About the Author

Gary Laws has served in the Evangelical Christian ministry for over thirty years. Seventeen of those years were in the pulpit. In addition to his years as a Pastor, Laws has been engaged in many grassroots ministries including directing volunteers in New York City, at Ground Zero, following 9/11; working with gang members in Chicago, Illinois; ministering in the crime ridden neighborhoods of Gary, Indiana; directing flood relief ministries following the Great Midwest Flood of 1993 and directing the distribution of sixteen million dollars worth of new furniture to the victims of Florida's Hurricane Andrew.

He is a 1980 graduate in Religious and Social Studies from The Salvation Army College for Officers Training in Chicago, Illinois. He has studied Communications at Bradley University and was commissioned and ordained to the Christian ministry in June of 1980.

Gary is married to his wife of forty five years, Susan, and together they have raised five children. They have twenty two grandchildren. The Laws now live in Kirkville, New York where Gary cares full time for his wife who is a survivor of several strokes. He also directs Evangelical Media Ministries which is an internet ministry that reaches individuals in thirteen countries. He is the author of, 'That God May Use Me' and 'Glory Stories'.

Gary continues to preach as time allows and, from his home, is in the process of putting the final touches on three more books.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

When the Rain Comes

 

The night has passed and the sun rises above the horizon. It has been a difficult night as sleep has eluded you. There are many things on your mind, not the least which are the difficulties you have been facing. Your spirit is troubled and you are not certain just what to do about it all. The anxiousness you feel is only making your level of distress rise and you are not certain how things will play out. You have talked with friends and relatives but that has not brought any relief and you are not certain where else you can turn. Will it ever come to an end or will you ever be able to see things through to a satisfactory end?  What can you possibly do to make it better, make it all go away? Here are five things that might help.

First, know that what you are going through is common to the human experience! Everyone has trouble that, often, seems insurmountable. If there is a difference between them, it is in how they approach dealing with difficulty. You are not alone.

Second, there is a reason that you are facing these difficulties and it is important that you gain an understanding of why you are where you are. It may be something you have done that has brought trouble your way.  If so, take responsibility for your actions. Perhaps it is something others have done and, through no fault of your own, it has complicated your life. Knowing the source of trouble will help you devise a plan that will help you solve the problem.

Third, know there is a way out! There are few problems faced by humankind that are not without a solution. Once you understand that everyone faces difficulty and that there is a way out of that difficulty, you can begin to put together a plan that will solve whatever the problem is. Know that it is OK to ask others for help. You may not have control over how they will respond, but it never hurts to go to those you love and trust for advice and counsel. You may not always like the advice you get... but always, always consider it. Your friends and loved ones just might know what they are talking about. They can be more objective about your issues.

Fourth, know that there is a loving God to whom you can go. This may seem to be to simplistic, but it is, nevertheless, true. If your troubles stem from some ill advised action you have taken, ask Him to forgive you and resolve never to do it again. Ask Him for guidance. Ask Him to give you a solution. God intervenes in our lives when He judges that we are sincere. If your problem is because of what others have done, then forgive them and move on. God expects us to be forgiving if we are to expect His help.

Fifth, once you have accomplished these things, go to work solving the problem. Don't just sit around hoping it all will just go away. Most often, it will not. We are expected to take charge of our lives! That means rolling up our sleeves and get with the process of problem solving. All through life this will be expected of you.

"Got any rivers you think are uncrossable 
Got any mountains you can't tunnel through 
God specializes in things thought impossible 
He does the things others cannot do." (Eliason)

Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation— 
whom shall I fear? 
The LORD is the stronghold of my life— 
of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (NIV)

CHAPTER THREE - EGGS CEREAL, TOAST AND BACON

EGGS, CEREAL, TOAST AND BACON

What a great morning! Rose at 5AM and headed for the kitchen determined to give my wife a treat. With breakfast in bed my goal, I opened the refrigerator and pulled out the eggs, bacon, and potatoes. I scrambled, diced and fried for the next half hour taking in the aroma along the way. I put on a pot of coffee and popped the bread in the toaster… all the time anticipating her surprise when it is served up. Even though my Vegan friends would have probably preferred hearing of me serving up a Peanut Butter Granola Breakfast, somehow this seemed to be the right way to go. You should have seen the smile on my wife's face as I proudly strolled into the bedroom, breakfast fare in hand! Boy was it good and it made for a wonderful start to the day. For years I never ate breakfast. I always liked to get in that last few minutes of sleep before rising, showering and heading out the door to work! Lunch and Dinner always seemed more than adequate most days.

Nutritionists, however, tell us that if we are to properly maintain our health we should recognize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It sets the stage for kicking in the metabolism and helps us concentrate better at work and school. It is, generally, a must if we are to develop into strong, healthy human beings. It also helps us develop a "staying" power for all that will be required of us throughout the day.

Can There Be a Spiritual Application Here? As I think of this, it makes me wonder if the same is not true for the healthy development of our spiritual life! Can there be a 'spiritual' breakfast served up that will have a similar effect on our spiritual health?

I think of the example my mother set for us. She would rise very early in the morning, always before the sun would come up, and she would have a quiet time for herself and meditate. After a short time she would pull out her Bible and read several passages of scripture before falling to her knees for a time of prayer before God. Today I was thinking to myself, this was her recipe for a 'spiritual breakfast'. It included a quiet time for oneself, Bible study, and then a season of prayer.

It set the stage for her 'spiritual metabolism' to kick in. She always maintained that it helped her keep her focus, and asserted that it gave her the strength to be consistent and 'energy' filled throughout the day. I think Mom became spiritually equipped during this morning 'breakfast' of hers. She was better prepared to face the day and the challenges the day would bring. God bless her for the example she set.

How do you start each day? O, you say you have been a Christian for many years and you have already discovered this? Wonderful.....but are you doing it....every day? If you have fallen a bit by the wayside and your spiritual strength is not what it ought to be, try this recipe out! You just might be surprised at how well your day goes.