt my son so we
can be our own family. I want my child to have a godly man he can call 'Dad'. I beg you
Father....that's all I want." Six days later, I received a phone call from my attorney
(Mike from the previous encouragement). He was wild with excitement! He kept saying, "Deb,
sit down...you're not going to believe this! You're just not going to believe it....I
can't believe it....You're ex-husband wants Russ to adopt your son. He wants out and he's
giving him up.....I cannot believe what is happening....." I stood there in my
grandparents kitchen with my mouth hanging open. God had heard and answered a better
prayer. Yes, indeed, and AMEN! For 3 years, I had prayed for the wrong thing because my
understanding of God's power was small, not to mention, there was foolishness on my part.
I then shared with Mike the prayer I had prayed 6 days earlier. Then HE was the one with
his mouth hanging open! "...He who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine..." PRAISE BE TO GOD! A few years ago, a friend of mine decided to sue her
ex-husband for back child support. This issue was already 30 years old and, in actuality,
dead. Her children were all grown with families of their own and besides, she already had
more money than she could count. Her desire troubled me. Her ex-husband had long since
remarried and his wife was a wonderful, kind and gentle Christian woman. She was a real
blessing to be around. I told my friend that if she went through with this lawsuit, it
would only hurt the new wife needlessly. She said she just didn't care who it hurt, she
was entitled to the money. She was already in the process of writing a letter to the
District Attorney's office in order to start the investigation and legal procedures. I
pleaded with her not to do this, but she was determined. Several days went by, then she
called to tell me she had gone to the Post Office that morning and mailed the letter. I
was deeply grieved. When we hung up, I prayed. "Lord, you know her heart just wants
vengeance and it's wrong. She doesn't care who she hurts in this matter. I don't want to
see this man's new wife hurt because of his past sins. She doesn't deserve that. She
wasn't part of it. Lord, please just make that letter get lost. I don't know how, but
please, just make it get lost so that it never reaches the destination. In Jesus' name."
A month or so later, I called her and asked if she'd heard anything from the DA's office.
She said she hadn't. I suggested she call to check the status of her case. She asked me to
do it instead. She told me to pretend I was her and she proceeded to give me all of the
pertinent information. Reluctantly, I did. I called the Child Support Division and gave
them the information. I could hear the clicking in the background as the woman was
checking her computer. "I'm sorry....when did you mail this letter to us?", she inquired.
"At least a month ago, maybe a month and a half", I stated. Again, click, click,
click..... "Ma'am, I'm sorry, but I don't show that we ever received a letter from you.
Are you sure you sent it to OUR office?", she asked. (Adrenaline rush!) "Yes, it went to
your office. So you don't have any record of receiving a letter?" "No ma'am, I'm sorry
but I don't. Perhaps you would like to send us another one." "No....it's okay. I think
the matter has been resolved. Thank you." The letter had been lost! I called my friend
to tell her of the conversation and about the request I had made of the Lord. Her mouth
was hanging open. Yes, indeed, and AMEN! "...He who is able to do immeasurably more than
all we ask or imagine..." PRAISE BE TO GOD! A few years ago, we bought a new home that we
really couldn't afford. Yes, we did. For a year and a half, we struggled to keep up the
payments and make ends meet. I juggled the budget each month until I couldn't juggle
anymore. We had to face it, we were going under financially and in a big way! We put the
house up for sale, but to no avail. We took it off the market and tried again to stay
afloat. Wasn't going to happen. Bill collectors started calling...at home...at
work....day....night....several times a day EVERY day...7 days a week! We sold
furniture....we gave some back. I begged and pleaded for mercy. Forget it! I squeezed
money from our grocery budget. You name it, I did it. We were headed for financial
disaster and only God could save us. I prayed and prayed. I remember the stress being so
great that I asked God to not let it kill me. It was the most intense and grievous time of
my life. Then we received THE PHONE CALL. A woman called and joyfully told me the
paperwork had already been submitted to the proper department in order to take the house.
That was it. All I could think of was Russ, me, and the kids living on the street. It was
awful! We got down on our knees and repented for not using greater wisdom when we bought
the house. We repented for charging our credit cards to the max. I repented for buying
furniture we really didn't need. I promised the Lord I wouldn't buy anything that we
couldn't easily afford. I cut up all the credit cards and vowed not to apply for any new
ones. (They really aren't 'free'!) I asked the Lord to never let me forget how horrible
this experience had been so that I wouldn't repeat it. Then He reminded me of the
Israelites. He had parted the Red Sea so they could pass through safely to the other side.
Freedom. I asked Him to hold back the Mortgage company and creditors like he did when He
held back the waters for the Israelites. I asked Him to bring a buyer for our house. I
asked for enough money to pay off both mortgages, all the bills, personal loans, and a
little for Christmas. Listen! The first time we had the house on the market, had it sold,
we would have made a small profit....enough to pay off both mortgages, but that's all. It
didn't sell. Seven months later, we put it back on the market. While we continued to pray
for a buyer, I called the Mortgage company 3 times to check the status of our account.
Each time, I was told that they couldn't give a reason as to WHY nothing had been done on
it. Understand this---we should have already been thrown out! They didn't know what could
be holding back the paperwork and why "progress" had not been made. After the second phone
call and the same answer....I KNEW! Yes, my mouth was hanging open again. Just as sure as
I'm sitting here writing this to you now, I knew God was holding back the waters for us,
just as I had asked. And get this, during those 6 or 7 months that we had it off the
market, the value had shot up tens of thousands of dollars and we didn't even know it!
When God brought the buyer, this is what we received. He gave us enough to pay off both
mortgages, all bills, personal loans and we had a nice little Christmas. All that I had
asked of Him, he granted. He held back the waters, allowed us safe passage, and brought us
to freedom. Yes, indeed, and AMEN! (And I haven't applied for a credit card since!)
"...He who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine..." PRAISE BE TO
GOD! I have so many more examples of God's graciousness and mighty power in my life, but
I know you've all been reading for probably about 30 minutes already. As it says in John
21:25---"Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I
suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be
written." NIV When you go to pray today, whether on your knees, while you're driving or
when you crawl into bed tonight, THINK BIG! Be specific. If you're not asking for what He
wants you to ask, He'll let you know. He will lay on your heart and mind the very request
He longs to answer. We serve a mighty and awesome God. I, Deb Parman, can truly testify to
that! He has the power to make a letter get lost. He has the power to hold back the waters
for you too, as He did for the Israelites and for us. He has the power to change a wicked
person's mind. Be bold in your prayers. Don't underestimate his love for us, nor the power
of His might. He teaches, disciplines, protects and defends His children. Remember...He
longs to "do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine". Thanks for your patience and
STAY ENCOURAGED! Love to you all in Christ,</b>
Debbie Reed-Parman
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