CLOSED AND OPEN DOORS STILL HAPPEN

Saturday, October 09, 2010

This is a true story of a man and his wife who could not find peace in any manner in the Untied States. While working with the Navigators he was offered the opportunity to work in Uganda.He talked to his wife and children and they prayed. His wife said, "If that's the door God has opened for us, I'm ready for the challenge."

So they flew to Nairobi, Kenya, where he put his family up in a hotel while he rented a Land Rover and drove across the border into the country of Uganda to check out the situation.

This was just after Idi Amin's reign of terror. The first thing the man saw as he came into the village were several young kids with automatic weapons shooting them off into the sky. And he thought, "Lord are You in this?"

At the little hotel there was only one room available that he would have to share with someone. He dropped to his knees and confessed to God that he was afraid and asked God to show him that He was involved in this move. The door opened and there stood this six-foot five-inch African frowning at him and saying in beautiful English "What are you doing in my room?" and "What are you doing in my country?" He answered, "Well, I'm with a little organization called the Navigators." The African broke into an enormous grin, threw his arms around his new roommate and laughed out loud and cried, "Praise God, praise God."

The African man has been praying for two years for God to send someone to him from that organization. And he pulled out a little Scripture memory-verse pack, and at the bottom of each of the verses it read, "The Navigators, Colorado Springs, Colorado."

The door of new hope flew open for the man from Colorado. That African became a member of the man's board, helped him find a place to live, helped him rebuild a section of his home, taught him all about the culture, assisted him with the language, and became his best friend for the many years they were there, serving Christ...who "opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens."

Doors are closed. Doors are opened. Lives are changed.

(Taken and adapted from Charles R. Swindoll's wonderful book, The Mystery of God's Will)

15 comments:

Heart2Heart said...

Clif,

What a wonderful post and showing God's will in all things in this man's life. I loved this one.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Sue said...

What can I say Cliff? How truly blessed I am by reading this today!
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Sue

Anonymous said...

Oh, thank you so much for sharing this! What a great story!
We need to just trust God and keep praying!

Audrey Charles said...

Thank you so much for posting this. It is truly an encouragement, and a reminder that sometimes the weirdest situation could be an open door from the Lord. He is so divinely wise in His strategies!

Cherdecor said...

You really have some good posts! I have been reading the last couple of them and have liked what I have read. I would like to read C.S.'s new book. You make it sound really good. Thank you for all the work you put into your blog.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

This is a great story. Sometimes I wonder if God remembers who I am...or what He promised...but He always does come through...just like He did for this man. thanks for this Cliff...Have a great weekend.

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

Cliff:

I hopped over here from another post and really loved this! It reminded me of growing up and memorizing scriptures from The Navigators little plastic pack full of cards, as we traveled in the sumer time.

Thanks for sharing!

Sonja

Mevely317 said...

I'm struck by this family's courage ... their faith to step outside all that's familiar for a greater good.
Can you just imagine the look on his face when that door flew open?!
... I love waking to stories such as this!

Anonymous said...

This story brings joy to my heart, tears to my eyes and chill bumps. Thank you for this marvelous story of answered prayer.

Donnie said...

Stories like this one always awe's me. The power of God is so great. Thank you for sharing it.

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Praise God for open doors! I have to thank Him for the many prayers He has answered in my life and the many more He will answer in His time. Thank you for sharing this touching story. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.

Blessings,
Sandi

Cindy Adkins said...

Hi Clif,
I'm lovin' all your stories and I hope Charlotte has the best time on the cruise! And I love this story and it sure brings back something that someone said to me many years ago...It is "The future is always being assembled." (I actually wrote about that on my blog in great detail, which was one of my first posts in blogland.) Sometimes we never know why we are doing something and then, the Lord just steps forward and says, "This is why I brought you this far."
Hugs to you and your sweetie,
Cindy

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

What a great story! I can alway count on you having the best stories.
Thank-you,
Ginger

Ruth said...

oh, what an inspiring story!! thank you for posting.... Have a great week ahead!!

Blessings,
Ruth

Cathy said...

Thanks for sharing that beautiful story, Clif. Blessings ~