I Will Speak Using Stories is a collection of everyday, down home, stories of people and events. Some of the stories will make you weep, smile, cry, or laugh. Some stories will cause the reader to reminisce. Others will remember an old relative or friend.Each story ends with Scripture. The point of the story is to show that Scripture is universal and pertinent. There are probing questions that will help the reader meditate. The devotions have a prayer to give the day a fresh start.The book is great resource to use for a daily quiet time.

I Will Speak Using Stories

A Thirty-one Day DevotionalBy Bobby E. Hopper

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2009 Dr. Bobby E. Hopper
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4389-7858-1

Contents

1. God Hears The Heart.......................................................12. We Can't Do Much, But We're Here To Help..................................43. No, We Are On Vacation....................................................74. "Turn Him Loose, Son".....................................................105. You Can Count, Cain't Yee?................................................146. I'm Sorry, We're Out Of Biscuits..........................................187. Mirror, Mirror............................................................228. The Man In The Middle.....................................................269. People Are Leaving The Stands.............................................2910. Smile.....................................................................3311. I Had The Best Time Of My Life............................................3712. Shine The Light...........................................................4213. My Waffle Is Burning......................................................4614. Miss Harvey...............................................................4915. If You Are A College Graduate, I'm The Queen Of Sheba.....................5316. There'd Better Be a Cake this Time........................................5717. Push-Button Mind-Set......................................................6118. It's The Little Old Lady From Lawley......................................6519. Pig Out...................................................................6920. Tempus Fugit..............................................................7321. Sitting On Our Front-Porch Swings.........................................7722. Below The Bogue...........................................................8123. We're Porters, Sir........................................................8524. Calamity Jane.............................................................9025. Refrigerator Rights.......................................................9426. I've Been Praying For Aritris For Forty-One Years.........................9827. Stumbling Through Life....................................................10228. Checking Out Possibilities................................................10629. The Eyes Have It..........................................................11130. Accident Waiting To Happen................................................11531. Swing, Jimmy, Swing.......................................................120

Chapter One

God Hears The Heart

It was on a Father's Day, during "pastor's pals," that God moved in a mighty way. The church was buzzing with excitement. Skyler, a small blonde-haired boy with Down syndrome, was unusually calm. He was normally a "live wire." One day I had seen a red streak go by my office door. Not far behind, a Sunday school teacher was running. Skyler had escaped the nursery. He loved the University of Alabama, and the red streak as he went down the hall was his UA jersey. The teacher caught him, but I remember his snicker and the mischievous look on his face as she dragged him back to class.

Skyler was always flipping the light switch off during our fellowship times. Someone would have to call out, "Turn on the lights, Skyler." He would also lock himself in the bathroom or a classroom. During pastor's pals, Skyler would grab a microphone and start singing. His dad would scold him and take the microphone from him.

Skyler could not talk very well, and he used sign language to communicate. He could pronounce a few words. He called his dad "Taw" and his mother "Me, me, ma, ma." He could say my name, Bruther Bobby. Everybody loved him and took time with him. When this ball of energy was calm, people noticed.

On this Father's Day pastor's pals, Skyler was dressed in a suit with a tie. All the children would sit around me, and on this morning, Skyler sat beside me. I talked about the importance of fathers, and then I asked if any of the children would say the Father's Day prayer.

Skyler raised his hand, and the Holy Spirit told me to give him the microphone. I had heard Skyler say the blessing at mealtime, so I knew he could pray. The church was not prepared for what took place.

Skyler calmly took the microphone, and we bowed our heads. Skyler began the Father's Day prayer by saying, "Taw." He paused a moment and then said a beautiful prayer. In the prayer were Taw, Me, me, ma, ma, and some others words that were heart felt. He said, "Amen."

I thanked Skyler for that beautiful Father's Day prayer. The pianist played a tune for the children to return to their seats, and I took my place on the front pew. I sat in wonder and amazement at what had happened. I noticed that the worship leader had not restarted the service. I looked at him and saw that he was crying like a baby. I turned to the congregation and noticed that there was not a dry eye in the house. It was very emotional. Skyler had taken us to the throne of God.

I realized that morning that our heavenly Father was honored with a prayer from the heart of a little boy. No one understood what Skyler said that morning, but every heart knew that little boy had spoken to God. The service was very emotional and, for a few moments, all of us knew that we were in the presence of our Heavenly Father. God hears the heart.

Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." I Samuel 1: 13-17 (NIV)

What do you hear when you hear the prayers of children? _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

When was the last time you acknowledged that God was doing something special in your worship? _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

What burden do you need to share with God as Hannah did? _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Remember: God hears the heart.

Prayer: Father, when Your presence fills our place of worship, we taste a little of heaven. Thank You for divine appointments and defining moments. Thank You for the prayers of children and their wonderful faith. May we become as children with our faith. Help us prepare to worship, so that our time together will not be routine but extraordinary.

Chapter Two

We can't do much, But we're here to help

The men's ministry at Union Springs Baptist Church in Randolph, Alabama, voted to put new shingles on the roof of the old educational wing. Several of the men were carpenters, and they met on a Saturday morning with others who knew how to help replace shingles.

As summer days in Alabama are hot and humid, the men and boys decided to start work by seven o'clock. Some roof repairmen will leave the old shingles on for added protection, but the shingles on this old building were too deteriorated. To do the job right, workers remove the old shingles.

Around six thirty the men and boys started gathering. Two men, Ollie and Cody, came that morning. Ollie was well into his seventies, and Cody was in his early sixties and had glaucoma. Both of them said, "We can't do much, but we're here to help." Both men enjoyed working around the church and always came ready to do something.

Men and boys started the laborious job of tearing off the old shingles and pushing them off the roof. Torn shingles, nails, and old tarpaper went tumbling over the edge of the roof and onto the ground. The boys got a thrill being destructive.

When the roof was clean, men and boys carried new rolls of tarpaper, new shingles, and new nails onto the roof. Chalk lines marked the places where new shingles would go, and the noise of hammers pounding against new nails sounded in a methodical rhythm as the shingles were systematically attached to the roof.

The ladies of the church said that they would bring dinner for the crew. Because of the great turnout of men and boys, the roof was finished before eleven o'clock and before the ladies arrived with dinner!

Before the workmen started down from the roof to get ready for dinner, they took a break to cool off. The topic of conversation was the cleanup. All the old shingles, tarpaper, nails, paper that had wrapped the new shingles, and scrap pieces from the new shingles were on the ground. The sun was almost straight overhead, and it was hot.

Every worker got a surprise when he got to the ground. There was not a single piece of refuse there! Ollie and Cody had picked up every piece and hauled it away in a wheelbarrow. They burned what they could and threw the rest in the trash. The two men who "could not do anything" had finished the part that all the men and boys were dreading. It was a wonderful feeling to be doing something for God's house!

Everyone complimented each other. Ollie and Cody said the new roof was perfect. The men and the boys thanked Ollie and Cody for their great cleanup. Everyone thanked the ladies for a delicious dinner.

So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. (Nehemiah 4:6, NIV)

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (I Corinthians 3:8-9, King James Version)

Think about this: When was the last time you thanked someone who surprised you by doing a task you dreaded to tackle? _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Take a moment to write down the names of some people who do the small, but important, things around your church. _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

What gifts do you have, and how are you using them for the Lord? _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Prayer: Father, You give each of us gifts to minister in Your kingdom. In the eyes of men, we may not offer much, but You take our limitations and do miraculous work. Help us to do what we can to be intentional in our ministries and faithful in living the Great Commission. Thank You for using people who think they cannot do much, but who do incredible ministries that inspire more for You. Help us to give a word of encouragement or a note of appreciation to those who labor in Your kingdom and help make Your house and worship so wonderful.

Chapter Three

No, We Are On Vacation

For me, the joy of being a pastor is preaching. I love doing research and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal truths from God's Word. My preaching professors at seminary said that sermon preparation should comprise one hour of study for every minute of preaching. The proclamation then should be tempered using an economy of words that come from much prayer and meditation.

Preaching is laborious, but very fulfilling. Preaching is vital to worship and evangelism. The proclamation of the Word is the method for the salvation of mankind. The feet of those who preach the good news of the gospel are beautiful.

One Sunday morning my feet did not feel so beautiful. I had preached that morning, and I thought myself a failure. Nothing had seemed to go right. I knew that I had spent time in prayer and meditated upon the words that the Lord would have me preach, but the feedback from the congregation seemed unusually apathetic. I had not had a Sunday reaction like that in my ministry.

