March 2025 From the Desk of Dave McLean

Father Knows Best

When I lived in Flagstaff, I befriended a man, Julian, in his 70’s, who had lived a hard life due to his gullibility to others who took advantage of him.  I met him one day as he was walking down our street with a garbage sack of aluminum cans over his shoulder.  As I pulled my mail from my mailbox, I waited for him to reach me so I could greet him.  I asked him how he was doing, and he said not well.  With a meek and desperate face, he asked me if I could help him.  I replied that I knew the One who could and shared the Lord with him.  Then I asked if he would like to meet again and learn more.  He agreed to return the next day.

  He didn’t return, but I prayed fervently that he would and, two weeks later, he showed up at my home.  We became close friends, and he became part of our family.  He was with us continually, attending family events and get-togethers as a member of our family.  He struggled with bitterness over a multitude of hurts, and the inability to forgive.  One day he gave his heart to Christ and I baptized him at our church.  His heart changed tremendously and, while he became a different man, there were areas he continued to struggle.  In our walk with the Lord, some changes come slower than we’d desire.

  He owned an old fire-trap of a rental trailer.  Julian paid the lot rent and rented out the trailer at a $100.00 profit.  The problem was, the tenant had no respect for Julian and instead of making $100.00 a month, Julian was typically losing $1-200.00 a month due to rent/partial rent not being paid.  I tried encouraging Julian to sell the tenant the trailer and avoid the monthly loss of money, but Julian said he needed the income.  I told him, “You’re losing money monthly; in selling it, you’ll be ahead!”  One day, he decided to do that and he sold the trailer with payments due over 12 months.

  After 12 months, it was paid in full and Julian became very bitter toward the tenant and me.  He disappeared for a month or so, and I finally went to check on him.  I knocked on his door and, after no answer, went into his house and called out his name.  He entered through a door with anger and bitterness in his eyes- and he came right at me!  Julian was a very stocky and strong man and I was concerned as he raged at me, in my face.  I wanted to give it right back to him, but as He raged, I cried out to the Lord asking, What should I do?  The Holy Spirit spoke and said, “Seek his forgiveness.”  Naturally, I felt I should argue with the Lord, “What?  I’m innocent; I’ve done nothing wrong, and selling the trailer saved Julian monthly losses.”  All of this was going on as he was railing at me.  As a side note, I try the “I’m innocent” line with my family, too- they know better!

  The Holy Spirit spoke again and told me the same thing.  I’m not one to argue with God- I only need to be told twice- so I asked Julian’s forgiveness for selling his trailer.  This brought his anger down several notches, deflecting it away from me and towards others.  I laid my hands upon him and began to pray, and he surrendered his bitterness and began to weep.  We hugged and he told me he forgave me and told me how much I meant to him.  It was Christmas day and I invited him over for dinner and we enjoyed a beautifully restored friendship.

To this day, I can’t see what I did that would require seeking his forgiveness, but the Lord had me respond according to what Julian felt I had done, and it sure brought about reconciliation.  I also have learned to be very careful to keep my counsel to Biblical issues and to be careful pertaining to financial counsel.

  As I look back over my testimonies, I’m surprised at how often I argue with the Lord.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  There are times I feel like I am wise, then I’m reminded that any wisdom I might have (amongst the abundance of foolishness that still remains) is the Lord’s.   It’s amazing how, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).  Our God is so good and loving, His ways are true and compassionate.  Our guests at A Ray of Hope meet the Lord as they live in our homes.  And as happened with Julian years ago, we may want to argue with the Lord, and we may not get it right at first, but we sure want to.  Thankfully our repentance and humility brings compassion and mercy from our loving God!

Amen?  Amen!  Dave