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How to Trust God in Difficult Times

An Introduction to Tom's Blog

3/24/2020

9 Comments

 
I want to say Hi and thank you to each who take time to read this. I hope it encourages you.

I do a lot of reflecting these days. It may be because I am considered a part of the “age group” most susceptible to catch the virus if exposed to it. It may be because I am thinking all the time about different things, or it may just be because there is so much to consider these days. 

One example I have seen a lot that I love to use to illustrate is this: I was 10 years old before we got a television. It was a black and white picture, and there was no remote in those days! Now I carry a TV on my belt, and I know how to use most of the technology.  

I lived on a farm and my parents thought it was a good idea to have a huge garden, which I was expected to help with. I must admit, they knew how to raise a garden. There were many who looked forward to dad’s cantaloupe. We called them muskmelons, but I don’t know why. His watermelons were so delicious and sweet. The only way to eat them was to wear part of the juice as it dripped from your chin to your t-shirt when we buried our head into a big slice so red and sweet that we didn’t care. Others would say they were better than what the “professional” growers offered.

We had sweet corn so big we had to use a chain saw to cut the ear off the corn stock, and green beans so big, we only needed to cut off one to cook for supper. Ok, maybe that is a slight exaggeration. Hope it brought a smile, but the point is, we had to grow a garden if you wanted to eat.

We hunted in season, and we ate what we got. We also raised our own beef and sheep. Mom could sew, and she taught my sister how to sew. I wore hand-me-downs a lot. I had a cousin two years older who was like a brother, so I got his clothes when he outgrew them.

We didn’t have a lot of money; in fact, there were times when we had very little, but I was taught to save my money. I received an allowance if I was faithful to do my chores, and I also started working for other farmers when I was old enough to drive a tractor. Translated that means, tall enough to reach the pedals.
 
I watched as my parents continued to trust God when it seemed the clouds in the sky had no water to send to us for our crops in the field.  I knew it would be a challenging day when the creek dried up, and we had to share and ration the water with our animals so our well wouldn’t dry up too.  

With all that, and more, we still thanked God at every meal for our food. We still had family prayer before we went to bed. We still drove 13 miles after the farm chores were finished, one way to town every time the church doors were open. Never one time do I remember my parents blaming God or anyone else because everything wasn’t going smoothly. We didn’t always have everything we wanted, but we had what we needed. We never went hungry because God blessed our hard work to raise our food. We may not have always had new clothes, but mom kept the ones we had clean and looking good.

I am sending this with the hope and prayer that it will encourage you today to trust God. I feel God helped me to see before my first wife died that He was bringing me through pain so I could assure others who are willing to trust Him. He will bring us through challenging times if we will let Him.

God loves you and He wants you to know it. If you believe in prayer, please pray God will help me say the right words to encourage others.

In His service,
Tom
9 Comments
Larry Hagemann
4/6/2020 10:38:33 am

Thanks Tom for encouraging words. I new along time ago that God put you in my life for a reason. My prayer now is that other people read this and get some hope and comfort from your words. Love you Tom!!

Reply
Rita & Jay Mc
4/6/2020 10:44:45 am

Your memories of home sounds so much like the way we both were "brought up". That is how we can survive the difficult times and to make what we have last through the hard times. Most importantly, all of our parents were Christians and knew the value of staying "under the spout where the Glory comes out" and so we were in church absorbing the Word of God. As a result of that, we are (or should be) enriched in the "meat" of the word. Thanks for your comments. When God brings you to our memory, we will pray for you.

Reply
John P. Keeran
4/6/2020 11:16:25 am

Tom
I very much enjoyed your blog. We grew up very similarly!! But even if I could - there isn’t anything in my rearing would I change. I had parents that loved me enough to take me to church. They told me daily that they loved me - and they meant it too!!!

Happy Easter - Christ has Risen!!!

Reply
Emily Hayes
4/6/2020 11:44:45 am

Thanks for the history of you growing up. I tried to instill God into my children as they were growing and I thank God because all of my children are Christians, in fact I have a son that is a minister two grandsons that are ministers and I have 30 great-grandchildren that are taugh about God and are taken to church every Sunday. God is Good All the time. Love you and Pam and remmber when you pastored our church. Also when Norman was in the hospital before he passed away you were thete for us.

Reply
Pamela L. Gray Moore
4/6/2020 01:04:07 pm

Hi Tom
Thank you for sharing.
It seems on a daily basis throughout my adult years, I have given thanks to being brought up in a Christian home. With my father dying when I was three, our church, led by God,became the head of our household. We, too, were there every time the doors opened and not once did we complain about it. It was indeed our second home surrounded by God’s people full of love and teaching the Bible.

Reply
Cheryl A. Fellure
4/6/2020 01:59:23 pm

Wonderful blog, so blessed and uplifting. If we work hard and press on through the tough times and heart aches we know "Joy comes in the Morning". We love you Bro. Tom

Reply
Jack Parrett
4/6/2020 05:08:46 pm

Thanks for sharing Tom, miss you buddy we love you. Jack & Ethel

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Heather McDowell
4/6/2020 06:11:08 pm

Tom, thanks for sharing! We must learn to trust God more & know that He will get us through these challenging times. God bless!

Reply
Evalyn Hall
4/7/2020 01:18:08 am

Wonderful blog, Tom! You've always been a beautiful example of what it is like to TRUST GOD IN ALL THINGS.

Reply



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    Tom Amlin

    Tom's Blog

    Tom has been a licensed minister over 50 years and faced many life experiences.  The driving force of his obedience to serve in ministry has been his love for and trust in God.

    “Fear thou not for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."

    Isaiah 41:10

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