I felt so ashamed that morning. After the invitation, I called on someone to pray. I apologized to God as I walked to the back of the church to greet the people who were leaving. I begged the Lord to forgive me; I felt I must have failed in my preparation time. I must have done something wrong. I was very repentant.

The people were very cordial, as they always were, and they complimented me on doing a wonderful presentation or said how good the sermon was. I knew in my heart that I had failed God. The compliments were wonderful, but, in my heart, they were empty words.

God always has a way of turning our attention back to Him. A lady that I did not recognize thanked me for the sermon. She said, "I been praying over an issue in my life for the past six months, and God gave me the answer today in your sermon."

I thanked her and asked her if she was new to the community, perhaps visiting from another church, or looking for a new church. God really spoke to me in her answer. She said, "No, we are on vacation. We are from Florida, and we spent the night at the Shoney's Inn on the interstate. We wanted to worship somewhere away from the interstate, and a lady at the Inn suggested this church."

That really settled it. I had failed. I had failed to focus on God and give adoration and praise. He had given me a message that helped the lady from Florida who had been praying over an issue for six months. Yeah, I had done it again. I apologized to God from the back of the church to the pulpit. This time I asked God to forgive me for trusting in my works rather than in His grace. I apologized for not thanking Him for the Holy Spirit, who knew which listener needed the message.

I learned a valuable lesson that day. It is not the messenger but the message. Preaching is not about me-it is about God. I enjoy preaching even more now. God gave me beautiful feet to share the greatest story ever told.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:13-15, NIV)

For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. (Matthew 10:20 NIV)

In what ways has God gotten your attention? ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

Has there been a time in your life that you said something very profound and asked, "Where did that come from?" ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________

What are some words that would encourage your pastor?

Prayer: Father, You are faithful in Your promises. Your mercy and grace are everlasting. I want those who hear me preach to learn the joy that comes from being obedient. Forgive me when I am preoccupied with my inadequacies and forget that ministry is about Your glory and not about mine. Help me study and meditate, so that when I prepare to preach, the Holy Spirit will be free to minister to needs.

Chapter Four

"Turn Him Loose, Son"

Some events are forever etched in your mind. I was ten years old. My family was very poor during my childhood. We did not think much of it, because most people in rural Alabama were poor during the 1950s and 1960s. It was "city folks" that had running hot water, inside bathrooms, and fancy gas space heaters.

We had an old pot-bellied stove that required wood. One of the joys of winter was being outside in the woods cutting firewood. Daddy always told us that cutting wood would warm you twice-you got hot cutting it, and then you got warm standing beside the stove!

We did not have a pickup truck, but daddy did have a McCullough chain saw from his logging days. My uncle had an old 1936 Dodge pickup, and together we would cut firewood.

One firewood-cutting moment is forever etched in my mind. It was one cold fall day, when we were going down an old dirt road en route to the woods. There was not a cloud in the sky. My cousins, brothers, and I were huddled behind the cap of the pickup, staying out of the cold wind. You could see your breath. It was every little boy's dream to be in the back of a truck headed to the woods. We hoped that we would see a deer, turkey, or some other animal.

On each side of the dirt road were pastures surrounded by barbed-wire fences. The woods were far across the fields. Suddenly, my uncle and dad started pounding the rear window and pointing to the left side of the truck. We expected to see a cow, bull, or horse running in the pasture, but it was a little gray squirrel. He was coming at us as if a hound dog were hot on his trail.

The timing was perfect. He crossed the road under the pickup. We heard a thud. The little gray squirrel emerged from under the rear of the truck, spinning round and round. My uncle came to a squeeching halt. My daddy said, "Catch the squirrel and we will get your grandmoe to fix some fried squirrel with dumplings!"

I jumped out the bed of the pickup and caught that little gray squirrel. Now, remember, I was ten years old, and I forgot that the teeth of a squirrel will crack a very hard hickory nut. A hickory nut is hard to crack with a hammer, but a squirrel has very little trouble cracking one. I also forgot that little gray squirrels run over by old Dodge trucks go crazy.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from I Will Speak Using Storiesby Bobby E. Hopper Copyright © 2009 by Dr. Bobby E. Hopper. Excerpted by permission.
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