Echoes from God

Writing Echoes from God has been a journey that began many years ago when I became an adult Sunday school teacher. My pastor asked me to teach the new converts class in our church, which was an honor for me. We did not have a class quite like that at the time, and we felt it was needed. However, as I searched for material that would fit the needs of my new class, I discovered I would have to purchase several different books because none of them seemed to cover all the topics I wanted to teach to my students. Thus, I decided to write my own Sunday school lessons based upon what I perceived God wanted me to teach to the new converts in my fast-growing class. Each week, I got my cup of coffee, my Bible, and a notepad and went to a quiet place to write out the next Sunday’s lesson. There were weeks when it took hours to pull together a simple rough draft to serve as the curriculum. It was most often written in a bullet format with simple phrases, and the lesson was always based upon multiple Scripture references. After all, the Word of God was what I wanted to share with the students, so my lessons were primarily a listing of Scriptures that pertained to each topic I felt the Lord had given to me.

My pastor and I decided that I would teach the class as a twelve-week rotational cycle, and then the students would move into one of our other Sunday school class offerings. However, I began to find that instead of losing students, I was recycling students while continuing to receive new students as more and more came to know the Lord as their personal Savior.
In addition, my pastor soon realized it was a great class for new members to attend so they could learn what we as a church believed. If, after going through the class cycle, they agreed with the concepts and beliefs shared, they were invited to join the church.

This type of rotational teaching, which kept me constantly rewriting and refining the material to become more of a true curriculum for the students, continued for several years. As the refining process continued, I took to heart the questions and concerns of the various new converts and new members, many of whom, I might add, had been believers for many, many years. I was busy trying to write the material so it would be useful for nonbelievers, new believers, and more mature believers. Each week I refined the lessons, knowing I would have several students who were recycling them with me for the fourth or even the eighth cycle! I wanted these students to have fresh manna for the day. They were the main people who kept me going back to the Lord for more Scriptures, concepts, and ideas each week.

Then one morning about two years ago, I felt awakened by the Lord. He impressed upon me that I needed to convert the Sunday school curriculum into a book and have it published. I had grown quite comfortable with the lessons’ format and informal speech. I felt panicked because I thought that now I had to turn this material into a book! I asked the Lord just how I was supposed to do that. I did not feel qualified to write a book. After all, I had just been a Sunday school teacher of over forty years. The Lord spoke to my spirit that I needed to write the book as though I were speaking to my class.

So welcome to my class! As you read this book, be aware that it was written with you in mind. Whether you are a believer or a nonbeliever, it does not matter. I wrote this book because the Lord asked me to. I know He knew you were going to pick this book up one day, and He has guided me with Scriptures to share how much He loves you all throughout this book. Even if you have been a believer for over fifty years, as I have, then read this book with hungry eyes for more of His Word, and know that He knew you were going to be reading this book. He has something to share with you too.

I am often asked how I think this book could best be used. I personally think it is best used as a study tool for an individual or a group. If you are wondering about God’s love for you, you will find many answers that will help guide you closer to Him.

As believers, sometimes it is difficult for us to share our Christian witness with others. I trust you will benefit from the study of this book because it is filled with examples of both personal and visual images God has given me. I believe you will be able to apply these stories to the lives of many others along your way. Use the examples in my book as you witness to others.

Let’s begin, class, shall we? Turn to chapter 1.

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Psalm 5:1–3
It is very important for us to begin each day with the Lord. King David knew his life depended upon God’s safety and protection, forgiveness, peace, and joy. David recognized that without Jesus, he could do nothing. He sang in the Psalms he would begin each day by crying out to the Lord. We should do the same.

Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You. And I will look up (Ps. 5:1–3).

Our most important prayer should be the one of salvation. Following are written the steps to salvation. Salvation is the spiritual birth that brings eternal life to us. It ushers in the Holy Spirit for our lives and creates a new and clean spirit for us to have a beautiful relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation
Romans 10:9–13
Although I wrote out the steps to salvation in chapter 2, I believe it is worth reviewing once again as a prayer. Romans 10:9 states, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Step 1 of salvation: You must confess Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to be your Savior.
Step 2 of salvation: You must believe Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead.

Salvation is not a single statement of faith, no more than a marriage vow is the marriage. The vow, whether spoken to your soon-to-be spouse or spoken in prayer to Jesus, must be lived daily in the sight of all who know you. Otherwise, the vow was just a set of pretty words. Salvation is no different. The words spoken to Christ are intended for a lifetime.

After the Salvation Prayer
Exodus 3:14
Now that you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, you should call upon Him for all your needs, and best of all, you can simply talk with Him as your personal friend or Father. Communication with the Lord is so special and different for each child of God.

I have taught a new converts Sunday school class for years, and one of the more frequent questions I am asked is, “How do I pray?” I finally came up with an answer I feel is as close to defining our everyday prayer as I can get. I tell new converts to speak to Jesus in the form of their need or desire.

For instance, if you go to a counselor, is there a particular way that you speak to him? Do you tell him what is bothering you and let him help you work through your problems? How about a doctor? Do you tell him where it hurts and listen to him tell you what to do for a particular pain? The list goes on. How about a best friend? Do you tell your friend all your secrets, your joys, and your sorrows? Get the idea? Speak to the Lord in your everyday voice as though you were speaking to your counselor, doctor, best friend, or whatever the occasion may be for you at the time of your prayer. Jesus said He is the I AM for all areas of your life (Ex. 3:14). We should pray to the Father for all of our needs, desires, and joys.