IN MY OWN WORDS . . .the year was 1966 . . . or so the story goes . . .

LIVING BY FAITH

James Wells

I care not today what the

morrow may bring,

If shadow or sunshine or rain,

The Lord, I know, ruleth o’er everything,

And all of my worry is vain.

Living by faith in Jesus above,

Trusting, confiding in His great love;

Safe from all harm in His sheltering arm,

I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.

We sang this quite often at the Altadena Church of the Nazarene. One evening the pastor said, “Some people only have faith up to here (and he pointed to his neck) and when the going gets rough—they sink, but I want to have faith up to here (and he held his hand high above his head.)  Then we’d start singing another verse.

Though tempests may blow and the

storm clouds arise,

Obscuring the brightness of life,

I’m never alarmed at the overcast skies,

The Master looks on at the strife.

Living by faith in Jesus above,

Trusting, confiding in His great love;

Safe from all harm in His sheltering arm,

I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.

I was a freshman at Pasadena (Nazarene) College in 1966 and received a bill for $309. The payment was due in December. Figuratively, it made me sick as I did not have the money and I knew that I couldn’t ask my parents for it as they didn’t have it either. What was I going to do? Your guess was as good as mine.

I know that He safely will

carry me through,

No matter what evil betide;

Why should I then care,

though the tempest may blow,

If Jesus walks close to my side.

Living by faith in Jesus above,

Trusting, confiding in His great love;

Safe from all harm in His sheltering arm,

I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.

I just remember thinking that I was either going to ‘shape up or ship out’. (At least, that is what was going through my mind). It was a ‘do or die’ situation. If I didn’t get the money, there was only one way----and that was OUT. I didn’t tell anyone of my situation, because, after all . . . what good would that do?

I obtained permission to go to the library one evening during study hours. Since I was a freshman, I was suppose to go straight to my destination and not stop anywhere. As I neared the library, I noticed the lights on in the little Prayer Chapel. I stopped momentarily and thought, “I didn’t know that it was open at night.”  I hurried and went down there and stepped inside.

I knelt at the altar railing and was alone with Jesus. I had heard or read one time that Jesus was our Attorney. I needed Someone to plead my case. I prayed, “Father, if You really want me in THIS college, and You really STILL want me to be a missionary, You’re gonna have to help me. Lord, if You really want me here, I believe You can speak to someone’s heart—someone I don’t even know—and ask them to help me. I believe that You can even speak to someone in Germany and have it come to me by mail—I  need $300—but if You would ask them to help me with even just a little bit . . . $40 . . .just so I know that You really want me here and still want me to be a missionary. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”  

More than the money, my main concern was—Did He still want me to be a missionary and to be at that college. He had called me one night and I never had told anyone about it . . . How I wanted to—but didn’t—so when I came to California from North Dakota, I was actually on the run—from Him!

The college had several Evangelistic Crusader Teams that would spend a weekend at someone’s church. . . working with the young people . . . go calling on people that hadn’t been in church for awhile . . . and a ministerial student would give the morning message. 

My friend, Kathy, invited me to go to Fullerton. I did not want to go because I did not care for that particular group she was going with. I had my own team that I liked, but Kathy would not let up! I kept saying, “No – no – no.” But, she wouldn’t listen.  Finally, I said, “O.K.—If the group needs JUST ONE MORE PERSON—I WILL GO.” It had to be only one more person – not two or three – just one.   So, my word was given.

That evening, Kathy came to my room laughing her head off. She said, “Guess what!?”  I replied, “They just need ONE more person.”  “Yes!”  was the answer.  Two weeks later, a group of 15 students and the head of the Religion Department, Dr. Gray, was on their way to the Nazarene church in Fullerton.

On Saturday, we broke into groups. Our leader talked to us, gave us instructions and we were going to go calling on people that hadn’t been in church awhile.  That was that. I told my friend, Dee, that this wasn’t right. We didn’t even have prayer . . . so about four of us found a room, got down on our knees and asked God to be with us in our endeavors.

On Sunday evening, our team sang a special number . . .  

FILL MY CUP LORD

(Richard Blanchard)

Like the woman at the well, I was seeking

For things that could not satisfy,

And then I heard my Savior speaking,

“Draw from My well that never

shall run dry.”

There are millions in this world,

who are craving

The pleasures earthly things afford,

But none can match the wondrous treasure,

that I find in Jesus Christ, my Lord.

So, my brother, if the things

this world gave you

Leave hungers that won’t pass away,

My blessed Lord will come and save you,

If you kneel to Him and humbly pray.

Fill My Cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord,

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul;

Bread of heaven,

feed me till I want no more,

Fill My Cup,

fill it up and make me whole.

We then left the choir loft and sat down in the front pews. I was thoroughly enjoying my weekend and any need I had was millions of miles away from my thoughts. I listened intently as the pastor started preaching.

Then  WHAMO!  I was slapped in the face and my mind was attacked. “What are you going to do about that money??? . . . blah . . . blah . . .blah” . . . oh, so many things were coming at me!!!  Now I felt sick. I started to wonder what I was going to do. The battle raged within me for a few minutes. Then I remembered Rev. Riddle . . . “Some people only have faith up to here (and he pointed to his neck) and when the going gets rough—they sink, but I want to have faith up to here (and he held his hand high above his head.) and I said, “Lord, that’s what I want.  Lord, that’s what I believe. I want that type of faith. I agree!” And that tormenting/accusing spirit left immediately.

After the Sunday night service, I was on my way up the aisle when this tall man stopped me. He said, “I want to talk to you.” and laughingly I said, “Oh, no, you don’t.” (I just assumed he was going to say how much he appreciated our team being there and I just wanted to get outside where my friends were.) Finally, I said, “O.K.” (You know . . . I’ll stand and listen for awhile, but let’s hurry and get the ‘show on the road’ ‘cause I have places to go and things to do!!! . . . that’s how I was thinking.)

Then he started talking. “My wife and I have been wanting to help someone in college.” A big smile and tears came to my eyes as I said, “Oh, no!”  He said that they had asked Dr. Gray who in our group needed financial help and Dr. Gray replied that he didn’t know any of us well enough to say. After awhile the gentleman said, “We didn’t know who to help, so today my wife and I prayed and the Lord showed us you.” Again I said, “Oh, no!” Tears were streaming down my face. I said, “Thank you.”  and he said, “Don’t thank me, thank the Lord.” They were led to give me $300. Then he said, “Come down here, I want you to meet my wife.” So we went to the altar. She said, “I can see by your face that my husband has already told you. I just have one question to ask you, do you really need the money?”

Our Lord will return to this earth

some sweet day,

Our troubles will then all be o’er,

The Master so gently will lead us away,

Beyond that blest heavenly shore,

Living by faith in Jesus above,

Trusting, confiding in His great love;

Safe from all harm in His sheltering arm,

I’m living by faith and feel no alarm.