Stan Toler - God Has Never Failed Me: But Hes Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times

Contents

HARVEST HOUSE PUBLISHERS

EUGENE, OREGON

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Front cover illustrated by Krieg Barrie

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God Has Never Failed Me

Copyright 2020 by Stan Toler

Published by Harvest House Publishers

Eugene, Oregon 97408

www.harvesthousepublishers.com

ISBN 978-0-7369-7987-0 (pbk.)

ISBN 978-0-7369-7988-7 (eBook)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Toler, Stan, author.

Title: God has never failed me / Stan Toler.

Description: Eugene: Harvest House Publishers, 2020. | Summary: This book is for anyone who feels frazzled, stressed, hurt, angry, or confused. Stan Toler offers a winning combination of poignant and hilarious reminders that God is still at work-and that hes 100-percent faithful!Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2020008169 (print) | LCCN 2020008170 (ebook) | ISBN 9780736979870 (trade paperback) | ISBN 9780736979887 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Christian lifeHumor.

Classification: LCC BV4501.3 .T648 2020 (print) | LCC BV4501.3 (ebook) | DDC 248.4dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020008169

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020008170

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To my mother, Loretta,
who taught me at an early age
the importance of a relationship
with Jesus Christ.

* * *

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the L ORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6) .

Special thanks

To the Trinity Church of the Nazarene familyyour support, encouragement, and prayers mean so much.

To Barbara Johnson, for encouraging me to write this book and to stick with my title.

To Jim Wilcox, the SNU Grammar Hammer, my tennis partner, and the man with the red pen for wise editorial guidance and helpful suggestions.

To Mechelle Fain, for countless hours in front of a computer typing and retyping the manuscript. Bless you for your ability to read my handwriting!

To Derl Keefer, for research assistance and creative ideas.

To Mom, Dad, Terry, and MarkI love you more than words can express.

To my wife, Linda, for reading rough draft chapters and for verifying the accuracy of my stories.

To Talmadge Johnson, G.I. Barber, brother beloved. Thanks for your confidence in me.

To Charles and Stephanie Wetzel, for insightful suggestions and content review. What a team!

To Martha Bolton, for witty ideas, friendship, and editorial insights.

To my sons, Seth and Adam, for giving me permission to tell your stories (and for serving as proofreaders!).

Contents

G od Has Never Failed Me, but Hes Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times is a book about the faithfulness of God. Within its pages you will find humorous and inspirational stories of Gods power very much at work in the world.

Leslie Miller of USA Today once stated, When it comes to religion, the USA is a land of believers. A new USA Today /CNN/Gallup Poll reveals that 96 percent of Americans believe in God.

Its almost hard to believe that statistic, considering how many people seem to try to make it without Him. Perhaps J.I. Packer was right when he said, Our expectations of seeing the power of God transforming peoples lives are not, generally speaking, as high as they should be.

One of the best ways God changes us is through the impact of humor. I learned this as a young teen attending the Fifth Avenue Church in Columbus, Ohio. I often heard my pastor, the Rev. C.O. Walters, ask the question, Is everybody happy? If so, say Amen! What an impact this had on my spiritual lifea minister who believes in laughter!

Maybe the importance of humor in our spiritual life is at the heart of a story I heard about a three-year-old boy who listened attentively to a Sunday morning message. When he was asked about what he had learned, the child responded, Jesus died so that we could have ever-laughing life! And you know what? He is right! Salvation and everlasting life certainly include joy and laughter.

Humor truly is a godsend. Oswald Chambers called humor the lubricant of missionary life. Laughter is very much a part of my faith life. I hope it is also a part of yours. When we dismiss laughter from the pulpit, the pew, and everyday life, we miss Gods best for us in Christian experiences.

My love of humor has always been paired with a simple faith in Gods ability to perform miracles. As a child, I was often encouraged by the words affixed to the wall in the choir loft of my home church: Jesus Never Fails. I accepted this at face value and have never ceased to believe that God can do anything but fail!

It is our prayer that this book will inspire you and many others to renewed faith in Gods ability to do the impossible. May the words of the prophet Isaiah challenge your faith and calm your fears:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the L ORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west (Isaiah 43:1-5).

What God did for the children of Israel, He can and will do for you. God has never failed me, and He will never fail you.

You are loved,

Stan

G rowing up in the hills of West Virginia impacted my life tremendously. My dad was a coal miner, and we lived in a coalmining communityBaileysville, an unincorporated town. Its so small that Main Street is a cul-de-sac. But it is my hometown!

Californians love to brag about being able to go to the mountains to snow ski and the ocean to sunbathe in the same day. Well, in Baileysville, we had our own definition of the good life. If you lived on the side of the mountain, you could cross the river anytime, any day, on an old-fashioned swinging bridge!