Verne Strickland
Verne's One Thing More:
Christian Testimony of Salvation
June 9, 2014
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Verne's One Thing More
So, God doesn't speak to you? Think again, friend. He will and he does.I write this as I sit in my little home office looking down on a brick paved street in the North Carolina coastal community of Wilmington. If I live a few more weeks, I will celebrate my seventy second birthday next month.
I think I will, though God tells us not to boast of the future, but to appreciate the present. I abide by that. I have been blessed with a wonderful wife to whom I have been married for over 50 years. Further, I'm blessed by three wonderful sons and a lovely grandson and granddaughter as well. And I live free in America. I can walk and my eyes can see.
Is that enough? Well, there’s one thing more, but I'll get to that later.
First, to the question, does God speak to us? What shall we expect—that the Creator and the Lord of us all will reach out to each and every one of us individually?
Well, he does have a message—correct that, many messages—for each of his children. And those messages stream to us throughout our lives.
But can we be content with a spiritual e-mail blast that is free for the asking and no less personal?
When we pass an outdoor advertising sign on the interstate, is it less meaningful to us because others see it as well? I don’t think so.
You need to know that when you plug in to the Almighty, you've got a private line! He’s got your number, and he will hear you and respond.
So dial into God! Be assured that he knows who you are, what you experience, what you need, what you feel. Why not? He created you.
A Personal Word for You
The Holy Bible—his Word—is there for you, personally: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV) Ah, that’s so beautiful. It knocks me out.God's Word. Find it, friend. Read it. I have and I think it’s wonderful. God tells me he loves me, personally. He envisioned and formed me. He chose me. He beckoned me. He has saved me through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.
But I am not favored over any other, and I don’t need or expect that. We are all his children, if we profess our faith in our Redeemer and Advocate, Jesus, bless him.
You can have the same blessed assurance that I have. There is no greater gift, believe me. Rather, believe God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.
And now I've returned to the "one thing more" that I mentioned earlier—a blessing so profound that I pray I can have some understanding of it—everlasting life through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, through his death and atoning resurrection.
I am not worthy. Nothing I have ever done or will ever do will make me worthy. But God the Father gave us his son Jesus, and we are kept safe in Christ until the Lord returns and delivers us whole and redeemed to the Father.
What?
Yes, it’s true. “I have chosen you out of the world,” God says in the John 15:19. Chosen you? Yes, to be his own, and to share his glory in the hereafter.
A Promise
Finally, listen to this promise: “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3 KJV) It touches and warms my heart to write these things to you. It’s always wonderful to praise God and pronounce him Lord of all.Friend, I am a sinner, but forgiven of all transgressions past, present and future. I know it. I believe it. And you have the same promise and blessing if you profess and receive Christ as your Savior, mediator and advocate.
Just one thing more, I pray you will receive him. Each story reveals a life transformed by Christian faith. If your relationship with God has made a significant difference in your life, we would like to hear about it. Submit your testimony by filling out this Submission Form. To receive weekly messages of hope and encouragement from real-life stories of changed lives, sign up for eTestimonies.
God Speaks Personally to you
So, God doesn't speak to you? Think again, friend. He will and he does.I write this as I sit in my little home office looking down on a brick paved street in the North Carolina coastal community of Wilmington. If I live a few more weeks, I will celebrate my seventy second birthday next month.
I think I will, but God tells us not to boast of the future, but to appreciate the present. I abide by that. I have been blessed with a wonderful wife to whom I have been married for 49 years. Further, I'm blessed by three wonderful sons and a lovely grandson as well. And I live free in America. I can walk and my eyes can see.
Is that enough? Well, there’s one thing more, but I'll get to that later.
First, to the question, does God speak to us? What shall we expect—that the Creator and the Lord of us all will reach out to each and every one of us individually?
Well, he does have a message—correct that, many messages—for each of his children. And those messages stream to us throughout our lives.
But can we be content with a spiritual e-mail blast that is free for the asking and no less personal?
When we pass an outdoor advertising sign on the interstate, is it less meaningful to us because others see it as well? I don’t think so.
You need to know that when you plug in to the Almighty, you've got a private line! He’s got your number, and he will hear you and respond.
So dial into God! Be assured that he knows who you are, what you experience, what you need, what you feel. Why not? He created you.
'I Know the Plans I Have for You'
The Holy Bible—his Word—is there for you, personally: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV) Ah, that’s so beautiful. It knocks me out.God's Word. Find it, friend. Read it. I have and I think it’s wonderful. God tells me he loves me, personally. He envisioned and formed me. He chose me. He beckoned me. He has saved me through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ.
But I am not favored over any other, and I don’t need or expect that. We are all his children, if we profess our faith in our Redeemer and Advocate, Jesus, bless him.
You can have the same blessed assurance that I have. There is no greater gift, believe me. Rather, believe God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.
And now I've returned to the "one thing more" that I mentioned earlier—a blessing so profound that I pray I can have some understanding of it—everlasting life through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, through his death and atoning resurrection.
I am not worthy. Nothing I have ever done or will ever do will make me worthy. But God the Father gave us his son Jesus, and we are kept safe in Christ until the Lord returns and delivers us whole and redeemed to the Father.
What? Yes, it’s true. “I have chosen you out of the world,” God says in the John 15:19. Chosen you? Yes, to be his own, and to share his glory in the hereafter.
Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled
Finally, listen to this promise: “Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3 KJV).It touches and warms my heart to write these things to you. It’s always wonderful to praise God and pronounce him Lord of all.
Friend, I am a sinner, but forgiven of all transgressions past, present and future. I know it. I believe it. And you have the same promise and blessing if you profess and receive Christ as your Savior, mediator and advocate.
Just one thing more, I pray you will receive him.
*Since this was published, Verne was stricken with Multiple Myeloma -- a blood and bone malignancy that is fatal unless cured. He suffered through crippling attacks in his hips and legs, found a wonderful oncologist in Wilmington NC, endured radiology and chemotherapy, and declared cancer-free in June, 2014. He says God brought him through the ordeal.
Today, he praises the Lord for his delivery, and his oncologist, Dr. William McNulty, for his care and skill. Verne is still recovering, and suffers with Dementia and Peripheral Neuropathy. He gives God the glory, and expects no more unless Christ wills it.
As Peter noted, when appealing to God to take away "the thorn in his side", he was advised by God, "My grace is sufficient for thee."
